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THE  LTBRASY 

BRIGIIAM  YOUNG  UNIVFRSm 

PROVO,  UTAH 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2011  with  funding  from 
Brigham  Young  University 


http://www.archive.org/details/historyofbuchanaOOrutt 


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r-77.  ;>/  .^  QL 


I  :>  ^j 


HISTORY 


OF- 


Buchanan  County 


AND    THE 


CITY  OF  ST.  JOSEPH 


AND 


REPRESENTATIVE  CITIZENS 


COMPILED  AND   EDITED   BY 

CHRIS.  L.  RVTT 


1826  TO  1904 


"History  is  Philosophy  tea.ching  by  ExaLinples** 


PUBLISHED   BY 

BIOGRAPHICAL   PUBLISHING    COMPANY 

George  Richmond,  Pres.  ;  C.  R.  Arnold,  Sec'y  and  Treas. 

Chicago,  Illinois 

1904 


THE  LIBRARY 

BRIGHAM  YGUNG  UNIVfJ^^J'n 

PROVO,  UTAH 


preface 


The  aim  of  the  pubhshers  of  this  volume  has  been  to  secure  for  tlie  historic  portion 
thereof  full  and  accurate  information  respecting  all  subjects  therein  treated,  and  to  present 
the  data  thus  gathered  in  a  clear  and  impartial  manner.  If,  as  is  their  hope,  they  have 
succeeded  in  this  endeavor,  the  credit  is  mainly  due  to  the  diligent  and  exhaustive  research 
of  the  author  of  the  historical  statement,  Chris.  L.  Rutt,  of  St.  Joseph,  whose  recognized 
ability  as  an  editor  and  author  have  brought  him  prominently  before  the  people  of  Xorth- 
western  Missouri.  In  collecting  and  arranging  the  material  which  has  entered  into  this 
history,  it  has  been  his  aim  to  secure  facts  and  to  present  them  in  an  interesting  form.  His 
patient  and  conscientious  labor  in  the  compilation  and  presentation  of  the  data  is  shown 
in  the  historical  portion  of  this  volume.  The  record  gives  an  interesting  description  of  the 
natural  features  and  early  society  of  this  section,  the  story  of  its  settlement  and  a  com- 
prehensive account  of  the  organization  of  Buchanan  County  and  the  city  of  St.  Joseph  and 
the  leading  events  in  the  stages  of  their  development  to  the  present  time  as  set  forth  in 
the  table  of  contents.  All  topics  and  occurrences  are  included  which  are  essential  to  the 
us^ulness  of  the  history.  Although  the  purpose  of  the  author  was  to  limit  the  narrative 
to  the  close  of  1903.  he  has  deemed  it  proper  to  touch  on  many  matters  relating  to  the 
current  year.  For  any  possible  inaccuraciesthat  may  be  found  in  the  work,  the  indul- 
gence of  our  readers  is  asked. 

The  reviews  of  resolute  and  strenuous  lives,  which  make  up  the  biographical  de- 
partment of  the  volume,  and  whose  authorship  is  entirely  independent  of  that  of  the  his- 
tory, are  admirably  adapted  to  foster  local  ties,  to  inculcate  patriotism  and  to  emphasize 
the  rewards  of  industry,  dominated  by  intelligent  purpose.  They  constitute  a  most  ap- 
propriate medium  of  perpetuating  personal  annals  and  will  be  found  of  incalculable  value 
to  the  descendants  of  those  herein  commemorated.  They  bring  into  bold  relief  careers 
of  enterprise  and  thrift  and  make  manifest  valid  claims  to  honorable  distinction.  If  "Biog- 
raphy is  the  only  true   History,"  it  is  obviously  the  duty  of  men  of  the  present  time  to 


PREFACE. 


preserve  in  this  enduring  form  the  story  of  their  Hves  in  order  that  their  posterity  may 
dwell  on  the  successful  struggles  thus  recorded,  and  profit  by  their  example.  These  sketches, 
replete  with  stirring  incidents  and  intense  experiences,  will  naturally  prove  to  most  of  the 
readers   of   this   book   its   most   attractive   feature. 

In  the  aggregate  of  personal  memoirs,  thus  collated,  will  be  found  a  vivid  epitome 
of  the  growth  of  Buchanan  County,  which  will  fitly  supplement  the  historic  statement;  for 
the  development  of  the  county  is  identified  with  that  of  the  men  and  women  to  whom  it 
is  attributable.  The  publishers  have  endeavored  in  the  preparation  of  the  work  to  pass 
o\-er  no  feature  of  it  slightingly,  but  to  give  heed  to  the  minutest  details,  and  thus  to 
invest  it  with  a  substantial  accuracy  which  no  other  treatment  would  afford.  The  result 
has  amply  justified  the  care  thus  exercised,  for  in  our  belief  no  more  reliable  production. 
under  the  circumstances,  could  be  laid  before  its  readers. 

We  have  given  special  prominence  to  the  portraits  of  representative  citizens,  which 
appear  throughout  this  \-olume,  and  believe  they  will  prove  a  most  interesting  feature  of 
this  work.  Wt  have  sought  to  illustrate  the  different  spheres  of  industrial  and  profes- 
sional achiexements  as  conspicuously  as  possible.  To  those  who  have  kindly  interested  them- 
selves in  the  successful  preparation  of  this  work,  and  who  have  voluntarily  contributed 
most  useful  information  and  data,  we  herewith  tender  our  grateful  acknowledgment. 

Chicago,  Illinois,  Decemlier,  1904.  THE  PUBLISHERS. 


dontente. 


CHAPTER    I. 
The  Platte  Purchase 17 

CHAPTER   n. 

Pioneer  Conditions  in  Buchanan  County 20 

First  Settlers — Location  and  Natural  Advantages — Rivers,  Creeks  and  Lakes — Pioneer  Life— First  Dwell- 
ings— Primitive  Furniture  and  Frugal  Habits — One-Legged  Bedstead — Rye  Coffee,  the  Horse-Power  Mill, 
the  Hominy  Block  and  the  Gritter— Wild  Meat  and  Wild  Honey — Laborious  and  Other  Amusements- 
Description  of  the  Society  of  the  Early  Days  in  Missouri. 

CHAPTER    HI. 

Formation  of  Buchanan  County  and  Its  Courts ; 25 

First  County  Court,  Sheriff  and  Surveyor — Formation  of  Townships — First  Election — First  County  Seat  and 
Court  House — Removal  of  County  Seat  from  Sparta  to  St.  Joseph— Courts  and  Judges. 

CHAPTER    IV. 

■County  and  Other  Officials 33 

Officials  from  the  Earliest  Days  to  the  Present  Time— Public  Prosecutors— Clerks  of  the  Circuit  Court- 
Sheriffs  and  Contests  for  the  Office — County  Clerks  and  Contests — Collectors- Coroners — Recorders  of 
Deeds — Treasurers — County  Physicians — County  Surveyors — Public  Administrators — Members  of  Con- 
gress— State  Senators — Representatives — Constables — Oil  Inspectors. 

CHAPTER    V. 
Townships  and  Towns 43 

CHAPTER   VI. 

Early  History  of  St.  Joseph    50 

Robidoux  at  Roy's  Branch  and  Blacksnake  Hills — First  Settlers — The  Town  Platted  and  Lots  Sold — First 
Municipal  Government — First  Business  Houses,  Hotels,  Churches,  Newspapers,  etc. — Ordinances  of  the 
Town  Board — Population  at  Various  Periods — The  Trading  Post,  the  Settlement,  the  Village  and  the  Town 
Up  to  1849. 

CHAPTER    Vn. 

The  Overland  Period 59 

The  Emigration  to  California — St.  Joseph  as  the  Starting  Point  and  Supply  Depot — Waiting  for  Grass — Lining 
Up  for  Dinner — A  Landlord  Who  Knew  His  Business — Freighting  by  Wagon — The  Overland  Stage  and  the 
Pony  Express. 


8  CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER    VIII. 

Progress  of  St.  Joseph 67 

Efforts  in  Behalf  of  "Pateetown"— Effects  of  the  Civil  War  and  Several  Financial  Disturbances— The  Boom 
of  1886 — The  Present  Era  of  Prosperity. 

CHAPTER    IX.       - 

Municipal  Government '^ 

The  Old  City  Charter  and  the  Evils  That  Were  Wrought  Under  Its  Provisions— Bonds  Issued  with  Aston- 
ishing Recklessness— The  City  Scrip  and  Other  Methods  of  Relief— The  New  Charter,  Its  Provisions  and 
\'alue — How  the  City  is  Governed. 

CHAPTER    X. 

Public  Safety 81 

The  Police  Department  of  St.  Joseph,  Its  History  and  the  Various  Chiefs  from  the  Beginning  to  the  Present 
Time— The  Police  Judge  and  City  Attorney,  and  the  Men  Who  Have  Held  These  Places— History  of  the 
Fire  Department  from  the  Days  of  the  Bucket  Brigade  to  the  Present  Time— The  Various  Chiefs. 

CHAPTER    XI. 

Municipal  Officers ^^6 

The  Board  of  Town  Trustees— The  City  Council— Mayor — Clerk,  Register  and  Auditor— Collector  and 
Treasurer — Comptroller — City  Engineer — The  Health  Department — Assessor — Counselor — Street  Commis- 
sioner— Building  Inspector — License  Inspector — Boiler  Inspector — Plumbing  Inspector — Salaries,  Terras  of 
Ofiice  and  Duties. 

CHAPTER  XII. 

Municipal  Equipment 99 

The  Parks  of  St.  Joseph,  Their  History  and  Development— Lake  Contrary  as  City  Property— The  Free  Public 
Library;  Its  Origin  and  Expansion— Street  Lighting;  From  Gas  to  Electricity  and  Municipal  Ownership— The 
Sewer  System;  Its  History  and  Condition — Street  Paving;  the  Various  Periods  of  Progress. 

CHAPTER    XIII. 

Education 108 

The  Schools  of  Buchanan  County  and  St.  Joseph — Primitive  Schools  of  the  Early  Days — The  Public  Schools; 
How  They  are  Supported  and  Managed — The  School  Buildings  of  St.  Joseph — Financial  Struggles  and 
\'icissitudes  of  the  School  Board— Private  and  Denominational  Schools  of  the  Past  and  Present — Medical 
Colleges. 

CHAPTER    XIV. 

Religious  History 120 

The  First  Preachers  and  the  First  Churches — A  Review  of  the  Progress  of  the  Various  Denominations  in 
St.  Joseph — History  of  the  Congregations  and  Their  Church  Buildings. 

CHAPTER  XV. 

Public  and  Private  Charities 133 

History  of  State  Hospital  for  Insane,  No.  2 — The  County  Paupers  and  How  They  Have  Been  Maintained 
Since  the  Earliest  Days — City  Hospital — St.  Mary's  Orphan  Asylum — Memorial  Home  and  the  Home  for 
Little  Wanderers — Home  for  Ex-Slaves — The  Associated  Charities,  the  Charity  Board  and  the  Free  Kinder- 
garten. 

CHAPTER    XVI. 

Public  Service  Corporation.s 138 

The  Water  Works— Electric  Lighting— Gas  Companies  of  the  Past  and  Present— Telephone  Companies- 
Street  Railways — Omnibus  and  Herdic  Coach  Lines— Historical  Facts  Concerning  the  Above  Mentioned 
Institutions. 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER   XVII. 

Public  Buildings  and  Federal  Service 144 

Buchanan  County's  Three  Court  Houses— The  Court  House  Fire  in  March  of  1885— First  Market  House  and 
City  Hall  and  the  Present  Structure— Patee  and  Other  Markets— City  Workhouse  and  the  Central  Police 
Station— County  Jails  of  the  Past  and  the  Present  Institution— Federal  Building— Post  Office— Railway  Mail 
Service — Internal  Revenue  Office — Port  of  Entry — Federal  Court. 

CHAPTER    XVIII. 

Military  History 155 

Buchanan  County  and  St.  Joseph  in  War — The  War  with  Mexico — Doniphan's  Expedition — The  Oregon 
Battalion— The  Civil  War— A  Mob  Destroys  the  United  States  Flag— Some  of  the  Men  Who  Went  South 
and  Distinguished  Themselves  as  Soldiers — The  Union  Regiments  That  Were  Organized  in  St.  Joseph, 
Their  Officers  and  Where  They  Fought— The  "Paw-Paw"  Militia,  Its  History  and  How  It  Came  Into  Exis- 
tence— The  Missouri  Militia  After  the  War — The  National  Guard  of  Missouri— The  War  with  Spain  and  the 
Companies  That  Went  from  St.  Joseph  to  the  Fourth  Regiment  of  Missouri  Volunteers. 

CHAPTER   XIX. 

Railroad  History l''^ 

Early  Struggles  of  Railroad  Projectors  and  Builders— Hannibal  &  St.  Joseph— Kansas  City,  St.  Joseph  & 
Council  Bluffs— St.  Joseph  &  Grand  Island— St.  Joseph  &  Topeka— Santa  Fe  System— Rock  Island  System— 
St.  Joseph  &  Des  Moines— Missouri  Pacific— Chicago  Great  Western— Union  Pacific— Union  Terminal— The 
Bridge — Union  Station — Telegraph  Lines. 

CHAPTER    XX. 

Finance  and  Commerce 188 

The  Banks  and  Financial  Concerns  That  Have  Existed  in  St.  Joseph  in  the  Past  and  Those  That  Live  in  the 
Present— Various  Organizations  for  the  Promotion  of  Commerce  and  Manufactures. 

CHAPTER    XXI. 

Newspaper  History .., 1^3 

The  Gazette  and  Its  Varied  Course— The  Herald,  Volksblatt,  News,  Ballot,  Press  and  Others— Tombstojies 
in  the  Newspaper  Graveyard  of  St.  Joseph. 

CHAPTER    XXII. 

Criminal  Incidents 201 

Robidoux  Robbed— Killing  of  Whittle  at  Sparta— Murder  of  Dr.  Jones— Tom  Farris— Killing  of  Charles 
Robidoux— Burning  of  the  Friend  Famil>— Rescue  of  Dr.  Doy— Three  War-Time  Tragedies— Killing  of 
Jesse  James—The  Bond  Robbery— Jewelry  Robbery— Murder  of  Colonel  Strong— The  Bulling  Murder— 
Hold-Up  at  McDonald's  Factory— Several  Train  Robberies. 

CHAPTER    XXIII. 

Legal  Executions 214 

Augustus  Otis  Jennings,  the  First  Man  to  Die  Upon  the  Scaffold  in  Buchanan  County— Execution  of  Green, 
the  Slave,  and  of  William  Linville— Joseph  Lanier  Taken  from  St.  Joseph  to  Savannah  and  Shot— Hanging 
of  A.  J.  Bowzer  and  Henry  A.  Griffith— Jackson  Jefferson  Publicly  Shot— Green  Willis,  a  Negro,  Hanged  for 
Murder— Execution  of  John  Grable— Execution  of  Peter  Hronek,  the  First  Private  Hanging  in  the  County- 
Execution  of  Joseph  Burries  and  James  Pollard— Charles  May  Hanged  for  Murder— Execution  of  Mark 
Dunn. 

CHAPTER   XXIV.  , 

Casualties 222 

The  Platte  River  Bridge  Disasters— Collapse  of  Nave  &  McCord's  Building  and  Death  of  Nine  Per- 
sons—Fatal Powder  Magazine  Explosion  -The  Earthquake  of  1867  and  Several  Destructive  Storms  Since 
Then— Drowning  of  Five  Girls  at  Lake  Contrary— Explosion  of  "Danforth's  Fluid"  and  the  Killing  of  Three 
Negroes— A  List  of  the  Most  Important  Fires. 


lo  CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER    XXV. 

Fairs  of  Former  Days 230 

The  First  Effort,  When  the  Grounds  Were  Located  on  North  Eleventh  Street— The  Fairs  at  the  End  of 
Frederick  Avenue — The  Elaborate  Effort  on  Lower  Sixth  Street — The  Interstate  Exposition  at  Fowler's 
Grove— The  Lights  and  Shadows  of  the  New  Era  Exposition — Various  Efforts  at  the  Fair  Grounds  in  the 
"Nineties" — Horse  Race  Meetings — The  Annual  Events  at  Lake  Contrary. 

CHAPTER    XXVI. 

Societies 235 

Lodges,  Benevolent,  Social  and  Trade  Organizations — Free  Masons,  Odd  Fellows  and  Others — The  Turn- 
Verein,  Maennerchor  and  Other  German-Speaking  Societies — Turnfests  and  Saengerfests — Musical  Develop- 
ment in  St.  Joseph — The  St.  Joseph  Philharmonia,  the  Mendelssohn  Society  and  Other  Similar  Organiza- 
tions— The  Red  Ribbon  Club. 

CHAPTER   XXVII. 

Industries,  Past  and  Present 241 

Hemp  Raising,  Milling  and  Pork  Packing — Breweries — The  First  Foundry — Furniture  Factory — The  Native 
Lumber  Industry — Distilleries — The  Starch  Factory — The  Stove  Works,  Tobacco  Factory  and  Steel  Car 
Works — Other  Industries  That  Flourished  and  Faded — The  Old-Time  Hotels  of  St.  Joseph. 

CHAPTER    XXVIII. 

Reminiscences. 256 

Steamboats  in  the  Early  Days — Negro  Slavery  in  Buchanan  County — The  Town  of  Elwood — The  Grasshopper 
Scourge— Old-Time  Doctors  and  Their  Schedule  of  Charges— "Voting  on  a  String"— Theatres. 

BIOGRAPHICAL 263 


N  O  T  K 


All  the  biographical  sketches  published  in  this  volume  were  sub- 
mitted to  their  respective  subjects  or  to  the  subscribers,  from  whom  the 
facts  were  primarily  obtained,  for  their  approval  or  correction  before  going 
to  press;  and  a  reasonable  time  was  allowed  in  each  case  for  the  return  of 
the  type-written  copies.  !Most  of  them  were  returned  to  us  within  the  time 
allotted,  or  before  the  work  was  printed,  after  being  corrected  or  r-evised; 
and  these  ma\f  therefore  be  regarded  as  reasonably  accurate. 

A  few,  however,  were  not  returned  to  us:  and,  as  we  have  no  means 
of  knowing  whether  the\'  contain  errors  or  not,  we  cannot  vouch  for  their 
accuracy.  In  justice  to  our  readers,  and  to  render  this  work  more  valu- 
able for  reference  purposes,  we  have  indicated  these  uncorrected  sketches 
b\^  a  small  asterisk  (^),  placed  imrnediately  after  the  name  of  the  subject. 
They  will  all  be  found  on  the  last  pages  of  the  book,  i^^*^'^^^    '^  (f^^    ^^°- 

BIOGRAPHICAL  PUBLISHING  CO.. 


\ 


Tndex 


PAGE 

Academy  of  the  Sacred  Heart..  547 

Adams,    Buford    68r 

Adams.  John   G 596 

Adler.   Harris   B..   M.    D 624 

Albus.   Jolm,   Jr 542 

Allen,  Thomas  Buford   617 

Allison.  George  'S[ 668 

Allison,    George    W 508 

-Mlison,    Jasper    C 562 

.\llison.  James   H 522 

Allison,    John    W 513 

Allison,    William    F 648 

Andriano,  Joseph   651 

Arena,    Antonio    619 

Ashbrook,  Thomas  R 477 

Alwill,    James    \\' 439 

Bandel.  Gottlieb   375 

fJanker.    Fred,    Jr 437 

Banshach,  Joseph  J.,  AI.  D .^85 

]>arklcy,   John   0 524 

Barnard,  John   Fiske    343 

Barnes.   John   F 305 

r>a;r.  George  W 572 

Barrington,    Frank   C 278 

Bartlett,   Herschel    574 

Bartlett,  William   H 331 

Bass,  William  B 473 

Bassett,    Hon.    Flarry    D 394 

Bassett.   Gen.   Jonathan   M 387 

Bazan.   John   J..   AI.    D 6,32 

Beach,   Frank   W 544 

Beach,  Col.  James  T 560 

Bell,   William   W 562 

Berry,  George   D 535 

Beni.ght,    Calvin    W 663 

Benkendorf,  Theodore  J.  A 302 

Berghoff.  John  T.,  M.  D 369 

Bis-hop,  Galen  E..   AI.  D 643 

Bittinger.  Alaj.  John  L 497 

I'.lack,  John 706 

Black,    James    658 

Blackwell,    John    E 672 

Bloomer,  Capt.  John  461 

Bode,    George    ^yj 


Boone,  George.  Jr 

Boone,  Hiram  C 

Boone,    John    F 

Borden,   Hon.   Charles  J 

Fjorngesser,    Theodore    H 

Bowen,    Elijah    

Brady,  Rev.  James  P 

Brewster,    Arthur    W 

Brewster,    Hiram    L 

Broder,    John    

Broughton,    Sterling    P 

Brown,   Charles   \V 

Brown.  Isaac 

Brown,    Stephen    S 

1  Browne,    Francis    

!  Brumley.   Samuel   H 

Buckman,   Charles  H 

Buddy,   Philip   

Bucchle,    \\'illiam    L 

Buell,  Geor.ge  W 

Burgess,   Hon.  Thomas  J 

Burke,  Rt.  Rev.  Alaurice  Francis 

Burri,    Charles    

Burris',   James    S 

Buzard,  Capt.  Beniamin  F 

Byrd,   Charles   F.,Al.   D 


Calkins,    Ripley   R 

Carder,    Joseph    F 

Carey,    John    H 

Carrel,  General  W 

Carson,  Hon.  Charles  W... 

Casey,  George  F 

Chesnut,    Hon.    John    T.  .  . 
Chew,  Alaj.  Thomas  J.,  Jr. 
Cochran,   Hon.    Charles    F. 

Collins,   Geor.ge   W 

Colt,   Calvin   C 

Combs,  John  W 

Cook,    Hiram    

Cooper,    Arch    

Corby,    John    

Corby,  Col.   Joseph   A 

Cornelius,    Benjamin    F.  .  . 
Cornell,    Horatio    N 


PAGE 

.  386 

■  472 
.  478 
.   502 

•  674 
.  653 

•  349 
.  642 
.   426 

■  502 

■  721 

■  435 

•  371 
.  186 
.  660 

•  534 

•  575 
.  298 

•  407 
.  269 

•  553 
295 
720 

695 
365 
664 

707 
391 
325 
613 

317 
396 

593 
321 
608 
270 
297 
328 
370 
618 
467 
448 
512 
571 


PAGE 

Co.x,   Oliver   G 440 

Craig,  Hugh  W 473 

Crossfield,    George    W 385 

Croy,  James   B 680 

Culver,    Benjamin    W..    AI.    D.  . .  638 

Curran.    Alichael    641 

Curtin,  Dennis 533 

Dandurant,  Louis  J.,  AI.  D 630 

Daniel,   Owen   378 

Deakins,    John    A 669 

DeClue,   John    467 

Delaney,   Patrick    631 

Demske,    Fred    701 

Deshon,    John    W 412 

Dicken,  David  A 300 

Dobyns,  Rev.  William  R.,  D.  D.  .   537 

Donelan,   E.   A.,   AI.   D 414 

Doniphan,   Col.  John    363 

Donovan,  John    703 

Donovan,  John    700 

Donovan,   William   X 705 

Dowiiev,    Franklin   V 635 

Doyle,  Thomas  H.,  AI.  D 270 

Draut,    Nicholas    P 474 

Drysdale.   William   H 632 

Duncan,    Hon.   John   H 449 

Dutton,  Clifford  C,  D.   D.   S...  657 

Eckel,    Edmond   J 717 

Edwards,    Thomas    403 

Elder,   Jesse   T 304 

Elliott,    Dawson    615 

Englehart.  George  J 52T 

Evans,   Thomas   W 423 

Fairleigh,   Talljott    317 

Fairleigh,   William   G 692 

Farber,  Alark  J.,  AI.  D.,  Ph.  G..  .  484 

Farris,    Jeremiah    AI 456 

Faucett,   Robert    PI 565 

Felt,   John    H 507 

Fenton,   William   R 525 

Feuquay,   Alfred    L 279 

Finley,  James    413 

Fleeman,    John    W 559 


12 


INDEX. 


PAGE 

Fleming.    James    R 583 

Flint,  John   Donovan    32^ 

Flournoy.    John    A 406 

Floyd,    William   H.,    Jr 671 

Flynn,   John   H.,   M.   D 661 

Fogg,    John    F.  . .  ; 598 

Foote,   Clarkson   H 566 

Forsee,  Edgar  B.,  M.  D 263 

Frakes,  Joseph    488 

Frakes,   Mason    497 

Frakes,    Nathan    500 

Frakes,    Richard     468 

Frakes,    William    478 

France,    Charles    B ^53 

France,  J.   M.   D.,   M.   D 3,33 

Frans,  William   H 340 

Frazer,    John    M 652 

Fredericks.    William    C 712 

French.  John  A..  M.  D 689 

Fulkerson,   Hon.   Frank   B 350 

Gabbert,  James 316 

Garner,  Edward  S.,  M.  D 599 

Garrahan.   Peter   318 

Gates,  Col.  Elijah 401 

Gaugh,   John    0 491 

Gaynor,  IMrs.  Jessie  L 684 

Geiger.   Charles   G.,   M.   D 699 

Geiger.   Jacob.   M.   D 315 

Gernandt,    William    587 

Getchell,    Hathon   G 398 

Gibson,  James  A 304 

Gibson,    James    A 639 

Gilman,  George  W 598 

Gilpin,  Edward   B 430 

Gist  &   Hutchings    516 

Gleich,   John    615 

Goetz,    Michael    K 509 

Goff,    Charles    W 609 

Good,  Joseph  R 479 

Grebel,    Hugo    425 

Green,  Samuel  B 511 

Greenard,  Hon.  Alfred  F 354 

Griswold,   Carl   J 295" 

Haefeli,   Capt.    Wernhard    541 

Hagenstein,  Frederick  W 326 

Hall,  Hon.  Willard   P 280 

Hall,  William  G.,  M.  D 629 

Halter,    Anthony    702 

Halter,    John    W 600 

Hamilton,    Cicero    673 

Hammy,    Sylves'ter    528 

Hardcastle,  Verde  V 712 

Harlow,    Frank 323 

Hartigan,   James   W 677 

Hartman,    Jesse    H 690 

Hartwig,    Ernest    F 659 

Hartwig,   Maj.   Henry   R.   W...  517 

Hays,  James  N 494 

Head,    Walter    W 327 

Heaton,    David    E 547 

Hcddens,  James   W.,   M.   D.    ...  t?2 

Heddens.    Williams    I.,   M.   D.  . .  527 

Hefele,   Rev.   Louis    333 

Heim,   Rudolph   F 477 


PAGE 

Hersch.    ^Martin    590 

Hesnault,    Alphonse    366 

Hewitt,  Charles  F 694 

Hickey,    Maurice    303 

Hickox,   Kate  L.,   M.   D 451 

Hicks,    E.    0 722 

Hill,    Hon.   Thomas   J 450 

Hoagland,  George  T 459 

Hoagland,   Theodore   B 447 

Hoffman,   Paul  M 635 

Holloway,  Charles  L.,  M.  D....  607 

Horigan,   James    596 

Horn,  Augustus  W 654 

Huffman,  John   M..   M.  D 395 

Hughes,    Rev.    Martin    624 

Hull,    James    286 

Hundley,    Harr\-    M 492 

Hundley.    John    B 481 

Hurst,    William    514 

Huston,  Hon.  Samuel  P 404 

Hyde,    Anliff    C 531 

Imus,  Clayton  F.,  ]\I.   D 297 

Irvine,   James    M 404 

Irwin,    Charles    S 706 

Isaacson,    John    0 318 

Jackson,   Amor   490 

Jacks'on,    Martin    W 396 

James,  Hon.  William  K 291 

Jamieson.   William   E 647 

Janicke,   Rudolph    568 

Johnson,  Hon.  James'  M 348 

Jones,   Albert  T 718 

Jones,    Amos    L 460 

Jones,    Charles    H 312 

Jones,   Peter  A 418 

Jordan,  Riverda  H.,  B.  A 292 

Judson,    Winslow    309 

Kane,    Patrick    P 641 

Karns.    John    N 419 

Kay,  James    372 

Kearny,    Charles    542 

Keene,    Hon.    Harry    588 

Keller,    Capt.    Charles    F 514 

Keller,  John   C 480 

Kelley,  Hon.  Henry  S.,  LL.  D..  .   359 

Kelly,  Hon.  John   515 

Kemper,  Hon.   Simeon   466 

Kennard,  George  A 306 

Kercheval.  John  Kay   619 

Kernes',    William    M 606 

Kirschner,    John     667 

Kinnaird,   David  M 678 

Kinnison,    William    S 426 

Klos.    Anton    694 

Knapp,    John    Oliver    668 

Krumm,   William,    Sr 577 

Kullman,  Martin  L.,  M.   D 715 

Landis,  Hon.  Jason  H 358 

Lawrence,  John  S 523 

Lay,    Manassa    P.,    Sr 432 

Leach,  William  S.,  M.  D 604 

Lemon,  John  S 503 


PAGE 

Leonard,  Pierre  Isidore,  }»I.  D.  . .   388 

Leslie,    Charles    K 452 

Letts.    George    T 548 

Liliger,   Joseph    618 

Linnencamp.  Rt.  Rev.  C.  H 3or 

Loan,   Gen.   Benjamin    F 709 

Lockwood,  Bartleti  M 532 

Logan,  John   S.,   M.   D 267 

Loutermilch,    Daniel    A 543 

Lower,    Heurj-    M 448 

Lower,    John    W 442 

Lucas,    Caleb    B 394 

Lutz,  Ferdinand    667 

Lykins,    William    C 382 

Lyon,   Capt.   George    674 

McBride,    James'    654 

McCabe,  Alichael  J 379 

McCord,    James    482 

McDaniel,    D.    L 349 

Mclnerny,  Jos'eph  397 

Madinger,    Jacob    623 

Maddox,    David    II 573 

Maddux,  John  'i" 402 

Marker,  George    423 

Marlow,   George    W 298 

Marne\',   E.   L 461 

Marsh,  William   F 584 

Mast,    Fritz    450 

Maxwell,   Edward    536 

May,  Levi  B 543 

Mayer,    John    G 375 

Meierhdffer,    Reinhold    696 

Merriam,  John  F 303 

Michau,  Alfred  500 

Miller,  Prof.  Charles  E 538 

Miller,    John    680 

Miller,   1.   N.,   M.   D 691 

INIiller.    Napoleon    B 642 

Mitchell,    Robert    H 581 

Montgomery,  George  W 525 

Morrison,   Winfield   S.,   M.   D.  . .  594 

Morton,  Daniel,  M.  D 487 

Moss,   Frank  J 614 

Muchenberger,    John    A 638 

Mueller  Brothers   4-56 

Muir,    John    W 387 

Mumford,   George    322 

Murphy,  Thomas  J 339 

Nave,  Samuel   AI 501 

Neely,    Edward    B 283 

Neenan,  William  M.,  M.  D 708 

Netherton,  El  wood  J..  D.  V.  S..  .  670 

Nichols.    Charles    T 332 

Nold,  Charles    696 

Nold,    Charles    H 629 

Nothhouse,   W.   G 347 

Nowland,    Charles'    401 

Nunning,  August   394 

Nunning,  Henry  408 

Owen,   Herbert   A 526 

Owens,  Isaac   376 

Ozcnberger,    Christ    462 

Ozenberger,  Peter  F 465 


IXDEX. 


13 


PAGE 

Page.  George  Washington    589 

Page,   John    \V 439 

Patee.  John   603 

Patrick,   James    E 550 

Patton,   Hon.   Bernard    299 

Patton,  Capt.  John   576 

Peel,  Benjamin   300 

Penick.  Hon.  William  R 445 

Pentz,  William  E.,  M.  D 381 

Perry.  Charles  A 471 

Pfeiffer.    Charles    Anton    357 

Pike,  Vinton   555 

Piner,    Col.   Joseph   A 608 

Plato.   Prof.   Frederick   W 393 

Potter,  George  C,  M.  D 561 

Potter.  Thompson  E.,  ]M.  D 417 

Powell.  Walter  A 716 

Power.  Rev.  James   484 

Prinz.    Edward    A 575 

Pryor,    J.    C 662 

Pyne.    William    D 593 

Rakowski.  Rev.  Wladislaus 549 

Randall.    Loarn    704 

Randolph,  Kendall  B 465 

Raney,   James    ,  567 

Ramey,   Hon.   Henry   'SI 350 

Rapp,  John  F 311 

Redman,  William 377 

Reece.   Bennett 346 

Reynolds.  Yerby  W 493 

Richardson,  John   D 407 

Ridenbaugh.   William    354 

Riley,    Isaac   V 460 

Riley,    James    C 380 

Riley,    John    E 559 

Riley,   ^liranda    C 411 

Roach,   Dndley    489 

Roberts,  Hon.  James  C 310 

Robidoux.    Joseph    265 

Ross,  William  P..  D.   D.   S 578 

Ruegsegger,  Christian  F 702 

Russell.   Col.   Samuel    3;i7 

Rutt,   Chris.  L 273 

Saltzman,  Hon.  Augustus 429 


PAGE 

Sampson.    John    H..    M.    D 456 

Sandusky,   Oliver  A 582 

Sa.xton,    Albe    M 380 

Saxton,  Cj'rus   713 

Scanlon,  ilichael    344 

Schneider.    Ulrich    504 

Schumacher.    Herman    568 

Shepherd,  James  W 603 

Shepherd.  Hon.  William  ^I 474 

Sherwood,    Willis    'Si 510 

Shewmaker,   Hon.  James  P 600 

Shope,    Albert    C 554 

Sidenfaden,    William    673 

Smith,    C.    D 306 

Smith,    Hon.    Oliver    P 683 

Spencer,   Floyd   H.,   'SI.   D 705 

Spencer.    Martin    L 646 

Spencer.  Hon.  Oliver  Martin  .  . .   289 

Spratt,  William  E 411 

Stanley,   Thomas  W 499 

Starmer.    Charles   N 670 

Steele,   Hon.   Dudley  ^I 412 

Steele,    John    R 441 

Steele.    Oliver    C 457 

Stewart.   Hon.   Robert   S\ 347 

Stinson,    Ole    0 315 

St.    Joseph    Commercial    College 

(Christian   Brothers)    594 

St.  Joseph  Gas'  Co..  The 682 

St.   Joseph   Hospital    455 

Street,   Charles   M 431 

Stuart,   Hon.   Benjamin   F 436 

Stuber.  Jacob 606 

Stuppy,    Laurence    J 556 

Tanner,   Conrad.    Sr 630 

Thayer,    Brant   C 489 


Thompson,    Hon.   Charles   SI. 
Thompson.   Gen.    M.   Jeff 

Thrasher,    Earl    L 

Todd,  Luther  A.,   ^L   D. 

Tootle,    Milton    

Tootle,   Milton,  Jr 38. 

Trickett,  John  W 366 

Tullar,    Joseph    H 701 

Turner,  David  A 67 r 


679 

-'85 
704 
636 

345 


PAGE 

Turner,   Richard   E 458 

Tyler,  Col.  John   F 275 

Ullman.    Benjamin    402 

Utz,    William    H 658 

Vanhoozer,   John   A 498 

V^elman,    Dallas    610 

Walker.  Henry  L.,  M.  D 714 

Walker,    James    W 636 

Walsh,    ]\Iichael 715 

Walsh,  Richard 408 

Walter,  !Mrs.  Christina  L 550 

Warner.   William    610 

Weddle,   Harold   C,    D.    D.    S..  438 

Wells.  Emmett  C 718 

Wheeler,  John   W 370 

White,    Robert    J 424 

Whiteford,    John    A 682 

Whittington.   William   W 719 

Williams,   Sirs.   AugUb^a   C 637 

Williams.    William    L 352 

Wilson,   David   M 527 

Wilson,  James  M 616 

Wilson,  James  Madison 296 

Wilson,  Thomas  Wesley   663 

Wise.   Capt.   P.   V 274 

Woodson,   Paul  G 277 

Woodson.  Hon.  Silas   524 

Wright,    Purd    B 452 

Wyatt,  Hon.  Jos'eph  J 266 

Wyatt,    John    C 277 

Wyeth,  Huston   292 

Wyeth.  William  M 391 

Young,    Peter    640 

Young,  Hon.  Waller   681 

Zagrodzky,  Hugo  647 

Zimmer,   John    L 286 

Zimmerman,   Eugene  C 441 


» lllu$iratlons 


PAGE 

Academy  of  the   Sacred  Heart..   546 

Andriano,  Joseph   650 

Ashlirook,    Tliomas    R 476 

Baiulel,  Gottlieb    374 

Bansbacli,    Joseph    J 384 

Baptist  Church,  First   128 

Barnard,  John  Fiske 342 

Bartlett,  William   H 330 

Berghoff,   John   T.,   M.    D 368 

Bishop,  Galen  E.,   M.  D 644 

Bittinger,    Maj.    John    L 496 

Brown.  Charles  W 434 

Buchanan  County  Court  House.  40 

Buchanan  County  Jail   92 

Buchanan  County  Poor  House.  .  92 

Burgess.  Hon.  Thomas  J 352 

Burke.  Rt.  Rev.  ]\Iaurice  Francis  294 

Carrel.  Mr.  and  ]\lrs.  General  \V.  612 
Cathedral  of  St.  Joseph.  The  ...    igS 

Central    Police    Station    150 

Chesnnt.    Hon.    John    T 592 

Chew,  Maj.  Thomas  J.  Jr 320 

Christian       Brothers'"       Collea'e, 

First   t66 

Christian  Church  and  St.  Joseph 

High   School   in   1880 •    76 

City  Flail  and  Market  House.  ...     40 

City  Hospital,  The  First 92 

Congregational     Church.    Taber- 
nacle     128 

Corby  Memorial   Chapel   254 

Corby's    Mill    150 

Cornell,  Horatio   N 570 

Court    [iouse.   First    64 

Court   House,   Second    143 

'"Denver,"   Ferry-Boat    64 

Doniphan,    Col.    John    362 

Downev.    John    M 634 

Dulton',   Clifford   C,    D.   D.   S...  656 

F.dmond    Street    246 

Englehart.  George  J 520 

Evans,   Thomas   W 422 

Faucett,    Robert    H 564 

Felix    Street    246 

Felix    Street    in    1873    1S4 

Felt,  John  H ." 506 

Fifth    Street    22G 


P.\GE 

Fire  Department,  First   Paid   ...     64 

Fleeman,  John   W 558 

Forsee.  lulgar  B..  M.  D 262 

Fourth   Street    226 

Francis  Street   40 

Frederick   Avenue    246 

Free  Public  Library    114 

French,  John  A.,  M.  D 686 

French,    John    A„    .M.    D„    Resi- 
dence of   687 

Gates',    Col.    Elijah 400 

Geiger,  Charles  G.,  M.  D 698 

Gciger,  Jacob,  M.  D 314 

Gernandt,    William    586 

ifaefeli.  Capt.  Wernhard   540 

Hall.  Hon.  Willard  P l 28 

Hall.  William  G.,  ?^I.  D 628 

Hartigan,    James    W^ 676 

House  Where  Jesse  James   Was 

Killed,   The    92 

Hyde.  Anliff  C 530 

Judson,    Winslow     308 

Kay  Residence,  Old  64 

King  Hill,  View  of,  in  1900 210 

Krug  Park,  Entrance  to   104 

Krug  Park,  View  in   104 

Lake  Contrary,  Casino  at   104 

Lake  Contrary,  Scene  on    104 

Live    Stock    Exchange    Buibling  114 

Lover's  Lane   104 

Lutz,    Ferdinand    666 

INIadinger,    Jacob    622 

Market    House    and    City    Hall. 

The    First     147 

Market    Square    40 

Mitchell.  Robert  H ^8o 

Morton,    Daniel,    i\l.    D 486 

Neely,   Edward    B 282 

Oldest  House  in  St.  Joseph,  The    64 
One  Dollar  Bill,  City  Scrip,  The 
First   y6 

Penick,  Hon.  William  R 444 

Perry,  Charles  A 470 

Pfeiffer,  Charles  Anton    356 

Potter.  Thompson  E.,  ]\l.  D 416 


PAGE 

Presbyterian    Church,    First 128 

Protestant      Epis'copal      Church, 

Christ    128 

Randolph,  Kendall  B 464 

Robidoux,  Joseph  28 

Rosenblatt's  Band  in  1868 238 

Rus-sell,  Col.  Samuel  336 

Rutt,  Chris.  L 16 

Saltzman,   Hon.   Augustus    428 

Sanitarium  for  Nervous  Diseases, 

The  Site  of  Dr.  French's'  .  . .  687 

Seventh  Street 246 

Shepherd,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jas.  W. 

and  Family 602 

Sixth    Street    226 

Spencer,  Hon.  Oliver  Martin....   288 

Spratt,   William    E 410 

St.    Joseph    Commercial    College 

(Christian   JJrothers)    198 

St.  Joseph  High  School   114 

St.  Joseph   Hospital    454 

St.   Joseph    School   and    Hospital 

for  Training  Nurses' 687 

St.    Joseph,    View   of,    From    the 

Court   House   54 

St.  Joseph,  View  of.  From  Pros'- 

pect    Hill    54 

St.  Joseph,  View  of,  in  1850  ....    166 

South   St.  Joseph,  View  of    54 

.Southwest   Corner  of  Third  and 

Edmond  in  1880  166 

Starting  for  Leadyille  (1879)...  76 
State  Hospital  for  Insane,  No.  2.  210 
State  Hospital  for  Lisane,  No.  2, 

First   166 

Stewart,  Hon.  Robert  M 28 

Third    Street    226 

Thompson,   Gen.   J\L   Jefif 28 

Turner  Hall,  The  First  238 

Union  Station,  The  First 184 

Union  Station.  The  Present  .  .  .  184 
U.    S.    Post    Office    and    Custom 

House 150 

Water- Works   Pumping  Station.  210 

Woodson,  Hon.  Silas  28 

Wyatt    School     114 

Wyeth,  William  INI 390 

Y.  ]\L  C.  A.  Building 150 


^  jU    /tZUt7 


l)i$torv  of  Buchanan  County 


Jind 


m  €iiy  of  $1.  io$epb 


CHAPTER  1. 


THE  PLATTE  PURCHASE. 


When  AIiss(niri  was  admitted  to  the  L^nion, 
the  western  line  of  the  State  passed  from  the 
corner  of  Arkansas  directly  north  through  the 
month  of  the  Kansas  River  to  the  h)wa  line. 
The  section  of  the  territory  between  the  Mis- 
souri I\i\er  and  the  west  line  of  Alissouri  was 
ceded  to  the  Sac-and-h'ox  and  h)wa_\-  Indians, 
in  the  treat\-  of  Prairie  du  Chien,  ratified  in 
1830,  in  exchang'e  for  certain  lands  in  Wis- 
consin. These  two  tribes,  and  also  a  band  of 
Omahaws  and  a  few  Sioux,  located  along-  the 
banks  of  the  larger  streams  in  the  upper  part  of 
the  strip,  while  the  lower  portion  was  occu[)ied 
by  the  I'ottawatomies,  who  were  removed  from 
Indiana  in   1S33.  after  the  Black  Hawk  War. 

The  g()\ernment  had  places  of  supply  at 
Rock  House,  near  what  is  now  the  town  of 
Agency,  in  Buchanan  County,  and  at  what  is 
now  Bexerly,  in  Platte  County.  Gen.  An- 
drew S.  Hughes  was  the  _go\ernment  ageni. 
1 


(leneral  Hughes  made  his  headquarters  with 
Joseph  Robidoux  in  the  Blacksnake  Hills,  now 
St.  Joseph,  g'oing'  among  the  Indians  only  on 
issue  days. 

The  Indians  were  particularl}-  undesirable 
neighbors  to  the  people  of  the  old  Missouri 
border.  They  were  drunken,  lazy,  (juarrel- 
some,  and  altogether  unworthy  to  occupy  so 
\alual)le  and  so  beautiful  a  territory.  So  ar- 
gued the  white  man,  who  Ijelieved  the  heritage 
to  be  his.  and  who  went  systematically  to  work 
to  secure  it. 

It  was  customar_\-  in  those  times  to  ha\e 
militia  musters  on  certain  days,  and  so  it  came 
to  p'ass  that  a  muster  was  held  at  the  farm  of 
Weakly  Dale,  near  Liberty,  in  Clay  County,  in 
A])ril  of  1835.  At  these  musters  there  were 
speeches,  and  measures  for  the  general  welfare 
were  publicly  debated.  The  Indian  neighbor 
wa-  the  theme  of  a  speech  by  (ieneral  Hughes 


-is 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


on  this  particular  occasion,  and  the  effect  of 
his  oration  was  immediate. 

Recent  correspondence  between  Maj.  John 
Dougherty  of  Clay  County,  then  an  Indian 
asrent,  and  United  States  Senator  Linn,  in  ref- 
erence  to  the  coveted  territory,  was  also  read. 
Major  Dougherty  had  shown  how  the  for- 
mation of  the  boundary  had  inconvenienced 
persons  settling  along  the  border,  in  what  are 
now  DeKalb,  Gentry  or  Worth  counties,,  from 
reaching  the  river  (then  the  only  mode  of  trans- 
portation), w^ithout  traveling  over  a  hundred, 
miles  to  get  below  the  mouth  of  the  Kansas 
River,  when  the  Missouri  could  be  reached  at 
twenty,  thirty  or  fifty  miles  at  Robidoux  or 
Weston,  which  were  the  most  important  river 
points  in  the  Platte  country. 

The  many  streams  capable  of  furnishing 
v^^ater  and  power,  the  rich  soil,  valuable  forests, 
luxuriant  grasses,  wild  fruits,  thousands  of 
wild  flowers,  well-filled  bee  trees,  flocks  of  wild 
deer  and  turkey,  all  had  been  voiced  aloud  until 
the  old  Kentuckians,  Tennesseeans  and  North 
Carolinians  forming  that  military  array,  re- 
solved that  they  must  ha\e  the  strip  without 
delay.  In  fact,  they  started  to  obtain  it  in 
Western  syle,  resolving  that  they  ought  and 
would  have  it,  and  E.  M.  Samuel,  David  R. 
Atchison,  Alexander  W.  Doniphan,  W.  T. 
•Wood  and  Peter  H.  Burnett  were  appointed  a 
committee  to  obtain  it.  But  some  of  those  same 
muster-men,  being  doubtful  about  the  efficacy 
of  negotiation  and  red-tape,  moved  into  the 
new  country  that  fall.  The  government  had 
them  remo\eil  by  soldiers  from  Fort  Leaven- 
worth, but  they  went  back  again,  and  like  the 
more  recent  "sooners"  of  Oklahoma  kept 
themselves  in  evidence  so  as  to  hasten  the  in- 
evitable. 

The  result  was  that  on  September  17,  1836, 
William  Clark  of  the  famous  expedition  of 
Lewis  and  Chirk,  of   1804.  then  agent  for  all 


of  the  Indians  west  of  the  Mississippi  River, 
held  a  council  with  the  Sacs-and-Foxes  and 
loways  at  Fort  Leavenworth,  and  made  a 
treaty  whereby  the  Platte  country  passed  into 
the  hands  of  the  white  ma.i. 

The  Indians  received  $7,500  in  cash  and 
400  sections  of  land  in  what  are  now  Doniphan 
and  Brown  counties,  Kansas.  The  govern- 
ment agreed  to  erect  five  comfortable  houses 
for  the  loways  and  three  for  the  Sacs-and- 
Foxes;  to  provide  for  each  tribe  an  interpreter, 
a  farmer,  a  blacksmith,  an-l  a  schoolmaster;  to 
break  up  200  acres  of  ground  for  each  tribe 
and  to  furnish  each  with  a  ferry-boat;  also  to 
provide  rations  for  one  year  and  agricultural 
implements  for  five  years. 

Th  treaty  was  signed  by  William  Clark, 
superintendent  of  Indian  affairs,  for  the  United 
States.  For  the  loway  Indians  it  was  signed 
by  the  following  chiefs  and  braves :  Mo-hos-ca 
(White  Cloud),  Nau-che-ning  (No  Heart), 
Wa-che-mo-ne  (Orator),  Ne-o-mo-ne  (Rain- 
ing Cloud),  Ne-wan-thaw-chu  (Hair  Shed- 
der),  Man-haw-ka  (Bunch  of  Arrows),  Cha- 
tau-the-ne  (Big  Bull),  Man-o-n^o-ne  (Pump- 
kin), Con-gu  (Plumb),  Wau-thaw-ca-be-chu 
(One  that  Eats  Rats),  Cha-tea-thau  (Buffalo 
Bull),  Cha-ta-ha-ra-wa-re  (Foreign  Buffalo). 

The  following  signed  for  the  Sacs-and- 
Foxes:  Ca-ha-qua  (Red  Fox),  Pe-shaw-ca 
(Bear),  Pe-cau-ma  (Deer),  Ne-bosh-ca-na 
(Wolf),  Ne-squi-in-a  (Deer),  Ne-saw-au-qua 
(Bear).  Qua-co-ousi-si  (Wolf),  Suquil-la 
(Deer),  .As-ke-pa-ke-ka-as-a  (Green  Lake), 
Wa-pa-se  (Swan),  No-cha-tau-wa-ta-sa 
(Star),  Can-ca-car-mack  (Rock  Bass),  Sea- 
sa-ho  (Sturgeon),  Pe-a-chim-a-car-mack 
(Bald-Headed  Eagle),  Pe-a-chim-a-car-mack, 
Jr.  (Bald  Headed  Eagle). 

The  fallowing  citizens  of  Missouri  signed 
as  witnesses:  S.  W.  Kearn}',  John  Dougherty, 
A.  S.  Hughes,  George  R.  H.  Clark,  William 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


19 


Duncan,  Joseph  V.  Hamilton,  Joseph  Robi- 
(loux,  Jr.,  Wilham  Bowman,  Jefifry  Dorion, 
Peter  Constine,  Jacques  Mette,  Louis  M.  Da- 
\-i(lson. 

Thus  was  the  Platte  Purchase  made  and 
l)ecame  part  of  Missouri.  The  red  man  was 
told  to  move  on,  and  resumed  his  pilgrimage 


toward  the  setting  sun,  and  the  white  man 
promptly  built  his  cabin  where  the  Indian's 
tepee  erst  had  stood.  The  counties  of  Platte, 
Buchanan,  Andrew,  Holt,  Nodaway  and  Atchi- 
son were  carved  out  of  the  territory  thus  ac- 
quired. 


CHAPTER  H. 


PIONEER  CONDITIONS  IN   BVCHANAN  COUNTY. 

j'lRST  Settlers — Location  and  Xatlkal  Advantac.i:, —  kivEKs,  Creeks  and  J, a  res 
— Pioneer  Life — First  Dwellings — Primitive  I\  uniture  and  Frugal  FL\bits 
— One-Legged  Bedstead — Rye  Coffee,  the  Horse-Power  Mill,  the  Hominy 
Block  and  the  Critter — \\'ild  Meat  and  Wild  Honey — Laborious  and  Other 
Amusements^ — Description-  of  the  Society  of  the  Early  Days  in  Missouri. 


When  in  the  siininier  of  ']H2f)  Joseph 
Rohidoux  i)nshe(l  the  nose  of  his  keel-boat  into 
the  nioutli  of  the  creek  now  called  Roy's 
Blanch,  he  began  the  histoi'}-  of  Bnchanan 
county,  so  far  as  concerns  the  white  man,  at 
least.  The  red  man  had  made  histor}-.  too, 
in  Ins  own  way.  among"  tlie  Blacksnake  Hills 
and  \alle}s.  but  he  took  it  with  him  when  he 
crosse;!  the  ri\er.  and  it  is  buried  with  him 
f(jre\"er,  as  are  his  weapons  and  his  wampum. 

Rohidoux  remained  undisturbed  while  the 
soldiers  from  l'\jrt  Le.ivenworth  were  raiding 
this  section  for  squatters,  prior  to  the  purchase. 
As  soon  as  the  treat}-  was  made,  and  even  be- 
fore the  Indians  had  taken  up  their  march  to 
oilier  hunting  grounds,  the  tide  of  immigration 
to  Buchanan  County  set  in. 

History  mentions  onl\-  a  few  settlers  who 
escaped  the  \igilance  of  the  soldiers.  Rohi- 
doux and  his  men  were  here  by  permission  of 
the  goxernment.  One  of  the  trespassers  was 
John  b'lliott.  who  came  from  Kentucky  in  1833 
and  located  this  side  of  the  former  State  line, 
in  what  is  now  Platte  township.  When  drixen 
off.  he  moveil  over  the  line,  but  continued  to 
cul'.ix'ate  the  land   on  this  side.      Another  was 


Hiram  Roberts,  who  located  in  the  \icinity  fjf 
what  is  now  DeKalb.  in  1836.  and  who  was 
o\-erlooked  by  the  soldiers.  He  remained  in 
undisturbed  i)ossession  until  the  annexation 
and  resided  in  the  neighborhood  until  his  death, 
in  1881.  Absalom  Enyard  of  Clay  County 
located  in  what  is  now  the  center  of  Platte 
township  in  1836  and  built  a  small  cabin,  but 
was  soon  ejected.  He  had  been  \isited  b_\- 
Judge  W'eston  J.  Everett  of  Clay  Count}-,  wlio 
was  seeking  a  kxation,  and  who  was  so  faxor- 
ably  impressed  that  when  the  Platte  Purcliase 
was  completed  he  bought  Enyard's  cabin,  and. 
in  February  of  1837.  took  possession  under 
the  homestead  laxx.  Judge  Everett  xxas  fol- 
lowed in  a  fexx'  xxeeks  by  Absalom  Munk-ers. 

l'"rom  1837  to  1840  there  xxas  a  st:\'ul}-  iu- 
dux  of  settlers  and  the  development  of  the 
country  progressed  rapidly.  Immigrants  c:une 
from  the  neighboring  counties  and  from  Ken- 
tucky, Ohio.  Indiana.  Tennessee,  North  Caro- 
lina and  \'irginia. 

Because  of  the  early  enx-ironments.  most  of 
these  took  naturally  to  the  timljered  districts 
that  skirted  the  streams.  This  xvas  practical, 
too.  for  the  earlv  settler  retiuired  woorl  for  his 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


21 


liouses,  his  fences  and  his  fuel.  Transporta- 
tion was  an  item  of  great  moment,  for  there 
were  no  raih'oads  and  few  steamboats  in  those 
days. 

Among"  the  most  aljundant  trees  was  the 
black  walnut.  However,  the  later  demand  for 
this  wood  in  the  manufacture  of  furniture  was 
so  great  that  the  forests  fell  before  the  axe, 
and  now  there  is  but  little  of  it  left.  A  line  of 
timber  still  follows  the  course  of  all  streams, 
and  detached  groves,  natural  and  artificial,  are 
found  throughout  the  country. 

Buchanan  County  is  situated  in  latitude 
39  degrees  47  minutes  north,  and  longitude 
94  degrees  55  minutes  west.  Its  altitude  is 
about  1,000  feet  above  sea-level,  and  it  is  about 
400  feet  above  Chicago  and  600  feet  above  St. 
Louis.  The  highest  point  in  the  county  is 
the  hill  upon  which  are  located  the  reservoirs 
of  the  St.  Joseph  Water  Company.  It  is  320 
feet  above  low-water  mark  in  the  Missouri 
River  and  is  situated  two  and  one-half  miles 
north  of  St.  Joseph. 

The  surface  away  from  the  streams  is 
gently  undulating  prairie,  and  there  is  a  won- 
derful diversity  of  country  for  so  small  an 
area.  Few,  if  any,  counties  in  the  State  pos- 
sess better  natural  drainage,  and  there  is  con- 
sequently but  little  waste  land.  Nor  could  any 
improvement  be  made  over  nature  in  the  dis- 
tribution of  the  water  ccjurses.  The  Platte 
River  is  a  fine  stream,  as  is  also  the  One  Hun- 
dred and  Two  River.  The  name  of  this  stream 
is  somewhat  a  puzzle.  One  authority  asserts 
that  is  it  102  miles  in  length.  Another  author- 
ity claims  that  it  was  so  named  because  when 
the  river  was  first  seen  by  the  sur\-eyors  who 
were  locating  a  military  road,  the  distance  from 
]*"ort  Leavenworth  was  102  miles,  and  they 
named  it  according  to  custom — '"Ten  Mile 
Creek,"  "Fortv  Mile  Creek,"  etc.,  being  sim- 
ilar instances.   Bee.  Casteel,  Maiden,  Sugar  and 


Contrary  creeks  and  their  \arious  forks  and 
feeders  are  all  \aluable  and  ne\er-failing 
streams.  f 

Besides  these,  there  are  numerous  lakes, 
bordering  the  Missouri  Ri\er.  Ccjntrary.  the 
most  extensive  and  beautiful  of  these,  is  located 
al;out  three  miles  southwest  of  St.  Joseph.  It 
receives  its  name  from  Contrary  Creek,  which 
empties  into  it,  Contrary  Creek  being  so  called 
because  it  Hows  north,  contrary  to  the  course 
of  the  Miss(juri  Ri\er.  Sugar  Lake,  in  Rush 
township,  is  partly  in  Buchanan  and  partly  in 
Platte  counties.  It  is  a  picturesque  sheet  of 
water.  Then  there  are  Singleton,  Horseshoe, 
Muskrat  and  Mud  lakes.  Contrarv  and  Sugar 
lakes  are  fruitful  ice  fields,  the  me:it-])acking 
concerns  of  Kansas  City  and  St.  Joseph  draw- 
ing supplies  largely  from  them. 

That  the  climate  is  healthful  is  best  known 
to  those  who  dwell  here.  In  fact,  almost  the 
whole  of  the  Platte  Purchase  is  singularly  free 
from  consumption,  asthma,  bronchitis  and  the 
diseases  most  dreaded  in  the  Eastern  States. 
The  air  is  dry  and  pure  and  the  malarial  fevers 
so  common  to  Western  and  Southern  States 
are  confined  to  the  river  bottoms  and  are  com- 
paratively mild. 

The  early  settlers  found,  besides  timber  and 
water,  an  easy  and  productive  soil.  lo  these 
advantages  the  sturdy  pioneer  had  but  to  apply 
his  energies,  and  the  reward  was  certain. 
Hence  the  wealthy  farmers  of  to-day  who.se 
ba-oad  acres  and  ample  houses,  whose  grand 
orchards  and  blooded  live  stock  are  but  the 
primitive  establishments  of  the  early  settler 
am])lified  and  developed,  step  by  step,  from 
generation  t(i  generation,  by  industr}-  and 
thrift,  aided  by  natural  conditions  and  a  con- 
stant benediction  in  the  climate.  It  can  be 
truthfully  said  that  there  has  never  been  a  total 
failure  of  crops  in  the  Platte  Purcliase. 

l^ioneer  life  in  Buchanan  County  was  quite 


22 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


like  pioneer  life  elsewhere  in  the  We^t.  The 
first  settlers  were  plain,  hospitable,  brave,  gen- 
erous people.  They  were  good  neighbors, 
bound  together  \\ith  a  strong  bond  of  sym- 
pathy, which  made  one  man's  interest  every 
other  man's  interest  also,  and  e\ery  man's  pro- 
tection lay  in  the  good  will  and  friendship  of 
those  about  him. 

The  first  dwellings  of  the  white  man  in  this 
country  were  a  cross  between  Indian  bark  huts 
and  "hoop  cabins,"  for  it  took  a  number  of  men 
to  build  a  log  house.  The  settlers  generally  lo- 
cated in  bunches,  for  mutual  protection,  and 
when  three  or  four  families  had  formed  a  com- 
munity, they  began  the  building  of  log  houses, 
each  assisting  the  other.  The  logs  were  round, 
notched  together  at  the  corners.  The  cabins 
were  roofed  with  poles  covered  with  split 
boards.  A  puncheon  floor  was  laid  and  a 
chimney  made  of  sticks  and  mud.  The  door 
was  of  clapboard,  and  a  window  was  provided 
by  cutting  out  a  log  in  the  side  and  inserting 
glass  or  covering  it  with  greased  ])aper.  The 
house  was  then  chinked  and  daulied  with  mud, 
and  A\  as  ready  for  the  occupant. 

The  furniture  consisted  generally  of  the 
one-legged  bedstead,  a  rude  table,  a  few  plain 
chairs  and  an  assortment  of  pots  and  pans  for 
cooking  the  food  at  the  fire-place,  there  being 
no  stoves.  The  one-legged  bedstead  w  as  made 
by  cutting  a  stick  the  proper  length  and  boring- 
holes  in  the  edge  to  correspond  with  holes  in  a 
log  of  the  cal)in.  Rounds  of  wood  were  in- 
serted into  the  corresponding  holes,  and  what 
resemblerl  a  ladder  in  a  horizontal  position  was 
supported  on  one  corner  by  a  leg.  the  other  end 
and  one  side  being  fastened  to  the  walls.  Bark 
was  woven  into  the  rounds,  and  upon  this  prim- 
itive structure  the  bed  was  laid. 

The  manner  of  living  was  extremely 
simple.  For  some  years  th.e  onlv  mills  were 
propelled  by  horse  power,  each  customer  fur- 


nishing his  own  power.  There  were  no  roads 
and  the  grain  was  carried  m  sacks,  horseback. 
In  the  first  years  very  little  wheat  was  grown, 
corn  being  the  only  grain.  The  hominy  block, 
an  improvised  mortar,  made  by  cutting  a  hole 
into  the  stump  of  a  large  tree,  and  using  a 
heavy  timber  as  a  pestle,  was  one  way  of  pro- 
ducing meal  for  bread.  Another  instrument 
was  the  "gritter,"  made  by  punching  holes  into 
a  piece  of  tin,  which  was  then  nailed  to  a  board, 
rough  side  out,  and  upon  which  green  or  pre- 
viously softened  corn  was  rubbed  into  a  pulp 
and  then  baked  into  bread  or  ash  cakes. 

Rye  and  corn  meal  parched  were  often  a 
substitute  for  cofifee,  and  sassafras  root  pro- 
duced a  palatable  substitute  for  "store  tea." 
Game  Avas  plenty,  especially  deer,  elk,  wild 
turkeys,  prairie  chickens,  and  even  bear,  so  that 
there  was  no  scarcity  of  meat  until  the  hog- 
could  be  turned  into  pork. 

The  clothing  was  homespun,  made  by  the 
women  of  the  household — "jeans"  for  the  men 
and  "linsey-woolsey"  for  the  maids  and  ma- 
trons. Hunting  shirts  and  pantaloons  of 
dressed  buckskin  were  also  worn  by  men.  The 
linsey  and  jeans  for  every  day  use  were  colored 
with  hickory  or  walnut  bark,  and  those  for 
Simday  wear  were  dyed  in  indigo.  A  full  suit 
of  blue  jeans  was  considered  a  fine  dress. 

It  required  great  industry  and  rigid  econ- 
omy to  make  a  plain  living  in  those  times.  Iron 
and  salt,  two  very  necessary  articles,  were 
high  priced  and  difificult  to  obtain.  The  pio- 
neers had  no  money,  as  a  rule,  and  for  the  first 
few  years  had  nothing  to  sell  except  .skins,  wild 
honey  and  beeswax.  Along  the  streams  there 
were  many  hollow  trees  in  which  wikl  bees 
had  deposited  their  honey,  and  these  were  eag- 
erly sought. 

There  were  amusements,  too.  Log-rolling 
was  a  laborious  sport.  Rail-splitting  was  an- 
other.    The  women  had  (iuilting  parties  while 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


23 


the  men  enjoyed  themselves  with  the  logs  and 
the  rails,  and  in  the  evening  there  was  gener- 
ally a  dance,  if  a  tiddler  could  be  had,  or  games 
of  various  kinds,  as  in  other  primitive  com- 
munities. In  fact,  the  history  of  the  early  set- 
tlers of  Kentucky,  Tennessee  and  Indiana  was 
repeated  in  Missouri. 

In  a  few  years  the  pioneers  of  Buchanan 
County  showed  much  progress,  and  in  five 
years  after  the  country  was  opened  for  settle- 
memt  there  were  several  saw  and  flouring 
mills,  roads  and  other  improvements. 

'H  '1^  'T* 

A  description  of  the  society  of  the  early 
days  in  Missouri,  written  by  the  Rev.  Moses 
E.  Lard,  that  appeared  in  Lard's  Quar- 
terly in  December,  1863.  is  not  only 
a  graphic  sketch  of  the  times,  Ijut  a 
gem  of  English  composition.  It  appeared 
in  an  article  entitled  '']\Iy  First  Meet- 
ing." This  meeting  was  held  at  Haynesville, 
Clinton  County,  Missouri,  and  the  description 
may  be  accepted  as  a  true  picture  of  the 
social  and  religious  life  and  thought  of  this 
part  of  the  State  at  an  early  time. 

Rev.  Moses  E.  Lard  was  himself  a  re- 
markable character.  He  was  a  journeyman 
tailor  in  Liberty,  IMissouri,  wdien  General 
Doniphan  became  interested  in  him  and,  not- 
ing his  burning  thirst  for  knowdedge,  sent  him 
to  college,  where  he  was  educated  for  the  min- 
istry. He  became  a  great  leader  in  the  Chris- 
tian Church  and  was  for  some  years  a  preacher 
in  St.  Joseph.  His  father  was  a  forest  dw^eller, 
pioneer  and  a  hunter.  A  daughter  of  Rev. 
Moses  E.  Lard  married  Governor  Silas  Wood- 
son. In  this  article,  "My  First  Meeting,"  oc- 
cur the  following  descriptive  passages : 

"Most  men  in  the  neighborhood  could  read 
Chronicles  by  spelling-  half  the  words,  while  all 
had  either  read  Bun}'an  and  eighth  of  Ro- 
mans, or  heard  them  read.     Bunyan  supplied 


them  with  experiences,  Romans  with  texts  to 
prove  predestination;  the  former  enjoyed  the 
favor  and  afifection,  the  latter,  the  authority. 
On  Sundays  most  of  the  country  flocked  to 
meeting,  the  wags  to  swap  horses  and  whittle, 
and  to  bet  on  the  coming  races ;  the  Christians, 
as  was  fitting-,  to  hear  the  sermon,  and  relate 
their  experiences.  The  sermon  was  sure  to  be 
on  foreknowledge  or  free-will,  and  to  contain 
a  definition  of  eternity;  the  experiences  em- 
braced reminiscences  of  headless  apparitions, 
or  voices  of  pulseless  corpses  wrapped  in  cotifin 
sheets.     *     *     * 

"The  country  pedagogue  of  those  unregen- 
erate  days  also  merits  a  paragraph.  He  was 
generall}'  a  chuiTy  man,  five  feet  six,  with  gray 
hair,  and  fine  girth — a  man  who  cracked  of 
definite  articles,  copulative  conjunctions,  Hoog- 
ley's  bay.  and  ciphering;  could  tell  the  day  of 
the  month  l)y  the  almanac,  and  brogue  your 
moccasins ;  pulled  teeth,  bled  and  puked  the 
neighl^ors :  took  grog  with  you  wdien  dry ; 
wrote  your  will,  and  prayed  for  you  when 
dying.  He  was  deacon  in  the  church,  justice 
of  the  peace,  auctioneer  and  general  counselor 
at  law,  prescribed  for  govit  and  Cancer,  and 
was  a  robust  believer  in  witchcraft;  he  was 
always  elected  captain  on  muster  days,  gave 
advice  in  bad  cases  of  rupture  and  hair-lip ;  w^as 
president  of  the  debating  club,  judge  at  shoot- 
ing-matches, held  children  when  christened, 
and  gave  lectures  as  to  die  best  time  in  the 
moon  to  salt  meat  and  plant  snaps.  In  the 
schoolroom  he  was  a  philosopher  and  a  tyrant, 
made  but  few  impressions  on  the  mind,  left 
manv  on  the  back,  taught  the  bovs  to  make 
manners,  and  the  girls  to  curtesy;  at  noon 
played  bull-pen,  knucks,  and  hull-gull ;  and  at 
other  times  was  a  gentleman  and  an  astrologer, 

"The  corn-shucking  of  these  days  'lang 
syne'  must  not  be  forgotten  in  this  brief  sketch. 
This  was  an  occasion  which  always  brought 


24 


HISTORY  OF    J'.L'CHAXAX    COUNTY   AND   ST.    TOSEPH 


the  whole  neighborhood  together.  The  women 
met  to  brag  on  their  l)abies.  drink  stew,  knit, 
and  discuss  the  best  method  of  setting  bhie-d3^e; 
the  men  to  shuck  corn,  take  rye,  recount  battles 
with  bruin,  and  tell  of  long  shots  at  deer;  the 
boys  to  spark  and  blush:  and  the  girls  to  ogle 
and  fall  in  kne. 

'"Xcxt  to  the  corn-shucking,  the  winter  i 
quilting  and  hoe-downs  were  the  pride  of  this  , 
long  past.  These  were  my  delight.  In  the 
quilting  you  sat  close  beside  your  l)onnie  lassie; 
in  the  hoe-down  you  touched  her  hand,  and 
saw  her  ankle.  This  over,  you  made  love  to 
her  in  the  corner,  while  she  slapped  your  jaws, 
and  pouted.  But  to  me  the  chief  attraction  at 
the  quilting  was  the  huge  stacks  of  ])umpkin 
pies  which  graced  it,  of  which  1  am  not  con- 
scious at  this  sitting  that  I  ever  had  enough. 
*     *      * 

"At  the  time  of  my  meeting  great  ad- 
vances had  been  made  on  these  times.  The 
men  had  ceased  to  wear  buckskin,  the  women 
•dressed  in  calico,  and  drank  green  tea ;  ghosts 
were  more  rare,  and  Drew  Iiad  migrated.  Tents 
•covered  with  elm  bark  were  now  quite  out  of 
fashion,  boots  were  occasionally  seen,  the  men 
used  handkerchiefs,  and  the  women  side- 
combs.  Soap  was  no  longer  a  myth  to  chil- 
dren,   though    starched   bosoms    still    attracted 


much  attention.  The  boys  had  now  begun  to 
carry  riding  wliips,  to  chew,  and  the  girls  to 
flirt.  The  more  able  families  could  afford 
tables  and  biscuit  on  Sunday  morning,  while 
almost  all  had  learned  whai  sausage  and  spare- 
ril)s  mean.  Buggies  and  steamships  were  still 
fabulous  things,  while  cock-fighting  and  log- 
rolling had  fallen  into  desuetude. 

"A  shingled  roof  and  a  brick  stack  were 
not  now  absolutely  unknown,  and  men  used 
chains  instead  of  withes  in  plowing.  The 
use  of  pins  was  altogether  abandoned,  and  fish 
were  caught  with  hooks  as  in  other  countries. 
Balls  had'  taken  the  place  of  the  hoe-bown,  the 
fiddle  that  of  juber;  horns  were  all  the  fashion, 
and  grog  was  ne\'er  named.  The  Christians 
discussed  the  mode  of  baptism,  the  operation  of 
the  spirit,  and  infant  church  membership,  as 
in  other  decent  countries;  they  only  denied  the 
existence  of  Styx,  and  the  revolution  of  the 
earth ;  the  old  preachers  kept  on  their  coats 
while  preaching,  and  took  a  little  only  when 
feeling  bad.  A  young  man  no  longer  consulted 
a  witch  when  he  wanted  a  wife,  but  went  di- 
rectly to  his  sweetheart;  invalids  t(n)k  henbane, 
boneset,  and  composition  for  diseases  of  the 
spine  and  fits,  and  Weakly  Dale  cured  warts  by 
hocus-p<)cus."     *     *     * 


CHAPTER  III. 


FORMATION  OF  BUCHANAN  COUNTY  AND  ITS  COURTS. 


First  Col'Xtv  Court,  Sheriff  and  Surveyor — Formation  of  Townships  —  First 
"Election — First  County  Seat  and  Court  House — Removal  of  County  Seat 
From  Sparta  to  St.  Joseph — Courts  and  Judges. 


In  December.  1838.  the  General  Assembly 
of  Missouri  passed  an  act  providing'  for  the  or- 
g;anization  of  Platte  and  Buchanan  tounties. 
James  Buchanan,  afterwards  President,  at  that 
time  represented  the  United  States  at  the  coui"t 
of  St.  Petersburg.  He  w.is  a  popular  idol  at 
home,  and  this  county  was  named  in  his  honor. 

The  creative  act  authorized  the  Governor 
to  appoint  three  judges  of  the  County  Court 
and  a  sheriff,  to  serve  until  the  general  election 
in  1840:  also  a  surveyor.  The  act  provided 
ft)r  a  commission  to  locate  i-  permanent  seat  of 
government,  naming  Peter  B.  Fulkerson  and 
Armstrong  McClintock  of  Clinton  and  Leon- 
ard Brassfield  of  Clay  County  as  commis- 
sioners. It  provided  also  that  until  this  com- 
mission had  acted,  the  seat  of  government 
should  be  at  the  house  of  Richard  Hill.  The 
regular  terms  of  the  County  Court  were  fixed 
for  the  first  Mondays  in  I'ebruary,  May,  Au- 
gust and  No\'ember,  but  the  court  was  per- 
mitted to  hold  special  sessions. 

Buchanan  County  was  made  part  of  the 
Twelfth  Senatorial  District,  part  of  the  First 
Judicial  District  and  part  of  the  Twelfth  Ju- 
dicial Circuit,  and  the  regular  terms  of  the  Cir- 
cuit Court  were  fixed  for  the  second  Mondavs 


of  April.  August  and  December.  County  and 
District  courts  were  authorized  to  appoint 
clerks. 

Governor  Lilburn  W.  Boggs  appointed 
Samuel  Johnson.  William  Harrington  and 
William  Curl  as  the  first  judges  of  the  Bu- 
chanan County  Court  and  Samuel  Gihnore  as 
the  first  sheriff'.  This  court  met  at  the  house 
of  Richard  Flill.  near  the  site  of  old  Sparta,  on 
the  first  ]\Ionday  in  April,  1839.  and  organized 
by  electing  Mr.  Johnson  as  presiding  judge  and 
appointing  \Yilliam  Fowler  clerk. 

The  first  business  of  the  court  was  the  sub- 
di\-ision  of  the  county  into  municipal  town- 
ships. This  was  no  small  task  and  underwent 
remodeling  several  times  l)efore  it  was  found 
satisfactory.  Platte,  Tremont,  Marion.  Lewis, 
Xoble.  Jefferson.  Nodaway.  Atchison.  Bloom- 
ington.  Washington.  Crawford.  Wayne  and 
Center  are  mentioned  in  the  early  records. 
However,  the  court,  at  its  first  session,  ordered 
an  election  of  two  justices  of  the  peace  and  one 
constal)le  for  each  township,  and  specifically 
mentioned  the  following :  Platte.  Tremont, 
Marion,  Bloomington.  Crawford.  Noble, 
Lewis.  Nodaway  and  Jefferson.  In  1842  we 
find    10   townships:    Bloomington,    Crawford, 


26 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY   AND   ST.    JOSEPH 


Platte,  Treniont.  Marion,  Jackson,  Washing- 
ton, Rnsli,  Wayne  and  Center.  As  the  popula- 
tion increased  it  became  necessar}'  fmni  time 
to  time  to  change  the  bonndaries,  nntil  the  pres- 
ent snl)(hvision  into  12  townships  was  reached. 
We  ha\c  now  Washington,  Marion.  Lake. 
Wayne,  Center,  Agency,  Tremont,  Rush, 
Bloomington.  Crawford,  Jackson  and  Platte. 
The  Connty  Conrt  met  alternately  at  Mr.  Hill's 
house  and  at  the  house  of  Joseph  Robidoux  at 
Blacksnake  Hills. 

Matthew  M.  Hughes,  who  had  been  ap- 
pointed by  Governor  Boggs  to  survey  Bu- 
chanan County,  made  his  report  to  the  County 
Court  on  January  8,  1840.  "I  commenced  on 
the  northwest  corner  of  Platte  County,"  he 
says,  "in  the  center  of  the  main  channel  of 
the  Missouri  River,  and  ran  u])  the  same,  with 
its  various  meanders,  forty-two  miles  and  fifty- 
two  chains,  which  constitutes  the  western 
boundary  of  your  county ;  thence  I  ran  a  due 
east  course,  marking  each  fore  and  aft  tree 
with  a  blaze  and  two  chops,  and  trees  on  each 
side  in  the  way  pointing  to  the  line,  of  fourteen 
miles  and  twenty-seven  chains  to  a  stake  in  the 
old  State  line,  or  the  line  of  Clinton  County, 
which  constitutes  your  northern  boundary; 
then  south  twenty  miles  and  fifty-two  chains 
along  said  line  to  the  northeast  corner  of  Platte 
Countw  which  constitutes  your  eastern  boun- 
dary ;  thence  west  ak^ig  the  line  of  Platte 
County  twenty-seven  miles  and  forty-seven 
chains,  whicli  constitutes  your  southern  l)oun- 
dary,  containing  four  hundred  s(|uare  nn'les." 
For  all  this  work  the  court  paid  Mr.  Plughes 
$94. 

The  commissioners  appointed  by  Governor 
Boggs  to  select  a  seat  of  justice  did  not  act 
until  May  26.  1840.  On  that  day  they  met 
the  County  Court  at  Mr.  Hill's  house  and,  after 
going  carefully  over  the  ground,  selected  for 
the  seat  of  justice  the  scnitheast  quarter  of  sec- 


tion 21,  township  56,  range  35.  This  land  is 
now  owned  and  cultivated  bv  William 
McCauley. 

Anticipating  the  decision  of  the  commis- 
sioners a  small  settlement  had  been  made.  The 
commissioners  named  the  new  county  seat 
"Benton"  in  honor  of  Senator  Thomas  H.  Ben- 
ton, but  this  did  not  meet  with  popular  ap- 
pro\-al,  and  at  the  August  term  the  County 
Court  changed  the  name  to  Sparta. 

Ha\ing  a  seat  of  justice  Buchanan  County 
must,  of  course,  have  a  Court  House.  A  log 
structure  was  erected,  which  is  mentioned 
more  extensively  in  another  chapter.  In  1842 
$6,000  was  appropriated  for  a  substantial 
Court  House,  but  this  was  never  built  at 
Sparta. 

\Miile  Sparta  was  near  the  center  of  the 
county,  the  principal  trading  point  was  at 
Blacksnake  Hills.  A  petition,  signed  by  956 
(being  three-fifths)  of  the  ta^^ble  citizens,  ask- 
ing for  the  removal  of  tlie  county  seat,  was  pre- 
sented to  the  Connty  Court  at  the  February 
term  in  1843,  ^'^'^^  t^"*^  court  appointed  Winslow 
Turner,  James  Hull  and  James  Kuykendall  to 
select  a  site.  These  gentlemen  reported  on  July 
4,  1843,  stating  that  they  had  selected  the 
southwest  quarter  of  section  8,  township  57, 
range  35,  "the  same  being  on  the  Missouri 
River  at  the  Blacksnake  Hills." 

This  quarter  section  had  been  preempted 
by  Joseph  Robidoux  and  he  lost  no  time  in 
platting  the  town  of  St.  Joseph  after  this  re- 
port. At  the  election  that  followed,  a  major- 
itv  voted  for  the  removal  of  the  covmtv  seat  to 
the  Blacksnake  Hills,  but  the  measure  failed 
because  the  claim  of  the  county  to  the  quarter 
section  above  mentioned  was  not  sustained  by 
the  Circuit  Court.  Robidoux  had  a  prior 
right. 

In  the  fall  of  1844  a  majority  of  all  the  vot- 
ers in  the  county  petitioned  the  Legislature,  and 


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AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


29 


an  act  was  passed  in  March.  1845,  i-"^<^^er  which 
succeeding  elections  were  held  for  the  removal 
of  the  county  seat. 

The  commissioners  provided  by  the  Legis- 
lature met  in  St.  Joseph  on  ]\lay  24.  1845. 
Joseph  Robidoux,  who  objected  to  giving  his 
entire  town-site  to  the  county,  was  inclined  to 
be  liberal,  however,  and  donated  all  of  block 
48,  the  site  of  the  present  Court  House.  This 
\vas  acceptetl  by  the  commissioners. 

The  Legislature  had  also  provided  for  the 
reimbursement  of  tlie  holders  of  lots  in  Sparta, 
To  assist  in  doing  this,  Frederick  W.  Smith 
donated  one  block  of  ground  in  St.  Joseph  and 
Elias  F.  Wells  donated  two  lots.  John  Patee 
donated  three  acres  of  land  and  Samuel  C.  Hall 
20  acres.  To  further  aid  this  movement,  the 
citizens  of  St.  Jt)seph  subscribed  about  $1,000 
in  mone}-. 

The  lands  donated  were  sold  for  $1,370.50. 
They  are  to-day  among  the  best  property  in  St. 
Joseph  and  are  easily  worth  $300,000.  The 
amount  thus  secured  covered  the  liability  to  the 
Spartans  by  a  narrow  margin,  for  of  the 
$2,370.50,  it  required  $2,185. 

On  December  24.  1845,  ^^^  election  was 
held  to  ratify  the  action  of  the  commissioners. 
St.  Joseph  received  1,037  votes  and  Sparta  541. 
The  County  Court  held  that  this  vote  did  not 
decide  the  question  in  favor  of  St.  Joseph,  con- 
tending that  a  majority  of  all  free  white  male 
inhabitants  taxable,  over  the  age  (^f  21  years, 
was  required,  and  holding  that  there  was  no 
such  majority  for  St.  Joseph. 

The  court  at  once  ordered  another  election 
for  P"ebruary  28.  1846.  The  Spartans  had 
been  inspired  with  new  hope  and  worked  vigor- 
ously to  defeat  the  aspirations  of  St.  Joseph. 
There  were  speeches,  the  press  was  brcjught 
into  active  use  and  people  made  a  personal 
matter  of  the  contest.  Fortune  favored  St. 
Joseph  tjiis  time  with  1.164  votes  against  455 


for  Sparta.  The  county  seat  was  at  once  re- 
moved to  St.  Joseph.  The  lot  owners  in  Sparta, 
having  been  reimbursed,  moved  off  and  the 
land  reverted  to  the  legal  holders. 


Tlic  Circuit  Court. — As  previously  stated 
in  this  chapter,  Buchanan  County  was  attached 
to  the  Fifth  Judicial  Circuit,  and  it  therefore 
became  the  distinguished  duty  of  Hon.  Austin 
A.  King  of  Ray  County,  the  judge  of  the  Fifth 
district  aforesaid,  to  hold  the  first  session  of  the 
Circuit  Court. 

On  February  16,  1839,  Judge  King  com- 
missioned Edwin  Toole  of  Blacksnake  Hills  as 
clerk  of  the  Circuit  Court,  to  hold  said  office 
until  his  successor  should  be  elected  at  the  gen- 
eral election  in  i'840. 

On  July  J  5.  1839,  Judge  King  opened 
court  at  the  house  of  Joseph  Robidoux  at 
Blacksnake  Hills,  through  the  proclamation  of 
Samuel  Gilmore,  "high  sheriff  in  and  for  said 
county." 

Both  Civil  and  criminal  cases  were  con- 
sidered at  this  term,  the  first  case  docketed  be- 
ing Andrew  S.  Hughes  vs.  Ishmael  Davis,  a 
petition  in  debt.  This  case  was  dismissed  at 
the  plaintiff's  cost.  There  was  also  an  assault 
and  battery  case,  and  the  grand  jury  returned 
indictments  against  2t^  pioneers  who  had 
whiled  away  monotony  and  money  in  the  na- 
tional game  of  poker.  Several  merchants  were 
indicted  for  doing  business  without  license. 

Little  was  accomplished,  however,  at  the 
first  term  of  court,  most  of  the  cases  being  con- 
tinued to  the  November  term,  when  the  game- 
sters were  fined  $5  each. 

•  Two  applications  for  citizenship  were  made 
during  the  fiVst  session  of  the  court.  Gottfried 
Rente),  a  native  of  Poland,  and  Rudolph  Mill 
of  Hesse-Darmstadt,  Germany,  renounced  al- 
legiance  to   their   respective   princes   and   po- 


30 


HISTORY  OF    BUCHANAN    COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


tentates  and  declared  their  intention  to  support 
the  constitution  of  the  United  States. 

During-  the  Noxember  term  much  business 
was  (hsposed  of.  Among'  other  things,  one 
William  W'ilhams  was  indicted  by  the  grand 
jury  for  rape.  Jle  was  remanded  to  the  sheriff 
of  Clay  County  for  keeping,  there  being  no 
jail  in  Buchanan  Connty  ai\  yet,  and,  at  the 
March  term  of  1840.  was  found  guilty  and 
sentenced  to  the  penitentiary  for  five  years. 
He  was  the  first  criminal  taken  to  that  insti- 
tution from  this  county. 

The  first  three  terms  of  court  were  held  at 
Robidoux's  house,  and  the  July  and  Novem- 
ber terms  of  1840  were  held  at  the  house  of 
Richard  Hill,  near  Sparta. 

During  the  session  of  1840-41  the  Legis- 
lature erected  the  Twelfth  Judicial  Circuit, 
composed  of  the  Platte  THuThase  and  Clinton 
County. 

Go\'ernor  Reynolds  appointed  Hon.  David 
R.  Atchison  of  Platte  County  as  judge  of  this 
circuit,  and  Peter  H.  Burnett,  also  of  Platte 
County,  as  circuit  attorney. 

On  March  31,  1841,  Judge  Atchison  con- 
vened his  court  at  the  house  of  Richard  Hill, 
and  the  next  term,  in  July,  was  held  in  the  log 
Court  House  at  Sparta,  which  had  just  been 
completed. 

In  1843,  Henderson  Young  of  Lafayette 
County  succeeded  Judge  Atchison,  who  had 
1)een  appointed  United  States  Senator  1)y  Gov- 
ernor Reynolds  to  fill  the  unexpired  term  of 
Dr.  Linn. 

Judge  Young'  resigned  one  year  after  Judge 
Atchison,  and  the  Governor  appointed  Solo- 
mon L.  Leonard  of  Buchanan  County,  who 
served  until  1852,  and  was  succeeded  by  Will- 
iam B.  Almond  of  Platte  County.  Judge  Al- 
mond held  the  office  only  one  year,  when  he  re- 
signed to  go  to  California,  where  he  had  pre- 
A'iouslv    accumulated    a    considerable    fortune. 


and  Elijah  H.  Norton,  also  of  Platte  County, 
was  apj)o!nted  to  fill  the  vacancy. 

Judge  Norton  ser\ed  until  i860,  when  he 
was  succeeded  by  Silas  Woodson  of  Buchanan 
County,  who.  during  the  war.  became  a  mem- 
ber of  (jen.  Willard  P.  Hall's  staft'  as  colonel 
and  inspector-general.  Idiere  was  little  business 
in  the  Circuit  Court  in  tlu)se  stormv  davs.  In 
1864,  Judge  Woodson  was  a  canchdate  for  re- 
election and  was  defeated  by  William  Herron 
of  .\ndrew  Count}-,  who  served  for  the  fol- 
lowing four  years. 

Isaac  C.  Parker  of  .^t.  Jose])b  ser\ed  from 
1868  to  1870,  when  he  resigned  to  go  to  Con- 
gress. Judge  Parker's  term  was  conipleted  by 
Bennett  Pike.  Joseph  P.  (irubb  \\as  elected 
to  succeed  Judge  Pike,  and  served  from  1872 
to  1880,  when  he  was  in  turn  succeeded  by 
W'illiam  Sherman.  Judge  Sherman  died  after 
two  years  and  Judge  Grubl)  was  appointed  to 
fill  the  vacancy. 

The  l^velfth  Judicial  Circuit. diminislied  in 
size  as  the  territory  became  populated.  Dur- 
ing the  war  the  circuit  was  composed  of  the 
Platte  Purchase  only.  From  1872  to  1889 
the  circuit  was  composed  of  Buchanan  and 
DeKalb  counties.  By  considering  that  10 
years  ago  one  circuit  judge  was  able  to  meet 
the  re(|uirements  of  these  two  counties  and  that 
it  now  requires  three  circuit  judges  for  Bu- 
chanan County  alone,  one  gets  some  idea  of 
the  grow  th  of  this  community  in  that  period. 

In  1885.  it  was  deemed  necessary  to  estab- 
lish a  criminal  branch  of  the  Circuit  Court,  and 
the  Legislature  of  that  year  provided  for  this, 
(ioxernor  Crittenden  appointed  Silas  Woodson 
to  the  post  and  Judge  Woodson  served  until 
June  II,  1895.  ^vhen  he  resigned  owing  to  ill 
health,  (ioxernor  Stone  ai)pointed  Romulus 
E.  Cuh'er  to  fill  the  vacancy  and  Judge  Culver 
was  elected  to  succeed  himself  at  the  general 
election  of  November.   1896.     He  resigned  in 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


31 


April  of  1899,  and  was  succeeded  by  Benja- 
min J.  Casteel  (appointed  by  the  Governor), 
who  filled  out  the  unexpired  term  and  was 
elected  to  succeed  himself  in  November,  1902. 

Oliver  M.  Spencer  was  elected  circuit 
judge  November,  1886,  and  served  until  May 
of  1890,  when  he  resigned.  Governor  Francis 
appointed  Archelaus  M.  Woodson  to  fill  the 
vacancy.  Judge  Woodson  was  reelected  for 
a  second  term  November  8,  1898. 

The  Legislature  of  1889  passed  a  bill  es- 
tablishing two  civil  branches  of  the  Buchanan 
County  Circuit  Court,  and  Governor  Francis 
appointed  Henry  M.  Ramey  judge  of  Di- 
vision No.  2.  Judge  Woodson's  court  being 
Division  No.  i.  Judge  Ramey  was  elected  for 
a  full  term  in  November,  1890.  He  was  suc- 
ceeded in  1896  by  Thomas  H.  Parrish,  who 
died  in  Octolier.  1897.  Governor  Stephens  ap- 
pointed Charles  F.  Strop  to  fill  the  \acancy 
until  the  general  election  of  No\ember,  1898. 
Judge  Strop  failed  of  nomination  at  the  Demo- 
cratic primaries  in  May  of  1898,  being  defeated 
by  William  K.  James,  who  was  elected  No- 
vember 8.  1898.  to  fill  out  the  unexpired  term 
of  Judge  Parrish.  which  ended  in  1902.  Judge 
James  was  succeeded  by  Judge  Ramey,  the 
present  incumbent. 

The  Court  of  Common  Picas. — A  tribunal 
within  the  recollection  of  comparatixely  few 
of  the  younger  people  was  the  lUiclianan 
County  Court  of  Common  Pleas,  which  existed 
from  1853  to  1873.  This  court  was  created  to 
relieve  the  circuit  judge,  whose  territory  was 
too  large  and  who  often  did  not  reside  in  the 
county. 

The  Court  of  Common  Pleas  had  concur- 
rent jurisdiction  with  the  Circuit  Court  except 
as  to  criminal  cases,  and  its  records  tell  the  his- 
t(^ry  of  a  large  volume  of  the  litigation  that 
was  had  here  during-  the  20  vears  of  its  ex- 
i>tence.- 


This  court  opened  for  its  first  term  on 
Monday,  September  12,  1853,  '^^'i^h  William  C. 
Toole  as  judge,  who  served  until  September 
15,  1855,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  Washing- 
ton Jones.  Judge  Jones  only  served  one  year, 
resigning,  and  was  succeeded  by  Joseph  J. 
Wyatt  September  18,  1856.  Jndge  Wyatt 
served  for  10  years,  being  succeeded  in  October 
of  1866  by  E.  J.  Montague,  who  ser\ed  until 
December  of  1870.  Judge  Toole  again  came 
upon  the  bench  at  that  time  and  ser\ed  until 
December  of  1873. 

The  court  was  abolished  by  the  Legislature 
and.  when  Judge  Toole  adjourned  without 
date,  the  pending  litigation  was  transferred  to 
the  Circtiit  Court,  the  Twelfth  Judicial  Cir- 
ctiit  having  meanwhile  been  contracted  to 
Btichanan  and  DeKalb  counties.  The  clerk  of 
the  Circuit  Cotirt  was  also  clerk  of  the  Com- 
mon Pleas  Court. 

77/r  County  Court. — William  Harrington. 
Samuel  Johnson  and  William  Curl  were  ap- 
pointed by  Governor  Boggs  as  the  first  County 
Court  of  1839.  In  1840,  Stephen  Jones.  Rich- 
ard Roberts  and  Upton  Rohrer  were  jtidg"es. 
From  that  time  to  this  the  court  has  been  or- 
ganized as  follows,  the  first  named  being  the 
presiding  jtidge:  Stephen  Jones,  Richard  Rob- 
erts, Thomas  A.  Brown,  1841-42;  Richard 
Roberts,  Thomas  A.  Brown,  William  Dun- 
ning, 1843-44:  William  Dunning,  Robert  Ir- 
win, Robert  Duncan.  1845-48;  William  Dun- 
ning, Robert  Irwin,  T.  S.  Tall)ot,  i849_;  T.  S. 
Talbot,  W^illiam  Dunning,  Robert  Jesse,  1850- 
52;  Aaron  Lewis.  Nelson  Witt,  Hiram  Rogers. 
1853-54;  Aaron  Lewis,  Nelson  Witt,  Cornelitis 
Roberts,  1854-55;  William  M.  Carter.  Nelson 
Witt.  Cornelius  Roberts,  1855-56;  Joseph  H. 
Crane.  Cornelius  Roberts.  John  J.  Pullins. 
1856-57:  John  J.  Pullins.  James  A.  Anthony. 
Cornelius  Roberts.  1857-59:  James  A.  An- 
thony.   John    J.     Pullins.    William    Dunning. 


32 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


1860-61 ;  P.  B.  Locke,  Cornelius  Roberts,  Ran- 
som Ridge,  1862-63;  Cornelius  Roberts,  Ran- 
som Ridge,  Charles  Schreiber,  1863-64; 
Cornelius  Roberts,  Charles  Schreiber,  Wil- 
liam Ridenbaugh,  1865;  James  Pettigrew, 
Charles  Schreiber,  J.  R.  Bell,  1866;  Phil- 
omen  Bliss,  Jacob  Boyer,  Charles  Schreiber, 
1867-68;  William  M.  Albin,  Charles 
Schreiber,  Jacob  Boyer,  1869-70;  John  Pinger, 
W.  B.  Gilmore,  John  Bretz,  1871-72;  John 
Pinger,  William  B.  Gilmore,  Benjamin  B. 
Frazer,  1872-73;  John  Bretz,  ^Michael  Fitz- 
gerald, John  Taylor,  1873-74. 

During  1874-78,  the  County  Court  con- 
sisted of  five  members.  In  that  period  the  or- 
ganization was  :  Michael  Fitzgerald,  John  Tay- 
lor, Fred  W.  Smith.  John  L.  Wade,  John  L. 
Sutherland,  1874-75;  Bernard  Patton,  S.  D. 
Cowan,  John  E.  Wade,  John  Rohan,  John 
Taylor,  1875-76;  Bernard  Patton,  William 
Roberts,  John  Pryor,  Cornelius  Roberts, 
Patrick  Mclntyre,  1876-78. 

From  1878  to  the  present  time  the  County 
Court  has  consisted  of  but  three  judges  and 
the  organization  of  the  court  has  been  :  Thomas 
A.  Brown,  P.  Mclntyre,  John  H.  Carey,  1878- 
80;  Thomas  A.  Brown,  P.  Mclntyre,  L.  F. 
Carpenter,  1880-82;  Thomas  A.  Brown,  John 
Kelly,  William  Buntin,  1882-84;  Thomas  A. 
Brown,  John  Kelly,  A.  F.  Greenard,  1884-86; 
A.  M.  Dougherty,  John  Kelly,  James  Ferrill, 
1886-88;  A.  M.  Dougherty,  W.  B.  Smith, 
Harry  Keene,  1888-90;  Thomas  A.  Brown, 
James  W.  Mansfield,  W.  B.  Smith,  1890-92; 
Thomas  A.  Brown,  William  M.  Stanton,  James 
A.  Millan,  1892-94;  Harry  Keene.  Edgar 
Sleppy,  William  M.  Stanton,  1894-96;  Harry 
Keene,  Augustus  Saltzman,  Jason  B.  Landis, 


1896-98;  William  M.  Stanton,  T.  J.  Hill,  Au- 
gustus Saltzman,  1898-1900;  William  M. 
Stanton,  T.  J.  Hill,  Edgar  Sleppy,  1900-02. 
William  M.  Stanton,  John  H.  Duncan  and 
Harry  D.  Bassett  formed  the  court  on  Janu- 
ary I,  1903.  Judge  Bassett  died  August  27, 
1903,  and  John  Kelly,  a  former  member  of  the 
court,  was  appointed  by  Governor  Dockery  to 
fill  out  the  unexpired  term.  Judge  Stanton 
died  March  14,  1904.  The  Governor  ap- 
pointed John  T.  Chestnut  to  serve  until  the 
election  of  a  successor,  in  November,  1904. 

The  Probate  Court. — Prior  to  1851,  the 
County  Court  was  also  the  Probate  Court.  The 
first  regular  Probate  judge  was  Joseph  J. 
Wyatt,  who  served  1851-59.  Henry  S.  Tutt 
succeeded  him  and  served  1859-65.  For  the 
next  10  years  the  County  Court  was  again  the 
Probate  Court.  In  1875,  the  Probate  Court 
having  been  restored,  the  judgeship  was  held 
by  Henry  S.  Tutt,  who  served  unil  1890,  when 
he  was  succeeded  by  John  M.  Stewart,  wdio 
held  the  office  four  years.  From  1894  up  to 
the  time  of  his  decease,  James  P.  Thomas  filled 
the  place.  Governor  Dockery  appointed  Ster- 
ling P.  Reynolds  to  serve  until  a  successor 
should  be  elected. 

Tlic  Supreme  Court. — Under  the  provis- 
ions of  the  Drake  constitution,  a  law  was 
passed  making  the  Supreme  Court  a  migratory 
tribunal.  The  State  was  divided  into  districts, 
and  St.  Joseph  was  the  seat  of  justice  for 
Northwestern  Missouri.  From  1866  to  1876 
two  sessions  of  the  Supreme  Court  were  held 
here  each  year.  Litt  R.  Lancaster,  for  many 
years  a  prominent  attorney  here,  but  who  is 
now  a  resident  of  California,  was  clerk  of  the 
St.  Joseph  sessions. 


CHAPTEH  IV. 


COUNTY  AND  OTHER  OFFICIALS. 

Officials  From  the  Earliest  Days  to  the  Present  Time — Public  Prosecutors 
— Clerks  of  the  Circuit  Court — Sheriffs  and  Contests  for  the  Office — 
County  Clerks  and  Contests — Collectors — Coroners — Recorders  of  Deeds — 
Treasurers — County  Physicians — County  Surveyors — Public  Administrators 
— Members  of  Congress — State  Senators  —  Representatives  —  Constables  — 
Oil  Inspectors. 


I 


Public  Prosecutors. — Prior  to  1872  the 
public  prosecutor  was  styled  circuit  attorney 
and  was  elected,  as  the  judge,  by  the  votes  of 
the  judicial  circuit.  When  the  Twelfth  Cir- 
cuit was  created  by  the  Legislature,  in  1841, 
Governor  Reynolds  appointed  Peter  H.  Bur- 
nett of  Platte  County  as  circuit  attorney.  In 
1843  Mr.  Burnett  resigned  and  was  succeeded 
by  Willard  P.  Hall,  Sr.,  of  Buchanan,  who  in 
turn  was  succeeded  by  J.  M.  Jones  of  Andrew. 
The  office  was  also  held  by  James  Craig  of 
Buchanan,  James  N.  Burnes  of  Platte,  Joseph 
1'.  Grubb  of  Buchanan,  Thomas  Thorough- 
man  of  Buchanan  and  Isaac  C.  Parker  of  Bu- 
chanan. The  last  incumbent  was  B.  K.  Davis 
of  Maryville. 

Of  those  named,  Mr.  Burnett  was  after- 
wards Governor  of  California,  Willard  P. 
Hall  was  Governor  of  Missouri  and  Isaac  C. 
Parker,  James  Craig  and  James  N.  Burnes 
went  to  Congress.  Judge  I'arker  ended  his 
days  as  United  States  judge  at  Fort  Smith, 
Arkansas. 

In  1872,  S.  Alexander  Young  was  elected 


the  first  prosecuting  attorney  of  Buchanan 
County.  He  resigned  before  the  expiration  of 
his  term  and  James  P.  Thomas  afterwards 
probate  judge,  was  appointed  to  serve  out  the 
unexpired  period. 

Jonathan  M.  Bassett,  a  leading  lawyer  of 
the  olden  times,  held  the  office  for  several  terms. 
Henry  M.  Ramey  held  the  offite  for  four 
years,  1874-78,  and  was  succeeded  by  Willard 
P.  Hall,  Jr.  Oliver  M.  Spencer  prosecuted 
during  1880-82;  Thomas  F.  Ryan,  1882-84; 
James  W.  Boyd,  1884-86;  Benjamin  J.  Wood- 
son, 1886-88;  W^illiam  E.  Sherwood.  1888- 
90;  Lawrence  A.  Vories,  1890-92;  Romulus 
E.  Culver,  1892-94;  Albert  B.  Duncan,  1894- 
96;  William  B.  Norris,  1896-98;  James  W. 
Mytton,  1898-1902.  The  present  incumbent 
is  Lewis  C.  Gabbert. 

Clerks  of  the  Circuit  Court. — The  first 
entry  on  the  record  of  the  Circuit  Court  for 
Buchanan  County  recites  the  appointment,  by 
Judge  Austin  A.  King,  of  Edwin  Toole  as 
''clerk  of  the  Circuit  Court,"  with  power  and 
authority  to  discharge  the  duties  of  said  office 


34 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN    COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


until  the  general  election  in  the  year  1840. 
This  order  was  made  on  Fehriiary  ]  ^,  1839, 
and  Mr.  Toole  at  once  began  the  \\(jrk  of  pre- 
paring for  the  first  term  of  court,  to  be  held  in 
the  following  July.  In  1840,  Mr.  Toole  was 
succeeded  by  William  Fowler,  who  held  the 
position  until  1852,  being  at  the  same  time 
county  clerk. 

William  Ridenbaugh  was  clerk  of  the  Cir- 
cuit Court  from  1852  to  1862,  when  he  was 
succeeded  by  W^illiam  C.  Toole,  wh(_>  served 
two  years.  F^rank  G.  Hopkins  ser\ed  from 
1864  to  1870  and  was  succeeded  by  William 
Ridenbaugh.  who  held  the  place  for  three 
years,  dying  in  office.  C.  C.  Colt  serx-ed  out 
Mr.  Ridenbaugh's  term  and  was  succeeded  by 
J.  H.  R.  Cundiff,  who  held  the  office  from 
1874  to  1878,  and  was  in  turn  succeeded  by 
.  Samuel  1).  Cowan,  who  held  the  office  until 
1894.  John  T.  Chestnut  succeeded  Mr.  Cowan 
and  ser\-e(l  two  terms,  being  succeeded  at  the 
end  of  j(;o2  by  Ambrose  Patton,  the  present 
incumbent. 

Sheriffs. — When  Goxernor  Boggs  a^)- 
pointed  the  hrst  judges  of  the  Buchanan  | 
County  Court,  he  also  appointed  a  sherifY, — 
Samuel  M.  (iilmore.  Mr.  Gilmore  held  the 
office  until  1843,  ^vhen  he  was  succeeded  by 
(ieorge  W.  Taylor,  who  ser\ed  until  1846. 
The  next  four  years  saw  William  B.  Reynolds 
in  the  office,  who  was  succeeded  in  1850  by 
Leander  T.  Ellis.  Joseph  B.  Smith  ser\-e(l 
from  1852  to  1856,  when  Solomon  X.  Sheri- 
dan took  the  office.  Mr.  Sheridan  did  not  serve 
out  his  term,  and  was  succeeded  In-  James  A. 
Matney.  Michael  I).  Morgan  serxed  from 
1858  to  \H()],  when  he  resigned  to  go  to  war. 
Samuel  Knsworth  was  appointed  to  ser\o  out 
the  term.  Enos  Craig-  was  elected  and  ser\ed 
] 862-64.  In  1864-66,  Ransom  Ridge  was 
sheriff.  lr\in  h'ish  served  in  \H()()-()X.  Dr. 
R.   P.    Picliard-oii   lilK-d  tlic  offiice  for  ihe  next 


two  years  and  was  succeeded  by  Col.  Elijah 
(iates,  who  served  in  1870-74.  James  L.  Spen- 
cer, better  known  as  "F^ay"  Spencer,  succeeded 
Colonel  Gates  with  four  years,  and  Robert  H. 
Thomas  followed  Mr.  Spencer,  serving  four 
years  also. 

In  1884,  John  H.  Carey  took  the  office.  In 
November  of  1886  he  w^as  defeated  for  a  sec- 
ond term  by  Joseph  Andnano,  the  vote  being 
295  in  favor  of  the  latter.  Mr.  Carey  refused 
to  give  up  the  office  on  the  ground  that  Mr. 
Andriano  was  ineligible,  and,  on  November 
13th,  notified  Mr.  Andriano  that  he  intended 
to  contest  the  election,  for  the  reason  that  he 
(Carey)  had  been  credibly  informed  that  .\n- 
driano  was  an  alien  and  not  a  citizen  of  the 
L'nitecl  States.  This  was  a  surprise  to  Mr. 
Andriano,  who  had  lived  in  St.  Joseph  36 
years,  held  city  offices  and  ser\-ed  three  years 
in  the  Union  Army.  How e\er,  he  engaged 
counsel  and  prepared  for  the  contest.  The 
case  came  u^)  before  Judge  Oliver  M.  Spencer 
in  the  Buchanan  Countv  Circuit  Court,  who,  on 
January  2  7,,  1887,  decided  in  favor  of  Mr. 
Carey.  'Jlie  first  i)aragraph  of  Judge  Spen- 
cer's decision  reads  as  follows : 

"idle  decision  of  this  case  depends  alone 
upon  the  citizenship  of  the  defendant.  From 
the  testimony  of  the  defendant  himself,  who 
was  the  only  witness  examined,  it  appears  that 
he  was  born  at  Heidelberg.  Germany,  on  the 
J  5th  (la_\'  of  October,  1841.  When  he  reached 
the  age  of  seven  he,  together  with  his  parents, 
immigrated  to  the  United  States.  In  1854. 
while  the  defendant  was  still  a  minor,  his  pa- 
rents were  naturalized.  The  defendant  never 
at  an}-  time  declared  his  intention  to  become  a 
citizen  of  ihe  United  States;  never  renounced 
his  allegiance  to  the  government  of  German}-, 
or  took  the  oath  of  allegiance  to  this  country. 
i4e  dei^ends  alone  u])on  the  naturalization  of 
his  parents  to  make  him  a  citizen." 


AXD    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


35 


Judge  Spencer  decided  at  length,  and  with 
numerous  citations,  that  Andriano  was  not  a 
citizen  of  the  United  States  under  the  evidence 
and  the  circumstances.  The  case  was  at  once 
appealed  to  the  Supreme  Court  and  the  de- 
cision reversed. 

Sheriff  Andriano  took  the  office  early  in 
May  of  1887  and  held  it  until  January,  1889, 
when  he  was  succeeded  by  Eugene  H.  Spratt, 
who  subsequenly  served  four  years.  Charles 
W.  Carson  then  served  two  years  and  was  suc- 
ceeded in  January,  1895,  '^y  Joseph  Andriano 
who.  in  tiu^n,  was  succeeded  January,  1897, 
by  James  Hull,  who  served  until  the  end  of 
1900,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  Martin  L. 
Spencer,  the  present  incumbent. 

County  Clerks. — William  Fowler  was  ap- 
pointed county  clerk  at  the  first  meeting  of  the 
Buchanan  Cotmty  C()urt,  held  at  the  house  of 
Richard  Hill,  on  the  first  ^londay  in  April, 
;839,  and  served  under  this  appointment  imtil 
the  election  in  1840,  when  he  was  elected  and 
thereafter  was  reelected  repeatedly  until  1852, 
being  succeeded  by  iMilton  H.  Wash,  who 
served  until  1858.  From  1858  to  1864  the 
office  was  held  l)y  Isaac  \'an  Riley.  Willis  'M. 
Sherwood  succeeded  iNlr.  Riley,  serving  till 
1870.  when  John  B.  Harder  took. the  office. 
iMr.  Harder  served  three  years  and  some 
months  and  died  while  in  office.  His  unex- 
pired term  was  filled  by  John  T.  Ransom.  I. 
\^an  Riley  was  again  elected  in  Xoveml)er, 
1874.  and  t(K)k  charge  January.  1875.  In  the 
following  April  he  died  and  his  son,  Edward 
Van  Riley,  was  appointed.  E.  \'an  Riley 
served  out  the  remaining  portion  of  his  father's 
term  and  was  then  elected,  holding  the  office 
until  1884.  Philip  Rogers  was  the  next  clerk, 
serving  in  1884-92.  He  was  succeeded  by  T. 
Ed.  Campbell  who  died  ]\Iay  3.  1893.  Waller 
Young  was  appointed  by  Governor  Stone  to 
ser\-e  until  the  next  election.  November.  1894. 

Tlie  opposing  candidates  at  the  election  of 


1894  were  Enos  Craig,  Republican,  and  Rob- 
ert M.  Nash,  Democrat.     The  returning  board 
showed  that  ]\Ir.  Craig  had  a  majority  of  one 
\ote.     Mr.  Nash  was  satisfied,  but  the  leaders 
of  his  party  urged  him  to  contest  the  election. 
He  declined  to  do  this  until  various  defeated 
candidates   of   the    Republican   ticket   had   in- 
stituted  proceedings   for   a   recount   of   votes^ 
As  a  result  of  this  recount  Nash  had  a  majority 
of  80  votes  over  Craig.     On  January  7,  1895^ 
Craig  took  charge  of  the  office  under  his  cer- 
tificate   from    the   Go\ernor,    based   upon   the 
first  count.     On  February  19,  1895,  Judge  A. 
M.  Woodson  of  the  Circuit  Court  decided  that 
Nash  was  entitled  to  the  office.     Craig  filed 
notice   of   appeal    and    ga^■e   an    appeal    bond. 
Nash  applied  for  a  writ  of  ouster,  but  Craig's, 
attorneys  set  up  the  claim  that  the  appeal  bondi 
constituted  a  supersedeas  to  the  writ  of  ouster 
and  appealed  to  the  Supreme  Court  for  a  writ 
of  prohibition  upon  the  writ  of  ouster.    Judge 
iMcFarlane  of  the  Supreme  Court  decided  that 
the  appeal  bond  was  not  a  supersedeas  to  the 
writ  of  ouster  and  that  the  writ  of  ouster  must 
prevail.     Thereupon  Judge  Woodson  ordered 
the  sheriff  to  place  Nash  in  office.     This  was 
done,  but  Nash's  troubles  were  not  over  yet. 
for    the    two    Republican     memters    of    the 
County    Court,    Judges    Keene    and    Sleppw 
refused    to    approve    liis    bond    or    to    recog- 
nize   him    as    clerk.      However,    it    was    soon 
legally  decided  that  tlie  County  Court  could  not 
sit  without  a  clerk  and  so  the  judges  bowed 
to  the  inevitable.     The  case  which  Craig  had 
appealed  to  the  Supreme  Cotirt  was  afterwards 
decided  against  him. 

In  the  election  of  November,  1898,  Craig 
and  Nash  again  opposed  each  other  for  this 
office  and  Nash  was  elected  by  900  majority. 
He  served  until  the  end  of  1902.  when  he  was 
sticceeded  by  Sterling  Price  Smith,  the  pres- 
ent inctimbent. 

Collectors. — The     sheriff     was     e.v-offieio 


36 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


county  collector  and  tax  gatherer  until  1864. 
Thomas  Harbine  was  the  first  incumbent  of 
the  office,  serving  1864-68.  The  office  was 
then  filled  as  follows:  John  Finger,  1868-70; 
Robert  F,  Maxwell,  1870-72;  Talbott  Fair- 
leigh,  1872-74;  Thomas  J.  Burgess,  1874-76; 
Milton  M.  Claggett,  1876-78;  Randolph  T. 
Davis,  1878-82;  Tandy  H.  Trice,  1882-88; 
James  Hull,  1888-92,  George  H.  Hall,  Jr., 
served  from  1892  to  April  23,  1895,  when  he 
resigned,  having  defaulted.  Governor  Stone 
appointed  Edward  J.  Bre.en  to  serve  out  the 
term.  Eugene  H.  Spratt  was  elected  Novem- 
ber, 1896,  and  relected  for  two  years  Novem- 
ber, 1898.  He  was  succeeded  by  Benjamin  L. 
Helsley,  the  present  incumbent,  whose  second 
term  will  expire  at  the  end  of  1904. 

Coroners. — Up  to  1852  this  office  was  held 
at  different  times  by  William  H.  Ridenbaugh, 
Benjamin  B.  Hartwell  and  David  V.  Thomp- 
son. The  following  were  the  other  incum- 
bents: David  J.  Heaton,  1852-54;  William  R. 
Penick,  1854-58;  Josiah-H.  Crane,  1858-60; 
R.  F.  Maxwell,  1862-64;  John  A.  Dolman, 
1862-64;  Thomas  Young,  1864-66;  Dr.  John 
T.  Berghoff,  1866-70;  Dr.  C.  J.  Siemens,  1870- 
72;  Dr.  Samuel  Goslee,  1872-74;  Dr.  Hugh 
Trevor,  1874-80;  Dr.  J.  W.  Heddens,  1880- 
82;  Dr.  P.  J.  Kirschner,  1882-86;  Dr.  J.  W. 
Stringfellow,  1886-88;  Dr.  W.  L.  Whitting- 
ton,  1888-92;  Dr.  S.  D.  Reynolds,  1892-94; 
Dr.  J.  W.  Islaub,  1894-96;  Dr.  W.  Spier  Rich- 
Tnond,  1896-1900;  Dr.  John  M.  Doyle, 
1900-04. 

Recorders  of  Deeds. — The  circuit  clerk 
was  recorder  of  deeds  up  to  1865.  The  first 
recorder  \\as  George  A.  Pearcy,  who  served 
1865-74;  Thomas  Kelly  served  1874-75; 
INIichael  Crawford,  1875-78;  James  Millan, 
1878-80:  Thomas  N.  Finch,  1880-88;  Joel 
Gates,  1888-96.  Mr.  Gates  was  succeeded  by 
Joseph  N.  Karnes,  the  present  incumbent,  who 
is  serving  his  second  term. 


Treasurers. — The  following  have  filled  the 
office  of  county  treasurer  in  the  past :  James  A. 
Anthony,  1840-50;  John  Curd,  1850-62; 
George  Lyon,  1862-70;  Gustavus  H.  Koch, 
1870-74;  John  Williams,  1874-78;  James 
Hull,  1878-80;  John  T.  Ransom,  1880-82; 
James  Hull,  1882-86;  T.  Ed  Campbell,  1886- 
90;  Joseph  Andriano,  1890-92;  John  B.  Cor- 
bett,  1892-94.  Harry  Cox  was  elected  for 
1894-96,  but  the  office  was  filled  by  Richard 
Horigan,  who  furnished  the  bond  for  Cox. 
Ishmael  Davis  served  four  years  and  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Nathan  D.  Goff,  the  present  incum- 
bent, whose  term  expires  with  the  year  1904. 

Assessors. — W.  W.  Reynolds  was  the  first 
assessor  of  Buchanan  County,  having  been  ap- 
pointed by  the  County  Court  in  1839.  He 
served  until  1843,  since  which  time  the  office 
has  been  held  as  follows  :  Hiram  Roberts,  1843- 
45;  Zachariah  Garten,  1845-46;  Mathew  C. 
Ferrell,  1846-47;  Leander  T.  Ellis,  1847-51; 
H.  M.  Beauchamp,  1851-52;  Henry  Smith, 
1852-53;  Hiram  Roberts,  1853-55;  James  A. 
Matney,  1855-63;  William  Fitton,  1863-65; 
John  B.  Harder,  1865-67;  J.  A.  Matthews, 
1867-69;  Joseph  Mathers,  1869-71;  Cyrus  J. 
Missemer,  1871-73;  John  S.  Tutt,  1873-75; 
George  Garrett,  1875-77;  John  S.  Tutt,  1877- 
85.  Tutt  died  in  office.  John  P.  Boyle  was 
appointed  to  fill  out  the  unexpired  term.  He 
did  this  and  was  elected  to  succeed  himself  but 
died  shortly  after  qualifying.  John  C.  Landis 
was  appointed  by  Governor  Marmaduke  to 
serve  Boyle's  term.  Harry  D.  Bassett  served 
1888-94.  William  H.  Croy  followed  Bassett 
and  served  until  his  death,  in  February  of 
1898.  His  brother,  James  Croy,  was  appointed 
])y  Governor  Stephens  to  serve  out  the  unex- 
pired term,  and  was  then  elected  to  serve  until 
1902,  when  he  was  again  elected.  He  is  the 
present  incumbent. 

County    Physicians. — Dr.    Samuel    Goslee 
was     the    first    county    physician     of    whom 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


37 


there  is  record.  He  attended  the  comity's 
poor  when  they  were  located  on  the  farm 
near  Sparta.  Dr.  WilHam  Bertram  was  county 
physician-  from  1868  to  1870,  when  he  was 
succeeded  by  Dr.  A.  S.  Long.  Dr.  Gray  suc- 
ceeded Dr.  Long  in  1872,  but  served  only  a 
few  months  and  died.  Dr.  Goslee  was  again 
appointed  and  served  until  June,  1873,  when 
he  died  also.  Dr.  E.  A.  Donelan  was  the  next 
appointee  and  served  until  1877,  when  he  was 
succeeded  by  Dr.  J.  M.  D.  France,  who  served 
until  1886.  Dr.  P.  J.  Kirschner,  Dr.  C.  R. 
Woodson,  Dr.  W.  B.  Davis  and  Dr.  F.  G. 
Thompson  held  the  office  in  turn  from  1886  to 
1898,  when  Dr.  Daniel  Morton  served  a  term 
and  was  succeeded  by  Dr.  James  K.  Graham. 

County  Surveyors. — Simeon  Kemper  was 
the  first  county  surveyor.  He  and  Elijah 
McCrary  held  the  office  until  1857,  when  M. 
Jeff  Thompson  was  elected.  W.  B.  Johnson 
was  elected  in  1861,  S.  P.  Hyde  in  1868,  Lem- 
uel Peters  in  1872,  Theodore  Steinacker  in 
1880,  Harry  Fardwell  in  1888,  W.  B.  Hazen 
in  1892.  and  Theodore  Steinacker,  the  present 
incumbent,  in  1896,  since  which  time  he  has 
served  continuously  to  date. 

Public  Administrators. — Prior  to  1874  this 
office  was  held  by  William  Ridenbaugh,  Will- 
iam M.  Albin,  James  H.  Ashbaugh.  Henry 
Smith  and  Eugene  Ayres.  From  1874  to  1896 
it  was  held  by  Thomas  R.  Smith,  who  was  suc- 
ceeded by  James  A.  Gibson,  the  present  in- 
cumbent. 

Members  of  Congress. — L'p  to  1845  the 
Congressmen  from  Missouri  were  elected  at 
large.  The  last  member  from  this  section 
under  the  old  system  was  James  M.  Hughes  of 
Clay  County,  a  nephew  of  Gen.  Andrew  S. 
Hughes  and  the  father  of  Mrs.  Calvin  F. 
Burnes  of  St.  Joseph. 

The  first  man  to  be  elected  when  the  State 
was  divided  into  districts  was  Willard  P.  Hall. 


This  was  then,  as  now,  the  Fourth  Congres- 
sional District,  though  it  has  undergone  sev- 
eral transformations  since  the  first  organi- 
zation. 

General  Hall  was  the  regular  Democratic 
nominee  in  1846,  and  against  him  was  pitted 
James  H.  Birch  of  Clinton  County,  a  brilliant 
man,  but  one  who  vacillated  politically.  Judge 
Birch  was  the  independent  candidate.  General 
Hall,  who  was  plain  Willard  in  those  days,  left 
the  campaign  to  take  care  of  itself  and  went 
with  General  Doniphan's  expedition  to  jMex- 
ico.  The  people  liked  his  spirit  and  patriotism, 
and  elected  him  in  his  absence. 

After  serving  two  terms,  General  Hall  was 
succeeded  by  Mordecai  Oliver,  a  Whig,  who 
was  then  living  at  Richmond.  Judge  Oliver 
was  afterward  Secretary  of  State,  and  in 
1884-86  served  as  police  judge  in  St.  Joseph. 

In  the  Thirty-fifth  and  Thirty-sixth  Con- 
gresses (1857-61)  the  Fourth  District  was  rep- 
resented by  Gen.  James  Craig,  Democrat,  of 
St.  Joseph.  Judge  Elijah  H.  Norton  of  Platte 
County,  Democrat,  succeeded  General  Craig- 
and  served  one  term. 

The  State  had  meanwhile  been  redistricted 
and  St.  Joseph  was  in  the  Seventh  Congres- 
sional District.  Gen.  Ben  F.  Loan  of  St. 
Joseph,  Republican,  represented  the  district  in 
the  Thirty-eighth,  Thirty-ninth  and  Fortieth 
Congresses   ( 1863-69) . 

In  the  Forty-first  Congress  (1869-71)  the 
district  was  represented  by  Hon.  Joel  F. 
Asper,  Republican,  of  Livingston  County. 

Judge  Isaac  C.  Parker,  Republican,  of  St. 
Joseph,  represented  the  district  in  the  Forty- 
second  and  Forty-third  Congresses  (1871-75). 
During  the  last  term  of  Congressman  Parker, 
the  State  was  again  redistricted  and  Buchanan 
County  fell  into  the  Ninth  Congressional  Dis- 
trict. 

Judge    Parker    was    succeeded    by    Judge 


38 


HISiURY  OF   iiUCHANAN    COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


David  Rea,  Democrat,  of  Andrew  County, 
who  served  two  terms  (1875-79).  Hon.  Nich- 
olas Ford,  Greenback,  of  Anch^ew  County,  suc- 
ceeded Judge  Rea,  defeating  General  Craig, 
and  served  two  terms  (1879-83). 

\n  1881  the  State  was  again  redistricted 
and  the  entire  Platte  Purchase — Platte,  Uu- 
chanan.  Andrew,  Holt,  Nodaway  and  Atchi- 
son counties — formed  into  the  Fourth  Con- 
gressional District.  The  first  man  to  represent 
the  new  district  was  the  late  James  N.  Burnes, 
Democrat,  who  defeated  Morris  A.  Reed  of  St. 
Joseph,  Republican,  and  Nathaniel  Sisson  of 
Maryville,  Greenback-Labor,  in  November  of 
1882,  by  a  majority  of  569.  In  1884  Colonel 
Burnes  defeated  Judge  Henry  S.  Kelly.  Re- 
publican, then  of  Andrew  County,  by  2,176 
^■otes.  In  1886  Colonel  Burnes  defeated  Byron 
.\.  Dunn  of  Maryville,  Republican,  by  3,087 
votes.  In  1888  Colonel  Burnes  defeated  H.  R. 
\y.  Flartwig  of  St.  Joseph,  Republican,  by 
3,177  votes. 

Colonel  Burnes  died  January  24,  1889,  at 
Washington.  He  had  yet  to  serve  his  unex- 
pired term  in  the  L^iftieth  Congress.  Governor 
Francis  ordered  a  special  election  to  be  held 
February  21,  1889,  to  fill  the  vacancy  in  the 
I'iftieth  Congress  and  also  for  the  election  of  a 
successor  to  Colonel  Burnes  in  the  Fifty-first 
Congress.  The  Republicans  nominated  Capt. 
I*>ancis  M.  Posegate  of  St.  Joseph  for  both 
places.  The  Democrats  nominated  Charles  F. 
Booher  of  Savannah  for  the  short  term  and 
Robert  P.  C.  A\'ilson  of  Platte  County  for  the 
long  term.  Captain  Posegate  was  defeated  by 
618  votes.  Mr.  Booher  ser\ed  only  about  two 
weeks. 

In  1890  Mr.  Wilson  defeated  Nicholas 
Ford,  Republican,  of  Andrew  County,  and  W. 
H.  AVhipple.  Populist,  of  Buchanan  County, 
receiving  a  majority  of  1,118.  In  1892  Dan- 
iel D.  Burnes,  Democrat,  defeated  George  C. 


Crowther,  Republican,  of  St.  Joseph,  and  J.  B. 
Wilcox,  Populist,  of  Andrew  County,  receiving 
a  majority  of  1,259.  In  J  894  Mr.  Crowther 
defeated  William  C.  Ellison  of  Maryville, 
Democrat,  and  William  S.  Missemer  of  St. 
Joseph,  Populist,  his  majority  being  1,661.  In 
1896  Charles  F.  Cochran  of  St.  Joseph,  Demo- 
crat, defeated  Mr.  Crowther,  his  plurality  be- 
ing 3,829.  Mr.  Cochran  is  now  serving  his 
tourth  term. 

State  Senators. — -The  act  authorizing  the 
erection  of  Buchanan  County  attached  it  to 
the  Twelfth  State  Senatorial  District,  which 
was  represented  at  that  time  by  Cornelius  Gil- 
lam  and  James  T.  V.  Thompson.  Subse- 
quently Buchanan  County  was  a  part  of  the 
Tenth  District,  which  in  1842  was  represented 
by  Cornelius  Gillam,  and  in  1844  ^^Y  Jesse  B. 
Thompson.  In  1846  it  was  part  of  the  Sev- 
enth District  and  was  represented  by  Robert 
M.  Stewart,  who  served  until  1858  and  was 
succeeded  by  John  Scott.  Buchanan  Counly 
was  then  in  the  Twelfth  District.  Senator 
Scott  was  succeeded  in  1862  by  Col.  John  Sev- 
erance, who  in  1864  was  succeeded  by  J.  N. 
Young.  Col.  Thomas  Harbine  succeeded  Se  vi- 
ator Young,  the  county  having  meanwhile  be- 
come part  of  the  Second  District.  Senat  ir 
Harbine  served  until  1871,  and  was  succeeded 
by  Daniel  Ransom,  who  served  cMie  term,  and 
was  succeeded  in  1875  ^^y  ^Valler  Y'oung,  who 
also  served  one  term.  Ahira  Manring  of  D^- 
Kail)  County  succeeded  Senator  Young  and 
served  two  terms.  In  1882  Randolph  T. 
Da\is  was  elected  and  resigned,  his  unexpired 
term  being  filled  by  Waller  Young,  who  was 
succeeded  in  1886  by  Michael  G.  Moran.  Sen- 
ator Moran  was  succeeded  in  1890  by  Charles 
F.  Cochran,  the  present  Member  of  Congres.^:, 
who  served  four  years  and  was  succeeded  by 
Arthur  W.  Brewster.  During  Senator  Coch- 
ran's term  the  State  was  redistricted  and  Bu- 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


41 


clianan  County  alone  now  constitutes  the  Sec- 
ond District.  The  senatorial  term  is  four  years. 
Senator  Brewster  was  succeeded  by  William 
H.  Haynes,  who  in  turn  was  succeeded  by 
Lawrence  A.  Vories,  the  present  incumbent. 

Representatives. — The  first  man  to  repre- 
sent Buchanan  County  in  the  House  was  Jesse 
B.  Thompson,  who  served  1840-44.  The  sec- 
ond was  Richard  Roberts,  who  served  1844- 
46.  Then  came  James  B.  Gardenhire,  who 
served  two  \ears,  and  was  followed  by  John 
Bretz,  who  served  until  1850. 

Buchanan  County  was  now  entitled  to  two 
representatives,  and  Henry  S.  Tutt  and  Sin- 
clair K.  Miller  were  eleced.  In  1852  A.  J. 
Vaughan  and  E.  F.  Dixon  were  the  represen- 
tatives, each  serving  one  term.  Then  came 
Wellington  A.  Cunningham  and  W.  J.  Everett, 
who  served  in  the  session  of  1854.  In  the  ses- 
sion of  1856  Buchanan  County  was  represented 
by  John  Bretz  and  Alexander  Davis,  and  in  the 
session  of  1858  and  the  special  session  of  1859 
by  Cornelius  Day  and  Alexander  D^vis.  In 
the  session  of  i860  J.  C.  Roberts  and  J.  H. 
Ashbaugh  were  the  representatives,  and  in 
1862  J.  L.  Bittinger  and  Robert  Brierly.  In 
1864  Buchanan  County  was  represented  by 
Robert  Brierly  and  Joseph  Thompson. 

Three  years  elapsed  between  the  twenty- 
third  and  twenty-fourtli  general  assemblies, 
and  when  the  latter  met  in  1867  Buchanan 
County  was  represented  by  Charles  B.  Wilkin- 
son and  Washington  Bennett,  who  were  suc- 
ceeded in  the  session  of  1867  by  Samuel  Hays 
and  Oscar  Kirkham.  In  the  session  of  1871 
our  representatives  were  J.  L.  Bittinger  and 
William  Randall,  and  in  the  following  two  ses- 
sions, in  1873  and  1875,  they  were  J.  L.  Bit- 
tinger and  W.  S.  Wells  of  Rushville. 

For  the  twenty-ninth  General  Assembly, 
which  met  in  1877,  Buchanan  County  elected 
three   representatives — W.    S.    Wells,    George 


W.  Sutherland  and  Dr.  E.  A.  Donelan.  In 
the  session  of  1879  our  representatives  were 
Thomas  Crowther,  John  T.  Riley  and  John 
Saunders.  The  session  of  1881  found  Dr." 
Donelan,  John  T.  Riley  and  Benjamin  J. 
Woodson  representing  Buchanan  County,  and 
the  following  session,  1883,  Alex.  D.  Vories. 
Michael  G.  Moran  and  A.  A.  Whittington.  In 
the  session  of  1885  our  representatives  were 
William  H.  Havnes,  Dr.  Donelan  and  William 
S.  W^ells;  in  the  session  of  1887,  William  H. 
Haynes,  Dr.  Donelan  and  G.  W.  Johnson;  in 
1889,  Waller  Young,  Abraham  Davis  and  B. 
F.  Stuart;  in  1891,  Abraham  Davis,  Dr.  E.  A. 
Donelan  and  B.  F.  Stuart;  in  1893.  Abraham 
Davis,  Granville  G.  Adkins  and  B.  F.  Stuart; 
in  1895,  John  L.  Bittinger,  James  Moran  and 
Oliver  P.  Smith;  in  1897,  John  L.  Bittinger, 
Joseph  A.  Finer  and  James"  P.  Shewmaker ;  in 
1899,  W.  K.  Amiek.  Joseph  A.  Finer  and 
James  P.  Shewmaker;  in  1901,  R.  M.  Aber- 
crombie,  Albert  B.  Duncan,  W.  S.  Connor. 
In  the  session' of  1903,  Buchanan  County  had 
four  representatives :  Charles  S.  Shepherd, 
John  G.  Parkinson,  Albert  B.  Duncan  and  W. 
S.  Connor. 

Constables. — Each  township  elects  one  con- 
stable every  e\en  numbered  year.  The  con- 
stable is  a  peace  officer  and  is  also  empowered 
to  serve  writs  issued  by  justices  of  the  peace. 
The  records  afford  so  little  satisfaction  that  no 
efifort  will  be  made  to  present  a  list  of  those 
who  have  held  this  office  in  the  various  town- 
ships during  the  past.  In  1882,  Charles  W. 
Carson  was  elected  constable  of  Washington 
township,  but  resigned  short!}-  after  taking  the 
office.  In  1884,  Louis  Eggert  was  elected.  He 
resigned  in  1885  and  Stephen  Sale  served  out 
the  term.  In  1886,  James  Mansfield  was  elected 
and  served  two  terms.  He  was  succeeded  in 
1890  by  \\^  R.  Womach,  who  also  served  two 
terms,  and  was  succeeded  by  George  Nixon, 


42 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY  AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


who  in  turn  was  succeeded  by  David  Hatfield, 
who  served  until  the  end  of  1902,  when  the 
present  incumbent,  W.  B.  Hammond,  took  the 
office. 

Oil  Inspectors. — This  is  a  State  office,  the 
proper  title  of  which  is  "inspector  of  petroleum 
oils."  The  appointment  is  made  by  the  Gov- 
ernor for  a  term  of  two  years  and  has  been 
filled  as  follows :  Henry  Borngesser,  appointed 
March  10,  1871  ;  Vernon  Ridenbaugh,  June 
26,   1872;   R.  A.   Macloon,  August  2,    1874; 


Granville  G.  Adkins,  June  25,  1877;  Milton 
M.  Claggett,  June  27,  1879;  Granville  G.  Ad- 
kins, June  21,  1881  ;  Milton  M.  Claggett,  June 
20,  1885;  Rice  D.  Gilkey,  October  13,  1885; 
Granville  G.  Adkins,  June  25,  1889;  Peter 
Nugent,  June  20,  1891 ;  Elijah  Gates,  Sep- 
tember 2,  1893;  George  H.  Wyatt,  August  2, 
1895;  Harry  M.  Tootle,  August  2,  1897.  Mr. 
Tootle  served  four  years  and  was  succeeded  ])y 
Charles  Cargill,  the  present  incumbent. 


CHAPTER.  V. 


TOWNSHIPS  AND  TOWNS. 


PLATTE  TOWNSHIP. 

The  first  settlers  came  by  wagon  from  Clay 
County,  and  Platte  township,  which  forms  the 
southeast  corner  of  Buchanan  County,  was  the 
scene  of  the  earliest  struggles  of  the  pioneers, 
though  the  other  southern  townships  were  pop- 
ulated so  near  the  same  time  that  there  is  little 
difference  as  to  age.  However,  the  Enyards, 
the  Everetts  and  the  Munkers  are  among  the 
first  who  came  tO'  the  new  country,  and  they 
settled  in  Platte  township. 

The  following  are  the  names  of  some  of  the 
pioneers  of  Platte  township  and  the  dates  of 
their  coming:  Absalom  Enyard,  1836;  Wes- 
ton J.  Everett  and  Absalom  Munkers,  Febru- 
ary, 1837;  David  Munkers,  first  white  child 
born  in  the  township,  April,  1838;  Jackson 
Erickson,  1837;  James  Williams,  1837;  John 
Huntsucker,  Tennessee,  1837;  Peter  Bledsoe, 
1837;  William  Cobb,  Tennessee,  1837;  John 
Fletcher  and  Jesse  Rockhold,  1837;  John 
Tobin,  Kentucky,  1838;  John  Dryden,  Thomp- 
son Burnham,  Charles  Kennaird,  Morris  Pile, 
James  .\nderson.  1838;  Dr.  Samuel- Trower, 
Kentucky,  1838;  Nelson  Witt,  Kentucky, 
1838;  John  Berryhill,  James  Courtney,  James 
Fidler,  John  G.  Elliott,  John  Cummins,  Eli 
Cummins,  Harrison  Whitson  and  John  Rohan, 
1838. 

The  first  church  in  the  township  was  built 


by  Judge  Nelson  Witt.  It  was  of  logs  and 
octagonal  in  shape,  with  a  considerable  seating- 
capacity.  It  was  called  the  Witt  Meeting 
House  and  was  used  by  the  Calvinistic 
Baptists. 

According  to  the  last  census  Platte  town- 
ship has  a  population  of  968.  The  voting  pre- 
cinct is  at  Burnett  school  house  and  the  post- 
office  is  at  Platte  River,  where  there  is  a  gen- 
eral store,  a  mill  and  a  bridge  over  Jae  river. 

JACKSON    TOWNSHIP. 

Pleasant  Yates  came  in  the  spring  of  1837; 
Isaac  Farris,  Kentucky,  1837;  Levi  Jackson, 
Kentucky,  1837;  John  Johnson,  North  Caro- 
lina, 1837;  Robert  Prather,  Kentucky,  1837; 
Philip  Walker,  1837;  Robert  Wilson,  Ohio, 
1837;  John  Ray,  North  Carolina,  1838;  Chris- 
topher Cunningham,  1838;  Benjamin  AIc- 
Crary,  1838;  Charles  Grable,  1840;  Eli  Ar- 
nold, 1840. 

Jackson  is  the  first  township  of  the  southern 
tier,  west  of  Platte.  Its  population,  according 
to  the  last  census,  is  656. 

Arnoldsville  was  at  one  time  a  trading 
point  and  post  office.  Eli  Arnold  built  a  mill 
there  in  1847.  Now  the  people  of  Jackson,  as 
well  as  those  of  Platte,  go  to  Platte  River. 
Matney's  mill  and  store  are  on  the  Jackson 
township  side  of  the  bridge. 


44 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


CRAWFORD  TOWNSHIP. 

History  has  preserved  the  names  of  the  fol- 
lowing- early  settlers  of  Crawford  township, 
the  second  of  the  southern  tier  west  of  Platte : 
William  Fowler,  Delaware,  1837;  William 
Harrington,  1837;  Caleb  Bailey,  1837;  Will- 
iam Guinn  and  William  Lockhart,  Illinois, 
1837;  Bartlett  Curl,  Kentucky,  1837;  James 
B.  O'Toole,  Illinois,  1837;  Harvey  Jones. 
North  Carolina.  1837;  O.  M.  Spencer,  father 
of  Judge  Spencer,  Kentucky,  1837;  James 
Curl,  William  Payne,  Guian  Brown,  Turpin 
Thomas,  Matt  I-'erril,  1837;  Thomas  A. 
Brown,  late  judge  of  the  County  Court,  Ten- 
nessee, 1838;  H.  W.  Baker,  Virginia.  1837; 
John  Hickman,  St.  Louis,  1837;  Levi  Judah, 
Indiana,  1837;  Columbus  Roundtree,  Ken- 
tucky, 1837;  Dr.  Silas  McDonald,  first  physi- 
cian in  the  county,  Kentucky,  1838;  j\Iaj. 
Sandford  r  eland,  Kentucky,  1839;  Guilford 
Moultrie,  1839;  Nathan  Turner,  1839. 

Crawford  township  has,  according  to  the 
last  census,  a  population  of  1,359-  There  are 
three  votirg  precincts.  Halleck,  Wallace  and 
Faucett,  and  each  of  these  has  a  post  office. 

Halleck,  which  is  also  called  "Old  Taos," 
was  originally  known  as  Fancher's  Cross  Roads. 
In  1848,  a  saloon  was  kept  there,  in  which 
was  sold  whiskey  of  so  villainous  a  character 
that  those  who  had  returned  from  the  Mexican 
War  compared  it  to  Taos  whiskey,  which  was 
mescal,  and  considered  the  worst  in  New  Mex- 
ico ;  so,  when  a  drunken  soldier  galloped 
through  the  village  yelling  "Hurrah  for  Old 
Taos!"  the  name  was  fixed.  The  place  was 
afterwards  called  Binning,  but  during  the 
Civil  War  it  was  rechristened  in  honor  of  Gen- 
eral Halleck.  It  has  no  railroad.  There  is  a 
population  of  about  200.  There  is  a  black- 
smith shop  and  a  general  store,  lliere  was 
formerly  a  mill  and  Halleck  flour  was  famous. 


Wallace,  on  the  Atchison  branch  of  the 
Rock  Island  railroad,  is  the  most  important 
business  point  in  Crawforvl  township.  It  was 
platted  in  1872,  and  the  last  census  gives  the 
population  at  300.  There  are  two  general 
stores,  churches,  school,  blacksmith  shop,  hotel 
and  livery. 

Faucett  was  platted  when  the  Chicago 
Great  Western  road  extended  its  line,  in  1890, 
from  St.  Joseph  to  Kansas  City,  and  named 
in  honor  of  Robert  P'aucett,  the  miller.  There 
is  a  population  of  about  200,  a  school,  depot, 
two  general  stores,  a  church  and  a  large  grain 
elevator. 

BLOOMINGTON    TOWNSHIP. 

Among  the  first  settlers  of  what  is  now 
Bloomington  township  was  Hiram  Roberts, 
who  came  in  1836,  and  who  escaped  the  mili- 
tary raiders.  Bloomington  is  the  second  town- 
ship of  the  southern  tier  west  of  the  river.  The 
population  is  about  1,500.  Other  early  settlers 
were  Cornelius  Roberts,  1837;  Isom  Gardner, 
Amos  Horn,  John  Underwood,  Holland  Jones, 
Thomas  Hickman,  William  Hickman,  Will- 
iam Ballow,  Matt.  Geer,  Hardin  Hamilton, 
Mrs.  Sally  Davis,  F.  D.  Davis,  Thomas  Hill, 
Maj. .  P^rancis  Drake  Bowen,  Stephen  Field, 
James  Hamilton  and  Isaac  Van  Ploozier,  1837; 
Zachariah,  Uriah.  John,  William  and  Lewis 
Garten,  1838;  Michael  Gabbard,  1838;  Benja- 
min Yocum,  Kentucky,  1839;  Richard  Mur- 
phy, 1839;  Robert  M.  Stewart.  New  Y'ork, 
afterwards  Governor  of  Missouri,  1839;  Joel 
Hedgepeth,  1839;  James  Ellison,  William 
Moore,  Da\id  Brown,  William  Clasby,  Benja- 
min Sampson.  Abraham  and  William  Wo- 
mack,  J.  P.  Pettigrew,  Fountain  and  Rice  Mc- 
Cubbin  and  James  G.  Finch,  1839. 

DeKalb.   the  postoffice,   trading  point  and 
voting  precinct,   is"  a  prosperous  town,  nicely 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


45 


located  on  the  Atchison  branch  of  the  Rock 
Island  railroad,  and  well  equipped  with  schools, 
churches,  etc.  The  town  was  platted  by  James 
G.  Finch  in  1839,  and  is  the  oldest  in  the 
county,  Sparta  not  having  been  platted  until 
1840,  and  St.  Joseph  not  until  1843.  Finch 
had  an  idea  that  the  county  seat  would  be 
located  there,  and  so  he  laid  off  his  town 
around  a  contemplated  court  house  scjuare. 
\Vhen  Sparta  was  chosen  as  the  seat  of  justice, 
Finch  left  in  disgust.  The  quarter  section  con- 
taining the  town  site  \\a.s  afterwards  entered  by 
Oliver  Norman,  who  deeded  to  each  settler  the 
lot  he  occupied.  - 

Dekalb  was  always  a  good  trading  point, 
and  is  so  today.  The  town  is  not  incorporated, 
though  there  is  a  population  of  about  600. 
There  is  a  newspaper  {The  Tribune),  a  bank, 
several  general  stores,  hotel,  an  extensive  hard- 
w'are  and  implement  house,  drug  store,  black- 
smiths, harnessmakers,  barbers,  churches,  a 
school,  etc. 

RUSH    TOWNSHIP. 

This  is  the  extreme  southwestern  town- 
ship in  the  county,  and  its  western  boundary  is 
the  Missouri  River.  William  Allison,  John 
Allison  and  James  Canter  located  in  1837; 
John  Seips,  Eli  Seips,  Mitchell  Owen,  John 
Utt,  Colonel  Wells,  Henry  Flayes,  Sylvester 
Hayes,  Morris  Baker,  James  Carpenter,  An- 
thony Graves,  John  Flannery,  1839. 

There  are  two  postofifices  and  voting- 
precincts  in  the  township — Rushville  and 
Winthrop — and  the  population  of  the  town- 
ship is  given  in  the  last  census  at  1,653. 

Rushville  was  platted  in  1847  '^y  Perman 
Hudson  and  James  Leachman  upon  a  quarter 
section  that  had  been  entered  in  1839  by  John 
Flannery.  Five  railroads  pass  through  the 
town — the    Chicago.    Rock    Island   &    Pacific, 


Atchison,  Topeka  &  Santa  Fe,  Hannibal  & 
St.  Joseph,  Kansas  City,  St.  Joseph  &  Council 
Bluffs  and  Missouri  Pacitic.  There  is  a  popu- 
lation of  about  500  and  the  town  is  incorpo- 
rated. There  are  three  general  stores,  an  im- 
plement house,  drug  store,  hotel,  blacksmith, 
etc. ;  also  schools  and  churches. 

\\^inthrop  was  once  a  prosperous  place,  but 
the  ravages  of  the  river  and  the  departure  of 
the  industries  that  once  flourished  have  reduced 
it  to  a  comparatively  insignificant  point.  The 
quarter  section  upon  which  Winthrop  is  located 
was  entered  by  George  Million  in  1839.  Mill- 
ion operated  a  ferry  across  the  river  to  the 
point  where  Atchison  is  now  located.  The 
town  company  was  formed  in  1857,  and  Sen- 
ator Pomeroy  of  Kansas  was  one  of  the  incor- 
porators. The  place  was  named  in  honor  of 
Governor  Winthrop  of  the  Massachusetts  Bay 
colony.  There  were  at  one  time  two  extensive 
pork  packing  plants  in  operation.  The  larger 
one 'was  erected  by  Fowler  Brothers  in  1879, 
at  a  cost  of  $150,000,  and  the  smaller  one  by 
Smith,  Farlow  &  Company  of  Ouincy.  The 
Fowlers  moved  their  plant  to  Kansas  City  after 
operating  for  something  over  a  year.  There 
were  several  causes  for  this :  one  that  the 
bridge  rates  were  exorbitant,  another  the  flings 
of  an  Atchison  newspaper  at  tlie  peculiarities 
of  the  resident  Fowder,  whose  manners  were 
European,  and  a  third  that  Kansas  City  of- 
fered high  inducements.  Perhaps  all  three 
reasons  are  entitled  to  weight,  but  the  last  was 
doubtless  the  prime  cause  of  the  removal. 
Kansas  City  was  making  a  special  offer  for 
packing  houses.  The  Fowlers  were  offered 
ground  and  buildings,  and  the  offer  was  ac- 
cepted. The  Winthrop  house  was  dismantled 
and  afterward  destroyed  by  the  elements.  As 
the  Fowders  killed  about  3,000  hogs  daily,  the 
loss  by  their  departure  was  great,  not  only  to 
Winthrop,  but  to  Atchison  as  well. 


46 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY  AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


The  packing  house  of  Smith,  Farlow  & 
Company  was  buih  in  1880  at  a  cost  of 
"$60,000,  and  had  a  capacity  of  about  1,000 
hogs  daily.  It  Avas  operated  for  about  four 
years  by  the  builders,  and  at  different  times 
subsequently  by  other  parties.  The  plant  is 
idle  now. 

There  were  stock  yards,  freight  depots, 
lumber  yards,  saloons  and  numerous  business 
houses  in  those  days,  and  there  was  quite  a 
speculation  in  Winthrop  town  lots  in  1879  and 
1880. 

Prior  to  the  construction  of  the  Atchison 
bridge,  which  was  opened  in  September  of 
1874,  there  was  a  steam  ferry,  the  "Ida,"  owned 
by  Dr.  Challis  of  Atchison,  and  also  a  railroad 
transport  boat,  the  "William  M.  Osborn." 

In  1884,  the  northern  portion  of  Winthrop 
went  into  the  river,  and  the  ravages  of  the 
flood  were  so  great  as  to  necessitate  the  aban- 
donment of  a  railroad  station  between  Win- 
throp and  Rushville,  called  "Paw-Paw."  For 
over  three  years  trains  were  run  to  Sugar  Lake, 
where  Armour  station  was  erected,  and  thence 
to  Atchison.  Last  year,  however,  the  Rock 
Island  and  Santa  Fe  companies  built  tracks 
along  the  old  route  and  their  trains  no  longer 
go  to  Armour. 

The  census"  of  1890  shows  a  population  of 
490  for  W^inthrop,  but  there  are  not  that  num- 
ber now  by  half.  The  postoffice  is  called  East 
Atchison.  There  are  two  general  stores,  black- 
smiths, saloon  and  drug  store. 

LAKE    TOWNSHIP. 

This  is  the  smallest  township  in  the 
county.  It  lies  north  of  Rush  and  .west  of 
Wayne,  and  has  the  Missouri  RiA-er  for  its 
Avestern  lx)undary.  The  earliest  settlers  were 
from  Bartholomew  County,  Indiana,  and  the 
following  came  in    1841  :     William  McHam- 


mer,  Henry  Siebert,  Nathaniel  Wilson,  James 
McKinney,  John,  James  and  Thomas  Mc- 
Galliard,  James  Wilson  and  Eli  Gabbert. 

The  population  of  Lake  township  is  about 
300.  The  voting-  precinct  is  at  Wilson's  school 
house,  and  the  postoffice  at  Halls,  in  Wayne 
township. 

WAYNE    TOWNSHIP. 

Peter  Price  was  among  the  first  settlers, 
coming  in  1837,  and  Isaac  Lower  of  Tennes- 
see came  at  about  the  same  time.  Samuel 
Hawley  and  Jesse  Hawley  of  Indiana  came  in 
1839;  William  Dunning,  North  Carolina, 
^839;  Daniel  Devorss,  Ohio,   1839. 

Wayne  township  is  bounded  on  the  west  by 
Lake  township  and  the  river,  on  the  south  by 
Bloomington,  on  the  east  by  Center  and  on  the 
north  by  W^ashington.  There  are  three  voting 
precincts — Halls,  Lake  station  and  Yeakley's 
school  house.  The  population  of  the  township 
is  about  1,200. 

Halls,  the  principal  trading  point  in  the 
township,  is  about  midway  between  St.  Joseph 
and  Atchison.  There  are  two  railroad  depots, 
two  general  stores,  post  office,  church,  black- 
smith, etc.  The  place  was  formerly  called 
"Eveline."     The  population  is  about   100. 

Kenmore  is  a  small  point  on  the  Rock  Isl- 
and road,  two  miles  northeast  of  Halls.  It 
was  founded  by  Warren  Samuel  of  St.  Joseph. 
There  is  a  depot  and  general  store. 

Lake  station,  about  four  miles  south  of  St. 
Joseph,  was  formerly  a  flourishing  trading- 
point,  but  since  the  extension  of  business  to 
St.  George  there  is  little  doing  at  the  station. 

CENTER  TOWNSHIP. 

This  was  at  one  time  the  most  promising- 
township  in  the  county,  for  within  its  confines 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


47 


were  located  the  first  seat  of  justice  and  court 
house.  Among  the  early  settlers  were  Richard 
Hill,  Jesse  Reames,  Zachariah  Waller,  Elijah 
W.  Smith,  Thomas  More,  Lucas  Dawson  and 
John  Martin,  who  located  in  1837.  Robert 
Duncan,  William  Hunter,  Andrew  J.  Hunter, 
John  Ritchie,  James  Donovan,  John,  Samuel 
and  Joseph  Hill  came  in  1839;  William  C. 
Connett,  Kentucky,  1839;  ^Villiam  Farris, 
Indiana,  1840;  Samuel  McCauley,  Pennsyl- 
vania, 1840;  H.  G.  Gordon,  James  Wood- 
ward, Evan  Jordan,  Ransom  Ridge,  Robert 
W.  Donnell,  James  Woodward,  Martin 
Hirsch,  Samuel  and  Elbert  Gann,  John  Cope- 
land,  1842. 

Center  township  is  bounded  by  Wayne, 
Washington,  Agency  and  Crawford,  and  has 
a  population  of  alx)ut  1,200.  The  voting  pre- 
cinct and  post  office,  called  Adams,  is  about 
eight  miles  southeast  of  St.  Joseph. 

Sparta,  which  was  the  name  of  the  first 
county  seat,  exists  on  the  map  only,  the  ground 
being  now  a  part  of  the  McCauley  farm.  Sparta 
had  a  brief  existence  of  six  years.  It  was 
platted  in  1840  ancL  its  streets  were  named 
Hazel,  Prune,  Olive,  Vine,  Market,  Chestnut, 
Cedar,  Cherry,  Walnut,  Main  and  Harrison. 
There  was  the  log  court  house,  a  tavern,  kept 
Ijy  Robert  Duncan,  several  general  stores,  a 
saloon  and  wagon  and  blacksmith  shops.  It 
was  only  a  small  town  when  at  the  height  of 
its  prosperity.  During  the  struggle  between 
Sparta  and  St.  Joseph  over  the  county  seat,  a 
newspaper  called  The  Rooster,  was  published 
at  Sparta.  When  the  county  seat  was  moved 
to  St.  Joseph,  Sparta  faded  out  of  existence. 

Bee  Creek  is  a  point  about  nine  miles  south- 
east of  St.  Joseph,  where  the  Santa  Fe  and 
Chicago  Great  Western  railroads  join,  both 
using  the  same  track  from  St.  Joseph  to  this 
point. 

Willow  Brook  is  a  station  on  the  Chicago 


Great  Western  about  12  miles  from  St.  Joseph. 
A  general  store  and  postoffice  existed  there  for 
some  time  prior  to  the  coming  of  the  railroad. 

AGENCY  TOWNSHIP. 

The  population  of  this  township  is  about 
1,000.  It  is  bounded  by  Washington,  Center, 
Jackson  and  Tremont,  the  latter  being  divided 
by  the  Platte  River.  James  and  Robert  Gil- 
more,  Samuel  Poteet  and  William  McDowell 
settled  there  in  1837;  James  J.  Reynolds,  1838; 
Jacob  Reese,  North  Carolina,  1838;  Benjamin 
Moore,  Virginia,  1838;  Littleberry  Estes  and 
Bright  Martin,  1838;  John  Lamb,  Robert  Gil- 
more  and  Richard  Fulton,  1839. 

In  the  early  days  there  Avas  a  road  from 
Clay  County  to  the  Blacksnake  Hills  which 
crossed  the  Platte  River  where  the  town  of 
Agency  now  stands.  The  river  was  shallow 
here  and  could  be  forded  by  teams.  The 
agency  of  the  Sac  and  Fox  Indians  was  located 
on  the  west  side  of  the  Platte,  about  where  the 
town  now  stands,  and  the  point  became  known 
as  "Agency  Ford."  In  1839,  Robert  Gilmore 
established  a  ferry,  which  was  afterwards  oper- 
ated by  William  B.  Smith,  and  continued  until 
the  county  Iniilt  a  wagon  bridge,  in  1868. 

The  town  of  Agency  was  platted  in  1865 
by  William  B.  Smith,  and  the  building  of  the 
railroad  from  St.  Joseph  to  Lexington,  now 
a  part  of  the  Santa  Fe  system,  gave 
an  impetus  to  business.  Agency  is  now  incor- 
porated, and  is  in  a  flourishing  condition,  the 
population  being  about  400.  There  is  a  bank, 
two  mills,  a  modern  hotel,  six  general  stores, 
a  newspaper  (The  Record),  school,  church,  etc. 

TREMONT    TOWNSHIP. 

One  of  the  first  settlers  of  Tremont  town- 
ship was  Ishmael  Davis,  father  of  the  late  R.  T. 


48 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


Davis,  who  located  in  tlie  spring  of  1837  at 
the  edge  of  Rock  House  Prairie.  The  late  R. 
T.  Davis  is  said  to  have  been  the  first  white 
child  born  in  the  county.  The  following  are 
mentioned  as  having  located  prior  to  1840: 
Ambros  McDaniel,  George  Jeffers,  Harold  Mil- 
ler. Robert  Irwin,  Samuel  D.  Gilmore,  Stephen 
Bedford,  Daniel  McCreary,  Jacob  Schultz, 
Henry  Jones,  Creed  Herring,  M.  D.  Finch  and 
William  P.  Mudgett,  who  was  the  first  post- 
master in  the  township. 

Rock  House  Prairie,  in  the  southern  part 
of  this  township,  was  so  named  from  the  fol- 
lowing circumstances  :  While  the  Indians  still 
occupied  the  county,  the  route  traveled  between 
Clay  County  and  the  Indian  agency,  near 
Agency  Ford,  after  crossing  the  Platte  River, 
led  over  the  prairie.  On  a  rocky  point  of 
ground,  near  the  residence  of  Ransom  Ridge, 
the  Indians  had  erected  a  huge  pile  of  stones, 
shaped  as  much  as  possible  in  the  form  of  a 
house.  This  was  known  as  the  Rock  House. 
It  stood  directly  on  the  road  traveled  from 
Agency  Ford  to  Liberty,  Clay  County,  and  at- 
tracted the  attention  of  those  who  traversed  that 
region,  and  from  this  fact,  at  an  early  date,  the 
prairie  came  to  be  called  the  Rock  House 
Prairie. 

Tremont  is  the  extreme  eastern  center  of 
the  tier  of  townships,  and  is  bounded  by  Platte, 
Agency  and  Marion.  Its  population  is  about 
1,300.  There  are  two  voting  precincts — Gar- 
retsburg  and  Frazer — both  of  which  liave  post- 
offices.  Garretsburg  is  on  a  wagon  road  from 
St.  Joseph,  and  there  is  a  general  store.  Frazer 
is  a  station  on  the  Lexington  branch  of  the 
Santa  F^e  railroad,  and  also  has  a  general  store. 

MARION  TOW^NSHIP. 

This  township  forms  the  northeastern  por- 
tion of  the  county.    It  is  separated  from  Wash- 


ington township  by  the  Platte  River  and 
bounded  on  the  south  by  Tremont. 

Calvin  James,  of  barbecue  fame,  was  one 
of  the  first  settlers  of  Marion,  locating  near  the 
present  town  of  Easton  in  1837.  Benjamin 
Cornelius,  Peter  Boyer,  James  Blakely,  Thomas 
McGowan,  Jesse  Clark  and  Barnes  Clark  came 
in  1837  and  1838;  Caleb  Hasenmeyer  and  the 
Markers  came  in  1838 ;  Nicholas  Roberts,  James 
Roberts,  James  McCorkle,  1838;  Jacob  Kessler, 
Jacob  Wiedmayer,  John  Wunderlich.  Wolf- 
gang Beck.  John  Slaybaugh.  David  Davis.  Dr. 
John  Minor.  John  Davis.  Isaac  Gibson.  Wil- 
liam P.  Shortridge.  Augustus  and  James 
Wiley.  1840  and  1844. 

Marion  township  has  a  population  of  about 
2.000.  There  are  two  voting  precincts — 
Easton  and  San  Antonio. 

Easton.  which  is  one  of  the  three  incorpo- 
rated towns  of  the  county,  is  located  about  12 
miles  from  St.  Joseph,  on  the  Hannibal  &  St. 
Joseph  Railroad.  The  town  was  platted  in 
1854  by  E.  Don  McCrary.  who  owned  400 
acres  of  land  and  who  had  for  some  time  been 
operating  a  general  store.  The  present  popu- 
lation is  about  400,  and  there  is  a  mill,  several 
general  stores,  drug  store.  Catholic  and  Protes- 
tant churches,  bank,  school  and  other  conveni- 
ences. 

San  Antonio  is  an  old  trading"  point  near  the 
central  portion  of  the  township.  There  is  a 
general  store  and  church,  and  tliere  was  for- 
merly-a  post  office. 

New  Hirlingen  is  the  trading  point  of  a 
thriving  German  community,  located  in  the 
northeastern  portion  of  the  township.  There 
is  a  general  store,  post  office  and  Catholic 
Church. 

Platte  River  and  Stockbridge  are  points  on 
the  Chicago,  Rock  Island  &  Pacific  Railway, 
the  latter  being  a  post  office.  Clair  is  at  the 
Platte  River  crossing  of  the  St.  Joseph  &  Des 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CTflZENS. 


49 


Moines    Railroad    (Burlington    Route),   there 
being  a  general  store  and  siding. 

WASHINGTON  TOWNSHIP. 

Some  of  the  early  farms  in  Washington 
township  now  form  a  part  of  the  city  of  St. 
Joseph.  The  following  persons  are  mentioned 
in  history  as  having  settled  prior  to 
1840:  John  H.  Whitehead,  William 
Whitehead,  Henr}-  \\\  Hanson,  James 
Cochran,  Frederick  Waymire,  William 
Pugh,  Clayborne  F.  Palmer,  A.  C.  Hyde, 
Thomas,  John  and  Elisha  Sollars.  Stephen 
Parker,  Isaac  and  Michael  ^liller,  James 
G.  Karnes,  Alexander  Fudge,  Leroy  Kauff- 
man,  Benjamin  Williams,  Jacoli  (iroschon. 
Logan  Jones,  Edward  Maxwell,  _F)hn  H. 
Cox,  Da\id  Ewing,  William  Sallee,  Joseph 
Davis,  George  Coughern,  Michael  Rogers,  F. 


B.  Kercheval,  Simeon  Kemper,  Frederick  W. 
Smith,  Dr.  Daniel  Keedy,  Bela  M.  Hughes, 
Robert  I.  Boyd,  William  T.  Harris,  Joseph 
Gladden,  Samuel  C.  Hall,  John  B.  Hundley, 
Richard  Gilmore,  William  P.  Richardson  and 
Isidore  Poulin. 

Washington  township  has  three  justices  of 
the  peace  and  one  constable,  who  are  stationed 
at  St.  Joseph.  There  are  four  post  offices  in  the 
township,  besides  St.  Joseph — Stock  Yards 
(South  St.  Joseph),  Vories  (South  Park), 
Inza  (Hyde's  Addition)  and  Saxton. 

\Vhen  the  Stock  Yards  were  opened,  in 
1887,  the  town  of  St.  George  was  platted  and 
put  upon  the  market.  The  town  was  never  in- 
corporated and  was  made  a  part  of  St.  Joseph 
in  the  spring  of  1900.  It  is  now  a  populous 
residence  district,  well  equipped  with  business 
houses,  churches,  schools,  paved  streets  and 
modern  conveniences. 


CHAPTER  VI. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOSEPH. 

RoBiDOUx  AT  Roy's  Branch  and  Blacksnake  Hills — First  Settlers — The  Town 
Platted  and  Lots  Sold — First  Municipal  Government  —  First  Business 
Houses,  Hotels,  Churches,  Newspapers,  etc. — Ordinances  of  the  Town  Board 
— Population  at  Various  Periods — The  Trading  Post,  the  Settlement,  the 
Village  and  the  Town   up  to    1849. 


The  French  were  the  earhest  and  most  suc- 
cessful Indian  traders.  They  settled  Canada 
and  the  northwestern  part  of  the  United  States, 
and  also  the  country  about  the  mouth  of  the 
Mississippi.  Pierre  Laclede  Liguest,  who  is 
better  known  in  history  simply  as  Pierre 
Laclede,  held  by  charter  from  the  French  gov- 
ernment the  exclusive  right  to  trade  with  the 
Indians  in  all  the  country  as  far  north  as  St. 
Peter's  River.  In  1764  he  established  a  colony, 
out  of  which  grew  the  present  city  of  St.  Louis. 
His  followers  consisted  of  daring  frontiersmen, 
who  made  trading  and  trapping  excursions  into 
the  wilderness  before  them,  establishing  posts 
at  interior  points,  where  peltries  were  collected 
and  shipped  to  headquarters. 

In  1808  the  Chouteaus  of  St.  Louis,  and 
others,  organized  the  Missouri  Fur  Company. 
In  18 1 3  the  Missouri  company  was  merged  into 
the  American  h\u-  Company,  and  the  Chouteaus 
l^ecame  connected  with  the  latter. 

A  vigorous  effort  was  at  once  made  by  this 
company  to  drive  out  the  independent  traders, 
and  Francis  Chouteau  was  sent  forth  to  estab- 
lish a  chain  of  posts.  Among  the  first  posts 
thus  established  bv  Chouteau  was  one  on  the 


Kaw  River,  about  20  miles  from  its  mouth,  and 
known  as  the  "Four  Houses;"  also  one  at  the 
"Blufifs,"  the  present  site  of  Council  Bluffs, 
Iowa. 

Joseph  Robidoux,  of  French  parentage, 
born  at  St.  Louis,  was  a  rival  trader  at  the 
"Bluffs,"  but  in  1822  sold  out  to  the  company 
and  agreed  to  remain  away  for  three  years. 
At  the  end  of  that  period  he  announced  his  in- 
tention of  again  going  into  business  at  the  old 
stand,  but  the  fur  company  proposed  to  estab- 
lish him  at  the  mouth  of  what  is  now  called 
Roy's  Branch,  just  above  the  Blacksnake  Hills, 
upon  a  salary  of  $1,800  per  year,  provided  he 
would  not  interfere  with  the  trade  at  the 
"Bluffs."  This  proposition  he  accepted,  and, 
with  a  stock  of  goods,  he  landed  his  keel-boats 
at  the  mouth  of  the  branch  in  the  fall  of  1826. 

Robidoux  soon  recognized  the  superiority 
of  a  location  at  the  mouth  of  Blacksnake  Creek, 
and,  in  the  following  spring,  moved  to  this 
point,  where  he  continued  to  work  for  the 
American  Fur  Company  until  1830,  when  he 
became  the  sole  proprietor  of  the  trading  post 
whicli  formed  the  nucleus  of  the  present  city  of 
St.  Joseph. 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


51 


For  many  years  the  solitary  log  house  of 
Joseph  "Robidoux  was  the  only  evidence  of  civil- 
ized man  within  a  radius  of  50  miles.  Robi- 
doux's  first  house  stood  near  the  mouth  of 
Blacksnake  Creek.  His  second,  and  more 
pretentious  one,  occupied  a  spot  near  what  is 
now  known  as  the  northeast  corner  of  Main  and 
Jules  streets.  It  faced  the  south,  was  one  and 
one-half  stories  high,  contained  nine  rooms,  six 
on  the  first  floor  and  three  on  the  second,  and  a 
covered  porch  extended  along  the  entire  front. 
Besides,  there  was  a  shed  on  the  north  side, 
divided  into  three  rooms,  in  one  of  which  Robi- 
doux  slept.  The  entire  structure  was  of  logs, 
chinked  with  mud,  and  was  substantially  and 
correctly  built,  insuring  comfort  in  all  seasons; 
and  being  sufficiently  formidable  to  withstand 
an  attack  of  hostile  Indians,  should  one  be 
made.  Robidoux  had  several  other  houses  in 
that  neighborhood,  one  of  which  is  now  pre- 
served at  Krug  Park. 

Robidoux  had  in  his  employ  about  20 
Frenchmen,  who  made  regular  trips  with  mules 
to  the  Grand  River  country  and  across  the  Mis- 
souri River  into  what  is  now  Kansas  and 
Southern  Nebraska,  taking  with  them  beads, 
mirrors,  brilliant  cloth  and  other  flummery  dear 
to  the  heart  of  the  savage,  and  bringing  home 
peltries  and  buffalo  hides.  These  were  stored 
and  packed,  and  were  shipped  to  St.  Louis  in 
keel-boats  before  the  days  of  the  steamlx)at. 

In  time  travelers  came  and  beheld  the  beau- 
ties of  this  region,  and,  as  the  tidings  went 
abroad,  others  came  to  see  and  to  locate.  In 
1834  several  families  from  Franklin  County, 
consisting  of  Thomas  and  Henry  Sollars, 
Elisha  Gladden,  Mrs.  Jane  Purget  and  others, 
settled  near  the  post. 

For  the  convenience  of  those  in  his  employ 
and  the  Indians,  Robidoux  operated  a  small 
ferry,  consisting  of  a  flatboat.  The  landing 
nt   this  side  was  about  where  Francis  street 


originally  struck  the  river,  and  the  road  led 
from  there  southeast  to  the  xVgency  Ford  of 
the  Platte  River,  where  it  forked,  one  branch 
leading  to  Liberty,  Clay  County,  and  the  other 
to  the  Grand  River  country. 

There  were  few,  if  any,  additions  to  the 
population  of  Blacksnake  Hills,  as  Robidoux's 
post  was  called,  until  the  completion  of  the 
Platte  Purchase  in  1837.  When  the  country 
was  opened  for  settlement,  there  was  a  rush  of 
immigration,  and  the  leading  post  was  natur- 
ally the  objective  point.  Robidoux  secured  two 
quarter  sections  embracing  what  is  now  desig- 
nated on  the  map  as  "Original  Town''  and  the 
various  Robidoux  additions. 

Rival  trading  points  sprang  up  all  over  the 
new  country  between'  1837  and  1840.  Of  Sa- 
vannah, Amazonia,  Bontown,  Elizabethtown, 
Boston  and  Jimtown,  all  in  Andrew  County, 
the  two  former  alone  remain.  However,  Black- 
snake Hills  continued  to  prosper  and  the  popu- 
lation steadily  increased. 

In  the  fall  of  1839  Robidoux  agreed  to  sell 
the  site  of  Blacksnake  Hills  to  Warren  Samuel 
and  two  other  parties  from  Independence,  Mis- 
souri, for  $1,600  in  silver.  They  went  home 
and  returned  in  due  time  with  the  money,  and 
also  with  a  plat  of  the  future  town.  They  were 
Robidoux's  guests.  During  the  evening  a  dis- 
pute arose  over  a  game  of  cards  which  caused 
Robidoux  to  decline  further  negotiations.  He 
had  doubtless  regretted  his  part  of  the  bargain 
and  gladly  availed  himself  of  this  opportunity 
to  cancel  the  deal  at  the  critical  time. 

Howe\-er,  Robidoux  gave  or  leased  ground 
in  small  parcels  to  all  who  desired  to  locate, 
and  so  there  developed  quite  a  settlement. 
Robidoux  engaged  in  general  merchandise  and 
built  a  flouring  mill  near  the  mouth  of  Black- 
snake Creek.  Dr.  Daniel  Keedy,  who  was  the 
first  physician,  built  a  sawmill  south  of  the  set- 
tlement. 


52 


HISTORY  OF    BLXHANAN    COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


In  June  of  1840  a  post  office  was  estab- 
lished here  and  called  "Blacksnake  Hills/'  with 
Jules  C.  Robidoux.  a  son  of  Joseph,  as  post- 
master. 

Among  those  who  came  prior  to  1840 
were  Frederick  W.  Smith,  a  surveyor,  w-hose 
name  is  prominently  identified  with  the  subse- 
quent history  of  the  city ;  Dr.  Daniel  Keedy, 
Joseph  Gladden,  Polly  Deliard,  Samuel  Hull, 
John  Freeman,  John  Patchen,  James  B. 
O'Toole.  William  C.  T(x)le.  Edwin  Toole,  and 
others.  Of  these,  Judge  William  C.  Toole  still 
lives  in  the  city.    The  others  are  dead. 

Among  those  who  came  [)rior  to  1843  were 
\Mlliam  P.  Richardson,  Simeon  Kemper,  Dr. 
D.  Benton,  John  Corby,  Joseph  C.  Hull,  Elias 
Perry,  Charles  and  A.  Al.  Saxton,  Rev.  T.  S. 
Reeves,  Isidore  Poulin,  James  W.  Whitehead, 
Lawrence  Archer,  Benjamin  C.  Powell,  John 
D.  Richardson,  Jonathan  Levy,  Isaac  and  John 
Curd,  \\'illiam  H.  Edgar,  Robert  G.  Boyd, 
Thomas  Mills.  Joseph  Davis,  Joseph  Fisher, 
Michael  Miller,  J.  G.  Kearns,  James  Highly. 
Christopher  Carbry,  Robert  W.  Donnell  and 
David  J.   Heaton. 

Josiah  Beattie  kept  a  ta\ern,  where  also  the 
Gospel  was  preached  by  Rev.  Mr.  Reeves. 
Louis  Picard  is  mentioned  as  the  first  carpenter, 
William  Langston  as  the  first  plasterer,  two 
brothers  named  Belcher  as  the  first  brickmak- 
ers,  and  Jacob  Mitchell  as  the  first  blacksmith, 
though  Robidoux  had  a  l)lacksmith  regularly 
em])loyed  for  many  years  previous  to  this  time. 

Though  the  population  was  small.  Black- 
snake  Hills  was  the  best  trading  point  in  this 
section,  and  farmers  came  long  distances  to  the 
mills  and  stores.  Sparta  was  the  county  seat, 
Init  the  people  were  ne\er  attracted  there,  al- 
ways preferring  this  point.  When  the  Count)' 
Court  appropriated  $6,000  for  the  second  Court 
House,  in  November  of  1842.  the  entcr])rising 
peo])le  of  Blacksnake  Hills  at  once  began  to 


agitate  the  county  seat  question,  urging  that 
it  be  moved  here. 

Robidoux  was  alive  to  the  importance  of 
this  matter  and  began  preparations  to  form  a 
town.  The  population  was  about  200  at  that 
time,  and  the  business  was  along  the  river  bank, 
near  the  mouth  of  the  Blacksnake.  The  larger 
portion  of  the  proposed  townsite  was  then  used 
as  a  hemp  field.  As  soon  as  the  crop  was  har- 
vested, Robidoux  had  sur^'eys  and  plats  made 
by  two  rival  surveyors,  Frederick  W.  Smith 
and  Simeon  Kemper.  Smith  named  his  plat 
"St.  Joseph"  and  Kemper  named  his  "Robi- 
doux." Smith's  plat  was  selected,  taken  to 
St.  Louis  and  recorded  on  July  26,  1843.  The 
history  of  St.  Joseph  therefore  begins  with 
July  26,  1843. 

The  town  as  then  platted  included  all  of 
the  territory  between  Robidoux  street  on  the 
north,  Messanie  on  the  south.  Sixth  street  on 
the  east  and  the  river  on  the  west — 52  whole 
and  12  fractional  blocks,  the  dimensions  of  each 
whole  1)lock  being  240  by  300  feet,  bisected  by 
a  12-foot  alley.  Robidoux  named  the  streets, 
running  back  from  the  river :  Water,  Levee, 
P^irst  (Main),  Second,  Third  P^ourth,  Fifth 
and  Sixth.  Those  running  at  right  angles  he 
jiamed  after  members  of  his  family,  beginning" 
with  Robidoux,  then  F^araon,  Jules,  Francis.. 
Felix,  Edmond,  Charles,  Sylvanie,  Angelique 
and  Messanie. 

The  town  lots  were  immcdiatly  put  upon  the 
market,  though  Robidoux's  title  was  not  per- 
fected until  1847.  ^^t  that  time  the  land  office- 
was  located  at  Plattsburg.  The  first  convey- 
ance of  lots  was  made  on  July  25.  1843,  tbe  day 
before  the  plat  was  recorded,  and  was  a  deed 
of  trust  to  secure  to  the  Chouteaus  the  payment 
of  a  loan  of  !$6,7,y2.^'/.  with  interest  at  the 
rate  of  10  per  cent,  per  annum.  The  education 
of  Mrs.  Robidoux  seems  to  liave  been  neglected.. 
for  the  deed  of  trust  was  signed : 


VIEW    OF    SOUTH    ST.   JOSEPH 

(Showing  the  Stock  Yards  District) 


VIEW    OF    ST.    JOSEPH    FROM     PROSPECT    HILL 
(Showing  a  Portion  of  the  River  Front) 


i  i 


VIEW    OF    ST.   JOSEPH    FROM    THE    COURT    HOUSE 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


55 


JH.   ROBIDOUX.     (Seal.) 

her 
ANGELIQUE  X   ROBIDOUX   (Seal.) 
mark. 

As  sales  were  made,  the  money  received  was 
applied  to  the  payment  of  the  Chouteau  mort- 
gage. 

The  population  now  increased  rapidly,  and 
at  the  end  of  the  year  1843  there  were  500 
people  here,  as  compared  with  200  in  the  June 
previous.  In  the  fall  there  occurred  a  public 
sale  of  town  lots,  which  had  been  extensively 
advertised  and  had  attracted  a  large  number 
of  men  from  the  surrounding  country.  One 
hundred  and  fifty  lots  were  sold  at  auction,  and 
more  would  ha^•e  been  purchased,  but  Robi- 
doux  wisely  closed  the  sale.  The  corner  lots 
brought  $150  and  inside  lots  $100  each  at  this 
sale. 

It  was  not  until  1845,  however,  that  the 
town  of  St.  Joseph  had  a  municipal  govern- 
ment, as  will  be  shown  by  the  following,  which 
is  a  copy  of  the  first  entry  made  in  the  original 
minute  book  of  the  board  of  trustees : 

St.  Joseph.  Mo.,  May  8,  1845. 
At  a  meeting  of  the  trustees  of  the  town  of  St. 
Joseph,  who  were  elected  on  Monday,  May  5th,  1845, 
there  were  present  Joseph  Robidoux,  Isidore  Barada, 
John  F.  Carter,  Johnson  Copeland,  Wiley  M.  Eng- 
lish, Sinclair  Miller  and  Benjamin  C.  Powell.  The 
meeting  was  organized  by  calling  Joseph  Robidoux 
to  the  chair  and  appointing  Benjamin  F.  Loan  clerk 
pro  tern.  The  certificate  of  election  of  each  of  said 
trustees  was  submitted  to  the  inspection  and  action 
of  said  meeting.  After  a  careful  examination  of 
each  of  said  certificates  by  said  meeting,  they  were 
severally  received  and  each  of  said  trustees  declared 
duly  elected.  Whereupon  the  said  trustees  were 
each  sworn  to  the  oath  of  office  and  their  respective 
certificates  filed  with  the  clerk.  The  meeting  then 
went  into  an  election  of  a  chairman  of  the  Board, 
and  upon  the  first  ballot  Joseph  Robidoux  receiving 
six  votes,  he  was  duly  declared  elected  chairman 
of  said  Board.  Said  Board  then  went  into  an  elec- 
tion of  officers,  which  resulted  in  the  election  of 
Benjamin   P.  Loan  for  clerk  and  attorney;   Howell 


Thomas  for  constable  and  collector;  Benjamin  C. 
Powell,  treasurer;  Charles  White,  inspector  and 
assessor;  and  Frederick  W.  Smith,  surveyor.  On 
motion  of  John  F.  Carter,  Esq.,  the  chair  appointed 
Messrs.  Carter,  Barada  and  Powell  a  committee  to 
draft  and  report  at  the  next  meeting  of  the  Board 
of  Trustees  for  adoption,  such  by-laws  and  regula- 
tions as  they  shall  think  proper.  Ordered  that  the 
Board  of  Trustees  adjourn  to  meet  Thursday,  the 
15th   of  May,  at  2  o'clock  p.  m. 

Joseph  Robidoux  had  a  monopoly  of  the 
trade  until  1843,  when  Charles  and  Elias  Perry 
leased  from  him  the  small  log  house  which 
stood  on  the  west  side  of  Blacksnake  Creek, 
and  opened  a  stock  of  general  merchandise. 
In  the  fall  of  that  year  they  built  a  two-story 
brick  house  on  Main  street,  fronting  east,  where 
the  Sommer-Richardson  cracker  factory  now 
stands.  The  brothers  Perry  became  prominent 
factors  in  the  early  commerce  of  this  point. 
Both  are  dead. 

In  1844  Hull  &  Carter  and  E.  LivernnM-e 
&  Company  also  built  business  houses  on  Main 
street,  between  Jules  and  Francis  streets.  Ben- 
jamin C.  Powell  and  Jonathan  Levy  each  built 
a  business  house  on  Levee  street,  and  Archie 
^IcDonald  erected  a  small  brick  house  on  Ed- 
mond  street,  near  Water  street,  in  a  portion  of 
the  original  town  which  has  long  been  in  the 
river.  Robidoux  also  was  a  builder,  and  pro- 
vided several  brick  tenements. 

Israel  Landis  came  in  1844  and  opened  a 
saddle  and  harness  shop,  west  of  Blacksnake 
Creek,  but  soon  moved  over  to  Main  street, 
where  business  was  rapidly  centering.  Wil- 
liam Carter  and  Aquilla  Morrow  are  recorded 
as  early  smiths  and  plowmakers.  Philip 
Werthwine  was  the  village  barber;  Allendorff 
&  Rhodes  kept  a  meat  market,  and  Horatio 
Glasgow  was  the  shoemaker.  All  of  these 
were  in  the  same  neighborhood,  except  Glas- 
gow, who  isolated  himself  and  kept  a  shop  on 
the  west  side  of  Blacksnake  Creek,  at  the  ter- 
minus of  a  bridge.     There  was  also  a  ten-pirt 


56 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY  AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


alley,  kept  by  John  Kennedy,  and  liquor  could 
be  bought  at  several  places.  The  first  per- 
manent organization  of  the  Methodist  Church 
was  perfected  in   1844  by  Rev.  Edward  Rob- 


inson. 


In  1845  the  first  three-story  building,  the 
Edgar  House,  was  erected  at  the  corner  of 
Main  and  Francis  streets.  It  is  still  in  a  good 
state  of  preservation.  At  ?.bout  the  same  time 
Rev.  T.  S.  Reeves,  a  Presbyterian  clergyman, 
who  was  a  pioneer  Protestant  minister,  erected 
the  first  church  edifice  on  a  lot  now  occupied 
by  the  John  S.  Brittain  wholesale  house  at 
Fourth  and  Jules  streets.  John  Corby  opened 
an  office  as  money  lender  and  general  specu- 
lator at  about  the  same  time.  Hull  &  Welding 
opened  a  wagon  shop  and  Isidore  Barada  a 
bakery. 

Jonathan  Copeland  built  the  first  ware- 
house, near  the  river  bank,  between  Jules  and 
Water  streets.  Steamboats,  other  than  those 
owned  and  run  by  the  American  Fur  Company, 
generally  passed  about  twice  a  month.  The 
staple  product  in  those  days  was  hemp,  and 
much  of  it  was  shipped  to  St.  Louis. 

How  the  foundations  of  some  fortunes  were 
laid  in  the  early  days  may  be  seen  from  three 
transactions.  In  1844  John  Corby  purchased 
the  tract  of  land  now  known  as  Corby's  Grove, 
■consisting  of  80  acres,  for  the  sum  of  $200.  In 
the  same  year  Albe  M.  Saxton  purchased  a 
section  of  land  one  and  one-half  miles  east  of 
the  Patee  House  for  i  )4  cents  per,  acre.  John 
Patee  purchased  the  tract,  320  acres,  which  be- 
came Patee's  Addition,  for  $3,200. 

In  April,  1845,  the  following  were  in  busi- 
ness here :  E.  Livermore  &  Company,  general 
merchandise ;  Jules  C.  Robidoux,  who  had 
succeeded  his  father  in  business,  general  mer- 
chant ;  Ross  &  Harper,  general  merchants ;  Hull 
&  Carter,  drugs  and  sundries  ;  Middleton,  Perry 
&  Company,  general  merchants ;  Israel  Landis, 


saddler ;  John  Patee,  drugs  and  medicines ;  E. 
Kemp,  gunsmith ;  Henry  McKee,  wines  and 
liquors.  There  were  five  physicians — Drs.  D. 
G.  Keedy,  B.  V.  Teel,  J.  Lawrence  Page,  J.  H. 
Crane  and  D.  Benton.  There  were  four  law- 
yers— Theodore  D.  Wheaton,  George  Bru- 
baker,  Benjamin  Hays  and  H.  L.  Routt. 

It  is  interesting  to  note  the  prices  for  neces- 
saries that  prevailed  in  those  primitive  days, 
when  everything  not  produced  at  home  was 
shipped  from  St.  Louis  by  boat.  Coffee  was 
9  cents  per  pound ;  flour  $4.50  per  barrel ;  corn 
meal,  50  cents  per  bushel;  glass,  8  by  10,  the 
common  size  of  window  panes  in  those  days, 
$3.75  per  box;  gunpowder,  $6.50  to  $7.50  per 
keg;  molasses,  40  cents  per  gallon;  bacon  and 
hams,  7  cents  per  pound ;  lard,  6^  cents  per 
pound ;  butter,  7  to  8  cents  per  ^-^ound ;  cheese, 
6  to  12  cents  per  pound;  eggs,  6  cents  per 
dozen ;  salt,  $2.25  per  sack ;  whiskey,  23  to  25 
cents  per  gallon ;  Louisiana  sugar,  7  to  8  cents 
per  pound;  leaf  tobacco,  $1.75  per  hundred 
pounds;  manufactured  tobacco,  10  to  16  cents 
per  pound  ;  tea,  60  cents  to  $1  per  pound. 

The  year  1845  saw  the  first  newspaper  is- 
sued in  St.  Joseph.  William  Ridenbaugh  com- 
menced the  publication  of  the  Weekly  Gacctte, 
the  first  number  of  which  appeared  on  April 
25th.  The  paper  was  first  edited  by  Lawrence 
Archer,  a  lawyer  of  ability,  and  the  terms  of 
subscription  were  $2  per  annum  if  paid  in  ad- 
vance, or  $3  if  paid  at  the  end  of  the  year. 

The  Fourth  of  July  was  celebrated  by  the 
St.  Joseph  Sunday-school  in  1845.  There  was 
a  procession  to  a  grove  near  the  city,  where 
there  was  music,  oratory  and  feasting. 

During  that  year  the  county  seat  question 
was  uppermost,  the  people  of  St.  Joseph  making 
every  effort  to  secure  the  prize.  After  several 
elections,  the  last  of  which  was  held  on  Febru- 
ary 28,  1846,  St.  Joseph  finally  triumphed,  and 
the  future  of  the  city  was  assured. 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


57 


Amusements  in  those  clays  were  "home 
made."  The  St.  Joseph  Thespian  Society, 
composed  of  local  amateurs,  presented  theatri- 
cals, and  there  were  occasional  lectures  and 
magic  lantern  shows.  However,  in  May,  1846, 
the  circus  of  Hawes  &  Mabie  visited  the  village 
and  was  well  patronized.  St.  Joseph  is  to  this 
day  partial  to  the  circus. 

Quite  a  number  of  Mormons  had  located  in 
St.  Joseph  and  vicinity  in  1845,  ^'^^^  that  their 
presence  w^as  not  desirable  is  evident  from  a 
notice,  signed  by  Samuel  C.  Hall,  which  was 
served  upon  them,  and  in  which  they  were  ad- 
vised to  "seek  some  other  home,  as  there  is  con- 
siderable excitement  existing  against  them." 

In  the  Gazette  of  July  17,  1846,  are  pub- 
lished several  ordinances  which  are  of  interest. 
By  Ordinance  No.  37  the  Board  of  Trustees 
ordains:  "(i)  That  there  shall  be  levied,  in  ad- 
dition to  the  taxes  imposed  by  the  provisions 
of  the  second  section  of  Ordinance  No.  35,  a 
tax  of  one-third  of  i  per  cent  on  the  assessed 
value  of  all  live  stock,  including  horses,  cattle, 
hogs  and  kine  of  every  description,  without  dis- 
tinction of  age,  which  may  be  found  within  the 
corporate  limits  at  the  time  of  assessment  and 
belonging  to  persons  living  in  the  corporate 
limits  in  the  town  of  St.  Joseph.  (2)  All  man- 
ner of  mules,  horses  and  stock  kept  in  the  town 
of  St.  Joseph,  though  without  the  limits  of 
the  town  at  the  time  of  assessment,  for  tem- 
porary purposes,  are  hereby  declared  subject 
to  the  above  tax.  (3)  Every  slave  which  is 
hired  in  the  town  of  St.  Joseph  shall  be  liable 
to  a  tax  of  one-third  of  i  per  cent,  on  hh  or 
her  assessed  value,  to  be  collected  of  the 
owner." 

By  Ordinance  No.  37  the  Board  of  Trustees 
ordains:  "(i)  That  all  the  space  of  ground 
lying  on  the  east  bank  of  the  Missouri  River 
in  the  town  of  St.  Joseph,  commencing  at  the 
north  side  of  Jules  street,  where  it  strikes  said 


river,  and  extending  one  hundred  and  fifty  feet 
south,  and  back  east  to  a  line  parallel  with  the 
front  of  Johnson  Copeland's,  is  hereby  declared 
a  steamboat  landing.  (2)  That  hereafter  no  flat 
or  wood  boat,  raft  or  water  craft  of  any  de- 
scription (except  steamboats)  shall  lie  or  be 
stationed  within  the  limits  above  specified,  nor 
shall  any  load  or  loads  of  freight  of  any  kind 
be  landed  from  any  such  craft  upon  the  shore 
within  said  limits.  A  penalty  of  not  less  than 
$5  is  provided." 

The  Gazette  supports  Willard  P.  Hall  of 
Buchanan  County  as  the  regular  nominee  for 
Congress  in  1846.  James  H.  Birch  of  Platts- 
burg  was  an  independent  candidate,  and  of  the 
two  men  the  Gazette  warns  the  Democrats  to 
stand  by  the  regular  nominee.  "To  the  Dem- 
ocrats of  this  district  we  have  to  say,"  quoth 
the  editor,  "that  the  nominee  must  be  sustained ; 
the  organization  of  the  party  must  be  main- 
tained ;  union  and  harmony  must  prevail,  or  we 
must  inevitably  at  every  election  realize  trouble 
and  at  very  many  suffer  defeat.  Shall  it  be 
so?"  Though  this  sentiment  appeared  in  the 
Gazette  over  half  a  century  ago,  it  still  does 
good  service  during  campaigns. 

In  the  same  issue  of  the  Gazette  a  number 
of  candidates  are  announced.  The  election  was 
held  in  August  then.  Dr.  Daniel  G.  Keedy, 
James  H.  Ashbaugh,  Capt.  Henry  McKee  and 
A.  D.  McDonald  are  candidates  for  the  Legis- 
lature. Capt.  Henry  H.  Moss,  Capt.  Augustus 
Wylie  and  J.  F.  Hamilton  are  candidates  for 
sheriff.  William  A.  McDonald  and  Milton  H. 
Wash  are  candidates  for  the  office  of  clerk 
of  the  Circuit  Court,  and  Capt.  F.  B. 
Kercheval  is  a  candidate  for  the  county  clerk- 
ship. Benjamin  F.  Loan,  Levi  T.  Carr,  Joseph 
J.  Wyatt.  James  B.  Hull  and  V.  Tullar  are  can- 
didates for  the  office  of  justice  of  the  peace  of 
Washington  township.  Allen  Mansfield.  P. 
N.  Smith  and  Samuel  Martin  offer  themselves 


S8 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY  AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


for  constable,  and  William  Ridenbaugh,  the 
editor,  closes  the  list  with  the  modest  statement 
that  he  has  yielded  to  the  solicitations  of  his 
friends  and  become  a  candidate  for  the  office  of 
coroner. 

The  advertisements  of  the  following  firms 
appear  in  the  same  issue  of  the  Gazette:  Israel 
Landis,  saddles  and  harness ;  Todd  &  Richard- 
son, drugs;  Holladay  &  Somerville,  drugs;  E. 
Livermore  &  Company,  general;  M.  M.  &  G. 
T.  Moss,  general ;  David  S.  Skaggs,  saddles 
and  harness;  Thomas  H.  Larkin,  forwarding 
and  commission  merchant;  C.  F.  Emery, 
painter  and  paper  hanger;  Wylie  M.  English, 
saddler;  L.  Halloran,  general;  I.  Barada,  fancy 
groceries  and  liquors;  William  P.  Flint,  phy- 
sician; Hull  &  Carter,  drugs.  J.  W.  Glasgow 
advertises  for  sale  his  tannery,  which  was  lo- 
cated on  Blacksnake  Creek.  Joseph  Robidoux 
warns  his  debtors  that  if  they  do  not  pay  up 
promptly,  their  accounts  will  be  put  into  the 
hands  of  an  officer  for  collection.  Two  wed- 
dings were  announced  in  that  issue.  John 
Angel,  who  died  recently,  was  married  to  Eu- 
genia Robidoux  by  Rev.  J.  T.  Higginbotham; 
and  Mansfield  Carter  was  married  to  Miss  Mc- 
Clelland by  Justice  Hall.     Among  the  news 


items  it  is  stated  that  the  "Clermont  No.  2" 
passed  up  the  river  for  the  mouth  of  the  Yel- 
lowstone, and  that  seven  Mackinaw  toats 
passed  down,  loaded  with  furs,  etc.,  for  the 
American  Fur  Company. 

In  December  of  1846  a  census  of  St.  Joseph 
was  taken,  which  showed  a  population  of  936. 
Of  these,  142  were  males  under  10  years  of 
age;  81  males  between  10  and  21  years;  257 
males  over  21  years;  124  females  under  10 
years;  85  females  between  10  and  21  years; 
175  females  over  21  years;  2/'  male  slaves. 
43  female  slaves,  and  two  free  negroes. 

Times  were  quite  lively  in  St.  Joseph  in 
1847.  New  mercantile  houses  had  been  estab- 
lished and  all  old  firms  had  enlarged;  the  spirit 
of  internal  improvement  came  over  the  people, 
and  they  were  looking  forward  to  consideral)le 
industrial  progress.  The  first  Catholic  Church 
was  built  in  1847  ^^^  Fifth  and  Felix  streets. 

The  years  1848  and  1849  saw  many  hopes 
fulfilled,  and  it  is  recorded  that  from  March 
to  September  of  the  latter  year  143  buildings 
were  erected.  Among  them  was  the  first  brew- 
ery, built  by  Joseph  Kuechle.  The  Advcuiuiw 
a  Whig  newspaper,  was  started  in  1848  by  E. 
Livermore. 


CHAPTER  VII. 


THE  OVERLAND  PERIOD. 

The  Emigration  to  California — St.  Joseph  as  the  Starting  Point  and  Supply  De- 
pot— Waiting  for  Grass — Lining  up  for  Dinner — A  Landlord  Who  Knew  His 
Business — Freighting  by  \\'agon — The  Ov^erland  Stage  and  the  Pony  Express. 


St.  Joseph  was  now  on  the  eve  of  the  next 
important  period  in  its  history.  Early  in  the 
spring  of  1849  began  tlie  rush  to  Cahfornia. 
As  a  starting  point  St.  Joseph  offered  advant- 
ages which  no  other  place  possessed.  There 
was  at  that  time  a  population  of  i  ,900  and  there 
were  19  well  equipped  stores  in  operation, 
with  an  aggregate  stock  of  $400,000.  Among 
the  merchants  of  that  period  was  the  late  Mil- 
ton Tootle.  In  addition  there  were  two  flour- 
ing mills,  two  steam  sawmills,  nine  blacksmith 
shops,  four  wagon  shops,  two  tinners,  two  ex- 
tensive saddle  and  harness  manufactories,  etc. 
There  were  also  two  ferries. 

Scarcely  a  day  in  February  and  March 
passed  that  did  not  bring  a  large  ninnber  of 
emigrants,  and  the  Gazette  of  March  30,  1849, 
states  at  that  time  there  were  upwards  of  500 
people  camped  about  the  city,  awaiting  the  ap- 
pearance of  grass.  The  next  month  saw  this 
number  doubled.  Grass  came  early  that  year, 
and  the  emigrants  got  away  promptly. 

On  May  7,  1849,  the  St.  Joseph  Mining 
Company,  the  first  regularly  organized  com- 
pany of  men.  left  for  California.  Samuel  John- 
son, A.  D.  McDonald.  Joel  Ryan.  John  Lewis, 
James  Andrews,  John  and  James  Somerfield, 


B.  D.  Ellett,  Edward  Ban.all.  J.  W.  Jones, 
Thomas  Faucett,  ^^lichael  Cameron,  Samuel 
Wilson,  Francis  Brubaker.  John  F.  McDowell, 
T.  Y.  Warner,  D.  H.  and  AL  F.  Moss  and 
James  Kirkwood  were  among  the  number,  and 
all  did  well. 

From  April  i  to  June  15,  1849,  1,508  wag- 
ons crossed  on  the  ferries  from  St.  Joseph. 
Estimating  four  men  to  a  wagon,  this  would 
make  6,032  emigrants.  At  Duncan's  ferry, 
four  miles  above  St.  Joseph.  685  wagons 
crossed.  At  other  ferries  as  far  north  as  Coun- 
cil Bluffs,  2,000  crossed,  and  10,000  crossed  at 
Independence.  It  is  estimated  that  27,000  men 
and  38,000  mules  and  oxen  left  these  points 
during  that  time. 

In  1850  the  overland  emigration  exceeded 
100,000,  and  it  is  estimated  that  over  one-half 
of  the  emigrants  left  from  St.  Joseph.  As  the 
spring  was  later  by  a  month  than  was  expected, 
40,000  to  50,000  people  were  encamped  in  and 
for  miles  around  the  town,  in  tents  and  wagons. 

In  the  fall  of  1849  the  Occidental  Hoteh 
was  built  by  William  Fowler  and  rented  to 
Maj.  James  Vaughn.  In  his  reminiscences. 
Col.  John  Doniphan  describes  Major  Vaughn 
as  a  jolly,  rubicund  landlord,  who  extended  a 


6o 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY  AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


Virginia  welcome  to  all  his  guests;  who,  ap- 
parently, never  slept,  and  who  never  permitted 
a  stranger  to  drink  alone.  He  had  an  inex- 
haustible stock  of  stories  and  was  a  charming 
raconteur.  The  line  from  the  dining  room 
often  extended  across  Jules  street  and  curved 
up  Second,  and  dinner  often  continued  from  12 
to  4  o'clock.  Meals  were  $1  each,  as  this  was 
the  best  hotel  in  town,  and  a  man  stood  at  the 
dining  room  door  to  collect  in  advance. 

In  1849  the  emigrants  by  steamboat 
brought  cholera  here,  but,  although  a  few  iso- 
lated cases  occurred,  there  were  no  deaths. 
The  disease  was,  however,  communicated  to 
the  Indians  across  the  river,  and  claimed  many 
victims  among  the  Sacs  and  Foxes  and  other 
tribes.  In  1851  cholera  was  epidemic  at  many 
of  the  towns  on  the  Missouri,  and  there  were 
several  cases  in  St.  Joseph  in  May  of  that  year. 

By  1 85 1  the  California  fever  had  consider- 
ably abated.  The  increase  of  steamer^  on  the 
Missouri  River  caused  a  competition  in  prices 
to  such  an  extent  that  emigrants  and  freight 
were  carried  to  Council  Bluffs  and  to  Florence, 
a  Mormon  settlement  six  miles  above  Council 
Bluffs,  on  the  west  side  of  the  river,  at  the  same 
figures  which  had  obtained  to  St.  Joseph  dur- 
ing the  two  previous  years.  Those  going  by 
Florence  saved  over  200  miles  of  land  travel 
and  avoided  crossing  both  the  Missouri  and 
Big  Platte  rivers.  The  route  was  generally  via 
Kearney,  Laramie,  Fcho  Canyon  and  Webber 
River,  through  Salt  Lake. 

After  1850,  oxen  \yere  largely  used  to  draw 
heavy  trains,  as  experience  had  taught  that 
they  were  less  liable  to  loss  from  stampede  and 
alkali  water,  stood  travel  better  and  were  more 
valuable  at  the  end  of  the  trip.  The  number 
of  emigrants  leaving  St.  Joseph  in  185 1  and 
1852  was  comparatively  small.  The  Indians, 
too,  had  proved  more  annoying,  and  great  care 
and  vigilance  were  required. 


St.  Joseph  and  Savannah  sent  out  large 
ventures.  Among  those  interested  were  the 
late  James  McCord,  Richard  E.  Turner  and  the 
late  Dudley  M.  Steele,  all  of  whom  figured 
prominently  in  the  later  commercial  history  of 
St.  Joseph.  Many  cattle  were  driven  from 
this  State  and  sold  for  beef  in  the  mining 
camps  and  at  San  Francisco.  A  few  months' 
grazing  in  the  Sacramento  bottoms  generally 
put  them  in  fine  condition  for  slaughter.  In 
1852  Charles  A.  and  Elias  H.  Perry  crossed 
over  1,000  head  at  Amazonia,  and  the  latter 
accompanied  them  to  California,  realizing  large 
profits. 

Many  wagon  trains  were  loaded  at  St.  Jo- 
seph with  provisions  and  wares  of  various 
kinds  and  taken  to  Salt  Lake  and  other  West- 
ern points.  The  freighting  business  soon  grew 
to  immense  proportions,  St.  Joseph  being  the 
supply  depot  for  the  outlying  civilization. 
From  this  grew  the  wholesale  business  of  St. 
Joseph,  which  is  to-day  among  the  greatest  in 
the  West. 

The  necessities  of  the  case  brought  forth 
the  overland  stage.  People  who  travel  to  Cali- 
fornia in  cushioned  cars  in  these  days  can  have 
but  little  conception  of  this  gigantic  enterprise 
and  its  offspring,  the  Pony  Express.  The  first 
contract  to  transfer  the  mails  to  Salt  Lake  from 
the  Missouri  River  was  let  to  Samuel  Wood- 
son of  Independence,  in  1850.  The  interven- 
ing country  was  a  wilderness  more  than  a 
thousand  miles  in  breadth,  occupied  by  Indians 
and  l)uffalo,  and  it  required  a  high  quality  of 
nerve  to  invest  money  in  such  an  undertaking. 

The  next  contract  was  let  to  John  M.  Hock- 
aday,  also  of  Missouri,  who  ran  stages  out  of 
St.  Joseph,  striking  the  government  road  at 
Kennekuk.  Kansas,  near  the  site  of  Horton. 
Hockaday  received  $190,000  annually  for  car- 
rying a  weekly  mail.  He  sold  out  to  Russell. 
Majors  &  Waddell.    The  Pony  Express  was  in- 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


6i 


augurated  and  operated  by  this  firm.  The  fol- 
lowing facts  concerning  this  celebrated  venture 
are  taken  from  a  sketch  by  W.  T.  Bailey,  which 
apeared  in  the  Century  Magazine  of  Novem- 
ber, 1898,  and  from  an  article  prepared  by 
Col.  John  Doniphan  for  AlcClurc's  Magazine. 

In  the  -fall  of  1854,  United  States  Senator 
W.  M.  Gwin  of  California  made  the  trip  from 
San  Francisco  East  e)i  route  to  Washington, 
D.  C.,.  on  horseback,  by  the  way  of  Salt  Lake 
and  South  Pass,  then  known  as  the  Central 
Route.  For  a  part  of  the  way  he  had  for;  com- 
pany B.  F.  Ficklin,  general  superintendent  of 
the  freighting  firm  of  Russell,  Majors  &  Wad- 
dell. 

Out  of  this  traveling  companionship  grew 
the  Pony  Express.  Mr.  Ficklin's  enthusiasm 
for  closer  communication  with  the  East  was 
contagious,  and  Senator  Gwin  became  an  un- 
tiring advocate  of  an  express  service  via  this 
route  and  on  the  lines  suggested  by  Mr.  Ficklin. 

While  at  this  time  there  w-ere  three  trans- 
continental mail  routes  to  California,  the  great 
bulk  of  the  mail  was  sent  by  w^ay  of  Panama 
on  a  22-day  schedule  from  New  York  to  San 
Francisco.  The  Butterfield  Route  carried  some 
through  mail,  while  the  Central  Route  and 
Chorpenning  lines  carried  only  local  mail. 

California  by  this  time  held  a  large  and  en- 
terprising population.  While  the  Union  men 
were  in  the  majority,  the  Southern  sympathiz- 
ers were  numerous  and  aggressive,  and  were 
making  every  effort  to  carry  the  State  out  of 
the  Union.  To  the  Union  men  the  existing  ar- 
rangements were  far  from  satisfactory ;  for  it 
was  evident  that  both  the  Southern  Stage 
Route  and  the  Panama  Route  would  be  liable 
to  interruption  upon  the  opening  of  hostilities, 
and,  besides  it  was  of  the  utmost  importance 
that  quicker  communication  he  had  with  the 
Washington  authorities. 

Called  to  Washington   in   connection  with 


their  government  contracts,  Mr.  Russell,  the 
head  of  the  firm  of  Russell,  Majors  &  Waddell, 
met  Senator  Gwin,  and  was  approached  by  him 
on  the  subject  of  increased  mail  facilities  via 
the  Central  Route. 

Mr.  Russell  hurriedly  returned  West.  Meet- 
ing his  partners,  Mr.  Majors  and  Mr.  Waddell, 
at  Fort  Leavenworth,  he  laid  the  project  be- 
fore them.  These  gentlemen,  while  appreciat- 
ing the  force  of  the  arguments  advanced,  could 
not  see  even  expenses  in  the  undertaking,  and 
consequently  objected  to  it.  But  Mr.  Russell 
still  insisted  that  the  project  would  eventually 
lead  up  to  a  paying  proposition,  and,  further, 
said  that  he  was  committed  to  Senator  Gwin 
and  his  friends. 

This  latter  settled  the  matter,  for  the  word 
of  this  firm,  once  given,  was  to  them  as  bind- 
ing as  their  written  obligation,  and  they  uni- 
tedly threw  their  whole  energy  and  resources 
into  the  carrying  out  of  the  pledge  made  by 
one  of  their  members.  Committed  to  the  en- 
terprise, the  firm  proceeded  to  organize  the 
Central  Overland  California  & ,  Pike's  Peak 
Express  Company,  obtaining  a  charter  under 
the  State  laws  of  Kansas.  The  stage  line  fnmi 
Atchison  to  Salt  Lake  City  was  turned  over 
by  the  firm  to  the  new  company,  who  purchased 
Chorpenning's  mail  contract  and  stage  outfit, 
then  operating  a  monthly  line  between  Salt 
Lake  City  and  Sacramento,  and  the  franchise 
and  equipment  of  the  Leavenworth  &  Pike's 
Peak  Express,  organized  in  1859.  then  oper- 
ating a  daily  stage  line  between  Leavenw^orth 
and  Denver,  via  the  Smoky  Hill  Route,  now 
covered  by  the  Kansas  division  of  the  Union 
Pacific. 

The  company  had  an  established  route  with 
the  necessary  stations  between  St.  Joseph  and 
Salt  Lake  City.  Chorpenning's  line  west  of 
Salt  Lake  City  had  few  or  no  stations,  and 
these  had  to  be  built;  also  some  changes  in  the 


62 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


route  were  considered  advisable.  The  service 
comprised  60  agile  young  men  as  riders,  100 
additional  station-keepers,  and  420  strong,  wiry 
horses.  So  well  did  those  in  charge  understand 
their  business  that  only  60  days  were  required 
to  make  all  necessary  arrangements  for  the 
start.  April  3,  i860,  was  the  date  agreed  upon, 
and  on  that  day  the  first  Pony  Express  left  St. 
Joseph  and  San  Francisco.  In  March,  i860, 
the  following  advertisement  had  appeared  in 
the  Missouri  Republican  of  St.  Louis  and  other 
papers : 

"To  San  Francisco  in  eight  days  by  the  C. 
O.  C.  &  P.  P.  Ex.  Co.  The  first  courier  of 
the  Pony  Express  will  leave  the  Missouri  River . 

on  Tuesday,  April  3d,  at p.  m.,  and  will 

run  regularly  weekly  hereafter,  carrying  a  let- 
ter mail  only.  The  point  on  the  Mo.  River 
will  be  in  telegraphic  connection  with  the  East 
and  will  be  announced  in  due  time. 

"Telegraphic  messages  from  all  parts  of 
the  United  States  and  Canada  in  connection 
with  the  point  of  departure  will  be  received  up 
to  5  p.  m.  of  the  day  of  leaving  and  transmitted 
over  the  Placerville  &  St.  Jo  to  San  Francisco 
and  intermediate  points  by  the  connecting  ex- 
press in  eight  days.  The  letter  mail  will  be 
delivered  in  San  Francisco  in  ten  days  from 
the  departure  of  the  express.  The  express 
passes  through  Forts  Kearney,  Laramie, 
Bridger,  Great  Salt  Lake  City,  Camp  Floyd, 
Carson  City,  the  Washoe  Silver  Mines.  Placer- 
ville and  Sacramento,  and  letters  for  Oregon, 
Washington  Territory,  British  Columbia,  the 
Pacific  Mexican  ports,  Russian  possession. 
Sandwich  Islands,  China,  Japan  and  India  will 
be  mailed  in  San  Francisco. 

"Special  messengers,  bearers  of  letters  to 
connect  with  the  express  of  the  3d  of  April. 
will  receive  communications  for  the  courier 
of  that  day  at  481  loth  St.,  Washington  City, 
up  to  2  :45  p.  m.  of  Friday,  March  30th,  and 


New  York  at  the  office  of  J.  B.  Simpson,  Room 
8,  Continental  Bank  Building,  Nassau  St.,  up 
to  6:50  p.  m.  of  31st  of  March. 

"Full  particulars  can  be  obtained  on  appli- 
cation at  the  above  places  and  from  the  agents 
of  the  company." 

The  start  from  St.  Joseph  was  made  at 
5  130  o'clock  p.  m.,  directly  after  the  arrival  of 
the  Hannibal  &  St.  Joseph  train  from  the  East. 
There  is  some  dispute  as  to  who  was  the  first 
rider.  Mr.  Bailey  states  that  it  was  Henry 
Wallace,  and  Charles  Cliff  of  this  city,  who 
was  one  of  the  regular  riders  of  the  Pony  Ex- 
press, states  that  it  was  Johnny  Fry.  The 
popular  belief  in  St.  Joseph  is  that  Fry  is  en- 
titled to  the  credit.  The  start  proper  was  made 
from  the  original  Pike's  Peak  Stables,  which 
stood  south  of  Patee  Park,  and  which  have 
since  been  replaced  by  a  structure  bearing  the 
same  name.  A  large  crowd  was  collected  alx)ut 
the  stables  and  the  Patee  House  (now  McDon- 
ald's factory).  The  rider  started  for  the  local 
olhce  of  the  express  company  on  north  Second 
street,  at  the  firing  of  a  cannon.  Here  he  re- 
ceived his  dispatches  and,  without  delay,  rode 
to  the  ferry-boat  "Denver,"  in  waiting.  At  El- 
wood  he  met  with  another  popular  ovation, 
and  galloped  westward,  followed  by  the  cheers 
of  the  multitude.  From  San  Francisco  the 
start  was  made  at  tlie  same  hour,  a  steamer 
being  used  to  Sacramento,  where  the  pony  ser- 
vice really  began.  From  there  the  first  rider. 
Harry  Roff,  left  at  12  midnight. 

The  distance  between  St.  Joseph  and  Sac- 
ramento was  covered  in  232  hours.  Riders  out 
of  St.  Joseph  weat  as  far  as  Seneca,  making  the 
60  miles  in  eight  hours,  and  stopping  for  meals 
at  Kennekuk.  There  were  four  stations  be- 
tween St.  Joseph  and  Seneca.  John  Fry,  John 
Burnett,  Jack  Keetly,  Charles  Cliff  and  Gus 
Cliff  rode  out  of  St.  Joseph.  Of  these  but  two 
survive.     Keetly  lives  in  Montana  and  Charles 


First  Court  House  of  Buchanan  County 

(Built  of  Logs  and  Afterward  Covered  with  Boards.     Now 

on  the  McCauley  Farm,  on  the  Site  of  Sparta, 

the  First  County  Seat) 


Ferry  Boat  "Denver" 

(Which  Carried  the   First  Pony  Express  Riders) 


■■■ 

■■m^^...! 

^^^^^^^^^^^^1 

P    ■  (5ili\.vy-,'  i)  ■           ^^^^^^Hk': 

^p^^^^l 

•  \*      W  t7        ^ 

^ft^ 

Wl         \     /VF          ■                             i' 

^HK^H^K  '                           ^¥*:       ^\*' 

^^^^^■2^7*     ^'"'^^'^-^ 

P^^^vil^  ;■' 

-'?*f -'''■^,           ' .,  ■    \'    '-^sl 

t^f'"  ■  ^^'^*c<ica(B* 

' '■     r     '         .vP""'"    '"""•r^^'S 

First  Paid  Fire  Department,   1875 

1— W.  B.  McNutt,  Cliief 
2 — J.  O.  Knapp,  Asst.  Chief 


Old  Kay  Residence 

(Which  Stood  on  a    Hill  on  Felix  Street, 
between  Fifth  and   Sixth) 


THE  OLDEST  HOUSE  IN  ST.  JOSEPH 

(Built  by  the  Indians   for   Joseph  Robidoux) 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


65 


Cliff  in  this  city.  They  received  $400  per  an- 
num and  maintenance.  While  in  St.  Joseph 
they  were  quartered  at  the  Patee  House. 

All  the  riders  were  young  men  selected  for 
their  nerve,  light  weight,  and  general  fitness. 
No  effort  was  made  to  uniform  them,  and  they 
dressed  as  their  individual  fancy  dictated,  the 
usual  costume  being  of  buckskin  hunting  shirt, 
cloth  trousers  tucked  into  a  pair  of  high  boots, 
and  a  jockey  cap  or  slough  hat.  All  rode  armed. 
At  first  a  Spencer  rifle  was  carried  strapped 
across  the  back,  in  addition  to  a  pair  of  army 
(Colt's)  revolvers  in  their  holsters.  The  rifle, 
however,  was  found  useless,  and  was  aban- 
doned. The  equipment  of  the  horses  was  a 
light  riding  saddle  and  bridle,  with  the  saddle- 
bags, or  "mochila,"  of  heavy  leather.  These 
had  holes  cut  in  them  so  that  they  would  fit 
over  the  horn  and  tree  of  the  saddle.  The 
mochilas  had  four  pockets,  called  ''cantinas," 
one  in  each  corner,  so  as  to  have  one  in  front 
and  one  behind  each  leg  of  the  rider;  in  these 
the  mail  was  placed.  Three  of  these  pockets 
were  locked  and  opened  en  route  at  military 
posts  and  at  Salt  Lake  City,  and  under  no  cir- 
cumstances at  any  other  place.  The  fourth 
was  for  way-stations,  for  which  each  station- 
keeper  had  a  key,  and  also  contained  a  way-bill, 
or  time-card,  on  which  a  record  of  arrival  and 
departure  was  kept.  The  same  mochila  was 
transferred  from  pony  to  pony  and  from  rider, 
to  rider  until  it  was  carried  from  one  terminus 
to  the  other.  The  letters,  before  being  placed 
in  the  pockets,  were  wrapped  in  oiled  silk  to 
preserve  them  from  moisture.  The  maximum 
weight  of  any  one  mail  was  20  pounds ;  but  this 
was  rarely  reached.  The  charges  were  origin- 
ally $5  for  each  letter  of  one  half-ounce  or  less ; 
but  afterward  this  was  reduced  to  $2.50  for 
each  letter  not  exceeding  one-half  ounce,  this 
being  in  addition  to  the  regular  United  States 
postage.      Specially   made   light-weight   paper 


was  greatly  used  to  reduce  the  expense.  Spe- 
cial editions  of  the  Eastern  newspapers  were 
printed  on  tissue-paper  to  enable  them  to  reach 
subscribers  on  the  Pacific  Coast.  This,  how- 
ever, was  more  as  an  advertisement,  there  being 
little  demand  for  them  at  their  necessarily  large 
price. 

At  first,  stations  averaged  25  miles  apart, 
and  each  rider  covered  three  stations,  or  75 
miles,  daily.  Later,  stations  were  established  at 
intermediate  points,  reducing  the  distance  be- 
tween them,  in  some  cases,  to  10  miles,  the 
distance  between  stations  being  regulated  by  the 
character  of  the  country.  This  change  was 
made  in  the  interest  of  quicker  time,  it  having 
been  demonstrated  that  horses  could  not  be 
kept  at  the  top  of  their  speed  for  so  great  a  dis- 
tance as  25  miles.  At  the  stations,  relays  of 
horses  were  kept,  and  the  station-keeper's  du- 
ties included  having  a  pony  ready  bridled  and 
saddled  half  an  hour  l^efore  the  express  was 
due.  Upon  approaching  a  station,  the  rider 
would  loosen  the  mochila  from  his  saddle,  so 
that  he  could  leap  from  his  pony  as  soon  as  he 
reached  the  station,  throw  the  mochila  over  the 
saddle  of  the  fresh  horse,  jump  on  and  ride  off. 
Two  minutes  was  the  maximum  time  allowed 
at  stations,  whether  it  was  to  change  riders  or 
horses.  At  relay-stations  where  riders  were 
changed,  the  incoming  man  would  unbuckle 
his  mochila  before  arriving,  and  hand  it  to  his 
successor,  who  would  start  off  on  a  gallop  as 
soon  as  his  hand  grasped  it.  Time  was  seldotn 
lost  at  stations.  Station-keepers  and  relay- 
riders  were  always  on  the  lookout.  In  the  day- 
time the  pony  could  be  seen  for  a  considerable 
distance,  and  at  night  a  few  well  known  yells 
would  bring  everything  into  readiness  in  a  very 
short  time.  As  a  rule,  the  riders  would  do  75 
iniles  over  the  route  west-lx)und  one  day.  re- 
turning over  the  same  distance  with  the  first 
east-bound  express. 


66 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY  AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


The  great  feat  of  the  Pony  Express  service 
was  the  dehvery  of  President  Lincohi's  inaugu- 
ral address  in  1861.  Great  interest  was  felt 
in  this  all  over  the  land,  foreshadowing  as  it 
did  the  policy  of  the  administration  in  the  mat- 
ter of  the  Rebellion.  In  order  to  establish  a 
record,  as  well  as  for  an  advertisement,  the 
company  determined  to  break  all  previous  rec- 
ords, and  to  this  end  horses  were  led  out  from 
the  stations  so  as  to  reduce  the  distance  each 
would  have  to  run,  and  get  the  highest  possible 
speed  out  of  every  animal.  Each  horses  aver- 
aged only  10  miles,  and  that  at  its  very  best 
speed.  Every  precaution  was  taken  to  prevent 
delay,  and  the  result  stands  without  a  parallel 
in  history  :  seven  days  and  17  rours — 185  hours 
— for  1,950  miles,  an  average  of  10.7  miles  per 
hour.     From  St.  Joseph  to  Denver,  665  miles 


were  made  in  two  days  and  21  hours,  the  last 
10  miles  being  accomplished  in  31  minutes. 

After  running  for  17  months,  the  Pony 
Express  closed  in  1861,  Edward  Creighton 
having  completed  a  telegraph  line  from  Omaha 
to  Sacramento.  At  the  time  of  its  death,  the 
express  was  owned  by  Ben  Holladay,  who  had 
acquired  the  stage  line  of  Russell,  Majors  & 
Waddell,  and  was  operating  the  same  out  of 
St.  Joseph. 

The  freighting  business  and  stage  lines  con- 
tinued until  driven  out  by  the  railroads.  In 
1 861  Holladay  ran  the  line  from  St.  Joseph 
direct  to  California.  The  first  coach  left  on 
July  ist,  and  arrived  at  Placerville,  July  i8th, 
and  the  first  through  passenger  was  Major 
Simmington,  one  of  the  editors  of  the  Sail 
Francisco  Bulletin. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 


PROGRESS  OF  ST.  JOSEPH. 

Efforts  in  Behalf  of  "Pateetown" — Effects  of  the  Civil  War  and  Several  Fi- 
nancial Disturbances — The  Boom  of   1886 — The  Present  Era  of  Prosperity. 


The  impetus  given  St.  Joseph  by  the  over- 
land emigration  and  freighting  caused  the  town 
to  make  rapid  strides  up  to  1861,  at  which 
time  a  population  of  11,000  was  claimed  and 
many  substantial  public  improvements  were 
shown.  The  streets  were  paved  with  macadam, 
bridges  had  been  built  across  the  different 
creeks  that  coursed  through  the  city  and  con- 
siderable grading  had  been  done  in  the  hills. 
Besides  being  a  supply  point  for  overland 
freighters,  St.  Joseph  was  a  hemp  and  grain 
market  of  prominence,  and  pork  packing  had 
become  an  important  industry. 

When  the  Hannibal  &  St.  Joseph  road  be- 
came a  fact,  business,  which  had  heretofore 
closely  hugged  the  river  and  Market  square, 
began  to  look  to  the  southeast.  John  Patee 
was  one  of  the  foremost  citizens  of  the  place. 
He  had  platted  his  land  in  an  early  day,  and 
when  the  Hannibal  &  St.  Joseph  road  was  pro- 
jected had  donated  a  strip  of  40  acres  for 
terminal  and  depot  purposes.  This  land 
stretched  from  Olive  street  south  to  Mitchell 
avenue,  west  of  Eighth  street.  In  the  firm  be- 
lief that  the  future  of  St.  Joseph  would  build 
up  around  the  railroad  terminals,  and  with  the 
assurance  that  the  depot  would  be  located  at 
Penn   street,    Mr.    Patee   built   a   magnificent 


hotel,  w^hich  cost  him  $180,000.  and  which  was 
then  the  second  largest  and  best  appointed 
hostelry  in  the  United  States.  However,  he 
was  somewhat  disappointed,  for  the  depot  was 
located  at  Eighth  and  Olive  streets. 

"Pateetown,"  as  that  section  of  the  city  was 
generally  called,  grew  rapidly  after  the  com- 
pletion of  the  railroad  in  1859.  A  market 
house  was  built  at  loth  and  Lafayette  streets, 
which  still  stands ;  business  houses  and  hotels 
sprang  up  on  Eighth  and  loth  streets,  south  of 
Olive,  and  there  was  a  lively  traffic.  But  the 
people  up  town  were  not  idle  either,  for  pros- 
perity was  ruling  there  too.  Many  brick  busi- 
ness houses  were  built ;  among  them  the  Pa- 
cific House,  the  Odd  Fellows'  Hall  at  Fifth  and 
Felix  streets,  Turner  Hall,  and  several  blocks 
on  Felix,  Edmond,  Francis  and  Fourth  streets. 
The  town  was  spreading  out.  Graders  were 
busy  leveling  the  hills  and  filling  up  the  valleys, 
and  the  residence  portion  was  being  beautified 
with  good  homes. 

Public  improvements  were  confined  mostly 
to  grading  the  streets  and  to  building  bridges 
over  the  crooked  creeks  that  coursed  through 
the  city.  Smith's  Branch,  which  headed  near 
the  upper  end  of  Frederick  avenue,  came  down 
that  street,  crossed  lots  to  and   followed  the 


68 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAxX   COUNTY  AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


course  of  Buchanan  avenue>  touched  Faraon 
and  Jules  streets  and  flowed  southwest  to 
Eighth,  near  Edmond  street,  thence  across  lots 
between  the  Kuechle  brewery  and  Turner  Hall 
to  Sixth  and  Messanie  streets,  thence  south  to 
where  the  gas  plant  was  located,  below  Olive 
street,  and  thence  west  to  the  river.  Though 
there  was  not  much  water  ordinarily,  there  was 
a  deep  ravine  which  was  often  filled  with  a  wild 
torrent  when  the  rains  were  heavy.  This  creek 
was  bridged  wherever  the  travel  demanded,  and 
so  likewise  were  Blacksnake  and  Liniment 
creeks.  Blacksnake  Creek  followed  the  course 
of  the  Chicago  Great  Western  tracks  and  Lini- 
ment Creek  ran  diagonally  from  near  the  In- 
sane Asylum  to  the  river,  emptying  at  Mitchell 
avenue.  Both  creeks  are  now  covered  by 
sewers. 

St.  Joseph  had  progressive  men  at  the  head 
of  affairs  in  those  days.  The  people  responded 
to  every  call,  both  from  their  private  resources 
and  with  the  public  funds,  and  bonds  were 
voted  wdth  a  recklessness  that  is  astonishing  in 
these  conservative  days.  Any  project  that 
knocked  for  admittance  was  welcomed  heartily, 
and  led  at  once  to  the  open  purse.  Some  of 
this  liberality  is  still  being  atoned  for  by  the 
innocent  taxpayer. 

From  1 86 1  to  1865 — the  Rebellion  period 
— St.  Joseph,  like  other  cities  and  the  country 
in  general,  went  backwards.  Business  was 
paralyzed,  labor  was  unemployed  and  all  con- 
ditions were  disturbed.  The  growth  and  de- 
cline of  the  city  is  best  illustrated  by  the  values 
of  real  estate.  In  1851  the  assessed  valuation 
was  $651,000;  in  1852,  .$784,000;  in  1856. 
$1,040,653;  in  1857,  $3,313,000,  and  in.  i860, 
$5,126,249.  From  the  depressing  effects  of  the 
Rebellion  the  values  fell  in  1861  $1,859,224 
below  i860.  In  1862  a  decline  of  $810,384 
from  the  previous  year  was  noted,  and  in  1864 
the  entire  assessed  valuation  was  only  $3,384,- 


145.  Subsequently,  matters  l^egan  to  look  up 
again.  In  1866  the  valuation  reached  $5,426.- 
600,  and  in  1868  it  was  $7,000,000. 

After  the  war  St.  Joseph  made  great  strides. 
During  the  first  two  years  3,000  buildings  were 
erected.  The  era  of  prosperity  continued  until 
the  panic  of  1873.  During  that  period  the 
Kansas  City,  St.  Joseph  &  Council  Bluffs  Rail- 
road was  extended  north,  the  St.  Joseph  &  St. 
Louis  (now  Santa  Fe)  road  was  built  from 
Richmond,  the  St.  Joseph  &  Denver  City 
(Grand  Island)  was  extended  west,  and  the 
St.  Joseph  &  Topeka  was  built  from  Wathena 
to  Doniphan.  This  road  was  operated  by  the 
Burlington  company  for  a  time  and  was  after- 
w^ard  abandoned.  The  first  street  car  line  was 
also  built  in  1866,  from  Mitchell  avenue  and 
nth  street  to  the  Pacific  Hotel. 

In  the  latter  "sixties"  there  was  much  street 
improvement  and  many  miles  of  macadam  were 
laid.  During  the  same  period  the  first  attempt 
at  sewering  was  made.  The  creek  known  as 
Bush  Branch,  which  meandered  from  the 
neighborhood  of  Hall  and  Bush  streets  by  a 
devious  course  to  Fifth  and  Francis,  was 
partially  covered.  Among  the  prominent  man- 
ufacturing industries  was  the  starch  factory, 
which  has  long  since  disappeared. 

Recovering  from  the  stagnation  caused 
by  the  panic  of  1873  and  the  grasshopper  years, 
St.  Joseph  began  a  steady  march  of  progress, 
which  has  continued  up  to  the  present.  How- 
ever, notwithstanding  the  fact  that  business 
the  country  over  was  paralyzed  by  the  panic 
of  1873,  there  are  local  monuments  to  activity 
in  building  during  the  period  of  depression. 
The  Missouri  River  bridge  was  completed  in 
May  of  1873.  The  Court  House,  City  Hall, 
Tootle's  Opera  House  and  the  State  Hospital 
for  Insane,  No.  2,  were  built  in  1873-74. 

In  1874  the  first  telephones  were  put  in. 
In  the  same  and  during  the  subsequent  years 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


69 


the  Charles  street  and  Smith  Branch  sewers 
were  built  and  the  Bush  Branch  sewer  extended 
down  Fifth  to  Charles  street. 

In  1876  the  Union  Street  Railway  was  built 
to  New  Ulm  Park,  from  Market  square,  and  in 
1878  the  narrow-gauge  street  cars  were  put 
upon  Frederick  avenue.  Matters  generally 
were  looking  up  again  by  this  time.  In  1877- 
78  the  St.  Joseph  &  Des  Moines  narrow  gauge 
road  was  built.  In  1878  the  Board  of  Trade 
was  organized.  At  the  close  of  the  decade  the 
Krugs,  Hax  Brothers,  A.  O.  Smith,  David 
Pinger  and  Connett  Brothers  were  packing 
pork  on  a  large  scale,  and  at  the  Union  Stock 
Yards,  on  South  loth  street,  there  was  a  market 
in  lively  competition  with  Kansas  City. 

In  1880  the  Missouri  Pacific  began  to  run 
trains  into  St.  Joseph,  and  the  next  four  years 
marked  a  period  of  steady  progress.  In  1880 
the  site  of  the  old  Odd  Fellows'  Hall  and  the 
Hax  furniture  store  at  l-'ifth  and  Felix  streets, 
which  had  been  destroyed  by  fire  were  coveretl 
with  the  splendid  buildings  of  the  present.  The 
Odd  Fellows'  building  and  Hax's  faced  Fiftli 
street  before  the  fire,  the  former  being  occu- 
pied by  Bailey,  Townsend  &  Company.  The 
Faulhaber,  Bergman  and  Stone  buildings  soon 
completed  this  block.  R.  L.  McDonald  built 
on  Fourth  and  Francis  streets  at  about  the 
same  time,  and  the  imposing  block  of  whole- 
sale houses  on  Fourth  street,  north  of  him.  fol- 
lowed at  short  intervals.  The  Turner-Frazer 
Building,  at  Third  and  Charles  streets,  went 
up  in  1881,  and  Nave  &  McCord  built  in  1882. 
The  Tootle  Building  on  Fourth,  between  Felix 
and  Francis  tsreets,  the  large  building  at  the 
northwest  corner  of  Fifth  and  Edmond  streets, 
and  the  Union  Dq)ot.  were  built  during  the 
first  "eighties."  The  Chamber  of  Commerce, 
the  Saxton  Building  at  Fourth  and  Francis 
streets,  the  Tootle  Building  at  Sixth  and 
Francis  streets,  and  the  general  office?  of  the 


Burlington  Railroad  were  built  during  1883-84. 

Real  estate  values  were  remarkably  low  in 
St.  Joseph  up  to  1880.  A  wave  of  speculation 
swept  the  country  at  about  that  time,  and, 
though  St.  Joseph  did  not  escape  the  craze,  she 
suffered  less  than  her  neighbors  from  the  re- 
action. On  the  contrary,  the  city  was,  gener- 
ally speaking,  benefited.  From  a  complaisant 
lethargy  there  sprang  energy,  progressiveness 
and  confidence.  Values  went  up,  outside  cap- 
ital was  attracted,  and  to  the  conservatives 
there  was  unfolded  a  future  of  which  there  had 
been  many  early  prophecies. 

The  first  five  months  of  1886  saw  real  estate 
speculation  at  its  height.  Addition  upon  addi- 
tion was  platted  and  people  scrambled  to  obtain 
lots  at  the  first  sale — to  "get  in  on  the  ground 
floor,"  as  the  saying  was.  Real  estate  agents 
were  without  number,  and  on  Francis  street 
there  was  a  "Real  Estate  Exchange,"  where 
property  was  listed  on  the  blackened  walls  of 
a  store  room.  AuKing  the  first  new  additions 
upon  the  market  early  in  the  boom  was  St. 
Joseph  Eastern  Extension,  then  came  Saxton 
Heights.  Wyatt  Park,  McCool's,  Walker's  and 
others. 

Suburban  property  had  the  call  of  the  spec- 
ulators. As  an  evidence  of  the  permanent  bene- 
fits of  the  real  estate  flurry,  one  need  but  to 
compare  the  city  of  1886  with  the  city  of  the 
present.  At  that  time  there  were  not  more  than 
50  houses  east  of  22nd  street,  and  few  be- 
tween that  and  18th  street.  All  was  in  grass 
and  of  no  \alue  except  to  the  dairymen,  who 
pastured  their  cows  thereon.  McCool's  and 
Walker's  additions,  on  the  north,  were  in  small 
farms  or  vacant.  Now  \\^yatt  Park  is  a  popu- 
lous suburb  of  modern  dwellings ;  there  is  a 
street  railway,  there  are  paved  streets,  city 
water,  churches,  schools,  fire  protection,  etc. 
The  other  additions  likewise  show  up  well. 
As  a  result  of  the  boom,  the  Wyatt  Park,  the 


70 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY  AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


Jules  street  and  the  Messanie  street  lines  of 
electric  cars  are  running  to-day.  As  a  result 
of  the  boom,  Krug  Park  and  the  city  parks 
were  opened  and  beautified.  As  a  result  of  the 
boom,  St.  Joseph  has  now  many  miles  of 
streets  paved  with  asphaltum,  brick  and  maca- 
dam. And  there  is  much  more  that  might  be 
added. 

From  1885  to  1893  was  the  most  mo- 
mentous period  in  the  city's  history.  To  what 
has  been  mentioned  above  may  be  added  the 
Chicago.  Rock  Island  &  Pacific  Railway,  east 
and  west;  the  Chicago  Great  Western,  north 
and  south;  the  Atchison,  Topeka  &  Santa  Fe, 
and  the  St.  Joseph  Terminal  Company.  The 
Y\  M.  C.  A.  Building,  the  Commercial  Block, 
Center  Block,  Carbry  Block,  Zimmerman 
Buildings,  Irish-American  Building,  Balhnger 
Building,  C.  D.  Smith  Building,  Van  Natta- 
Lynds  Building,  Wyeth  Building,  Crawford 
Theatre,  the  Podvant  and  Donovan  buildings, 
the  Coulter  Manufacturing  Company's  build- 
ing, France  Building,  Central  Police  Station, 
Turner  Hall,  the  Moss  Building,  Samuels 
Building,  the  Saxton  &  Hendricks  Building; 
also  those  massive  piles  of  architecture  occu- 
pied by  the  Richardson,  Roberts  &  Byrne  Dry 
Goods  Company;  Tootle,  Wheeler  &  Motter; 
the  Wood  Manufacturing  Company;  the 
Michau  Block,  the  Hughes  Building,  and  the 
block  on  tJie  north  side  of  Felix,  west  of  Sixth 
street — all  are  to  the  credit  of  that  prosperous 
era. 

The  Blacksnake  and  Mitchell  avenue  sew- 
ers were  built  and  the  drainage  system  of  the 
city  perfected,  the  city  electric  lighting  plant 
erected  and  the  entire  street  railway  system 
placed  upon  an  electrical  basis.  Numerous 
manufacturing  ventures  were  launched,  some 
of  which  did  not  survive,  however ;  notably 
the  steel  car  works,  the  stove  works  and  the 
nail  mills. 


A  bureau  of  statistics  and  information  did 
much  during  1888-90  to  attract  the  attention 
of  Eastern  capital,  and  the  Board  of  Trade 
was  then,  as  now,  a  prominent  factor  for  the 
commercial  advancement  of  the  city.  The 
foundation  of  the  present  pretentious  live  stock 
market  and  meat  packing  industry  was  laid  in 
1887.  and  during  the  following  five  years  three 
packing  plants  were  established. 

The  financial  depression  of  1893  checked 
the  progress  of  St.  Joseph  somewhat,  and  but 
little  of  magnitude  was  done  until  1897,  when 
a  fresh  impetus  was  given  the  city  by  the  re- 
vival on  a  gigantic  scale  of  the  meat-packng 
industry.  The  Stock  Yards  passed  into  the 
control  of  Swift  &  Company  of  Chicago,  and 
two  of  the  largest  plants  in  the  world — one  by 
Swift  &  Company  and  one  by  Nelson  Morris 
&  Company — were  erected  in  1897  and  placed 
in  operation  in  April  of  1898.  The  Hammond 
packing  house  was  completed  in  February  of 
1900,  destroyed  by  fire  on  July  5,  1903,  and 
has  just  been  rebuilt. 

During  the  past  five  years  the  progress  has 
been  notable.  The  area  of  the  city  has  been 
extended,  until  now  it  covers  nine  and  a  half 
square  miles;  the  street  railway  has  been  ex- 
tended from  the  southern  city  limits  to  Lake 
Contrary  and  to  Hyde  Valley,  from  Sixth  and 
Francis  streets  north  and  east  to  Grand  avenue 
and  from  East  Messanie  street  south  to  Jack- 
son street ;  the  best  equipped  Live  Stock  Ex- 
change of  its  size  in  the  country  has  been  com- 
pleted and  the  facilities  of  the  Stock  Yards  have 
been  materially  increased ;  work  has  begun  on 
an  auditorium,  to  cost  $150,000;  the  construc- 
tion of  the  Union  Terminal  Railway,  calcu- 
lated to  facilitate  business  at  the  Stock  Yards, 
is  now  in  progress ;  a  viaduct,  spanning  the  rail- 
road tracks  between  the  northern  and  southern 
portions  of  the  city,  has  been  built  and  lower 
Sixth  street  and  King  Hill  avenue,  the  principal 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY  AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


71 


artery  of  traffic  between  the  north  and  south 
ends,  has  been  paved  with  brick ;  many  miles 
of  street  paving  have  been  put  down  and  im- 
portant additions  have  been  made  to  the  sewer 
system ;  two  Pubhc  Library  buildings,  one  in 
the  main  city  and  one  on  the  south  side,  have 
been  erected ;  two  interurban  electric  lines,  one 
from  Maryville  to  St.  Joseph  and  the  other 
from  St.  Joseph  to  Kansas  City,  have  been 
chartered;  the  retail  section  of  St.  Joseph  pro- 


per has  been  embellished  with  large  and  orna- 
mental structures  and  the  business  section  of 
the  south  side  has  developed  beyond  all  ex- 
pectation. In  1890  the  population,  according  to 
the  census,  was  52,324;  in  1900  it  was  102,- 
979 ;  a  recent  bulletin  gives  the  population  at 
110,476.  In  1898  the  total  bank  clearings 
were  $124,089,018.05;  in  1903  they  were 
$245,646,728.52. 


CHAPTER  IX. 


MUNICIPAL   GOVERNMENT. 

The  Old  City  Charter  and  the  Evils  That  Were  Wrought  Under  Its  Provisions 
— Bonds  Issued  With  Astonishing  Recklessness — The  City  Scrip  and  Other 
Methods  of  Relief — The  New  Charter,  Its  Provisions  and  Value — How  the 
City  is  Governed. 


As  the  community  progressed  and  de- 
veloped, the  scope  of  the  town  charter  became 
too  narrow,  and  the  people  sought  relief  at 
the  hands  of  the  Legislature.  Accordingly,  a 
new  charter  was  obtained,  early  in  1851.  The 
following,  from  the  minutes  of  the  town 
trustees,  shows  how  the  way  was  paved  for  the 
new  municipal  go\ernment : 

March  24,  1851. 

Board  met  at  the  call  of  the  chairman  for  the 
purpose  of  laying  the  city  into  convenient  wards 
and  for  the  ordering  of  election  of  city  ofificers. 
Present:  James  A.  Anthony,  R.  W.  Donnell,  Lewis 
Tracy,  A.  Dillon,  W.  M.  Carter,  James  A.  Cochran. 

On  motion,  ordered  that  the  town  be  laid  ofif 
for  the  purpose  of  elections  into  the  followiilg 
wards:  First  Ward  is  all  that  portion  of  the  town 
lying  south  of  Edmond  street;  Second  Ward  all 
that  portion  of  the  town  lying  north  of  Edmond 
and  south  of  Jules  street;  Third  Ward  is  all  that 
portion  of  the  town  lying  north  of  Jules  street,  ex- 
tending from  the  river  to  the  eastern  boundary  of 
the  city. 

On  motion,  ordered  that  an  election  be  hold 
on  the  first  Monday  in  April,  1851,  for  the  election 
of  a  mayor  of  the  city,  six  councilmen,  two  from 
each  ward,  and  a  city  marshal.  And  that  John  A. 
Devorss,  William  Langston  and  Conrad  Crawley  be 
appointed  judges  of  election  for  the  First  Ward, 
and  that  said  election  he  held  for  the  First  Ward  at 
the    Missouri    Hotel;    that    John    Cargill,   Joseph    P. 


Smith  and  William  Dillon  be  appointed  Judges  of 
said  election  for  the  Second  Ward,  to  be  held  at 
the  office  of  Lewis  Tracy,  Esq.;  that  John  H.  White- 
head, David  Frank  and  Neely  Fitzgerald  be  ap- 
pointed judges  of  said  election  for  the  Third  Ward, 
to   be   held   at   the    steam   mill   of  John   Whitehead. 

I. 
The  following  is  a  copy  of  the  minutes  of 

the  first  meeting  of  the  mayor  and  Council  of 

the  City  of  St.  Joseph : 

Monday,  April  14,  1851. 

City  Council  met  and  took  the  oath  of  office 
and  was  duly  organized.  Present:  His  Honor  the 
mayor,  Israel  Landis;  William  M.  Carter,  John 
Angel,  James  B.  Pendleton,  James  A.  Anthony  and 
John   H.   Whitehead. 

On  motion,  the  Council  proceeded  to  choose 
from  their  number  a  president  protem,  whereupon 
William    M.    Carter   was   declared   duly   elected. 

On  tiiotion,  the  Council  adjourned  until  2 
o'clock  p.  m. 

The  mayor,  councilmen  and  marshal  were 
the  only  officers  elected  at  first.  The  mayor 
and  council  appointed  the  following  other  of- 
ficers at  the  ensuing  meetings :  Milton  H. 
Wash,  city  register;  Alexander  W.  Terrell, 
city  attorney;  John  Curd,  treasurer;  Isidore 
Poulin.  assessor;  Charles  Schreiber.  city  en- 
gineer;   Johnson    Copeland,    street    commis- 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


73 


sioner;  Dr.  J.  H.  Crane,  liealth  officer:  V. 
Tullar,  market  master;  R.  L.  McGhee,  wharf 
master. 

There  were  no  municipal  buildings  of  any 
kind  in  those  days,  and  the  Council  paid  one- 
half  of  LawA'er  Terrell's  office  rent  for  quar- 
ters for  the  mayor  and  a  meeting  place  for  the 
Council.  F.  M.  Wrig^ht,  who  was  the  first 
marshal,  had  to  look  out  for  himself,  as  did 
also  several  of  his  successors. 

The  mayor  had  jurisdiction  as  a  justice  and 
the  marshal  was  the  sole  guardian  of  the  peace 
at  first.  Offenders  were  brought  before  the 
ma}-or  and  tried.  A  room  in  the  old  County 
Jail,  that  stood  on  the  Court  House  hill,  w-as 
used  as  a  workhouse,  and  the  street  commis- 
sioner had  charge  of  the  city  prisoners,  who 
were  generall}-  employed  on  the  streets. 

In  1852-53  a  Market  House  was  built  on 
the  site  of  the  present  City  Hall.  In  August 
of  1855  the  Workhouse  was  established  in  a 
two-storv  stone  Imilding  that  "-ave  wav,  in 
1884,  to  the  present  structure.  The  ^larket 
House  was  supplanted  by  the  present  City  Hall 
in  1873. 

In  January  of  1858  the  office  of  city  re- 
corder was  established  and  the  mayor  relieved 
of  the  judicial  power.  A  Police  Department 
was  also  created  at  the  same  time  and  the 
marshal  was  gi\-en  six  policemen.  As  the  mar- 
shal was  also  the  tax  collector,  the  police  duty 
fell  largely  to  his  deputy  and  assistants,  wdio 
were  styled  the  ''city  guard.''  This  order  con- 
tinued until  1866,  when  a  collector  was  pro- 
vided In-  an  amendment  to  the  charter.  In 
1885  the  offices  of  collector  and  treasurer  were 
combined.  The  recorder  was  cx-officio  justice 
of  the  peace  until  1889,  and  the  name  of  the 
office  was  changed  to  "police  judge"  in  1893. 
The  marshal's  office  continued  until  St.  Joseph 
became  a  city  of  the  second  class. 

The  city  had  three  wards  until  1864.    The 


First  Ward  was  all  of  the  corporate  territory 
south  of  Edmond  street,  the  Second  Ward 
was  bounded  by  Edmond  and  Jules  streets, 
and  the  Third  W'ard  was  north  of  Jules  street. 
When,  by  an  increase  of  population  and  an 
extension  of  the  boundaries,  five  wards  became 
necessary,  the  territory  was  divided  as  fol- 
lows :  First  Ward,  north  of  a  line  extending 
through  Poulin,  Corby  and  Colhoun  streets; 
Second  \\'ard,  between  Faraon  street  and  the 
southern  boundary  of  the  First  Ward ;  Third 
W^ard,  between  Faraon  and  Edmond  streets; 
Fourth  \\'ard  between  Edmond  and  Olive 
streets:  Fifth  W\ard,  south  of  Olive.  When 
the  limits  were  again  extended  in  1889  the 
territorv  was  divided  into  eio-ht  wards. 

The  municipal  history  of  St.  Joseph  is 
unique  in  more  ways  than  one.  and  offers  a 
rare  field,  especially  for  the  student  of  pioneer 
city   financiering. 

The  provisions  of  the  charter  were  good — 
too  good  to  suit  the  people,  l^ecause  it  restrained 
the  Council  from  creatine-  an  indebtedness  ex- 
ceeding  $1,000.  In  1853  and  1855  other  de- 
scents were  made  upon  the  Legislature,  and 
amendments  secured  authorizing  the  city  to 
"subscribe  for  the  capital  stock  of  railroads, 
and  for  erecting  \vhar\-es  and  protecting  the 
banks  of  the  Alissouri"  against  the  encroach- 
ments of  that  changeful  stream.  This  was  well 
enough  for  a  year  or  two,  and  thousands  of 
dollars  were  xoted  by  the  people  for  the  abo\e 
purposes.  But  as  the  Western  country  settled 
up,  new  schemes  for  in\esting  citv  funds  were 
devised,  and  a  fourth  call  on  the  Legislature 
in  T857  secured  the  passage  of  another  bill, 
authorizing  in  the  mayor  and  councilmen  to 
"subscribe  for  the  capital  stock  of  any  railroad 
terminating  at  or  near  said  city,  or  for  the  stock 
of  any  other  improvement  tending  to  promote 
the  general  interest  and  prosperity  of  the  city," 
The  people  apparently  voted  "yes''  on  al- 


74 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


most  every  proposition  submitted  to  them,  for 
the  records  of  the  defeat  of  measures  of  this 
kind  are  few  and  far  between.  The  people 
evidently  reasoned  that  the  only  great  city  in 
the  West  must  give  a  certificate  to  that  effect 
in  the  shape  of  an  indebtedness  of  a  million  or 
so.  They  also  probably  argued  that  future 
generations  would  pay  these  debts  so  con- 
tracted. 

With  such  elastic  laws,  and  in  the  swift 
times  in  which  they  prevaded,  it  is  no  wonder 
that  the  question  of  voting  a  few  thousands 
of  bonds  was  regarded  so  lightly.  Bonds  were 
voted  for  almost  any  purpose,  and  the  interest 
was  almost  invariablv  fixed  at  from  8  to  lo 
per  cent.  Some  of  these  bonds  went  for  rail- 
roads which  were  never  built ;  others  for  a  road 
which  was  built  and  afterward  abandoned; 
others  still  for  a  bridge,  for  river  improve- 
ments, for  building  macadamized  roads,  and 
other  schemes  supposed  to  benefit  the  city — all 
given  with  a  free  hand  for  the  asking. 

Of  course  there  were  halts  called  now  and 
then  by  thinking  men — but  usually  they  were 
of  short  duration — and  the  jolly  giving  of  gold 
went  merrily  on,  until  the  State  constitution 
of  1870  put  a  limit  to  city  indebtedness,  pro- 
hibiting its  exceeding  5  per  cent,  of  the  city's 
assessed  valuation. 

In  those  days  the'  Council  proceedings,  in- 
stead of  being  dull  and  prosy  accounts  of  reso- 
lutions ordering  sidewalks  repaired  or  ordi- 
nances ordering  district  sewers,  as  in  these 
days,  were  in  the  nature  of  a  meeting  of  rail- 
road Ijuilders.  resolutions  directing  superin- 
tendent this  or  manager  that  to  Iniy  flat  cars, 
hire  engines  or  Iniy  railroad  ties,  being  of  fre- 
quent occurrence. 

Further  amendments  to  the  charter  later 
on  prohibited  the  expenditure  of  money  beyond 
the  receipts  of  the  city.  It  was  thought  for  a 
time  that  this  provision  would  at  least  prevent 


the  incurring  of  further  indebtedness,  but  this 
was  a  false  hope,  and  soon  a  scheme  was  de- 
vised that  circumvented  the  law.  The  Coun- 
cil simply  estimated  the  receipts  at  the  begin- 
ning of  the  3^ear,  and  went  on  appropriating 
from  this  estimate,  totally  regardless  of 
whether  it  was  collected  or  not.  As  a  conse- 
quence, city  warrants  were  soon  below  par, 
although  bearing  interest  at  6  per  cent. 

Something  else  must  be  done,  and  in  1878 
Mayor  Joseph  A.  Finer  brought  relief  with  a 
city  scrip.  One  and  two  dollar  warrants,  re- 
sembling government  bills,  non-interest  bear- 
ing, were  issued  to  the  extent  of  $100,000  for 
home  circulation,  which  contained  upon  their 
face  the  city's  promise  of  redemption.  The 
"ones  and  twos,"  as  they  were  called,  served 
a  good  purpose.  Though  there  w-as  some  ques- 
tion as  to  the  legality  of  the  city's  action  in  the 
premises,  the  people  took  them  and  they  passed 
at  par,  and  were  finally  redeemed.  The  re- 
demption, however,  was  not  brought  about 
until  the  business  men  of  the  city  harrassed 
beyond  forbearance  by  the  necessity  of  con- 
tinuous handling  of  this  city  "money,"  its  di- 
lapidated condition,  and  the  urgency  for  ex- 
changing it  for  money  for  use  in  all  outside 
business  transactions,  insisted  that  the  Council 
should  provide  w-ays  for  retiring  the  scrip.  In 
1885-86,  the  first  year  of  the  city  under  its 
present  charter,  $35,000  worth  of  scrip  was 
redeemed  by  the  city  and  destroyed,  the  follow- 
ing year  $25,000  w'as  called  in  and  burned,  and 
in  two  years  more  it  was  practically  all  in.  A 
city  "bill"  or  scrip  is  now  regarded  as  a  curios- 
ity. The  first  city  bills  ])aid  out  in  each  de- 
nomination were  secured  by  William  B.  Mc- 
Nutt,  then  chief  of  the  Fire- Department. 

Use  of  this  "money"  being  confined  to  the 
city,  little  else  was  seen  in  ordinary  transac- 
tions. This  constant  circulation  soon  reduced 
it  to  a  dilapidated  condition,  necessitating  the 


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AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


17 


renewal  of  a  large  portion  of  it,  under  Mayor 
Posegate,  in  1882.  An  attempt  to  replace  it 
again  in  1885  was  frustrated  by  Gen.  James 
Craig,  then  comptroller,  who  refused  to  cer- 
tify to  the  ordinance  carrying  an  appropriation 
of  $800  for  that  purpose,  on  the  ground  that 
the  entire  transaction  was  illegal.  The  appear- 
ance of  government  officials  on  the  ground  to 
investigate  the  matter  about  this  time,  together 
with  the  demand  of  the  merchants,  settled  the 
fate  of  the  city  scrip.  In  the  matter  of  interest 
the  scrip  saved  the  taxpayers  between  $65,000 
and  $75,000. 

But  times  grew  harder  and  harder  with  the 
city.  •  People  began  to  refuse  to  pay  taxes,  and 
in  tlie  latter  part  of  the  "seventies"  and  early 
"eighties"  the  Council  tried  to  evade  part  of 
the  city's  debt,  declaring  it  invalid,  but  better 
judgment  finally  prevailed,  the  means  were 
found  to  pay  the  interest  falling  due.  and  steps 
were  taken  in  1882  to  refund  all  that  was  left 
of  the  high-interest-bearing  l3onds.  This  only 
partly  succeeded  at  the  time,  but  it  was  the 
entering  wedge  to  the  settlement  of  the  debt. 

In  1884  the  indebtedness  of  the  citv  was.  in 
round  numbers,  about  $2,250,000  of  which 
$210,000  was  a  floating  debt  in  the  shape  of 
\varrants,  one-half  of  which  were  interest-bear- 
ing, the  other  half  being  sham  money;  $40.- 
000  in  judgments,  interest  and  claims  against 
the  city.  Then  there  was  a  bonded  debt  of 
about  $2,000,000.  The  city  had  issued  bonds 
fc  the  following  purposes  :  River  and  improve- 
ment, $200,000;  gas  plant,  $25,000;  macadam 
road  from  Elwood  to  Wathen?\,  $25,000;  St. 
Joseph  &  Denver  Railroad.  $500,000;  bridge, 
$500,000;  Kansas  City.  St.  Joseph  &  Council 
Bluffs  Railroad,  $210,000;  Missouri  Valley 
Railroad,  $150,000;  St.  Joseph  &  Topeka  Rail- 
road, $50,000.  The  other  figures  necessary  to 
round  out  the  two  millions  arc  furnished  by 
bonds  issued  to  provide  money  to  grade  streets 


and  cover  deficiencies  in  the  treasury.  At  the 
same  time  there  was  due  the  city  in  back  taxes 
about  $150,000. 

It  was  at  this  time  that  a  wail  went  up  for 
a  change  of  some  sort.  Taxation  was  doubly  , 
onerous,  the  city's  credit  was  nil,  interest-bear- 
ing warrants  were  at  a  discount  of  from  10  to 
20  per  cent.,  and  the  "ones  and  twos"  were  in 
such  a  wretchedly  dilapidated  and  worn  condi- 
tion that  merchants  were  refusing  to  receive 
them. 

The  agitation  thus  commenced  resulted  in 
totally  rejecting  the  patched-up  old  charter  and 
starting  anew  in  April,  1885,  as  a  city  organ- 
ized under  the  laws  of  the  State  governing' 
cities  of  the  second  class. 

When  the  Legislature  met  in  January  of 
1885.  a  committee  went  to  Jefferson  City  with 
such  amendments  to  the  existing  State  laws 
governing  cities  of  the  second  class  as  would 
permit  the  adjustment  of  St.  Joseph's  affairs 
so  that  the  city  could  be  brought  under  the 
provisions  of  the  desired  charter.  The  amend- 
ments were  not  material  so  far  as  the  organx 
law  was  concerned,  and  the  delegation  from 
Buchanan  County  in  the  House  and  Senate 
had  no  difficluty  in  securing  their  adoption. 
At  the  April  election  of  1885,  the  people  voted 
upon  the  proposition  and  it  was  carried,  the 
vote  standing  2,925  for  the  adoption  of  the 
charter  and  192  against  it. 

On  Monday,  April  21,  1885,  the  transition 
took  place,  and  St.  Joseph  became  a  city  of 
the  second  class,  under  H.  R.  W.  Hartwig  as 
ma3^or.  Mr.  Hartwig  had  been  elected  in  the 
previous  year. 

The  disposition  of  the  "ones  and  twos"  gave 
great  concern,  for  they  were  a  problem  of  pro- 
portions. The  best  business  men  of  the  city 
met  with  the  Council  and  a  solution  of  the 
problem  was  found  in  accepting  the  "ones  and 
twos"  in  priyment  for  back  taxes.     This  was 


78 


Hi^^rORY  OF    BUXHANAX    COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


done,  and  as  the  scrip  came  in  it  \vas  cancelled 
and  burned. 

Under  the  new  charter  no  del:)ts  can  l;e 
made,  no  contract  can  be  entered  into  for  a 
period  longer  than  one  year,  no  public  work 
can  be  ordered  and  no  purchase  made,  for 
which  the  money  is  not  in  the  treasury. 

The  component  parts  of  the  city's  machinery 
are  the  mayor  and  Council,  the  comptroller, 
auditor,  collector  and  treasurer,  city  clerk,  en- 
gineer, assessor,  building  inspector,  license  in- 
spector, health  officer,  hospital  steward,  super- 
intendent of  the  Workhouse,  the  park  com- 
missioners, market-master,  chimney  sweep, 
boiler  inspector,  superintendent  of  street  light- 
ing, a  library  board,  Board  of  Works,  weigh- 
master,  Fire  Department,  Police  Department, 
Police  judge,  city  attorney  and  city  counselor. 

The  assessor  lays  the  foundation  for  the 
municipal  work.  In  January  of  each  year  he 
begins  to  make  his  assessment.  The  real  estate 
values  are  taken  from  the  county  assessment, 
to  which  they  must  conform.  Personal  prop- 
erty, merchandise,  banks,  etc.,  are  \\ithin  his 
jurisdiction.  When  the  tax  books  are  com- 
pleted, the  mayor,  assessor,  comptroller,  clerk, 
auditor  and  chairman  of  the  Council  finance 
committee  sit  as  a  board  of  equalization.  Some 
assessments  are  raised  and  others  lowered  l)y 
this  board,  according  to  circumstances. 

The  tax  books  are  reach"  l)y  the  third  ^Ion- 
day  in  April,  the  beginning  of  the  fiscal  year. 
On  that  day  the  Council  meets  and  the  city 
clerk  announces  the  total  valuation  of  prop- 
erty. Under  the  charter  not  more  than  one 
per  cent,  on  each  $ioo  valuation  can  be  as- 
sessed for  general  administration  purposes,  and 
as  much  as  is  necessary  may  be  assessed  for 
the  purpose  of  paying  interest  on  outstanding- 
bonds,  and  the  creation  of  a  sinking  fun<l  for 
the  payment  of  these  bonds,  which  were  in- 
herited from  the  old  system.    Under  the  charter 


of  to-day  no  new  bonded  indebtedness  can  be 
created  until  the  present  bonded  indebtedness 
of  the  city  has  been  reduced  to  within  five  per 
cent,  of  the  assessed  valuation  of  property. 

Upon  the  first  assessment  under  the  new 
charter  the  tax  levy  was  $2, — $1  for  adminis- 
tration purposes  and  $1  for  the  interest  and 
sinking  fund.  The  levy  has  since  been  reduced 
to  $1.55  on  $100. 

Aside  from  the  $1  tax,  there  are  other 
sources  of  revenue  to  the  city — licenses  upon 
various  occupations  and  the  Police  Court.  Of 
the  saloon  license,  however,  the  city  retains  but 
47  per  cent,  the  county  receiving  53  per  cent. 

The  comptroller  makes  an  estimate  of  re- 
ceipts from  all  sources  at  the  beginning  of  each 
fiscal  year  and  this  is  apportioned  in  achancc 
to  the  various  departments  by  the  finance  com- 
mittee of  the  Council. 

For  some  years  city  taxes  were  not  due  un- 
til August,  but  to  induce  early  payment,  rebates 
were  allowed  as  follows :  6  per  cent,  on  pay- 
ments made  during  May,  4  per  cent,  during 
June,  2  per  cent,  during  August,  and  a  fiat 
rate  existed  during  September.  On  October 
I  St  a  penalty  of  2  per  cent,  was  attached.  This 
was  changed  by  the  Legislature  in  1903,  and 
now  the  rebate  for  May  and  June  is  2  per  cjnt. 
and  the  flat  rate  obtains  during  July  and  Au- 
gust. Delinquent  property  is  sold  to  the  high- 
est bidder  in  No\-ember  and  is  redeemable  with- 
in four  years. 

As  the  money  is  received,  it  is  credited  b}- 
the  comptroller  to  the  ^•arious  funds  as  pre- 
scribed by  the  apportionment  ordinance. 
Each  department  is  required  to  live  within  its 
means.  Bills  are  audited,  and,  if  allowed,  the- 
money  for  their  payment  is  appropriated  by 
ordinance,  as  are  also  salaries.  The  auditor 
draws  a  warrant  upon  the  treasurer,  which 
must  be  countersigned  by  the  comptroller,  who 
has  previously  certified  that  the  money  is  i^i 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


79 


the  treasury  to  the  credit  of  the  fund  upon 
which  the  warrant  is  drawn.  The  Pohce  De- 
partment, however,  which  is  under  the  metro- 
pohtan  system,  draws  one-twelfth  of  its  ap- 
portionment each  month  and  the  funds  are  ex- 
pended at  the  discretion  of  the  commissioners. 

The  new  charter  provided  that  the  mayor, 
aldermen,  collector,  auditor,  city  attorney  and 
police  judge  should  be  elected,  and  hold  office 
for  two  years.  The  engineer,  counselor,  comp- 
troller, clerk,  superintendent  of  street  lighting, 
health  officer,  hospital  steward,  superintendent 
of  Workhouse,  superintendent  of  streets,  as- 
sessor, market-master,  weighmaster,  license  in- 
spector, and  the  various  deputies,  were  made 
appointive  by  the  ma)or  to  be  confirmed  by 
the  Council  for  two-year  terms.  The  chief  of 
the  Fire  Department  is  appointed  by  the  mayor 
and  confirmed  by  the  Council,  the  firemen  are 
appointed  by  the  Mayor  upon  the  recommenda- 
tion of  the  chief  and  the  Fire  Department  com- 
mittee of  the  Council,  and  are  removed 
for  cause  only.  Since  1887  there  have  been 
three  police  commissioners,  appointed  by  the 
Governor  for  three  vears  each,  one  term  ex- 
piring  each  year.  They  appoint  the  chief  and 
"all  other  attaches  to  the  Police  Department. 
The  Public  Library  and  the  city  parks  are 
managed  by  boards  appointed  by  the  mayor, 
and  .these  boards  appoint  the  various  employees 
of  their  departments.  The  building  inspector 
is  appointed  by  the  ma}or,  confirmed  by  the 
Council,  and  holds  his  office  during  good  be- 
havior. 

When  the  transition  took  place,  in  April 
of  1885,  an  agreement  was  made  with  those 
officials  who  had  been  elected  for  two  years 
that  they  would,  upon  resignation,  be  appointed 
to  serve  out  the  unexpired  portions  of  their 
terms.  Under  this  agreement  Harry  Carter, 
who  had  been  elected  collector  in   1884,  was 


made  treasurer  for  one  year;  William  P>.  Tul- 
lar,  who  had  been  elected  city  marshal,  was 
made  chief  of  police  for  one  year,  and  P^rancis 
M.  Tufts,  who  had  been  elected  as  register, 
was  made  auditor  for  one  year.  All  fees  were 
abolished. 

The  following  new  officers  were  appointed  : 
Gen.  James  Craig,  comptroller ;  Purd  B. 
\\'right,  clerk;  James  Limbird,  counselor;  M. 
M.  Kane,  chief  of  the  l^re  Department:  Pat- 
rick Mclntyre,  street  commissioner;  M.  J. 
McCabe,  engineer:  Dr.  J.  A.  French,  health 
officer;  Ishmael  Davis,  assessor;  Anton  Dal- 
hoff.  superintendent  of  the  Workhouse.  Po- 
licemen, firemen  and  market-master  were  also 
appointed.  Officials  other  than  these  who  are 
now  in  the  government  ha\e  since  been  added. 

The  Charter  has  been  amended  at  various 
times  since  its  adoption,  and  there  have  been 
proposals,  recently  for  substituting  an  entirely 
new  organic  law.  The  Legislature  of  1901 
provided  for  two  houses  of  the  Municipal  As- 
sembly,— an  upper  house,  the  Council  consist- 
ing of  five  members  at  large  and  a  House  of 
Delegates,  consisting  of  a  member  from  each 
ward.  This  was  unsatisfactory,  and  the  Legis- 
ture  of  1903  provided  fcM"  a  single  house  of  one 
member  from  each  ward,  elected  at  large  and 
a  president  of  the  Council,  also  elected  at  large. 
The  same  Legislature  provided  for  a  Board  of 
Public  Works,  consisting  of  three  members, 
appointed  for  three  years  by  the  mayor,  auditor 
and  comptroller. 

Prior  to  1899  the  comptroller  was  ap- 
pointed by  the  mayor.  The  Legislature  of 
that  year  passed  a  law  making  the  office  elect- 
ive and  its  term  four  years.  At  the  same  time 
the  tenure  oi  office  of  the  treasurer  and  the 
auditor  were  also  made  four  years. 

That  the  adoption  of  the  second  class  char- 
ter was  wise  is  best  known  by  those  who  ex ' 


8o 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY  AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


perienced  the  workings  and  trembled  for  the 
city  from  the  dangers  of  the  old  system. 
Since  1885  the  city  has  paid  its  way  out  of  the 
revenues,  has  completely  wiped  out  the  float- 
debt  and  city   scrip,   and   has   materially 


ing 


reduced  the  bonded  burden.  As  evidences  of 
improvement,  we  have  the  parks,  the  sewers, 
the  streets,  the  electric  lighting  plant,  the  Cen- 
tral Police  Station,  the  Free  Public  Library, 
and  excellent  Fire  and  Police  departments. 


CHAPTEH  X. 


PUBLIC  SAFETY. 

The  Police  Department  of  St.  Joseph,  Its  History  and  the  Various  Chiefs 
From  the  Beginning  to  the  Present  Time — The  Police  Judge  and  City  At- 
torney, and  the  ]Men  Who  Have  Held  These  Places — History  of  the  Fire 
Department  From  the  Days  of  the  Bucket  Brigade  to  the  Present  Time— 
The  Various  Chiefs. 


the  police  department. 

Up  to  185 1  the  peace  of  St.  Joseph  was 
preserved  by  a  constable,  who,  when  the  times 
were  Hvely,  as  during  the  Cahfornia  period, 
had  a  force  of  deputies  and  was  assisted  by 
the  sheriff.  The  constable  was  also  the  col- 
lector of  town  taxes  and  was  withal  an  im- 
portant functionary. 

When  St.  Joseph  was  incorporated  as  a 
city,  a  marshal  was  provided,  who,  like  the  con- 
stable, was  the  tax  collector ;  but  it  was  not 
until  1858  that  the  Police  Department  was 
created,  at  which  time  the  marshal  was  given 
a  Deputy  and  six  men.  These  were  pompously 
styled  the  ''city  guard"  and  the  deputy  mar- 
shal was  the  captain  thereof.  The  marshal 
recei\-ed  fees  only,  Ijut  had  a  lucrative  place. 
In  1866  the  collector's  office  was  established 
and  the  marshal  gave  his  entire  attention  to 
police  work.  The  fee  system  continued  until 
the  city  adopted  the  new  charter,  in  1885, 
when  the  title  of  the  office  was  changed  to 
that  of  chief  of  police  and  a  salary  of  $1,500 
per  annum  provided. 


In  1887  the  metropolitan  system  was 
adopted.  Under  this  the  Governor  appoints 
three  commissioners,  whose  duty  it  is  to  man- 
age the  Police  Department.  The  commission- 
ers elect  one  of  their  number  as  treasurer.  At 
the  begining  of  each  fiscal  year  they  certify 
to  the  Council  the  amount  necessary  for  the 
department  during  the  year,  which  the  Council 
is  required  to  provide.  This  amount  is  paid 
in  monthly  installments  to  the  treasurer  of  the 
board  and  expended  for  salaries  and  other 
necessaries. 

Howell  Thomas,  the  first  constable,  was 
appointed  in  1845.  Henry  S.  Smith,  Edward 
Searcy  and  V.  Tullar  succeeded  each  other 
until   1 85 1. 

Francis  ]\I.  Wright  was  the  first  marshal, 
serving  1851-52.  Then  came  the  following: 
Allen  McNew,  1852-54;  George  Merlatt, 
1854-57;  Shad  R.  Wages,  1857-60;  Allen  Mc- 
New, 1860-62;  R.  J.  S.  Wise,  1862-64;  E.  H. 
Saville,  1864-66;  Enos  Craig,  1866-68;  Allen; 
McNew.  1868-70;  Louis  Stroud,  1870-72; 
Thomas  H.  Ritchie,  1872-74;  John  Broder, 
1874-76:  B.  F.  Buzard,  1876-78:  Phil  Rogers, 


82 


HISTORY  OF    BUCHANAN   COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


1878-80;  Enos  Craig,  1880-82:  Thomas  H. 
Ritchie,  1882-84;  Wilham  B.  Tullar,  1884-85. 

The  first  chief  of  pohce  was  Wilham  B. 
TuUar,  who  had  been  elected  marshal  for  twc 
}'ears.  but  \\ho.  resigned  \\hen  the  new  charter 
went  into  effect  and  was  made  chief  of  police 
for  one  year.  He  was  succeeded  by  John 
Broder  in  1886,  who  was  retained  by  the  Board 
of  Police  Commissioners  when  the  metropoli- 
tan system  went  into  effect,  and  filled  the  place 
continuously   until   June,    1901. 

Under  the  present  system  a  captain  of 
pohce  and  two  sergeants  are  jirovided  for. 
Solomon  Broyles  was  captain  from  June  1. 
1887.  to  March  3.  1888,  when  he  died.  He 
was  succeeded  by  John  Bloomer,  promoted 
from  sergeant,  who  serxed  until  June  i,  1899. 
The  first  two  sergeants  were  John  Bloomer  and 
William  J.  Lovell.  When  Sergeant  Bloomer 
was  made  captain,  J.  Fred  Henry,  who  held 
the  honorary  title  of  corporal,  was  advanced. 
Sergeant  Lovell  was  succeeded  JNIay  7,  1892, 
by  Corporal  Edward  L.  Cutler,  who  served 
until  June  i,  1893.  Corporal  John  J.  Neenan 
was  advanced  and  served  until  his  death,  Au- 
gust 29,  1896.  Patrolman  William  H.  Frans 
was  then  made  sergeant.  Sergeant  Henry 
died  in  August  of  1898  and  was  succeeded  by 
Robert  Maney,  who  served  until  June  i,  1901, 
and  was  succeeded  by  William  P.  Gibson.  On 
June  I.  1899,  Sergeant  Frans  was  made  cap- 
tain and  James  T.  Allee  was  made  sergeant. 
On  June  i,  1901,  Captain  Frans  succeeded 
John  Broder  as  chief  and  at  the  same  time 
John  J.  McNamara  was  made  captain  and 
Charles  Kelly  advanced  to  the  grade  of  ser- 
geant in  place  of  Sergeant  Allee. 

The  metropolitan  force  was  organized 
June  I,  1887,  '^'^'ith  the  chief,  cajitain,  two  ser- 
geants, two  turnkeys,  two  drivers  and  thirty- 
two  patrolmen.  At  present  ( 1904)  the  Police 
Department  is  constituted  as  follows :  Chief, 


captain,  two  sergeants,  one  humane  officer,  one 
matron,  two  dri\-ers,  three  signal  operators, 
five  detectives  and  fifty-one  patrolmen. 

The  chief,  captain  and  sergeants  are  ap- 
pointed for  one  year.  PatroJmen  are  appointed 
for  six  months  as  specials,  on  i)robation,  at 
$()0  per  month.  If  confirmed,  they  are  ap- 
pointed for  three  years  from  the  date  of  the 
first  appointment.  The  humane  officer  is  se- 
lected by  the  Humane  Society  and  commis- 
sioned and  paid  as  a  regular  patrolman  by  this 
department,  he  being  under  the  direction  of  the 
chief.  Regular  patrolmen  receive  $70  per 
month   salary. 

Telephone  signal  service,  the  first  to 
exist,  was  introduced  in  1891.  There  are 
thirt}-ei§"ht  stations,  and  patrolmen  are 
scheduled  to  signal  every  hour  during  the  day 
and  night.  There  is  an  independent  telephone 
exchange,  with  a  switchboard  and  three  opera- 
tors at  Central  Police  Station.  The  system  is 
leased  from  the  Missouri  &  Kansas  Telephone 
Company. 

A  substation  was  established  on  the  South 
side  in  the  winter  of  1899.  I^  is  only  a  wooden 
structure,  used  for  detention,  ^^'ithin  a  short 
time  a  substantial  building  will  be  erected. 

On  April  28,  1887.  Governor  Marmaduke 
appointed  Bernard  Patton.  John  Donovan,  Jr., 
and  Thomas  P.  Maupin  commissioners,  the 
first  for  three  years,  the  second  for  two  and 
the  last  for  one  year.  The  regular  terms  of 
commissioners  after  the  first  appointment  are 
for  three  years,  a  \acancy  occurring  annually. 
Mr.  Patton  was  president  for  three  years.  He 
was  succeeded  as  commissioner  by  George  H. 
Hall,  Jr.  Mr.  Dono\an  was  reappointed  at 
the  expiration  of  two  years,  and  Mr.  Maupin 
was  reappointed  at  the  expiration  of  his  year. 
Mr.  Donovan  was  treasurer  for  the  first  three 
years  and  was  succeeded  by  Mr.  Hall  in  1890, 
when  Mr.  Maupin  was  elected  president.    This 


AND    RErRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


83 


organization  continued  until  August  11.  1892. 
Mr.  Maupin's  term  had  expired  in  April,  1891, 
Mr.  Donovan's,  April,  1892,  and  Mr.  Hall 
had  become  ineligible  because  he  was  a  candi- 
date for  office.  At  that  time  Governor  Fran- 
cis appointed  an  entire  new  board,  consisting 
of  Thomas  F.  Ryan  to  succeed  Mr.  Donovan, 
Samuel  M.  Nave  to  succeed  Mr.  Maupin  and 
Harris  Ettenson  to  succeed  Mr.  Hall.  Mr. 
Nave  served  as  president  until  the  expiration 
of  his  term.  Mr.  Rvan  was  elected  treasurer 
and  served  continuously  in  that  capacity  foi: 
six  years.  Mr.  Ettenson  was  succeeded  in 
1893  by  T.  F.  Van  Natta,  and  Mr.  Nave  was 
succeeded  in  1894  by  John  H.  Trice.  Mr.  Van 
Natta  succeeded  Mr.  Nave  as  president.  Both 
Mr.  Ryan  and  Mr.  Van  Natta  were  reap- 
pointed. Mr.  Trice  was  reappointed  April  29. 
1897.  and  Mr.  Ryan  was  succeeded  September 
6.  1898.  by  Walter  H.  Robinson.  Mr.  Van 
Natta  was  succeeded  in  1899  l)y  Frank  Frey- 
tag,  Jr.,  who  is  now  serving  his  second  term. 
Mr.  Trice  was  succeeded  in  1901  by  William 
H.  Utz,  Avho  is  now  serving  his  second  term. 
Mn  Robinson  was  succeeded  in  1903  by  Jo- 
seph H.  Tullar.  The  board  is  now  organized 
as  follows :  Joseph  H.  Tullar,  president :  Frank 
Freytag,  Jr.,  vice-president:  William  H.  Utz, 
treasurer,  and  Richard  S.  Graves,  secretary. 
Chris  L.  Rutt  was  the  secretary  from  the  time 
of  the  first  organization  of  the  board,  in  May, 
1887,  until  jMay  i,  1900,  when  he  resigned 
to  become  managing  editor  of  the  Gazette  and 
was  succeeded  by  Mr.  Graves,  also  a  news- 
paper worker. 

The  Police  Court  is  the  tribunal  to  which 
offenders  against  the  city  ordinances  are 
brought,  ^\■hen  St.  Joseph  was  a  town,  of- 
fenders were  brought  before  a  justice  of  the 
peace.  When  St.  Joseph  became  a  city,  in 
185 1,  the  mayor  was,  under  the  charter,  the 
police    judge,    and    so    continued    until    1855. 


The  office  of  recorder  was  then  introduced, 
the  first  incumbent  being  A.  A.  Dougherty, 
who  served  one  year.  The  position  was  subse- 
quently held  as  follows :  Felix  Robidoux, 
1856-58;  John  A.  Dolman.  1858-62:  M.  L. 
Harrington,  1862-64;  William  C.  Toole, 
1864-66;  J.  B.  Hawley,  1866-68;  Charles  M. 
Thompson,  1868-70;  William  Drumhiller, 
1870-72;  Charles  M.  Thompson,  1872-76; 
R.  B.  Fleming,  1876-78:  Samuel  B.  Green, 
1878-80:  George  W.  Belt,  1880-82:  John  A. 
Dolman,  1882-84;  Mordecai  Oliver,  1884-86; 
John  A.  Dolman,  1886-90;  William  B.  San- 
ford,  April  1890.  to  Septemljer,  1891  (died  in 
office);  John  A.  Dolman,  September  i.  1891, 
to  February  9,  1896  (dying  in  office)  ;  Peter 
J.  Carolus,  February  to,  1896,  to  April,  1898, 
when  he  was  succeeded  by  Col.  John  Doniphan. 
Judge  Doniphan  served  tw(^  years  and  was  in 
turn  succeeded  b}-  Judge  Carolus,  who  has 
since  served  continuously. 

The  office  depended  upon  fees  until  1885, 
when  the  fees  \\ere  abolished  and  a  stated 
salary  pro^•ided.  The  recorder  was  also  ex- 
ofticio  justice  of  the  peace  up  to  1889,  when 
this  perquisite  was  cut  off.  In  1893  die  name 
of  the  office  was  changed  to  "police  judge." 

Prior  to  1884.  the  recorder  provided  his 
own  clerk.  Harry  Angel  was  the  first  ap- 
pointee, serving  until  April,  189 1,  when  he 
was  succeeded  by  Albe  'SI.  Tracy,  who  served 
until  April,  1895,  and  was  succeeded  in  turn 
b}-  John  T.  Warburton.  The  mayor  appointed 
these  clerks.  In  1897,  the  office  was  abolished, 
cuid  the  duties  thereof  delegated  to  the  secre- 
tary of  the  Pjoard  of  Police  Commissioners. 

The  city  attorney  prosecutes  offenders 
against  the  ordinances  liefore  the  police  judge. 
I'his  ofii'ce  was  created  under  the  first  charter 
and  Alexander  W.  Terrell  was  the  first  incum- 
bent, serving  185  J -52.  He  was  succeeded  by 
John  Scott,  who  served  until  1856.     The  (  ffice 


84 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


was  held  subsequently  in  the  following  order : 
Alexander  M.  Davis,  1856-57;  Thomas  Thor- 
oughman,  1857-58;  W.  R.  Likens,  1858-60; 
Joseph  P.  Grubb,  1860-61  ;  Isaac  Parker,  1861- 
64;  James  Hunter,  1864-66;  Jeff  Chandler, 
1866-72;  William  D.  O'Toole.  1872-74;  John 
T.  Baldwin,  1874-76;  Willard  P.  Hall,  Jr.. 
1876-78;  William  Fitzgerald,  1878-80;  Enos 
J.  Crowther,  1880-82;  Augustus  Saltzman, 
1882-84;'  William  E.  Sherwood,  1884-86; 
Fred  J.  Lufler.  1886-88;  George  P.  Rowe, 
1888-90;  Peter  J.  Carolus,  1890-92;  William 
R.  Hoffman,  1892-94;  James  W.  Mytton,  1894- 
96;  Joshua  A.  Graham,  1896-98.  succeeded  by 
Fred  W.  Heyde.  who  served  two  years,  and 
was  succeeded  by  John  S.  Boyer.  In  1902 
Charles  Mayer  was  elected  for  two  years,  and 
was  succeeded  by  Milton  J.  Bauer,  the  present 
incumbent. 

A  number  of  men  who  held  this  hunil)le 
ofifice  afterwards  distinguished  themselves  in 
the  legal  profession,  among  them  Alexander 
W.  Terrell,  who  was  United  States  Minister  to 
Turkey;  Alexander  M.  Davis,  Thomas  Thor- 
oughman,  John  T.  Baldwin,  Isaac  Parker,  Jeff. 
Chandler,  Willard  P.  Hall.  Jr..  and  Joseph  ]'. 
Grubb.  Messrs.  Davis,  Thoroughmrin  and 
Chandler  achieved  fame  at  St.  Louis  and  John 
T.  Baldwin  in  Montana.  W'illard  P.  Hall  was 
one  of  the  first  judges  of  the  Court  of  Ap])erds 
at  Kansas  City  and  Joseph  P.  Grulib  was  cir- 
cuit judge  here  for  many  years.  Isaac  C. 
Parker  went  to  Congress  from  this  district 
and  was  appointed  by  President  Grant  as 
United  States  judge  at  Fort  Smith,  Arkansas, 
where  he  died  recently. 

in  1897  the  office  of  police  matron  was  es- 
tablished through  the  efforts  of  a  number  of 
philanthropic  women,  headed  by  Mrs.  Waldo 
Beach  and  Mrs.  Lyman  Forgra\-e.  Mrs.  Alice 
Gribben  held  the  place  until  June,  1903,  when 


she  was  succeeded  by  Mrs.  Frank  Welty,  the 
present  incumbent. 

The  Humane  Society  has  operated  in  con- 
junction with  the  Police  Department  for  the 
past  eight  years.  The  humane  officer  has  pro- 
per quarters  at  Central  Police  Station.  This 
place  was  held  for  the  first  three  years  by 
Charles  G.  Hall,  who  was  succeeded  by  Wil- 
liam A.  Ziemendorff,  the  present  incumbent. 

THE   FIRE  DEPARTMENT. 

First  there  was  the  bucket  brigade,  then 
organizations  of  volunteer  firemen  ;  next  a  com- 
bination of  volunteer  and  paid  firemen,  and 
then  an  all-paid  department,  which  has  grown 
into  one  of  the  best  equipped  and  most  efficient 
in  the  West. 

The  late  Gen.  William  R.  Penick  is  cred- 
ited with  having  been  the  most  ardent  promoter 
of  organized  and  systematic  protection  from 
fires.  He  began  his  efforts  in  t86o,  when  a 
member  of  the  City  Council,  but  was  unsuc- 
cessful until  1864,  when,  as  mayor  of  the  city, 
he  earnestly  recommended  an  appropriation  of 
$5,000  for  the  purchase  of  a  steam  engine. 
The  provision  was  made  in  August  of  1864. 
At  the  same  time  Mayor  Penick  urged  the  citi- 
zens to  subscribe  means  for  the  purchase  of 
hose  and  hook-and-ladder  equipments.  The 
people  responded  promptly  and  sufficient  money 
was  soon  pledged.  In  May  of  1865  the  steam 
engine  arrived,  was  tested,  accepted  and  named 
"Blacksnake."  The  hook-and-ladder  truck  and 
hose-reels  were  also  on  hand,  and  the  next 
step  was  the  formation  of  a  volunteer  corps. 
The  Blacksnake  Steam  Engine  Company  and 
the  Rescue  Hook-and-Ladder  Company  were 
promptly  organized.  In  the  following  year  the 
German-Americans  organized  a  third  volun- 
teer  company   and   purchased  a   hand  engine. 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


8= 


which  was  nairiCil  "Watorwitch."'  The 
steamer  was  (h'awn  l)y  horses.  l)ut  the  trucks 
and  hand  engine  were  drawn  by  the  firemen 
and  vokinteer  citizens,  there  being  ropes  to  ac- 
commodate ah  who  desired  to  "run  wid  de 
masheen."  Cisterns  were  buih  at  important 
points  in  the  business  district.  There  were  13 
of  these  when  the  introduction  of  water-works 
supplanted  them,  and  the  average  capacity  of 
each  was  about  1,200  barrels. 

There  was  great  rivalry  among  the  firemen, 
both  for  efiiciency  and  splendor  of  parade,  and 
the  annual  turn-out  was  always  the  occasion 
of  a  public  holiday.  The  first  of  these  parades 
occurred  on  Washington's  Birthday,  1868, 
when  the  late  Edward  R.  Brandow  was  chief 
of  the  department.  The  procession  was  com- 
posed as  follows :  Blacksnake  Steam  Engine 
Company,  Hardin  Ellis,  foreman,  25  men ; 
Waterwitch  Hand  Engine  Company,  Henry 
Lund,  foreman,  45  men ;  Resctie  Hook-and- 
Ladder  Company,  Hugh  Symmonds.  foreman, 
55  men.  The  engine  companies  had  a  contest 
at  Market  square  and  the  affair  concluded  with 
a  general  drenching,  the  rivals  turning  their 
nozzles  upon  each  other. 

In  1870,  a  paid  Fire  Department  was  es- 
tablished. Seven  men  were  stationed  in  a 
house  at  the  foot  of  Edmond  street.  The  ap- 
paratus consisted  of  the  "Blacksnake"  engine 
and  three  one-horse  reels. 

The  hook-and-ladder  company's  apparatus 
was  stationed  in  a  building"  at  the  alley  east  of 
Tootle's  Opera  House.  The  ground  was  do- 
nated to  the  city  by  the  late  Milton  Tootle,  and 
the  Rescue  company  luiilt  the  house  with  money 
secured  by  means  of  entertainments.  In  1871 
two  paid  men  and  two  horses  were  placed  on 
duty  here. 

The  zeal  of  the  volunteers  naturally  l)egan 
to  wane  \\ith  the  introduction  of  paid  firemen, 
and  the  compaines  disbanded.  The  "AVater- 
witch,"  which  had  been  stationed  on  Edmond 


street,  west  of  where  the  Ballinger  Building 
now  stands,  gave  way  to  a  second  steamer, 
named  "Bluebird,"  which  was  purchased  in 
1872;  the  "Waterwitch"  was  sold  in  1875  to 
Wyandotte,  Kansas.  The  "Blacksnake"  was 
sold  to  Shenandoah,  Iowa,  some  years  ago.  and 
the  "Bluebird"  is  still  in  service. 

The  introduction  of  water-works-  gave  an 
impetus  to  improvement  and  expansion  of  the 
Fire  Department.  In  1879  a  hose  reel  was  lo- 
cated in  the  Patee  Market  House,  which  re- 
mained there  until  1886,  when  the  present 
house  was  built  at  loth  and  Olive  streets.  In 
1 88 1  a  reel  was  located  at  loth  and  Francis 
streets,  in  a  building  leased  from  the  O.  \L 
Smith  estate.  In  1895  this  company  was  re- 
moved to  Seventh  and  Charles  streets.  In  the 
same  year  a  company  was  stationed  on  North 
Third  street.  In  1882,  the  house  at  the  foot  of 
Felix  street  was  built  and  the  apparatus  re- 
moved there  from  Second  and  Edmond,  to 
make  room  for  the  Davis  mill.  In  1884,  Mr. 
Tootle  exchanged  ground  at  Seventh  and 
Charles  streets  for  that  which  he  had  donated 
adjoining  the  Opera  House,  the  hook-and-lad- 
der trucks  were  moved,  and  the  old  "Rescue" 
house  was  merged  into  the  Tootle  Opera 
House.  In  1895,  the  building  at  Seventh  and 
Charles  streets  was  enlarged,  so  as  to  accommo- 
date new  apparatus,  and  that  which  was  moved 
from  loth  and  Francis  streets.  In  1889.  a 
house  was  built  at  Ninth  street  and  Doniphan 
avenue:  in  1891,  one  at  i8th  and  Felix  streets; 
in  1892.  one  at  loth  and  Powell  streets,  and 
in  the  following  year,  the  company  on  North 
Third  street  was  moved  to  a  new  house  Avhich 
had  been  built  at  Third  and  Franklin  streets. 
Since  1896  fire  stations  have  been  established 
at  26th  and  Penn  streets,  on  Frederick  avenue, 
near  21st  street,  on  St.  Joseph  avenue,  in 
Walker's  Addition,  in  South  Park  and  in  South 
St.  Joseph.  All  of  these  are  equipped  with 
modern  apparatus. 


CHAPTER.  XI. 


MUNICIPAL  OFFICERS. 

The  Board  of  Town  Trustees — The  City  Council — ]\Iayor — Clerk,  Register  and 
Auditor — Collector  and  Treasurer — Comptroller  —  City  Engineer  —  The 
Health  Department — Assessor — Counselor — Street  Commissioner  —  Build- 
ing Inspector — License  Inspector — -Boiler  Inspector — Plumbing  Inspector- 
Salaries,  Terms  of  Office  and  Duties. 


The  municipal  affairs  of  St.  Joseph,  hke 
those  of  other  incorporated  communities,  have 
ahvays  been  administered  by  men  chosen  by 
the  people.  As  a  town  the  administrative 
function  was  vested  in  a  board  of  seven 
trustees,  who  selected  one  of  their  number  as 
president. 

The  Board  of  Town  Trustees. — The  first 
board,  elected  in  1845,  "^'^"''^s  composed  of  Jo- 
seph Robidoux,  president ;  Isidore  Barada, 
John  F.  Carter,  Johnson  Copeland,  Wiley  M. 
English,  Sinclair  K.  Miller  and  Benjamin 
Powell.  The  next  board,  in  1846,  was  com- 
posed of  Wiley  M.  English,  pfesident ;  Pres- 
ton T.  Moss,  Johnson  Copeland,  Allen  G. 
Mansfield,  Posey  N.  Smith,  Henry  S.  Creal 
and  Joseph  Robidoux.  The  board  for  1847 
was  composed  of  Henry  S.  Creal.  president; 
Wiley  M.  English.  Johnson  Copeland,  Preston 
T.  -Moss,  Edward  Searcy,  William  H.  High, 
Aaron  Lewis  and  James  B.  Gardenhire.  The 
board  for  1848  was  composed  of  Lewis  Tracy, 
president;  Joseph  Smith,  W^illiam  Ridenbaugh, 
Preston  T.  Moss.  Samuel  D.  Overstreet. 
Thomas  Wildbahn  and  James  A.  Anthony. 
The  board  for  1849  "^v^'^s  composed  of  James 


A.  Anthony,  president ;  John  Whitehead, 
Henry  S.  Creal.  Thomas  Price,  Wiley  M.  Eng- 
lish, Thomas  Wildbahn  and  Lewis  Tracy.  The 
last  board  was  composed  of  James  A.  An- 
thony, president ;  Lewis  Tracy,  John  Rhode, 
William  ]\I.  Carter,  James  B.  Pendleton, 
Abraham  M.  Dillon  and  Lewis  Stigers. 

As  a  city  tlie  chief  executi\e  has  been  the 
mayor  and  the  legislative  powers  have  been 
vested  in  a  Council.  ^ 

Mayor. — Thomas  ]\lills.  the  first  mayor, 
was  elected  in  April,  185 1.  and  served  one 
}ear.  His  successors  were  as  follows :  Robert 
Lamdin,  1852-53;  James  A.  Anthony,  1853- 
54;  Robert  Boyle,  1854-55;  Jonathan  M.  Bas- 
sett,  1855-56;  John  Corby,  1856-57;  Arm- 
strong Beattie,  1857-59;  ]\l.  Jeff  Thompson, 
1859-60;  Armstrong  Beattie,  1860-61;  Frede- 
rick W.  Smith,  1861-62;  Thomas  Harbine, 
1862-64;  ^V.  R.  Penick,  1864-66;  Armstrong 
Beattie,  1866-67;  Dr.  Francis  J.  Davis,  1867- 
()8;  George  H.  Hall,  1868-70;  John  Severance, 
1870-74;  Isaac  T.  Hosea,  1874-78;  Armstrong 
Ikattie,  1878-80;  Joseph  A.  Finer,  1880-82; 
Francis    M.    Posegate,    1882-84:    H.    R.    W. 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


87 


Hartwig,  1884-86;  Dr.  Thomas  H.  Doyle, 
1886-88:  Georg-e  J.  Englehart.  1888-90;  Will- 
iam M.  Shepherd,  1890-96;  Lawrence  A. 
Vories,  1896-98;  Dr.  Peter  J.  Kirschner,  1898- 
1900;  John  Combe,  1900-02;  Charles  J. 
Borden,  1902-04 ;  William  E.  Spratt,  1904. 


The  City  Council. — The  first  Council, 
elected  in  185 1,  was  composed  as  follows,  there 
being  but  three  wards :  First  Ward,  John 
Angel,  James  Pendleton;  Second  Ward,  Will- 
iam AI.  Carter.  James  B.  Pendleton;  Third 
Ward,  James  A.  Anthony,  John  H.  White- 
head. For  the  ensuing  years  the  representation 
was  as  follows : 

For  1852-53 — First  Ward,  John  Angel. 
James  B.  Pendleton ;  Second  Ward,  Joel  J. 
Penick.  W.  M.  Carter;  Third  Ward,  John  H. 
Whitehead.  B.  F.  Loan. 

For  1853-54 — First  Ward,  H.  D.  Louthen, 
B.  0'Dri.sco]];  Second  Ward.  \V.  U.  Carter. 
Joel  J.  Penick:  Third  Ward.  John  H.  White- 
head, Thomas  Wildbahn. 

For  1854-55 — First  Ward,  John  C.  Cargill, 
Emery  Livermore ;  Second  Ward,  Robert  W. 
Donnell,  Joseph  C.  Hull;Third  \\'ar(l,  Thomas 
W.ldbahn.   Robert  L.   AlcGhee. 

For  1855-56 — Plrst  \\'ard,  H.  I).  Lou- 
then, James  B.  Pendleton  ;  Second  W'artl,  Jo- 
seph C.  Hull,  Preston  T.  ?\Ioss ;  Third  Ward. 
Armstrong  Beattie,  John  O.   Fisher. 

For  1856-57 — First  Ward,  John  Angel, 
James  B.  Pendleton;  Second  Ward,  Preston  T. 
Moss,  O.  B.  Knode:  Third  Ward,  Armstr-ono- 
Beattie,  John  O.   Fisher. 

For  1857-58— First  Ward,  Frederick  W. 
Smith,  N.  J.  McAshan;  Second  Ward,  O.  B. 
Knode,  Charles  Kearney ;  Third  Ward,  John 
J.   Johnson,    Samuel    IHoyd. 

For  1858-59— First  Ward,  J.  N.  McAshan, 
John  Rhode;  Second  Wru'd.  O.  B.   Knode,  J. 


A.  Chambers ;  Third  Ward,  John  J.  Johnson^ 
Samuel  G.  Floyd. 

For  1859-60 — First  Ward,  Aliciit.el  Mc- 
Gee,  William  Lennox;  Second  Ward.  Thomas 
Keys,  William  J.  Taylor  ,'^  Third  Ward.  James 
Highly,  Samuel  G.  Floyd. 

For  1860-61 — First  Ward,  William  R. 
Penick,  John  Rhode;  Second  Ward,  D.  J. 
Heaton,  Robert  F.  Maxwell;  Third  Wav.l.  J.  J. 
Johnson,  P.  L.  McLaughlin. 

For  1861-62 — First  Ward,  ]\lichael  Mc- 
Gee.  Louis  Hax ;  Second  Ward,  A.  G.  Clark, 
John  Saunders;  Third  Ward,  James  A.  Storm, 
Samuel  H.  Boyd. 

For  1862-63 — First  Ward,  James  Tracy, 
Elias  Eppstein  ;  Second  Ward,  George  T.  Hoag- 
land,  William  Fowler ;  Third  Ward,  Joseph  C. 
Hull,  John  Colhoun. 

For  1863-64— First  Ward,  J.  D.  Mc- 
Neely;  G.  W.  H.  Landon ;  Second  Ward,  An- 
ton Klos,  R.  Fisher;  Third  Ward,  Henry 
Boder,  Joseph  Steinacker. 

For  1864-65 — There  were  now  five  wards, 
represented  as  follows :  First  Ward,  Thomas 
H.  Ritchie,  William  Z.  Ransom ;  Second 
U'ard.  John  R.  Bell.  W.  L.  Chadwick;  Third 
Ward.  John  Corby,  George  T.  Hoagland ; 
Fourth  Ward,  J.  D.  McNeely,  A.  Andriano; 
Fifth  \\'ar(l,  H.  N.  Turner,  Jeremiah  Whalen. 

Fnv  1865-66— First  \Ward,  W.  Z.  Ran- 
s(jm,  William  ]\1.  Albin :  Second  Ward,  ^^^  L. 
Chatlwick.  John  Colhoun ;  Third  Ward,  John 
Corby.  George  T.  Hoagland :  Fourth  Ward. 
J.  D.  McNeely,  A.  Andriano;- Fifth  Ward.  H. 
N.  Turner,  Isaac  Wilkins. 

For  1866-67 — First  Ward,  W.  Z.  Ransom, 
William  M.  Albin ;  Secohd  Ward.  W.  L.  Chad- 
wick, Edward  R.  Brandow :  Third  W'ard. 
George  T.  Hoagland,  Samuel  Hays;  Fourth 
Ward,  A.  Andriano.  Bernard  Patton;  Fifth 
Ward,  Jeremiah  Whalen,  Isaac  Wilkins. 

For  1867-68 — First  Ward.  W.  Z.  Ransom,. 


88 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


Riilip  Finger;  Second  Ward,  J.  H.  Dayton, 
Robert  Gunn ;  Third  Ward,  John  Corby,  John 
A.  Dohman;  Fourth  Ward,  J.  D.  McNeely, 
David  H.  Winton;  Fifth  Ward,  Patrick  H. 
Early,  M.  Fitzgerald. 

For    1868-69— First   Ward,    W.    Z.    Ran- 
som.  Florence  Kiley ;   Second  Ward,   I.   Van 

;  Third  Ward,  John  A 
Tootle;  Fourth   Ward, 
Michael    McGee;    Fifth 
M.  Fitzgerald. 


Riley,   O.   M.   Smith; 
Dolman,   Thomas   E. 
David    H.    Winton, 
Ward,  Patrick  Early, 


For  1869-70 — First  Ward,  Florence  Kiley, 
J.  C.  Kessler;  Second  Ward,  Robert  Gunn, 
I.  Van  Riley ;  Third  Ward,  John  A.  Dolman, 
J.  A.  V.  McNeal ;  Fourth  Ward,  D.  H.  Win- 
ten.  Philip  Pinger;  Fifth  Ward,  Patrick  Early, 
M.  Fitzgerald. 

For  1870-71 — First  AVard,  J.  C.  Kessler, 
Seymour  Jenkins;  Second  Ward,  Robert 
Gunn,  George  Buell ;  Third  Ward,  A.  C.  V. 
McNeal,  C.  W.  Davenport;  Fourth  Ward, 
Philip  Pinger,  George  Hildebrant;  Fifth 
Ward,   M.   Fitzgerald,   Henry   Blum. 

For  1871-72 — First  Ward,  Seymour  Jen- 
kins, Joseph  Diedrich ;  Second  Ward,  George 
Buell,  Fred  Westpheling;  Third  Ward,  C.  W. 
Davenport,  Edw'in  Toole;  Fourth  Ward, 
George  R.  Hildebrant,  John  Burnside;  Fifth 
\A'ard,  Henry  Blum,  James  Bowen. 

For  1872-73 — First  Ward,  Seymour  Jen- 
kins. Joseph  Diedrich ;  Second  Ward,  Fred 
Westpheling,  Oscar  Schramm;  Tliird  Ward. 
Edwin  Toole,  Isaac  Curd ;  Fourth  Ward.  John 
Burnside,  John  Kieffer;  Fifth  Ward,  James 
Bowen,  E.  W.  Ray. 

For  1873-74 — First  Ward,  Seymour  Jen- 
kins, Joseph  Diedrich ;  Second  Ward,  Oscar 
Schramm,  J.  H.  Dayton;  Third  Ward.  Isaac 
Curd,  James  M.  Street;  Fourth  Ward,  George 
R.  Hildebrant.  John  Kieffer ;  Fifth  Ward,  Jo- 
seph Hermann,  E.  W.  Ray. 

For  1874-75 — First  AA'ard,  Seymour  Jen- 


kins, Joseph  Diedrich ;  Second  Ward,  Oscai 
Schramm,  J.  H.  Dayton ;  Third  Ward,  James 
M.  Street,  Donald  ^I.  McDonald;  Fourth 
Ward,  George  R.  Hildebrant,  William  Siden- 
faden;  Fifth  Ward.  Joseph  Hermann,  Michael 
Kiley. 

For  1875-76 — First  Ward,  Seymour  Jen- 
kins. Joseph  Diedrich;  Second  Ward,  Oscar 
Schramm,  J.  H.  Dayton :  Third  Ward,  James 
M.  Street,  William  H.  W'ood;  Fourth  Ward, 
George  R.  Hildebrant,  William  Sidenfaden; 
Fifth  Ward/ Michael  Kiley,  Joseph  Hermann. 
For  1876-77 — First  W^ard,  Seymour  Jen- 
kins, Jacob  Arnholt;  Second  Ward,  Oscar 
Schramm,  J.  H.  Dayton;  Third  Ward.  Will- 
iam H.  W^ood,  Thomas  H.  Hail ;  Fourth  \A'ard, 
J.  D.  McNeely,  William  Sidenfaden;  Fifth 
Ward,  Michael  Kiley,  Charles  Michaelis. 

For  1877-78 — First  Ward,  Jacob  Arnholt, 
Charles  Howe ;  Second  Ward.  J.  H.  Dayton, 
George  W.  Morris;  Third  Ward.  Thcimas  H^ 
Hail,  H.  C.  Cockrill;  Fourth  W^ard,  William 
Sidenfaden.  Joseph  H.  Mclnerny;  Fifth  Ward, 
John   Kieffer,   Thomas  Aylesbury. 

For  1878-79 — First  AV^ard,  Seymour  Jen- 
kins, Charles  How^e;  Second  Ward,  J.  H.  Day- 
ton, George  W.  Morris ;  Third  Ward,  Thomas 
H.  Hail,  H.  C.  Cockrill ;  Fourth  Ward,  J.  D. 
AIcNeely,  Joseph  H.  Mclnerny;  Fifth  Ward, 
Thomas  Aylesbury,  Maurice  Flickey. 

For  1879-80 — First  Ward,  Seymour  Jen- 
kins, John  Newcum ;  Second  Ward,  George 
\Y.  Morris,  I.  B.  Thompson ;  Third  Ward, 
Charles  W.  Campbell,  Samuel  Westheimer; 
Fourth  Ward,  Joseph  H.  Mclnerny,  J.  D.  Mc- 
Neely ;  Fifth  Ward,  Thomas  Aylesbury, 
Maurice  Hickey. 

For  1880-81 — First  Ward.  Seymour  Jen- 
kins, John  Newcum;  Second  W'aril.  (ieorge 
W.  Morris.  1.  B.  Thompson;  Tliird  Ward. 
Samuel  Westheimer,  Charles  W.  Campl:)ell ; 
Fourth   W'ard,    Joseph   H.    Mclnerny,   J.    W. 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


89 


At  will ;  Fifth  Ward,  Thomas  Aylesbury,  Mau- 
rice Hickey. 

For  1881-82 — First  Ward,  Seymour  Jen- 
kins, Stephen  Geiger;  Second  Ward,  John 
S.  Lemon,  I.  B.  Thompson;  Third  Ward, 
Charles  W.  Campbell,  Samuel  Westheimer; 
Fourth  Ward,  J.  W.  Atwill,  Egid  Wagner; 
Fifth  Ward.  R.  Womach,  William  O'Hara. 

For  1882-83 — First  Ward,  Seymour  Jen- 
kins, Willis  M.  Sherwood;  Second  Ward,  Si- 
mon Stern,  1.  B.  Thompson ;  Third  Ward,  Ja- 
cob Geiger;  Samuel  Westheimer;  lujurth 
Ward,  Joseph  Mclnerny,  Kgid  Wagner;  Fifth 
Ward,  Thomas  Winston,  John  Kiefter. 

For  1883-84 — First  Ward,  Seymour  Jen- 
kins, Willis  M.  Sherwood;  Second  Ward,  Si- 
mon Stern,  J.  M.  Austin;  Third  Ward,  Sam- 
uel Westheimer,  Jacob  Geiger;  Fourth  W^ard, 
Joseph  H.  Mclnerny,  Egid  Wagner;  Fifth 
Ward,  Thomas  Winston,  William  Valentine. 

For  1884-85— First  Ward,  Seymour  Jen- 
kins, Ben  B.  Turner;  Second  Ward,  Simon 
Stern,  J.  M.  Austin ;  Third  Ward,  Stephen  F. 
Carpenter,  Samuel  Westheimer ;  Fourth  Ward, 
Joseph  H.  Mclnerny,  John  Giller;  Fifth  Ward, 
Thomas  Winston,  William  Valentine. 

For  1885-86 — First  Ward,  Charles  Now- 
land,  Ben  B.  Turner;  Second  Ward,  Simon 
Stern,  J.  M.  Austin ;  Third  Ward,  S.  F.  Car- 
penter, Ewald  Padberg;  Fourth  Ward, 
Charles  T.  Nichols,  John  Giller;  Fifth  Ward, 
Thomas  Winston,  William  Valentine. 

P^or  1886-87 — First  Ward.  Charles  Now- 
land,  Thomas  R.  Ashbrook;  Second  Ward. 
James  H.  Lewis;  George  W.  Morris;  Third 
Ward.  Justus  C.  Gregg,  Ewald  Padberg: 
Fourth  Ward,  William  H.  Jones.  Oscar  M. 
Spalsbury;  Plfth  Ward,  William  E.  Jamieson, 
John  B.  Ryan. 

For  1887-88— First  Ward.  Charles  Now- 
land,  Thomas  R.  Ashbrook;  Second  W'ard. 
George  W.  Morris, -(James  PI.  Lewis  resigned 


and  his  place  was  left  vacant)  ;  Third  Ward, 
J.  C.  Gregg,  Ewald  Padberg;  P^ourth  Ward, 
William  H.  Jones,  O.  M.  Spalsbury;  Fifth 
Ward,  William  E.  Jamieson,  John  B.  Ryan. 

For  1888-89— First  Ward,  Wilfred  Mc- 
Donald, Henry  Luchsinger ;  Second  Ward,  Nel- 
son J.  Riley,  Samuel  Ostrander;  Third  Ward, 
Jacob  Geiger,  Henry  Ellinger;  Fom-th  Ward, 
Rufus  Todd,  S.  O.  Brooks;  Fifth  Ward.  Wil- 
liam E.  Jamieson,  John  B.  Ryan. 

For  1889-90— First  Ward,  Wilfred  Mc- 
Donald, Da\'id  E.  Marshall;  Second  Ward, 
Nelson  J.  Riley,  Samuel  Ostrander;  Third 
Ward.  Jacob  Geiger,  Henry  Ellinger;  Fourth 
Ward,  Rufus  Todd,  Edward  B.  P'elling;  Fifth 
Ward,  William  E.  Jamieson.  A.  E.  Arnell. 

P'or  1890-91 — In  1890  the  city  limits  were 
extended  and  the  territory  divided  into  eieht 
wards.  There  were  16  aldermen,  as  follows: 
First  Ward,  Hans  Nielson,  William  Dersch; 
Second  Ward,  James  M.  Hall,  David  E.  Mar- 
shall;  Third  Ward,  Samuel  Ostrander,  J.  W. 
Lancaster;  Fourth  Ward,  John  L.  Zeidler,  T. 
W.  Hackett;  Fifth  Ward,  Patrick  Alartin, 
lienry  Ellinger;  Sixth  Ward.  Joseph  Her- 
mann, Edward  B.  Polling;  Seventh  Ward, 
Stephen  T.  Pendleton,  A.  E.  Arnell;  Eighth 
Ward,  Charles  A.  Pfeiffer,  James  W.  Mans- 
field. 

For  1891-92 — First  AA'ard,  Hans  Nielson, 
William  Dersch;  Second  Ward,  James  M. 
Hall,  Thomas  N.  Finch;  Third  Ward,  Albert 
B.  Duncan,  J.  W.  Lancaster;  Fourth  Ward. 
F.  K.  Doniphan,  John  L.  Zeidler;  Fifth  Ward, 
Patrick  Martin,  Henry  Ellinger;  Sixth  W^ard, 
Joseph  Plermann,  John  Comlie;  Seventli  Ward, 
Stephen  T.  Pendleton.  William  E.  Jamieson; 
Eighth  Ward,  Charles  A.  Pfeiffer,  William 
M.  Rush.  Jr. 

For  1892-93 — First  Ward,  James  Burling- 
ton. William  Dersch:  Second  Ward.  C.  F. 
Meyer.  Thomns   N.   Finch:  Third  Wnrd.    Al- 


90 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN    COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


bert  B.  Duncan.  Tliomas  R.  Bretz ;  Fourth 
Ward,  V.  K.  Doniphan.  Robert  Baker;  Fifth 
Ward.  Patrick  Martin.  George  M.  Good;  Sixth 
Ward  Wilham  L.  Buechle.  John  Combe; 
Seventh  Ward.  J.  W.  Stouffer,  Wilham  E. 
Jamieson;  Eighth  \\'ard,  Charles  J.  Borden, 
William  M.  Rush.  Jr. 

For  1893-94 — P"irst  Ward.  James  Burling- 
ton, Horace  Wood;  Second  Ward,  C.  F. 
Meyer,  John  D.  Clark;  Third  Ward.  Thomas 
R.  Bretz,  Daniel  Ransom ;  F"ourth  Ward,  R.  E. 
Baker,  R.  M.  Abercrombie ;  Fifth  Ward, 
George  ^L  Good,  George  L.  Jewett ;  Sixth 
Ward.  \\"illiam  L.  Buechle.  J.  W.  Powers; 
Seventh  Ward.  J.  W.  Sl')uffer.  M.  M.  Dug- 
gan;  Eighth  Ward.  Charles  J.  Borden.  Sam- 
uel (josnell. 

I'or  1894-95 — First  Ward.  John  Custer. 
Horace  Wood;  Second  Ward,  John  D.  Clark. 
Stephen  F.  Geiger;  Third  \\'ard,  Daniel  Ran- 
som, Andrew  J.  Smith;  Fourth  Ward.  R.  'M. 
Abercrombie,  \\'.  J.  Browne;  Fifth  Ward. 
George  AI.  Good,  J.  George  Geiwitz ;  Sixth 
Ward,  William  L.  Buechle,  J.  W.  Powers ; 
Seventh  Ward,  M.  AL  Duggan,  E.  H.  Giles; 
Eighth  Ward,  Charles  J.  Borden,  Samuel  Gos- 
nell. 

For  1895-96 — First  Ward,  John  E.  Custer. 
Hans  Nielson ;  Second  Ward.  Stephen  F.  Gei- 
ger, William  H.  Finch;  Third  Ward,  A.  J. 
Smith.  F.  ^L  Lemon;  Fourth  Ward.  R.  M. 
Abercrombie.  W.  J.  Browne;  I'^ifth  Ward,  J. 
George  Geiwitz.  G.  D.  Berry;  Sixth  U'ard, 
W^illiam  L.  Buechle.  Louis  Prawitz ;  Se\cnth 
Ward.  E.  H.  Giles,  William  E.  Jamieson ; 
Eighth  \\'ar(l.  Charles  J.  Borden,  .\.  S.  Long. 

jM)r  1896-97 — First  Ward,  John  E.  Custer. 
Hans  Nielson ;  Second  Ward.  James  AI.  Cline, 
William  FL  Finch;  Third  Ward,  John  W. 
Bruce,  F.  M.  Lemon;  Fourth  Ward.  R.  M. 
Abercrombie.  W.  J.  Browne;  Fifth  Ward,  C. 
A.  Tygart.  G.  D.  Berry;  Sixth  Ward,  1).  FL 


Schmidt,  Louis  Prawitz;  Seventh  Ward,  W.. 
J.  Robertson,  William  E.  Jamieson;  Eighth 
Ward,  Charles  J.  Borden,  A.  S.  Long. 

For  1897-98 — First  Ward,  John  E.  Custer, 
Fred  E.  Ernst;  Second  Ward.  James  M.  Cline, 
William  FL  Finch;  Third  Ward.  John  W. 
Bruce,  F.  C.  Kuehl ;  Fourth  \\'ard.  G.  V.  Koch. 
W.  J.  Browne;  Fifth  W^ard.  C.  A.  Tygart, 
George  ^\^  Akers ;  Sixth.  Ward,  Richard  Gar- 
vey,  D.  H.  Schmidt;  Seventh  Ward,  W.  J. 
Robertson,  J.  L.  Meyer;  Eighth  Ward,  Charles 
J.  Borden.  A.  M.  Twedell. 

For  1898-99 — First  Ward.  Fred  E.  Ernst, 
Phil  Hall;  Second  Ward.  William  H.  Finch, 
\\'i]ilam  H.  Smith;  Third  Ward,  F.  C.  Kuehl, 
John  W.  Bruce ;  Fourth  Ward,  E.  J\L  Birkes, 
G.  \'.  Koch;  Fifth  Ward,  George  W.  Akers, 
John  H.  Kelly;  Sixth  Ward,  Richard  Garvey,. 
E.  G.  Chandlee;  Seventh  Ward,  J.  L.  ^leyer, 
Henry  G.  Felling;  Eighth  \\:u\\,  A.  M. 
Twedell,  Nelson  P.  Sommer. 

For  1899-1900 — First  Ward,  Phil.  Hall, 
W.  A.  Bodenhausen ;  Second  Ward,  William 
FL  iMuch,  Fred  AL  Smith;  Third  Ward,  John 
W.  Bruce,  Fred  Hoefer;  Fourth  Ward,  G.  V. 
Koch,  E.  M.  Birkes;  Fifth  Ward,  George  W. 
Akers,  John  H.  Kelly;  Sixth  Ward,  Richard 
Garvey.  E.-  G.  Chandlee;  Seventh  Ward.  J. 
!  L.  Meyer,  Henry  G.  Felling;  Eighth  Ward, 
Nelson  P.  Sommer,  A.  S.  Long. 

For  1900-01  —  Early  in  1900  the  territory 
to  the  south,  embracing  the  now  populous  but 
unincorporated  town  of  St.  (icorge,  built  up 
because  of  the  packing  industries,  was  annexed 
to  the  city  and  the  Ninth  Ward  was  created. 
The  Stock  Yards  and  packing  houses  were  not 
included  in  the  annexation.  The  Council  for 
1900-01  was  as  follows:  First  Ward,  W.  A. 
Bodenhausen,  William  Liebeg;  Second  Ward. 
William  TL  Finch.  William  F.  Bode;  Third 
Ward,  John  W.  Bruce,  Fred  Hoefer,  L.  O. 
Weakley    f  Hoefer   resigned)  ;    Fourth    W'ard,. 


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AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


93 


G.  V.  Koch,  E.  M.  Birkes;  Fifth  Ward,  George 
\y.  Akers,  O.  U.  Spalsbury;  Sixth  Ward,  J. 
L.  Meyer.  WilHam  E.  Jamieson ;  Eighth  Ward, 
A.  S.  Long.  C.  J.  Pohle;  Ninth  Ward,  Louis 
R.  Sack.  A.  K.  i/ickle. 

For  1901-02 — The  city  charter  was 
amended  by  the  Legislature  of  1901  so  as  to 
giye  the  city  a  doiible  house,  there  l)eing  pro- 
yision  for  a  delegate  from  each  \yard  consti- 
tuting the  House  of  Delegates  and  fiye  mem- 
bers, elected  at  large,  constituting  the  Council. 
Each  body  had  its  own  presiding  ofificer  and 
^vhen  there  was  a  joint  session  the  body  was 
known  as  the  Municipal  .\ssembly  and  was 
])resided  oyer  by  the  president  of  the  Council. 
For  1901-02  the  Council  was  composed  of  nine 
members,  this  being  necessary  because  seyeral 
members  had  yet  one  year  to  serye.  the  mem- 
l)ership  of  the  body  being  William  Liebig,  Wil- 
liam F.  Bode.  John  W.  Bruce.  E.  AI.  Birkes. 
O.  M.  Spalsbury.  Charles  F.  Ogden.  William 

E.  Jamieson.  C.  J.  Fohle  and  Louis  R.  Sack. 
The  House  of  Delegates  consisted  of  J.  E. 
Gates,  representing  the  First  \\"ard ;  Ben  B. 
Turner,  Second  Ward :  L.  O.  Weakley.  Third 
W^ard;  F.  C.  Barrington.  Fourth  Ward;  Jo- 
seph Andriano.  Fifth  Ward;  John  Wies- 
niewski.  Sixth  Ward :  J.  L.  Meyer.  Seyenth 
Ward ;  August  W.  Horn.  Eighth  ^^'ar(l :  and 
J.  \\'.  Fleeman.  Ninth  \\'ard. 

For  1902-03 — Council :  Joseph  .Vndriano, 
John  O.  Barkley.  John  \\\  Bruce,  Louis  R. 
Sack,  Brant  C.  Thayer.  House  of  Delegates : 
First  Ward,  E.  O.  Hicks ;  Second  W^ard,  John 

F.  Imel;  Third  Ward.  Edward  W.  Klos ; 
Fourth  W'ard.  Joseph  A.  Fullerton ;  Fifth 
Ward,  Ulysses  Ci.  Crandall ;  Sixth  Ward. 
Thomas  Cannon ;  Seyenth  \\'ard,  Daniel  J. 
Barrett ;  Eighth  Ward.  August  W.  Horn ; 
Ninth  Ward,  Dayid  C.  Reeyes. 

For    1903-04 — The    double-house    system 
|)ro\ed  cumbersome  and  undesirable  and  at  the 
5 


request  of  a  number  of  citizens  the  Legislature 
pro\-ided  a  new  scheme,  formulated  by  a  com- 
mittee of  attorneys  and  members  of  the  admin- 
istration. This  plan  proyides  for  a  Council  of 
one  member  for  each  ward,  elected  at  laroe 
and  a  president  elected  at  large;  also  for  a 
Board  of  Public  Works,  consisting  of  three 
members,  appointed  by  the  mayor,  the  auditor 
and  the  comptroller,  the  party  in  power  Xu  haye 
majority  in  the  board,  each  member  of  the 
board  to  be  ai)pointefl  for  three  years,  the  plan 
being  so  arranged  that  there  shall  be  a  vacancy 
eyery  year.  The  new  scheme  did  not  go  into 
full  effect  until  April  18.  1904,  the  two  legis- 
lative bodies,  however,  being  merged  in  April, 
1903.  The  Council  for  103-04  was  composed 
as  follows:  Louis  R.  SacK,  E.  O.  Hicks,  Ed- 
ward W.  Klos.  Joseph  A.  Fullerton,  John  O. 
Barkley.  Brant  C.  Thayer,  John  W.  Bruce. 
L'lysses  G.  Crandall,  Thomas  Cannon,  Daniel 
J.  Barrett.  David  C.  Reeves.  Joseph  Andriano. 
John  V.  Imel  and  August  W.  Horn. 

For  1904-05 — President.  David  C.  Reeves: 
First  \\ard,  John  O.  Barkley;  Second  Ward, 
J.  W.  .Mitchell;  Third  Ward,  John  W.  Bruce; 
Fourth  Ward,  Brant  C.  Thayer;  Fifth  Ward. 
Joseph  x\ndriano;  Sixth  Ward,  D.  W.  Hender- 
son; Seventh  Ward.  Loam  Randall;  Eiefhth 
Ward.  Charles  Whalen ;  Nintli  Ward.  Louis 
R.  Sack. 

]\Iembers  of  the  Council  and  the  ])resident 
are  now  elected  for  four  years. 


Clerk,  Register  and  Auditor. — The  late 
Gen.  Ben.  F.  Loan  was  apointed  clerk  and 
attorney  at  the  first  session  of  the  town 
trustees,  in  1845.  Le\i  T.  Clark  was  clerk  in 
1846,  James  B.  Gardenhire,  afterward  At- 
torney General  of  Alissouri,  in  1847;  Ben.  F. 
Loan  in  1848.  A.  D.  Madeira  in  1849.  I" 
1850-51.  the  late  Joseph  J.  Wyatt  held  the  of- 


94 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


fice.    He  was  the  last  clerk  of  the  town  board. 

Under  the  city  charter  which  went  into 
operation  in  185 1,  the  city  register's  office  was 
created.  The  register  was  a  combination  of 
secretary  to  the  Council  and  city  accountant. 
The  office  was  first  held  by  Milton  H.  Wash, 
who  served  1851-56,  and  wdio  compiled  and 
published  the  first  city  ordinances.  William 
C.  Toole  succeeded  Mr.  Wash  and  served 
1856-64,  when  the  late  John  A.  Dolman  was 
elected.  Major  Dolman  served  1864-66  and 
was  succeeded  by  Thomas  H.  Ritchie,  wdio 
served  1866-68.  Col.  Robert  C.  Bradshaw, 
who  had  distinguished  himself  in  the  w^ar,  was 
elected  in  1868,  and  served  two  years.  In  1870 
\V.  W.  Brown  was  elected  and  served  four 
3'ears,  being  succeeded  by  Hardin  A. '  Davis, 
who  served  until  1877,  when  he  was  succeeded 
by  Enos  J.  Crowther,  who  served  until  1880. 
James  H.  Ringo  was  elected  in  1880  and  was 
succeeded  in  1882  by  the  late  Francis  M.  Tufts. 
Mr.  Tufts  was  the  last  register.  He  was 
elected  in  1884,  for  two  years.  When  the  new 
charter  was  adopted,  he  resigned  and  was  made 
auditor. 

Purd  B.  Wright  was  the  first  city  clerk. 
He  was  appointed  in  April,  1885,  and  served 
continuously  until  April,  1896.  Mr.  Wright 
created  numerous  features  of  this  office  and 
brought  order  out  of  a  wilderness.  His  work, 
his  indices  and  his  classifications  are  of  im- 
measurable value  to  the  city.  He  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Charles  S.  Shepherd,  who  served 
four  years  and  was  succeeded  by  Frank  W. 
Beach,  the  present  incumbent.  The  city  clerk 
is  appointed  by  the  mayor  and  Council.  The 
register  was  elected  by  the  people. 

]\Ir.  Tufts  was  succeeded  as  auditor  by 
Harry  C.  Carter,  in  1888.  Oswald  M.  Gilmer 
•was  elected  in  1890.  and  served  four  years. 
He  was  succeeded  in  April,  1894,  by  Thomas 
R.   Ashbrook,  who  served  until  April,    1900, 


when  he  was  succeeded  by  Caleb  B.  Lucas,  the 
present  incumbent. 


Collector  and  Treasurer. — The  consta- 
ble collected  the  taxes  under  the  town  organ- 
ization, and  the  marshal  under  the  city  organ- 
ization, up  to  1866.  Thomas  Henry  was  the 
first  collector,  serving  1866-70.  He  was  suc- 
ceeded by  H.  R.  W.  Hartwig,  who  served 
1870-72.  George  M.  Hauck  served  1872-74; 
Daniel  T.  Lysaght,  1874-76;  James  A.  Mil- 
Ian,  1876-78;  H.  N.  Turner,  1878-80;  Joseph 
Andriano,  1880-84;  Harry  C.  Carter,  1884-85. 

The  collector  paid  the  mioneys  over  to  the 
city  treasurer,  who  was  generally  connected 
with  one  of  the  local  banks.  Robert  I.  Boyd 
and  John  Curd  kept  the  city's  moneys  in  the 
town  days,  and  John  Curd  was  city  treasurer 
from  185 1  to  1863.  George  Lyon  succeeded 
Mr.  Curd  and  served  three  years.  In  1866-68 
Samuel  McGibbens  was  treasurer,  and  was 
succeeded  by  W.  H.  Collins,  who  served  one 
year.  Ignatz  G.  Knapper  served  1870-73;  H. 
N.  Turner,  1873-74;  W.  B.  Johnson,  1874-77; 
George  C.  Hull,  1877-79;  George  W.  Belt, 
1879-81;  Christian  Frenger,  1881-82;  Thomas 
W.  Evans.  1882-84;  John  Colhoun,  1884-85. 
The  collector  was  elected  by  the  people  and 
the  treasurer  appointed  by  the  mayor.  Under 
the  charter  of  1885,  these  offices  were  merged. 
Harry  Carter,  who  had  been  elected  collector 
in  1884,  for  two  years,  resigned  and  was  ap- 
pointed collector  and  treasurer  for  the  year 
1885-86.  The  collector  received  fees  under 
the  old  system  and  the  treasurer  received  a  sal- 
ary. The  office  is  now  elective  and  the  salary 
is  fixed  by  the  Council.  Harry  Carter  was 
elected  to  succeed  himself,  and  served  1886-88, 
when  he  was  succeeded  by-  George  C.  Crowther, 
who  served  1S88-92.  Joseph  Albus  served 
1892-96,  and  was  succeeded  by  Rice  D.  Gilkey, 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


95 


who   was   succeeded   in   1900  by   William   A. 
Dolman,  the  present  incumbent. 


Comptroller. — This  office  is  fiscal  in  its 
functions.  It  is  a  check  upon  the  auditor  and 
treasurer,  nor  can  any  money  be  appropriated 
by  the  city  unless  the  comptroller  certifies  that 
the  amount  is  in  the  treasury  to  the  credit  of 
the  fund  from  which  it  is  to  be  drawn.  He 
also  countersigns  all  warrants  upon  the  treas- 
ury, redeems  outstanding  bonds,  pays  interest 
coupons  and  is  the  city's  fiscal  officer. 

Gen.  James  Craig  was  the  first  comptroller, 
the  office  ha\ing  been  created  under  the  new 
charter.  He  was  appointed  in  April  of  1885 
and  served  two  years.  In  1887  he  was  suc- 
ceeded by  William  B.  Johnson,  who  served 
until  1895,  ■^'^'l^en  he  w-as  succeeded  by  John  P. 
Strong,  who  served  two  years,  and  was  suc- 
ceeded in  1897  by  M.  M.  Riggs.  who  in  turn 
\vas  succeeded  in  1899  by  John  F.  Johnson. 
The  Legislature  of  1899  made  the  office  elec- 
tive and  Mr.  Johnson  was  elected  for  a  term 
ending  April  18,  1904,  Avhen  he  w'as  succeeded 
by  Thomas  R.  Ashbrook.  elected  for  a  term 

of  four  years. 

*     *     * 

City  Engineer. — In  the  early  days  there 
was  a  town  surveyor.  The  first  man  to  hold 
this  position  was  Capt,  F.  W.  Smith,  whose 
plat  of  the  town  Robidoux  had  accepted.  He 
was  succeeded  in  1846  by  Simeon  Kemper, 
who  had  also  made  a  plat,  that  was  rejected, 
which  is  to  be  deplored,  more  at  this  late  day 
than  ever,  as  Mr.  Kemper's  plat  is  said  to  have 
been  provided  with  wider  streets  than  Captain 
Smith's  plat.  ^Ir.  Kemper  served  until  St. 
Joseph  became  a  city.  Charles  Schreiber  was 
the  first  city  engineer,  serving  1851-54,  when 
he  was  succeeded  by  ^[.  Jeff  Thompson,  wdio 


served  1854-56.  Simeon  Kemper  served  in 
1856-57  and  was  succeeded  by  Charles  Haus- 
ding,  who  served  1857-59.  P.  K.  O'Don- 
nell  was  engineer  in  1859-62,  and  was 
in  turn  succeeded  by  Mr.  Hausding, 
who  served  1862-66.  John  Severance 
served  1866-70,  when  he  was  elected 
mayor.  John  Ouigly  succeeded  Colonel  Sever- 
ance, serving  1870-76,  and  was  succeeded  by 
Thomas  Long,  who  served  1876-77.  M.  J. 
McCabe  was  engineer  1877-82,  and  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Frank  Fanning,  who  served  1882- 
85,  when  he  was  in  turn  succeeded 
by  M.  J.  McCabe,  who  served  until 
1 89 1,  when  Charles  \\'.  Campbell,  Jr., 
took  the  office.  Mr.  Campbell  served  until 
May  of  1898,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  J.  R. 
Rackliffe.  ]\Ir.  Rackliffe  served  until  the 
spring  of  1901,  wdien  William  H.  Floyd  was 
appointed  by  IMayor  Combe.  This  office  is 
now  controlled  by  the  Board  of  Public  Works, 
and  ]Mr.  Floyd  continues  as  its  incumbent. 

5;;         ij;         ^ 

T/ie  Health  Department. — During  the 
California  emigration  days,  when  St.  Joseph 
was  filled  with  a  miscellaneous  population  that 
lived  pricipally  out-of-doors,  waiting  for  the 
grass  to  come,  it  became  necessary  to  have  a 
health  officer  to  enforce  sanitation.  Dr.  Daniel 
G.  Keedy  was  appointed  by  the  board  of  town 
trustees  in  1849,  and  served  one  year.  He  was 
succeeded  by  Dr.  Josiah  H.  Crane,  w-ho  held 
the  office  for  two  years,  being  the  first  ap- 
pointee of  the  mayor  and  Council  wlien  S" 
Joseph  became  a  city.  The  place  has  Deen  hel  I 
by  the  following  physicians  since  then :  Dr. 
James  Sykes,  1852-55;  Dr.  John  A.  Cham- 
bers, 1855-56;  Dr.  Crane,  1856-57;  Dr.  C.  F. 
Knight,  1857-58;  Dr.  J.  G.  Meacher,  1858-60; 
Dr.  Knight,  1860-61  ;  Dr.  Hugh  Trevor,  1861- 
62;  Dr.  W.  I.  Heddens,   1862-64;  Dr.  James 


96 


HISTORY  OF    BUCHANAN   COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


F.  Bruner,  1864-66;  Dr.  F.  T.  Davis,  1866-67; 
Dr.  A.  V.  Banes,  1867-69:  Dr.  J.  D. 
Smith,  1870-71;  Dr.  Knight,  1871-72;  Dr. 
J.  A,  Gore.  1872-73;  Dr.  Knight.  1873- 
74;  Dr.  J.  M.  D.  France.  1874-75;  Dr.  D.  I. 
Christopher,  1875-77;  Dr.  Thomas  H.  Doyle, 
1877-79;  Dr.  Gore,  1879-80;  Dr.  P.  J.  Kirsch- 
ner,  1880-82;  Dr.  F.  C.  Hoyt,  1882-84;  Dr. 
J.  A.  French,  1884-86;  Dr.  Charles  O'Ferrall, 
1886-88;  Dr.  William  H.  Geiger.  1888-90; 
Dr.  J.  T.  Berghoff,  1890-92;  Dr.  Thomas  K. 
Sawyer,  1892-94;  Dr.  William  H.  Geiger, 
1894-96;  Dr.  W.  B.  Davis.  1896-98.  Dr. 
J.  K.  Graham  served  two  years  and  was  snc- 
ceeded  by  Dr.  C.  A.  Tygart.  wh<^  served  nntil 
1902,  when  Dr.  J.  F.  Owens  was  appointed. 
Dr.  Owens  was  sncceeded  in  April,  1904,  by 
Dr.  W.  A.  Deffenbaugh,  the  present  incum- 
bent. 

In  1890-92,  Dr.  W.  T.  Elam  was  assistant 
health  officer  to  Dr.  Berghoff.  In  1894-96, 
Dr.  J.  R.  A.  Crossland  (colored)  was  assist- 
ant to  Dr.  Geiger.  In  1896-97,  Dr.  Le\i  Long- 
was  assistant  to  Dr.  Davis,  and  in  1897-98, 
Dr.  Graham  was  Dr.  Davis'  assistant.  Dur- 
ing the  term  of  Dr.  Graham  as  city  physician 
there  was  no  assistant.  Dr.  M.  F.  Hall  was 
Dr.  Tygart's  assistant  and  Dr.  Spier  Rich- 
mond was  Dr.  Owen's  assistant.  Dr.  E.  S. 
Ballard  is  Dr.  Deffenbaugh's  assistant. 

In  1890,  a  city  dispensary  was  estaljlished 
and  the  office  of  city  chemist  created.  The 
dispensary  was  located  at  the  City  Hall.  The 
<luties  of  the  chemist  were  to  analyze  milk  and 
food,  to  compound  charity  prescriptions,  to 
act  as  clerk  of  the  Board  of  Health,  issue  burial 
permits  and  to  keep  x^ital  statistics.  Logan  D. 
Currin  was  the  first  city  chemist.  He  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Ed.  F.  Hunter,  \\  ho  held  the  place 
continuously  until  the  office  was  abolished  in 
the  first  part  of  the  fiscal  year,  1898-99.  The 
offite    of    assistant    health    officer    was    also 


abolished  at  the  same  time  and  the  hospital 
steward,  who  was  required  to  be  a  physician, 
filled  the  place  and  also  acted  as  clerk  of  the 
Board  of  Health.  In  1902,  the  office  of  clerk 
of  the  Board  of  Health  was  again  established 
and  W^illiam  H.  Hartigan  was  appointed  to 
the  place. 


Assessor. — There  has  always  been  an  as- 
sessor, for  where  taxes  are  to  be  levied  there 
must  be  a  valuation  of  property.  Charles 
White  was  the  first  assessor  of  the  town  of 
St.  Joseph,  serving  in  1845.  The  office  was 
held  in  1846  by  George  W.  W'aller,  in  1847  ^^Y 
Milton  H.  Wash,  in  1848  by  Simeon  Kemper, 
who  was  also  surveyor  at  the  same  time;  in 
1849  l^y  H.  S.  Smith,  and  in  1850  by  James 
O'Donoghue.  The  first  assessor  under  the  city 
charter  was  Isidore  Poulin,  who  served  1851- 
52.  This  office  has  since  been  held  as  follows : 
F.  ]\I.  Wright,  1852-53;  James  A.  Owen. 
1853-54;  Felix  Robidoux,  1854-55;  \\'illiam 
C.  Toole,  1855-56;  John  A.  Dolman.  1856- 
S7;  James  A.  Owen,  1857-59;  Charles  M. 
Thompson,  1859-60;  Preston  T.  Moss,  1860- 
61 ;  Joseph  AIcAleer,  1861-62 ;  Cyrus  E.  Kemp, 
1862-63;  E.  H.  Saville,  1863-64;  John  Angel. 
1864-65;  John  B.  Harder.  1865-66;  James  A. 
Matney,  1866-67;  John  E.  McGinty,  1867-68; 
John  O'Donoghue.  1868-69;  James  A.  Matney, 
1869-70;  E.  H.  Saville,  1870-71;  J.  B.  Haw- 
ley.  1871-72;  William  Drumhiller.  i8,j2--7,; 
James  H.  Ringo.  1873-75;  J^mes  A.  Millan. 
1875-77;  Jol'^'i  T.  Baldwin,  1877-78;  Robert 
C.  Brad.shaw,  1879-82;  Joseph  Thompson, 
1882-84;  Thomas  Kelly.  1884-85;  Ishmael 
Davis,  1885-86;  D.  M.  McDonald,  1886-87; 
Joseph  E.  Cook,  1887-89;  John  P.  Strong, 
1889-95;  Caleb  B.  Lucas,  1895-97;  George 
B.  Allee.  1897-1901  ;  Perry  .\okmd.  1901-03;. 
George  F.  Casey,  1903-05. 


AxMD    REPRESENTATIVE-CITIZENS. 


97 


Counselor. — Prior  to  1877  there  was  no 
regularly  employed  attorney  to  give  advice 
to  the  mayor  and  Council  and  to  defend  suits 
against  the  city.  It  was  the  duty  of  the  city 
attorney  to  do  this.  The  first  regular  coun- 
selor, as  near  as  can  he  ascertained,  was  Ben- 
jamin R.  Vineyard,  who  was  ajjpointed  by 
Mayor  Beattie  in  1877.  ^Ir.  Vineyard  served 
until  the  spring  of  1879  and  was  succeeded  by 
Andrew  Royal,  who  ser\-ed  1879-80.  Mordecai 
Oliver  was  counselor  to  Mayor  Piner  in  the 
first  year  of  his  administration,  1880-81,  and 
Samuel  B.  Green  in  the  second  year,  1881-82. 
Vinton  Pike  held  the  position  under  Mayor 
Posegate,  1882-84,  and  was  succeeded  by 
James  Limbird.  under  Mayors  Hart  wig  and 
Doyle,  1884-87.  Under  Maycjrs  Doyle  and 
Englehart,  Thomas  F.  Ryan  was  counselor, 
and  he  was  succeeded  by  Morris  A.  Reed,  w"ho 
served  1889-91,  under  Mayors  Englehart  and 
Shepherd.  Samuel  P.  Huston  served  1891-95 
and  was  succeeded  by  \\'illiam  K.  Amick,  who 
served  1895-97  ^1^*^^  ^'^'^^  succeeded  by  Ben- 
jamin J.  Casteel,  who  resigned  in  April  of  1899 
and  was  succeeded  by  R.  E.  Culver.  Mr.  Cul- 
ver served  two  years  and  was  succeeded  by 
Kendall  B.  Randolph.  In  1903,  Mr.  Randolph 
was  succeeded  by  James  M.  Wilson,  the  pres- 
ent incumbent. 

5|c       >;<       >i; 

Street  Comniissioiier. — In  1846,  the  board 
of  trustees  of  the  town  of  St.  Joseph  found  it 
necessary  to  have  the  streets  looked  after  and 
repaired,  so  they  appointed  William  King, 
street  commissioner.  It  was  a  one-year  oftice 
in  those  days  and  was  held  in  1847  ^^y  David 
J.  Heaton,  in  1848  by  William  King,  in  1849 
by  \\  Tullar,  and  in  1850  by  William  Langs- 
ton.  Johnson  Copeland  was  the  first  street 
commissioner  under  the  city  charter,  serving 
1851-52.      Then   came  the   following   incum- 


bents: James  Connell,  1852-54;  Jesse  B. 
Lowe,  1854-55;  A.  L.  Creal,  1855-56;  Robert 
Dixon,  1856-57;  A.  L.  Creal,  1857-59; 
Thomas  Byrne,  1859-60;  Charles  Lehman, 
1860-61;  John  Sheehan,  1861-62;  John  B. 
Harder.  1862-65;  William  B.  Gilmore,  1865- 
66;  J.  L.  Bowen,  1866-67;  John  Sheehan, 
1867-68;  John  Bloomer,  1868-69;  G.  B.  Skin- 
ner, 1869-70;  William  Prick,  1870-72;  Nat. 
Hammond.  1872-74:  John  Clark,  1874-77; 
Florence  Kiley,  1877-80;  Isaac  N.  Brooks, 
1880-81;  Henry  W.  Dunn,  1881-82;  H.  N. 
Turner,  1882-84;  Patrick  Mclntyre,  1884-86; 
Thomas  A.  Carson,  1886-88;  W.  G.  W. 
Ritchie,  1888-90;  Henry  Luchsinger,  1890-91; 
J.  B.  Vance,  1891-92;  Peter  Bowen,  1892-93; 
Samuel  J.  Jeffries.  1893-94;  Francis  M.  Pose- 
gate,  1894-96;  Henry  Gibson.  1896-98;  Abra- 
ham Furst,  1898.  Mr.  Furst  served  two 
vears  and  was  succeeded  by  Charles  Zeorlin, 
the  present  incumbent.  The  street  commis- 
sioner formerly  kept  the  Workhouse,  but  such 
has  not  been  the  practice  since  1885. 

Building  Inspector. — This  office  is  ap- 
pointive by  the  mayor.  It  was  created  in  1886, 
and  Seymour  Jenkins  was  the  first  appointee, 
ser\-ing  two  years.  He  was  followed  by  Myron 
Lytle,  1888-90:  Joseph  Massard,  1890-92; 
Thomas  Winn,  1892-94;  George  W.  Bulger. 
1894-96;  Lyman  \A'.  Forgrave,  1896-1902; 
\\'il]iam  Fredericks,  1902-04;  Thomas  A\\ 
Stanley,  1904 — . 

License  Inspector. — This  office  was  created 
in  1885,  and  James  A\'.  Fowler  was  the  first 
incumbent.  He  was  succeeded  in  1889  by 
Joseph  E.  Co<jk,  who  served  until  1893.  Ed- 
ward Burns  s.erved  1893-95.  John  D.  Clark 
served  1895-97,  and  was  succeeded  by  Louis 
Herwig,  who  in  turn  was  succeeded  by  Charles 
Craighill.  The  present  incumbent,  John  P. 
Remelius,  has  served  since  1899. 


98 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


Boiler  Inspector. — This  office  was  created 
In  1886  and  is  appointive  by  the  mayor.  Philip 
Hart  served  from  1886  to  1892;  George  Zipf 
served  two  years  and  then  Phihp  Hart  was 
again  appointed  and  served  until  1898.     Gus- 


tave  Geis  served   1898-99;  William  Horigan, 
1900-01 ;  Joseph  Williams  is  now  serving. 

Plumbing  Inspector. — This  offiice  was  cre- 
ated in  1 90 1.  The  present  incumbent  is  R.  P. 
Davidson. 


CHAPTEH  XII. 


MUNICIPAL  EQUIPMENT. 

The  Parks  of  St.  Joseph,  Their  History  and  Development — Lake  Contrary  as 
City  Property — The  Free  Public  Li  brary  ;  Its  Origin  and  Expansion — Street 
Lighting;  From  Gas  to  Electricity  and  Municipal  Ownership — The  Sewer 
System  ;  Its  History  and  Condition  — Street  Paving  ;  the  Various  Periods  of 
Progress. 


the  parks. 

There  are  four  public  parks  in  the  city 
proper.  Krug  Park,  the  largest  and  most 
beautiful,  is  beyond  the  city  limits,  though  un- 
der municipal  jurisdiction.  All  of  these  parks 
were  donated.  Smith  Park  was  the  gift  of  the 
late  Frederick  W.  Smith ;  Patee  Park  the  gift 
of  the  late  John  Patee;  Mitchell  Park,  the  gift 
of  A.  M.  Mitchell,  and  Washington  Park,  the 
gift  of  those  who  placed  St.  Joseph  Extension 
Addition  on  the  market. 

These  were  all  dedicated  when  the  addi- 
tions containing  them  were  platted.  Krug 
Park,  containing  lo  acres,  was  the  gift  of 
Henry  and  William  Krug,  made  in  February 
of  1889. 

Smith  and  Patee  parks  were  rough  ground 
in  the  beginning,  but  the  grader  made  all  things 
e\en.  Up  to  1879  Smith  Park  was  occupied 
by  a  florist.  When  the  Smith  Branch  sewer, 
which  cut  through  the  northeastern  portion  of 
the  park,  was  completed,  the  place  was  graded 
and  filled.  In  1882,  an  iron  fence  was  built. 
In  1884,  Dr.  Henry  D.  Cogswell,  of  San  Fran- 


cisco, a  noted  advocate  of  temperance, 
presented  the  city  with  his  statue,  to  be  placed 
in  the  park.  Dr.  Cogswell  was  engaged  in 
perpetuating  himself  by  the  means  of  these 
statues,  which  were  mounted  upon  drinking 
fountains.  Samuel  Westheimer,  who  was  then 
a  member  of  the  Council,  and  who  had  been 
instrumental  in  having  Smith  Park  opened 
for  public  use,  heard  of  Dr.  Cogswell.  Mr. 
Westheimer  was  of  the  opinion  that  any  kind 
of  a  statue  would  look  better  than  no  statue, 
and  if  one  could  be  had  without  cost,  the  effort 
should  be  made.  He  therefore  induced  the 
Council  to  request  Dr.  Cogswell  for  his  effigy 
m  metal.  The  Doctor  was  a  little  slow,  but 
finally  yielded — conditionally,  however.  The 
conditions  w^ere  that  the  city  should  purchase 
four  lamps  and  should  agree  to  keep  the  foun- 
tains running  during  the  drinking  season,  and 
that  one  fountain  should  give  forth  ice  water. 
These  conditions  were  agreed  to  and  the  statue 
arrived.  The  city  built  a  substantial  base, 
under  which  provision  was  made  for  cooling 
the  water.  This  feature  of  the  bargain,  how- 
ever, has  long  been  neglected.    Much  sport  was. 


100 


HISTORY  OF    BUCHANAN   COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


made  of  the  statue  at  the  time  of  its  arrival 
and  some  wag  circulated  the  report  that  it  was 
the  advertisement  of  a  "vinegar  bitters."  Dr. 
Cogswell,  though  vain,  was  a  well-meaning 
man,  and  did  everything  in  his  power  to  pro- 
mote and  encourage  temperance,  even  to  being 
a  candidate  for  the  presidency  in  the  interest 
of  prohibition. 

Patee  Park  was  opened  to  the  public  at 
about  the  same  time  as  Smith  Park.  The 
ground  was  low,  and  a  fill  of  five  feet  was  made 
when  Mesanie  street  Avas  graded.  Cotton- 
wood trees  grew  there  in  profusion  for  a  time, 
but  these  were  cut  out  and  other  shade  pro- 
\'ided. 

Mitchell  Park  was  used  for  some  years  as 
a  potato  patch,  and  tlien  occupied  by  a  florist, 
who  remained  until  1891.  Since  that  time  it 
has  been  respectably  maintained  by  the  city. 

Washington  Park,  which  was  originally 
dedicated  for  a  market  place,  was  beautified  in 
1894,  and  has  since  been  greatly  appreciated 
by  the  people  of  the  northwestern  portion  of 
the  city. 

Smith,  Patee  and  Mitchell  parks  each  oc- 
cupy a  block  of  ground.  Washington  Park  is 
triangular,  and  not  quite  as  large  as  the  others. 

St.  Joseph  owes  much  to  the  energy  and 
perseverance  of  the  park  board.  Before  1890 
there  was  a  council  committee  on  parks. 
Mayor  Shepherd  appointed  a  board  of  commis- 
sioners, naming  H.  M.  Garlichs,  W^illiam  E. 
Jamieson  and  N.  P.  Ogden.  These  commis- 
sioners employed  a  superintendent.  Rudolph 
Ran.  a  skillful  florist  and  landscape  gardener, 
who  is  still  in  his  place.  The  Council  provided 
liberally,  and  the  result  is  that  Krug  Park  is 
one  of  the  most  picturesque  places  in  the  West, 
and  in  10  years  \\ill  surpass  any  pul)lic  park  of 
its  size  and  kind  in  the  country. 

There  were  th.ose  who  l^elived.  and  with 
good  reason,  that  if  tlie  city  owned  Lake  Con- 


trary that  body  of  water  and  the  surroundings 
would  be  greatly  improved  and  beautified. 
Congressman  R.  P.  C.  Wilson  was  appealed 
to.  and,  in  1890,  secured  the  passage  of  an  act 
of  Congress,  granting  to  the  city  of  St.  Joseph 
Lake  Contrary  and  the  shores  thereof.  Early 
in  1 89 1,  the  city  ordered  a  canal  cut  to  unite 
the  upper  and  lower  lakes.  The  farmers  in  the 
neighborhood  protested  and  obtained  an  in- 
junction. The  cause  was  tried,  and  it  was 
found  that  the  United  States,  liaxing  previ- 
ously given  to  the  State  of  Missouri  all  of  the 
territory  embracing"  Lake  Contrary,  had  no 
right  to  give  the  property  to  the  city,  having 
in  fact,  no  title. 

The  park  board  has  been  composed  as  fol- 
lows since  1890:  Eor  1890-93,  H.  M.  Gar- 
liclrs.  ^^'illiam  E.  Jamieson,  N.  P.  Ogden;  for 
1893-94,  Joseph  Hansen,  Charles  F.  Bacon, 
F.  G.  Hopkins;  for  1894-96,  Charles  F.  Bacon, 
F.  G.  Hopkins,  John  L.  Bittinger;  for  1896-98, 
Frank  G.  Hopkins,  Charles  F.  Bacon,  Sol  Ehr- 
man;  for  1898-99.  Frank  G.  Hopkins.  Sol  Ehr- 
man,  Henry  Uhlinger ;  1899-1900,  Sol  Ehr- 
man,  Henry  Uhlinger,  Adolph  Schroeder ;  for 
1900-01,  Henry  Uhlinger,  Adolph  Schroeder, 
R.  A.  McGowan;  for  1901-03,  R.  A.  Mc- 
Gowan,  Henry  Uhlinger,  J.  R.  McKillop,  L. 
D.  W.  Van  Vliet ;  for  1904,  Henry  L'hlinger, 
L.  D.  W.  Van  Vliet,  J.  M.  Austin.  • 

THE    FREE    PUBLIC    LIBR.\RY. 

Prior  to  1887  there  were  several  circulating 
libraries  in  St.  Joseph.  In  [May  of  that  year 
Warren  Samuels  announced  through  the  news- 
papers that  he  would  give  the  free  use  of  a 
room  in  his  building  at  Sixth  and  Charles 
streets  for  lil)rary  purposes.  pro\ided  a  certain 
sum  of  money  could  be  raised  for  the  purchase 
of  books.  Mrs.  T.  F.  Van  Natta  and  Mrs. 
George  C.  Hull  took  the  matter  in  hand,  and, 


AND    REPRESENTATR'E    CITIZENS. 


lOI 


ascertaining  ivont  Mr.  Samuels  that  if  $5,000 
was  raised  he  would  g"i\e  the  use  of  a  room  for 
five  years,  plans  were  at  once  outlined  for 
securing  the  sum  required.  These  ladies,  to- 
gether with  Mrs.  John  S.  Lemon,  successfully 
solicited  75  life  memberships  at  $50  each,  and 
they  had  collected  a  total  of  $3,000  by  the  Au- 
gust following.  When  the  financial  work  had 
progressed  thus  far,  Mr.  Samuels  executed  a 
lease  of  a  large  room  on  the  second  floor  of 
of  his  building  for  three  years,  with  the  under- 
standing that  the  lease  would  be  extended  to 
five  years  when  the  remainder  of  the  fund 
should  have  been  collected. 

The  library  was  formally  opened  on  the 
8th  day  of  November,  1887,  Miss  Nellie  Mil- 
Ian  acting  as  librarian. 

The  first  board  of  directors  and  officers  con- 
sisted of  Mrs.  John  S.  Lemon,  president;  Mrs. 
Winslow  Judson,  vice-president;  Mrs.  T.  F. 
Van  Natta,  treasurer ;  Mrs.  George  C.  LIull, 
secretary,  and  Mrs.  M.  A.  Reed,  Mrs.  John 
D.  Richardson,  Jr.,  Mrs.  John  L  McDonald 
and  Mrs.  B.  F.  Colt. 

The  library  opened  with  2,200  volumes  of 
well-selected  books,  and  during  the  first  year 
of  its  existence  1,000  additional  volumes  were 
added.  Under  these  auspices  it  did  excellent 
work,  but  a  lack  of  funds  prevented  the  success 
desired.  The  small  yearly  sum  charged  for  the 
iise  of  the  library,  $2,  proved  inadequate  to 
its  needs,  but  the  library  was  by  no  means  per- 
mitted to  lanquish.  The  ladies  in  charge 
worked  hard,  and  through  their  efl^orts  alone 
the  institution  was  kept  intact. 

In  January.  1890.  Edward  S.  Douglas  sug- 
gested the  idea  of  taking  advantage  of  the 
State  law.  which  authorized  cities  to  establish 
free  public  libraries  1)y  a  \-ote  of  the  peo])le. 
and  the  suggestion  met  with  hearty  support. 
Purd  B.  Wright,  the  present  librarian,  united 
with  Air.  Dougles  in  the  movement,  and  these 


two  pushed  the  matter.  Petitions  were  pre- 
pared asking  that  the  question  of  voting  a  tax 
of  tliree-tenths  of  a  mill  be  submitted  to  the 
voters  of  the  city,  as  authorized  by  law.  Only 
100  names  were  necessary,  but  many  times  this 
number  were  secured.  When  presented  to  the 
Mavor  and  Council  for  official  consideration, 
the  petition  contained  not  only  the  names  of 
the  mayor,  George  J.  Englehart.  but  those  of 
nine  of  the  10  aldermen  as  well,  in  their  capac- 
ity as  citizens.  The  question  being  submitted 
to  the  voters,  such  was  the  interest  that  had 
been  aroused  that  it  carried  bv  a  vote  of  more 
than  six  to  one. 

In  April,  1890,  the  then  mayor-elect.  Wil- 
liam M.  Shepherd,  appointed  as  the  first  1)oard 
of  directors:  Rev.  H.  L.  Foote,  Prof.  E.  B. 
Neely,  WWkiul  P.  Hall,  H.  G.  Getchell,  Dr. 
J.  Francis  Smith,  B.  Newburger.  G.  W.  Hend- 
ley,  Mrs.  J.  S.  Lemon  and  Mrs.  George  C. 
Hull.  Rev.  Mr.  Foote  was  at  the  first  meeting 
elected  president  and  Mr.  Getchell,  secretary; 
Prof.  E.  B.  Neel}'  at  the  next  meeting  being 
elected  Aice-president.  After  a  few  months' 
service,  Mrs.  Hull  and  Mrs.  Lemon  and  Dr. 
Smith  resigned  from  the  board,  Air.  Johnson, 
George  C.  Hull  and  John  L.  Bittinger  suc- 
ceeding them.  Mr.  Foote  remained  the  presi- 
dent of  the  board  until  he  left  the  city  in  1895. 
Prof.  E.  B.  Neely  acted  as  president  during  the 
remainder  of  the  term  and  was  succeeded  by 
Rev.  Henry  Bullard,  who  in  turn  gave  way  in 
1896  to  John  DeClue,  who  died  October  25, 
1899,  and  was  succeeded  by  J.  W.  Atwell.  who 
is  still  president.  Others  who  have  served  on 
the  board  are  Charles  A.  Pfeift'er,  J.  H.  Ale- 
Cord,  Elliot  Marshall,  C.  C.  Macdonald.  Jol:n 
Michel,  Dr.  Daniel  Morton,  A.  B.  Weakley 
and  Charles  P.  Cargill. 

Soon  after  organizing,  Henry  J.  Carr,  of 
Grand  Rapids,  Michigan,  was  employed  as 
librarian,  and  remained  with  the  librarv  until 


102 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


July.  1 89 1,  when  lie  resigned  to  accept  a  more 
lucrative  position  as  head  of  the  Scranton 
(Pennsylvania)    Public   Pi1)rary,    just   organ- 


izmg. 


Meantime,  the  old  library  association,  by 
a  vote  of  a  majority  of  its  directors  and  life 
members,  donated  the  books  owned  by  it,  num- 
bering 3.272  volumes,  to  the  Free  Public  Li- 
brary, and  went  out  of  existence,  having  ac- 
complished its  real  purpose  in  providing  the 
nucleus  of  the  present  successful  institution. 
Mrs.  Russell,  who  had  succeeded  Miss  Millan 
as  librarian,  was  continued  in  the  employ  of 
the  Free  Public  Library  under  Mr.  Carr.  The 
remainder  of  the  force  was  Miss  C.  L.  Rath- 
bun,  still  at  the  library ;  Miss  L.  C.  Senter,  who 
was  appointed  assistant  librarian  in  April, 
which  position  she  retained  until  placed  in 
charge  of  the  Carnegie  Library  in  South  St. 
Joseph;  and  Miss  Agnes  Van  Volkenburg. 
Miss  A.  M.  Perry  was  the  next  employe,  and 
is  still  a  member  of  the  staff. 

Large  purchases  of  books  were  made  as 
soon  as  a  librarian  was  employed,  but  the  work 
of  classifying  and  cataloguing  required  so  much 
time  that  the  libray  was  not  opened  for  the  issue 
of  books  for  home  use  until  March  16,  1891, 
with  5.510  volumes;  the  reference  and  reading 
rooms,  howe\er.  were  opened  two  months  previ- 
ously. On  the  resignation  of  Mr.  Carr,  George 
T.  Wright,  formerly  of  this  city,  but  then  of 
California,  was  offered  tlie  position,  but  de- 
clined on  account  of  his  health,  and  William 
H.  Culver  was  appointed,  continuing  in  charge 
until  the  following  year  in  May,  when  he  re- 
signed. Miss  L.  C.  Senter  assumed  charge 
of  the  library  and  conducted  it  until  July  ist, 
when  H.  L.  Elmend(jrf  was  appointed  to  the 
position  of  librarian.  He  remained  until  Oc- 
tober I,  1896,  when,  he,  too,  resigned  and  was 
succeeded  by  Purd  B.  Wright,  the  present  in- 
cum1)ent. 


During  the  administration  of  Mr.  Culver, 
the  library  was  removed  from  Sixth  and 
Charles  streets  to  its  next  location  at  loth  and 
Sylvanie  streets,  where  it  remained  until 
March,  1902,  when  the  present  building  ^^•as 
occupied. 

In  March,  1900,  the  people  voted  the  Board 
of  Education  authority  to  issue  $100,000  bonds 
for  the  purpose  of  erecting  a  building  to  be  used 
as  offices  for  the  board  and  a  Free  Public  Li- 
brary, upon  the  principle  that  th.e  library  was 
of  great  value  to  the  cause  of  public  education. 
The  bonds  brought  a  premium  of  $10,700. 
Ground  was  purchased  at  the  northwest  corner 
of  loth  and  Felix  streets  and  the  erection  of  a 
modern  stone  building  commenced. 

The  new  library  was  opened  to  the  puljlic 
March  23,  1902.  It  is  strictly  modern  in  every 
appointment  and  built  for  the  future.  \Miile 
the  buildino-  belongs  to  the  school  district,  the 
library  is  managed  liy  the  board  appointed  by 
the  mayor. 

Carnegie  Library,  South  St.  Joseph,  a 
branch  of  the  main  institution,  is  the  result  of 
efforts  with  iVndrew  Carnegie  by  John  Dono- 
van, president  of  the  St.  Joseph  Stock  Yards 
Company.  The  South  St.  Joseph  Town  Com- 
pany donated  a  block  of  ground,  Mr.  Carnegie 
gave  $25,000  for  the  building  and  the  people 
of  St.  Joseph  agreed  by  their  ballots  to  provide 
$2,500  per  annum  for  maintenance.  The  build- 
ing is  of  stone  and  was  occupied  in  November 
of  1902,  with  Miss  L.  C.  Senter  as  librarian. 

There  are  now  28,000  volumes  for  public 
library  use  in  St.  Joseph,  3,900  of  which  are  in 
the  Carnegie  branch. 

STREET    LIGIFTING. 

As  early  as  1856  the  city  aided  in  the  erec- 
tion of  a  plant  for  the  manufacture  of  illumi- 
nating' gas,  but  this  proved  an  unprofitable  in- 


Scene  on  Lake  Contrary 


Casino  at  Lake  Contrary 


Entrance  to  Krug  Park 


Scene  in  Krug  Park 


LOVER'S    LANE,   NEAR    ST.   JOSEPH 
(Immortalized  by  Eugene  Field's  Poem,— "Lover's  Lane,  St.  Joe.") 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


105 


vestment.  In  1861  a  second  concern  secured 
the  contract  and  the  city  was  hg-hted,  after  a 
fashion,  with  gas,  until  1889.  In  1887  gaso- 
line lamps  mounted  on  wooden  posts,  supphed 
by  a  Chicago  concern,  were  added  to  the 
system. 

In  1889  the  city  embarked  in  municipal 
ow'nership  as  to  street  lighting.  A  contract 
was  made  with  the  Excelsior  Electrical  Com- 
pany of  Chicago  for  a  $60,000  plant,  to  he  paid 
for  in  two  years.  The  city  built  a  power  house 
at  Fifth  and  Olive  streets.  Walter  C.  Stew-art 
superintended  the  construction  of  the  plant  and 
managed  it  for  the  Excelsior  Electrical  Com- 
pany. Frank  P.  Yenawine  was  the  first  city 
electrician,  succeeding"  Mr.  Stewart  in  i89[. 
He  served  until  May  of  1896  and  was  in  turn 
succeeded  by  J\lr.  Stewart,  who  is  the  present 
superintendent.  The  near  future  will  see  a 
new  plant,  as  $75,000  is  to  be  expended  for  that 
purpose. 

THE  SEWER  SYSTEM. 

There  are  now  (1904)  nearly  49,000  lineal 
feet  of  main  sewers  in  St.  Joseph.  In  the  early 
davs  the  creeks  that  coursed  through  the  city 
from  the  hills  formed  the  only  drainage. 
Blacksnake.  Bush  Branch,  Smith  Branch  and 
Liniment  (or  Patee  Branch)  were  all  creeks 
of  consequence,  especially  when  the  rains  were 
heavy.  In  planning  the  sewerage  system  of 
the  city,  these  natural  water  courses  were  fol- 
lowed wherever  possible.  The  first  effort  at 
sewering  w^as  made  in  1867,  when  a  section  was 
built  between  Fifth  and  Sixlh  streets,  covering 
Bush  Branch.  In  1870  an  extension  of  160 
feet  was  added,  which  broug^ht  the  sewer  to 
a  point  on  Fifth  street  about  where  the  side 
entrance  to  the  Tootle  Theatre  is.  This  is  a 
5-foot  sewer  and  its  mouth  was  then  above 
ground.      There    was   a   trap-door,    hinged    at 


the  top,  which  opened  automatically  when  the 
volume  of  w-ater  was  great  enough.  The  street 
was  paved  in  the  shape  of  a  gutter,  and  dur- 
ing heavy  rains  w^as  impassable. 

The  sewer-building  era  properly  began  in 
1874,  when  a  9-foot  solid  limestone  sewer  was 
constructed  on  Charles  street,  from  the  river 
to  Seventh  street.  This  was  followed  by  the 
completion  of  the  Smith  Branch  sewer,  which 
had  been  started  at  an  earlier  period,  and  w  hich 
now  extends  from  20th  street  and  Frederick 
avenue  to  Seventh  and  Charles  streets.  The 
Bush  Branch  sewer  was  next  continued  down 
Fifth  street  to  Charles.  The  conibined  length 
of  these  sewers  is  16,523  feet. 

Alessanie  street  was  sewered  from  the  river 
to  Eighth  street  in  1879.  This  is  a  round 
brick  culvert,  five  feet  in  diameter.  The  total 
length  of  the  sew^er  now  is  1,856  feet. 

The  building  of  the  Union  Depot  at  Sixth 
street  and  Mitchell  avenue  made  it  necessary 
to  sewer  Liniment  Creek.  In  1880  a  section 
reaching  from  Fifth  to  Eighth  streets  was  built. 
In  1886  it  was  completed  to  the  river.  This 
is  called  the  Mitchell  avenue  sew'er.  It  is  13 
to  15  feet  in  tliameter,  and  built  of  brick.  The 
Patee  Branch  sew^er,  ranging  in  diameter  from 
85^  to  ioj/4  feet,  oval,  brick,  joins  the  Mitchell 
avenue  sewer  at  Eighth  street.  It  w^as  built 
in  sections  and  completed  to  22nd  street  in 
1894.  The  combined  length  is  8,188  feet. 
From  its  terminus  there  is  a  pipe  sewer  to  the 
State  Hospital  for  Insane,  No. '2. 

The  first  section  of  the  Blacksnake  sewer 
was  built  in  1883  across  Main  street.  In  1889 
it  was  carried  east  to  Third  street.  In  1891 
th.e  city  and  the  Chicago  Great  Western  Rail- 
way Company  jointly  built  the  sewer  from  the 
Main  street  section  to  the  river.  In  1894  the 
sewer  was  extended  from  Third  street,  along" 
the  course  of  Blacksnake  Creek,  to  Pendleton 
street;  and  in  1896,  to  Middleton  street.     This 


io6 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN    COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


is  a  brick  sewer,  egg-shaped .  The  dimensions 
of  the  western  portion  are  i4j/4  by  17.  At  the 
time  of  its  building-  it  was  the  largest  brick 
sewer  in  the  world.  The  dimensions  of  the 
eastern  portion  are  13J/2  by  153^  feet.  The 
total  length  of  the  Blacksnake  sewer  is  4.797 
feet. 

Olive  street  and  Patee  street  ha\e  5-foot 
brick  sewers,  tapering  to  three  feet.  The  length 
of  the  Olive  street  sewer  is  2,110  feet,  and  of 
the  Patee  street  sewer  2,794  feet.  There  is  an 
8-foot  brick  sewer  on  Grand  a\enue,  1.154 
feet  in  length,  which  will  be  extended  in  time 
to  the  Blacksnake  sewer.  There  is  also  a  12- 
foot  sewer  on  Atchison  street.  300  feet  long, 
which  will  be  extended  in  time. 

There  are  several  4  and  5-foot  sewers  of 
considerable  length,  all  of  which  will  be  ex- 
tended. On  Aliddleton.  Linn  and  Chestnut 
streets  there  is  one  of  this  class,  1.7 16  feet  in 
length ;  on  Isabelle  street,  from  Blacksnake 
west,  one  of  710  feet  in  length;  on  Franklin 
street,  from  Blacksnake  west,  one  of  2,040 
feet;  on  i6th,  17th  and  Sacramento  streets, 
one  of  1.409  feet;  on  19th  street,  one  of  2,623 
feet;  on  23rd  and  Olive  streets,  one  of  1,246 
feet.  In  a  short  time  $250,000  will  be  expended 
to  extend  the  main  sewer  system. 

Prior  to  1885. property  owners  who  desired 
sewerage  had  to  build  at  their  own  expense. 
Now.  however,  the  city  is  dixided  into  sewer 
districts,  and  when  a  sewer  is  desired  in  a  cer- 
tain neighborhood,  to  drain  into  a  main  sewer, 
three  or  more  property  owners  petition  the 
Council,  and  an  ordinance  is  passed  ordering 
the  .sewer.  The  city  engineer  advertises  for 
bids,  and  when  the  work  is  completed  the  cost 
is  assessed  against  all  of  the  real  estate  in  the 
district,  in  proportion  to  tlie  number  of  square 
feet  contained  in  each  lot.  Special  tax  bills 
are  issued,  which  1)ear  6  per  cent,  interest  after 
30  days.    The  contractor  is  placed  under  bond 


to  keep  his  work  in  repair  for  one  year.  By 
this  method  the  burden  of  sewer  building  has 
been  lightened,  and.  as  a  consequence,  the 
drainage  of  St.  Joseph  is  excellent. 


STREET  PAVING. 


From  1866  to  1873  ^^""^  topography  of  the 
city  underwent  a  great  transformation.  The 
grader  opened  streets,  leveled  hills  and  filled 
hollows ;  many  miles  of  macadam  were  put 
down  in  the  business  and  residence  portions  of 
the  city.  11iere  had  been  street  paving  in  the 
neighborhood  of  Market  square  before  the  war, 
but  the  streets  in  "eneral  were  in  bad  condition. 
Nor  did  the  enter])rising  people  of  St.  Joseph 
stop  at  home  in  their  ;;eal  for  paving,  but  they 
went  across  the  ri\-er — or  at  least  their  money 
did — and  aided  in  the  building  of  a  rock  road 
from  Elwood  west.  Bonds  in  the  sum  of  $25,- 
000  were  voted  for  this  purpose,  and  the  money 
was  doubtless  returned  indirectly  by  the  farm- 
ers who  came  to  the  city  over  the  highway. 
Portions  of  the  n->ck  road  are  still  in  existence, 
though  in  bad  repair. 

The  panic  of  1873  checked  all  i)ublic  im- 
provements, and  for  the  next  13 .  years  .little 
pa^•ing  was  done.  By  1886  the  business  streets 
were  in  wretched  condition.  The  macadam 
was  worn  in  many  places  beyond  repair. 
Omaha  was  putting  down  asphaltum  ])ave- 
ments.  Dr.  Tliomas  H.  Doyle,  who  had  been 
elected  mayor  upon  the  issue  of  good  streets, 
was  a  strong  advocate  of  asphaltum,  and  a  com- 
mittee that  visited  Omaha  brought  back  satis- 
factory reports.  The  real  estate  boom  was  on 
and  the  prospects  seemed  brilliant.  There  was 
no  difficulty  in  securing  signers  for  street  pav- 
ine.  and  so  the  work  began,  in  the  summer  of 
1886.  Felix  and  Fdmond  streets  were  paved 
with  asphaltum,  and  Francis  street  to  Frederick 
avenue;  as  were  also  Fourth  street,  from  Felix 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


107 


to  Olive,  and  Third  street,  from  Jules  street  to 
^Nlessanie.  In  1887  Sixth  street  was  paved  with 
asphaltum  from  Atchison  street  to  Hall,  and 
Frederick  avenue  from  Eighth  street  to  its 
terminus.  In  1888  cedar  blocks  were  put  down 
on  20th  and  on  Faraon  streets,  and  during  the 
same  year  many  miles  of  macadam  were  laid 
in  the  residence  districts.  The  cedar  blocks 
were  taken  up  in  1900  and  replaced  by  maca- 
dam and  asphaltum.  In  1890  vitrified  brick 
was  introduced,  and  with  this  material  Francis 
street  was  paved  from  Frederick  avenue  to  13th 
street.  Main  street  from  Felix  to  Isidore,  and 
Fifth  street  from  Patee  to  Antoine.  In  1891 
brick  paving-  was  laid  on  Messanie  street  from 
Second  street  to  Eighth,  on  Lafayette  street 
from  22nd  to  28th  and  on  Olive  from  26th  to 


28th.  In  1892  Charles  street,  from  Second 
street  to  12th,  was  paved  with  brick;  in  1893 
Jules  street,  from  ]Main  street  to  Sixth,  and 
Fourth  street,  from  Francis  street  to  Faraon 
were  similarly  paved. 

For  the  next  four  years  no  paving  except 
macadam  was  put  down,  and  not  much  of  that. 
In  the  fall  of  1897  Third  street  was  paved  with 
asphaltum  from  Jules  street  to  Franklin.  Sev- 
enth street,  from  Olive  to  Robidoux,  was  paved 
with  asphaltum  in  1899. 

From  1897  to  1904  some  60.000  lineal  feet 
of  brick  and  asphaltum,  including  Sixth  street 
from  Atchison  street  south  and  King  Hill 
avenue,  the  main  thoroughfare,  to  South  St. 
Joseph,  were  put  down. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 


EDUCATION. 

The  Schools  of  Buchanan  County  and  St.  Joseph  —  Primitive  Schools  of  the 
Early  Days — The  Public  Schools;  How  They  are  Supported  and  Managed 
— The  School  Buildings  of  St.  Josepli — Financial  Struggles  and  Vicissitudes 
of  the  School  Board — Private  and  Denominational  Schools  of  the  Past  and 
Present — INIedical  Colleges. 


PvUnitivc  Schools. — The  first  school  of  any 
kind  in  Buchanan  County,  as  near  as  can  be 
learned  at  this  time,  was  a  private  institution 
kept  by  Francis  Ferguson,  in  1839,  on  the 
southwest  corner  of  section  16,  in  what  is  now 
Crawford  township,  near  Halleck.  It  was  in 
a  log  house,  witli  a  puncheon  floor. 

The  Court  House  at  Sparta  was  also  used 
for  school  purposes  in  1841-44.  Various  acad- 
emies were  established  in  the  country,  all  of 
which  were  eventually  supplanted  by  the  dis- 
trict   school. 


The  Public  Schools. — According  to  the 
constitution  under  which  Missouri  was  ad- 
mitted into  the  Union,  the  i6th  section  of  each 
congressional  township  was  set  aside  for  school 
purposes.  In  Buchanan  County  about  $100,- 
000  was  realized  from  this  source  and  the 
money  is  now  loaned  out  by  the  County  Court 
to  individuals  upon  real  estate  security,  the 
interest  going  to  the  districts  in  proportion  to 
the  capital  to  their  various  credits.  This,  how- 
ever, is  a  small  item  in  the  support  of  the  pub- 


lic schools,  the  main  source  of  revenue  coming 
from  direct  taxation.  The  requirements  of 
the  school  districts  are  certified  to  the  County 
Court  and  are  considered  in  the  tax  levy.  Be- 
sides, there  is  support  from  the  State. 

Each  district  elects  directors  whose  prov- 
ince' it  is  to  employ  teachers  and  manage  the 
schools ;  and  there  is  a  county  superintendent 
of  public  instruction,  whose  duty  it  is  to  pass 
upon  the  qualification  of  teachers,  and,  also, 
to  certify  to  the  State  the  number  of  children 
entitled  to  school  support,  the  school  age  being 
from  six  years  to  20  years. 

In  1847,  the  first  year  in  which  Buchanan 
County  participated  in  the  apportionment  of 
State  school  moneys,  there  was  an  enumera- 
tion of  547,  and  the  amount  apportioned  was 
$481.36.  In  1857  the  enumeration  was  5.099, 
and  the  amount  $3,977.22;  in  1867  the  enum- 
eration was  12,471,  and  the  amount  $6,584.69; 
in  1877  the  enumeration  was  10,736,  and  the 
apportionment  $7,983.  In  1897 — '^  span  of  20 
years — the  enumeration  was  30,827,  and  the 
apportionment  $28,767. 

Other  sources  of  revenue  for  school  pur- 


AND    REPRESEXTATR'E    CITIZENS. 


109 


poses  are:  An  average  bridge  and  right-of- 
way  tax  upon  railroads,  the  sale  of  swamp 
lands  and  various  penalties. 

There  are  now  75  school  districts  in  Buch- 
anan County  outside  of  the  district  in  which  the 
city  of  St.  Joseph  is  located.  In  many  of  these 
districts  there  are  substantial  and  modern  brick 
school  houses.  The  county  schools  are  of  a 
high  grade  and  there  is  commendable  ri\-alry 
for  excellence  among  the  teachers.  One  month 
of  each  year  is  devoted  to  an  institute,  where 
lecturers  and  masters  of  reputation  are  heard ; 
where  the  teacher  is  taught  and  brightened  for 
the  next  season's  work. 

Until   the   year    i860,   no   attempt   at   any 
system  of  public  schools  had  been  made  in  St. 
Joseph.    "Occasionally,"  to  quote  the  late  Pro- 
fessor Neely,  "a  free  school  would  be  taught 
for  a  month  or  two.  or  for  a  sufficient  length 
of  time  to  absorb  what  was  not  wasted  or  lost 
of  the  city's  share  of  the  public  school  fund." 
But  there  was  no  public-  school  system,  and  St. 
Joseph  had  merely  the  organization  of  a  coun- 
try school  district.    In  i860  a  few  enterprising 
citizens  obtained  from  the  legislature  a  charter 
by    which   the    St.    Joseph    Board    of    Public 
Schools  was  incorporated.     Section   i   of  the 
act  provided  that  "all  free  white  persons  re- 
siding within  the  limits  of  school  district  No. 
I,  in  township  No.  8,  in  Buchanan  County,  are 
hereby  constituted  a  body  politic  and  corporate 
by  the  name  and  style  of  'the  St.  Joseph  Board 
of   Public   Schools.'  "     It   was   provided   that 
there  should  be  two  members  from  each  ward 
and  a  president.  U^  be  elected  at  large,  the  term 
of  office  in  each  case  to  be  three  years.    The 
charter  was  made  perpetual  and  the  corpora- 
tion   given  power  t(^  sue  and  be  sued,  to  pur- 
chase, hold  or  sell  pro])erty,  real  and  personal. 
etc. 

The  war  having  changed  the  social  condi- 
tion of  the  negro,  his  education  by  the  State 


was  provided  for  in  1866  by  striking  out  in 
the  St.  Joseph  charter  the  words  "free  white 
males"  and  inserting  the  words  "resident  tax- 
payers." Another  change  in  the  charter  pro- 
vided that  the  terms  of  the  directors  should 
be  for  two  years  and  that  one-half  of  the  num- 
ber should  go  out  of  office  at  the  expiration  of 
every  school  year.  The  president's  term,  how- 
e\er,  was  continued  at  three  years. 

When  the  first  board  was  elected  there  were 
but  three  wards  in  the  city.  This  board  was 
constituted  as  follows :  Dr.  J.  H.  Crane, 
president.  Directors:  First  W^ard,  Louis 
Hax,  John  Sheehan ;  Second  \\'ard,  James  A. 
Millan,  John  J.  Abell ;  Third  W'aid.  \\'illiam 
M.  Albin,  Erasmus  Dixon.  The  First  Ward 
at  that  time  comprised  the  southern  part  of  the 
city,  the  Second  Ward  the  central  part  and  the 
Third  W^ard  the  northern  part.  James  A. 
Millan  was  elected  secretary  and  Joseph  C. 
Hull,  treasurer.  Of  the  above  named  gentle- 
men. Dr.  Crane  went  to  California,  and  the 
others  are  deceased  except  James  A.  Millan, 
who  still  resides  in  the  city. 

A  small  school  house  was  provided  for 
each  ward  as  soon  as  possible.  That  in  the 
First  Ward  was  built  at  the  southeast  corner 
of  Third  and  Charles  streets.  The  property 
was  sold  to  John  P.  Fink  in  1865  for  $12,000 
and  converted  into  a  shoe  factory.  It  is  now 
used  for  warehouse  purposes.  The  Second 
Ward  was  provided  with  a  school  on  the  east 
side  of  1 2th  street.  It  was  afterward  enlarged, 
and  for  many  years  was  called  the  Franklin 
School,  but  was  abandoned  some  years  ago. 
The  Third  \\'ard  School  was  built  at  Second 
and  Cherry  streets.  It  was  afterward  enlarged 
and  called  the  ]\Iadison  School.  Later  it 
was  known  as  the  First  Colored  School,  and 
now  it  is  the  Humboldt.  The  three  houses 
were  built  from  the  same  plans.  They  were 
of  brick,  34  by  25  feet  in  dimension,  two  stories 


no 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN    COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


high.  Each  had  two  school  rooms,  one  on 
each  floor,  with  a  narrow  stairway  in  front. 
They  were  furnished  with  common  ^double 
desks  of  pine,  and  had  a  capacity  of  120  schol- 
ars each.  There  were  no  cloak-rooms  or  other 
conveniences. 

The  schools  were  opened  on  April  23,  i860. 
William  H.  IMarmion  was  principal  of  the  First 
Ward  School  and  his  assistant  was  Miss 
Annie  Webster.  Sidney  P.  Cunning-ham  had 
charge  of  the  Second  Ward  School  and  had  for 
his  assistant  Miss  Annie  Banes  (  now  Mrs.  John 
Townsend).  The  principal  of  the  Third  Ward 
School  was  J.  W.  H.  Griffin,  and  his  assistant 
was  Miss  Lizzie  Brand  (  afterward  Mrs.  Car- 
der). Salaries  were  not  high  in  those  days, 
the  principal  receiving  $50  per  month  and  the 
assistants  $25. 

In  the  \\  inter  of  1861  it_  was  found  that 
there  were  in  each  of  the  ward  schools  quite 
a  number  of  pupils  who  had  mastered  more 
or  less  thoroughly  the  branches  prescribed,  and 
who  were  prepared  to  take  up  advanced  studies. 
It  was  accordingly  proposed  to  open  a  school 
of  a  higher  order  for  their  accommodation. 
Prof.  Edward  B.  Neely  had  been  conducting 
a  classical  school  in  St.  Joseph  for  six  years, 
and  had  recently  erected  a  school  building  on 
loth  street,  between  Felix  and  Francis  streets. 
The  School  Board  arranged  with  Professor 
Neely  to  take  charge  of  the  proposed  higher 
l)ranch,  and  on  the  first  Monday  in  March, 
J 861.  Professor  Neely  opened  in  his  building 
what  afterwards  developed  into  the  St.  Joseph 
High  School.  He  had  about  40  scholars  of 
both  sexes,  who  had  brought  certificates  of 
qualification  from  the  ward  schools. 

In  consequence  of  the  disturbed  condition 
of  .society  from  the  impending  Civil  war,  the 
School  Board  at  a  meeting  on  May  21,  1861, 
resolved  to  summarily  close  all  primary  and 
grammar  schools,  but  continue  the  advanced 


school  until  the  end  of  June.  From  this  time 
until  1864  there  were  no  public  schools  in  the 
city,  although  the  board  met  occasionally  and 
maintained  at  least  a  partial  organization.  The 
buildings  were  sometimes  rented  for  private 
schools  and  sometimes  occupied  hy  the  mili- 
tary. 

On  August  12.  1864,  the  Board  of  Public 
Schools — then  consisting  of  Louis  Hax,  presi- 
dent;  and  David  Pinger.  William  M.  Wyeth. 
R.  F.  Maxwell.  John  Colhoun,  J.  P.  Adolph 
and  Bernard  Patton,  as  members — resolved 
to  reopen  the  schools.  Professor  Neely  was, 
by  unamimous  vote,  elected  superintendent,  a 
position  which  he  filled  without  interruption 
until  his  demise  in  1904. 

The  board  offered  $80  per  month  salary 
to  principals  and  $50  per  month  to  assistants, 
and  also  decided  to  establish  a  high  school, 
with  the  superintendent  as  principal,  and  one 
assistant  at  $80  per  month.  The  schools  were 
not  entirely  free.  A  matriculation  fee  of  50 
cents  per  month  was  charged  each  pupil  in  the 
primary  and  intermediate  grades,  and  $1  per 
month  in  the  High  School.  The  rate  of  taxa- 
tion allowed  by  the  charter  was  so  small  that 
full  terms  could  not  have  been  maintained 
without  the  aid  of  the  tuition  fee.  On  Feb- 
ruary 3,  1872,  this  practice  was  abolished,  and 
since  that  time  the  schools  have  been  entirely 
free. 

Octol)er  3,  1864,  the  schools  were  reopened,, 
with  Professor  Neely  as  principal  of  the  High 
School,  and  Nelson  Wilbur,  a  graduate  of 
Dartmouth  College,  as  his  assistant.  Nathan 
Somerville  was  principal  of  the  First  Ward 
School,  witli  Miss  Jennie  Parsons  as  assistant. 
Benjamin  R.  Vineyard  was  principal  of  the 
Second  Ward  School,  with  Miss  Alice  Bruner 
as  assistant,  her  place  being  afterward  filled  by 
Mrs.  Annie  R.  Towmsend.  H.  C.  McLaugh- 
lin was  principal  in  the  Third  Ward  School  and 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


Ill 


his  assistant   was   Miss   India   Cowden    (now 
j\Irs.  Evan  W.  Ray). 

The  schools  were  immediately  crowded 
and  many  applicants  who  applied  were  nnable 
to  g-ain  admission  for  want  of  room.  This 
condition  continued  until  the  School  Board 
found  relief  through  a  charter  amendment  in 
1866,  permitting-  an  increase  in  the  rate  of  tax- 
ation, which  gave  the  board  the  means  for 
building  two  additional  houses.  W'hh  the  pro- 
ceeds of  the  sale  of  the  First  Ward  property 
and  the  yield  of  the  additional  tax,  the  Ever- 
ett School,  at  1 2th  and  Olive  streets,  and  the 
old  High  School  building  at  loth  and  Edmond 
streets,  were  erected.  The  buildings  were 
identical  in  plan,  and  the  cost  of  each,  exclusive 
of  ground,  was  about  S36.000.  Labor  and  ma- 
terial in  those  days  were  both  extremely  high, 
as  the  older  people  will  remember. 

The  High  School  at  10th  and  Edmond 
streets,  was  opened  in  1866.  with  John  S.  Cros- 
by as  principal,  and  was  used  as  such  imtil 
1896.  The  building  was  damaged  by  fire  in 
1889,  after  which  it  was  rebuilt  and  enlarged. 
In  1895  it  was  remodeled  for  grammar  schools 
and  offices  of  the  Board  of  Education,  and 
is  now  known  as  Robidoux  School.  The  Ev- 
erett has  also  been  enlarged  and  is  still  in 
service. 

In  1867  a  house  was  provided  for  colored 
school  children  at  Fourth  and  ^Michel  streets. 
It  was  a  one-story  frame  building,  of  which 
no  trace  remains. 

In  1868  the  School  Board  found  it  neces- 
sary to  issite  bonds  to  provide  additional  build- 
ings, and  the  sum  of  $40,000  was  obtained 
from  this  source.  As  a  result,  the  Washington 
School,  at  Fifth  and  Pouline.  and  the  Webster, 
at  19th  and  Beattie  streets,  were  built  in  1869, 
the  former  costing  $11,658  and  the  latter 
$9,928.  Both  have  since  been  enlarged  to  meet 
the  demands.     Outstanding  indebtedness  was 

6 


liquidated  with  the  balance  of  the  sum  realized 
from  the  bond  sale. 

Still  the  provisions  were  inadequate,  and 
buildings  were  rented  where  possible,  to  relieve 
the  congested  conditions.  More  school  houses 
were  necessary,  and  in  1872  the  board  found 
itself  compelled  to  again  issue  bonds  to  erect 
buildings  and  make  necessary  miprovements 
upon  property  already  owned. 

At  this  time  the  board  purchased  for  $8,500 
the  property  now  known  as  the  German-Eng- 
lish School.  This  school  had  been  founded 
and  maintained  for  some  years  by  an  associa- 
tion of  German-English  citizens,  formed  for 
the  purpose  of  perpetuating  their  language  in 
their  children.  In  the  conveyance  of  the  prop- 
erty to  the  School  Board,  it  was  expressly  pr.;- 
vided  that  instruction  in  the  "German  as  well 
as  English  language  shall  be  given  in  equal 
proportions  in  all  departments  of  instruction 
to  meet  the  demands  of  the  pupils  from  the 
whole  cit\'  for  such  instruction,  according  to 
the  capacity  thereof." 

The  sum  of  $36,000  was  realized  from  the 
bond  issue  of  $40,000.  With  this  money  the 
board  paid  debts,  built  the  Neely  School  at  12th 
and  Scott  streets,  at  a  cost  of  about  $10,000, 
erected  an  addition  to  the  Everett  School  at  a 
cost  of  $6,000.  repaired  the  Webster,  which 
had  been  unroofed  by  a  tornado,  and  made 
other  substantial  and  necessary  improvements. 

In  April  of  1877  the  people  voted,  by  a 
large  majority,  to  increase  the  rate  of  taxation 
for  general  school  purposes  from  three  to  five 
mills,  and  the  County  Court  ordered  a  5-mill 
levy  for  that  year.  But  in  1878,  when  the 
board  asked  again  for  a  5-mill  levy,  the  Comity 
Court  refused  to  make  it,  contending  that  the 
people  had  voted  for  the  5-mill  levy  for  the 
year  1877  only.  The  board  applied  for  a  writ 
of  mandamus  to  compel  the  court  to  make  the 
5-mill  levy,  and  a  judgment  was  rendered  in 


112 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY   AXD   ST.   JOSEPH 


the  Circuit  Court  in  favor  of  the  board. 
Through  some  neglect  the  judgment  was  not 
recorded  and  it  became  necessary  to  go  to  trial 
again.  The  second  trial  resulted  unfavorably 
to  the  schools,  and  the  5-mill  levy  was  not 
again  made,  it  being  the  judgment  of  the  court 
that  the  people  must  vote  for  such  a  levy  each 
year.  In  1878  the  County  Court  also  ques- 
tioned the  legality  of  the  School  Board's  bonds 
by  refusing  to  levy  a  sinking  fund  and  interest 
tax.  The  question  was  tested  in  the  United 
States  Court  and  the  legality  of  the  bonds  fully 
sustained. 

In  1879  a  school  was  built  at  Sixth  and 
Jackson  streets  and  named  the  Floyd.  This 
was  sold  in  1888  to  the  Holy  Rosary  congrega- 
tion and  is  now  used  as  a  Catholic  Church. 
The  Crosby  School,  at  Savannah  avenue  and 
Richardson  streets,  was  built  in  1880,  at  a 
cost  of  $7,400.  The  Steinacker  School,  at 
Second  and  Louis  streets,  was  built  in  1883, 
and  the  present  estimated  value  of  the  build- 
ing is  $16,500.  The  other  schools  were  built 
in  the  following  order,  and  the  amount  rep- 
resents the  present  estimated  value  of  the  build- 
ings :  Hall,  26th  and  Duncan  streets,  1887, 
$5,450;  South  Park,  1888,  $7,600;  Colored 
High,  i8th  and  Angelique,  1888,  $17,690; 
Young,  Ninth  and  Alary,  1889,  $25,725;  new 
Floyd,  Third  and  Hickory,  1889,  $18,920; 
Bliss,  30th  and  Olive,  1890,  $7,500;  Ernst, 
Walker's  Additi(-)n,  ]89i,  $7,500;  Grant, 
North  nth  street,  1894,  $7,550;  Lincoln  (col- 
ored), St.  Joseph  avenue  and  Pendleton  street, 
1894,  $10,600;  Jackson,  24th  street,  near  Clay, 
1894,  $7,500;  Musser,  24th  and  Olive  streets, 
1894,  $6,550.  The  Avenue  School,  at  Freder- 
ick avenue  and  13th  street,  was  formerly  a 
store  building.  It  was  rented  for  soine  years 
by  the  board  and  purchased  for  $10,000  in 
1892. 

After    various    unsuccessful    eftprts,     the 


School  Board  secured  the  consent  of  the  tax- 
payers to  erect  an  adequate  and  substantial 
High  School  building.  The  funds  having  been 
provided,  the  question  of  a  site  for  the  pros- 
pecti^'e  ne\\-  structure  at  once  became  para- 
mount, and  a  li\-ely  rivalry  ensued.  The  people 
in  general  would  have  been  satisfied  with  an 
accessible  and  central  location.  However,  the 
School  Board  seems  to  have  been  actuated  by 
high  motives,^  so  far  as  location  and  price  went, 
for  it  purchased  for  $23,500  a  piece  of  ground 
125  by  200,  on  the  highest  point  of  Carpenter's 
hill,  fronting  on  13th  and  14th  streets,  about 
200  feet  north  of  Olive  street.  There  was 
much  popular  indignation  at  this  deal,  for  the 
location  was  considered  out  of  range  and  in- 
accessible, and  the  price  exceedingly  high. 

Plans,  prepared  by  Edmond  J.  Eckel,  were 
adopted  by  the  board  during  the  winter  of 
1894-95,  and  the  corner-stone  of  the  present 
building  was  laid  with  Masonic  ceremony  and 
a  popular  demonstration,  together  with  ora- 
tory and  music.  The  building  w^as  occupied 
in  the  spring  of  1896,  the  term  being  finished 
there.  The  contractors  were  Bernard  Feeney 
and  William  Rupert  and  John  DeClue,  and  the 
cost  about  $90,000. 

In  1900  the  Eugene  Field  School  was  built 
at  1 6th  and  Sacramento  streets,  at  a  cost  of 
$32,500;  and  the  Free  Public  Library  and 
school  office  building  was  erected  at  a  cost  of 
$121,000. 

In  1 90 1  three  substantial  houses  were  built 
on  the  south  side :  The  Hosea  School,  at  a 
cost  of  $26,700;  the  Hyde  School,  at  a  cost 
of  $17,000  and  the  Florence  School  in  Flor- 
ence addition  at  a  cost  of  $4,800.  The  Wyatt 
School,  at  nth  and  Henry  streets,  was  also 
built  in  1 90 1,  at  a  cost  of  $36,500. 

In  1902  the  Noyes  School,  at  26th  and  Del- 
aware streets,  Saxton  Heights,  was  built  at  a 
cost  of  $16,700,  and  the  Krug  School,  at  the 


^4yj^ 


AXD    REPRESEXTATR'E    CITIZENS. 


II 


entrance  to  Krug  Park,  was  built  at  a  cost  of 
$17,000. 

As  the  number  of  wards  increased  in  the 
citv,  so  the  number  of  school  directors  in- 
creased.  Up  to  1864  there  were  six  members, 
in  1865  there  were  10,  and  from  1890  to  Oc- 
tober, 1895,  there  were  16.  The  members  of 
the  School  Board  have  always  ser\-ed  without 
pay,  but  there  was  frequently  spirited  rivalry 
at  the  elections,  which  were  held  in  June.  And 
the  sessions  of  the  board  were  often  so  ani- 
mated that  the  reports  of  the  proceedings  made 
spicy  reading  in  the  newspapers. 

The  conviction  that  the  board  was  unwieldy 
had  been  growing  upon  the  peojjle  for  some 
time  and  a  mo^•ement  to  have  the  charter 
amended  by  the  Legislature  met  with  hearty 
popular  support.  This  was  done  at  the  session 
of  1895.  Under  the  provisions  of  the  new 
charter  the  School  Board  is  composed  of  six 
members,  two  of  whom  are  chosen  at  each  gen- 
eral city  election  and  each  of  whom  serves  six 
yeaVs.  It  is  customary  for  each  of  the  political 
parties  to  select  a  candidate,  who  is  endorsed 
by  the  opposing  party,  thus  taking  the  School 
Board  practically  out  of  politics.  At  the  April 
election  of  1895,  according  to  the  emergency 
clause  of  the  bill,  six  members  were  chosen — 
Messrs.  B.  R.  Vineyard.  I.  T.  Hosea.  Dr.  E. 
A.  Donelan,  B.  Xewberger,  K.  AI.  Mitchell  and 
David  Marshall.  The  board  did  not,  however 
take  charge  of  affairs  until  October  i,  1895. 

When  the  new  board  took  charge  of  the 
schools,  the  members  elected  Dr.  Donelan  as 
president  and  drew  lots  for  terms.  Directors 
Hosea  and  Mitchell  were  ])lace(l  for  six-year 
terms,  Dr.  >  Donelan  and  ?\lr.  Xewberger  for 
three  years  and  Messrs.  Vineyard  and  Mar- 
shall for  one  year.  In  A])ril  of  1896,  Air.  Vine- 
yard was  elected  to  succeed  himself  and  A.  C. 
Hincklev  was  elected  to  succeed  Mr.  Marshall. 


Air.  Hinckley  resigned  Xovember  i,  1901.  and 
was  succeeded  by  James  AI.  \\'ilson.  In  April 
of  1898,  Dr.  Donelan  was  elected  to  succeed 
himself  and  Charles  J.  Borden  was  elected  to 
succeed  Air.  X'^ewberger.  Air.  Borden  served 
until  he  was  elected  mayor,  in  April,  1902, 
when  he  was  succeeded  by  Elijah  AI.  Birkes, 
who  served  until  April,  1904.  Dr.  Donelan 
was  succeeded  in  i\pril.  1904.  by  John  P. 
Strong  and  James. E.  AIcEvoy,  was  elected  to 
succeed  Air.  Birkes.  In  July,  1899,  J.  C.  W'yatt 
was  elected  to  succeed  Air.  Hosea  and  in  1900 
Henry  W.  Burke  was  elected  to  fill  out  the  un- 
expired term  of  B.  R.  Vineyard.  Dr.  Donelan 
served  as  president  continuously  during'  his 
term.  lu  April,  1904,  the  board  was  reorgan- 
ized with  K.  AI.  Alitchell  as  president,  the  other* 
members  being  J.  C.  W'yatt,  H.  \\'.  Burke,  J. 
AI.  Wilson,  J.  E.  AIcEvoy  and  John  P.  Strong. 

On  August  7.  1883,  Frederick  C.  Parker 
was  appointed  secretary  and  superintendent  of 
buildings.  This  gentleman  held  the  position 
until  Alarch  i.  1897,  when  he  was  succeeded 
by  Harry  H.  Smith,  the  present  incumbent. 

For  many  years  the  board  officed  and  met 
in  the  Kirschner  Building,  corner  of  Felix 
street  and  Alarket  square.  In  1892  quarters 
were  secured  in  the  Burnes  Estate  Building  at 
Third  and  Felix,  and  these  were  occupied  un- 
til August  of  1896,  when  permanent  quarters 
were  established  in  the  Robidoux  School  build- 
ing. These  were  maintanied  until  the  com- 
pletion of  the  h'ree  Public  Library  building. 

Prof.  Edward  B.  X'eely  was  superintendent 
up  to  the  time  of  his  death  on  April  29,  1904. 
He  was  succeeded  by  Prof.  J.  A.  Whiteford, 
of  Aloberly,  Alissouri. 

The  following  are  the  names  of  the  various 
presidents  of  the  school  board :  Dr.  J.  H.  Crane 
served  1860-63;  John  Colhoun,  1863-67;  Sam- 
uel Hays,   1867-70;  William  H.  Floyd,   1870- 


ii6 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


79;  Adolph  Steinacker,  1879-85;  Waller 
Young,  1885-94;  C.  A.  Mosman,  1894-95;  Dr. 
E.  A.  Donelan,  1895-1904. 

The  following-  is  a  list  of  the  members  of 
the  old  School  Board,  from  1860  to  1895  :  John 
Sheehan.  Louis  Hax.  John  J.  Abell,  James  A. 
Millan,    E.    E.    13ixon,     William    M.    Albin, 
Thomas  Harlnne,  A.  .Vndriano.  David  Finger, 
VV.  M.  Wyeth.  James  Tracy,  Robert  E.  Max- 
well, J.  B.  Adolph,  Bernard  Patton,  J.  M.  Haw- 
ley,  H.  Nash,  P.  Bliss,  Joseph  Steinacker.   E. 
Whiting-,  H.  N.  Turner,  E.  Sleppy,  L.  M.  Law- 
son,  J.  J.  Wyatt,  D.  C.  Anderson,  Otto  Behr, 
George  Lyon,  Elias  Eppstein.  Charles  E.  Ernst, 
John  T.   Ransom,  James  P>.  Johnson,   Samuel 
Reynolds,   William   Drumhdler,   W.    P).   John- 
-son,  John  C.  Evans,  John  B.  Albrecht.   I^".  T. 
Davis,  D.   H.   Winton,    Isaac   Wilkins.   J.    H. 
Lewis,  R.  L.  McDonald.  W.  A.  P.  McDonald, 
Samuel  Russell,  Louis  Euelling.  John  A.  Dol- 
man, J.  B.  Bernard.  Jolm  Broder,  W.  Z.  Ran- 
son,  John  S.  Crosby,  K.  R.  Calkins,  George  C. 
Hull,   E.   G.   Hopkins,  Joseph   Hansen,  J.    .\[. 
Armstrong.   Robert   Musser.  Christ.    Mast,   C. 
H.    Eoote,    D.    E.    Bombeck,    A.   J.    Redding. 
George    P.    Dixon,    John    Townsend.    Waller 
Young,  .\lex.   D.   \'ories.  ( ).   E..   \'ande\enter. 
U.  Schneider,  C.  C.  McDonald.  J.  PI.  Bulling, 
C.  B.  Claggett,  George  M.  (iood.  C.  L.  Gros- 
cup,    Frederick    Neudortt,   John    S.    Andrews, 
A.    E.   La    Brunerie.    H.   G.    Getchell,    IP   W. 
Burke.  Samuel  llil])p,  Joseph  Albus.  C.  B.  [.u- 
cas,  William  II.   l""loyd,  Jr..  Tlionias  Winston, 
W.   E.   Sullivan.  John  Jester.  H.  C.  Twedell. 
John  Albus.  Jr..  W.  L.  Ronolds.  C.  C.  Crow- 
ley,  M.    M.   Crandall,    I".    M.    Atkinson.    I.   T. 
Dver,    H.    B.    Shale.    Dr.    I.    P.    Kilev.    C.   J. 
P'ohl,   John    1).    Preston,   George   E.   Acklam. 
Oscar  M.  Spalsbury,  George  Voltz,  and  P).  C. 
Thayer. 

As  the  directors  were  generally  reelected. 
iTianv  of  them  havinf--  retained  their  seats    [O 


and  12  years,  the  roster  is  not  larger  consid- 
ering the  nun-iber  of  elections  and  members. 
.\mong-  those  who  ser\ed  longest  are  the  fcjl- 
low'ing:  H.  N.  Turner,  20  years;  John  Broder, 
16  pyears ;  George  C.  Hull,  16  years;  Charles 
V.  Ernst,  12  years;  PL  Nash,  11  years.  Quite 
a  number  served  nine  years  and  from  that  on 
down  to  four  vears. 


Private  and  Dciioimnatioiial  Schoi)!s. 
— Reference  was  made  to  the  first  school  in 
the  county  in  the  opening  lines  of  this  chapter. 
Others  of  perhaps  equal  importance  existed 
in  different  parts  of  the  county  from  that  time 
to  the  permanent  establishment  of  the  ]niblic 
school  system,  hi  1845  Mrs.  Israel  Landis 
opened  a  female  seminary  in  St.  Joseph,  which 
prospered  for  se\-eral  years.  Contemporan- 
eous with  this,  Mrs.  Mary  Stone,  a  Roman 
Catholic  lady  of  culture,  taught  a  private  scliool 
in  the  city.  In  1850  Rev.  T.  S.  Ree\'e.  a  min- 
ister of  the  New  School  Presbyterian  Cluu-ch. 
opened  a  female  seminary  in  the  basement  of 
a  church  that  stood  on  a  hill  upon  the  site  of 
the  First  National  Bank,  at  Fourth  and  Francis 
streets.  Re\'.  Mr.  Ree\'e  taught  successfully 
for  four  )-ears  and  then  withdrew  from  tliC: 
profession. 

The  St.  Joseph  I'emale  High  School  opened 
at  Fifth  and  Faraoii  streets  in  September  of 
1854.  It  w-as  conducted  bv  three  ladies  named 
Lesueur. 

h\  N.  Stupp\-.  William  O'Toole.  James 
Hart.  William  M.  .\lbin.  Prof.  Charles  C. 
Byrne  and  Mrs.  Purr  also  taught  pri\ale  and 
subscription  schools.  In  the  fall  of  1854  E(\- 
ward  B.  Neely,  the  late  superintendent  of  the 
St.  Joseph  public  schools,  arrived  from  \'ir- 
ginia,  accompanied  by  Robert  F.  Maxwell. 
They  established  a  school  in  the  rooms  vacated 
bv   Rev.   Mr.    Reeve.      Mr.    Maxwell   soon   re-- 


AXD    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


117 


tired  and  the  school  was  successfully  conducted, 
by  Professor  Xeely  until  that  gentleman 
closed  it. 

In  1855  Professors  Davis  and  Rogers 
opened  a  female  academy  in  what  was  after- 
wards the  Saunders  House,  at  Third  and 
Faraon  streets.  Professor  Da\  is  retired  in 
1858  and  Professor  Rogers  in  the  following- 
year.  Rev.  A.  \\  C.  Schenck  conducted  the 
school  for  a  l)rief  i)eriod  and  sold  out  t(^  WW- 
liam  Cameron  of  Lexington,  Missouri,  who 
remained  until  the  l)uilding  was  couA-erted  into 
a  hotel. 

In  1858,  Alonzo  W.  Slayback.  who  after- 
wards figured  prominently  in  the  history  of 
St.  Joseph  and  of  Missouri,  taught  a  private 
school  in  what  was  the  Cumberland  Presby- 
terian Church,  at  Sixth  and  Edmond  streets, 
and  which  was  afterward  used  as  a  synagogue. 
In  1859,  J.  P.  Caldwell  taught  a  school  in  the 
same  building. 

Miss  India  Cowden  (  Mrs.  E.  W.  Ray)  and 
INIiss  Sarah  Bell  (Mrs.  Tiernan)  also  con- 
ducted schools  before  auvl  during  the  Civil 
War. 

At  DeKalb,  before  the  war.  Prof.  Charles 
S.  Raffington  conducted  the  Bloomington 
Academy,  a  school  of  high  reputation.  During 
the  war  Professor  Raffington  removed  to  St. 
Joseph  and  opened  the  St.  Joseph  Classical  In- 
stitute in  the  Franklin  School  building.  It 
ceased  to  exist  when  that  h.ouse  was  required 
by  the  public  schools. 

The  Patee  House  (now  [McDonald's  shirt 
factory)  was  twice  used  for  school  purjjoses. 
Rev.  James  H.  Robinson,  a  minister  of  the 
Metbodist  Episcopal  Church.  South,  opened  a 
female  academy  there  in  September,  1865, 
Avhich  continued  to  January  i,  1869.  In  1877, 
Rev.  E.  S.  Dulin,  D.  D.,  LL.  D..  a  prominent 
minister  of  the  Baptist  Churcli.  openerl  the  St. 


Joseph  Female  College  in.  the  building.  This 
institution  had  a  high  reputation  and  was  suc- 
cessfully conducted  for  four  years. 

A  prominent  factor  in  education  in  the 
early  days  was  the  German  School  Society 
( Deutscher  Scluil-Verein).  a  chartered  organ- 
ization of  German-AmericcMi  citizens  of  St. 
Joseph.  This  association  was  founded  in  1855 
and  is  still  in  existence.  L'p  to  1869.  the  late 
Joseph  Dreis  taught  in  a  building  on  North 
Sixth  street.  The  society,  by  means  of  enter- 
tainments, accumulated  a  considerable  fund. 
With  this  money  ground  was  purchased  at  loth 
and  Felix  streets  and  a  building  erected.  The 
corner-stone  was  laid  with  great  ceremony  on 
Julv  4,  1868.  Professor  Dreis  was  succeeded 
by  William  Beneke  and  Ernst  Kuehl.  Instruc- 
tion was  given  in  both  German  and  English. 
In  1872,  the  St.  Joseph  School  Board  pur- 
chased the  property  for  $8,500  and  agreed  to 
perpetually  give  instruction  in  equal  proportion 
in  both  English  and  German  in  all  branches 
taught. 

Bryant's  Business  College,  which  was  es- 
tablished in  November  of  1864  by  Prof. 
Thomas  J.  Bryant  and  continued  up  to  the  date 
of  Professor  Bryant's  death,  several  years  ago, 
was  a  conimercial  school  of  reputation  and  had 
pupils  from  almost  every  point  in  the  \\'est. 
Professor  Chapman  and  Professor  Ritner 
were  also  successful  for  many  years  during 
the  "seventies"  and  "eighties"  with  commer- 
cial schools. 

In  1868  the  Sisters  of  St.  Vincent  de  Paul 
(Sisters  of  Charity)  opened  a  school  for  girls 
on  the  south  side  of  Felix  street,  between  Sev- 
enth and  Eighth,  in  a  building  owned  by  Dr. 
Long.  This  continued  until  1883.  wlien  the 
Sisters  mo\'ed  to  10th  and  Powell  streets, 
where  a  hospital  building  had  been  erected  up- 
on a  block  of  ground  donated  by  Joseph  Corby. 


ii8 


HISTORY  OF    BUCHANAN   COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


A  school  was  maintained  here  until  1891,  when 
it  gave  way  to  the  present  hospital. 

Of  the  schools  other  than  public  which  are 
still  in  existence,  the  Academy  of  the  Sacred 
Heart  is  the  oldest.  In  June  of  1853  four  mem- 
bers of  this  order  came  to  St.  Joseph  from  St. 
Louis.  They  at  once  established  a  school,  and 
during-  the  first  month  enrolled  about  100 
pupils.  In  1856  the  foundations  of  the  present 
convent  were  laid,  and  in  the  following  year 
the  academy  was  opened.  As  the  establishment 
flourished,  the  building  was  enlarged  and 
equipped  until  to-day  it  is  one  of  the  best  owned 
by  the  Order  of  the  Sacred  Heart  in  the 
West. 

The  Christian  Brothers  College  is  another 
of  the  older  institutions.  In  1858  Father  James 
Powers,  a  pioneer  priest,  erected  a  three-story 
building  at  13th  and  Henry  streets  and  placed 
it  in  charge  of  the  Christian  Brothers.  The 
school  was  discontinued  during  the  war  and  the 
building  used  as  barracks  by  Federal  soldiers, 
for  which  the  government,  through  the  media- 
tion of  Congressman  James  N.  Burnes,  made 
an  ade(|uate  allowance  some  years  ago.  In 
1867  the  school  was  reopened  by  Brother  Noah. 
In  1886  the  old  building  was  inade  part  of  the 
present  commodious  moderi-i  structure. 

In  1865  Dr.  Charles  Martin  established  a 
female  academy  at  Fifth  ai-d  Antoine  streets, 
which  he  conducted  until  1893.  Since  then 
it  has  been  under  various  managements.  Doc- 
tor Martin  died  March  7.  1896.  His  daugh- 
ters are  conducting  a  jireparatory  school  in 
the  building  at  this  time. 

A  parochial  school  has  been  maintained  at 
the  Church  of  the  Immaculate  Conception 
since  the  creation  of  the  parisli.  German  and 
Englisli  are  taught  here  by  the  Sisters  of  the 
Order  of  St.  Joseph.  At  St.  Patrick's  Church 
a  school  for  bovs  has  been  in  existence  for  man\- 


years  under  the  direction  of  the  Christian 
Brothers  and  one  for  girls  under  the  direction 
of  the  Sisters  of  St,  Joseph.  In  1902  the  Sis- 
terhood of  the  Sacred  Heart  completed  the 
largest  and  best  equipped  parochial  school  in 
the  city,  at  a  cost  of  $65,000.  It  is  located  at 
nth  and  Isidore  streets  and  serves  the  Cathe- 
dral Parish.  Holy  Rosary,  St.  Mary's,  SS. 
Peter  and  Paul  and  Wyatt  Park  Catholic  par- 
ishes all  have  schools  attached.  A  parish  school 
is  also  maintained  in  connection  with  the  Ger- 
man-Evangelical Church,  on  South  loth  street. 


Medical  Colleges. — At  one  time  there 
were  three  medical  colleges  in  St.  Joseph. 

The  St.  Joseph  Hospital  Medical  College 
was  founded  in  1876.  It  was  located  on  Sec- 
ond street,  north  of  Francis.  Among  the 
faculty  were  Drs.  C.  F.  Knight,  Joseph  D. 
Smith,  J.  M.  D.  France,  Thomas  H.  Doyle,  J. 
M.  Richmond,  C.  J.  Siemens  and  A.  V. 
Banes. 

The  College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons 
was  founded  in  1879,  and  was  located  in  the 
old  Christian  Church  building  at  Third  and 
Robidoux  streets.  Among  the  faculty  were 
Drs.  W.  I.  Heddens,  Jacob  Geiger,  E.  A.  Done- 
Ian,  J.  VV.  Heddens  and  P.  J.  Kirschner. 

These  two  colleges  were  merged  and  the 
name  was  changed  to  Ensworth  Hospital  Med- 
ical College,  in  honor  of  Samuel  Ensworth, 
deceased,  who  left  $100,000  for  this  purpose. 
The  Ensworth  Building,  at  Seventh  and  Jules 
streets,  was  erected  in  1888.  The  hospital  is 
now  in  charge  of  the  Order  of  Deaconesses. 

The  Northwestern  Medical  College  was 
founded  in  January,  1881,  by  Drs.  F.  A.  Sim- 
mons, S.  V.  Carpenter,  J.  P.  Chesney  and  J. 
T.  Berghoff.  Until  the  burning  of  the  Court 
House,  the  college  was  quartered  in  the  second 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


119 


of  that  building". 


storv 

located   at   Eighth 


and 


Subsequently  it  was 
Svlvanie   streets.      In 


1895  Dr.  T.  E.  Potter,  Dr.  O.  B.  Campbell 
and  others  of  the  faculty  withdrew  and  formed 
the  Central  Medical  College,  which  is  located 


at  Ninth  and  Felix  streets.  The  Northwestern 
continued  for  a  short  time  and  was  subse- 
quently converted  into  a  school  for  the  train- 
ing of  nurses,  under  the  direction  of  Dr.  J.  A. 
French,  owner  of  the  property. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 


RELIGIOUS  HISTORY. 

The  First  Preachers  and  the  First  Churches — A  Review  of  the  Progress  of  the 
Various  Denominations  in  St.  Joseph — History  of  the  Congregations  and 
Their  Church  Buildings. 


During"  the  first  lo  years  of  the  county's 
history  but  few  cliurches  were  erected.  Pub- 
he  rehgious  services  were  generaUy  held  in 
private  houses,  until  school  houses  were  built, 
after  which  these  buildings  were  used  for  re- 
ligious purposes  on  Sundays.  The  log  Court 
House  at  Sparta  was  also  used.  One  of  the 
first  sermons  preached  in  the  county  was  by  the 
late  Bishop  Marvin  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  in  a  log  structure  called  "Wood's 
School  House,"  located  in  what  is  now  Agency 
township.  This  was  early  in  1838.  "Mount 
Moriah"  was  the  name  of  a  log  church  located 
near  Frazer.  The  "Witt  Meeting  House"  was 
on  the  farm  of  Judge  Xelson  Witt  in  Platte 
township,  and  was  used  by  tlie  Cahinistic  Bap- 
tists. The  Missionary  Baptists  subsecjuently 
erected  in  the  same  township  a  frame  edifice 
whicli  was  called  "Hebron." 

The  Christians  were  also  among  the  earliest 
denominations  that  organized  in  the  Platte  Pur- 
chase. Archibald  Stewart  formed  a  congre- 
gation three  miles  south  o\  DeKalb  in  1839. 
and  preached  his  first  sermon  under  a  l)uckeye 
tree.  This  denomination  was  known  at  that 
time  as  the  "New  Light."  The  Christians  also 
established  a  church  in  Crawford  township,  in 


1842.  which  was  called  "Antioch."'  The  Pres- 
byterians organized  a  church  called  "Walnut 
Gro^■e,"  and  also  built  a  church  at  Easton  when 
that  town  was  platted.  The  first  camp  meeting 
in  the  county  was  held  in  1842  near  \"alley 
Chapel  school  house. 


Roman  Catholic. — In  1838,  a  wandering- 
Jesuit  priest  visited  the  obscure  and  lonely 
trading  post  at  Blacksnake  Hills.  Here,  in  a 
rude  log  house  of  Joseph  Robidoux,  a  prim- 
itive altar  was  extemporized  from  a  common 
table,  and,  in  the  presence  of  the  wondering  red. 
man  and  the  scarcely  more  cultivated  pioneer, 
mass  was  celebrated.  This  was  the  small  be- 
ginning of  the  march  (^f  Christianity  in  our 
midst. 

In  1840,  another  transient  priest  made  his 
appearance  at  the  settlement,  who  elicited  no 
small  degree  of  comment,  from  the  singular 
mark  of  a  cross  on  the  back  of  his  coat.  This 
was  Rev.  Father  \"ogel.  On  the  17th  of  June, 
1847,  the  foundation  of  the  brick  church  on 
the  corner  of  Felix  and  Fifth  streets  was  laid. 
Services  were  held  in  this  building  before  its 
completion,  and  in  the  same  year,  in  Septem- 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


121 


ber,  the  house  was  dechcateJ  by  Bishop  Kenrick 
of  St.  Louis.  In  i(S48.  the  two-story  parson- 
age, built  of  brick,  was  erected  and  in  1853  an 
addition  of  22  feet  was  made  to  the  church. 
The  lot  was  donated  by  Joseph  Robidoux. 

At  the  organization  of  the  church,  there 
were  about  20  families,  two  of  whom  were 
Irish  and  the  others  Canadian  I'rench.  The 
first  permanent  pastor  in  the  church  was  Rev. 
Thomas  Scanlan,  who  began  his  labors  in  1847. 
His  first  service  was  in  a  frame  building,  be- 
longing to  Joseph  Robidoux.  on  Jules  street, 
beyond  Blacksnake  Creek.  He  was  succeeded 
by  Rev.  D.  F.  Healy.  Rev.  I'rancis  Russie 
succeeded  Father  Healy,  and,  he,  in  turn,  was 
succeeded  by  Rev.  S.  A.  Grugan. 

In  1859,  Rev.  James  Powers  assumed  the 
duties  of  assistant  pastor,  which  position  he 
filled  until  the  removal  of  Father  Scanlan,  in 
i860.  In  i860,  Rev.  John  Hennessey  took 
charge  and  continued  the  same  until  he  was 
promoted  to  the  see  of  Dubuque.  He  is  now 
an  archbishop.  His  successor  in  St.  Joseph 
was  Rev.  James  P^ower.  The  church  at  Fifth 
and  Felix  streets  was  abandoned  in  187 1. 

In  1868,  the  Diocese  of  St.  Joseph,  com- 
prising all  of  the  territory  north  of  the  Missouri 
River  and  w-est  of  the  Chariton  River,  was 
erected,  and  Rt.  Re\-.  John  Joseph  Plogan  con- 
secrated as  its  bishop.  In  1882  Bishop  Hogan 
took  charge  of  the  Diocese  of  Kansas  City, 
but  continued  as  administrator  of  the  Diocese 
of  St.  Joseph.  In  the  fall  of  1893  Bishop 
Maurice  F.  Burke,  who  had  been  stationed  at 
Cheyenne,  took  charge  of  this  diocese. 

There  are  seven  Catholic  churches  in  St. 
Joseph.  The  Cathedral  was  erected  in  1868 
by  Bishop  Hogan.  Father  Ignatius  Conrad, 
O.  S.  B.,  was  in  charge  of  the  parish  after 
Bishop  Hogan's  dei)arture,  until  lie  was  made 
abJTot  of  Subiacco  Monastery  in  Arkansas,  in 
1890. 


The  Church  of  the  Immaculate  Conception, 
loth  and  Angelique  streets,  was  built  in  1868, 
the  first  priest  being  Father  Hartman,  who  was 
succeeded  ])y  the  present  pastor,  Father  Lin- 
nencamp.     This  parish  is  German. 

St.  Patrick's  Church,  12th  street  and  Doni- 
phan avenue,  was  built  in  1873  by  Father  Eu- 
gene Kenny,  who  remained  as  pastor  until  the 
close  of  the  year  1879,  when  he  died.  Pie  was 
succeeded  by  Rev.  Thomas  \\^alsh.  who  served 
about  two  years  and  died  also.  Rev.  Francis 
F.  Graham,  the  present  pastor,  then  took 
charge. 

The  Polish  Catholics  organized  a  congre- 
gation in  1883,  and  purchased  the  old  home  of 
Gen.  Willard  P.  Hall,  at  Messanie  street,  which 
was  converted  into  a  church  called  SS.  Peter 
and  Paul.  Father  Wenzeslaus  Krzywonos  was 
the  first  pastor.  He  was  succeeded  in  1894 
l)y  Father  Moron,  who  served  two  years  and 
was  succeeded  by  Father  Rejnert.  A  modern 
church  to  cost  $25,000  is  now  in  course  of  con- 
struction under  the  direction  of  Rev.  W.  Ra- 
kowski. 

Holy  Rosary  congregation,  at  Sixth  and 
Scott  streets,  was  formed  in  1888  by  Rev. 
James  Sheehan.  The  Floyd  School  was  pur- 
chased from  the  School  Board  and  converted 
into  a  church,  heather  Sheehan  died  in  1892. 
and  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Richard  J.  Cullei  . 
Rev.  Andrew^  Newman  is  now  in  charge. 

St.  Francis  Xavier"s  Church,  on  Seneca 
street,  near  27th.  in  Wyatt  Park,  was  built  in 
the  summer  of  1891  by  the  confraternity  of 
tlie  Precious  Blood.  Rev.  Seraphim  Kunkler 
was  placed  in  charge.  He  was  succeeded  by 
Re\'.  Louis  Hefele,  the  present  pastor. 

St.  Mary's  Church,  at  Main  and  Cherry 
streets,  was  built  in  the  summer  of  1891  by  the 
Benedictine  monks  of  Conception.  IMissouri. 
The  property  passed  into  the  hands  of  the 
bishop,  however,  in  1895.     ^^^'-  Adolph  .Scliae- 


122 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHAXAX   COUNTY  AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


fer  was  the  pastor  until  jMarcli,  1904,  when  he 
was  succeeded  by  Rev.  James  P.  Brady. 

St.  James'  Cliurch  in  South  St.  Joseph  was 
completed  in  1902  under  the  direction  of  Father 
James  O'Reilly,  the  present  pastor. 

There  are  several  Catholic  churches  in  the 
county — at  Easton.  at  Xev,-  Hirlingen.  and  at 
Saxton.  Corby  Chapel  (St.  John  the  Bap- 
tist Church),  north  of  the  city,  is  seldom  used 
for  services  and  no  congregation  is  attached  to 
it.  The  remains  of  the  late  John  Corby  and 
his  wife  repose  therein. 

There  was  at  one  time  a  Catholic  Church  in 
the  French  Bottom,  known  at  St.  Roche,  but 
this  has  not  been  in  existence  since  1880. 


Presbyterian. — The  first  Protestant  minis- 
ter to  preach  the  Gospel  in  St.  Joseph  was  Rev. 
T.  S.  Reeve,  a  Xew  School  Presbyterian.  He 
held  services  at  the  tavern  of  Josiah  Beattie, 
which  stood  on  Main  street,  above  Francis. 
In  the  spring-  of  1844  R^''-  Reeve  buik  the 
first  church  in  St.  Joseph.  It  was  a  log  struc- 
ture, 20  by  30  feet  in  dimensions,  and  stood 
near  the  corner  oi  Third  cUid  Francis  streets. 
Parson  Reeve  assisted  in  cutting  the  timber 
and  erecting  the  building. 

The  log  church  was  used  by  the  Presl^y- 
terians  until  1847,  when  a  brick  church  was 
built  at  the  northeast  corner  of  Fourth  and 
Francis  streets.  This  structure  stood  on  a  hill, 
which  was  cut  down  wheii  the  Saxton  Bank 
building  was  erected.  The  log  cliiuxh  \\as  pur- 
chased by  the  First  ^Missionary  Baptist  Society. 
It  gave  way  many  years  ago  to  business  houses. 

In  February  of  1854,  22  people  met  in  the 
old  Market  House  and,  under  the  sanction  of 
the  Presbytery  of  Upper  Missouri,  organized 
what  they  called  the  First  Presbyterian  Church. 
They  were  of  the  old  school.  Here  they  wor- 
shiped for  some  time,  and  various  halls  were 


occupied  until  1858,  when  they  commenced 
the  erection  of  the  Sixth  street  church.  They 
built  the  first  story,  covered  it  and  worshiped 
there  until  after  the  war.  Then  there  was  di- 
vision in  the  church.  One  part  of  the  meml>er- 
ship  built,  in  1867,  the  present  Seventh  sireet 
church  for  their  use.  and  the  others  remained 
in  the  Sixth  street  chtirch.  The  first  minister 
was  Rev.  A.  \^.  C.  Schenck.  who  remained 
with  the  church  until  1858,  when  the  Rev.  J- 
G.  Fackler  became  pastor.  In  1864  Rev.  'Mr. 
Fackler  resigned  on  account  of  ill  health  and 
Rev.  A.  P.  Foreman  was  called  to  the  charge. 
He  remained  with  the  church  six  years,  doing 
much  good,  and  ministering  well  to  the  spirit- 
ual wants  of  his  flock.  In  1870,  Rev.  J.  G. 
Fackler  was  again  called  to  the  charge  and  oc- 
cupied the  pulpit  until  1874.  when  he  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Rev.  R.  S.  Campbell,  who  held  the 
pastorate  for  15  years.  Rev.  A.  A.  Pfanstiehl 
occupied  the  pulpit  as  temporary  supply  min- 
ister after  Rev.  Mr.  Campbell,  vacated  it  until 
Rev.  George  A.  Trenholm,  took  charge,  in  Xo- 
vember,  1891.  Rev.  Mr.  Trenholm  died  in 
1899,  and  on  December  ist,  of  that  year  Rev. 
\\'illiam  R.  Dobyns.  the  present  pastor,  took 
charge. 

The  Westminster  Presb}i;erian  Clnuxh 
was  organized  on  May  9,  1863,  with  20  mem- 
bers. In  May.  1864.  Rev.  B.  B.  Parsons  of 
Illinois  was  installed  as  pastor.  In  October, 
1866.  the  stone  chapel,  directly  west  of  the 
Hughes  Building,  on  Felix  street,  was  com- 
pleted. This  was  intendcvl  as  the  wing  of  a 
greater  church  in  contemplation.  The  chapel 
is  a  small  but  massive  stone  structiu'e  of  the 
Gothic  type,  and  had  the  edifice  been  com- 
pleted as  originally  planned  it  would  have  been 
one  of  the  most  attractive  architectural  features 
of  the  city.  In  February.  1868,  Rev.  Henry 
Bullard,  then  pastor  in  Wayland,  Massachu- 
setts, supplied  the  pulpit  for  two  Sundays,  and 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


123 


upon  the  ist  of  May  following  assumed  full 
charge  as  pastor.  In  1872,  the  plan  of  com- 
pleting the  stone  church  was  abandoned  and 
the  property  of  the  Old  SchcK^l  Presbyterians, 
at  Sixth  and  Faraon  streets,  was  purchased  and 
completed.  In  1892,  a  new  church  was  erected 
at  20th  and  Faraon  streets.  The  Sixth  street 
property  was  sold  and  the  site  of  the  church  is 
now  occupied  by  modern  dwellings. 

The  Third  Street  Presbyterian  Church 
grew  out  of  a  Sabbath  school  organized  in 
1869.  The  church,  located  on  Third  street,  at 
the  junction  of  Savannah  avenue,  was  built  in 
1889.  The  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church 
had  a  congregation  in  the  early  "fifties."  They 
had  a  church  at  Sixth  and  Edmond  streets, 
where  the  Hotel  Donovan  now  stands.  This 
was  afterward  used  as  a  Jewish  synagogue 
and  was  destroyed  by  fire.  The  church 
edifice  on  the  corner  of  i6th  and  Ed- 
mond streets  was  erected  in  1882  by 
the  members  and  friends  of  the  Platte 
Presbytery.  Rev.  W.  B.  Farr,  D.  D., 
was  the  first  pastor,  and  the  first  congregation 
was  organized  November  16,  1883,  w-ith  19 
charter  members,  nine  being  of  one  family  and 
three  of  the  pastor's  family.  The  church  was 
recently  rebuilt. 

The  United  Presbyterians  built  a  substantial 
church  and  a  parsonage  in  1902  at  the  southeast 
corner  of  12th  and  Felix  streets  under  the  di- 
rection of  Rev.  W.  R.  Leeper,  the  present  pas- 
tor. 

On  June  2$,  29,  30  and  July  i  and  2,  1904, 
the  national  convention  of  the  Christian  Union 
of  the  United  Presbyterian  Church  was  held 
in  St.  Joseph,  bringing  some  3,500  visitors  and 
delegates  from  all  parts  of  the  United  States. 


Methodist. — In  the  year  1843-44,  Rev.  Ed- 
win  Robinson,  preacher  in  charge  of  the  St. 


Joseph  (Savannah)  circuit,  Western  district, 
Missouri  Annual  Conference  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  organized  the  first  class  in 
the  town  of  St.  Joseph.  The  leader  of  this 
class  was  John  F.  Carter;  the  other  members 
were  Rufus  Patchen,  Clara  Patchen,  Mrs.  Jane 
Kemper  and  Mrs.  Sarah  Jeffries.  At  the  time 
of  the  organization  W.  W.  Redman  w-as  pre- 
siding elder  of  the  district,  which  included  St. 
Joseph.  The  first  permanent  organization  of 
the  church  was  efifected  during  the  early  ])art 
of  the  year  1844,  Edwin  Robinson  being 
preacher  in  charge.  The  building  in  which  the 
congregation  worshipped  at  that  time  was  a 
small  frame  on  Main  street,  used  once  by  David 
J.  Heaton  as  a  furniture  store  antl  cabinet  sht^p; 
and  for  nearly  two  years  they  worshiped  in 
this  humble  and  primitive  structure.  The  old 
log  church  was  afterw'ard  occupied  one  Sun- 
day each  month  by  courtesy  of  the  Presby- 
terians. 

This  may  be  the  proper  place  to  state  that 
the  General  Conference  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church,  held  in  the  city  of  New  York  in 
May,  1844,  failing  to  harmonize  the  Northern 
and  Southern  sections  of  the  country  in  regard 
to  the  disciplinary  legislation  concerning 
slavery,  provided  a  plan  of  peaceable  separa- 
tion, the  important  details  of  which  need  not 
be  mentioned  here ;  but  under  its  provisions 
the  charges  and  conferences  within  the  terri- 
tory of  the  slave-holding  States  proceeded  with 
great  unanimity  to  adjust  themselves  and  were 
by  the  delegated  convention,  held  at  Louisville, 
Kentucky,  in  May,  1845,  organized  into  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  South.  So  that 
after  this  transition  period  we  are  speaking  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  South,  in  St. 
Joseph. 

In  1846,  when  Rev.  John  A.  Tutt  was  in 
charge,  a  brick  church,  40  by  60  feet  in  dimen- 
sions, was  erected  at  Third  and  Felix  streets. 


124 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN    COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


where  the  National  Bank  of  St.  Joseph  build- 
ing now  stands.  In  1857  this  property  was 
sold,  and  a  new  church  built  at  Sex'enth  and 
Francis  streets,  known  as  the  Francis  Street 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  South.  It  is  in- 
teresting to  note  that  there  was  great  objection 
to  the  new  location  because  it  was  considered 
too  far  out.  Rev.  Edwin  Robinson  was  in 
charge  in  1847-48.  and  was  succeeded  by  Rev. 
William  M.  Rush.  wIk^  served  until  1852  and 
was  succeeded  by  Rev.  \\'illiam  Holmes.  Rev. 
Mr.  Holmes  did  not  remain  long,  giving  place 
to  Rev.  C.  J.  Vandeventer.  who  served  two 
years.  In  1854-55  the  pulpit  was  rilled  by  Rev. 
B.  A.  Spencer,  who  was  succeeded  by  Rev, 
Samuel  W.  Cape.  From  1856  to  1S58  Rev. 
E.  R.  Miller  was  pastor,  and  was  succeeded 
by  Rev.  John  Bull,  and  he  in  turn  by  Rev.  E. 
G.  Nicholson.  Rev.  George  T.  Hoagland  sup- 
plied the  pulpit  also  until  the  return  of  Rev. 
Mr.  Rush.  In  1862,  Rev.  Mr.  Rush  was  pro- 
hibited from  preaching  to  his  congregation  by 
the  military  order  of  General  Loan.  From 
1864  to  1865  Rev.  William  H.  Leftwich  was 
pastor.  In  1868,  Re\-.  C.  J.  Vandeventer  was 
again  placed  in  charge,  remaining  until  1872, 
w^hen  he  was  succeeded  bv  Rev.  Eusrene  R. 
Hendrix,  now  bishop.  Rev.  Mr.  Hendrix  re- 
mained until  1876.  Since  then  the  following 
ministers  have  been  in  charge:  1876-78.  Rev. 
G.  T.  Gooch;  1878-82,  Rev.  E.  K.  Miller; 
1882-86,  Rev.  W.  G.  Miller:  1886-88,  Rev. 
J.  C.  Brown:  1888-90,  Rev.  A.  G.  Dinwiddie ; 
1892-94,  Rev.  J.  A.  Beagle:  1894-97,  Rev. 
Frank  Siler;  September,  1897.  Rev.  W.  T. 
Packard,  who  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Charles 
M.  Bishop,  the  present  pastor.  -The  church 
property  was  recently  sold  and  ground  pur- 
chased at  the  southwest  corner  of  12th  and 
Francis  streets,  w^here  a  fine  new  edifice  will 
soon  be  erected. 

The    Tenth    Street    Methodist    Episcopal 


Church,  South,  was  completed  in  1870.  The 
building  is  at  the  northwest  corner  of  loth  and 
Patee  streets.  It  has  for  S(^me  years  been  used 
by  the  Swedish  Lutherans.  The  congregation 
now  owns  a  commodius  edifice  at  15th  and 
Olive  streets,  built  in  1894.  known  as  the  Olive 
street  Methodist  Episco])al  Church,  South. 

Hundley  Methodist  Church.  South,  at  22nd 
and  Colhoun  streets,  grew  out  of  a  mission 
commenced  by  Re\'.  C.  I.  Vandeventer  in  1872. 
A  frame  chapel  stood  on  Union  street  until 
1892,  when  the  present  building  was  erected. 
Centenary  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
South,  dates  back  to  1883.  The  building  is 
located  on  loth  street,  Ijetween  Pacific  and 
Sycamore  streets. 

Gooding  Chapel,  South,  St.  Joseph,  named 
in  honor  of  John  Gooding,  its  principal  bene- 
factor, is  also  a  branch  of  the  ]\Iethodist  Epis- 
copal Church,  South. 

The  following  relates  to  the  Methodist 
Episcopal,  or,  as  it  is  commonly  called,  the 
North  Methodist  Church:  In  1849  R^fus 
Patchen,  John  Brady,  N.  B.  McCart  and  the 
Rev.  A.  J.  Armstrong,  local  preacher,  with- 
drew from  the  parent  congregation  and  orga- 
nized the  "'Methodist  Episcopal  Church,"  with- 
out any  geographical  distinction.  They  held 
meetings,  sometimes  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Mc- 
Cart and  sometimes  at  the  log  church.  In 
1852  a  brick  church  was  erected  on  Fifth  street, 
below  Sylvanie.  In  1863  this  property  was 
sold  for  debt.     Up  to  that  time  the  following 

I  pastors  were  consecutively   in  charge :    Revs. 

j  J.  W.  Taylor,  J.  M.  Chivington,  Walter  Perry, 

j   M.  T.  Kleffer,  D.  H.  May.  A.  C.  Clemens,  J. 

I  H.  Hopkins^  J.  V.  Caughlin,  William  Han- 
ley.  Richard  Haney  and  Alpha  Wright.  A 
reorganization  took  i)lace  after  the  loss  of  the 
property.  Quarters  were  fitted  up  in  the  Odd 
Fellows'  Building,  then  at  Fifth  and  Felix 
streets,  and  Rev.  T.  H.  Hagerty  became  pas- 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


125 


tor,  remaining  until  1865,  when  Rev.  J.  T. 
Boyle  took  charge.  In  1866  their  present 
house  of  worship,  on  Fifth  street,  between 
Jules  and  Francis  streets,  was  built.  Rev.  W. 
G.  Mattison  succeeded  Rev.  Mr.  Boyle,  and 
was  in  turn  succeeded  by  Rev.  J.  A\'.  Flowers, 
who  served  until  March  of  1869,  when  he  was 
succeeded  by  Rev.  J.  S.  Barwick.  In  1870 
Rev.  C.  H.  Stocking  took  the  pastorate,  served 
three  years  and  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  D.  J. 
Holmes.  In  1875  Rev.  S.  W.  Thornton  took 
charg-e,  served  two  vears  and  was  succeeded  bv 
Rev.  John  \\'ayman.  who  also  served  two  years 
and  was  succeeded  in  1880  by  Rev.  J.  M. 
Greene,  who  was  succeeded  by  Re\'.  J.  J.  Bent- 
lev.  Following  Rev.  Mr.  Bentlev  came  Rev. 
Eli  S.  Brumbaugh,  who  remained  until  1894., 
and  was  succeeded  l)y  Rev.  C.  H.  Stocking, 
who  remained  until  May  of  1898,  when  he 
was  succeeded  by  Re\-.  S.  B.  Campbell.-  Rev, 
B.  F.  Crissman  is  the  present  pastor. 

The  other  Methodist  Episcopal  churches  in 
the  city  are:  Huffman  Memorial  Church,  at 
28th  and  Seneca  streets :  Oakland  Park 
Church,  corner  of  20th  and  High  streets:  St. 
Paul's  Church,  No.  419  Dolman  street,  and  the 
South  Park  Church. 

The  congregation  of  the  First  German 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  was  organized  in 
March  of  1849.  I'^''^  communicants  numl)ered 
10  and  the  first  ])astor  was  Rev.  \\'illiam  Fliers. 
At  a  quarterly  conference  held  January  13, 
1 85 1,  a  committee  was  selected  to  secure  a 
lot  on  which  to  Ijuild.  The  site  selected  was 
on  Edmond  street,  west  of  Sixth,  on  wliicli  a 
church  was  soon  thereafter  erected,  w  liich  wa^ 
wrecked  in  1857  in  an  attempt  to  raise  it.  The 
old  site  was  sold  and  a  location  purchased  at 
Third  and  Robidou.x,  on  which  a  brick  struct- 
ure was  built,  under  the  supervision  of  Jacob 
Hauck,  Peter  Hammer  and  John  Fink,  which 
served  the  wants  of  the  congregation  for  about 


20  years.  In  1867  a  parsonage  was  built  at 
the  rear  of  the  church  at  an  expense  of  about 
$2,500,  which  is  still  the  home  of  the  pastor. 
For  many  years  the  congregation  sought  to 
build  a  new  edihce  more  suited  to  the  times, 
but  it  was  not  until  1887  that  the  old  church 
was  taken  down,  and  the  present  handsome 
structure  completed,  the  lot  adjoining  the  old 
church  on  the  south,  having  been  purchased  in 
1885.  The  new  church  was  dedicated  in  the 
spring  of  1888  by  Dr.  Liebhart  of  Cincinnati. 
The  pastor  is  Rev.  Gustave  Becker. 

Of  the  African  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  there  are  two  parishes.  Ebenezer 
Chapel,  corner  of  Third  and  Antoine  streets, 
is  the  principal  edifice.  Holsy's  Chapel,  i8th 
and  Beattie  streets,  is  a  modest  frame  structure. 


Baptist.— The  first  records  that  can  be 
found  bearing  upon  the  Baptist  Church  in  St. 
Joseph  are  dated  September  28,  1844,  and  refer 
to  an  "arm  of  the  Dillon  Creek  Baptist 
Church."  On  March  22.  1845,  '^  sermon  was 
preached  by  I^^lder  William  W'oreley.  There- 
upon the  first  luiptist  congregation  was  orga- 
nized. Elder  W'oreley  was  succeeded  in  July, 
1847,  ^5y  Elder  James  I.  Robinson,  who  at  first 
received  $50  per  annum  and  his  board,  and 
subse(|uently  received  $100  per  annum  and 
paid  his  own  expenses.  Diu'ing  all  of  this 
period  there  was  no  permanent  place  of  wor- 
ship. Meetings  were  held  in  private  houses 
and  rented  halls.  In  1848  the  old  log  church 
was  purchased  from  the  Presbyterians  for 
$100.  This  purchase  did  not  include  the 
ground.  In  January  of  1852  the  log  church 
was  sold  at  auction  for  $16.25.  Fi^om  this 
time  until  1856  the  Baptists  worshiped  in  vari- 
ous places.  A  movement  for  a  church  build- 
ing was  begun  in  1850,  when  the  church  was 
incor])orated  under  the  laws  of  the  State.    Real 


I 


126 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAX   COUNTY   AND   ST. 


JOSEPH 


estate  was  acquired  at  the  southeast  corner  of 
Sixth  and  Francis  streets  and,  in  1856,  a  com- 
modious brick  structure  was  erected.  In  1895 
work  was  beg'un  upon  the  present  massive 
structure  at  13th  and  Francis  streets,  and  in 
the  spring  of  1897  the  basement  of  this  build- 
ing was  occupied,  the  church  at  Sixth  and 
Francis  streets  being  abandoned. 

Rev.  Isaiah  T.  Wilhams  w^as  chosen  pastor 
in  1848.  In  185 1  Rev.  J.  Hickman,  of  Ken- 
tucky, was  cahed,  and  in  March  of  1853  Rev. 
\y.  F.  Boyakin  of  IlHnois  assumed  the  pastor- 
ate. When  the  church  at  Sixth  and  Francis 
streets  was  completed,  Rev.  William  Price  was 
pastor.  In  November,  1859,  Rev.  William  I. 
Gill  accepted  a  call  and  served  until  June,  i860, 
when  he  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  E.  S.  Dulin, 
who  served  until  March,  1864.  Rev.  T.  W. 
Barrett,  of  Leavenworth,  served  one  year  after 
Dr.  Dulin,  and  in  July,  1865,  was  succeeded 
by  Rev.  Joseph  R.  Manton,  of  Providence. 
Rhode  Island,  who  remained  until  April,  1868. 
Rev.  James  Dixon,  of  Milwaukee,  followed 
and  served  until  November,  1868;  Rev.  J. 
M.  C.  Breaker  then  took  charge  and 
remained  until  May,  1877,  being  succeeded 
by  Rev.  William  Harris,  of  Louisville,  Ken- 
tucky. Rev.  J.  L.  Lawless  succeeded  Rev. 
Mr.  Harris  in  March,  1884.  and  served  until 
January  i,  1891,  when  he  was  succeeded  by 
Rev.  W.  J.  Coulston,  who  remained  until  March 
15.  1893.  The  pastorate  remained  vacant  until 
September,  1893.  when  Rev.  R.  P.  Johnston, 
of  Chilesburg,  Kentucky,  accepted  a  call.  Rev. 
Mr.  Johnston  remained  until  1898,  when  he 
went  to  St.  Louis.  He  was  succeeded  by  Rev. 
J.  E.  Cook. 

In  1890  the  First  Baptist  Church  built  a 
fine  edifice  in  Wyatt  Park  at  28th  and  Seneca 
streets,  and  presented  it,  paid  for  in  full,  tO' 
the  Wyatt  Park  congregation. 

The  Savannah  Avenue  Baptist  Church,  sit- 


uated at  the  corner  of  Savannah  avenue  and 
Woodson  street,  was  the  direct  outgrowth  of 
the  Young  People's  Mission  Society  of  the 
First  Baptist  Church,  which  caused  the  erection 
of  a  neat  brick  chapel  in  the  fall  of  1885.  Two 
vears  later  this  building  was  enlarged  to  twice 
its  seating  capacity,  it  having  been  found  en- 
tirely inadequate  to  the  accommodation  of  the 
congregation. 

The  Patee  Park  Baptist  Church  was  built 
in  1889-90.  As  early  as  1871  a  congrega- 
tion worshiped  in  a  building  at  12th  and  Penn 
streets.  Under  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  N.  R. 
Pittman  the  present  substantial  and  modern 
edifice  was  erected  on  loth  street,  opposite 
Patee  Park. 

In  1901  the  King  Hill  Baptist  Church  was 
organized. 

The  negro  Baptists  have  two  churches. 
The  Francis  Street  Baptist  Church,  w^as  orga- 
nized in  1865  by  Rev.  B.  F.  Marshall,  with 
seventeen  members.  For  se\'en  years  they 
worshiped  in  a  frame  building  on  their  present 
location^  Francis  street,  between  loth  and  iith 
streets.  In  1873  Rev.  AW  W.  Stewart  was 
called  to  the  pastorate,  in  which  he  remained 
until  1889  during  which  time  the  present 
building  was  erected  and  the  church  increased 
in  membership  to  350.  In  the  fall  of  1889 
Rev.  J.  J.  Lyons  was  settled  as  pastor.  He 
remained  nine  months.  Rev.  A.  M.  Lewis  was 
then  settled  as  pastor  supi)ly.  In  August, 
189 1,  Rev.  E.  M.  Cohron  was  called  to  the  pas- 
torate, since  which  time  the  present  building 
has  been  completed.  Rev.  '^\r.  Cohron  is  still 
the  pastor. 

New  Hope  Chapel,  on  16th  street,  a  frame 
building,  was  erected  in  1884. 


Disciples     of     Christ      (Ciiristiaii). — The 
Christian  Church,  organized  in  St.  Joseph  in 


'  I .  —  »l.-i 


First  Baptist  Church 


Christ  Protestant  Episcopal  Church 


Tabernacle  Congregational  Church 


First  Presbyterian  Church 


/ 


/ 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


129 


July.  1850,  has  been  a  flourishing  society  from 
the  first  and  now  is  among  the  strong  religious 
forces  of  the  city  with  a  membership  of  nearly 
j2,ooo  and  church  property  valued  at  more  than 
$50,000. 

The  organization  was  efifected  under  the 
leadership  of  Elder  Duke  Young  of  Savannah. 
Andrew  County,  a  pioneer  preacher  long  since 
gone  to  his  final  reward.  In  the  early  months 
of  1850  meetings  were  held  in  the  village  school 
house  and  in  private  residences,  and  when  a 
church  organization  was  efifected  there  was  a 
membership  of  18.  Elder  Young,  under  whose 
direction  the  society  began  its  history  as  an 
organized  body,  continued  at  times  to  preach  to 
the  congregation  here.  Other  ministers  came 
at  intervals,  but  for  many  years  the  congrega- 
tion was  in  charge  of  Elder  J.  J.  Wyatt,  a  pas- 
tor who  devoted  his  time  and  talent  to  the 
church  without  compensation. 

Few  religious  societies  in  any  community, 
perhaps,  which  have  lived  for  more  than  a  half 
century,  can  designate,  as  can  the  Christian 
church  here,  a  living  chronicler  who  was  a 
charter  member  and  who  before  organization, 
attended  the  very  first  Christian  service  in  the 
community,  observing  the  sacrament  when 
there  were  but  three  communicants.  Rev.  John 
Shackelford,  Mrs.  Susan  H.  Moss  and  Mrs. 
Katherine  T.  Edwards,  the  aged  member  who 
has  missed  attending  but  few  of  the  regular 
Sunday  services  of  the  church  during  a  period 
of  54  years. 

Mrs.  Edwards  organized  the  first  Christian 
Sunday-school  in  August,  1850,  personally  so- 
liciting funds,  $16,  with  which  testaments  and 
other  necessary  equipment  were  ])urchased. 
She  was  a  teacher  in  this  pioneer  school  and 
now,  at  the  age  of  93  years,  retains  the  zeal 
and  interest  in  church  afifairs  which  inspired 
her  in  those  early  days. 

;\mong  the  early  ministers  of  the  church 


in  St.  Joseph  were  Moses  E.  Lard.  T.  P.  Haley, 
John  Duncan  and  J.  B.  Corwine.  Rev.  M.  ^I. 
Goode,  now  pastor  of  the  Wyatt  Park  Christian 
Church,  came  to  St.  Joseph  23  years  ago  as  pas- 
tor of  the  First  Christian  Church.  .  He  has  ever 
since  been  engaged  continuously  in  tlie  church 
work  here,  as  pastor  of  the  First  Churcli  for 
a  period  of  17  years  and  has  taken  a  part  in  the 
organization  of  all  the  churches  of  the  denom- 
ination which  have  been  founded  since  the  or- 
iginal organization.  The  first  of  these  was 
the  Wyatt  Park  Christian  Church,  organized 
in  1888  and  followed  in  order  by  the  Mitchell 
Park  Christian  Church,  Hyde  Park  Cln-istian 
Church.  Woodson  Chapel  and  the  Frederick 
Avenue  Christian  Church. 

Rev.  C.  M.  Chilton  is  th,e  present  pastor  of 
the  First  Christian  Church,  which  has  a  mem- 
bership of  1,000  and  property  valued  at  $30,- 
000,  situated  in  the  downtown  district.  A  pro- 
posed new  and  more  modern  and  commodious 
house  of  worship  is  an  object  of  interest  to  the 
membership  at  this  time. 

Other  Christian  churches  in  the  citv  with 
membership  and  value  of  property  are  as  fol- 
lows :  The  Wyatt  Park  Christian  Church,  ^I. 
M.  Goode.  pastor;  membership,  300;  property, 
$10,000.  The  Mitchell  Park  Christian  Church, 
E.  E.  Denny,  pastor ;  membership  275  ;  prop- 
erty, $8,000.  The  Hyde  Park  Christian 
Church,  N.  R.  Davis,  pastor;  membership,  80; 
property,  $1,500.  The  Woodson  Chapel 
Christian  Church,  W.  E.  ^^'oodson,  pastor; 
membership,  90;  property.  $1,500.  The  Fred- 
erick Avenue  Christian  Church,  membership, 
60. 

Total  membership,  1,805;  property,  $51,- 
000. 


Protestant  Episcopal. — The  first  missionary 
service  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Churcli  in 


I30 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


St.  Joseph  was  lield  in  September  of  1851.  In 
the  foHowing  year  a  i)arisn  was  organized  by 
Rev.  M.  j\I.  McXamara.  A  small  building, 
at  the  northwest  corner  of  Third  and  Jules 
streets,  was  purchased  and  equipped.  In  1856 
the  site  of  Christ  Church,  at  Seventh  and 
Francis  streets,  was  purchased  and  in  August 
of  1857  the  erection  of  a  frame  building,  which 
fronted  on  Francis  street,  was  begun.  This 
structure  was  destroyed  by  fire  on  Christmas 
eve,  1876.  The  present  church  w'as  erected  as 
soon  as  possible. 

Rew  Mr.  AIcNanlara  remained  in  charge 
until  March  of  1854,  when  he  was  succeeded 
by  Rew  W.  .\'.  Irish,  who  served  until  1858. 
when  Re\ .  W.  R.  Pickman  took  charge,  in 
October  of  i860.  Re\-.  R.  II.  W'eller  succeeded 
Rev.  Mr.  Pickman  and  served  until  October 
13,  1866,  being  succeeded  by  Rev.  \\'.  C.  Hop- 
kins, who  served  one  year.  In  No\'ember. 
1867,  Rev.  Mr.  Pickman  again  took  charge 
and  served  until  April,  1869,  being  succeeded 
by  Rev.  William  Phillips,  who  ser\-ed  until 
January,  1871.  The  parish  was  vacant  until 
June  of  1 87 1,  when  Rev.  Dr.  James  Runcie 
was  installed  as  pastor.  Dr.  Runcie  served 
until  his  death.  May  12,  1889.  In  the  fall  of 
1889  Rev.  H.  L.  Foote  took  charge  and  ser\ed 
six  years.  He  was  succeeded  by  Re\'.  John 
Henry  Hopkins,  who  served  until  the  spring  of 
1899,  and  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  G.  H.  Hills. 
Rev.  Mr.  Hills  was  succeeded  in  January,  1904. 
by  Rev.  John  D.  La  Mothe. 

There  are  two  missions  connected  Avith 
Christ  Church.  Holy  Trinity,  the  larger,  is 
located  at  iith  and  Monterey  streets,  and  St. 
Mathias  (colored)  is  located  at  No.  419  South 
17th  street. 


* 


Evangelical    and    Lutheran. — Zion's    Ger- 
man   Evangelical    Church    was    organized    in 


1865,  with  Rev.  A.  H.  KirchofT  as  pastor.  The 
old  brick  church  at  the  northeast  corner 
of  Fourth  and  Francis  streets,  was  ])ur- 
chased  and  services  were  held  there 
until  October,  1881,  when  the  present 
church,  at  Ninth  and  Jules  streets,  was 
completed.  Rev.  Mr.  Kirchoff  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Rev.  Carl  Nestel  in  1874.  In  1898 
Rev.  Mr.  Nestel  gave  way  to  Rev.  Max  Ha- 
beker  of  St.  Louis.  Rev.  Mr.  Habeker  died 
in  1899  and  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  William 
Hackman,  the  present  pastor. 

The  German  Evangelical  Lutherans  organ- 
ized a  church  in  August,  1881,  and  erected  St. 
Paul's  Church  at  Xo.  10 19  South  10th  street. 
Rev.  M.  Groese,  the  first  pastor,  is  still  in 
charge.  In  1902  a  substantial  brick  structure 
was  erected  at  the  southeast  corner  of  1 4tli  and 
Lafayette  streets. 

St.  Peter's  German  Lutheran  Church  is  lo- 
cated at  Xo.  2104  X\)rth  J-'ourth  street  and 
Emmanuel  Church, German,  of  the  Evangelical 
Association,  is  located  at  i  2th  and  Lafayette 
streets.  The  congregation  of  the  Second  ( ier- 
man  bAangelical  Church  was  organized  in 
1874  by  Rev.  Mr.  Kremer,  at  13th  and  Mont- 
erey streets.  During  1893  the  church  built  a 
substantial  brick  structure  at  15th  and  Lafa)- 
ette  streets,  under  the  direction  of  Re\".  Wil- 
liam Bauer. 

The  First  English  L.utheran  Church  was 
org-anized  in  August  of  1894  by  Rev.  Edward 
F.  Treffz.  Lentil  the  erection  of  a  building. 
east  of  the  Custom  House  in  1895,  services 
were  held  in  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  auditorium.  Rev. 
Mr.  Treffz  was  succeeded  in  1900  by  Rev.  Mil- 
lard F.  Troxell. 

*     *     * 

Congregational. — On  May  12,  1867.  the 
Congregational  Church  of  St.  Joseph  came  into 
existence  with  onlv   10  members.     In  October- 


I 


AND    REPRESENTATIV^E    CITIZENS. 


131 


of  that  year  Re\-.  W.  L.  Bray  was  called  to 
the  pastorate.  He  remained  three  years  and 
was  succeeded  liy  Re\-.  Jonathan  Crane,  who 
served  only  a  short  time,  hi()we\er.  Iieing  suc- 
ceeded in  the  same  year  by  Rex.  F.  L.  Kenyon, 
who  remained  eight  years,  l-'rom  1S78  until 
1882  no  permanent  pastor  was  maintained. 
Rev.  Frederick  S.  Hayden  served  from  1882 
until  1888,  being  succeeded  by  Rev.  Albert 
Bushnell,  who  began  his  work  February  i, 
1889.  Re\'.  Mr.  Bushnell  was  succeeded  by 
Rev.  W.  \\'.  Bolt. 

In  1870  a  frame  chapel  was  erected  on  the 
.south  side  of  Edmond  street,  between  Ninth 
and  loth  streets.  This  was  abandoned  in  1891, 
the  present  substantial  edifice  at  13th  and  Jules 
streets  ( known  as  Tabernacle  Congregational 
Church)  having  meanwhile  been  erected. 

There  is  also  a  Swedish  Congregational 
Church,  located  on  ^^lessanie  street,  betw^een 
15th  and  16th  streets. 

^<  ^  ;■? 

Unitarian. — In  November  of  1867  those 
who  were  inclined  to  the  Unitarian  belief  held 
their  first  meeting.  The  service  was  read  by 
John  S.  Crosby.  For  several  years  vari- 
ous clergymen  came  and  preached  to  the  soci- 
ety. Rev.  Mr.  Finney  served  one  year  as  pas- 
tor and  Rev.  E.  H.  Dan  forth  served  two  years. 
Rev.  Joseph  A.  Chase.  Rev.  A.  F.  Abbott,  Re\-. 
Charles  B.  Roberts,  Rev.  J.  F.  C.  Grtimbine 
served  successi\ely  until  1891.  The  pulpit  has 
been  supplied  since  that  time  by  Rev.  J.  E.  Rob- 
erts of  Kansas  City,  Rev.  Charles  Ferguson  and 
others.  Serxices  were  held  in  various  halls 
and  churches  until  r888.  when  a  modern  build- 
ing was  erected  on  Ninth  street,  between  Felix 
and  Edmond  streets,  which  is  known  as  Unity 
Chapel. 


Young  Men's  Christian  Association. — On 
7 


Alay  2,  1882,  at  a  meeting  in  the  Baptist 
church,  the  St.  Joseph  branch  of  the  Young 
Men's  Christian  Association  was  formed  with 
40  members.  Quarters  were  rented  in  the 
building  at  the  northwest  corner  of  Fifth  and 
Edmond  streets,  and  John  W.  Hansel  of  Pe- 
oria, Illinois,  was  installed  as  general  secre- 
tary. In  October  of  1885  Rev.  Sam  Jones  and 
Rev.  Sam  Small  held  a  re\i\a]  in  the  cit}'. 
Sunday,  October  nth,  was  set  apart  as  Y.  M. 
C.  A.  (lay.  A  movement  for  a  building  had 
been  in  progress  for  a  year  or  more.  Upon  this 
occasion  Re\'.  Mr.  Jones  made  an  especial  plea 
f(M-  a  permanent  home  for  the  association,  and 
Ijefore  the  meeting  adjourned  $39,000  had  been 
subscribed.  Later  the  sum  was  increased  to 
about  $60,000.  As  a  result  the  V.  M.  C.  .\. 
Building  at  Sexenth  and  Felix  streets  was  (oc- 
cupied in  1887. 

*      :;:      * 

Young  JJ\>nicn's  Christian  Association. — - 
In  the  summer  of  1887  the  Young  \\'omen's 
Christian  Association  was  formed.  The  object 
of  this  association  is  to  unite  all  young  women 
interested  in  physical,  social,  business,  intel- 
lectual and  spiritual  development.  The  phvsi- 
cal  department  includes  a  gymnasium,  where 
proper  instructions  are  imparted  by  a  thorough 
teacher.  A  reading  room,  with  a  rapidly  in- 
creasing librar}-,  is  a  feature.  The  business 
department  seeks  the  advancement  of  young- 
women  in  the  business  world,  and  an  employ- 
ment bureau,  for  the  benefit  of  the  emplover 
and  employee,  is  established  and  successfully 
conducted.  The  special  features  are  the  Gos- 
pel meetings,  participated  in  l)y  members  of  the 
association.  Since  1891  the  organization  has 
occupied  quarters  in  the  Carbry  Block  at  Sev- 
enth and  Edmond  streets. 

*  :1<  ^ 

r..  Jezvish. — In  1859  the  Congregation  Adath 


132 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


Joseph  erected  the  synagogue  at  Sixth  and 
Jules  streets.  In  the  beginning,  services  were 
lield  in  a  hall  on  Felix  street.  In  1857  ^  church 
building,  which  stood  upon  the  site  of  the 
Hotel  Donovan  at  Sixth  and  Edmond  streets, 
^vas  purchased  and  fitted  up.  This  building 
was  destroyed  by  fire.  Rev.  S.  Kauffman  was 
rabbi  in  charge  of  the  synagogue  until  1875, 
when  he  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  S.  Gerstman, 
who  served  until  1879,  when  he  gave  way  to 
Rev.  Isaac  Schwab;  the  present  rabbi. 

There  is  also  an  orthodox  congregation 
'known  as  Shaare  Sholem,  with  a  synagogue 
"at  Seventh  and  Patee  streets,  built  in  1900  at 
a,  cost  of  $17,000. 

'I*         -K         ¥ 

Other  Religious  Societies. — The  St.  Joseph 
Taranch  of  the  Reorganized  Church  of  Latter 
Day  Saints  was  organized  in  1870.  Services 
were  held  in  public  halls  and  at  the  Court  House 
until  the  erection  of  the  church  building  on 
jyth  street,  north  of  Faraon  street,  in  1890. 


In  1892  Rev.  H.  S.  Gekeler  formed  a  con- 
gregation of  the  Reformed  Church.  Meetings 
were  held  in  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  auditorium  for 
some  time,  until  the  church  formerly  used  by 
the  Congregationalists,  on  Edmond  street,  was 
secured.  A  modern  brick  structure  was  erected 
at  the  southeast  corner  of  loth  and  Lincoln 
streets  in  1903  by  Rev.  A.  O.  Reiter,  who  suc- 
ceeded Rev.  Mr.  Gekeler. 

The  First  Church  of  Christ  (Scientist) 
was  formed  in  1892.  Rev.  Charles  M.  Flowe 
now  conducts  meetings  at  the  Unity  Chapel. 
A  substantial  church  building  is  now  in  pro- 
cess of  construction  at  12th  and  Felix  streets. 
The  second  church  of  the  Christian  Scientists 
was  organized  in  1902  and  worships  in  the 
old  Congregational  Church  situated  on  Ed- 
mond street. 

The  Salvation  Army  has  maintained  bar- 
racks in  St.  Joseph  since  the  summer  of  1885. 
During  1898  a  detachment  of  Volunteers  of 
America  was  also  quartered  in  the  city. 


CHAPTER  XV. 


PUBLIC  AND   PRIVATE  CHARITIES. 

History  of  State  Hospital  for  Insane,  No.  2 — The  County  Paupers  and  How  They 
Have  Been  Maintained  Since  the  Earliest  Days  —  City  Hospital  —  St. 
Mary's  Orphan  Asylum — Memorial  Home  and  the  Home  for  Little  Wan- 
derers— Home  for  Ex-Slaves — The  Associated  Charities,  the  Charity  Board 
and  the  Free  Kindergarten. 


State  Hospital  for  Insane,  No.  2. — The 
most  important  public  charity  in  Buchanan 
County,  and  one  of  the  most  important  in  the 
entire  West,  is  the  State  Hospital  for  Insane, 
No.  2,  located  a  short  distance  beyond  the  east- 
ern limits  of  St.  Joseph.  Up  to  March,  1872, 
Missouri  had  but  one  insane  asylum,  that  lo- 
cated at  Fulton.  The  necessity  for  additional 
accommodations  for  the  afflicted  had  long  been 
■felt,  and  the  Legislature,  on  March  19,  1872, 
appropriated  $200,000  for  a  "Northwestern 
or  Southwestern  Lunatic  Asylum,"  at  the  same 
time  providing  for  a  board  of  commissioners 
to  carry  the  act  into  effect.  These  commis- 
sioners were  William  H.  McHenry,  St.  Louis; 
Zach  J.  Mitchell,  Lafayette  County;  Joseph  K. 
Rickey,  Calloway;  Louis  Hax,  St.  Joseph,  and 
William  Gilmore,  Springfield.  On  June  14th 
of  the  same  year,  the  commissioners,  after  a 
tour  of  inspection,  located  the  asylum  in  Buch- 
anan County,  purchasing  120  acres  of  land 
from  H.  R.  W.  Hartwig  and  O.  M.  Loomis  for 
$28,800.  Thomas  Walsh,  of  St.  Louis,  was 
appointed  architect,  and  in  the  following  Sep- 
tember N.  H,  Fitzgibbons,  of  St.  Louis,  was 


awarded  the  contract  for  building  the  asylum 
at  $188,897. 

There  were  two  north  and  south  wings,  of 
1 15^  feet  each,  and  the  entire  edifice  was  four 
stories  in  height,  with  a  mansard  roof,  and 
there  was  a  bell  tower  in  the  center  115  feet 
high.  The  building  was  of  stock  brick,  trimmed 
with  Milwaukee  brick  and  cut  stone. 

.Mxiut  September  i,  1874,  the  asylum  was 
opened  with  60  patients.  The  first  board  of 
managers  was :  Allen  H.  Vories,  R.  L.  Mc- 
Donald, J.  C.  Roberts,  Dr.  E.  A.  Donelan,  Eli- 
jah H.  Norton,  Dr.  J.  M.  Malin  and  John  C. 
Evans,  who  vere  appointed  by  the  Governor 
for  four  years.  Mr.  Vories  was  the  first 
president  of  the  board  and  Dr.  Malin  the  first 
secretary.  Dr.  George  C.  Catlett,  of  St.  Joseph, 
was  the  first  superintendent  and  his  assistant 
was  Dr.  A.  P.  Busey,  who  is  now  the  first 
assistant. 

This  building,  which  stood  for  over  five 
years,  was  destroyed  by  fire  January  25,  1879, 
at  about  i  o'clock  in  the  afternoon.  The  alarm 
was  given,  but  the  fiames  spread  so  rapidly 
that  the  attendants  had  a  difficult  task  in  res- 


134 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY  AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


cuing  the  inmates.  The  building-  was  improp- 
erly and  inconveniently  designed  as  to  stair- 
ways, and  the  managers  had  vainly  besought 
the  Legislature  to  remedy  this  important  de- 
fect. The  loss  was  total,  there  being  not  a  cent 
of  insurance.  Luckily  there  was  no  loss  of 
life.  The  patients  were  brought  to  the  city 
and  quartered  at  the  Court  House,  where  the 
males  remained  for  three  months,  while  the 
females  were  taken  to  a  building  on  Louis  street 
used  as  a  railroad  hospital.  Afterward  the 
males  were  removed  to  temporary  quarters  on 
the  asylum  grounds  and  the  females  were 
placed  in  a  house  nearby. 

The  people  of  St.  Joseph  took  immediate 
steps  looking  to  the  rebuilding  of  the  asylum, 
and  also  for  the  relief  of  the  distressed.  It 
so  happened  that  the  Legislature  was  in  session 
at  the  time  of  the  disaster,  and  every  energy 
was  bent  toward  securing  the  necessary  ap- 
propriation. A  commission  of  architects  and 
builders  examined  the  walls  and  reported  that 
these  could  be  used  to  the  extent  of  three- 
fourths  of  the  entire  building  and  estimated 
that  the  sum  of  $75,000  would  cover  the  ex- 
pense of  rebuilding.  There  were  other  claim- 
ants, however,  for  the  institution.  Legislative 
committees  visited  different  localities,  with 
much  waste  of  time  and  money,  but  the  result 
was  favorable  to  St.  Joseph,  and,  in  May  of 
1879,  the  Legislature  appropriated  $75,000. 
The  work  of  rebuilding  began  at  once,  the 
architect  being  S.  V.  Shipman,  of  Chicago, 
and  the  contractors  Lehman  &  Olson,  also  of 
Chicago.  The  work  was  superintended  by 
Louis  S.  Stigers,  of  St.  Joseph. 

April  I,  1880,  the  patients  were  removed 
to  the  new  building.  Since  then  many  improve- 
ments ha\'e  been  made.  Several  wings  ha^•e 
been  added  to  the  main  house,  and  hospitals, 
a  laundry  and  other  buildings  have  been  erected. 


The  latest  improvement  is  an  electric  lighting 
plant. 

Dr.  Catlett  was  the  superintendent  until  his* 
death,  which  occurred  in  May  of  1886.  He 
was  succeeded  by  Dr.  R.  E.  Smith,  who  served 
four  years  and  was  succeeded  August  1 1 , 
1890,  by  Dr.  C.  R.  Woodson,  the  present 
superintendent. 


County  Poor  Farm. — Buchanan  County 
provides  better  for  its  paupers  than  for  its 
prisoners.  The  county  farm,  situated  north- 
east of  the  city,  about  two  miles  from  the  cor- 
porate limits,  is  quite  a  modern  institution, 
there  being  quarters  for  indigent  sane,  indi- 
gent insane,  a  hospital,  proper  separation  of 
sexes,  medical  attention  and  other  comforts. 

The  first  pauper  mentioned  in  the  history 
of  Buchanan  Countv  was  Henrv  Fulks,  who 
petitioned  the  County  Court  for  relief  in  Oc- 
tober of  1840,  stating  that  rheumatism  had 
deprived  him  of  the  use  of  his  hands.  At  that 
time  there  was  no  county  farm  and  the  court 
made  an  order  granting  him  $15  per  month  for 
three  months.  This  method  of  providing  for 
the  indigent,  of  whom  there  were  few  in  those 
days,  was  pursued  until  1850,  when  Elias 
Richardson,  a  farmer,  residing  near  One 
Hundred  and  Two  River,  was  authorized  to 
maintain  the  paupers  at  the  rate  of  $5  per 
month  each,  the  countv  providing  clothing  and 
medical  attendance.  Richardson  kept  the  pau- 
pers for  two  years.  Judge  Cornelius  Roberts, 
of  Bloomington  township,  then  kept  the  pau- 
pers until  1857.  receiving  $80  per  annum  for 
each.  The  county  then  purchased  from  Leroy 
Bean  a  tract  of  140  acres,  two  miles  southwest 
of  Sparta,  for  $3,500.  This  farm  was  main- 
tained until  1868.  John  Peter  w^as  superin- 
tendent until  1861,  when  he  was  succeeded  by 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


135 


Henry  Utz.  who  served  three  years  and  was 
succeeded  by  George  Peter,  who  served  until 
December,  1865.  He  in  turn  was  succeeded 
by  Isham  Wood,  who  held  the  place  until  Jan- 
uary, 1868,  when  he  purchased  the  farm  for 
$4,200.  The  superintendents  received  as 
compensation  the  use  (^f  the  farm  and  from 
$75  to  $80  per  annum  for  each  pauper,  the 
county  providing"  clothing  and  medical  at- 
tendance. 

The  paupers  were  next  l^rought  to  the  city 
and  kept  for  three  years  by  Dr.  \Villiam  Ber- 
tram, who  had  been  appointed  superintendent 
of  the  poor  and  county  physician,  by  the  Coun- 
ty Court.  Dr.  Bertram  was  succeeded  in  Jan- 
uary, 1871,  by  Dr.  A.  S.  Long,  who  held  the 
place  until  September,  1871.  The  County  Court 
purchased,  August  16.  1871.  a  quarter  section 
from  Matilda  S.  and  Martin  Hughes,  paying 
$11,000  for  the  same,  and.  as  soon  as  possible, 
had  the  paupers  removed.  Dr.  Bertram  and 
Dr.  Long  received  as  compensation  50  cents 
per  day  for  each  pauper,  the  county  furnish- 
ing everything  l^ut  the  food. 

In  September  of  1871,  the  new  institution 
was  opened,  with  seven  male  and  six  female 
inmates.  John  Spellman  was  appointed  su- 
perintendent at  a  salary  of  $100  per  month, 
the  county  providing  for  the  inmates,  and  Dr. 
A.  S.  Long  was  retained  as  physician.  There 
was  a  good,  room}'  frame  house  on  the  farm, 
which  had  been  erected  by  Kit  Todd  before 
the  war  and  intended  for  use  as  a  summer  re- 
sort, a  railroad  from  St.  Joseph  to  Savannah 
having  been  built  through  the  farm. 

In  1873,  '^  frame  building  was  erected  for 
the  insane.  These  unfortunates  had  been  kept 
at  the  State  Insane  Asylum  at  Fulton,  but 
were  returned  owing  to  the  crowded  condition 
of  that  institution.  They  were  cared  for  in 
the  temporary  quarters  until  the  completion 
of    Asylum    No.    2.      ^^'hen    that    institution 


burned,  January,  1879,  they  were  again  placed 
in  the  temporary  quarters.  The  necessity  of  a 
permanent  institution  for  the  county  insane 
was  so  pressing  that,  in  August,  1880,  the 
judges  appropriated  $10,000  for  this  ])urpose. 
A  building  with  modern  equipments  and  with 
a  capacity  of  150  patients  was  completed  in 
February  of  i88r.  In  this  building  the  incur- 
ably insane  are  kept.  The  county  still  main- 
tains a  number  of  patients  at  Asylum  No.  2 
considered  curable. 

Improvements  were  made  at  \arious  times 
as  the  necessities  arose  until  to-day  the  county 
has  an  asylum  for  indigent  and  insane  that  is 
both  adequate  and  c<»mfortable. 


City  Hospital. — While  St.  Joseph  has  cared 
for  her  charity  patients  ever  since  she  has  been 
a  city  of  prominence,  her  City  Hospital,  like 
the  Buchanan  County  jail,  is  not  a  thing  to  be 
proud  of.  It  answers  the  purpose  and  that  is 
about  all.  Located  on  the  high  1)luffs,  on  West 
Robidoux  street,  there  is  but  little  to  com- 
mend it,  save  the  air,  of  which  there  is  an 
abundance,  such  as  it  is. 

There  is  no  record  of  a  City  Hospital  prior 
to  1861.  In  that  year  the  city  acquired  the  site 
of  the  present  hospital,  upon  which  stood  an 
old-fashioned  building,  which  had  been  used 
during  the  pioneer  days  as  a  combination  store- 
house and  dwelling.  '  This  building  is  still  in 
existence. 

The  main  hc^spital  building  is  40  feet  square, 
two  stories  high,  built  of  brick.  This  building 
marks  the  struggles  for  an  adequate  City  Hos- 
pital that  has  been  going  on  during  the  past  30 
years.  In  1875  the  Council  set  aside  the  dog 
tax  for  hospital  improvement  and  extension 
purposes.  \\'ith  the  proceeds  of  this  revenue 
a  one-story  brick  building.  20  by  40  feet,  was 
erected  in  1878.     In  1880  a  second  section,  of 


136 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


similar  dimensions,  was  joined  to  the  first.  In 
1890-91  a  second  story  was  placed  over  the 
ground  work  and  other  improvements,  such  as 
water,  lighting-,  etc.,  were  added.  This  build- 
ing served  as  a  hospital  until  early  in  1902, 
when  it  was  converted  into  a  pest  house  during 
an  epidemic  of  smallpox.  The  city  made  a 
contract  with  the  St.  Joseph  Hospital  (in 
charge  of  the  Sisters  of  Charity)  for  the  main- 
tenance of  charity  patients,  which  is  still  in 
force.  The  indigent  sick  who  have  resided  in 
the  city  more  than  one  year  are  by  law  put 
upon  the  county,  and  the  County  Court  also 
has  a  contract  with  the  city  for  the  care  of 
such  patients  as  are  not  chronic,  the  chronics 
being  sent  to  the  county  farm. 


St.  Mary's  Orphan  Asylum. — This  was  an 
asylum  fur  orphaned  boys  only,  conducted  by 
the  Sisters  of  St.  Joseph,  and  which  depended 
entirely  upon  charity  for  its  existence.  It  was 
established  by  Mother  Clements,  a  lady  of  great 
energy  and  business  tact,  in  1879,  at  Corby 
Chapel,  northwest  of  the  city.  In  1880,  the 
late  Francis  Browne  donated  a  substantial 
house  and  40  acres  of  ground,  desirably  lo- 
cated, al)()ut  three  miles  from  the  eastern  city 
limits.  The  institution  wis  al)andoned  in  the 
fall  of  1900.  for  lack  of  support.  The  property 
is  still  in  the  possession  of  the  Sisterhood  of 
St.  Joseph  and  there  is  a  lingering  hope  that 
some  day  the  or])lKmage  may  be  reopened. 


Memorial  Home.  — The  Ladies'  Union 
Benevolent  Association  is  a  charitable  organi- 
zation that  has  accomplished  a  world  of  good 
in  a  i)ractical  Christian  manner  since  its  or- 
ganization in  1874.  TweiUy-fonr  years  ago 
this  society  was  organized  in  a  (|uiet.  u.nosten- 
tatious    way,    by   the   Protestant    Evangelical 


churches  of  St.  Joseph.  The  society  at  the  time 
of  its  organization  had  no  funds  nor  a  home 
in  which  to  shelter  the  unfortunates,  but  it  was 
composed  of  a  band  of  earnest  women  who 
were  willing  to  work.  By  soliciting  contribu- 
tions, by  giving  entertainments  and  by  various 
other  means,  a  little  monev  was  secured,  a 
frame  house  at  the  corner  of  Antoine  and 
Levee  streets  was  rented,  and  the  work  begun. 
From  that  time  to  this  the  association  has  per- 
formed a  charitable  work  that  has  commanded 
the  respect  and  aid  of  the  Christian  and  busi- 
ness elements  of  the  city. 

In  1880  money  was  raised  by  private  sub- 
scription to  i^urchase  what  was  then  known  as 
the  Armstrong  Beattie  homestead,  at  Main  and 
Pouline  streets,  which  property  has  ever  since 
remained  in  the  possession  of  the  association. 
The  sum  of  $3,985  was  raised  by  subscription 
to  purchase  the  Beattie  place,  and  since  that 
time  until  the  new  building  was  erected,  in 
1895,  it  was  twice  remodeled  and  enlarged,  at 
considerable  expense,  to  accommodate  the 
homeless  and  distressed. 

This  institution  was  for  manv  vears  known 
as  the  Home  for  the  Friendless,  but  October 
1,  1895,  it  was  converted  into  the  Memorial 
Home  for  Aged  People,  both  male  and  female. 
Since  the  property  was  purchased,  18  years  ago. 
the  old  family  residence  has  been  supplanted 
by  an  entirely  new  structure,  no  part  of  the 
original  building  remaining. 

In  1896  the  new  building  was  remodeled 
and  enlarged  just  before  it  was  converted  into 
a  home  for  aged  people.  It  is  a  solid,  substan- 
tial brick  building,  heated  by  steam,  supplied 
with  gas  and  water  and  other  modern  con- 
veniences, and  is  comfortable  in  every  respect. 
This  institution  is  supported  largely  by  "The 
Hoagland  Endowment  Fund,"  created  by  the 
late  George  T.  Hoagland  in  honor  of  his  wife, 
and  consisting  of  $25,000.     This  endowment 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


I3J 


is,  however,  not  sufficient  to  entirely  support 
the  institution,  and  the  pul)Hc  contributes  the 
remainder.  In  April  of  IQ04,  Mr.  Hoagiand's 
widow  added  $5,000  to  the  endowment. 


Home  for  Little  JVanderCi's. — The  Home 
for  Little  Wanderers,  located  at  28th  and  Col- 
houn  streets,  in  the  extreme  eartern  portion  of 
the  city,  is  also  controlled  by  the  Ladies'  Union 
Benevolent  Association.  This  home  was 
erected  at  a  cost  of  $25,000,  including  the  site. 
The  home  was  a  gift  to  the  association  from 
Charles  W.  Noyes,  of  the  local  shoe  manufac- 
turing firm  of  Noyes,  Norman  &  Company. 
Mr.  Noyes  spent  most  of  liis  life  in  St.  Joseph 
and  this  section,  but  now  resides  in  Boston. 
The  Home  for  Little  Wanderers  is  a  love  tri- 
bute to  the  memory  of  his  daughter,  who  died 
in  early  womanhood. 

The  gift  was  made  in  1892,  accompanied 
by  an  endowment  of  real  estate  on  North  Third 
street  valued  at  $65,000.  The  building  is  of 
pressed  brick,  three  stories,  steam-heated, 
modern  in  every  respect,  and  has  a  capacity  of 
100  inmates.  The  ground  consists  of  eight  and 
one-half  acres  and  the  site  is  commanding  and 
healthful.  From  the  income  of  the  endowment 
made  by  Mr.  Noyes  the  home  is  supported  en- 
tirely. Children  of  both  sexes,  from  two  years 
up  to  nine,  are  taken  here  and  well  cared  for. 


Home  for  Ex-Slaves. — The  idea  of  a  home 
for  dependent  ex-slaves  originated  in  Charles 
S.  Baker,  an  intelligent  young  negro.  By  per- 
sistent solicitation  both  at  home  and  abroad  he 
and  those  of  his  race  who  were  interested  with 
him  in  the  work  secured  enough  money  to  build 
a  structure  at  17  street  and  Highland  avenue. 
This  was  under  roof,  but  was  destroyed  by  a 
hurricane  in  September  of  1894.  For  a  time 
the  future  of  the  project- seemed  gloomy,  but 


Dr.  P.  J.  Kirschner  came  generously  to  the 
rescue.  In  December  of  1887  he  donated  one- 
half  of  the  purchase  price  of  a  tract  of  two> 
acres,  with  a  substantial  brick  house,  at  24th 
street  and  Mitchell  avenue,  and  gave  the  pro- 
moters long  and  easy  terms  on  the  balance^ 
which  amounted  to  $1,500.  )  The  project 
failed  after  an  experiment  covering  a  period  of 
two  years. 

*     *     * 

Other  Charities. — The  poor  were  always 
well  cared  for  in  St.  Joseph.  Up  to  the  fall  of 
1 897  distress  was  relieved  by  the  County  Court 
and  by  the  mayor.  At  various  times  organi- 
zations have  existed  for,  the  purpose  of  sys- 
tematizing the  charity  work  and  preventing  im- 
positions. For  several  years  there  has  ex- 
isted the  Associated  Charities,  representing  a 
consolidation  of  the  various  societies.  The 
Associated  Charitjes  kept  a  list  of  needy  ami 
relieved  those  found  worthy. 

In  1897  a  State  law  was  passed  authorizing 
the  formation  of  a  Charity  Board.  This  board 
is  composed  of  members  appointed  by  the 
County  Court  and  by  the  mayor,  and  its  busi- 
ness is  the  distribution  of  funds  supplied  by 
the  city  and  county  for  charity.  A  secretary 
is  employed,  whose  duty  it  is  to  investigate  all 
applications  and  prevent  imposition.  Simon 
Stern  has  filled  the  place  of  secretary  since  the 
board  came  into  existence. 

The  Associated  Charities  maintain  a  sew- 
ing room,  where  needy  Vvomen  are  fursished 
employment.  Besides  these  there  are  charita- 
ble organizations  in  nearly  every  church  parish 
in  the  city,  and  there  is  also  a  free  kindergarten, 
maintained  by  the  Mother's  Association.  This, 
is  a  day  nursery  where  working  women  can 
leave  little  children  while  they  go  out  to  employ- 
ment. 

There  is  also  a  rescue  home  for  erring 
women,  conducted  under  the  direction  of  a 
board  of  ministers. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 


PUBLIC  SERVICE  COHPOHATIONS. 

The  Waterworks — Electric  Lighting — Gas  Companies  of  the  Past  and  Present 
— Telephone  Companies — Street  Railways — Omnibus  and  Herdic  Coach  Lines 
— Historical  Facts  Concerning  the  Above  Mentioned  Institutions. 


The  Watcr-JVorks. — In  1875  an  unsuccess- 
ful effort  was  made  to  secure  a  public  water 
system  for  St.  Joseph.  The  matter  was  not 
permitted  to  slumber,  howex-er.  and  the  close 
of  1879  saw  the  project  well  under  way  to 
success.  On  December  i,  1879,  the  Council 
passed  an  ordinance  agreeing-  to  contract  with 
W.  Scott  Fitz,  John  W.  Rutherford  and  their 
associates  for  water-works,  when  these  men 
had  formed  a  corporation  to  build  such  works. 
The  sum  of  $5,000  was  deposited  with  the  city 
treasurer  as  a  guarantee  that  this  company 
Avould  be  formed  and  incorporated  within  10 
days. 

On  December  10,  1879,  ^^^^  Council  passed 
an  ordinance  granting  the  St.  Joseph  Water 
Company  the  right  to  construct  works  on  the 
reservoir  gravitation  plan,  to  lay  mains,  etc. 
The  city  reserved  the  right,  at  its  option,  at  the 
expiration  of  10  years  from  the  date  of  the  ap- 
proval of  the  ordinance,  to  jiurchase  the  water- 
works, including  all  pipes,  attachments,  exten- 
sions, franchises,  etc..  upon  giving  six  months' 
previous  notice  in  writing;  the  city  and  water 
company  each  to  appoint  a  i)erson  and  the  two 
to  select  a  third  to  ai)praise  the  property.     The 


city  contracted  for  1 60  hydrants  for  a  period  of 
20  years,  the  company  agreeing  to  place  10 
additional  hydrants  for  every  mile  of  pipe  to 
be  laid  in  the  future  extension  of  the  service. 
This  contract  was,  as  provided  for  in  the  or- 
dinance, ratified  by  the  people  at  a  special  elec- 
tion, held  on  December  23,  1879,  and  only  four 
votes  were  cast  in  the  negative. 

The  water  company  was  organized  as  fol- 
lows :  W.  Scott  Fitz,  president :  Thomas  J. 
Chew,  Jr..  secretary;  John  \V.  Rutherford, 
chief  engineer.  The  company  agreed  to  ha\e 
16  miles  of  pipe  laid  and  the  system  in  oper- 
ation in  one  year.  One  hundred  acres  of  land, 
some  miles  north  (^f  the  city,  were  purchased 
and  work  was  begun  on  January  4, 1880.  There 
was  but  one  reservoir  at  hrst,  located  on  a  hill 
320  feet  alxnx  the  river  at  low-water  mark, 
and  112  feet  higher  than  any  point  in  St.  Jo- 
seph. The  puiuping  station  was  located  at  the 
river.  The  original  cost  of  the  works  was  es- 
timated at  $300,000,  but  before  they  were  of- 
fered for  acceptance  the  company  had  expended 
$700,000. 

On  January  12,  1881,  the  works  were  ac- 
cepted by  the  mayor  and  Council,  and  placed 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


139 


in  active  service  Theodore  W.  Davis  was 
the  first  superintendent  and  was  succeeded  b}- 
Louis  C.  Burnes,  who  ser\ed  until  the  spring 
of  1897,  ^vhen  he  was  succeeded  by  Charles  H. 
Taylor,  the  present  superintendent.  In  Octo- 
ber of  1889  the  stock  and  franchise  of  the  com- 
pany were  sold  to  the  American  Water-Works 
&  Guarantee  Company  of  Pittsburg,  Pennsyl- 
vania, a  combination  of  capitalists  owning  and 
controlling  the  water  systems  of  31  other  cities. 
The  stockholders  at  tlie  time  of  the  sale  were 
Col.  James  N.  Burnes.  Calvin  F.  Burnes, 
Thomas  J.  Chew.  Jr.,  and  William  M.  Wyeth. 

The  system  has  grown  and  expanded  ma- 
terially since  the  beginning.  The  water  is 
pumped  from  the  river,  through  filters,  to  the 
reservoir  on  the  hill,  and  thence  it  flows  to  the 
city  through  pipes.  South  St.  Joseph  is  sup- 
plied from  a  large  standpipe  on  King  Hill. 

The  period  of  the  city's  contract  with  the 
water  company  expired  in  December  of  1899, 
and  there  was  a  spirited  contest  incidental  to 
the  renewal.  Another  company  bid  for  the 
business,  but  the  old  company  finally  conceded 
to  terms  asked  by  a  joint  committee  of  council- 
men  and  citizens. 


Electric  Li  gluing.— \n  1883  the  St.  Joseph 
Electric  Light  Company,  composed  of  J.  F. 
Bernard.  L.  D.  Tuttle,  Joseph  A.  Corby, 
A.  N.  Schuster  and  Richard  E.  Turner, 
secured  a  franchise  for  stringing  wires 
through  the  streets,  and  erected  a  plant 
at  Fourth  street  and  Mitchell  avenue  for 
the  production  of  electric  light.  Walter 
C.  Stewart,  the  present  city  electrician,  was 
the  superintendent.  Only  arc  lights  were 
furnished,  and  no  attem])t  was  made  at  street 
lighting.  This  plant  was  absorbed  by  the 
People's  Street  Railway.  Electric  Light  &• 
Power  Company,  in  1887.  which  company  had 


a  contract  to  furnish  a  sniall  number  of  arc 
lights  to  the  city.  This  company  introduced 
the  incandescent  light.  It  is  now  known  as 
the  St.  Joseph  Railway,  Light,  Heat  &  Power 
Company  (see  street  railways  in  this  cliapter), 
and  its  plant  is  located  near  the  ri\-er.  between 
Francis  and  Felix  streets. 


Gas  Companies. — In  1856  the  city  went  into 
partnership  with  J.  B.  Ranney  and  others  for 
the  purpose  of  manufacturing  illuminating 
gas.  The  capital  stock  of  the  concern  was 
$50,000,  one-half  of  which  was  owned  by  the 
city.  A  ])lant  was  erected  at  h^ifth  and  An- 
gelique  streets,  in  a  building  now  used  as  a 
stable.  Gas  came  high  is  those  days,  at  least 
to  private  consumers,  who  were  charged  v$5 
per  thousand  cubic  feet. 

The  people  were  soon  sick  of  the  cit}''s  bar- 
gain. The  treasury  being  empty,  the  city's 
stock  in  the  company  was  sold  to  James  M. 
Wilson  for  20  per  cent,  of  its  face  value.  In 
1861  the  interest  of  Ranney  &  Company  was 
sold  under  execution  to  Thomas  B.  Weakly, 
who,  with  James  M.  Wilson,  operated  the 
works  until  1864,  when  Weakly  purchased  the 
interest  of  ^Vilson,  paying  therefor  $8,000. 
Previous  to  this  the  works  were  burned  to  the 
ground,  Init  had  been  rebuilt.  At  this  time 
Weakly  advanced  the  price  of  gas  to  $6  ])er 
thousand  feet  to  private  consumers,  at  Axhich 
price  it  was  held  until  the  purchase  of  the 
works  in  1871  l)y  James  Clements  and  asso- 
ciates of  Detroit,  Michigan,  under  the  name 
of  Citizens'  Gas  Light  Company,  at  the  sum 
of  $50,000.  This  company  at  once  enlarged 
and  improved  the  works  and  secured  the  con- 
tract for  lighting  the  street  lamps,  which  had 
remained  unlighted  for  several  years.  They 
supplied  pri\-ate  consumers  at  v$4.50  per  thou- 
sand feet,  and  afterwards  reduced  the  price  to 


I40 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY  AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


$4.  For  street  lamps  the  city  paid  $30  per 
year  for  each  hght. 

In  1878  the  Mutual  Gas  Light  Company 
came  before  the  city  authorities  and,  through 
their  president,  Charles  H.  Nash,  offered  to 
supply  private  consumers  at  $2.50  per  thousand 
feet  and  the  street  lamps  at  $25  per  annum. 
They  were  awarded  the  contract  and  granted 
franchises  in  the  streets  equal  to  the  other  com- 
pany. The  beginning  of  work  was  but  the 
commencement  of  hostilities  between  the  rival 
companies,  which  finally  resulted  in  the  sale  of 
the  entire  works  and  franchises  of  the  Citizens' 
to  the  Mutual  Gas  Light  Company.  This  com- 
pany was  reorganized  some  }'ears  ago  and 
called  the  St.  Joseph  Gas  &  Manufacturing 
Company  up  to  the  summer  of  1897. 

In  1890  a  franchise  to  lay  gas  mains  in  the 
streets  was  granted  to  the  late  Charles  McGuire 
of  St.  Joseph,  his  heirs  and  assigns.  Upon 
this  was  founded  the  St.  Joseph  Light  &  Fuel 
Company,  with  Samuel  W.  Allerton  of  Chi- 
cago as  president  and  L.  C.  Burnes  of  St.  Jo- 
seph as  vice-president  and  general  manager. 
This  company  manufactured  what  was  called 
"water  gas."  It  was  used  for  illuminating 
purposes  also,  but  required  a  magnesium 
burner,  shaped  like  a  comb,  to  produce  the  de- 
sired result.  The  gas  burned  against  the 
teeth  of  the  burner,  heating  them  to  an  in- 
candescent point  and  producing  a  brilliant 
light.  The  process  was  afterward  changed, 
and  the  gas  was  used  for  illumination  as  the 
ordinary  coal  product.  The  works  of  this  com- 
pany were  located  at  Fourth  and  Cedar  streets. 
There  was  lively  competition,  rates  went  down, 
and  previously  unheard-of  concessions  were 
made  to  consumers. 

In  the  summer  of  1897  jjoth  of  the  existing 
companies  were  absorbed  by  the  St.  Joseph 
Gas  Company,  of  which  Emerson  McMillan 
of  New  York  is  president;  W.  A.  P.  McDonald 


of  St.  Joseph,  vice-president ;  Kerr  M.  Mitchell,, 
general  manager,  and  Ferdinand  Labrunerie, 
secretary  and  treasurer.  This  organization  has 
continued  to  the  present  time. 

In  February  of  1904  the  gas  company  oc- 
cupied a  commodious  pressed-brick  building  of 
its  own,  recently  completed,  at  the  corner  of 
Eighth  and  Francis  streets. 

Since  the  consolidation   of  the  two   com- 
panies, the  price  of  gas  has  been  $1.25  per  thou- 
sand cubic  feet,  with  a  discount  of  25  per  cent. 
on    bills    paid    before    the    loth    day    of    each 
month. 


TclcpJionc  Companies. — Within  a  year  after 
the  first  general  public  exhibition  of  the  tele- 
phone at  the  Centennial  Exposition  in  Philadel- 
phia,  in    1876,   this   iii\enti(jn   was  practically 
applied  in  this  city.     John  Kenmuir,  a  jeweler, 
who   is  generally   remembered,   first   used   the 
telephor  •  in  St.  Joseph.     His  place  of  business 
was  at  No.  509  Felix  street,  where  the  Tootle- 
Lemon  Bank  Building  now  stands,  and  he  con- 
nected   this    with    his    residence   at    No.    121 1 
Frederick  avenue.     In  the  same  year  a  line  was 
strung  that  connected  the  two  Fire  Department 
houses — one  at  the  foot  of  Edmond  street,  and 
the  other  east  of  the  Tootle  Theatre — with  the 
residence  of   W.    B.    McNutt,   wdio  was  then 
chief  of  the  department.     In  February  of  1878. 
another  fire  alarm  line  was  built  from  the  en- 
gine house  to  the  International  Hotel,  at  Eighth 
and  Olive  streets. 

The  St.  Joseph  Telephone  Company, 
a  partnership  consisting  of  John  Kenmuir,  P. 
Lebu  Coombes  and  Joseph  A^  Corby,  was 
formed  in  April  of  1879.  Work  was  begun 
soon  thereafter,  and  on  August  12th  of  the 
same  year  an  exchange,  with  150  subscribers, 
was  opened,  the  central  office  being  in  the  rear 
of  Kenmuir's  jewelry  establishment.     At  about 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


141 


the  same  time  the  Western  Union  Telegraph 
Company  opened  an  exchange  with  about  the 
same  number  of  suliscribers ;  the  central  office 
of  which  was  located  in  the  third  floor  of  what 
.  was  then  known  as  the  Board  of  Trade  Build- 
ing, and  which  is  now  part  of  the  Hotel  Truck- 
enmiller,  on  Third  street.  A  lively  fight  en- 
sued, and  rates  ranged  from  nothing  up  to  $2 
per  month.  This  continued  until  1879,  when 
both  rivals  were  absorbed  by  the  National  Bell 
Telephone  Compan}'  under  the  name  of  St.  Jo- 
seph Telephone  Company.  The  exchange  was 
moved  to  the  third  floor  of  the  Fairleigh  Build- 
ing, at  the  southeast  corner  of  Third  and  Felix 
streets.  In  1882  the  Missouri  &  Kansas  Tele- 
phone Company  purchased  the  system  and 
maintained  its  exchange  in  the  Fairleigh  Build- 
ing until  December  12,  1896,  when  it  was 
moved  into  a  fireproof  building  erected  by  the 
company  on  Seventh  street,  between  Felix  and 
Edmond  streets. 

The  Citizens'  Telephone  Company  was  or- 
ganized in  1893,  the  incorporators  being  C.  M. 
Shultz,  E.  J.  Peckham,  A.  B.  Sowden  and  M. 
M.  Riggs.  A  franchise  was  secured  from  the 
Council,  and  in  1894  an  exchange  was  opened 
in  the  Hughes  Building. 

Judging  from  the  lists,  the  patronage  of  the 
two  companies  seems  to  be  about  equal. 


Street  Railways. — St.  Joseph  has  over  44 
miles  of  street  railway,  operated  by  electricity. 
Like  all  other  public  conveniences  of  this  kind 
that  existed  prior  to  1885,  the  St.  Joseph  street 
railways  were  first  e(|uipped  with  horses  and 
mules. 

The  first  street  railway  line  in  St.  Joseph 
was  built  in  1866  by  Richard  E.  Turner, 
Thomas  J.  Chew,  Jr.,  Arthur  Kirkpatrick,  John 
S.  Lemon  and  others,  and  extended  from  nth 
street  and  Mitchell  avenue  to  Third  and  Felix 


streets.  The  barns  were  located  on  Eighth 
street  near  Seneca.  In  1881  the  line  was  ex- 
tended down  nth  street  to  Atchison  street. 

In  1876  Adolph  Steinacker,  the  Krugs,  Sey- 
mour Jenkins,  Louis  Streckebein  and  others 
built  a  line  from  Market  square  to  New  Ulm 
Park.  In  1880  this  line  was  extended  to  Sixth 
street  and  down  Sixth  to  x\tchison  street.  This 
was  the  best  street  railway  in  the  city,  its 
horses  being  of  a  high  quality  and  its  cars 
being  equipped  with  stoves. 

At  about  the  same  time  that  the  Sprague 
electric  motor  was  being  placed  into 
practical  operation  at  Richmond,  Virginia, 
the  late  Adolph  Steinacker  was  experi- 
menting upon  the  Union  line  with  the 
same  machine.  Electric  cars  were  run 
between  the  power  house  at  Highland  and 
St.  Jose])h  a\enues,  and  New  Llm  Park,  in  the 
fall  of  1887.  In  the  spring  of  1888  they  were 
run  to  Market  square.  The  Union  was  the 
first  electric  line  in  the  West.  It  was  a  horse 
line  from  its  southern  terminus  to  Market 
square,  where  passengers  changed  to  motor 
cars.  The  southern  line  formerly  ran  down 
Second  street  to  Charles,  and  thence  east  to 
Fifth  street. 

The  Frederick  avenue  line  was  built  in 
1878,  when  a  charter  was  granted  to  the  St. 
Joseph  &  Lake  Railway  Company.  The  road 
was  narrow  guage,  and  the  iron  and  rolling" 
stock  had  been  brought  by  August  Kuhn  and 
Charles  A.  Perry  from  Leavenworth,  where  it 
had  been  the  equipment  of  an  unsuccessful 
venture  between  the  city  and  the  State  Peni- 
tentiary. The  line  began  at  Eighth  and  Ed- 
mond streets  and  ran  to  the  end  of  Frederick 
avenue,  where  the  barns  were  located.  The 
company  went  into  bankruptcy  shortly  after 
the  line  opened,  and  was  acquired  by  Thomas 
E.  Tootle,  Joseph  A.  Corby  and  others.  In 
1887  a  franchise  was  secured  to  run  down  Ed- 


«•- 


142 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN    COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


inond  street  to  Market  Square,  in  the  same 
year  both  this  Hue  and  the  Citizens'  Hne  were 
acquired  by  the  People's  Street  Railway,  Elec- 
tric Light  &  Power  Company  (a  corporation 
composed  of  Eastern  capitalists)  and  were  at 
once  equipped  with  electricity. 

In  1888  Charles  W.  Hobson.  Dr.  j.  M. 
Huffman  and  others  built  the  W'yatt  Park  line, 
\\hich  l)eg"an  at  Seventh  and  Edmund  streets 
and  ran  south  on  Seventh  street  to  Olive  street 
and  thence,  as  now,  to  the  power  house  on  36th 
street.  At  the  same  time  the  People's  com- 
pany built  the  Jules  street  line,  which  began  at 
Seventh  and  b>lix  streets,  ran  north  to  Jules, 
and  thence  east.  In  1889  the  People's  company 
built  the  Messanie  street  line.  In  that  year  the 
Wyatt  Park,  the  Messanie  and  the  Jules  street 
lines  were  extended  to  the  New  Era  Exposi- 
tion grounds. 

In  1890  the  People's  company  absorbed  the 
Union  line,  wdiich  was  now  fully  equipped  with 
electricity,  and  also  the  Wyatt  Park  line,  gain- 
ing- control  of  the  entire  street  car  system  of 
St.  Joseph.  The  gap  on  Seventh  street  be- 
tween the  Wyatt  Park  and  the  Jules  street  lines 
was  at  once  filed,  and  a  delightful  trip  could 
be  made  around  what  was  called  the  1)elt. 
People  could  start,  say  at  Seventh  and  Felix 
streets,  and  go  north  and  east  on  the  Jules 
street  line,  pass  through  the  eastern  suburbs 
and  the  ruined  New  Era  Park,  and  return 
through  Wyatt  Park,  to  the  starting  point.  A 
line  was  also  extended  to  Vineyard  Heights, 
located  on  eastern  Mitchell  avenue :  but  neither 
the  belt  line  nor  this  spur  proved  remunerative 
and  were  discontinued. 

The  Citizens'  line  was  extended  to  South 
Park  and  Gladstone  Heights  in  1890,  but  runs 
only  to  South  Park  now.  A  spur  was  run  from 
Frederick  avenue  north  on  22nd  street  to  High- 
land Park  at  about  the  same  time,  and  is  still 
in  operation.     In  January  of  1898  the  Union 


line  was  extended  to  the  Stock  Yards,  over  a 
track  leased  from  the  Atchison.  Topeka  & 
Santa  Fe  Railway  Company.  In  the  following 
year,  upon  the  completion  of  the  viaduct  con- 
necting lower  Sixth  street  with  King  Hill  ave- 
nue, the  line  was  built  from  Atchison  street 
south  on  Sixth  street  and  King  Hill  avenue 
through  South  St.  Joseph  to  the  Stock  Yards, 
and  thence  one  branch  was  built  to  Lake  Con- 
trary and  another  to  Hyde  Valley.  In  1900 
a  line  was  built  from  Francis  street  north  on 
Sixth,  east  to  iith  and  north  to  Grand  ave- 
nue. In  1904  a  line  was  built  south  from  Mes- 
sanie street  through  Wyatt  Park  to  Jackson 
street. 

The  People's  company  was  reorganized  in 
1895  as  the  St.  Joseph  Railway,  Light,  Heat 
&  Power  Company,  being  part  of  the  Harri- 
man  interests.  It  furnishes  electric  light,  elec- 
tric power  and  heats  a  number  of  buildings  in 
the  business  portion  of  the  city  with  steam. 
W.  T.  Van  Brunt  was  manager  for  14  years, 
until  early  in  1903.  when  he  resigned  to 
broaden  his  field  of  activity  in  New  York, 
The  company  acquired  the  ])leasiu-e  grounds 
at  Lake  Contrary  and  developed  them,  build- 
ing a  casino,  swimming  beach,  park,  fair 
grounds  and  making  the  place  a  desirable  sum- 
mer resort.  In  the  summer  of  1901  the  Har- 
riman  holding  was  ac(|uired  b}'  Clark  Brothers 
of  Philadelphia.  John  Donovan  of  St.  Joseph 
was  made  president,  and  John  H.  Van  Brunt, 
who  had  been  superintendent  for  10  years,  suc- 
ceeded his  brother.  W.  T.  Van  Brunt,  as  gen- 
eral manager.  The  company  has  recently  com- 
pleted a  modern  power  house  on  the  river 
front,  and  an  immense  car  barn  at  St.  Joseph 
and  Highland  avenues. 


Omnibus  Line. — In  February,  1859,  upon 
the  opening  of  the  Hannibal  &  St.  Joseph  Rail- 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


143 


road.  Major  Holman  and  Samuel  Jerome 
started  the  St.  Joseph  Omnibus  Line.  In  the 
spring  following-  Col.  John  L.  Motter  and  C. 
D.  Smith  bought  out  the  line  and  built  omni- 
bus stables  near  the  Patee  House.  They  con- 
tinued to  operate  this  line  until  George  W. 
McAleer  bought  out  the  interest  of  J.  L.  Mot- 
ter. The  business  was  conducted  by  these 
gentlemen  for  some  time,  when  Col.  John  L. 
Motter  bought  out  C.  D.  Smith.  Motter  and 
McAleer  ran  the  business  in  partnership  for 
some  time,  wdien  Colonel  Motter  sold  his  in- 
terest to  McAleer.  The  line  subsequently  be- 
came the  property  of  ^^'iUiam  Medaugh,  b}' 
whom  it  was  sold,  in  1867,  to  ^laj.  Thomas 
Christopher.  The  stock  then  consisted  of  five 
omnibuses,  one  carriage,  four  buggies  and  36 
horses.  Smith  Adams  afterwards  became  a 
partner  in  the  omnibus  line  w'ith  Major  Chris- 
topher. Maj.  Joseph  A.  Piner  purchased  the 
line  in  1871  and  associated  with  him  Thomas 
A.  Massey.  Upon  the  death  of  Massey,  Col. 
Elijah  Gates  became  Major  Piner's  associate, 
and  this  firm  continued  until   1894,  when  the 


stock  and  equipment  w^ere  purchased  by  the 
Brown  Transfer  Company. 

;|<  ;i;         >fc 

Hcrdic  CoocJics. — The  Herdic  coaches 
were  intended  for  service  upon  streets  that  had 
no  tramways.  They  were  a  sort  of  carry-all, 
with  seats  along  the  sides,  and  were  quite  suc- 
cessfully operated  in  Eastern  cities.  In  July 
of  1 88 1  a  company  was  established  in  St. 
Joseph  with  Dr.  John  T.  Berghoff  as  presi- 
dent ;  Joseph  A.  Corby  as  secretary,  and  E.  F. 
Mitchell  as  superintendent.  There  were  eight 
coaches  and  56  horses.  There  were  two  lines. 
The  first  ran  from  Market  Square  east  on 
Felix  street  to  Ninth  street,  north  to  Frederick 
avenue,  east  to  13th  street,  south  to  Sylvanie 
street,  east  to  15th  street,  north  to  Edmond 
street,  east  to  17th  street,  and  north  to  Francis 
street,  returning  by  the  same  route.  The  sec- 
ond line  ran  from  Felix  street  north  on  Sixth 
street  to  Hall  street,  east  to  Ninth  street,  north 
to  Powell  street,  and  thence  to  Mount  Mora 
Cemetery.  The  venture  proved  unsuccessful 
and  was  abandoned  after  a  year's  efforts. 


CHAPTER  XVII. 


PUBLIC  BVILDINGS  AND  FEDERAL  SERVICE. 

Buchanan  County's  Three  Court  Houses — The  Court  House  Fire  in  March  of 
1885 — First  Market  House  and  City  Hall  and  the  Present  Structure  — 
Patee  and  Other  Markets — City  Workhouse  and  Central  Police  Station — 
County  Jails  of  the  Past  and  the  Present  Institution — Federal  Building — 
Post  Office — Railway  Mail  Service —  Internal  Revenue  Office  —  Port  of 
Entry — Federal  Court. 


public  buildings. 

Tlic  Three  Court  Houses. — The  first  Court 
House  of  Buchanan  County  was  made  of  logs 
and  stood  at  Sparta.  It  is  yet  in  existence,  be- 
ing used  as  a  granary  upon  the  McCauley  farm, 
which  embraces  the  site  of  Sparta.  The  courts, 
County  and  Circuit,  met  at  the  house  of  Rich- 
ard Hih  and  at  the  house  of  Joseph  Robidoux, 
as  related  before,  up  to  the  summer  of  1841. 
In  January  of  that  year  the  County  Court  or- 
dered that  a  building  l)e  erected  on  lot  i,  block 
I,  in  the  town  of  Sparta,.  This  was  a  log 
house,  containing  two  rooms — one  18  by  20, 
the  other  16  by  18.  The  contract  was  let  to 
Guilford  Moultray,  and  the  building  was  fin- 
ished by  the  following  July.  This  house  served 
more  than  one  purpose,  for,  aside  from  being 
the  "palace  of  justice,"  it  was  also  the  academy 
of  learning,  the  temple  of  worship,  the  forum 
of  the  people,  and  the  opera  house.  It  was 
lighted  by  day  through  two  T2-light  windows 
in  each  room  l)elow,  while  the  second  floor,  a 
half-story,  was  lighted  by  a  6-light  window  in 


each  gable.  When  it  became  necessary  to  use 
the  building  by  night,  as  for  worship  or  enter- 
tainment, tallow  candles  were  used. 

On  November  9,  1842,  the  County  Court 
appropriated  the  sum  of  $6,000  to  erect  such  a 
Court  House  and  Jail,  to  be  l)uilt  at  Sparta,  as 
the  necessities  of  the  community  demanded. 
But  Sparta  never  saw  this  pretentious  struct- 
ure. \Mien  the  new  court  house  was  ])ro\ided 
for,  the  question  of  moving  the  county  seat 
to  Blacksnake  Hills  then  took  formidable 
shape.  As  a  result  of  the  agitation,  Sparta  lost 
and  the  $6,000  was  invested  in  St.  Joseph. 
The  block  occupied  by  the  present  Court  House 
was  the  original  site.  It  was  a  high  hill  that 
had  been  donated  l)y  Robidoux,  and  its  apex 
was  fully  50  feet  above  the  present  grade  of 
Jules  street.  A  brick  house,  of  which  Louis  S. 
Stigers  and  N.  J.  TayltM-  were  the  architects 
and  builders,  was  erected  on  this  hill  fronting 
south.  It  was  a  two-story  building,  the  dimen- 
sions being  50  by  74  feet,  including  a  portico, 
and  the  people  were  quite  proud  of  it.  In  1871 
this  structure  was  condemned  as  unsafe,  after 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


145 


25  years  of  service,  and  in  October  of  that  year 
it  was  vacated.  The  county  offices  were  for  a 
time  located  in  the  parsonage  of  what  had  been 
the  first  Cathohc  Church  in  the  city,  on  the  east 
side  of  Fifth  street,  between  Fehx  and  Francis 
streets.     In  the  summer  of   1873  the  Circuit 


THE  SECOND  COURT  HOUSE 

(which  stood  on  a  hill  on  the  site  occupied  by  the  present 
Court  House.) 

Court,  circuit  clerk's  and  sheriff's  offices  were 
moved  to  Brady's  Hall,  on  Felix,  near  Fourth 
street. 

The  next  Court  House,  of  which  the  pres- 
ent one  forms  a  part,  was  begun  in  1873.  Its 
architect  was  P.  F.  Meagher  and  its  builder 
was  John  DeClue.  The  cost  w^as  $173,000. 
The  corner-stone  was  laid  August  25,  1873, 
the  Masonic  rite  being  performed  by  Capt. 
Joseph  S.  Browne,  acting  grand  master  of  the 
State.  It  was  a  momentous  event  and  the  peo- 
ple entered  into  the  spirit  thereof  with  pride 
and  enthusiasm ;  and  well  they  might,  for  they 
were  laying  the  corner-stone  of  the  grandest 
county  building  in  the  West  at  that  time.  The 
plan,  so  far  as  external  appearances  go,  is  pre- 
served in  the  present  Court  House.  It  had  a 
frontage  of  235    feet  on  Jules   street,   with   a 


depth  of  205  feet.  It  was  of  brick  with  cut-stone 
foundation  and  trimmings.  The  building  was 
completed  in  August,  1876,  though  some  of  the 
county  officers  occupied  rooms  as  they  were 
finished,  as  early  as  January  of  that  year. 

On  the  morning  of  March  28,  1885.  this 
mag'nificent  building  was  severely  damaged  by 
fire,  and  much  Aaluable  pul)lic  property  was 
destroyed.  The  origin  of  the  conflagration  is 
enshrouded  in  mystery.  The  building  was 
heated  bv  stoves  at  that  time,  and  it  is  a  gen- 
erally  accepted  theory  that  from  some  neglect 
or  accident  the  fire  was  transferred  from  either 
a  stove  or  an  ash  receptacle  to  the  floor.  Shortly 
after  3  o'clock  on  the  morning  in  question, 
William  H.  Mitchell,  a  compositor  cm  the 
Gascttc,  was  going  north  on  Fourth  street, 
home  from  his  work.  When  near  Robidoux 
street  he  looked  back  toward  the  Court  House, 
his  attention  having  been  attracted  by  a  crack- 
ling noise,  and  he  saw  smoke  and  flames  issuing 
from  a  window  on  the  north  side  of  the  first 
floor  of  the  west  wing'.  He  gave  the  cry,  which 
was  taken  up  by  persons  within  hearing  dis- 
tance. An  effort  to  reach  the  Fire  Department 
by  telephone  failed  and  there  was  an  unusual 
delay  in  getting  the  alarm  to  all  of  the  stations. 
So  fierce  was  the  fire,  and  such  tremendous 
progress  did  it  make,  that  before  the  first  appa- 
ratus arrived  the  dome  had  collapsed  and 
crashed  into  the  burning  mass.  The  only  thing 
left  for  the  department  to  do  was  the  salvation 
of  the  main  walls,  and  this  was  accomplished 
by  hard  and  heroic  work. 

Aside  from  the  county  offices,  the  building 
was  occupied  for  various  other  purposes.  On 
the  first  floor  were  the  offices  of  the  recorder 
of  deeds,  the  county  C(j1  lector,  the  prosecuting 
attorney,  the  county  clerk,  the  County  Court, 
the  Probate  Court,  assessor  and  public  adminis- 
trator. There  were  also  the  law  offices  of  B. 
R.  \^inevar(l,  Ryan  &  Stewart,  M.  G.  Moran, 


146 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN    COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


A.  D.  Kirke,  \'ories  &  \'ories,  Moss  &  Short- 
ridge,  Judge  Sutherland  and  Pitts  &  Porter. 
The  Latter  Day  Saints  occupied  a  large  room 
for  purposes  of  worship  and  several  rooms 
were  used  for  sleeping  purposes.  On  the  sec- 
ond floor  was  the  Circuit  Court  room  and 
judge's  office,  circuit  clerk's  office,  sheriff's  of- 
fice, Col.  John  Doniphan's  law  office,  jury 
rooms,  etc.  What  is  now  the  Criminal  Court 
room  was  used  as  a  lecture  room  by  the  North-^ 
western  Medical  College,  and  where  the  grand 
jury  room  and  assembly  room  now  are  was  a 
large  concert  hall,  used  by  the  Mendelsohn 
Society. 

Tlie  li^sses  sustained  by  the  lawyers  and 
roomers  were  se\ere,  many  ^•aluable  books  and 
manuscrii)ts  being  consumed.  The  county  lost 
nearly  all  the  i)roperty  that  was  not  in  vaults. 
The  recorder's  office,  which  is  a  vault  in  itself, 
Avas  unharmed,  and  those  records  of  the  county 
clerk,  circuit  clerk.  Probate  Court  and  collector, 
which  were  in  the  \aults,  were  left  intact. 

Twenty-eight  prisoners  were  incarcerated 
in  the  County  Jail,  and  these  were  escorted 
without  delav  by  Sheriff  Carey  and  a  posse  of 
citizens  to  the  City  Hall,  where  they  were 
guarded  until  the  following  day,  when  they 
were  returned  to  their  old  cjuarters,  the  Jail  not 
having  been  damaged. 

There  was  an  insurance  of  $95,500  on  the 
Court  House,  the  adjustment  of  which  began 
as  soon  as  possible.  Quarters  for  the  county 
officers  were  proxided  at  once.  The  Circuit 
Court,  circuit  clerk,  sheriff  and  prosecuting  at- 
torney were  located  in  the  Tootle  Building  at 
Sixth  and  Francis  streets,  and  the  odiers.  ex- 
cept the  recorder,  occupied  a  building  at  the 
corner  of  Second  and  Charles  streets  that  had 
been  used  as  general  offices  by  the  Kansas  City, 
St.  Joseph  &  Council  P>luffs  Railroad  Com- 
pany. 

After  considerable  parleying  with  the  insur- 


ance adjusters,  an  agreement  was  reached 
whereby  the  companies  restored  the  structure. 
R.  K.  Allen  was  aw^arded  the  contract,  and 
Judge  Bernard  Patton  was  employed  by  the 
County  Court  to  superintentl  the  work.  The 
end  of  the  year  1885  saw-  the  Court  House  re- 
stored and  better  equipped,  so  far  as  heat,  iiglit- 
ing  and  either  conveniences  go,  than  before  the 
fire. 


Market  Houses  and  City  Hall. — When 
Joseph  Robidoux  platted  the  original  town  he 
dedicated  half  a  block,  bounded  by  Second, 
b'rancis  and  Edmond  streets,  for  a  Market 
House.  The  space  was  occupied  by  sheds  and 
shanties  until  1853,  "^vhen  the  first  Market 
house  was  built.  This  was  a  brick  structure, 
al)out  50  b}'  50  feet  in  dimension.  The  lower 
floor  was  occupied  as  a  market,  and  all  vendors 
of  fresh  meat  were  compelled  to  locate  therein. 
Grocers  were  prohibited  from  dealing  in  veg- 
etables and  huckstering  was  forbidden  until 
after  market  hours.  I'his  made  the  market  a 
busv  place,  and  the  merchants  located  on  the 
sc[uare  enjoyed  the  best  patronage.  The  upper 
floor  of  the  original  building,  at  the  south  end. 
was  occupied  by  city  officials.  It  w"as  first 
reached  by  an  outside  stairway  on  the  south 
side.  l)ut  when  an  addition  was  built  on  the 
north  a  co\ered  stairway  was  provided. 

Early  in  the  "seventies"  the  building 
showed  signs  of  decay  and  the  owners  of  prop- 
erty on  the  scjuare  began  to  agitate  a  new  Mar- 
ket House.  How"e\er,  there  was  no  money  in 
the  treasur\-  for  such  purpose.  Finally,  in 
1873,  a  phui  was  developed  which  brought 
about  the  desired  result.  The  sum  of  $50,000 
was  subscribed,  for  which  the  city  issued  certi- 
ficates of  indebtedness  bearing  6  per  cent,  in- 
terest. These  were  redeemable  for  city  taxes  at 
the  rate  of  one-fifth  of  the  face  per  year. 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


147 


THE  FIRST  MARKET  HOUSE  AND  CITY  HALL. 


The  present  City  Hall  and  Market  House 
is  the  result  of  this  subscription.  The  building 
Avas  begun  in  the  fall  of  1873  and  finished  in 
July  of  1874.  The  plans  were  by  Boettner 
&  Stigers  and  the  work  by  R.  K.  Allen,  at  a 
cost  of  $50,000.  It  was  the  most  pretentious 
building  of  its  kind  in  the  West  at  that  time. 
The  upper  floor  was  a  public  hall  and  was  for- 
mally opened  by  St.  Patrick's  Benevolent  So- 
ciety with  a  grand  ball  on  July  18.  1874.  It 
served  as  such  until  1888.  The  two  upper 
floors  were  then  remodeled  and  the  engineer, 
city  clerk  and  boiler  inspector  were  quartered 
on  the  third  floor,  where  a  commodious  council 
chamber  was  also  provided. 

Patee  ]\[arket  House  was  built  in  1859 
upon  a  square  dedicated  in  Patee's  Addition. 
There  was  never  much  of  a  market  there,  ex- 
cept for  hay.  wood  and  country  produce.     At 

8 


different  times  the  building  has  been  occupied 
by  butchers  and  produce  dealers.  The  city 
scales  are  located  there. 

There  was  formerly  a  live  stock  market 
located  at  Se\enth  and  iMessanie  streets,  where 
the  Central  Police  Station  now  stands,  where 
there  was  also  a  pul)lic  weighmaster.  This  was 
abandoned  in  1890. 

In  1874  an  eft'ort  was  made  to  establish  a 
public  market  on  North  Sixth  street,  and  the 
citv  erected  a  frame  building  in  the  center  of 
the  street,  south  of  the  City  Brewery.  This  was 
not  a  success,  howe\-er.  and  the  building  was 
torn  down  in  1884. 


]]'orkJioiisc. — Prior  to  August.  1855.  the 
city's  prisoners  were  kept  in  a  room  in  the  old 
County  Jail,  which  stood  on  the  hill  with  the 


148 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


old  Court  House.  They  were  in  charge  of  the 
street  commissioner  and  were  generally  worked 
on  the  highways  by  him.  In  1855  the  first 
Workhouse  was  established  in  a  two-story 
stone  building  upon  the  site  of  the  present  insti- 
tution. In  1884  the  stone  building  was  torn 
down  and  the  Workhouse  of  today  erected. 

Up  to  1855  the  street  commissioner  fed  and 
cared  for  the  prisoners.  The  first  superintend- 
ent of  the  Workhouse  was  Anton  H.  Dalhoff, 
who  served  1885-88.  He  was  succeeded  by 
Peter  Reiplinger,  1890;  the  next  superintend- 
ent was  Charles  Johnson,  who  served  1890-94, 
and  was  succeeded  by  William  H.  •  Dersch, 
1894-96.  In  1896-98,  Bert  Martin  was  super- 
intendent, and  he  was  succeeded  by  Andrew 
Arnell,  who  was  succeeded  by  Henry  Raidt, 
who  served  until  April,  1904,  when  he  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Gottlieb  Bandel. 

The  i)risoners  were  worked  upon  the  streets 
up  to  1 89 1,  when  this  practice  was  abolished. 
There  are  sheds  in  the  enclosure  about  the 
workhouse  where  the  prisoners  are  employed  at 
breaking  rock,  which  is  used  by  the  engineer's 
department  in  the  repair  of  streets.  The  super- 
intendent of  the  Workhouse  receives  a  salary 
of  $600  per  animm  and  15  cents  per  meal  for 

feeding  prisoners. 

^     ^     ^ 

Ceulral  Police  Station. — A  holdover  cell 
was  provided  in  the  Workhouse  for  city  pris- 
oners held  for  trial,  during  the  early  days  and 
up  to  1891.  It  was  necessary  to  walk  or  cart 
them  to  police  headc|uarters  at  the  City  Hall, 
where  the}'  were  searched  and  booked ;  thence 
they  were  marched  or  carted  through  the 
streets  to  the  Workhouse  to  be  detained  until 
the  following  morning,  when  they  were 
marched  back  to  the  City  Hall  for  trial.  Those 
who  were  sentenced  to  the  W^orkhouse  were  re- 
turned to  that  institution  after  court.  One  of 
the  first  steps  of  the  Board  of  Police  Commis- 


sioners, when  the  department  had  been  reor- 
ganized under  the  metropolitan  system,  was  in 
the  direction  of  a  Central  Police  Station.  In 
1890  the  Council  appropriated  $10,000  for  the 
present  central  station,  located  on  the  site  of 
the  old  hay  scales  at  Seventh  and  Messanie 
streets.  With  this  money  the  walls  and  roof 
was  built.  In  the  following  year  the  Council 
appropriated  $10,000  additional,  and  the  build- 
ing was  completed  and  occupied  in  November, 
1891.  It  is  one  of  the  most  substantial  and 
best  appointed  buildings  of  its  kind  in  the 
West. 

^  ^  ^ 

County  Jail. — The  people  of  Buchanan 
County  have  no  cause  to  be  either  proud  or 
satisfied  with  the  County  Jail.  It  is  an  anti- 
cjuated,  unsafe,  unsanitary  pile,  that  would  be 
considered  about  the  "proper  thing"  in  Spain, 
where  they  are  retrogressive  and  cruel. 

The  first  Jail  was  at  Sparta,  and  was  built 
of  logs.  It  was  a  small  affair  and  stood  in  the 
public  square  of  the  first  county  seat.  The 
structure  survixed  the  town,  but  was  after- 
wards destroyed  Ijy  fire.  It  was  used  as  a 
hold-over.  Prisoners  of  importance  were 
taken  to  Liberty  jail  pending  trial.  When  the 
first  Court  House  was  built  in  St.  Joseph,  a 
brick  Jail  and  residence  for  the  jailor  was  also 
constructed.  This  did  service  until  the  night 
of  January  21,  1850,  when  it  was  destroyed 
by  fire.  Another  was  built,  which  was  replaced 
by  the  present  institution  in  1859.  At  that 
time  the  new  Jail  was  considered  strictly  mod- 
ern; but  the  architect  who  designed  it  had 
fearful  and  wonderful  ideas  of  ventilation  and 
sanitation.  It  is  a  house  within  a  house,  the 
inner  structure  being  of  brick  and  cement,  and 
the  outer  of  brick  and  stone.  The  inner  room 
contains  two  tiers  of  cells,  ventilated  only 
through  grated  doors,  each  having  a  capacity  of 
four  prisoners,  though  six  have  been  crowded 


"^ 


Central  Police  Station 


Corby's  Mill 

(On  One  Hundred  and  Two  River.     Built  in  18Vi  by  the  late 
John  Corby) 


Y.  M.  C.  A.  Building 


U.  S.  Post  Office  and  Custom  House 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


151 


in.  Until  a  few  years  ago  the  bnilding-  was 
heated  by  stoves,  each  cell  having  a  small  box 
stove,  wood  being  the  fnel.  Aronnd  the  cell 
house  there  is  a  corridor,  now  heated  by  steam 
and  lighted  and  ventilated  by  windows.  For- 
merly there  were  no  sanitary  arrangements, 
bnt  now  there  is  sewerage,  with  water,  etc.,  in 
the  corridor.  Quarters  for  female  prisoners 
were,  up  to  a  year  ago.  in  the  upper  tier  of 
cells,  and  there  was  a  woeful  absence  of  hu- 
manity and  decency  in  the  arrangement.  At 
the  present  time  the  female  prisoners  are  kept 
on  the  second  floor,  in  quarters  formerly  occu- 
pied by  the  sheriff  for  a  residence. 

The  Jail  has  long  been  a  farce  and  grand 
juries  have  condemned  it  regularly  for  35 
years.  Escapes  have  been  so  numerous  that 
they  are  no  longer  regarded  as  news  by  the  re- 
porters. Criminals  ridicule  it  and  hold  it  in 
contempt.  Humanity  protests  and  appeals  to 
the  people,  but  th.e  people  do  not  respond  with 
sufficient  force  to  be  of  effect.  Such  was  the 
case  in  November  of  1896,  and  upon  three 
occasions  since  then,  when  a  proposition  for 
a  new  Jail  was  voted  down  at  the  general  elec- 
tion ;  and  the  grim  old  pile  remains,  notwith- 
standing the  condemnation  of  grand  juries, 
building  inspectors  and  humanitarians.  And 
it  were  idle  to  speculate  upon  its  future. 


Federal  Building. — The  first  appropria- 
tion made  for  a  Federal  Building  in 
St.  Joseph  was  made  by  Congress  Au- 
gust 5,  1882,  while  the  late  Nicholas  Ford 
was  our  Representative.  Of  the  original  ap- 
propriation, $50,000  was  set  aside  to  purchase 
a  site  and  inaugurate  the  work  of  construction. 
After  a  long  delay  the  lots  at  Eighth  and  Ed- 
mond  streets  were  purchased  for  $11,750. 
There  was  more  or  less  objection  by  down- 


town merchants,  who  argued  that  the  proposed 
location  was  too  far  removed  from  the  busi- 
ness district  of  the  city.  The  growth  of  busi- 
ness since  that  time,  however,  has  been  in  the 
direction  of  the  Federal  Building  until  now  it 
is  conceded  that  excellent  judgment  was  dis- 
played in  selecting  the  site. 

When  the  late  James  N.  Burnes  entered 
Congress,  he  took  up  the  work  of  pushing  the 
completion  of  the  Custom  House  where  his 
predecessor  in  office  had  left  off.  Congress- 
man Burnes  secured  a  second  appropriation 
of  $40,000  July  7.  1884,  and,  on  March  3, 
1885,  tvnother  appropriation  of  $50,000.  Au- 
gust 4,  1886,  Congressman  Burnes  succeeded 
in  getting  $50,000  additional,  and  March  3, 
1887.  the  last  appropriation  of  $127,000  for 
the  building  proper  was  made.  August  29, 
1890,  Congressman  R.  P.  C.  Wilson  obtained 
an  appropriation  of  $3,600  for  the  purchase  of 
a  clock  for  the  tower  of  the  building,  making- 
the  total  appropriations  $345,000. 

Seven  years  were  occupied  in  building  the 
Custom  Plouse.  there  being  much  vexatious 
delay,  as  is  usual  in  cases  of  this  kind.  The 
principle  loss  of  time  was  caused,  however,  by 
the  sinking  of  the  building  at  the  northwest 
corner.  Much  of  the  masonry  had  to  be  taken 
down  and  rebuilt  after  the  foundation  had 
been  properly  strengthened.  The  latter  part 
of  1890  saw  the  building  completed,  and  it 
was  occupied  in  January  of  1891. 

Since  then  it  has  become  toO'  small  and 
Congress  has  appropriated  $125,000,  through 
Representative  C.  F.  Cochran,  for  an  exten- 
sion to  the  south  as  far  as  Charles  street  and 

east  to  the  alley. 

*     *     * 

The  public  lil^raries.  City  Hospital  and 
other  public  buildings  are  treated  under  differ- 
ent headings. 


152 


HISTORY  OF    BUCHANAN   COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


FEDERAL   SERVICE. 

Three  branches  of  the  United  States  gov- 
ernment are  represented  in  St.  Joseph — the 
Postoffice  Department,  the  Department  <>t  Jus- 
tice and  the  Treasury  Department.  All  of 
these  are  quartered  in  the  Federal  lUiilding 
at  Eighth  and  Edniond  streets,  which  is  the 
most  imposing  public  edifice  in  the  cit\'. 

Postoffice. — In  1840  a  postoffice  was  estab- 
lished at  Blacksnake  Hills,  with  Jules  (".  Robi- 
doux  in  charge.  The  office  continued  under 
this  name  until  1843,  ^vhen  it  was  changed 
to  St.  Joseph,  the  town  having  meanwhile  been 
platted  and  christened.  Robidoux,  George 
Brubaker  and  Capt.  Frederick  W.  Smith  were 
the  postmasters  under  the  old  name,  and  Cap- 
tain Smith  was  the  first  postmaster  under  the 
new  name.  The  mails  were  not  \ery  heavy  in 
those  days,  coming  mostly  by  boat  from  the 
outer  world  and  by  pony  and  stage  from  neigh- 
l)oring  points.  Captain  Smith  wore  an  old- 
style,  bell-crowned  beaver  hat,  which  he  used 
as  the  repository  of  postal  matter.  Fie  was 
personally  acquainted  with  every  inhabitant  of 
the  village  and  it  was  his  custom  to  deliver  mail 
to  parties  as  he  met  them.  Thus  it  will  be  seen 
that  St.  Joseph  had  free  postal  delivery  long- 
before  many  of  the  now  jiopulous  cities  of  the 
West  were  even  thought  of. 

William  B.  Almond  succeeded  Captain 
Smith  in  November  of  1844  and  served 
until  September,  1845,  ^vhen  he  was  suc- 
ceeded by  William  Ir\in,  who  served  until 
September,  1848.  Joseph  W'yatt  then  filled 
the  office  for  one  year,  and  was  succeeded  by 
Jesse  Holladay.  who  served  until  September, 
1849,  ^vhen  he  was  succeeded  by  Henry  S. 
Creal  in  January  of  1852.  Charles  Dutszchky 
was  appointed  Ai)ril.  1833.  Henry  Clark  was 
appointed  .\pril,  1854,  but  did  not  take  the 
office.    Henry  Slack  was  appointed  in  the  same 


month  and  held  the  office  until  October,  1855, 
wlien  William  A.  Davis  was  appointed.  Mr. 
Davis  invented  the  railway  postal  car.  The 
office  was  made  presidential  in  March  of  1858 
and  Mr.  Davis  continued  as  postmaster  until 
April  of  1 86 1.  He  was  succeeded  by  John  L. 
Bittinger,  who  served  until  March,  1865,  and 
was  succeeded  by  William  Fowler. 

In  March  of  1866  George  H.  Hall  was  ap- 
l)ointed.     This  appointment  was  rescinded  and 
James  M.  Graham  was  appointed  October  31, 
1866.     However,  the  friends  of  Colonel  Flail 
]jre\ailed  at  W^ashington  and  he  was  given  the 
office  in  the  following  month,  holding    it  until 
Ajiril    of    1867,    when    he    was    succeeded    by 
Joseph  J.   Wyatt,   who   served   until   .\pril   of 
1869,     James   M.   Hunter   served    from   that 
time  until  March  of  1871  and  was  succeeded 
by  Philip  Arnholdt,  who  served  until  February 
of  1875.     John  Severance  held  the  office  until 
May  of  1876,  and  was  succeeded  by  Dr.  Rob- 
ert   P.    Richardson,    who    ser\ed   only   a    few- 
months,  however.      He   was  succeeded   in   the 
following  August   by   James  T.    Beach,    who 
served  until  December  of  1877,  and  was  suc- 
ceeded  by    Capt.    Francis    M.    Posegate,    who 
served  until  June  of   188 1.     Frank  M.  Tracy 
succeeded  Captain   P(jsegate  and   served   until 
April  of  1885.  when  he  was  succeeded  by  John 
S.  Evans,  who  served  four  years  and  was  suc- 
ceeded by   Charles   F.   Ernst.      Captain   Ernst 
i   died   August   2.    189J.      From  that  time  until 
Sei)tember  30th,   the  office   was  in  charge  of 
Deputy  Postmaster  Jo.seph   S.   Browne,   when 
Fr.'uik  M.  .\tkinson  took  charge,  served  four 
years,  and  was  rea])pointed  for  another  four- 
year  term  in  April  of  1897.    He  was  succeeded 
by   Arthur   W.   Brewster,    the  present   incum- 
bent. 

As  long  as  the  business  of  the  city  centered 
in  the  neighborhood  of  Market  square,  the 
Post  Office  was  located  in  close  proximity  to 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


153 


that  point.  For  many  years  it  was  in  the  Beattie 
Bank  Building,  on  the  east  side  of  Second 
street,  north  of  Francis.  Under  Hunter  and 
Arnholdt  it  was  located  in  the  Constable  Build- 
ing, on  Fourth  street,  south  of  Edmond.  Under 
Severance,  Richardson.  Beach,  Posegate  and 
Tracy  it  was  located  at  the  southeast  corner  of 
Second  and  Francis  streets.  Under  Tracy,  in 
1 88 1,  the  office  was  moved  to  a  room  under 
Tootle's  Opera  House,  the  theater  at  that  time 
occupying  the  upper  floors  only.  The  business 
of  the  office  soon  outgrew  the  accommodations 
here,  and  under  Tracy,  also,  the  first  floor  of 
the  new  Tootle  Building,  east  of  the  Opera 
House,  was  taken.  The  office  remained  there 
until  January  26,  1891,  when,  under  Postmas- 
ter Ernst,  it  was  removed  to  its  present  per- 
manent quarters  in  the  Federal  Building. 
There  is  also  a  postoffice  in  South  St.  Joseph ; 
one  at  Inza,  near  South  St.  Joseph ;  one  in 
South  Park ;  and  three  sub-stations  in  the  city 
proper. 


Raihvay  Mail  Scn'icc. — The  St.  Joseph  di- 
vision of  the  railway  mail  service,  which  is  em- 
braced in  the  Seventh  Division  of  the  service, 
has  headquarters  in  the  Federal  Building. 
There  are  65  clerks  employed  under  the  direc- 
tion of  the  chief  clerk  of  the  St.  Joseph  office, 
2/  of  whom  live  in  this  city.  The  lines  under 
the  jurisdiction  of  the  St.  Joseph  office  extend 
into  Illinois,  Iowa,  Kansas  and  Nebraska,  and 
many  of  the  clerks  employed  under  the  office 
here  live  in  Quincy,  Council  Bluffs,  Grand  Isl- 
and, Atchison,  LeaA'enworth  and  other  towns. 


Internal  Revenue  Office. — A  branch  of  the 
Sixth  Internal  Revenue  District  of  Missouri 
has  been  located  in  the  Federal  Building  since 
its   completion.      A    deputy,   appointed  by   the 


collector  at  Kansas  City,  is  in  charge,  and  liis 
jurisdiction  extends  over  17  counties:  Buch- 
anan, Atchison,  Holt,  Nodaway,  Andrew. 
Clinton,  DeKalb,  Gentry,  Worth,  Harrison, 
Daviess,  Caldwell,  Livingston,  Grundy,  Mer- 
cer^ Putnam  and  Sullivan.  There  are  in  this 
division  700  retail  liquor  dealers,  including 
druggists  who  have  permits  to  sell  whisky  and 
alcohol.  In  addition  there  are  32  wholesale 
liquor  dealers,  three  breweries,  seven  fruit  dis- 
tilleries, five  grain  distilleries  and  52  cigar 
manufactories.  The  business  of  all  these  con- 
cerns with  the  Internal  Revenue  Department 
is  transacted  through  the  St.  Joseph  office  and 
consequently  it  makes  a  vast  amount  of  work. 
The  deputy  has  a  stamp  clerk,  a  ganger  and  a 
storekeeper  to  assist  him. 

In  1862  St.  Joseph  was  the  headquarters 
of  the  Third  Revenue  District  of  Missouri,  em- 
bracing all  of  the  State  lying  north  of  the  Mis- 
souri River,  and  including  44  counties.  The 
taxes  collected  amounted  to  about  $1,000,000 
per  annum.  Charles  B.  Wilkinson  was  the 
first  collector.  In  1865  W.  A.  Price  of  Savan- 
nah was  collector  and  A.  N.  Schuster  was  his 
deputy.  In  1869  Mr.  Schuster  was  appointed 
collector,  the  district  then  embracing  25  coun- 
ties. Schuster  served  until  1871.  The  boun- 
daries of  the  district  were  subsequently 
changed  and  it  was  called  the  Sixth.  Schuster 
was  succeeded  by  Gen.  James  Craig,  and  he  by 
W.  Zi  Ransom.  In  1875,  when  Charles  B. 
\\'ilkinson  was  collector  a  second  time,  irregu- 
larities and  complications  were  discovered  in 
the  office.  Wilkinson  went  to  Australia  and 
was  brought  back,  tried  and  convicted  of  em- 
bezzlement on  a  technicality,  the  irregularities 
having  been  traced  to  some  of  his  employees. 
Such  w^as  the  nature  of  the  case,  however,  that 
after  a  careful  examination  of  the  same  by  the 
United  States  Attorney  General  and  the  Presi- 
dent, a  full  pardon  was  granted  Wilkinson. 


154 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY  AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


R.  T.  Van  Horn  of  Kansas  City  having 
meanwhile  been  appointed  collector,  the  prin- 
cipal office  was  moved  to  Kansas  City,  and 
Christ.  Alast,  deceased,  was  made  deputy  at  St. 
Joseph.  John  G.  AValker  of  Savannah  fol- 
lowed Mast,  and  then  came  Charles  Groscup, 
H.  G.  Getchell,  John  Harnois  and  John  B. 
Rodgers.  The  latter  w^as  succeeded  in  No- 
vember, 1898.  by  William  AI.  Shepherd,  who 
in  turn  was  succeeded  by  George  L.  Jewett, 
whose  successor,  George  C.  Toel.  is  still  in 
charge. 


Port  of  Entry. — St.  Joseph  was  made  a 
port  of  entry  January  of  1883.  through  the 
efforts  of  Congressman  James  N.  Burnes. 
Maj.  James  Hunter  was  the  first  surveyor  and 
he  had  for  his  deputy  James  T.  Beach.  John 
Vanderlinde  was  appointed  surveyor  January 
30,  1887,  and  was  succeeded  by  James  M. 
Limbird.  who  was  appointed  March  21,  1890. 
It  was  during  his  term,  in  January,  1891,  that 
the  customs  office,  which  had  ])reviously  been 
quartered  in  store  buildings,  moved  to  the  Fed- 


eral Building.  President  Cleveland  appointed 
Clay  C.  Macdonald  surveyor  of  the  port  in 
1893,  and  Captain  Macdonald  was  succeeded 
March  2,  1898,  by  William  L.  Buechle,  who 
served  until  1901,  when  he  was  succeeded  by 
John  Albus,  the  present  incumbent. 


Federal  Court. — Through  the  efforts  of 
Congressman  James  N.  Burnes  a  branch  of 
the  Western  Division  of  the  United  States  Cir- 
cuit Court  was  established  at  St.  Joseph.  TliG 
first  session  of  this  court  was  held  at  the  Court 
House  on  April  4,  1887.  with  the  late  Arnold 
S.  Krekel  as  judge.  Channing  M.  Dunham 
was  appointed  clerk.  Judge  Krekel  and  Mr. 
Dunham  both  died  in  the  summer  of  1888. 
Judge  John  F.  Phillips,  the  present  judge,  was 
appointed  to  succeed  Judge  Krekel  and  ap- 
pointed Charles  M.  Thompson  as  clerk.  Mr. 
Thompson  served  until  October  of  1891,  when 
he  was  succeeded  by  Charles  S.  Pollock,  who 
remained  until  his  death,  and  was  succeeded 
by  C.  C.  Colt,  the  present  incumbent. 


CHAPTER  XVin. 


MILITARY  HISTORY. 

Buchanan  County  and  St.  Joseph  in  War — The  War  With  Mexico  —  Doniphan's 
Expedition — The  Oregon  Battalion  —  The  Civil  War — A  Mob  Destroys  the 
United  States  Flag — Some  of  the  Men  who  Went  South  and  Distinguished 
Themselves  as  Soldiers — The  Union  Regiments  That  Were  Organized  in  St, 
Joseph,  Their  Officers  and  W^here  They  Fought — The  "Paw-Paw"  Militia, 
Its  History  and  How  IT  Came  Into  Existence — The  Missouri  Militia  After 
THE  War — The  National  Guard  of  Missouri — The  War  With  Spain  and  the 
Companies  that  Went  from  St.  Joseph  to  the  Fourth  Regiment  of  Missouri 
Volunteers. 


Having  reviewed  the  political  history  of 
Buchanan  County  and  St.  Joseph,  and  touched 
incidentally  upon  commercial  and  social  pro- 
gress, it  is  deemed  proper,  at  this  point,  to  make 
a  digression  and  to  consider  the  various  war 
periods.  The  War  with  Mexico,  the  Civil 
War  and  the  late  struggle  with  Spain  will  be 
touched  upon  as  far  as  they  are  related  to  the 
people  of  this  county. 

During  the  month  of  May,  1846.  Governor 
Edwards  called  for  volunteers  to  join  the  Army 
of  the  W'est  in  an  expedition  to  Santa  Fe  under 
command  of  Gen.  Stephen  \\'.  Kearny.  Gen- 
eral Kearny  was  the  father  of  the  late  Charles 
\y.  Kearny,  of  St.  Joseph,  and  the  uncle  of 
Gen.  Phil  Kearny.  A  number  went  from  here, 
among  them  Willard  P.  Hall,  who  was  then  a 
candidate  for  Congress.  Mr.  Hall  left  a  law 
practice  and  the  campaign  to  take  care  of  itself 
and  joined  the  First  Regiment  of  Missouri 
Cavalry  as  a  private.     This  regiment  assem- 


bled at  Fort  Leavenworth  and  elected  as  its 
colonel  Alexander  W^  Doniphan  of  Liberty, 
who  had  also  enlisted  as  a  private.  The  regi- 
ment went  with  Colonel  Kearny  as  far  as 
Santa  Fe.  From  that  point  its  operations  be- 
came known  as  "Doniphan's  Expedition,"  an 
achievement  that  is  famous  in  history,  and  that 
is  frequently  compared  with  the  military  feats 
of  Xenophon,  Hannibal  and  the  first  Napoleon. 
The  entire  Army  of  the  West,  at  the  begin- 
ning of  the  campaign,  numbered  1,658  men. 
The  army,  composed  of  dragoons  and  cavalry, 
marched  across  the  plains  in  detachments,  the 
first  leaving  Fort  Lea\'en worth  on  June  29th, 
and  the  last  on  July  6,  1846.  They  rendez- 
voused at  a  famous  trading  post  on  the  Arkan- 
sas River,  in  Colorado,  the  present  site  of  Fort 
Lyon,  known  then  as  Bent's  Fort.  After  rest- 
ing several  days  the  reunited  forces  proceeded 
south  across  the  Raton  mountains  through 
the  Raton  pass  and  entered  the  city  of  Las 


156 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


A^egas  without  opposition  on  August  15th. 
The  alcalde  and  all  other  citizens  of  the  place 
took  the  oath  of  allegiance  to  the  United  States. 
Here  Colonel  Kearnv  received  his  commission 
as  general,  forwarded  by  messenger  from 
Washington. 

Learning  that  .\rniii(j.  the  (iovernor  of 
New  Mexico,  had  fortified  Apache  Pass, 
through  which  led  tlie  road  to  Santa  Fe,  and 
was  occupying  it  with  a  considerable  force. 
General  Kearny  marched  to  meet  him.  in  the 
expectation  of  battle.  But  at  his  approach  the 
Mexicans  retired  without  offering  resistance, 
and  the  army  went  through  the  pass  and  on  to 
Santa  Fe,  which  was  occupied  unopposed  on 
August  18,  1846. 

General  Kearny  at  once  proceeded  to  or- 
ganize a  provisional  government  for  the  ^lexi- 
can  State,  the  capital  of  which  he  held.  To 
Colonel  Doniphan  and  to  A\Mllard  P.  Hall  was 
assigned  the  duty  of  constructing  and  formu- 
lating laws  for  the  newly  acquired  territory. 
They  were  given  quarters  in  the  "palace,"  as 
the  residence  of  the  Governor  of  New  Mexico 
has  always  been  called,  and  went  to  work,  each 
with  four  clerks  and  interpreters,  in  the  room 
in  which  Gen.  Lew  Wallace  wrote  "Ben  Hur'' 
a  third  of  a  century  afterward.  The  result  of 
their  labors  is  known  as  the  "Kearny  Code," 
which  forms  an  important  constituent  of  the 
territorial  laws  of  New  Mexico  to-day. 

It  was  while  thus  engaged  that  Willard  P. 
Hall  was  notified  by  Colonel  Doniphan,  who 
had  received  dispatches,  that  he  had  been 
elected  to  Congress  over  Judge  Birch  of  Platts- 
burg. 

On  September  26th,  General  Kearny  start- 
ed with  his  column  of  regulars  for  California, 
leaving  Colonel  Doniphan  in  command  of 
Santa  Fe.  On  September  28th  Gen.  Sterling 
Price  arrived  in  Santa  Fe,  followed  by  a  force 
of    1,700  volunteers  from  Missouri.     Colonel 


Doniphan,  who,  at  his  own  request,  had  been 
ordered  to  join  General  Wool  in  Chihuahua, 
was  preparing  to  move  south,  when  an  order 
reached  him,  sent  back  by  General  Kearny,  to 
make  a  campaign  against  the  Navajo  Indians, 
who  had  been  attacking  Mexican  villages  on 
the  Rio  Grande.  Turning  his  authority  as 
Go\*ernor  of  New  Mexico  over  to  General 
Price.  Colonel  Doniphan  at  once  proceeded  to 
execute  General  Kearny's  order. 

The  Navajos  were  at  that  time  a  powerful 
tribe,  numbering  some  17,000,  and  inhabited 
what  is  now  Northeastern  Arizona.  They  had 
long  been  the  terror  and  scourge  of  the  civil- 
ized inhabitants  of  New  Mexico.  Colonel  Don- 
iphan divided  his  forces,  dispatching  Major 
Gilpin  with  200  men  northwest  into  San  Juan 
country,  while  he  himself,  with  the  remainder 
of  his  regiment  marched  to  Albuquerque  and 
thence  west  up  the  Rio  Puerco  to  its  head- 
waters. The  Navajos  were  encompassed  and 
surrounded  by  this  movement  and  made  a 
treaty  in  which  they  bound  themselves  to  cease 
their  depredations  and  become  friends  of  the 
United  States. 

On  December  14,  1846,  Colonel  Doniphan 
commenced  his  march  to  Chihuahua.  His 
route  lay  through  a  barren  desert  of  ninety 
miles,  known  as  the  Jornata  del  Mucrto  (Jour- 
ney of  the  dead).  No  water  is  to  be  found  the 
entire  distance.  Over  this  plain  Colonel  Doni- 
phan successfully  marched  his  troops  in  de- 
tachments, each  requiring  about  30  hours  in 
the  passage,  and  occupied  the  town  of  D(Mia 
Ana  without  resistance. 

Leaving  half  his  regiment  here  to  guard  the 
river  crossing,  Colonel  Doniphan  pushed  south, 
and  at  Brazito  met  a  Mexican  force  from  Chi- 
huahua that  had  advanced  to  oppose  him.  A 
sharp  skirmish  followed  in  which  the  Mexi- 
cans were  routed  and  followed  to  El  Paso, 
which  was  captured  with  its  military  supplies. 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


157 


In  the  enem}'"s  baggage  here  taken  were 
found  dispatches  imparting  the  information 
that  General  Wool,  instead  of  proceed- 
ing west  to  Chihauhua.  had  gone  south 
to  join  General  Taylor  at  Monterey.  Col- 
onel Doniphan  was  therefore  confronted 
with  the  alternative  of  returning  to  Santa 
Fe  or  marching  1,200  miles  through 
a  hostile  country  to  Monterey  to  effect 
a  junction  with  Wool.  He  decided  to  go  on 
and  sent  back  for  artillery.  In  response  he 
was  joined  by  a  Missouri  battalion  of  artil- 
lery and  by  the  Laclede  Rangers  of  St.  Louis, 
increasing  his  force  to  about  i.ooo  men  with 
six  pieces  of  artillery. 

Before  him  lay  the  city  of  Chihuahua,  rich, 
populous  and  protected  by  a  strong  garrist>n. 
Colonel  Doniphan  marched  south  without  seri- 
ous opposition  to  the  pass  of  Sacramento.  16 
miles  north  of  the  city  of  Chihuahua,  which 
the  Mexicans  had  fortified  and  where  they 
were  then  awaiting  his  coming  with  4.200 
men.  cavalry  and  artillery.  The  Mexican 
flank  was  protected  by  a  deep  precipitous  ravine 
difficult  of  passage. 

The  following-  incident  was  related  by  the 
late  Francis  Carroll  Hughes,  of  Agency  town- 
ship, who  was  Colonel  Doniphan's  c^uarter- 
master  sergeant.  Doniphan  had  not  slept  dur- 
ing the  night  before  the  battle  of  the  pass  and 
was  seated  in  front  of  his  tent  early  in  the 
morning  of  February  28.  1847.  The  men  had 
not  slept  much  either  and  were  seated  about 
the  camp  fires  talking.  AMien  Sergeant 
Hughes  approached  his  commander,  Colonel 
Doniphan  requested  him  to  go  about  among  the 
men  and  ascertain  what  they  were  talking 
about.  Doniphan  had  serious  doubts  of  the 
result  of  the  impending  engagement :  in  fact 
he  expected  the  worst,  for  the  odds  were  over- 
Avhelmingly  against  him. 


"What  are  they  talking  al)out.  sergeant?" 
he  a.sked  eagerly  when  Hughes  returned. 

"\\niy.  colonel."  said  Sergeant  Hughes, 
''they  are  talking  about  the  massacre  of  the 
Alamo  and  cursing  the  Mexicans." 

Doniphan's  face  lit  up  at  this,  and  slapping 
his  hands  upon  his  knees,  he  jumped  up  and 
exclaimed  prophetically,  "By  heaven,  sergeant, 
we  are  going  to  win !" 

Thus  inspired.  Colonel  Doniphan  gave  the 
order  tn  adwrnce  as  soon  as  possible.  He 
crossed  the  ra\ine  above  mentioned,  under  the 
fire,  with  his  mounted  troops,  and  on  the  other 
side  was  met  bv  the  Mexican  cavalrv,  which 
was  repulsed.  Then  he  ordered  a  counter 
charge,  which  was  successfully  made,  and 
drove  the  Mexicans  from  the  field.  He  cap- 
tured 1 1  pieces  of  artillery.  40  prisoners  and 
the  enemy's  baggage,  and  entered  the  city  of 
Chihuahua  in  triumph.  The  Mexican  loss 
was  300  killed  and  wounded,  while  Doniphan's 
loss  was  one  killed  and  eight  wounded. 

Reports  were  sent  to  Generals  Taylor  and 
Wood  and  the  march  to  join  the  former  at 
Monterey  began.  This  expedition,  in  a  hos- 
tile country,  far  from  any  base  of  .supplies,  had 
to  rely  wholly  upon  its  own  resources  for  ex- 
istence, exposed  equally  to  the  attacks  of  the 
Mexicans.  A\hose  country  they  were  invading, 
and  of  the  predatory  bands  of  Indians  which 
roamed  over  Northern  Mexico.  0\'er  arid 
plains,  through  mountain  passes,  in  which  Mex- 
ican guerrillas  lay  in  ambush,  and  through  fer- 
tile valleys  as  well,  the  expedition  continued 
its  triumphal  march,  defeating  and  dispersing 
all  who  opposed  it.  until  on  the  first  of  j\Iay. 
1847.  't  mo\-ed  into  Saltillo  with  banners  fly- 
ing, ^ind  joined  Taylor. 

But  General  Taylor  ^vas  not  prepared  to 
utilize  these  reinforcements.  There  were  re- 
ports of  a  change  of  commanders  in  ^Mexico 


158 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY  AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


and  all  operations  Avere  at  a  standstill.  Col- 
onel Doniphan's  troops  remained  with  Taylor 
abont  one  month,  when,  their  terms  of  enlist- 
ment having  expired,  and  there  being  no  pros- 
pect of  active  operations  at  an  early  date,  he 
marched  his  command  to  Brazos  de  Santiago 
and  embarked  for  New  Orleans,  where  the 
men  were  mustered  out. 

From  the  beginning  to  the  end  of  the  cam- 
paign the  forces  under  Colonel  Doniphan  had 
lived  wholly  upon  their  own  resources.  Until 
they  reached  New  Orleans  they  had  not  seen 
a  paymaster,  quartermaster  or  commissary, 
save  as  these  posts  were  discharged  by  the  reg- 
imental officers.  As  may  be  imagined,  the  men 
after  such  a  campaign  were  a  motley  crowd 
as  to  raiment.  They  were  in  rags,  except  so 
far  as  they  had  supplemented  their  original 
uniforms  with  articles  of  ^Mexican  costume 
acquired  on  the  march. 

From  New  Orleans  to  their  homes  in  Mis- 
souri the  progress  of  Colonel  Doniphan's  com- 
mand was  a  continuous  ovation.  The  expedi- 
tion indeed  had  been  a  wonderful  one.  In  13 
months  the  command  had  marched,  mainly  in 
a  hostile  country,  3,600  miles  by  land  and 
traveled  "27500  miles  by  water.  On  his  arrival 
in  ^Missouri  Colonel  Doniphan  received  the 
well-earned  brevet  of  brigadier-general. 

Willard  P.  Hall  did  not  participate  in  the 
campaign  beyond  Santa  Fe.  The  late  Charles, 
A.  Perry,  whose  name  is  prominently  identi- 
fied with  the  history  of  St.  Joseph,  was  the 
sutler  of  Colonel  Doniphan's  regiment,  but  did 
not  get  beyond  Santa  Fe.  Francis  Carroll 
Hughes,  Colonel  Doniphan's  quartermaster- 
sergeant,  recently  died  at  an  advanced  age  in 
Agency  township.  Andrew  Tracy,  who  is  still 
a  resident  of  St.  Joseph,  was  with  Doniphan 
through  the  entire  campaign.  Aside  from  Gen- 
eral Hall  there  were  only  two  others  from 
Buchanan    County    with    Doniphan.       These 


were  Joel  Ryan,  who  died  in  Doniphan  County, 
and  \^ernell  Thompson,  who  afterward  went 
to  California.  Hughes  went  from  Clinton 
County  and  Perry  and  -Tracy  from  Platte. 
Ryan  and  Vernell  enlisted  under  Sterling" 
Price  and  were  transferred  to  Doniphan  at 
Santa  Fe. 

Buchanan  Count}-  also  sent  a  contingent 
to  join  Gen.  Sterling  Price,  whose  expedition 
to  New  Mexico  followed  that  of  General 
Kearny  and  relieved  Colonel  Doniphan  at 
Santa  Fe,  as  related  above.  Many  also  went 
as  teamsters.  Among  those  now  residing  in 
St.  Joseph  who  went  under  Price  is  Samuel 
D.  Gann,  who,  how-ever,  enlisted  from  Platte 
County.  The  late  Isaac  N.  Brooks  and  his 
brothers  Bride  and  Virgil  were  with  Price,  too. 
as  were  also  Dr.  Gray  and  his  son,  of  the  low  er 
part  of  the  county. 

In  the  spring  of  1847  Governor  Edwards 
called  for  a  battalion  of  five  companies  for 
service  on  the  Indian  frontier,  and  the  routes 
to  Santa  Fe  and  Oregon,  to  protect  traders 
and  emigrants.  Lieut. -Col.  L.  E.  Powell,  of 
St.  Charles,  organized  the  battalion,  among- 
the  companies  being  one  formed  at  St.  Joseph. 
Our  company  was  officered  by  Robert  M.  Stew- 
art, captain;  Henry  Smith,  ist  lieutenant; 
Howell  Thomas,  2nd  lieutenant;  John  Searcy^ 
3rd  lieutenant.  The  battalion  was  formed  at 
Fort  Leavenworth.  Reside  Colonel  Powell 
there  were  the  following  officers  :  Dr.  S.  Todd. 
St.  Joseph,  adjutant;  James  McDow^ell,  St. 
Joseph,  sergeant-major:  Capt.  Stewart  Van 
Vliet.  quartermaster ;  Frank  Warmcastle.  At- 
chison Countv,  commissarv  of  subsistence. 
The  late  Gen.  James  Craig  commanded  a  com- 
pany raised  in  Holt  County.  Captain  Stewart 
was  stricken  with  rheumatism  at  Fort  Leaven- 
worth and  returned  home.  After  faithfully 
performing  the  mission  upon  which  it  was 
sent,    doing'  business   over   a   vast   region   of 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


159 


country  between  the  Missouri  River  and  the 
Rocky  Mountains,  the  Ijattalion  retiu-ned  home 
and  the  men  were  mustered  out  late  in  the  fall 
of  1848. 


After  the  A\'ar  with  Mexico,  interest  in 
military  matters  lagg-ed.  In  1853,  the  Robi- 
doux  Grays  existed,  under  command  of  Capt. 
Bela  M.  Hughes.  In  i860  the  Fourth  Military 
District,  in  which  St.  Joseph  was  located,  was 
commanded  by  Col.  M.  Jeff  Thompson,  and 
the  First  Battalion,  consisting  of  three  compa- 
nies, under  Maj.  F.  W.  Smith,  was  organized 
in  St.  Joseph.  Company  A,  "Jackson  Guards," 
was  commanded  by  Capt.  Reuben  Kay.  Com- 
pany B,  "Emmett  Guards,"  was  commanded 
by  Capt.  T.  J.  Rafferty.  Company  C,  Ger-* 
man  Rifles,"  was  commanded  by  George 
Landrv. 


The  Civil  War  period  was  in  some  respects 
the  most  momentous  in  the  history  of  the  com- 
munity. Buchanan  County  was  settled  largely 
by  people  who  had  come  from  the  Southern 
States  and  the  fact  that  over  2,000  slaves,  val- 
ued at  $1,500,000.  were  owned  here  will  read- 
ily explain  why  there  was  a  strong  feeling 
against  abolition  on  the  part  of 'a  considerable 
portion  of  the  community.  In  the  election  of 
i860.  Bell  and  Everett,  the  Presidential  candi- 
dates representing  the  remnants  of  the  old 
Whig  and  Know-Xothing  parties,  under  the 
name  of  the  Constitution-Union  party  re- 
ceived 1,287  votes;  Stephen  A.  Douglas,  rep- 
resenting that  wing  of  the  Democratic  party 
which  opposed  secession  and  the  interference 
of  the  National  government  with  the  local  af- 
fairs an.d  institutions  of  any  State,  received 
1,226  votes;  John  C.  Breckinridge,  represent- 
ing that  wing  of  the  Democratic  party  known 


as  strict  State's  Rights  men,  received  614 
votes,  Abraham  Lincoln,  the  Republican  can- 
didate, received  452  votes,  of  which  number 
410  were  cast  in  the  city  of  St.  Joseph. 

On  February  18,  1861,  an  election  was  held 
to  choose  three  delegates  to  the  convention 
which  was  to  decide  the  course  of  Missouri 
upon  the  cjuestion  of  secession  or  loyalty.  Ex- 
Governor  Robert  M.  Stewart,  Willard  P.  Hall 
and  Robert  W.  Donnell  were  elected.  The 
first  two  were  strong,  outspoken  Union  men. 
while  the  latter  sympathized  with  the  South. 
Public  sentiment  was  fairl)-  reflected  in  the 
vote  for  these  delegates. 

Prominent  among  the  local  followers  of 
Governor  Jackson,  who  had  declared  that  the 
destiny  of  all  slave-holding-  States  was  alike, 
were  M.  Jeff'.  Thompson,  Alonzo  W.  Slayback. 
J.  H.  R.  Cundiff,  then  editor  of  the  Gaccttc, 
and  others.  A  delegation  from  St.  Joseph  as- 
sisted in  the  sacking  of  Liberty  arsenal  and  a 
portion  of  the  arms  and  military  equipments 
there  taken  were  brought  here  and  secreted 
in  cellars.  The  "Emmett  Guards"  and  the 
"Jackson  Guards"  were  disbanded,  there  being' 
a  strong  division  of  sentiment.  Capt.  John  C. 
C.  Thornton  and  Capt.  Reuben  Kay  then 
formed  companies  of  Jackson  sympathizers 
and  went  into  camp  near  the  Patee  House. 

Excitement  now  ran  high  in  St.  Joseph 
and  there  was  great  uneasiness,  as  threats  had 
been  uttered  against  the  loyalists,  those  who 
had  voted  for  Lincoln  being  especially  unpop- 
ular with  the  Southern  sympathizers.  At  tliis 
time  an  incident  occurred  which  hastened  the 
impending  crisis.  John  L.  Bittinger,  a  promi- 
nent Republican,  wdio  had  been  appointed 
postmaster  by  President  Lincoln,  raised  the 
United  States  flag  over  the  Post  Office,  which 
was  then  located  in  a  building  on  the  east  side 
of  Second  street,  just  north  of -Francis.  Th.is 
incensed  the  Southern  sympathizers  and  was 


i6o 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY  AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


construed  l)v  the  military  companies  as  a  direct 
afifront  to  them.  One  morning  in  May,  1861. 
several  da}'s  after  the  flag  had  been  raised,  a 
mob  collected  at  Market  square  and  an  angry 
discussion  of  the  affair  took  place.  Colonel 
Thompson,  who  was  then  engaged  in  the  real 
estate  business  with  Thomas  Harbine.  opposite 
the  Post  Ofiice.  went  down  and  addressed  the 
mob,  denouncing  the  postmaster's  course,  but 
counseling  moderation.  Then,  as  if  seized  by 
a  sudden  impulse,  he  did  the  exact  opposite. 
Proceeding  to  the  rear  of  the  Post  Office  build- 
ing, he  ascended  the  roof  l)y  a  shed,  and  when 
his  associates  saw  him  again  he  had  torn  the 
flag  from  its  pole  and  was  waving  it  to  the  mob 
on  Market  square  and  excitedly  blowing  a  tin 
horn.  The  mob  charged  up  Second  street  and 
swarmed  upon  the  roof  to  join  Colonel  Thomp- 
son. The  flag  was  torn  to  shreds,  the  pole  was 
broken  off  and  carried  in  triumphant  proces- 
sion by  the  mob  to  the  ri\er,  where  it  was  de- 
molished and  cast  into  the  water.  No  resist- 
ance was  offered  to  this  piece  of  violence  and 
the  frenzied  rabble  had  clear  field. 

A  contingent,  headed  by  Alonzo  W.  Slay- 
back,  proceeded  to  Turner  Hall,  where  the 
United  States  colors  were  also  displayed.  Sev- 
eral members  of  the  Turn-Verein,  guarded  by 
Robert  Bradshaw,  saved  the  flag  there  by  tak- 
ing it  down  in  the  face  of  danger.  Rebel  flags 
were  raised  in  various  parts  of  the  city. 

As  a  result  of  this  outburst,  a  company  of 
United  States  dragoons,  under  command  of 
Captain  Sully,  was  sent  here  to  protect  loyal 
citizens.  The  dragoons  broke  up  the  camp 
near  the  Patee  House  and  the  State  troops 
scattered. 

Colonel  Thompson  joined  the  Confederacy 
and  rose  to  the  rank  of  brigadier-general.  He 
was  known  as  the  ''Swamp  Fox,"  and  his  ca- 
reer in  the  great  struggle  is  now  a  part  of  the* 
nation's  historv. 


Capt.  John  C.  Landis  had  secretly  formed 
a  company  for  the  South.  In  July  of  1861,  he 
had  the  Liberty  arsenal  arms  and  ammunition 
secretly  loaded  into  wagons,  covered  with  hay, 
and  taken  through  the  Federal  camp  in  the 
daytime  to  avert  suspicion.  Outside  of  the 
city  Captain  Landis'  company  recei\ed  them 
and  carried  them  successfully  to  Price's  army, 
then  encamped  near  Springfield.  This  was 
the  only  company  that  went  to  the  South  from 
St.  Joseph.  The  others  who  fought  on  that 
side  went  singly  or  in  small,  unorganized 
squads.  Among  these  was  A.  ^^^  Slayback, 
mentioned  abo\e,  who,  after  the  battle  of  Lex- 
ington, was  elected  colonel  of  a  cavalry  regi- 
ment and  served  under  Kirby  Smith.  He  was 
killed  some  years  ago  by  John  A.  Cockrell, 
then  the  editor  of  the  St.  Louis  Post-Dispatch. 
Captain  Landis  fought  at  Corinth,  Champion 
Hills  and  Vicksburg,  where  he  surrendered 
and  was  exchanged.  Subsequently  he  com- 
manded a  Ijattery  and  surrendered  at  the  close 
of  the  war  with  the  Army  of  the  Gulf. 

Elijah  Gates  went  out  as  a  private  in  a 
company  formed  at  Easton  and  joined  Gov- 
ernor Jackson  in  the  summer  of  1861.  He 
served  with  distinction  at  Lexington  and  Elk- 
horn,  also  at  Corinth,  was  promoted  step  by 
step  for  bravery  and  retired  only  after  the 
guns  had  been  silenced.  He  came  out  a  brig- 
adier-general, but  left  an  arm  upon  the  battle- 
field. 

A  regiment  to  join  Price  at  Lexmgton  was 
organized  from  Buchanan,  Andrew,  Nodaway 
and  Atchison  counties,  in  August  of  1861. 
John  Saunders  was  colonel,  J.  H.  R.  Cundiff,, 
lieutenant-colonel,  and  J.  C.  C.  Thornton,  ma- 
jor. These  troops  fought  heroically  under 
Colonel  Green  at  Lexington.  Thornton's  men 
rolled  a  bale  of  hemp  before  them  as  they  as- 
cended the  hill  to  attack  the  Union  breast- 
w^orks.    The  bullets  did  not  penetrate  the  hemp 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


i6i 


bales  and  the  cannon  balls  only  bounced  from 
them  to  the  ground.  Thus  they  reached  and 
took  the  entrenchments. 

It  is  estimated  that  between  i,6oo  and 
2,000  men  "went  South"  from  Buchanan 
County  during  the  war.  As  there  are  no  rec- 
ords to  refer  to,  it  is  impossible  to  give  details 
of  -their  achievements  in  the  field.  Reuben 
Kay,  of  St.  Joseph,  was  in  command  of  a  com- 
pany in  the  Confederate  service,  as  was  also 
Thomas  R.  Penick,  a  brother  of  Col.  William 
R.  Penick,  who  was  an  extreme  Union  man. 
The  late  John  S.  Tutt.  county  assessor,  lost  a 
leg  at  the  battle  of  Corinth.  John  Kemper, 
son  of  Simeon  Kemper,  also  a  captain,  was 
killed  in  battle,  as  was  also  George  Baxter,  an 
attorney,  who  went  from  St.  Joseph  and  joined 
"Stonewall''  Jackson.  John  R.  Boyd,  another 
attorney  of  St.  Joseph,  was  killed  at  Independ- 
ence. Sidney  Cunningham,  who  had  taught 
in  the  public  schools  of  St.  Joseph,  joined  John 
Morgan,  was  with  that  leader  throughout  his 
career  and  escaped  capture  by  swimming  the 
Ohio  River.  Ephraim  Kelly,  of  the  county, 
commanded  a  battery  under  General  I'rice  and 
also  distinguished  himself.  It  will  be  impos- 
sible to  state  more  in  this  brief  work  concern- 
ing the  sons  of  Buchanan  County  who  fought 
and  suffered  and  gave  their  li\-es  for  the  cause 
that  was  lost.  But  there  is  no  douljt  about  the 
valor  and  the  heroism  of  these  men,  nor  of  the 
loyalty  and  patriotism  of  those  who  lived  to  see 
the  nation  reunited  and  prosperous. 

Matters  grew  worse  instead  of  Ijetter  in 
St.  Joseph  after  the  arrival  of  the  dragoons. 
These  were  supplanted  by  the  Second  Iowa 
Infantry  under  Colonel  Curtis.  This  regiment 
remained  from  June  until  August,  1861.  In 
September,  die  i6th  Illinois,  under  Colonel 
Smith,  was  here  for  a  short  time.  This  regi- 
ment and  the  52n(l  Illinois  returned  and  spent 
the   winter   oi    1861-62   in   camp   on    Prospect 


Hill.     Some  of  the  breastworks  erected  there 
are  still  in  existence. 

Early  in  September  of  1861.  St.  Joseph 
was  visited  by  a  Confederate  regiment,  under 
Boyd  and  Patton.  These  troops  were  on  their 
way  South  from  the  upper  counties  and  re- 
mained in  the  city  several  days,  levying  tribute 
and  helping  themselves  to  whatever  they  fan- 
cied. There  was  a  reign  of  terror  during  their 
stay,  beside  which  the  ordinary  run  of  local 
dissension  was  mild  and  welcome. 

Following  them,  and  before  the  arrival  of 
the  Illinois  troops,  came  ]\Iajor  Cranor  and  a 
battalion  of  raw  militiamen  from  the  Grand 
River  country.  These  remained  only  a  short 
time  and  created  much  amusement  by  their 
grotesque  awkwardness.  They  soon  learned 
how  to  fight,  however. 

In  the  spring  of  1862  Benjamin  F.  Loan 
of  St.  Joseph  was'  appointed  brigadier-general 
and  placed  in  command  of  Northwestern  Mis- 
souri with  headquarters  at  St.  Joseph.  In  the 
fall  of  that  year  he  was  put  into  active  service 
!  in  an  effort  to  run  the  bushwhackers  from  the 
;  central  part  of  the  State,  and  finally  took  com- 
I  maud  of  the  Jeft'erson  City  district,  where  he 
remained  until  after  he  was  elected  to  Con- 
gress. On  his  staff  were  the  following  from 
Buchanan  County  :  John  Severance,  major  and 
aide-de-camp :  Joseph  Penny,  major  and 
quartermaster ;  James  M.  Wilson,  major  and 
aide-de-camp :  Nicholas  J.  Schlupp.  lieutenant 
and  aide;  Dr.  R.  P.  Richardson,  brigade  sur- 


geon. 


General  Loan  was  succeeded  by  Brig.-Gen. 
Willard  P.  Hall  in  the  fall  of  1862.  as  com- 
mander of  the  Seventh  ^Military  District,  which 
embraced  Buchanan  and  Platte  counties.  He 
remained  until  February,  1864,  when,  as  Lieu- 
tenant-Governor, he  succeeded  Governor  Gam- 
ble, who  had  died.  On  General  Hall's  staff 
were:     Silas  Woodson,  colonel  and  inspector- 


1 62 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN    COUNTY  AND   ST.    JOSEPH 


general ;  Jonathan  M.  Bassett,  colonel  and  in- 
spector; Allen  P.  Richardson,  colonel  and  aide- 
de-camp  ;  Mordecai  Oliver,  colonel  and  aide-de- 
camp; Thomas  J.  Chew,  Jr.,  major  and 
quartermaster;  Dr.  William  Bertram,  major 
and  brigade  surgeon;  John  L.  Bittinger,  major 
and  aide-de-camp;  James  Hunter,  major  and 
aide-de-camp;  Peter  W.  Fredericks,  lieutenant 
and  inspector. 

Col.  John  F.  Williams  of  the  Ninth  Cav- 
alry was  in  charge  of  the  district  after  General 
Hall.  In  the  spring  of  1864,  Gen.  Clinton  B. 
Fisk  was  in  command  of  the  forces  in  this 
county  and  remained  until  he  was  succeeded 
by  Col.  Chester  Harding,  in  the  fall. 

In  the  winter  of  1864-65  Gen.  James  Craig 
was  in  command.  On  General  Craig's  staff 
were  these  from  the  neighborhood :  Isaac  B. 
Halsey,  major  and  aide-de-camp;  E.  S.  Castle, 
major  and  aide-de-camp. 

Col.  John  Pinger  was  in  command  in  the 
spring  of  1865,  and  when  the  year  closed  Wil- 
liam R.  Penick  was  in  command  of  the  Mis- 
souri militia  in  this  section  as  brigadier-gen- 
eral. 

Among  other  citizens  of  St.  Joseph  and 
the  county  who  held  general  staff  positions  are 
the  following:  John  F.  Tyler,  colonel  and 
aide-de-camp  to  General  Scofield  ;  James  Rains- 
ford,  major  and  assistant  aide-de-camp  on  the 
staff  of  General  Guitar.  William  Kemper, 
major  and  quartermaster  on  the  staff 
of  General  Guitar.  George  H.  Hall,  brother 
to  Governor  Hall  and  afterward  mayor 
of  St.  Joseph,  also  rose  to  the  rank  of  briga- 
dier-general, as  did  also  Col.  Chester  Harding 
and  Robert  Bradshaw. 

Maj.  William  M.'  Albin  was  provost  mar- 
shal under  General  Loan,  Jonatnan  M.  Bas- 
sett and  Silas  Woodson  under  Generals  Will- 
ard  P.  Hall  and  Guitar.  General  Bassett  was 
also  under  General  Fisk,  and  was  followed  by 


Captain   Hardin,    Captain    Walser   and    Arm- 
strong Beattie. 

St.  Joseph  was  a  prominent  base  of  mili- 
tary operations  during  the  Ci\il  \\'ar  and  a 
number  of  regiments  were  organized  here. 
In  June,  of  1861,  the  13th  Regiment,  Missouri 
Volunteers,  was  formed,  of  home  guard  bat- 
talions, under  Major  Everett  Peabody,  Maj. 
Robert  T.  Van  Horn  and  ]Maj(^r  Berry.  The 
regiment  was  employed  in  guarding  a  portion 
of  the  Hannibal  &  St.  Joseph  Railroad  and 
upon  garrison  duty,  until  ordered  to  Lexing- 
ton, in  September.  Colonel  Mulligan,  who 
commanded  at  Lexington,  surrendered  to 
Sterling  Price  on  September  16.  1861,  who 
paroled  the  officers  of  the  13th  and  released 
the  men  upon  their  oaths.  Exchanges  were 
subsequently  effected  and  the  regiment  was 
reorganized  as  the  25th  Regiment,  Infantry, 
Missouri  Volunteers,  with  Everett  Peabody 
as  colonel,  R.  T.  Van  Horn  as  lieutenant-col- 
onel, James  E.  Powell  and  Fred  C.  Nichols  as 
majors,  and  Dr.  J.  T.  Berghoff  as  surgeon. 
There  were   10  companies  and  the  aggregate 


strensfth    of    the 


regmient 


was    about    600. 


Among  those  from  St.  Joseph  who  held  com- 
missions were  Capt.  Joseph  Schmitz,  Capt.  B. 
F.  Buzard.  Capt.  Robert  C.  -Bradshaw,  Capt. 
Joseph  Thompson,  Lieut.  Litt  R.  Lancaster 
and  .Lieut.  Augustus  Salzman.  In  1862  the 
regiment  was  sent  to  General  Grant  at  Pitts- 
burg Landing  and  was  brigaded  in  McKean's 
l:irigade,  Prentiss'  division.  It  participated  in 
the  battle  of  Shiloh,  losing  \ery  heavily  in 
killed  and  wounded,  among  the  former  Colonel 
Peabody  and  Major  Powell.  Chester  Hard- 
ing, Jr.,  was  appointed  colonel.  In  the  advance 
upon  Corinth  the  regiment  was  constantly  on 
picket  duty  or  engaged  in  the  construction  of 
earthworks.  During  the  summer  of  1862  the. 
reeiment  constructed  a  chain  of  forts  south 
and  west  of  Corinth.     It  was  ordered  to  Mis- 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


163 


souri  in  1862,  for  the  purpose  of  recruiting, 
but  on  its  arrival  at  St.  Louis  was  sent  to 
Pilot  Knob,  Missouri.  Subsequently  it  was 
assigned  to  General  Patterson  and  became  a 
part  of  the  Army  of  Southeast  Missouri. 
Upon  returning  to  Iron  Mountain  in  1863,  it 
was  ordered  to  St.  Joseph  and  actively  em- 
ployed in  clearing  the  district  of  Northwest 
Missouri  from  bushwhackers  until  June,  when 
it  was  sent  to  New  Madrid,  where  it  recon- 
structed the  fortifications  and  constituted  the 
garrison  of  the  post.  In  November,  of  1863, 
it  was  consolidated  with  the  Engineer  Regi- 
ment of  the  West. 

Under  Governor  Gamble's  call  for  42,000 
volunteers  for  six  months'  service,  August  24, 
186 1,  William  M.  Albin  directed  the  forma- 
tion of  three  companies  of  infantry  at  St. 
Joseph.  These  were  mustered  into  service  on 
September  19,  1861,  as  the  First  Battalion, 
under  Major  Albin,  and  assigned  to  guard 
duty  and  scouting  in  Gentry,  Worth,  Andrew. 
Buchanan  and  DeKalb  counties ;  also  attached 
to  General  Prentiss'  river  expedition.  The  bat- 
talion was  never  in  any  general  engagement, 
but  had  many  skirmishes  with  the  enemy,  kill- 
ing a  number  and  taking  o^•er  200  prisoners. 
The  officers  were:  \\'illiam  M.  Albin,  major; 
John  M.  Sullivan,  adjutant;  Thomas  Evans, 
•commissary.  Compan}'  A  had  48  men.  James 
Stockton  was  captain,  Philip  Huggins  ist  lieu- 
tenant and  Alex.  R.  Stockton  2nd  lieutenant. 
Company  B  had  54  men,  under  Capt.  Horace 
Hunter,  with  Jackson  Dye  and  Isaac  Phillips 
as  lieutenants.  Company  C  had  43  men,  under 
Capt.  Henry  B.  Rust,  with  Edwin  N.  Storms 
and  John  Ray  as  lieutenants. 

Joseph's  battalion  of  six  months'  militia 
was  also  organized  in  St.  Joseph  in  September 
of  1 86 1.  It  was  commonly  known  as  the 
'"Third"  and  was  also  engaged  in  scout  duty. 
It  was  mustered  out  February  11,  1862.    Peter 


A.  Joseph  was  major,  R.  B.  Linville  adjutant, 
George  W.  H.  Landon  surgeon,  Willis  M. 
Slierwood  quartermaster  and  Samuel  Rosen- 
blatt commissary.  There  were  four  companies. 
Capt.  John  Pinger  commanded  Company  A, 
64  men,  with  John  Watson  and  Henry  Kelling 
as  lieutenants.  Company  B,  Capt.  William 
Drumhiller  and  Lieuts.  Elezier  S.  Castle  and 
Aaron  ^\'iddle,  had  84  men.  Company  C,  64 
men,  was  under  Alex.  McLaren  and  Frederick 
Downey.  Company  D,  54  men.  was  under  Capt. 
D.  H.  David  and  Lieuts.  Christian  Cook  and 
Thurston  Chase. 

The  Fourth  Cavalry,  Alissouri  State  Alilitia, 
was  organized  in  St.  Joseph,  April  28.  1862, 
with  eight  .companies,  and  two  companies  \\  ere 
afterwards  added.  George  H.  Hall  commanded 
as  colonel,  William  M.  Albin  as  lieutenant- 
colonel,  George  W.  Kelly  as  senior  major, 
Douglass  Dale  as  junior  major  and  Lieuts. 
Joseph  K.  Robinson  and  David  Bonham.  Jr., 
as  battalion  adjutants.  In  1863  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Albin  was  succeeded  by  Lieut. -Col. 
Walter  King.  The  regiment  did  service  in 
Southwestern  Missouri  and  was  attached  to 
General  Brown's  brigade,  taking  part  in  the 
battles  of  Springfield,  Marshall.  Huntsville, 
Arkansas,  and  in  many  skirmishes.  Colonel 
Hall  was  made  brigadier-general.  The  regi- 
ment remained  in  service  until  1865. 

The  Fifth  Cavalry  Regiment,  Missouri 
State  Militia,  was  also  organized  in  April  of 
1862.  There  were  10  companies.  The  regi- 
mental organization  was  as  follows:  William 
R.  Penick,  colonel;  Philip  A.  Thompson, 
lieutenant-colonel ;  William  Drumhiller  and 
Thomas  B.  Biggers,  majors;  Lyman  W.  Dens- 
more,  adjutant;  Josiah  C.  Spring,  commissary; 
Joel  H.  Warren,  Henry  Douglass  and  Henry 
Frasse,  surgeons ;  Joseph  H.  Hopkins,  chaplain. 
The  companies  were  officered,  during  the  life 
of  the  regiment  as  follows:   A.  \\'illi:un  Drum- 


164 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN    COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH- 


hiller,  captain,  promoted  to  major;  John  G. 
Woods  and  David  E.  Shannon,  captains,  suc- 
cessively; Morgan  Jerman,  Charles  W.  Eeach, 
William  Castle  and  Washington  Bennett, 
lieutenants.  B,  Daniel  fl.  David,  captain; 
Benjamin  T.  Henry  and  William  H.  Bixby, 
lieutenants.  C,  Joseph  H.  Richards,  captain; 
Don  Alfonzo  Colvin  and  John  W.  Enoch, 
lieutenants.  D,  George  W.  Fitzpatrick  and 
John  S.  Minick,  captains;  Henry  S.  Hill  and 
George  W.  F'airbrother,  lieutenants.  E,  George 
Wakerle,  captain ;  Nicholas  Schlupp  and  Her- 
man Springer,  lieutenants.  F.  John  B.  Van 
Zant,  captain ;  Edward  N.  Roberts  and  Theron 
W.  Crandall,  lieutenants.  G,  Robert  G.  Hub- 
bard, captain;  William  V.  Miller,  Henry  Ogle. 
Joseph  Penney  and  John  B.  Magers.  lieuten- 
ants. H,  John  Pinger,  captain ;  Peter  Lanen- 
ger  and  George  Welder,  lieutenants.  I,  \Villiam 
McCarthy  and  Luther  Tillotson,  captains;  John 
W.  Coughlin.  Peter  Simpson,  Thomas  W'ilson, 
lieutenants.  K,  J.  D.  M.  Thompson,  captain ; 
Frederick  Dony,  George  D.  Tolle,  L.  Densmore 
and  William  Fowler,  lieutenants.  Lieutenant 
Densmore  was  made  adjutant  and  Lieutenant 
Fowler  quartermaster.  This  regiment  was  em- 
ployed in  fighting  the  bushwhackers  and  guer- 
rillas in  Northwest  Missouri.  Li  July  of  1862 
the  regiment  was  ordered  broken  up  and  the 
companies  attached  to  the  First  and  Ninth 
Cavalry  regiments  of  the  Missouri  State 
Militia. 

Li  1862  Buchanan  and  Platte  counties 
formed  the  Seventh  Military  District  of  Mis- 
souri, and  three  independent  companies  were 
organized  for  duty  at  home.  One  of  these, 
commanded  by  Capt.  William  Randall,  with 
Benjamin  F.  Larkin  and  Jonas  D.  Butts  as 
lieutenants,  was  organized  August  9,  1862. 
Another,  commander]  by  Capt.  G.  E.  Landry, 
with  Henry  Harding  and  William  Backer  as 
lienienant>^.   was   organized    August   21,    1862. 


These  were  afterwards  merged  into  the  militia. 
A  third  company  organized  among  railroad  em- 
ployees for  the  protection  of  railroad  property 
was  officered  by  John  S.  Kellogg  as  captain  and 
John  Broder  and  Horatio  N.  Turner  as  lieu- 
tenants. 

The  25tli  Regiment  of  Enrolled  Missouri 
Militia  was  organized  in  St.  Joseph,  in  July, 
of  1862,  with  John  Severance  as  colonel, 
Thomas  Harbine  as  lieutenant-colonel,  Peter 
Walter  and  John  T.  Ross  as  majors,  Gustave 
FL  Koch  as  adjutant,  C.  W.  Davenport  as  quar- 
termaster, Alfred  H.  Starr  as  surgeon  and  Rev. 
A.  H.  Wright  as  chaplain.  Colonel  Severance 
resigned  .\i)ril  22,  1863,  and  was  succeeded 
by  Col.  John  Scott,  who  was  transferred  to 
the  81  st  Regiment  shortly  afterwards,  and  was 
succeeded  by  Col.  Thomas  Harbine.  James 
Hunter  commanded  Company  A,  with  Thomas 
Young  and  Ed.  Freeman  as  lieutenants.  John 
R.  Snyder  commanded  Company  B,  with  James 
S.  Barnes  and  E.  E.  Cramer  as  lieutenants. 
James  Brierly  commanded  C,  with  Peter  Davis 
and  \\Mlliam  Simmons  as  lieutenants.  Louis 
Hax  c(jmmanded  D,  with  John  Kieffer  and 
Fred  Riesenmy  as  lieutenants.  Charles  Mast 
commanded  E,  with  Charles  F.  Ernst  and 
Philip  Arnholdt  as  lieutenants.  Jonathan  ]\[. 
Bassett  commanded  F,  with  John  A.  Dolman 
and  G.  W.  Davenport  as  lieutenants.  He  was 
succeeded  by  Captain  Dolman,  with  Robert  S. 
Gunn  and  Henry  T.  Gore  as  lieutenants.  G, 
was  commanded  by  Capt.  George  Lyon,  with 
William  C.  Toole  and  R.  J.  S.  Wise  as  lieuten- 
ants. H  was  commanded  by  William  Loving, 
with  Joseph  S.  Browne.  J.  T.  Ross  and  An- 
thony Volls  as  lieutenants.  I  was  commanded 
by  Ephraim  Perry,  with  Peter  A.  Jones  and 
Hamilton  Wilson  as  lieutenants.  K  was  com- 
manded by  James  H.  Da\-is,  with  Francis  M. 
Hall,  William  S.  Tyler  and  H.  B.  Goss  as 
lieutenants.     There   were  also  three  battalion.! 


The  First  Christian  Brothers' 
College  (1880) 


■  ■a-s«iiJs»i|^.^-^T — rS   nRt'CJ--,    15;' 


1  -\ 


Southwest  Corner  of  Third  and 
Edmond  Streets  in  1880 

(The  One-Story  Building  is  the  Site  of 
the  Chamber  of  Commerce) 


VIEW    OF    ST.   JOSEPH    IN    1860 


^  1  '^1  '  II  II   B  '? 


^^•^  ?i^    ,1?   fi9    U 


'^Ijl. >-.i.:^i^ ^ 


»-  A    ."  "  "  ^'  «  '« 


II  J!  I'^ifclSii 


^' 


THE    FIRST    STATE    HOSPITAL   FOR    INSANE,  No.   3 


AND    REPRESEiNTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


167 


companies,  one  under  Capt.  O.  G.  McDonald, 
another  under  Capt.  Elias  Parrott  and  a  third 
under  Capt.  G.  M.  Brown.  This  regiment  was 
stationed  in  Buchanan  County.  In  consequence 
of  an  extraordinary  reduction  in  numbers,  the 
regiment  was  disbanded  November  i,  1863, 
and  the  commissions  of  the  officers  revoked, 
with  the  exception  of  those  in  charge  of  Com- 
panies F  and  K.  Colonel  Scott  was  instructed 
by  the  same  order  to  reorganize  the  militia  of 
Buchanan  County,  which  had  become  demoral- 
ized. He  organized  the  8ist  Regiment  of  En- 
rolled Missouri  Militia,  and  used  companies  F 
and  K  as  the  nucleus.  This  regiment  formed 
a  component  part  of  what  was  called  the  "Paw- 
Paw    Brigade." 

"T*  't^  H* 

T]}c  "Pazv-Paics." — The  border  was  over- 
run with  outlaws  of  all  sorts — bushwhackers, 
Southern  recruiting  officers,  thieves  and  rob- 
bers, without  regard  to  politics.  In  addition  to 
local  troubles  of  that  sort,  great  excitement 
prevailed  in  Kansas  on  account  of  the  Law- 
rence massacre,  and  an  invasion  of  Missouri 
was  threatened  by  Jim  Lane  and  Jennison's 
"Red-Legs."  The  militia  service  hereabouts 
was  in  a  very  demoralized  condition,  and  the 
protection  of  life  and  property  was  a  serious 
problem.  Feuds  that  had  been  engendered  be- 
tween the  border  residents  of  Kansas  and  Mis- 
souri in  1 854-57  were  reopened  or  made  pretexts 
by  marauders  and  freebooters.  A  number  of 
citizens  of  the  county  had  returned  from  Price's 
army  and  were,  of  course,  classed  as  disloyal. 
They  were,  howe\'er,  fully  as  anxious  to  pro- 
tect life  and  property  from  the  marauders  as 
were  the  loyal  men.  It  was  proposed  by  Gen- 
Williard  P.  Hall  that  all  of  these  be  organized 
into  militia  companies,  and  President  Lincoln, 
who  .sanctioned  the  ])roposition,  saw  m  it  the 
possibility  of  keeping  many  from  re-enlistment 
in  the  Confederate  .service.     A  knowledge  of 


the  conditions  that  existed  at  that  time  can  be 
gathered  from  the  testimony  of  Col.  John  F. 
Williams,  who  was  in  command  of  the  district, 
with  headquarters  at  St.  Joseph,  before  a  com- 
mittee appointed  by  the  Legislature  to  inxesti- 
gate  the  militia.  Colonel  Williams  testified  as 
follows : 

"When  I  took  command  (in  July  of  1863) 
I  found  portions  of  the  district  in  a  lawless 
condition ;  mobs  and  riots  were  common  in  a 
number  of  counties  in  my  district;  I  found 
also  that  a  numl^er  of  the  troops  then  in  service 
in  the  district  were  disobedient,  and  rather 
mutinous;  were  under  no  discipline  or  control. 
I  urged  upon  the  officers  to  subject  their  men 
to  the  observance  of  the  rules  and  articles  of 
war;  some  succeeded,  others  failed.  The  con- 
dition of  the  troops  was  improving  until  Ouan- 
trell  made  his  raid  on  Lawrence;  that  creaied 
great  excitement  in  the  country,  both  among 
the  troops  and  citizens  ;  numbers  of  them  openlv 
declared  they  would  not  resist  an  inxasion  bv 
General  Lane,  or  anybody  else,  made  in  re- 
taliation  from  Kansas. 

"Both  before  and  after  the  Lawrence  raitL 
raids  from  Leavenworth  city  and  other  portions 
of  the  Kansas  terder  w^ere  dailv  and  nisfhth- 
made  into  Misouri,  the  troops  stationed  at 
Weston  failing  or  refusing  to  prevent  them. 
Those  raids  were  made  bv  armed  negroes,  as- 
sisted  by  white  outlaws,  called  'Red-Legs' ;  thev 
were  not  in  the  military  service,  with  the  ex- 
ception, perhaps,  of  some  negroes.  Just  after 
Lane's  s])eech  at  Leavenworth  city,  immediately 
after  the  Lawrence  massacre,  an  expedition  was 
gotten  up  at  Leavenworth  city,  of  some  magni- 
tude, to  invade  Platte  County,  composed  of 
'Red-Legs,'  outlaws,  runaway  negroes,  etc. 
They  took  the  ferryboat  to  start  across.  Gen- 
eral Fwing  telegraphed  to  the  commander  of 
the  post  at  Fort  Leavenw^orth  to  take  the  boat 
and  prevent  the  raid,  which  he  did. 


i68 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY  AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


"When  I  took  command  in  St.  Joseph  and 
the  district  there,  there  were  refugees  in  the 
city  from  several  counties  in  the  district,  having 
been  ordered  to  leave  the  State  by  a  band  call- 
ing themselves  'Midnight  Rangers.'  Their 
mode  of  operations  was  about  this :  They 
would  leave  a  written  notice,  three  of  four 
matches  enclosed  in  it,  at  a  party's  house, 
notifying  him  that  if  he  did  not  leave  in  five 
<Iays,  with  his  whole  family,  he  would  be 
hanged  and  his  house  burned.  Then  some  other 
members  of  the  gang,  who  were  on  friendly 
terms  with  the  victim,  would  call  and  condole 
with  him,  and  advise  him  to  stay.  But  the  vic- 
tim had  already  made  up  his  mind  to  go,  which 
they  knew,  and  they  would  take  advantage  of 
"his  fear  and  buy  his  property  at  nominal  figures. 
Thus  a  system  of  wholesale  robbery  was  car- 
ried on.  The  reorganization  of  the  militia,  or 
the  arming-  of  the  Taw-Paws,'  has  entirely 
stopped  this  species  of  lawlessness. 

"When  I  first  took  command  at  St.  Joseph, 
countrymen  who  came  in  to  trade  were  pulled 
off  their  horses,  sometimes  by  soldiers  and 
sometimes  by  citizens,  and  threatened  wdth 
■death  if  they  ever  came  back.  An  old  man  from 
the  country  was  knocked  down  by  a  soldier. 
The  fact  was  reported  to  me  and  I  had  the 
soldier  placed  under  arrest.  The  next  day  the 
old  man  came  to  me  and  begged  that  I  do  not 
compel  him  to  testify  against  the  soldier  be- 
fore the  provost  marshal,  as  he  was  afraid  of 
Toeing  killed  by  the  companions  of  the  soldier. 
There  were  hundreds  of  such  instances. 
*  *  *  Most  of  the  troops  in  the  district 
<ire  now  concentrated  on  the  border  along  the 
river  to  prevent  raids  into  Missouri  from  the 
thieves  and  outlaws  of  Kansas,  assisted  by  their 
friends  in  Missouri.  *  *  *  j  ^^^it  a  sc|uad 
•of  ten  men  over  the  river  at  St.  Joseph  to  re- 
cover two  mules  stolen  from  a  citizen  of  Bu- 
chanan County,  having  learned  that  they  were 


secreted  in  a  cornfield  just  back  of  El  wood. 
The  squad  recovered  the  mules,  but  \vere  fired 
upon  by  citizens  of  Kansas  on  their  return  to 
the  river.  At  another  time  I  ordered  Major 
Garth  of  the  Ninth  Cavalry  with  forty-two  men 
across  the  river  to  recapture  some  horses,  guns 
and  money  that  were  stolen  from  Judge  Wood- 
son and  another  citizen  of  Buchanan  County. 
The  military  and  civil  authorities  of  Kansas 
drew  up  their  forces — some  hundred  and  fifty 
strong,  composed  of  negroes  and  whites  to- 
gether— in  line  of  battle,  and  resisted  the  cross- 
ing of  my  men.  I  then  sent  the  major  across 
w^ith  one  man;  he  had  a  conference  with  the 
commander  of  the  post  at  Elwood,  who  prom- 
ised to  recapture  the  property,  but  who  failed  to 
do  so.    These  raids  were  frequent." 

The  8 1  St  Regiment  was  organized  by  Col. 
John  Scott  and  there  were  many  remonstrances 
to  the  arming  of  men  who  were  known  or  sus- 
pected ot  have  been  at  one  time  in  sympathy 
with  the  South.  Col.  William  R  Penick,  who 
was  an  intense  and  uncompromising  Unionist, 
in  his  statement  to  the  legislative  committee,, 
said  of  a  portion  of  the  "Paw-Paws :" 

"The  two  companies  I  saw  were  notoriously 
disloyal.  They  were  in  our  city  last  election  to 
guard  the  polls.  I  placed  myself  in  a  position 
to  look  every  man  in  the  face  as  they  marched 
up  the  street.  These  were  the  first  Seces- 
sionists I  ever  saw  carrying  arms  under  the 
authority  of  the  government,  and  I  gave  them 
a  close  inspection.  I  am  almost  confident  that 
there  was  not  a  loyal  man  in  either  company. 
I  saw  men  who  had  belonged  to  Price's  army — 
some  were  there  in  the  Rebel  ranks  at  Lexing- 
ton and  Blue  Mills  who  never  joined  the  army. 
Some  who  had  assisted  in  raising  Rebel  flags. 
Some  who  had  often  cheered  for  Jeff  Davis. 
Some  who  had  acted  as  recruiting  officers  for 
Price's  army,  but  who  were  too  old  to  go  them- 
selves.    Nearly  all  of  them  are  notoriously  dis- 


AXD    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


169 


loyal  and  are  enrolled  as  sympathizers  on  the 
provost  marshal's  book." 

This,  of  course,  was  an  extreme  view,  par- 
ticularly so  in  the  light  of  what  the  late  Judge 
Henry  M.  A'ories  said  to  the  committee,  among 
other  things  being  the  following : 

"Those  called  Taw-Paws."  in  my  part  of 
the  State,  have  behaved  themselves  very  well ; 
in  fact,  exceedingly  well — as  far  as  I  either 
know  or  have  been  informed,  and  the  county 
has  been  more  quiet  and  seemed  to  be  more 
secure  since  about  the  time  of  their  organiza- 
tion. But  I  do  not  atrribute  this  change  for 
the  better  so  much  to  the  change  of  the  militia 
organization  as  to  the  fact  that  an  election  took 
place  about  the  same  time  as  their  organization. 
]My  judgment  is  that  a  great  deal  of  the  trouble 
we  had  in  our  county  last  summer  was  caused 
by  the  excitement  produced  by  politicians  who 
were  running  for  office,  who  were  haranguing 
the  soldiers  and  others,  by  which  they  were 
kept  in  a  constant  state  of  excitement,  and  that 
out  of  these  excitements  quarrels  arose,  and 
that  persons  were  embittered  against  each 
other  so  as  to  induce  them  to  commit  lawless 
acts.  I  think  that  after  the  election  these  acts 
of  violence  would,  in  a  great  measure,  have 
ceased  without  any  change  of  the  militia.  Yet 
I  think  that  the  late  militia  called  the  'Paw- 
Paws'  have  exerted  themselves  to  keep  the  peace 
of  the  county.  I  think  they  have  Ijeen  anxious 
to  make  a  good  character,  knowing  that  they 
were  charged  with  disloyalty;  at  least,  they 
have  done  well,  and  we  have  during  this  winter 
had  more  peace  and  quiet  than  we  have  had 
since  the  rebellion." 

It  is  not  the  purpose  of  this  history  to  sit 
in  judgment  upon  the  merits  or  demerits  of 
the  militia  system,  but  as  there  is  little  known 
of  the  "Paw-Paws"  it  is  thought  proper  to 
present  the  matter  as  gathered  from  official 
sources.     The  organization  of  the  81  st  was  as 


follows:  John  Scott,  colonel;  Charles  West, 
adjutant.  Company  A,  George  J.  Lucas,  cap- 
tain; D.  L.  Irvine,  ist  lieutenant;  Thomas 
L.  Crumpacker,  2nd  lieutenant.  B.  F. 
J.  Stratton.  captain;  U.  L.  Hyatt,  ist 
lieutenant ;  T.  J.  Bracken.  2nd  lieutenant. 
C.  Jacob  B.  Cox,  captain ;  Cornelius 
Day,  ist  lieutenant;  Robert  B.  Thomas,  2d 
lieutenant ;  D,  ]\Iilton-  M.  Claggett,  captain ; 
Jacob  T.  Child,  ist  lieutenant;  Thomas  C. 
Roberts,  2d  lieutenant.  E,  Harrison  W.  Davis, 
captain;  James  Dye,  ist  lieutenant;  Joseph  H. 
Dicken,  2d  lieutenant.  F,  John  A.  Dolman, 
captain;  Robert  S.  Gunn,  ist  lieutenant;  Henry 
T.  Gore,  2d  lieutenant.  G,  Anthony  Grable, 
captain;  Daniel  A.  IMeadows,  ist  lieutenant; 
John  T.  Ferrill,  2d  lieutenant.  H,  John  W. 
Smith,  captain;  William  A.  Cornelius,  ist  lieu- 
tenant ;  Thomas  L.  Blakely,  2d  lieutenant.  I, 
Miller  Woodson,  captain;  Urial  Griffen,  ist 
lieutenant ;  Jacob  Schultz.  2d  lieutenant.  K, 
James  H.  Davis,  captain;  William  S.  Tyler,  ist 
lieutenant ;  H.  B.  Goss.  2d  lieutenant.  L, 
James  Xoland,  captain;  B.  F.  Catlett.  ist  lieu- 
tenant; D.  C.  Hart,  2d  lieutenant.  M,  Milton 
R.  Singleton,  captain;  John  L.  Stanton,  ist 
lieutenant ;  Isaac  Havs,  2d  lieutenant. 


The  43r(l  Regiment  Infantry.  Missouri  Vol- 
unteers, was  organizen  in  St.  Joseph  in  June 
of  1864,  with  Chester  Harding  as  colonel,  John 
Pinger  as  lieutenant-colonel,  B.  K.  Davis  as 
major,  Joseph  Thompson  as  adjutant.  Francis 
Rodman  as  quartermaster  and  J.  O.  Eggleston 
and  E.  W.  Dill  as  surgeons.  The  regiment  was 
on  duty  in  this  State  during  its  term  of  service. 
Six  companies  participated  in  the  battle  of  Glas- 
gow, October  15.  1864.  In  the  spring  of  1865 
the  whole  regiment  was  assigned  to  the  district 
of  Central  ^lissouri  and  was  actively  engaged 
keeping  down  bushwhackers,  so  long  as  its  serv- 


170 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN    COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


ices  were  needed.  The  regiment  was  mustered 
out  June  30,  1865,  at  Benton  Barracks.  The 
companies  were  organized  as  follows  :  A,  Cap- 
tain, Andrew  Dusold;  lieutenants,  Augustus 
Saltzman  and  Horace  Sayre.  B,  captain,  John 
B.  Edwards;  lieutenants,  Henderson  Edwards 
and  John  P.  Herren.  C,  George  M.  Brown, 
captain ;  A.  M.  Chesmore  and  A.  J.  Culbertson, 
lieutenants.  D.  Henry  W.  Ogle,  captain;  Wal- 
ter C.  Gantt.  Richard  Buis  and  Charles  S. 
Pickett,  lieutenants.  E,  Simeon  Sutton,  cap- 
tain ;  W^illiam  Caneday  and  Daniel  Boyce.  lieu- 
tenants. F,  William  F.  Flint,  captain ;  John 
W.  Johnson  and  Thomas  Flint,  lieutenants.  G, 
Oscar,  Kirkham,  captain ;  Ebenezer  Wickman 
and  Griffith  Davidson,  lieutenants.  H.  Marcus 
Morton,  captain;  \V.  J.  Porter  and  Elijah 
Brunck,  lieutenants.  I,  George  W'alser,  first 
captain;  Robert  B.  Stockton,  second  captain; 
John  S.  Morgan  and  Austin  F.  Tiffany,  lieu- 
tenants. K,  Perry  A.  Wright,  cai)tain ;  :\n- 
drew  J.  Wray  and  Martin  \'.  Baker,  lieu- 
tenants. 

Hartwig's  Independent  Company  of  Ar- 
tillery was  formed  by  Capt.  H.  R.  \\'.  Hartwig 
in  October  of  1864.  Captain  Hartwig  was 
commissioned  by  Governor  Hall  to  form  this 
Cvompany,  the  strength  of  wliich  consisted  of 
84  men  and  four  four-pound  pieces.  Joseph 
Andriano  was  ist  lieutenant,  John  Riplinger, 
2d  lieutenant,  and  Charles  Barrington,  orderly. 
The  company  was  on  duty  in  this  section  and 
in  Platte  County,  and  was  mustered  out  at 
the  close  of  the  war. 

In  July,  of  1864,  the  87th  Regiment  of  En- 
rolled Missouri  Militia  was  organized  in  St. 
Joseph.  This  ^^•as  a  home  guard  regiment  and 
was  mustered  out  in  March  of  1865.  Thomas 
Harbine  had  been  elected  colonel,  but  declined. 
Robert  C.  Bradshaw  was  then  elected  and 
serv-ed  until  October.  James  \\\  Strong  w^as 
promoted    from    lieutenant-colonel    and   O.    G. 


McDonald  was  made  lieutenant-colonel.  The 
following  were  staff  officers  during  the  life  of 
the  regiment :  William  Drumhiller  and  Robert 
F.  Maxw'-ell,  majors;  Joseph  Thompson  and 
W.  W.  Bernard,  adjutants;  Joseph  Schmitz 
and  John  B.  Harder,  quartermasters ;  Dr.  John 
T.  Berghoff,  surgeon.  Company  A  was  Captain 
Kellogg's  railroad  guards,  reorganized  under 
Capt.  Joseph  Truex.  Company  B  had  been 
Captain  Landry's  detached  company,  now  under 
Capt.  John  A.  Dolman,  and  when  Captain  Dol- 
man was  commissioned  as  aide-de-camp  to  Gen- 
eral Hall  he  was  succeeded  by  Robert  S.  Gunn, 
who  had  been  ist  lieutenant.  Other  lieuten- 
ants were  H.  R.  W.  Hartwig.  Henry  T.  Gore 
and  H.  H.  Goodheart.  C  was  captained  at  first 
by  Hamilton  S.  Wilson,  who  was  killed  by 
bushwhackers  and  succeeded  by  Irvin  Fish. 
These  were  lieutenants  at  various  times :  hl"ui- 
cis  Goodby,  Irvin  Fish,  Amos  K.  Jones  and 
Oscar  Kirkham.  D  was  captained  by  James 
C.  Karnes,  with  W'ashington  Bennett.  E. 
Shootner  and  John  S.  Smith  as  lieutenants. 
E  was  led  by  Capt.  John  Snyder,  with  Joseph 
Matthew  and  Thomas  D.'  Ridge  as  lieutenants. 
F  was  under  Capt.  Louis  Hax.  with  John  Kief- 
fer.  Christian  Mast,  llrich  Schneider  and  Louis 
r\!elling  as  lieutenants  at  various  times.  G 
was  first  captained  by  James  W.  Strong,  then 
by  Robert  Maxwell,  both  of  whom  were  sent 
to  the  head  of  the  regiment,  and  last  by  David 
Linger,  whose  lieutenants  were  Anson  Whit- 
ney and  Elisha  h'ootc.  PI  was  officered  by 
Peter  A.  Jones,  captain,  and  Henry  F.  Goss 
and  Wiley  H.  Chapman  as  lieutenants.  This 
company  was  consolidated  with  C  in  Octol^er. 
1864.  I  was  organized  by  Capt.  O.  G.  Mc- 
Douald,  who  was  afterward  lieutenant-colonel. 
The  next  captain  was  William  H.  Lifers,  whose 
lieutenants  were  Charles  C.  \"ance,  George  W. 
Howard  and  A.  J.  Culberson.  K  w-as  organ- 
ized  by    Capt.    George   M.    Brown,    who    was 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


171 


shortly  afterward  transferred  to  the  43rd  In- 
fantry. He  was  succeeded  by  Edward  L.  Tit- 
comb,  whose  heutenant  was  George  Schuckman. 

The  44th  Regiment  Infantry,  Missouri 
Volunteers,  was  recruited  in  St.  Joseph  by  Col. 
Robert  C.  Bradshaw  and  Lieut. -Col.  A.  J.  Barr. 
in  the  month  of  August.  1864.  and  shipped  on 
cars  to  Rolla.  In  November  it  arrived  at  Padu- 
cah,  Kentucky,  and  was  placed  on  active  duty, 
though  yet  in  a  very  raw  condition.  In  the 
battle  of  Franklin,  Colonel  Bradshaw  was 
pierced  by  seven  bullets,  but  not  killed.  Lieu- 
tenants Dunlap.  Warren  and  Kirgan  and  35 
privates  were  killed  in  the  first  charge  of  the 
enemy,  but  the  regiment  held  its  position.  Tlie 
regiment  fought  continuously  for  three  days 
and  nights  from  November  2gth,  and  during 
the  last  two  days  lost  300  men  and  officers.  On 
the  15th  of  December.  1864,  says  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Barr.  in  his  report,  "we  were  ordered  to 
take  a  position  on  the  right  of  Charlotte  Pike 
and  engage  the  enemy;  participated  in  the  bat- 
tles of  the  15th.  i6th  and  17th  insts.,  and  then 
followed  in  the  pursuit  of  Hood's  demoralized 
army.  On  the  27th  we  reached  Columbia, 
where  we  first  met  the  enemy.  On  the  28th  we 
reached  Pulaski,  with  two-thirds  of  the  com- 
mand barefooted.  In  this  condition  the  regi- 
ment was  compelled  to  march  on  the  ice  and 
snow  to  Clifton,  sixty  miles,  wdiere  we  arrived 
on  the  23d  of  January.  1865 — men  worn  out 
and  feet  terribly  mangled."  The  regiment  also 
participated  in  the  siege  of  Spanish  Fort,  Ala- 
bama, and  went  from  there  to  A^icksburg  and 
thence  to  St.  Louis,  where  it  was  mustered  out 
on  August  15,  1865,  after  having  traveled 
5.703  miles,  of  which  743  was  on  foot,  and 
after  having  been  for  one-third  of  its  term  of 
service  under  fire  and  in  the  midst  of  the  carn- 
age of  battle. 

The  regiment  was  organized  as  follows : 
Robert  C.  Bradshaw,  colonel ;  A.  J.  Barr,  lieu- 


tenant-colonel ;  Roger  A.  De  Bolt,  major ;  Will- 
iam Drumhiller,  adjutant;  J.  M.  Lloskinson, 
quartermaster ;  Henry  Schoenich,  Levi  A.  Wil- 
son and  Isaac  Schatz,  surgeons.  Hanson  W. 
Ware  succeeded  Captain  Drumhiller  as  ad- 
jutant. 

The  \arious  companies  vvcre  officered  as 
follows  during  the  life  of  the  regiment:  A, 
John  C.  Reid,  captain ;  James  A.  Trussell,  Will- 
iam D.  Schooler,  Francis  Audsley,  lieutenants. 

B.  William  Drumhiller,  captain ;  John  Mc- 
Kissock  and  Miles  Bristow.  lieutenants.  C, 
Frank  G.  Hopkins,  captain ;  William  M.  Good- 
son  and  Thomas  J.  T\vedell,  lieutenants.  D, 
W^illiam  B.  Rogers,  captain ;  Robert  Pixler, 
Aaron  Mcintosh  and  George  H.  Combs,  lieu- 
tenants. E,  Ephraim  Webb,  captain ;  James 
S.  Dunlap  and  J.  C.  Webb,  lieutenants.  F, 
Isaac  M.  Henry,  captain ;  James  M.  Steele,  W. 

C.  Halstead,  Benjamin  Kirgan,  lieutenants. 
G,  A.  L.  Bowen,  captain ;  John  Desha  and 
Washington  Bennett,  lieutenants.     H,  William 

D.  Fortune,  captain ;  J.  D.  McBride,  John  H. 
Williams  and  J.  D.  Snyder,  lieutenants.  J. 
A.  Muck,  captain ;  A.  F.  Higgins,  Dennis 
Adams  and  D.  W.  McDonald,  lieutenants.  K, 
N.  A.  Winters,  captain ;  James  Overman  and 
Samuel  W'arner,  lieutenants. 

Under  Go\-ernor  Fletcher  three  regiments 
of  militia  were  organized  in  October  of  1865 — 
the  Second,  Third  and  Fourth  regiments  of 
Missouri  Militia.  Col.  William  R.  Penick  com- 
manded the  Second  Regiment.  He  was  ap- 
pointed brigadier-general  and  placed  in  com- 
mand of  this  district.  Robert  Gunn  was  lieu- 
tenant-colonel;  H.  R.  W.  Hartwig,  major;  Dr. 
William  Bertram,  Dr.  John  S.  Logan  and  Dr. 
Harvey  Bradley,  surgeons.  \Y.  W.  Bernard 
was  captain  of  Company  A  and  Henry  Gore 
of  Company  B.  David  Pinger  was  captain 
of  Company  C,  with  A.  V.  Whiting  and  Elislia 
Foote,  Jr.,  as  lieutenants.     Company  D  was 


172 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


commanded  by  Captain  Greenfield  H.  Davis, 
who  had  Isaac  Wilkins  and  Thomas  Early  for 
his  lieutenants.  Company  E  was  commanded 
by  Joseph  Andriano  and  Company  F  Ijy  Will- 
iam L.  Chadwick,  with  L.  L.  Landon  and 
George  Hildebrand  as  lieutenants.  Company 
G  was  under  Capt.  Joseph  S.  Browne,  with 
George  Buell  and  William  B.  French  as  lieu- 
tenants. Company  H  was  under  Capt.  Philip 
xArnholdt,  with  Theodore  Kroll  and  A.  Burg- 
meister  as  lieutenants.  Company  J  was  com- 
manded by  M.  Gordon  Ruby,  with  William  M. 
Clark  and  John  Stuppy  as  lieutenants. 

Col.  Cyrus  J.  Missemer  commanded  the 
Third  Regiment.  William  Randall  was  lieu- 
tenant-colonel, James  M.  Witt,  adjutant  and 
James  F.  Bruner  and  G.  M.  Loomis,  surgeons. 
Company  A  was  commanded  by  Irvin  Fish ; 
Company  B,  by  James  G.  Karnes,  with  Elvin 
A.  Guinn  as  lieutenant ;  Company  C,  by  C.  E. 
Cummings ;  Company  D,  by  C.  F.  Schoeneck. 
with  Benjamin  F.  Boyer  and  William  H. 
Boyer  as  lieutenants ;  Company  F,  by  N.  R. 
Wakefield,  with  Henry  Myers  and  L.  J.  Smith 
as  lieutenants;  Company  G,  by  W.  H.  Slay- 
baugh,  with  J.  S.  Blankenship  and  B.  F.  Mis- 
semer as  lieutenants. 

The  Fourth  Regiment  had  but  fixe  com- 
panies. It  was  commanded  by  Maj.  Joseph 
Thompson.  Company  A  was  commanded  by 
R.  J.  S.  Wise,  with  Thomas  H.  Ritchie  and 
Fred  Amerine  as  lieutenants.  Company  B 
was  commanded  by  Simeon  Bell.  Conrpany 
C  was  under  Capt.  Augustus  Salzman,  with 
Theodore  F.  Gross  and  Charles  Frederick  a? 
lieutenants.  Company  D  was  commanded  by 
William  Drumhiller,  with  D.  'M.  Stillians  as 
lieutenant,  and  B.  F.  Larkin  was  ca])tain  of 
Company  E,  with  William  .Xrtliur  as  lieu- 
tenant. 

These  regiments  did  serxice   in  enforcing 
order  at  the  polls  during  the  turbulent  political 


times  that  followed  the  war.  The  test  oath 
was  particularly  obnoxious,  even  to  many  who 
had  been  loyal,  and  politicians  were  not  slow 
to  grasp  the  advantages  it  afforded.  The  oath 
was  as  follows : 

"I  do  on  oath  declare  that  I  have  not  dur- 
ing the  present  rebellion  wilfully  taken  up 
arms  or  levied  war  against  the  United  States 
nor  against  the  provisional  government  of  the 
State  of  Missouri,  nor  have  I  wilfully  adhered 
to  the  enemies  of  either,  domestic  or  foreign, 
by  giving  them  aid  and  comfort,  but  have  al- 
ways in  good  faith  opposed  the  same;  and, 
further,  that  I  will  support,  protect  and  defend 
the  constitution  of  the  United  States  and  of 
the  State  of  Missouri  against  all  enemies  and 
opposers,  whether  foreign  or  domestic,  any  or- 
dinance, order  or  resolution  of  any  State  con- 
vention or  Legislature,  or  of  any  order  or  or- 
ganization, secret  or  otherwise,  to  the  contrary 
notwithstanding,  and  that  I  do  this  with  an 
honest  purpose,  pledge  and  determination  faith- 
fully to  perform  the  same  without  any  mental 
reservation  or  evasion  whatsoever,  so  help  me 
God." 

This  oath  was  proscriptive  to  many,  and 
there  was  much  Ijitterness.  There  were  those 
who  had  been  in  the  service  of  the  South,  but 
who  had  surrendered  and  become  loyal,  those 
who  had  honestly  sympathized  with  the  lost 
cause,  and  those  who  had  taken  advantage  of 
General  Order  No.  24  to  escape  service  in  the 
militia.  Under  this  order  any  one  who  de- 
clared that  he  sympathized  with  the  Soutl.  was 
exempt  from  military  duty.  When  it  cunc  to 
voting  after  the  war,  this  declaration  was  held 
against  them. 

The  Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States 
set  aside  that  part  of  the  test  oath  which  dis- 
franchised so  many  men.  Howexer,  the  ruling 
politicians  in  Missouri  did  not  give  up  so  easily 
and  the  Legislature,   in    1868.   passed   a   very 


AXD    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


173 


string-ent  registration  law.  The  Governor  was 
given  power  to  appoint  three  registrars  in  each 
county  and  a  superintendent  for  each  sena- 
torial district.  These  four  ofticers  were  au- 
thorized to  make  a  list  of  all  the  loyal  voters 
in  the  county.  They  were  forbidden  to  enroll 
an\-  person  who  would  not  take  the  oath  of 
loyalty,  and  besides  were  given  the  power  to 
refuse  to  enroll  any  others  than  those  they 
chose.  No  one  was  allowed  to  vote  whose 
name  was  not  enrolled  bv  these  registrars. 
This  law,  perhaps,  disfranchised  more  voters 
than  the  original  test  oath.  It  opened  anew 
the  sore  places  that  had  begun  to  heal,  and 
there  are  many  instances  where  men  have  not 
forgiven  each  other  yet.  politically  speaking, 
for  the  trespasses  committed  under  the  license 
of  this  law.  There  was  more  or  less  turbu- 
lence until  the  constitution  was  amended  in 
1870  and  these  objectionable  features  elim- 
inated. 


Following  the  dissolution  of  the  Missouri 
]\Iilitia,  interest  in  military  matters  weaned  until, 
1880.  Meanwhile,  however,  there  had  existed, 
during  the  centennial  year  a  company  orga-, 
nized  by  Capt.  Augustus  Saltzman,  called 
"Continental  Rifles."  They  were  dressed  as 
Continental  soldiers,  in  knee-breeches,  etc.,  and 
wore  wigs.  In  1880  there  were  two  battalions, 
one  commanded  by  Maj.  Joseph  A.  Hansen,  the 
other  by  Major  Condon.  In  1882  the  Fourth 
Regiment,  National  Guard  of  Missouri,  was 
organized,  with  Joseph  Hansen  as  colonel, 
Joseph  A.  Corby  as  lieutenant-colonel.  Augus- 
tus Saltzman  as  major,  Capt.  Charles  F.  Ernst 
as  adjutant,  Capt.  John  \Mlson  as  quarter- 
master. Dr.  Thomas  H.  Doyle  as  surgeon  and 
Dr.  J.  A.  French  as  assistant  surgeon.  Com- 
pany .\  was  commanded  by  Capt.  William  Os- 
born.   Company   B  by   Capt.   John   Donovan, 


Company  C  by  Captain  Dowe,  Company  D 
by  Capt.  William  Muehleisen  and  Company 
E  by  Captain  Hazlett.  Companies  F  and  G 
were  located  at  Brookfield,  Companies  A,  B 
and  C  were  known  as  "Saxton  Rifles,"  and 
Captain  Muehleisen's  company  as  "Turner 
Rifles,''  being  made  up  mostly  of  members  of 
the  Turn-Verein.  These  companies  were  uni- 
formed according  to  taste,  the  State  providing- 
arms  only.  After  an  existence  of  several  years 
the  companies  disbanded. 

Subsequently  there  was  little  interest  m 
militia  matters  until  October,  1890,  when 
Capt.  Max  Manheim  organized  the  St.  Joseph 
Light  Guards.  April  2,  1891,  the  Fourth  Reg- 
iment was  reorganized,  with  Colonel  Arbuth- 
not  of  Brookfield  as  commanding  officer  and 
Captain  Manheim  as  lieutenant-colonel.  A 
brigade  encampment  was  held  in  August  of 
that  year  at  Lake  Contrary.  Subsequently 
Capt.  Clay  C.  Macdonald  organized  Company 
K,  knowai  as  the  "Wickham  Rifles."  The 
name  was  afterwards  changed  to  "Macdonald 
Rifles."  Company  F  existed  until  1895  under 
various  captains  and  was  disbanded. 


Captain  Manheim  organized  Company  C 
in  December,  1897.  When  President  McKin- 
ley  called  for  volunteers  to  fight  Spain  in  April, 
1898,  the  Fourth  Regiment,  of  which  Joseph 
A.  Corby  was  now  colonel,  responded  prompt- 
ly and  two  additional  companies  were  at  once 
formed  in  St.  Joseph — J,  by  Capt.  Charles  F. 
Keller,  and  G,  by  Capt.  Jacob  S.  Casey.  These- 
companies  left  for  Jefferson  Barracks  May 
9  and  10,  1898,  and  were  mustered  into  the 
United  States  volunteer  service.  From  Jeffer- 
son Barracks  the  Fourth  Regiment  went  to 
Falls  Church,  Virginia,  into  Camp  Alger;  from 
there  into  Camp  ]\Ieade,  at  Middletown.  Penn- 


174 


HISTORY  OF    BUCHANAN   COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


sylvania,  and  from  there  to  Greenville,  South 
Carolina.  The  regiment  did  not  see  service 
during  the  war.  Each  company  left  St.  Joseph 
with  84  enlisted  men.  Under  the  second  call 
for  vokuiteers  the  companies  were  recruited 
up  to  their  full  strength  of  106  enlisted  men. 
Captain  Macdonald  was  advanced  to  major  and 
Lieut.  Niel  T.  Sommer  was  promoted  to  the 
command  of  Company  K. 

St.  Joseph  was  represented  in  the  Fourth 
Regiment  as  follows :  Colonel,  Joseph  A. 
Corby;  majors.  William  E.  Stringfellow.  Wil- 
son S.  Hendrick  and  Clay  C.  Macdonald ;  ad- 
jutant, George  L.  Rollins;  assistant  surgeon, 
AVilliam  L.  Whittington.  Company  K  was  or- 
ganized as  follows :  Niel  T.  Sommer.  captain ; 
Charles  E.  Foster,  ist  lieutenant;  John  E. 
O'Donnell,  2d  lieutenant.  Company  C  was  or- 
ganized as  follows :  Max  Manheim.  captain ; 
Frank  R.  Hinds,  ist  lieutenant;  Atel  H.  Knut- 
son,  2d  lieutenant.  Company  I,  Charles  F. 
Keller,  captain;  William  H.  Cocke,  ist  lieu- 
tenant ;  Victor  C.  Sommer,  2d  lieutenant.  Com- 
pany G,  Jacob  S.  Casey,  captain ;  John  B. 
McNeely,  ist  lieutenant;  Mortimer  P.  Wald- 
Ton,  2d  lieutenant.     Major  Hendrick  resigned 


at  Camp  z\lger  and  Captain  IManheim  at  Green- 


y 


ille. 


The  Fourth  Regiment  was  disbanded  in 
J  900  and  reorganized  in  1901.  It  is  officered 
as  follows:  William  E.  Stringfellow.  colonel; 
Wilson  S.  Hendrick.  lieutenant-colonel ;  Clay 
C.  Macdonald,  major,  ist  battalion;  John  D. 
McNeely,  major,  2d  battalion  ;  Dr.  Daniel  Mor- 
ton, major  and  surgeon;  Dr.  Daniel  L.  Hum- 
freville,  captain  and  surgeon;  H.  L.  Walker, 
lieutenant  and  surgeon.  Regimental  headquar- 
ters are  in  St.  Joseph,  where  all  the  a1)ove 
named  officers  reside.  There  are  nine  com- 
panies in  the  regiment,  located  at  St.  Joseph, 
Tarkio,  Unionville,  Kirksville,  Trenton,  Milan, 
Mexico,  Mound  City  and  Jefiferson  City. 
Company  K,  located  at  St.  Joseph,  is  officered 
by  E.  K.  Stewart,  captain;  George  Graham, 
ist  lieutenant;  Louis   Browne,   2d  lieutenant. 

James  H.  McCord,  who  has  for  a  number 
of  years  been  foremost  in  the  promotion  of 
National  Guard  interests  in  Missouri,  is  at- 
tached to  the  staff  of  Brigadier-General  Clarke, 
as  assistant  inspector  general,  with  the  rank 
of  lieutenant  colonel. 


CHAPTEH  XIX. 


RAILROAD  HISTORY. 

Early  Struggles  of  Railroad  Projectors  and  Builders — Hannibal  &  St.  Joseph — 
Kansas  City,  St.  Joseph  &  Council  Bluffs — St.  Joseph  &  Grand  Island — St. 
Joseph  &  Topeka — Santa  I^^e  System — Rock  Island  System — St.  Joseph  &  Des 
AIoiNES — Missouri  Pacific — Chicago  Great  Western — Union  Pacific — Union 
Terminal — The  Bridge— Union  Station — Telegraph  Lines. 


Hannibal  &  St.  Joseph. — Agitation  lor  rail- 
road connection  with  Mississippi  River  points 
began  in  St.  Joseph  as  early  as  1846.  One 
of  the  most  ardent  advocates  of  the  then  new- 
mode  of  transportation  was  the  late  Judge 
Birch  of  Clinton  County,  who  was  at  that  time 
stumping  this  district  as  a  candidate  for  Con- 
gress. His  opponent,  the  late  Willard  P.  Hall, 
was  not  favorable,  and  after  he  had  left  the 
campaign  to  its  fate  and  entered  Doniphan's 
regiment  to  fight  Mexico,  he  issued  a  circular 
letter  warning  the  people  not  to  be  tricked  by 
such  impracticable  things  as  railroads.  Judg- 
ing from  the  enthusiasm  and  enterprise  after- 
wards exhibited  by  this  gentleman  in  the  pro- 
motion and  development  of  railroads,  he  atoned 
well  for  this  error.  As  there  was  no  railroad 
west  of  Ohio  in  those  days  he  may  be  easily 
pardoned. 

Another  enthusiast  was  Robert  M.  Stewart, 
then  a  lawyer  at  St.  Joseph,  who  was  after- 
w^ards  Governor  of  Missouri.  He  went  actively 
to  work,  organized  meetings,  talked  railroad, 
interested  the  people,  and  as  a  member  of  the 
State  Senate,  aided  l)y  James  Craig  and  Judge 


Gardenhire,  who  represented  Buchanan  County 
in  the  House,  secured,  in  February  of  1847, 
the  passage  of  an  act  to  incorporate  the  Hanni- 
bal &  St.  Joseph  Railroad  Company. 

The  incorporators  were  Joseph  Robidoux, 
John  Corby  and  Robert  J.  Boyd,  of  St.  Joseph ; 
Samuel  J.  Plarrison,  Zachariah  G.  Draper  and 
Erasmus  ]\I.  Moffett,  of  Hannibal;  xA.lexander 
McMurtry,  Shelby  County;  George  A.  Short- 
ridge  and  Thomas  Sharp,  Macon  County ; 
Wesley  Halliburton.  Linn  Coimty ;  John 
Graves,  Livingston  County ;  Rol^ert  Wilson, 
Daviess  County;  George  W.  Smith,  Caldwell 
County.    The  capital  stock  was  $2,000,000. 

A  railroad  convention  was  held  at  Chilli- 
cothe  in  June  of  1847,  at  which  resolutions  were 
adopted,  recommending  the  following-  as  the 
best  method  to  procure  means  for  the  con- 
struction of  the  Hannibal  &  St.  Joseph  road : 
"(i)  To  appoint  a  committee  of  three  mem- 
bers to  draft  an  address  in  the  nai^ie  of  this 
convention,  to  the  people  of  western  Missouri 
setting  forth  the  advantages  to  be  derived  ivom 
the  contemplated  railroad  from  St.  Joseph  to 
Hannibal ;  (2)  To  appoint  a  committee  of  three, 


176 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY  AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


whose  duty  it  shall  be  to  petition  the  Legislature 
of  Missouri  for  such  aid  in  the  undertaking-  as 
can  be  afforded  consistently  with  the  rights  of 
other  sections  of  the  State;  (3)  To  appoint  a 
committee  of  three  to  petition  Congress  for  a 
donation  of  alternate  sections  of  lands,  within 
six  miles  on  each  side  of  said  road,  when  lo- 
cated;  (4)  To  appoint  a  committee  whose 
duty  it  shall  be  to  superintend  the  publication 
and  distribution  of  die  proceedings  of  the  con- 
vention, and  the  address  to  the  people  of  North- 
ern Missouri." 

There  was  considerable  enthusiasm  among 
the  people  as  the  result  of  this  convention,  but 
material  aid  came  slowly.  A  few  dollars  were 
raised  in  St.  Joseph  for  a  preliminary  survey 
and  a  surveying-  corps  was  organized,  with 
Simeon  Kemper  and  James  O'Donoghue  as 
engineers  in  charge.  Six  months  after  their 
departure  from  St.  Joseph  they  returned  and 
reported  having  fcnuid  a  practicable  route  for 
a  railroad.  A  meeting  of  citizens  was  held, 
at  which  the  two  heroic  surx-eyors  made  their 
report,  and  a  banquet  was  spread  in  their  honor. 
A  subscription  paper  was  circulated  and  enough 
money  secured  to  purchase  each  of  the-  en- 
gineers a  handsome  suit  of  clothes.  This  is  all 
they  received  for  their  six  months'  \\ork,  ex- 
cept meager  expenses  and  glory. 

The  first  survey  was  completed  to  Hannibal 
on  Christmas  Day,  1850,  by  Simeon  Kemper 
and  James  O'Donoghue.  The  two  surveyors 
were  accompanied  by  Col.  Robert  M.  Stewart, 
Col.  M.  F.  Tiernan  and  a  newspaper  cor- 
respondent from  Baltimore  named  Brennan, 
besides  some  chainmen,  etc.  Later  on  the  final 
surveys  were  made  under  charge  of  Colonels 
M.  F.  Tiernan  and  M.  Jeff.  Thompson. 

Tn  1852  the  building  of  the  road  was  as- 
sured. Willard  P.  Hall,  who  had,  in  1846, 
argued  against  railroads  on  g-eneral  principles, 
now  l)ecame  the  good  angel  of  the  despondent 


enterprise.  .\s  chairman  of  the  committee  (jn 
public  lands  in  Congress,  he  secured  the  passage 
of  a  bill  granting  600,000  acres  of  land  to  the 
Hannibal  &  St.  Joseph  Railroad  Company,  and 
\\\^  work  of  construction  began  at  Hannibal, 
as  soon  as  possible. 

The  State  loaned  its  credit  to  aid  the  work 
in  the  sum  of  $1,500,000  bonds  to  be  issued 
and  used  conditioned  on  proof  that  the  sum 
of  $50,000  had  been  actually  expended  in  con- 
struction. John  Corby  of  St.  Joseph,  agent  ot"' 
the  road,  borrowed  the  iirst  $50,000,  and  this 
enabled  the  work  to  continue  until  funds  were 
secured  from  land  sales  and  bonds  issued  by 
the  counties  through  which  the  line  passes. 

Again,  in  1855,  the  company  having  ex- 
hausted all  its  resources,  the  State  loaned  an 
additional  $1,500,000.  making  in  all  the  sum  of 
$3,000,000.  which  was  lic|uidated,  with  interest, 
in  about  17  years  after  the  completion  of  the 
road. 

The  contract  for  building  the  entire  line  was 
let  to  John  Duff  &  Company,  August  10,  1852. 
its  construction  being  sublet  to  various  parties. 
Work  was  commenced  first  on  the  eastern  line. 
and  progressed  slowly. 

In  August,  1857,  the  steamboat  "Saranak"^ 
brought  an  engine  and  cargo  of  rails  to  St. 
Joseph.  Some  grading  was  done,  a  track  laid, 
and  the  engine  hauled  out  on  the  bank,  with 
all  the  people  in  tow'n  and  vicinity  as  lookers- 
on.     It  was  a  great  curiosity. 

Work  proceeded  very  rapidly  for  thc^se 
days,  and  progress  was  reported  all  along  the 
line.  John  Corby  of  St.  Joseph  was  a  director 
and  a  heavy  contractor  in  the  construction  of 
the  road.  When  the  two  ends  of  the  line  were 
a  hundred  miles  apart  stages  were  put  on  to 
carry  passengers  from  one  ]:)oint  to  the  other, 
and  a  lively  business  was  done. 

Large  warehouses  were  constructed  at  Han- 
nibal and  at  St.  Joseph,  and  steamboat  lines 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


1/7 


started  up  and  down  the  river  to  transact  the 
immense  business  done  in  connection  with  the 
road. 

On  P^ebruary  14,  1859,  the  first  through 
passenger  train  arrived  at  St.  Joseph  from 
Hannibal,  with  Edgar  Sleppy  as  engineer  and 
Benjamin  H.  Colt  as  conductor.  A  great  cele- 
bration in  honor  of  the  completion  of  the  road 
was  held  on  Washington's  Birthda}-.  at  the  old 
Odd  Fellows'  Hall.  A  jug  of  water  from  the 
Mississippi  was  emptied  into  the  Missouri  River 
at  the  mouth  of  the  Blacksnake,  the  ceremony 
of  mingling'  the  ^^•aters  being  performed  with 
great  solemnity  by  Broaddus  Thompson,  a 
prominent  citizen  in  those  days,  and  a  most 
unique  character  withal. 

John  Patee  had  donated  a  strip  of  ground 
containing  40  acres,  from  Olive  street,  west  of 
Eighth,  south  to  Mitchell  avenue^  for  terminal 
facilities.  A  depot  was  built  at  Eighth  and 
Olive  streets.  In  1857,  before  the  completion 
of  the  road,  shops  were  established,  with  C.  F. 
Shivels  as  master  mechanic.  In  the  summer 
of  1872  a  branch  was  built  from  St.  Joseph  to 
Atchison.  The  Hanni1>al  &  St.  Joseph  road 
became  part  of  the  C,  B.  &  Q.  system  in  1884. 


Kansas  City.  St.  Joseph  &■  Council  Bluffs. — 
The  consolidation  of  several  pioneer  railroads 
is  represented  in  the  Kansas  City,  St.  Joseph 
&  Council  Bluffs  line.  February  24,  1853,  the 
Legislature  of  Missouri  granted  a  charter  for 
a  road  to  extend  from  St.  Joseph  to  Kansas 
City.  A  company  under  the  name  and  style 
of  the  Platte  County  Railroad,  was  org-anized 
in  1857,  by  William  Osborne,  Davis  Carpenter. 
M.  Jeff.  Thompson  and  others.  Under  the 
auspices  of  this  company  a  line  was  surveyed 
from  St.  Joseph  southward  through  De  Kalb, 
in  Buchanan  County,  Platte  City  and  Parkville, 
in  Platte  County,  to  Kansas  City.     The  Legis- 


lature of  1856-57  granted  aid  to  this  road  in 
the  sum  of  $700,000.  A  subsecjuent  act  pro- 
\ided  that  none  of  the  bonds  of  this  road  should 
be  available  till  the  year  1859.  The  charter 
also  authorized  the  extension  of  the  road  tO'  the 
northern  boundai^y  of  the  State,  under  which 
provision  it  was  completed  to  Savannah  in  i860, 
and  graded  to  Forest  City. 

December  11,  1855,  the  Atchison  &  St.  Jo- 
seph Railroad  Company  was  incorporated.  The 
articles  of  association  provided  that  Benjamin 
String-fellow,  John  H.  Stringfellow,  Peter  T. 
Abell,  John  Doniphan,  Stephen  Johnson,  Elijah 
H.  Norton,  Harvey  Collier,  Robert  W.  Dou- 
nell,  Reuben  Middleton,  Bela  M.  Hughes. 
James  H.  Lucas,  John  Simon,  or  any  five  of 
ihem,  should  constitute  the  first  toard  of  di- 
rectors. 

In  the  summer  of  1858,  Gen.  Benjann'n 
Stringfellow,  Dr.  J.  H.  Stringfellow,  Peter  T. 
Abell,  Harvey  Collier,  Reuben  Middleton,  John 
Doniphan  and  Robert  W.  Donnell  met  in  St. 
Joseph,  in  the  Methodist  Church,  which  then 
stood  on  the  northeast  corner  of  Third  and  Felix 
streets,  and  there  organized  the  company.  At 
this  meeting-  Samuel  C.  Pomeroy,  of  Atchison, 
was  elected  a  director  and  president  of  the  com- 
pany. Charles  West,  of  St.  Joseph,  was  also 
at  this  meeting  elector  a  director.  Stock  was 
taken  by  the  parties  present,  and  in  a  short 
time  after  the  city  of  Atchison  subscribed  $100.- 
000 ;  Abell  &  Stringfellow,  $10,000 ;  John  Doni- 
phan, $1,600,  and  Samuel  C.  Pomeroy,  $10.-, 
000.  Other  parties  contributed  liberally,  swell- 
ing the  aggregate  of  subscriptions  over  and 
above  the  city  stock,  to  about  $60,000.  Con- 
tracts for  grading  were  immediately  let  along* 
the  entire  line  of  the  road,  and  work  commenced 
at  Winthrop,  opposite  Atchison.  By  July  i . 
1859,  tbis  grading  was  completed  between  St. 
Joseph  and  Winthrop. 

In  March,    1859,  the  Weston  &  Atchison 


178 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY  AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


Railroad  Company  was  incorporated  under  the 
general  laws  of  the  State.  The  officers  of  this 
incorporation  were :  John  Doniphan,  president ; 
James  N.  Burnes,  vice-president;  Fielding  H. 
Lewis,  secretary,  and  Daniel  D.  Burnes,  treas- 
urer. Private  subscriptions  were  forthwith 
made  to  the  road  to  the  amount  of  $44,000, 
and  the  city  of  Weston  issued  her  1j<:)nds  to  the 
amount  of  $50,000  in  aid  of  the  building  of 
the  same.    Ground  was  broken  at  Weston  April 

27.  1859- 

July  15.  1859,  the  \\^est(jn  &  Atchison  and 

Atchison  &  St.  Joseph  companies,  finding  that 
their  means  would  be  inadequate  to  accomplish 
more  than  the  work  of  gTading  the  road,  for 
the  purpose  of  an  early  completion  of  the  same 
made  a  contract  with  the  Platte  County  road 
by  which  they  transferred  to  that  corporation 
the  roadbed,  franchises  and  right  of  way  from 
St.  Joseph  to  Weston.  This  company  was  en- 
abled on  the  work  so  done,  during  the  year 
1859,  to  draw  most  of  the  State  aid,  and  in 
January,  i860,  the  road  was  completed  and  in 
operation  from  St.  Joseph  to  Atchison.  In 
Deceml>er  of  the  same  year  the  road  was 
finished  to  latan,  and  by  April  4,  t86i,  trains 
were  running  through  to  Weston.  In  1863 
the  nam.e  of  this  road  was  changed,  the  style 
"Platte  Country"  being  substituted  for  the  orig- 
inal "Platte  County." 

In  1864  the  road  was  seized  by  Governor 
Hall  for  non-payment  of  interest  on  State 
bonds.  Immediately  the  Weston  &  Atchison 
and  the  Atchison  &  St.  Joseph  railroad  com- 
panies commenced  suits  for  their  road-beds 
on  the  ground  that  the  original  contract  was 
illegal.  The  Legislature  of  1867  acquiesced  on 
condition  of  a  reorganization  under  the  name 
and  style  of  the  Missouri  \^alley  Railroad  Com- 
pany, and  a  completion  of  the  road  from  Sa- 
vannah   through    iMaryville    to    the    northern 


boundary   of   the    State.      Under   this   act   the 
road  was  completed  to  Hopkins  in  1869. 

The  road  from  Council  Bluffs  to  Hamburg, 
Iowa,  52  miles  in  length,  was  built  by  Willis, 
Phelps  &  Company,  and  completed  in  1867. 
It  was  styled  the  Council  Bluffs  &  St.  Joseph 
Railroad.  Hon.  James  ¥.  Joy  and  his  friends 
came  to  the  front  and  built  the  road  from  St. 
Joseph  to  Hamburg,  79  miles  long,  opening 
it  for  traffic  in  1868.  This  was  called  the  St. 
Joseph  &  Council  Bluffs  Railroad.  In  1870 
the  Missouri  Valley  and  the  St.  Joseph  &  Coun- 
cil Bluffs  railroads  were  consolidated  and  the 
road  called  the  Kansas  City,  St.  Joseph  & 
Council  BlufTs. 

The  INIissouri  Valley  road  ran  from  St. 
Joseph  to  Savannah  I'ia  Jimtown,  up  to  1871, 
when  this  road-bed  was  abandoned,  a  cut-off 
to  Savannah  having  been  built  from  Amazonia. 
In  1884  the  K.  C,  St.  J.  &  C.  B.  road  became 
part  of  the  C,  B.  &  Q.  system. 

Davis  Carpenter  was  superintendent  in 
1866;  Col.  A.  G.  Gower  from  1866  to  1869, 
Maj.  A.  L.  Hopkins  from  1869  to  1870.  Col. 
J.  F.  Barnard  was  superintendent  from  1870  to 
1884,  when  he  Avas  made  general  manager  of 
the  K.  C,  St.  J.  &  C.  B.  and  H.  &  St.  J.  roads 
under  the  C,  B.  &  Q.  system,  serving  as  such 
until  the  summer  of  1887,  when  he  was  suc- 
ceeded by  W.  F.  Merrill,  who  remained  until 
August  of  1889,  being  succeeded  by  W.  C. 
Brown.  Mr.  Brown  remained  until  January, 
1896,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  Howard  El- 
liott, who  remained  until  early  in  1904. 


St.  Joseph  &  Grand  Island. — This  is  the 
successor  of  the  Maryville,  Palmetto  &  Rose- 
port,  the  first  railroad  projected  in  Kansas, 
which  was  chartered  February  17,  1857.  In 
1856  a  party  of  South  Carolinians,  who  had 


0^ 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


179 


moved  to  Kansas  with  the  expectation  that 
slavery  would  be  perpetuated,  purchased  a  claim 
adjoining  Maryville  ancl  founded  a  town,  which 
they  called  Palmetto,  but  which  has  long-  since 
disappeared.  The  projectors  of  the  road 
anxious  to  please  the  people  of  both  Palmetto 
and  ^Maryville,  blended  Ijoth  names  into  the 
title  of  the  railroad.  Roseport  was  the  original 
name  of  Elwood,  opposite  St.  Jo.seph,  named 
for  Richard  Rose,  a  prominent  promoter  in 
those  days,  who  lived  in  St.  Joseph.  Roseport, 
however,  ga\-e  way  to  Elwood,  and  Elwood  has 
since  given  way  to  the  tawny  and  turbuleiit 
current  of  the  Missouri  River.  There  remain, 
however,  the  post  office,  the  depot  and  the  name. 

In  April  of  i860,  when  M.  Jeff.  Thompson 
was  president  of  the  road,  a  small  engine, 
named  "Albany"  and  three  Hat  cars  were 
crossed  on  the  ferryboat  'Tda."  lii  June  of 
i860  the  track-laying  began.  John  Broder,  late 
chief  of  police  of  this  city,  drove  the  first  spike. 
Sinclair  ^Miller  was  superintendent,  George 
Lewis  superintendent  of  track-laying  and  James 
Whitney  engineer  of  the  "Albany."  By  July 
19,  i860,  the  road  was  completed  to  Wathena, 
and  on  that  day  there  was  an  appropriate  cele- 
bration at  that  place.  The  "Jackson  Guards" 
of  St.  Joseph  and  many  of  our  citizens  assisted. 
They  crossed  the  river  c^u  the  ferry  and  rode 
to  Wathena  on  the  fiat-cars. 

Work  was  suspended  owing  to  disturbed 
political  conditions,  and  the  engine  was  lirought 
back  to  St.  Joseph.  During  the  \\ar  the  farmers 
in  the  Kansas  bottoms  used  the  fiat-cars,  draw- 
ing wood  and  i)roduce  to  the  ferry  landing  with 
oxen.  In  time,  however,  the  track  rotted  and 
Cottonwood  trees  grew  profusel\"  among  the 
ties. 

In  1862  the  name  was  changed  to  the  St. 
Joseph  &  Denver  City  Railroad  Company,  tlie 
purpose  still  being  the  building  of  a  line  to 
]\lar\\ilk'.      The    Nrvrthern    Kansas    Railroad 


Company  was  authorized  to  build  an  extension 
from  Maryville  to  the  Nebraska  line,  and  ac- 
quired the  lands  granted  by  an  act  of  Congress 
approved  July  23,  1866.  The  two  companies 
were  consolidated  August  11,  1866,  under  the 
name  of  the  St.  Joseph  &  Denver  City  Railroad 
Company,  with  a  capital  stock  of  $10,000,000. 
The  city  of  St.  Joseph  aided  this  enterprise  to 
the  extent  of  $500,000. 

The  work  of  extension  was  begun  in  1867, 
and  the  road  opened  to  Hastings,  Nebraska,  in 
1872.  The  portion  of  the  road  in  Nebraska 
was  built  under  the  general  railroad  law  of  that 
State.  The  total  amount  expended  in  construc- 
tion was  $5,449,620.77,  of  which  $1,400  was 
from  stockholders,  $782,727.10  from  the  State 
and  county  subsidies,  and  $4,665,493.67  from 
the  sale  of  $6,755,900  mortgage  lx)nds.  The 
property  was  placed  in  the  hands  of  a  receiver 
in  1874.  and  sold  under  foreclosure  in  Novem- 
ber. 1875.  Under  the  scheme  of  reorganiga- 
tion  two  companies  were  formed — the  St.  Jo- 
seph &  Pacific  Railroad  Company  owning  and 
.  operating  the  road  from  Elwood  westward  to 
Marysville,  and  the  Kansas  &  Nebraska  Rail- 
road Company  owning  and  operating  the  road 
from  AIary\ille,  Kansas,  west  to  Hastings,  Ne- 
braska. On  the  29th  of  March,  1877,  those  two 
companies  were  again  consolidated  under  the 
title  of  the  St.  Joseph  &Western  Railroad  Com- 
pau)-. 

The  Hastings  &  (irand  Island  Railroad 
Company  was  incorporated  May  9,  1879.  Its 
road  extending  from  Hastings  to  Grand  Island, 
Nebraska,  25  miles,  Avas  opened  Octo1)er  i, 
1879,  'i"^^  bought  by  the  St.  Joseph  &  Western 
Railroad  Company  February  18,  1880.  By  the 
terms  of  the  sale  the  stock  was  exchano-ed  for 
an  equal  amount  of  the  St.  Joseph  &  Western 
stock.  Of  the  land  grant,  300,000  acres  were 
placed  in  the  hands  of  trustees  for  the  benefit 
of  the  stockholders  of  land  scrip. 


i8o 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


In  January,  1880,  the  roads  came  under  the 
control  of  the  Union  Pacific  Railroad  Company. 
From  February,  1880,  to  January,  1884,  the 
road  was  operated  by  the  Union  Pacific  Rail- 
road Company.  On  the  latter  date  it  began  to 
be  again  operated  independently. 

On  the  nth  of  June,  1885,  the  St.  Joseph 
&  Western  road  was  sold  under  foreclosure, 
the  sale  of  the  Hastings  &  Grand  Island  Rail- 
road following  on  the  19th  of  the  same  month, 
both  lines  being  bought  by  a  committee  of  the 
bondholders.  The  St.  Joseph  &  Maryville  Rail- 
road Company  and  the  Grand  Island  &  Mary- 
\ille  Railroad  Company,  two  new  corporations, 
w-ere  organized  in  the  States  of  Kansas  and 
Nebraska  and  consolidated  into  the  St.  Joseph 
&  Grand  Island  Raolroad  Company.  The 
property  of  the  company  includes  the  St.  Jo- 
seph bridge  and  the  entire  line  between  St.  Jo- 
seph and  Grand  Island,  252  miles. 

John  F.  Barnard  was  superintendent  in 
1871-72,  and  was  succeeded  by  William  H. 
Sheridan,  who  served  only  a  short  time  and 
was  succeeded  by  L.  D.  Tuthill.  Mr.  Tuthill 
remained  until  June,  1885,  wdien  he  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Daniel  McCool,  who  served  until 
January,  1888.  William  Lush  was  then  made 
general  manager,  remaining  until  May,  1888. 
when  he  was  succeeded  by  G.  M.  Cummings. 
who  served  until  December,  1888,  when  E.  Mc- 
Neill took  charge.  Mr.  McNeill  was  succeeded 
in  August,  1890,  by  W.  P.  Robinson,  Jr.  Dur- 
ing 1 89 1  the  office  was  abolished,  the  road  be- 
ing under  the  Union  Pacific  system.  In  Janu- 
ary. 1892,  Mr.  Robinson  returned  and  re- 
mained eight  years,  being  succeeded  by  Ray- 
mond Dupuy,  the  present  manager. 

In  the  summer  of  1898  the  St.  Joseph  & 

Grand  Island  began  running  trains  into  Kansas 

City  over  leased  lines. 

*     *     * 

St.  Joseph  c'r  Topcha.—\n  1 858  the  St.  ]o- 


seph  &  Topeka  Railroad  Company  obtained  a 
charter  from  the  Kansas  Legislature.  The  St. 
Joseph  City  Directory  of  i860  shows  that 
Willard  P.  Hall  was  president ;  John  Corby, 
vice-president;  M.  Jeff.  Thompson,  secretary; 
Joseph  C.  Hull,  treasurer,  and  Adam  Brenner, 
of  Doniphan,  assistant  treasurer.  The  city  of 
St.  Joseph  issued  bonds  to  the  amount  of  $50,- 
000  to  aid  this  enterprise.  It  was  not  until 
1872,  however,  that  anything  materialized.  In 
that  year  a  line  was  built  from  Wathena  to 
Doniphan,  via  Palermo  and  Geary  City,  by 
George  H.  Hall,  John  L.  Motter,  O.  B.  Craig, 
W'illiam  Craig  and  George  W.  Barr.  The  road 
was  leased  to  the  K.  C,  St.  J.  &  C.  B.  com- 
pany and  operated  until  1876.  Trains  were  run 
from  St.  Joseph  to  Atchison,  the  St.  Joseph  & 
Western  tracks  being  used  to  Wathena  and  the 
Atchison  &  Nebraska  tracks  from  Doniphan  to 
Atchison.  The  road  had  been  bonded  and  the 
bonds  placed  with  a  firm  of  New  York  brokers. 
Before  the  bonds  were  disposed  of  the  firm 
failed  and  the  bonds  were  taken  by  its  creditors 
as  assets  and  foreclosed.  The  line  was  ac- 
quired by  the  St.  Joseph  &  Western  Company. 
After  a  time  the  rails  were  taken  up  and  relaid 
on  that  road.  The  Hannibal  &  St.  Joseph 
would  have  purchased  the  line  had  it  been  possi- 
ble to  acquire  the  city's  interest  in  the  bridge. 
The  St.  Joseph  &  Topeka  was  also  known  as 
the  "George  Hall"  road  and  as  the  "Corkscrew" 
route. 

Santa  Fc  System. — The  Atchison,  Topeka 
&  Santa  Fe  Railway  Company  enters  the  city 
froiu  two  directions — from  the  southeast  and 
from  the  southwest.  The  branch  from  the 
southeast  was  begun  in  1867  and  completed 
in  the  winter  of  1869-70.  It  was  then  called 
the  St.  Louis  &  St.  Joseph  Railway.  Shortly 
after  the  completion  of  the  n^ad.  the  company 
went    into  bankruptcy.      lender   a   sale   in   the 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


i8i 


bankruptcy  court,  the  road  was  bought  by  the 
bondholders,  who  leased  it  to  the  North  Mis- 
souri Railroad  Company.  Subsequently  it  was 
controlled  by  the  \\'abash  Railroad  Company. 
In  1886  it  passed  into  the  hands  of  the  late 
Winslow  Judson  and  others  and  was  called  the 
St.  Joseph  &  St.  Louis.  In  1888  the  road 
passed  into  the  control  of  the  Santa  Fe  system 
and  was  called  the  St.  Joseph,  St.  Louis  & 
Santa  Fe. 

At  about  the  same  time  the  Santa  Fe  com- 
pany built  a  line  from  Atchison  to  St.  Joseph, 
■via  Rushville.  This  company  also  built  a  line 
to  Lake  Contrary  shortly  after  the  completion 
of  the  Atchison  line. 

The  St.  Joseph  Terminal  Company  was  or- 
ganized in  1889.  The  Santa  Fe  and  Grand 
Island  companies  are  jointly  interested.  Shops 
and  a  round-house  were  built  on  lower  Sixth 
street,  and,  in  1890  a  freight  depot  was  erected 
at  Fourth  street,  south  of  Olive.  Formerly  the 
Grand  Island  and  St.  Joseph  &  St.  Louis  com- 
panies jointly  used  a  freight  depot  that  stood 
near  where  the  shops  and  round  house  are  now 
located.  Before  the  erection  of  the  Union 
Depot  this  was  also  used  as  a  passenger  station 
for  these  roads.' 

*         >i<         >H 

Rock  Island  System. — In  1872  a  branch  of 
the  Chicago,  Rock  Island  &  Pacific  Railroad 
was  built  from  Edgerton  Junction,  in  Platte 
County,  through  Crawford,  Bloomington  and 
Rush  townships,  Buchanan  County,  to  Win- 
throp.  Bloomington  township  voted  bonds  to 
aid  this  enterprise.  This  was  not  accomplished 
without  opposition,  however,  and  the  majority 
was  so  small  that  there  was  a  protest.  The 
bonds  were  certified  to  by  the  County  Court, 
lout  for  some  years  there  was  objection  to  pay- 
ing the  levy  called  for  l)y  these  bonds ;  there 
was  also  litigation,  but  without  avail. 

In  1885  the  people  of  St.  Joseph  suliscribed 


$50,000  to  secure  a  branch  of  the  Rock  Island 
from  Altamont,  Daviess  County.  Trains  be- 
gan running  over  this  line  in  May,  1886. 

Early  in  1886  the  Rock  Island  projected  a 
line  west  of  the  Missouri  River.  The  Chicago, 
Kansas  &  Nebraska  Railroad  Company  was 
chartered  in  Kansas  and  the  people  of  St.  Jo- 
seph subscribed  for  stock  to  the  amount  of 
$300,000.  The  road  was  bonded  and  built. 
Shops  were  located  at  Horton,  where  a  pros- 
perous town  soon  sprang  up.  At  Florton  the 
road  forks,  one  branch  going  through  Topeka 
and  fi^ichita  to  Oklahoma  and  Texas  and  an- 
other through  northern  Kansas  to  Denver. 
Trains  Ijegan  running  into  St.  Joseph  in  No- 
vember, 1889.  After  several  years  the  bond- 
holders foreclosed  and  the  stockholders  lost 
what  money  they  had  invested. 


St.  Joseph  &  Dcs  Moines. — The  St.  Joseph 
&  Des  Moines  Railroad  Company  was  organ- 
ized in  this  city  in  1877,  wnth  Col.  John  L. 
Motter  as  president.  In  November  of  the  same 
year  a  contract  for  the  grading  was  let,  work 
was  commenced  at  once,  and  by  the  first  of 
April,  1878,  the  first  20  miles  of  road-bed  was 
ready  for  the  rails.  Track-laying  was  com- 
menced June  I  St,  the  first  engine  placed  on  the 
road  June  26th,  and  the  line  was  in  operation 
1)y  October.  This  was  a  narrow-guage  road 
while  under  the  control  and  ownership  of  John 
L.  Motter,  James  H.  Pickering,  F.  L.  McLean, 
William  B.  Johnson,  Isaac  T.  Hosea,  A.  N. 
Schuster,  R.  L.  McDonald  and  John  B.  Hund- 
ley. The  first  officials  of  the  road  were :  John 
L.  Motter,  president  and  general  manager; 
James  H.  Pickering,  superintendent ;  F.  L.  Mc- 
Lean, general  freight  and  ticket  agent ;  William 
B.. Johnson,  secretary  and  treasurer. 

In  1880  the  line  was  purchaser!  and  became 
a  l)ranch  of  the  Chicago,  Burlington  &  Ouincy. 


vi 


1 82 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH. 


The  guage  was  at  once  widened,  it  thus  added 
one  more  important  feeder  to  the  great  Bur- 
Hngton  system.  The  depot  was  located  on 
Mitchell  avenue,  near  Fifteenth  street,  where 
stops  are  still  made,  though  all  trains  run  to  the 
Union  Depot. 

^  'l^  ^ 

Missouri  Pacific. — In  January  of  1880, 
when  it  was  learned  that  Jay  Gould  desired  the 
entrance  of  the  Missouri  Pacific  Railroad  into 
St.  Joseph,  a  number  ()f  citizens,  interested 
directly  or  indirectly  in  revixing  the  St.  Joseph 
&  Topeka  road,  ofifered  him  a  1)()nus  of  $30,000 
to  enter  the  city  over  that  line.  The  ofifer  was 
accepted  and  the  money  paid  o\-er.  Gould, 
however,  disappointed  these  people  by  leasing 
a  right  of  way  over  the  Hannibal  &  St.  Joseph 
tracks.  The  first  train  of  the  Missouri  Pacific 
reached  St.  Joseph  on  February  23.  1880.  Un- 
til the  completion  of  the  Union  Depot  in  1882, 
the  old  Hannibal  &  St.  Joseph  depot  at  Fighth 
and  Olive  streets  was  used. 


Chicago  Great  Western. — This  road  was 
built  to  St.  Joseph  from  Des  Moines  in  1889. 
It  was  then  called  the  Chicago,  St.  Paul  &  Kan- 
sas City,  and  known  as  the  "Diagonal"  route. 
In  1890  the  road  was  completed  to  Kansas 
City.  Its  name  was  changed  to  Chicago  Great 
\Vestern  some  years  ago  and  it  is  familiarly 
known  now  as  the  "Maple  Leaf"  route,  the  em- 
blem l)cing  a  maple  leaf.  The  trains  of  this 
road  ha\"e  ne\cr  entered  the  L'nion  Depot,  it 
ha\ing"  been  impossible  to  make  arrangements 
for  this  that  were  mutuall\-  satisfactory.  A 
modern  passenger  station  was  built  at  Third 
and  Antoine  streets.  The  management  has  al- 
ways dealt  liberally  with  the  ])eople.  asking  no 
bonus,  paying  for  e\erything  and  aiding  the 
city  by  large  ex])enditures  in  tlie  building  of 
the  Blacksnake  sewer. 


Union  Pacific. — Up  to  the  war  period,  St. 
Joseph  was  generally  regarded  as  the  logical 
starting  point  of  the  Union  Pacific  Railroad. 
The  Hannibal  &  St.  Joseph  road  connected  the 
Mississippi  and  Missottri  rivers;  the  Kansas 
Legislature  had  chartered  the  Maryville,  Pal- 
metto &  Roseport,  from  Elwood  to  Maryville, 
and  this  road  was^completed  to  Wathena ;  the 
"Pony  Express"  w^as  operated  out  of  St.  Joseph 
o\er  what  was  supposed  to  be  the  route  of  the 
future  trans-continental  railroad.  When  the 
L^nion  Pacific  was  projected,  two  branches  were 
contemplated,  one  from  Memphis  by  the  south- 
ern route,  and  one  from  the  Missouri  River. 
When  the  road  was  chartered  by  Congress,  in 
1862,  two  branches  were  provided  for,  but  both 
were  to  start  from  the  Missouri  River  and 
meet  at  the  looth  parallel,  about  where  North 
Platte,  Nebraska,  is  located.  Wyandotte  se- 
cured the  southern  branch,  and  there  was  a  con- 
test 1>etween  St.  Joseph  and  Omaha  for  the 
Northern  branch.  The  Senators  from  Mis- 
souri— Wilson  and  Henderson — strongly  ad- 
vocated the  cau.se  of  St.  Joseph.  The  prospects 
of  success  seemed  good  until  an  Omaha  cham- 
pion recited  in  fervid  eloquence  the  fact  that  the 
United  States  flag  had  been  torn  down  from 
the  Post  Ofiice  here  in  May  of  t86i,  and  that 
the  ])eople  of  St.  Joseph  had  been  so  disloyal 
as  to  require  the  constant  presence  of  United 
States  troops  to  preserve  order  and  protect 
those  who  held  Union  sentiments.  In  con- 
clusion be  urged  that  such  conduct  deserved  a 
rebuke  and  the  proper  way  of  administering 
this  was  to  start  the  northern  1)ranch  of  the 
Union  Pacific  Railroad  from  Omaha.  He  car- 
ried ofi^  the  honors,  ithough  he  did  this  com- 
munitv  a  gross  injustice. 


Union  Terminal. — In   1901   a  charter  was 
granted  the  Union  Terminal  Company,  an  or- 


ij^ii'fi 


.l!» 


V 


THE    PRESENT    UNION    STATION 


THE    FIRST    UNION    STATION 


rnmrr 


FELIX    STREET    IN    1873 

(Showing  a  Portion  of  the  Old   Market  House) 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


185 


ganization  formed  by  John  Donovan  and  others 
interested  in  the  St.  Joseph  Stock  Yards,  and 
work  is  now  in  progress  biiikhng  tracks.  The 
Hne  will  rnn  from  the  Stock  Yards  nonh  to  the 
river  bank  below  Alessanie  street,  and  thence 
upon  piling  to  a  point  near  Jules  street,  where 
it  will  join  the  Chicago  Great  Western.  The 
purpose  of  the  project  is  to  facilit;He  tratiic  to 
the  Stock  Yards  and  packing  houses  and  also 
to  afford  terminals  to  any  other  railroads  that 
might  come  to  St.  Joseph  in  the  future. 


The  Bridge. — In  1870  there  was  incorpor- 
ated the  St.  Joseph  Bridge  Building  Company, 
composed  of  Gen.  \\'illard  P.  Hall.  J.  AL.  Plaw- 
ley.  J.  H.  R.  Cundiff.  J.  B.  Hinman,  John  L. 
Bittinger.  James  A.  Matney.  O.  M.  Smith,  I. 
G.  Kappner,  John  Pinger,  J.  D.  McNeely,  W. 
Z.  Ransom,  Mordecai  Oliver  and  Isaac  C. 
Parker.  A  bridge  across  the  river  had  long 
been  a  necessity  and  the  people  were  willing  to 
give  all  possible  aid.  Hence,  on  January  25, 
187T,  they  ratified  an  ordinance,  at  a  special 
election,  authorizing  a  subscription  for  5,000 
shares  of  the  capital  stock  of  the  company  above 
mentioned,  to  be  paid  for  in  the  city's  bonds, 
20  years  after  date  and  bearing  10  per  cent,  in- 
terest per  annum.  This  practically  meant  a 
donation  of  $500,000.  But  19  negative  votes 
were  cast. 

The  company  at  once  secured  the  services 
of  Col.  L.  D.  Mason,  an  eno;ineer  of  national 
reputation,  who,  after  having  fixed  the  Ic^ca- 
tion  of  the  bridge,  was  empowered  to  advertise 
for  bids  for  its  construction.  The  highest  bid 
received  was  from  the  Baltimore  Bridg'e  Com- 
pany. $1,175,000;  the  lowest  from  the  Detroit 
Bridge  &  Iron  Works.  $716,000.  The  latter 
company  was  awarded  the  contract.  On  July 
25.  187T.  the  first  material  arrived,  and  on  Sep- 
tember 26th,  the  first  stone  was  laid,  on  the 
10 


Kansas  side,  in  the  presence  of  a  large  assem- 
blage of  people.  In  1872,  while  the  work  was 
in  progress,  a  proposition  to  transfer  the  bridge 
to  the  Hannibal  &  St.  Joseph  Railroad  Com- 
pany, according  to  the  proposition  of  B.  F. 
Carver,  was  presented  at  a  meeting  of  the  Man- 
ufacturers' Aid  Association,  held  March  20, 
1872.  The  proposition,  as  may  be  supposed, 
caused  a  great  deal  of  excitement  among  the 
people. 

Mr.  Carver's  proposition  was  to  furnish  the 
money  to  complete  the  bridge  under  the  present 
direction,  as  fast  as  Chief  Engineer  Mason 
would  estimate  for  the  required  funds;  that  he 
would  extend  the  St.  Joseph  &  Topeka  Rail- 
road to  Atchison,  Kansas,  and  connect  it  with 
the  various  roads  at  that  town ;  that  he  would 
remove  the  machine  shops,  car  works  and  gen- 
eral offices  of  the  Hannibal  &  St.  Joseph  Rail- 
road, located  at  Hannibal,  to  St.  Joseph;  that 
he  would  fix  the  tarift*  of  highway  travel  on  the 
bridge  at  rates  one-half  lower  than  those  of 
any  similar  structure  on  the  Missouri  or  Mis- 
sissippi rivers ;  and  that  he  would  make  the 
tariffs  to  railroads  equal  as  between  his  and  al? 
others,  and  that  rates  guarded  and  liberal  be 
assured  to  all.  In  consideration  of  his  doing 
these  things,  he  asked  that  the  city  transfer 
to  him  its  entire  stock  of  $500,000,  and  that  the 
machine  and  car  shops  should  be  exempt  from 
taxation,  as  they  were  in  Hannibal  for  20  years. 

There  was  much  de1>ate  and  a  great  \'ariet\- 
of  opinions  delivered.  Some  wanted  the  bridge 
made  absolutely  free  for  highway  travel,  while 
others  thought  it  was  better  to  allow  the  own- 
ers of  it  to  collect  a  low  rate  of  tariff  and  return 
to  the  city  a  portion  of  the  bonds  voted  to  the 
work.  All  appeared  to  favor  the  proposition 
in  one  form  or  other,  and  adopted  a  resolution, 
unanimously,  that  it  was  the  sense  of  the  meet- 
ing that  the  city's  stock  ought  to  be  sold  when- 
ever   judicious    terms    could    be    made.      The 


i86 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


Council  submitted  the  transfer  to  the  vote  of 
the  people,  but  before  the  election  day  had  ar- 
rived the  ordinance  was  withdrawn. 

There  are  si>^  piers.  Wooden  caissons  were 
sunk  to  bed  rock.  The  work  in  the  interior  of 
these  caissons  was  carried  on  under  pneumatic 
jjressure  and  the  masonry  of  the  piers 
progressed  upward  as  the  caisson  was  sunk. 
Nearly  one  and  one-half  millions  feet  of  lum- 
l^er  and  16,000  cubic  feet  of  concrete  were  re- 
quired for  the  caissons  and  172,000  cubic  feet 
of  masonry  for  the  piers.  The  superstructure 
consists  of  three  fixed  spans  of  the  quadranglar 
Pratt  truss,  each  300  feet  long,  one  fixed  span 
at  the  east  approach  of  80  feet,  and  a  draw  span 
of  365  feet,  making  the  entire  length  of  the 
Imdge  1,345  feet. 

On  the  20th  of  May,  1873,  the  first  loco- 
' motive  crossed  the  bridge.  This  w^as  engine 
No.  6,  of  the  St.  Joseph  &  Denver  City  Rail- 
road, in  charge  of  Edgar  Sleppy,  master  me- 
chanic of  the  shops  of  that  road,  and  the  man 
who  ran  the  first  passenger  train  out  of  St. 
Joseph  on  the  opening  of  the  Hannibal  &  St. 
Joseph  road  more  than  14  years  before.  Charles 
N.  Stine,  now  a  passenger  engineer  on  the  St. 
Joseph  &  Grand  Island  road,  performed  the 
duties  of  fireman  on  this  engine. 

On  Saturday,  May  31,  1873,  occurred  the 
grand  celebration  of  the  completion  of  the 
l^ridge.  This  was,  beyond  doubt,  the  most  mag- 
nificent pageant  ever  displayed  in  the  city.  Not 
only  was  every  civic  association  and  benevolent 
society  represented  in  the  vast  procession,  but 
the  German  citizens  of  the  Northwest  had  se- 
lected St.  Joseph  as  the  place  for  holding  their 
annual  saengerfest,  and  May  31st,  \vas  selected 
as  the  time.  The  procession  which  traversed 
the  streets  of  St.  Joseph  on  that  day  had  never 
been  equaled  west  of  the  Mississippi.  Every 
trade  was  represpented. 

Dr.  Robert  Gunn,  who  served  as  secretary 


of  the  company  from  the  beginning  of  the  sec- 
ond year  of  its  organization,  was  superintendent 
of  the  bridge  for  many  years. 

June  16,  1879,  the  control  of  the  bridge  was 
transferred  to  Jay  Gould  and  associates.  It 
is  now  the  property  of  the  St.  Joseph  &  Grand 
Island  Railroad  Company. 

During  the  year  1902  a  perpetual  lease  for 
joint  use  was  made  to  the  Chicago,  Rock  Island 
&  Pacific  Railway  Company,  and  during  the 
year  1903-04  the  superstructure  of  the  bridge 
was  entirely  rebuilt  to  accommodate  the  in- 
creased traffic. 


Union  Depot. — In  October,  1868,  the  coun- 
ty judges  voted  an  appropriation  of  $10,000  to 
aid  the  citizens  of  Buchanan  County  to  procure 
grounds  for  a  Union  Depot,  the  same  to  be 
erected  between  the  foot  of  Jules  street  and  the 
foot  of  Edmond  street,  for  the  use  of  the  Hanni- 
bal &  St.  Joseph,  the  St.  Joseph  &  Council  Blufifs, 
and  all  other  irailroads  thereafter  centering  in 
St.  Joseph.  Machine  shops  w-ere  also  to  be 
maintained.  This  scheme,  though  urgently  ad- 
vocated by  a  number  of  St.  Joseph's  most  prom- 
inent citizens,  never  materialized. 

In  April,  1880,  the  St.  Joseph  Union  Depot 
Company  was  formed,  the  following  railroad 
companies  being  incorporators  and  bondhold- 
ers: Hannibal  &  St.  Joseph,  Missouri  Pacific, 
St.  Joseph  &  Western,  Kansas  City,  St.  Joseph  & 
Council  Bluffs,  Wabash,  St.  Louis  &  Pacific, 
and  St.  Joseph  &  Des  Moines.  A  building  was 
erected  across  Mitchell  avenue,  with  a  frontage 
of  405  feet  on  Sixth  street,  which  was  com- 
pleted on  April  30,  1882.  Col.  Joseph  Hansen, 
the  present  superintendent,  was  placed  in 
charge.  The  upper  story  was  arranged  for  a 
hotel.  The  first  train  to  leave  the  Union  Depot 
was  over  the  Missouri  Pacific  route,  and  was 
called  at  an  early  hour  on  May  i,   1882,  by 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


187 


Isaac  Veitch,  who  has  continuoiislv  served  as 
chief  depot  master  since  that  time. 

On  the  night  of  February  9,  1895,  the  depot 
was  destroyed  by  fire.  The  hotel  was  at  that 
time  kept  by  Maj.  John  B.  Laughhn. 

During  the  same  year  a  new  building  was 
erected  upon  the  site  of  the  old  one,  with  many 
improvements.  This  new  Union  Depot  was 
opened  for  business  early  in  January  of  1896. 

*     H«     >H 

Telegraph  Lines. — The  first  telegraph  line 
built  to  St.  Joseph  was  completed  on  March  3, 
^s5"5'*^.  The  first  message  received  was  the  in- 
augural address  of  President  Franklin  Pierce. 
Peter  Lovell  was  the  operator  and  his  office 
was  at  the  southwest  corner  of  Second  and  Jules 
streets.      There  were  two   newspapers   in   St. 


Joseph  at  that  time — the  Gasette  and  the  Ad- 
venturer— and  the  forces  were  combined  in  put- 
ting the  message  into  type.  Capt.  Francis  M. 
Posegate  was  among  the  compositors  of  the 
Adventurer,  and  Charles  M.  Thompson,  now 
residing  in  California,  was  of  the  Gasette  force. 
The  Stebbins  line,  from  St.  Louis  to  St.  Joseph, 
via  Atchison,  was  built  in  i860.  In  1880  three 
telegraph  companies  had  offices  in  St.  Joseph — 
the  Western  Union,  the  American  Union,  and 
the  Atlantic  &  Pacific.  In  1884  there  were 
three  companies — the  Union  Pacific,  the  Mutual 
Union  and  the  Pacific  Mutual.  The  last  named 
line  was  built  from  St.  Louis  to  Sioux  City  by 
Joseph  A.  Corby  of  this  city,  and  was  absorbed 
bv  the  Postal  Telegraph  &  Cable  Company. 
This  and  the  Western  Union  are  the  only  com- 
panies now  having  offices  in  St.  Joseph. 


CHAPTER  XX. 


FINANCE  AND  COMMERCE. 

The  Banks  and  Financial  Concerns  That  Have  Existed  in  St.  Joseph  in  the 
Past^  and  Those  That  Live  in  the  Present — Various  Organizations  for  the 
Promotion  of  Commerce  and  Manufactures. 


Armstrong  Beattie  was  the  first  regular 
banker  in  St.  Joseph.  He  began  business  in 
1852  in  the  City  Hotel  at  Jules  and  Main 
streets.  He  afterward  mo\ed  to  Second  street, 
north  of  Francis,  and  finally  to  the  west  side 
of  Third  street,  between  Felix  and  Edmond, 
where  he  continued  up  to  the  period  of  his 
death,  July  26.  1878. 

The  Farmers'  &  Mechanics'  Savings  Insti- 
tution was  chartered  in  1853  '^"'^^  continued 
until  1865,  when  it  was  merged  into  the  First 
National  Bank  of  St.  Joseph.  The  latter  bank 
continued  until  August,  1878,  when  in  conse- 
quence of  a  robbery  of  $19,700,  the  mystery  of 
which  has  never  been  solved,  the  directors  de- 
cided to  go  out  of  business.  The  bank  was 
then  located  at  Third  and  Francis  streets,  south 
of  the  Pacific  House,  in  the  ^McLaughlin  Build- 
ing. Immediately  after  the  dissolution  of  the 
First  National  Bank  the  Merchants'  Bank  was 
organized  and  began  business  in  the  same  quar- 
ters. W'here  it  continued  until  the  completion 
of  the  Chamber  of  Commerce,  March  of  1885, 
when  the  present  quarters  were  taken. 

A  prominent  bank  before  tlie  war — 1858- 
60 — was  that  of  Lee  &  Chaffee,  located  on  the 
west  >ide  of  Second,  between  Francis  and  Jules 
streets.     The  firm  was  composed  of  A.  L.  Lee 


and  Jerome  B.  Chaffee.  When  the  w-ar  broke 
out,  Mr.  Lee  went  to  the  front  in  the  Seventh 
Regiment,  Kansas  Infantry,  and  rose  to  the 
rank  of  brigadier-general.  After  the  war  he 
located  in  the  South.  Mr.  Chaffee  went  to 
Colorado,  where  he  prospered,  rose  to  politi- 
cal eminence  and  was  elected  to  the  Lnited 
States  Senate. 

The  Western  Bank  was  organized  in  April, 
1859,  with  Milton  Tootle  as  president,  and 
continued  until  1867,  when  it  went  into  li(|ui- 
dation. 

The  State  Savings  Bank  was  organized  in 
1859,  as  a  branch  of  the  State  Bank  of  Mis- 
souri. It  was  a  national  bank  from  1865  to 
1871.  From  that  time  it  was  known  again  as 
the  State  Savings  Bank  until  1890,  when  it 
was  again  made  a  national  bank.  The  bank  is 
now  out  of  Inisiness  and  its  affairs  are  being 
settled  up. 

John  Colhoun  &  Company,  Ijankers,  com- 
menced business  in  June,  1864,  in  the  old 
Methodist  Church  at  the  northeast  corner  of 
Third  and  Fehx  streets.  David  Linger,  who 
was  the  other  member  of  the  firm,  erected  a 
modern  building  ui)on  the  site  of  the  old  church 
in  1865.  In  1 87 1  the  partnership  expired  and 
the  business  of  the  bank  was  transferred  to  a 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


1S9 


new  institution,  known  as  the  Colhoun  Bank. 
The  new  bank  occupied  the  Fairleigh  Building 
at  the  southeast  corner  of  Third  and  Felix 
streets. 

In  the  meantime  the  German  Savings  Bank 
had  been  organized  in  the  spring  of  1869.  This 
bank  purchased  the  building  which  Mr.  Finger 
had  erected.  It  went  into  liquidation  Au- 
gust 15,  1876. 

The  St.  Joseph  Savings  Bank  was  organ- 
ized in  June  of  1873  and  continued  until  De- 
cember I.  1875,  when  it  consolidated  with  the 
Colhoun  Bank  and  the  new  institution  was 
called  the  Colhoun  Savings  Bank.  On  May  9. 
1878,  this  bank  ceased  to  exist,  and  its  busi- 
ness was  turned  over  to  Schuster,  Hax  & 
Company,  bankers.  In  1889  the  latter  bank 
was  reorganized  as  the  Schuster-Hax  Na- 
tional Bank. 

The  Bank  of  St.  Joseph  was  organized  in 
December,  1874.  and  was  first  located  at  Fifth 
and  Felix  streets.  In  August.  1876,  this  cor- 
poration purchased  the  three-story  building  of 
the  German  Savings  Bank,  at  the  northeast 
corner  of  Third  and  Felix  streets.  It  has  been 
known  as  the  National  Bank  of  St.  Joseph 
since  1883.  In  the  fall  of  1903  it  took  up  quar- 
ters in  a  substantial  building  erected  at  the 
southwest  corner  of  Fourth  and  Felix  streets 
at  a  cost  of  $150,000. 

The  Saxton  National  Bank,  at  Fourth  and 
Francis  streets,  was  organized  in  1883.  In 
1894  it  was  consolidated  with  the  Schuster- 
Hax  National  Bank  and  reorganized  as  the 
First  National  Bank  of  Buchanan  County. 

The  German- American  Bank  was  organ- 
ized early  in  1887.  It  was  located  on  Fifth 
street,  opposite  the  Tootle  Theatre,  until  the 
completion  of  its  building,  at  Seventh  and 
Felix  streets,  in  1889. 

The  Commercial  Bank  was  also  organized 
in  1887,  and  began  business  in  the  Commercial 


Block  at  Fifth  and  Edmond  streets.    This  bank 
is  now  in  process  of  liquidation. 

The  bank  of  Tootle.  Lemon  &  Company 
was  organized  in  July  of  1889  and  began  busi- 
ness at  No.  118  North  Fourth  street.  In  1894 
the  bank  was  moved  to  Nos.  509-511  Felix 
street,  where  it  remained  until  1900,  when  the 
massive  building  at  the  northwest  corner  of 
Sixth  and  Francis  streets  was  completed.  It 
became  a  National  bank  in  1902. 

The  Central  Savings  Bank  was  organized 
in  1889.  It  was  first  located  in  the  Commercial 
Block,  then  in  the  France  Block,  on  Fifth  street, 
north  of  Edmond.  and.  when  the  Commercial 
Bank  went  into  liquidation,  the  quarters  of  that 
institution  were  taken.  December  31,  1898, 
Milton  Tootle.  Jr..  was  appointed  receiver  for 
this  bank. 

The  Park  Bank  was  organized  in  1889. 
It  is  located  at  the  northeast  corner  of  loth 
and  Penn  streets,  opposite  Patee  Park. 

The  St.  Joseph  Stock  Yards  Bank  was  or- 
ganized in  1898,  shortly  after  the  opening  of 
the  Live  Stock  Exchange,  in  which  building  it 
is  located. 

The  Missouri  Valley  Trust  Company  was 
organized  in  IMarch  of  1899.  It  is  located  at 
the  southeast  corner  of  Fourth  and  Felix 
streets. 

The  Bank  of  Commerce,  South  St.  Joseph, 
was  organized  in  the  spring  of  1901  and  is 
quartered  at  the  southeast  corner  of  King  Flill 
and  Missouri  avenues. 

The  Bank  of  North  St.  Joseph  was  estab- 
lished in  November  of  1903,  on  St.  Joseph 
avenue,  to  accommodate  the  northern  end  of 
the  city. 

The  Farmers'  and  Traders'  Bank  was  or- 
ganized early  in  1904.  It  is  located  on  upper 
Frederick  avenue  and  is  a  great  accommoda- 
tion to  the  merchants  and  people  of  that  por- 
tion of  the  citv. 


IQO 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY   AND   ST.    JOSEPH 


There  are  also  banks  at  DeKalb,  Rushville, 
Agency  and  Easton. 


Among  the  St.  Joseph  financial  ventures 
of  the  past  were  two  insurance  companies. 
The  Merchants'  Insurance  Company  was  or- 
ganized in  1 866 "by  Thomas  E.  Tootle,  R.  L. 
McDonald,  Arthur  Kirkpatrick  and  others, 
with  a  capital  of  $200,000.  A  successful  busi- 
ness was  done  for  many  }-ears.  The  company 
is  now  out  of  existence. 

The  St.  Joseph  Fire  &  Marine  Insurance 
Company  was  chartered  December  27,  1867, 
by  J.  W.  Bailey,  G.  W.  Samuel,  A.  P.  Goff 
and  others.  In  1879  the  company  wound  up 
its  business  and  paid  back  the  money  sub- 
scribed for  stock,  together  with  interest. 

The  Real  Estate  &  Savings  Association  of 
St.  Joseph  was  organized  in  1870,  and  con- 
tinued until  1875.  T'le  association  was  char- 
tered by  the  State  with  authority  to  buy  and 
sell  real  estate,  loan  money,  etc.,  and  its  first 
ofificers  were  Arthur  Kirkpatrick,  president ; 
B.  S.  Carter,  secretary,  and  James  Hull,  treas- 
urer. 

;!;         *         ;;« 

While  there  existed  at  x-arious  periods  in 
the  city's  history,  prior  to  1871..  organizations 
for  the  promotion  of  the  commercial  welfare 
and  advancement  of  the  community,  there  are 
so  few  traces  of  these  efforts  that  no  attempt 
will  Ije  made  to  specify  tlicm.  'I'he  lm])r(ne- 
ment  &  Manufacturers"  Aid  Association  of 
St.  Joseph  was  formed  in  1871  and  continued 
for  sf)me  years.  It  was  largely  due  to  the 
existence  of  this  association  tint  the  bridge 
was  built.  The  subject  of  water-works  also 
received  attention  at  the  hands  of  tlie  organi- 
zation, though  tlic  works  were  not  built  dur- 
ing its  life.  The  list  of  members  of  this  associ- 
ation was  as  follows:    Thomas    I.   Chew,   Jr.. 


James  Craig,  William  M.  Wyeth,  Francis  M. 
Posegate,  S.  Adler,  Davis  Carpenter,  Jr.,  W. 
G.  Fairleigh,  D.  D.   Streeter,  I.  G.  Kappner, 
John  Severance,  George  Buell,  E.  L.  Marney. 
J.  W.  Bailey,  Isaac  Curd,  R.  L.  McDonald, 
I.   Weil,  Isaac  T.   Hosea,  J.   M.   Hawley.   J. 
Francis  Smith,   R.   P.   Richardson,   Frederick 
W.  Smith,  William  Fitton,  J.  H.  R.  Cundiff, 
Robert  Gunn,  F.  B.  Kercheval,  J.  L.  Hanna. 
Milton  Tootle,  N.  J.  Schlupp,  A.  L.  Hopkins, 
T.  J.  Burgess,  M.  M.   Claggett,  H.  Bartlett. 
H.  B.  Ketcham.  John  Burnside,  N.  F.  Bald- 
win,   W.  Z.    Ransom,    George   Olds,    George 
H.   Hall,   R.    R.    Calkins,   H.   G.    Gore,   John 
Donovan,  Harry  J.  Seip.  C.  D.  Smith,  James 
W.    Strong,    Joseph    S.    Ford,    J.    R.    W^illis, 
Henry  K.  \\'hite.  \\'.  H.  B.  Warren,  Charles 
A.    Pfeiffer,    C.    W.    Evans,    Julius    Meyer, 
Jacob  Schloss,  John  DeClue,  A.  M.  Bard,  A. 
L.    Kerr,    George   Lyon,    Armstrong   Beattie, 
J.   M.   Street.  J.   R.   Bell,  R.   E.   Turner,   M. 
G.   Fish.   Louis   Fuelling,   B.   F.   CoU,   H.   R. 
W.  Hartwig,  David  Siegel,  S.  D.  King,  W.  D. 
O'Toole,   James   McCord,   Joseph   A.    Corby, 
R.  F.  Maxwell,  D.  A.  Constable,  C.  M.  Lin- 
coln,  J.    L.    Bittinger,    George    Hillyer,    Sam 
Russell.  T.  A.  Green,  .\.  Furst.  Charles  Mc- 
(iuire,  J.   L.   Ellingwood,  M.   Eppstein.  J.   A. 
Nicely,   W.    H.    Wood,   Robert   C.    Bradshaw, 
John    Townsend,    W.    J.    Biggerstaff,    C.  11. 
Buckman,    G.    H.    Koch,    H.   M.    Garlichs.    I. 
C.  Parker,  John  Pinger,  James  Kay.  Willard 
P.  Hall,  1).  M.  Steele,  Charles  H.  Shultz  and  P. 
L.  McLaughlin. 

In  1871  there  ^\■as  also  formed  a  Board  of 
Trade,  which,  after  doing  good  service,  was 
reorganized  u])on  more  substantial  lines  on 
October  19,  1878.  For  some  years  prior  to 
1885  the  I'oard  <^f  Trade  was  located  on  the 
east  side  of  Tliird  street,  between  Felix  and 
Francis  streets,  where  daily  market  reports 
were  received  and  where  a  paid  secretary  was 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


191 


maintained.  In  1881  a  committee  was  ap- 
pointed to  formulate  a  plan  for  the  erection  of 
a  suitable  building-.  As  a  result  the  Chamber 
of  Commerce  Company  was  organized,  and 
the  building  at  the  southwest  corner  of  Third 
and  Edmond  streets  was  erected  in   1884-85. 

The  following  were  the  officers  of  the 
Board  of  Trade  during  its  life : 

For  1878-79. — Thomas  F.  Van  Natta, 
president;  Samuel  I.  Smith,  first  vice-president; 
Andrew  L.  Kerr,  second  vice-president ;  Isaac 
Weil,  third  vice-president ;  George  Olds,  treas- 
urer; W.  A.  P.  McDonald,  secretary. 

For  1879-80. — Samuel  I.  Smith,  president; 
Andrew  L.  Kerr,  first  vice-president ;  Isaac 
Weil,  second  vice-president ;  John  S.  Welch, 
third  vice-president ;  George  Olds,  treasurer ; 
W.  A.  P.  McDonald,  secretary. 

For  1880-81. — Samuel  I.  Smith,  president: 
Andrew  L.  Kerr,  first  vice-president ;  Isaac 
Weil,  second  vice-president:  H.  R.  W.  Hart- 
wig,  third  vice-president ;  George  Olds,  treas- 
urer ;  W.  A.  P.  McDonald,  secretary. 

For  1882-83.— J.  W.  Bailey,  president;  H. 
R.  W.  Hartwig,  first  vice-president ;  Thomas 
J.  Oiew,  Jr.^  second  vice-president  5  A.  C. 
Dawes,  third  vice-president ;  W.  A.  P.  Mc- 
Donald, treasurer;  Frank  Motter,  secretary. 

For  1883-84. — John  M.  Frazer,  president; 
H.  R.  W.  Hartwig,  first  vice-president;  A. 
C.  Dawes,  second  vice-president ;  Winslow 
Judson,  third  vice-president;  W.  A.  P.  Mc- 
Donald, treasurer;  Frank  Motter,  secretary. 

For  1884-85. — John  M.  Frazer,  president; 
H.  R.  W.  Hartwig,  first  vice-president;  A.  C. 
Dawes,  second  vice-president ;  Joseph  A.  Cor- 
by, third  vice-president;  W.  A.  P.  McDonald, 
treasurer;  Frank  Motter,  secretary,  succeeded 
by  Harry  C.  Adams. 

For  1885-86. — Winslow  Judson,  president, 
H.  R.  W.  Plartwig,  first  vice-president ;  John 
M.  Frazer,  second  vice-president:  R.  T.  Davis. ^^ 


P.    McDonald, 
secretary,    suc- 


third  vice-president;  W.  A. 
treasurer;  Flarry  C.  Adams, 
ceeded  by  John  L.  Bittinger. 

For  1886-87. — Winslow  Judson,  presi- 
dent; H.  R.  W.  Hartwig,  first  vice-president; 
E.  L.  Marney,  second  vice-president ;  Charles 
A.  Shoup,  third  vice-president ;  W.  A.  P.  Mc- 
Donald, treasurer;  John  L.  Motter,  secretary. 

For  1887-88.— H.  R.  W.  Hartwig,  presi- 
dent ;  E.  L.  Marney,  first  vice-president ; 
Charles  A.  Shoup,  second  vice-president ;  Dud- 
ley Smith,  third  vice-president;  W.  A.  P.  Mc- 
Donald, treasurer;  John  L.  Motter,  secretarv. 
succeeded  by  Fred  F.  Schrader. 

For  1888-89. — George  J.  Englehart,  pre>i- 
dent;  E.  L.  Marney,  first  vice-president; 
Charles  A.  Shoup,  second  vice-president;  Al 
C.  Dawes,  third  vice-president;  W.  A.  P.  Mc- 
Donald, treasurer;  Fred  F.  Shrader.  secretary. 

For  1889-90. — E.  L.  Marney,  president; 
Samuel  M.  Nave,  first  vice-president;  A.  C. 
Dawes,  second  vice-president;  Samuel  West- 
heimer,  third  vice-president;  W.  A.  P.  Mc- 
Donald, treasurer ;  Fred  F.  Schrader,  secretary. 

For  1890-91. — J.  W.  Walker,  president: 
Samuel  M.  Nave,  first  vice-president ;  A.  C. 
Dawes,  second  vice-president;  N.  J.  Riley, 
third  vice-president;  W.  A.  P.  McDonald, 
treasurer;  Fred  F.  Shrader,  secretary. 

For  1890-91. — J.  W.  Walker,  president; 
W.  C.  Brown,  first  vice-president;  S.  S.  Mc- 
Cord,  second  vice-president;  A.  P.  Clayton, 
third  vice-president;  George  E.  Black,  treas- 
urer; James  O'Shaughnessy,  Jr.,  secretary. 

In  June  of  1892  the  Board  of  Trade  wa? 
merged  into  the  Commercial  Club,  which  ha(\ 
recently  been  organized.  The  following  is  a 
list  of  officers  of  the  Commercial  Club  to  date  : 

For  1892-93. — R.  M.  Davis,  president;  W. 
C.  Brown,  first  vice-president ;  R.  Ford,  sec- 
ond vice-president;  W.  P.  Jones,  third  vice- 
president  ;    L.    L.    Strong,    treasurer ;    W.    H , 


192 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY  AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


Dowe,  secretary;  James  O'ShaugUnessy,  Jr., 
assistant  secretary.  Mr.  O'Shaug-hnessy  served 
until  October,  when  he  resigned  and  was  snc- 
ceeded  by  Hngh  Bo  wen,  who  served  until  Jan- 
uary I.  1893.  '^"^^  ^'^'^s  succeeded  by  F.  W. 
Maxwell. 

For  1893-94. — H.  R.  \\'.  Hartwig,  presi- 
tlent;  W.  P.  Robinson,  Jr.,  first  vice-president; 
Harry  J.  Campbell,  second  vice-president ;  A. 
J.  Cole,  third  vice-president ;  L.  C.  Burnes, 
treasurer ;  C.  N.  Robinson,  secretary ;  F.  W. 
Maxwell,  assistant  secretary. 

For  1894-95. — H.  R.  W.  Hartwig,  presi- 
dent ;  W.  P.  Robinson,  Jr.,  first  vice-president ; 
J.  M.  Frazer,  second  vice-president;  George 
L.  Hammer,  third  vice-president ;  L.  C.  Burnes, 
treasurer ;  C.  N.  Robinson,  secretary ;  F.  W. 
Maxwell,  assistant  secretary. 

For  1895-96. — H.  R.  W.  Hartwig,  presi- 
dent; E.  L.  Marney,  first  vice-president;  Mil- 
ton Tootle,  second  vice-president ;  S.  E.  Crance, 
third  vice-president ;  L.  C.  Burnes,  treasurer ; 
Purd  B.  Wright,  secretai^;  F.  W.  Maxwell, 
assistant  secretary. 

F'or  1896-97. — H.  R.  W.  Hartwig,  presi- 
dent ;  S.  E.  Crance,  first  vice-prespident ;  G.  G. 
Parry,  second  vice-president;  R.  W.  Powell, 
third  vice-president ;  L.  C.  Burnes,  treasurer ; 
Samuel  H.  Smidi,  secretary ;  F.  W.  Maxwell, 
commissioner.  ^ 

For  1897-98. — A.  P.  Clayton,  president; 
H.  R.  W.  Hartwig,  first  vice-president ;  J.  C. 
Wyatt,  second  vice-president  ;T.  C.  Byrne,  third 
vice-president;  C.  F.  Enright,  treasurer;  Sam- 
uel Black,  secretary;  F.  W.  Maxwell,  com- 
missioner. 

For  1898-99. — A.  P.  Cla}'t(jn.  president: 
James  H.  McCord,  first  vice-president;  H.  M. 
Hundley,  second  vice-president;  F'^d.  C.  Smith, 
third  vice-president;  C.  F.  Enright,  treasurer; 
Ed.  O.  Wild,  secretary;  F.  W.  Maxwell,  com- 
missioner. 


For  1 899- 1 900. — H.  M.  Hundley,  presi- 
dent ;  A.  P.  Clayton,  first  vice-president ;  James 
H.  McCord,  second  vice-presrdent ;  Ed.  C. 
Smith,  third  vice-president ;  J.  N.  Burnes, 
treasurer ;  E.  A.  King,  secretary ;  F.  W. 
Maxwell,  commissioner. 

For  1900-01. — FI.  M.  Hundley,  president, 
James  N.  Burnes,  first  vice-president ;  Ed.  C. 
Smith,  second  vice-president ;  James  L.  David- 
son, third  vice-president;  James  N.  Burnes. 
treasurer ;  E.  A.  King,  secretary ;  F.  W.  Max- 
well, commissioner. 

For  1901-02. — Thomas  F.  Van  Natta, 
president;  H.  M.  Hundley,  first  \-ice-president ; 
John  Donovan,  second  vice-president;  Joshua 
Motter,  third  vice-president ;  J.  A.  Johnston, 
treasurer;  H.  J.  Mueller,  secretary;  F.  ^V.  Max- 
well, commissioner. 

For  1902-03. — John  C.  Letts,  president ; 
Thomas  F.  Van  Natta,  first  vice-president ;  H. 
J.  Mueller,  second  vice-president;  J.  A.  John- 
ston, third  vice-president;  W.  P.  Graham, 
treasurer ;  E.  A.  King,  secretary ;  F.  W.  Max- 
well, commissioner. 

For  1903-04. — T.  B.  Campbell,  president: 
John  C.  Letts,  first  vice-president ;  J.  A.  John- 
ston, second  vice-president;  M.  E.  Mayer, 
third  vice-president ;  Joshua  Motter,  treasurer  ; 
E.  A.  King,  secretary;  F.  W.  Maxwell,  com- 
missioner. 

*     *     ♦ 

llie  St.  Joseph  Auditorium  Association 
was  formed  in  1903  for  the  purpose  of  build- 
ing an  auditorium.  The  project  contemplates 
a  building  to  cost  $150,000.  The  money  is 
being  raised  by  popular  subscription,  and  about 
$60,000  has  been  collected.  Ground  was  ac- 
([uired  at  the  northwest  corner  of  Fourth  and 
Faraon  streets,  from  Mrs.  Zeilda  Forsee  on 
liberal  terms. 


CHAPTER  XXI. 


NEWSPAPER.  HISTORY. 

The  Gazette  and  its  Varied  Course — The    Herald,    Volksblatt,    News,    Ballot, 
Press  and  Others — Tombstones  in  the  Newspaper  Graveyard  of  St.  Joseph. 


The  history  of  St.  Joseph  is  dotted  with  the 
graves  of  many  newspaper  ventures.  The  first 
newspaper,  the  Gazette,  a  weekly  pubhcation, 
was  estabhshed  in  1845.  ^^^^  ^^'^t  issue  appear- 
ing on  Friday.  April  25th.  William  Riden- 
baugh  was  the  proprietor  and  printer,  and  the 
name  of  Lawrence  Archer,  then  a  prominent 
attorney,  is  given  as  editor.  It  is  said  that  the 
type  and  press  were  part  of  the  equipment  of 
the  ]^Iormon  paper,  published  at  Independence, 
which  had  been  suppressed.  In  1854  Holly  & 
Carter  took  charge  of  the  Gazette, \.\\&n  it  passed 
into  the  hands  of  Gen.  Lucien  Eastin  and  next 
to  P.  S.  Pfouts  and  J.  H.  R.  CundifT.  In  1857 
these  gentlemen  began  the  publication  of  the 
Daily  Gazette,  the  hrst  daily  newspaper  issued 
in  the  city.  This  continued  until  the  breaking 
out  of  the  war.  When  it  became  unsafe  to 
utter  such  political  sentiments  as  the  Gazette 
upheld,  the  proprietors  suspended  publication, 
laid  away  the  pen  and  went  to  the  front  to  do 
battle  for  the  South  with  the  sword.  June  28, 
1868,  the  Gazette  again  appeared.  Colonel  Cun- 
difif,  Mr.  Ridenbaugh  and  Peter  Nugent  being 
the  publishers.  In  December  of  1873  the  paper 
passed  into  the  hands  of  Joseph  A.  Corby  & 
Company.      'Jhe   next   publishers   were  F.    M. 


Tufts,  George  \V.  Belt  and  J.  B.  Alaynard. 
In  November  of  1875  ■Sir.  Maynard  was  suc- 
ceeded by  S.  A.  Gilbert.  In  April  of  1878  the 
Gazette-Chroiiiele  appeared,  the  Chronicle  ha\- 
ing  been  published  by  Al.  B.  Chapman.  Shortly 
after  the  consolidation,  Charles  B.  Wilkinson 
and  M.  B.  Chapman  were  announced  as  pub- 
lishers. September  29,  1878,  the  ''Chronicle" 
was  dropped  from  the  name  and  the  paper  again 
appeared  under  its  ancient  and  original  title. 
In  November.  1878,  Charles  B.  W^ilkinson  as- 
sumed sole  editorial  and  business  manag'ement. 
Alarch  12.  1879.  it  was  announced  that  the 
paper  had  passed  into  the  hands  of  the  Gazette 
Publishing  Company,  a  corporation'  that  was 
t(^  be  under  the  direction  of  Charles  B.  Wil- 
kinson, Lewis  Burnes  and  \\'.  E.  Smedley,  the 
latter  of  New  York.  Colonel  Wilkinson  was 
editor  until  July  12.  1879.  when  he  went  to 
Denver,  where  he  died  in  January  of  1881. 
Lewis  Burnes  died  November  17.  1879.  Then 
the  management  of  the  paper  was  in  the  hands 
of  James  N.  Burnes.  Jr..  until  January  i.  1886, 
with  the  exception  of  a  brief  period,  from  June 
to  September.  1883.  when  it  was  managed  by 
George  E.  King.  Maj.  John  N.  Edwards- was 
the  editor  of  the  paper  from  June.  1883,  until 


194 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY  AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


April,  1886.  Mr.  Burnes  was  succeeded  as 
manager  by  Charles  F.  Cochran,  January  i, 
1886,  who,  after  the  departure  of  Major  Ed- 
wards, was  the  editor  as  well  as  the  manager 
until  he  was  elected  to  Congress  in  1896.  He 
was  succeeded  as  manager  by  Frank  Freytag, 
Jr.,  who  remained  in  charge  until  July  i,  1900, 
when  he  was  succeeded  b}^  Chris.  L.  Rutt.  On 
August  I,  1900,  the  Gazette  and  Herald  were 
consolidated  under  the  name  of  Gazette-Herald, 
with  Chris.  L.  Rutt  as  manager  and  Frank  B. 
Moore  as  editor.  The  owners  were  the  Burnes 
estate  and  William  M.  Wyeth.  About  a  month 
afterward  the  property  passed  into  the  hands 
of  Walter  B.  Holmes  of  Memphis,  Tennessee, 
who  conducted  it  two  months  and  then  sold  it 
to  Charles  B.  Edgar  and  others  who  at  that 
time  published  the  Daily  News.  Mr.  Edgar 
published  the  Gazette-Herald  from  the  Daily 
News  plant,  with  Chris.  L.  Rutt  as  editor,  until 
March  30,  1902,  when  he  sold  the  paper  to 
Lewis  G.  Gaylord,  of  Colorado  Springs, 
Colorado.  From  the  time  of  its  consolidation 
until  its  sale  to  Mr.  Gaylord,  the  Gazette- 
Herald  was  published  as  an  independent  news- 
ppaper.  Mr.  Gaylord  dropped  the  hyphen  and 
"Herald"  and  published  the  Gazette  as  a  Demo- 
cratic paper  until  November  of  1903,  when  he 
sold  it  to  a  syndicate  of  Republicans,  who  are 
now  publishing  it  as  the  organ  of  their  party. 
Elmer  E.  E.  Mcjimsey  is  the  editor. 

The  second  newspaper  started  in  St.  Joseph 
was  the  Adventurer,  a  Whig  sheet,  which  made 
its  first  appearance  in  1848.  Tt  was  published 
by  E.  Livermore,  and  was  at  that  period  re- 
garded as  a  worthy  rival  of  the  Gazette,  its  sole 
competitor  in  the  county.  In  March,  1853, 
James  A.  Millan  purchased  the  paper  and 
changed  its  name,  calling  it  the  Cycle.  It  was 
independent.  About  a  year  after  this.  Mr.  Mil- 
lan took  into  partnership  E.  C.  Davis,  the  first 


State  Superintendent  of  Public  Schools  elected 
in  Missouri.  A  short  time  after  this  arrange- 
ment, in  consequence  of  difference  of  political 
sentiment,  Mr.  Millan  being  a  Democrat,  the 
partnership  was  dissolved,  Mr.  Davis  buying 
out  his  associate.  The  latter  published  the 
Cycle  as  a  Whig  paper  about  one  year,  when 
he,  in  turn,  sold  out  to  Matt.  France,  who  con- 
tinued ot  publish  it  as  a  Whig  paper  for  about 
another  year.  France  then  sold  to  A.  K.  Miller 
and  Jacob  T.  Child,  who  changed  the  name  of 
the  paper,  calling  it  the  Journal.  This  was- 
about  1856  or  1857.  In  1858,  1859  and  i860 
the  Journal  was  edited  and  published  by  John 
P.  Bruce  and  Jacob  T.  Child.  This  paper 
strongly  a(hocated  the  claims  of  Bell  aiid 
Everett  during  the  presidential  canvass.  It  sus- 
pended publication  about  1862. 

It  may  not  be  improper  to  state  here  that 
in  the  spring  of  1856  the  first  job  printing  office 
was  opened  in  St.  Joseph.  This  enterprise  was 
started  by  Millan  &  Posegate,  on  the  south  side 
of  Francis  street,  between  Main  and  Second 
streets.  Eighteen  months  after,  Mr.  Posegate, 
who  had  learned  the  printing  business  in  the 
Cycle  office  under  Mr.  Millan,  issued  the  first 
number  of  the  West.  It  was  a  handsomely 
printed,  eight-column  weekly.  His  associates 
in  the  enterprise  were  Wellington  Cunningham, 
Washington.  Jones  and  Edward  Y.  Shields. 
The  paper,  with  strong  Union  proclivities,  was 
independent  in  politics.  In  the  spring  of  1859 
a  daily  was  started  in  connection  with  the  week- 
ly West.  February  6,  i860,  Mr.  Posegate 
bought  out  his  partners  and  became  sole  editor 
and  proprietor  of  the  paper,  warmly  and  ably 
supporting  Bell  and  Everett  for  the  presidency. 
In  August,  i860,  he  sold  the  West  to  James 
Tracy  &  Company.  The  paper,  under  this 
management,  advocated  the  claims  of  John  C. 
Breckinridge    to    the    presidency,    and    boldly 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


195 


avowed  its  Secession  sentiments.  During  the 
winter  of  1860-61  the  pubHcation  of  the  paper 
was  suspended. 

The  first  German  newspaper  in  St.  Joseph 
w-as  the  Volksblatt.  It  was  started  in  1856  by 
Leopold  Marder,  who,  two  years  after,  sold 
the  paper  to  J.  H.  Buschmann.  This  was  in 
1858.  Francis  Rodman,  afterward  Secretary 
of  State,  was  editor.  Wednesday,  March  28, 
1866,  the  daily  evening  edition,  a  fi\e-column 
paper,  made  its  first  appearance,  published  by 
Gustavus  Heinrichs.  In  1868  R.  L.  Morgen- 
stern  purchased  the  paper  and  Leopold  Mar- 
der became  editor.  November  8,  1868,  Conrad 
Eichler  and  H.  W.  Kastor  assumed  control. 
The  firm  was  styled  C.  Eichler  &  Company. 
Colonel  Kastor  was  editor.  November  8,  1875, 
Herman  Brunsing  purchased  the  interest  of  Mr. 
Eichler.  Mr.  Brunsing  was  succeeded  in  1886 
by  George  L.  Hermann-]\Iuehe.  Colonel  Kas- 
tor retired.  Mr.  Muehe  was  the  publisher  until 
his  death  in  1899.  when  the  property  passed  into 
the  hands  of  Mathias  Heckel,  the  present 
owner.  The  V^oJksblatt  is  the  oldest  continuous 
publication  in  St.  Joseph. 

The  press  and  other  appliances  of  the  West 
Company  became  the  property  of  Col.  Charles 
B.  Wilkinson,  who  started  therewith  a  Republi- 
can paper,  the  St.  Joseph  Morning  Herald. 
The  first  issue,  a  six-column  daily,  appeared 
Wednesday,  February  12.  1862,  Wilkinson  & 
McKibbin,  editors  and  proprietors.  -  In  the  issue 
of  April  10,  1862,  the  proprietorship  was  an- 
nounced under  the  style  of  Wilkinson  &  Com- 
pany. Saturday,  October  i,  1862.  the  Morning 
Herald  appeared  consolidated  with  the  Daily 
Tribune.  It  continued  to  be  published  in  this 
style  till  July  25,  1866,  when  "Daily  Tribune" 
was  dropped  from  its  name  and  it  again  re- 
sumed its  original  simple  title  of  Morning 
Herald.  In  1867,  Francis  M.  Posegate  took 
charge   of   the    business    management   of    the 


Herald.     He  remained   with  the  paper   three 
years,  the  first  two  as  business  manager  for 
Wilkinson  &  Bittinger,  and  the  third  as  a  part- 
ner of  the  former,  he  having  bought  the  in- 
terest of  John  L.  Bittinger.     In  the  summer  of 
1869,  \Vilkinson  &  Posegate  sold  out  to  Hallo- 
well     &     Bittinger.        In     April,      1870,     the 
firm  became    Hallo  well,    Bittinger    &    Com- 
pany, C.   B.  Wilkinson  constituting  the  com- 
pany   of    the    concern.      When    Mr.     Hallo- 
well    withdrew,    the    firm    Ijecame    Wilkinson. 
I  Bittinger  &  Ward.    July  8,  1871,  Henry  Ward 
1  withdrew   and  the  firm   became   \\'ilkinson   & 
!  Bittinger,  continuing  as  such  until  the  whiskey- 
i  ring  developments  of  1875.  which  w'recked  the 
fortunes  of  both  members  of  the  firm.     In  the 
spring  of   1876  John  Severance,   William   D. 
O'Toole  and  Maj.  John  T.  Clements  purchased 
the  Herald.    July  11,  1876,  it  appeared  reduced 
from  its  former  size,  a  nine-column,  to  an  eight- 
column  sheet,  and  continued  to  be  so  published 
until  near  the  close  of  September  following, 
when  Tracy  &  Company  became  owners  of  the 
concern,   and   immediately   restored   the  paper 
to  its  former  size — a  nine-column  folio.     The 
issue  of  September  26,   1876,  was  the  first  to 
appear  with  the  announcement  "Tracy  &  Co., 
Proprietors."    The  head  of  the  firm  was  Frank 
M.  Tracy,  the  company  included  Robert  Tracy 
and  D.  W.  Wilder.    In  1885  the  property  came 
into  the  hands  of  Col.  J.  W.  Strong,  who  repre- 
sented  a   stock   company   of   local   capitalists. 
After  his  tragic  death,  in  June  of   1886,  the 
paper  was  managed  by  Col.  William  M.  Shep- 
herd, with  the  late  George  C.  Smith  as  editor, 
who  was  succeeded  by  Charles  Alf.  Williams. 
In   1889,  John  L.  Bittinger  assumed  editorial 
charge,  the  paper  having  passed  under  the  con- 
trol of  Maj.  Thomas  J.  Chew,  Jr.,  and  others. 
J.  P.  Knight  was  business  manager  for  some 
years  and  was   succeeded  by  W.    B.   Willim. 
Major    Bittinger   was    succeeded    in    1897    by 


196 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


Edward  F.  Trefz,  who  remained  two  years  and 
was  succeeded  by  Frank  B.  Moore,  who  had 
editorial  charge  until  the  consolidation  with  the 
Gazette  above  mentioned. 

Four  different  newspaper  publications 
have  borne  the  name  of  the  ''News." 
The  fir'it  daily  evening-  paper  issued  in 
St.  Joseph  was  established  by  i\sa  K. 
Miller  in  1862.  It  was  called  the  News 
and  lived  about  two  months.  In  the  summer 
of  1864  Jacob  T.  Child  and  Charles  M.  Thomp- 
son issued,  from  the  Ga.zcttc  press,  a  campaign 
paper  called  the  Evening  Neics.  It  was  pub- 
lished in  the  interest  of  George  B.  McClellan 
and  expired  after  the  campaign.  The  Mo)iday 
Morning  N'ezcs  was  started  August  20,  1877, 
by  Isaac  Pfeiffer.  Colonel  Wilkinson  took 
charge  of  the  paper  after  several  issues  and 
made  a  hit  with  it.  The  last  issue  of  the  Mon- 
day Morning  Nezvs  appeared  in  June.  1878, 
when  Colonel  Wilkinson  assumed  editorial 
charge  of  the  Gazette.  In  July,  1878,  a  week 
or  two  after  its  suspension,  the  material  and 
franchises  of  the  Monday  Morning  News  were 
])urchased  by  George  E.  King,  and  used  by  him 
in  publishing  an  illustrated  weekly.  In  Octo- 
ber following  he  sold  out  to  Judge  Andrew 
Royal  and  W.  M.  Patton,  who  continued  its 
publication  under  the  original  name  of  Mon- 
day Morning  Ncivs.  This,  some  time  after, 
was  changed  to  Westerii  Nezi's.  May  3,  1879, 
the  Daily  Evening  News  was  started  in  the  of- 
fice of  the  Western  Nezvs  by  Judge  Andrew 
Royal  and  George  H.  Cross.  It  was,  at  first,  a 
small  four-column  sheet.  September  3rd  fol- 
lowing, this  was  enlarged.  April  19,  1881,  the 
paper  was  purchased  by  W.  E.  Bassett  and 
J.  W.  Spencer,  who  enlarged  and  otherwise  im- 
proved it.  Gilbert  J.  Spencer  succeeded  W.  F. 
Bassett  in  the  partnership.  In  1888  the  paper 
was  sold  by  J.  W.  and  G.  J.  Spencer  to  Byron 
Dunn   and   George  W.    Martin  of   Maryville. 


In  July  of  1889  the  propert}^  was  acquired  by 
Charles  M.  Palmer  and  E.  B.  Haskell.  C.  M. 
Shultz  was  placed  in  charge  of  the  paper,  and 
continued  to  manage  it  until  August  of  1894. 
In  September  of  1894  Charles  B.  Edgar  be- 
came associated  with  Messrs.  Palmer  and  Has- 
kell and  published  the  paper  until  October  of 
1903,  when  he  sold  his  interests  to  a  company 
headed  by  Louis  T.  Golding  of  New  York. 
The  publication  is  now  called  Tiie  St.  Joseph 
Nezcs  &  Press,  and  represents  the  consolida- 
tion of  the  Daily  A^ezes  &  Evening  Press.  The 
Press  was  established  in  August  of  1902  by 
W.  H.  Turner  and  Howbert  Billman  of  Chi- 
cago and  was  published  for  about  14  months, 
when  it  was  absorbed  by  the  News  corporation. 
Mr.  Golding  is  now  the  publisher  of  the  Ah^zcs 
&  Press  and  Chris.  L.  Rutt  is  managing  editor. 

The  Stock  Yards  Jonrnal  was  established 
by  Charles  Thornton  soon  after  the  Stock  Yards 
were  opened,  and  was  subsequently  acquired  by 
people  interested  in  the  Stock  Yards.  E.  Neff 
was  in  charge  for  a  time.  W.  E.  Warrick  lias 
been  its  publisher  since  1899. 

Of  the  weekly  publications  now  in  exist- 
ence, the  Catholic  Tribune  is  the  oldest.  It  was 
founded  in  April  of  1879  at  Kansas  City,  where 
it  was  published  by  William  A.  Maynard  and 
W.  W.  Davis.  In  October  of  1880  it  was 
moved  to  St.  Joseph,  \\  here  it  was  published  for 
some  years  by  Davis  &  Royal.  Rev.  Francis 
Graham,  pastor  of  St.  Patrick's  Church,  ,was 
also  the  publisher  of  the  paper  for  a  time  after 
Davis  &  Royal.  Peter  Nugent  and  Michael 
Lawlor  became  the  proprietors  in  July  of  1889, 
and  this  partnership  continued  until  1892,  when 
Mr.  Nugent  l^ecame  the  sole  proprietor.  In 
.\pril  of  1894,  Mr.  Lawlor  took  charge  of  the 
property  and  has  edited  and  published  the 
Tribune  since  that  time. 

The  Journal  of  Commerce  was  founded  in 
1886  by  Frank  Witherspoon.     It  was  subse- 


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AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


199 


qtiently  published  by  George  W.  Wrenn.  In 
1890  J.  W.  Spencer,  who  was  then  the  pub- 
Hsher,  sold  the  paper  to  C.  M.  Shultz.  Ed.  M. 
Taylor  succeeded  C.  AI.  Shultz,  and  for  a  time 
Purd  B.  Wright  was  interested  with  Mr.  Tay- 
lor and  edited  the  paper.  In  1897  the  Combe 
Printing  Company  acquired  the  property  and 
placed  it  under  the  management  of  Ed.  O.  Wild. 
The  Combe  Printing  Company  relinquished  its 
ownership  after  several  years  and  M.  M. 
Burns  was  the  publisher  until  November  of 
1903,  when  W.  P.  Tracy,  the  present  publisher, 
took  charge  and  changed  the  name  to  Western 
Dry  Goods. 

The  Western  Fruit  Grozcer  was  started  in 
January  of  1897  as  a  monthly  publication  de- 
\-oted  to  horticulture.  The  venture  met  with 
deserved  encouragement  from  the  l^eginning 
and  the  increase  of  business  has  justified  many 
improvements.  The  J  J 'ester n  Fruit  Grozver  is 
published  by  the  Western  Fruit  Grower  Com- 
pany.    James  M.  Ir\ine  is  the  editor. 

The  Modern  Fanner  ami  Busy  Bee,  a 
weekly,  represents  the  consolidation  of  two 
monthly  publications,  one  devoted  to  agriculture 
and  the  other  to  bee  culture.  Both  were  edited 
by  Emerson  T.  Abbott,  who  is  also  editor  of 
the  consolidated  venture. 

Two  weekly  papers  are  published  in  the 
county,  the  DeKalb  Tribune  and  the  Ageney 
Recorder. 

Of  the  monthly  publications,  the  St.  Josef^h 
Medical  Herald  is  the  oldest,  having  been  es- 
tablished for  a  quarter  of  a  century.  Dr. 
Charles  Wood  Fasset,  the  editor  and  pulilisher, 
also  issues  the  Medical  FortnigJitly. 

A  glance  over  the  tombstones  in  St. 
Joseph's  newspaper  cemetery  reveals  the  fol- 
lowing inscriptions : 

Free  Democrat,  May  29,  1859.  to  April, 
i86r.  Those  connected  with  the  paper  at  vari- 
ous times  were  Joseph  Thompson.  Earl  Mar- 


ble, E.  H.  Grant,  Frank  M.  Tracy,  D.  W. 
Wilder,  B.  P.  Chenoweth  and  Robert  Tracy. 

Daily  Tribune,  August,  1862,  to  October, 
1864.  A.  K.  Abeel,  Philomen  Bliss.  William 
M.  Albin,  James  T.  Beach  and  James  Hunter 
were  interested  at  various  times. 

Daily  Union,  December,  1864,  to  January, 
1871.  James  Hunter.  James  T.  Beach,  E.  J. 
]\Iontague,  Philomen  Bliss,  Willis  M.  Sher- 
wood, William  M.  Albin,  William  Fowler,  A. 
N.  Schuster,  J.  ^V.  Strong,  J.  W.  Dinsmore. 
the  Union  Printing  Company,  R.  D.  Mitchell. 
Eugene  Ayers,  William  Everett,  C.  W.  Marsh 
and  J.  B.  Hinman  were  at  various  times  in- 
terested in  the  publication.  Jacob  T.  Child 
was  the  first  local  editor. 

A'rii'  Era,  a  weekly,  1862-63,  Harrison  B. 
Branch,  publisher. 

Vindicator,  weekly,  1865,  James  A.  Millan, 
publisher. 

DaUy  Coniniercial,  1866,  published  by 
Jules  Robidoux  &  Co. 

Ez'ening  Tribune,  1870,  Joseph  Thompson 
and  Cy  B.  Bowman,  publishers. 

Daily  Ez'cning  ConmierciaL  1872-74. 
Charles  S.  Scott.  i)ublisher. 

Board  of  Trade  Circular,  1877-78,  George 
Rees  and  others  publishers. 

Reflector,  weekly.  i8./2-j;^,  James  A.  Mil- 
lan, i)ublisher. 

Jl'eekly  Reporter.  1875,  M.  B.  Chapman, 
publisher. 

Evening  Reporter,  1878,  Fred  F.  Schrader 
and  Max  Kauffman,  publishers. 

Tri-Weekly  Telephone,  1878,  F.  M.  Tufts, 
publisher. 

The  Good  Way  and  Tlie  Bugle  &  Stand- 
ard, 1879-81,  Rev.  J.  W.  Caughlin,  editor. 

Connnercial  Advisor,  1878-82,  I.  J.  De- 
Witt,  publisher. 

Daily  Auzeiger,  1879,  Kurth  &  Schrader, 
publishers. 


200 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY  AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


^ 

1 


Saturday  Democrat,  1880-85,  George  E. 
King,  publisher. 

Daily  Sun,  April,  188 1,  W.  W.  Davis  and 
Phil.  Schmitz,  publishers. 

Grip,  a  comic  weekly,  1884,  Abe  Steinberg 
and  A.  J.  Fleming,  publishers. 

Daily  Evening  Journal,  1885-87,  O.  M. 
Gilmer  and  Frank  Martin,  publishers. 

Weekly  Leader,  1888-90,  Joseph  Crane, 
publisher. 

Weekly  Wasp,  1889-93,  H.  U.  Hayden, 
'  publisher.    Homer  J.  Kline  was  the  first  editor. 

Daily  Ballot,  1890-91.  This  was  a  morn- 
ing newspaper  venture  by  the  late  William 
Hyde,  of  St.  Louis.  It  involved  heavy  finan- 
cial losses. 


Weekly  Argus,  1893,  J-  Matt.  Davis, 
editor. 

St.  Joseph  Republican,  1894,  James  T. 
Beach  and  Captain  Sullivan,  publishers. 

Daily  Times,  1897-98,  George  C.  Crow- 
ther,  Joseph  Albus  and  O.  M.  Gilmer,  pub- 
lishers. 

Record,  published  by  Jacob  \\'.  Spencer  as 
a  weekly  1898-99,  and  as  a  daily  1899- 1900. 

There  have  been  many  ephemeral  publi- 
cations in  St.  Joseph,  principally  weekly  soci- 
ety ventures,  whose  graves  are  unmarked,  that 
started  briskly  and  with  the  assurance  of  a 
high-school  essayist  upon  the  road  to  fame  and 
fortune,  but  inevitably  went  to  pieces  upon  the 
same  old  financial  rock. 


CHAPTER  XXII. 


CRIMINAL  INCIDENTS. 

RoBiDOux  Robbed — Killing  of  Whittle  at  Sparta — Murder  of  Dr.  Jones — Tom 
Farris — Killing  of  Charles  Robidoux — Burning  of  the  Friend  Family — 
Rescue  of  Dr.  Doy — Three  War-Time  Tragedies — Killing  of  Jesse  James — 
The  Bond  Robbery — Jewelry  Robbery — Murder  of  Colonel  Strong — The 
Bulling  Murder — Hold-up  at  McDonald's  Factory — Several  Train  Robberies. 


The  criminal  history  of  Buchanan  County 
dates  back  to  the  summer  of  1842.  Joseph 
Robidoux  had  received  $4,000  in  silver,  in 
payment  for  merchandise  sold  to  the  Sac  and 
Fox  Indians.  This  money  was  placed  in  four 
strong  wooden  boxes  and  stored  by  Robidoux 
under  a  counter  in  his  place  of  business.  Some 
nights  afterward  an  entrance  was  effected  and 
the  money  carried  away.  Circumstances  fast- 
ened suspicion  upon  a  party  of  people  who  had 
recently  come  into  the  county,  and  who  had 
"located  on  the  east  side  of  One  Hundred  and 
Two  River.  There  were  three  families,  named 
Spence,  Scott  and  Davis.  A  search  was  in- 
stituted. One  of  the  Spence  boys  had  purchased 
a  pair  of  new  shoes  of  Robidoux  shortly  before 
the  robbery.  The  fact  that  one  of  these  shoes 
was  found  in  the  mud  at  the  crossing  of  Black- 
snake  Creek  confirmed  the  suspicion.  A  posse 
-vvas  organized,  and  efforts  were  stimulated  by 
a  reward  of  $500  which  Robidoux  offered  for 
the  recovery  of  the  silver.  The  suspects  were 
surrounded,  but  stoutly  and  defiantly  denied 
guilt.  The  man  Davis  was  taken  by  a  portion 
of  the  posse  to  a  secluded  spot,  and  threatened, 


but  he  stubbornly  refused  to  confess.  As  had 
been  prearranged,  a  pistol  was  fired,  and  sev- 
eral of  the  posse  rushed  to  where  the  man  Scott 
was  in  custody,  declaring  that  Davis  had  been 
killed,  and  that  they  now  proposed  to  treat 
Scott  likewise.  Scott  begged  for  mercy,  and 
agreed  to  tell  where  the  money  was.  He  was 
promised  immunity,  and  at  once  led  his  cap- 
tors to  a  spot  where  $1,000,  wrapped  in  a 
blanket,  had  been  buried.  But  Scott's  knowl- 
edge did  not  extend  beyond  the  first  cache. 
The  vigilantes  now  resorted  to  strategy.  Davis, 
who  was  still  in  custody,  was  informed  that 
Scott  had  confessed,  and  was  told  that  he 
would  be  given  his  liberty  if  he  did  likewise. 
After  much  profanity  and  defiance,  he  yielded 
upon  being  shown  an  ominous  rope.  The  re- 
mainder of  the  silver  had  been  buried  as  the 
first,  and  in  close  proximity.  The  money  was 
all  recovered  except  $27.  Scott  and  Davis 
were  brought  to  Blacksnake  Hills  as  prisoners. 
Davis  escaped  and  Scott  was  given  his  liberty. 

The  Spence  boys  disappeared  at  once. 

^     ^     ^ 

In  his  "Recollections  of  an  Old  Pioneer," 


202 


HISTORY  OF    BUCHANAN   COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


the  late  Peter  H.  Burnett,  the  first  circuit  attor- 
ney who  prosecuted  in  Buchanan  County,  and 
who  was  afterward  Governor  of  Cahfornia,  re- 
lates the  following  incident : 

"A  celebrated  counterfeiter  of  the  name  oi 
Whittle  went  from  the  county  in  which  he  re- 
sided to  an  adjoining  county  and  passed  upon 
a  plain  farmer  some  counterfeit  gold  coin  in 
payment  for  a  horse.  Ha^'ing  been  indicted 
in  the  proper  county,  he  applied  for  a  change 
of  venue ;  and  the  case,  upon  a  proper  showing, 
went  to  Buchanan  Count}'. 

"When  the  case  was  called  the  prisoner 
was  ready  for  trial,  and  I  asked  the  court  to^ 
order  the  sheriff  to  call  the  trial  jurors.  The 
moment  I  heard  their  names  called  I  was  sat- 
isfied that  it  was  mainly  a  packed  jury.  I 
knew  that  some  of  them  belonged  to  the  band 
of  criminals  in  that  county,  or  they  were  un- 
fortunate in  reputation  and  association.  1 
promptly  rose  and  said:  'If  the  court  please, 
it  is  now  very  near  dinner  time,  and  I  think  it 
very  likely  I  will  dispose  of  this  case  without 
troubling  the  court.'  Judge  Atchison  seemed 
to  understaond  what  I  was  driving  at,  and 
readily  adjourned  court. 

"When  the  court  met  again  there  was  a 
large  crowd  present,  as  it  must  have  been  an- 
ticipated that  some  decisive  step  in  the  case 
would  be  taken.  When  the  case  was  called  I 
said :  'With  the  leave  of  the  court,  I  will 
enter  a  nolle  prosequi  and  let  the  pri.soner  go. 
I  do  not  mean  to  make  a  farce  of  justice  b} 
trying  this  prisoner  before  such  a  jury.'  The 
prisoner  was  wholly  taken  by  surprise,  and 
looked  exceedingly  mortified.  He  evidently 
expected  to  be  tried  and  acquitted.  T  intended 
to  have  the  witnesses  again  subpcenaed  before 
the  grand  jury  of  the  proper  county,  and  they 
would  no  dou1)t  have  found  another  indict- 
ment ;  and.  ujxmi  another  change  of  venue,  I 
should   have    opposed    successfully   any    effort 


of  the  defendant  to  have  the  case  sent  to  Buch- 
anan County.  But  the  prisoner  was  killed  in 
a  private  quarrel  before  the  next  term  of  court. 

"He  w^as  a  man  of  Herculean  frame  and  of 
desperate  character.  His  death  happened  in 
this  wise :  He  forced  a  quarrel  upon  a  peace- 
able, awkward,  innocent  young  man.  about  the 
age  of  twenty-one,  for  the  purpose,  most  likely, 
of  showing  off  his  prowess  before  his  friends. 
At  all  events,  when  the  young  man  had  hitched 
his  horse  to  the  rack.  Whittle  went  out  and  cut 
off  the  horse's  tail,  and  came  into  the  room 
where  the  young  man  was  sitting,  and  thrust 
it  rudely  into  his  face.  Upon  the  young  man 
remonstrating.  Whittle  chased  him  into  the 
street :  and  several  times  afterward  during  the 
day  he  followed  him  into  other  places  and 
forced  him  hastily  to  leave.  The  poor  young 
man  became  desperate  at  last,  and  armed  him- 
self with  a  pistol.  Whittle  again  drove  him 
from  the  house,  and  was  pursuing  him  into  the 
stre.et,  when  the  young  man  turned  upon  him 
and  shot  him  through  the  heart.  Though  fa- 
tally wounded,  ^Vhittle  picked  up  a  large  Stone 
and  threw  it  at  the  young  man  with  such  force 
that  had  it  struck  him  it  would  have  killed  him 
instantly.  After  throwing  the  .stone,  \Miittle 
fell  upon  his  face  dead." 

The  history  of  Buchanan  County,  pub- 
lished in  T88r,  cefers  to  this  incident,  and  states 
that  it  occurred  at  Sparta.  The  name  of 
Whittle's  slayer  is  given  as  Gillett,  and  the 
event  is  said  to  have  occurred  in  1842.  Whit- 
tle's body  was  the  first  to  be  buried  in  the 
Sparta  graveyard,  and  his  taking  off  is  said  to 
have  caused  general  satisfaction.  Gillett  left 
the  county  soon  afterwards,  though  it  is  doubt- 
ful  if  he  would  ever  have  been  punished  for 

slaying  Whittle. 

*     *     * 

The  murder  of  Dr.  Jones,  which  occurred 
on  the  morning  of  June  t8,  1848,  was  one  of 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


203 


the  notable  criminal  episodes  in  the  county. 
Dr.  Jones  lived  on  Rock  House  Prairie.  He 
was  sitting-  with  his  family  upon  the  porch  of 
his  residence.  A  man  named  Gibson  came  and 
quarreled  with  Dr.  Jones.  In  an  altercation 
which  ensued,  Gibson  fatally  stabbed  Dr.  Jones 
with  a  knife.  The  murderer  escaped  and  was 
never  captured. 


Tom  Farris  was  one  of  the  pestiferous  petty 
criminals  of  St.  Joseph  during  the  "Overland 
Period."  His  career  extended  from  1849  to 
1 85 1.  His  specialty  was  stealing  wheels  and 
chains  from  the  wagons  of  the  emigrants,  and 
then  selling-  the  stolen  articles  back  to  their 
owners,  in  disguised  form,  at  a  good  price. 
Many  stores  were  robbed  from  time  to  time  In- 
Farris  and  his  gang,  but  notwithstanding  the 
leaders  were  all  well  known,  they  always  man- 
aged to  evade  the  law,  and  it  was  impossible 
to  fasten  any  evidence  upon  them.  One  fine 
May  day  the  good  people  of  St.  Joseph  became 
so  tired  of  these  things  that  "Old  Tom"  and 
his  first  lieutenant,  a  handsome  and  finely 
dressed  man,  were  conducted  to  the  top  of 
Prospect  Hill,  given  100  lashes  each  and 
ordered  to  leave.  This  broke  up  the  thieving 
gang. 


The  excitement  and  public  indignation 
caused  by  the  tragic  death  of  Charles  Robi- 
doux  is  well  remembered  by  the  survivors  of 
those  days.  Charles  was  the  youngest  son  of 
Joseph  Robidoux.  He  was  a  handsome,  light- 
hearted  young  man,  in  his  20th  year,  who  was 
generally  beloved.  The  circumstances  con- 
nected with  his  death  are  as  follows : 

On  the  night  of  September  8,  1850,  at 
about  II  o'clock  young  Robidoux.  in  company 
with  other  young  men  of  the  town,  were  on 
11 


the  street,  engaged  in  some  harmless  sport. 
They  were  rapping  at  the  doors  of  the  business 
houses,  to  awaken  clerks  and  others  sleeping 
therein.  They  rapped  on  the  door  of 
D.  &  T.  D.  S.  MacDonald,  which  was 
located  on  Main  street,  where  the  Som- 
mer-Richardson  cracker  factory  now  stands; 
and,  after  leaving  it,  they  went  to  a 
post  set  in  the  ground,  at  the  edge  of  the 
pavement  opposite  the  building,  and  pulled  it 
up.  Young  Robidoux  placed  the  post  on  his 
shoulder  and  started  toward  the  opposite  side 
of  the  street.  When  he  had  gone  about  one- 
third  of  the  distance,  a  gun  was  fired  from  the 
window  of  the  second  story  of  MacDonald's 
store.  The  load,  which  consisted  of  shot  of 
large  size,  took  effect  in  the  back  of  Robidoux's 
head  and  he  expired  in  a  few  minutes. 

Duncan  MacDonald  confessed  that  he  fired 
the  gun,  but  with  no  intention  of  injuring  any 
person.  The  deed  created  an  intense  feeling, 
and  there  was  strong  talk  of  violence  on  the  part 
of  young  Robidoux's  friends.  This  was  stimu- 
lated by  the  grewsome  act  of  one  of  these.  He 
procured  a  quantity  of  blood  from  a  slaughter- 
house, with  which,  during  the  night,  he  cov- 
ered the  entire  sign  in  front  of  the  MacDonald 
store,  and  then  dotted  the  hideous  red  ground 
with  black  paint,  in  imitation  of  bullet  marks. 
Wiser  counsel  prevailed,  however,  and  the  med- 
itated violence  was  prevented.  MacDonald 
was  tried  and  acquitted,  it  having  been  shown 
that  there  was  no  intention  to  commit  murder. 


On  May  28,  1856,  the  family  of  Jacob 
Friend,  consisting  of  father,  mother  and  four 
children,  residing  about  four  miles  south  of 
St.  Joseph,  were  burned  to  death  in  their 
dwelling.  The  general  supposition,  borne  out 
by  circumstances_,  was  that  the  family  was  first 
murdered   and   then   the   residence  burned,   to 


204 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY  AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


destroy  evidence  of  crime.  Five  men,  resid- 
ing in  the  neighborhood,  were  arrested  on  sus- 
picion. They  were  indicted  and  tried,  but  the 
evidence  was  not  of  sufficient  weight  to  con- 
vict, the  main  point  being  that  it  was  known 
that  an  enmity  existed  between  the  parties. 
Only  one  member  of  the  family,  a  daughter, 
Avho  was  away  on  a  visit,  escaped,  and  was  not 
aware  of  the  calamity  until  the  next  day. 


In  1859.  at  the  time  the  slave  question  was 
agfitated  and  secession  was  threatened  in  sev- 
eral  of  the  Southern  States,  Kansas  was  rec- 
ognized as  the  haven  of  slaves ;  that  is,  when  a 
slave  in  Missouri  w^as  missing  the  supposition 
was  that  he  had  been  stolen  and  transported  to 
Kansas.  In  January  of  that  year  a  party  of 
Missourians  from  Platte  County,  in  pursuit  of 
a  negro  named  "Dick,"  belonging  to  a  man 
named  Niedman  in  Platte  County,  caught  up 
with  two  wagons  near  Lawrence,  Kansas.  In 
those  wagons,  driven  by  Dr.  John  Doy  and  his 
son,  they  found  the  negro,  besides  several  more 
who  had  been  taken  from  Jackson  County, 
Missouri.  The  Doys  were  returned  to  Platte 
City,  where  an  indictment  was  found  against 
them,  tried  for  the  offense,  found  guilty  and 
placed  in  jail.  J.  M.  Bassett,  the  circuit  attor- 
ney, being  sick.  Judge  Elijah  H.  Norton,  be- 
fore whom  the  cases  were  tried,  appointed  Col. 
John  Doniphan,  now  of  this  city,  to  prosecute. 
A  change  of  venue  was  taken  from  Platte  to 
Euchanan  County,  and  on  May  25th,  they 
were  put  on  trial.  A  hung  jury  was  the  result, 
curcumstantial  evidence  being  the  main  hin- 
drance. In  June  the  cases  were  again  consid- 
'cred,  the  indictment  against  young  Doy  having 
been  dismissed  in  the  meantime.  The  news  of 
Doy's  arrest  and  the  earnest  desire  of  the  peo- 
ple of  Kansas  to  see  justice  done  impelled  the 
Legislature  of  Kansas  to  employ  the  best  legal 


talent  in  the  country  to  defend  him.  and  for 

that  purpose  Wilson  Shannon  of  Ohio  and  A. 

C.   Davis,   Attorney  General  of  the  State  of 

Kansas,  were  secured.    The  trial  continued  for 

three  days  amidst  the  most  intense  excitement. 

The    jury,    composed    of    Samuel    B.    Tolin, 

George  Boyer,  Jacob  Boyer,  H.  D.  Louthen, 

Merrill  Willis,  Henson  Devorss,  George  Clark, 

Henry  P.  Smith,  John  Madrill,  O.  M.  Loomis, 

William  W.  Mitchell  and  James  Hill,  after  a 

few  moments'  deliberation,  returned  a  verdict 

of  guilty. 

An  appeal  was  taken  to  the  Supreme  Court, 

and  while  pending  an  episode  occurred  which 

not  only  startled  this  community,  but  was  noted 

extensively  all  over  the  country.     On  a  dark 

night  a  party  of  Kansans  crossed  the  river. 

Under  pretext  of  having  a  prisoner  whom  they 

desired  to  commit,  they  entered  the  jail,  secured 

the  jailer,    released   the   prisoner,    locked   the 

door,  threw  the  key  away  and  escaped  with 

him  to  Kansas. 

*     *     * 

On  Sunday  evening,  September  21,  1862, 
a  desperado  named  John  Young,  without  cause 
or  provocation,  shot  and  killed  D.  W.  Fritzlein, 
proprietor  of  the  Avenue  Brewery  in  tliis  city. 
The  murder  occurred  in  the  bottoms  between 
Elwood  and  Wathena.  About  six  o'clock  that 
evening  a  wagon  was  seen  coming  from  the 
Elwood  ferry-boat.  It  was  at  once  driven  up 
Frederick  avenue  to  the  brewery.  One  of  the 
men  in  the  wagon  was  covered  with  blood,  and 
around  his  neck  was  a  rope,  held  by  one  of 
the  other  occupants.  This  attracted  general 
attention-,  and  thousands  of  people  followed. 
Fritzlein's  friends  were  going  to  lynch  Young. 
He  was  taken  to  the  cottonwoods  on  the  hills 
east  of  the  city  where  the  mob  seized  the  rope, 
pulled  the  murderer  from  the  wagon  and 
dragged  him  to   a  tree.     After  beating  and 


AXD'  REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


205 


pounding  him  severely.he  was  tied  to  the  trunk 
of  a  tree  and  preparations  were  made  to  burn 
him.  Coroner  ^Maxwell  used  his  best  en- 
deavors, being  seconded  in  his  efforts  by  the 
mihtary,  to  let  the  law  take  its  course.  They 
Avere  successful,  and  the  man  was  turned  over 
to  the  civil  authorities.  While  in  the  hands  of 
the  crowd,  he  begged  piteously  to  be  shot  rather 
than  hanged.  The  following  Monday  night 
the  prisoner  requested  to  be  removed  to  the 
post  hospital  for  the  purpose  of  having"  his 
wounds  dressed.  This  was  granted,  and  the 
surereon.  after  an  examination,  ordered  the 
prisoner  returned  to  jail,  being  convinced  that 
he  was  feigning,  evidently  with  the  hope  that 
he  could  thereby  efi'ect  his  escape.  As  the 
guards,  consisting  of  a  sergeant  and  two  men, 
were  returning  the  man  to  jail  he  was  fired 
upon  by  parties  concealed  in  the  lumber  yard, 
unknown  to  the  guard,  the  ball  inflicting  only  a 
flesh  wound  in  his  arm.  So  great  was  the  in- 
dignation of  the  citizens  against  the  murderer 
that  a  special  guard  of  militia  had  to  be  sta- 
tioned at  the  jail  to  protect  him.  The  murderer 
was,  upon  a  requisition  from  the  Governor  of 
Kansas,  turned  over  to  the  Doniphan  County 
(Kansas)  authorities  and  placed  in  jail  at  Troy. 
Some  months  afterwards  his  body  was  found  in 
the  river.  Bullet  holes  indicated  that  he  had 
been  shot  before  being  consigned  to  the  water. 


On  ]May  19,  1863,  Capt.  Charles  Mast,  a 
prominent  German  citizen  of  St.  Joseph,  and 
captain  of  a  militia  company,  who  kept  a  saloon 
on  Second  street,  was  killed  in  his  place  of 
business  by  Gideon  Hudson,  a  private  in  a  com- 
pany of  Colorado  volunteers.  Hudson  was 
drunk  and  threatened  several  persons  with  his 
pistol.  Captain  Mast  remonstrated  and  while 
endeavoring  to  disarm  Hudson  was  fatally 
shot.    An  arrest  followed.     The  commander  of 


the  Colorado  troops  took  the  ground  that  Hud- 
son was  acting  on  the  lines  of  duty.  There  was 
much  local  indignation  at  this  finding,  and  the 
papers  in  the  case  were  then  sent  to  department 
headquarters,  but  no  one  seems  to  know  what 
finallv  became  of  them  or  Hudson. 


On  the  night  of  Augitst  13,  1878,  when  the 
passenger  train  going  south  on  the  Kansas  City, 
St.  Joseph  &  Council  Bluffs  Railroad,  Con- 
ductor George  Brown,  arrived  at  Winthrop 
Junction,  four  men  boarded  it.  They  seemed 
unconcerned,  cool  and  deliberate,  and  it 
did  not  take  them  long  to  make  their 
purpose  known.  They  entered  the  ex- 
press and  baggage  car,  in  charge  of 
Frank  Baxter.  The  men  were  not  masked 
and  were  strangers  to  all  the  railroad  men. 
With  drawn  revolvers  they  compelled  Baxter 
to  open  the  express  safe,  from  which  they  se- 
cured about  $5,000.  They  then  commanded  the 
conductor  to  stop  the  train,  whereupon  they 
deliberately  took  their  leave,  going  into  the 
brush.  Subsequently  Mike  Roarke,  Dan  De- 
ment. Tillman  and  Frank  Brooks  were  arrested 
and  punished  for  other  work  of  the  same  na- 
ture, and  circumstances  pointed  strongly  to 
their  connection  with  this  affair. 

^     4^     ^ 

Jesse  James,  outlaw,  upon  whose  head  the 
State  had  put  a  price  and  to  whose  captors  or 
slayers  immunity  had  been  promised,  was  killed 
in  St.  Joseph  April  3,  1882,  at  about  10  o'clock 
in  the  morning.  James  had  been  living  in  St. 
Joseph  since  November  9,  1881,  under  the  alias 
of  "James  Howard."  His  wife,  two  children 
and  Charley  Ford,  a  fellow-bandit,  whose  alias 
was  Charles  Johnson,  composed  the  household. 
For^a  short  time  they  lived  at  21st  and  Lafay- 
ette streets,  but  the  tragedy  took  place  at  No^ 


2o6 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN    COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


J  3 1 8  Lafayette  street.  The  house  is  still  in  a 
good  state  of  preservation,  though  it  has  heen 
lowered. 

The  identity  of  James  was  known  to  but 
a  few  persons  in  St.  Joseph,  who,  for  reasons 
best  knciwn  to  themselves,  kept  it  concealed. 
He  mingled  very  little  with  the  outside  world, 
seldom  going  to  the  business  portion  of  the 
city,  making  few  acquaintances  and  keeping  his 
own  counsel. 

Tempted  by  a  $10,000  reward  and  the 
promised  immunity,  Charley  Ford  entered  into 
a  plan  to  trap  and  slay  his  friend  and  protector. 
Feeling  the  need  of  an  accomplice,  he  persuaded 
James  to  give  shelter  to  his  brother  Robert, 
commonly  called  "Bob."  These  two  worthies 
only  awaited  a  favorable  opportunity.  This 
came  on  the  morning  of  April  3,  1882.  Bob 
Ford  assisted  Mrs.  James  in  the  housework, 
while  Charley  Ford  assisted  James  in  the  stable. 
The  morning  chores  accomplished,  the  three 
men  entered  the  front  room,  leaving  Mrs. 
James  in  the  kitchen  to  prepare  dinner.  James 
opened  the  front  door.  He  remarked  that  if 
the  people  in  the  street  saw  him  heavily  armed 
they  might  become  suspicious,  and  he  there- 
upon removed  his  belt  and  pistols,  throwing 
them  upon  a  bed.  Then  he  mounted  a  chair 
and  iDegan  to  dust  a  picture  that  hung  against 
the  wall.  This  was  the  first  time  in  their  long 
association  that  the  Ford  boys  had  seen  James 
off  his  guard.  He  was  unarmed  and  his  back 
was  turned.  Simultaneously  they  grasped  the 
situation,  and  drew  their  pistols.  The  click  of 
the  trigger  caused  James  to  turn  his  head  slight- 
ly, but  in  that  instant  Bob  fired  and  James  fell 
backward  to  the  floor  a  corpse.  The  bullet 
entered  the  back  of  his  head  near  the  right  ear. 

The  Fords  replaced  their  revolvers  in  their 
belts  and  hastily  left  the  house,  going  to  the 
Western  Union  Telegraph  office,  where  they 
at  once  wired  Governor  Crittenden,  as  well  as 


Sheriff  Timberlake  of  Clay  County  and  the 
marshal  of  Kansas  City,  that  they  had  killed 
Jesse  James.  Thence  they  went  in  search  of 
City  Marshal  Enos  Craig,  but  he  had  heard  of 
the  affair  and  had  gone  to  the  scene  of  the 
tragedy.  They  then  secured  the  protection  of  a 
policeman  and  returned  to  the  house.  Meeting 
the  (officials,  they  i'mparted  the  fact  that  they 
had  done  the  shooting,  at  the  same  time  dis- 
closing the  identity  of  the  victim.  They  re- 
quested to  be  taken  into  custody,  which  was 
done.  Subsequently  Mrs.  James  swore  out  a 
warrant  charging  them  with  the  murder  of  her 
husband. 

The  body  of  James  was  buried  at  Kearney, 
in  Clay  County,  the  family  home. 

Judge  O.  M.  Spencer,  w-ho  ^Vas  State's  at- 
torney for  Buchanan  County  at  that  time,  in- 
sisted upon  prosecuting  the  Fords.  They  were 
indicted  for  murder  in  the  first  degree,  and, 
upon  arraignment  l^efore  Judge  Sherman,  on 
April  18,  1882,  pleaded  guilty  to  the  charge. 
Judge  Sherman  sentenced  them  to  be  hanged  on 
May  19th.  On  April  19th  a  pardon,  signed  by 
Governor  Crittenden,  arrived  and  the  Fords 
were  released.  They  were  at  once  rearrested 
by  an  officer  from  Ray  County  and  taken  to 
Richmond  to  answer  to  the  charge  of  having 
murdered  one  Wood  Hite.  Of  this  they  were 
also  cleared. 

The  reward  of  $10,000,  which  had  been 
offered  by  express  and  railroad  companies  that 
had  been  troubled  by  the  depredations  of  the 
James  gang,  was  paid  over  to  the  Fords,  and 
they  lived  in  debauchery  until  they  perished — 
Charley  as  a  suicide  and  Bob  by  a  pistol-ball  in 
a  Colorado  dance  hall. 

*     *     * 

April,  1882,  was  replete  with  sensations  in 
St.  Joseph.  While  the  incidents  in  connection 
with  the  killing  of  Jesse  James  were  being  dis-' 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


207 


cussed  ill  every  household,  on  every  street 
corner,  and  even  m  the  pulpit,  the  startling  in- 
formation was  imparted  that  the  city  treasury 
of  St.  Joseph  had  been  robbed.  The  iirst  in- 
timation the  officers  or  citizens  had  of  such  a 
condition  of  affairs  \\as  conveved  bv  wire  from 
New  York  in  a  telegram  dated  April  8,  3  150 
P.  M.,  received  by  John  S.  Lemon  and  Charles 
W.  Campbell,  and  sent  by  Robert  W.  Donnell, 
formerly  of  St.  Joseph,  then  a  banker  of  New 
York  and  fiscal  agent  of  the  city.  The  tele- 
gram was  brief,  stating  that  Pinkerton  detec- 
tives had  arrested  two  men,  giving  their  names 
as  Irwin  and  Fish,  both  of  St.  Joseph,  who  were 
trying  to  dispose  of  4  per  cent,  funding  bonds 
of  the  city  of  St.  Joseph  to  the  amount  of 
$100,000. 

MessrS;  Lemon  and  Campl^ell,  being  mem- 
bers of  the  finance  committee  of  the  City  Coun- 
cil, immediately  caused  a  hasty  examination 
of  the  city  register's  office  to  be  made,  and  it 
was  discovered  that  1x)nds  numbered  901  to 
1000,  inclusive,  were  missing.  During  the 
afternoon  and  evening  a  number  of  telegrams 
were  exchanged,  and  at  a  special  session  of  the 
City  Council  that  evening  an  appropriation  was 
made  to  send  a  delegation  to  New-  York  City 
to  investigate  the  matter.  Mayor  J.  A.  Piner, 
Register  James  H.  Ringo  and  Marshal  Enos 
Craig  were  selected.  The  delegates  at  once 
left  the  city,  Marshal  Craig  going  to  Jefferson 
City  for  requisition  papers. 

From  the  tenor  of  the  dispatches,  imme- 
diate action  on  the  part  of  St.  Joseph  officials 
was  necessary,  as  efforts  were  being  made  there 
to  release  the  bond  thieves.  It  appears  that 
these  men  had  teen  in  New  York  for  over  a 
week,  endeavoring  to  dispose  of  the  bonds. 
Their  actions  and  liberal  oft'ers  excited  sus- 
picion, although  the  bonds  were  pronounced 
genuine  by  the  city's  financial  ag'ent.  They 
claimed  that  thev  had  secured  the  bonds  from  a 


man  in  Missouri,  but  the  story  was  doubted, 
and  Mr.  Donnell  expressed  the  opinion  that  if 
the  men  having  the  bonds  in  their  possession 
were  not  guilty  of  theft  they  were  acting  as 
an  agent  of  a  desreputable  city  official  at  St. 
Joseph. 

A  new  city  administration  having  now  as- 
sumed control  with  Francis  M.  Posegate  as 
mayor,  it  was  deemed  advisable  to  send  Thomas 
H.  Ritchie,  the  newly  elected  city  marshal,  to 
New  York  City  to  aid  in  securing  and  bring- 
ing back  to  St.  Josepli  the  tond  thieves.  Upon 
the  arrival  of  the  St.  Joseph  parties  in  New^ 
York,  the  prisoners  were  turned  over  to  Mar- 
shal Ritchie  and  Ex-Marshal  Craig,  while  the 
bonds  were  placed  in  the  custody  of  Air.  Don- 
nell. It  was  discovered  that  $4,000  of  the  cou- 
pons attached  to  the  bonds  were  missing.  The 
man  who  gave  the  name  of  Fisk  wdien  arrested 
proved  to  be  W.  \\'.  Scott,  who  was  engaged 
in  the  roofing  business  while  here. 

Register  Ringo  submitted  to  an  interview- 
while  in  New  York,  in  which  he  said  :  "It 
was  one  of  the  coolest  burglaries  ever  com- 
mitted in  St.  Joseph.  The  bonds  were  lying 
on  a  little  bench  in  the  vault,  a  large  pile  of 
them,  and  the  robber  or  robl>ers  ^vould  have  to 
turn  the  pile  over,  which  was  done,  they  tak- 
ing the  lower  part  of  them,  and  a  robbery  would 
not  have  been  suspected  unless  it  became  neces- 
sary to  count  all  of  the  tends.  These  men  must 
have  watched  me  and  taken  an  impression  of 
the  keys,  as  no  person  has  a  key  except  myself 
and  the  chairman  of  the  finance  committee." 

Scott  and  Irwin  were  brought  back  to  St. 
Joseph,  tried  and  acquitted. 


The  jewelry  store  of  Saxon  &  Hendrick. 
then  located  where  the  Tootle-Lemon  National 
Bank  now-  is.  on  the  north  side  of  Felix  street, 
between  Fifth  and   Sixth  streets,  was  robbed 


208 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY  AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


of  jewelry  to  the  value  of  $4,000  at  about  6:30 
o'clock  on  the  evening  of  April  23,  1885.  Four 
men  entered  the  store.  One  engaged  the  only 
salesman  present,  Alfred  E.  Daniels ;  the  other 
three  sneaked  behind  the  counters,  robbed  the 
show' cases  of  gold  watches,  diamonds  and  other 
jewelry  and  escaped.  No  arrests  were  ever 
made,  nor  was  the  property  recovered. 


The  murder  of  Col.  J.  W.  Strong  by  Dr. 
S.  A.  Richmond,  on  June  18,  1886,  shocked  the 
community.  Colonel  Strong,  who  had  been 
prominently  identified  with  public  enterprises  in 
St.  Joseph,  was  at  that  time  publisher  of  the 
Herald,  the  office  being  located  at  the  south- 
west corner  of  Sixth  and  Edmond  streets.  Dr. 
Richmond  was  the  proprietor  of  a  patent  medi- 
cine. He  had  failed  in  business  and  had  prev- 
iously created  a  sensation  by  mysteriously  dis- 
appearing and  having  himself  "discovered" 
in  Chicago.  On  the  morning  of  June  29th, 
Colonel  Strong  was  in  his  office,  on  the  first 
floor  of  the  Flerald  building.  Richmond  came 
up  in  a  carriage,  alighted  and  walked  rapidly 
into  Colonel  Strong's  presence.  Without  a  word 
he  fired  three  shots  from  a  pistol  into  Colonel 
Strong's  body.  Death  resulted  in  a  few  min- 
utes. Richmond  was  tried  and  the  jury  found 
that  he  was  insane  at  the  time  the  deed  was  com- 
mitted. He  was  sent  to  Asylum  No.  2,  from 
which  he  escaped.  He  is  now  living  in  Illinois, 
no  effort  having  ever  been  made  to  return  him 
to  the  asylum. 

'i^  T*  'I* 

On  Sunday  afternoon,  March  8,  1888,  a 
tragedy  occurred  at  the  Herbert  House,  corner 
of  Fourth  and  Charles  streets,  this  city.  Louis 
Bulling,  a  young  man  born  and  reared  in  this 
city,  who  had  been  separated  from  his  wife, 
called  at  the  hotel,  where  she  was  employed, 


?nd  asked  to  see  her.  After  a  short  conversa- 
tion he  shot  her  while  she  was  kneeling  by  a 
trunk  in  search  of  a  picture  of  their  child,  which 
Bulling  had  requested. 

Bulling  was  tried,  found  guilty  of  murder 
in  the  first  degree,  and  sentenced  to  be  hanged. 
The  case  was  appealed  and  remanded.  A 
change  of  venue  was  then  taken  to  Andrew- 
County,  and  in  March,  1889,  the  case  came  up 
for  trial.  The  jury  stood  six  for  acquittal  and 
six  for  conviction.  In  the  following  May  the 
case  was  again  tried  and  Bulling  was  convicted. 
The  case  was  again  appealed  to  the  Supreme 
Court,  which  sustained  the  decision.  The  date 
of  the  execution  was  set  for  March  6,  1891,  to 
take  place  at  Savannah.  Sheriff  Berry  of  An- 
drew County  secured  the  gallows  upon  which 
Peter  Hronek  had  been  hanged  in  St.  Joseph, 
and  made  other  preparations.  However,  a 
respite  was  granted  to  April  17,  1891.  On  the 
night  of  April  10,  Bulling  sawed  the  jail  bars 
and  escaped.  He  was  captured  at  Chicago  in 
the  latter  part  of  June  and  returned  to  Savan- 
nah on  July  3,  1891.  On  the  night  of  July  4, 
1 891,  he  made  an  unsuccessful  attempt  to  sui- 
cide with  morphine. 

Bulling  was  again  sentenced,  and  September 
A  set  for  the  date  of  execution.  The  Governor's 
clemency  was  invoked,  but  was  refused.  On 
the  night  before  the  execution,  the  condemned 
man  was  much  disturbed  in  mind,  although  he 
had  a  slim  hope  that  his  friends  would  be  able 
to  secure  a  commutation  of  his  sentence  to  life 
in"'prisonment.  It  was  expected  that  the  execu- 
tion would  take  place  early  on  the  morning  of 
September  4th,  but  it  was  delayed  by  the  sher- 
iff. The  condemned  man  begged  for  a  few 
hours'  lease  of  life,  and  the  hour  was  set  for 
2  o'clock.  In  the  meantime  the  militia  com- 
pany was  called  out. 

Shortly  before  the  fatal  hour.  Bulling,  to- 
gether with  his  spiritual  adviser,  went  into  his 


WATER-WORKS    PUMPING    STATION 


STATE    HOSPITAL    FOR    INSANE,   No.   2 


VIEW    OF    KING    HILL,   SOUTH    ST.   JOSEPH 

(Showing  Stand-Pipe  from  Which  South  St.  Joseph  Draws  Its  Water  Supply) 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


211 


cell.  Scarcely  had  the  door  closed,  before  two 
shots  were  heard.  Upon  entering,  the  officers 
found  Bulling-  weltering  in  his  own  blood. 
Both  bullets  had  taken  effect.  For  fear  that  the 
law  would  -be  cheated  out  of  a  victim,  four  stal- 
wart men  took  hold  of  Bulling,  who  fought  like 
a  demon,  and  conveyed  him  to  the  scaffold, 
placing  him  in  a  chair.    At  3:18  the  drop  fell. 

^  5JC  ^ 

A  bold  daylight  robbery  occurred  on  the 
afternoon  of  Saturday,  February  21,  1891.  W. 
T.  Kershaw,  paymaster  at  the  ^IcDonald  over- 
all factory,  in  the  Patee  Building,  arrived  with 
a  sack  of  money,  amounting  ot  $1,600  to  pay 
the  employees.  As  he  entered  the  vestibule,  he 
saw  a  man  bearing  a  parcel  wrapped  in  paper, 
»vho  was  apparently  waiting  for  some  one.  The 
man  proved  to  be  a  robber  and  the  parcel  a 
club.  He  struck  Mr.  Kershaw  upon  the  head. 
A  struggle  ensued  in  which  j\Ir.  Kershaw  w^as 
worsted,  being  stunned  by  the  blow.  The  rob- 
ber had  an  accomplice  ready  with  a  horse  and 
buggy.  They  drove  rapidly  away  and,  though 
given  a  hot  chase,  escaped.  No  clew  was  ever 
found  to  them  or  the  money. 


Train  robberies  were  quite  common  in  the 
vicinity  of  St.  Joseph  some  years  ago.  A  plan 
to  rob  a  train  on  the  Kansas  City,  St.  Joseph  & 
Council  BlufTs  Railroad  was  formulated  in  Sep- 
tember of  1893.  A  point  in  the  vicinity  of 
Roy's  Branch,  about  one  mile  north  of  the  city, 
was  selected  for  the  scene  of  operations.  Those 
implicated  in  the  plot  were  N.  A.  Hearst, 
Charles  Fredericks,  William  Carver.  Fred  Koh- 
ler,  Henry  Gleitz  and  Hugo  Engel.  Some  days 
previous  to  the  attempt  the  railroad  officials 
had  received  pointers.  Superintendent  Hohl. 
having  learned  that  the  attempt  was  to  be  made 
on  the  night  of  September  24,  1893.  so  ar- 
ranged that  the  train  marked  by  the  robbers  was 


enabled  to  slip  by.  The  robbers  then  arranged 
for  Sunday  night,  September  25th.  The  rail- 
road officials  were  again  informed,  and  in  con- 
nection with  Chief  of  Police  Broder  and  Sheriff 
Charles  W.  Carson,  again  arranged  to  frustrate 
the  attempt.  The  two  officers  each  furnished 
a  cjuota  of  men.  Those  in  the  police  squad 
were  Sergeant  J.  Fred  Henry,  Patrolmen  John 
Roach.  Robert  ]\Ianey.  Daniel  Shea.  E.  L. 
Keififer,  John  Kendrick,  John  L.  Claiborne, 
Charles  S.  Scott.  John  H.  Martin,  George  W. 
Hays,  Jeff.  Carson.  \\''illiam  Halley,  Ed.  Long 
and  William  H.  Rice.  Sherifif  Carson  was  ac- 
companied by  Deputy  Sherifif  John  Brown.  T. 
H.  Ritchie,  General  Manager  Brown  and  Super- 
intendent  Hohl   were  also  of  the  party. 

Instead  of  sending  out  the  regular  train, 
for  fear  of  endangering  the  lives  of  passengers, 
a  dummy  train,  an  exact  counterpart  of  the 
regular,  was  dispatched,  the  two  rear  coaches 
being  darkened  to  give  them  the  appearance  of 
sleepers.  The  armed  men  were  mostly  placed 
in  the  baggage  car.  To  make  it  appear  that 
a  large  amount  of  baggage  was  on  board,  empty 
boxes  were  taken  on  at  the  Francis  street  depot. 
The  train  was  in  charge  of  Conductor  Jake 
Hardenstein.  \\\  L.  Wright  was  engineer  and 
Victor  \\'ise,  fireman. 

There  were  several  traitors  in  the  robbers' 
camp.  Prior  to  the  attempt,  Hearst,  Frederick 
and  Garver  had  agreed  with  the  officers  that 
as  soon  as  firing  began  they  were  to  fall  down 
flat  on  the  ground  and  to  remain  unmolested. 
This  plan  was  carried  out  to  the  letter.  When 
the  train  arrived  at  Roy's  Branch  bridge,  a  red 
light  appeared  on  the  track  and  a  signal  was 
given  to  stop.  The  train  stopped,  and  as  it  did 
so  the  bandits  were  discovered,  all  heavily 
armed,  ranged  along  the  side  of  the  track.  Be- 
side their  guns  they  were  supplied  with  dyna- 
mite and  fuse.  Kohler,  who  seemed  to  be  the 
leader  in  company  with  Henry  Gleitze.  rushed 


212 


HISTORY  OF    BUCHANAN    COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


up  to  the  engineer  and  fireman,  co^•ered  then 
with  revolvers,  and  ordered  them  to  cHmb  down 
and  open  the  express  car  door.  They  obeyed 
with  alacrity,  \\lien  the  door  was  reached 
Kohler,  with  an  oath,  demanded  that  the  door  be 
opened,  threatening  at  the  same  time  to  blow 
the  inmates  up  with  dynamite.  Those  inside 
obeyed,  and  when  Kohler  sa\\'  the  head  of  a 
man  he  fired  at  it.  The  police  then  fired  a  vol- 
ley and  Kohler  fell  backward  to  the  ground. 
Although  badly  wounded  in  a  number  of  places 
he  kept  shooting"  until  his  revolver  was  empty. 
The  other  bandits,  except  those  who  gave  the 
scheme  awa}%  also  continued  shooting,  and  soon 
Hugo  Engel  went  down  with  his  body  full  of 
bullets.  Henry  Gleitze  made  his  escajie,  while 
the  accomplices  were  made  prisoners. 

Gleitze  was  arrested  the  next  day.  He  was 
arraigned  at  the  December  term  of  court.  The 
grand  jury  had  indicted  him  for  an  attempt 
to  rob  R.  E.  Calicotte,  who  acted  as  express 
messenger,  of  a  watch  valued  at  $25,  and  not 
for  an  attempt  to  rob  an  express  train,  the  train 
being  a  dummy  and  not  an  express.  The  pris- 
oner was  allowed,  by  agreement,  to  plead  guilty, 
and  was  sentenced  to  two  years  in  the  peni- 
tentiary.    Garver,  Fredericks  and  Hearst  were 

not  prosecuted. 

*     *     * 

At  about  6:40  P.  M.  on  January  10,  1894, 
the  Chicago  fast  train,  better  known  as  the 
"Eli,"  on  the  Burlington  system,  was  held  up 
about  four  miles  east  of  the  city  by  fi\-e  men. 
As  the  train  reached  the  summit  of  the  heavy 
grade  a  torpedo  on  the  track  warned  Engineer 
Gross  that  something  was  wrong,  and  almost 
at  the  same  instant  a  red  light  in  the  hands 
of  one  of  the  bandits  was  swung  in  frcMit  of 
the  train.  This  caused  the  engineer  to  im- 
mediately apply  the  air-brakes  and  stop  the 
train.  He  was  promptly  covered  with  revolvers. 


The  robbers  ordered  the  engineer  and  fireman 
to  accompau)-  them  to  the  express  car,  which 
they  did.  Messenger  G.  B.  Wetzel,  in  charge 
of  the  Adams  Express  Company's  safe,  being 
covered  witli  revolvers,  opened  the  car  door 
and  also  the  safe.  The  robbers  secured  all  the 
valuables  therein  contained.  They  also  took 
the  mail  pouches.  Having  secured  \\  hat  booty 
they  desired,  they  ordered  the  engineer  and 
fireman  to  resume  tlieir  respective- places.  The 
passengers  were  warned  to  secrete  their  treas- 
ures by.  Conductor  Frank  Murray,  but  this  was 

rmnecessary. 

^     ^     ^ 

At  an  early  hour  Thursday  morning,  Janu- 
ary 18,  1894,  five  men,  presumably  those  who 
figured  in  the  foregoing  case,  robbed  passengei 
train  No.  3  on  the  K.  C,  St.  Jo.  &  C.  B.  Rail- 
road at  Roy's  Branch.  In  less  than  five  minutes 
from  the  time  the  train  halted,  the  express  Car 
had  been  looted  and  the  bandits  disappeared. 
Express  Messenger  C.  E.  Baxter  was  powerless, 
and  was  compelled  to  stand  and  witness  one  of 
the  three  men  in  the  car  hand  the  booty  to  his 
pals,  who  placed  the  parcels  into  sacks,  after 
v.'hich  they  departed. 

The  torpedo  and  red  lantern  were  the  means 
employed  to  halt  the  train.  The  mail  coach  in 
this  instance  was  not  molested,  nor  were  the 
passengers.  The  firing  of  a  number  of  snots 
by  the  bandits  warned  the  postal  clerks  and 
passengers  that  something  was  wrong,  whereat 
the  clerks  fastened  all  the  doors  of  their  car 
and  hid  under  the  pouches,  while  the  passengers 
kept  inside  the  coaches  and  were  busy  in  secret- 
ing their  money  and  jewelry. 

The  job  being  completed,  the  trainmen  we'"e 
stood  in  line  on  the  west  side  of  the -track  and 
the  robbers  took  to  the  willows.  Instead  of 
pursuing  its  course,  the  train  backed  down  to 
the  Francis  street  depot,  where  the  railroad  and 
countv  officials  were  notifi'id  of  the   robberv. 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


213 


In\estig"ation  proved  that  the  men  did  not  re- 
main in  the  willows,  Ixit  returned  to  the  city, 
two  of  them  riding-  in  a  buggy,  while  three 
walked.  The  ^■ehicle  was  tracked  for  some 
distance.  A  notorious  character  named  Pat 
Crow  plead  guilty  to  complicity  in  this  rob- 
bery and  was  sent  to  the  penitentiary  for  two 
years. 

^  ^  ^ 

The  fourth  attempt  to  rob  a  train  in  this 
vicinity  was  made  on  the  night  of  March  2. 
1894,  the  St.  Joseph  hill,  three  miles  east  of  the 
city,  being  selected  as  the  place  and  passenger 
train  No.  18  on  the  Chicago,  Rock  Island  & 
Pacific  being  the  victim.  The  same  plan  was 
adopted  by  the  bandits  as  had  been  successfully 
carried  out  in  the  two  last  escapades — the  tor- 
pedo and  the  red  lantern.  The  engineer,  J.  D. 
IMcKinney,  slowed  up  his  train  when  he  ob- 
served the  danger  signal,  but  when  he  looked 
out  and  saw  the  armed  and  masked  men  he 
pulled  the  throttle  wide  open  and  ran  the  train 
through.  While  the  train  was  in  rapid  motion 
the  engineer  was  commanded  to  halt  the  train, 
but  instead  he  dodged  down  in  the  cab,  at  the 


same  time  calling  to  the  hreman  to  do  the  same 
thing.  An  examination,  when  the  train  reached 
Stockbridge,  showed  that  the  robbers  had  shot 
to  kill,  as  the  windows  of  the  cab  were  broken 
and  five  bullets  were  buried  in  the  woodwork 
near  the  spot  where  the  engineer's  head  would 
have  l)een  had  he  not  dodged. 


The  Burlington  train,  south  bound,  was 
robl>ed  on  the  night  of  August  ir,  1898,  at 
about  9  o'clock  by  five  boys — James  Hathaway, 
William  Hathaway,  Charles  Cook,  Alonzo  At- 
terbur}'  and  Herbert  Donovan.  They  took  the 
safe  from  the  express  car,  but  were  scared  away 
by  an  approaching  freight  train  and  secured  no 
booty.     The  boys  were  arrested  and  punished. 

^  -^  ^ 

On  the  night  of  September  23,  1903,  the 
Denver  express  of  the  Burlington  road,  south 
bound,  was  stopped  at  Dillon  Creek,  near  tlie 
AVaterv.-orks,  by  four  masked  men,  who  blew 
open  the  express  company's  safe,  and  secured 
booty  estimated  at  $40,000.  They  have  n.r)t 
vet  been  caught. 


CHAPTER  XXIll. 


LEGAL  EXECVTIONS. 

Augustus  Otis  Jennings,  the  First  Man  to  Die  Upon  the  Scaffold  in  Buchanan 
County — Execution  of  Green,  the  Slave,  and  of  William  Linville — Joseph 
Lanier  Taken  From  St.  Joseph  to  Savannah  and  Shot — Hanging  of  A.  J.  Bow- 
zer  and  Henry  A.  Griffith — Jackson  Jefferson  Publicly  Shot — Green  Wil- 
lis, A  Negro,  Hanged  for  Murder — Execution  of  John  Grable  —  Execution 
OF  Peter  Hronek,  the  First  Private  Hanging  in  the  County — Execution  of 
Joseph  Burries  and  James  Pollard — Charles  May  Hanged  for  Murder — Exe- 
cution OF  Mark  Dunn. 


The  first  legal  execution  to  take  place  in 
Buchanan  County  was  that  of  Augustus  Otis 
Jennings,  which  occurred  on  September  2, 
1853.  Sheriff  Joseph  B.  Smith  was  the  exe- 
cutioner, a  scaffold  having  been  erected  south- 
east of  the   Patee   House. 

Jennings  and  three  others  had  murdered 
Edward  E.  Willard.    The  others  were  William 

Langston,  Jones  and  Anderson,  but 

none  of  them  suffered  the  extreme  penalty  of 
the  law  except  Jennings.  Langston  Avas  con- 
victed of  complicity,  sentenced  to  the  peni- 
tentiary, but  was  subsequently  pardoned  by 
Governor  Robert  M.  Stewart.  Of  the  others, 
the  records  only  show  that  a  change  of  venue 
was  taken  to  neighboring  counties. 

The  murder  of  Willard,  which  occurred  on 
July  27,  1852,  in  the  brush  north  of  the  city, 
the  location  being  at  present  in  the  corporate 
limits,  was  most  atrocious.  The  victim  was  a 
man  of  family,  a  carpenter  by  trade,  and  also 
an   auctioneer.      He   became   indebted   to   the 


parties  named  above,  and  to  others,  and  a  sup- 
position was  entertained  that  he  was  about  to 
leave  the  country.  These  men,  solely,  it  seems, 
with  the  idea  of  extorting  the  money  from 
him — he  claiming  to  have  money  buried  in  the 
woods  adjacent  to  a  graveyard — took  him  to 
the  brush.  They  were  amply  prepared,  having 
in  their  possession  a  rope,  a  pair  of  hand-cuffs 
and  a  cowhide.  Upon  arriving  at  the  point 
where  it  was  said  the  money  was  secreted,  Will- 
ard was  threatened  with  torture  provided  the 
money  was  not  forthcoming.  Willard,  accord- 
ing to  the  confession  of  Jennings,  seemed  to  be 
indifferent  and  finally  declared  he  had  no 
money.  Upon  this  admission  Langston,  who 
took  a  leading  part  in  the  affair,  commanded 
Willard  to  remove  his  shirt,  which  he  did.  They 
placed  hand-cuffs  upon  him,  and  with  a  rope, 
procured  by  Jennings,  the  victim  was  bound 
to  a  tree  and  the  cowhide  and  switches  applied 
until  life  was  extinct. 

Arrests  followed  and  Jennings  made  a  full 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


215 


confession,  detailing-  all  the  events  connected 
with  it.  His  trial  resulted  in  a  verdict  of  guilty 
of  murder  in  the  first  degxee  within  30  minutes 
after  the  evidence  was  given  to  the  jury.  An 
appeal  was  taken  to  the  Supreme  Court  of  the 
State,  which  tribunal  sustained  the  action  of 
the  lower  court.  Many  friends,  among  whom 
were  Revs.  Vandeventer  and  Boyakin,  inter- 
ceded with  Governor  Sterling  Price  in  his  be- 
half, but  without  avail. 

Sheriff  Smith  summoned  Captain  Hughes 
of  the  "Robidoux  Grays,"  the  only  militia  or- 
ganization in  the  city,  to  escort  the  procession 
to  the  scafifold  to  preserve  order.  About  8,000 
people  were  present  at  the  execution.  The 
prisoner  firmly  ascended  the  scaffold,  expressed 
the  hope  that  he  would  die  easy,  and  also  a  firm 
faith  in  Christ.  Contrary  to  his  hope,  however, 
he  struggled  long  and  died  hard. 


*     * 


In  the  early  part  of  July,  1859,  a  young- 
negro  slave,  who  had  been  purchased  in  the 
section  of  country -northeast  of  St.  Joseph, 
killed  Francis  Marion  Wright,  a  slave  buyer, 
who  was  bringing  him  to  St.  Joseph.  Green 
was  tried,  convicted  and  sentenced  to  hang. 
The  execution  took  place  on  December  2,  1859. 
Jonathan  M.  Bassett  was  State's  attorney  and 
Judge  Elijah  Norton  was  on  the  bench. 
Michael  INlorgan  was  sheriff  and  executioner, 
with  Wash.  Brown  and  Sam.  D.  Cowan,  as- 
sistants. 

It  appears  that  while  en  route  to  the  city  in 
a  buggy,  the  negro,  by  some  means,  came  into 
possession  of  a  pistol  belonging  to  Wright,  and 
shot  him  through  the  head,  the  wound  proving 
fatal  at  once.  The  deed  was  committed  on  the 
road  running  through  a  heavy  body  of  timber 
between  Rochester  and  St.  Joseph.  Wright's 
corpse  remained  in  the  buggy  and  in  a  short 
time  the  horse,  with  its  ghastly  burden,  swerved 


from  the  main  road  and  stopped  at  the  residence 
of  Thomas  Hubbard,  in  the  vicinity.  The 
alarm  was  given  and  it  was  soon  learned  who 
was  the  guilty  party. 

December  2,  1859,  was  a  cold  and  bleak 
day,  but  notwithstanding  that  fact  a  large  num- 
ber of  curious  spectators  gathered  at  Fowler's 
Grove,  south  of  the  city,  to  witness  the  execu- 
tion. A  rude  scaffold  had  been  erected,  four 
poles  having  been  sunk  into  the  frozen  ground 
and  a  rickety  platform  placed  thereon.  Among 
those  who  mounted  the  insecure  structure  were 
Sheriff  Morgan,  Deputy  Wash.  Brown,  Rev. 
Mr.  Fackler,  who  conducted  religious  services, 
and  several  physicians.  The  "Emmett  Guards," 
under  Daniel  T.  Lysaght,  formed  an  escort 
from  the  jail. 

The  executioner  was  a  bungler.  When  the 
trap  was  sprung,  the  condemned  man  secured 
a  hold  upon  the  rope,  and  braced  himself 
against  the  side  of  the  trap  with  his  elbows. 
Sheriff  Morgan  pried  the  victim  loose,  and  after 
admonishing  him  to  "behave  like  a  gentleman," 
forced  his  body  through  the  trap. 

Green  cared  little  for  this  life  or  for  future 
existence.  He  was  a  great  lover  of  the  good 
things  of  the  earth,  especially  of  liquor  and  eat- 
ables. Several  physicians  in  the  city  took  a 
fancy  to  him  and  gratified  his  every  want. 
When  those  who  had  buried  the  body  in  the 
county  cemetery,  north  of  the  city,  were  re- 
turning, they  met  the  physicians  en  route  to  the 
graveyard.     Green  had  sold  his  body  to  them. 

^  ^  ^ 

One  dark  night  in  July,  1863,  a  number  of 
men,  said  to  have  belonged  to  Joe  Hart's  gang 
of  bushwhackers,  entered  the  home  of  a  man 
by  the  name  of  Burns,  in  Andrew  County.  Dur- 
ing an  altercation  which  ensued  George  Henry, 
s<3n-in-Iaw  of  Burns,  was  killed.  Burns  and  an- 
other man  were  wounded  and  the  marauders 


2l6 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY  AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


escaped.  Subsequently  a  young  man  by  the 
name  of  William  Linville,  only  19  years  of  age, 
was  apprehended  as  one  of  the  gang,  and 
charged  with  the  murder.  The  military  author- 
ities had  possession  of  the  city  and  surrounding- 
country,  but  }'Oung  Linville  was,  from  some 
reason  or  other,  turned  over  to  the  State  au- 
thorities for  trial.  Judge  Silas  Woodson  was 
on  the  Circuit  Counrt  bench  at  that  time,  having 
control  of  civil  as  well  as  criminal  cases.  A 
trial  was  held  in  September,  and  on  the  29th 
of  the  month  a  verdict  of  murder  in  the  first 
degree  was  returned.  Sentence  of  death  upon 
the  gallows  was  at  once  imposed,  and  Friday, 
November  6th,  set  for  the  day  of  execution. 

The  hanging  took  place  at  noon  a  few  rods 
southeast  of  the  Patee  House,  now  McDonald's 
factory.  The  hills  adjacent  were  covered  by 
many  witnesses  of  the  sad  scene. 

The  cortege  left  the  Jail,  preceded  by  two 
companies  of  the  Ninth  Cavalry,  followed  by 
Captain  Dolman's  company,  guarding  the  pris- 
oner. The  condemned  youth  rode  in  a  light 
double-seated  carriage,  seated  between  Rev.  Dr. 
Dulin,  his  spiritual  adviser,  and  Barnes,  the 
jailer,  with  Deputy  Sheriff  Matney  in  the  same 
conveyance.  He  was  followed  by  Sheriff  Enos 
Craig  and  his  assistants,  and  an  express  wagon, 
wherein  was  an  empty  coffin. 

The  young  man  was  calm  and  self-possessed 
to  a  remarkable  degree.  Being  granted  per- 
mission to  speak,  he  said : 

"The  witnesses  who  swore  against  me 
swore  to  the  wrong  man.  You  hang  an  inno- 
cent man.  You  take  the  life  of  the  wrong 
person.  I  left  the  Confederate  Army  on  the 
20th  of  May  last,  and,  since  then,  have  nevei 
fired  a  gun  or  pistol  at  any  human  being.  The 
witnesses  who  swore  that  I  killed  that  man 
were  mistaken.  I  did  no  crime,  but  it  can't 
l3e  helped  now.  Remember,  all  of  you,  that  I 
die  innocent.     I  am  perfectly  willing  and  ready 


to  die.  lor  I  expect  to  find  rest  in  another  woiid. 
I  die  an  innocent  man." 

When  the  time  approached  for  the  execu- 
tion, a  prayer  was  offered,  after  which,  with 
unfaltering  step,  Linville  approached  the  drop 
in  the  platform  and  stood  unmoved  while  the 
sheriff,  assisted  by  the  physicians,  adjusted  the 
fatal  noose.  A  glove  was  placed  in  his  fingers, 
which  was  to  be  dropped  by  him  to  indicate 
his  readiness,  the  black  cap  was  drawn  over 
his  face,  the  minister  and  all  on  the  platform 
bade  him  good-ljye.  At  a  few  minutes  before 
12  o'clock  he  dropped  the  glove,  the  cord  was 
cut  and  all  was  over.  Li  four  minutes  life  was 
extinct. 

The  corpse  was  taken  to  the  Hannibal  & 
St.  Joseph  depot,  delivered  to  his  mother  and 
taken  to  Chillicothe  for  burial. 


Joseph  Lanier,  who  was  tried  by  a  military 
commission  in  this  city,  was  executed  at  Sa- 
vannah, June  10,  1864.  The  crimes  for  which 
he  was  convicted,  under  three  charges  and 
specifications,  were  :  "Encouraging  and  aiding 
rebellion  against  the  United  States,"  "Vio- 
lating allegiance  to  same,"  and  "Violating  laws 
and  customs  of  war."  It  was  charged  that  he, 
with  other  marauders,  burned  a  mill  belong- 
ing to  a  Mr.  Caldwell  at  Rochester,  Andrew 
County. 

Lanier  was  a  native  of  Tennessee,  and  be- 
came an  orphan  at  an  early  age.  In  the  fall 
of  1 86 1  the  Confederates  under  Colonels  Boyd 
and  Patton  formed  a  camp  near  Rochester, 
which  Joseph  and  his  two  brothers  joined.  Tir- 
ing of  life  in  camp  he  returned  and  became  a 
member  of  the  celebrated  Hart  gang.  He  was 
subsequently  arrested  by  Major  Bassett  and 
Captain  Davenport  of  this  city,  tried  by  military 
commission  and  sentenced  to  be  shot.  He  w^as 
sent  to  the  Alton  penitentiary,  where  he  re- 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


217 


mained  nearly  two  years,  awaiting  a  linal  de- 
cision in  his  case.  The  verdict  was  affirmed  and 
he  was  sent  back  to  be  executed. 

A  military  escort  accompanied  the  con- 
demned man  to  Sa\-annah  from  the  Hannibal 
&  St.  Joseph  depot  in  this  citw  The  details 
were  all  arranged  and  carried  out  under  the 
directions  of  Capt.  Theodore  Griswold.  At 
noon  the  prisoner  walked  between  two  minis- 
ters of  the  Gospel  to  the  place  of  execution,  a 
few  rods  northeast  of  the  depot.  A  coffin  was 
placed  before  him,  and  facing  the  coffin  and  his 
executioners,  Lanier  uncovered  his  head  while 
Rev.  A.  H.  Powell  uttered  a  prayer.  He  was 
unmoved  and  unconcerned  when  the  deatli  war- 
rant was  read  and  when  he  was  asked  if  he 
desired  to  be  blindfolded,  he  replied,  "Just  as 
you  please.''  He  was  requested  to  kneel  by  his 
coffin,  which  he  did.  Six  bullets  pierced  his 
body.  Upon  the  breast  of  the  corpse,  sus- 
pended by  a  black  string  around  the  neck,  was 
a  picture  of  the  \'irgin  IVIary,  and  in  his  pocket 
a  crucifix,  given  him  by  a  Catholic  priest  who 
had  visited  him  in  iail. 


In  the  case  of  A.  J.  Bowzer  of  Linn  Coun- 
ty, charged  with  being  a  robber  and  gtierrilla.  a 
member  of  Holtsclaw's  band,  the  work  of  the 
military  commission  was  quick.  The  evidence, 
in  their  minds,  was  conclusive  of  guilt.  If  it 
is  true,  as  is  said,  that  the  testimony  of  one  side 
only  was  taken,  a  decision  v.-as  not  difficult  to 
arrive  at.  Bowzer  was  tried  on  September  8, 
1864.  ^"<^^  li'^  execution  was  ordered  to  take 
place  on  the  9th — the  next  day. 

The  gallows  was  erected  a  short  distance 
below  where  the  K.  C.  St.  J.  &  C.  B.  round- 
house is  now  located.  When  the  prisoner 
mounted  the  platform,  his  step  was  firm  and 
not  a  gleam  of  fear  was  de])icted  on  his  coun- 
tenance.     Lieutenant    Harding,    provost   mar- 


shal, officiated,  and  at  a  signal  from  him  the 
trap  was  sprung. 

On  the  23rd  day  of  the  same  month,  in  ac- 
cord  with   the  finding  of  the   same  tribunal, 
Henry  A.  Griffith,  said  to  ha^■e  been  a  member 
j  of  the  same  company  of  soldiers  as  Bowzer, 
was  executed  on  the  same  scaffold. 


On  August  2'j,  1864,  while  drinking  in  a 
saloon  in  the  southern  part  of  the  city,  known 
as  the  "Cottage  Home,"  a  soldier  by  the  name 
of  Jockson  Jefferson  became  enraged  at  a  fel- 
low soldier  and  struck  him  (3\er  the  heart  with 
a  stick  of  cord-wood,  death  resulting  at  once. 

Jefferson  was  sentenced  by  the  court-mar- 
tial to  be  executed  on  October  22nd,  the  place 
of  execution  being  arranged  for  in  the  vicinity 
of  the  Patee  House.  When  the  guards  arrived 
at  the  jail  to  take  him,  they  found  the  door 
barricaded  by  the  prisoner.  He  threatened 
death  to  the  first  one  who  entered.  After  some 
time,  however,  he  yielded  peacefully.  He  was 
placed  in  an  ambulance,  and,  sitting  on  his 
coffin,  was  conveyed' to  the  fatal  spot.  At  4:30 
o'clock  P.  M.  the  prisoner  marched  to  the  center 
of  the  square,  where  his  coffin  had  Ijeen  ar- 
ranged. When  all  preparations  had  been  made, 
the  man  having  given  up  all  hope,  a  message 
was  hurriedly  delivered,  giving  him  one  week's 
respite. 

At  2  o'clock  on  Friday.  October  29th.  the 
time  of  the  respite  expired,  and  he  was  again 
escorted  to  the  execution  grounds.  At  the  pro- 
vost marshal's  office  he  entrusted  to  a  friend  a 
number  of  letters,  among  which  was  one  to  his 
mother.  Some  difficulty  was  experienced  b}- 
the  officials  in  adjusting  the  hand-cuffs,  when 
the  prisoner,  with  composure,  assisted  in  plac- 
ing them  in  position.  Having  been  blindfolded, 
he  knelt  beside  his  coffin.  A  platoon  of  soldiers 
leveled  their  muskets.     Four  bullets  penetrated 


2l8 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN    COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


the  condemned  man's  frame — two  almost  sever- 
ing- his  head,  one  passing  through  his  breast, 
and  one  through  the  left  shoulder. 


November  9,  1865,  Jacob  T.  Kuhn,  a  tenant 
of  J.  C.  Roberts,  about  four  miles  east  of  the 
city,  on  the  One  Hundred  and  Two  River  road, 
was  killed  while  en  route  home  from  the  city, 
his  body  being  discovered  a  few  rods  from  his 
house.  It  was  found  that  Kuhn  had  been  mur- 
dered and  robbed,  an  axe  which  he  had  taken 
to  town  being  near  him,  covered  wnth  blood  and 
hair.  No  clue  was  discovered  as  to  the  guilty 
party  until  December  20,  1865,  when  Green 
Willis  and  Charles  Clark,  negroes,  were  ar- 
rested, charged  with  the  murder  of  John  Lohr, 
on  the  Brierly  farm  in  Marion  township,  a 
short  time  previous.  Upon  being  examined  be- 
fore Justice  Jules  C.  Robidoux,  Clark,  the 
younger  of  the  two,  made  a  confession,  which 
cleared  up  both  the  murder  of  Kuhn  and  Lohr, 
fastening  the  giiilt  upon  Green  Willis.  The 
testimony  was  to  the  effect  that  Clark  and 
Willis  overtook  Lohr  on  the  public  highway, 
and  Green  Willis  made  a  proposition  to  kill  him, 
saying  he  had  money.  Clark  assented,  where- 
upon Willis  struck  Lohr  upon  the  head  with 
a  stone,  after  which  both  dragged  the  body  to 
a  slough  in  Brierly's  field.  Clark  had  heard 
of  the  killing  of  Kuhn,  and  at  that  time  Willis 
told  him  that  he  (Willis)  had  committed  the 
act  with  an  axe,  and  that  he  had  thereby  se- 
cured the  sum  of  $25. 

A  special  session  of  the  Circuit  Court  was 
convened  on  Monday,  January  22nd,  when  the 
jury,  within  five  minutes  after  the  evidence  was 
closed,  returned  a  verdict  of  "guilty"  against 
Green  Willis,  convicting  him  of  both  the  mur- 
der of  Jacob  Kuhn  and  John  Lohr  and  fixing 
the  punishment  at  death. 

The  date  of  execution  was  set  for  March 


I,  1866.  On  that  day  a  large  number  of  peo- 
ple came  to  the  city.  The  scaffold,  which  was 
located  on  the  bottom  land  in  the  southern 
part  of  the  city,  was  surrounded  by  at  least 
5,000  people.  The  prisoner  was  attended  by 
Rev.  J.  M.  Wilkerson  and  Rev.  Adam  Dimitt, 
both  ministers  of  negro  churches  in  this  city. 
Sheriff  Ransom  Ridge  was  the  executioner. 
The  prisoner  was  informed  that  he  had  but  a 
few  minutes  to  live  and  was  urged  to  make  a 
full  confession,  which  he  did.  He  requested 
that  his  body  be  given  to  his  wife  for  burial. 

Charles  Clark,  the  young  negro  associated 
with  Willis,  was  convicted  as  an  accessory  and 
imprisoned  for  life,  but  it  is  said  that  he  has 
been  pardoned  and  is  at  large. 


* 


August  22,  1870,  John  Grable  was  exe- 
cuted for  the  murder  of  Joel  Drake,  Sheriff 
Irving  Fish  being  the  executioner.  Although 
neither  the  evidence  nor  the  confession  estab- 
lished the  exact  locality  in  which  the  murder 
was  committed,  the  defendant  was  indicted, 
tried  and  convicted  in  Buchanan  County,  Judge 
I.  C.  Parker  being  upon  the  bench. 

On  January  6,  1870,  John  Grable  went  to 
P'arkville,  Missouri,  for  the  purpose  of  secur- 
ing a  coffin  in  which  to  bury  Joel  Drake,  first 
making  arrangements  with  neighbors  for  the 
grave,  etc.  Statements  made  by  him  as  to  the 
manner  in  which  the  deceased  came  to  his 
death  caused  suspicion  in  the  minds  of  some, 
and  on  January  9th  an  affidavit  was  filed  be- 
fore Justice  Saltzman  in  this  city  by  one  Daniel 
Bender,  in  which  he  stated  that  he  believed 
that  on  or  before  January  2nd,  John  Grable 
had  murdered  Joel  Drake. 

Grable  and  Drake  were  brothers-in-law, 
both  residents  of  Platte  County,  and  the  former 
had  accompanied  the  latter  to  Gentry  County  in 
a  waefon  to  secure  some  monev  due  Drake  for 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


219 


property  sold  by  him  in  that  county,  he  having 
formerly  resided  there.  The  evidence  tended 
to  show  that  the  deceased  secured  a  check  for 
$475  on  a  St.  Joseph  bank ;  that  the  parties 
were  seen  together  at  several  points  between 
Albany,  Gentry  County,  and  St.  Joseph ;  that 
the  check  was  cashed  by  Grable  on  the  3rd  day 
of  January;  that  Drake  was  not  seen  alive  in 
St.  Joseph ;  that  Grable  put  his  team  in  a  feed 
lot  in  the  city,  at  the  same  time  warning  the 
owner  thereof  that  it  would  be  dangerous  to 
venture  near  the  wagon,  as  a  vicious  dog  w^as 
kept  therein;  that  he  drove  the  team  to  Halls 
station,  at  which  place  Mary  Nolan,  a  sister 
of  Grable's  wife,  got  into  the  wagon,  the  dead 
man  meanwhile  lying  in  the  rear  portion  of 
the  vehicle ;  that  they  then  drove  to  their  home 
near  Parkville,  where  the  body  was  buried. 

John  Grable  made  a  statement  to  his 
brother,  sister-in-law  and  others  that  he  and 
Drake  arrived  in  St.  Joseph  on  Saturday,  Jan- 
uary 1st;  that  Drake  cashed  the  check,  giving 
him  $120  to  hand  to  Drake's  wife;  that  the}/ 
stopped  at  a  boarding  house  not  far  from  the 
Blacksnake ;  that  he  saw  nothing  of  Drake  until 
Sunday  afternoon,  when  he  found  him  dead 
in  a  questionable  house  in  the  vicinity;  that 
the  body  was  rolled  into  a  blanket  and  placed 
in  the  wagon  by  three  w'omen,  who  threatened 
in  case  he  divulged  anything,  to  swear  the 
crime  of  murder  against  him. 

Acting  upon  the  statement  in  the  affidavit, 
a  coroner's  inquest  rendered  a  verdict  that  the 
deceased  came  to  his  death  at  the  hands  of  un- 
known parties,  and  on  the  Sunday  following, 
armed  with  a  warrant  sworn  out  before  Jus- 
tice Saltzman,  Sheriff  Fish  went  to  Platte 
County  after  Grable,  and  brought  him  to  St. 
Joseph. 

A  preliminary  examination  was  held  and 
tlie  accused  bound  over  to  await  the  action  of 
the  grand  jury,  which  found  a  true  bill  against 


him.  The  trial  was  set  for  Wednesday,  May 
25,  1870.  A  change  of  venue  was  asked,  but 
denied  by  Judge  Parker,  and  the  case  went 
to  trial.  Curcumstantial  evidence  proved  Gra- 
ble's guilt,  and  a  verdict  of  murder  in  the  first 
degree  was  rendered  June  ist,.  He  was  sen- 
tenced to  be  executed  on  Friday,  August  20, 
1870,  but  Judge  Henry  S.  Tutt,  his  lawyer, 
petitioned  Governor  J.  W.  McClurg  for  a  re- 
spite, which  was  granted  until  September  9th. 
Before  the  day  of  execution  arrived  the  con- 
demned man  made  a  confession  of  guilt,  in 
which  he  admitted  the  killing,  detailing  every 
fact  in  connection  therewith,  and  when  on  the 
scaffold  he  reiterated  the  substance  of  his  pre- 
vious statement. 

When  the  hour  for  leaving  the  jail  arrived, 
at  noon,  Grable,  accompanied  by  Sheriff  Fish, 
with  his  deputies,  Charles  Springer  and  Cap- 
tain Lund,  marched  out  of  the  jail-yard  and 
entered  an  open  wagon  in  waiting  to  convey 
him  to  the  place  of  doom.  At  this  juncture 
the  sheriff  remarked  that  it  was  about  the  noon 
hour,  and  asked  Grable  if  he  did  not  desire  his 
dinner.  The  prisoner  readily  accepted  the  in- 
vitation, remarking,  'T  always  eat  when  I  can 
get  it."  He  ate  a  hearty  meal.  The  repast 
completed,  he  again  entered  the  wagon,  seated 
himself  upon  his  coffin_,  and  was  conveyed  to 
the  place  of  execution,  located  in  the  southern 
part  of  the  city. 

The  cortege  was  accompanied  by  mounted 
guards,  under  command  of  Captain  Saltzman, 
who,  upon  arrival  at  the  grounds,  formed  a 
cordon  around  the  scaffold. 

Grable  asked  for  whiskey,  wdiich  was  fur- 
nished him,  and  also  asked  permission  to  make 
a  statement,  as  unt<-uthful  reports  had  been 
published  about  him.  He  openly  confessed  the 
murder,  and  gave  a  warning  to  those  within 
his" hearing  to  avoid  the  use  of  intoxicants,  as 
by  that  means  he  was  brought  to  his  present 


220 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


position.  During  the  preparations  for  the  final 
act  he  gave  instructions  as  to  the  placing  of  the 
rope  around  his  neck.  Soon  the  body  shot 
down,  the  drop  being  about  eight  feet,  and 
within  a  few  seconds  life  was  extinct. 


The  first  private  execution  in  the  county 
occurred  on  June  30,  1888.  On  April  16, 
1887,  Peter  Hronek,  a  Bohemian,  who  lived 
with  his  wife  and  one  little  child  at  No.  1705 
Olive  street,  cruelly  murdered  the  woman  by 
shooting  her  with  a  pistol.  Hronek  was 
drunk  when  he  committed  this  crime. 

He  was  convicted  and  sentenced  to  be 
hanged,  August  19,  1887,  being  fixed  as  the 
day  of  execution ;  but  the  case  was  taken  to 
the  Supreme  Court.  The  lower  court  was  sus- 
tained and  the  condemned  man  was  legally  put 
to  death  on  the  scaffold  in  the  jail-yard  on 
June  30,  1888,  at  1  130  o'clock  P.  M.  Sheriff 
Joseph  Andriano  was  the  officer  in  charge. 
Hronek  was  attended  by  Father  Kryzwonos  of 
the  Polish  Catholic  Church. 


Joseph  Burries,  known  as  "Dusty,"  a 
young  negro,  was  hanged  by  Sheriff  Andriano 
and  his  deputies  at  the  jail  on  May  12,  1895. 
He  had  been  convicted  of  criminally  assault- 
ing a  little  white  girl  on  July  30,  1894.  The 
sentence  was  pronounced  by  Judge  Silas  Wood- 
son. Though  a  strong  petition  was  sent  to 
Governor  Stone,  the  executive  refused  to  com- 
mute the  sentence,  Imt  granted  a  stay  of  execu- 
tion. On  the  night  of  December  31,  1894. 
Burries  escaped  from  jail,  in  company  with 
Pat  Crow  and  three  others,  but  instead  of  leav- 
ing the  country,  as  had  been  ])lanned,  he  could 
not  resist  the  temptation  of  again  seeing  his 
wife,  and  was  captured  the  next  night  while 


in   company   with  her   in  a   room  on  Francis 
street. 

The  last  night  before  the  execution  was  an 
eventful  one  wnthin  the  gloomy  walls  of  the 
old  bastile.  A  number  of  negro  ministers 
called,  and  Burries  joined  in  the  religious  serv- 
ices with  much  earnestness.  The  colored  quar- 
tette, all  prisoners,  sang  religious  songs,  the 
singing  being  joined  in  by  Burries.  Between 
I  and  2  o'clock  the  next  morning,  the  fatal  day, 
the  condemned  man  awoke,  sang  a  hymn  and 
uttered  an  earnest  prayer.  Religious  services 
were  held  that  morning,  and  then  Burries 
started  a  religious  negro  song  entitled,  "I 
Don't  Want  You  to  Grieve  After  Me,"  in 
which  the  negroes  present  joined  W'ith  fervor. 
It  was  a  weird  performance.  The  condemned 
man  then  knelt  in  prayer,  at  the  conclusion  of 
nhich  he  marched  in  his  stocking  feet  to  the 
center  of  the  platform  where  hung  the  fatal 
noose.     He  died  without  a  struggle. 


On  Friday,  June  25,  1897,  James  Pollard, 
a  negro  youth,  was  executed  by  James  Hull, 
sheriff,  on  a  scaffold  erected  in  the  jail-yard. 
July  30,  1895.  Pollard,  who  was  born  and 
reared  in  the  vicinity  of  DeKalb,  returned  to 
that  neighborhood,  after  an  absence  of  some 
time,  went  to  the  residence  of  Dave  Irwin, 
another  negro,  ^^•ith  whom  he  had  previously 
had  trouble,  and  made  an  attempt  to  kill  him. 
In  shooting  at  Dave  Irwin  he  shot  Joseph  Ir- 
win instead,  death  resulting  a  short  time 
afterward. 

Pollard  made  his  escape,  being  at  large  for 
some  time,  but  was  finally  captured  at  Gallatin, 
Missouri.  Tie  was  tried  twice  tor  the  crime, 
a  conviction  following  both  times.  The  case 
was  appealed  to  the  Supreme  Court,  and  a 
strong  effort  was  also  made  for  a  commuta- 
tion of  sentence.      The   Supreme   Court   sus- 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


221 


tained  the  lower  court,  the  Governor  refused 
to  interfere,  and  Pollard  was  hanged.  He  was 
very  pious  during  his  last  hours. 


*     * 


* 


Charles  May  was  hanged  in  the  jail-yard 
April  17,  1903,  for  the  murder  of  John  Robert 
Martin  at  a  dance  near  DeKalb,  on  the  night 
of  December  27,  1900.  He  was  found  guilty 
of  murder  in  the  first  degree  in.  March,  1901, 
appealed  to  the  Supreme  Court  and  secured  a 
new  trial,  but  was  again  convicted.  He  died 
protesting  that  he  had  killed  Martin  in  self- 
defense. 


Mark  Dunn  was  hanged  March  11,  1904, 
for  murdering  Alfred  Fenton  at  Rushville  on 
the  night  of  July  20,  1902.     He  was  convicted 


and  sentenced  to  be  hanged.  The  Supreme 
Court  sustained  the  verdict,  and  after  several 
respites  by  the  Governor  the  date  of  execution 
was  set  for  March  nth.  On  the  morning  of 
March  7th  Dunn  escaped  from  the  County 
Jail  in  a  sensational  manner.  Having  secured 
possession  of  tw^o  revolvers,  which  were  smug- 
gled into  the  jail  in  a  coal-oil  can  with  a  false 
bottom,  Dunn  overpowered  William  Henley^ 
the  death  watch,. and  John  and  Walter  Thomas,, 
deputy  sheriffs,  and  disappeared  after  locking 
the  guard  and  deputies  into  the  cell  house.  He 
was  captured  three  days  later  at  Rosendale, 
where  he  had  sought  refuge,  being  sick  and 
exhausted,  but  escaped  his  captors  in  a  few 
hours  and  got  as  far  as  Guilford,  where  his 
strength  gave  way.  He  was  brought  back  to 
St.  Joseph  and  executed  on  the  day  set  by  the 
Governor. 


12 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 


CASVALTIES. 

The  Platte  River  Bridge  Disasters — Collapse  of  Nave  &  McCord's  Building  and 
Death  of  Nine  Persons — Fatal  Powder  Magazine  Explosion — The  Earth- 
quake OF  1867  AND  Several  Destructive  Storms  Since  Then — Drowning  of 
Five  Girls  at  Lake  Contrary — Explosion  of  "Danforth's  Fluid"  and  the  Kill- 
ing OF  Three  Negroes — A  List  of  the   Most  Important  Fires. 


A  complete  list  of  casualties  that  have  oc- 
curred since  the  settlement  of  Buchanan  Coun- 
ty would  alone  make  a  book  of  considerable 
size.  In  this  chapter  only  a  few  of  the  more 
notable  mishaps  will  be  briefly  mentioned. 

The  Hannibal  &  St.  Joseph  railroad  bridge 
over  Platte  River,  east  of  the  city,  was  the 
scene  of  several  disasters.  On  September  21, 
1859,  the  bridge  went  down  under  the  weight 
of  a  train.  Several  were  killed.  On  Septem- 
ber 3,  1 86 1,  occurred  what  is  generally  known 
as  the  Platte  River  bridge  disaster.  The  bridge 
had  been  burned,  presumably  by  bushwhackers, 
who  were  expecting  a  regiment  of  soldiers 
whom  they  hoped  to  destroy  by  wrecking  the 
train.  Instead,  however,  a  passenger  train 
dashed  at  full  speed  into  the  chasm.  Stephen 
Cutler,  the  conductor,  Frank  Clark,  the  engi- 
neer, Charles  W.  Moore,  the  fireman,  two 
brakemen  and  12  passengers  were  killed.  Early 
in  the  following  November,  while  a  regiment 
was  crossing  the  swollen  stream  on  a  pontoon 
bridge,  a  heavy  log  dashed  against  the  struct- 
ure, causing  destruction  and  loss  of  life.   Seven 


were  drowned,  among  them  the  wives  of  two 
soldiers. 


Another  notable  accident  of  the  early  days 
was  the  collapse  of  Nave  &  McCord's  store 
building  and  the  loss  of  life.  This  building,  a 
three-story  brick,  stood  upon  the  site  of  the 
building  on  the  west  side  of  Third  street,  north 
of  Felix,  occupied  by  C.  D.  Smith's  wholesale 
grocery,  and  afterward  by  McCord  &  Collins' 
wholesale  grocery.  Directly  north,  and  be- 
low the  grade  of  the 'street,  was  a  frame  double 
tenement,  one  side  of  which  was  occupied  by 
the  family  of  Samuel  Harburger,  a  merchant, 
related  to  the  Binswanger  family  of  this  city, 
and  the  other  side  by  a  family  whose  names 
could  not  be  learned.  On  the  morning  of  July 
5,  i860,  fire  broke  out  in  the  upper  floor  of  the 
Nave  &  McCord  building,  then  occupied  by 
that  firm.  There  was  no  Fire  Department  in 
those  days,  nor  were  there  many  police,  and  the 
walls  collapsed  before  the  .general  alarm  was 
given.     The  debris  completely  covered  the  ten- 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


223 


ement  and  Mr.  Harbiirger,  his  wife,  two  chil- 
dren and  servant  girl  perished,  as  did  also  four 
members  of  the  other  family.  Two  of  Nave  & 
McCord's  clerks — William  Hudnut  and  Henry 
Mitchem — who  slept  in  the  second  story,  had 
a  narrow  escape.  In  the  collapse  the  timbers 
had  so  fallen  as  to  protect  these  men  instead 
of  crushing-  them,  and  they  were  rescued  from 
their  perilous  position  by  volunteers.  The  in- 
surance companies  refused  to  pay  the  loss  on 
the  building  upon  the  ground  that  the  collapse 
had  occurred  before  the  fire.  The  case  was 
tried  at  St.  Louis,  and  after  eight  years  of  liti- 
gation resulted  favorably  to  Nave  &  McCord. 
It  was  proved  by  a  traveling  man,  representing 
a  flour  mill  at  Beloit,  Wis.,  that  the  building 
was  on  fire  for  some  time  before  the  collapse. 
He  was  a  guest  at  the  Patee  House,  and  had 
been  unable  to  sleep  owing  to  the  hot  weather. 
Seated  at  his  window,  he  noticed  the  flames 
and  watched  the  progress  of  the  fire  for  some 
time  before  he  heard  the  crash. 


*     * 


About  3  o'clock  on  the  evening  of  May  13, 
1864,  a  powder  magazine,  situated  on  the 
northern  extremity  of  Prospect  Hill,  ex- 
ploded. Near  a  hole  in  the  ground,  where  the 
magazine  had  stood,  the  bleeding,  bruised  and 
burning  body  of  a  boy  was  found.  Another 
body  was  found  some  distance  away.  The 
bodies  were  those  of  James  McEnery  and 
James  Morrison.  There  had  been  several  other 
boys  in  the  crowd,  who  were  more  or  less  seri- 
ously injured.  The  boys  had  lighted  a  match 
and  thrown  it  into  a  crevice  in  the  magazine. 


St.  Joseph  was  violently  shaken  by  an  earth- 
quake on  April  24,  1867.  The  shock  occurred 
at  2  .-35  o'clock  in  the  afternoon.  At  first  there 
was  an  ominous  rumbling  sound,  then  a  rock- 


ing movement  from  east  to  west  and  west  to 
east,  which  continued  for  20  seconds.  The 
alarmed  populace  sought  the  streets  and 
there  was  intense  excitement.  The  pub- 
lic school  buildings  shook,  the  plastering 
cracked,  huge  seams  being  observed  in 
the  walls ;  the  children  screamed  and  the 
teachers,  being  bewildered  and  perplexed,  dis- 
missed the  frightened  pupils  and  hastened  to 
their  homes.  Never  before  was  there  such 
consternation  in  the  city.  In  a  few  seconds 
the  air  was  as  calm,  the  earth  as  tranquil,  the 
face  of  nature  as  placid  and  everything  as  har- 
monious as  though  nothing  unusual  had  oc- 
curred. No  damage  was  done  to  property. 
A  second  shock  was  felt  in  September  of  1871, 
when  there  were  fears  that  the  old  Court  House 
would  collapse.  A  third  shock  was  felt  in  the 
autumn  of  1896. 


Early  on  the  morning  of  February  23, 
1868,  fire  destroyed  the  Allen  House  stables 
on  South  Fourth  street,  owned  by  Brooks  & 
Maupin.  It  w^as  necessary  to  use  water  from 
an  immense  cistern^  which  was  located  south 
of  the  City  Hall.  While  walking  around  the 
engine,  George  Slocumb,  engineer  at  Hauck's 
mill,  fell  into  the  cistern  and  was  drowned 
before  assistance  could  reach  him. 

*     ^     ^ 

On  the  night  of  December  15,  1868,  the 
Pacific  House  burned.  This  was  regarded 
as  one  of  the  most  expensive  conflagrations 
up  to  that  time. 


On  Sunday  morning,  January  23,  1870, 
at  about  4  o'clock,  fire  destroyed  a  brick  row  of 
buildings  on  the  west  side  of  Second  street, 
near  a  bridge  which  then  spanned  Blacksnake 


224 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY  AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


Creek.  All  the  inmates,  with  the  exception 
of  one  young  man,  who  was  in  an  inebriated 
condition,  in  a  room  of  a  resort  known  as  the 
"Rosebud."  made  their  escape,  and  his  body 
was  afterward  recovered,  burned  to  a  cinder. 
\\'hen  the  firemen  had  finished  their  work,  and 
were  preparing  to  leave,  they  were  called  back 
by  the  disccn-ery  of  the  remains  of  this  victim. 
While  engaged  in  removing  the  debris,  a  wall 
fell,  covering  Frank  Y.  Heill,  Arthur  Colburn, 
Julius  Sidekum,  Blass  Argus,  Julius  Gishe,  all 
firemen,  and  John  W.  Clifford,  a  colored  man. 
All  were  rescued,  after  heroic  \vork,  except 
Clifford,  who  was  killed  by  the  falling  wall. 
Blass  Argus,  a  member  of  the  Hook-and-Lad- 
der  Company,  was  so  severely  injured  that  he 
soon  expired. 


Perhaps  the  most  disastrous  storm  in  the 
history  of  St.  Joseph  occurred  on  the  night  of 
July  13,  1 87 1.  The  weather  had  been  sultry 
and  threatening  all  day,  but  the  storm  did  not 
burst  until  at  about  9  o'clock  at  night.  The 
Francis  Street  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 
was  struck  by  lightning  and  badly  damaged. 
The  Pacific  House  roof  was  removed,  the 
Everett,  the  Neely,  the  Webster  and  the  Fourth 
Street  Colored  schools  were  unroofed.  The 
Convent  of  the  Sacred  Heart  lost  a  portion  of 
its  roof,  as  also  did  St.  Patrick's  School  (mi 
South  1 2th  street.  The  estimated  damages  to 
property  were  over  $150,000.  No  lives  were 
lost  in  the  city,  though  lumber  and  debris  of 
all  descriptions  were  flying  about  and  the  peo- 
ple panic-stricken.  A  sad  affair  occurred  in 
the  country.  At  the  residence  of  James  Keiger, 
five  miles  east  of  the  city,  were  a  number  of 
people,  among  the  guests  being  Mrs.  Lucy 
Lovell  and  her  two  little  children.  When  the 
storm  was  at  its  height,  Mrs.  Lovell,  who  was 
with  her  babes  in  an  upper  story,  brought  them 


down  and  placed  them  in  the  bed  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Keiger.  While  kneeling  in  prayer  for 
their  safety,  a  bolt  of  lightning  laid  the  lov- 
ing mother  low.  Penetrating  into  the  hallway 
the  same  bolt  struck  and  killed  Harry  R.  Blake- 
more  of  St.  Joseph,  who  was  also  a  guest  at 
Mr.   Keiger's. 


On  the  night  of  September  3,  1873.  a  tor- 
nado destroyed  the  Exposition  buildings  that 
were  in  the  course  of  construction  near  the 
present  site  of  the  K.  C,  St.  J.  &  C.  B.  shops. 
Other  serious  damage  was  also  done. 


On  Sunday,  July  23,  1876,  a  boat  contain- 
ing a  party  of  pleasure-seekers,  capsized  on 
Lake  Contrary  and  five  girls  were  drowned. 
The  party  was  in  charge  of  Otto  Gross.  Be- 
side himself,  seated  in  the  boat  were  Misses 
Clara  Kratt,  Rosa  Muench,  Sophia  Seitz,  Ma- 
thilde  Zimmer  and  Mathilde  Gross,  the  daugh- 
ter of  Mr.  Gross.  A  distance  of  about  three 
miles  had  been  traversed,  and  when  returning, 
and  within  less  than  100  yards  from  the 
shore  which  they  had  left,  little  Clara  Kratt 
and  Rosa  Muench,  who  occupied  the  seat  in  the 
rear  of  the  frail  craft,  began  to  reach  out  and 
gather  water  lilies,  causing  the  skiff  to  dip  to 
one  side.  This  was  continued  until  the  boat 
capsized,  and  in  an  instant  the  six  unfortunate 
persons  were  struggling  in  12  feet  of  water. 
Mr.  Gross  succeeded  in  reaching  each  of  the 
girls  and  placed  their  hands  on  the  boat,  but 
in  their  desperate  efforts  to  regain  a  position 
in  the  boat  it  was  again  overturned  and  once 
more  they  were  plunged  under  the  treacherous 
waves.  Mr.  Gross  again  seized  his  child  and  at- 
tempted to  save  her.  at  least.  With  his  burden 
he  was  making  good  progress,  when  another 
one  of  the  girls  seized  him  about  the  neck.    This 


c 
o 

S 
-o 
W 

S 
o 


o 
+-> 

+-> 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


227 


action  placed  him  in  such  a  position  that  all 
hope  was  gone,  and  he  was  compelled  to  free 
himself  from  Ixjth  in  order  to  save  his  own  life. 
He  made  for  the  shore,  but  ere  he  reached  it 
he  was  taken  with  cramps,  and  but  for  the 
timely  arrival  of  a  man  in  a  skiff,  he.  too.  would 
have  drowned.  The  bodies  were  all  recovered. 
The  body  of  Miss  Zimmer  was  buried  from  the 
residence  of  her  father  on  the  following  after- 
noon. The  funeral  of  the  others  was  an  im- 
pressive afYair.  The  Fire  Departments  hook 
and  ladder  truck  was  improvised  into  a  hearse, 
which  was  draped  in  wiiite  and  black  crape, 
and  beautifully  ornamented  with  flowers  and 
evergreens.  The  procession  was  formed  in 
front  of  Mr.  Kratt's  residence  on  ^Messanie 
street,  where  the  first  cofiin  was  placed  in  posi- 
tion. Each  house  of  mourning  was  visited  in 
turn,  and  the  four  cofifins  placed  side  by  side. 
The  hearse  was  drawn  by  four  white  horses. 
The  cortege  tben  took  its  line  of  march  to  Ash- 
land Cemetery,  preceded  by  Rosenblatt's  brass 
band.  Then  came  the  hearse,  and  following 
this  was  the  band  wagon  in  which  were  seated  a 
number  of  the  girls  who  comprised  the  lake 
party  when  their  companions  lost  their  lives, 
each  bearing  in  her  hands  a  wreath  of  flowers. 
There  were  over  150  carriages  and  buggies 
containing  sorrowing  relatives  and  friends. 


The  Odd  Fellows'  Building  at  Fifth  and 
Felix  and  the  furniture  store  of  Louis  Hax. 
which  joined  it  on  the  south,  were  burned  on 
the  night  of  January  29.  1879.  The  Odd  Fel- 
low's Building  was  occupied  by  J.  ^^^  Bailey 
&  Company,  with  an  extensive  dry  goods  store. 
The  entire  loss  was  about  $200,000.  The  site 
of  these  buildings  is  now  covered  by  the  block 
occupied  by  Townsend  &  ^^^'att.  Jones.  Town- 
send  &  Shireman  and  the  Louis  Hax  Furniture 


Company.     The  burned  buildings  facetl  Fifth 
street. 

^  ^  ^ 

A  grewsome  accident  occurred  on  the  night 
of  May  23,   1 88 1.     A  negro  resort  was  kept 
j  by  George  Cunnigan  on  the  south  side  of  Ed- 
mond  street,  between  Sixth  and  Seventh  streets, 
in  a  building  owned  by  Dr.   William  Leach. 
The  basement  of  this  building  was  divided  into 
two  parts,  one  part  being  used  in  connection 
with  the  resort  and  the  other  for  the  storage 
of  an  illuminant  known  as  "Danforth's  Fluid.'' 
On  the  night  mentioned  there  were  about  25 
negroes  in  the  saloon,  playing  cards  and  en- 
joying themselves.     There  was  to  be  a  rehear- 
'  sal  of  a  prospective  minstrel  troop  in  the  base- 
ment, and  at  about  8  :^o  John  Hicks,  one  of  the 
artists,  went  below  stairs  to  light  up  the  base- 
ment room.     Forty  l^arrels  of  fluid  had  been 
'  stored   in   the  adjoining  basement  room   that 
f  day.  and  1x)th  rooms  were  filled  with  the  fumes 
!  of  the  highly  inflammable  fluid.     \Mien  Hicks 
struck  a  match,  an  explosion  occurred  which 
was  heard  throughout  the  city  and  the  shock 
was   felt  for  quite  a  distance.     The  building 
I  was  wrecked.     Hicks.  Billy  \\'illiams  and  the 
I  bartender.  Charles  Dunlap.  who  weighed  320 
pounds,  were  killed.     Fourteen  negroes,  con- 
gregated about   the  place,  were  more  or  less 
seriously  injured,  and  considerable  damage  wps 
done  to  neighboring  property  by  the  force  of 
the  explosion. 


On  the  night  of  April  3.  1885.  during  a 
severe  thunder  storm,  lightning  struck  the 
magazine  of  the  Hazard  Powder  Company,  lo- 
cated on  Prospect  Hill.  The  explosion  that 
followed  shattered  many  windows  in  the  busi- 
ness district,  the  loss  on  plate  glass  having 
footed  up  over  $2,000. 


228 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY  AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


The  following  are  the  dates  of  some  of  the 
famous  fires  since  1880:  Hannibal  &  St.  Jo- 
seph elevator,  Sixth  and  Lafayette  streets,  Jan- 
uary 13,  1883;  tank  of  Standard  Oil  Company, 
September  10,  1883;  Court  House,  March  28, 
1885;  C.  D.  Smith's  wholesale  grocery  house, 
October  20,  1885;  New  Era  Exposition,  Sep- 
tember 15,  1889;  James  Casey's  sale  stables. 
Fourth  and  Messanie  streets,  November  10, 
1S89;  Hax  furniture  factory,  Seventh  and  An- 
gelique  streets,  December  13,  1890;  Kennard 
Grocer  Company,  Fourth  and  Angelique  streets, 
March  i,  1891  ;  Gregg's  elevator,  September 
23,  1 89 1  ;  Wyeth's  hardware  house,  Third 
street,  near  Felix  street,  November  2,  1891  ; 
Union  street  car  barns,  November  30,  1891  ; 
J.  B.  Brady  &  Company,  carpets,  January  13. 
1892;  R.  K.  Allen's  planing  mill.  Second  and 
Francis  streets,  April  6,   1892. 

Center  Block  and  Commercial  Block,  at 
Sixth  and  Edmond  streets,  burned  September 
25.  1893.  Center  Block  was  totally  destroyed. 
It  was  occupied  by  the  Townsend,  Wyatt  & 
Emery  Dry  Goods  Company.  North  of  it  stood 
the  Hoagland  Building,  occupied  by  the  Reg- 
nier  &  Shoup  Crockery  Company.  This  build- 
ing and  contents  were  also  destroyed.  The 
Commercial  Block  opposite  Center  Block  was 
partially  destroyed.  The  Carbry  Block,  on  the 
east,  was  also  damaged.  The  total  loss  w^as 
over  half  a  million  dollars.  The  fire  started 
on  the  top  floor  of  the  Townsend,  Wyatt  & 
Emery  Dry  Goods  Company's  store,  at  about 
9  o'clock  in  the  morning,  and  spread  rapidly. 
There  was  a  strong  breeze  and  the  entire  busi- 
ness portion  of  the  city  was  in  danger.  The 
department  could  make  no  headway  with  the 
fire  and  it  was  far  in  the  afternoon  before  they 
got  it  under  control.  The  burned  buildings 
have  been  replaced,  though  the  present  Center 
Block  (Hotel  Donovan)  is  not  so  high  by  one 
story  as  was  the  original. 


The  Bennett  Lumber  Company's  stock,  on 
Middleton  street,  near  St.  Joseph  avenue  and 
the  Lincoln  School  burned  July  24,  1894. 
Meierhoffer's  cooper  shop.  South  Fifth  street, 
was  totally  destroyed  August  27,  1894.  There 
was  a  fire  at  Joseph  Tullar's  livery  stable  in 
which  eight  horses  perished  November  24, 
1894.  The  Union  Depot  burned  on  the  night 
of  February  9,  1895.  The  St.  Joseph  pump 
factory,  on  Lake  boulevard,  burned  May   13, 

1895- 

The  old  freight  house  of  the  Hannibal  & 
St.  Joseph  Railroad,  located  at  Seventh  and 
Olive  streets,  used  by  the  Missouri  Pacific  road, 
was  destroyed  on  Saturday  morning,  November 
24,  1895.  The  office  was  the  only  portion  of 
the  building  saved.  This  building  was  one  of 
the  landmarks  of  St.  Joseph,  having  been  built 
by  the  Hannibal  &  St.  Joseph  road  in  i860. 

Saturday  night.  February  22,  1896,  the  ex- 
tensive feed  stables  and  livery  barn  of  Ducate 
&  Grantham,  on  Edmond  street,  between  Sev- 
enth and  Eighth,  were  destroyed  by  fire,  entail- 
ing a  loss  of  nearly  $50,000.  Sixty  horses  and 
many  fine  carriages  were  burned. 

The  building  at  the  corner  of  Ninth  and 
Francis  streets,  owned  by  the  Burnes  estate, 
was  burned  in  February  of  1898,  with  a  loss 
of  $20,000,  and  w^as  replaced  by  the  King  Hill 
Building. 

The  old  Pinger  packing  house,  Jules  and 
Levee  streets,  was  burned  December  5,   1899. 

On  March  17,  1901.  the  shoe  factory  of 
Noyes,  Norman  &  Company  burned,  with  a  loss 
of  $75,000.  Two  girls,  Miss  Louise  Blondeau 
and  Miss  Dora  Bates,  were  burned  to  death, 
and  Miss  Florence  Terry,  Mrs.  Addie  Berry, 
and  Miss  Anna  Gatewood  were  injured.  The 
factory  has   been   rebuilt. 

Gregg  Brothers'  elevator,  at  Eighth  and 
Oak  streets,  burned  in  October  of  1902;  loss 
$26,000. 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


229 


The  Hudnut  flouring  mills,  Fifth  and 
Monterey  streets,  burned  in  November  of  1902  ; 
loss  $60,000.     The  mills  have  been  rebuilt. 

On  December  23,  1902,  the  building  oc- 
cupied by  G.  W.  Chase  &  Son's  candy  factory, 
on  Second  street  near  Felix,  was  burned. 
Misses  Annie  May  Dakan,  Rosa  M.  Krauss, 
Mattie  E.  Leslie,  Sophia  L.  Mintos  and  Laura 
Crawford,  employees,  were  injured.  Miss 
Emma  Gleich  jumped  from  a  second-story  win- 


dow, but  was  not  hurt.    The  building  was  soon 
restored. 

The  most  costly  fire  in  recent  years  was  that 
which  destroyed  a  portion  of  the  Hammond 
packing  plant  on  Sunday,  July  5,  1903.  The 
loss  Avas  about  $2,000,000.  The  plant  was 
rebuilt  and  opened  for  business  on  May  20, 
1904.  It  is  not  positively  known  that  there 
were  any  fatalities,  though  one  life  is  supposed 
to  have  been  lost. 


CHAPTER  XXV. 


FAIRS  OF  FOUMER  DAYS. 

The  First  Effort,  When  the  Grounds  Were  Located  on  North  iith  Street — The 
Fairs  at  the  End  of  Frederick  Avenue  —  The  Elaborate  Effort  on  Lower 
Sixth  Street — The  Interstate  Exposition  at  Fowler's  Grove — The  Lights 
AND  Shadows  of  the  New  Era  Exposition — Various  Efforts  at  the  Fair 
Grounds  in  the  ''Nineties" — Horse  Race  Meetings — The  Annual  Events  at 
Lake  Contrary. 


Among  the  pioneers  of  Buchanan  County 
were  many  men  of  intelHgence,  who  early  real- 
ized the  importance  of  competitive  exhibitions 
of  native  products  in  advancing  the  spirit  of 
enterprise  and  consequent  improvement  of  all 
that  pertains  to  excellence  in  agricultural,  me- 
chanical and  domestic  pursuits.  In  1854  a 
fair  association  was  formed  with  Gen.  Robert 
Wilson  (afterward  United  States  Senator)  as 
president,  William  M.  Irvine  as  vice-president, 
Albe  M.  Saxton  as  treasurer  and  Wellington 
A.  Cunningham  as  secretary.  Grounds  were 
secured  in  what  is  now  the  northern  part  of 
the  city,  being  on  nth  street,  south  of  Grand 
avenue,  but  what  was  then  in  the  country.  This 
fair  was  the  first,  and  therefore  a  great  event 
for  the  entire  Platte  country.  Seven  hundred 
dollars  worth  of  gold  and  silver  plate  premiums 
were  offered  and  the  world  was  invited  to  com- 
pete. September  19,  20  and  21,  1854,  were 
the  days  and  the  Gazette  of  September  20, 
says : 

"Yesterday  was  a  proud  day  for  our  county. 
It  was  the  first  day  of  the  first  agricultural  fair 
ever  held  in  the  county.    There  was  a  large  con- 


course of  ladies  and  gentlemen  present.  Great 
interest  was  manifested.  The  St.  Joseph  band 
was  there  and  added  much  to  the  interest  of 
the  occasion.  Mr.  Silas  Woodson  delivered  a 
very  able  and  eloquent  address  on  the  subject 
of  agriculture,  and,  though  he  had  but  little 
time  for  preparation,  he  did  himself  and  the 
subject  great  credit." 

There  were  no  races,  but  there  was  lively 
competition  for  premiums  on  live  stock  and  the 
products  of  the  housewife  and  the  artisan,  as 
will  be  seen  by  the  following  excerpt  from  the 
list  of  awards : 

Best  specimen  mixed  jeans,  a  beautiful  article — 
premium  to  Mrs.  J.  P.  Bryan  of  Buchanan. 

Plaid   Hnsey — premium  to   same   lady,  $2. 

White  linsey — premium  to  William  Gartin  of 
Buchanan,  $2. 

Woolen  blankets,  premium  to  Mrs.  P.  J.  Bryan 
of  Buchanan,  $5. 

Satinet,  premium  to  N.  Buell  of  Buchanan,  $5. 

Cotton  quilt,  premium  to  Mrs.  Rosana  Porter  of 
Buchanan,  $10. 

There  were  premiums  for  needlework,  knit- 
ting, etc.  Also  for  the  best  two-horse  wagon, 
the  best  set  of  chairs  and  sofa  manufactured 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


231 


at  home,  best  sets  of  harness,  best  saddles,  best 
tinware,  best  flour,  best  buggy,  best  chickens, 
best  butter,  best  fruits  and  vegetables,  best  jell- 
ies and  preserves.  In  fact  it  was  a  genuine 
old-fashioned  fair,  which  was  well  attended  and 
which  pleased  the  people  so  well  that  it  was 
repeated  for  six  years  in  succession,  the  last 
time  in  the  autumn  of  i860. 


The  Civil  War  put  an  end' to  fairs  and  no 
effort  was  made  to  revive  them  until  July  of 
1867,  when  the  St.  Joseph  Agricultural  and 
Mechanical  Association  was  organized  with 
Gen.  Robert  Wilson  as  president.  Thomas  B. 
Weakley  as  vice-president.  Albe  M.  Saxton 
as  treasurer  and  Charles  B.  France  as  secre- 
tary. The  capital  stock  was  $15,000,  divided 
into  shares  of  $100  each,  and  the  money  was 
promptly  subscribed.  As  an  incidental  evi- 
dence of  the  political  condition  of  those  times, 
it  may  be  mentioned  that  the  records  of  this 
association  state  that  at  the  meeting  held  Au- 
gust 6,  1868,  the  oath  of  loyalty  was  signed 
by  all  the  directors,  which  oath  was  filed  in  the 
office  of  the  county  clerk.  A  20-acre  tract,  at 
the  head  of  Frederick  avenue,  on  which  had 
formerly  been  located  a  rope-walk,  was  pur- 
chased from  Bassett  &  Ensworth  for  $400  an 
acre.  The  fair  was  held  four  days,  beginning 
October  29.  1867.  and  was  pronounced  a  suc- 
cess. The  association  continued  with  various 
fortunes  until  the  end  of  1871.  its  last  fair  be- 
ing held  in  December  of  that  year.  The  grounds 
had  been  mortgaged  to  the  Life  Association  of 
America  and  were  sold  under  the  deed  of  trust 
at  the  request  of  the  stockholders.  "Goldsmith 
Maid"  trotted  a  mile  in  2:18^  on  the  last 
day  of  the  fair. 


No  fairs  were  held  at  St.  Joseph  in  1872. 


but  in  1873  a  grand  effort  was  made.  It  was 
no  longer  a  plain  fair,  but  an  exposition.  An 
association  was  formed  with  Capt.  George  Lyon 
as  president,  I.  G.  Kappner  as  treasurer  and 
Edward  Fleischer  as  secretary  and  general 
superintendent.  Grounds  were  leased  south- 
west of  the  city  limits,  and  elaborate  buildings 
erected.  Every  indication  pointed  to  success 
when  an  unexpected  calamity  befel.  On  the 
night  of  September  3.  1873.  a  tornado  struck 
the  exposition  grounds,  demolishing  the  main 
buildings  and  seriously  damaging  the  art  and 
power  halls.  The  contractor.  George  Herbst. 
was  financially  ruined  by  the  catastrophe.  The 
demolished  buildings  were  promptly  recon- 
structed and  the  exposition  opened  on  the  ap- 
pointed  day,    September   29. 

The  receipts  of  the  week  were  over  $28.- 
000,  and  but  for  the  tornado,  there  would  ha\-e 
been  a  handsome  net  financial  result.  In  1874 
a  new  corporation  was  formed,  assuming  the 
debts  on  the  buildings.  The  officers  of  this  as- 
sociation were:  James  N.  Burnes.  president; 
George  H.  Hall,  vice-president:  George  Lvon. 
superintendent  and  manager;  H.  R.  W.  Hart- 
wig,  treasurer,  and  J.  M.  Varnum,  secretary. 
The  exposition  opened  September  7.  1874.  clos. 
ing  September  12,  and  the  receipts  were  $22.- 
500.  There  was  a  half-mile  track  at  these 
grounds  and  there  was  good  racing  at  each  fair. 
In  1875,  with  Colonel  Burnes  as  president 
and  J.  T.  Imbrie  as  secretary,  the  receipts  were 
$20,000.  The  fourth  exposition  opened  Sep- 
tember 25,  1876,  with  Captain  Lyon  as  presi- 
dent and  J.  T.  Imbrie  as  secretary.  A  great 
j  feature  of  the  exposition  during  its  last  three 
'  years  was  the  old  settlers'  meeting.  The  as- 
sociation was  dissolved  at  the  close  of  the  effort 
of  1877. 

^  :}c  :(c 

In    1878    Buchanan    County   had    n.o    fair. 
However,  it  was  not  in  the  nature  c)f  things. 


232 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


that  this  should  continue  long'.  In  .Vugust  of 
1879  the  St.  Joseph  Exposition  Association 
was  organized  with  a  capital  stock  of  $12,000, 
divided  into  1,200  shares  of  $10  each.  The  in- 
corporators were  Samuel  M.  Na\-e,  John  Abell, 
Edward  Kuechle.  L.  G.  Munger  and  Dr.  J.  INI. 
D.  France.  The  first  officers  were :  Samuel  M. 
Nave,  president;  H.  R.  \V.  Hartwig,  vice-presi- 
dent ;  Edward  J.  Kuechle,  treasurer,  and  J.  T. 
Imbrie,  secretary.  A  tract  at  the  foot  of  nth 
street  and  extending  west  toward  Sixth,  known 
as  Fowler's  Grove,  was  leased  for  a  term  of 
10  years  and  suitable  buildings  and  a  race  track 
were  at  once  constructed.  The  grounds  were 
accessible  by  two  street  car  lines  and  also  by 
railroad  trains. 

The  first  fair  commenced  Monday,  Septem- 
ber 29,  1879,  and  continued  for  a  w-eek. 
Though  it  rained  every  day,  the  ven- 
ture w-as  considered  a  success  by  its 
projectors  and  from  that  time  until  the 
end  of  the  season  in  r888  a  fair  was 
held  each  year,  generally  during  the  first  part 
of  September.  Major  Hartwig  succeeded  Mr. 
Nave  as  president;  the  late  Charles  F.  Ernst 
succeeded  Mr.  Imbrie  as  secretary  in  1881  and 
continued  as  such  until  the  association  dissolved. 


Early  in  1889,  when  St.  Joseph  was  proud 
Avith  prosperity,  when  the  spirit  of  enterprise 
was  upon  the  people,  and  when  nothing  was  too 
big  to  undertake,  it  was  decided  to  have  an  ex- 
position, the  magnitude  and  novelty  of  which 
would  overshadow  not  only  all  previous  efiforts 
at  home,  but  elsewhere  in  the  West.  Sioux 
City  had  astonished  the  world  with  a  Corn 
Palace,  Denver  with  a  Mineral  Palace,  Fort 
Worth,  Texas,  with  a  Grass  Palace,  and  Ot- 
tumwa,  Iowa,  with  a  Coal  Palace,  but  St.  Jo- 
seph Avas  to  eclipse  all  of  these  with  a  New  Era 
exposition. 


The  genius  of  this  undertaking  was  H.  D. 
Perkey,  Avho  had  come  here  during  the  previous 
summer  and  who  had  but  recently  established 
steel  car  works  at  Brookdale.  Mr.  Perkey  had 
been  prominently  connected  with  the  Mineral 
Palace  at  Denver  and  was  therefore  in  a  posi- 
tion to  take  the  leadership  of  this  movement. 
On  April  4,  1889,  the  National  Railway,  Elec- 
tric and  Industrial  Exposition  Association  was 
formed,  with  a  capital  stock  of  $1,000,000.  The 
association  was  to  continue  for  one  year  and 
was  incorporated  under  the  laws  of  Colorados 
because  these  laws  did  not  require  so  large  a 
proportion  of  the  capital  stock  to  be  paid  up 
as  the  laws  of  Missouri.  It  was  to  have  a  na- 
tional scope  and  offices  were  to  be  established  in 
every  State  capital.  The  incorporators  were 
George  J.  Englehart,  John  S.  Lemon,  R.  E. 
Turner,  C.  B.  France,  Albe  M.  Saxton,  John 
Donovan,  Jr.,  R.  L.  McDonald,  D.  M.  Steele, 
George  W.  Samuels,  Louis  Hax,  William  E. 
Hosea.  D.  D.  Burnes,  H.  R.  W.  Hartwig,  S.  C. 
Woodson,  Francis  M.  Posegate,  Thomas  F. 
Van  Natta,  S.  A.  Walker,  A.  M.  Dougherty, 
W.  B.  Smith,  Harry  Keene,  J.  Francis  Smith, 
R.  T.  Davis  and  Winslow  Judson.  The  di- 
rectors were  John  S.  Emery,  Charles  A.  Shoup, 
W.  J.  Hobson,  Herschel  Bartlett.  Robert  Win- 
ning, J.  C.  Bonnell  and  H.  D.  Perkey. 

A  large  tract  of  land  east  of  the  city,  be- 
yond Wyatt  Park,  and  surrounding  the  steel 
car  company's  plant,  was  secured  and  prepared 
during  the  summer.  The  car  company  had  a 
building  80  by  960  feet,  which  was  used  as  a 
shop.  The  western  portion  of  this  building, 
which  was  two  stories  in  height,  w^as  made  the 
main  hall  of  the  exposition.  The  grounds  were 
dotted  with  beautiful  pavilions,  two  score  in 
number,  of  quaint  architecture.  'T<orn  is  King" 
Avas  the  motto  of  the  enterprise  and  this  idea 
was  carried  into  every  decoration.  The  pa- 
vilions and  buildings  were  decked  with  cereals 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


233 


in  various  colorings  and  design.  The  effect 
was  entrancing-,  especially  at  night,  when  the 
grounds  were  fully  illuminated  with  electric 
lights.  The  most  admired  of  the  pavilions 
were  the  ''Ladies'  Palace  of  Delights,'"  the  "Re- 
porters' Lodge,"  "Pomona's  Pavilion,"  "Cu- 
pid's Bower,"  "Pocahontas,"  "IMondamin,"  and 
"Horticultural  Hall."  Aside  from  the  build- 
ings there  were  artificial  lakes,  waterfalls,  an 
old  grist  mill  and  other  picturescjue  novelties. 
The  architectural  triumph,  however,  was  the 
amphitheatre,  which  had  a  seating  capacity  of 
1 1 ,000  and  an  arena  of  two  acres. 

The  exposition  opened  on  September  3. 
1889,  and  continued  to  October  3rd.  Bach's 
band,  a  famous  musical  organization  of  Mil- 
waukee, was  engaged  for  two  concerts  daily 
in  the  amphitheatre.  Capt.  Jack  Crawford,  the 
"Poet  Scout,"  was  director  of  entertainments 
in  the  arena,  and  he  had,  beside  a  band  of  cow- 
lx)ys,  several  hundred  Apache  Indians.  Gen. 
Russell  A.  Alger  of  ^Michigan,  formally  opened 
the  exposition.  Hon.  Jeremiah  Rusk,  Secre- 
tary of  Agriculture,  spoke  in  the  amphitheatre 
on  September  i8th  and  on  September  23rd 
Governor  Larrabee  of  Iowa  and  Governor 
Francis  of  Missouri  spoke  there  also. 

The  attendance  was  not  what  it  should  have 
been.  If  the  time  had  been  10  days  instead  of 
one  month  the  effort  might  have  met  with  better 
reward.  Mr.  Perkey  doubtless  had  some  good 
ideas,  but  they  did  not  fit  this  case,  and  there 
were,  consequently,  disappointments.  How- 
ever, the  difficulties  might  have  been  o\'ercome 
had  not  an  irreparable  disaster  visited  the  exr 
position.  On  Sunday  night.  September  15th, 
at  about  9  o'clock,  just  as  the  crowds  were 
leaving  the  grounds,  flames  burst  from  the  roof 
of  the  main  building.  The  fire  was  beyond 
control  from  the  start  and  the  entire  building, 
with  all  its  contents,  excepting  two  pianos  and 
a    carriage   in    which    General    Lafavette   had 


toured  Virginia,  were  destroyed.  The  loss  was 
$193,000,  upon  which  there  was  only  $50,000 
insurance.  One  life  was  lost.  Capt.  John 
Foster,  a  guard,  who  had  quarters  in  the  build- 
ing, near  where  the  fire  broke  out.  was  burned 
to  death.  The  fire  is  supposed  to  have  orig- 
inated from  defective  electric  wiring.  At  a 
meeting  of  the  Board  of  Trade  on  the  follow- 
ing day  it  was  decided  to  at  once  rebuild  Ma- 
chinery Hall,  but  this  was  not  done.  The  ex- 
position continued  until  October  3rd,  and  then 
there  was  a  benefit  week  for  employees. 

The  buildings  stood  until  the  following 
year  and  were  gradually  removed.  There  is 
nothing  left  to  mark  the  location  of  the  brilliant 
but  ill-fated  New  Era  Exposition,  and  it  lives 
to-day  only  as  a  painful  memory  with  those  who 
backed  it  heavily. 

There  was  no  race  track  connected 
with  the  New  Era  Exposition,  but  this 
class  of  sport  was  provided  by  the  Lake 
Shore  Company.  A  half-mile  track  was 
built  at  Lake  Contrary  and  a  grand- 
stand with  a  seating  capacity  of  3.000 
was  erected.  Major  H.  R.  W.  Hartwig  was 
president  of  the  company  and  Capt.  Charles  F. 
Ernst  secretary.  The  first  meeting  was  held 
September  17,  18,  19  and  20,  1889.  Several 
meetings  were  subsequently  held,  but  the  ven- 
tures were  not  profitable. 


During  the  years  1890  and  1891  there  were 
no  fairs  in  St.  Joseph.  In  the  summer  of  1892 
the  St.  Joseph  Fair  Association  was  formed, 
with  John  S.  Brittain  as  president  and  Homer 
J.  Kline  as  secretary.  The  capital  stock  was 
$50,000.  It  was  the  era  of  fast  harness  horses 
and  odd-shaped  tracks  and  people  excited  over 
the  performances  of  "Nancy  Hanks,"  "Mar- 
tha Wilkes"  and  the  other  record-breakers.  The 
association  catered  to  the  popular  enthusiasm 


234 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY  AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


by  building  a  mile  track  and  offering  purses  of 
$i,ooo  and  $500  to  attract  the  best  horses.  Al- 
though a  main  hall  was  built,  the  fair  was  sub- 
ordinated to  the  horse-race.  "Nancy  Hanks" 
and  "Martha  Wilkes"  were  both  secured  for 
exhibition  work,  and  the  best  stables  in  the 
country  were  represented  in  the  general  entries. 
September  13,  14.  15.  16  and  17  were  the 
days.  The  weather  was  perfect,  the  attendance 
was  large  and  the  turf  performances  were  of  a 
high  character.  On  the  first  day  "Jim  Wilkes" 
won  the  3-minute  trot,  $1,000  purse,  in  three 
straight  heats,  his  best  time  being  2:22>2. 
John  R.  Gentry  won  the  2  135  pace,  $500  purse, 
in  three  straight  heats,  his  best  time  being 
2  :i9>^.  On  the  second  day  "Lobasco,"  a  mag- 
nificent horse,  the  property  of  James  Ladd  of 
Beatrice,  Nebraska,  won  the  free-for-all  trot, 
$1,000.  Four  heats  were  trotted  and  "Lobas- 
co's"  best  time  was  2  :io->4.  He  was  driven  by 
McHenry  and  broke  a  great  record  Ijy  trotting 
the  fastest  mile  heat  that  had  been  done  up  to 
that  time  by  a  stallion  in  a  harness.  On  the 
third  day,  Thursday,  75,000  people  witnessed 
"Nancy  Hanks'  "  effort  to  break  her  record  of 
2  :o7.  The  wind  was  a  trifle  too  high,  and  the 
brave  little  mare  did  not  triumph,  but  she 
made  the  mile  in  2  :o7>2,  which  was  considered 
good  enough  by  the  crowed  and  the  enthusiasm 
\vas  unbounded,  both  "Nancy"  and  her  driver. 
Bud  Doble,  being  covered  with  floral  tributes. 
The  next  day  "Martha  Wilkes"  went  against 
her  record  of  2  :o8,  but  she,  too,  failed,  making 
the  mile  in  2:09^.  This  effort  was  none  the 
less  appreciated  by  the  immense  crowd,  how- 
ever, and  the  floral  decorations  were  as  profuse 
as  those  that  fell  to  Nancy  Hanks.  The  last 
day  was  given  u])  to  unfinished  harness  races 
and  jockey  efforts.  The  association  paid  every 
obligation  and  was  a  goodly  sum  ahead. 


In  1893  tl"^^  weather  was  bad  and  the 
World's  Fair  at  Chicago  had  drained  the  purses, 
so  that  there  w^as  some  loss  connected  with  the 
fair.  The  association  was  officered  as  during 
its  first  effort.  In  1894,  with  John  S.  Brittain 
as  president  and  Matt.  F.  Myers  as  secretary, 
a  third  effort  was  made  with  indifferent  success. 
The  fourth  fair,  with  John  S.  Brittain  as  presi- 
dent and  John  Combe  as  secretary,  was  a  finan- 
cial success.  In  1896,  with  James  N.  Burnes, 
Jr.,  as  president  and  John  Combe  as  secretary, 
the  attendance  was  small  owing  to  the  weather 
and  other  conditions.  The  association  then 
dissolved.  The  grounds  and  buildings  reverted 
to  the  owners,  from  whom  they  had  been  leased. 

Race  meetings  were  managed  since  then  by 
W.  T.  Van  Brunt  and  Palmer  Clark.  On  Oc- 
tober 14,  1897,  "Joe  Patchen"  went  a  mile  in 
2  :o3  and  "Star  Pointer"  covered  the  distance 
in  2  :o2.  In  1897  and  1898  Messrs,  Van  Brunt 
and  Clark  successfully  managed  "old  fashioned 
fairs." 


In  1889  the  street  railway  company  erected 
permanent  exposition  buildings  at  Lake  Con- 
trary and  since  that  time  there  have  been  an- 
nual events  there,  generally  in  September. 


In  the  spring  of  1902  the  St.  Joseph  Horse 
Show  Association  was  formed  by  W.  E.  Spratt, 
Dr.  Morris  W.  Steiner,  Jesse  Roberts  and 
others.  The  first  show  was  held  in  August  of 
1902  at  the  baseball  park  on  South  Sixth  street, 
and  the  second  one  was  held  in  July  of  1903  in 
an  especially  constructed  tent  and  is  counted 
as  the  most  brilliant  and  successful  event  of  its 
kind  ever  attempted  in   St.  Joseph. 


CHAPTER.  XXVI. 


SOCIETIES. 


Lodges,  Benevolent,  Social  A^^D  Trade  Organizations — Free  Masons,  Odd  Fellows 
AND  Others — The  Turn-Verein,  Maennerchor  and  Other  German-Speaking 
Societies — Turnfests  and  Saengerfests — Musical  Development  in  St.  Joseph 
— The  St.  Joseph  Philharmonia,  the  Mendelssohn  Society  and  Other  Similar 
Organizations — The    Red    Ribbon    Club. 


The  first  fraternal  organization  in  Buch- 
anan County  was  Sparta  Lodge  No.  46,  A.  F. 
&  A.  M.,  instituted  May  11,  1841,  under  a 
dispensation,  and  originally  called  Katzeel 
Lodge.  It  was  chartered  October  8,  1841. 
Eli  Hubbel  was  worshipful  master,  J.  Brown- 
son,  senior  warden,  and  J.  A.  Anthony,  junior 
warden.  R.  Duncan  was  treasurer,  T.  Way- 
mire,  secretary  and  G.  Selsil,  tyler.  This  lodge 
was  merged  into  DeWitt  Lodge,  organized 
in  St.  Joseph  under  a  dispensation  in  October, 

1845.  1"  1846  the  dispensation  was  surren- 
dered and  a  charter  granted,  dated  October  14, 

1846.  The  name  was  changed  to  St.  Joseph 
Lodge  and  the  number  78,  was  affixed  by  the 
grand  secretary.  Sinclair  K.  Miller  was  wor- 
shipful master,  1845  to  1850.  This  lodge  is 
still  in  existence. 

The  following  are  the  other  Masonic  bodies 
now  existing  in  St.  Joseph  as  they  appear  in 
order  in  the  Masonic  directory :  Zeredatha 
Lodge,  No.  189,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  chartered 
May  28.  1859;  Charity  Lodge,  No.  331,  A.  F. 
&  A.  M.,  chartered  October  13,  1870;  King 
Hill  Lodge,  No.  376,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  chartered 


October  13,  1870;  St.  Joseph  Chapter,  No.  14, 
R.  A.  M.,  chartered  May  23,  1849;  Mitchell 
Chapter,  No.  89,  R.  A.  M.,  chartered  October 
5,  1876;  St.  Joseph  Council,  No.  9,  R.  &  S. 
M.,  chartered  October  6,  1871  ;  St.  Joseph 
Commandery,  No.  4,  K.  T.,  chartered  October 
5,  1875;  Hugh  de  Payens  Commandery,  No. 
51,  K.  T..  chartered  May  10,  1887;  Moila 
Temple,  A.  A.  O.  N.  M.  S.,  organized  De- 
cember 17,  1887;  Moila  Court,  Daughters  of 
Isis,  established  October  14,  1896;  St.  Joseph 
Chapter,  No.  198,  O.  E.  S.,  chartered  May  5, 
1890;  Radiant  Chapter,  No.  88,  O.  E.  S., 
chartered  October  i,  1897;  King  Hill  Chapter, 
No.  55,  O.  E.  S.,  chartered  May  20,  1896. 
There  are  also  Masonic  lodges  at  Saxton,  Eas- 
ton,  Agency,  DeKalb  and  Rushville. 

The  office  of  grand  master  of  the  State  has 
been  held  by  the  following  residents  of  St. 
Joseph :  William  R.  Penick,  Joseph  S. 
Browne,  James  W.  Boyd  and  Harry  Keene. 

The  office  of  grand  high  priest  of  the  Royal 
Arch  Chapter  has  been  held  by  William  R. 
Penick,  Samuel  Russell  and  Joseph  S.  Browne. 

The  office  of  most  illustrious  grand  master 


236 


?lISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


of  the  Council  of  Royal  and  Select  Masters 
has  been  held  by  Joseph  S.  Browne,  William 
R.  Penick,  William  G.  Hall,  W.  A.  Lord,  Ul- 
rich  Schneider  and  E.  F.  Hartzell. 

The  office  of  grand  commander  of  the 
Knights  Templar  has  been  held  by  William 
G.  Hall  and  Joseph  S.  Browne. 

^  ^  ^ 

The  Odd  Fellows  are  a  close  second  to  the 
Masons  in  St.  Joseph  in  point  of  age.     King 
Hill  Lodge,  No.   19,  was  instituted  on  Octo- 
ber 15,  1846,  at  the  residence  of  Joseph  Hull, 
on  the  west  side  of  Main  street,  between  Fran- 
cis and  Jules  streets.     The  charter  members 
were  D.  B.  Welding,  Eli  Hewitt,  S.  L.  Leon- 
ard. Eli  Bowman,  C.  F.  Emery  and  Dr.  J.  H. 
Crane.     In   1858  this  lodge  erected  a  three- 
story  building,   facing  west,  at  the  southeast 
corner  of  Fifth  and  Felix  streets.     The  lower 
floor     was     for     business,     the     second     for 
lodge  rooms  and  on  the  third  floor  there  was 
an    auditorium.     This    was    for    some    years 
the     first-class     theatre     of     the     city     and 
among      other      notables,       Edwin      Forrest 
played     there.        At     one     time     there     was 
a  stock  company  connected  with  the  theatre. 
The  hall  was  also  used  for  social  and  political 
gatherings.     During  the  war  the  property  was 
lost  by  the  provisions  of  a  mortgage  and  was 
acquired   by   J.    W.    Bailey   and    William    R. 
Penick.      When   it   was   destroyed   by   fire,   as 
mentioned  in  a  foregoing  chapter,  in  January 
of  1879,  it  was  occupied  by  J.  W.  Bailey  & 
Compa-ny,   with  a   large   dry   goods  business. 
In  1880,  Mr.  Bailey,  Isaac  Curd,  J.  B.  Brady 
and  Louis  Hax  built  the  block  facing  Felix 
street,   which  extends   from  Fifth  street  east 
to  the  alley. 

Humboldt  Lodge,  No.  130,  was  instituted 
April  19.  1859.  This  lodge  works  in  German. 
Eclipse  Lodge,  No.   143,  was  instituted  April 


18,  i860.  Enterprise  Lodge,  No.  232,  was  in- 
stituted April  19,  1870.  During  the  summer 
of  1898  this  lodge  purchased  the  large  build- 
ing at  Seventh  and  Charles  streets,  which  had 
been  erected  by  the  St.  Joseph  Turn-Verein 
and  which  had  been  lost  by  that  association. 
St.  Joseph  Lodge,  No.  432,  was  instituted  in 
1883;  Invincible  Lodge,  No.  470,  in  1893,  and 
the  South  Park  Lodge  in  1898. 

There  have  been  two  sessions  of  the  State 
Grand  Lodge  in  St.  Joseph — the  53rd  session, 
held  in  1890,  and  the  60th  session,  held  in 
1898.  The  office  of  grand  master  of  the  State 
was  held  in  1861  by  Col.  John  Doniphan,  who, 
however,  lived  at  Weston  at  that  time ;  in  1869, 
by  R.  J.  S.  Wise,  of  St.  Joseph;  in  1874,  by 
L.  T.  Minturn,  of  Amazonia,  who  held  his 
membership  in  St.  Joseph,  and  in  1894,  by  R. 
M.  Abercrombie,  of  St.  Joseph. 

There  are  five  Rebekah  lodges:  Evening 
Star,  No.  5,  instituted  in  1892;  Enterprise,  No. 
140,  1894;  Humboldt,,  No.  146,  1894;  Eclipse, 
No.  157,  1894;  King  Hill,  No.  219,  1896. 
There  is  also  a  branch  of  the  Patriarchs  Mili- 
tant, Canton  St.  Joseph,  No.  3,  instituted  in 
1879.  Of  the  encampment  degree  there  are 
two  branches,  Hesperian  Encampment,  No. 
8,  and  St.  Joseph  Encampment,  No.  51.  R. 
M.  Abercrombie  has  held  the  office  of  grand 
patriarch  of  the  State  Encar-.i,ment. 


*     * 


The  German-Americans  have  been  promi- 
nently identified  with  the  history  and  develop- 
ment of  St.  Joseph  from  an  early  day.  The 
Turn-Verein,  one  of  the  most  active  agents  in 
this  work,  was  formed  May  23,  1855,  with 
Charles  Zipf  as  first  speaker,  Charles  Jessen 
as  second  speaker,  Charles  Albrecht  as  secre- 
tary A.  Althaus  as  master  of  property  and 
Peter  Walter  as  treasurer.  The  corner-stone 
of  the  old  "Turnhalle"   was   laid   March   29, 


THE    FIRST    TURNER    HALL 

(Known  as  the  "Cradle  of  Liberty") 


ROSENBLATT'S    BAND    IN    1868 

Those  standing,  left  to  right — VVendelin  Wagner,  James  Blackford,  George  H.  Roll,  Herman  Rosenblatt, 

Edmund  Hartman,  Engelbert  Wagner. 
Those  sitting,  left  to  right— William  Berndt,  Carl  Winkler  (director),  William  Grill,  Franz  Lorenz. 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


239 


i860,  and  the  building  was  occupied  during 
the  following  August.  When  the  Ci\'il  W^ar 
Ijroke  out,  the  Turners  stanchly  avowed  loy- 
alty to  the  Union,  their  hall  was  dubbed  the 
"cradle  of  liberty"  and  the  stars  and  stripes 
boldly  flung  to  the  breezes.  When  the  mob 
that  had  taken  the  flag  from  the  Post  Oflice  'de- 
clared that  these  colors  should  also  be  torn 
from  the  staff,  two  Turners,  Valentine  Moos- 
man  and  J.  H.  Schaefer,  went  upon  the  roof 
in  the  face  of  danger,  guarded  by  Robert 
Bradshaw  with  a  drawn  pistol  and  Charles 
Mast  with  a  rifle,  lowered  the  flag  and  brought 
it  safely  into  the  building.  Moosman  then 
tore  down  a  Confederate  flag  that  had  been 
hoisted  on  Market  square.  '  Among  the  St. 
Joseph  Turners  who  served  in  the  war  were 
the  following:  W.  Baumer  went  to  Omaha 
and  was  made  colonel  of  the  First  Regiment, 
Nebraska  Infantry ;  Herman  Lund  went  to 
Quincy  and  rose  to  the  rank  of  captain ; 
Charles  F.  Ernst  and  Charles  Springer  were 
in  the  12th  Regiment,  Missouri  Cavalry,  the 
former  as  captain  and  the  latter  as  lieutenant. 
Charles  Weideman  died  from  wounds  re- 
ceived at  the  battle  of  Lexington,  while  Louis 
Graffenstein  and  Charles  Ludi  were  killed  at 
Missouri  City. 

The  St.  Joseph  Turn-Verein  was  affiliated 
with  the  St.  Louis  Turn-Bezirk  until  May  i, 
1866,  when  the  Kan.sas  Turn-Bezirk  was 
formed.  The  first  turnfest  of  this  federation 
was  held  in  this  city  October  1-3,  1866.  Leav- 
enworth, Kansas  City,  Atchison,  Wyandotte 
Lawrence,  Brunswick,  Junction  City  and  Fort 
Scott  were  represented. 

In  1870  ground  was  purchased  at  the 
northeast  corner  of  Eighth  and  Sylvanie  streets 
for  the  purpose  of  building  a  new  hall,  and  the 
corner-stone  was  laid.  This  project  was 
abandoned,  however,  and  the  ground  sold. 
A   second   turnfest  of   the   Kansas   Turn- 


Bezirk  was  held  in  St.  Joseph  August  6-9, 
1870.  In  1885  the  Missouri  Valley  Turn-Be- 
zirk was  formed  and  the  first  turnfest  of  the 
new  federation  was  held  here  August  14-17, 
1886. 

A  new  hall  was  built  upon  the  site  of  the 
"cradle  of  liberty,"  at  Seventh  and  Charles 
streets,  in  the  summer  of  1890.  The  cornerstone 
was  laid  with  a  parade  and  appropri-ate  cere- 
monies on  Sunday,  June  8,  1890,  and  the  ded- 
ication took  place  October  26,  1890.  The  new 
building  cost  $50,000.  In  August  of  1897  the 
property  was  sold  under  a  deed  of  trust  and 
purchased  by  the  creditors.  During  the  sum- 
mer of  1898  the  property  was  purchased  by 
Enterprise  Lodge  of  Odd  Fellows.  For  sev- 
eral years  the  Turn-Verein  was  without  a  home, 
but  in  1903  the  western  portion  of  the  build- 
ing containing  the  gymnasium  and  auditorium, 
was  purchased  from  the  Odd  Fellows  for 
$15,000. 

^         ;);         ^  ' 

Since  the  earliest  times  there  has  been  a 
tendency  in  St.  Joseph  toward  high-class  mu- 
sic. Rosenblatt's  brass  band,  which  was 
formed  by  Herman  Rosenblatt  in  1854,  was 
welcomed  and  given  all  possible  encourage- 
ment by  the  people  of  those  days,  and  for  many 
years  this  organization  was  famous  throughout 
the  West.  But  the  brass  band  was  not  com- 
mensurate. There  were  many  excellent  voices 
and  much  latent  musical  talent,  which  craved 
development  and  expansion.  In  1857  Prof. 
Otto  Behr  was  induced  to  come  to  St.  Joseph. 
To  this  gentleman  is  due  the  credit  of  erect- 
ing and  maintaining  a  standard  of  excellence 
which  will  be  regarded  with  admiration  and 
reverence  for  years  to  come.  Professor  Behr 
was  born  in  Germany  and  educated  at  Leipsic. 
He  located  in  New  York  some  years  before 
coming  to  St.  Joseph.  In  the  summer  of  1898 
he  returned  to  his  old  home,  aluK^st  blind  and 


240 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


light  in  purse,  after  spending  the  best  part  of 
his  hfe  here.  He  had  met  with  financial  re- 
verses before  his  eyes  began  to  dim.  But  he 
is  none  the  less  esteemed  and  revered  in  St. 
Joseph,  where  he  wrought  so  nobly  and  so 
successfully  for  his  art. 

In  1866  the  St.  Joseph  Philharmonia  was 
organized  and  placed  under  the  direction  of 
Professor  Behr.  This  society  embraced  the 
best  instrumental  and  vocal  talent  of  the  city, 
and  there  was  also  a  large  list  of  honorary 
and  contributing  members.  Five  or  six  grand 
concerts  were  generally  given  each  season.  The 
Philharmonia  existed  for  about  to  years. 

The  St.  Joseph  Maennerchor  was  another 
successful  musical  society.  It  was  organized 
May  22,  1868,  and  the  membership  was  mostly 
German-American.  This  society  was  affiliated 
with  the  Pioneer  Saengerbund,  and  two  of 
the  annual  song  festivals  of  the  federation  were 
held  in  St.  Joseph.  The  first  saengerfest  began 
on  April  30,  1873,  continuing  several  days, 
and  formed  a  part  of  the  general  festival  pro- 
gram in  honor  of  the  completion  of  the  bridge. 
The  second  was  held  in  June  of  1883.  Maen- 
nerchor Hall  was  on  the  third  floor  of  the 
McLaughlin  Building,  at  Third  and  Felix 
streets.  Among  those  who  served  as  musical 
directors  were  Prof.  Felix  B.  Canfield,  Pro- 
fessor Kaiser  and  Prof.  William  Plato.  The 
Maennerchor  merged  into  the  Turn-Verein  in 
1888. 

Professor's  Behr's  second  successful  effort 
to  organize  the  talent  for  the  exemplification 
of  high-class  music  was  represented  in  the 
Mendelssohn  musical  organization,  which  was 
formed  in  1882.  modeled  after  the  Philharmo- 
nia, and  which  existed  until  1891.  Concerts 
were  given  in  the  Court  House,  where  a  suit- 
able auditorium  had  been  prepared,  until  the 
destruction  of  that  building  by  fire,  in  March 
of  1885.     Various  halls  were  then  used  unti\ 


tlie  completion  of  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  auditorium. 
Other  musical  organizations  of  the  past 
were  the  Arion,  the  Apollo.  Harmonia  and 
Concordia.  During  1900-03,  the  St.  Joseph 
Choral  Society  flourished  under  the  direction 
of  Prof.  Ben.  Stanley. 

*        :i<        * 

A  famous  local  organization  in  its  day 
was  the  Red  Ribbon  Reform  Club,  which  was 
organized  December  t6,  1877,  by  J.  C.  Bonte- 
cue,  a  temperance  revivalist.  There  was  a 
membership  of  1,200.  The  club  occupied 
rooms  in  Tootle's  Opera  House  until  May, 
1878,  when  the  upper  portion  of  the  three-story 
building  at  the  southeast  corner  of  Second  and 
Francis  streets  was  fitted  up,  with  a  library, 
stage,  etc.  Theatrical  and  literary  entertain- 
ments were  here  given.  The  place  is  yet  known 
as  Red  Ribbon  Hall.  The  organization  flour- 
ished for  about  four  years.  The  first  officers 
of  the  club  were  :  Mordecai  Oliver,  president ; 
C.  B.  Wilkinson,  first  vice-president;  Thomas 
F.  Ryan,  second  vice-president ;  William  H. 
Wood,  third  vice-president ;  James  C.  Cozine, 
secretary;  E.  A.  Smith,  financial  secretary;  T. 
V\an  Natta,  treasurer;  J.  A.  Winsch,  first  mar- 
shal ;  R.  \.   Craig,  second  marshal ;  Thomas 

J.  Huyler,  sergeant-at-arms. 

*     *     * 

The  St.  Joseph  Mechanical  and  Scientific 
Library  Association  was  incorporated  Febru- 
ary 27,  1886.  George  R.  Mann  was  president 
and  Charles  A.  ■  Pfeiffer  secretary  and  treas- 
urer. Charles  Nowland  and  F.  W.  Gensen 
were  also  members.  A  large  number  of  pub- 
lic documents  which  had  been  collected  were 
turned  over  to  the  Free  Public  Library  in  1892. 

=1:  ;!:  * 

Of  the  labor  organizations  in  the  city.  Ty- 
pographical Union  No.  40  is  the  oldest.  It  was 
organized  in  June  of  1859,  and  has  had  a  con- 
tinuous existence. 


CHAPTER  XXVII. 


INDUSTRIES,  PAST  AND  PRESENT. 

Hemp  Raising,  Milling  and  Pork  Packing — Breweries — The  First  Foundry — Furni- 
ture Factory — The  Native  Lumber  Industry  —  Distilleries  —  The  Starch 
Factory — The  Stove  Works,  Tobacco  Factory  and  Steel  Car  Works — Other 
Industries  That  Flourished  and  Faded — The  Old-Time  Hotels  of  St.  Ioseph. 


In  i'e\ie\ving  the  industries  of  the  past  it 
will  not  he  improper  to  speak  of  hemp  tirst, 
because  of  the  prominence  of  this  product  in 
the  early  days.  Hemp  was  the  great  staple 
before  the  war.  The  late  Dr.  Silas  McDonald 
of  St.  Joseph  claimed  the  distinctit^n  of  ha\  ing 
produced  the  first  crop  of  hemp  in  the  Platte 
Purchase.  In  1840  he  procured  seed  from  Clay 
County,  and  he  sold  the  yield  to  Charles  A. 
Perry,  who  was  then  located  at  Weston,  at  $80 
per  ton.  Nothing  raised  in  the  country,  either 
before  its  introduction  or  since  its  abandonment, 
paid  so  well  as  hemp.  The  average  price  for 
years  was  $100  per  ton,  and  the  average  yield 
per  acre  800  pounds.  Aside  from  the  remuner- 
ative character  of  the  crop,  many  advantages 
contributed  to  its  popularity.  P)eing  invarial^ly 
cut  before  it  went  to  seed,  it  did  not,  as  with 
other  crops,  impoverish  the  soil ;  indeed,  it  was 
a  generally  admitted  fact  that  from  the  decom- 
position of  the  foliage,  old  hemp  land,  instead 
of  deteriorating  in  quality  from  constant  crop- 
ping, steadily  improved,  and  1,000  pounds 
to  the  acre  on  such  lands  was  no  uncommon 
yield.  Much  of  the  hemp  was  manufactured 
into  rope,  but  the  most  of  it  was  shipped  in 

13 


bales  to  St.  Louis  and  Louis\ille.  The  de- 
cline of  the  hemp-raising  industry  was  due  to 
several  causes.  Hemp  breaking  was  hard  work 
and  the  abolition  of  slavery  made  it  difficult  to 
secure  labor  for  this.  Hemp  rope  was  formerly 
used  as  ties  for  cotton  bales  and  for  making  sails 
for  ships.  The  in\-ention  of  the  hoop-iron  cot- 
ton tie.  the  sub.stitution  of  steam  for  sails  o]i 
vessels  and  the  introduction  of  cheaper  fibers 
for  rope  and  twine,  took  hemp  from  the  head  of 

the  list  of  our  staples. 

^     ^     ^ 

Milling  was  the  pioneer  industry,  and  the 
primitive  mill  generally  formed  the  nucleus  of 
a  settlement.  The  earh'  mills  of  Buchanan 
County  were  located  along  the  streams,  water 
furnishing  the  motive  power.  Going  to  mill  in 
those  days,  when  there  were  no  roads,  no 
bridges,  no  ferries,  and  scarcely  any  conven- 
ience for  traveling,  was  no  small  task,  where 
so  many  streams  were  to  be  crossed,  and  such 
a  trip  was  often  attended  with  great  danger 
when  the  streams  were  swollen.  Generally  the 
grain  was  packed  on  horses  to  the  mill.  In 
cases  where  the  mill  was  operated  by  horse 
power,  each  patron  furnished  his  own  power. 


242 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


In  1838,  Harrison  Whetson  built  a  mill 
on  the  Platte  River,  in  Platte  township,  and 
operated  it  until  1843,  when  it  was  bought  by 
John  Bretz,  who  held  it  until  it  was  consumed 
by- fire  on  February  28,  1845.  It  was  at  once 
rebuilt  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river  in  Jack- 
son township.  In  1857  the  mill  passed  into 
the  hands  of  William  M.  Matney.  In  1867  it 
was  destroyed  by  fire  and  rebuilt,  and  still 
stands,  being  operated  yet  by  Mr.  Matney  and 
known  as  Matney's  mill. 

It  is  generally  conceded  that  the  first  mill 
in  Crawford  townsliip  was  Clowser's,  operated 
by  John  Clowser.  The  site  of  this  mill  was  two 
miles  east  of  Halleck.  It  was  destroyed  by  a 
great  freshet  in  1858.  Dr.  Silas  McDonald 
erected  the  first  steam  mill  in  the  township, 
which  has  long  since  passed  out  of  existence. 
Edward  M.  Davidson  also  built  a  steam  saw  and 
grist  mill,  which  was  destroyed  by  fire  in  1868, 
after  having  been  operated  for  17  years.  In 
1856  Brown  &  McClanahan  built  a  steam  saw- 
mill north  of  Halleck.  This  was  converted  into 
a  grist  mill  by  Daniel  Clowser,  and  in  1865 
passed  to  Faucett  Ferrill,  who  made  a  famous 
flouring  mill  of  it.  It  was  destroyed  by  fire  in 
1 88 1.  Nathan  Turner  built  a  mill  in  1838  in 
the  same  neighborhood,  but  it  was  not  suc- 
cessful. 

Stephen  Field  built  the  first  mill  in  Bloom- 
ington  township  in  1838.  It  stood  three  miles 
from  Dekalb  and  was  operated  by  horse  power. 
Later  on  John  T.  Martin  built  a  water-power 
mill  on  Sugar  Creek,  which  was  afterwards 
converted  into  a  steam  mill  and  operated  by 
Philip  Guerner,  who  also  carded  wool.  The 
building  is  still  in  existence.  In  i860  J.  H. 
and  B.  Sampson  erected  a  mill  on  Contrary 
Creek,  two  miles  northeast  of  DeKalb.  A 
sawmill  was  connected  therewith.  The  mill  is 
still  in  existence,  but  not  in  operation. 

The  first  mill  in  Rush  township  was  built 


by  Flannery  &  Son  on  Lost  Creek,  which  stream 
supplied  power.  Nothing  remains  of  this  mill, 
nor  of  a  small  cornmill  and  distillery  operated 
during  the  same  period  by  Sylvester  Hays, 
better  known  in  those  days  as  "Boss."  M.  H. 
and  S.  F.  Floyd  built  a  good  steam  mill  at  Rush- 
ville  in  1868,  which  burned  in  1873.  The  Mc- 
Farland  mill  at  Rushville  was  built  in  1875. 

Agency  township  had  a  mill  as  early  as 
1838.  It  was  located  two  miles  above  Agency 
Ford,  on  the  Platte  River,  and  was  known  as 
Dixon's  mill,  its  builders  being  Benjamin  and 
James  Dixon  and  James  Gilmore.  It  ceased 
to  exist  many  years  ago.  In  1864  Smith 
Brothers  built  a  mill  at  Agency  which  after- 
wards passed  into  the  hands  of  Boone  &  Yates, 
and  is  still  in  operation.  V.  C.  Cooley  built 
a  mill  on  the  Platte  River,  three  miles  southeast 
of  Agency,  which  stood  in  1880,  but  has  since 
disappeared. 

Washington  township  had  a  mill  on  Con- 
trary Creek  in  1840,  owned  by  Waymire  &  Gil- 
more,  of  which  nothing  remains.  Isaac  Way- 
mire owned  a  mill  on  One  Hundred  and  Two 
River  in  the  early  days,  where  Corby's  mill 
now  stands.  The  old  Campbell  mill  on  the 
Platte  River  was  purchased  by  Charles  Czech 
in  1877  and  remodeled.  The  proprietor  failed 
several  years  ago  and  the  mill  was  afterward 
destroyed  by  fire.  Corby's  mill,  at  the  crossing 
of  One  Hundred  and  Two  River,  east  of  the 
city,  is  the  only  one  of  the  old  water  mills  that 
remains  as  it  was  built.  It  was  erected  in  1852 
by  the  late  John  Corby  at  a  heavy  expense. 
It  had  been  an  early  ambition  with  ]\Ir.  Corby 
to  be  the  owner  of  a  good  mill,  such  as  he 
had  seen  in  Ireland  when  a  lad,  where  the  pros- 
perous miller  was  a  man  of  high  reputation  in 
the  community.  WHien  Mr.  Corby  had  ac- 
cumulated a  large  fortune  in  other  lines,  he 
set  about  to  realize  the  dream  of  his  youth. 
The  mill  was  the  best  of  its  kind  in  the  West, 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


243 


but  it  never  paid,  owing  to  its  location  and  dis- 
tance from  the  city.  It  is  now  owned  by  Daniel 
Ozenberger,  who  operates  it  occasionally.  Dr. 
Keedy  built  a  mill  south  of  the  city  in  the 
earliest  days,  mention  of  which  is  made  in  a 
previous  chapter. 

Joseph    Robidoux    built    a    water    mill    on 
Blacksnake  Creek  in  1841.  the  timbers  of  which 
are  yet  to  be  seen  near  the  mouth  of  Black- 
snake  sewer.     Creal  &  Wildbahn   owned  the 
mill  afterward.     James  Cargill  built  a  steam 
flouring-  mill  near  the  site  of  the  Central  Medi- 
cal College,  north  of  the  Custom  House,  late 
in  the  "forties,"  which  was  burned  after  the 
war.     Dillon's  sawmill,  built  in  1855,  was  lo- 
cated on   Blacksnake   Creek   near  the  present 
site  of  the  City  Workhouse.     John  Fairclough 
built   the   Star   mills   at   Second   and   Francis 
streets  in  1864;  the  plant  was  burned  in  1872. 
The  Excelsior  mills,  at  Second  and  Franklin 
streets,  were  built  in  1865  by  Hauck  Brothers, 
and  are  still  operated  by  members  of  that  fam- 
ily.    Northcutt  &  Anthony  built  the  City  mills, 
near  Third  and  Louis  streets,  in  i860.     Will- 
iam  Ridenbaugh   and   I.   Van  Riley  operated 
tliem  in  1868.     In  1869  R.  T.  Davis  purchased 
]\Ir.   Ridenbaugh's  interest  and  afterward  be- 
came sole  proprietor.     In  1882-83  ^^^-  Davis 
and  Robert  H.  Faucett  built  what  is  now  the 
R.    T.    Davis    mill,    at    Second   and    Edmond 
streets.     At  the  completion  of  this  plant  the 
City  mills  were  abandoned.     The  Faucett  mill, 
at   Seventh   and   Olive   streets,   now   operated 
by  the  R.  H.  Faucett  Mill  Company,  was  built 
on  a  small  scale  by  Capt.  F.  B.  Kercheval  in 
1867-68.     In  1 88 1  it  was  known  as  the  Eagle 
mill.     In  1888  it  was  remodeled  and  amplified 
to  its  present  capacity.     The  mill  at  loth  and 
Jackson  streets  was  built  in  1883  and  was  first 
called  -the  Model  mill.     It  is  now  used  as  a 
brewery  by  the  Star  Brewing  Company.     Li 
1890-94  Stephen  J.  Burns  and  others  operated 


an  oatmeal  and  hominy  mill  in  what  was  form- 
erly the  Buell  woolen  mill,  on  Third  street, 
north  of  Michel. 


The  Buell  woolen  mills,  above  referred  to, 
were  started  in  i860  by  Norman  Buell  and 
Georg-e  Buell,  who  operated  a  woolen  factory 
on  North  Third  street.  Buell  &  Dixon  operated 
a  flouring  mill  and  woolen  factory  on  Second 
street,  between  Isidore  and  Antoine.  The  same 
firm  operated  a  general  store  at  the  corner  of 
Second'  and  Antoine  streets.  Norman  Buell 
was  the  father  of  the  late  George  Buell,  who 
was  for  many  years  the  head  of  the  woolen 
mills.  The  mills  on  Third  street  were  en- 
larged and  operated  until  1882,  when  they  were 
abandoned  for  the  present  large  establishment 
at  the  foot  of  nth  street,  which  was  occupied 

in    1883. 

*     *     * 

Pork  packing  was  a  prominent  industry  in 
St.  Joseph  as  early  as  1846,  when  John  Corby 
was  engaged  in  the  business.  Fotheringham'd 
City  Directory  for  1861  shows  the  following 
pork  packers ;  Carter  Hughes  &  Company. 
Third  street;  James  Hamilton,  Jr.,  Edmond 
street,  between  Third  and  Fourth  streets;  Fin- 
ger &  Hauck,  Grand  avenue.  The  last  named 
firm  also  manufactured  soap  and  candles  The 
firm  was  composed  of  David  Linger  and  Jacob 
Hauck.  Captain  Posegate's  Directory  of  1875 
shows  the  following:  Hax  &  Brother  (Fred 
and  John  P. ) ,  Fourth  and  Mary  streets ; 
Krug  &  Hax,  Fourth  and  Monterey;  D.  Fin- 
ger &  Company,  Jules  and  Levee  streets,  and 
the  Valley  Packing  Company.  In  1878  the 
E.  O.  Smith  Packing  Company  was  in  operation 
in  the  building-  afterward  used  for  the  glucose 
works.  Connett  Brothers  built  a  house  east 
of  the  Smith  plant  in  1881,  and  operated  it  for 
about   10  years.     Hax  Brothers  retired  from 


244 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


business  in  1890,  and  their  Ijuildings  are  how 
used  as  warehouses  and  for  manufacturino^  pur- 
poses. 

At  the  present  time  there  are  six  meat  pack- 
ing houses  in  operation — one  in  St.  Joseph  and 
five  at  the  Stock  Yards  south  of  the  city.  That 
operated  in  the  city  is  owned  by  the  Krug 
Packing  Companpy.  At  the  Stock  Yards  there 
are  five  pkmts,  of  which,  those  of  S\\  ift  &  Com- 
pany, Nelson  Morris  and  Hammond  compare 
with  the  most  extensive  in  tlie  country. 

The  (le\elopment  of  St.  Josepli  as  a  live 
stock  market  and  meat  packing  ceiiter  is  due 
mainly  to  the  efforts  of  John  Dono\'an.  Jr. 
Prior  to  1887  the  Hannibal  &  St.  Joseph  Rail- 
proad  Company  had  maintained  stock  yards  on 
Walnut  street,  between  Sixth  and  1  ith  streets. 
In  that  year  the  St.  Joseph  Stock  Yards  Com- 
pany was  organized  by  Charles  B.  France, 
Samuel  AI.  Nave,  Henry  Krug,  Jr.,  E.  Lind- 
say, John  Donovan,  Jr.,  J.  D.  McNeely,  M.  A. 
Lowe  and  C.  M.  Carter.  There  were  440  acres 
in  the  original  tract  and  72  acres  were  subse- 
quently acquired.  Of  this  about  80  acres  have 
been  given  as  bonuses  to  packers  wIkj  have 
erected  plants.  In  1888  the  company  erected 
a  pork  packing  plant,  which  was  leased  to  Al- 
lerton  &  Company,  of  Chicago.  This  house  is 
now  part  of  the  Swift  plant.  In  1890  the  com- 
pany erected  the  beef  packing  plant  and  leased 
it  to  the  Anchor  Packing  Companx'.  This  is 
now    used   as   a    rendering  establishment. 

About  three  years  after  the  yards  had  been 
established,  the  company  was  reorganized  as 
the  St.  Joseph  Stock  Yards  &  Terminal  Com- 
pany and  the  ca]Mtal  stock  was  increased  to 
$1,000,000.  In  J 892  the  company  built  a  third 
house,  which  was  leased  to  the  Moran  Pack- 
ing Company. 

The  Moran  company  failed  in  1895,  and 
the  packing  plant  l)ecame  a  subject  of  litigation 


for  over  two  years,  when  possession  was  re- 
gained by  the  Stock  Yards  Company.  In  the 
meantime  the  corporation  had  encountered  ob- 
stacles that  could  not  be  surmounted,  and  the 
yards  went  into  the  hands  of  receivers.  John 
Donovan,  Jr.,  and  R.  R.  Conklin  were  appoint- 
ed receivers,  and  as  soon  as, the  affairs  of  the 
company  could  be  straightened  out  to  some  ex- 
tent the  property  was  sold  at  receiver's  sale 
and  purchased  by  the  Jarvis-Conklin  Mortgage 
&  Trust  Company  for  the  bondholders. 

The  company  was  reorganized  with  a  capi- 
tal of  $500,000,  and  again  assumed  the  old 
name  of  the  St.  Joseph  Stock  Yards  Company. 
Mr.  Donovan  induced  Swift  &  Company,  of 
Chicago,  to  operate  the  Moran  plant.  This 
deal  also  resulted  in  Swift  &  Company  pur- 
chasing a  majority  of  the  stock  in  the  St. 
Joseph  Stock  Yards  Company  on  January 
18,  1897. 

In  June,  1897,  Nelson  Morris  &  Company 
purchased  a  large  block  of  the  stock  in  the  St. 
Juseph  Stock  Yards  Company,  and  thus  be- 
came interested  with  Swift  &  Company  and 
the  other  packers  in  improving  the  capacity  of 
the  yards  and  the  local  market.  Two  months 
later  both  Swift  &  Company  and  Nelson  Mor- 
ris &  Company  began  the  erection  of  the  two 
largest  plants  at  the  Stock  Yards,  both  oi 
which  were  completed  and  opened  for  business 
the  early  part  of  Ai)ril,  1898.  The  Hammond 
Packing  Company  leased  the  Moran  house 
when  Swift  &  Com])any  vacated  it,  and  sub- 
se(|uently  leased  the  .\nchor  house. 

The  people  of  St.  Joseph  celebrated  the 
expansion  of  the  live  stock  and  packing  indus- 
tries in  a  "Jubilee,"  which  continued  for  three 
days.  May  u,  12  and  13,  1898,  and  which  at- 
tracted thousands  of  people. 

In  1900  the  Hammonds  completed  the 
third   big  house.      A   greater   portion  of   this 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


247 


plant  was  destroyed  by  fire  on  July  5,  1903. 
It  was  rebuilt  on  a  larger  scale  and  opened  for 
business  in  the  summer  of  1904. 

The  Stock  Yards  have  been  placed  upon 
a  strictly  modern,  higli  grade  basis,  a  bank  has 
been  organized,  and  a  populous  suburb  has 
grown  up.  A  Live  Stock  Exchange,  costing 
$100,000.  contains  a  bank  and  offices  for  com- 
mission men. 

^     ^     ^ 

Joseph  Kuechle,  long  dead,  was  the  pioneer 
brewer  of  St.  Joseph.  He  had  learned  his  art 
in  Germany,  and  after  working  at  Louisville, 
Kentucky,  came  to  St.  Joseph,  arriving  here 
per  steamboat  in  the  summer  of  1849.  He 
purchased  the  ground  from  Capt.  F.  W.  Smith 
and  built  his  brewery  on  the  site  of  the  ruins 
of  what  was  last  known  as  the  St.  Joseph 
brewery,  on  Charles  street,  between  Seventh 
and  Eighth  streets.  Water  for  beer  and  also 
drainage  are  essential  to  breweries,  and  as 
there  was  neither  water-works  nor  sewerage, 
the  early  brewers  located  along  the  streams 
Smith's  Branch  was  a  lively  creek  in  those 
days,  flowing  from  the  northeastern  hills  swift- 
ly to  the  river.  Kuechle' s  brewery  was  located 
on  this  stream  and  the  pioneer  brewer  was 
fortunate  in  finding  an  inexhaustible  spring  of 
water  on  his  premises.  This  spring  still  exists 
and  is  walled  up  in  the  ruins  of  the  dismantled 
brewery.  After  Mr.  Kuechle's  death  the  plant 
was  operated  by  his  heirs  until  the  formation 
of  the  St.  Joseph  Brewing  Company,  which 
leased  the  plant  for  some  years  and  abandoned 
it  in  1894.  The  older  buildings  were  cor.- 
demned  two  years  afterward  and  torn  down. 
The  malting  house  and  some  of  the  others  still 
remain,  and  there  are  several  cellars  in  good 
preservation. 

Henry  Nunning  was  the  second  brewer. 
He  came  from  Laporte.  Indiana,  in  1854,  and 
established  him.self  at  iith  and  I'araon  streets. 


also  near  Smith's  Branch.  After  a  time  his 
business  outgrew  the  old  establisliment  and  he 
built  a  modern  brewery  on  Faraon  street,  near 
15th.  This  plant  is  now  operated  under  lease 
by  the  St.  Joseph  Brewing  Company. 

In  1858,  X.  Aniser,  Joseph  Aniser  and 
William  Ost  built  a  brewery  on  Frederick  ave- 
nue, near  13th  .street.  During  the  early  part 
of  the  Rebellion  it  was  operated  by  D.  W. 
Fritzlein,  ^^ho  was  killed  by  a  soldier  near 
Wathena.  Fritzlein's  widow  continued  the 
business  for  some  time.  Later  the  plant  was 
leased  by  Jacob  Wingerter,  but  it  has  not  been 
used  as  a  bre\\-ery  for  many  years,  a  carriage 
factory  being  located  in  the  building  now. 

In  1859  Max  &  Goetz  started  the  City 
brewery  at  Sixth  and  Albermarle  streets.  This 
is  now  one  of  the  largest  breweries  in  the  \\'est, 
having  been  developed  by  Michael  K.  Goetz 
and  his  sons,  who  operate  it. 

Frederick  ^V.  Islaub  had  a  brewer)-  on 
Michel  street,  between  Main  and  Water  strets. 
in  1858-60,  and  Peter  Walter  had  a  brewery 
and  garden  at  the  southwest  corner  of  Fourth 
and  Edmond  streets  during  the  same  period. 
Louis  Koerner.  who  had  been  Walter's  brewer, 
started  in  business  for  himself  on  Main  street, 
near  Faraon.  late  in  the  "sixties"  as  a  maltster. 
Afterward  he  made  beer  and  .sold  it  by  the 
measure  at  the  brewer}-.  Duemcke  &  Hund 
subsequently  used  his  buildings  as  bottlino 
works  and  the  site  is  now  occupied  by  the  Chi- 
cago Great  \A'estem  freight  depot. 

In  1865.  Andreas  Ohnesorg  and  Francis 
Eger  formed  a  partnership  and  built  the  New 
Ulm  brewery.  Mr.  Ohnesorg  had  been  op- 
erating a  wiess-beer  brewery  and  garden  on 
the  north  side  of  Felix  street,  near  Eighth,  ad- 
joining the  group.d  now  occupied  by  the 
Hughes  Building.  These  parties  also  owned 
the  grounds  that  were  after\\-ard  known  as 
New  Ulm  Pai'k,  though  the  park  was  devel- 


248 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


oped  by  Louis  Streckebein,  who  conducted  it 
for  1 6  years.  The  brewery  was  located  on  the 
hill  east  of  the  park  and  stood  until  1890,  when 
it  was  destroyed  by  fire.  The  cellars  are  still, 
intact.  It  was  a  modern  brewery  in  its  day, 
representing  an  expenditure  of  $80,000  and 
was  operated  by  Ohnesorg  &  Eger  until  1876, 
when  it  was  leased  to  Rosemund  &  Schaefer, 
who  continued  it  until  about  1881,  when  it  was 
banadoned.  The  property  now  belongs  to  Mrs. 
Margaret  Burnside. 

Contemporaneous  with  the  early  history  of 
the  New  Ulm  brewery  was  an  effort  on  the 
part  of  the  firm  of  Koehler  &  Diedrich,  two 
young  Germans,  who  had  come  from  Palmyra, 
Missouri,  to  operate  an  ale  brewery  here.  They 
built  a  cellar  and  a  plant  east  of  Third  near 
Louis  street,  costing  nearly  $20,000.  The 
project  failed,  and  all  that  is  left  of  the  invest- 
ment is  the  cellar,  the  entrance  to  which,  built 
of  stone,  is  plainly  visible  from  Third  street. 

John  Jester  built  the  Pateetown  brewery 
at  13th  and  Sacramento  streets,  in  1881.  and 
still  operates  it. 

^  ^  ^ 

One  of  the  earliest  enterprises  in  the  way 
of  manufactures  in  St.  Joseph  was  the  foundry 
established  on  St.  Joseph  avenue,  1855,  by  T. 
W.  Keys.  This,  with  the  exception  of  a  small 
foundry  at  Lexington,  was  the  first  plant  of 
the  kind  west  of  St.  Louis.  The  power  of 
Keys'  foundry  was  furnished  by  oxen.  The 
first  pig  iron  melted  in  St.  Joseph  was  run  in 
1856.  This  foundry  was  operated  until  1858, 
when  Mr.  Keys  erected  on  the  corner  of  Eighth 
and  Messanie  streets  the  building  novv  (1904) 
occupied  by  the  foundry  of  Crowther  &  Rogers. 
Mr.  Keys  leased  this  in  April,  1863,  to  John 
Burnside.  The  firm  afterward  became  Eurn- 
side,  Crowther  &  Company.  John  Burnside 
subsequently  retired  from  the  partnership. 
The  foundry  of  J.  W.  Ambrose  &  Company, 


on  the  corner  of  Eighth  and  Monterey  streets, 
was  established  in  187 1. 


The  Louis  Hax  furniture  factory  was  one 
of  the  successful  and  famous  institutions  of  the 
city  for  many  years.  It  was  located  at  Seventh 
and  Angelique  streets,  from  1866  until  De- 
cember 13,  1890,  on  which  date  the  western 
portion  of  the  plant  was  destroyed  by  fire. 
Mr.  Hax  did  not  rebuild,  but  converted  the 
eastern  portion  into  tenements.  The  factory 
was  operated  for  some  years  on  the  south  side, 
but  was  abandoned  in  1899. 


In  the  days  when  freight  rates  from  the 
North  were  high  and  when  the  native  forests 
were  yet  rich  in  trees,  the  manufacture  of  na- 
tive lumber  was  an  important  industry.    There 
were  two   extensive   sawmills    in    St.    Joseph 
during  the  life  of  the  industry,  both  located  on 
South  Fourth  street,  below  Messanie,  near  the 
river.     James  P.  Hamilton  operated  the  lower 
mill  and  Venable  &  Kent  the  one  near  Messanie 
street.     Logs  were  brought  down  the  river  in 
rafts.      Another    sawmill    of    magnitude    was 
erected    at    Lake    Contrary,    near    where    the 
southern  road  strikes  the  lake.     This  was  op- 
erated at  one  time  by  J.  A.   Piner,   William 
Swope  and  John  F.  Tyler,  who  also  had  a  lum- 
ber yard  in  the  city.     A  large  number  of  men 
were  employed  there  and  quite  a  settlement, 
called   Lake   City,    sprang   up   near   the   mill. 
This,  like  the  Hamilton  and  Venable  mills,  is 
a  thing  of  the  past. 

*     *     * 

In  1866  Edward  R.  Brandow,  associated 
with  other  enterprising  citizens,  established  a 
sorghum  manufactory  on  lower  Edmond  street. 
It  was  proposed  to  make  sugar  out  of  the  prod- 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


249 


net  of  the  cane,  and  farmers  were  urged  to  the 
importance  of  raising-  large  quantities.  The 
enterprise,  after  the  production  of  a  small  quan- 
tity of  sugar,  was  absorbed  by  larger  interests. 

*     *     * 

Before  the  war  A.  M.  Mitchell  built  a  dis- 
tillery upon  the  site  of  what  was  afterward  a 
packing  house  and  more  recently  the  glucose 
works.  The  A'enture  was  not  profitable.  Sev- 
eral distilleries  were  in  operation  in  and  near 
St.  Joseph  after  the  war  and  until  about  1875. 
The  largest  was  that  of  Edward  Sheehan,  on 
upper  Blacksnake,  a  short  distance  south  of 
New  Ulm  Park,  which  w-as  built  in  1868  and 
operated  until  1874.  Abraham  Furst  and  S. 
Adler,  who  were  for  many  years  leading  whole- 
sale liquor  dealers  in  this  city  and  St.  Louis 
under  the  name  of  S.  Adler  &  Company,  built 
a  redistilling  house  in  1871  at  Third  and  Louis 
streets,  which  was  operated  until  1876.  The 
building  is  still  in  existence.  After  the  enact- 
ment of  the  prohibtory  law  in  Kansas,  in  1880, 
a  distillery  plant  was  moved  from  Lawrence 
and  located  south  of  the  city,  below  the  rail- 
road track  on  the  road  to  the  Stock  Yards. 
This  property  was  purchased  in  1885  by  Jacob 
Schloss.  Subsequently  it  fell  into  the  hands 
of  the  whiskey  trust  and  the  plant  was  moved 
away. 


The  St.  Joseph  Steam  Printing  Company, 
which  was  organized  by  Capt.  Francis  M,. 
Posegate  and  others  in  1870,  and  which  went 
out  of  existence  in  February  of  1892,  was  in  its 
earlier  days  the  best  equipped,  most  extensive 
and  most  prosperous  printing  establishment 
between  St.  Louis  and  San  Francisco. 


St.   Joseph  once  had  a  pretentious  starch 


factory.  It  was  built  in  the  summer  of  1872 
by  O'Neill  Bailey,  who  came  here  from  Madi- 
son, Indiana,  and  was  operated  for  about  four 
years.  The  factory  was  located  on  a  tract  of 
10  acres,  south  of  Messanie  and  east  of  22nd 
street,  and  gave  employment  to  a  large  number 
of  people.  The  starch  was  made  of  corn,  and 
the  residue  was  fed  to  cattle.  The  lack  of  water 
prevented  the  possibility  of  operating  the 
works  with  profit.  Many  wells  were  sunk,  but 
with  no  satisfactory  result,  and  the  enterprise 
finally  succumbed. 


Among  the  other  manufacturing  enter- 
prises that  have  gone  out  of  existence  Pose- 
gate's  City  Directory  for  1875  shows  the  fol- 
lowing carriage  and  wagon  makers :  Gideon 
Miles,  Edward  Button,  McBain  &  Fox,  Fer- 
dinand Schoen,  W.  E.  Williams  &  Son,  D.  D.. 
Streeter,  William  Pape,  Prawitz  &  Hagelin 
and  Wiedmaier  &  Wildberger.  Peter  Habig 
operated  a  pottery  at  Main  and  Faraon  streets 
in  those  days.  There  was  also  a  glue  factory, 
south  of  the  city  limits.  Boellert  &  Schroersi 
manufactured  plows  at  the  southeast  corner 
of  Sixth  and  Charles  streets.  C.  Eichler  & 
Company,  T.  H.  Hail  &  Company  (succeeded 
by  C.  M.  Kingsbury),  the  Steam  Printing 
Company,  Swiclc,  Wells  &  Company,  and 
Wool  worth  &  Colt  were  job  printers.  The 
Great  Western  Soap  W^orks,  L.  Huggins  & 
Company,  proprietors,  also  existed.  William 
Gernandt  operated  a  tannery  on  Frederick  ave- 
nue, between  19th  and  20th  streets.  There 
were  two  ax-handle  factories,  one  operated  by 
William  Duesler  on  Buchanan  avenue,  and 
another  by  Henry  C.  Middleton  on  Howard 
street.  Aldrich  &  Scott  manufactured  whips 
at  Second  and  Felix  streets.  There  were  also 
two  rope  factories,  one  operated  by  John 
Helme,  on  South   nth  street,  between  Mapk 


250 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


and  Oak  streets,  and  another  by  J.   Main  on 
Frederick  avenue,  near  20th  street. 


The  St.  Joseph  Sugar  Refining  Company 
was  formed  in  June.  1880,  by  Albe  M.  Saxton. 
J.  B.  Hundley,  \\'.  \Y.  McFarland  and  others 
for  the  purpose  of  producing  glucose.  John 
L.  Motter  was  general  manager  and  W.  Y. 
Sellek,  chemist.  The  building  formerly  occu- 
pied by  the  E.  O.  Smith  Packing  Company, 
southeast  of  Calvary  cemetery,  was  converted 
into  a  factory.  It  was  in  operation  until  1889, 
the  last  manager  being  Vanaken  Whittaker. 
The  building  no  longer  exists. 


In  July  of  1886  the  St.  Joseph  Natatorium 
Association  was  formed  by  Albe  M.  Saxton, 
John  Demond,  J.  W.  Hinkston,  W.  H.  Gor- 
don, L.  C.  Burnes,  Joseph  Andriano  and  E. 
Lindsay.  The  capital  stock  was  $12,000.  A 
building  was  erected  at  the  southwest  corner 
of  Fifth  and  Jules  streets.  A  natatorium  was 
operated  for  se\'eral  seasons.  Subsequently 
the  building  was  converted  into  a  theatre  and 
called  the  "Bijou."  This  was  partially  destroyed 
by  fire,  and  then,  in  the  spring  of  1893,  remod- 
eled throughout.  It  is  now  known  as  the  Ly- 
ceum theatre. 

*  *     * 

in  1886  Edward  W.  Mitchell  came  from 
Ohio,  and,  with  the  assistance  of  local  capital, 
built  a  stove  foundry  on  the  ground  north  of 
the  K.  C,  St.  J.  &  C.  B.  shops,  now  occupied 
by  the  gas  works  built  by  the  St.  Joseph  Light 
&  Fuel  Company.  The  plant  was  in  opera- 
tion for  about  three  years  and  then  failed. 

*  *     * 

In  1887  the  Sam  Reid  Tobacco  Company 


was  organized  with  a  capital  stock  of  $50,000, 
held  by  Sam  Reid,  \\ho  moved  a  plant  here 
from  Louisiana,  Missouri,  and  W.  G.  Fair- 
leigh,  John  Townsend,  J.  D.  Richardson,  F. 
L.  Sommer.  M.  A.  Reed,  George  J.  Engle- 
hart,  T.  J.  Burgess  and  Albert  Roecker.  It 
was  a  prosperous  institution  for  three  years, 
occupying  the  building  owned  by  Daniel  J. 
Lysaght,  west  of  the  City  Hall.  Chewing  and 
smoking  tobacco  were  manufactured.  In  1890 
it  was  purchased  by  the  tobacco  trust  and 
moved  to  New  York. 


The  St.  Joseph  steel  car  plant  was  an  in- 
stitution that  flourished  for  several  months  in 
1889.  H.  D.  Perkey,  an  Eastern  promoter, 
owned  the  patent  of  a  steel  car.  It  was  cylin- 
drical in  shape  and  its  construction  was  sup- 
posed to  be  such  as  to  prevent  it  from  being 
wrecked  in  collisions.  Mr.  Perkey  had  an  ele- 
gant passenger  coach  as  a  sample.  A  stock 
company  was  formed  in  1888  and  the  enter- 
prise was  backed  by  the  Brookdale  Land  Com- 
pany, which  agreed  to  donate  $50,000,  the  pro- 
ceeds of  the  sale  of  lots.  The  steel  car  com- 
pany agreed  to  luiild  shops  and  maintain  them 
for  five  years.  Alx)ut  $35,000  was  paid  and  a 
building  80  by  900  feet  was  erected,  equipped 
with  machinery  and  set  in  operation  during 
the  early  part  of  1889.  The  New  Era  Exposi- 
tion was  coupled  with  this  enterprise  and  a  por- 
-tion  of  the  works  constituted  the  main  hall. 
On  the  night  of  September  15,  1889,  this  build- 
ing was  destroyed  by  fire.  The  steel  passenger 
coach  and  a  number  of  cars  under  construction 
were   burned   and   the   enterprise   was   fatally 

cripled. 

*     *     * 

Of  the  other  prominent  manufacturing  en- 
terprises that  have  gone  out  of  existence  were 
the   following:     August  Vegely's   candy  fac- 


AXD    REPRESEXTATI\'E    CITIZENS. 


251 


tory.  established  in  1862;  Sanders  &  McDon- 
ald's tinware  maniifactor}-,  established  in  1863 
Schultz.  Hosea  &  Co..  tinware  manufactory, 
established  in  1863:  John  L.  Motter's 
cracker  factory,  the  first  in  the  city,  lo- 
cated on  Main  street,  north  of  Jules : 
Koenig  &  Company's  cracker  factory,  estab- 
lished in  1874:  Riley  Brothers'  cracker  fac- 
tory, located  in  the  building  now  occupied  by 
the  \'an  Xatta-Lynds  Drug  Company,  at  Third 
and  Charles  streets;  Smith.  Frazer  &  Com- 
pany's, and  Moorby  &  Fink's  shoe  factories. 


The  first  hotel  of  prominence  in  St.  Josepl" 
was  the  Edgar  House,  a  three-story  building 
erected  at  the  northeast  corner  of  Main  and 
Francis  streets  in  1845.  I^  '^^''^^  afterwards 
called  the  Planters'  House.  Ihe  buildmg  is 
still  in  a  good  state  of  preservation  and  forms 
a  part  of  the  Tremont  House.  In  the  follow- 
ing year  William  Fowler  built  the  City  Hotel, 
at  the  northeast  corner  of  Main  and  Jules 
streets.  This  has  been  for  many  years  called 
tlie  Occidental,  and  is  yet  known  as  such.  Al- 
brecht  &  Huber  began  business  as  jewelers  iv 
the  City  Hotel  in  185 1.  Until  its  dissolution  a 
few  years  ago.  this  was  the  oldest  firm  in  St. 
Joseph.  The  ^^lansion  House,  which  occupied 
the  site  of  the  Francis  street  depot  grounds, 
facing  Main  street,  was  also  a  leading  hotel  in 
those  days. 

The  Patee  House,  at  12th  and  Penn  streets, 
was  built  in  1856-58.  and  was  one  of  the  larg- 
est and  best  equipped  hotels  in  the  United 
States  in  its  first  days.  It  was  first  kept  by 
G.  W.  Alden  of  Philadelphia,  who  tailed  before 
completing  his  first  year,  and  was  succeeded 
by  Colonel  Minor  of  Chicago,  who  remained 
abou't  a  year:  Major  Espey  was  tiie  next  land- 
lord. After  keeping  the  house  for  two  years 
he  was  killed  by  falling  from  one  of  the  win- 


dows. Elijah  Patee  and  Dougherty  &  Worden 
succeeded  in  turn  as  proprietors.  During  the 
war  the  provost  marshal's  headquarters  were 
located  in  the  building,  and  the  general  offices 
of  the  }kIissouri  Valley  Railroad  Company 
were  also  located  there  in  those  days.  At 
about  this  time  Mr.  Patee  placed  the  house 
into  a  lottery.  He  drew  it  himself.  In  Sep- 
tember of  1865  Rev.  James  H.  Robinson  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  South,  in- 
stittited  a  female  college  in  the  building,  which 
existed  until  January.  1869.  James  H.  Bag- 
well then  opened  the  hotel,  the  Pacific  House, 
of  which  he  was  landlord,  having  burned.  In 
1877  a  second  female  academy  was  instituted 
by  Rev.  E.  S.  Dulin,  a  Baptist  minister.  Thi:, 
continued  for  four  years.  In  the  stunmer  of 
1 88 1  Dr.  S.  A.  Richmond  leased  the  building 
He  opened  what  he  called  the  'A\'orld's  Epi- 
leptic Sanitarium"  in  a  part  of  the  building 
and  leased  the  remainder  to  a  Xew  York  firm 
who  for  a  short  time  conducted  the  '"World's 
Hotel."  The  property  at  that  time  belonged  tc 
Robert  W.  Donnell,  whose  home  was  then  in 
X'ew  York.  After  the  failure  of  the  "World's 
Hotel."  Mr.  Donnell  offered  the  house  to  the 
city  to  be  permanently  used  and  maintained 
by  the  taxpayers  as  a  female  seminary ;  but  he 
received  no  encouragement.  In  1885  he  sold 
the  property  to  R.  L.  McDonald  &  Company, 
who  converted  the  building  into  a  factory  for 
the  production  of  overalls,  shirts,  etc. 

The  Pacific  House  was  built  in  1859-60 
and  was  called  the  Lounsbury  House,  after 
\\'.  B.  Lounsbury.  who  owned  it.  Shackle- 
ford  &  Hughes  ^^  ere  the  next  proprietors  and 
changed  the  name  to  Pacific  Hotel.  In  1865 
William  K.  Richardson  kept  the  house.  He 
was  succeeded  by  James  H.  Bagwell,  who  was 
in  charge  when  tb.e  property  was  destroyed 
by  fire.  December  15.  1868.  The  house  was 
rebuilt    ar.d    opened    February    14.    1870.    by 


252 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY  AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


Garth,  Gilkey  &  Abell.  Major  Garth  retired 
after  two  years  and  Rice  D.  Gilkey  and  John 
J.  Abell  continued  the  business  until  Decem- 
ber, 1879.  The  house  was  then  closed  for  re- 
pairs. April  I,  1880,  it  was  reopened  under 
the  management  of  Kitchen  Brothers.  They 
were  succeeded  by  Col.  Ira  Wilson,  and  he  by 
Charles  F.  Alurray.  In  1894  Himes  &  Bow- 
man had  the  house,  and  in  1896  W.  C.  Johnson 
took  charge,  continuing  until  1901,  when  the 
house  was  remodeled  and  made  the  principal 
portion  of  the  Hotel  Metropole.  The  Aie- 
tropole  was  started  in  1896.  It  was  built  out 
of  the  Bacon  House,  which  had  been  operated 
since  i860  by  Enos  E.  Bacon,  an  ideal  land- 
lord of  the  old  school,  who  with  his  estimable 
wife  made  the  guest  feel  thoroughly  at  home. 

The  Saunders  House  was  another  famous 
hostelry.  It  stood  at  the  northeast  corner  of 
Third  and  Faraon  streets,  upon  the  site  now 
occupied  by  Noyes,  Norman  &  Company's 
shoe  factory.  The  life  of  the  hotel  was  from 
1862  up  to  1884.  It  fell  from  grade  to  grade 
until,  in  its  last  days,  it  was  a  mere  rookery. 
From  1862  to  1877  it  was  conducted  by  Rich- 
ard and  John  Saunders,  Jr.,  who  retired  iii 
favor  of  J.  W.  Moore  and  Cyrus  Stahl.  In  its 
decadence  the  hotel  had  various  landlords. 

Fotheringham's  City  Directory  for  i860 
shows  the  following  hotels :  Allen  House, 
corner  of  Fourth  and  Sylvanie;  Avenue  House, 
corner  of  Frederick  avenue  and  i6th  ;  Bae- 
chele  House,  east  side  of  Eighth  street,  be- 
tween Messaniie  and  Locust ;  Blakemore  House, 
south  side  of  Jules  street,  between  Main  and 
Second;  Commercial  House,  corner  Sixth  and 
Angelique;  City  Hotel,  corner  of  Main  and 
Jules ;  Eagle  Hotel,  corner  of  Second  and  Syl- 
vanie; Huxley  House,  Eighth  street^  opposite 
H.  &  St.  J.  passenger  depot ;  Missouri  Hotel, 
south  side  of  Edmond,  west  of  Third ;  Ken- 


tucky House,  east  side  of  Third  street,  between 
Felix  and  Francis:  Franklin  House,  west  side 
of  Second  street,  between  Edmond  and 
Charles;  National  Hotel,  west  side  of  Ed- 
mond street,  between  Fourth  and  Fifth  ;  North- 
western Hotel,  corner  of  Third  and  Franklin; 
Patee  House ;  Pennsylvania  House,  Frederick 
avenue,  between  i8th  and  19th;  Planters" 
House,  northeast  corner  of  Second  and  Main 
streets ;  Sommer's  Hotel,  southeast  corner  of 
Second  and  Michel  streets;  St.  Charles  HoteU 
east  side  of  Main  street,  between  Robidoux 
and  Isidore;  St.  Joseph  Hotel,  west  side  of 
Second  street,  between  Michel  and  Franklin; 
Talbott  House,  corner  of  Third  and  Faraon ; 
Tolson  House,  north  side  of  Jules  street,  l3e- 
tween  Main  and  Second. 

The  Allen  House,  at  the  corner  of  Third 
and  Angelique  streets,  was  used  as  an  army 
hospital  during  the  Civil  War.  It  afterward 
became  known  as  the  Griffith  House,  but  since 
1884  has  been  known  as  the  Gait  House.  The 
Commercial  Hotel  is  still  in  existence,  the  old 
part  having  been  moved  to  the  rear.  The 
Pennsylvania  House  was  kept  by  M.  A.  Ash- 
brook,  who  afterward  called  it  the  Ashbrook 
House.  The  history  of  the  City  Hotel,  Plant- 
ers' House  and  Patee  House  is  given  above. 
The  other  hotels  enumerated  in  this  list  have 
disappeared. 

The  Central  Hotel,  at  the  northeast  corner 
of  Second  and  Edmund  streets,  was  operated 
for  a  number  of  years  by  \\'illiam  Kollatz.  It 
has. not  been  used  as  a  hotel  for  over  ten  years. 

The  Missouri  Valley  House  was  quite  a 
famous  hostelry  in  its  day.  It  was  a  frame 
building  and  stood  facing  east,  at  the  north- 
west corner  of  Eighth  and  Edmond  streets, 
and  was  surrounded  by  beautiful  shade  trees. 
It  was  kept  by  W.  W.  Clark,  by  Capt.  O.  R. 
Phelps,  and  last  by  Capt.  M.  I.  Couch  and  S. 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


255 


G.  Ford.  The  house,  a  large  barn  and  several 
places  of  business  were  burned  on  the  night  of 
October  2,  1878. 

Other  hotels  that  have  ceased  to  exist  were 
the  Michau  House,  on  the  north  side  of  Felix 
street,  between  Sixth  and  Seventh;  the  old 
Gait  House,  that  occupied  the  site  of  the  pres- 
ent general  offices  of  the  Burlington  Railroad ; 
the  Highly  House,  19th  street  and  Frederick 
avenue,  and  the  Hudnut  House,  at  Third  and 
Felix  streets.  The  Farmers'  House,  on  North 
Second  street,  kept  for  many  years  by  Peter 
Harnois,  was  also  a  noted  tavern  in  its  day. 
The  International  Hotel,  at  the  northwest  cor- 
ner of  Eighth  and  Olive  streets  (now  Wind- 
sor), was  built  of  the  material  that  once 
constituted     the     Great     Western     Hotel     at 


Elwood,  a  pretentious  house  that  existed  be- 
fore the  war,  when  Elwood  had  a  population 
and  prospects. 

In  1898  a  portion  of  the  Center  Block,  ai 
the  northeast  corner  of  Sixth  and  Edmorhl 
streets,  was  converted  into  a  hotel  and  operated 
by  Frank  F.  Harl  until  May  of  1903,  when  it 
was  abandoned.  In  the  fall  of  1904  it  was 
converted  into  a  theatre,  now  known  as  the 
"Lyric." 

The  St.  Charles  Hotel,  at  Sixth  and 
Charles  streets,  was  formerly  conducted  by  C. 
O.  Lewis.  It  was  rebuilt  in  1902  by  George 
Boone,  Jr. 

The  Transit  House,  a  large  modern  struct- 
ure at  the  Stock  Yards,  was  opened  early  in 
1904. 


CHAPTER  XXVIII. 


REMINISCENCES. 

Steamboats  in  the  Early  Days — .Vegro  Slavery  in  Buchanan  County — The 
Town  of  Elwood — The  Grasshopper  Scourge — Old-Time  Doctors  and  Their 
Schedule  of  Charges — "Voting  on  a    String" — Theatres. 


In  early  days  a  great  fleet  of  steamboats 
"plowed  the  turbid  current"  of  the  Missouri, 
bringing  settlers  and  supplies  for  this  vast  vir- 
gin of  territory.  During  the  "forties,"  "fifties" 
and  half  of  the  "sixties"  the  river  was  dotted 
with  many  boats.  Beyond  Main  street  were 
numerous  large  warehouses  required  for  the 
immense  river  traffic.  They  \\ere  all  washed 
away  later  by  encroachment.  Hemp,  hemp 
rope,  hides,  tallow,  furs,  whiskey  and  tobacco 
were  the  principal  products  shipped  down  the 
ri\er.  St.  Joseph  was  the  business  center  for 
the  wliole  river  district,  and  from  here  supplies 
were  sent  all  over  the  \\'estern  mountains  and 
])lains.  Here,  too.  most  of  the  California  pio- 
neers of  1849,  1850,  and  i(S5i  were  supplied 
witli  outfits  fur  the  long  journey  to  the  Pacific. 

At  times  there  would  be  as  many  as  20 
steamboats  at  the  wharves  in  one  day.  The 
city  charged  a  wharfage  of  $5  for  each  boat, 
and  the  wharf  master  was  an  imi)ortant  ]ierson- 
age  in  our  early  city  government. 

Many  Mackinaw  boats  would  arri\e  about 
June  of  each  year,  loaded  down  with  furs. 
mostly  belonging  to  Joseph  Robidoux.  The 
cargoes  would  be  reshipped  here  on  steamboats 
if   the   terms   were    favorable,   but   if   "Uncle 


Joe"  thought  the  steamboat  men  were  trying 
to  "work"  him.  he  would  continue  the  trip  tc 
St.  Louis  with  his  Mackinaws.  Frequently 
these  boats  would  be  lost  in  passage.  St. 
Joseph  was  practically  the  head  of  navigation, 
but  in  the  early  days  a  few  boats  would  go  up 
to  the  mountains  each  year,  loaded  with  sup- 
plies and  trinkets  for  the  traders,  consuming 
a  whole  season  on  the  trip. 

When  the  railroads  were  built  there  was 
little  business  left  for  steamboats,  and  they 
dropped  out  one  by  one,  seeking  other  fields, 
until  now  they  are  a  curiosity  on  this  river. 

Pilots  and  engineers,  in  the  early  times, 
were  paid  $200  to  $350  per  month.  One  sea- 
son many  boats  came  from  the  Ohio  River  to 
compete  for  the  trade.  In  order  to  "head  them 
off,"  the  Missouri  River  men  hired  all  the 
licensed  pilots,  paying  them,  for  a  time,  $1,000 
a  month,  work  or  play. 


As  was  stated  in  a  previous  chapter,  there 
were  over  2,000  negro  slaves  in  Buchanan 
County  when  the  war  jjroke  out.  These 
were  owned  principally  in  the  country. 
The    condition    of    the    slave    here,    as  else- 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


257 


where,  depended  upon  the  master.  It 
was  to  the  slave-holder's  interest,  of  course, 
to  keep  this  class  of  property  in  good 
condition  that  it  might  yield  the  best  possible 
returns.  The  slaves,  in  the  main,  were  well 
cared  for,  and  their  lot  was  not  so  bad.  They 
were  expected  to  work  10  hours  per  day  for 
the  master  and  were  allowed  half  holidays  on 
Saturdays,  where  the  conditions  permitted,  and 
also  on  Sundays.  They  \\ere  given  no  educa- 
tion, as  a  rule,  though  there  were  instances 
where  the  master  taught  his  slaves  to  read  and 
write.  This  practice  was  frowned  upon,  how- 
ever, by  the  majority  of  owners.  The  negroes 
had  many  social  privileges,  but  were  restricted 
to  some  extent  b}-  a  pass  system,  which  wa? 
enforced  b}-  a  patrol.  No  negro  could  lea\'e 
his  master's  place  after  night  without  a  pass. 
This  he  had  to  show  to  the  patrol,  who  were 
mounted  and  who  guarded  certain  prescribed 
districts.  The  negroes  called  them  "patter- 
olers,"  and  it  was  tlie  delight  of  the  more  ven- 
turesome youngsters  to  elude  the  vigilance  of 
these  much-hated  officers.  The  patrolmen  were 
paid  by  private  subscription.  There  were  li- 
censed preachers  of  x'arious  Protestant 
denominations,  and  these  held  religious 
services  in  different  places  about  the 
country,  at  stated  times,  and  there  was 
generally  a  white  man  present  to  see 
that  seditious  utterances  did  not  creep  into 
the  sermons.  Marriages  were  solemnized,  and 
where  the  man  and  woman  belonged  to  differ- 
ent estates  the  husband  was  generally  permitted 
to  visit  his  wife  on  Saturdays  and  Sundays. 
The  children  always  belonged  to  the  owner  of 
the  mother. 

Slaves  were  paid  for  the  work  they  did 
o\er  time,  or  as  in  hemp  breaking,  for  such 
work  as  was  done  o\er  and  al)ove  a  stated 
task.  They  were  also  gi\-en  patches  of  ground 
to  cultivate  and  could  sell  the  i')ro(lucts.     Men 


were  given  two  suits  of  clothing  and  two  pairs 
of  shoes  per  year,  and  women  two  dresses,  be- 
sides other  necessary  wearing  apparel. 

Where  a  slaveholder  had  more  slaves  than 
he  could  use,  he  let  them  out  for  hire.  The 
general  price  for  a  man  was  $150  per  year,  his 
maintenance,  medical  attendance  and  clothing. 
It  was  prescribed  how  many  hours  he  should 
work  and  that  he  should  be  paid  individually 
for  the  work  he  did  beyond  the  contract  day. 
Women  brought  about  $100  per  year  hire. 
In  some  instances  negroes  saved  enough 
money  to  purchase  their  freedom.  One  case 
is  recalled,  however,  where  the  slave  fruitlessly 
paid  over  $1,000.  The  master  kept  no  account, 
neither  did  the  slave.  The  master  died,  and 
when  the  estate  was  sold  the  slave  was  sold 
also.  He  had  nothing  to  show  for  his  pay- 
ments. The  slave  was  Alf.  Foutz,  who  wa.^; 
pressman  on  the  Gazette  before  the  war,  and 
who,  after  the  war,  held  a  similar  place  on  the 
Atchison  CJiaiii/^ioii  for  many  years. 

The  negroes,  as  a  rule,  spent  their  money 
freely  and  Saturday  was  made  a  busy  day  in 
St.  Joseph  by  them. 

Slaves  ^^•ere  hired  out  during  Christmasi. 
week  for  the  ensuing  year,  and  this  was  gen- 
erally done  on  Market  square.  The  masteri' 
brought  them  into  town  and  sold  their  serv- 
ices to  the  highest  bidders. 

Slaves  were  sold  at  public  auction  also, 
but  this  practice  was  almost  confined  to  cases 
where  an  estate  was  sold ;  though  several  slaA'e 
buyers,  who  shipped  their  wares  South,  were 
located  in  St.  Joseph,  and  constantly  bought  up 
such  negroes  as  were  offered.  When  sla\-ery 
was  abolished,  there  were  few  males  in  bond- 
age, most  of  them  having  been  either  shipped 
to  Texas  before  the  war  or  been  surrenderee'^ 
by  masters  who  took  "advantage  of  a  bount) 
of  $350  for  every  slave  that  was  enlisted  b} 
them  into  the  Federal  army.     A  great  many, 


2^8 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY  AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


too,  had  escaped  to  Kansas  by  the  aid  of  the 
"Jay  hawkers." 

H^       H^       >K 

A  word  about  Elwood  will  not  be  amiss  ir' 
these  reminiscences.  Fotheringham's  Direc- 
tory for  i860  shows  166  male  residents  of  the 
place.  At  the  present  estimate  of  population 
based  upon  city  directories — five  to  the  name — 
this  would  show  that  Elwood  had  a  popula- 
tion of  830  at  that  time.  The  business  direc- 
tory shows  that  there  were  three  attorneys : 
one  of  them,  D.  W.  Wilder,  later  prominently 
identified  with  the  political  history  of  Kansas 
and  with  the  press  of  St.  Joseph ;  another, 
Thomas  A.  Osborn,  later  Governor  of  Kansas ; 
the  third,  A.  L.  Lee,  who  was  secretary  of  the 
town  company  and  also  interested  in  a  bank 
in  St.  Joseph,  and  who  subsequently  gained 
distinction  as  a  brigadier-general  in  the  Union 
Army.  There  were  two  bakeries,  two  black- 
smiths, a  brewery,  a  brickmaker,  two  butchers, 
six  carpenters,  a  coffee  house,  a  dentist,  a  drug- 
gist, seven  general  merchants,  two  hotels,  a 
hvery  stable,  two  painters,  three  physicians,  a 
plasterer,  a  restaurant,  several  real  estate 
agents,  five  saloons,  a  sawmill,  a  tailor,  three 
wagon-makers,  a  jeweler  and  one  dealer  in 
stoves  and  tinware.  There  was  also  a  news- 
paper, the  Elwood  Free  Press,  published  by 
H.  D.  Hunt. 

There  was  a  city  government.  George  W. 
Barr,  now  a  resident  of  St.  Joseph,  was  mayor ; 
Dr.  J.  W.  Robinson,  clerk  and  recorder;  Wil- 
liam H.  Hugh,  assessor;  Thomas  A.  Osborn., 
attorney;  R.  S.  Sayward,  treasurer;  Charles 
O.  Smith,  collector  and  city  marshal.  William' 
H.  Hugh,  D.  B.  Jones,  J.  H.  Hatcher,  An- 
drew^ Disque,  W.  L.  Lewis,  L.  C.  Booth,  Wil- 
liam Luke,  W.  C.  Groff  and  A.  W.  Tice  com- 
posed the  City  Council.  There  was  also  a 
police  force,  consisting  of  three  men. 


There  was  a  Protestant  Episcopal  Church, 
and  the  Congregationalists  held  services  occa- 
sionally in  a  hall.  There  was  a  board  of  public 
schools ;  also  a  library  association  and  a  build- 
ing association. 

The  Nezv  York  Daily  Times  of  December 
18,  1858,  says  of  Elwood.  that  it  "is  one  of  the 
most  promising  places  in  Kansas,  and,  from> 
the  eligibility  of  its  position  and  great  local 
advantages,  bids  fair  to  become  the  chief  com- 
mercial metropolis  of  the  future  State.  Sit- 
uated directly  opposite  St.  Joseph,  it  is  placed 
by  the  Hannibal  &  St.  Joseph  Railroad  in  di- 
rect communication  with  the  most  populous 
and  wealthy  cities  of  the  East^  and  by  the  first 
of  April  will  be  within  fifty  hours  travel  of 
New  Ylork.  It  is  the  starting  point  of  the  rail- 
road chartered  to  Palmetto,  on  the  South  Pass 
route  to  Salt  Lake  and  California,  and  of  the 
St.  Joseph  &  Topeka  Railroad,  which  will 
command  a  great  portion  of  the  trade  of  New 
Mexico.  It  lies  on  the  west  bank  of  the  Mis- 
souri River,  on  the  verge  of  an  extensive  and 
thickly  wooded  bottom,  which  requires  no 
gradings;  its  streets  are  broad  and  rectangu- 
lar, and  its  levee  can  be  approached  with  safety 
by  the  largest  boats,  and  is  sufficiently  spacious 
for  an  immense  commerce." 

The  war  stagnated  business,  scattered  the 
population  and  killed  the  prospects  of  this  am- 
bitious and  thriving  point.  In  the  rapid  set- 
tlement and  development  of  Kansas,  when 
peace  was  restored,  Elwood  was  overlooked 
and  forgotten  and  went  into  rapid  decline. 
The  ravages  of  the  river  finished  the  work, 
and  there  is  little  left  of  the  ground  upon 
which  the  ambitious  young  town  stood. 


The  years  1866,  1867,  1874  and  1875,  are 
known  as  "grasshopper"  years,  owing  to  the 
existence  of  a  plague  of  Rocky  Mountain  lo- 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


259 


custs.  Kansas  was  stricken  first  each  time  and 
the  locusts  crossed  the  river,  in  September  of 
1866,  in  July  of  1867,  and  in  September  of 
1874.  The  first  two  visits  were  not  so  costly 
to  the  farmer  as  the  last  one.  The  city  was 
deluged  with  the  insects,  however,  and  they 
Mere  a  great  annoyance.  The  wells  were  pol- 
luted with  their  carcasses,  they  ate  the  lace 
curtains  in  the  dwellings,  and  devoured  the 
vegetation. 

In  1874  and  1875  ^^^  ^^^^  country  west  and 
north  of  Missouri  was  plagued  with  the  locusts 
The  people  usually  referred  to  them  as  grass- 
hoppers. Indeed,  the  insects  greatly  resem- 
bled the  ordinary  grasshopper.  They  came 
down  from  the  Rocky  Mountains,  quickly  over- 
ran Colorado,  then  came  on  through  Kansas, 
devouring  every  green  thing,  taking  every  live 
blade  of  grass,  every  leaf  on  tree  and  bush, 
every  flower  and  vegetable.  In  September  of 
1874  they  struck  Buchanan  County.  The 
crops  having  matured,  they  did  little  material 
damage  that  year.  But  they  deposited  their 
eggs  in  the  ground  and  the  warm  spring 
weather  hatched  them  out  in  great  numbers. 
As  they  developed,  the  verdure  disappeared. 
First  the  young  clover,  then  the  tender  blue 
grass  of  the  pasture,  next  the  vegetables  in  the 
gardens,  and  finally  the  shrubbery  and  small 
trees ;  in  fact,  almost  everything  that  grew  fell 
before  the  greed  of  the  insect.  As  they  grew, 
so  did  their  voracity,  and  their  depredations 
increased.  Farmers  were  powerless.  Some 
tried  digging  pits  and  driving  the  locusts  there- 
into, where  they  were  either  scalded  or  covere 
up.  Others  drove  them  into  piles,  where  they 
were  cremated.  In  fact,  numerous  plans  for 
ridding  the  country  of  the  pest  were  tried,  and 
while  untold  millions  of  locusts  were  undoubt- 
edly destroyed,  others  seemed  to  take  their 
places  immediately.  It  mattered  not  what  was 
done,   no   diminuition   in  the   number  of   the 


hopping,  creeping  things  was  discernible.  Live 
stock  suffered  greatly  from  the  lack  of  food, 
and  the  farmers  lost  heavily  by  the  death  of 
cattle  and  hogs.  When  half-grown  and  able  to 
fly,  the  locusts  began  to  disappear,  and  by  July 
they  were  nearly  all  gone.  The  farmers  at 
once  set  to  work  with  energy.  The  seasons 
were  favorable  and  the  frost  late.  There  was 
a  grand  harvest.  In  fact,  all  over  the  State 
there  was  a  prodigious  yield,  and  this  fact 
served  largely  to  alleviate  the  business  depres- 
sion of  the  two  previous  years. 


St.  Joseph  has  been  well  supplied  with  phy- 
sicians since  the  earliest  days,  and  the  profes- 
sional standard  has  always  been  high.  As 
early  as  1845,  n  of  the  local  physicians  agreed 
upon  a  card  of  rates,  which  will  be  of  interest 
now,  not  only  because  it  shows  the  cost  of 
medical  attendance  in  those  days,  but  also  be- 
cause it  shows  the  range  of  practice.  The 
charges  were  as  follows : 

For   a   visit   within   one    mile   and   prescription 

(day)    $1.00 

For  each  succeeding  mile   50 

For  same  services  at  night — Double  price. 

For  visit  in  town  and  prescription   i.oo 

For  visit  at  night 2.00 

For  medicine  in  all  cases — Charge  extra. 

For  attendance  whole  night 5.00 

For  consultation   5.00 

For  a  simple  case  of  midwifery 5.00 

For  a  case  of  twins 10.00 

For  difficult  cases — Fee  in  proportion  to  difficulty. 
For   necessary  attention   after   four  hours — per 

hour 25 

For   bleeding    50 

For  extracting  teeth 50 

For  cupping $1  to  2.00 

For  blisters,  large  size 75 

For  blisters,  medivim  size 50 

For  advice  and  prescription  at  office i.oo 

For  administering  enema  i.oo 

For  setting  fracture  of  upper  extremities  $5  to  10.00 
For  setting  fracture  of  lower  extremities  $10  to  20.00 


26o 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


For  dislocation  of  upper  extremities $5  to  lo.oo 

For  dislocation  of  lower  extremities  .  .$10.00  to  20.00 

For  amputating  fingers  and  toes,  each    5.00 

For  amputating  forearm    1500 

For  amputating  arm 10.00 

For  amputating  leg 20.00 

For  amputating  thigh    25.00 

For  extirpating  tumors $^.50  to  10.00 

For  opening  abscess   50 

For  vaccination   5° 

It  was  also  agreed  that  no  families  would 
be  ene-aeed  h\  the  vear,  and  that  settlement 
in  all  cases  was  to  be  required  either  by  note 
or  cash  as  soon  as  the  service  was  rendered. 
This  agreement  was  signed  by  Josiah  H. 
Crane,  D.  G.  Keedy,  J.  L.  Page,  Thomas  J. 
Todd.  William  B.  Wood,  J.  N.  Hays.  B.  V 
Teel.  Robert  Martin,  R.  A.  H.  Gray,  ^^'illiam 
P.  Flint  and  Delford  Benton. 

*     -^     :;< 

''Voting-  on  a  string-"  is  a  term  that  will 
be  remembered  by  those  who  were  acti^■e  in 
politics  during  the  reconstruction  period  and 
particularly  when  the  odious  registration  law 
was  first  put  into  operation.  Only  those  who 
registered  could  vote.  And  only  those  who 
took  the  iron-clad  oath  were  registered.  There 
were  those  who  were  rejected  by  the  register- 
ing officers,  either  for  \alid  or  political  rea- 
sons, who  announced  that  they  would  vote  in 
spite  of  the  proscription,  and  there  were  many 
indications  of  trouble.  The  election  judges, 
like  the  registering  officers,  were  all  Republi- 
cans  in   those  days.      A  council  of   the  party 


leaders  was  called  to  decide  upon  the  easiest 
and  best  way  out  of  the  impending  difficulty. 
It  was  finally  decided  to  receive  all  votes  that 
were  offered  and  to  place  the  ballots  of  those 
who  were  registered  in  the  regular  box  and  to 
file  the  ballots  of  those  not  registered  upon  a 
string.  The  election  was  held  without  trouble. 
WHien  an  um-egistered  voter  appeared  he  wat 
greeted  with  courtesy ;  he  voted  his  ticket  and 
departed  \\ell  satisfied.  But  his  ballot  went  on 
the  string  and  was  not  counted.  This  trick 
was  practiced  and  kept  secret  until  the  political 
condition  had  changed  and  the  presence  of 
Democratic  judges  made  it  unsafe  for  the  Re- 
publicans to  continue  the  practice. 

;|:         -^         * 

In  the  early  days  Corby's  Hall,  in  the  third' 
story  of  the  building  west  of  the  Chamber  of 
Commerce  was  the  theatre,  and  traveling  com- 
panies as  well  as  amateur  talent  presented  plays 
there.  Later  Odd  Fellows'  Hall,  which  stood 
on  Fifth  street,  south  of  Felix,  facing  west. 
was  the  principal  gathering  place  for  theatrical 
as  well  as  social  entertainments.  An  amateur 
stock  company  had  its  home  at  this  hall.  In 
1872  the  late  Milton  Tootle  built  what  was 
then  the  best  appointed  theatre  ni  the  West. 
In  1893  this  house  was  leased  for  10  years  to 
the  Orpheum  Company,  to  he  used  for  vaude- 
ville. 

From  1874  to  1886  the  third  floor  of  the 

i  City  Hall  was  used  for  assemblies,  church  fairs 

'  and  balls. 


'"■^e  •l^tfuit^t^t^i*  yyis  f 


1  'M  &y P^/Aams  A^" 


3jr  S'/^X?. 


OTXJSj^ 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CmZENS. 


265 


The  remains  of  the  late  Dr.  Forsee  rest  in  the 
family  vault  at  Corby  Chapel,  an  interesting  me- 
morial church.  His  portrait  is  presented  on  a 
foregoing  page. 


♦ « » 


OSEPH  ROBIDOUX,  the  founder  of  St. 
Joseph,  Missouri,  ha§  long  since  passed 
away  and  his  dust  has  mingled  with  its 
native  elements.  The  spot  where  it  once 
rested  is  unmarked,  but  what  citizen  is 
there,  in  all  Northwesfern  Missouri,  who  does 
not  know  the  name  or  take  pride  in  preserving 
the  records  of  his  remarkable  life?  Other  pio- 
neers there  were  in  Buchanan  County,  whose 
solid  services  deserve  to  be  preserved  with  honor 
in  the  annals  of  the  county,  but  he  was  the  first 
to  establish  a  home  here  and  to  bring  a  breath  of 
civilization  to  the  wilderness  that  then  prevailed. 
Joseph  Robidoux  was  born  in  St.  Louis,  Mis- 
souri, August  10,  1783,  the  eldest  son  of  Joseph 
and  Catherine  Robidoux.  He  had  five  brothers, 
— ^Antoine,  Isidore,  Francis,  Michel  and  Louis, 
— and  one  sister.  The  elder  Joseph  was  a  Cana- 
dian Frenchman,  who  emigrated  from  Montreal 
to  St.  Louis,  locating  there  soon  after  the  French 
had  established  themselves  at  this  point  on  the 
great  river.  There  he  accumulated  a  fortune,  oc- 
cupied one  of  the  old  white-walled  mansions,  edu- 
cated his  children  beyond  the  common  lot  and 
became  so  prominent  that  the  first  General  As- 
sembly of  the  Territory  of  Missouri  in  Decem- 
ber, 18 1 2.  did  him  the  honor  of  holding  its  first 
session  in  his  house. 

Joseph  Robidoux,  the  younger,  the  subject 
of  this  article,  inherited  many  of  his  father's  ad- 
mirable traits.  After  the  death  of  his  first  wife, 
the  old  home  in  St.  Louis  lost  its  attraction.  He 
married  Eugenia  Delslille,  at  St.  Louis,  when  but 
18  years  old.  who  survived  but  four  years,  leav- 
ing a  son,  Joseph  E.,  who  spent  his  whole  life 
among  the  Indians,  and  died  at  White  Cloud, 
Kansas.  After  visiting  many  points  along  the 
Mississippi,  as  far  south  as  New  Orleans,  our 
subject  came  north  and  prospected  around  the 
Great  Lakes,  finally  stopping  on  the  present  site 
of  Chicago,  as  an  Indian  trader.  Upon  being 
robbed  bv  the  crafty  savages,  he  returned  to  St. 
Louis.  Soon  after  he  made  a  trip  up  'the  Mis- 
souri River,  accompanying  one  of  the  Chouteaus, 
in  the  interest  of  the  American  Fur  Company. 
Upon  his  return  to  St.  Louis  from  this  expedi- 
tion, he  purchased  a  stock  of  goods  and  in  the 


fall  of  1809  returned  to  Council  Blufifs,  the  ter- 
mination of  his  previous  trip,  and  traded  with  the 
Indians  there  for  13  years,  shipping  his  pelts  and 
furs  to  St.  Louis,  in  keel-boats. 

In  1813,  at  Council  Bluffs,  he  married  An- 
gelique  Vaudry,  a  native  of  St.  Louis,  and  they 
had  six  sons  and  one  daughter.  Mrs.  Robidoux 
died  at  St.  Joseph,  January  17,  1857,  and  none  of 
the  descendants  are  now  alive. 

Mr.  Robidoux  had  to  enter  into  competition 
at  the  "Bluffs"  with  the  American  Fur  Com- 
pany, which  was  already  established  there,  and 
he  soon  became  so  potent  a  rival,  that  the  older 
concern  was  willing  to  buy  him  out,  wnth  the  stip- 
ulation, however,  that  he  should  remain  away 
from  this  fruitful  field  for  three  years.  Robidoux 
kept  the  compact  to  the  letter  and  during  this 
enforced  period  of  absence  operated  a  bakery  in 
St.  Louis.  When  the  three  years  had  expired, 
he  announced  his  intention  of  again  establishing  a 
trading  post  and  the  fur  company  was  ready  with 
a  new  proposition.  They  ofi:ered  to  place  him  in 
the  neighborhood,  at  a  salary  of  $1,800  per  year 
provided  he  would  not  interfere  with  their  trade 
at  the  "Blufifs."  This  proposition  he  accepted 
and  he  landed  at  the  mouth  of  a  creek  which  is 
now  known  as  Roy's  Branch,  north  of  the  pres- 
ent city  of  St.  Joseph,  in  the  fall  of  1826.  A 
short  time  after,  he  removed  to  the  mouth  of 
Blacksnake  Creek,  where  he  erected  a  small  log 
house.  In  1830  he  had  become  sole  proprietor  of 
a  valuable  trading  post  and  he  then  built  a  large 
house  located;  about  where  the  Occidental  Hotel 
in  St.  Joseph  now  stands,  on  the  northeast  corner 
of  Alain  and  Jules  streets. 

During  his  lonely  life  and  early  struggles  in 
this  section,  Robidoux  kept  his  family  safe  at  St. 
Louis.  He  owned  a  negro  named  Hippolite,  who 
spoke  French  and  attended  to  his  master's  com- 
fort. Robidoux  was  the  master  of  all  the  dififer- 
ent  Indian  dialects  and  understood  the  native 
character  so  thoroughly,  that  his  life  was  one  of 
comparative  safety  among  them.  He  was  shrewd 
anl  tactful  in  dealing  with  them  or  with  the  white 
traders,  with  whom  he  spoke  French,  or  English 
with  a  strong  French  accent.  He  has  been  the 
hero  cf  many  historical  romances,  and  many  ad- 
ventures have  been  connected  with  his  person- 
ality. He  is  described  as  a  heavily  built  man, 
about  five  feet.  10  inches  in  height,  of  swarthy 
complexion  and  with  piercing  eyes.  His  por- 
trait reveals  great  force  of  character  and  he 
doubtless  possessed  in  an  eminent  degree  the  vir- 
tues of  truth  and  honestv  or  he  could  not  have 


266 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY  AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


so  successfully  kept  the  confidence  of  those  with 
whom  he  dealt  so  long.  His  manners  were  mild 
and  suave,  and  he  was  polite  and  hospitable.  In 
the  early  building  of  the  city,  he  aimed  to  have  it 
a  second  St.  Louis. 

Joseph  Robidoux  died  at  St.  Joseph  on  May 
27,  1868,  when  almost  85  years  of  age.  He  was 
a  sincere  Catholic  and  was  interred  in  Calvary 
Cemetery,  where  the  interested  stranger  looks  in 
vain  for  a  fitting  shaft  to  mark  the  spot.  His 
funeral  was  made  the  occasion  of  suspended  busi- 
ness and  a  general  participation  in  the  last  trib- 
utes of  respect  shown  the  city's  founder.  Un- 
fortunate speculations  had  dissipated  his  prop- 
erty and  he  passed  away  a  poor  man,  in  the  midst 
of  acres  which  were  once  his  own.  .S"/V  transit 
gloria  mundi. 


■♦♦» 


( )N.  JOSEPH  J.  WYATT,  deceased,  for 
many  years  a  well  kn(nvn  citizen  of  St. 
Joseph,  attained  distinction  as  a  jurist 
and  as  a  minister  of  the  Gospel  and  was 
one  of  the  pioneers  of  Northwestern 
Missouri.  In  his  death,  which  occurred  April  9, 
1881,  the  citizens  of  St.  Joseph  felt  they  had  sus- 
tained a  severe  loss  in  more  than  one  way.  They 
mourned  the  departure  of  a  man  who  exemplified 
in  his  earthly  career  the  mental  powers  of  a  suc- 
cessful business  man,  the  high  moral  qualities  of 
a  spotless  private  life  and  an  exalted  sense  of 
public  duty.  The  elements  which  make  up  the 
good  man  and  the  good  citizen  shone  out  so 
brightly  that  his  departure  was  lamented  both  as 
a  private  and  as  a  public  bereavement.  His  life 
liistory  and  work  were  closely  connected  with  the 
history  and  progress  of  this  city,  and  few  have 
taken  such  great  interest  in  this  Western  me- 
tropolis as  he.  Our  sketch  can  only  give  a  frag- 
mentary account  of  a  life  that  was  exceedingly 
rich  in  noble  deeds  and  instructive  lessons. 

Joseph  J.  Wyatt  was  born  in  St.  Clair  County, 
Illinois,  July  13,  1819,  and  was  a  son  of  Micajah 
and  Mary  (McCorkle)  Wyatt.  His  mother  died 
in  1 82 1,  and  soon  after  his  father  moved  to 
Flemingsburg,  Fleming  Count}-,  Kentucky,  and 
in  that  county  Joseph  was  reared,  receiving  good 
rudimentary  educational  training  and  making  a 
careful  preparation  for  a  useful  life.  He  was  an 
apt  student  and  early  formed  a  taste  for  the  law. 
He  studied  law  inider  John  Cavan,  a  prominent 
attorney  of  Flemingsburg,  and  was  admitted  to 
the  bar.  In  1845  'le  decided  to  start  out  for  him- 
self in   his  i)rofession  and   removed   in   June  of 


that  year  to  St.  Joseph,  Missouri,  where  he  began 
at  once  the  active  practice  of  the  law.  He  was 
St.  Joseph's  fourth  postmaster,  appointed  Sep- 
tember 21,  1848,  and  served  in  that  capacity  one 
year.  He  was  also  the  16th  postmaster,  holding 
the  ofifice  from  April  11,  1867,  to  July  7,  1869. 
About  1850,  he  was  elected  probate  judge  of 
Buchanan  County  and  held  that  office  of  respon- 
sibility for  several  years.  During  a  term  of 
about  four  years  he  was  judge  of  the  Court  of 
Common  Fleas,  and  in  that  service  established  a 
reputation  as  a  profound  thinker,  as  a  logical 
reasoner  on  the  points  involved  in  cases  sub- 
mitted to  him,  and  as  a  jurist  eminently  fair  and 
capable.  He  retired  from  the  bench  in  1861.  In 
whatever  capacity  he  served  the  public  he  was 
always  found  conscientious  and  faithful  to  the 
trusts  devolving  on  him  to  an  eminent  degree. 

In  November,  1850,  Judge  Wyatt  became 
identified  with  the  Christian  Church  and  at  once 
began  the  preaching  of  the  Word  of  God.  Dur- 
ing the  }ears  that  he  served  on  the  bench  he  de- 
voted some  time  to  the  expounding  of  the  Gospel 
and  came  to  be  familiarly  known  as  "Elder" 
Wyatt.  He  was  the  founder  of  the  First  Chris- 
tian Church  of  St.  Joseph,  and  after  relinquishing 
his  duties  on  the  bench  he  devoted  his  entire  time 
and  talents  to  the  ministry,  serving  several  years 
as  pastor  of  this  church.  The  first  meetings  were 
held  in  the  little  log  church  on  the  hill  where  the 
present  stately  Court  House  now  stands.  I'or  a 
number  of  years  he  was  she])herd  of  the  little 
flock  and  saw  the  congregation  increase  from  a 
mere  handful  to  a  large  number,  rich  in  material 
wealth  and  infiuence  and  exercising  a  power  for 
good  in  this  city.  During  the  last  22  years  of 
his  life  he  had  charge  of  the  church  near  Taos, 
in  Huchanan  County,  known  as  "Old  Union,"  and 
once  a  month  during  this  period  preached  to  its 
congregation.  J-"or  15  years  he  also  preached 
steadily  at  IJethel.  At  the  time  of  his  death,  he 
also  had  charge  of  congregations  at  Camden  Point 
and  Antipch.  The  best  part  of  his  life  was 
])asscd  as  a  Christian  worker  and  he  took  earnest 
and  great  delight  in  his  task.  He  was  one  of  the 
founders  of  the  college  at  Camden  Point,  of 
which  he  was  a  trustee.  His  public  and  private 
life  were  above  rei:)roach  and  all  who  knew  him 
were  warmlv  attached  to  him.  The  pastors  of 
.St.  Joseph,  after  his  demise,  passed  most  com- 
plimentary and  touching  resolutions  in  regard  to 
the  sad  event.  While  the  death  summons  came 
to  him  suddenly,  he  was  entirely  prepared  for 
the  silent  messenger.    He  was  a  Democrat  always 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


267 


in  politics  and  was  an  outspoken  defender  of  the 
principles  he  believed  were  right. 

Judge  W'yatt  was  married  March  28.  1844,  to 
Emily  M.  Gooding,  of  Fleming  County.  Ken- 
tucky, who  belonged  to  one  of  the  best  families 
of  the  "Blue  Grass"  State.  Twelve  children 
were  born  to  them,  of  whom  three  are  now  living, 
namely :  John  Cavan,  secretary  and  treasurer  and 
manager  of  the  Townsend  &  Wvatt  Drv  Goods 
Company,  of  St.  Joseph.  Missouri ;  William,  of 
Omaha,  Nebraska ;  and  George,  a  resident  of  St. 
Joseph,  [Missouri. 


♦ » » 


OHX  SUBLETT  LOGAN.  M.  D..  a 
retired  physician  of  St.  Joseph,  who 
has  many  just  claims  to  eminence  in  his 
profession,  is  one  of  the  State  of  Mis- 
souri's prominent  and  universally  es- 
teemed citizens.  He  was  born  at  Shelbyville, 
Kentucky,  June  25,  1836.  and  is  a  son  of  Thomas 
and  Frances  (Sublett)  Logan. 

Thomas  Logan  was  born  in  County  Donegal. 
Ireland.  August  7,  1801.  of  Scotch-Irish  parent- 
age, being  a  son  of  John  and  Jane  (Shannon) 
Logan  and  a  grandson  of  John  Logan,  of  County 
Donegal.  Ireland.  He  was  a  lineal  descendant  of 
Sir  Robert  Logan,  of  Restalig.  Scotland.  L'pon 
coming  to  America.  Thomas  Logan  settled  in 
Kentucky,  where  he  became  a  successful  mer- 
chant, reared  his  family  and  passed  out  of  life 
honored  and  respected,  dying  April  18,  1840. 
His  wife.  Frances  Sublett.  was  born  in  Wood- 
ford County,  Kentucky,  February  7,  18 18.  and 
Avas  a  daughter  of  Lewis  Sublett  and  a  grand- 
daughter of  Lewis  Sublett  and  Thomas  Cole- 
man, two  soldiers  of  the  Revolutionary  War.  who 
served  in  A'irginia  regiments  and  subsequently 
removed  to  Kentucky  and  fought  under  Daniel  j 
Boone  for  the  possession  of  that  beautiful  por-  ' 
tion  of  our  countrv.  Her  genealogv  is  interestinar  ; 
on  every  side.  Her  father  was  a  representative 
of  one  of  the  Huguenot  families  that  fled  from 
France  to  Hollanfl  immediately  after  the  revoca-  - 
tion  of  the  Edict  of  Nantes.  Their  services  to 
King  \\'illiam.  when  he  successfully  contended  j 
,for  the  English  throne,  won  the  gratitude  of  that  : 
monarch,  who  made  them  a  large  land  grant  in 
Mrginia,  upon  which  they  settled.  Her  father 
was  a  soldier  in  the  War  of  1812,  and  his  son, 
Joel  DuPuy  Sublett,  served  as  a  surgeon  in  the 
Mexican  War,  while  Dr.  Logan's  services  in  the 
Civil  War.  were  of  too  distinguished  a  character 
to  ever  be  forgotten.     The  mother  of  Dr.  Logan 


descended  from  four  Lewis  Subletts  and  from  the 
well  known  Strother  family,  which  has  also  been 
conspicuous  in  the  military  life  of  the  country. 
One  member  of  this  family.  William  Dabney 
Strother,  who  was  captain  in  the  Second  Georgia 
Regiment,  was  killed  in  the  battle  of  Guilford 
Court  House,  North  Carolina,  during  the  Revolu- 
tionary War,  while  his  father,  \\'illiam  Strother, 
served  through  that  entire  struggle  without  hurt 
and  subsequently  settled  in  Kentucky  upon  land 
granted  him  by  the  State  of  A'irginia.  for  his 
services :  ^^'illiam  Sirother's  daughter.  Sarah 
Dabney  Strother.  through  her  marriage  with 
Lieut. -Col.  I^chard  Taylor,  became  the  mother  of 
Gen.  Zachary  Taylor,  the  12th  President  of  the 
United  States.  The  Pannill,  Jennings  and  Dab- 
ney families  of  \'irginia.  of  this  same  connection, 
were  prominent  in  the  affairs  of  those  times. 
The  DuPuy,  Le  Mllain.  Martain.  Trabue.  Flour- 
noy,  McGruder.  Coleman.  Bailey.  Thornton  and 
Savage  families  of  \'irginia  were  kindred  of 
Lewis  Sublett.  Mrs.  Logan's  father. 

It  is  not  difficult  to  trace  in  the  present  sub- 
ject of  this  biography  inherited  virtues  of  a  noble 
ancestry.  It  was  liis  good  fortune  to  be  born 
into  a  family  where  education  was  prized  and  the 
means  possessed  to  give  the  children  every  op- 
portunit}-  the  times  afforded.  In  literary  and 
classical  courses.  Dr.  Logan  had  as  preceptors 
such  able  and  scholarly  men  as  Samuel  Womack, 
of  the  Boys'  Academy,  at  Shelbyville.  Kentucky : 
R.  T.  P.  Allen,  of  the  Kentucky  Military  In- 
stitute ;  and  Dr.  Waller,  of  Shelby  College. 
After  completing  the  course  at  the  last  named 
institution.  Dr.  Logan  went  to  Madison,  Wis- 
consin, where  he  studied  medicine  and  chemistry- 
under  Drs.  Schue  and  Faville.  He  then  entered 
the  Kentucky  School  of  Medicine,  at  Louisville, 
Kentucky,  wlicre  he  was  graduated  ;  he  then  com- 
])leted  his  studies  with  a  post-graduate  course  at 
Jefferson  College,  Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania. 

After  this  preparation,  equipped  at  ever}^ 
point,  th.e  young  physician  came  to  St.  Joseph, 
Missouri,  and  here  entered  upon  the  practice  of 
his  profession.  In  1862  he  was  appointed  sur- 
geon in  the  United  States  Hospital  No.  13,  lo- 
cated at  Louisville,  Kentucky,  one  of  the  largest 
established  during  the  Civil  \\'ar  for  the  care 
of  the  wounded  and  sick  of  the  Federal  Army. 
During  his  service  here  he  had  charge  of  several 
large  wards,  also  a  hospital  at  Jeffersonville.  Indi- 
ana, and  an  invalid  corps  of  1,200  men  at  Camp 
Holt,  near  New  Albany,  Indiana.  Later,  Sur- 
geon Logan  was  directed  to  establish  a  regimental 


268 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY  AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


hospital  for  the  nth  Regiment,  Missouri  Vol. 
Cav.,  at  Camp  Gamble,  near  St.  Louis,  and  sub- 
sequently he  was  assigned  to  the  charge  of  a 
ward  in  General  Hospital,  No.  5,  in  that  city. 

It  was  in  1863,  during  his  hospital  service  at 
Louisville,  Kentucky,  that  Dr.  Logan  performed 
professional  services  that  were  of  great  and  per- 
manent value  to  the  country  and  to  the  science  of 
medicine.  While  he  was  not  the  discoverer  of 
bromine.  Dr.  Logan  undoubtedly  was  the  first  to 
use  this  agent  in  the  treatment  of  a  gangrenous 
sore  with  perfect  success,  and  the  case  is  on 
record  in  the  "United  States  Medical  and  Sur- 
gical History  of  the  War  of  the  Rebellion."  The 
case  was  'that  of  Corporal  Jesse  Havens,  of 
Company  F,  69th  Reg.,  Ohio  Vol.  Inf.,  whose 
wound,  received  December  31.  1862,  at  Murfrees- 
boro,  developed  hosjjital  gangrene.  This  wound 
was  from  a  conical  ball  and  was  situated  in  the 
anterior  tibial  region,  lower  third  of  the  leg.  The 
wound  was  treated  by  Surgeon  Logan  with  a 
solution  of  bromine  and  with  such  immediate  suc- 
cess that  the  scientific  practitioner  was  ordered  to 
take  charge  of  the  13  patienfs  in  Hospital  No.  2, 
all  of  whom  were  successfully  treated.  As  a 
result,  this  treatment  was  adopted  by  the  medi- 
cal department  of  the  army  and  came  to  be  prac- 
ticed in  all  the  national  hospitals. 

Dr.  Logan's  service  as  a  surgeon  in  the  United 
States  Army  terminated  April  14,  1864,  and  soon 
after  he  returned  to  St.  Joseph,  making  his  home 
upon  a  farm  which  he  had  previously  purchased. 
In  1866  he  returned  to  Louisville,  Kentucky, 
where  he  resided  until  1870,  when  he  again  re- 
turned to  Missouri,  settled  on  a  farm  which  he 
purchased  in  Andrew  County,  five  miles  north  of 
St.  Josepli.  and  lived  there  several  years.  In 
1879  lie  became  a  resident  of  the  city,  which  has 
been  his  permanent  home  ever  since.  In  the 
same  year  he  became  interested  in  cattle  ranching 
in  Texas  and  in  Wyoming,  and  also  in  buying  and 
selling  lands  in  Texas  and  Missouri.  On  Janu- 
ary 23,  1887.  he  was  appointed  administrator  of 
the  large  estate  left  by  the  late  Milton  Tootle. 
The  property  was  valued  at  $4,000,000,  and  the 
work  of  settling  the  estate  required  the  Doctor's 
attention  for  some  years.  He  has  also  been  a 
large  dealer  in  real  estate  in  St.  Joseph,  Mis- 
souri :  in  Louisville,  Kentucky ;  and  in  the 
smaller  cities  of  Fort  Worth.  Corpus  Christi, 
Llano  and  Houston,  Texas.  In  1894,  at  Houston, 
Texas,  he  erected  the  Brazos  Hotel,  a  four-story 
brick  building,  opposite  the  Central  Depot.  In 
1904  he   completed   a  very  attractive  office  and 


store  building  in  St.  Joseph  at  the  corner  of 
Eighth  and  Edmond  streets ;  every  room  of  this 
handsome  building  was  engaged  before  the  struc- 
ture was  completed. 

On  many  occasions  Dr.  Logan  has  been  ap- 
pointed to  office  of  honor,  trust  and  responsi- 
bility. In  1865  he  served  as  surgeon  of  the 
Buchanan  County  militia,  under  a  commission 
from  Governor  Thomas  C.  Fletcher.  During  the 
administration  of  Governor  Thomas  J.  Critten- 
den, he  served  as  fish  commissipner  of  the  State 
of  Missouri,  succeeding  ex-Governor  Silas 
Woodson,  May  13,  1882,  and  on  June  20.  1885. 
he  was  reappointed  to  the  position  for  the  full 
term  of  four  years  by  Governor  John  S.  Marma- 
duke.  On  May  2,  1897,  he  was  appointed  by 
Governor  Lon  C.  Stephens  as  a  member  of  the 
board  of  managers  of  the  Bureau  of  Geology  and 
Mines,  for  the  State  of  Missouri,  for  a  term  of 
four  years.  While  a  member  of  the  board,  he 
secured  the  passage  of  a  bill  by  the  Legislature, 
authorizing  the  expenditure  of  $10,000  for  core 
drilling,  to  find  the  economic  deposits  of  the 
State  for  the  land-owners  and  tax-payers.  He 
put  down  a  four-inch  core  drill  five  miles  east  of 
St.  Joseph  and  at  a  depth  of  747  found  a  work- 
able vein  of  coal  22  inches  in  thickness,  which 
will  be  worked  in  the  near  future. 

Dr.  Logan  was  married  on  N^ovember  20, 
1862,  to  Emma  P.  Cotton,  who  is  a  daughter  of 
Charles  and  Sarah  (Puryear)  Cotton,  of  ^^'ood- 
frd  County,  Kentucky,  of  mingled  Huguenot  and 
English  descent.  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Logan  are  the 
parents  of  six  sons,  namely :  Charles  C,  Thomas 
T.,  John  S.,  Jr.,  Lewis  S.,  Milton  T.  and  Frank 
P.  Charles  C.  Logan,  who  is  a  physician,  was 
first  married  February  6.  looo.  to  Edith  Pearl 
Campbell,  and  the  issue  of  this  union  was  one 
son. — Samuel  James :  his  second  marriage,  oc- 
curring June  22,  1904,  was  to  Marie  Luy,  of  Los 
Angeles.  California.  John  S.  Logan,  Jr.,  was 
born  November  i,  1869,  and  was  married  No- 
vember 20,  1899,  to  Caroline  Ashton  Sheridan; 
thev  h.ave  two  sons,^ — Sheridan,  l)orn  December 
9,  1900,  and  Thomas  Ashton,  born  July  i,  1903. 
Frank  P.  Logan  married  Margaret  Croysdale  of 
Kansas  City,  Missouri,  and  has  three  sons, — 
John  S..  David  C.  and  Frank  P.,  Jr. 

In  politics.  Dr.  Logan  was  originally  a  Whig 
and  cast  his  first  presidential  vote  for  Bell  and 
Everett ;  since  then  he  has  voted  with  the  Demo- 
cratic ])arty.  He  was  a  delegate  in  the  State 
convention  of  1872,  which  nominated  Silas 
Woodson  for  Governor,  and  in  that  of  1880.  when 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


269 


Thomas  J.  Crittenden  was  named  for  the  same 
position.  In  his  rehgious  hfe,  Dr.  Logan  has 
been  a  member  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church 
of  St.  Joseph  since  1864. 

Dr.  Logan  is  a  deeply  studious  man,  pos- 
sessed of  a  large  fund  of  knowledge,  and  is  a 
recognized  authorit\-  on  geology  and  kindred  sub- 
jects. He  is  in  the  full  vigor  of  his  powers,  both 
mentall}-  and  physically,  and  his  wealth  of  scien- 
tific knowledge  continues,,  through  his  writings, 
to  be  of  value  to  his  fellow  men.  Through  hered- 
itary qualifications,  he  holds  membership  in  the 
Missouri  Chapter,  Sons  of  the  Revolution.  The 
evening  of  life  is  being  passed  in  a  beautiful 
home  at  No.  408  nth  street,  St.  Joseph,  one  de- 
lightfully located  and  commandmg  a  view  which 
in  itself  is  an  inspiration — a  picture  painted  by 
no  mortal  hand. 


-♦-•-<>- 


EORGE  W.  BUELL.  Prominent  among 
the  energetic  and  successful  business 
men  of  St.  Joseph,  was  the  late  George 
W.  Buell,  for  many  years  president  of 
the  Euell  Manufacturing  Company  of 
this  city  and  who,  during  all  his  life,  was  iden- 
tified with  the  milling  industry.  Mr.  Buell  was 
born  in  Rodman,  Jefferson  County,  New  York, 
and  (lied  at  St.  Joseph,  Missouri,  July  4,  1900. 

His  father,  Norman  Buell,  was  born  in  Rod- 
man. New  York,  April  25,  1806,  and  was  de- 
scended through  a  long  line  of  ancestors  from 
\\'illiam  Buell  who  came  to  America  in  the  early 
])art  of  the  17th  century  from  Chesterton,  Hunt- 
ingdonshire. England,  and  settled  in  Dorchester, 
Massachusetts,  from  which  place  he  removed  to 
Windsor,  Connecticut.  His  oldest  child  was 
Samuel  Buell,  who  was  born  at  Windsor  and  lived 
subsequently  at  Killingworth,  Connecticut.  Sam- 
uel Buell's  oldest  child  was  Samuel  of  Killing- 
worth,  whose  nth  child  was  Joseph  of  Killing- 
worth  and  Somers.  Connecticut,  and  later  of 
Newport,  New  Hampshire,  and,  Orwell,  Ver- 
mont. Joseph  Buell's  oldest  child  was  Matthew 
Buell,  whose  places  of  residence  are  given  as 
being  the  same  as  his  father's.  When  the  new's 
reached  Somers,  Connecticut,  that  there  had  been 
fighting  at  Lexington,  Matthew  Buell  hastened 
to  the  scene  of  action.  He  is  said  to  have  been 
the  last  man  to  leave  the  field  after  the  battle  of 
Ihmker  Hill.  He  held  a  commission  as  lieutenanc 
and  served  three  years  in  the  war.  Lieutenant 
Buell's  eldest  child  was  Matthew  Buell,  who  was 


born  in  Newport,  New  Hampshire,  and  later 
lived  in  Somers,  Connecticut,  where  his  eldest 
son,  John,  the  grandfather  of  our  subject,  was 
born,  and  from  which  town  he  removed  to  Rod- 
man, New  York. 

Our  subject's  father  was  a  manufacturer  of 
woolens  in  Illinois,  and  in  his  father's  mill  George 
learned  the  business,  becoming  a  master  of  the 
details  of  woolen  manufacturing  at  an  early  age. 

In  1848  the  family  removed  to  St.  Joseph, 
Missouri,  and  here  our  subject  soon  started  a 
small  sawmill,  which  he  located  on  Blacksnake 
Creek.  Later  he  removed  to  Weston,  Missouri, 
where  he  engaged  in  flour  milling.  This,  how- 
ever, did  not  agree  with  his  health  and  he  re- 
turned to  St.  Joseph  where  he  started  a  woolen 
mill  on  the  site  of  his  old  sawmill.  From  the 
beginning  this  business  prospered  and  as  a  nat- 
ural consequence  rapidly  developed,  his  opera- 
tions showing  a  profit  of  from  $ri.ooo  to  $29,000 
per  annum. 

In  1877  at  the  solicitation  of  John  S.  Lemon 
(who  had  come  into  possession  of  a  small  v.'oolen 
mill  at  Blue  Rapids,  Kansas)  and  oti.ers,  our  sub- 
ject joined  with  them  in  the  incorporation  of  the 
Buell  Manufacturing  Company,  of  which  he  be- 
came presitlent,  holding  the  office  until  the  time 
of  his  death.  Though  Mr.  Buell  was  handicapped 
in  many  ways  by  the  other  directors,  under  his 
skillful  management  the  plant  became  the  largest 
of  the  kind  in  the  West.  It  now  has  a  capital 
stock  of  $200,000.  Its  product  of  blankets,  robes 
and  flannels  is  sold  in  every  State  and  Territory 
of  the  L'nion,  even  to  Alaska  where  prior  to  Mr. 
Buell's  death  a  large  trade  had  been  established. 
The  wool  used  in  this  mill  is  nearly  all  grown  in 
Missouri,  of  which  1,000.000  pounds  are  used 
annually.  They  keep  175  hands  employed,  their 
pay-roll  amounting  to  about  $5,500  a  month, 
much  of  which  goes  to  swell  the  prosperity  of  .St. 
Joseph.  Their  annual  production  has  reached 
more  than  $250,000  per  annum.  In  1882  Mr. 
Buell  authorized  the  erection  of  the  present  fine 
plant,  which  including  the  improved  machinery 
which  was  introduced  reached  a  cost  of  $250,000. 
It  covers  17  acres  of  land,  and  is  one  of  the  great 
industries  to  which  St.  Joseph  points  with  pride, 
as  having  grown  up  within  her  own  borders 
through  the  energy  of  home  endeavor.  F'rom 
i860  until  his  death  40  years  later,  Mr.  Buell  was 
the  head  and  front  of  this  great  enterprise,  its 
main  directing  spirit,  and  to  him  its  wonderful 
development  was  due. 

The  late  Mr.  Buell  was  twice  married  ;  first  to 


2/0 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY  AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


Juliet  Bancroft,  who  was  born  in  Clay  County, 
Missouri,  and  who  was  a  niece. of  George  Ban- 
croft, the  historian.  She  died  in  187 1,  leaving  a 
family  of  six  children :  Adelaide,  wife  of  N.  W. 
Sherman  of  Chicago ;  William  Norman,  of  Gil- 
man,  Colorado ;  John  Oliver,  of  St.  Joseph ; 
Florence  N..  wife  of  E.  Y.  Riley  of  Chicago; 
Benjamin  Bancroft,  of  San  Francisco ;  and  Mattie 
May,  wife  of  Charles  Miller  of  Chicago.  On 
September  8.  1875,  ^^^-  Buell  was  married  to  the 
lady  who  still  survives  him  with  two  children  : 
Juliet,  wife  of  Francis  McCord  of  St.  Joseph  ; 
and  George  W.,  Jr..  of  San  Francisco.  Mrs. 
Buell  was  formerly  Clara  Ellen  Mapstone,  the 
second  daughter  of  Richard  Mapstone,  a  native 
of  Bristol,  England,  and  for  a  long  period  a 
prominent  real  estate  dealer  in  St.  Joseph.  Mrs. 
Buell  was  born  in  Michigan.  Her  pleasant  home 
in  St.  Joseph  is  situated  at  No.  730  North  22d 
street. 

In  addition  to  his  large  manufacturing  inter- 
ests, the  late  Mr.  Buell  was  interested  in  other 
business  enterprises  in  association  with  such 
prominent  men  as  J.  W.  Bailey,  John  S.  Lemon 
and  W,  N.  Buell.  He  was  not  only  a  man  of 
great  business  ability,  but  was  also  a  broad- 
minded,  public-spirited  citizen,  one  who  was 
universally  esteemed  in  St,  Joseph.  For  more 
than  30  years,  the  old  Buell  home  at  loth  and 
Charles  streets  was  noted  for  its  lavish  hospitality 
and  was  the  scene  of  many  delightful  enter- 
tainments. He  was  a  32d  degree  Mason,  being  a 
member  of  all  the  ]\Iasonic  bodies  in  St.  Joseph. 
He  was  a  man  of  charitable  impulses  and  gave 
largely  to  the  First  Baptist  Church,  of  which  he 
Avas  a  consistent  member  and  of  which  he  has 
been  an  official  for  24  years. 


^  >» 


HOMAS  H.  DOYLE,  M.  D..  of  St. 
Jose])h,  Missouri,  was  born  November 
5,  1840,  at  Doylesburg,  Franklin 
County,  Pennsylvania.  He  received  his 
literary  education  in  the  public  schools 
of  his  native  place,  and  at  St.  Francis  College, 
Loretto,  Cambria  County,  Pennsylvania,  in 
charge  of  the  Franciscan  Brothers.  Commencing 
the  study  of  medicine  in  the  year  1861.  he  grad- 
uated from  the  Medical  Department  of  the  Uni- 
versity of  the  City  of  New  York  in  March,  1865. 
He  practiced  his  profession  in  Chest  Springs, 
Cambria  County.  Pennsylvania,  until  Sentembcr, 
1868,  when  he  returned  to  New  York  City,  and 


attended  a  post-graduate  course  in  Bellevue  Hos- 
pital Medical  College,  session  of  1868-69. 

In  the  spring  of  1869  he  arrived  in  St.  Joseph, 
and  formed  a  partnership  with  Dr.  E.  A.  Done- 
Ian,  for  the  practice  of  his  profession,  which 
ct.nitinued  for  four  years.  He  was  a  member  of 
the  faculty  of  the  first  medical  college  ever  estab- 
lished in  St.  Joseph,  known  as  "The  St.  Joseph 
Hospital  Medical  College,"  being  assigned  to  the 
professorship  of  the  principles  and  practice  of 
medicine  and  clinical  medicine.  This  institution 
in  after  years  became  the  Ensworth  Medical  Col- 
lege, in  whi'ch  institution  he  still  holds  the  posi- 
tion of  professor  of  the  principles  and  practice 
of  medicine  and  clinical  medicine,  and  is  also 
president  of  the  board  of  trustees.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  American  Medical  Association,  the 
Missouri  State  Medical  Association,  the  Missouri 
Valley  Medical  Association,  the  St.  Joseph  Medi- 
cal Society  and  the  Buchanan  County  Medical 
Society,  of  which  organization  he  was  the  first 
president.  He  was  president  of  the  Board  of 
U.  S.  Pension  Examining  Surgeons  of  St.  Joseph 
for  eight  years,  served  as  health  officer  of  the  city 
for  two  years,  and  was  mayor  of  the  city  from 
1886  to  1888.  He  was  major  and  surgeon  of  the 
"Saxton  Rifles."  a  State  military  organization  of 
St.  Joseph  in  existence  several  years  ago. 

On  October  12,  1871,  Dr.  Doyle  was  married 
to  Margaret  G.  Sheehan  of  St.  Joseph.  They 
have  two  surviving  children :  Agnes  and  John  M. 
The  latter  is  also  a  physician,  and  is  serving  his 
second  term  as  coroner  of  Buchanan  County ;  he 
also  holds  the  professorship  of  the  practice  of 
medicine  and  physical  diagnosis  in  the  Ensworth 
Medical  College.  The  family  belong  to  the  Cath- 
olic Church,  being  leading  members  of  the  Cathe- 
dral parish. 

Dr.  Doyle  has  also  been  a  prominent  man  of 
affairs  in  this  city,  identified  with  much  of  its 
improvement  and  good  government.  In  politics 
he  is  a  Democrat,  one  of  the  leaders  and  coun- 
sellors of  his  party. 


♦  • » 


FORGE  W.  COLLINS,  secretary  of  the 
cutlery  and  sporting  goods  department 
of  the  Wyeth  Hardware  &  Manufac- 
turing Company,  one  of  the  large  and 
important  industries  of  St.  Joseph,  was 
born  at  Grafton,  Virginia  (now  West  Virginia), 
lune  26,  1858,  and  is  a  son  of  George  C.  and 
Martha  A.   (Purdy)  Collins. 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


273 


The  parents  of  Mr.  Collins  belong  to  old 
Baltimore  families,  which  have  had  many  prom- 
inent representatives  in  railroad  circles.  The 
•greater  part  of  the  life  of  George  C.  Collins  has 
been  spent  in  railroad  work,  holding  important 
positions  with  the  Baltimore  &  Ohio  and  Illinois 
Central  railroads  and  The  Pullman  Company  in 
Baltimore,  Grafton,  Chicago  and  St.  Louis.  He 
now  lives  retired  in  the  last  named  city.  He 
married  Martha  A.  Purdy,  who  died  at  Chicago, 
when  our  subject  was  but  three  years  old.  One 
of  her  brothers.  Warren  A.  Purdy,  formerly  pres- 
ident of  the  Chicago,  Rock  Island  &  Pacific  Rail- 
way Company,  now  lives  retired,  as  does  also  a 
second  brother  who  was  formerl}-  one  of  the 
division  superintendents  of  the  Illinois  Central 
Railroad.  Air.  and  Mrs.  Collins  had  five  children, 
the  two  survivors  being:  A.  L..  who  is  in  the  em- 
ploy of  The  Pullman  Company  at  St.  Louis ; 
and  George  W.,  of  this  sketch. 

Our  subject  was  two  years  old  when  his 
parents  moved  to  Chicago,  where  they  remained 
eight  years  and  then  removed  to  St.  Louis,  where 
the  youth  completed  his  education  and  entered 
into  business  in  1879.  He  became  connected 
•with  the  largest  exclusive  sporting  goods  house 
in  the  United  States  (The  E.  C.  Meacham  Arms 
Company)  and  remained  with  that  firm  for  six 
years.  He  then  went  to  Kansas  City,  and  en- 
gaged in  the  same  line  with  E.  E.  Menges,  but 
18  months  later  returned  to  the  former  house, 
with  which  he  remained  for  seven  years.  He 
then  was  associated  for  seven  more  years  with 
the  Fletcher  Hardware  Company,  at  Detroit, 
Michigan,  and  continued  with  that  firm  Imtil  he 
came  to  St.  Joseph. 

In  ]\Iarch,  1899.  Mr.  Collins  became  manager 
of  the  cutlery  and  sporting  goods  department  of 
the  Wyeth  Hardware  &  Manufacturing  Com- 
pany, and  in  190T  he  was  elected  one  of  the  com- 
pany's secretaries.  Mr.  Collins'  acquaintance 
with  the  cutlery  and  sporting  goods  business  is 
complete,  covering  a  period  of  25  years,  as  buver 
and  department  manager  :  he  is  said  to  have  had 
the  greatest  experience  of  anyone  of  his  age  in 
this  line. 

In  1879  Mr.  Collins  married  Fannie  M.  Hailc. 
a  member  of  a  prominent  family  of  St.  Louis. 
She  has  but  recently  passed  away,  leaving  a 
large  circle  of  sorrowing  friends.  She  was  an 
active  and  beloved  member  of  the  First  Presby- 
terian Church  of  St.  Josei)h,  df  which  Mr.  Col- 
lins is  also  a  member.     He  is  a  member  of  the 


Benton  and  Lotus  clubs  and  is  fraternally  con- 
nected with  the  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order 
of  Elks. 


-♦-•-♦- 


HRISTIAN  LUD\\TG  RUTT,  compiler 
and  editor  of  the  foregoing  history,  was 
born  in  Milwaukee,  Wisconsin,  October 
8,  1859,  the  son  of  Christian  and  Eva 
Kathcrina  (Gaiss)  Rutt.  His  parents 
were  both  German,  from  the  neighborhood  of 
Stromberg,  in  Rhenish  Prussia,  a  short  distance 
from  Bingen.  on  the  opposite  shore  of  the  river 
Rhine.  In  September  of  1865.  the  family  re- 
moved to  Kansas,  locating  in  Atchison.  The  boy 
was  sent  to  school  at  St.  Benedict's,  then  a  prim- 
itive academy,  but  which  has  since  become  fa- 
mous in  the  \\'est  as  a  college.  After  having  ac- 
quired the  rudiments  of  English.  German  and 
Latin,  he  left  school,  early  in  his  13th  year,  and 
went  to  work  in  a  brick-yard.  Subsequently  he 
labored  in  a  boiler-shop,  was  helper  to  a  plumber, 
tried  bookbinding  and  the  drug  trade,  and  finally 
found  congenial  employment  as  "devil"  in  the 
composing  room  of  the  Atchison  Champion,  then 
a  prosperous  morning  newspaper,  edited  and  pub- 
lished by  the  late  Col.  John  A.  Martin,  afterward 
Governor  of  Kansas.  As  a  journeyman  printer, 
he  traveled  about  the  country,  after  the  manner  of 
journeymen  printers  of  those  days,  until  Novem- 
ber of  1881.  when  he  forsook  the  "case''  for  the 
editorial  room,  having  been  made  telegraph  edi- 
tor of  the  Lco'c'cnicorth  Sfaiidard,  then  a  morning 
paper,  edited  by  Ex-United  States  Senator  Ed- 
gar G.  Ross  of  Kansas.  Subsequently  he  served 
in  a  similar  capacity  on  the  Leavenworth  Times, 
under  the  late  D.  R.  Anthony.  In  the  summer  of 
1882  he  published  a  weekly  paper  at  Atchison. — 
the  Sunday  Monun_<^  Call, — in  partnership  with 
Luther  L.  Higby.  It  was  a  losing  venture  and 
he  returned  to  Leavenworth  and  was  city  editor 
of  the  Standard  until  January  of  1883,  when  he 
canie  to  St.  Joseph.  Missouri,  and  served  as  tele- 
gra]-)h  editor  of  the  Gazette  until  the  following 
June,  when  he  accepted  an  offer  from  the  Fort 
Worth  (Texas)  Ga.zette.  He  remained  in  Texas 
until  the  following  December,  holding  positions 
oti  the  San  .Intonio  Express,  the  Galveston 
Xezi'S,  the  Austin  Statesman  and  the  IVaeo  Ex- 
aminer. Malaria  sent  him  North  and  he  found  a 
welcome  at  the  Ca.::efte.  where  he  served  as  tele- 
gra]:)h  editor  and  city  editor  until  INIay  i,  1887, 
when  he  was  appointed  secretary  of  th.e  Board 


274 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY  AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


of  Police  Commissioners,  which  position  he  held 
for  13  years,  during  which  period,  however,  he 
maintained  a  connection  with  the  Gazette  as 
editorial  writer.  In  jMarch,  lyoo,  he  was  made 
editor-in-chief  of  the  Gazette  and  in  June  of  that 
year  was  made  manager  of  that  paper.  Two 
months  afterward  when  the  Gazette  and  Herald 
were  consolidated,  he  was  made  manager  of  the 
Gazette-Herald,  and  when  the  pajxT  was  sold  he 
was  retained  as  managing  editor,  which  place  he 
held  until  August  of  1902,  when  he  resigned  to 
take  charge  of  a  political  department  in  the  Daily 
Nexijs.  In  October,  1902,  he  was  appointed  man- 
aging editor  of  the  Daily  News,  which  place  he 
retained  at  the  consolidation  of  the  Nezvs  and 
Press,  and  which  he  holds  at  this  time. 

Mr.  Rutt  was  married  May  11,  1887,  to  Annie 
Herbst,  daughter  of  George  and  Theresa  Herbst. 
Mrs.  Rutt  is  a  native  of  St.  Joseph.  Like  her 
husband,  she  is  of  German  descent.  Five  chil- 
dren were  born  to  this  union :  Helen  Katherine, 
March  2,  1888;  Marie  Theresa,  October  13,  1890; 
Francesca  Maria,  November  14,  1894:  Anna 
Katherine,  June  16,  1898;  and  Christian  L.,  Oc- 
tober 6,  T903.     The  first  two  named  are  dead. 

Our  subject's  parents  are  dead,  the  father 
having  died  in  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  December 
29,  1895,  ^"fl  the  mother,  in  Boon vi He,  Missouri, 
December  21,  1900.  There  were  three  children 
in  the  parental  family,  all  of  whom  are  alive,  our 
subject's  two  sisters, — Mrs.  William  H.  Wachtel 
and  Mrs.  John  Tenner, — being  residents  of  St. 
Louis. 

Our  sul)iect  is  a  Roman  Catholic,  and  is  a 
member  of  the  Knights  of  Columbus,  the  Catholic 
Order  of  Foresters,  St.  Joseph's  Benevolent  So- 
ciety, organizations  of  that  faith.  He  is  also  an 
active  member  of  the  Monroe  Club  (Democratic) 
and  an  honorary  member  of  the  Typographical 
Union.  IMr.  Rutt's  portrait  appears  on  a  preced- 
ing page. 

^  « » 

APT.   P.  V.  WISE,  the  oldest  member 
of  the  bar  of  Buchanan  Cotmty,  has 
been  engaged  in  practice  at  St.  Joseph 
since  1869  and  has  attained  wide  prom- 
inence in  his  profession.    Captain  Wise 
was  born  in  1829  near  Frankfort.  Kentucky,  his 
parents  having  removed  to  that  State  from  Vir- 
ginia. 

John  Wise,  his  father,  particijiated  in  the 
War  of  181 2,  and  was  in  the  battle  of  New 
Orleans,   in   January,    1815,   with   Gen.   Andrew 


Jackson,  and  also  served  in  a  number  of  engage- 
ments with  the  Indians.  He  removed  to  Pike 
County,  Missouri,  in  1832,  remained  there  for  a 
short  time,  and  then  went  to  Galena,  Illinois, 
where  he  engaged  in  lead  niining  until  1836.  In 
that  year  he  purchased  a  farm  in  Grant  County, 
Wisconsin,  where  he  lived  the  remainder  of  his 
life. 

Captain  Wise  and  his  elder  brother,  Urbino, 
enlisted  in  the  army  for  service  in  the  Mexican 
War,  the  former  belonging  to  the  Third  Mounted 
Riflemen  and  serving  under  Gen.  Zachary  Ta_\- 
lor,  and  the  latter  serving  under  Gen.  Winfield 
Scott.  In  1849  ^""tir  subject's  company  went  to 
Oregon  with  Colonel  Loring's  regiment.  At  the 
expiration  of  his  three  years'  term  of  enlistment, 
he  went  to  California  and  worked  in  the  gold 
mines  of  Shasta  County  until  the  summer  of  1850, 
when  he  journeyed  through  Mexico,  Venezuela 
and  Cuba  on  a  ])rospecting  trip.  Returning  to 
the  United  States,  he  went  up  the  Mississippi 
River  from  New  Orleans  to  Galena,  Illinois, 
from  which  place  many  of  the  citizens  had  run 
away  because  of  the  cholera  epidemic.  Removing 
then  to  Grant  County,  Wisconsin,  he  located  at 
Beetown,  where  he  studied  l^hv  and  was  admitted 
to  the  bar  in  April,  1853.  He  began  practice 
there  and  success  marked  his  efiforts  from  the 
start,  his  first  case  being  one  against  the  two 
attorneys  with  whom  he  had  studied.  After  an 
extended  stay  in  California,  he  returned  to  Grant 
Coimty,  and  later  located  in  Prescott,  Pierce 
County,  Wisconsin,  where  he  practiced  his  pro- 
fession until  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  War.  At 
the  first  call  to  arms,  he  enlisted,  in  April,  1861, 
in  Company  B,  6th  Reg.,  Wisconsin  Vol.  Inf., 
for  the  three  months'  service.  On  the  21st  of 
July,  1861.  he  reenlisted  as  a  private  in  Company 
V,  1st  Reg.,  Wisconsin  \'ol.  Inf.  He  was  soon 
after  made  a  ist  sergeant,  then  became  a  2d  lieu- 
tenant, and  in  December.  t86i.  was  commis- 
sioned a  1st  lieutenant.  At  the  battle  of  Perry- 
ville,  Kentucky,  on  October  8,  1862,  Lieutenant 
Wise  was  in  command  of  his  regiment,  and  in 
this  action  received  a  wound  from  which  he  has 
never  recovered.  He  was  discharged  on  account 
of  said  wound  on  February  8.  1864.  Thirty  days 
later  he  enlisted  in  Company  1',  37th  Reg..  Wis- 
consin Vol.  Inf.  In  May  of  that  year  he  was  in 
charge  as  captain  of  a  com])any  of  Menominee 
Indians,  serving  in  the  Army  of  the  Potomac. 
They  joined  the  army  in  its  march  to  Richmond 
and  arrived  before  Petersburg.  Virginia,  June 
18,  1864,  ^"(1  there  took  part  in  the  siege.     Cap- 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


'■/  D 


tain  \\'ise  was  later  appointed  captain  of  Com- 
pany G,  31st  Reg..  U.  S.  Volunteers,  and  there- 
after was  in  all  the  engagements  participated  in 
by  that  regiment  until  April  2,  1865,  when  the 
regiment  entered  the  city  of  Petersburg  and  then 
followed  in  pursuit  of  Lee's  Army,  which  sur- 
rendered on  April  Qth  of  that  year.  After  receiv- 
ing his  honorable  discharge  from  the  army,  Cap- 
tain Wise  returned  to  Pierce  County,  Wisconsin, 
and  there  practiced  law  until  1869,  when  he  came 
to  St.  Joseph.  Missouri,  and  here  straightway 
gained  prominence  by  winning  a  difficult  case  of 
State-wide  importance.  AMth  the  exception  of 
two  or  three  years  when  he  was  associated  with 
partners,  he  has  always  practiced  alone. 

On  April  10.  1853.  Captain  Wise  was  joined 
in  marriage  with  Elizabeth  Hammonds,  daugh- 
ter of  Slade  Hammonds,  of  Virginia.  ]Mrs.  Wise 
died  January  19.  1899,  aged  62  years,  leaving  a 
son.  \'irgil.  who  is  assistant  treasurer  of  the 
Lyceum  Theatre  of  St.  Joseph.  In  1899.  our 
subject  married  Mrs.  Rebecca  Bean.  Politically, 
he  is  a  Jeffersonian  Democrat,  and  was  elected 
district  attorney  and  mayor  at  Prescott,  Wis- 
consin, and  also  served  as  police  judge. 

Captain  Wise  is  in  enthusiastic  G.  A.  R.  man. 
He  is  full  of  the  military  spirit  and  would  un- 
doubtedly have  followed  a  military  career  but  for 
the  injury  he  received.  In  1866  he  organized  at 
Prescott  the  first  G.  A.  R.  post  in  Northwestern 
\\  isconsin.  He  was  a  member  and  senior  vice- 
commander  of  Custer  Post.  G.  A.  R.,  of  St. 
Joseph,  until  1883,  and  from  that  year  until  1886 
he  was  a  member  of  Sumner  Post  at  Sacramento, 
California.  He  was  for  two  years  commander  of 
Chester  Harding  Post.  No.  182,  of  St.  Joseph. 
In  1894  he  became  a  member  of  John  Miller 
Post,  G.  A.  R.,  at  Seattle,  Washington.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Union  \>teran  Legion,  of  which 
he  is  a  past  colonel,  and  is  also  a  member  of  the 
INIiHtary  Order  of  the  Loyal  Legion  of  the 
United  States.  He  has  been  a  ]\Iason  since  1858, 
and  also  belongs  to  the  Knights  of  Pythias  and 
Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows :  he  has 
passed  through  all  the  chairs  of  the  two  last 
named  societies.  At  one  time  he  was  a  member 
of  16  benevolent  and  fraternal  orders. 

Captain  Wise  has  traveled  very  extensively 
and  has  been  in  every  State  or  Territory  of  the 
L'nion,  except  Alaska,  and  has  made  a  tour  of 
Europe,  visiting  all  the  important  battle-fields. 
In  all.  he  has  made  25  trijjs  from  the  Middle  West 
to  the  Pacific  Coast.  He  has  visited  the  West 
Indies  and  also  made  an  investigation  of  the  route 


of  the  Panama  Canal.  During  the  months  of 
Augtist  and  September,  1903,  he  made  a  trip  of 
over  7.500  miles  through  the  \A'estern  part  of 
this  country.  Accustomed  to  making  keen  obser- 
vations by  reason  of  his  extensive  travels,  his 
fund  of  knowledge  is  extremely  large  and  diver- 
sified. He  keeps  thoroughly  posted  on  what  is 
going  on  in  the  world  and  puts  his  observations  to 
practical  use. 


*  «  » 


(  )L.  JOHN  F.  TYLER,  one  of  the  lead- 
ing business  men  of  St.  Joseph,  the 
senior  member  of  the  well-known  real 
estate  and  loan  firm  of  John  F.  Tyler 
&  Company,  has  other  claims  to  prom- 
inence, being  one  Of  the  city's  capitalists  and  an 
honored  survivor  of  the  Civil  \\"ar.  in  which  he 
took  a  distinguished  part.  Colonel  Tyler  was  born 
en  September  12.  1838.  in  Jonesville.  Lee  Cotinty, 
\  irginia,  and  is  a  son  of  Henry  C.  and  Jane  E. 
(Fulkerson)  Tyler. 

Colonel  Tvler  is  of  Pilgrim  ancestrv,  his  fore- 
bears  having  come  to  America  in  the  "May- 
flower.'' His  paternal  grandfather  participated 
in  the  Revolutionary  War  in  a  ^lassachusetts 
company.  His  father,  Henry  C.  Tyler,  was  born 
on  his  father's  farm  near  Lenox,  Massachusetts. 
Removing  to  \'irginia  soon  after  reaching  his 
majority,  he  there  embarked  in  a  mercantile  busi- 
ness. In  connection  with  his  mercantile  business, 
he  engaged  in  large  stock  dealings,  buying  all 
stock  offered  for  sale  in  that  section  of  the  coun- 
try, the  farmers  taking  their  pay  largelv  in  mer- 
chandise. Drovers  were  employed  to  drive  the 
stock  thus  purchased  to  the  planters  in  Virginia 
and  the  Carolinas.  where  they  were  sold.  He 
owned  thousands  of  acres  in  the  neighborhood  of 
Cumberland  Gap,  Tennessee.  Part  of  this  prop- 
erty was  afterward  purchased  by  a  British  svn- 
dicate  and  built  up  and  improved  as  a  health  re- 
sort. He  was  a  man  of  great  business  capacity 
and  successfully  engineered  many  large  enter- 
prises. He  built  and  conducted  stores  in  three 
States. — \'irginia.  Kentucky,  and  Tennessee. — 
and  was  conducting  eight  in  all  at  the  time  of 
his  death.  He  took  a  large  interest  in  the  ma- 
terial development  of  the  surrounding  country, 
especially  in  the  building  of  good  roads.  Al- 
though he  died  in  185 1  at  the  early  age  of  45 
years,  he  had  accomplishetl  more  in  his  lifetime 
than  many  whose  lives  have  been  much  longer 
extended.  His  wife  was  a  daughter  of  the  old 
aristocratic  Fulkerson  familv  of  Virginia  and  our 


276 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY  AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


subject  was  the  only  child  of  this  union.  The 
death  of  Colonel  Tyler's  parents  occurred  within 
nine  davs  of  each  other,  that  of  his  mother  pre- 
ceding that  of  his  father  by  that  time. 

Colonel  Tyler  was  only  13  years  of  age  when 
his  parents  died  and  was  doubly  bereft  on  account 
of  their  decease  occurring  so  nearly  at  the  same 
time.  He  then  became  a  member  of  the  family 
of  his  uncle,  Archelaus  H.  Fulkerson,  a  large 
farmer  and  stock-raiser,  with  whom  he  remained 
until  the  age  of  17  years,  when  he  entered  the 
Virginia  Military  Institute,  at  Lexington,  Vir- 
ginia. He  was  graduated  from  that  institution  in 
1859  and  in  the  fall  of  that  year  removed  to 
Lexington,  Missouri,  where  he  engaged  in  teach- 
ing for  two  year^.  The  outbreak  of  the  Civil 
War  gave  a  new  trend  to  his  life,  the  first  .call  to 
arms  finding  him  ready  to  leave  the  quiet  of  the 
schoolroom  for  the  bustle  of  the  camp.  In  1861 
he  volunteered  as  a  private  in  Company  B,  14th 
Reg.,  Missouri  Vol.  Inf.,  U.  S.  A.,  but  was 
elected  major  from  the  ranks  and  at  Lexington 
was  appointed  ordnance  officer  by  Colonel  Mulli- 
gan, who  was  quick  to  note  his  military  bearing 
and  ability. 

Colonel  Tyler  had  charge  of  the  ordnance 
department  during  the  time  Mulligan  was  sta- 
tioned at  Lexington.  In  the  interval  between  the 
first  and  second  battles  of  Lexington,  he  super- 
intended the  making  of  all  the  ammunition  that 
was  used  in  the  second  battle,  including  cart- 
ridges, canister,  round  and  grape  shot.  History 
tels  how  this  gallant  little  band  was  finally  com- 
pelled to  surrender  on  account  of  the  sup])lies  of 
Avater  and  ammunition  giving  out.  and  much 
praise  is  due  the  young  officer  of  ordnance  who 
accomplished  such  remarkable  results  in  this  mil- 
itary exigency.  He  secured  a  parole  and  went  to 
St.  Louis,  where  he  was  exchanged.  Shortly 
afterward,  he  was  appointed  by  Governor 
Gamble,  major  and  aide-de-camp  to  General  Sco- 
field,  who  was  then  in  charge  of  the  forces  in 
Missouri.  Colonel  Tyler  was  very  active  in  or- 
ganizing the  troops  at  St.  Louis  and  throughout 
the  State  and  was  later  appointed  lieutenant-col- 
onel of  the  First  Regiment,  Missouri  A^ol.  Inf.. 
and  was  assigned  to  duty  on  the  Iron  Mountain 
Railroad,  w^here  he  remained  more  than  two 
years.  He  was  commissioned,  at  a  lat^r  date, 
colonel  of  his  regiment,  his  former  superior  of- 
ficer, Col.  John  B.  Gray,  having  been  made  adju- 
tant general  of  the  State.  Colonel  Tyler  was 
l^laced  in  charge  of  the  southeastern  district  of 
Missouri,  under  Gen.  E.  M.  Davidson,  until  near 


the  close  of  the  war,  when  the  regiment  was  dis- 
charged and  mustered  out. 

In  the  spring  of  1865.  Colonel  Tyler  engaged 
in  merchandising  at  St.  Joseph,  Missouri,  being 
associated  for  some  time  with  J.  A.  Finer.  Prior 
to  the  \var,  while  engaged  in  teaching,  he  had 
commenced  studying  law,  reading  under  the  di- 
rection of  Judge  John  F.  Ryland  of  Lexington, 
Missouri.  After  his  return  from  the  army,  he 
resumed  his  studies  and  soon  w-as  admitted  to 
the  bar.  He  then  turned  his  attention  for  a  time 
to  agricultural  pursuits  and  operated  a  large 
farm  in  Buchanan  County,  near  St.  Joseph, 
where  he  made  many  improvements  and  built  a 
comfortable  farm  residence.  In  1872,  however, 
he  gave  up  farming  and  returned  to  St.  Joseph 
and  entered  upon  the  practice  of  his  profession 
and  later  became  interested  in  the  real  estate  and 
insurance  business.  This  later  became  of  so 
much  im])ortance  that  he  decided  to  devote  all  his 
energies  to  its  expansion  and  in  1890  he  admitted 
his  nephew,  Hon.  William  E.  Spratt,  now  mayor 
of  St.  Joseph,  into  partnership.  A  sketch  of  the 
latter  will  be  found  in  this  w'ork.  In  the  same 
year  the  firm  moved  into  the  Commercial  Block, 
at  No.  415  Francis  street.  Their  offices  were  fitted 
up  in  modern  style,  sparing  no  expense.  They 
afterward  bought  the  building  at  No.  415  Francis 
street  and  now  have  offices  which  are  not  ex- 
celled by  any  in  the  city.  The  company's  business 
covers  real  estate  and  loans  and  it  is  among  the 
largest  concerns  operating  in  Buchanan  County 
in  these  lines.  The  prominence  of  both  members 
of  the  firm  adds  to  its  reliability  and  its  opera- 
tions aggregate  many  thousands  of  dollars 
annually. 

On  November  9,  1862,  Colonel  Tyler  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Jane  E.  Spratt,  who 
was  a  daughter  of  the  late  Maj.  William  Spratt, 
one  of  the  pioneer  settlers  and  prominent  citizens 
of  Lafayette  County,  Missouri.  During  the  Civil 
War,  Major  Spratt  served  as  quartermaster  in 
the  Union  Army,  and  later  for  many  years  was 
circuit  clerk  of  Lafayette  County.  ]\Irs.  Tyler 
was  born  at  Lexington,  Missouri,  where  she  was 
reared  and  carefully  educated  and  was  a  favorite 
in  the  city's  social  life.  She  made  many  friends 
in  St.  Joseph.  Her  death  occurred  in  1887,  hav- 
ing survived  her  four  children. 

In  politics  (^f>lonel  Tyler  is  a  Democrat  of  the 
old  type,  upholding  the  early  principles  of  that 
great  party,  but  holding  no  political  office  nor 
seeking  any.  He  has  been  a  Free  Mason  for  very 
many  years  and  belongs  to  St.  Joseph  Lodge,  No. 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


277 


78,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.  Religiously  he  is  a  Presby- 
terian and  has  been  a  liberal  supporter  of  the 
work  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  of  St, 
Joseph.  The  family  residence  at  No.  215  North 
Seventh  street  is  one  of  the  palatial  homes  of  this 
city. 

Colonel  Tyler  must  be  classed  with  the 
builders  of  St.  Joseph's  prosperity.  His  fidelity 
to  the  city's  interests  has  been  marked  on  manj 
occasions  and  he  is  regarded  with  feelings  of  the 
highest  esteem  by  his  fellow  citizens.  Per- 
sonally he  is  a  man  to  win  friends,  frank  in  his 
manner,  hospitable  as  a  host  and  reliable  as  a 
business  man. 


♦  * » 


OHN  CA\'AN  \\'YATT.  who  for  many 
years  bas  been  a  prominent  merchant  of 
St.  Joseph,  is  secretary  and  treasurer 
and  general  manager  of  the  Townsend& 
W'yatt  Dry  Goods  Company,  the  largest 
and  finest  retail  house  in  St.  Joseph,  an  estab- 
lishment that  needs  no  introduction  to  the  people 
of  }^Iissouri.  Mr.  W'vatt  was  born  in  St.  Joseph, 
Missouri.  August  ti.  1845.  ^"<^^  '^  ^  ^on  of  Hon, 
Joseph  J.  and  Emily  M.  (Gooding)  W'yatt,  and 
a  grandson  of  Micajah  and  Mary  (McCorkle) 
W'yatt. 

Hon.  Joseph  J.  \\  yatt,  known  to  thousands  as 
■"Elder"  W'yatt,  was  born  in  St.  Clair  County. 
Illinois.  July  13.  1819.  and  was  two  years  old 
when  his  mother  died,  his  father  soon  after  mov- 
ing to  Fleming  County,  Kentucky.  There  he 
was  reared  and  passed  his  youth.  After  a  thor- 
ough preparation  for  the  legal  profession  in  the 
oflRce  of  John  Cavan.  he  was  admitted  to  the 
bar.  In  June.  1845,  the  year  following  his  mar- 
riage to  Emily  y\.  Gooding,  of  Fleming  County, 
Kentucky,  he  came  to  St.  Joseph  and  practiced 
law.  also  serving  two  terms  as  postmaster,  being 
appointed  September  21.  1848.  and  remaining  in 
oflfice  one  year,  and  later  fillnig  the  position  for 
two  years. — from  April  11.  1867.  to  July  7.  1869. 
He  was  probate  judge  one  term  and  also  judge  of 
the  Court  of  Common  Pleas,  for  a  term  of  about 
four  years,  and  in  this  service  established  an  en- 
viable reputation  as  a  jurist.  During  the  later 
years  of  his  life  he  engaged  in  preaching,  acting 
as  pastor  for  some  time  of  the  First  Christian 
Church  of  thi>  city,  of  which  he  was  the  founder. 
During  the  last  22  years  of  his  life  he  preached 
once  a  month  to  the  coijgregaticn  of  the  church 
near  Taos  knf)wn  ,1^    'Old  Union,"  and  for   15 


years  preached  steadily  at  Bethel.  At  the  time 
of  his  death,  which  came  to  him  suddenly  April 
9.  1 88 1,  he  was  in  charge  of  the  congregations  at 
Camden  Point  and  Antioch.  He  was  one  of  the 
founders  of  the  college  at  the  former  place,  and 
long  held  a  position  on  the  board  of  trustees  of 
the  institution.  Of  the  12  children  born  to  him 
and  his  wife,  three  are  now  living :  John  Cavan, 
the  subject  of  this  narrative ;  William,  of  Omaha, 
Nebraska :  and  George,  of  St.  Joseph.  Missouri. 

John  C.  W'yatt  received  his  educational  train- 
iijo^  in  the  public  schools  of  St.  Joseph  and  in 
i860  embarked  in  btisiness.  In  1875  he  became 
a  member  of  the  firm  of  Townsend  &  Wyatt, 
which  in  1890  was  reorganized  as  the  Townsend 
&  W'yatt  Dry  Goods  Companw  Their  establish- 
ment is  classed  with  the  great  department  stores 
of  ^lissouri.  It  is  under  the  active  management 
of  Mr.  W'yatt.  and  to  him  is  due  much  of  the 
great  pr-estige  the  company  enjoys.  His  ability 
as  a  business  man  is  recognized,  and  honest  bus- 
iness methods  have  gained  for  him  the  highest  re- 
spect of  the  people.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Board  of  Education,  a  trustee  of  the  Y.  'SI.  C.  A., 
president  of  the  Robidoux  Building  &  Loan  Asso- 
ciation, and  president  of  ^ilount  Mora  Cemeterv, 
of  St.  Joseph.  Religiously,  he  is  a  member  of  the 
First  Christian  Church,  and  has  served  faith- 
fully as  a  member  of  its  board  of  trustees. 

In  1875.  Mr.  A\'yatt  was  joined  in  marriage 
with  Kate  Garrard,  who  was  born  in  Lexington,. 
Kentucky,  and  died  in  St.  Joseph  in  1889. 


I ALX  G.  WOODSON,  cashier  of  the 
Farmers'  State  Bank,  at  Agency,  Bu- 
chanan Count}-,  was  born  at  Agency, 
_  November  18,  1873,  andis  a  son  of  Dr. 
C.  R.  and  Julia  P.  (Tabor)  W^oodson. 
Dr.  Woodson  moved  to  St.  Joseph  in  1886, 
where  he  has  practiced  medicine  for  many  vears. 
He  is  superintendent  of  the  State  Hospital  for 
Insane,  No.  2,  and  is  known  as  one  of  the  leading 
alienists  of  the  State.  In  1903  he  built  a  brick 
block,  including  bank  and  hotel,  at  Agencv  and. 
with  his  son,  our  subject,  owns  the  controlling 
shares  of  stock  in  the  Farmers'  State  Bank  at 
Agency.  He  owns  also  one  of  the  largest  or- 
chards in  the  State,  comprising  276  acres.  His 
two  children  are  Paul  G.  and  Julia. 

Our  subject  was  12  years  old  when  his  pa- 
rents moved  to  St.  Joseph  and  that  city  was  his 
home  until  recentlv.     He  obtained  his  earlv  edu- 


278 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


cation  in  the  public  schools,  spent  two  years  in 
the  law  department  of  Washington  and  Lee  Uni- 
versity, at  Lexington,  Virginia,  and  was  admitted 
to  the  bar.  He  practiced  his  profession  for  two 
years.  When  the  late  trouble  with  Spain  arose, 
he  was  one  of  those  to  offer  his  services,  enlist- 
ing in  Company  C,  4th  Reg.,  Missouri  Infantry, 
U.  S.  Volunteers,  under  Colonel  Corby  and  Cap- 
tain Manheim,  and  was  in  the  service  from  ]\Iay 
until  February.  He  then  returned  to  St.  Joseph 
and  was  occupied  with  affairs  concerning  the  asy- 
lum where  he  conducted  the  store  room  for  four 
years,  and  in  looking  after  his  own  and  liis 
father's  financial  affairs,  until  October,  1903, 
when  he  became  cashier  of  the  Farmers'  State 
Bank  at  Agency. 

On  the  aforementioned  date,  the  bank  was 
organized  as  a  State  bank,  with  these  officers : 
J.  H.  Carey,  president ;  W.  F.  Smith,  first  vice- 
president  ;  and  i\I.  W.  Farris  and  C.  F.  Powell, 
second  vice-presidents.  The  directing  board  is 
-comprised  of  the  following  gentlemen :  J.  H. 
Carev,  W.  P.  Smith,  M.  W.  Farris,  C.  F.  Powell, 
J.  G.'  Lewis,  W.  D.  Pyne,  G.  W.  Wells,  James  C. 
Riley  and  Dr.  C.  R.  Woodson,  all  of  them  resi- 
dents of  Agency,  with  the  exception  of  Dr. 
Woodson. 

Paul  G.  Woodson  is  identified  with  the  Dem- 
ocratic party,  but  takes  no  very  active  interest  in 
political  matters  beyond  performing  the  duties 
expected  of  a  good  citizen.  He  belongs  to  the 
Masons,  Odd  Fellows  and  Red  Men.  The  family 
is  one  of  prominence  in  Buchanan  County. 


■♦• » 


RANK  C.  BARRINGTON,  president  and 
manager  of  the  Columbian  Electrical 
Company,  at  St.  Joseph,  is  one  of  the 
enterprising  and  progressive  men,  who 
in  the  last  few  years  have  contributed 
much  to  the  business  impetus  which  is  shown  in 
every  branch  of  the  city's  commercial  life.  Mr. 
Barrington  is  still  a  young  man,  born  July  11. 
1873,  ^t  St.  Joseph,  Missouri,  and  is  a  son  of 
•Charles  Connor  and  Almedia  (Timerson) 
Barrington. 

Edmund  Barrington,  our  subject's  great- 
grandfather, who  was  born  in  Dublin,  Ireland, 
came  to  America  before  the  adoption  of  the  Con- 
stitution, being  then  five  years  old.  His  father 
died  while  making  the  trip  over  the  ocean,  but  his 
mother  and  the  remainder  of  the  family  landed 
.safely  at  Philadelphia,  which  became  the  family 


home  for  several  generations.  ( )n  June  14,  1804, 
Edmtmd  Barrington,  our  subject's  great-grand- 
father, was  married  to  Eleanor  Connor,  whose 
father  was  a  sea-faring  man  and  died  on  his  ship 
from  a  wound  received  during  the  Revolutionary 
War. 

Edmund  Barrington,  our  subject's  grand- 
father, was  born  in  Philadelphia,  where  he  was 
associated  with  the  press  of  that  time,  understand- 
ing the  art  of  printing  and  making  a  comfortable 
living  through  translations  from  foreign  lan- 
guages. He  belonged  to  the  literary  coterie  of 
old  Philadelphia,  of  which  memories  are  still  kept 
among  the  old  papers  and  family  archives  of  the 
day.  He  was  born  February  18,  1808,  and  died 
in  his  native  city  on  November  14,  1889.  On 
October  4,  1834,  he  married  Eliza  Rogers,  who 
was  born  at  Philadelphia,  October  10,  1810,  and 
was  a  daughter  of  John  Leonard  and  Mary  (An- 
drews) Rogers.  Mr.  Rogers  was  born  in  New 
York,  but  after  his  marriage  always  resided  at 
Philadelphia :  his  father  was  killed  during  the 
Revolutionary  War.  The  children  of  Edmund 
and  Eliza  (Rogers)  Barrington  were:  Mary 
Eliza,  Michael  Connor,  Eleanor  Anne  and 
Charles  Connor.  Of  this  family  all  are  deceased, 
except  our  subject's  aunt,  Eleanor  Anne,  who 
still  resides  in  Philadelphia. 

The  late  Charles  Connor  Barrington,  father  of 
our  subject,  was  educated  in  the  Philadelphia 
])ublic  schools  and  was  graduated  from  the  High 
School.  His  business  experience  prior  to  remov- 
ing to  the  West  in  1864,  was  as  a  clerk  in  John 
Wyeth's  laboratory,  in  Philadelphia,  this  phar- 
macist having  taken  the  large  contract  to  supply 
drugs  to  the  army  during  the  Civil  War.  When 
the  chemist  had  completed  his  contract,  his  young 
assistant  found  himself  without  a  situation.  Just 
at  this  time,  William  M.  Wyeth.  well  known  in 
St.  Joseph,  Missouri,  was  visiting  his  brother  in 
Philadelphia,  and  induced  the  young  man  to  visit 
the  West.  This  visit  resulted  in  Mr.  Barrington 
finding  conditions  so  congenial  in  the  Western 
city  that,  doubtless  to  the  surprise  of  his  Eastern 
relatives,  he  never  returned  to  live  in 
Philadelphia. 

Mr.  Barrington  served  as  a  member  of  the 
Home  Guard  during  his  first  year  in  Missouri, 
He  then  entered  the  employ  of  William  M. 
Wveth  as  credit  man  for  this  important  house, 
and  this  association,  brought  about  by  chance, 
continued  until  Mr.  Barrington's  death  on  Sep- 
tember 13.  1884.  He  was  a  charter  member  of 
the  first  Knights  of  Pythias  lodge  organized  here 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


279 


and  was  connected  with  many  of  the  earlier  bus- 
iness and  social  bodies.  Politically  he  was  a 
Republican. 

On  the  maternal  side  our  subject  can  claim 
distinguished  ancestry  and  gentle  blood.  On 
INIay  2"],  1865,  Charles  Connor  Barrington  was 
married  at  St.  Joseph,  Missouri,  to  Almedia 
Timerson,  who  was  at  that  time  residing  with  her 
sister  Mrs.  Caroline  Benham.  She  was  a  daugh- 
ter of  Charles  and  Margery  (Blanchard)  Timer- 
son.  Her  great-grandfather.  Charles  Timerson, 
was  a  native  of  France,  one  of  the  emigre  Hugue- 
nots who  fled  from  their  native  country  and  found 
homes  in  America.  He  settled  in  Canajoharie, 
JMontgomery  County,  New  York,  and  took  part 
in  the  War  of  the  Revolution.  Mrs.  Barring- 
ton's  paternal  grandparents  were  Charles  and 
Mary  (Holcomb)  Timerson,  the  latter  being  also 
of  French  extraction  and  a  native  of  Whitehall, 
New  York.  The  maternal  grandfather  of  our 
subject,  Charles  Timerson,  was  born  December 
10.  1806,  at  Auburn,  New  York  and  he  was  in 
charge  of  the  State  Prison  there  as  warden  for 
many  years,  this  connection  being  broken  upon 
liis  retirement  from  active  life,  in  1850.  His 
death  took  place  in  1884.  He  married  Margery 
Blanchard,  also  of  Auburn,  New  York,  and  they 
had  a  family  of  10  children  born  to  them,  the  two 
survivors  being:  Mrs.  Barrington  and  Mrs.  Eliza 
Campbell,  of  Marshall,  Michigan.  Tracing  in  an- 
other line,  we  find  that  our  subject's  great-uncle, 
Michael  Connor,  was  a  commander  in  the  British 
Navy.  This  interesting  study  of  family  records 
might  be  extended,  if  space  permitted,  but  enough 
has  been  recalled  to  show  the  quality  of  the  stock 
from  which  sprung  the  progressive  and  enter- 
prising citizen  of  whom  it  is  our  privilege  to  write. 

After  completing  his  common-school  educa- 
tion in  the  schools  of  St.  Joseph,  Frank  C.  Bar- 
rington started  out  to  engage  in  the  battle  of  life 
for  himself.  He  found  his  first  opportunity  where 
many  another  successful  man  has  found  his, — in 
railroad  work, — and  he  was  connected  with  the 
Burlington  system  for  several  years.  From  there 
he  went  into  the  sales  department  of  the  Buell 
Manufacturing  Company,  where  a  few  years  of 
business  experience  prepared  him  for  his  next 
advancement,  when  he  became  secretary  to  W.  T. 
Van  Bnmt,  general  manager  of  the  St.  Joseph 
Railway,  Light,  Heat  &  Power  Company.  During 
his  railroad  connection  he  had  learned  stenog- 
raphy and  it  was  also  during  these  years  that  he 
first    became    interested    in    electricity,    having 


charge  of  the  lighting  department  in  the  local 
offices. 

In  1893.  in  partnership  with  George  C. 
Rough,  who  was  auditor  of  the  railroad  com- 
pany, and  Charles  E.  Roehle,  then  the  electrical 
engineer  for  the  railroad  company,  he  organized 
the  Columbian  Electrical  Company,  which  was 
incorporated  with  these  officers :  George  C. 
Rough,  president  and  manager ;  and  Frank  C. 
Barrington,  secretary  and  treasurer.  In  1896  Mr. 
Barrington  became  president  of  the  company, 
having  purchased  Mr.  Rough's  interest.  At  its 
beginning,  the  business  was  retail  in  its  scope, 
the  work  being  electrical  construction  of  all 
kinds,  but  the  business  seemed  to  be  so  firmly 
founded  that  by  1898  contracts  were  taken  for 
wholesale  work  and  now  the  Columbian  Electri- 
cal Company  is  one  of  the  largest  electrical  job- 
bing houses  west  of  the  Mississippi  River.  Busi- 
ness extends  all  over  the  Middle  West  and  is  con- 
stantly reaching  into  new  territory.  This  com- 
pany has  installed  many  large  electrical  plants  in 
this  section.  It  equipped  the  Willis  Theatre  at 
Kansas  City,  and  has  had  equally  large  contracts 
at  other  points.  The  success  of  this  company 
must  be  directly  attributed  to  the  energy,  enter- 
prise and  business  ability  of  its  young  president. 
He  is  interested  in  other  business  combinations 
and  is  on  the  directing  board  of  the  Missouri  & 
Kansas  Oil  &  Gas  Company. 

Mr.  Barrington  has  a  beautiful  home  in  St. 
Joseph  and  a  pleasant  family  circle,  having  mar- 
ried Vinnie  Shultz,  a  member  of  one  of  the  old 
families  of  St.  Joseph.  The  familv  belong  to 
Christ  Protestant  Episcopal  Church.' 

In  politics  Mr.  Barrington  is  one  of  the  citv's 
active  and  influential  Republicans,  a  member  of 
the  Republican  County  Committee  and  during 
the  mayoralty'  of  Mayor  Combs  was  a  member 
of  the  City  Council.  His  fraternal  membership 
is  with  the  Elks  and  he  is  one  of  the  charter  mem- 
bers of  the  organization  in  this  citv. 


♦ « ♦- 


LFRED  LEE  FEUQUAY,  a  prominent 
business  man  of  St.  Joseph,  senior 
member  of  the  firm  of  Feuquay  & 
Randall,  dealers  in  wood,  coal  and  feed, 
was  born  at  St.  Joseph.  February  14, 
1849,  ^''•'^^  i^  ^  son  of  Abery  and  Mary  (Robert- 
son) Feuquay. 

Abery   Feuquay  was  one  of  the  pioneers  of 


28o 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY  AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


Buchanan  County  and  was  identified  with  much 
of  the  early  history  of  St.  Joseph.     He  was  born 
in  Tennessee  but  left  his  native  State  before  he 
was  17  years  old,  going  first  to  Terre  Haute,  In- 
diana, where  he  remained  a  few  years  and  then 
coming  to   St.   Joseph.   Missouri.      He   followed 
farming    until    the    spring    of    185 1,    when    he 
crossed  the  plains  to  California.     He  worked  in 
the  gold  mines  there  for  three  years  with  profit 
and  came  home  by  way  of  the  Isthmus  of  Pan- 
ama.     Although   he   sufifereTl   shipwreck   on   the 
Pacific  Ocean,  he  finally  reached   St.  Joseph  in 
safety.     From  1862  to  1865  he  was  actively  en- 
gaged in  freighting  between  St.  Joseph  and  Den- 
ver, and  made  one  trip  as  far  West  as  Virginia 
City,  Idaho.     Those  were  days  of  great  danger 
and  hardship,  but   Mr.   Feuquay  survived  them 
and  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life  in  farming 
and  stock-raising.     Prior  to  the  Civil  War  he  was 
a   slave-owner,   but   he  was  never  a   dealer,   his 
efforts  at  all  times  being  to  better  their  condi- 
tion.   Like  many  other  conscientious  men,  he  felt, 
when  his  slaves  were  freed,  that  they  would  miss 
his   care   and   forrthought   for   their   well   being. 
He  was  a  man  of  excellent  parts,  honest,  brave 
and  worthy  in  every  way  of  the  high  esteem  in 
which  he  was  held.     He  died  February  20,  1900, 
aged  62  vears.  having  been  a  Democrat  all  his 
life. 

He  married  Mary  Robertson,  who  was  born 
in  Buchanan  County,  Missouri,  and  they  had 
three  children,  namely :  Alfred  Lee ;  Sarah,  de- 
ceased, wife  of  A.  V.  Thomas,  of  St.  Joseph ;  and 
Nancy  E.,  deceased.  The  family  was  reared  in 
the  faith  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  of 
which  the  mother  was  a  member. 

Alfred  Lee  Feuquay  was  educated  in  the  com- 
mon schools  of  St.  Joseph  and  attended  the  first 
city  High  School,  which  was  located  on  North 
10th  street,  and  was  under  the  supervision  of  the 
late  Prof.  Edward  B.  Neely.  He  remained  at 
home  cultivating  the  farm  for  many  years,  but 
in  1877  he  removed  to  Holt  County,  Missouri, 
where  he  engaged  in  farming  and  stock-raising 
on  a  large  scale,  in  which  business  he  continued 
for  12  years.  In  1889  he  retired  to  St.  Joseph 
and  entered  into  the  live  stock  business,  forming 
a  partnership  in  the  following  year  with  Loarn 
Randall,  under  the  i^resent  firm  style.  The  busi- 
ness is  expanding,  a  branch  being  conducted  in 
South  St.  Joseph  by  \\^  R.  b\'U(|uay,  a  son  of  the 
senior  member  of  the  firm. 

In   1873  Mr.   I^'euquay  was  married  to  .Sarah 
E.  Young,  of  Holt  C<nmt\.  .Mi^-snuri.  a  daughter 


of  S.  R.  Young,  formerly  of  Kentucky.  Mrs. 
Feuquay  died  February  13,  1904.  One  son — ■ 
Walter  Roy — was  born  to  this  union.  Mr. 
Feuquay  is  a  member  of  the  First  Christian 
Church,  in  which  he  is  one  of  the  deacons. 

Mr.  Feuquay  is  very  prominent  in  business 
circles  and  is  one  of  the  directors  of  the  St. 
Joseph  Board  of  Trade.  His  fraternal  connection 
is  with  Logan  Tribe,  No.  27,  Improved  Order  of 
Red  Men,  in  which  he  has  passed  all  the  chairs 
and  now  fills  the  office  of  grand  keeper  of  wam- 
pum of  the  State  of  Missouri. 


-♦-•-♦- 


ON.  WTLLARD  P.  HALL,  deceased. 
Governor  of  the  State  of  Missouri 
from  January  31,  1864,  until  January 
2,  1865,  belongs  to  Missouri's  long  list 
of  distinguished  men.  He  was  born  at 
Harper's  Ferry.  Virginia,  May  9,  1820,  and  died 
at  St.  Joseph,  Missouri,  November  3,  1882,  at- 
taining eminence  as  one  of  the  State's  greatest 
lawyers. 

Almost  immediately  after  graduating  at  Vale 
College  he  came,  in  1842,  to  Sparta.  Buchanan 
County,  entering  upon  his  long  and  honorable 
career  in  the  law.  Soon  after  he  was  appointed 
circuit  attorney  by  Governor  Reynolds,  and  in 
[844  he  was  chosen  by  his  party  as  one  of  the 
Democratic  electors  and  had  the  felicity  of  carry- 
ing the  vote  of  the  State  electors  to  Washington, 
in  favor  of  James  K.  Polk.  In  1846  he  entered 
enthusiastically  into  the  campaign  as  a  Congres- 
sional candidate,  against  Judge  Birch,  of  Clin- 
ton County,  but  when  the  call  came  for  troops  to 
fight  Mexico  all  personal  considerations  were  for- 
gotten, and  he  enlisted  as  a  private  in  the  First 
Missouri  Cavalry  and  went  with  (k^neral  Kear- 
ny's expedition,  under  Col.  Alexander  W.  Don- 
iphan, as  far  as  Santa  Fe. 

Being  detailed  to  assist  Colonel  Doniphan  in 
pre])aring  a  code  of  laws  for  the  government  of 
the  Territory  of  New  Mexico,  home  affairs  were 
almost  obscured,  until,  to  his  surprise,  he  was 
notified  of  his  election  to  Congress.  He  served 
ably  in  that  body  for  six  years.  In  1861  he  was 
elected  one  of  the  representatives  from  Buchanan 
County  to  the  noted  convention  of  that  year,  and 
was  so  zealous  and  outs]:)oken  in  his  opposition 
to  the  act  of  secession,  that  when  the  conventicin 
assumed  control  of  the  State,  he  was  made  Lieu- 
tenant Governor.  During  the  progress  of  the 
Civil    War,    he    was    continually    active    in    di-   , 


EDWARD    B.   NEELY 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


283 


recting  military  affairs,  and,  upon  the  death  of 
Governor  Gamble,  January  31,  1864,  General 
Hall  was  made  Governor.  This  office  he  ably 
filled  through  one  of  the  most  diff.cult  periods  of 
this  great  Commonwealth's  life,  and  turned  over 
to  his  successor.  Governor  Fletcher,  an  easier  seat 
than  the  one  he  had  occupied.  He  resumed  his 
law  practice  at  St.  Joseph,  where  his  brilliant 
intellect,  his  sound  and  instructed  judgment,  his 
quickness  of  perception  and  his  thorough  knowl- 
edge of  subjects  outside  the  domain  of  law,  made 
him  eminent  both  as  a  debater  and  as  a  private 
counselor.  He  was  a  man  not  only  of  intellectual 
vigor,  but  of  calm  and  discriminating  judgment. 
Governor  Hall  was  twice  married,  first,  in 
1847.  to  Annie  E.  Richardson,  and  second,  in 
1864,  to  Ollie  L.  Oliver.  He  is  survived  by  a 
son,  Willard  P.  Hall,  now  a  resident  of  Kansas 
Cit}-.  who  has  also  achieved  distinction  at  the 
bar,  and  for  some  years  was  judge  of  the  Court 
of  Appeals,  at  Kansas  City. 


■* » *■ 


DWARD  L5.  XEELV.  The  death  of 
the  late  Edward  B.  Neely,  at  his  home 
in  St.  Joseph,  Missouri,  on  March 
29,  IQ04,  removed  from  this  city  a 
noted  educator  an.d  an  esteemed  citi- 
zen of  spotless  private  character.  His  birth  took 
place  on  Christmas  Day.  1828,  in  Accomac  Coun- 
tv,  on  the  eastern  shore  of  Virginia,  at  "The 
Hermitage,"  the  old  family  scat,  and  he  was  a 
son  of  John  and  Amelia  (Bayly)  Neely. 

The  Neely  family  is  of  Scotch-Irish  extrac- 
tion. His  grandparents  were  both  born  in  the 
North  of  Ireland,  and  his  grandmother  belonged 
to  the  Rutherford  family,  once  famous  for  a  long 
line  of  eminent  and  honored  Presbyterian  clergy- 
men. The  grandfather  settled  first  in  Lancaster 
Count}-,  Pennsylvania,  but  later  removed  to 
Washington  Ccnmty.  where  the  family  was 
reared.  Here  John  Xcely.  father  of  the  late 
IVofessor  Neely.  was  born  and  after  completing 
his  collegiate  course  at  Washington  College. 
Pennsylvania,  removed  to  Accomac  County.  Vir- 
ginia, where  he  married  Amelia  Bayly,  a  talented 
and  accomi)lished  lady  of  worth  and  beauty,  a 
member  of  one  of  the  old  aristocratic  families  of 
]".nglish  ancestry  in  Eastern  Virginia.  She  was 
born  at  "The  Hermitage."  the  old  family  home- 
stead, and  resided  there  until  after  the  birth  of 
our  subject,  who  was  the  oldest  of  the  family 
of  eight  children.    Two  of  his  sisters,  Mrs.  Mary 

15 


E.  Bradley,  now  deceased,  and  ]\Irs.  Kate  J. 
Festitits,  developed  literary  talent  at  an  early  age 
and  both  became  known  to  the  literary  world 
through  books  of  great  merit.  One  of  his  broth- 
ers, a  young  man  of  unusual  ability,  died  shortly 
after  being  admitted  to  the  Accomac  bar.  and  an- 
other brother,  the  late  John  Neely.  of  Norfolk, 
Virginia,  w^as  oi«  of  the  most  distinguished  law- 
yers in  that  State. 

The  late  Edward  B.  Neely  was  a  child  when 
his  parents  removed  from"  Accomac  County,  first 
to  Easton,  Maryland,  afterward  to  Warrenton. 
N'irginia.  later  to  Rockville,  ?\Iontgomery  Coun- 
ty, Maryland,  and  still  later,  to  Washington. 
D.  C.  This  gave  the  youth  the  advantage  of 
excellent  educational  opportunities,  and  he  was 
carefully  prepared  for  college  by  his  scholarly 
father.  In  his  17th  year  he  entered  the  junior 
class  of  Washington  College,  Pennsylvania,  which 
now  takes  a  leading  position  with  the  foremost 
educational  institutions  of  the  country  as  Wash- 
ington and  Jeft"erson  College.  Here  he  was  grad- 
uated with  high  rank,  September  29,  1847,  when 
in  his  T9th  vear.  Many  of  his  classmates  have 
become  famous  in  different  walks  of  life,  one 
of  these  being  the  great  statesman,  the  late  James 
G.  Blaine.  Both  Mr.  Blaine  and  Mr.  Neely  were 
selected  as  orators  at  that  commencement ;  the 
latter  selected  as  his  subject  "The  American  Boy" 
and  received  much  praise  both  for  its  subject 
matter  and  for  his  manner  of  delivery. 

One  month  after  graduation,  Mr.  Neely  ac- 
cepted the  position  of  assistant  teacher  in  War- 
field  Academy,  in  H(^ward  County,  Maryland,  an 
educational  institution  located  some  25  miles  from 
the  citv  of  Baltimore.  In  1848  he  opened  a  private 
school  at  Onancock,  Accomac  County,  Mrginia, 
which  he  conducted  for  two  years  and  in  that 
time  established  his  reputation  as  a  successful 
teacher  so  thoroughly,  that  in  1850  he  was  elected 
by  the  unanimous  vote  of  the  trustees  to  succeed 
his  father  as  principal  of  Margaret  Academy, 
situated  also  in  Accomac  County,  one  of  the 
oldest  and  most  aristocratic  schools  in  the  State. 
This  academy  prospered  under  his  management, 
and,  in  addition  to  the  old  patrons,  students  were 
attracted  from  all  parts  of  the  eastern  shore  and 
from  the  exclusive  families  on  the  opposite  side 
of  Chesapeake  Bay.  This  position  was  a  pleasing 
and  lucrative  one  and  the  school  continued  to 
])rosper.  but  its  scope  was  too  narrow  to  satisfy 
the  voung  man's  growing  ambitions.  In  his 
search  for  a  wider  field,  Mr.  Ncelv  selected  St. 


284 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN    COUNTY  AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


Joseph,  ^lissouri,  as  a  point  offering  many  op- 
portunities. Hence,  in  1855,  he  resigned  his  posi- 
tion at  Margaret  Academy,  much  to  the  regret 
of  all  concerned,  and,  in  company  with  a  former 
fellow  student.  R.  F.  ]\Iaxwell,  also  a  graduate 
of  liis  alma  mater,  and  his  successor  in  the  school 
at  Onancock.  came  to  the  West  and  settled  in  this 
city. 

The  long  journey  was  made  overland  to  Pitts- 
hurg,  and,  as  railroad  facilities  were  still  in  their 
infancy  in  this  section,  Mr.  Neely  with  his  wife, 
daughter  and  servant,  completed  the  trip  by 
steamboat.  At  that  time  St.  Joseph  was  a  town 
of  some  3,000  inhabitants,  but  with  many  awak- 
ening business  enterprises,  and  Mr.  ^laxwell  soon 
entered  commercial  life.  Mr.  Neely  took  charge' 
of  the  town  academy  and  upon  the  organization  of 
the  public  school  system,  in  i860,  he  consented 
to  receive  in  his  school  those  pupils  who  were 
found  to  be  too  far  advanced  in  their  studies  for 
the  public  schools  as  they  were  constituted  at  that 
time.  This  admirable  arrangement,  however, 
continued  but  four  months,  for,  on  account  of  the 
prostration  of  business  and  the  general  upheaval 
of  society  on  the  border,  occasioned  by  the  Civil 
war,  air  the  public  schools  at  St.  Joseph  were 
suspended  and  remained  closed  until  1864. 

\\'hen  the  war  clouds  had  passed  and  the  peo- 
ple were  again  taking  up  the  ordinar}^  duties  of 
life,  the  subject  of  education  became  one  of  para- 
mount importance  in  this  intelligent  city  and  the 
School  P.oard  was  reorganized  and  11  members 
were  elected,  by  whom  Mr.  Neely  was  unani- 
mouslv  chosen  superintendent  of  the  public 
schools  of  the  city  on  August  12,  1864.  He  had 
continued  all  through  the  war  to  carry  on  his 
private  school  and  had  sought  no  official  place  on 
the  School  Board,  but  accepted  the  honor  and 
ablv  and  wisely  filled  the  position  until  his  death. 
a  period  of  over  40  years.  At  the  date  of  his 
last  election,  he  was  named  for  a  term  of  two 
years  by  a  unanimous  vote,  and  from  the  time 
of  his  first  election  as  superintendent  the  history 
of  the  public  schools  of  St.  Joseph  cannot  be 
disassociated  from  that  of  i\Ir.  Neely. 

In  1866  he  was  honored  by  election  to  the 
presidency  of  the  ^^lissouri  State  Teachers'  Asso- 
ciation and  through  his  efforts  this  educational 
tody,  meeting  at  St.  Louis,  formulated  plans  and 
endorsed  methods  which  redounded  to  the  wel- 
fare of  the  whole  State. 

Prior  to  taking  charge  of  the  city  schools, 
Mr.  Neely  had  served  as  county  superintendent. 
having  been  first  appointed,  without  any  solicita- 


tion on  his  part,  b}-  the  County  Court.  After  six 
and  a  half  years  of  service,  on  account  of  the  city 
schools  increasing  and  demanding  all  his  at- 
tention, he  declined  renomination  to  this  position. 
In  the  man}-  honorable  positions  he  held,  his  fit- 
ness had  been  so  generally  acknowledged  that 
appointments  came  to  him  not  only  unsolicited, 
but  unexpectedly.  In  1870.  Governor  ]\IcClurg 
appointed  ]\Ir.  Neely  a  member  of  the  board  of 
regents  of  the  State  Normal  Schools,  and  at  the 
first  meeting  of  that  body,  held  in  Jefferson  City, 
he  was  elected  president  and  was  reelected  as 
such  each  }-ear  during  the  four  years  he  served 
on  that  body.  During  his  years  of  service,  the 
Normal  School  for  the  Northern  District  was  lo- 
cated at  Kirksville  and  that  of  the  Southern  Dis- 
trict, at  Warrensburg.  Handsome  buildings  were 
erected,  superior  teachers  were  secured  and  the 
schools  thoroughly  organized. 

In  187 1  was  erected  the  largest  and  most 
thoroughly  equipped  school  building  in  St.  Jo- 
seph and  the  honor  was  done  our  distinguished 
subject  of  naming  this  beautiful  building  the 
"Neelv  School."  In  1890  when  the  city  estab- 
lished a  Free  Public  Library,  Mr.  Neely  was 
appointed  by  the  mayor  a  member  of  the  first 
board  of  directors  and  served  in  that  capacity  for 
six  years.  He  was  solicited  to  accept  the  presi- 
dency of  the  board  but  firmly  declined  on  account 
of  the  pressing  duties  which  he  so  faithfully  con- 
tinued to  discharge  as  city  superintendent  of 
schools,  but  he  consented  to  accept  the  vice- 
presidency  and  served  as  such  for  six  years. 

On  ;May  5,  1852,  Mr.  Neely  was  married  to 
Charlotte  Slagle,  a  beautiful  and  accomplished 
woman,  who  is  the  youngest  daughter  of  Hon. 
Jacob  Slagle.  of  \\'ashington,  Pennsylvania.  Two 
of  their  four  children  still  survive:  Mrs.  Charles 
I.  Trowbridge,  of  Kansas  City,  Missouri;  and 
Mary  E.  B.,  at  home.  Annie  McConnell,  the 
eldest,  born  in  Virginia.  November  7.  1853,  died 
at  St.  Joseph.  September  11,  i860:  and  Louis 
Poulson,  the  only  son,  died  at  St.  Joseph.  Sep- 
tember 29,   i860,  aged  three  years. 

Mr.  Neely  sought  recreation  in  books  and 
travel.  In  1887  he  spent  a  delightful  summer 
wandering  through  England.  Ireland.  Scotland 
and  other  countries,  and  in  1889  he  again  went 
abroad,  accompanied  by  his  wife  and  daughter 
]\Iarv.  Thev  visited  the  Paris  Exposition  and 
extended  their  travels  to  many  of  the  interesting 
portions  of  the  continent  of  Europe.  Mr.  Neely 
taking  the  greatest  interest  in  studying  the  schools 
and  svstems  of  Germanv  and  other  countries  and 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


285 


visited  some  of  the  noted  educational  institutions 
of  Ireland.  He  returned  home  alone,  ]\Irs.  and 
Miss  Neely  remaining  in  Europe  for  two  years 
longer  in  order  to  give  the  latter  educational  ad- 
vantages in  Berlin  and  Paris. 

The  death  of  such  a  man  as  the  late  Edward 
B.  Xeely  can  be  considered  in  no  other  light  than 
as  an  irreparable  loss.  One  of  the  most  scholarly 
men  of  his  day,  he  was  simple  and  unaffected  in 
his  manner,  and  possessed  a  charming  personality. 
A  large  part  of  the  joy  he  took  in  life  came 
from  his  literary  environments,  but  he  encouraged 
hospitality  and  welcomed  friends  to  his  home  and 
affections  with  a  geniality  which  gave  no  sus- 
picion of  superiority.  His  portriat  is  shown  on  a 
foregoing  page. 


♦ » » 


RX.  yi.  JEFF.  THOMPSON.  In  re- 
calling the  prominent  men  of  the  early 
days  of  St.  Joseph,  those  who  wrought 
in  their  various  ways  for  the  city's 
great  future.  Gen.  M.  Jeff'.  Thompson 
is  found  to  have  occupied  a  distinguished  posi- 
tion. General-  Thompson  was  born  January  22, 
1826.  at  Harper's  Ferry,  A'irginia,  and  was  a  son 
of  Capt.  Merriweather  Thompson,  who,  for  years 
was  in  tlie  paymaster's  department  of  the  United 
States  Army,  at  Harper's  Ferry. 

The  real  name  of  General  Thompson  was  that 
of  his  father,  the  cognomen  "Jeff"  having  been  a 
nickname  applied  during  his  school  days.  It 
clung  through  after  life  and  even  after  he  had 
attained  manhood  and  removed  to  St.  Joseph.  So 
persistent  seemed  the  name,  that  finally  Mr. 
Thompson  applied  to  the  Legislature  and  had  it 
legalized. 

In  1846,  at  the  age  of  20  years,  the  young  man 
left  his  mountain-river  home  and  started  out  for 
himself,  removing  to  Clay  County,  Alissouri. 
There  he  clerked  in  a  store  for  one  year  and  then 
removed  to  St.  Joseph,  where  he  became  a  clerk 
for  the  firm  of  ^liddleton  &  Riley,  in  which  con- 
nection he  continued  until  1852.  In  their  interest 
he  visited  Salt  Lake  City,  but  came  back  to  St. 
Joseph  in  the  fall  of  1852.  .Shortly  afterward,  he 
started  in  partnership  with  Major  Bogle  a  gro- 
cery store  in  this  city,  which  he  closecl  out  at^a 
later  date  and  accepted  the  office  of  commis- 
sary for  the  surveyors  of  the  Hannibal  &  -St. 
Joseph  Railroad.  This  trip  brought  him  into 
contact  with  new  men,  scenes  and  interests  and 
he  was  not  slow  to  take  advantage  of  opportuni- 


ities  thus  oft'ered  him,  and  when  he  returned  from 
Hannibal  he  had  acquired  a  good,  practical 
knowledge  of  surveying.  He  came  back  to  St. 
Joseph  in  charge  of  a  surveying  party  and  was 
entrusted  with  the  task  of  constructing  the  west- 
ern division  of  the  Hannibal  &  St.  Joseph  Rail- 
road, and  remained  in  charge  until  its  comple- 
tion, in  February,  1859. 

During  these  years  he  had  made  many  friends 
and  had  become  something  of  a  figure  in  politics, 
so  that  in  1858  he  was  made  city  engineer  and  in 
the  following  year  was  elected  mayor  of  St. 
Joseph.  Local  history  details  the  advancement 
of  the  city  during  his  administration,  during 
times  more  or  less  as  trying  as  the  city  ever 
passed  through. 

General  Thompson  was  very  prominently 
identified  with  the  great  railroad  interests  of  the 
time,  was  president  of  the  Maryville.  Palmetto  & 
Roseport  Railroad,  now  the  St.  Joseph  &  Grand 
Island.  He  also  was  secretary  of  the  St.  Joseph 
&  Topeka  Railroad  Company,  a  corporation  now 
out  of  existence,  and  was  an  enthusiastic  worker 
for  transportation  facilities  to  the  West,  antici- 
pating the  great  future  development  which  has 
since  taken  place.  Had  not  war  and  other  con- 
ditions prevented,  he  would  probably  have  given 
St.  Joseph  the  first  commercial  position  in  this 
region.  He  was  not  neglectful  of  local  interests 
in  the  enthusiasm  of  projecting  great  enterprises, 
but  served  as  a  member  of  the  Elwood  Town 
Company,  promoted  the  growth  of  educational 
institutions  and  encouraged  the  founding  here  of 
industrial  concerns  of  all  kinds.  He  was  inter- 
ested in  the  real  estate  business  for  a  considerable 
period,  and  at  one  time  the  firm  of  Harbine  & 
Thompson  handled  much  city  and  adjacent 
property. 

General  Thompson  made  a  brilliant  record  as 
a  military  man  and  was  known  by  the  name  of 
"Swamp  Fox."  At  the  opening  of  the  Civil  ' 
War  and  diunng  i860  and  1861,  he  was  colonel 
of  a  regiment  of  State  guards.  When  the  time 
came  to  make  his  decision  between  the  North 
and  South,  he  cast  in  his  fortunes  with  his  native 
section  and  gave  all  his  wonderful  energy  and ' 
enthusiasm  to  the  Confederate  cause.  His  gal- 
lantry, valor  and  courage  as  a  soldier  gave  him 
the  rank  of  brigadier-general.  Toward  the  close 
of  1864,  realizing  that  the  cause  to  which  he  had 
so  devotedly  attached  liimself  was  lost,  he  sur- 
rendered his  command  to  the  Federal  authorities. 
For  a  time  he  was  detained  as  a  prisoner  near 
Sanduskv.  Ohio,  on  lohnson  Island,  but  as  soon 


286 


HISTORY  OF    BUCHANAN.  COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPtI 


as  released  he  accepted  the  situation  and  was  one 
of  the  first  of  the  prominent  Southern  leaders  to 
accept  reconstruction. 

After  the  close  of  the  war,  General  Thompson 
settled  in  New  Orleans,  where  he  embarked  for  a 
time  in  a  grocery  and  liquor  business.  His  friends 
at  St.  Joseph  had  not,  however,  forgotten  him  and 
his  previous  services  to  the  city,  and  through  the 
influence  of  Gen.  A.  L.  Lee,  formerly  a  banker  in 
St.  Joseph,  and  president  of  the  Elwood  Town 
Company,  he  was  appointed  surveyor  general  of 
Louisiana.  With  his  characteristic  enthusiasm, 
he  entered  upon  duties  unusually  arduous,  con- 
tinuing to  fill  this  position  for  the  succeeding 
eight  years.  Finally  his  health  gave  out  com- 
pletely and  he  was  obliged  to  ask  a  leave  of  ab- 
sence. After  a  period  spent  in  travel,  he  came  to 
St.  Joseph,  where  he  soon  grew  worse  and  after 
a  time  of  most  serious  illness  passed  away,  at  the 
Pacific  House.  September  5.  1876.  His  remains 
rest  in  Mount  Mora  Cemetery. 

In  1848,  at  Liberty,  Missouri,  our  subject 
was  married  to  Emma  Hays,  of  Baltimore,  Mary- 
land. Their  daughter,  Mrs.  W.  A.  Bailey,  re- 
sides in  St.  Joseph.  General  Thompson  had  two 
brothers:  Charles  .M.,  formerly  recorder  of  the 
city  and  many  years  deputy  clerk  of  the  Circuit 
Court ;  and  Broaddus,  an  attorney,  who  was  noted 
for  his  polished  manners.     Both  are  dead. 


OHX  L.  ZIMMER,  a  prominent,  pros- 
perous gardener  of  Washington  town- 
ship. Buchanan  County,  owning  a 
highly  cultivated  tract  of  land  in  section 
^2,  township  58.  range  35.  just  north  of 
the  city  limits,  on  the  Savannah  and  Amazonia 
road,  was  born  in  his  present  liome  on  August 
I,  1872,  and  is  a  son  of  John  and  INIaria  (Kriner) 
Zimmer. 

Mathew  Zimmer.  the  grandfather  of  our  sub- 
ject, came  with  his  family  to  the  United  States 
in  1849,  landing  from  a  sailing  vessel  at  New 
Orleans,  then  going  1)y  water  to  St.  Louis.  He 
lived  for  a  short  time  at  St.  Louis  and  then  went 
to  Iowa  and  later  to  Kansas,  farming  in  both 
States.  In  the  latter  State  he  entered  a  govern- 
ment claim  near  Wetmore  and  there  both  he  and 
his  wife  died.  About  i860  the  father  of  our 
subject  came  to  Buchanan  County  and  a  few 
years  later  purchased  a  farm  of  80  acres  in  An- 
drew County.  Missouri,  and  continued  to  farm 
there  until   1866.  when  he  located  on  the  farm 


now  owned  and  occupied  by  his  son.  His  death 
occurred  at  the  age  of  65  years.  He  was  a 
prominent  man  in  the  township,  deeply  inter- 
ested in  educational  matters  and  was  one  of  the 
builders  of  the  old  New  Elm  School.  He  married 
Maria  Kriner,  who  was  born  in  Baden,  Germany, 
and  died  in  1887.  The  four  surviving  children 
of  the  family  are:  John  L.,  of  this  sketch;  Mary 
E.,  Henry  T.  and  Minnie  J. 

John  L.  Zimmer  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  of  Washington  township  and  has  fol- 
lowed truck  gardening  all  his  life.  His  devotion 
to  that  business  has  met  with  much  success.  He 
owns  13  acres  in  his  home  place  and  9  more  situ- 
ated a  quarter  of  a  mile  east,  all  of  which  is  very 
valuable  land  on  account  of  its  nearness  to  St. 
Joseph.  He  devotes  it  all  to  gardening  and 
raises  the  choicest  and  earliest  vegetables  and 
fruits  which  reach  this  market.  His  hot  beds 
have  250  sash.  Mr.  Zimmer  has  always  been 
very  industrious  and  in  addition  to  his  industry 
possesses  the  good  judgment  which  marks  the 
difference  between  a  successful  and  an  unsuc- 
cessful farmer  and  gardener.  The  time  has  almost 
come  when  his  fertile  land  will  be  covered  with 
streets  and  buildings,  but  until  then  its  cultivation 
as  a  garden  will  continue  to  bring  in  large  finan- 
cial returns.  His  work  is  too  heavy  for  him  to 
attend  to  it  wholly  by  his  own  efforts  and  he  em- 
ploys several  skilled  men  to  assist  him. 

Mr.  Zimmer  was  married  to  Bertha  L.  Miller, 
who  was'  born  in  Washington  township.  Bu- 
chanan County,  and  is  a  daughter  of  John  Miller, 
of  whom  a  sketch  appears  in  this  history.  They 
I'lave  one  son, — John  L.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Zimmer 
are  consistent  members  of  the  Lutheran  Church. 

Politically,  our  subject  is  a  Democrat.  He 
is  actively  interested  in  two  fraternal  orders,  the 
( )dd  Fellows  and  the  Woodmen  of  the  World. 
He  is  a  man  who  commands  the  respect  of  all 
who  know  him.  His  business  methods  are  marked 
with  honesty  and  his  social  and  domestic  rela- 
tions are  those  of  a  good  neighbor,  kind  father 
and  affectionate  hu.sband. 


VMES  HULL,  who  for  many  years  has 
been  a  prominent  man  of  affairs  in  St. 
Joseph,  is  senior  member  of  the  well- 
known  firm  of  Hull  &  Chittenden,  with 
offices  at  No.  610  Edmond  street,  which 
represents  a  number  of  the  most  prominent  fire 
insurance  companies  of  this  country.     Mr.  Hull 


HON.  OLIVER   MARTIN   SPENCER 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


289 


was  born  in  \\  heeling',  \  irginia  (now  West  Vir- 
ginia), December  24,  1839.  He  is  a  son  of  David 
Hull,  and  a  descendant  of  the  Zane  family,  for 
whom  Zanesville,  Ohio,  was  named.  History  re- 
minds us  that  Col.  Silas  Zane  was  commanding 
officer  at  Fort  Henr\-  at  \Vheeling  in  the  Revolu- 
tionary War. 

James  Hull  attended  the  public  schools  of 
Wheeling  and  also  completed  a  course  in  the 
commercial  college  of  that  city.  In  1857,  he  came 
West  to  St.  Joseph,  Missouri,  and  entered  the 
Farmers'  &  Mechanics'  Bank,  which  was  con- 
trolled by  his  uncle,  Joseph  C.  FIull.  He  re- 
mained here  until  1862,  then  returned  to  Wheel- 
ing for  a  short  time,  after  which  he  served  in  the 
capacity  of  Ijookkeeper  and  paying  teller  in  a 
bank  at  Zanesville,  C)hio,  for  more  than  a  year. 
In  1863.  he  returned  to  St.  Joseph,  entering'  the 
bank  of  A.  Beattie  &  Company,  located  on  Third 
street,  between  Felix  and  Fdmond  streets,  with 
which  he  continued  until  the  death  of  Mr.  Beattie 
in  T878.  About  1893.  Mr.  Hull  embarked  in  the 
insurance  business  and  with  great  success,  as  the 
firm  of  Janies  Hull  &  Company  transacted  the 
largest  fire  insurance  business  in  the  city  for  some 
years.  Our  subject  has  been  a  life-long  Demo- 
crat, and  has  been  honored  by  election  to  a  num- 
ber of  county  and  city  offices.  In  1876.  he  was 
elected  countv  treasurer  and  was  reelected  in 
1882.  In  1888,  he  was  chosen  county  collector 
and  served  as  such  during  a  period  of  four  years. 
He  served  as  cashier  of  the  Commercial  Bank  of 
St.  Joseph  from  1892  until  1895,  and  in  i8t)6 
was  elected  sherifif  of  Buchanan  County.  He 
filled  this  office  so  satisfactorily  that  his  reelec- 
tion in  1898  was  merely  a  matter  of  form.  Since 
retiring'  from  office,  he  has  engaged  in  the  fire  / 
insurance  business  with  Mr.  Chittenden. 

May  23,  1877,  Mr.  Hull  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Clara  \'.  Robinson  of  Burlington, 
Iowa,  and  thev  are  the  parents  of  three  children, 
namely :  Elizabeth  Zane.  James  Clark  and  Mabel 
C.  He  is  a  substantial  citizen,  and  one  who 
merits  and  possesses  the  highest  e<5teem  and  good- 
will of  his  fellowmcn. 


■♦ » » 


)X.    OLIVER    MARTIN    SPENCER, 

formerly  judge  of  the  Circuit  Court 
and  for  niany  years  a  prominent  prac- 
titioner at  the  St.  Joseph  bar.  whose 
portrait  accompanies  this  sketch,  is  at 
present  general  solicitor  of  the  Burlington  Rail- 


road System  in  Missouri  and  is  located  at  St. 
Joseph,  where  he  has  resided  continuously  since 
1875.  He  was  born  on  the  old  Spencer  home- 
stead in  Crawford  township,  Buchanan  County. 
Missouri,  August  23,  1849,  a"<^l  '^  a  .son  of 
Obadiah  Martin  and  Nancy  (Williams)  Spen- 
cer, the  former  a  native  of  North  Carolina  and 
the  latter  of  Kentucky. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  came  to  Missouri 
in  1837.  Obadiah  Martin  Spencer  was  one  of  the 
leading  citizens  of  the  Platte  Purchase  and  re- 
sided near  the  line  of  Platte  County  in  the 
"hotbed"  of  Southern  sympathizers,  one  day  in 
the  company  of  the  Confederates  and  the  next 
day  with  the  L'nion  troops.  The  father  decided 
that  his  five  sons  should  neither  fight  to  destroy 
the  Union,  nor  oppose  those  with  whom  he 
sympathized.  Accordingly  he  sent  the  two  older 
sons  across  the  plains  to  Denver  with  a  wagon 
train  of  freight,  Oliver  being  too  yotmg  to  ac- 
company them.  Consequently  he  remained  at 
home  and  worked  about  the  farm,  assisting  his 
parents  in  the  preservation  of  their  lives  and 
property. 

He  entered  the  State  University  of  Missouri 
at  Columbia  the  following  year,  and  in  1871 
became  a  student  at  Christian  University,  Can- 
ton, Missouri,  from  which  he  graduated  with 
honors  in  1873.  ^*^  subsequently  read  law  at 
Leavenworth.  Kansas,  residing  with  his  parents 
who  had  moved  in  1871  to  Kickapoo,  Kansas, 
riding  to  and  from  the  office,  six  miles,  on 
horseback.  In  1874,  he  entered  the  law  school  of 
Harvard  University  and  subsequently  established 
himself  in  practice  in   St.  Joseph.   Missouri. 

He  was  elected  to  the  office  of  prosecuting 
attorney  in  1880,  and  served  as  such  for  two 
years,  thereby  gaining  experience  of  incalculable 
value  to  him  in  his  after  practice.  During  this 
time,  he  was  senior  member  of  the  well-known 
law  firm,  Spencer  &  Hall,  of  which  Willard  P. 
Llall  was  junior  member.  In  t886,  the  Democrats 
nominated  Mr.  Spencer  for  judge  of  the  Circuit 
Court,  and  his  candidacy  met  with  such  favor 
with  the  bar,  that  the  opposition  party  put  no 
candidate  in  the  field.  His  term  on  the  bench 
was  characterized  by  capability  and  impartiality 
and  at  the  end  of  four  years  he  resigned  to  ac- 
cept his  present  position  as  general  solicitor  of 
the  Burlington  Railroad  System  in  Missouri.  He 
was  at  one  time  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Spencer, 
Burnes  &  Mosman,  recognized  as  one  of  the 
strongest  firms  in  the  State. 

In   1875,  Judge  Spencer  was  joined  in  n  sr- 


290 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


riage  with  Lillian  Tootle,  a  daughter  of  Joseph 
Tootle,  and  niece  of  the  deceased  millionaire, 
Milton  Tootle.  Airs.  Spencer  died  in  1880,  aged 
24  years,  leaving  two  "sons  :  Harry  Heddens,  born 
July  20,  1877;  and  Edwin  M.,  born  July  4,  1879. 
On  March  5,  1895.  the  Judge  married  Katharine 
Turner  of  Columbia,  ]\Iissouri.  They  have  one 
son,  Tom,  and  a  daughter,   Sarah. 


A  friend  justly  analyzes  and  truthfully  por- 
trays the  public  and  private  character  of  Judge 
Spencer  as  follows : 

When  young  Spencer  left  school  he  at  once 
engaged  in  life's  earnest  duties.  He  was  marked 
by  neither  the  precocities  nor  the  infirmities  of 
genius.  He  was  a  level-headed  youth  and  solid 
reasoner.  He  selected  St.  Joseph  as  his  perma- 
nent home,  and  at  once  entered  upon  the  practice 
of  his  ])rofession.  He  was  fortunate  in  becoming 
intimately  associated  in  the  law  office  with  Ex- 
Governor  Willard  P.  Hall,  one  of  the  ablest  law- 
yers in  Missouri.  He  has  always  acknowledged 
the  benefit  received  in  his  studies  by  such  asso- 
ciation. 

The  greatness  of  great  characters  was  what 
mostly  impressed  young  Spencer  as  he  began 
life.  Their  exploits  and  sufferings,  their  poten- 
cies of  intellect  and  will,  the  operation  of  their 
influence  and  example,  were  for  him  the  essence 
of  history. 

As  rapidly  as  the  young  attorney  became 
acquainted,  he  acquired  popularity  with  the  peo- 
ple. He  was  soon  elected  prosecuting  attorney, 
and  in  that  position  displayed  remarkable  ef- 
ficiency and  rare  common  sense.  He  was  an  able 
prosecutor,  and  not  a  senseless  vindictive  perse- 
cutor. He  won  the  respect  and  confidence  of  all 
regardless  of  party  affiliations.  He  was  named 
^or  circuit  judge  and  was  recognized  as  eminently 
fit  for  a  judicial  career.  He  was  elected  without 
opposition.  On  the  bench  he  proved  himself  a 
sound  and  just  jurist.  He  was  not  a  prejudiced, 
passionate  and  partisan  judge,  but  his  course  and 
action  rather  exhibited  the  older  and  more  re- 
spectable type — dignified  and  conservative.  ( )fif 
the  bench  his  manners  were  cordial  and  demo- 
cratic with  honest  pride  of  perfect  manhood. 

After  four  years  on  the  bench,  Judge  Spencer 
resigned  the  position  to  become  general  .solicitor 
for  the  P)urlington  Railroad  System  in  Missouri. 
He  has  continued  in  service  and  has  proved  of 
vast  benefit  to  the  corporation,  especially  by  mak- 
ing friends  for  it  instead  of  enemies,  and  in  con- 


ducting litigation  with  such  ability  and  fairness 
as  to  be  successful  in  all  important  cases. 

As  a  lawyer,  no  man  practicing  at  the  St. 
Joseph  bar  is  his  superior.  He  has  found  the 
form  and  mode  of  expression  that  best  suits 
his  genius  and  talent.  In  argument  the  strength, 
conciseness,  and  the  harmony  of  style  are  at  their 
height,  and  seldom  fail  to  convince.  He  learned 
in  early  youth  that  "cunning  is  not  wisdom ; 
prevarication  is  not  policy."  The  essence 
of  urbanity  and.  force  of  truth  leads  to  success. 

Judge  Spencer  has  been  engaged  in  many 
cases  of  great  import — a  number  involving  hun- 
dreds of  thousands  of  dollars — and  his  success 
has  been  remarkable.  He  seldom  takes  a  case 
into  court  wliich  he  concludes  after  examination 
he  cannot  win,  and  often  succeeds  for  his  client 
in  making  a  settlement  out  of  court  to  his  ad- 
vantage generally,  and  also  to  the  satisfaction  of 
the  opponent.  He  does  not  admit  much  scenic 
or  accessory  ornament  when  conducting  a  case 
at  the  bar,  but  plainly  addresses  judge  and  jury, 
giving  them  a  thorough  understanding  of  all  the 
facts  and  points  at  issue.  He  analyzes  the  evi- 
dence fairly,  and  never  indulges  in  misrepresenta- 
tion. 

Judge  Spencer's  gifts,  attainments,  his  orig- 
inality, his  force,  his  complete  self-control,  are 
all  of  the  same  conspicuous  and  imposing  kind. 
All  must  acknowledge  his  tact  and  skill  as  a  law- 
yer. It  is  his  strength  that  he  has  been  all  his 
life  a  law  unto  himself,  acting  in  conformity  with 
the  best  standards,  and  pursuing  no  ideals  but 
his  own. 

Outside  of  law  practice,  Judge  Spencer  is  a 
pillar  of  Democratic  opinion,  and  a  friend  of  most 
of  the  chief  men  of  that  party  ;  but  he  never  abuses 
a  political  opponent,  and  therefore  has  made  a 
host  of  warm  friends  among  Repu1)licans.  He 
has  an  energetic  and  delicate  way  of  doing  things. 
The  inevitable  friction  of  practical  jjolitics  often 
generates  hate  and  destroys  friendship.  Not  so 
with  him.  He  has  a  strong  hold  of  both  facts 
and  princi})les,  but  never  gives  utterance  to 
frantic  vitu]K'ration  at  a  man  who  dififers  from 
him  in  ])olitical  views. 

All  his  aims  and  actions  testify  to  a  stanch 
and  high  devotion  to  the  great  principles  of  free- 
dom and  justice,  as  well  as  to  a  just  observation 
of  many  of  the  broad  facts  of  politics  and  society. 

He  has  all  the  sober  and  retired  graces  of 
dignified  style  :  all  the  confident  case  of  manli- 
ness and  strength,  with  an  honest  but  not  abrupt 
simplicity   which   appeals   to  the   reason,   but   is 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


291 


also  admitted  to  the  heart.  There  is  Httle  about 
him  that  encourages  cliaheng-e,  partly  due  no 
doubt  to  his  obvious  intrepidity,  and  partly,  we 
may  infer,  to  his  habitual  exactness  on  the  part 
of  personal  courtesy  even  in  the  midst  of  his  most 
startling  sallies. 

He  thinks  about  life  as  a  whole,  with  all  its 
infirmities  and  all  its  pomps.  With  none  of  the 
mental  exclusiveness  of  the  moralist  by  profes- 
sion, his  conversation  is  with  reverence  and  mean- 
ing. With  none  of  the  ostentatious  mechanical 
bustle  of  the  common  politician,  he  is  everywhere 
conscious  of  the  mastery  of  laws,  institutions,  and 
government  over  the  character  and  happiness  of 
men. 

Judge  Spencer's  genial  and  social  disposition 
is  the  admiration  of  all  who  know  him.  He  has  a 
heart  infinitely  kind  and  tender.  He  has  been 
generous  all  his  life.  From  his  earliest  days  he 
has  been  the  friend  of  people  in  trouble  and  dis- 
tress. His  generosity  is  liberal,  delicate,  never 
hesitating.  In  his  pride  there  is  no  moroseness ; 
in  his  independence  not  a  shadow  of  jealousy.  He 
is  loyal  and  devoted  in  friendship. 

As  an  example  of  his  ordinarv  manner  in  con- 
versation, he  is  part  playful,  part  serious,  and  not 
altogether  free  from  slips  of  speech,  but  always 
shows  a  kindly  disposition  to  his  friends.  But  all 
is  perfectly  natural ;  there  is  no  trick  about  him  ; 
no  preaching,  no  playing  ofif.  All  who  know  him 
will  testify  to  his  impressiveness  and  to  the  in- 
tegrity of  his  personality.  All  recognize  "The 
genial  voice  and  radiant  eye  of  Judge  Spencer, 
and  besides  all  have  many  expressions  of  affection 
for  his  person  and  admiration  for  his  character 
and  his  powers. 

Jno    L.  Bittinger. 


-♦-•-♦- 


().\.  WILLIAM  K.  JAMES,  formerly 
judge  of  Circuit  Court  No.  2,  of  Bu- 
chanan County,  is  one  of  the  miost 
eminent  lawyers  of  the  city  of  St. 
Joseph,  where  he  has  resided  for  many 
years. 

Judge  James  was  born  August  20,  1852,  in 
.Sussex  County,  Delaware,  and  is  a  son  of  Curias 
T.  and  Eliza  J.  (Knowles)  James.  When  14 
years  of  age,  our  subject  accompanied  his  parents 
to  the  vicinity  of  Barry,  in  Fike  County.  Illinois, 
where  thc\-  remained  three  years,  and  then  moved 
to  Fremont  County,  lowc'.,  locating  in  the  vicinity 
of  the  town   of  Hamburg.     He  spent  his  early 


life  upon  the  farm,  and  attended  the  country  and 
village  schools.  At  the  age  of  18  years  he  taught 
winter  school  and  walked  a  distance  of  three 
miles  to  and  from  his  home  each  day,  and  the 
following  spring  attended  Central  College,  of 
Fayette,  jMissouri.  He  then  taught  school  one 
year  in  East  Nebraska  City,  Iowa,  in  his  home 
county  of  Fremont,  and  in  1872  again  attended 
Central  College.  He  next  entered  Yale  Col- 
lege and  completed  the  regular  classical  course, 
being  graduated  with  the  class  of  1878.  Since 
August  of  1878  he  has  been  located  in  St.  Joseph, 
Missouri.  Lender  the  preceptorship  of  Ex-Gov- 
ernor Willard  P.  Hall,  he  studied  law  and  was 
admitted  to  the  legal  profession.  By  strict 
application  to  his  work  and  with  conscientious  re- 
gard for  the  interests  of  his  clients,  he  won  his 
way  to  the  front  rank  among  the  lawyers  of  this 
section  of  the  State.  In  1898,  he  was  Democratic 
nominee  for  circuit  judge,  and  in  the  election 
which  followed  not  only  gained  the  office  but  led 
the  party  ticket  by  over  800  votes.  Since  the 
expiration  of  his  term  in  office  he  became  asso- 
ciated with  W.  B.  Norris  under  the  rrm  name  of 
James  &  Norris,  and  has  devoted  his  attention  to 
the  practice  of  his  profession,  the  firm  maintain- 
ing fine  offices  in  the  Tootle-Lemon  National 
Bank  Building,  at  Sixth  and  Francis  streets. 

In  1883,  Judge  James  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Mary  A.  Tootle,  a  daughter  of  Thomas  E. 
and  Ellen  (Bell)  Tootle,  and  they  have  two  chil- 
dren, namely:  Nellie  Tootle  James,  who  was  born 
in  1884;  and  Thomas  Tootle  James,  born  in  1888. 
At  the  age  of  14  years.  Judge  James  united  with 
the  church,  and  since  coming  to  St.  Joseph  has 
been  a  member,  and  for  years  an  elder,  of  the 
First  Presbyterian  Church.  He  has  been  one 
of  the  most  influential  members  of  this  church,  a 
consistent,  earnest  Christian,  and  at  times  his 
knowledge  of  ecclesiastical  law  and  sound  advice 
has  been  of  the  utmost  value  to  the  church  and 
synod.  He  is  a  past  grand  of  Invincible  Lodge, 
I.  O.  O.  F.,  and  is  also  a  member  of  Pocahontas 
Tribe,  I.  O.  R.  M. 

In  politics  Judge  James  is  a  Democrat  and 
has  activelv  participated  in  all  campaigns,  espe- 
cially that  of  1896,  when  he  stumped  the  north- 
western part  of  the  State.  He  is  an  exceedingly 
popular  man.  and  through  great  strength  of  char- 
acter has  made  friends  throughout  this  section  of 
Missouri.  He  is  an  earnest  and  fluent  speaker, 
and  convincing  in  his  arguments.  He  never 
fails  to  favorably  impress  his  audiences  and  in- 
variablv  has  the  undivided  attention  of  all  who 


292 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY  AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


chance  to  hear  him  ;  his  persuasive  power  over  a 
jury  is  quite  exceptional.  He  is  a  man  of  strong 
personahty  and  possesses  in  a  marked  degree  the 
cjuaHties  of  a  leader.  He  is  suave  and  self-con- 
tained in  manner  and  in  all  his  undertakings  ex- 
hibits the  sterling  qualities  that  mark  the  inde- 
fatigable and   successful   worker.     Clear  headed 

•  •        •  1 

and  possessing  the  courage  of  his  convictions,  he 
follows  the  path  he  believes  to  be  right,  knowing 
no  fear  and  regardless  of  favor. 


-♦-•-♦- 


IVERDA  H.  JORDAN,  B.  A.,  principal 
of  the  St.  Joseph,  Missouri,  High 
School  and  professor  of  ancient  lan- 
guages, is  one  of  Missouri's  scholarly 
men.  Flis  birth  took  place  at  St. 
Joseph,  Missouri,  April  12,  1873,  and  he  is  one 
of  five  children  born  to  his  parents,  William  A, 
and  Clara  (Harding)  Jordan.  His  father  was 
one  of  the  best  known  citizens  of  St.  Joseph,  and 
through  his  long  connection  with  the  Commercial 
and  other  banks  of  the  city  was  accounted  one  of 
the  most  efficient  and  substantial  cashiers  of  the 
West.  His  mother  was  the  daughter  of  Benja- 
min Harding,  a  pioneer  settler  of  St.  Joseph  and 
of  Kansas,  member  of  the  first  Free  State  Legis- 
lature of  Kansas,  and  a  sturdy  representative  of 
the  old  New  England  Revolutionary  stock. 

Professor  Jordan  has  spent  the  greater  part 
of  his  life  in  this  city.  Here  he  completed  the 
common  and  high  school  courses  of  instruction 
and  was  graduated  from  the  latter  in  1889.  He 
then  became  a  student  at  Yale  University  and  w-as 
graduated  there  with  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of 
Arts. . 

After  a  considerable  experience  in  banking, 
mercantile  and  railroad  life,  in  1895  """^  became  a 
teacher  in  the  St.  Joseph  High  School  as  head 
of  the  department  of  mathematics,  and  in  190 1 
he  was  appointed  to  the  chair  of  Latin  and  Greek, 
a  position  for  which  he  is  eminently  qualified.  In 
September,  1904,  he  succeeded  \V.  F.  Ellis  as 
])rincipal  of  the  High  School. 

This  institution  numbers  930  pupils  with  25 
teachers.  The  residents  of  this  city  take  great 
])ride  in  their  high  school  and  are  justified  in 
doing  so  as  the  graduates  of  this  institution  are 
scattered  all  over  the  country,  ably  filling  posi- 
tions of  the  greatest  responsibility.  Professor 
Jordan,  by  education,  experience  and  personal 
qualifications,  is  just  the  man  to  not  only  keep 
up  the  present  high  standard  but  to  aim  still 
higher  and  accom])lish  still  greater  results. 


He  has  been  prominent  in  the  educational  life 
of  the  State,  having  served  for  three  consecutive 
terms  as  treasurer  of  the  Missouri  State  Teach- 
ers* Association.  He  was  twice  secretary  of  the 
Northwest  Missouri  Teachers"  Association,  in 
1902  was  president  of  the  State  department  of 
mathematics,  in  1900  organized  the  Missouri  \'al- 
ley  Inter-Scholastic  Association,  of  which  he  was 
twice  president  and  is  now  (1904)  treasurer.  He 
has  read  many  papers  on  educational  topics 
before  the  various  organizations  of  the  State,  and 
is  known  as  an  efifective  speaker  on  any  of  the 
phases  of  a  teacher's  work.  He  is  also  a  ready 
writer,  and  has  contributed  much  to  the  press  of 
this  citv  and  to  the  educational  literature  of  the 
State. 

He  is  an  enthusiastic  sportsman,  a  member  of 
the  Country  Club,  and  an  exponent  of  the  modern 
doctrine  of  the  outdoor  life  as  a  valuable  aid  to 
education. 

■»  » » 


USTON  WYETH,  president  of  the 
Wyeth  Hardware  &  Manufacturing 
Company,  the  largest  wholesale  hard- 
ware, saddlery  and  tinware  house  west 
of  St.  Louis,  is  a  very  prominent  citi- 
zen of  St.  Joseph.  He  is  one  of  three  children 
born  to  William  Maxwell  and  Eliza  (Renick) 
Wyeth. 

William  M.  Wyeth  was  born  in  Pennsylvania, 
February  17,  1832,  and  came  of  distinguished 
colonial  ancestry.  The  genealogical  record  of  the 
family  will  be  found  in  his  sketch  that  appears 
elsewhere  in  this  volume.  William  M.  Wyeth  left 
his  native  State  at  an  early  date  and  for  a  num- 
ber of  years  was  located  at  Chillicothe,  Ohio, 
where  he  engaged  in  the  mercan.tilc  and  later  in 
the  hardware  business  until  i860.  He  then  came 
West  to  St.  Joseph,  Missouri,  and  embarked  in 
business  in  a  small  way  on  Market  square.  This 
was  the  foundation  of  the  present  mammoth  bus- 
iness house,  of  which  his  son  is  now  the  head. 
Increase  of  business  soon  demanded  more  room, 
and  from  time  to  time  additional  space  was  se- 
cured and  more  capital  was  invested  until  at 
present  this  concern  is  one  of  the  largest  of  its 
kind  in  the  country.  In  1864,  the  business  was 
removed  to  Third  and  Felix  streets,  where  it  was 
conducted  until  the  new  building  at  Second  and 
Antoine  streets  was  ready  for  occupancy. 

In  1880  the  firm  was  incorporated  as  the 
Wyeth  Hardware  &  Manufacturing  Company, 
with  a  capital  stock  of  $300,000.    In  March,  1902, 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


295 


tlie  capital  stock  was  increased  to  $500,000.  The 
present  ofificers  of  the  company  are  as  follows : 
Hnston  Wveth,  president  and  general  manager; 
Charles  F.  Steinacker,  treasnrer ;  G.  M.  Johnson, 
vice-president ;  and  J.  A.  Warner,  secretary.  The 
officers  of  the  company  are  the  only  stockholders. 
In  1890  the  wholesale  hardware  and  saddlery  es- 
tablishments, on  North  Second  street,  were 
erected  and  three  years  later  the  other  depart- 
ments were  removed  there.  The  building'  is  a 
fine  structure  of  five  stories  and  basement,  with 
ground  dimensions  of  140  and  200  feet.  The 
general  offices  are  in  the  same  building.  Em- 
ployees to  the  number  of  150  are  required  in  the 
main  building,  while  in  the  harness  factorv  at 
.Second  and  Jules  streets  more  than  200. men  are 
employed.  They  employ  three  cit\' salesmen  and 
about  70  traveling  salesmen,  the  latter  of  whom 
cover  a  large  territory,  extending  from  the  Mis- 
sissippi River  to  the  Pacific  slope,  and  from  the 
Piritish  possessions  on  the  North  to  the  Gulf  of 
Mexico  on  the  South. 


■♦* » 


.  REV.  MAURICE  FRANCIS 
BCRKE.  Bishop  of  the  Diocese  of  St. 
Joseiih,  and  one  of  the  most  venerated 
of  the  ecclesiastics  of  the  Catholic 
Church  in  Missouri,  was  born  in  Ireland, 
May  5,  1845,  ^"<^1  is  one  of  a  family  of  eight  chil- 
dren 1x)rn  to  his  parents,  Francis  N.  and  Johanna 
(Casey)  Burke,  natives  of  Ireland. 
.  The  family  came  to  America  in  1849  and  set- 
tled at  Chicago,  Illinois,  which  was  then  a  city  of 
small  area,  with  23,300  inhabitants.  However, 
a  parochial  school  had  been  established  and  this 
the  youth  attended,  subsequently  taking  a  com- 
mercial course  at  l>ryant  &  Stratton's  Business 
College  and  later  attended  St.  Mary's  University. 
In  1866  he  completed  his  literary  course  and  edu- 
cation at  the  University  of  Notre  Dame,  Indiana, 
and  the  same  year  went  to  Rome  to  pursue  his 
])hilosophical  and  theological  studies  in  the 
American  College.  He  was  ordained  to  the 
])riesthood  at  Rome.  May  22,  1875,  by  Cardinal 
Patrizi.  P'pon  his  return  to  the  United  States,  he 
was  assigned  as  assistant  pastor  of  St.  Marv's 
Church,  Wabash  avenue  and  Eldredge  court,  Clu'- 
cago,  Illinois.  After  three  years  of  faithful  serv- 
ice here,  he  was  appointed  pastor  of  St.  Mary's 
Church,  Joliet,  Illinois,  where  he  remained  nine 
years.  In  1887  he  was  made  Bishop  of  Cheyenne, 
Wyoming,  by  His  Holiness.  Pope  Leo  XIII.     In 


June,  1893,  he  was  transferred  to  the  Diocese  of 
St.  Joseph. 

During  the  whole  of  his  useful  ministry,  this 
faithful  pastor,  elevated  again  and  again  to  higher 
and  more  responsible  positions,  has  preached  the 
Gospel  both  by  precept  and  example.  He  has 
exalted  the  important  things  of  life, — character, 
truth,  honor,  justice,  love,  righteousness. — and 
taught  his  people  that  these  are  the  things  of  real 
worth.  Admired  for  his  scholarly  attainments 
and  respected  for  his  executive  ability  and  his 
broad  and  enlightened  views,  he  is  also  venerated 
and  beloved  bv  his  clergy  for  his  personal  tributes. 


ARL  JA^IES  GRISW^OLD,  one  of  St. 
Joseph's  well-known  professional  men, 
the  junior  member  of  the  law  firm  of 
Muir  &  Griswold,  located  in  the  Ger- 
man-American Bank  Building,  was 
born  in  Harwood  township.  Champaign  County, 
Illinois,  December  8,  1873,  and  is  a  son  of  Rom- 
ilius  Ruthven  and  Eliza  (Gilford)  Griswold  and 
a  grandson  of  John  J.  and  Mary  (Eldredge) 
Griswold. 

The  Griswold  family  is  one  of  the  oldest  fam- 
ilies in  Connecticut  and  trace  a  direct  ancestry  to 
"Mayflower"  progenitors.  Our  subject's  great- 
grandfather, Jacob  Griswold,  was  born  May  9, 
1774,  in  Connecticut  and  died  June  20,  1806;  he 
probabl}'  took  part  in  the  Revolutionary  War. 
His  wife  Lucy,  whom  he  married  June  23,  1795, 
was  born  March  4,  1778.  Their  son,  John  J. 
Griswold,  was  born  October  24,  1798,  and  died 
March  23,  1884.  He  was  married  in  Sharon, 
Schoharie  County,  New  York,  December  11, 
1822,  to  Mary  Eldredge,  and  they  had  three  chil- 
dren, the  youngest  being  Romilius  Ruthven,  the 
father  of  our  subject.  John  J.  Griswold  mar- 
ried as  his  second  wife  Rebecca  Seely  ;  there  was 
no  issue  to  this  union. 

Romilius  Ruthven  Griswold  was  born  March 
31,  1829,  in  the  town  of  Sharon,  Schoharie 
County,  New  York,  and  in  June.  1838.  accom- 
panied his  parents  to  Kendall  County,  Illinois. 
He  remained  on  the  home  farm  there  until  after 
liis  marriage  and  then  moved  to  Champaign 
County,  where  he  still  resides,  although  retired 
from  active  life  for  some  years.  In  earlier  days 
he  was  an  active  worker  for  the  Republican 
party,  but  always  placed  its  success  beyond 
personal  aspirations  and  would  never  accept 
office.     On  October  31,  1855,  h.e  was  married  to 


296 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


Eliza  Gifford,  who  was  born  September  21.  1835, 
in  Ocean  County,  New  Jersey.  Of  their  three 
children,  but  two  reached  maturity :  Edith,  who 
is  the  wife  of  William  Bohrer,  of  Champaign 
County,  Blinois ;  and  Carl  James,  of  this  sketch. 
Mary,  born  December  23,  1856,  died  November 
20,  1872. 

Our  subject  started  out  in  life  well  equipped 
with  a  good  education.  In  1892  he  was  gradu- 
ated at  the  Ludlow  High  School  in  Champaign 
County;  on  June  8,  1893,  from  the  commercial 
department  of  the  Grand  Prairie  Seminary  of 
Onarga.  Illinois,  a  branch  of  Northwestern  Uni- 
versity ;  on  July  31,  1896,  from  the  Latin  and 
scientific  course,  with  the  degree  of  B.  S..  from 
Greer  College,  at  Hoopeston,  Illinois ;  and  on 
June  17,  1902,  from  the  law  department  of  \\'es- 
leyan  University,  at  Bloomington,  Illinois,  with 
the  degree  of  LL.  B.  On  June  4  1903.  he  was 
admitted  to  the  Illinois  State  bar  and  engaged  in 
practice  for  a  short  time  at  Bloomington.  In 
August,  1903,  Mr.  Griswold  became  a  resident  of 
St.  Joseph,  Missouri,  opening  an  ofifice  here  in 
partnership  with  John  Wesley  Muir,  under  the 
firm  name  of  Muir  &  Griswold,  both  partners 
having  been  admitted  to  the  bar  in  the  same  year 
and  both  being  men  of  enterprise  and  ability.  The 
firm  is  recognized  as  a  strong  one  and  it  enjoys 
a  generous  share  of  the  legal  business  of  the  city. 

On  August  12,  1903,  Mr.  Griswold  was  mar- 
ried to  Frances  Glennan,  who  is  a  daughter  of 
Dr.  M.  A.  Glennan,  of  Ludlow,  Illinois. 

Mr.  Griswold  belongs  to  the  leading  fraternal 
organizations,  having  been  made  a  ]\Iason  in  Fera 
Lodge,  No.  574.  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  at  Ludlow,  Illi- 
nois, and  a  Knight  of  Pythias  at  Bloomington. 
He  transferred  his  membership  in  the  latter  body 
to  St.  Joseph  Lodge  No.  22,  and  is  also  a  mem- 
ber of  St.  Joseph  Company,  No.  17,  LTniform 
Rank,  K.  of  P.  Politically  he  is  a  stanch  Re- 
publican and  is  a  valued  worker  for  his  party.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  McKinley-Roosevelt  Club.  He 
is  one  of  the  able  members  of  the  bar  and  a  first- 
class  citizen  who  can  be  depended  upon  to  labor 
for  the  best  interests  of  St.  Joseph,  where  he  has 
already  made  a  large  number  of  personal  friends. 


-♦-•-♦- 


AMES  MADISON  WILSON,  who  is 
practically  retired  from  business  life,  is 
a  director  of  the  Merchants'  Bank  of 
St.  Joseph,  and  has  been  engaged  in  the 
banking  business  here  almost  continu- 
ously since  ^^^t,.     Of  the  bankers  now  in  busi- 


ness in  this  city,  "he  was  the  first  to  engage  in  the 
banking  business  here.  A  man  of  superior  ability 
and  attainments,  he  ranks  among  the  foremost 
business  men. 

James  M.  Wilson  was  born  in  Howard 
County,  Missouri,  in  1831,  and  is  a  son  of  Rob- 
ert Wilson,  who  was  a  distinguished  member  of 
the  Missouri  bar  in  the  pioneer  days. 

Robert  Wilson  removed  to  Howard  County, 
Missouri,  about  1820.  and  later  located  in  Ran- 
dolph County,  the  lines  of  which  he  laid  ofiP. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  Union  Convention  of 
i860,  was  appointed  L^nited  States  Senator  dur- 
ing the  \\'ar  by  Governor  Gamble,  and  served 
one  term  as  a  member  of  that  honorable  body.  He 
came  to  St.  Joseph  and  lived  in  retirement  until 
his  death  in  1870.  He  was  born  in  Abingdon, 
Virginia,  and  was  a  boy  when  he  came  to  this 
State,  where  he  was  reared  and  educated  for  his 
profession.  He  married  a  daughter  of  Col.  John 
W.  Snoddy,  who  was  a  prominent  citizen  and 
extensive  farmer  of  Howard  County,  Missouri, 
where  he  died.  She  was  born  in  Madison  Count\', 
Kentucky,  and  was  young  in  years  when  she  re- 
moved with  her  parents  to  Howard  County,  in 
1819.  This  union  resulted  in  the  birth  of  five 
children,  three  sons  and  two  daughters,  of  which 
number  our  subject  and  one  sister,  Mrs.  R.  L. 
McDonald,  are  now  living.  The  eldest  son,  John 
Wilson,  was  a  lawyer  and  was  associated  until  his 
death,  in  1857,  with  J.  M.  Bassett,  of  St.  Joseph. 

James  M.  Wilson  was  but  a  boy  when  he 
came  to  St.  Joseph  in  1852  and  engaged  as 
clerk  in  the  general  store  of  Donald,  Saxton  & 
McDonald.  In  1853  Armstrong  Beattie  came  to 
St.  Joseph  and  started  a  private  bank,  the  first 
bank  in  the  city,  and  employed  our  subject  to 
keep  his  books.  The  latter  continued  in  this 
position  until  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  War  in 
1 86 1,  then  went  West  to  Montana  where  he  re- 
mained imtil  the  close  of  the  war.  He  then  re- 
turned and  has  since  made  his  home  in  St.  Joseph, 
having  been  identified  with  many  banks  as  stock- 
holder and  director  and  having  engaged  in  the 
loan  business.  It  devolved  upon  him  to  close  up 
Mr.  Beattie's  estate  in  the  early  "seventies."  For 
20  years  past  he  has  been  treasurer  of  Mount 
Mora  Cemetery,  probably  the  most  beautiful 
cemetery  in  the  State.  Although  it  is  in  the 
nature  of  a  charity,  as  it  depends  largely  on  gifts, 
it  has  been  self-sustaining  for  a  number  of  years, 
all  money  received  being  expended  toward  beau- 
tifying the  grounds  and  making  substantial  im- 
provements. 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


297 


Mr.  Wilson  is  independent  in  politics,  and  al- 
though frequently  importuned  has  steadfastly 
refused  to  accept  of  city  or  State  offices.  He  is  a 
man  without  family,  never  having  married,  and 
belongs  to  no  secret  orders.  He  is  liberal  in 
religious  views,  although  greatly  interested  in 
church  work. 


♦  * » 


AL\'IN  C.  COLT,  United  States  com- 
missioner and  clerk  of  the  United 
States  courts  for  the  Western  District 
of  Alissouri,  is  a  veteran  of  the  Civil 
War  and  a  respected  citizen  of  St. 
Joseph,  where  he  has  resided  off  and  on  for  a 
period  of  more  than  40  years. 

Mr.  Colt  is  the  son  of  Judah  and  Sila  E. 
(Brown)  Colt,  his  father  a  native  of  Pittsfield, 
Massachusetts,  and  his  mother  of  New  Hamp- 
shire. The  father  engaged  extensively  in  farm- 
ing and  stock-raising  in  Monroe  County,  New 
York,  where  he  lived  until  his  death  at  the  age  of 
58  years.  Mrs.  Colt  died  in  St.  Joseph  at  the  age 
of  65  years. 

Calvin  C.  Colt  was  born  in  the  town  of  Pitts- 
ford,  Monroe  County,  New  York,  and  was  reared 
on  a  farm.  He  attended  the  public  schools  of  that 
place  and  also  of  Rochester,  New  York.  As  early 
as  1863  he  came  West  to  St.  Joseph,  Missouri, 
to  buy  stock  and  remained  for  a  short  time. 
Returning  to  New  York  State,  he  was  married  in. 
February,  1864,  and  in  1865  moved  to  Easton, 
Missouri,  where  he  bought  a  farm.  In  1864  he 
served  in  the  Missouri  State  Militia,  as  a  private 
in  Captain  Karns'  company,  and  after  the  close  of 
the  Civil  War  taught  school  during  the  winter 
months  and  farmed  during  the  summer.  He  ran 
on  the  Liberal  Republican  ticket  for  clerk  but  was 
defeated.  He  was  later  appointed  by  Governor 
Woodson  to  fill  the  unexpired  term  of  Mr.  Riden- 
baugh,  deceased,  as  clerk  of  the  Circuit  Court. 
One  vear  later  he  entered  Sheriff  Gates'  office 
as  assistant,  and  when  the  latter  became  State 
Treasurer  of  Missouri  was  made  his  confidential 
assistant.  He  continued  at  Jefiferson  for  one 
year  and  then  returned  to  his  farm.  The  follow- 
ing year  he  was  nominated  by  the  Republican 
party  for  clerk  of  the  Circuit  Court,  and  was 
beaten  by  only  a  few  votes.  He  then  became  as- 
sistant county  collector,  and  when  R.  T.  Davis 
resigned  was  appointed  by  Governor  Crittenden 
to  fill  the  unexpired  term.  In  1885  Colonel  Gates 
was  appointed  United  States  marshal  and  Mr. 
Colt  became  his  chief  deputy  with  office  at  Kan- 


sas City.  He  continued  as  chief  deputy  succes- 
sively under  five  United  States  marshals,  namely  : 
Elijah  Gates,  J.  P.  Tracey,  G.  Shelby,  G.  Y. 
Cranshaw,  and  E.  R.  Durham.  June  3,  1901,  he 
was  appointed  United  States  commissioner  and 
clerk  of  the  United  States  courts  for  the  Western 
Division  of  Missouri,  an  office  still  filled  by  him 
in  a  most  efficient  manner. 

In  February,  1864,  ^^r.  Colt  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Emily  S.  Sibley,  who  was  born  in 
West  Henrietta,  Monroe  County,  New  York,  and 
they  became  parents  of  two  children,  one  of 
whom  is  now  living, — Gertrude  A.,  wife  of  C. 
M.  Fitch  of  Kansas  City.  Missouri.  Mr.  Colt  is 
widely  known  throughout  this  section  of  the 
State,  where  he  has  resided  so  many  years  and 
been  identified  with  its  progress. 


■♦ « » 


Imus. 


LAYTON  F.  IMUS,  M.  D.,  one  of  the 
prominent  practicing  physicians  of  St. 
Joseph,  was  born  in  1863  at  Kala- 
mazoo, Michigan,  and  is  a  son  of  Mor- 
timer   Dudley    and    Alba     (Walker) 


The  Imus  family  was  established  in  Vermont 
by  William  Imus,  who  crossed  the  Atlantic  from 
Europe  and  followed  an  agricultural  life.  He 
was  the  great-grandfather  of  Dr.  Imus.  Alonzo 
Imus,  son  of  William,  was  born  in  Vermont  but 
spent  his  last  years  as  a  farmer  in  Michigan. 
Morton  Dudley  Imus.  father  of  Dr.  Imus,  was 
born  in  1833  at  Bennington,  Vermont.  His  edu- 
cation was  of  a  commercial  nature  and  he  was 
employed  early  in  his  career  as  a  bookkeeper  in 
the  mercantile  business,  first  in  Chicago,  Illinois, 
and  later  in  Muskegon,  Michigan.  He  later 
became  traveling  representative  for  various  agri- 
cultural implement  houses,  covering  a  large  part 
of  the  country,  but  subsequently  bought  a  farm 
near  Plattsburg,  Missouri,  where  he  is  now  fol- 
lowing agricultural  pursuits.  He  married  a 
daughter  of  Jacob  Vv^alker,  who  was  a  pioneer  of 
Clinton  County,  Missouri,  one  of  its  first  set- 
tlers. Mr.  Walker  settled  in  Clay  County  in 
1 83 1,  entered  a  claim  on  land  near  Plattsburg,  of 
one  thousand  four  hundred  acres  and  lived  there 
until  his  death  in  1900.  She  was  born  in  Clinton 
County  in  1839,  and  died  in  1904,  aged  64  years 
and  seven  months,  the  mother  of  four  children, 
viz :  William,  who  has  recently  engaged  in  a 
grocery  business  at  St.  Joseph ;  Clayton  F.,  of 
this  sketch ;  Avis,  who  resides  with  her  brother ; 


298 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


and  Rosa,  deceased,  who  was  the  wife  of  Edward 
Hockaday  and  was  sur\'ived  by  three  children, 
— Percy,  Richard  and  Edwin. 

Dr.  Imus  received  his  early  education  at  Kala- 
mazoo, Michigan,  where  he  was  prepared  to  enter 
the  Cincinnati  Medical  College,  at  Cincinnati, 
Ohio,  where  he  was  graduated  in  1889.  He  lo- 
cated at  Columbus  and  practiced  there  and  in 
New  Haven,  Connecticut,  until  1891.  when  he 
came  to  St.  Joseph  where  he  has  met  with  very 
satisfactory  recognition. 

In  1889  Dr.  Imus  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Harriet  Fauber.  who  had  been  his  classmate  at 
college.  She  graduated  in  1890  and  was  asso- 
ciated with  him  in  practice  for  some  years  but 
not  latterly.  She  was  born  at  Delaware,  Ohio, 
and  is  a  lady  of  unusual  intelligence.  They  have 
two  children  :  Louise  A.,  born  in  1894,  and  Irene, 
born  in  1897,  both  living  at  home. 

Dr.  Imus  is  identified  with  the  Democratic 
party.  Fraternally,  he  is  a  Forester  and  an  Odd 
Fellow,  belonging  to  the  lodges  at  St.  Joseph.  He 
is  popular  both  as  a  citizen  and  as  a  physician. 


FORGE  W.  MARLOW,  one  of  the 
prominent  and  honored  business  citi- 
zens of  St.  Joseph,  died  at  his  home  in 
this  city  on  November  16,  1893, 
mourned  by  a  devoted  family  and  a 
large  circle  of  personal  and  business  friends.  Mr. 
Marlow  was  born  December  14,  1838,  in  Loudoun 
County,  X^irginia,  and  was  one  of  a  family  of  14 
children  born  to  his  parents.  George  W.  and 
Mary  (Smith)   IMarlow. 

Before  the  Civil  War.  the  father  of  the  late 
Mr.  Marlow  was  a  typical  \'irginia  planter,  own- 
ine  large  estates  and  manv  slaves.  His  home 
was  one  of  lavish  hospitality  and  the  large  family 
he  reared  was  surrounded  with  all  the  comforts 
and  advantages  of  ample  means.  The  parents 
died  in  their  old  Virginia  home. 

George  \\  .  Marlow  was  well  educated  and 
bad  many  social  advantages,  but  he  was  left,  like 
many  others  after  the  Civil  War,  with  the  neces- 
sity of  entering  into  a  business  life.  He  came  to 
St.  Joseph,  Missouri,  in  1869  and  established 
himself  here  in  the  boot  and  shoe  lousiness,  be- 
coming proprietor  of  the  "Elephant  Shoe  Store," 
and  continued  to  be  interested  in  this  line  until 
his  decease. 

On  January  6,  1886,  Mr.  Marlow  was  mar- 
ried to  Arcadia  Perrv,  who  still  survives.    She  is 


a  daughter  of  the  late  Charles  A.  Perry,  one  of 
the  most  prominent  of  the  pioneer  citizens  of  St. 
Joseph.  ^Ir.  Perry  was  born  December  6,  1818, 
in  Montgomery  County,  Maryland,  and  died  at 
St.  Joseph,  Missouri,  October  11,  1896.  In  1839 
lie  first  came  to  Missouri,  and  in  1842  entered  into 
business  in  the  village  of  Blacksnake  Hills,  which 
developed,  partly  through  his  efforts,  into  the 
present  bustling  city  of  St.  Joseph.  In  1843  ^f^"- 
Perry  erected  the  first  brick  building  here  and 
for  years  was  prominently  identified  with  various 
enterprises  in  this  section  of  Missouri.  He  is  still 
recalled  with  feelings  of  the  highest  esteem.  Mrs. 
Marlow  resides  with  her  one  sister,  at  No.  611 
Bush  street.  St.  jose])h,  where  the  greater  part 
of  her  life  has  l)cen  spent  and  where  she  has  a 
large  circle  of  attached  friends.  She,  like  her  late 
husband,  is  a  devoted  member  of  the  Protestant 
Episcopal  Church. 

Tlie  late  Mr.  Marlow  was  noted  for  his  in- 
nate courtesy  and  for  the  gentlemanly  instincts 
that  marked  his  bearing  on  all  occasions.  He 
possessed  attributes  which  called  forth  the  re- 
spect of  all  who  kriew  him.  He  was  an  honor- 
able, upright  business  man,  one  who  took  a  deep 
interest  in  all  that  i)ertained  to  St.  Joseph,  was 
valued  in  his  church  relations  and  was  beloved  in 
his  home  where  his  memory  willl  long  be  kept 
green. 


■♦  *»• 


HILIP  r,UDDY.  The  late  Philip  Buddy, 
one  of  the  early  business  men 
of  St.  Joseph.  jMissouri,  and  one 
of  her  most  highly  esteemed  citizens, 
was  born  July  26,  1825,  in  Berks 
County,  Pennsylvania,  and  died  at  his  beautiful 
home  on  the  corner  of  20th  and  Edmond  streets, 
St.  Joseph,  on  September  8,  1897. 

Mr.  Buddy  was  well  known  for  years  in  the 
building  and  contracting  line  in  St.  Joseph,  being' 
at  the  time  of  his  death  the  oldest  contractor  in 
the  city.  He  learned  the  carpenter's  trade  in 
Adams  County,  1  Pennsylvania,  serving  his  ap- 
prenticeship from  1 84 1  to  1844,  after  which  he 
removed  to  Frederick,  Maryland,  opened  up  a 
carpenter  shi])  and  soon  became  well  known  in 
that  community.  In  t866  he  removed  to  Cin- 
cinnati, ( )hio,  and  a  }ear  later  came  to  St.  Joseph, 
Missouri,  rightly  believing  that  here  he  would 
find  a  wider  and  better  field  of  work.  Quiet  and 
unobtrusive,  industrious  and  capable,  Mr.  Buddy 
soon  made  his  work  valued  and  much  of  it  can  be 
seen  at  the  present  time  in  the  older  buildings  of 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


299 


this  city.  He  accumulated  a  large  fortune  by  his 
industry  and  was  spared  many  years  in  which  to 
enjoy  it. 

On  September  i.  1852,  Mr.  Ruddy  was  mar- 
ried at  Frederick,  Maryland,  to  Sophia  M.  Stein, 
daughter  of  Louis  and  Elizabeth  (Fowel)  Stein. 
They  had  10  children,  of  whom  the  six  survivors 
are  as  follows:  Charles  Allen,  born  November  i, 
1856,  who  carries  on  an  extensive  fruit  and  pro- 
duce business  at  No.  108  North  Second  street 
and  owns  a  handsome  residence  at  No.  424  South 
Ninth  street;  Katherine  Elizabeth,  born  in  1859, 
wife  of  A.  H.  Hunt,  of  St.  Joseph  ;  Philip  Perry, 
born  in  1861,  who  carries  on  a  very  large  con- 
tracting business  at  No.  501  Main  street  and  re- 
sides at  No.  1529  Buchanan  avenue;  Ellen  Lee, 
born  April  9,  1864,  wife  of  J.  A.  Matney  of  St. 
Joseph  ;  Joseph  Allen,  born  in  1872  ;  and  Pauline 
Agnes,  born  in  March,  1875.  The  family  home  is 
a  beautiful,  double  brick  house  at  Nos.  1527-1529 
P)Uchanan   avenue. 

Mr.  Buddy  belonged  to  that  class  of  honest, 
reliable,  upright  men,  whose  character  not  only 
make  them  personally  esteemed  but  who  reflect 
honor  upon  a  community.  He  was  and  his  family 
are  devoted  Catholics,  members  of  the  Cathedral 
congregation,  to  which  our  subject  gave  liberally 
of  his  means. 

Philip  Perry  Buddy,  who  succeeded  to  the 
contracting  business  of  his  father,  was  born  in 
I'Vedericktown.  Maryland,  and  was  educated  at 
the  Christian  Brothers'  College  at  St.  Joseph.  He 
learned  tlie  trade  under  his  father  and  then  be- 
came a  partner  of  the  lattter.  the  firm  name  being 
P.  rUiddy  &  Son,  and  this  continued  until  our 
subject's  death,  since  which  time  Philip  P.  Buddy 
has  carried  on  the  business  under  his  own  name. 
Under  his  management  the  business  has  grown 
to  large  proportions.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Knights  of  Columbus  and  of  St.  Joseph  Lodge, 
No.  40,  B.  P.  O.  E. 


» » » 


OX.  BERNARD  PATTON.  ex-county 
judge,  aufl  a  very  prominent  citizen  of 
St.  Joseph,  who  has  been  identified  with 
the  interests  of  this  city  since  1857.  now 
lives  in  retirement  in  a  comfortable 
home  situated  at  No.  1022  Messanie  street.  Judge 
J'atton  was  born  June  29,  1829,  in  .Stranorlar. 
County  DoiK'gal.  Jreland,  and  is  a  son  of  Daniel 
Patton,  wilt.  >pent  his  life  in  the  old  country. 
Although  75  years  nf  ago.  the  fudge  is  hale  and 


hearty  and  as  active  in  his  movements  as  most 
men  10  of  15  years  younger. 

Judge  Patton  came  to  the  United  States, 
equipped  with  good  health,  a  laudable  ambition 
and  a  thorough  knowledge  of  the  trade  of  brick- 
laying. After  working  for  some  six  years  at 
his  trade  in  Ogdensburg,  New  York,  he  took  a 
trip  through  the  South,  went  thence  to  Canada, 
where  he  continued  until  the  fall  of  1855,  working 
at  Toronto  and  at  Collingwood,  whence  he  went 
to  Omaha,  Nebraska,  at  that  time  the  terminus 
of  the  Chicago  &  North-Western  Railway.  He 
engaged  in  contracting  work  at  various  points  in 
Iowa.  The  panic  and  hard  times  of  1857  that 
brought  about  the  suspension  of  many  banks 
throughout  the  country  brought  disaster  on  the 
bank  at  Council  Bluffs,  which  finally  had  to  close 
its  doors.  The  suspension  of  this  bank  forced 
Mr.  Patton  to  find  new  employment,  and  in 
search  of  work  he  came  by  stage  to  St.  Joseph 
in  1857. 

Judge  F'atton  made  a  new  start  at  St.  Joseph 
and  in  a  material  way  is  one  of  the  founders 
of  the  city.  He  began  contracting  and  his  work 
was  so  superior  that  he  was  given  the  erection  of 
the  Court  House,  on  which  he  did  the  brick  work. 
He  erected  also  the  Roman  Catholic  Cathedral 
and  did  a  large  part  of  the  work  on  many  of  the 
brick  blocks  erected  all  over  the  city,  employing  a 
large  force  in  his  contracting  operations  ;  he  also 
entered  into  a  partnership  in  a  brick-yard.  Judge 
Patton  early  invested  in  property,  being  able  to 
foresee  something  of  the  city's  certain  growth, 
and  all  of  this  property  has  become  very  valu- 
able. He  was  the  pioneer  in  the  making  of  vitri- 
fied brick  for  street  payment,  and  made  an  ample 
fortune  out  of  this  product  alone. 

Judge  Patton  was  married  in  May,  1859,  at 
St.  Joseph,  to  Sarah  Brey,  of  Ogdensburg,  New 
York,  who,  at  death,  left  one  daughter, — Mary. 
On  .September  10,  1891,  Judge  Patton  was  mar- 
ried to  Elizabeth  (iunn  who  was  born  in  Hart- 
ford, Connecticut,  but  was  reared  in  St.  Joseph 
and  for  seven  years  was  a  successful  and  admired 
teacher  in  the  public  schools.  Judge  and  Mrs. 
Patton  have  one  son, — Daniel  James, — who  was 
born  September  13,  1892. 

During  the  Civil  War,  Judge  Patton  served  in 
the  Missouri  State  Militia  and  has  always  been  a 
good  and  consistent  citizen.  In  1886  he  was 
elected  a  member  of  the  City  Council  and  in 
1874  was  elected  a  member  of  the  County  Court, 
and  served  as  presiding  officer.  He  served  as 
])o]icc  commissioner  for  four  years,  having  been 


30O 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY  AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


appointed  by  Governor  Marmacluke.  After  the 
war,  he  was  elected  a  school  director  in  St. 
Joseph.  His  public  services  have  always  rejected 
credit  upon  himself  and  have  been  of  the  greatest 
benefit  to  the  city. 

In  politics  Judge  Patton  is  a  Democrat.  He 
is  a  'member  of  the  Catholic  Church  and  the 
Cathedral  congregation.  His  affection  for  St. 
Joseph  is  great,  but  no  greater  than  is  the  esteem 
felt  for  liim  bv  his  fellow  citizens. 


■♦♦♦■ 


EN  J  AM  IN  PEEL,  who  is  now  living  in 
retirement  at  DeKalb,  Bloomington 
township,  was  engaged  in  agricultural 
pursuits  for  many  years  and  has  had 
a  most  active  career.  He  was  born  in 
Lincolnshire,  England,  April  17,  1839,  and  is  a 
son  of  John  and  Ann  (Cook)  Peel. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  came  to  America 
in  1850  on  the  sailing  vessel  "Iron,"  of  Glasgow, 
making  the  passage  in  28  days.  Landing  at  New 
York  City,  they  remained  in  New  York  State 
one  and  a  half  years,  then  moved  to  Lansing, 
Michigan,  where  Mr.  Peel  purchased  a  farm  six 
miles  west  of  town.  This  farm  was  covered  with 
beech  and  maple  timber.  By  hard  labor  he 
cleared  one  half  the  tract  and  broke  it  up  with  a 
3oke  of  oxen. 

At  the  age  of  17  years,  Benjamin  Peel  began 
working  as  a  farm  hand  at  different  places  in 
Michigan,  and  during  the  winter  of  1859-60  came 
West.  He  walked  a  part  of  the  way,  following 
the  railroad,  and  traveled  by  stage  the  remainder, 
locating  in  Weston,  where  he  remained  until  the 
spring  of  1861.  He  then  moved  to  near  the 
vicinity  of  Lawrence,  Kansas,  then  went  across 
the  plains  with  an  ox  team  to  Colorado.  What 
is  now  the  city  of  Denxer  was  then  known  as  the 
village  of  Gordon,  and  in  the  spring  of  1862  Mr. 
Peel  walked  a  distance  of  21  miles  to  that  place 
to  see  a  man  executed.  In  that  spring  he  crossed 
the  country  by  team  to  Montana,  then  a  part  of 
Idaho  Territory,  in  company  with  J.  W.  Wilds. 
He  went  to  the  head  of  Salmon  River  with  the 
intention  of  mining,  but  on  arriving  found  the 
rumor  concerning  big  mineral  discoveries  there 
was  a  humbug.  He  turned  back  and  located  at 
Deer  Lodge  \'alley,  where  he  engaged  in  ranch- 
ing, stock  dealing  and  butchering.  He  returned 
as  far  East  as  Atchison,  Kansas  in  1866,  thence 
proceeded  down  the  Missouri  River  to  Buchanan 
County,   where  he  purchased  the  William   Best 


farm  of  320  acres.  There  was  just  one  lonely 
house  upon  the  place,  and  a  small  part  of  the  land 
was  in  cultivation.  Mr.  Peel  cleared  of  the 
stumps  100  acres,  built  fences  and  erected  good 
substantial  buildings,  converting  it  into  a  model 
farm  of  the  modern  type.  He  set  out  an  excellent 
orchard,  which  bears  abundantly.  He  is  a  man 
of  public  spirit  and  exceptional  foresight  and  has 
alwa}'s  worked  for  the  good  of  his  community. 
At  considerable  expense  to  himself  and  the  use 
of  much  of  his  time,  he  succeeded  in  establishing 
a  road  of  two  miles,  running  west  from  the  main 
road  to  the  Valley  Chapel  School  along  his 
farm.  This  is  now  the  main  thoroughfare  to 
Atchison.  From  1866  to  1899,  he  engaged  ac- 
tively in  farming  and  stock-raising  on  this  farm, 
in  the  latter  year  he  retired  from  business  ac- 
tivity and  moved  to  DeKalb,  where  he  bought 
what  was  known  as  the  Head  Grev  property  on 
Quality  Hill. 

In  November,  1867,  Mr.  Peel  was  joined  in 
marriage  with  Lucy  J.  Brown,  a  daughter  of 
David  and  Margaret  Brown,  pioneers  of  this 
county.  Five  children  were  born  to  bless  this 
union,  namely :  Margaret  Ann,  who  married  M. 
S.  Lawrence  of  Bloomington  township  and  has 
six  children, — Florence,  Mollie,  J.  Benjamin ; 
Edward,  Walter  Irwin  and  Margaret  Helen ; 
John  W..  who  married  Etta  Conner,  whose 
father,  William  S.  Conner,  is  representative  from 
this  district ;  Edward  D.,  who  married  Fanny 
Spencer,  a  daughter  of  Charles  Spencer,  de- 
ceased ;  and  Charles  E.,  who  died  at  the  age  of 
10  years,  and  Florence,  who  died  at  the  age  of 
eight  years,  their  deaths  from  diphtheria  resulting 
within  three  days  of  each  other.  Religiously,  the 
family  is  of  the  Christian  faith.  ^Ir.  Peel  has  a 
brother  and  sister  living :  Joseph  Peel,  who  is  re- 
tired and  lives  at  Joplin,  Missouri,  and  Mrs.  J.  P. 
Beebe,  a  widow  who  lives  at  Joplin,  Missouri. 
Fraternally,  he  is  a  member  of  Wellington  Lodge, 
No.  22,  a'  F.  &  A.  M. 


■♦  * » 


AVID  ALEXANDER  DICKEN,:  wlto  is 
now  living  a.  retired  life,  resides  in  a 
comfortable  home  in  the  town  of 
DeKalb,  on  the  east  side  of  the  public 
square.  He  owns  a  valuable  farm  of 
220  acres  in  sections  26  and  27.  Bloomington 
township,  Buchanan  County.  His  career  has 
been  one  of  the  greatest  activity,  and  he  has  wit- 
nessed   the    wonderful    transformation    of    this 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


301 


community  from  a  wild  and  sparsely  populated 
country  to  its  present  advanced  state.  He  was 
born  in  Menard  County,  Illinois,  January  i,  1842, 
and  is  a  son  ^of  Isaac  and  Elizabeth  (Jones) 
Dicken,  both  of  whom  were  natives  of  Kentucky. 

Isaac  Dicken  removed  to  Illinois  at  an  early 
day  and  died  there  in  the  spring  of  1845,  leaving 
his"  widow  and  nine  children.  Mrs.  Dicken  -re- 
moved with  her  children  to  Buchanan  County, 
Missouri,  in  1846,  and  located  on  the  land  of  her 
brother,  Holland  Jones.  She  died  at  the  home 
of  her  daughter,  Mrs.  John  Underwood,  in 
Cloomington  township.  Mr.  Underwood  had 
preempted  this  claim  and  lived  there  until  his 
death  in  1900.  Our  subject  and  his  brothers  and 
sisters  all  grew  to  maturity ;  and  six  are  now 
living. 

David  A.  Dicken  received  his  early  education 
in  the  primitive  log  school  house  in  his  dis- 
trict, and  later  attended  better  schools,  cutting 
cord  wood  during  the  last  year  of  his  attendance 
in  order  to  pay  his  tuition.  In  i860  he  engaged 
as  a  teacher  and  continued  one  year,  and  at  the 
outbreak  of  the  Civil  War  became  a  teamster. 
He  then  went  West  and  made  several  trips  to 
Western  states,  engaging  in  freighting.  In  1866, 
he  returned  to  Buchanan  County,  Missouri,  and 
rented  a  piece  of  land.  Later  he  purchased  an 
improved  tract  of  60  acres,  to  which  he  subse- 
quently added  until  at  the  present  time  he  owns 
220  acres.  In  1867  he  again  engaged  in  teach- 
ing in  the  district  school  and  continued  three 
consecutive  years,  following  farming  during  the 
summer  months.  He  served  as  school  director 
of  the  Franklin  School  for  a  period  of  20  years. 
In  his  boyhood  days  on  the  farm,  farming  was 
prosecuted  in  the  primitive  way,  the  reaping  hook 
being  later  followed  by  the  cradle  in  cutting 
grain.  Corn  was  cudtivated  with  a  single  shovel, 
Oxen  were  used  in  place  of  horses  in  breaking 
the  ground,  and  the  roads  were  then  called  trails. 
IMr.  Dicken  engaged  in  general  farming  and 
stock-raising  until  1904.  when  he  retired  and 
moved  to  the  town  of  DeKalb,  where  he  has  since 
resided. 

August  4,  1867,  Dr.  Dicken  was  joined  in 
marital  union  with  Bettie  Brown,  a  daughter  of 
Nelson  and  Naomi  (Hufifman)  Brown  of  Ken- 
tucky. Her  parents  removed  to  Platte  County, 
Missouri,  in  1854  and  in  1856  they  took  up  their 
residence  in  Buchanan  County,  where  they  lived 
during  the  remainder  of  their  lives.  Mr.  Brown 
died  February  16.  1903,  at  the  age  of  89  years 
and   1 1   months.     They  were  the  parents  of   1 1 


children,  all  of  whom  reached  maturity  except 
one  who  was  killed  by  a  mule  at  the  age  of  13 
vears.  Those  now  living  are:  Mrs.  Dicken  ;  j\lrs. 
Jasper  Martin.  Mrs.  John  H.  IMiller  and  Robert 
Brown,  of  Bloomington  township ;  and  John 
Brown,  who  is  in  the  insurance  business  at  St. 
Joseph.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dicken  became  the  parents 
of  four  children,  three  of  whom  died  in  infancy. 
One  son  is  living,  F.  B.  Dicken,  who  was  born 
March  17,  1875.  The  latter  married  Ethel 
Lindville  in  March  of  1904,  and  they  reside  on 
our  subject's  farm  in  section  26.  Bloomington 
township.  Religiously,  Mrs.  Dicken  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Methodist  Eipscopal  Church.  Mr. 
Dicken  is  a  member  of  DeKalb  Lodge,  No.  191, 
I.  O.  O.  F. 


♦ » » 


T.  REV.  CHRIST.  H.  LINNENCAMP, 
pastor  in  charge  of  the  Church  of  the 
Immaculate  Conception,  at  St.  Joseph, 
was  born  in  Germany,  November  27, 
1839,  and  is  one  of  a  family  of  seven 
children  born  to  his  parents,  John  H.  and  Mar- 
guerite (Sigman)  Linnencamp.  t 

The  father  of  Father  Linnencamp  was  born 
in  Germany,  was  married  there,  and,  with  his 
family,  came  to  the  United  States  in  1853,  and 
settled  in  Iowa.  His  occupation  was  farming  and 
this  he  followed  as  long  as  he  continued  in  active 
life.  His  death  took  place  on  his  farm  in  Iowa, 
in  1889. 

Father  Linnencamp  had  attended  school  in  his 
native  land  before  coming  to  America,  at  the  age 
of  14  years.  His  father  soon  placed  him  at  school 
at  Cape  Girardeau,  where  he  was  graduated  in 
the  classics,  in  i860,  and  completed  his  theologi- 
cal studies  at  St.  Francis  Seminary,  Milwaukee, 
Wisconsin,  in  1864.  In  March  of  that  year  he 
was  ordained  to  the  priesthood  by  Archbishop 
Peter  R.  Kenrick,  of  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  and 
immediately  thereafter  he  was  appointed  assistant 
pastor  of  SS.  Peter  and  Paul  Church,  at  St. 
Louis.  One  year  later  he  was  stationed  at  Wes- 
ton, Missouri,  where  he  remained  in  charge  until 
March  10,  1869,  when  he  came  to  St.  Joseph,  be- 
coming pastor  of  the  Church  of  the  Immaculate 
Conception,  a  position  he  has  filled  ever  since. 
His  parish  contains  more  than  200  families,  and 
his  parish  school,  which  is  taught  by  five  Sisters, 
includes  250  pupils. 

Father  Linnencamp  is  the  second  oldest  priest 
in  St.  Joseph  and  is  held  in  the  highest  personal 
esteem  by  members  of  every  religious  bo"dy.     He 


302 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


is  noted  for  his  scholarly  attainments  and  he  was 
selected  to  write  the  comprehensive  history  of 
the  Catholic  churches  of  St.  Joseph,  for  the  St. 
Louis  Exposition,  a  work  of  great  merit  and  of 
deep  interest  to  the  clergy.  Father  Linnencamp 
is  not  only  noted  for  the  gifts  of  his  intellect  and 
for  his  wonderful  executive  ability,  but  for  the 
goodness  of  his  life  and  the  inspiration  of  his 
example. 


■♦  * » 


HEODORE  J.  A.  BENKENDORF, 
president  of  the  Benkendorf  Brick 
Company  of  St.  Joseph,  and  one  of  the 
large  manufacturers  of  Buchanan 
Countv,  was  born  at  VVatertown,  Wis- 
consin, June  20,  1866,  and  is  a  son  of  August  G. 
and  Johanna   (Arndt)    Benkendorf. 

August  Benkendorf,  the  paternal  grandfather 
of  our  subject,  was  a  man  of  prominence  in  Ger- 
many, where  he  owned  a  large  estate  which  still 
remains  in  the  possession  of  the  family.  Years  ago 
the  family  belonged  to  the  Cierman  nobility  and  in 
the  15th  century  it  migrated  to  Russia,  where  it 
became  wealthy  and  influential.  The  grand- 
father was  the  first  of  the  family  to  return  to 
Germany,  and  there,  in  the  province  of  Pomer- 
ania.  his  son,  AugustG..  was  born  in  1840. 

August  G.  Benkendorf  came  to  America  in 
1856  and  entered  into  partnership  with  his  older 
brother,  who  had  come  to  America  in  1854, 
establishing  a  milling  business  at  Watertown, 
Wisconsin.  He  remained  there  in  business  until 
the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  War.  He  was  one  of 
the  first  to  enlist,  in  Company  E.  Third  Reg., 
Wisconsin  Vol.  Cav.,  of  which  he  was  made 
corporal,  and  he  remained  in  the  service  with  the 
Third  Regiment  until  it  was  mustered  out.  He 
then  reenlisted  at  Benton  Barracks,  at  St.  Louis, 
^lissouri,  in  Company  A,  Third  Reg.,  Wisconsin 
\'ol.  Cav.,  and  served  until  the  close  of  the  war, 
at  all  times  displaying  that  courage  and  valor 
that  makes  the  good  soldier.  He  was  present  at 
the  massacre  by  guerrillas  of  Federal  soldiers  at 
Baxter  Springs,  Kansas,  and  was  one  of  the  few 
members  of  Com])any  E  to  come  out  of  that 
conflict  alive.  At  the  battle  of  Prairie  Grove  his 
horse  was  shot  from  under  him,  after  which  he 
became  ill  and  was  sent  to  the  hospital  at  Fort 
Gibson,  Indian  Territory.  His  service  was  one 
long  continuation  of  exposure  and  hardship,  but 
all  was  valiently  borne,  with  ]v<  thought  but  the 
final  conquest  of  the  enemy. 

After  the  close  of  the  war.   .Mr.  Benkendorf 


returned  to  Watertown  and  embarked  in  a  gen- 
eral mercantile  business,  which  he  continued  until 
1878,  when  he  removed  to  Western  Minnesota, 
becoming  one  of  the  pioneer  settlers  of  Nobles 
County,  where  he  secured  a  homestead  farm  and 
operated  it  for  three  years.  In  1881  he  removed 
to  St.  Joseph,  Missouri,  and  opened  up  a  hotel 
on  Messanie  street,  where  he  remained  for  some 
years,  and  then  entered  the  employ  of  the  M.  K. 
Goetz  Brewing  Company,  with  which  firm  he 
continued  until  a  few  years  since,  when  failing 
health,  doubtless  caused  by  his  hard  army  experi- 
ences, compelled  him  to  retire  from  active  life. 
He  is  a  valued  member  of  Custer  Post,  Grand 
Army  of  the  Republic ;  a  member  of  Sons  of 
Herman  and  of  the  North  German  Federation. 
He  has  always  been  an  active  and  influential 
member  of  the  Republican  party. 

At  Watertown,  Wisconsin,  Mr.  Benkendorf 
married  Johanna  Arndt,  a  native  of  that  city,  and 
they  had  eight  children,  of  whom  the  oldest  was 
our  subject.  The  others  were  as  follows :  Will- 
iam F.,  the  superintendent  of  the  plant  of  the 
Benkendorf  Brick  Company ;  Leonora,  wife  of 
W.  F.  Franks,  of  St.  Joseph  ;  Isabella,  deceased  ; 
Maximilian,  of  St.  Joseph  :  August,  Jr.,  of  Chi- 
cago;  Marie  J.,  and  LiUian,  wife  of  William 
Rebcr,  of  St.  Joseph.  The  family  has  been 
reared  in  the  religious  faith  of  the  Lutheran 
Church. 

Our  subject,  Theodore  J.  Benkendorf,  was 
educated  in  the  public  schools  of  Watertown,  and 
was  15  years  old  when  his  parents  came  to  St. 
Joseph.  He  than  took  advantage  of  the  com- 
mercial training  aft'orded  by  the  Rittner  Business 
College,  and,  after  completing  the  course,  was 
employed  in  various  mercantile  establishments 
until  1 89 1,  when  he  entered  the  employ  of  the 
M.  K.  Goetz  Brewing  Company  and  remained 
widi  that  firm  as  bookkeeper,  for  12  years.  In 
1903  he  went  into  business  for  himself,  organiz- 
ing the  IJenkendorf  Brick  Company.  He  bought 
the  old  Joe  Davis  tract  of  land  in  the  north  end 
of  the  city,  where  the  clay  supply  is  almost  in- 
exhaustible, and  here  erected  a  first-class  mod- 
ern i)lant  with  the  best  of  facilities  for  the  manu- 
facture of  all  kinds  of  brick,  the  specialty  being  a 
fancy  pressed  brick.  This  has  grown  already  into 
one  of  the  leading  industries  of  the  city  and  the 
promise  for  the  future  is  all  that  the  stockholders 
of  the  company  could  desire.  In  addition  to  his 
interests  here,  Mr.  Benkendorf  is  one  of  the 
stockholders  and  directors  in  the  M.  K.  Goetz 
Brewing  Company  and  a  director  in  the  Goetz: 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


303 


Real  Estate  Company.  He  is  a  shrewd,  careful 
business  man,  one  whose  honorable  methods  have 
won  for  him  the  confidence  of  the  pviblic. 

On  September  6,  1893,  Mr.  Benkendorf  was 
married  to  Emma  Goetz,  daughter  of  M.  K. 
Goetz,  of  St.  Joseph,  and  they  have  one  son, 
Theodore,  Jr.  The  family  attend  the  Zion's 
Evangelical  Church. 

Politically,  Mr.  Benkendorf  i>  active  in  Re- 
publican circles.  He  belongs  to  the  Turn-Verein, 
the  Benton  and  Lotus  clubs,  and  to  Golden  Cross 
Lodge.  No.  143,  K.  of  P. 


» « » 


OHN  F.  .MERRIAM,  a  large  real  estate 
owner  and  prominent  citizen  of  St. 
Joseph,  has  been  a  resident  of  the  city 
since  December,  1866,  and  is  well  known 
to  the  citizens  throughout  the  county.  He 
is  a  man  of  recognized  business  ability  and  has 
been  connected  with  many  important  interests  of 
the  city. 

Mr.  Merriam  was  born  near  Cleveland,  Ohio, 
in  184 1,  and  is  of  English  descent,  five  brothers 
bearing  the  name,  Merriam,  having  established  the 
family  in  this  country,  two  locating  in  Massa- 
chusetts and  the  other  three  settling  in  the 
South.  Of  the  latter  branches  nothing  is  known. 
( )ur  subject  is  one  of  two  sons  born  to  his  parents, 
who  died  on  their  Ohio  farm.  His  brother  also 
lived  on  the  home  farm  until  his  death,  and  John 
]\  iNIerriam  is  the  sole  survivor  of  this  branch  of 
the  family.  His  grandfather,  Robert  Merriam, 
of  Litchfield,  ^Massachusetts,  built  the  first  card- 
ing mill  in  the  United  States. 

John  F.  Merriam  worked  on  the  home  tarm 
until  he  reached  the  age  of  22  years,  and  also 
worked  at  the  carpentering  trade  three  vears. 
Like  many  other  young  men,  he  was  attracted  to 
the  West  through  current  advertisements  of  its 
])Ossibilities  and  ()])portunities.  He  located  in 
Illinois  for  a  period  of  18  months,  then  came 
further  West  to  St.  Joseph,  Missouri,  in  Decem- 
ber, 1866.  His  arrival  was  at  an  inopportune 
season  of  the  }ear,  l>ut  he  soon  secured  work 
on  the  new  street  car  line  then  completed,  R.  E. 
Turner  being  presiflent  of  the  company.  He  was 
chosen  as  the  first  driver  and  on  Christmas  Day 
of  1866  took  the  first  car  from  the  barns,  on 
which  fares  were  collected.  The  line  at  that  time 
extended  from  the  Pacific  House  to  Olive  street. 
In  1868  he  became  proprietor  of  an  extensive 
hop  yard,  which  he  conducted  successfully  until 

16 


a  total  crop  failure  in  1873  made  it  necessary  to 
seek  other  business.  In  1887  the  stockholders  of 
the  original  street  car  company  sold  out  and  Mr. 
Merriam  sold  his  stock  when  the  line  was  con- 
solidated with  other  lines.  He  then  bought  real 
estate,  largely  good  residence  properties,  the  ac- 
cumulation and  care  of  which  has  since  occu- 
pied his  time.  He  owns  valuable  property  in 
various  parts  of  the  city,  and  is  considered  one 
of  the  city's  most  substantial  business  men.  He 
was  one  of  the  founders  of  the  Park  Bank,  lo- 
cated on  loth  and  Penn  streets,  of  which  he  'was 
secretary  six  years  and  is  now  a  director.  It  is  a 
very  prosperous  institution,  of  which  Charles  L. 
Wiehl  is  president  and  Peter  D.  Stinson,  cashier. 
Mr.  Merriam  was  married  at  St.  Joseph  to 
Emma  Gray,  who  was  born  in  Pennsylvania  and 
came  to  this  city  in  1866.  They  have'one  daugh- 
ter, Lucy,  who  married  George  A.  Nelson,  pay- 
ing teller  at  The  National  Bank  of  St.  Joseph, 
and  has  three  children.  Politicallv,  our  subject 
is  independent  and  has  always  refused  to  become 
a  candidate^  for  city  offices.  He  is  a  member  of 
no  secret  orders,  being  distinctly  a  home  man  and 
spending  all  his  spare  time  with  his  family.  He 
has  a  commodious  home  at  No.  11 10  South  Ninth 
street. 


# « » 


AURICE  HICKEY.  The  death  of  the 
late  ]\Iaurice  Hickey,  which  occurred 
April  26,  1902,  removed  one  of  the 
old  pioneer  citizens  and  useful,  suc- 
cessful and  honored  business  men  of 
St.  Joseph.  \[r.  Hickey  was  born  in  May,  1835, 
in  County  Tipperary,  Ireland,  a  member  of  an 
old  family  of  tenant  farmers. 

At  the  age  of  16  years,  the  youth  left  home  in 
search  of  the  proverbial  fortune,  in  which  he 
was  more  successful  than  many,  for  he  became, 
across  the  Atlantic,  a  prominent  citizen  of  his 
adopted  country  and  one  of  the  capitalists  of  his 
chosen  city  of  residence.  After  a  short  season 
spent  at  Litchfield,  Connecticut,  in  1858  he  came 
to  St.  Joseph,  Missouri,  entering  into  business 
here  in  which  he  continued  to  be  actively  en- 
gaged until  he  retired  in  1892.  Mr.  Hickey  was 
a  man  of  character  and  he  became  a  leading  fac- 
tor in  the  city's  aftairs.  He  long  held  a  seat  in 
the  City  Council  and  was  a  member  of  that  hon- 
orable body  at  the  time  St.  Joseph  secured  her  ad- 
mirable water-works  system,  one  which  he  mainly 
originated  and  zealously  promoted.  It  is  a  mon- 
ument to   his   enterprise  and   public   spirit.     He 


304 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY  AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


was  also  connected  with  the  Hannibal  &  St. 
Joseph  and  the  old  Northern  Missouri  railroad 
companies,  until  he  retired  from  active  pursuits. 

Mr.  Hickey  married  Sarah  Bloomer,  and  six 
children  were  born  to  them,  viz. :  T.  M.,  deceased, 
who  was  a  resident  of  St.  Louis,  Missouri; 
Maurice,  who  is  in  business  at  Kansas  City,  Mis- 
souri ;  John  J.,  cashier  of  the  Nave  &  McCord 
Mercantile  Company,  who  resides  at  No.  628 
South  13th  street,  St.  Joseph;  Mrs.  Michael 
Kelly,  who  resides  at  Bloomington,  Illinois;  Mrs. 
AI.  F.  Gill,  whose  husband  is  a  prominent  busi- 
ness man  of  St.  Joseph ;  and  JMayme,  who  re- 
sides with  her  mother. 

The  late  Mr.  Hickey  was  a  devout  Catholic, 
being-  one  of  the  leading  menibers  of  the  Cathe- 
dral parish,  and  his  remains  were  laid  to  rest  in 
!\Iount  Olivet  Cemetery.  He  belonged  to  an  old 
generation  which  is  rapidly  pasing  away,  but  the 
records  of  their  honorable  and  useful  lives 
remain. 


AMES  A.  GIBSON,  public  administrator 
of  Buchanan  County,  a  member  of  the 
bar  and  a  well-known  citizen  of  St. 
Joseph,  was  born  in  Buchanan  County, 
Missouri,  April  17,  1866. 
The  family  to  which  Mr.  Gibson  belongs  was 
established  in  Buchanan  County  in  1837  by  his 
grandfather,  the  late  James  A.  Gibson,  who  was 
a  native  of  Virginia,  from  which  State  he  came 
to  Missouri  and  settled  three  miles  south  of 
Easton,  Buchanan  County,  securing  a  tract  of 
land  which  he  subsequently  cleared.  He  was  in 
the  enjoyment  of  a  comfortable  home  at  the  out- 
break of  the  Civil  War.  The  troubles  incident  to 
those  times  made  him  a  victim  of  political  feeling 
and  on  one  occasion  a  marauding  band  took  him 
from  from  his  home  and,  before  they  could  be 
prevented,  had  almost  terminated  -his  life  by 
hanging.  His  daughter  reached  him  just  in  time 
to  save  him,  but  the  remainder  of  his  life  was 
spent  in  an  vmnerved  state  that  prevented  any 
engagement  in  business,  resulting  in  his  death  in 
September,  1866,  at  the  age  of  76  years.  The 
father  of  our  subject  was  two  years  of  age  when 
he  was  brought  to  Missouri.  Both  he  and  his 
wife  still  survive. 

Mr.  Gibson  has  been  a  resident  of  St.  Joseph 
■since  1874.  His  education  was  secured  in  the 
public  schools  and  at  business  college  here  and 
then  he  spent  five  years  connected  with  the  St. 
Joseph  Post  Office,  as  clerk  and  carrier.    Later 


he  studied  law  and  w^s  admitted  to  the  bar.  In 
1896  he  was  elected  public  administrator  on  the 
Democratic  ticket,  an  office  for  which  he  is  em- 
inently qualified  and  which  he  has  filled  with 
marked  success. 

On  November  2,  t888,  Mr.  Gibson  was  mar- 
ried to  Lucy  Gabbert,  and  they  have  had  three 
children,  one  of  whom,  James  Edwin,  died  Feb- 
ruary 7,  1899.  Mr.  Gibson  is  prominent  in  a 
number  of  fraternal  organizations,  viz :  the 
L^nited  Workmen,  Odd  Fellows,  Modern  Wood- 
men and  Red  Men. 


■♦ « » 


|ESSE  T.  ELDER,  who  resides  in  section 
8,  Center  township,  Buchanan  County, 
has  been  a  resident  of  this  community 
since  1869  and  is  one  of  its  most  sub- 
stantial citizens.  He  was  born  in  Pu- 
laski County,  Kentucky,  August  28.  1827,  and  is 
a  son  of  Jesse  and  Polly  (Davis)  Elder. 

Jesse  Elder  was  born  in  North  Carolina  and 
in  early  }outh  removed  to  Kentucky,  where  he 
practically  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life.  He 
served  in  the  war  with  England  in  181 2,  and 
participated  in  the  battles  fought  about  the 
Great  Lakes.  He  died  in  Kentucky,  aged  80 
years.  His  wife,  Polly  Davis,  was  born  in  Ken- 
tucky, and  always  lived  there  with  the  exception 
of  the  last  few  years'  of  her  life,  which  were 
spent  at  the  home  of  a  son  in  Missouri,  where 
she  died  at  the  age  of  80  years.  They  reared  six 
sons  and  three  daughters,  of  whom  three  are  now 
living,  namely :  Jesse  T. ;  John,  of  Holt  County, 
Missouri;  and  Polly  J.   (Jasper),  of  Kansas. 

Jesse  T.  Elder  was  reared  on  a  farm  and 
lived  at  home  until  the  outbreak  of  the  Mexican 
War  when  he  enlisted  in  Company  H.  4th  Reg., 
Kentucky  Vol.  Inf.,  under  Colonel  Williams.  He 
was  in  the  service  11  months  but  took  part  in  no 
important  engagements,  being  just  a  day  or  two 
behind  the  fighting  all  the  way  from  Vera  Cruz 
to  the  City  of  Mexico.  While  in  the  latter  city 
he  was  taken  down  with  the  measles  and  re- 
mained there  some  seven  months  in  all,  a  part  of 
the  time  in  the  hospital.  He  now  draws  a  pen- 
sion. Returning  home  after  the  war,  he  farmed 
until  the  spring  of  185 1,  then  journeyed  West  to 
Holt  County.  Missouri,  by  steamboat.  There  he 
farmed  with  his  brother  Davis  one  year,  then 
entered  the  employ  of  a  man  who  conducted  a 
farm  and  operated  a  ferry.  He  remained  with 
the  latter  one  year,  then  bought  a  farm  which  he 


^^^— ^.-^-.-.-^^ 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


309 


as  senior  member  of  the  firm  of  Kennard,  Wil- 
son &  Company.  They  transacted  a  large  whole- 
sale business  and  continued  with  success  for  a 
number  of  years.  He  then  engaged  in  the  whole- 
sale grocery  business,  first  in  association  with 
William  G.  Fairleigh,  and  later  by  himself.  He 
established  an  extensive  patronage  and  continued 
the  business  for  some  time,  then  sold  out  to  good 
advantage  to  the  Roberts-Parker  Mercantile 
Company  of  St.  Joseph.  After  disposing  of  this 
business,  he  lived  in  retirement  until  his  death 
on  May  28.  1903. 

Mr.  Kennard  was  married  February  23, 
1876,  to  Minnehaha  Minturn,  a  daughter  of 
Rev.  Loren  T.  Minturn,  a  minister  of  promi- 
nence, whose  native  State  was  Virginia.  In  1858 
the  Minturn  family  moved  from  Virginia  to  St. 
Joseph,  Missouri,  where  Mr.  IMinturn  engaged  in 
business  a  few  years.  Later  he  removed  to 
Amazonia,  where  he  was  ordained  to  the  min- 
istry. During  all  his  life  he  was  a  very  active 
church  worker.  He  died  May  19,  1904,  aged  84 
years,  and  is  survived  l)y  his  wife  who  is  82 
years  of  age.  Our  subject  and  wife  became  the 
parents  of  four  children,  as  follows :  Neely,  wife 
of  Charles  M.  Thompson,  head  bookkeeper  of  the 
Roberts-Parker  Mercantile  Company,  residing 
at  No.  1517  Edmond  street,  St.  Joseph;  Frank 
T.,  residing  in  Kansas  City;  David  M.,  who  is 
identified  with  the  Roberts-Parker  Mercantile 
Company ;  and  Agnes  L.,  who  lives  at  home  with 
her  mother.  The  family  home  is  at  No.  15 17 
Edmond  street.  Mrs.  Kennard  is  a  member  of 
the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church,  of  which  her 
father  was  a  clergyman.  She  is  a  woman  of 
highest  character,  and  has  many  friends  who  ap- 
preciate her  womanl}-  virtues  and  attractive  per- 
sonalitv. 


NSLOW  JUDSON,  one  of  the  great 
lawyers  and  public  spirited  citizens  of 
St.  Joseph,  whose  portrait  accompa- 
nies this  sketch,  was  born  at  Ogdens- 
burg.  New  York,  February  21,  1845. 
and  died  at  his  home  in  St.  Joseph,  April  7,  1890. 
He   was    a    son   of    Roscius    W.    and    Sarah    C. 
Judson. 

Revolutionary  ancestry  is  easily  traced  by  the 
Judson  family,  and  the  sturdy  stock  has  been 
])reserved  throughout  the  years  that  have  passed 
since  that  early  day.  The  parents  of  the  late  Mr. 
Judson  were  representatives  of  old  and  honored 
families  of  the  Empire  State,  with  ancestry  lead- 


ing back  to  the  very  flower  of  colonial  days,  when 
names  and  reputations  were  made  on  account  of 
noble  and  valorous  deeds. 

Winslow  Judson  received  his  primary  educa- 
tion in  the  public  schools  of  the  State  of  New 
York,  in  the  various  localities  in  which  the  family 
resided.  Later  he  became  a  student  at  Hamilton 
College,  at  Clinton,  New  York,  and  was  subse- 
quently graduated  there,  and  then  entered  the 
Albany  Law  School  at  Albany,  New  York,  where 
he  completed  the  prescribed  course  within  a 
length  of  time  that  showed  the  possession  of 
mental  faculties  far  beyond  the  average.  In  1867 
he  settled  at  St.  Joseph,  Missouri,  and  entered 
upon  the  practice  of  the  law.  and  this  city  contin- 
ued to  be  his  place  of  residence  during  his  whole 
subsequent  career. 

Perhaps  it  was  as  a  promoter  of  great  business 
enterprises  that  Mr.  Judson  was  best  known,  and 
in  this  capacity  he  benefited  both  himself  and  the 
city  for  which  he  was  so  loyal  and  persistent  a 
worker.  He  was  at  tlie  head  of  a  number  of 
movements  that  resulted  in  the  erection  of  large 
buildings,  the  construction  of  many  miles  of  rail- 
road, and  the  development  of  a  pleasure  resort 
that  has  since  become  one  of  the  favorite  snots 
for  summer  recreation  seekers  in  the  West.  The 
Board  of  Trade  Building  at  St.  Joseph,  one  of  the 
handsomest  structures  devoted  to  commerce  in 
this  city,  is  an  enduring  monument  to  the  enter- 
prise of  Mr.  Judson,  and  the  immense  shops  of 
the  St.  Joseph  Terminal  Company,  located  here, 
were  also  erected  in  response  to  the  unceasing 
efforts  made  by  Mr.  Judson  to  have  this  prized 
addition  to  St.  Joseph's  industries  developed  into 
an  actual  reality.  The  yards  and  freight  houses 
of  the  St.  Joseph  Terminal  Company  were  also 
built  under  his  direction  and  management. 

]\lr.  Judson  was  the  man  who  succeeded  in 
convincing  the  officials  of  the  Atchison,  Tope'a 
&  Santa  ¥e  Railwa\-  Company,  that  they  ought 
to  own  a  line  of  railway  into  St.  Joseph,  and,  as 
a  beginning,  he  ])urchased  what  was  then  called 
the  St.  Joseph  &  St.  Louis  Railway,  a  piece  of 
track  running  from  St.  Joseph  to  Lexington  Junc- 
tion, Missouri.  In  1885  this  track  and  right  of 
way  were  sold  to  the  Santa  Fe  company,  and  that 
dav  marked  the  entrance  of  another  great  trunk 
line  into  St.  Joseph  and  the  consequent  expansion 
of  her  importance  and  possibilities.  The  accom- 
plishment of  this  was  soon  followed  by  a  move- 
ment toward  the  development  of  the  property  sur- 
rounding Lake  Contrarv,  a  beautiful  bodv  of 
water  lying  southwest  of  the  city  of  St.  Joseph. 


3IO 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY  AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


With  the  Santa  Fe  in  the  city,  Mr.  Judson  pro- 
posed to  have  the  new  road  extended  to  that  re- 
sort, and  with  that  end  in  view  he  set  about  to 
erect  the  improvements  and  develop  a  place  that 
has  since  become  one  of  the  charming  inland  re- 
sorts of  the  country. 

On  November  5,  1868,  Mr.  Judson  was  mar- 
ried to  Emilie  C.  Carpenter  of  St.  Joseph,  Mis- 
souri, and  they  had  four  children :  Emilv,  wife 
of  Charles  Rochl,  of  St.  Joseph  ;  Dora,  wife  of 
Romulus  E.  Culver,  of  St.  Joseph ;  Winslow,  a 
rising  young  business  man  of  St.  Joseph  ;  and 
Eliza,  wife  of  Robert  H.  McCord,  a  prominent 
business  man  of  Kansas  Cit\-,  and  a  son  of  James 
McCord,  one  of  the  wealthy  pioneer  wholesale 
merchants  of  St.  Joseph. 

In  politics,  Pvlr.  Judson  was  identified  with 
the  Democratic  party,  but  as  he  was  a  man  of 
many  business  responsibilities  he  could  take  no 
active  part  in  political  afifairs.  He  was  prominent 
in  the  .Masonic  bodies,  belonging  to  the  Knights 
Templar  and  to  other  branches.  St.  Joseph  will 
ever  remain  indebted  to  Winslow  Judson.  One 
man  in  a  thousand  could  have  accomplished  so 
much  in  comparatively  so  short  a  time.  His  indi- 
vidual enterprise  aroused  the  emulation  not  only 
of  other  individuals,  but  of  corporations  and  the 
city  was  duly  benefited.  He  was  a  man  of  genial 
presence,  of  many  social  gifts  and  sterling  quali- 
ties, and  his  generous  charities  made  his  death  a 
loss  to  those  who  had  only  known  him  as  their 
benefactor. 

♦-•-♦^ 


ON.  JAMES  C.  ROBERTS,  one  of  the 
prominent  men  to  whom  Buchanan 
County  must  ever  be  indebted,  a  farmer, 
lawyer  and  statesman,  whose  great 
abilities  were  for  years  directed  in  the 
county's  interests,  passed  out  of  life  at  his  home 
in  Washington  townshijx  on  /\pril  4,  1885.  He 
was  born  January  19,  1831,  in  Davidson  County, 
Tennessee,  and  was  a  son  of  Hon.  William  and 
Sarah    (Chowning)    Roberts. 

Judge  William  Roberts,  father  of  the  late 
James  C.  Roberts,  was  born  in  Connecticut  in 
1800,  and  became  a  resident  of  Tennessee  as  early 
as  18 1 8.  He  became  a  very  prominent  man  in 
Davidson  County  :  he  was  a  farmer  on  a  broad 
scale  and  owncrl  large  and  valuable  estates.  He 
married  Sarah  Chowning,  who  was  born  in 
Tennessee,  and  they  reared  nine  children,  five  of 
whom'  still  survive.  They  spent  most  of  their 
lives  in   Davidson   County  and   were  among  its 


most  esteemed  citizens.  About  i860  they  re- 
moved to  St.  Joseph,  Missouri,  where  they  lived 
the  remainder  of  their  lives.  Judge  Roberts  died 
in  1889,  while  on  a  visit  to  his  daughter  in  Nash- 
ville, Tennessee.  He  took  an  active  interest  in 
politics  and  served  as  county  judge  of  Buchanan 
County.     He  was  a  Democrat. 

James  C.  Roberts  was  reared  to  young  man- 
hood on  his  father's  farm,  enjoying  the  educa- 
tional advantages  of  the  local  schools,  and  then 
entered  Franklin  College,  in  Davidson  County, 
Tennessee,  from  which  institution  he  was  gradu- 
ated with  the  class  of  1850.  His  choice  of  pro- 
fession being  the  law,  he  entered  upon  its  study 
in  the  office  of  John  A.  McEwen,  of  Nashville, 
and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  that  city  in  1853. 
When  prepared  to  open  an  office  of  his  own,  Mr. 
Roberts  removed  to  Dover,  which  is  now  known 
as  Fort  Donelson,  and  there  engaged  in  the  prac- 
tice of  his  profession. 

In  1855,  Mr.  Roberts  came  to  Buchanan 
County,  Missouri,  and  located  upon  a  beautiful 
farm  in  section  i,  Washington  township,  where 
he  remained  occupied  with  agricultural  pursuits 
for  several  years.  After  this  rest,  he  removed 
to  St.  Joseph,  and  returned  with  new  zest  to  his 
profession,  and  actively  engaged  in  legal  work 
and  controversies  until  1860.  A  man  of  his  edu- 
cation and  intelligence  could  not  be  other  than 
prominent  in  the  public  afifairs  of  his  country, 
particularly  in  such  stirring  times  as  were  those 
of  the  early  "sixties."  Always  a  stanch  Democrat, 
he  was  the  choice  of  his  party  to  represent  Bu- 
chanan County  in  the  Missouri  State  Legislature. 
That  body  was  disorganized  in  the  following  year 
by  Governor  Jackson,  and.  as  Mr.  Roberts  was  a 
Southern  sympathizer,  he  was  disfranchised. 
After  a  visit  of  three  months  in  his  native  State, 
he  returned  to  St.  Joseph,  but  in  the  smnmer  fol- 
lowing again  spent  some  months  in  Tennessee, 
returning,  however,  to  his  former  home  in  St. 
Joseph.  During  his  short  legislative  career,  he 
gave  evidence  of  his  capacity  as  a  statesman,  his 
speech  in  i86t  in  favor  of  a  State  convention  be- 
ing one  of  the  noted  efiforts  of  his  life.  As  long 
as  he  lived,  he  was  more  or  less  in  the  public  eye, 
and  in  1875  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the 
constitutional  convention,  which  met  at  Jefifer- 
son  Citv,  with  which  body  he  sat  until  its  work 
was  finished.  In  1876  he  was  prominently  men- 
tioned as  a  candidate  for  Congress.  A  man  of 
high  attainments,  a  master  of  Greek,  Latin  and 
the  English  tongue,  witty  and  profound,  a  writer 
and  a  statesman,  he  was  eminently  fjuolificd  f(^r 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


311 


any  position  to  which  his  fellow  citizens  could 
have  called  him.  The  troubled  times  were  partly 
accountable  for  checking-  a  career,  which  held 
every  promise  of  reaching  to  the  highest  offices 
of  his  profession  and  of  political  life. 

On  October  28,  1855,  IMr.  Roberts  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Margaret  Cornelia  Ingram,  who 
was  born  July  16,  1833,  ^^  Dover,  Tennessee,  and 
was  educated  at  the  Clarksville  Female  Sem- 
inary and  the  Nashville  Female  Academy.  She 
is  a  daughter  of  Jesse  C.  and  Margaret  (Kav) 
In,^ram.  Her  mother  was  born  in  Virginia  in 
1814  and  died  July  3,  1835.  The  father  of  Mrs. 
Roberts  was  born  in  South  Carolina.  November 
II,  1806.  and  died  January  21,  1872,  at  the  home 
of  his  daughter,  with  whom  he  had  resided  since 
185 1.  He  was  a  consistent  member  of  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church,  South.  Mrs.  Ingram 
was  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church  from  her 
youth.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ingram  lived  in  Tennessee 
for  many  years  and  -were  among  the  most  highly 
regarded  residents  of  Dover. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Roberts  had  five  children,  the 
four  who  survived  infancy  being  Jesse  I..  James 
C,  Frank  K.  and  Charles  W.  Jesse  I.  Roberts 
is  vice-president  and  J.  H.  Parker,  Jr.,  is  secre- 
tary and  treasurer  of  the  great  wholesale  grocery 
house  of  the  Roberts-Parker  Mercantile  Com- 
pany, which  was  established  January  i,  1903,  and 
was  formerly  known  as  the  George  A.  Kennard 
Grocery  Company.  Mr.  Parker  of  this  firm  is 
a  son-in-law  of  the  late  James  ]McCord.  Jesse  I. 
Roberts  married  Eva  M.  Donovan,  who  is  a 
daughter  of  the  late  John  Donovan,  of  St.  Joseph, 
a  sketch  of  whom  will  be  found  in  this  volume. 
They  have  three  children,  and  reside  at  No.  1029 
Faraon  street.  James  C.  Roberts,  whose  death 
occurred  on  April  6,  1903,  was  discount  teller  of 
The  First  National  Rank  of  St.  Joseph,  Mis- 
souri. He  married  Anna  L.  Van,  who  survives 
him.  Frank  K.  Roberts  is  a  city  official ;  he  mar- 
ried Melissa  Hayward,  has  one  son  and  resides 
at  No.  310  South  17th  street.  Charles  W. 
Roberts  married  Effie  Hall  and  they  have  two 
children  and  reside  on  the  old  homestead  one  mile 
east  of  the  city  of  St.  Joseph. 

The  late  Mr.  Roberts  was  prominent  in  all 
local  afifairs  looking  to  the  development  of  citv 
and  county.  He  served  as  president  of  the  board 
of  managers  of  the  State  Hospital  for  Insane.  No. 
2.  and  was  active  in  the  organization  of  the  State 
Grange.  He  left  a  valuable  estate  comprising 
city  propertv,  included  in  which  was  the  present 
site  of  the  Free  Public  Library.     Fraternally,  he 


was  a  Royal  Arch  Mason  and  as  such  was  widely 
known  all  over  the  State.  His  death  was  unex- 
pected for  he  was  in  the  enjoyment  of  good 
health,  and  thus  his  loss  both  to  family  and  com- 
munity was  deeply  felt.  His  memory  will  be 
kept  green  both  in  the  records  of  his  public  acts 
and  in  the  hearts  of  those  who  knew  his  true 
worth. 


♦  * » 


OHN  F.  RAPP,  one  of  the  well-known 
citizens  and  successful  farmers  and 
stock-raisers  of  Marion  township,  Bu- 
chanan County,  who  resides  on  his 
well  cultivated  farm  of  153  acres,  be- 
longs to  one  of  the  old  pioneer  families  of  this 
neighborhood.  He  was  born  June  3.  1848,  on 
the  old  Rapp  homestead  in  Marion  township,  and 
is* a  son  of  George  and  Elizabeth  (Schneider) 
Rapp. 

The  father  of  Mr.  Rapp  was  born  in  Wurtem- 
berg,  Germany,  and  came  to  America  in  young 
manhood,  locating  in  Ohio.  He  wc^  first  mar- 
ried there  to  a  Miss  Richards,  wlio  died  in 
Marion  township,  Buchanan  County,  leaving  two 
children :  Joseph,  who  is  a  farmer  in  Oklahoma  ; 
and  Benjamin,  who  died  in  1877.  His  second 
married  was  to  Elizabeth  Schneider,  who  was 
born  in  Maryland  but  was  reared  in  Stark 
County,  Ohio.  She  died  February  22,  1896.  Our 
subject  was  the  eldest  child  of  the  second  mar- 
riage, the  others  being  Christian  and  Mathew, 
both  of  whom  are  deceased ;  Frederick,  of  St. 
Joseph ;  and  Henry  and  Bettie  Ann,  both  de- 
ceased. 

George  Rapp  came  to  Marion  township,  Bu- 
chanan County,  among  the  early  pioneers,  settling 
on  a  farm  in  1847.  I"  1^49  he  joined  the  great 
army  which  crossed  the  jilains  to  California,  in 
search  of  gold,  and  made  the  trip  overland  with 
an  ox  team.  While  he  was  gone,  his  wife  took 
care  of  home  afifairs  and  when  he  returned  a  year 
and  a  half  later,  he  resumed  farming,  which  he 
continued  all  his  active  life,  and  died  in  April. 
1891.  He  was  one  of  the  township's  respected 
citizens,  held  local  offices  and  supported  the 
schools  and  churches.  He  was  one  of  the  lead- 
ing members  of  the  Evangelical  Church  at  Stock- 
bridge.     Politically,  he  was  a  Republican. 

Our  subject,  John  F.  Rapp,  obtained  his  edu- 
cation in  the  local  schools,  and  worked  for  his 
father  until  his  marriage.  In  1876  he  bought  his 
present  valualile  farm,  although  at  that  time  it 
was  but  a  wild  tract  of  land,  covered  with  tim- 


312 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY  AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


ber  and  brusli.  The  clearing-,  cultivating  and  im- 
proving of  this  large  body  of  land  required  many 
years  of  great  effort.  It  is  now  one  of  the  fine 
farms  of  the  township.  Mr.  Rapp  carries  on  a 
general  line  of  farming,  raising  wheat,  corn,  oats 
and  hay  and  devoting  much  care  and  attention  to 
the  improvement  of  his  stock,  developing  fine 
specimens  of  Shorthorn  cattle,  Essex  hogs  and 
mules  and  horses.  He  has  always  been  an  indus- 
trious farmer  and  justly  deserves  his  present 
state  of  prosperity. 

On  March  19,  1874,  Mr.  Rapp  married  Eliza- 
beth Miller,  who  was  born  October  27,  1849,  i" 
Stark  County.  Ohio,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Jona- 
than Miller,  who  removed  from  Ohio,  to  Iowa, 
in  1869,  S"<J  to  Buchanan  County,  Missouri,  in 
1872.  He  settled  at  Easton  where  he  followed 
his  trade  of  blacksmith. 


■♦ « » 


HARLES  H.  JONES,  one  of  the  prom- 
inent farmers  and  stock-raisers  of 
Crawford  township,  Buchanan  County, 
occupying  a  beautiful  residence  in  sec- 
tion 26  and  owning  340  acres  of  finely 
improved,  cultivated  land,  was  born  in  1871  in 
Wayne  townshi]),  Buchanan  County,  Missouri, 
and  is  a  son  of  Levi  and  Bettie  (Wells)  Jones. 

The  Jones  family  has  beeen  known  in  Bu- 
chanan County  for  more  than  60  years,  its  found- 
ers coming  here  in  1840.  Our  subject's  paternal 
grandfather,  William  Jones,  was  born  in  Ken- 
tucky and  was  six  years  old  when  he  accompan- 
ied his  parents  to  Ohio,  where  he  lived  until  1840. 
In  that  year  he  came  to  Buchanan  County,  driv- 
ing across  the  country  with  his  wife  and  chil- 
dren. Later  he  made  two  trips  back  to  Ohio 
and  then  drove  to  Texas,  where  he  engaged  in 
farming  for  three  years,  owning  slaves  during 
this  time.  When  he  returned  to  Buchanan 
County  and  settled  permanently,  he  entered  160 
acres  five  miles  south  of  St.  Joseph,  on  which  he 
built  a  one-story  log  cabin,  with  two  rooms, 
Vvhich,  although  limited  as  to  space,  was  warm 
and  comfortable  and  served  as  the  family  home 
for  years.  Here  he  died  in  1861,  aged  64  years, 
leaving  an  estate  of  600  acres.  In  religious  be- 
lief he  was  a  Baptist. 

William  Jones  married  Susan  Marr,  who  was 
born  in  Virginia,  and  died  in  Buchanan  County, 
in  1876,  aged  J"]  years.  They  had  13  children : 
Levi,  father  of  our  subject ;  James,  who  died  aged 
22  years;  Mary  (Mrs.  Springer),  deceased,  who 


crossed  the  plains  to  California  in  1852;  Cynthia 
(Mrs.  Robinson),  who  died  in  Buchanan  County 
in  1852  ;  Elizabeth,  who  died  aged  20  years  ;  John, 
who  resides  on  the  old  homestead  ;  Frank,  who 
lives  near  the  old  homestead  ;  David,  who  died 
aged  35  years  ;  Charlotte,  who  is  the  widow  of 
Charles  McKinnis,  of  St.  Joseph  ;  Thomas,  who 
died  aged  22  years;  Eliza  (iVlrs.  Highsmith), 
who  died  in  1903  at  St.  Joseph  ;  Isabella,  who  is 
the  wife  of  Joseph  Cudmore,  of  St.  Joseph  ;  and 
one  that  died  in  infancy. 

Levi  Jones,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was 
born  in  Athens  County,  Ohio,  in  1830,  and  died 
at  St.  Joseph,  Missouri,  July  7,  1899,  aged  69 
years.  He  accompanied  his  ]xi rents  to  Buchanan 
County  in  1840,  and  carried  on  agricultural  enter- 
prises until  his  death.  He  owned  much  real  and 
personal  property  in  the  county,  his  real  estate 
holdings  including  some  700  acres  of  land.  Po- 
litically, he  was  identified  with  the  Democratic 
party  all  his  life.  Levi  Jones  was  married  twice. 
To  his  first  marriage,  with  Ella  Foster,  one  child 
was  born  that  only  lived  six  months.  His  sec- 
ond marriage  was  to  Bettie  Wells,  who  was  born 
in  Platte  County,  Missouri,  in  1845,  ^"cl  c^ied 
in  1878.  She  left  two  sons :  Charles  H.,  of  this 
sketch  ;  and  James,  who  is  married  and  lives  in 
Wayne  township. 

Charles  H.  Jones  was  seven  years  old  when 
he  was  deprived  of  the  tender  care  of  his  mother. 
He  was  educated  in  the  district  schools  and 
reared  in  Wayne  township  until  ])repared  to  enter 
upon  a  collegiate  course  at  Shenandoah,  Iowa. 
After  creditably  completing  the  course  at  that 
educational  institution,  Mr.  Jones  returned  home 
and  assisted  his  father  in  the  management  of  the 
homestead  farm.  In  1898  he  settled  upon  a  fine 
farm  of  160  acres  in  section  26,  Crawford  town- 
ship, and  he  owns  also  180  acres  of  valuable  land 
known  as  the  old  Fieldand  homestead,  makuig 
altogether  an  estate  of  340  acres.  He  is  a  very 
large  stock-raiser  and  also  deals  extensively  in 
cattle,  hor.ses,  mules  and  hogs.  Mr.  Jones  is 
thoroughly  up-to-date  in  conducting  his  enter- 
])rises  and  is  known  for  his  success  all  over  the 
county. 

In  1898,  Mr.  Jones  was  married  to  Alpha  M. 
Noble,  who  is  a  daugher  of  John  D.  and 
Lurana  (Hurst)  Noble,  pioneer  settlers  of  Craw- 
ford townshi]),  whose  property  adjoins  that  of 
our  subject  on  the  south.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jones 
have  two  very  bright  little  children  :  Levi  David, 
aged  five  years,  and  Dietta  May,  aged  two  years. 
Air.  Jones  has  just  completed   one  of  the  most 


JACOB    GEIGER,   M.  D. 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


315 


beautiful  homes  in  the  township.  Its  site  is  an 
eminence  which  commands  the  St.  Joseph  and 
Dearborn  road  and  the  view  from  its  windows 
can  scarcely  be  excelled.  The  timber  used  in  its 
construction  was  cut  and  selected  by  our  subject, 
who  also  helped  in  the  actual  building.  The 
house,  which  cost  $3,000  to  build,  is  fitted  with 
modern  conveniences  and  furnished  with  an  eye 
to  the  greatest  comfort. 

In  politics,  Mr.  Jones  has  always  supported 
the  Democratic  party  and  has  been  one  of  the  ac- 
tive members  of  that  great  orgnaization  in  this 
locality.  He  has  been  no  office  seeker  but  has 
always  held  himself  in  readiness  to  do  a  citizen's 
duty.  Personally,  Mr.  Jones  is  a  man  who  com- 
mands the  respect  of  all  who  know  him.  He  is  a 
loyal  friend  and  good  neighbor,  honestly  meets 
every  business  obligation  and  contributes  to  edu- 
cational and  progressive  movements  which  prom- 
ise to  be  for  the  general  welfare. 


■♦  *» 


ACOB  GEIGER,  M.  D.,  a  physician  and 
surgeon  of  St.  Joseph,  whose  portrait  is 
shown  on  the  opposite  page,  is  one  of  the 
foremost  surgeons  in  the  West  and  at 
the  present  time  confines  his  practice 
strictly  to  that  branch  of  his  profession. 

Dr.  Geiger  was  born  in  Wurtemberg,  Ger- 
many, July  25.  1848,  and  is  a  son  of  Anton  and 
Marie  G.  (Eberhart)  Geiger,  his  father  being  a 
real  estate  dealer,  and  his  mother  the  daughter  of 
a  miller.  He  came  with  his  mother  to  America 
in  a  sailing  vessel  in  1856,  locating  in  Illinois 
where  two  brothers  had  previously  settled.  In 
the  spring  of  18.^8  the  entire  family  moved  to 
P)rown  County,  Kansas,  wliere  the  mother  died 
the  following  November.  Jacob  then  came  to  St. 
Joseph,  Missouri,  and  worked  for  a  dairyman 
until  i860,  when  he  went  to  Illinois,  where  he 
worked  on  a  farm  and  attended  school.  Return- 
ing to  St.  Joseph  in  1865,  he  entered  his  brother's 
grocery  as  a  clerk  and  in  1866  was  graduated 
from  Bryant's  Business  College.  He  then  worked 
as  weighmaster  for  a  time  in  a  pork  packing 
house,  and  in  the  meantime  read  medicine  under 
the  preceptorship  of  Dr.  Galen  E.  Bishop,  which 
he  continued  while  clerking  in  a  drug  store. 
From  1868  to  1870  he  ])racticed  medicine,  then 
entered  the  iMedical  Department  of  the  PTniversitv 
of  Louisville,  from  which  he  was  graduated  in 
1872.  Returning  to  St.  Joseph,  he  again  engaged 
in  general  ]:)racticc  until   1890,  since  which  time 


he  has  made  a  specialty  of  surgery.  The  Doctor 
was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  St.  Joseph  Hos- 
pital Medical  College,  where  he  filled  the  chair 
of  anatomy.  In  1880  he  helped  organize  the  Col- 
lege of  Physicians  and  Surgeons  and  after  the 
consolidation  of  the  two  institutions  in  1883  as- 
sumed the  chair  of  surgery.  He  was  also  dean  of 
the  faculty  until  1889,  when  the  name  of  the  col- 
lege was  changed  to  Ensworth  in  accordance  with 
the  terms  of  the  bequest  of  Samuel  Ensworth. 
Dr.  Geiger  is  a  life  trustee  of  this  institution.  In 
1890  he  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Marion 
Sims  Medical  College  at  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  at 
which  time  he  was  elected  to  the  Chair  of  Sur- 
ger\-,  which  position  he  still  holds.  He  started  the 
Medical  Herald  in  1887,  is  a  member  of  numerous 
medical  associations  and  has  taken  a  keen  interest 
in  matters  pertaining  to  the  advancement  of  medi- 
cal science. 

In  1887  Dr.  Geiger  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Louise  Kollatz,  who  was  born  in  Atchison, 
Kansas,  and  is  a  daughter  of  William  Kollatz, 
They  reside  at  No.  1033  Faraon  street,  and  his 
offices  are  in  tlie  Geiger  Block,  at  No.  609-613 
Francis  street.  Politically,  he  is  a  Republican, 
and  served  four  years  as  an  alderman.  Frater- 
nally, he  is  a  Mason,  while  in  religious  attachment 
he  is  a  Presbvterian. 


♦  ♦» 


LE  O.  STINSON,  one  of  the  large 
farmers  and  substantial  men  of  Center 
township.  Buchanan  County,  residin-g 
in  section  2  and  owning  530  acres  of 
excellent  land,  is  a  native  of  a  country 
which  has 'contributed  many  worthy  citizens  to 
the  United  States.  Mr.  Stinson  was  born  Oc- 
tober 9,  1830,  in  the  southern  part  of  Norway,  at 
Nedenes  Amt  Tvedestran  i  Holtsogn,  and  is  a 
son  of  Ole  and  Ingeborg  (Olson)  Stinson. 

Both  parents  of  our  subject  were  born  in  Nor- 
way, the  father  in  I7()8  and  the  mother  in  1799. 
The  father  was  a  farmer  all  his  life  and  died  at 
the  home  of  our  subject,  while  on  a  visit.  The 
mother  died  in  Doniphan  County,  Kansas,  aged 
75  years,  in  1874,  surviving  her  husband  eight 
vears.  Their  children  were:  Annie,  who  married 
and  died  in  Bn  Avn  County,  Kansas  ;  Ole  O.,  of 
this  sketch :  Thomas,  who  died  in  Doniphan 
County,  Kansas :  and  Stean,  who  died  in  Bu- 
chanan County. 

Mr.  Stinson  remained  in  his  own  country  until 
over   19  years  of  age,  having  been  engaged  in 


3i6 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY  AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


farming  his  father's  land  and  making  trips  on  a 
coasting  mercantile  vessel.  In  1850  he  accom- 
panied his  parents  to  America,  the  objective  point 
being  St.  Joseph.  Missouri.  After  landing  at 
New  York  City,  the  whole  subsequent  trip  was 
made  by  water, — up  the  Hudson,  across  the  State 
by  the  Erie  Canal,  across  the  Great  Lakes  to  the 
Illinois,  down  the  Illinois  to  the  Mississippi,  over 
the  Mississippi  to  the  Missouri  River,  and  then 
up  the  Missouri.  The  strange  scenes  presented 
to  the  litttle  Norwegian  family  during  this  long 
and  wearying  voyage  must  have  excited  in  their 
minds  unusual  and  lively  ideas  as  to  what  they 
would  find  at  the  journey's  end.  They  remained 
in  Buchanan  County  until  the  spring  of  1860, 
when  our  sul)ject  went  to  Brown  Comity,  Kan- 
sas, for  a  couple  of  years,  having  preempted  a 
farm  of  160  acres  there  in  1858.  In  1863  he  re- 
turned from  Kansas,  and  has  always  lived  in  Bu- 
chanan County  since  that  time.  He  located  on 
his  present  farm  in  Center  township,  where  he 
bought  160  acres ;  his  wife  had  inherited  a  good 
tract  of  land  in  section  2.  This  farm  Mr.  Stin- 
son  has  iiuproved  in  many  ways  and  has  built 
one  of  the  finest  homes  in  the  township. 

In  addition  to  the  365  acres  in  the  home  farm, 
Mr.  Stinson  owns  a  tract  of  160  acres  on  Lake 
Contrary,  situated  in  section  35,  township  57, 
range  36.  in  Washington  township.  This  land 
has  been  cleared  through  great  industry  and  is 
probably  one  of  the  best  cultivated  and  best  gen- 
erally improved  places  in  the  county.  Mr.  Stin- 
son is  a  successful  man  and  he  deserves  to  be. 
He  has  been  industrious  and  careful  and  has 
become  independent  entirely  through  his  own 
efforts. 

In  i860,  Mr.  Stinson  was  married  to  Laura 
Nelson,  who  was  born  February  14,  1832.  in  Nor- 
way, near  his  own  native  place.  She  is  a  daugh- 
ter of  Peter  and  Carrie  (Olson)  Nelson,  who 
with  their  family  of  six  children,  of  whom  Mrs. 
Stinson  and  Christina,  the  wife  of  Fred  Weddle, 
of  Buchanan  County,  are  the  only  survivors,  came 
to  the  United  States  in  1846.  After  one  winter 
spent  in  New  Orleans,  they  came  to  Buchanan 
County,  Missouri,  in  1847  a"<^l  were  among  the 
earliest  settlers  in  the  county.  They  bought  a 
claim  of  800  acres  of  land,  of  which  they  cleared 
the  greater  part.  Peter  Nelson  was  a  great  hemp 
growler  and  also  was  a  slaveholder.  He  died  at 
the  age  of  90  and  his  wife  died  at  the  age  of  81. 
They  always  resided  in  Buchanan  County  upon 
the  one  farm  until  their  respective  deaths.  Mr. 
and     J\Irs.     Stinson     have    had     five     children, 


namely :  Peter  D.,  cashier  of  the  Park  Bank,  of 
St.  Joseph  ;  Kirby  Orr,  who  died  at  the  age  of  21 
years  ;  Airs.  Kate  S.  Henderson,  of  St.  Joseph  ; 
Mrs.  Emma  Varner,  of  St.  Joseph  :  and  Ida  Han- 
nah, of  St.  Joseph. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stinson  are  active  members  of 
the  Lutheran  Church.  Politically,  he  is  a  Demo- 
crat, but  has  accepted  no  ofifices  except  those  con- 
nected with  the  schools.  He  is  one  of  the  repre- 
sentative men  of  the  township. 


# « » 


AMES  GABBERT.  one  of  the  prominent 
retired  farmers  of  Bloomington  town- 
shi]:»,  Buchanan  County,  was  born  in 
Bartholomew  Comity.  Indiana,  April 
18,  1830,  and  is  a  son  of  George  Gab- 
bert,  and  a  grandson  of  George  Gabbert,  who 
came  from  Germany. 

The  father  of  James  Gabbert  was  born  in  Vir- 
ginia and  became  an  early  settler  in  Kentucky, 
and  later  was  a  pioneer  in  Indiana,  one  of  the 
very  first  settlers  in  Bartholomew  County.  He 
owned  and  operated  a  farm  there  until  1847,  when 
he  came  to  Buchanan  County,  Missouri.  Here  he 
engaged  in  farming  until  the  close  of  his  life.  He 
was  the  father  of  1 1  children,  of  whom  our  sub- 
ject is  the  only  one  living. 

James  Gabbert  was  reared  on  his  father's 
farm  in  Missouri  and  was  educated  in  the  schools 
of  the  township,  attending  during  the  winter  ses- 
sions and  working  the  farm  in  the  summers.  In 
1850,  when  20  years  of  age,  he  joined  a  party 
bound  for  the  gold  fields  of  California,  where  he 
engaged  in  mining  for  one  year  and  then  returned 
to  Missouri.  In  1856  he  settled  in  Leavenworth 
County,  Kansas,  where  he  remained  until  the 
spring  of  1876  and  then  came  to  Buchanan 
County,  purchasing  the  farm  on  which  his  son, 
Charles  E.  Gabbert,  now^  resides.  Here  he  fol- 
lowed farming  and  stock-raising  with  very  satis- 
fying results  and  continued  to  personally  super- 
tend  the  farm  until  1900,  when  he  removed  to 
DeKalb,  where  he  has  a  comfortable  home  on  the 
north  side  of  the  public  square. 

Two  years  after  he  came  back  from  Califor- 
nia, on  the  17th  of  March,  1853,  Mr.  Gabbert 
was  married  to  Levina  Ellison  of  Bloomington 
township,  Buchanan  County.  She  was  born  in 
Rush  County,  Indiana,  July  8,  1838.  Eleven 
children  were  born  to  this  union,  viz :  Elizabeth, 
who  married  Charles  Gallagher,  of  Oakland,  Cal- 
ifornia, and  has  four  children  ;  Melvin  M.,  who 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


317 


married  Laura  Gabbert,  a  cousin,  and  lives  in 
Clay  County,  Missouri, — tbey  have  nine  chil- 
dren ;  William  R.,  who  resides  at  home,  in  De- 
Kalb;  Ella  Nora,  who  married  H.  B.  Gardner,  of 
Kansas,  and  has  eight  children ;  Emma  Belle, 
who  married  H.  'M.  Dittemore,  of  \\'ayne  town- 
ship, and  has  two  cltildren  ;  ]\Iary  Ollie.  who  mar- 
ried John  \\'.  Dittemore.  of  Blooming-ton  town- 
ship, and  has  four  children;  Eva  M..  who  mar- 
ried Isam  \\'ood.  of  Wayne  township,  and  has 
two  children ;  Charles  E.,  who  married  Nellie 
Cook,  of  DeKalb.  and  lives  in  Bloomington  town- 
ship.— they  have  one  child :  and  three  that  are 
deceased. 

Mr.  Gabbert  has  always  taken  a  prominent 
part  in  township  affairs  and  served  as  a  school 
director  both  in  Kansas  and  Missouri.  He  is  one 
of  the  highly  respected  citizens  of  Bloomington 
township,  where  he  was  a  successful  farmer  so 
long,  and  is  equallv  well  thought  of  in  the  town 
of  DeKalb. 


■♦« » 


ON.  CHARLES  W.  CARSON,  one  of 
the  judges  of  the  County  Court  of  Bu- 
chanan County,  has  long  been  a  prom- 
inent figure  in  the  affairs  of  this  countv. 
where  he  has  lived  since  childhood.  He 
was  born  in  Kentucky,  September  2y,  1852.  and 
is  a  son  of  James  D.  and  Sallie  A.  (Woodson) 
Carson.  His  father  was  born  in  Kentuckv  and 
became  an  extensive  planter  in  that  State.  He 
came  to  Buchanan  County.  Missouri,  in  1853.  and 
located  some  five  miles  south  of  St.  Joseph,  where 
he  followed  farming  until  his  deathin  1877. 

Charles  W.  Carson  was  reared  on  his  father's 
farm  in  Buchanan  County,  and  received  his  edu- 
cation in  the  public  schools.  In  early  manhood  he 
accepted  a  position  as  traveling  salesman  for  the 
Deering  Implement  Company,  with  which  he  con- 
tinued a  number  of  years.  He  served  some  three 
weeks  in  the  capacity  of  constable,  and  in  1892 
was  elected  sheriff  of  Buchanan  Countv  on  the 
Democratic  ticket.  He  proved  an  efficient  officer 
and  performed  his  duties  to  the  satisfaction  of  the 
public.  On  August  16,  1904,  he  was  appointed 
by  the  Governor  of  Missouri,  as  county  judge  to 
succeed  Hon.  John  Kelly,  who  died  in  office.  In 
the  fall  of  the  same  year  he  was  the  unanimous 
choice  of  the  Democratic  Central  Committee  to 
succeed  himself. 

Judge  Carson  was  joined  in  the  bonds  of 
wedlock  with  Nannie  E.  Mitchell,  a  daughter  of 
John   S.   Mitchell,   formerly  of   St.  Joseph,  and 


they  have  one  daughter, — Sallie.  Religiouslv.  his 
wife  and  daughter  are  faithful  members  of  the 
Baptist  Church,  yir.  Carson  has  always  been  a 
Democrat  and  has  been  an  active  worker  for  party 
success.  Fraternally,  he  is  a  member  of  the 
Knights  of  Pythias ;  Modern  Woodmen  of 
America  and  Improved  Order  of  Red  ^len.  He 
resides  with  his  family  in  a  comfortable  home  at 
No.  321  North  Fifth  street. 


♦ » » 


ALBOTT  FAIRLEIGH,  a  member  of 
one  of  the  best-known  families  of 
Northwestern  ^Missouri,  is  now  living  in 
retirement  in  St.  Joseph  after  many 
}ears  of  activity  in  the  commercial 
world. 

Mr.  Fairleigh  was  born  at  Elizabethtown, 
Kentucky,  September  20,  1837.  and  was  brought 
to  Missouri  by  his  parents  in  1845.  In  that  year 
his  father,  Andrew  Fairleigh  moved  to  Savan- 
nah. ]\Iissouri.  and  followed  the  trade  of  a  silver- 
smith, the  following  year  locating  in  St.  Joseph. 
In  1849  he  went  to  California,  and  located  in 
Sacramento.  While  a  building  was  being  erected 
for  him  there,  for  a  jewelry  store,  he  was  taken 
sick  and  died.  His  widow  and  two  daughters 
then  removed  to  Sacramento  and  conducted  a 
hotel  for  two  years,  in  which  undertaking  they 
met  with  fine  success,  being  able  to  purchase  the 
finest  hotel  there,  which  burned  to  the  ground 
two  different  times.  Mrs.  Fairleigh  died  July 
20,  1901. 

Talbott  Fairleigh  received  his  educational 
training  in  the  common  schools  of  St.  Joseph  and 
in  the  Presbyterian  school  of  College  Hill,  Mis- 
souri, having  come  to  St.  Joseph  with  his  parents 
in  1845.  Here  he  grew  to  maturity  and  began 
his  business  career.  At  the  age  of  27  years  he 
engaged  in  the  hardware  business  in  partnership 
with  Air.  Washington,  under  the  firm  name  of 
Fairleigh  &  Washington,  which  association  con- 
tinued for  a  period  of  three  years.  Mr.  W^ash- 
ington  then  sold  out  to  ]Mr.  Sergeant,  with  whom 
our  subject  continued  three  years  under  the  firm 
name  of  Fairleigh  &  Sergeant,  doing  a  very  ex- 
tensive business.  The  firm  became  Fairleigh  & 
Company  and  continued  as  such  until  Januar\-. 
1873,  ■when  Mr.  Fairleigh  sold  out,  having  been 
elected  to  the  office  of  State  and  county  collector 
in  the  fall  of  the  previous  year.  He  filled  that 
office  for  two  years  and  in  1875  accepted  a  posi- 
tion as  traveling  salesman  for  the  W.  M.  Wyeth 


3i8 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY  AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


Hardware  Company,  \\ith  which  he  remained 
until  1880.  In  that  year  he  became  identified 
with  the  hardware  firm  of  SchuUz  &  Hosea  and 
continued  with  it  until  1886:  then  for  a  period  of 
10  years  he  was  with  the  firm  of  Hibbard,  Spen- 
cer, Bartlett  &  Company  of  Chicago.  On  Jan- 
uary I,  1897,  Mr.  Fairleigh  returned  to  St. 
Joseph  and  again  became  identified  with  the 
W.  M.  Wyeth  Hardware  Company,  with  which 
firm  he  continued  until  1900  when  he  retired  from 
active  business,  after  almost  half  a  century  of 
uninterrupted  activity. 

Talbott  Fairleigh  was  married  June  i,  1864, 
to  Ella  Hartzel,  the  accomplished  daughter  of 
Elder  Jonas  Hartzel  of  Warren,  Ohio,  and  they 
have  three  living  children  :  William  G.,  named  in 
honor  of  his  uncle,  who  married  Hannah  Hughes, 
has  six  children  and  lives  in  Spokane,  Washing- 
ton ;  Alice  H.,  who  married  K.  L.  Stewart  of 
Cincinnati,  Ohio,  and  has  two  children ;  and 
(jertrude,  who  lives  at  home  with  her  parents. 
Religiously,  our  subject  is  a  member  of  the  Chris- 
tian Church,  and  his  wife  is  a  Christian  Scien- 
tist. He  is  a  Democrat  in  politics.  The  family 
home  is  at  No.  1924  Clay  street,  where  hospital- 
ity is  shown  the  many  friends  of  the  family 
throughout  this  section. 


)HN  O.  ISAACSON,  sole  proprietor  of 
the  Bank  of  Faucett,  Buchanan  County, 
one  of  the  soundest  financial  institutions 
in  this  part  of  the  State,  is  also  prom- 
inently identified  with  other  business 
organizations  and  is  largely  interested  in  both  in- 
surance and  real  estate.  Mr.  Isaacson  was  born 
March  4,  1872,  in  Crawford  township,  Buchanan 
County,  and  is  a  son  of  Andrew  and  Mary  E, 
(Mailer)  Isaacson.  The  father  was  born  in 
Sweden  and  the  mother  in  Missouri. 

Mr.  Isaacson  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  of  Kansas  and  then  entered  the  Campbell 
Normal  University  at  Holton,  Kansas,  where  he 
was  graduated  from  the  commercial  department, 
in  1890.  He  entered  into  business  life  for  himself 
at  Faucett,  Missouri,  as  a  dealer  in  lumber  and 
then  engaged  in  the  live  stock  commission  business 
at  Kansas  City.  Later  he  became  interested  in  in- 
surance and  real  estate.  He  is  also  interested  in 
the  business  of  well  boring  and  is  operating  all 
over  Buchanan  and  Platte  counties.  In  1899  he 
erected  the  building  and  established  the  Bank  of 
Faucett,  with  a  capital  of  $5,000  and  a  surplus  of 


$2,500.  It  carries  on  a  general  banking  business, 
negotiates  loans  and  investments  and  is  looked 
upon  with  the  greatest  favor  by  the  residents  of 
the  village  and  the  adjoining  agricultural  dis- 
trict. Mr.  Isaacson  is  an  able  business  man,  one 
whose  uniform  conduct  has  been  such  as  to  win 
the  esteem  and  confidence  of  the  public. 

On  September  7,  1904,  Mr.  Isaacson  was  mar- 
ried to  Jessie  Stanton,  who  is  a  daughter  of  D.  A. 
Stanton,  a  prominent  farmer  of  Jackson  town- 
ship. Fraternally,  our  subject  is  a  Mason  of  high 
degree,  belonging  to  Birmingham  Lodge,  No.  216, 
A."^F.  &  A.  M.,  of  Halleck.  Missouri ;  Royal  Arch 
Chapter,  No.  50 ;  St.  Joseph  Commanderv,  No.  4, 
K.  T. ;  and  Moila  Temple,  A.  A.  O.  N.  'M.  S.  at 
St.  Joseph.  He  is  also  identified  w^ith  the  Odd 
Fellows  and  with  many  business  and  social  or- 
ganizations. 


ETER  GARRAHAN,  a  leading  farmer 
of  Platte  township,  Buchanan  County, 
who  resides  on  his  fine  farm  of  185 
acres,  located  in  section  15,  township 
55,  range  34,  w^as  born  in  Allegany 
County,  Maryland,  February  15.  1855,  and  is  a 
son  of  James  E.  and  Mary  (Kelly)  Garrahan. 

The  paternal  grandparents  of  our  subject  were 
Peter  and  Katherine  Garrahan,  both  natives  of 
Ireland.  They  came  to  the  United  States  in  early 
married  life,  but  went  back  to  the  old  country, 
from  which  they  came  a  second  time.  The  grand- 
father died  in  Maryland,  and  the  grandmother 
in  Platte  township,  Buchanan  County.  They  had 
four  children:  Mrs.  Katherine  Riley.  James  E., 
Mary  and  Mrs.  Margaret  Kelly. 

James  E.  Garrahan  was  born  on  the  Atlantic 
Ocean  while  his  parents  were  crossing  the  great 
water  in  their  slow-going  sailing  vessel,  on  their 
second  trip  to  America.  His  death  took  place  in 
Buchanan  County  in  January,  1877,  at  the  age  of 
50  years.  The  family  settled  in  Allegany  County. 
Marvland,  and  there  James  E.  Garrahan  was 
reared  and  reiuained  until  1866,  when  he  came 
to  this  locality,  after  a  service  in  the  Union  Army, 
that  included  the  whole  of  the  Civil  War.  In 
t86i  he  enlisted  at  Oakland,  Maryland,  and  dur- 
ing the  whole  time  was  connected  with  the  Army 
of  the  Potomac.  He  participated  in  the  battle  of 
Gettysburg,  in  that  of  Fredericksburg,  and  all 
the  others  which  won  the  applause  of  the  coun- 
trv  for  the  victorious  Federal  soldiers.  Although 
he  was  entitled  to  it.  he  never  asked  for  a  pen- 
sion.    Politically,  he  was  a  Democrat.     He  was 


MAJ.    THOMAS   J.    CHEW,    JR. 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


321 


twice  married,  our  subject  being  the  only  child 
of  the  first  union.  By  a  second  marriage  the  father 
had  five  more  children,  namely,  Thomas  Jefifer- 
son,  B.  McClellan,  Theresa,  Katherine  (the  wife 
of  Emmett  Gregory,  of  Platte  township)  and 
Francis  Orlando.  James  E.  Garrahan  owned  a 
quarter  section  of  land  and  had  a  large  amount 
of  money  in  the  bank  at  the  time  of  his  death. 

Our  subject  was  about  11  years  of  age  when 
his  parents  came  to  Missouri,  and  he  has  always 
followed  agricultural  pursuits.  In  1881  he  pur- 
chased the  farm  on  which  he  resides  and  located 
on  it  in  the  following  year.  It  was  not  an  at- 
tractive piece  of  property  at  that  time,  to  one  not 
acquainted  with  partially  cleared  timber  land,  as 
the  stumps  were  still  standing  where  the  prev- 
ious settler  had  cut  timber.  Mr.  Garrahan  cleared 
15  acres  of  his  land  still  in  brush  and  soon  put 
the  remainder  of  it  under  cultivation,  the  result 
being  a  fertile,  productive  farm.  The  residence 
has  been  improved  and  made  attractive  and  com- 
fortable and  his  new  barn  and  out-buildings, 
fences  and  other  improvements  are  all  first-class 
in  character.  He  has  devoted  four  acres  to  or- 
chards and  raises  some  very  fine  fruit.  He  car- 
ries on  general  farming  but  gives  his  main  at- 
tention to  grain.  He  understands  his  business 
and  has  made  a  success. 

In  March.  1882,  Mr.  Garrahan  married 
Martha  S.  (ulmore.  who  was  born  in  liuchanan 
County.  Missouri.  October  27.  i86r,  and  is  a 
daughter  of  Sanuiel  and  Aiargaret  Gilmore.  They 
have  seven  children:  James  P..  Katherine, 
Claude,  Clarence.  Margaret.  Annie  and  Lillie 
May. 

Mr.  Garrahan  has  always  voted  the  Demo- 
cratic ticket.  With  his  family,  he  belongs  to  the 
Catholic  Church.  He  is  a  man  who  commands 
the  respect  of  all  who  know  him  and  is  one  of  the 
representative  farmers  of  his  township. 


^ » » 


\J.    THOMAS    J.    CHEW.    Jr..    for 
many  years  one  of  the  leading  busi- 
ness men  and  public  spirited  citizens 
of  St.  Joseph,  and  a  ])owerful  politi- 
cal factor  in    Ihichanan  County,  was 
born  April  8,  1838,  in  Columbus.  Ohio,  and  died 
in  St.  Joseph,  April  20,  1900.    He  was  a  worthy 
son  of  Anthony  S.  and  Delia  (  Adams)  Chew. 

An  examination  of  the  gen  alcigv  of  the  Chew 
family  with  its  connecting  kindrt^^d  brings  to  light 
manv  names  which  liave  bc"(imc  di-^tingTiislu-d  in 


public,  professional  and  social  life,  from  the  early 
days  of  the  American  Colonies.  The  first  wife  of 
Zachary  Taylor  was  a  connection  of  this  old  and 
truly  aristocratic  family. 

The  father  of  the  late  IMajor  Chew  was  born 
in  Connecticut,  graduated  at  Yale  College  and 
became  a  very  prominent  attorney.  In  1836  he 
located  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  where  he  entered  into 
a  law  partnership  with  Hon.  Thomas  Corwin,  the 
eminent  Ohio  statesman,  under  the  firm  name  of 
Corwin  &  Chew.  The  mother  of  Major  Chew 
was  born  at  Columbus.  Ohio,  and  both  her  father 
and  her  maternal  uncle,  the  distinguished  Dr. 
Goodell,  were  men  of  high  character  and  large 
fortune. 

Our  subject  was  given  excellent  educational 
opportunities,  at  Heron's  Seminary  and  Brooks" 
Preparatory  Classical  School,  both  of  these  being- 
noted  private  educational  institutions  of  Cincin- 
nati. At  the  age  of  16  years,  he  removed  with  his 
father  to  Iowa  and  they  were  there  associated  in 
business  for  some  years.  Returning  to  the  East. 
the  young  man  carried  on  an  insurance  business, 
from  1858  to  1 86 1,  in  New  York  City,  and  in  the 
latter  year  he  first  took  up  his  residence  in  St. 
Joseph,  Missouri,  which  remained  his  chosen 
home  until  his  death — a  period  of  39  years. 

After  settling  here,  he  engaged  first  in  an  in- 
surance business,  but  in  the  early  "sixties"  he 
embarked  in  the  wholesale  grocery  trade  as  a 
member  of  the  firm  of  Koch,  Chew  &  Company,  a 
corporation  which  existed  until  1874.  In  that 
year  Mr.  Chew  entered  the  brokerage  and  loan 
business  and  represented  some  of  the  most  im- 
portant Eastern  companies  and  largest  Eastern 
investors.  In  1889  he  became  managing  owner  of 
the  St.  Joseph  Herald,  and  during  his  short  period 
of  management  made  himself  felt  in  all  depart- 
ments of  that  journal. 

In  politics  Major  Chew  was  a  stanch  Repub- 
lican, but  sought  little  political  honor  for  himself, 
accepting  only  those  positions  in  which  he  could 
best  serve  the  party.  In  1892  he  was  a  delegate 
to  the  Republican  National  Convention  at  Minne- 
apolis, and  on  many  occasions  was  a  delegate  to 
State  and  minor  conventions.  His  political  stand- 
ards always  remained  high  and  the  tricks  of  the 
demagogue  ever  received  his  contempt.  During 
the  Civil  War  he  served  on  the  staff  of  General 
Hall  and  other  officers  in  the  Cnion  Army,  and 
from  1862  to  1865  was  (|uartermaster  of  the 
department  of  St.  Joseph,  with  the  rank  of  major. 

Major  C"hew  was  noted  for  his  local  pride  and 
public  s]iirit.    He  was  one  of  the  promoters  and 


2,22 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


builders  of  St.  Joseph's  system  of  water-works 
and  owned  a  one-fourth  interest  in  the  plant  until 
the  works  were  sold  to  the  present  owners.  In 
many  wa}'s  he  gave  evidence  of  municipal  loyalty, 
lending  his  influence  and  financial  assistance  to 
many  of  the  city's  most  important  enterprises. 
During  1872  and  1873  he  was  president  of  the 
Board  of  Trade  of  St.  Joseph  and  occupied  other 
official  positions,  but  latterly  his  own  large  inter- 
ests claimed  his  whole  attention.  He  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  first  lodge  of  the  B.  P.  O.  E.  in  St. 
Joseph. 

In  1861  ]\Iajor  Chew  was  united  in  marriage 
in  New  York  City  with  Kitty  M.  Forbes,  who  died 
in  May,  1897.  He  was  married  in  May,  1899.  to 
Mrs.  Elizabeth  Wilkinson,  of  St.  Joseph.  Mis- 
souri, who  still  survives.  She  is  a  daughter  of 
the  late  Alex.  Smith  of  St.  Louis,  and  a  sister  of 
Mrs.  John  L.  Bittinger,  of  St.  Joseph.  Mrs. 
Chew  resides  in  one  of  St.  Joseph's  most  beauti- 
ful homes,  located  at  No.  224  South  loth  street. 

It  has  been  said  that  no  man  wielded  a 
stronger  influence  for  good  than  Major  Chew. 
He  possessed  the  genial  qualities  which  survive 
friendship  and  inspire  affection,  but  underneath 
these  lay  the  granite  of  a  determined,  upright, 
fearless  and  honest  nature.  Such  a  man  could 
only  be  intolerant  of  fraud,  chicanery  and  deceit 
anci  his  record  is  one  written  on  an  unstained 
shield.     His  portrait  accompanies  this  sketch. 


♦ » » 


FORGE  MUM  FORD,  who  has  a  fine 
farm  located  in  section  13,  township  55. 
range  34,  in  Platte  township,  Buchanan 
County,  has  resided  upon  this  farm  for 
a  period  of  more  than  48  years,  and  is 
well  known  to  the  citizens  of  the  surroundinr 
country.  He  was  born  in  Crawford  County,  Penn- 
sylvania, December  10,  1822,  and  is  a  son  of  Peter 
Mum  ford. 

Peter  Mumford  was  born  in  Pennsylvania  or 
New  Jersey,  in  1797,  and  died  in  DeKalb  County, 
Alissouri,  at  the  age  of  84  years.  His  father  was 
a  soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  War,  serving  under 
the  immediate  command  of  General  Washington. 
He  was  in  all  the  battles  participated  in  by  Wash- 
ington's army  and  crossed  the  Delaware  River  on 
broken  ice,  an  event  famous  in  the  history  of  our 
country.  He  was  injured  seven  times  during  his 
service  of  seven  and  a  half  years,  but  not  seri- 
ously. He  was  a  native  of  Scotland  and  came  to 
America  during  the  colonial  period.    Peter  Mum- 


ford  followed  farming  all  his  life  and  at  the  time 
of  his  death  was  in  very  comfortable  circum- 
stances, owning  a  farm  of  120  acres  in  DeKalb 
County,  Missouri.  By  his  first  marriage  he  had 
two  children :  David,  who  went  to  California  in 
1850,  and  was  heard  from  but  a  few  times  there- 
after; and  George,  our  subject.  By  his  second 
marriage  he  had  six  children, — four  sons  and  two 
daughters. 

George  Mumford  was  four  years  old  when  he 
removed  with  his  parents  to  Athens  County,  Ohio, 
where  they  lived  12  years.  In  1839  they  moved  to 
Henry  County,  Iowa,  where  he  grew  to  maturity 
and  lived  for  12  years.  He  then  removed  to  Dal- 
las County,  Texas,  where  he  acquired  a  farm  of 
160  acres,  but  he  contracted  the  ague  which  re- 
sulted in  his  giving'  his  place  away,  and  leaving 
that  country  after  one  year.  He  returned  to  Henry 
County,  Iowa,  in  the  spring  of  1847,  then  went 
to  California  overland  in  1850,  driving  two  yoke 
of  oxen.  He  mined  in  Nevada  for  a  time 
but  owing  to  poor  health  went  into  tlie 
valley  and  engaged  in  teaming  for  one 
and  a  half  years.  He  returned  to  Iowa 
via  the  Isthmus  of  Panama,  New  Orleans 
and  the  Mississippi  River.  Shortly  after,  in  1854, 
he  came  to  Buchanan  County,  Missouri,  and 
rented  a  farm  one  year,  then  acquired  the  south- 
west quarter  of  section  13,  township  55,  range  34. 
in  Platte  township,  where  he  has  resided  contin- 
uously since.  His  first  visit  to  this  county  was  as 
early  as  1842,  when  he  was  driving  an  ox  team 
through  from  Iowa  to  Holt  Countv.  IMissouri, 
helping  a  man  to  move.  They  stopped  at  Joseph 
Robidoux's  landing  in  the  fall  of  that  year.  When 
Mr.  Mumford  located  upon  his  farm,  it  was  heav- 
ily timbered  in  most  part,  only  15  acres  being 
cleared  and  under  cultivation,  and  it  was  some 
years  before  it  was  placed  in  its  present  high  state 
of  cultivation.  He  and  his  family  lived  in  a  log 
house,  16  by  16  feet  in  dimensions,  for  several 
years,  then  he  built  a  frame  house,  which  was 
destroyed  by  a  cyclone  in  1898.  His  present 
residence  was  then  erected  and  is  a  good  sub- 
stantial one,  fitted  with  many  modern  improve- 
ments. He  passed  through  the  war  without  tak- 
ing part,  although  he  served  for  a  time  in  the 
"Paw  Paw  ]\Iilitia."  He  has  always  voted  the 
Democratic  ticket  and  cast  his  first  vote  for 
Martin  Van  Buren. 

In  1853,  Mr.  Mumford  was  vmited  in  mar- 
riage with  Charlotte  Sherman,  who  was  born  near 
Cleveland,  Ohio,  and  died  about  one  year  after 
marriage,  aged  30  years,  leaving  no  issue.     In 


AND    REPRESENTATA'E    CITIZENS. 


Z^Z 


1854,  he  married  Sarah  Arterbury,  who  was  born 
in  Henry  County,  Kentucky,  in  1826,  and  died 
in  Buchanan  County  in  1877,  leaving;  four  chil- 
dren, as  follows  :  Lucy  Jane,  born  in  1856,  who 
married  Richard  Gre2:orv,  and  is  now  deceased  ; 
Nevada  Bird,  who  married  Green  Adams  of  Gen- 
try County  and  has  four  children :  Georgia  Ann 
who  is  the  wife  of  Daniel  Loutermilch  ;  and  Rob- 
ert R.,  who  married  Mavillia  Potts,  who  was  born 
in  St.  Francisville,  Illinois,  in  1870,  and  is  a 
daughter  of  Benton  Potts, — they  have  four  chil- 
dren, George  B.,  Richard  P.,  Reed  M.  and  Clin- 
ton C.  Robert  R.  JMumford  now  has  charge  of 
his  father's  farm  in  Platte  township. 


■♦*» 


RANK  HARLOW,  vice-president  of  the 
McCord-Harlow  Shoe  Company,  of  St. 
Joseph,  was  born  at  Charleston,  New 
Hampshire.  August  27,  1854,  and  is  a 
son  of  Jehial  and  Jane  S.  (Boutelle) 
Harlow. 

Barnum  Harlow,  the  paternal  grandfather  of 
our  subject,  reared  his  family  in  Vermont,  car- 
ried on  farming  operations  there  and  was  pros- 
perous for  his  times.  He  served  his  country 
during  the  War  of  1812. 

Jehial  Harlow,  father  of  our  subject,  was 
born  on  the  home  farm  near  Springfield,  Ver- 
mont, but  went  to  New  Hampshire  in  young 
manhood  and  at  Charleston  learned  and  followed 
the  trade  of  carriage-maker.  In  1861  he  entered 
into  business  on  his  own  account,  building  a 
large  factory  in  which  he  installed  what  was  con- 
sidered modern  machinery  at  that  time,  when  the 
greater  part  of  the  work  had  to  be  done  by  hand. 
It  was  before  the  day  of  the  inventions  which 
now  save  the  labor  of  half  a  life-time  to  the 
worker.  This  factory  was  then  considered  a  mar- 
vel. Mr.  Harlow  possessed  the  genius  which 
enabled  him  to  work  in  either  wood  or  iron  and 
he  found  opportunity  to  also  paint  his  wagons  in 
a  way  that  gave  to  them  the  appearance  of  a 
piano  finish.  Mr.  Harlow  married  Jane  S. 
Boutelle,  a  native  of  that  section,  and  they  had 
seven  children  of  whom  four  died  in  infancy. 
Those  living  are  Mrs.  Ella  H.  King,  of  Keene, 
New  Hampshire:  Edward,  of  Marlborough,  New 
Hampshire ;  Frank,  of  this  sketch  ;  and  Mrs.  W. 
P.  Huntington,  of  Columbus,  Ohio.  The  family 
is  connected  with  the  Unitarian  Church. 

Our  subject  was  14  years  of  age  when  his 
parents    removed    to    Keene,    New    Hampshire, 


where  he  enjoyed  the  advantages  of  high  school 
training.  After  several  years  of  employment  in 
various  mercantile  establishments,  he  came  West, 
in  1880,  accepting  a  position  as  bookkeeper  in  a 
shoe  factory  at  Jefiferson  City,  Missouri.  In  1888 
he  removed  to  St.  Louis,  where  he  continued 
three  years  in  the  shoe  business,  and  then  came 
to  St.  Joseph,  where  he  accepted  the  office  of 
superintendent  for  Noyes,  Norman  &  Company, 
with  which  well-known  house  he  remained  for 
eight  years.  In  1899  he  took  the  initiative  in  the 
organization  of  the  McCord-Harlow  Shoe  Com- 
pan.y.  a  corporation  which  has  developed  into  one 
of  the  city's  large  and  important  industries.  The 
immense  product  of  this  firm  goes  directlv  to  the 
retailer  without  being  handled  by  jobbers.  The 
company  has  built  up  such  a  reputation  that  its 
mere  name  carries  the  guarantee  of  excellence. 

On  December  23,  1874,  :Mr.  Harlow  was 
married  to  Hattie  L.  Smith,  who  is  a  daughter 
of  Chauncey  Smith,  of  Hartford.  Connecticut, 
and  they  have  three  children:  Nellie  J..  Bertha 
?nI.  and  Frank  J.  -^l 

Mr.  Harlow  has  been  vice-president  of  his 
large  business  organization  ever  since  its  found- 
ing, and  is  considered  one  of  the  able  and  enter- 
prising business  men  of  this  section.  He  belongs 
to  St.  Joseph  Lodge,  No.  40,  B.  P.  O.  E. 


-^*» 


OHN  DONOVAN  FLINT,  cashier  of  the 
Buell  Manufacturing  Company,  of  St. 
Joseph,  was  born  in  Buchanan  Countv, 
Missouri,  September  18,  1845,  and  is 'a 
son  of  Dr.  William  P.  and  Sarah  Eme- 
line  (Donovan)  Flint. 

The  tracing  of  the  interesting  familv  history 
of  our  subject  is  not  a  difficult  matter,  the  name 
being  identified  with  the  countrv's  interests  for 
generations.  The  Flint  family  is  of  A\'elsh  ex- 
traction and  in  many  of  its  characteristics  of 
solidity  and  strength,  the  name  mav  be  represen- 
tative of  the  mountains  of  its  nativitv.  Thomas 
Flint  was  the  founder  of  the  family  in  New 
England,  coming  from  Wales  and  making  settle- 
ment at  Salem,  according  to  local  records,  as  early 
as  1650,  although  there  is  evidence  to  show  that 
his  mother  lived  in  America  in  1642.  His  name 
is  given  as  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  Salem  vil- 
lage, now  J~^outh  Danvers,  Massachusetts.  His 
land  was  acquired  by  purchase  and  his  old  farm, 
through  all  the  great  changes  which  hn\-e  taken 
place  in  the  succeeding  generations,  is  still  owned 


324 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN    COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


by  one  of  his  descendants.     His  death  took  place 
April  15,  1663. 

In  Capt.  Thomas  Flint,  onr  subject's  great- 
great-great-grandfather,  is  found  a  man  who  bore 
an  important  part  in  the  early  history  of  the 
Massachusetts  settlements.  He  was  a  son  of 
Thomas  Flint  the  original  settler,  and  Ann,  his 
wife.  He  combined  work  as  a  carpenter  with 
farming  and  appears  to  have  been  a  man  of 
means  as  he  evidently  was  of  influence.  His  name 
is  closely  connected  with  the  military  organiza- 
tions of  his  time,  which,  on  account  of  the  hostile 
attitude  of  the  Indians,  required  men  of  nerve 
and  energy.  He  took  part  in  King  Philip's  War, 
and  in  the  expedition  commanded  by  Captain 
Gardner  against  the  Narragansetts.  in  1675,  he 
was  wounded,  but  probably  not  seriously,  as  the 
local  records  tell  of  his  subsequently  holding 
commissions  in  the  village  company.  Those  were 
days  when  rehgious  convictions  were  of  primary 
importance,  and  his  is  one  of  the  names  which  has 
come  down  to  us  as  one  of  the  most  earnest  pro- 
moters of  the  church.  That  his  iniluence  was 
considerable  is  attested  by  the  success  that  met 
his  endeavors  and  that  he  was  a  mechanic  of  skill 
is  proved  by  his  selection  as  the  architect  and 
builder  of  the  first  church  at  Salem,  Massachu- 
setts. For  his  day  he  was  a  capitalist,  owning 
900  acres  of  land  in  the  rich  regions  of  Essex  and 
Middlesex  counties.  He  passed  away  May  24, 
1 72 1,  aged  76  years.  He  was  twice  married,  his 
second  "wife  being  ^lary  Dounton,  a  daughter  of 
William  Dounton,  whom  he  espoused  Septem1)er 

15,  1674- 

William  Flint,  son  of  Capt.  Thomas  and 
Mary  Flint,  was  born  July  17,  1685  and  died  Oc- 
tober 10,  1736.  He  was  a  farmer  and  lived  at 
Reading,  Massachusetts,  on  land  given  him  by  his 
father.  He  was  elected  deacon  of  the  church  on 
June  28,  1727  and  served  nine  years.  On  April 
30,  1713,  he  married  Abigail  Nichols,  and  the} 
had  a  family  of  seven  sons  and  two  daughters. 

Joseph  Flint,  our  subject's  great-grandfather, 
was  born  September  7,  1726,  was  a  carpenter  by 
trade  and  lived  at  Salem.  Massachusetts,  where 
he  also  owned  a  mill.  On  August  14,  1753,  he 
married  Sarah  Putnam,  who  was  born  Octolx-r 
22,  1739,  and  was  a  daughter  of  Asa  and  Sarah 
(Putnam)  Putnam.  They  had  a  family  of  four 
sons  and  three  daughters,  William  P.  being  the 
youngest  child. 

William  P.  Flint,  the  grandfather  of  our  sub- 
ject, was  born  in  1778  at  Salem,  Massachusetts, 
where  his  life  was  passed  until  maturity,  when 


he  moved  to  Maryland,  married  and  died  there  on 
January  12,  1832.  In  1799  he  married  Lydia 
Mitchell,  who  was  a  daughter  of  Aaron  and  Sarah 
Mitchell,  and  who  was  born  May  21,  1779,  in 
what  was  called  the  "Neck  District,"  in  Dorches- 
ter County,  Maryland.  She  died  June  25,  1841. 
They  reared  a  family  of  two  daughters  and  three 
sons,  William  P.  being  the  third  child  and  the 
eldest  son. 

Dr.  William  P.  Flint,  our  subject's  father,  was 
born  in  Dorchester  County,  Maryland,  May  10, 
1810,  and  received  both  his  literary  and  medical 
education  before  he  came  West.  In  1843  ^^^ 
located  in  Buchanan  County,  Missouri,  one  of  the 
first  settlers  in  his  locality  and  one  of  the  pioneer 
physicians.  He  owned  a  farm  of  160  acres  of 
land,  which  he  redeemed  from  the  wilderness,  and 
later  added  50  acres  of  timber  land,  which  is 
still  in  the  possession  of  our  subject.  In  addition 
to  general  farming,  he  continued  his  medical  prac- 
tice during  his  whole  active  life.  This  covered  a 
wide  territory  and  in  the  early  days  his  visits  into 
many  regions  could  only  be  done  on  horseback. 
Later  his  sulky,  as  it  swung  back  and  forth  over 
the  uneven  highways  as  he  hurried  to  answer 
calls  miles  and  miles  distant  from  his  home,  was 
a  frequent  sight.  The  work  of  a  country  doctoi 
in  those  days  was  one  of  great  hardship  and 
inadec(uate  remuneration.  In  1849  he  visited 
California,  going  by  way  of  New  Orleans  and  the 
Isthmus  of  Panama,  and  while  he  remained  in  that 
State  practiced  medicine  at  Marysville.  Some 
years  before  his  death  he  returned  to  Buchanan 
County,  Missouri,  and  passed  away  on  the  farm 
which  he  had  preempted  in  1843. 

On  December  29,  183 1,  Dr.  Flint  married 
Sarah  Emeliue  Donovan,  who  was  a  daughter 
of  John  Donovan,  of  Maryland,  and  they  had 
seven  children,  the  six  who  reached  maturity  be- 
ing: jMary,  deceased;  W^illiam  P.,  of  St.  Joseph; 
Thomas  James,  deceased  ;  Sarah  Lydia,  widow  of 
George  \\'.  Peacock  of  Marysville,  California; 
John  D.,of  this  sketch;  and  Annie  M.,  wife  of  T. 
C.  Roberts  of  St.  Joseph.  Mary  was  thrice  married  : 
first,  to  William  Funk ;  second,  to  Charles  E. 
I  Baldwin  ;  and  third,  to  A.  IN  I .  Richey,  having  issue 
from  each  marriage.  The  mother  of  the  above 
named  family  died  September  4,  1882.  Both  pa- 
rents were  consistent  members  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  South. 

John  D.  Flint,  the  immediate  subject  of  this 
sketch,  was  educated  in  the  private  schools  of  St. 
Joseph  and  in  a  college  at  Chillicothe,  Missouri. 
The  greater  part  of  his  business  life  has  been 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


325 


passed  in  association  with  large  concerns  and  few 
men  have  had  a  more  honorable  connection.  In 
1863  he  became  the  cashier  of  the  Southern  Bank 
of  the  State  of  Missouri,  at  Savannah,  of  which 
George  Warren  Samuels  was  then  president,  and 
in  1864  he  went  with  Lemon,  Hosea  &  Company, 
of  St.  Joseph,  in  the  capacity  of  bookkeeper  and 
subsequently  became  a  partner  in  the  firm  of  John 
S.  Lemon  &  Company.  This  connection  extended 
through  a  number  of  years,  during  which  time 
this  business  house  grew  into  a  large  and  wealthy 
corporation.  ]Mr.  Flint  then  became  one  of  the 
partners  of  the  notion  and  dry  goods  house  of 
Hosea,  Flint  &  Kemper  and  from  1872  until  1876 
he  was  closely  associated  with  this  business.  In 
the  latter  year  he  entered  iipon  his  duties  as 
cashier  of  the  Buell  ^Manufacturing  Company,  a 
position  of  responsibility  he  held  until  1883.  when 
he  resigned  it  to  accept  the  position  of  paying 
teller  and  director  of  the  Saxton  National  Rank. 
He  continued  with  this  financial  concern  luitil 
1894.  when  the  consolidation  of  this  concern  with 
the  Schuster-Hax  National  Bank  brought  about 
his  resignation.  During  the  subsequent  two 
years,  Mr.  Flint  served  as  deputy  county  collector, 
but  since  1899  he  has  most  efficiently  filled  his  old 
position  as  cashier  of  the  Buell  Manufacturing 
Company. 

On  ^lay  10,  1870,  Mr.  Flint  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Mary  Anna  Bell,  a  daughter  of 
W^illiam  Bell,  Jr.,  of  St.  Joseph,  and  their  two 
surviving  children  are:  Grace  B.,  who  married 
Frank  J.  Moss  of  St.  Joseph,  and  has  one  daugh- 
ter.— Alary  Frances;  and  William  P.  Airs. 
I'lint  is  a  member  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal 
Church. 

Mr.  Flint  has  long  been  very  prominent  in 
fraternal  circles.  He  was  made  a  Afason  in  Zere- 
datha  Lodge.  No.  189.  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  is  now 
a  member  of  Charity  Lodge,  No.  331,  A.  F.  & 
A.  M.,  of  which  he  is  a  charter  member  and 
which  he  served  as  master  in  1888.  In  1891  he 
was  high  priest  of  St.  Joseph  Cha])ter.  No.  14. 
R.  A.  M.  He  has  been  illustrious  master  of 
St.  Joseph  Council,  No.  9.  In  1892  he  was 
eminent  commander  of  St.  Joseph  Commanderv, 
No.  4,  K.  T.  He  is  also  a  member  of  Moila 
Temple,  A.  A.  O.  N.  M.  S.  He  belongs  also  to 
Pocahontas  Tribe.  No.  10.  Improved  Order  of 
Red  Men,  of  which  he  is  past  sachem  and  has 
l)een  past  grand  sachem  of  the  order  for  the  State 
of  Missouri. 


OHN  H.  CAREY,  who  is  extensively  en- 
gaged in  farming  and  stock-raising  in 
Jackson  township,  Buchanan  County,  is 
one  of  the  substantial  men  of  the  com- 
munity. He  has  frequently  been  called 
upon  to  serve  in  an  official  capacity  and  has 
always  acquitted  himself  in  a  most  creditable  man- 
ner. He  was  born  in  County  Wexford,  Ireland, 
June  12,  1835,  and  is  a  i;on  of  Patrick  and  Mary 
(Hartwell)  Carey,  both  natives  of  County  Wex- 
ford. Ireland. 

Our  subject's  parents  came  to  America  with 
their  children  about  1845  ^^^^  located  in  St. 
Louis.  Alissouri.  where  Mrs.  Carey  and  her 
youngest  daughter  died  of  cholera.  Mr.  Carey 
died  in  Buchanan  County,  Alissouri,  whither  he 
had  moved  after  his  wife's  death.  Four  children 
blessed  their  union,  namely  :  John  H. ;  Katherine 
(Welch),  of  Washington  township;  Bridget 
(Briggs).  of  Center  township;  and  \\'innefred, 
who  died  of  cholera  in  St.  Louis. 

John  H.  Carey  was  12  years  of  age  when  he 
accompanied  his  parents  to  the  United  vStates  ;  he 
lived  in  St.  Louis  10  years  and  learned  the  trade 
of  a  ship  carpenter.  He  was  also  a  memlaer  of  the 
old  "Washington  (juard  Company"  of  St.  Louis, 
afterward  known  as  the  "\Vashington  Guards 
Battalion."'  under  Maj.-Gen.  D.  M.  h>ost.  With 
his  father  and  sisters  he  came  further  West  in 
1856  to  Buchanan  County,  where  he  rented  prop- 
ertv  until  18^)9.  In  the  Civil  War  he  was  ist 
lieutenant  in  the  8rst  Regiment,  enrolled  Militia 
of  MissoiuM,  under  Col.  John  Scott,  the  soldiery 
of  this  designation  being  known  as  the  "Paw  Paw 
Militia."  About  this  time  he  also  engaged  in  the 
rebuilding  and  calking  of  the  packet  boats  of  the 
Hannibal  &  St.  Josei:)h  line,  following  this  line  of 
work  during  the  winter  months.  In  1869,  he  pur- 
chased a  farm  of  153  acres  which  he  has  since 
owned  and  lived  upon.  To  this  he  has  added 
from  time  to  time  and  now  possesses  215  acres 
in  sections  4  and  5,  township  55.  range  34,  in 
Jackson  township,  and  47^^  acres  in  section  32, 
townshi]i  56,  range  34.  in  Agency  township.  This 
])roperty  was  in  ]>oor  condition  when  purchased, 
and  many  years  of  hard  labor  were  necessarv  to 
transform  it  to  its  present  high  state  of  cultiva- 
tion and  bring  about  the  man\-  improvements 
which  go  to  make  it  a  model  farm  of  the  modern 
tyi)e.  He  has  erected  a  comfortable  home,  four 
large  barns,  250  feet  of  sheds,  three  corn  cribs, 
scales,  and  water-works,  the  latter  feature  being 


17 


326 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY  AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


of  great  value  on  a  stock  farm,  affording  conven- 
ience in  watering  a  large  number  of  stock.  Sur- 
rounding the  house  is  a  grove  of  60  acres,  with  an 
abundance  of  elms,  walnuts  and  burr  oaks,  and 
the  ground  nicely  sodded,  without  the  semblance 
of  a  weed  to  be  seen.  Mr.  Carey  takes  great  pride 
in  standard-bred  stock,  particularly  mules  and 
horses.  He  has  12  jacks,  seven  jennies,  about  35 
liead  of  horses  and  mules,  1 1  head  of  high  grade 
cattle,  and  50  head  of  Poland-China  hogs.  Po- 
litically, Mr.  Carey  has  always  been  a  stanch  Dem- 
ocrat, and  is  at  the  present  a  supporter  of  William 
Jennings  Bryan.  He  served  one  term  as  a  meni- 
"ber  of  the  County  Court  from  the  ist  district,  be- 
ing elected  in  1879,  and  was  elected  sheriff  in 
1884.  He  was  appointed  by  Governor  Francis  as 
a  member  of  the  board  of  managers  of  the  State 
Hospital  for  Insane,  No.  2,  and  was  reappointed 
Lv  Governors  Stephens  and  Dockery ;  upon  the 
completion  of  his  present  term,  he  will  have 
served  12  years  as  a  member  of  the  board  of 
managers.  He  was  a  number  of  years  a  member 
of  the  School  Board.  He  was  elected,  and  is  now 
president  of  the  Farmers'  State  Bank  of  Agency, 
which  was  organized  in  October,  1903. 

In  1864,  Mr.  Carey  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Nancy  W.  Gilmore,  a  daughter  of  Joseph 
and  Martha  Gilmore.  Her  parents,  who  were 
among  the  earliest  settlers  of  Buchanan  County, 
were  originally  from  Kentucky  and  first  settled  in 
Clay  County,  where  they  remained  but  a  very 
short  time,  and  then  moved  to  this  county.  Three 
•daughters  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Carey, 
namely  :  Martha  B.,  Frances  A.  and  Margaret  J., 
all  living  at  home.  Mrs.  Carey  died  February  16,. 
1900,  aged  66  years,  three  months  and  17  days. 
Religiously.  Mr.  Carey  and  daughters  are  of  the 
Catholic  faith. 


♦ » » 


REDERICK  W.  HAGENSTEIN,  pro- 
prietor of  a  dry  goods  and  grocery  store 
at  DeKalb,  Buchanan  County,  has  at- 
tained a  high  degree  of  success  in  busi- 
ness and  the  record  of  his  career  is  one 
of  interest.  He  was  born  in  Griineberg,  Prussia, 
October  2,  1836. 

Mr.  H^igenstein  was  reared  in  his  native  land 
and  there  received  his  education  in  the  niother 
tongue,  having  to  work  to  pay  his  board  while  at- 
tending school.  At  the  age  of  14  years  he  learned 
the  trade  of  a  miller,  which  he  followed  over  two 
years,  and  then,  before  he  had  reached  the  age 
of  17  crossed  the  ocean  to  New  York  City  in  the 


company  of  a  friend,  Albert  Derge,  with  whom 
he  was  afterward  associated  for  many  years.    He 
arrived  in  this  country  in  July,  1855,  the  trip  in 
the  sailing  vessel  "Panama"  having  consumed  38 
days.     It  had  been  necessary  for  him  to  borrow 
the  money  to  pay  his  passage  to  this  country. 
Shortly  after  his  arrival,  he  proceeded  West  to 
Kansas,  locating  near  Emporia,  on  the  Neosho 
River.     After  remaining  there  a  short  time,  he 
came  to  St.  Joseph,  where  he  was  employed  by 
Baker,  Woodson  &.  Company  in  a  mill.    He  con- 
tinued with  them  until  December,  1858,  when  he 
removed   to  DeKalb,  where  he   and   his   friend, 
Albert  Derge,  secured  employment  in  the  local 
hotel.     He  preceded  Mr.  Derge  by  some  months 
and   upon   his   arrival   applied   for   work   in  the 
hotel.    Although  the  proprietor  said  he  needed  but 
one  man,  Mr.  Hagenstein,  mindful  of  the  friend 
who  had  sailed  across  the  ocean  with  him,  made 
application  for  Mr.  Derge  also,  and  both  received 
employment  at  one  man's  pay,- — $10  per  month. 
They    were   thus   employed   until    March,    1861, 
when  Mr.  Hagenstein  crossed  the  plains  to  Rock 
Creek,  Nebraska.     He  ranched  and  freighted  and 
also  handled  considerable  stock,  owning  a  ranch 
near  where  "Wild  Bill"  did  his  killing.    He  was  a 
personal   friend  of  "Wild  Bill,"  with   whom  he 
used  to  work  in  putting  up  hay.    In  1863  our  sub- 
jest  went  to  Whiskey  Run,  Nebraska,  and  one 
year  later  took  up  freighting  and  trading,  visiting 
most  of  the  Western  points.     He  continued  this 
business  until  January,   1867,  and  then  returned 
to  DeKalb,  Missouri,  where  his  business  career 
had  started.    Here  he  became  associated  with  his 
old  friend,  Albert  Derge,  in  a  general  store  and  in 
the   stock   and   grain   business,   Mr.   Hagenstein 
looking  after  the  latter  department  of  the  busi- 
ness.   They  bought  large  quantities  of  grain  and 
shipped  about  100  car-loads  some  seasons.    They 
also  owned  a  number  of  acres  of  land,  which  they 
used  for  pasture.    They  carried  in  addition  to  the 
usual  stock  of  a  general  store,  a  line  of  drugs  and 
hardware  in  their  establishment,  and   continued 
until  two  hardware  and  two  drug  stores  were  es- 
tablished in  the  town.     They  then  gave  their  at- 
tention to  dry  goods,  groceries  and  general  mer- 
chandise.    The  firm  continued  with  much  suc- 
cess for  a  period  of  16  years,  and  then  the  partner- 
ship  was  dissolved,   each   engaging   in   business 
independent  of  the  other.     Our  subject  erected  a 
substantial  store  building,  30  by  70  feet,  on  the 
north  side  of  the  public  s(|uare,  and  a  warehouse 
adjoining.   18  by  65   feet,  with  a  splendid  base- 
ment.    The  mercantile  department  is  equipped 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


327 


with  a  complete  line  of  up-to-date  dress  and  gen- 
tlemen's furnishings  goods,  and  the  other  side  is 
devoted  to  a  large  stock  of  staple  and  fancy  gro- 
ceries and  produce.  The  warehouse  is  completely 
packed  with  barrels  of  sugar  and  barrels  and  sacks 
of  the  best  brands  of  flour.  Everything  about  the 
establishment  is  systematized  in  the  best  possible 
manner  for  the  expeditious  handling  of  trade. 
Mr.  Hagenstein  buys  his  stock  in  car-load  lots, 
and  is  thus  enabled  to  provide  his  customers  with 
the  very  best  at  a  lower  price  than  can  his  com- 
petitors. He  owns  a  farm  in  Jackson  County,  Kan- 
sas, one  in  Bloomington  township,  Buchanan 
County,  and  town  property  in  DeKalb,  including 
10  residences.  He  built  a  fine  brick  residence 
south  of  the  school  house  in  section  15.  just  across 
the  corporation  line.  He  at  one  time  owned  the 
hotel  in  DeKalb  in  which  he  made  his  start  in 
life.  He  served  as  first  mayor  of  DeKalb,  and 
resigned  during  his  second  term  because  he  had 
moved  without  the  corporate  limits.  He  served 
as  postmaster  four  years. 

On  May  9,  1877,  Mr.  Hagenstein  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Mollie  ^lartin,  who  is  a  daugh- 
ter of  Dr.  John  W.  and  Elizabeth  (Hart)  Martin. 
Her  father  was  born  October  30,  18 16,  in  Bour- 
bon County,  Kentucky,  and  was  reared  in  Lexing- 
ton, where  he  was  educated.  He  learned  the  trade 
of  a  brick-layer  at  the  age  of  17  years  and  fol- 
lowed it  five  years,  when  he  entered  upon  the 
study  of  medicine.  He  subsequently  attended  lec- 
tures at  Transylvania  University,  Lexington,  and 
was  graduated  in  March,  1840.  He  then  began 
]3ractice  in  Fayette  County,  where  he  continued 
until  1854,  and  then  located  in  DeKalb,  Bu- 
chanan County,  where  he  continued  some  years. 
On  August  20,  1846,  he  married  Elizabeth  Hart, 
who  was  born  July  22,  1829  in  Fayette  County, 
Kentucky,  and  they  had  14  children.  "Sirs.  Hagen- 
stein being  the  sixth.  Our  subject  and  his  wife 
are  parents  of  one  child,  Florence,  who  married 
Guy  F.  Shields  of  Kansas  City  and  has  one  son, — 
Fred  Hagenstein  Shields.  Fraternally,  Mr.  Hag- 
enstein is  a  member  of  Wellington  Lodge,  No.  22, 
A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  also  of  the  Royal  Arch  Chapter 
and  of  the  Order  of  the  Eastern  Star. 


^ » » 


VLTER  W.  HEAD,  cashier  of  the 
DeKalb  State  Bank,  of  DeKalb,  is 
considered  one  of  the  most  competent 
financiers  and  business  managers  in 
Buchanan  County.  Although  young 
in  years,  he  has  had  wide  experience  in  business 


afifairs  and  is  prominently  known  throughout  the 
county.  The  institution  whose  affairs  he  directs 
is  one  of  the  safest  in  the  county  and  is  firmly 
established  in  the  confidence  of  the  public. 

In  1890,  the  Derge-Campbell  Banking  Com- 
pany of  DeKalb  was  organized  and  conducted  as 
a  banking  institution  until  October  21,  1903,  when 
its  assets  were  purchased  by  the  DeKalb  State 
Bank,  a  new  organization,  which  had  commenced 
business  on  the  21st  of  the  preceding  August.  The 
following  officers  were  elected:  President,  John 
W.  Page,  vice-president,  S.  D.  Call,  and  cashier, 
Walter  W.  Head.  When  our  subject  took  charge 
of  the  cashier's  desk,  the  deposits  of  the  bank 
were  $65,000;  at  the  present  time  they  total 
$120,000.  The  capital  stock  is  $20,000  and  the 
surplus,  .$2,000. 

Mr.  Head  was  born  at  Adrain,  Hancock 
County,  Illinois,  December  18,  1877.  and  is  a  son 
of  Alfred  W.  and  Margaret  J.  (Lambert)  Head, 
the  former  of  Scotch-Irish  descent,  and  the  lat- 
ter of  English,  all  her  familv  being  natives  of 
Lancashire,  England.  Alfred  W.  Head  and  wife 
now  reside  in  Stewartsville,  Missouri.  Our  sub- 
ject's father  has  been  twice  married,  his  first 
union  being  with  Ellen  Pitt,  who  died  in  1871, 
leaving  four  children.  He  was  again  married  in 
January,  1877,  to  Margaret  J.  Lambert,  by  whom 
he  has  had  five  children,  four  of  them  living, 
namely :  Walter  W. ;  Richard  Daniel,  who  form- 
erly was  a  teacher  in  the  schools  of  DeKalb  and 
Buchanan  counties,  and  is  now  cashier  of  the 
Rushville  State  Bank,  of  Rushville,  Missouri ; 
and  Maggie  Ellen  and  Sarah  Jane,  who  live  with 
their  parents  at  Stewartsville,  Missouri. 

Walter  W.  Head  received  his  preliminary  ed- 
ucation in  the  schools  of  DeKalb  County,  and 
was  graduated  therefrom  in  1894,  receiving  the 
highest  honors  of  his  class.  He  afterward  en- 
tered Stanberry  Normal  School,  and  was  gradu- 
ated with  the  class  of  1897.  During  the  following 
five  years,  he  engaged  in  teaching  in  the  schools 
of  DeKalb  and  Buchanan  counties,  and  during 
the  last  year  of  this  period  was  principal  of  the 
DeKalb  public  schools.  While  teaching,  he  took 
a  very  prominent  part  in  Teachers'  Institute 
work,  and  instructed  two  institutes,  one  in  DeKalb 
County  and  the  other  in  Buchanan  County,  there 
being  100  teachers  in  each.  Mr.  Head  served  as 
receiving  teller  in  the  German-American  Bank  of 
St.  Joseph  for  nine  months  prior  to  taking  up  the 
duties  of  his  present  position.  He  is  treasurer 
and  director  of  the  DeKalb  Hardware  &  Furni- 
ture Company,  which  has  a  capital  stock  of  $20,- 


328 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


ooo,  is  secretary  and  director  of  the  DeKalb  Tele- 
phone Company,  and  is  the  heaviest  stockholder 
in  the  DeKalb  State  Bank.  He  is  also  village 
treasurer  and  treasurer  of  the  school  district. 

On  March  7,  1900,  Mr.  Head  was  joined  In 
marriage  with  Delia  E.  Thompson,  a  member 
of  one  of  the  prominent  pioneer  families  of  the 
county,  a  daughter  of  John  E.  and  Roxcelana 
(Ditteniore)  Thompson.  One  daughter  blessed 
this  union,  Audria  Vernelle,  born  December  18, 
1900,  the  23d  anniversary  of  the  birth  of  her 
father.  Mrs.  Head  is  an  accomplished  musician 
and  a  lady  of  refinement  and  intellect.  Our  sub- 
ject and  wife  are  members  of  the  Christian 
Church,  of  which  he  is  treasurer  and  both  are 
active  in  church  work.  Fraternally,  Mr.  Head  is 
a  member  of  Lodge  No.  22,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  of 
DeKalb;  Ringo  Chapter,  No.  6,  R.  A.  M..  of 
DeKalb;  DeKalb  Lodge,  No.  191,  L  O.  O.  F. ; 
DeKalb  Camp,  No.  5256,  M.  W.  A. ;  and  Lodge 
No.  161,  A.  O.  U.  W.  He  is  a  man  of  pleasing 
personality  and  makes  friends  with  all  with  whom 
he  is  brought  in  contact,  socially  or  in  business 
dealings. 


^ » » 


OHN  W.  COMBS,  one  of  the  leading 
citizens  and  extensive  farmers,  fruit 
growers  and  stock-raisers  of  Crawford 
township,  lUichanan  County,  was  born 
in  Andrew  County,  Missouri,  November 
I5<  1856,  and  is  a  son  of  Jason  B.  and  Hannah 
(Foster)  Combs. 

Jason  B.  Combs  and  wife  were  both  born  in 
Kentucky,  the  former  in  1803  and  the  latter,  in 
1801.  (jur  subject's  maternal  grandparents  were 
Thomas  and  Rebecca  (Young)  Foster.  They 
came  to  Missouri  at  an  early  day,  settling  first  in 
Clay  County  and  later  in  I  Matte  County,  where 
Thomas  Foster  died  in  1862.  The  three  survivors 
of  their  seven  children  are:  Martha  (Mrs.  John 
Galbraith),  of  Wallace:  Anion  Foster,  of  DeKalb 
County;  and  Rebecca  (Mrs.  Robert  Thomas),  of 
Buchanan  County. 

The  father  of  our  subject  came  to  l^uchanan 
County  when  his  son  was  six  months  old  and 
settled  on  the  c(uarter  section  in  (Vawford  town- 
ship, whicli  remained  his  home  until  his  death,  in 
1859.  He  was  an  excellent  farmer  and  this  land 
he  redeemed  from  the  wilderness.  It  was  heavily 
timbered  when  he  first  located  here,  but  he  left  it 
cleared  and  ready  for  the  excellent  improvements 
placed  here  by  our  subject,  when  it  came  into  his 
possession.     Jason    H.   Combs   married    in    Ken- 


tucky, and  the  six  children  born  into  the  family 
were:  James  H.,  of  Pjuchanan  County;  Mrs-. 
Martha  C.  Fiedler,  deceased;  Mrs.  Mary  B.  Call, 
deceased;  Mrs.  Henry  B.  Willis,  deceased;  John 
W.,  of  this  sketch  ;  and  Mrs.  Rebecca  Fry,  de- 
ceased. 

John  W.  Combs  was  reared  on  the  pioneer 
farm  in  Crawford  township,  in  a  little  log  cabin 
with  a  puncheon  fioor.  His  early  life  was  that  of 
the  boy  of  his  day,  plenty  of  hard  work  on  the 
farm  and  a  little  study  in  the  district  schools.  The 
outdoor  life  kept  him  in  health  and  he  reached 
manhood  well  prepared  to  take  his  father's  place 
in  the  management  of  the  farm,  a  portion  of 
which  he  inherited.  At  the  age  of  23  years  he 
began  for  himself,  farming  on  the  homestead, 
subsequently  buying  out  the  other  heirs.  He  has 
added  to  the  original  quarter  section  and  now 
owns.  250  acres  of  some  of  the  very  best  land  in 
Crawford  township.  On  this  place  Mr.  Combs, 
has  made  every  improvement  and  there  are  few 
places  in  the  county  that  equal  it  in  modern  im- 
provements. He  entertains  modern  ideas  on  agri- 
cultural matters  and  farms  scientifically  in  place 
of  the  haphazard  way  followed  by  many  who  still 
seem  to  have  faith  in  "luck."'  His  whole  domain 
brings  him  in  a  satisfactory  income,  from  his  well- 
cultivated  fields,  from  his  pastures  where  may  be 
seen  prize  Shorthorn  cattle,  hogs,  mules  and 
horses,  to  his  great  orchard  of  550  apple  trees. 
Evervwhere  are  seen  evidences  of  the  thrift  and 
good  management  which  marks  the  home  of  the 
prosperous  Missouri  farmer. 

On  December  16,  1880,  our  subject  was  mar- 
ried to  Laura  Coates,  a  daughter  of  Thomas  W. 
and  Melissa  Jane  ( Womack)  Coates.  Her  death 
occurred  November  9,  1892,  at  the  age  of  32 
years,  1 1  months  and  five  days,  her  birth  having 
been  on  December  4,  1859,  in  Atchison  County, 
Kansas.  Mrs.  Combs  was  a  lady  of  sweet.  Chris- 
tian character,  one  who  was  beloved  by  all  who. 
knew  her.  She  had  been  a  member  of  the  Chris- 
tian Church  since  August  18,  1886,  when  both 
she  and  her  husbancl  had  been  immersed  by 
Jirother  W.  C.  Rodgers.  In  the  beautiful  sermon 
preached  at  Unity  Church  by  her  pastor,  Rev.  N. 
R.  Davis,  at  the  time  of  her  funeral,  mention  was 
made  of  her  l)eautiful.  Christian  life  and  example. 
The  songs  were  sung  which  had  been  selected  by 
herself.  Two  children  had  been  born  to  her: 
Louis  and  Mamie,  the  former  of  whom  resides  at 
home  and  latter  of  whom  died  October  11,  1884, 
aged  13  months. 

Mrs.  Combs  came  from  one  of  the  old  pioneer 


WILLIAM   H.   BARTLETT 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


33t 


families  of  DeKalb,  Buchanan  County.  Her 
father,  Thomas  \\'.  Coates  was  born  in  Lafayette 
County,  Missouri,  May  6,  1829,  and  was  a  son  of 
Alfred  A.  Coates,  who  was  born  in  1798  in  the 
State  of  New  York.  By  trade  a  cooper,  he  later 
bent  his  energies  to  farming  and  removed  to  Clay 
County,  iNIissouri,  when  the  Platte  Purchase  was 
made.  Later  he  moved  to  the  quarter  section  of 
land  which  is  the  present  site  of  Sparta,  locating 
there  about  1837.  The  Indians  were  still  nu- 
merous in  this  section,  the  old  Sac  village  still 
standing,  the  Sac  tribe  giving  its  name  to  the 
surrounding  prairie. 

Here  Alfred  A.  Coates  remained  until  about 
1842.  when  he  removed  two  and  one-half  miles 
east,  settling  in  Center  township  on  Sac  Prairie, 
and  his  plow  cut  the  first  furrow  in  the  virgin  soil 
in  that  locality.  He  conducted  a  cooper  shop 
here  and  also  followed  farming  for  a  long  time, 
but  in  his  later  years  discontinued  his  coopering 
work.  This  old  pioneer  passed  away  in  No- 
vember, 1859. 

In  Howard  County  Alfred  A.  Coates  married 
Martha  Warren,  whose  father  was  a  very  prom- 
inent man  in  that  section  and  was  sheriff  of  How- 
ard County  for  a  number  of  terms.  The  five  chil- 
dren of  Alfred  A.  Coates  and  wife  were :  Mrs. 
Jane  Henrv,  of  Sullivan  County,  Missouri :  .\lden 
B. :  Thomas  W. :  Alfred  and  Mrs.  Elizabeth 
Alexander,  all  deceased  with  the  exception  of 
Thomas  W.,  the  father  of  the  late  Mrs.  Combs. 
Alfred  A.  Coates  married,  second,  Emily  Aikman 
and  reared  a  family  of  five  children,  namely :  Ed- 
ward, of  Oregon;  John,  of  Colorado:  Mrs. 
Martha  McAlster  :  Ballard  and  Emma. 

Thomas  W.  Coates  was  educated  in  the  log 
school  house  of  his  district,  which  had  planks  for 
seats  and  desks  and  oiled  paper  in  the  windows 
in  place  of  glass.  One  of  the  privileges  of  the 
school  boys  of  those  days  was  the  hauling  of  tht 
wood  for  the  great  open  fire-place,  in  front  of 
which  they  alternately  burned  and  shivered.  Their 
school  equipments  were  of  the  most  primitive 
character  and  frequently  their  teachers  were  not 
far  in  advance  of  the  pupils.  The  summers  were 
spent  in  farm  wcjrk,  but  Mr.  Coates  tried  to  at- 
tend during  the  fall  and  winter  sessions  of  the 
subscription  schools  and  recalls  that  the  last  one 
he  attended  was  at  the  age  of  18  years.  He  con- 
tinued to  work  on  the  home  farm  until  his  mar- 
riage, when  he  removed  to  Iowa,  where  he  farmed 
several  years,  then  to  Atchison  County.  Kansas, 
and  finally  to  Buchanan  County,  Missouri.  After 
two    years    spent    near    Agency,    he    retired    to 


DeKalb,  where  he  has  since  resided,  living  re- 
tired. He  has  long  been  a  deacon  in  Bethel 
Church. 

On  August  31,  1855,  in  Center  township,  Mr. 
Coates  married  Melissa  Jane  Womack,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Allen  and  Eliza  Womack,  early  settlers  of 
Lafayette  County,  Missouri,  pioneers  from  Ken- 
tucky. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Coates  had  two  daughters: 
Cuma,  who  married  David  Call  and  has  two  chil- 
dren ;  and  Laura,  the  wife  of  our  subject,  de- 
ceased in  1892,  as  stated  above. 

In  1895  Mr.  Combs  was  married,  second,  to  a 
Miss  Riddle,  who  is  the  estimable  daughter  of  the 
late  Hardin  and  ]\Iary  (Reeves)  Riddle,  both  of 
whom  were  born  and  reared  in  Kentucky.  Two 
children  have  been  born  to  this  marriage,  a  son 
and  daughter :  Price  and  Helen,  both  bright  and 
interesting  children. 

The  Combs  family  has  been  identified  with  the 
Christian  Church  ever  since  the  organization  of 
this  religious  body  here.  Our  subject  is  a  deacon 
in  the  Christian  Church,  which  is  the  oldest  or- 
ganization in  Buchanan  County,  and  the  building 
is  located  on  an  acre  of  land  which  his  father 
contributed  when  the  edifice  was  erected.  Politi- 
cally, Mr.  Combs  has  been  a  lifelong  Democrat, 
and  he  has  been  prominent  in  township  matters 
ever  since  coming  to  man's  estate.  At  present  he 
is  efficiently  filling  the  offices  of  school  director 
and  clerk  of  the  district. 

In  recalling  the  early  records  of  both  the 
Combs  and  the  Coates  families,  the  reader  comes 
close  to  ^Missouri's  pioneer  days,  and  these  recol- 
lections possess  interest  to  all  who  wish  to  keep 
in  memor\'  the  names  of  those  who  first  brought 
civilization  into  this  rich  and  favored  section. 


^  * » 


ILLIAM  H.  BARTLETT,  a  pioneer 
citizen  who  had  been  engaged  in  the 
real  estate  business  at  St.  Joseph  for 
40  years,  passed  out  of  life,  at  his 
home.  No.  804  Hall  street,  on  Septem- 
ber 19,  1904.  'Sir.  Bartlett,  whose  portrait  accom- 
panies this  sketch,  was  born  on  a  farm  in  Ripley 
County,  Indiana.  June  26.  1845.  ^'""^1  ^^'is  one  of 
a  family  of  five  cinldren  born  to  David  L.  and 
Phoebe  (Elsworth)  Bartlett. 

In  1858  Mr.  Bartlett's  parents  removed  to 
Atchison  County,  MissoiuM.  where  he  attended 
school  and  became  a  teacher  himself,  when  but  16 
years  of  age.  In  1862  he  came  to  St.  Joseph  and 
found  emjiloymenl  in  the  recorder's  office  in  this 


332 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY  AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


city.  In  1864  he  associated  with  his  brother 
Herschel  and  he  embarked  in  a  real  estate  busi- 
ness in  this  city,  a  third  brother.  Latham,  enter- 
ing the  firm  in  1874.  About  this  time  the  scope  of 
their  business  was  expanded  and  they  began  to 
make  loans  for  Eastern  investors  on  real  estate 
security.  For  40  years  the  brothers  continued  to- 
gether, our  subject's  death  making  the  first  break 
in  a  closely  united  business  and  fraternal  union. 

On  October  26,  1887,  Mr.  Bartlett  was  mar- 
ried to  Euphemia  H.  Nimmo,  who  is  a  daughter  of 
the  late  James  Nimmo.  a  former  prominent  banker 
of  Canada.  Mrs.  Bartlett  still  survives  with  their 
two  children,  William  N.  and  Margaret. 

Mr.  Bartlett  passed  many  happy  years  in  the 
beautiful  family  home,  located  in  a  choice  section 
of  the  city.  Here  he  was  prostrated  by  the  illness 
of  six  weeks'  duration  which  terminated  in  his 
death.  Surrounded  by  a  large  concourse  of 
friends  and  business  associates,  his  remains  were 
laid  to  rest  in  Mount  Mora  Cemetery. 

The  late  Mr.  Bartlett  was  a  man  of  great  de- 
termination and  persistent  energy.  By  strict  at- 
tention to  business  and  ever  adhering  to  his  un- 
swerving standard  of  business  ethics,  he  lived  to 
see  his  firm,  founded  in  the  city's  early  days,  be- 
come one  of  the  leading  institutions  in  its  line  in 
this  part  of  the  State.  He  was  a  man  of  acute 
perceptions,  a  great  reader  and  a  competent  judge 
of  men  and  afifairs.  He  inspired  all  with  whom  he 
came  in  contact  with  supreme  faith  in  his  judg- 
ment and  confidence  in  his  integrity. 


■♦« » 


HARLES  TAYLOR  NICHOLS,  one  of 
the  highly  respected  retired  residents  of 
St.  Joseph,  a  practical  millwright,  and 
for  many  years  one  of  the  leading 
builders  and  contractors  of  Buchanan 
County,  was  born  at  Denmark,  Lewis  County, 
New  York,  April  18,  1833.  He  is  a  son  of  Sam- 
uel and  Polly  (Cahoon)  Nichols. 

Samuel  Nichols  was  born  in  Rhode  Island,  but 
his  parents  removed  to  Lowville,  Lewis  County, 
New  York,  in  his  childhood.  He  learned  the 
trade  of  stone-mason  and  bridge-builder  and  be- 
came a  contractor  while  still  a  young  man.  Many 
of  the  bridges,  which  still  span  the  roaring  streams 
of  Lewis  County,  were  built  by  Samuel  Nichols, 
who  had  a  local  reputation  for  good  work.  He 
also  owned  a  farm  of  160  acres,  where  he  car- 
ried on  large  agricultural  operations.  He  married 
Polly  Cahoon,  who  was  a  daughter  of  Benjamin 


Cahoon,  of  Herkimer  County,  New  York,  and 
they  had  a  family  of  10  children,  viz :  William  S. 
and  Benjamin  C,  both  deceased;  Elizabeth,  who 
is  the  widow  of  Marquis  Blanchard,  of  Lewis 
County,  New  York ;  Charles  Taylor,  of  this 
sketch ;  James  Lovell,  who  died,  a  victim  of  the 
Civil  War,  before  Petersburg,  Virginia ;  Clarissa 
Amelia,  who  is  the  wife  of  Dewane  Peck,  of  Jef- 
ferson County,  New  York ;  Urial  Schermerhorn, 
deceased ;  Merritt  S.,  of  California ;  Cynthia 
Maria,  who  is  the  wife  of  William  Humes,  of 
Lewis  County,  New  York ;  and  Sarah  M.,  who  is 
the  widow  of  Charles  Huff  and  resides  near  Santa 
Barbara,  California.  The  family  is  of  Scotch  ex- 
traction. The  grandfather,  James  L.  Nichols, 
was  born  in  Rhode  Island,  served  in  the  Revolu- 
tionary War  and  drew  a  pension  until  his  death. 
He  moved  to  Lewis  County,  New  York,  probably 
before  the  War  of  1812. 

Until  he  was  16  years  of  age,  Charles  T. 
Nichols  remained  on  the  home  farm  and  attended 
the  local  schools.  After  a  year's  attendance  at  an 
academy  in  Jefiferson  County,  he  began  to  teach 
school,  taking  charge  of  the  school  at  Harrisville, 
Lewis  County.  Perhaps  he  was  selected  as  much 
for  his  well  developed  muscles  as  for  his  mental 
equipments,  as  this  school  was  one  with  a  his- 
tory, the  previous  teacher  having  been  bodily 
ejected  by  some  of  his  pupils  who  dififercd  on 
various  rights  and  privileges.  While  Mr.  Nichols 
soon  proved  that  he  was  prepared  for  any  such 
emergency,  he  was  never  obliged  to  resort  to 
physical  force,  and  the  mental  progress  made  dur- 
ing the  sessions  he  presided  over  the  school  was  so 
apparent  that  the  directors  were  loath  to  part  with 
him  when  he  decided  to  learn  the  carpenter's 
trade.  Ik-fore  he  completed  his  apprenticeship, 
however,  he  became  more  interested  in  the  mill- 
wright's trade,  which  was  followed  by  his  father 
to  some  degree.  During  his  fourth  year  he  had 
made  such  good  progress  that  he  was  placed  in 
charge  of  a  gang  of  mechanics  and  for  years  fol- 
lowed millwrighting. 

The  occasion  which  brought  Mr.  Nichols  first 
to  St.  Joseph  was  to  outfit  here  for  work  in 
Montana,  in  which  Territory  he  remained  two 
years.  He  built  the  first  sawmill  in  the  vicinity 
of  Helena,  and  the  first  lumber  ever  handled  in 
that  city  came  from  this  mill.  In  1866  he  returned 
to  St.  Joseph  and  was  busily  engaged  in  building 
and  contracting  until  1886.  Some  of  the  struc- 
tures of  his  building  were :  the  old  glucose  works  ; 
the  building  for  the  oil  tank  works  ;  the  loth  street 
flouring  niill ;  the  Mokaska  mills,  the  buildings 


AND   REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


333 


and  everything  in  them  ;  the  Nave-McCord  Build- 
ing ;  the  C.  D.  Smith  Building :  the  Riley  Broth- 
ers Building ;  the  Chamber  of  Commerce  Building ; 
Samuel  W'estheimer's  two  stores ;  Frank  Som- 
mers'  cracker  factory ;  the  cold  storage  plant ;  the 
building  of  the  W'yeth  Hardware  &  Manufactur- 
ing Company  ;  the  Y.  ]\I.  C.  A.  Building,  and  also 
residences  and  buildings  for  all  purposes  all  over 
the  city.  His  work  stands  upon  its  own  merits 
and  speaks  louder  than  words  of  his  mechanical 
ability  and  honest  methods. 

In  1863  Mr.  Nichols  married  Lois  A.  Pardee, 
a  daughter  of  Alfred  Pardee  of  Great  Bend,  Jef- 
ferson County,  New  York.  Mrs.  Nichols 
is  a  member  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church 
and  active  in  its  various  benevolent  enterprises. 

Politically,  Mr.  Nichols  is  identified  with  the 
Republican  party  and  has  served  as  a  member  of 
the  City  Council.  In  1854  he  was  made  a  mem- 
ber of  Carthage  Lodge,  No.  158,  A.  F.  &  A.  'SI., 
in  New  York  State.  He  formerly  belonged  to 
Loma  Lodge,  Knights  of  Pythias,  of  St.  Joseph. 

*—*' 


EV.  LOUIS  HEFELE,  pastor  of  the  St. 
Francis  Xavier's  Catholic  Church,  of 
St.  Joseph,  and  one  of  the  city's  most  es- 
teemed clergymen,  was  born  in  Bavaria, 
Germany,  October  9,  1863,  and  is  one  of 
the  nine  survivors  of  a  family  of  18  children  born 
to  his  parents,  Andrew  and  Mary  (Nett)  Hefele. 
Father  Hefele  attended  the  common  schools 
of  his  native  locality  in  boyhood,  and  came  to 
America  in  1882.  He  entered  upon  his  prelim- 
inary studies  for  the  priesthood  and  continued 
them  at  Ohio  Seminary,  which  he  entered  in 
1882.  In  June,  1891,  he  was  ordained  by  the 
late  Most  Rev.  William  Henry  Elder,  Archbishop 
of  Cincinnati.  For  the  following  two  and  a  half 
years,  Father  Hefele  was  mainly  engaged  in 
building  up  missions,  at  A^ersailles  and  Newport 
and  then  he  was  stationed  for  a  year  at  Fort 
Recovery,  Ohio.  In  1899  he  was  appointed  to 
take  charge  of  St.  Francis  Xavier's  Church  of  St. 
Joseph,  and  here  he  still  continues,  approved  by 
his  superiors  and  honored  and  beloved  by  his 
parish.  He  is  a  man  of  scholarship  and  of  en- 
lightened views  and  is  the  type  of  man  whose 
infiuence  can  be  nothing  but  beneficent. 

The  interesting  history  of  the  parish  over 
which  Father  Hefele  has  cliarge  is  as  follows.  St. 
Francis  Xavier's  Parish  was  created  by  Rt.  Rev. 
John  J.  Hogan,  D.  D.,  and  conceded  to  the  Con- 


gregation of  the  Most  Precious  Blood  on  account 
of  services  rendered  to  the  dioceses  of  Kansas 
City  of  St.  Joseph.  The  parish  was  organized 
by  Very  Rev.  Henry  Drees,  C.  P.  P.  S.,  on  the 
/th  day  of  September,  1890,  at  a  meeting  at  which 
he  presided.  It  was  then  decided  to  erect  a 
building,  to  be  used  for  church  and  school  pur- 
poses, on  Seneca  street  between  26th  and  27th 
streets.  Rev.  Pius  Heckman,  C.  P.  P.  S.  was 
appointed  to  supervise  the  building  of  the  struc- 
ture on  the  ground  previously  purchased  by  the 
Congregation  of  the  Most  Precious  Blood.  The 
ground  and  building  cost  $9,000. 

The  church  was  dedicated  June  14,  1891,  by 
Very  Rev.  C.  Linnencamp,  vicar-general  of  Kan- 
sas City  and  St.  Joseph,  and  Rev.  Seraphim 
Kunkler,  C.  P.  P.  S.,  appointed  as  pastor.  The 
following  year,  September,  1892.  the  Sisters  of 
the  Most  Precious  Blood  took  charge  of  the 
school,  with  Sister  M.  Salesia  as  superioress.  In 
the  fall  of  the  same  year  a  parsonage  was  built  at 
a  cost  of  $2,000.  Rev.  Seraphim  Kunkler  re- 
mained as  pastor  until  August  22,  1899,  when  he 
was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Louis  HefeL\  C.  P.  P.  S., 
the  present  pastor. 

At  its  organization,  the  parish  consisted  of  40 
families.  Since  then  it  has  steadily  increased  and 
at  present  its  membership  numbers  115  families, 
a  notable  increase  for  the  length  of  time. 


♦ « » 


M.  D.  FRANCE,  SI  D..  one  of  the  lead- 
ing men  of  Buchanan  County,  and  for 
many  years  a  prominent  physician  and 
medical  instructor  at  St.  Joseph,  was 
born  in  1841  at  Washington,  D.  C.  He 
is  a  son  of  James  and  Margaritta  (Boyle) 
France. 

Dr.  France  secured  his  literary  education  at 
Georgetown  College,  Washington,  which  is  now 
known  as  Georgetown  Cniversity.  In  1865  he 
was  graduated  from  the  medical  department  of 
this  institution,  and  he  then  engaged  in  practice 
at  Washington  for  four  years.  In  1869  he  came 
West  and  spent  a  short  time  at  St.  Joseph,  and  in 
1872  settled  here  permanently.  Dr.  France  has 
long  been  considered  one  of  the  leading  practi- 
tioners of  city  and  county.  He  served  the  citv  one 
year  as  physician,  and  the  county,  in  the  same 
capacity,  for  seven  years.  He  has  been  one  of 
the  pioneers  in  the  science  of  medicine  in  this 
locality.  He  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the  first 
medical   school  in    St.   Joseph,   which   for  years 


334 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


bore  the  name  of  the  St.  Joseph  Medical  Hospital, 
and  was  one  of  its  foremost  lecturers  for  a  long 
period.  This  school  was  subsequently  consoli- 
dated with  Ensworth  Medical  College,  of  St. 
Joseph.  Politically,  he  is  identified  with  the 
Democratic  party. 

Dr.  France  was  first  married  in  1869,  at  Wash- 
ington, D.  C,  to  Elizabeth  Sheed,  and  they  had 
one  son,  Duncan,  born  at  Washington.  The  sec- 
ond marriage  was  to  Mrs.  Dora  Brock,  widow  of 
the  late  Dr.  William  A.  Brock,  of  St.  Joseph. 
They  have  three  children :  Eudora,  Margaritta 
and  Spencer  Lee. 

The  maternal  grandfather  of  Dr.  France  was 
Capt.  Thomas  Boyle,  probably  one  of  the  bravest 
men  and  one  of  the  most  intrepid  sailors  that  ever 
commanded  a  privateer  vessel  in  the  service  of 
the  United  States.  As  commander  of  the 
"Comet,"  a  privateer  from  Baltimore,  Maryland, 
he  did  some  of  the  most  efifective  fighting  along 
the  Atlantic  Coast  during  the  War  of  1812. 
While  he  made  the  name  of  his  ship  feared  in  all 
waters,  he  made  in  connection  with  it  a  mark  of 
such  heroism  and  of  such  material  benefit,  that 
he  had  at  his  service  the  seasoned  seamen  all 
along  the  seaboard.  While  it  is  impossible  to 
mention  the  hundreds  of  prizes  captured  by  this 
little  vessel,  under  Captain  Boyle,  there  was  one 
memorable  occasion  which  has  been  made  the 
subject  of  brush  and  pen  almost  to  the  present 
time. 

Up  to  the  end  of  the  first  year  of  the  War  of 
18 12,  Maryland  alone  had  sent  out  40  armed  ves- 
sels, as  privateers,  in  accordance  with  a  system 
of  fighting  that  was  then  carried  on  in  every 
struggle  between  nations  with  water  betweeiT! 
One  of  these  was  the  "Comet."  It  was  commanded 
by  Captain  Boyle,  had  a  crew  of  120  well-trained 
men  and  carried  six  guns  in  a  broadside,  a 
swivel  and  a  gun  amidships.  On  the  9th  of  Jan- 
uary, 1813,  Ca])tain  Boyle  spoke  a  I'ortuguese 
coasting  vessel,  as  it  left  the  harbor  of  Pernam- 
buco,  Brazil,  and  from  it  learned  that  still  in  the 
harbor  were  three  English  vessels,  all  lieavily 
loaded  and  ready  to  sail  for  Europe. 

This  was  welcome  news  to  Captain  P.oyle  and 
until  the  14th  of  the  month  he  kejit  his  vessel 
tacking  back  and  forth,  watching  for  the  English 
vessels  to  come  out.  At  the  first  indications,  the 
privateer  sailed  a  little  out  of  view,  but  as  soon 
as  they  cleared  the  harbor,  the  "Comet"  was  after 
them.  About  six  o'clock  it  was  discovered  that 
one  of  the  vessels  was  a  man-of-war  brig  and 
Captain  Boyle  hoisted  the  American  flag.     The 


other  vessel  put  up  the  Portuguese  flag  and  indi- 
cated that  its  commander  wished  to  speak  to  the 
captain  of  the  privateer.  Accordingly  the  latter 
hove  to  and  the  Portuguese  commander  was  wel- 
comed aboard  the  privateer,  where  he  discovered 
that  he  also  was  on  an  armed  ship  and  was  meet- 
ing a  very  brave  and  determined  officer.  The 
Portuguese  commander,  with  great  politeness,  in- 
formed Captain  Boyle  that  his  ship  carried  20 
32-pounders  and  a  crew  of  165  men.  Captain 
Boyle  is  reported  to  have  given  voice  to  his  admir- 
ation. When  the  Portuguese  captain  protested 
at  the  attitude  of  Captain  Boyle,  the  latter  replied 
"This  is  an  American  cruiser.  We  are  on  the 
high  seas,  the  highway  of  all  nations,  and  surely 
all  these  vessels  belong  to  America  just  as  much 
as  to  the  king  of  Great  Britain  or  the  king  of 
Portugal."  Then  Captain  Boyle  courteously 
showed  iiis  papers  of  authority,  whereupon  the 
Portuguese  captain  began  to  advise  Captain  Boyle 
in  a  manner  that  provoked  the  following  reply  : 
"I  told  him,"  writes  the  American  captain  in  his 
log  book,  "that  I  was  determined  to  exercise  the 
authority  I  had  and  capture  those  vessels  if  I 
could.  He  said  he  would  be  sorry  if  anything 
disagreeable  took  place  and  that  his  ship  was 
ordered  to  protect  them."  After  considerable 
more  conversation,  the  conference  was  closed  by 
Captain  Boyle  announcing  that  he  cared  little  for 
the  superior  strength  of  the  opposing  vessels  and 
would  soon  put  the  matter  to  the  test.  Here  were 
four  vessels,  each  of  the  three  smaller  ones  as 
large  as  his  own  and  one  nearly  twice  as  large, 
against  him ;  the  Portuguese  mounting  20  guns, 
the  English  ship  14  and  the  smaller  brigs  10  guns 
apiece,  making  54  guns  against  14. 

Shortly  after  the  Portuguese  captain  returnetl 
to  his  ship,  he  asked  Captain  Boyle  to  return  his 
visit,  but  the  latter  declined  on  account  of  the 
growing  darkness,  and  then  he  squared  his  yards 
and  made  all  sail  for  the  nearest  English  ship, 
the  large  one,  and  so  fast  a  sailor  was  the 
"Comet,"  and  so  (|uick  in  stays,  that  she  could 
shuttle  back  and  forth  in  such  a  manner  that  it 
was  difficult  for  the  larger  and  clumsier  vessels 
to  kee])  track  of  her.  When  the  privateer  came 
up  with  the  English  shi]).  Captain  Boyle  ordered 
her  to  back  her  main  top-sail  or  he  would  fire  a 
broadside  into  her.  So  great  was  the  headway 
of  the  privateer,  however,  that  she  shot  past,  and 
had  to  lufi^  above  the  other's  bows.  Captain  Boyle 
again  hailing  and  saying  he  was  coming  down 
on  the  other  side. 

The   man-of-war  brig  had   crowded   on    sail 


COL.   SAMUEL   RUSSELL 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


337 


and  was  closely  pursuing  the  American  vessel, 
but  the  latter  now  let  drive  her  broadside  at  the 
ship,  and  one  of  the  smaller  brigs  tacked  quickly 
and  then  found  the  man-of-war  close  alongside. 
Then  the  Portuguese  opened  up  her  broadside  on 
the  "Comet,"  which  the  latter  returned  with  tre- 
mendous efifect,  and,  tacking  again,  let  go  her  star- 
board battery  at  the  third  English  vessel,  which 
was  now  closing  in.  The  daring  little  "Comet," 
almost  surrounded,  loaded  and  fired,  keeping  close 
to  the  English  vessels  and  making  every  broad- 
side tell  and  firing  at  the  man-of-war  whenever 
she  came  within  range.  The  British  vessels  sep- 
arated at  last  to  give  their  protector  a  better 
chance  but  by  the  time  the  Portuguese  was  ready 
to  fire,  the  American  vessel  had  spun  around  and 
was  out  of  danger,  a  clever  ruse  which  Captain 
Boyle  well  knew  how  to  manage.  At  1 1  o'clock, 
the  big  shi])  surrendered,  heing  cut  almost  to 
pieces,  and  as  soon  as  its  colors  were  hauled  down. 
Captain  Boyle  gave  the  first  brig  a  broadside, 
down  came  her  flag  and  she  also  surrendered. 
She  proved  to  be  the  "Bowes"  of  Liverpool. 

It  was  bright  moonlight  and  the  sea  was  run- 
ning very  high,  but  a  boat  was  manned  and  low- 
ered with  a  prize  crew  which  made  for  the  last 
capture.  When  the  heavily  laden  boat  was  a 
short  distance  from  the  "Comet,"  around  the 
bows  of  the  captured  ship  came  the  man-of-war 
and  fired  a  broadside  at  the  row  boat,  which 
nearly  swamped  it  and  it  was  taken  up  bv  the 
"Comet."  All  who  knew  Captain  Bovle  could 
have  predicted  what  followed.  The  privateer 
headed  for  the  Portuguese  vessel  and  soon  had 
the  satisfaction  of  driving  the  former  entirely  out 
of  the  field,  leaving  the  third  vessel  to  its  fate. 
There  was  no  other  alternative  and,  in  the  thick 
darkness  which  has  now  settled  down  over  the 
waters,  it  hauled  down  its  colors  also  to  the  gal- 
lant commander  of  the  "Comet."  This  was  long 
before  the  day  of  the  searchlight,  and  all  Captain 
Boyle  could  hope  to  do  was  to  stand  guard  o\-er 
them  in  the  deep  darkness  until  dawn  would  ap- 
pear to  enable  his  men  to  properly  tow  the  prizes 
to  port.  As  soon  as  it  was  light,  it  was  discovered 
that  the  little  fleet  had  drifted  toward  land  and 
the  Portuguese  ship  had  once  more  joined  them 
and  had  begun  to  make  a  pretense  of  fight.  Like 
a  dart  went  the  "Comet"  to  meet  her.  l)ut  after  the 
Portuguese  man-of-war  had  signalled  the  two 
sinking  vessels,  the  "George"  and  the  "Gambier," 
to  make  for  the  shore,  it  followed.  Captain  Boyle 
concluded  it  unwise  to  follow  further,  both  ves- 
sels being  comj^letely  destroyed-  for  further  use- 


fulness  and   the   man-of-war   reaching   Fernam- 
buco  in  a  sinking  condition. 

The  "Comet"  reached  the  United  States  with 
the  "Bowes,"  in  safety,  making  several  more  im- 
portant captures  and  sailing  through  the  entire 
English  blockading  squadron  in  Chesapeake  Bay 
to  her  wharf  in  the  citv  of  Baltimore. 


♦  * » 


OL.  SA.Ml'EL  RUSSELL.  In  recall- 
ing this  once  prominent  citizen  of  St. 
Joseph,    whose    lamented    death    took 

place  on  December  7.  1874,  his  fellow 

citizens  remember  one  whose  honorable 
and  useful  life  left  an  influence  more  enduring 
than  the  granite  which  marks  his  last  resting 
place.  The  late  Colonel  Russell,  wbose  portrait 
accompanies  this  sketch,  was  born  on  March  23, 
1814,  in  the  Shenandoah  \^alley,  \irginia,  many 
long  years  before  this  same  beautiful  valley  be- 
came the  scene  of  civil  war. 

When  he  attained  manhood.  Colonel  Russell 
removed  for  business  purposes  to  Vicksburg, 
Mississippi,  where  he  engaged  in  the  merchant 
tailoring  business  until  the  spring  of  1850,  when 
he  located  at  St.  Joseph,  Missouri.  Here  he 
engaged  in  the  lumber  business,  in  partnership 
with  Elijah  Patee.  who  later  became  his  brother- 
in-law.  After  10  years  in  the  lumber  business. 
Colonel  Russell  removed  to  Montana,  and  at 
\^irginia  City  opened  up  a  supply  store  in  connec- 
tion with  Paris  S.  and  William  Pfouts.  The  en- 
terprise succeeded  and  Colonel  Russell  remained 
in  that  section  for  three  years,  becoming  well  and 
favorably  known  and  was  elected  Speaker  of  the 
Upper  House,  in  the  General  Assembly. 

Colonel  Russell  was  always  deeply  interested 
in  St.  Joseph  and  believed  in  the  city's  future, 
proving  his  faith  by  becoming  a  large  investor 
in  real  estate  here.  In  the  early  "seventies"  he 
erected  a  handsome  residence  on  12th  street,  and 
some  two  vears  later,  in  connection  with  the  late 
Albe  "SI.  Saxton,  of  the  State  Savings  Bank, 
erected  the  fine  block  of  buildings  on  Felix  street 
just  east  of  Fifth  street.  In  the  fall  of  1873,  Col- 
onel Russell  embarked  with  a  Mr.  Mullen  in  an 
extensive  grain  business,  in  which  he  continued 
to  be  interested  until  his  death,  and  in  which  he 
amassed  a  large  fortune.  In  the  spring  of  1873 
he  accepted  a  position  on  the  St.  Joseph  Board  of 
Public  Schools,  and  no  official  was  more  earnest 
for  the  public  welfare  than  he.  In  spite  of  heavy 
business  cares  and  absorbing  fraternal  responsi- 


338 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY  AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


bilities,  he  entered  heart  and  soul  into  the  im- 
provement of  the  pubhc  school  system  and  suc- 
ceeded in  bringing  about  many  improvements. 

Colonel  Russell  was  twice  married,  first  to 
Minerva  Patee,  deceased  in  1868,  who  was  a 
daughter  of  John  Patee,  of  a  well  known  pioneer 
family  of  Missouri.  In  1869  he  married  Almira 
E.  Patee,  daughter  of  Alvah  Patee.  who  was  a 
cousin  of  his  .first  wife  and  the  widow  of  the  late 
J.  W.  Clayton.  She  had  one  son,  Alvah  P.  Clay- 
ton, who  is  president  of  the  Sheridan-Clayton 
Paper  Company,  at  302-306  South  Third  street, 
St.  Joseph,  the  largest  paper  house  in  the  Western 
States.  Colonel  Russell  had  two  children  born 
to  his  first  marriage. 

The  late  Colonel  Russell  was  one  of  the  most 
zealous  and  efficient  workers  in  symbolic,  capitu- 
lar and  cryptic  Masonry  and  Knight  Templarism, 
having  been  for  two  score  years  an  active  worker 
in  the  States  of  Mississippi,  Illinois,  Montana 
and  Missouri.  He  was  the  one  who  organized 
the  first  chapter  and  the  first  commandery  in  the 
State  of  Montana,  in  which  he  retained  his  mem- 
bership until  his  death.  He  was  the  first  eminent 
commander  of  this  commandery,  ranking  higher 
in  point  of  efficiency  than  any  other  Mason  in  the 
Territory.  Other  positions  he  filled  were :  Past 
grand  captain  general  of  the<jrand  Commandery 
of  Missouri ;  charter  member  and  eminent  com- 
mander from  1869  to  1871  of  Hugh  DePayens 
Commandery,  No.  4;  deputy  grand  high  priest 
of  the  Grand  Royal  Arch  Chapter  of  Missouri  in 
i860,  1862  and  1865;  high  priest  in  1866  and 
1867 ;  and  for  several  years  was  high  priest  of  the 
St.  Joseph  Royal  Arch  Chapter,  No.  14. 

This  eminent  Mason  was  district  lecturer  of 
the  Grand  Chapter,  Russell  Royal  Arch  Chapter, 
No.  jy,  at  Stewartsville,  the  same  having  been 
named  in  his  honor.  He  was  also  junior  warden 
of  the  Grand  Lodge  of  Missouri  in  1862,  and  a 
charter  member  and  the  first  worshipful  master  of 
Zeredatha  Lodge,  No.  189,  which  position  he  filled 
for  many  terms.  He  was  also  deputy  grand  mas- 
ter for  the  14th  District  for  three  years  and  was 
lecturer  for  this  district  from  the  time  of  the 
institution  of  the  office  until  his  death.  He  was 
known  and  honored  by  the  Masonic  fraternity  all 
over  the  Northwest. 

The  sad  intelligence  of  his  death  was  met  with 
the  sorrow  of  thousands  of  friends.  His  funeral 
was  conducted  by  the  Masonic  order,  from  his 
late  residence  at  12th  and  Lafayette  streets,  by 
members  of  Zeredatha  Lodge,  No.  189,  A.  F.  & 


A.  M.,  and  of  the  Hugh  DePayens  Commandery^ 
No.  4,  the  Knights  Templar  acting  as  escorts. 

At  the  regular  convocation  of  St.  Joseph 
Royal  Arch  Chapter,  on  December  14,  1874,  the 
following  preamble  and  resolutions  were  adopted: 

Whereas,  It  lias  pleased  Almighty  God  to  re- 
move from  this,  our  earthly  tabernacle,  our  well 
beloved  companion,  Samuel  Russell,  Past  Most  Ex- 
cellent Grand  High  Priest  of  the  Grand  Royal  Arch 
Chapter  of  Missouri,  and  for  many  years  the  active 
and  effective  High  Priest  of  this  Chapter,  and  dis- 
trict lecturer  for  this  district,  and 

Whereas,  His  zeal  for  the  Order,  his  attach- 
ment to  its  principles  and  his  faithful  discharge  of 
all  duties  incumbent  upon  him  during  his  Masonic 
life,  from  the  holding  at  various  times  of  official 
positions  in  all  the  Grand  as  well  as  Subordinate 
bodies,  render  it  fitting  that  we  should  give  public 
expression  of  our  esteem  and  regard  for  him,  as  a 
man,  a  companion  and  a  friend:  be  it 

Resolved,  That  in  the  death  of  our  companion, 
Samuel  Russell,  Capitular  Masonry  has  lost  one 
of  its  brightest  lights,  this  Chapter  an  ardent,  earnest 
worker  and  for  years  a  regular  attendant,  his  family 
an  affectionate  husband  and  an  indulgent  father, 
the  community  a  public  spirited  citizen,  one  whose 
purse  was  always  open  to  the  relief  of  the  worthy- 
poor,  who  so  lived  that  when  the  dread  summons 
came   he  sank  to   rest 

"Like  one  who  wraps  the  drapery  of  his  couch 

About  him   and  lies   down  to  pleasant  dreams." 

Resolved,  That  we  hereby  tender  to  the  family 
of  our  deceased  companion  our  warmest  sympathies 
in  their  sad  bereavement,  and  implore  for  them  the 
continued  care  and  watchful  kindness  of  Him  who 
has  promised  to  befriend  the  widow  and  the  father- 
less. 

Resolved,  That  the  jewels  of  the  Chapter  be 
draped  in  mourning  for  the  space  of  thirty  days. 

Resolved,  That  a  memorial  page  be  set  apart 
in  the  chapter  records  and  the  foregoing  preamble 
and  resolutions  be  inscribed  thereon;  a  copy  thereof, 
with  the  seal  attached  thereto,  be  presented  to  the 
widow  of  our  deceased  companion,  and  a  copy  furn- 
ished to  each  of  the  daily  papers  of  the  city  and  to- 
the  Freemason,  with  a  request  to  publish  the  same. 

Attest:  D.   P.  W.^llingford,  Secy. 

In  addition  to  the  above,  a  memorial  mourning 
sheet  was  issued  by  the  commandery,  bearing 
upon  its  title  page  this  inscription : 

"In  Memoriam.  Samuel  Russell,  Past  Eminent 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


339 


Commander  of  Hugh  DePayens  Commandery, 
No.  4,  died  in  St.  Joseph,  Missouri,  December  7, 
1874,  in  the  6ist  year  of  his  age.  His  sterhng 
worth  as  a  citizen,  his  faithfuhiess  as  a  friend,  his 
untiring  devotion  as  a  Knight  Templar  and  exem- 
phfier  of  the  subHme  principles  of  our  Order,  en- 
deared him  to  a  large  circle  of  true  friends  who 
sincerely  mourn  his  loss.  His  light  of  example 
still  burns." 

Colonel  Russell  secured  almost  unconsciously 
the  regard  and  esteem  of  all  with  whom  he  came 
in  contact.  He  was  warm-hearted  and  generous, 
forgiving  to  a  fault,  but  retaining  and  acting  at 
all  times  up  to  his  convictions  of  right.  His  sur- 
viving widow  resides  in  a  beautiful  home  at  No. 
919  South  1 2th  street,  in  the  enjoyment  of  large 
means  and  takes  part  in  the  quieter  social  pleas- 
ures of  the  citv's  life. 


^  »» 


HOMAS  J.  MURPHY,  the  fortunate 
owner  of  a  magnificent  farm  of  280 
acres,  situated  in  section  18,  Crawford 
township,  the  very  garden  spot  of  Bu- 
chanan County,  is  a  representative  of 
one  of  the  old  pioneer  families  of  this  part  of  the 
State.  He  was  born  on  the  farm  he  now  occu- 
pies, the  old  family  homestead,  on  March  24. 
1854,  and  is  a  son  of  Milton  and  Louise  (Chris- 
topher) Murphy,  of  Irish,  French  and  Scotch 
ancestry. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  were  natives  of 
Kentucky,  and  his  maternal  grandmother,  form- 
erly Elizabeth  Huff,  belonged  to  one  of  Ken- 
tucky's famous  families.  She  died  at  the  home  of 
our  subject,  in  advanced  age.  Milton  Murphy 
and  wife  were  pioneers  in  Buchanan  County, 
Missouri,  coming  to  this  section  in  the  old  Ken- 
tucky prairie  schooner,  which  served,  later,  to 
haul  many  loads  of  corn  to  market.  "Sir.  Murphv's 
life  story  was  typical  of  the  indomitable  energy 
and  enterprise  possessed  by  that  band  of  cour- 
ageous men.  who  pushed  into  the  wilderness  and 
through  sheer  determination  not  only  wrested  a 
living  out  of  the  virgin  soil,  but  developed  the  re- 
sources which  have  made  this  section  so  rich  in 
agricultural  results  and  possibilities. 

When  Milton  ]\Iurphy  and  family  reached 
Crawford  township.  Buchanan  County,  he  pur- 
chased a  well-located  tract  of  land  from  its  first 
owner,  Joel  Penick.  who  had  put  up  two  log 
barns  and  a  i6-foot-square  house  of  logs.  About 
25  acres  had  been  cleared  and  were  under  first 


cultivation,  but  the  rest  of  the  claim  was  cov- 
ered with  heavy  timber,  walnut  and  oak  predom- 
inating. That  Mr.  Murphy  in  so  short  a  time, 
comparatively,  cleared  his  farm  and  placed  it 
under  cultivation,  is  remarkable,  considering  the 
tools  and  machinery  with  which  he  accomplished 
it.  Compare  his  old  wooden  mold-board  plow, 
his  reaping  hook,  hand  scythe  and  old-time 
cradle,  with  the  machines  now  utilized  by  his  son, 
— the  grain  binder,  corn  binder,  mowing  machine, 
riding  plow  and  cultivator,  corn  planter, — all  of 
these  of  modern  construction  able  to  be  operated 
with  steam  or  possibly  electricity,  and  what  he 
accomplished  will  seem  more  of  a  marvel. 

Our  subject  can  recall  many  of  the  conven- 
iences in  his  pioneer  home,  where  his  busy  and 
capable  mother  so  effectively  managed  her  house- 
hold, rearing  her  family  of  13  children  to  healthv. 
maturity  with  never  a  thought  of  the  difficult 
problems  which  now  seem  such  stumbling  blocks 
in  the  paths  of  modern  housekeepers.  From  the 
sheep  grown  on  the  farm  and  sheared  there,  and 
from  the  flax  also  raised  on  their  own  land,  her 
busy  fingers  fashioned  warm,  sensible  clothing, 
which  was  often  put  together  in  the  long  winter 
evenings  by  the  light  of  home-made  tallow  candies 
or  the  old  lard  lamp.  At  the  time  of  which  we 
write,  Weston  was  Milton  Murphy's  nearest  trad- 
ing point.  His  first  crop  was  mainly  hemp,  but 
ere  long  he  had  plenty  of  hogs,  which  in  those 
days  could  only  be  marketed  after  killing.  Mr. 
Murphy  lived,  however,  to  see  many  wonderful 
changes  come  about.  He  was  a  man  not  only  of 
enterprise  and  capable  of  managing  his  own  af- 
fairs with  judgment  and  consequent  success,  but 
he  w^as  liberal  and  broad-minded  and  took  an  in- 
terest in  his  locality.  He  assisted  in  the  building 
of  schools  and  churches  and  promoted  the  im- 
provenfents  which  changed  the  old  by-paths  and 
rough  forest  roads  into  the  broad  highways  which 
through  Crawford  township  are  notable  for  their 
excellence.  Few  men  were  held  in  higher  esteem 
than  was  Milton  Murphy  in  his  neighborhood. 
He  became  connected  with  the  old  Birmington 
Lodge  of  Masons  (now  known  as  Halleck)  soon 
after  its  organization.  His  faithful  wife,  who 
passed  away  in  March.  1872,  possessed  superior 
qualities  of  mind  and  heart.  She  was  beloved  by 
those  to  whom  she  gave  womanly  comfort  and 
kind  assistance,  in  the  days  when  sickness  fell 
upon  her  neighbors  and  physicians  and  religiovis 
ministrations  were  not  within  reach.  Mr.  Murpliy 
survived  until  February,  1888.  The  13  children 
born  to  these  most  worthy  and  respected  pioneers 


340 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY  AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


were  the  following,  the  greater  number  of  whom 
have  become  comfortably  settled  in  life  within 
reach  of  each  other:  \Villiam.  a  retired  mer- 
chant living  at  \\'allace,  Buchanan  County : 
Louis,  who  died  during  the  Civil  War.  in  the 
army  ;  George  Washington,  a  farmer  of  DeKalb 
County,  Missouri ;  J.  H..  a  farmer  of  Crawford 
township ;  Mary  Elizabeth,  wife  of  P.  W.  Nolan, 
a  coal  and  wood  merchant  of  St.  Joseph ;  James, 
a  carpenter  of  Union  Star,  DeKalb  County; 
Thomas  J.,  of  this  sketch  ;  Merritt  Cleveland,  who 
resides  with  our  subject ;  Nancy  Jane,  wife  of 
G.  W.  Kirby,  who  is  engaged  in  mercantile  busi- 
ness at  Dearborn.  Missouri ;  Ida,  wife  of  Thomas 
Zachariah  Russell,  who  is  farming  in  Kansas. 
Sterling  Price,  a  farmer  living  near  DeKalb.  Mis- 
souri:  Lee.  a  farmer  of  Platte  County,  Missouri; 
and  Grace  (Mrs.  Curtis),  of  Buchanan  County. 

Thomas  J.  Murphy,  the  immediate  subject  of 
this  sketch,  was  educated  first  in  the  sul)scrip- 
tion  schools  and  later  in  the  district  schools. 
which  were  established  in  the  locality  mainly 
through  his  father's  efforts.  He  was  reared  to 
the  business  he  has  always  followed  and  in  which 
he  has  met  with  such  uniform  success, — that  of 
general  farming,  fruit  growing  and  stock-raising. 
He  has  demonstrated  what  careful,  intelligent 
farming  in  ^Missouri  can  accomplish.  After  his 
marriage  he  settled  on  a  farm  which  he  had 
previously  purchased,  which  adjoined  the  Under- 
wood farm,  southeast  of  DeKalb.  \\'hen  he  and 
his  wife  settled  upon  it,  the  land  was  similar  to 
that  upon  which  his  earl}-  boyhood  was  passed, — 
wild  and  uncultivated.  Mr.  Alurphy  cleared  this 
farm,  improved  it  with  good  buildings  and  re- 
mained on  it  until  the  death  of  his  father.  13  years 
later.  Then  he  purchased  the  old  homestead  and  in 
the  following  year  he  removed  to  it  and  has  been 
settled  here  ever  since.  One  of  his  first  improve- 
ments was  the  setting  out  of  an  immense  apple 
orchard,  some  1.400  hardy  trees,  which  have 
])roduced  abundantly  and  proved  a  very  good  in- 
vestment. His  other  improvements  include  a 
comfortable  home,  barns,  granaries  and  all  neces- 
sary buildings  and  shelters.  rec|uisite  to  the  suc- 
cessful operation  of  a  large  farm.  A  part  of  his 
280  acres  is  devoted  to  pasturage  antl  he  has  paid 
much  attention  to  the  raising  of  fine  cattle,  horses, 
mules  and  hogs.  His  stock  is  sold  to  the  home 
markets. 

On  November  29.  1876,  'Sir.  Murphy  was 
married  to  Margaret  Ann  Wiley,  who  was  born  in 
Bloomington  township,  Buchanan  County,  Mis- 
souri, June  12.  1853.  and  is  a  daughter  of  Andrew 


S.  and  Sarah  Elizabeth  (Morris)  Wiley.  The 
mother  of  Mrs.  Murphy  was  born  in  Jackson 
County,  Missouri,  a  daughter  of  an  old  pioneer 
of  Buchanan  County,  who  came  here  from  his 
native  State  of  Kentucky.  Andrew  S.  Wiley 
was  also  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Buchanan 
County,  one  of  the  honored  pioneers.  Two  of 
his  children  survive,  viz:  Margaret  Ann  (Mrs. 
Murphy)  anil  ]Mrs.  William  \Vood.  of  Center 
township.  Mrs.  Mary  E.  Thomas  and  G.  W. 
Wiley  are  both  dead.  The  mother  of  Mrs.  IMur- 
phy  died  in  August.  1884. 

The  four  children  of  our  subject  and  wife  are : 
Sarah  Jane,  named  for  a  maternal  ancestor;  Ida 
Louise,  named  for  her  grandmother;  ]\lilton 
Andrew,  named  for  both  of  his  grandfathers  ;  and 
.\llen  Pearl.  The  children  are  all  at  home 
although  Ida  Louise  has  prepared  herself  for 
business  life,  having  taken  a  commercial  course 
at  St.  Joseph  and  become  an  expert  stenographer. 

As  one  of  the  township's  intelligent  and  prom- 
inent citizens,  Mr.  Murphy  could  be  nothing  less 
than  a  politician  and  he  has  long  been  a  leading 
Democrat,  active  in  ])artv  councils  and  frequently 
serving  as  a  delegate  to  conventions.  He  has 
strong  convictions  on  many  subjects  and  is  vice- 
president  of  the  Good  Roads  Association  and  also 
of  the  Anti  Horse  Thief  Association.  He  is  also 
a  member  of  the  camp  of  Modern  Woodmen  of 
America  at  Faucett.  \\'ith  his  family,  he  belongs 
to  the  old  Union  Christian  Church,  the  oldest 
consrree-ation  of  this  religious  bodv  in  Buchanan 
County.  Both  jNIr.  and  Mrs.  ]\Iurphy  are  held  in 
the  highest  esteem  in  Crawford  township.  Their 
hospitable  home  is  often  the  scene  of  many  pleas- 
ant reunion  of  friends  and  it  has  been  more  than 
once  remarked  that  the  happiest  and  youngest 
members  of  the  party  are  the  genial  host  and 
hostess. 


ILLIAM  H.  FRANS,  chief  of  police 
of  the  city  of  St.  Joseph,  is  a  citizen 
who  is  equally  popular  in  official  and 
private  life.  He  was  born  November 
I.  1863,  in  Buchanan  County,  Mis- 
souri, and  is  a  son  of  John  M.  and  Sallie  (Rey- 
nolds) Frans. 

The  grandfather  of  Chief  Frans  came  with 
his  family  from  Kentucky  to  Missouri  at  an 
early  day  and  followed  farming  near  Sparta. 
John  M.  Frans,  the  father,  was  born  in  Ken- 
tucky and  accompanied  his  parents  to  Missouri, 
where  he  also  followed  an  agricultural  life.     He 


JOHN   FISKE  BARNARD 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


343 


married  Sallie  Reynolds  and  they  had  a  family  of 
six  children,  the  two  survivors  being  our  subject 
and  a  sister,  Mrs.  J.  M.  Tee. 

William  H.  Frans  obtained  a  good,  common- 
school  education  in  Buchanan  County,  growing 
up  healthfully  on  his  father's  farm.  At  the  age  of 
21  years  he  learned  the  carpenter's  trade,  which 
he  followed  for  a  few  years  and  them  embarked 
in  a  grocery  business  in  St.  Joseph.  On  February 
i6,  1893,  he  accepted  a  position  on  the  city  police 
force  and  his  special  qualifications  advanced  him 
to  a  position  on  the  city's  secret  service,  on  De- 
cember I,  1894.  In  December,  1896,  for  fidelity 
to  duty  and  for  the  qualifications  which  go  to 
make  an  efficient  officer,  he  was  made  a  2nd  ser- 
geant, a  position  he  most  efifectively  filled  until 
June,  1899,  when  he  was  promoted  to  a  captaincy 
on  the  force.  This  was  followed  by  his  appoint- 
ment in  Jul}',  1901.  as  chief  of  police,  a  position 
he  still  holds,  much  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  best 
element  of  the  city.  He  thoroughly  imderstands 
all  the  details  and  demands  of  this  responsible 
position,  handles  his  large  force  of  51  city  police, 
five  detectives  and  13  men  at  headquarters  in 
such  a  manner  as  to  promote  the  welfare  and  good 
name  of  the  city. 

In  1882  our  subject  married  Lizzie  Martin, 
who  is  a  daughter  of  Jeptha  Martin  of  Atchison, 
"Kansas,  and  they  have  six  children,  namely:  Rov 
C,  Walter  C,  Sarah  M.,  IMcnola  I.,  Marie  R.  and 
^ label  H.  The  famih-  home  is  a  comfortable 
residence  at  No.  2417  ()live  street.  Chief  I'rans 
and  family  all  belong  to  the  Christian  Church. 

Politically,  he  is  a  Democrat  and  an  active 
worker  for  his  party.  Fraternally,  he  is  a  Mason 
and  a  Modern  \\'oodman. 


♦  ♦  » 


The 


(  )HN  FISKE  BARNARD,  a  prominent 
and  esteemed  citizen  of  St.  Joseph,  was 
born  at  Worcester,  Massachusetts,  A])ril 
23,  i82(;.  and  is  a  son  of  John  and  Sarah 
R.  (Bigelow)  Barnard. 
.^  Barnard  family  originated  in  England. 
John  I'arnard.  our  subject's  father,  was  a  de- 
scendant of  John  and  Sarah  IJarnard,  who  sailed 
from  the  river  port  of  Ipswich,  .^ulTolk.  England, 
in  1634,  and  settled  at  Watertown,  Massachusetts, 
adjoining  P>oston.  The  liarnard  family  has  scat- 
tered all  over  the  Cnited  States  and  many  mem- 
bers have  l^ecome  distinguished  in  the  varied 
\\alks  of  life. 


Our  subject  was  reared  on  a  farm  and  until  he 
was  17  years  of  age  enjoyed  only  the  educational 
advantages  offered  in  the  country  schools  during 
the  winter  seasons.  In  1847,  however,  his  pros- 
pects changed  and  he  entered  the  State  Normal 
School  at  Bridgewater,  Massachusetts.  His  spe- 
cial talents  attracted  and  interested  his  teachers, 
who  suggested  to  him  the  wisdom  of  thoroughly 
preparing  himself  for  a  career  in  which  his  me- 
chanical abilities  might  have  play,  and  this  re- 
sulted in  his  entering  the  Rensselaer  Polytechnic 
School  at  Troy,  New  York,  where  he  took  a 
course  in  civil  engineering,  being  graduated  in 
1850.  It  was  to  him  a  gratifying  incident  that  he 
was  almost  immediately  engaged  by  the  chief  en- 
gineer of  the  St.  Lawrence  &  Atlantic  Railroad, 
now  a  part  of  the  Grand  Trunk  Railway  of  Can- 
ada, to  go  to  the  Dominion,  where  he  remained 
in  the  service  of  the  St.  Lawrence  &  Atlantic  Rail- 
road Compan>'  and  the  Grand  Trunk  Railway 
Company  until  the  spring  of  1857,  when  he  took 
charge  of  a  short  road  on  the  banks  of  the  Ottawa 
River  in  Canada.  This  was  a  part  of  the  pro- 
posed, and  partially  l)uilt,  Montreal  &  Bytown 
Railroad.  The  portion  built  was  along  the  rapids 
and  was  intended  during  the  construction  of  the 
road  to  connect  two  stretches  of  navigable  water 
on  which  steamers  plied.  The  company  and  con- 
tractors had  failed  to  complete  the  work  and  the 
road  built  was  only  used  during  the  season  of 
navigation. 

INlr.  Barnard  remained  in  charge  of  the  road 
until  1863,  when  he  was  appointed  superintendent 
of  the  Alontreal  &  Chaiuplain  Railroad,  which 
extended  from  Montreal  rvn  St.  John's  to  Rouse's 
Point,  and  also  from  Montreal  77'a  Lachine,  to 
Moore's  Junction,  on  the  Ogdensburg  &  Lake 
Champlain  road.  After  this  road  was  merged,  in 
August,  1864,  into  the  Grand  Trunk,  his  charge 
was  divided  between  the  superintendency  of  the 
Grand  Trunk  east  and  west  of  Montreal.  Mr. 
I'arnard  removed  to  lirantford,  Ontario,  to  be- 
come superintendent  of  the  road  previously  known 
as  the  Buffalo  &  Lake  Huron,  which  had,  on  Au- 
gust T,  1864,  been  consolidated  with  the  Grand 
Trunk.  In  March,  1866,  Mr.  Barnard  was  re- 
called to  Montreal  to  take  charge,  as  chief  engi- 
neer, of  that  portion  of  the  Grand  Trunk  road  ly- 
ing east  and  south  of  Montreal  and  the  St.  Law- 
rence River— between  600  and  700  miles. 

This  responsible  position  he  retained  until  1869 
when  he  came  to  the  United  States  and  took 
charge  of  the  Missouri  X'alley  Railroad,  as  chief 


344 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY  AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


engineer  and  superintendent.  In  1870,  the  Mis- 
souri Valley  and  the  Council  Bluffs  &  St.  Joseph 
roads  were  consolidated,  and  he  remained  with 
the  consolidated  company  as  chief  engineer  until 
the  road  was  completed  and  some  other  work  was 
accomplished.  In  1871  Mr.  Barnard  left  the 
Kansas  City,  St.  Joseph  &  Council  Bluffs  Rail- 
road, and  then  took  charge  of  the  St.  Joseph  & 
Denver  City  Railroad,  as  chief  engineer  and 
superintendent.  This  road  was  extended  50  miles 
under  his  supervision.  He  left  this  road  in  May, 
1872.  and  in  August  was  appointed  superintend- 
ent of  the  Kansas  City,  St.  Joseph  &  Council 
Bluff's  Railroad,  which  position  he  retained  until 
he  was  made  general  manager  of  the  same  upon 
its  purchase  by  the  Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy 
Railroad  Company  in  1880,  and  in  this  position 
he  continued  until  October,  1886,  being  also,  from 
the  autumn  of  1884,  general  manager  of  the  Han- 
nibal &  St.  Joseph  Railroad  as  well.  From  Octo- 
ber, 1886,  to  October,  1892,  he  was  president  and 
general  manager  of  the  Ohio  &  Mississippi  Rail- 
road Company.  Subsequently  for  five  years  he 
was  receiver  of  the  Omaha  &  St.  Louis  Railroad. 
From  January  15,  1897,  he  was  also  receiver  of 
the  St.  Clair.  Madison  &  St.  Louis  Belt  Railroad, 
his  tenure  of  that  office  continuing  about  four 
3'ears,  when  the  property  was  returned  to  the  com- 
pany, of  which  he  has  been  and  is  now  the  presi- 
dent. 

On  April  21,  1853,  ]\Ir.  Barnard  was  married 
to  Gertrude  Agnes  Harvey,  of  Bath.  England, 
who  died  March  25,  1865,  leaving  four  children. 
His  second  marriage,  on  April  28,  1868,  was  to 
Julia  Boswell  Keefer,  of  Gait,  Ontario,  and  they 
have  seven  children.  Eight  of  his  children  are 
living,  his  four  sons  being  in  railroad  service. 
The  family  home  at  No.  117  South  15th  street  is 
one  of  the  handsomest  in  the  city,  and  its  atmos- 
phere is  one  of  refinement,  contentment  and  hap- 
piness. It  is  beautifully  located  in  the  midst  of 
highly  ornamental  grounds,  129  by  240  feet  in 
dimensions. 

Away  from  his  native  country  for  the  1 1  years 
preceding  and  eight  years  after  the  beginning  of 
the  Civil  War,  Air.  Barnard  took  no  active  inter- 
est in  i)ublic  matters  at  that  time.  He  is  a  man 
of  peace  and  sought  no  military  glory,  his  work 
in  life  being  constructive  rather  than  destructive 
in  its  character.  He  is  held  in  the  highest  esteem 
by  his  felnw  citizens.  During  his  active  years  he 
probably  attained  as  much  proficiency  in  his  pro- 
fession as  any  other  man  of  his  time.  His  por- 
trait accompanies  this  sketch. 


ICHAEL  SCANLON.  one  of  the  old. 
pioneers  and  highly  respected  citizens 
of  Marion  township,  Buchanan 
County  (where  he  now  lives  retired 
with  his  son-in-law  on  an  improved 
farm  of  80  acres,  in  section  28,  township  57, 
range  33),  was  born  in  County  Roscommon,  Ire- 
land, August  27,  1827,  and  is  a  son  of  James  and 
Mary  (Daynan)  Scanlon. 

The  parents  of  Air.  Scanlon  never  left  the  old 
country.  They  belonged  to  the  farming  class 
there  and,  while  able  to  provide  for  their  immed- 
iate wants,  had  little  to  offer  their  two  sons, 
Thomas  and  Michael,  to  induce  them  to  remain 
in  Ireland.  Thomas  came  to  America  in  185 1 
and  lived  and  died  at  Easton,  Missouri.  The  one 
sister,  Catherine,  who  was  the  wife  of  Hugh 
Carmichael,  has  also  passed  away. 

Michael  Scanlon  was  20  years  of  age  when 
he  and  his  sister  decided  that  they  would  seek 
home  and  fortune  in  America.  Neither  had  en- 
joyed very  good  educational  advantages,  but  both 
possessed  the  common  sense,  the  pleasant  man- 
ner and  the  native  wit  of  their  birthright  and,  as 
shown  by  the  friends  they  made  and  the  success 
they  met,  their  lack  of  early  opportunities  was  no 
drawback.  They  took  passage  on  a  sailing  vessel 
which  completed  the  voyage  in  four  weeks,  land- 
ing its  passangers  at  Castle  Garden,  New  York. 
Alichael  found  work  at  Woodstock,  Connecticut, 
where  lie  remained  eight  }-ears,  engaged  in  farm- 
ing and  in  work  in  a  tanyard.  In  the  spring  of 
1857  he  went  to  Omaha,  Nebraska,  but  at  the  end 
of  the  summer  he  moved  to  Easton,  Missouri, 
where  his  brother  Thomas  was  located.  There 
he  rented  a  farm  for  one  year,  but  in  1858  he  was 
able  to  purchase  60  acres  of  wild  prairie,  in  sec- 
tion 28.  township  57,  range  33,  in  Marion  town- 
ship. He  had  married  in  the  previous  year  a  most 
estimable  lady  whom  he  had  met  in  Connecticut. 
She  was  Alary  Carroll,  also  a  native  of  Ireland, 
who  came  to  America  in  1849.  ^^e  gave  ready 
and  cheerful  assistance  during  those  early  days 
of  hardship  and  privation.  They  had  five  chil- 
dren, namely:  James  and  Thomas  Philip,  both 
deceased  in  infancy;  John,  a  resident  of  Buch- 
anan County ;  Barney,  deceased,  who  married 
Carrie  Connor, — his  widow  resides  in  St.  Joseph 
with  two  children,  Bernard  and  James  :  and  Mary 
E.,  who  married,  October  21,  1896,  Eugene  A. 
AUgair.  of  Clinton  County,  Missouri,  who  now 
owns  Mr.  Scanlon's  old  farm, — they  have  five 
children,  Alichael  S..  Anna  Alary,  Catherine, 
Eugene  and  Bernard. 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


345 


Mr.  Scanlon  is  an  example  of  what  can  be  ac- 
complished through  honest,  persistent  endeavors. 
He  came  to  America  a  poor  boy  and  through  his 
own  efforts  acquired  230  acres  of  fine  land.  He 
lias  retained  only  120  acres,  80  of  which  is  in 
Buchanan  County  and  40  acres  in  DeKalb  County. 
He  has  carried  on  large  agricultural  operations, 
raising  wheat,  corn  and  oats,  and  many  hogs  and 
much  fine  cattle.  Politically  a  Democrat,  he  has 
always  been  active  in  township  matters,  serving 
many  years  as  a  school  director.  He  is  one  of 
the  leading  members  and  liberal  supporters  of  St. 
Joseph's  Catholic  Church  at  Easton.  No  one  can 
tell  in  a  more  entertaining  manner  of  the  great 
changes  which  have  taken  place  in  Buchanan 
County  in  the  past  40  years  than  Mr.  Scanlon  and 
he  has  done  his  full  share  in  bringing  about  better 
agricultural  and  educational  conditions.  He  is 
well  known  and  universally  respected. 


♦  « » 


ILTON  TOOTLE,  deceased,  without 
doubt  the  most  successful  business 
man  the  city  of  St.  Joseph  has  yet 
known,  was  the  founder  and  head  of 
many  successful  enterprises,  chief 
among  which  is  the  Tootle,  Wheeler  &  blotter 
Mercantile  Company,  whose  prestige  is  by  no 
means  confined  to  the  limits  of  ^^lissouri.  His 
death,  January  2,  1887,  threw  the  city  into  mourn- 
ing as  for  a  public  loss.  In  his  biographv  we  have 
a  life  rich  in  accomplishment  and  instructive 
lessons. 

Milton  Tootle  was  born  February  26,  1823, 
in  Ross  County,  Ohio.  He  spent  his  boyhood 
days  in  Ohio,  engaging  in  the  pursuits  of  the  av- 
erage country  lad  of  his  day  and  attending  the 
common  schools  of  the  neighborhood  in  which  he 
spent  the  first  13  years.  In  1836  he  removed 
"with  his  father  to  Jersey  Countv,  Illinois,  where 
a  few  years  later  he  entered  upon  the  mercantile 
career  in  which  he  was  so  abundantly  successful. 
He  made  a  wise  .start  and  employed  the  helpful 
principles  of  his  early  teachings  to  such  good  ad- 
vantage that,  by  proper  methods  and  strict  at- 
tention to  business,  he  accumulated  the  largest 
fortune  of  any  individual  in  St.  Joseph,  Missouri. 
Milton  Tootle  entered  the  employ  of  George 
Smith,  a  prosperous  Illinois  merchant,  who  in 
1842  removed  to  Andrew  County,  Missou-ri,  and 
opened  a  store  at  Savannah.  Mr.  Tootle  accom- 
panied him  and  in  1844  ^^^s  given  entire  charge  of 
a  store  in  Atchison  County,  Missouri,  which  Mr. 


Smith  established  there.  He  remained  in  Atchi- 
son for  one  year,  returning  at  the  end  of  that 
time  to  Savannah,  where  he  look  charge  of  his 
employer's  large  interests,  the  latter  removing  to 
St.  Joseph.  In  1848,  Mr.  Tootle  embarked  in 
business  for  himself,  choosing  Oregon,  Holt 
County,  ^Missouri,  as  a  promising  location.  Con- 
stant and  honest  effort  there  was  rewarded  by 
success  and  the  venture  proved  profitable  in  every 
way.  His  early  employer  watched  with  more  than 
ordinary  interest  the  career  of  the  young  man 
who  had  made  a  business  start  in  his  store,  and 
in  1849  urged  Mr.  Tootle  to  return  to  St.  Joseph 
and  engage  in  btisiness  with  him.  The  offer  was 
accepted  and  Mr.  Tootle  was  given  an  interest  in 
the  firm  of  Smith,  Bedford  &  Tootle.  Soon  after 
the  establishment  of  this  firm  Mr.  Smith  died,  and 
Mr.  Tootle,  in  connection  with  his  two  brothers 
and  William  G.  Fairleigh,  purchased  the  stock 
and  continued  the  business  under  the  firm  name 
of  Tootle  &  Fairleigh.  Before  many  months  had 
passed  the  business  had  grown  to  such  an  extent 
that-  Mr.  Tootle  was  able  to  open  branch  stores  in 
Omaha,  Nebraska,  Sioux  City,  Iowa,  Council 
Bluffs,  Iowa,  and  Kansas  City.  Missouri.  In  i860, 
Joseph  Tootle  died,  and  shortly  after  his  brother 
Thomas  Tootle  withdrew  his  interest  from  the 
firm.  The  business  continued  however  under  the 
firm  name  of  Tootle  &  Fairleigh,  prospering  with- 
out unfortunate  interruption  and  growing  to  a 
place  of  great  importance  in  the  commercial 
world.  In  1873.  Mr.  Fairleigh  withdrew  on  ac- 
count of  ill  health,  and  the  firm  was  changed  to 
Tootle,  Craig  &  Company,  other  partners  being 
taken  into  it.  In  1877  another  change  was  made, 
the  firm  becoming  Tootle,  Hosea  &  Company. 
Upon  the  death  of  W.  E.  Hosea  in  1892,  the 
Tootle,  Wheeler  &  Motter  ^Mercantile  Company 
was  incorporated  and  has  since  carried  on  this  ex- 
tensive business. 

In  1872,  Milton  Tootle  erected  a  large  build- 
ing for  theatrical  purposes,  which  having  under- 
gone improvements  within  the  past  few  years  is 
known  as  one  of  the  handsomest  theaters  in  the 
State.  He  was  a  man  of  great  property  holdings 
and  diversified  affairs.  He  amassed  a  fortune  of 
immense  size,  and  was  free-handed  in  assisting: 
every  worthy  cause,  helping  the  needy  and  giving 
to  public  enterprises  that  appeal  to  him  as  merit- 
ing his  support.  The  building  occupied  bv  the 
Tootle,  Wheeler  &  Motter  Mercantile  Company 
is  one  of  the  finest  structures  used  for  wh.olesale 
purposes  in  the  country.  Mr.  Tootle's  friends 
know  that  his  success  in  life  was  largelv  due  to 


346 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


the  care  with  which  he  superintended  and  directed 
the  minutest  details  of  business,  and  the  constant 
attention  he  gave  to  everytliing  connected  with 
his  numerous  enterprises.  He  was  especially 
fortunate  in  attracting  and  retaining  faithful  and 
capable  employees,  whom  he  inspired  with  his 
own  courage  and  perseverance.  His  connection 
with  any  enterprise  was  a  guarantee  af  success, 
and  in  his  death  St.  Joseph  lost  one  of  her  most 
public-spirited  citizens  and  her  foremost  repre- 
sentative in  the  business  world. 

Milton  Tootle  was  married,  in  1866.  to  Kath- 
erine  O'Neill,  a  daughter  of  James  L.  O'Neill,  at 
one  time  cashier  of  the  Western  Bank  of  Mis- 
souri. Mrs.  Tootle  survives  her  husband,  and  her 
palatial  home,  imposing  in  its  exterior  appearance 
and  furnished  in  costly  richness  and  luxury,  can 
be  compared  only  with  the  residence  palaces  of 
New  York,  Chicago  and  other  great  cities  of  this 
country.  Mrs.  Tootle  represents  her  husband's 
large  interest  in  the  Tootle,  Wheeler  &  M otter 
Mercantile  Company.  To  our  subject  and  his 
/wife  three  children  we're  born,  namely;  Mrs. 
Frances  S.  Dameron  ;  Milton  Tootle,  Jr.,  presi- 
dent of  The  Tootle  Estate  and  active  head  of  a 
number  of  St.  Joseph's  enterprises  and  institu- 
tions ;  and  John  James  Tootle,  a  large  property 
holder  and  president  of  the  Missouri  X'alley  Trust 
Company,  who  is  a  leader  in  the  social  and  busi- 
ness afifairs  of  St.  Joseph.  This  family  home, 
erected  by  Milton  Tootle,  is  at  nth  and  Charles 

streets. 

♦-•-♦ 


ENNETT  REECE.  a  prominent  farmer 
of  Buchanan  County,  residing  in  sec- 
tion 18,  townshi])  56.  range  34,  in 
Agency  township,  has  been  a  lifelong 
resident  of  this  county,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  the  time  he  spent  in  the  army  during 
the  Civil  War  and  one  year  in  Texas  and  Ar- 
kansas. He  was  born  in  DeKalb,  Buchanan 
County,  Missouri,  November  15.  1844,  and  is  a 
son  of  Jacob  and  Elizabeth  (Smith)   Reece. 

Jacob  Reece  was  born  in  Johnson  County, 
Tennessee,  November  t,  t8o2.  and  was  one  of  the 
four  following  children  of  Jacob  Reece,  Sr. :  Joel, 
Hugh,  Jacob  and  Mary.  Jacob  Reece,  father  of 
our  subject,  lived  in  his  native  county  39  years, 
then  in  1841  accompanied  l)y  his  family  made  the 
trip  overland  with  two  four-horse  wagons  to 
Buchanan  Count)-,  Missouri.  Here  he  entered 
40  acres  of  land,  and  in  time  added  to  it  until  at 
his  death  hi^  farm  C('nii)rised  240  acres.     He  was 


a  very  successful  farmer,  and  rose  to  a  position 
of  means.  His  death  occurred  January  12,  1879. 
aged  76  years.  He  was  a  Democrat  in  politics, 
and  a  Southern  sympathizer  during  the  war.  He 
married  Elizabeth  Smith,  who  was  born  in  North 
Carolina  in  1809,  ^^^  was  a  daughter  of  Abner 
and  Mehitabel  Smith.  She  died  in  1879,  having 
reared  the  following  children  :  Rebecca  (Berman), 
deceased  ;  Elizabeth  (Wilson),  deceased  ;  Harvey, 
who  lives  in  Arkansas  and  was  a  member  of  the 
same  regiments  as  our  subject  during  the  Civil 
War;  Melinda  (Dunn),  of  St.  Joseph;  Bennett; 
Jacob  S.,  deceased ;  Hugh  A.,  deceased ;  and 
John  C. 

Bennett  Reece  was  reared  on  the  home  farm 
and  lived  at  home  until  early  in  the  Civil  War, 
when  he  enlisted,  on  September  21,  1861,  in  Com- 
l^any  C  of  Boyd's  Battalion.  After  six  months 
in  the  infantry  he  reenlisted  in  Shelby's  brigade 
of  cavalry.  Third  Missouri,  with  which  he  there- 
after continued.  He  participated  in  the  following 
engagements  :  Lexington  ;  Pea  Ridge  ;  Independ- 
ence :  Lone  Jack  ;  Newtonia  ;  Prairie  Grove  ;  sec- 
ond battle  of  Springfield  ;  shirmishes  attending 
the  battle  of  Helena;  raid  through  Missouri; 
Steele's  raid  to  Camden  ;  and  Price's  raid  through 
Missouri.  He  surrendered  with  his  regiment  at 
Shreveport,  Louisiana,  on  June  9,  1865,  after 
nearl}-  four  years  of  continuous  service,  having 
never  been  wounded  nor  taken  captive  during  that 
time.  Returning  home,  he  engaged  in  farming 
with  a  l)rother-in-law  until  December  26,  1866, 
when  he  was  married  and  immediately  after 
moved  to  Fannin  County,  Texas,  where  he 
raised  one  crop.  He  then  went  to  Benton  Count\-, 
Arkansas,  and  at  the  end  of  one  year  returned  to 
P>uchanan  County,  wliere  he  has  since  remained. 
He  has  a  farm  of  too  acres,  which  he  cleared  of 
brush  and  timber  and  converted  into  a  modern 
farm.  He  built  a  comfortable  home,  a  barn  and 
other  good  out-buildings,  and  has  been  highly 
successful.  He  devotes  his  land  to  the  raising  oT 
wheat  and  is  also  extensivelv  engaged  in  stock- 
raising. 

Mr.  Reece  was  united  in  marriage  with  Lucy 
A.  Lawless,  who  was  born  in  Kentucky.  October 
24,  1852.  and  is  a  daughter  of  Eli  and  Elizabeth 
(Still)  Lawless,  natives  of  Kentucky,  who  came 
to  Buchanan  County  by  steamboat  in  Novem])er. 
ifs53.  Our  subject  and  his  wife  have  four  chil- 
dren, as  follows:  Robert  V.,  of  this  county,  who' 
has  two  children. — Clara  and  Gladys  ;  Edward, 
wlio  has  a  daughter, — Maude  N. ;  Laura  L.,  who 
married  Edward  King,  and  has  two  children, — 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


347 


Madge  and  Opal ;  and  Aiaude  E.,  who  married 
James  Brinton  and  has-a  son, — Reece.  Mr.  Reece 
is  unswerving  in  his  allegiance  to  the  Democratic 
party.  Fraternally,  he  is  a  member  of  the  Inde- 
pendent Order  of  Odd  Fellows. 


♦ » » 


G.  NOTHHOUSE,  one  of  the  promi- 
nent and  successful  farmers  of 
Washington  township,  Buchanan 
County,  who  resides  on  his  fine  farm 
of  8 1  acres,  situated  in  sections  7 
and  t8,  township  57,  range  54,  was  born  in  Ba- 
varia, Germany,  March  15,  1846,  and  is  a  son  of 
Andrew  and  Magdalena  Nothhouse. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  spent  their  lives  on 
the  old  home  farm  in  Bavaria,  wdiere  thev  reared 
a  family- of  five  children,  W.  G.  being  the  only 
one  to  seek  his  fortune  across  the  Atlantic. 

Mr.  Nothhouse  enjoyed  good  educational  ad- 
vantages in  the  ( ierman  schools  and  then  served 
the  necessary  three  years  in  the  army,  hence  was 
27  years  of  age  when,  in  1873,  with  his  bride,  he 
started  for  America.  He  soon  secured  employ- 
ment as  foreman  in  a  sugar  and  glucose  factor  v. 
at  Bufifalo.  New  York,  and  continued  in  the  em- 
ploy of  one  man  for  eight  years,  spending  two 
years  of  this  period,  at  Peoria,  Illinois.  In  1881 
he  came  to  Missouri,  accepting  the  charge  of  the 
sugar  and  glucose  factory  of  Saxton  &  W'hitlock, 
at  St.  Joseph,  and  managed  this  large  plant  for 
three  years.  His  health  failed,  however,  imder 
this  strain  and  confinement,  and  with  the  idea  of 
getting  into  the  open  air  he  embarked  in  farm- 
ing. He  bought  his  present  farm  of  81  acres,  sit- 
uated in  sections  7  and  18,  Washington  townshijx 
At  that  time  the  place  was  entirely  unimproved 
and  the  changes  wrought  by  Mr.  Nothhouse  in  the 
past  20  years  but  serve  to  show  what  can  be  ac- 
complished by  a  hard  and  persevering  worker. 
His  land  is  acknowledged  to  be  equal  to  the  best  in 
the  county,  capable  of  a  high  state  of  cultivation 
and  productive  to  the  highest  degree.  He  raises 
corn,  rye,  oats  and  hay,  in  addition  to  all  kinds 
of  choice  vegetables  and  fruits,  and  has  devoted 
considerable  attention  also  to  horses,  cattle  and 
hogs.  His  farm  is  all  that  an  agriculturist  could 
desire,  well  watered  and  well  located,  making  one 
of  the  most  comfortable  homes  in  Washington 
township.  Mr.  Nothhouse  has  proved  also  the 
value  of  an  outdoor  life,  having  regained  the 
health  almost  lost  in  the  heat  and  fumes  of  chem- 
icals in  the  factorv. 
18 


In  1873  Mr.  Nothhouse  married  Barbara 
Ratzer,  who  was  also  born  in  Bavaria,  and  they 
have  two  children  :  Alargaret  and  Michael  A.,  both 
exceedingly  intelligent  young  people.  They  have 
had  excellent  educational  opportunities  and  are 
favorites  in  local  social  circles.  The  family  be- 
long to  the  Catholic  Church. 

Politically,  Mr.  Nothhouse  is  identified  with 
the  Democratic  party,  but  has  never  accepted  any 
but  school  offices  in  his  township.  He  has  been 
very  active  in  school  niatters  and  is  president  of 
the  Riverside  School  Board.  In  addition  to  his 
valuable  farm,  he  owns  property  in  St.  Joseph, 
consisting  of  two  houses  and  lots  at  i8th  and 
OHve  streets.  He  has  always  taken  a  public 
spirited  interest  in  local  affairs  and  has  given  his 
support  to  all  movements  which,  in  his  opinion, 
were  beneficial  to  the  township.  His  contributions 
to  religious  work  have  been  as  liberal  as  his  means 
would  permit,  and  he  stands,  to-day,  one  of  the 
most  highly  respected  men  of  his  communitv. 


♦  * » 


ON.  ROBERT  M.  STEWART,  one  time 
(iovernor   of   the   great   imperial   State 
of  Missouri,  a  man  of  winning  manner, 
brilliant    intellect    and    compelling    in- 
fiuence,    whose    greatest    achievements 
were  somewhat  clouded  by  his  personal  eccentric- 
ities, began  life  as  a  farmer  boy,  born  near  Trux- 
ton.  New  York,  March  12,  1815. 

From  the  age  of  17  until  the  age  of  20.  Mr. 
Stewart  taught  school  in  his  native  locality,  and 
then  went  to  Kentucky,  where  he  studied  law  and 
was  admitted  to  the  bar,  at  Louisville.  In  1839 
he  came  to  Buchanan  County,  Missouri,  locating 
in  Bloomington  township  and  practicing  wherever 
the  court  happened  to  sit,  at  Sparta  or  at  Black- 
snake  Hills.  So  able  and  brilliant  was  he,  that  in 
1845  '^^  ^^■^-'^  elected  to  the  State  Constitutional 
Convention,  and  from  1846  to  1857  he  served  in 
the  State  Senate.  In  the  latter  year  he  was 
elected  as  a  Democrat  to  succeed  Governor  Polk, 
upon  the  latter's  resignation. 

Governor  Stewart  was  a  delegate  from  Buch- 
anan County  to  the  famous  convention  of 
1861.  He  ardently  supported  the  Union 
and  decried  secession  and  he  helped  to 
save  Missouri  to  the  Union,  an  action 
which  was  of  a  national  character.  He  was 
one  of  the  projectors  of  the  Hannibal  &  St.  Joseph 
Railroad,  helping  to  survey  the  line.  It  was 
mainly  through  his  eloquence  and  logic  that  the 


348 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY  AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


right-of-way  was  secured.  Governor  Stewart 
never  married.  His  death  occurred  September 
21.  1 8/ I,  and  there  was  a  g'eneral  suspension  of 
business  in  St.  Joseph  on  the  day  of  his  funeral. 
His  remains  were  laid  away  at  Mount  Mora 
Cemetery. 

Governor  Stewart's  administration  lacked  the 
dignity  which  usually  marks  the  g"ubeniatorial 
functions  and,  in  a  way,  brought  reproach  upon 
the  State,  although  personally  he  was  beloved  and 
admired  generally,  through  individual  character- 
istics. While  many  of  his  acts  were  disappoint- 
ing and  in  some  respects  objectionable,  it  is  not 
on  record  that  he  was  ever  a  party  to  corruption 
or  dishonesty,  his  faults  being  those  of  many  of 
the  brilliant  men  of  history,  who  have  been  their 
own  worst  enemies.  With  all  his  faults,  he  was  a 
good  Governor,  proud  of  the  State  which  had 
honored  him,  an  urgent  advocate  of  her  internal 
improvements  and  intolerant  of  those  who  wished 
to  make  capital  out  of  her  necessities.  He  was  a 
man  of  intellectual  power  and  of  such  courtly 
bearing  upon  occasion,  that  when  he  met  the 
Prince  of  Wales,  now  King  Edward  VH,  on  his 
visit  to  St.  Louis,  the  latter  expressed  himself 
more  impressed  by  Governor  Stewart's  manner 
than  by  that  of  any  other  American. 

His  last  years  were  passed  at  St.  Joseph.  An 
appointment  as  colonel  of  volunteers,  bv  General 
Fremont,  was  later  rescinded,  for  reason,  by  Gen- 
eral Halleck,  and  then  his  public  career  closed. 


♦  <  » 


ON.  JAMES  M.  JOHNSON,  a  promi- 
nent citizen  of  St.  Joseph,  judge  elect 
of  the  Kansas  City  Court  of  Appeals, 
and  senior  member  of  the  law  firm  of 
Johnson,  Rusk  &  Stringfellow,  was  born 
in  St.  Joseph.  Missouri,  July  5,  1862.  He  is  a  son 
of  James  B.  and  Henrietta  ]\I.  (Albertson) 
Johnson. 

The  father  of  our  subject,  the  late  James  B. 
Johnson,  was  born  near  Wheeling,  Virginia  (now 
West  Virginia) .  Init  was  reared  in  Ohio.  Shortly 
after  marriage  he  came  to  St.  Joseph,  Missouri, 
embarking  in  the  stone  and  marble  business  in 
1857,  and  following  this  industry  through  the 
greater  part  of  his  life.  During  the  Civil  War 
he  served  as  a  member  of  the  Home  Guards  and 
was  noted  for  his ,  firm  adherence  to  the  Union 
cause  during  that  unhappy  time,  in  the  face  of 
popular  feeling  casting  his  vote  for  Abraham 
Lincoln.  He  was  just  as  firm  in  his  religious 
convictions  and  until  the  close  of  his  life,  in  1895, 


at  the  age  of  64  years,  he  was  a  consistent  member 
of  the  Baptist  Church.  He  belonged  to  the  Ma- 
sonic fraternity. 

James  B.  Johnson, was  united  in  marriage  with 
Henrietta  M.  Albertson,  who  was  born  at  Or- 
leans, Indiana.  She  still  survives  and  resides  with 
a  daughter  at  Los  Angeles,  California.  The  four 
children  born  to  this  union  were  :  Flarriet  M.,  who 
is  the  wife  of  F.  A.  Pollard,  of  Los  Angeles,  Cal- 
ifornia ;  James  M.,  who  is  the  subject  of  this 
record ;  Alary  L.,  who  is  the  wife  of  Walter  Boyt, 
of  Des  Moines,  Iowa;  and  Benjamin  F.,  who  is 
the  manager  of  the  collection  department  of  the 
law  firm  of  Johnson,  Rusk  &  Stringfellow. 

Judge  Johnson  has  spent  the  greater  part  of 
his  life  in  St.  Joseph,  having  been  educated  here 
in  the  common  and  high  schools  and  pursued  his 
law  studies  with  prominent  firms  in  this  city, 
subsequently  attaining  high  rank  in  his  profes- 
sion here.  He  entered  upon  the  study  of  the  law 
in  the  office  of  Crosby  &  Rusk  in  1882,  and  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  in  June,  1884.  He  has  been 
in  continuous  practice  in  this  city  ever  since,  hav- 
ing been  associated  with  a  number  of  prominent 
attorneys  of  Buchanan  County.  He  first  entered 
the  firm  of  Craig,  Crosby,  Rusk  &  Craig.  Six 
months  later  he  entered  into  partnership  with  W. 
K.  James,  which  continued  one  year  under  the 
firm  name  of  James  &  Johnson.  He  was  then 
associated  with  James  M.  Wilsou.  the  present 
city  counselor,  under  the  style  of  Johnson  & 
Wilson,  until  1892,  which  partnership  was  fol- 
lowed by  Dowe,  Johnson  &  Rusk  until  1895,  when 
the  present  firm  was  established.  The  firm  of 
Johnson,  Rusk  &  Stringfellow  carries  on  a  gen- 
eral law  practice  and  its  ability  and  experience 
has  brought  it  to  the  front  in  almost  all  the  im- 
portant litigation  of  this  section.  Mr.  Johnson, 
the  head  of  this  strong  firm,  has  been  particularly 
prominent,  and  was  admitted  in  October,  1902, 
to  practice  in  the  United  States  Supreme  Court. 

For  years  Mr.  Johnson  has  been  one  of  the. 
leaders  in  the  Republican  party  in  this  section 
and  his  nomination  to  the  position  of  judge  of  the 
Court  of  Appeals  was  both  a  tribute  to  his  loy- 
alty to  his  party  and  to  his  eminent  fitness.  His 
election  to  the  office  was  undoubtedly  a  personal 
triumph  as  he  is  the  first  Republican  ever  so 
honored  in  this  district.  It  was  gratifying  to  him 
to  note  the  loyalty  of  the  citizens  of  St.  Josei)h, 
who  testified  to  their  confidence  by  offering  no  op- 
position, regardless  of  party  preference.  He  takes 
his  place  on  the  bench  unhampered  by  political 
promises  and  that  his  administration  will  be  one 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


349 


of  spotless  integrity  none  can  question  who  know 
this  man  of  strong-  determination,  clean,  manly  life 
and  honorable  standards.  Judge  Johnson  was 
elected  by  a  majority  which  placed  him  in  the 
lead  of  the  presidential  ticket  in  Buchanan 
County  and,  with  one  exception,  the  State  ticket 
in  Kansas  City  and  also  in  St.  Joseph.  This 
election  will  necessitate  his  removal  to  Kansas 
City  and  the  severing  of  many  pleasant  social 
ties. 

On  November  30,  1887,  Judge  Johnson  was 
married  to  Jessie  Ambrose,  who  was  born  at 
Bloomington,  Illinois,  and  is  a  daughter  of  J.  W. 
and  Hannah  S.  Ambrose.  Mr.  Ambrose  settled 
at  St.  Joseph  in  Mrs.  Johnson's  childhood  and 
she  was  a  schoolmate  with  her  husband.  At  the 
time  of  the  death  of  Mr.  Ambrose,  in  1891,  he  was 
president  of  the  Ambrose  Manufacturing  Com- 
pany. His  widow  still  survives.  Judge  Johnson 
and  wife  have  four  children :  Donald  W.,  Elsa, 
Jessie  Clayton  and  S.  M.,  the  three  oldev  ones  still 
students 
Episcopal  Church 

Judge  Johnson  is  very  prominent  in  ^Masonry, 
belonging  to  Charitv  Lodge,  No.  331,  A.  F.  & 
A.  M. ;  Mitchell  Chapter,  No.  89,  R.  A.  M. ;  Hugh 
de  Pavens  Commanderv,  No.  51,  K.  T. ;  Moila 
Temple,  A.  A.  O.  N.  M'.  S.  ;  St.  Joseph  Lodge  of 
Perfection,  14th  degree,  No.  6,  A.  A..  S.  R.  He 
belongs  also  to  the  Benton,  Country  and  Com- 
mercial clubs  of  St.  Joseph.  For  some  years  he 
served  as  president  of  the  leading  Republican 
club  of  this  city  and  in  this  connection  made  hosts 
of  friends.  His  future  is  looked  to  with  much 
interest,  for  it  is  a  significant  fact  that  he  has 
been  a  masterful  force  in  whatever  he  has  under- 
taken. 


The  familv  belongs  to  the  Protestant 


E\^  JAMES  P.  BRADY,  pastor  of  St. 
Mary's  Catholic  Church  of  St.  Joseph, 
is  one  of  the  younger  members  of  the 
clergy,  who  has  been  very  rapidly  ad- 
vanced from  one  responsible  position  to 
another,  for  Father  Brady  has  only  been  in  the 
priesthood  since  1897.  lie  was  born  in  Noda- 
way County,  Missouri,  on  April  18,  1873,  and  is 
one  of  a  family  of  10  born  to  his  parents,  Wil- 
liam and  Rose  fGrowney)  Brady. 

Father  Brady's  early  education  was  obtained 
in  the  common  schools,  but  as  his  intellect  de- 
veloped he  was  given  better  opportunities  at  Con- 
ception College,  where  he  graduated  in  the  class 


of  1892.  When  he  entered  upon  the  study  of 
theology  and  preparation  for  the  priesthood,  he 
went  to  Montreal,  Canada,  where  he  spent  four 
years  in  Grand  Seminary.  Upon  his  return  to 
Missouri,  he  entered  the  seminary  at  St.  Louis, 
and  was  graduated  there  in  1897.  On  May  30, 
1897,  he  was  ordained  to  the  priesthood,  the 
solemn  services  being  conducted  by  Rt.  Rev. 
Bishop  Burke,  who  is  now  Bishop  of  the  St. 
Joseph  Diocese. 

Father  Brady  entered  upon  his  clerical  work 
as  second  assistant  at  the  Cathedral  of  St.  Joseph, 
a  holy  office  he  filled  until  he  was  advanced  to  be 
first  assistant  and  continued  in  the  latter  position 
until  February  20.  1904.  when  he  was  appointed 
to  his  present  pastorate.  St.  Mary's  has  a  congre- 
gation of  85  families  and  has  a  parish  school  at- 
tached, which  is  under  the  care  of  three  Sisters. 
Father  Brady  was  also  chaplain  at  the  Academy 
of  the  Sacred  Heart  and  at  the  St.  Joseph  Hos- 
pital, while  stationed  at  the  Cathedral. 

The  people  of  St.  Joseph  have  had  a  chance 
to  see  the  quality  of  the  work  of  Father  Brady, 
during  his  pastorate  in  this  city,  and,  irrespective 
of  creed,  combine  to  accord  him  the  respect  and 
esteem  due  to  a  good,  faithful  minister  and  an  up- 
right, cultured  Christian  man. 


-♦-•-♦- 


L.  McDANIEL,  one  of  the  most  promi- 
nent and  extensive  agriculturists  of 
Center  township,  Buchanan  County, 
has  risen  from  the  lowest  round  of  the 
financial  ladder  to  a  position  of  means. 
He  was  born  in  Platte  County,  Missouri,  June  19, 
1850,  and  is  a  son  of  D.  L.  McDaniel,  Sr.,  and 
his  wife,  Phoebe  JNIoore.  His  grandfather,  John 
McDaniel,  was  born  in  North  Carolina,  became 
a  pioneer  of  Indiana  and  at  the  time  of  his  death 
at  the  age  of  80  years,  was  a  resident  of  Platte 
County,  Missouri.  He  was  a  soldier  in  the  Mexi- 
can War,  serving  under  Colonel  Doniphan,  who 
died  in  St.  Joseph  a  few  years  ago. 

D.  L.  r^icDaniel,  Sr..  was  born  in  Indiana  and 
came  to  ^lissouri  with  his  parents.  He  settled  in 
Platte  Countv,  where  he  was  married  and  resided 
until  1850.  in  that  year  he  started  for  the  gold 
fields  of  California,  and  with  15  others  was 
drowned  in  Green  River,  which  they  were  trying 
to  cross  in  a  wagon  during  high  water.  Our  sub- 
ject never  saw  his  father.  The  wife  of  D.  L. 
McDaniel.  Sr.,  Pheobe  Moore,  was  born  in  In- 
diana in  1826,  and  came  to  Missouri  in  a  wagon 


350 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH- 


with  her  parents  at  an  early  day.  She  was  a 
(lau,q-hter  of  WilHam  C.  and  Carrie  Moore.  She 
had  two  cliildren  as  a  result  of  her  union  with 
Mr.  McDaniel, — Melissa,  of  St.  Joseph  and  D. 
L.,  Jr.  She  formed  a  second  marital  union,  the 
issue  of  which  was  three  sons  and  five  daughters. 
Her  death  occurred  at  Faucett  at  the  age  of  71 
years. 

D.  L.  McDaniel  was  reared  by  his  step-father 
and  his  mother,  and  at  the  age  of  five  years  was 
taken  to  Jefiferson  County,  Kansas,  where  he 
lived  10  years.  He  then  came  to  Buchanan 
County,  where  he  has  since  resided  with  the  ex- 
ception of  two  years  spent  in  Platte  Coimty.  He 
has  always  followed  farming,  and  although  he 
never  inherited  a  cent  of  money  nor  a  piece  of 
property  from  any  one  he  became  an  extensive 
land-owner.  His  first  purchase  was  a  tract  of  133 
acres  in  Center  township,  and  as  his  intelligent 
management  gradually  increased  his  means  he 
added  to  his  holdings  until  he  owned  925  acres. 
A  portion  of  this  he  has  since  divided  among  his 
children  and  still  retains  some  600  acres.  On  this 
property  he  has  five  dwelling  houses  (in  two  of 
which  his  two  sons  live),  substantial  barns,  gran- 
aries and  other  necessary  outbuildings.  All  im- 
provements of  consequence  have  been  made  by 
him.  He  set  out  a  good  orchard  of  fruit  trees, 
and  many  shade  trees  as  well.  The  place  is 
equipped  with  standard-bred  stock,  which  he 
raises,  and  the  land  is  devoted  to  the  raising  of 
grain. 

In  1873,  Mr.  McDaniel  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Martha  Moore,  who  was  born  in  Craw- 
ford township,  Buchanan  County,  Missouri,  Sep- 
tember 15,  1855,  and  has  always  lived  here.  She 
is  a  daughter  of  William  and  Elizabeth  (Long) 
Moore,  natives  of  Kentucky  and  Tennessee,  re- 
spectively. Her  maternal  grandfather,  John 
Lewis  Long,  came  from  Tennessee  to  this  county 
and  secured  a  farm  for  each  of  his  12  children  in 
the  same  neighborhood.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  McDaniel 
have  eight  children,  as  follows  :  Phoebe,  who  mar- 
ried Dr.  G.  W.  Isaacs  of  Weatherby,  Missouri, 
and  has  two  sons, — Lyman  G.  and  Donald  ;  E.  P., 
who  is  married  and  lives  one  mile  and  a  quarter 
from  the  McDaniel  homestead  on  the  Sparta  road  ; 
Larry,  who  lives  at  home ;  Oscar  D..  living  a  mile 
east  of  the  homestead,  who  is  married  and  has  a 
son, — Odell ;  and  Maude,  Elizabeth,  Charles  and 
Paul,  who  live  at  home.  Politically,  Mr.  McDan- 
iel has  always  been  a  Democrat  and  is  in  favor  of 
the  gold  standard.  He  is  a  Royal  Arch  Mason, 
Knight  Templar,  and  Mystic  Shriner.     He  also 


belongs  to  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  He  has  resided  at 
his  present  home  for  a  period  of  27  years  and  is 
well  known  to  the  people  of  the  community. 


^  *» 


ON.  FRANK  B.  FULKERSON,  an  at- 
torney of  St.  Joseph,  Missouri,  and 
Member  of  Congress  from  the  Fourth 
Congressional  District,  was  born  and 
reared  in  this  State.  He  is  a  son  of 
Frederick  D.  and  Waity  M.  Fulkerson,  and  was 
reared  on  his  father's  farm  in  Lafayette  County, 
Missouri. 

Our  subject  attended  the  district  school  until 
prepared  for  college.  He  then  entered  West- 
minster College,  Fulton,  Missouri,  from  which  he 
was  graduated  in  1888.  For  two  years  thereafter 
he  was  engaged  in  teaching,  after  which  he 
entered  law  school,  and  took  the  regular  course, 
receiving  his  degree  from  the  Missouri  State  Uni- 
versity in  1892,  since  which  time  he  has  been 
actively  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  profession. 
Mr.  Fulkerson  was  married  to  Parthenia  Mc- 
Melan  in  1898.  They  are  members  of  West- 
minster Presbyterian  Church.  Mr.  Fulkerson  is 
a  Republican  in  politics. 


♦ » » 


( )N.  HENRY  M.  RAM  FY.  Among  the 
I)rominent  men  of  Missouri  whose  biog- 
raphy can  but  add  interest  to  a  history 
of  distinguished  citizens,  is  Judge 
Henry  M.  Ramey,  of  St.  Joseph,  who 
is  known  all  over  the  State  as  an  eminent 
lawyer,  admirable  judge  and  honorable,  useful 
citizen.  He  was  born  in  Oktibbeha  County,  Mis- 
sissippi, February  14.  1844,  and  is  a  son  of  Dan- 
iel F.  and  Amanda  Malvina  (Young)  Ramey. 

The  Ramey  family,  of  French  extraction  and 
Huguenot  faith,  fled  from  France  in  the  days  of 
religious  persecution,  and  found  in  Virginia  a 
hospita'ble  welcome  and  peaceful,  quiet  homes. 
The  immediate  ancestors  of  the  father  of  Judge 
Ramey  removed  to  the  rich  farming  lands  of 
Mississippi  very  early,  and  there  Daniel  F.  Ramey 
carried  on  agriculture,  reared  his  nine  children 
and  passed  away  in  advanced  age,  a  type  of  the 
old-time  planter  and  open-hearted,  hospitable 
vSouthern  gentleman. 

The  mother  of  Judge  Ramey  still  resides  on 
the  old  Mississij)pi  homestead.  She  was  born  in 
Tennessee,   of    Fnglish    parentage.     During   the 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


351 


Civil  War,  her  solicitude  for  her  eldest  son.  our 
subject,  tried  her  sorely,  but  she  lived  to  see  him 
pass  practicall}'  unharmed  through  that  great 
struggle  and,  through  his  own  efforts,  make  a 
name  and  fame  for  himself  in  a  sister  State. 

Until  he  attained  the  age  of  17  years,  Henry 
]M.  Ramey's  life  was  spent  on  his  father's  planta- 
tion, securing  only  such  educational  advantages 
as  were  afforded  by  the  subscription  schools  of 
the  locality,  the  course  of  study  including  only 
the  common  English  branches.  Although  but  a 
home-reared  and  home-loving  boy  at  the  opening 
of  the  Civil  \\'ar,  the  times  soon  made  a  man  of 
him  and  his  determination  was  soon  formed  to 
take  part  in  the  coming  strife.  Much  against  his 
])rudent  father's  will  and  his  loving  mother's 
counsel,  he  joined  a  party  of  his  young  friends. 
who  at  the  time  were  students  at  the  Louisiana 
State  Military  Institute,  which  was  then  under  the 
charge  of  William  T.  Sherman,  who  later  became 
so  distinguished  an  officer  in  the  Union  Army. 

This  band  of  young  men,  enthusiastic  in  their 
devotion  to  the  South  and  its  institutions,  disre- 
garded the  advice  of  friends  and  teachers  and  or- 
ganized for  themselves  a  military  company,  at 
Monroe,  Louisiana,  under  the  name  of  the 
*'Ouchita  Blues,"  and  straightway  tendered  their 
services  to  the  executive  of  the  State.  Although 
the  Governor  declined  their  services  as  the  quota 
had  already  been  filled,  he  did  not  discourage 
them,  offering  arms  and  accoutrements  and  prom- 
ising to  call  them  when  needed.  Again  their  en- 
thusiasm led  them  on  and  the  company  went  to 
Lynchburg,  Mrginia,  offered  their  services  to 
the  Confederate  government  and  on  April  11, 
1 86 1,  the  "Ouchita  Blues"  became  a  part  of  the 
Confederate  forces,  being  mustered  in,  for  three 
years  or  the  war,  as  the  Fourth  Louisiana  Bat- 
talion under  the  command  of  Colonel  ^Iclnery. 
one  of  their  number. 

To  this  battalion  was  assigned  the  duty  of 
guarding  at  Libby  Prison,  Richmond,  Virginia, 
the  Federal  prisoners  v.ho  had  been  captured  at 
the  ])attle  of  Bull  Run.  In  the  succeeding  winter 
this  battalion  operated  under  General  Floyd  in 
West  Virginia,  and  afterward  on  the  Georgia  and 
South  Carolina  coasts,  an  incident  of  this  service 
being  the  battle  of  Secessionville,  on  James  Island, 
near  Charleston.  Later,  it  garrisoned  Fort  Jack- 
son, below  Savannah,  and  it  was  subsequently 
transferred  to  the  Department  of  the  Mississippi, 
under  Gen.  Joseph  E.  Johnston.  At  the  solicita- 
tion of  his  devoted  mother,  our  subject  secured 
a    transfer    to    the    14th    Mississippi    Regiment, 


which  was  made  up  of  young  men  from  his  own 
neighborhood  and  he  continued  in  this  command 
until  the  close  of  the  war. 

Mr.  Ramey  served  under  'General  Johnston 
in  the  rear  of  \'icksburg,  during  the  period  when 
General  Grant  was  forcing  the  town's  capitula- 
tion by  General  Pemberton,  was  under  the  same 
commander  in  the  Tennessee-Georgia  campaign, 
and  participated  in  all  the  engagements  from 
Resaca  to  Atlanta,  and  under  General  Hood  in 
the  operations  against  the  rear  of  General  Sher- 
man's army.  He  fared  much  better  than  many 
of  his  companions,  but  he  did  not  entirely  escape 
injury.  In  the  battle  of  Franklin,  while  engaged 
in  a  charge  on  the  right  of  General  Cockrell's 
brigade,  he  was  wounded  in  the  shoulder  by  a 
minie  ball.  This  battle  was  simply  a  slaughter 
and  he  was  one  of  the  10  of  his  company  who 
came  out  alive.  His  wound  prevented  him  from 
taking  part  in  the  battle  of  Nashville,  but  he 
subsequently  resumed  his  place  in  the  ranks,  par- 
ticipated in  the  Carolina  campaign  under  his  old 
commander.  General  Johnston,  and  was  with  the 
troops  sui^rendered  by  that  distinguished  officer 
to  General  Sherman,  in  April,  1865,  at  Greens- 
boro, North  Carolina. 

During  a  period  of  four  years  of  incessant 
activity,  the  youthful  soldier  faithfully  discharged 
every  dut}-  devolving  upon  him,  and  immediately 
upon  the  restoration  of  peace,  resumed  his  inter- 
rupted efforts  to  secure  an  education.  Within 
two  years  he  had  acquired  a  liberal  English  edu- 
cation and  application-  to  books  increased  his 
knowledge  in  every  branch.  After  a  short  sea- 
son on  the  farm,  he  started  on  a  prospecting  tour 
through  the  West,  visiting  Utah  and  Wyoming, 
and  in  1868  his  travels  brought  him  to  St.  Jo- 
seph. He  had  decided  to  begin  the  study  of  the 
law  and,  in  order  to  provide  for  his  wants,  secured 
employment  in  a  hat  store.  All  his  available  time 
was  spent  with  his  books.  While  thus  engaged, 
he  became  acquainted  with  one  who  had  a  great 
influence  on  his  life  at  that  time,  Hon.  Plenry 
M.  Vories,  then  a  leading  attorney  at  the  ^lis- 
souri  bar.  The  attraction  was  mutual  and  con- 
tinued for  many  years.  In  addition  to  valuable 
instruction,  Mr.  Vories  stimulated  his  ambition 
and  gave  him  use  of  his  own  library,  both  im- 
portant helps  to  the  struggling  young  student. 
His  close  application  and  unremitting  study  re- 
sulted in  his  admission  to  the  bar  in  1869  and 
in  the  following  year  he  entered  into  practice. 

From  the  very  first  his  ability  was  recognized, 
and  in  a  few  vears  he  attained  a  recognized  posi- 


352 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


tion.  In  1874  he  was  elected  prosecuting  at- 
torney of  Buchanan  County  and  was  reelected  in 
1876.  At  the  end  of  the  second  term  he  declined 
to  again  become  a  candidate  and  settled  down  to 
a  largely  increased  private  practice.  In  1889 
he  was  appointed  by  Governor  Francis  judge  of 
Division  No.  2,  Circuit  Court  of  Buchanan  Coun- 
ty, and  at  the  ensuing  election  he  received  the 
Democratic  nomination  for  the  full  judicial  term, 
and  was  elected  without  opposition  on  his  personal 
popularity,  the  Republicans  declining  to  nominate 
a  candidate.  After  eight  years  of  service.  Judge 
Ramey  declined  another  nomination  and  again 
returned  to  his  private  practice,  but  in  November, 
1902,  he  was  again  elected  judge  of  the  Circuit 
Court  and  assumed  the  duties  of  the  office  on 
January  i.  1903. 

Judge  Ramey  was  married  on  October  3, 
1876,  to  Adele  Vegely,  who  is  a  daughter  of  the 
late  August  F.  Vegely,  who  died  in  St.  Joseph 
in  1885.  Two  sons  were  born  to  this  marriage. 
One  of  these,  Henry  M.  Ramey,  Jr.,  is  one  of 
the  prominent  young  attorneys  of  St.  Joseph, 
having  his  office  in  the  German  American  Bank 
Building.  The  other,  F.  A.  Ramey,  is  now  pre- 
paring himself  for  commercial  life.  Judge  Rame\ 
and  family  reside  in  one  of  the  aristocratic  sec- 
tions of  St.  Joseph,  having  an  elegant  modern 
residence  at  No.  2805  Frederick  avenue. 

Judge  Ramey  has  made  an  honorable  record 
in  his  long  judicial  career.  Personally  he  is  a 
man  of  deep  sympathies,  with  dignity  of  character 
and  address,  but  in  him  the  law  has  an  infiexible 
exponent.  In  a  marked  degree  he  possesses  those 
qualities  inseparable  from  a  successful  administra- 
tion of  the  judiciary.  He  is  a  profound  lawyer 
and  unites  with  an  equable  temperament,  keen, 
analytical  powers,  lofty  conceptions  of  the  re- 
sponsibilities of  his  position,  absolute  fearlessness 
in  the  discharge  of  duty  and  a  tender  leaning  to 
the  side  of  mercy. 


4 » » 


ILLIAM  LOGAN  WILLIAMS  is  the 
proprietor  of  a  beautiful  tract  of 
land  in  Buchanan  County,  known  as 
the  "Locust  Grove  Farm,"  which  con- 
sists of  290  acres  of  cultivated  fields 
and  rich  pastures,  situated  partly  in  Platte  and 
partly  in  Buchanan  County,  on  the  dividing  line. 
Mr.  Williams  was  born  near  Fayette,  in  Howard 
County,  Missouri,  April  22.  1840  and  is  a  son 
of  Fielding  and  Mary  Ann    (Collet)   Williams. 


Fielding  Williams  was  born  in  Kentucky,  a 
son  of  James  Williams,  who  came  to  Missouri 
at  an  early  date.  Fielding  settled  in  Howard 
County,  married  there  and  followed  tanning  and 
farming  until  1849.  This  year  marked  the  great 
exodus  to  the  West,  and  Mr.  Williams  started 
for  California,  overland,  with  his  ox-team  and 
equipment  for  mining.  His  death  took  place  in 
California,  in  1857,  at  the  age  of  57  years.  He 
was  a  veteran  of  the  Black  Hawk  War,  and  was 
a  stanch  Democrat  all  his  life.  He  was  a  worths- 
member  of  the  Baptist  Church. 

Fielding  Williams  married  Mary  Ann  Collet, 
who  was  also  born  in  Kentucky  and  came  in 
youth  to  Missouri  with  her  parents.  She  still 
survives  and  resides  with  members  of  her  fam- 
ily in  Idaho,  having  reached  the  age  of  86  years. 
The  children  of  Fielding  Williams  and  wife  were  : 
Alfred  M.,  deceased;  Sarah  Jane  (Grooms),  de- 
ceased ;  William  Logan,  of  this  sketch ;  George 
W\,  of  Idaho;  Mary  (Jackson),  deceased,  who 
lived  until  her  death  in  Idaho ;  Samuel  K. ; 
Amanda  (Martin)  ;  and  a  child  that  died  in  in- 
fancy. 

Our  subject  was  about  three  years  old  when 
his  parents  came  to  Buchanan  County  and  was 
15  when  they  removed  to  i\tchison  County,  Kan- 
sas. During  a  two  years'  residence  here,  ^Ir. 
Williams  had  farming  experience  and  became  in- 
terested in  the  stock  business  with  which  he  has 
been  prominently  identified  for  so  many  years,  but 
he  returned  to  the  home  farm  for  two  years  more. 
In  1862  he  started  for  Idaho,  crossing  the  plains 
and  the  moimtains  with  an  ox-team  and  worked 
for  a  time  at  mining  there.  Subsequently  he  en- 
gaged for  seven  years  in  packing  goods  between 
Umatilla,  Oregon,  and  Idaho  City.  In  1869  he 
returned  to  Buchanan  County  and  engaged  in  the 
buying,  feeding  and  shipping  of  stock,  being  very 
successful.  After  marriage  he  settled  down  to 
farming  and  stock-raising  in  this  county,  where 
lie  has  remained  in  business  ever  since,  with  tlie 
exception  of  two  years  spent  in  Kansas.  "Locust 
Grove  Farm"  is  justly  noted  for  the  high  grade 
of  its  cattle  and  hogs,  Mr.  Williams  keeping  some 
70  head  of  the  former  and  200  of  the  latter. 
He  also  grows  grains  indigenous  to  this  climate, 
in  both  lines  carrying  on  extensive  operations. 

On  October  8,  1872,  I\Ir.  Williams  married 
Sarah  F.  Buchanan,  who  was  born  in  Clay 
County,  Missouri,  October  3,  1841,  and  removed 
to  Platte  County  with  her  parents  in  1844.  She 
is  a  daughter  of  John  and  Eleanor  (Ballingcr) 
Buchanan,  who  came  to  ^Missouri  from  Kentucky 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


353 


in  1836.  The  father  died  here  aged  J^^  years  and 
the  mother,  aged  66  years.  Our  subject  and 
wife  have  two  children:  NeUie  and  Jay  Eldon, 
both  at  home.  Air.  Wilhams  and  wife  are  valued 
members  of  the  Christian  Church,  taking  an 
active  interest  in  the  various  departments  of 
church  work.  Politically,  Mr.  Williams  has  al- 
ways been  identified  with  the  Democratic  party. 
Having  mining  interests  in  California,  he  has 
made  a  number  of  trips  to  that  State,  but  has 
never  since  traveled  "in  a  manner  similar  to  the 

first   one. 

♦-•-♦^ 

HARLES  B.  FRANCE,  deceased,  late 
preside\it  of  the  State  National  Bank 
at  St.  Joseph,  was  one  of  the  leading 
financiers  of  the  State  of  Missouri.  He 
was  born  in  Roanoke  County,  Virginia, 
October  5,  1835,  and  w^as  a  son  of  John  and 
Mary  (McCullough)  France. 

When  a  lad  of  17  years,  he  removed  to  Louis- 
ville, Kentucky,  where  he  entered  a  bank.  In 
1854  he  came  to  St.  Joseph,  Missouri,  and  en- 
tered the  dry  goods  store  of  Donnell  &  Saxton 
as  a  clerk  and  remained  about  six  years.  He  then 
gave  up  the  mercantile  business  to  accept  the 
agency  of  the  Overland  Express  &  Freighting 
Company  at  Denver,  where  he  remained  for  sev- 
eral years.  In  1866  he  returned  to  St.  Joseph 
to  accept  the  position  of  assistant  cashier  in  the 
State  Savings  Bank,  which  in  that  year,  had  suc- 
ceeded the  State  Bank  of  ]\Iissouri.  At  this  time 
L.  M.  Lawson  was  president  and  Albe  M.  Saxton, 
cashier.  In  1871  when  the  bank  was  reorganized, 
Mr.  France  became  cashier,  and  in  1881,  when 
Albe  M.  Saxton  withdrew  from  the  corporation. 
Mr.  France  was  chosen  to  succeed  him  as  presi- 
dent, which  important  office  he  held  at  the  time 
of  his  decease,  the  State  Savings  Bank  having 
become  the  State  National  Bank  wath  a  paid-up 
capital  of  $1,000,000.  He  was  a  shrew'd  and  suc- 
cessful business  man  and  an  able  financier  and 
was  identified  with  many  of  St.  Joseph's  success- 
ful business  enterprises.  He  conceived  the  idea 
of  establishing  the  Stock  Yards  at  St.  Joseph  and 
promoted  the  company  and  floated  the  bonds 
which  made  the  enterprise  possible.  Until  his 
death  he  was  president  and  the  largest  individual 
stockholder  of  the  St.  Joseph  Stock  Yards  & 
Terminal  Company,  which  was  capitalized  at 
$1,000,000.  He  secured  for  St.  Joseph,  soon  after 
the  Stock  Yards  were  built,  the  Allerton  Packing 
Company,  the  Moran  Packing  Company,  and  the 


St.  Joseph  Packing  &  Transportation  Company, 
all  of  which  erected  large  packing  plants,  for 
that  time,  at  least,  which  houses  started  and  es- 
tablished the  St.  Joseph  live  stock  market,  into 
which  Swift  &  Company  ventured  two  years 
after  ]\Ir.  France's  death  and  which  has  been 
increased  to  its  present  strong  position.  He  was 
foremost  in  increasing  the  railroad  facilities  of 
St.  Joseph  and  in  the  upbuilding  of  the  city  as  a 
commercial  center.  He  was  interested  in  a  num- 
ber of  local  bond  and  investment  companies  and 
was  a  great  believer  in  the  future  of  St.  Joseph 
real  estate,  being  at  the  time  of  his  death  the 
largest  individual  taxpayer  on  real  property  in 
the  city.  His  value  as  a  business  citizen  can 
scarcely  be  overestimated. 

Mr.  France  possessed  initiative,  clear  judg- 
ment, keen  foresight  and  strong  nerve  and  once 
convinced  that  an  enterprise  was  feasible  left 
no  stone  unturned  in  making  it  a  success.  He 
was  a  man  of  great  determination  and  possessed 
of  remarkable  business  sagacity.  His  ability 
along  these  lines  was  so  universally  recognized 
by  the  best  business  men  of  the  city  that  his 
counsel  w^as  sought  in  connection  with  the  pro- 
motion of  every  enterprise  of  importance. 

Mr.  France  was  married  in  1865  to  ]\Iartha 
McDonald,  daughter  of  Dr.  Silas  McDonald,  one 
of  St.  Joseph's  pioneer  physicians,  and  they  had 
nine  children,  of  whom  the  following  survived 
him :  Robert  D. :  Sarah,  widow  of  Charles  E. 
Pratt ;  and  Albert  L. 

Probably  Mr.  France's  death  w^as  the  result 
of  the  great  American  disease — "overwork." 
With  a  weak  heart,  he  still  continued  to  manage 
and  direct  his  many  large  enterprises  and  the 
strain  became  too  heavy.  After  several  months 
of  impaired  health,  he  was  taken  seriously  ill 
and  in  a  few  days  passed  away,  on  August  29, 
1895.  He  was  ^survived  by  his  w'idow  and  three 
children. 

Politically,  the  late  ]\lr.  France  was  a  Demo- 
crat but  not  a  partisan,  and  accepted  no  political 
honors.  He  was  a  man  of  unusually  attractive 
personalitv.  and  the  confidence  he  inspired  in  men 
was  truly  based  on  his  upright  character.  He 
was  devoted  to  St.  Joseph  and  showed  his  pride 
and  interest  by  promoting  her  enterprises  and 
fostering  her  industries.  He  was  very  generous, 
giving  liberally  to  all  worthy  charities  in  a  quiet 
manner,  and  was  a  loyal  and  true  friend.  This 
loyal  friendship  often  cost  him  much.  Fle  was 
reserved  and  dignified  in  manner,  yet  gracious 
and  genial  at  the  proper  time.     He  was  an  un- 


354 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN    COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


assuming  man,  with  no  cant  in  his  makeup.  He 
was  unobtrusive  in  his  tastes  and  avoided  all 
l)ublicity.  He  was  seldom  seen  at  large  gather- 
ings of  a  public  character.  He  found  great  pleas- 
ure in  aiding  ambitious  and  worthy  young  men, 
both  by  his  wise  counsel  and  by  his  means,  to 
achieve  success  in  business.  He  was  a  deacon 
of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  and  took  an 
active  interest  in  all  that  concerned  its  welfare. 

At  the  time  of  his  death,  Mr.  France  was 
president  of  the  St.  Joseph  Clearing  House  Asso- 
ciation, of  which  he  was  one  of  the  founders. 
The  following  is  an  extract  from  resolutions 
passed  by  this  association  at  the  time  of  his  death  : 

"Alone  of  all  her  successful  citizens  Mr. 
France  limited  his  labors  to  the  city  of  his  first 
and  only  love.  He  seemed  to  want  nothing  that 
St.  Joseph  could  not  supply.  Sensitively  alive 
to  everything  pertaining  to  his  beloved  city,  he 
here  concentrated  the  results  of  his  life's  labors, 
and  with  untiring  zeal  and  faith  sought  to  make 
St.  Joseph  the  great  metropolis  of  the  valley." 


♦  * » 


ILLIAM  RIDENBAUGH.  who  en- 
joyed the  distinction  of  publishing  the 
first  newspaper  at  St.  Joseph,  and 
who  was  more  or  less  identified  with 
the  press  in  this  State  until  the  close 
of  his  life,  was  born  at  Bedford.  Pennsylvania. 
February  19,  1821,  and  died  at  St.  Joseph,  Mis- 
souri. October  18,   1874. 

Mr.  Ridcnbaugh  was  a  practical  printer,  learn- 
ing his  trade  during  years  of  apprenticeship  in  his 
native  place,  and  was  competent  to  serve  in  any 
capacity  in  a  printing  office,  from  the  devil  on  up 
to  the  editorial  chair.  In  1843  ^^^  came  West  and 
located  at  Liberty,  Missouri,  where  he  worked 
two  years  and  then  came  to  St.  Joseph.  He 
brought  with  him  the  equipment  for  a  i)rinting 
office,  which  had  been  rescued  from  the  Missouri 
River,  at  Independence.  It  had  been  the  machin- 
ery used  by  the  Mormons  in  printing  their  paper 
the  Star  of  the  JVcsf.  which  had  been  wrecked 
by  an  anti-Mormon  mob,  the  types  and  press  being 
thrown  into  the  water. 

Mr.  Ridcnbaugh,  with  this  beginning,  estab- 
lished the  St.  Joseph  Gazette,  a  weekly  newspaper, 
the  first  number  of  which  appeared  April  2.S.  iSdS- 
This  he  sold  in  1854.  but  in  1868  he  repurchased  it 
and  continued  as  one  of  its  publishers  until  1872. 
Tie  had  become  very  prominent  in  Democratic 
politics,  served  as  clerk  of  the  Circuit  Court  and 


held  other  political  positions.  For  a  number  of 
years  he  was  chairman  of  the  Democratic  County 
Central  Committee  and  twice  was  a  delegate  to 
Democratic  national  conventions. 

Mr.  Ridcnbaugh  was  twice  married;  first  to 
Hannah  Creal,  of  Wathena.  Doniphan  County, 
Kansas,  who  was  survived  by  six  children.  In 
1870  he  married  Mary  Baker,  and  they  had  one 
son. — George  Young. 

Mr.  Ridcnbaugh  was  a  man  of  kind  and  gen- 
erous impulses.  He  was  a  prominent  figure  dur- 
ing some  of  the  city's  most  stirring  days.  Al- 
v>ays  enthusiastic  in  favor  of  what  he  believed 
right,  he  was  bitter  in  his  opposition  to  dislionesty. 
He  gave  beyond  his  means  to  qharity  and  con- 
tributed no  little  to  the  upbuilding  of  many  of 
the  city's  enterprises. 


ON.  ALFRED  F.  GREEN ARD.  member 

of  the  County  Court  in  1885-86,  is  now 

living  in  retirement  on  his  fine  farm  in 

section    10,  township   56.  range  34,  in 

Tremont    township,   after   many   years 

of  activity  in  business  circles.     He  was  born  in 

this  county  September  2,   1844,  and  is  a  son  of 

Stephen  J.  and  Mary    (Criswell)    Greenard. 

Stephen  J.  Greenard's  father  was  born  in 
Bennington  County,  Vermont,  and  served  in  the 
war  of  18 1 2.  He  removed  to  Licking  County, 
Ohio,  and  there  resided  until  his  death.  Stephen 
J.  Greenard  was  a  boy  when  he  removed  with  his 
father  to  Licking  County.  Ohio,  and  while  there 
he  worked  on  the  Ohio  Canal  from  Cleveland  to 
Portsmouth.  In  1838,  he  came  to  Audrain  Coun- 
ty, Missouri,  and  acquired  a  half  section  of  land 
in  its  wild  state,  which  he  clearecfan.d  cultivated. 
In  1844  he  came  to  Buchanan  County,  Missouri, 
and  settled  in  Vvdiat  is  now  Agency  township, 
where  he  eventually  acquired  633  acres  of  good 
farm  land  and  engaged  in  general  farming  and 
stock-raising.  He  died  January  8,  187T.  and  his 
wife  survived  him  until  September.  1879.  He  was 
joined  in  marriage  with  ]\lary  (Crisv.'ell)  White, 
who  was  born  in  Ross  County,  Ohio.  Her  father, 
who  was  a  native  of  Virginia,  moved  to  Pennsyl- 
vania and  later  to  Ohio.  They  had  four  children, 
as  follows:  William,  deceased  in  1868,  who  was 
a  farmer;  Mary  R.,  who  lives  in  Agency  town- 
ship on  the  old  home  place;  Franklin,  who  died 
voung;  and  Alfred  F.  ]\lr.  Greenard  was  a 
Democrat  in  politics  in  late  life,  having  formerly 
been  a  Whig. 


CHARLES    ANTON    PFEIFFER 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


357 


Alfred  F.  Greenard  received  but  a  limited 
education  in  the  public  schools,  attending  the 
primitive  log  school  house  of  his  district.  He 
engaged  in  farming  in  Agency  township  until 
1879,  then  moved  to  his  present  farm  in  Tremont 
township.  He  established  a  store  at  Garretts- 
burg,  which  he  successfully  conducted  for  many 
years,  and  for  a  period  of  24  years  served  as 
postmaster  of  that  place.  He  has  a  farm  of 
530  acres  in  section  10,  which  he  rents,  and  also 
rents  his  store  at  Garrettsburg  at  the  present 
time.  He  formerly  farmed  on  an  extensive  plan 
and  was  a  large  stock-raiser.  He  has  alwavs  lived 
in  this  county,  is  well  known  to  its  people  and 
is  highly  respected. 

In  1876,  Judge  Greenard  was  joined  in  mar- 
riage with  jNIary  J.  \\'hitson,  a  native  of  this 
county  and  a  daughter  of  \\'illiam  ^I.  and  Ann 
Smith  Whitson,  the  former  a  native  of  Tennessee 
and  the  latter,  of  Virginia.  Her  parents  came  to 
Buchanan  County,  Missouri,  in  1839,  and  lived 
here  until  death.  Mrs.  Greenard  clied  May  2, 
1894,  leaving  the  following  children  :  Dr.  William 
S.,  who  lives  at  Amity.  Colorado;  Mamie,  wife  of 
Samuel  Devall,  who  lives  on  a  part  of  her  father's 
farm  ;  Jewett  F.,  living  upon  a  part  of  his  father's 
farm,  who  married  Maude  Gillette  and  has  one 
son — Virgil;  Julia  D..  wife  of  J.  P.  Lyking,  who 
lives  with  her  father ;  and  Edith  M.,  who  died 
February  16,  1902,  aged  19  years.  Judge  Green- 
ard has  always  been  active  in  Democratic  poli- 
tics, and  served  in  the  capacity  of  justice  of  the 
peace  many  years,  and  as  county  judge  during 
1885-86.  He  was  at  one  time  a  member  of  Com- 
pany D,  8ist  Reg.,  Enrolled  ]\lilitia  of  Missouri. 
Fraternallv,  he  is  a  member  of  the  Blue  Lodge, 
A.  F.  &  A.  ^L,  at  Saxton ;  and  the  Odd  Follows 
lodge  at  Agency. 


^ » »■ 


HARLES  ANTON  PFEIFFER,.one  of 
St.  Joseph's  most  influential  and  useful 
citizens,  whose  portrait  accompanies 
this  sketch,  is  president  of  the  Pfeiffer 
Stone  Company,  which  is  widely  known 
tin-oughout  Missouri  and  adjoining  States.  He 
was  born  at  Sigmaringen,  Hohenzollern,  Ger- 
many, December  19,  1844,  and  is  a  son  of  Joseph 
and  Aloise  (Waldschuetz)    Pfeifter. 

Joseph  Pfeififer  was  born  at  Bingen,  Hohen- 
zollern, Germany,  March  23,  1817,  and  his  wife 
at   Pfullendorf,  Baden,   Germany.     On  the   17th 


of  December,  1848.  he  left  Donaueschingen.  Ba- 
den,   Germany,   journeyed   fia    Strasburg.    Metz 
and    Paris,  France,    and    embarked    at    Havre, 
France,  on  the  sailing  vessel  "Sarah  Sheaf"  for 
New  York,  where  he  hoped  to  find  a  good  open- 
ing for  his  trade  as  an  expert  ornamental  carver 
and  stone  cutter.     He  reached  the  great  metrop- 
olis on  the  9th  of  March.  1849.  and  as  conditions 
seemed  favoral)le  sent  for  his  wife  and  son,  who 
left   Pfullendorf,   Baden.   Germany,  on   the  25th 
of  August,  1849.  sailing  on  the  ship  "Jenny  Lind" 
and  arriving  in  New  York.  October  2.  1849.  The 
family  resided  in   New  York.   Philadelphia  and 
Chicago  until  i860,  when  they  came  to  St.  Jos- 
eph, reaching  this  city  on  April  17th  of  that  year. 
Mr.  Pfeiffer  immediately  secured  quarters  on  the 
north  side  of  Felix  street,  between   Fourth  and 
Fifth  streets,  where  he  remained  until  1863,  do- 
insr  the  cut  stonework  on  the  State  Bank  Build- 
ing,   corner   Fourth  and   Felix   streets,   now   the 
[Missouri  \'alley  Trust  Building,  and  the  stores 
adjoining  the  same.     In  1863  he  removed  to  the 
corner  of  Ninth  street  and  Frederick  avenue,  in 
1866  to  the  corner  of  Sixth  and  Charles  streets, 
and  in  1868  to  Fourth  and  Locust  streets,  where 
the  business  has  since  been  conducted  on  an  ex- 
tensive scale.    Joseph  Pfeifter  died  November  22. 
1900.  and  the  business  of  the  Pfeifter  Stone  Com- 
pany, which  was  incorporated  in  1881.  is  contin- 
ued with  Charles  A.  Pfeiffer  as  president  and  E. 
W.  Gensen  as  secretary  and  treasurer. 

Charles  A.  Pfeiffer  was  very  thoroughly  edu- 
cated, attending  both  German  and  English  schools 
wherever  the  family  was  located  during  his  youth. 
At  St.  Joseph  he  continued  his  education  in  the 
night  schools  and  completed  the  commercial 
course  at  Bryant  &  Stratton's  Business  College. 
From  his  father  he  learned  the  trade  of  stone 
cutting,  mastering  its  every  detail  and  acquiring 
a  knowledge  that  has  been  of  infinite  service  to 
him  in  the  management  of  the  large  company  of 
which  he  is  president.  This  company.  establish'Cd 
bv  his  father  in  t86o,  was  incorporated  as  the 
Pfeiffer  Stone  Company  in  1881  and  our  subject 
was  elected  president.  It  has  conducted  a  verv 
extensive  business  and  has  gained  fame  as  the 
producer  of  the  widely  known  Batesville  Marble. 
The  company's  quarries  and  plant,  located  near 
Batesville,  Arkansas,  on  the  St.  Louis,  Iron  IMoun- 
tain  &  Southern  Railway,  are  on  a  very  large 
scale  and  are  conducted  imder  the  superintendency 
of  Otto  Pfeiffer.  son  of  Charles  A.  Pfeiffer ;  from 
these  quarries  they  are  supplying  the  stone  for 


358 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


the  new  $2,000,000  State  Capitol  Building,  now 
being  erected  at  Little  Rock,  Arkansas.  The  St. 
Joseph  plant  is  under  the  forenianship  of  Joseph 
A.  Pfeiffer,  son  of  Charles  A.  Pfeiffer. 

In  1864  and  1865,  our  subject  served  in  the 
Civil  War  as  a  member  of  Com])any  B,  87th  Reg., 
Missouri  Militia,  under  Capt.  Louis  Hax.  Soon 
after  coming  to  St.  Joseph,  he  became  interested 
in  politics,  the  times  favoring  strong  convictions. 
As  an  intelligent,  reliable  and  substantial  citizen 
he  has  been  prominently  connected  with  city  af- 
fairs. He  was  corresponding  secretary  of  the  St. 
Joseph  Board  of  Trade  in  1871,  one  of  the  water 
commissioners  under  Mayor  Hosea  and  a  member 
of  the  committee  to  draft  a  contract  with  the  St. 
Joseph  Water  Company  (which  was  not  accepted) 
under  Mayors  Shepherd  and  Vories.  He  is  a 
Republican  and  served  in  the  City  Council  as 
alderman  at  large  and  as  chairman  of  the  finance 
committee  from  1890  to  1892.  In  1898  he  was 
chosen  as  Republican  nominee  for  mayor,  and  his 
defeat  at  the  polls  by  Dr.  Kirschner  was  in  no 
sense  a  personal  one,  but  a  political  mistake  caused 
by  a  factional  quarrel  in  his  party.  He  has  taken 
a  deep  interest  in  all  public  movements  here,  has 
supported  educational  and  charitable  enterprises 
and  has  given  his  means  and  influence  to  every- 
thing promising  to  be  of  permanent  and  substan- 
tial benefit  to  the  city.  He  was  One  of  the  trus- 
tees of  the  Hall  School,  a  member  of  the  boatd  of 
directors  of  the  Free  Public  Library,  of  which 
he  has  been  secretary  and  treasurer  for  the  past 
eight  years,  and  has  been  LTnited  States  jury  com- 
missioner during  the  past  six  years. 

On  November  7,  1871,  Mr.  Pfeififer  was  mar- 
ried in  St.  Joseph  to  Louise  Charlotte  Koch,  who 
was  born  in  Clinton,  Louisiana,  and  is  a  daughter 
of  Gerhardt  and  Josephine  Koch.  They  have 
seven  children :  Otto,  Edward  C,  J'oseph  Anton, 
Agatha  Louise.  Alma  Pauline,  Mary  Elizabeth 
and  Helena.  But  once  has  death  invaded  this 
happy  family,  Edward  C.  dying  at  the  age  of  19 
months.  The  handsome  family  home  is  located 
at  No.  1 7 17  Sbuth  20th  street. 

Mr.  Pfeifi'er  enjoys  his  fine  library,  particu- 
larly its  works  on  practical  science,  mechanics 
and  political  economy,  and  he  keeps  well  abreast 
of  the  times  in  public  affairs.  Like  many  others 
of  his  nationality,  he  has  talent  and  taste  in  music, 
was  formerly  a  member  of  the  Philharmonia  So- 
ciety, and.  has  membership  in  newer  organiza- 
tions. Religiously,  he  is  a  consistent  Catholic  and 
attends  worship  at  the  Cathedral. 


vears. 


ON.  JASON  H.  LANDIS,  formerly 
county  judge  from  the  First  District  of 
Buchanan  County,  is  one  of  the  best- 
known  agriculturists  of  Agency  town- 
ship, where  he  has  resided  for  many 
He  was  born  in  Rockingham  County,  \"ir- 
ginia,  November  17,  1845,  ^"<^1  is  a  son  of  Henry 
B.  and  IMary  (Huling)  Landis. 

The  Landis  family  was  established  in  this 
country  in  colonial  days  by  three  brothers,  who 
were  obliged  to  leave  their  native  land,  Germany, 
because  of  political  views.  Upon  arriving  in  Amer- 
ica, they  located  in  Philadelphia.  Henry,  the 
paternal  grandfather  of  our  subject,  was  born 
in  Pennsylvania,  but  at  an  early  day  moved  to 
X'irginia,  where  most  of  his  life  was  spent,  there 
becoming  a  man  of  wealth  and  influence.  Henry 
B.  Landis,  father  of  Jason  H.,  was  born  in  Rock- 
ingham County,  Virginia,  in  December,  1812, 
and  followed  his  trade  as  a  carpenter  there  until 
1854,  when  he  removed  to  Iowa.  He  remained 
in  Iowa  imtil  shortly  before  his  death  which  oc- 
curred in  Buchanan  County,  Missouri.  He  was  a 
Democrat  in  politics,  and  religiously  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  INIethodist  Episcopal  Church.  His 
wife,  Mary  Huling,  was  born  in  Rockingham 
County,  Virginia,  in  October,  1821,  and  was  a 
daughter  of  Joseph  and  Susan  (INIurray)  Huling. 
She  died  in  Iowa  at  the  age  of  51  years,  having 
given  birth  to  the  following  children :  Rebecca 
(Smith),  deceased;  Louise  (Scull),  of  St.  Jo- 
seph ;  Jason  H. ;  Peter,  of  Buchanan  County ; 
Frank,  deceased;  William,  of  St.  Joseph:  Susan. 
who  died  young;  Jennie  (Bealls),  of  Buchanan 
County ;  Edward,  of  St.  Joseph ;  and  Holland,  of 
Buchanan  County. 

Jason  H.  Landis  was  nine  years  of  age  when 
he  accompanied  his  parents  to  Louisa  County, 
Iowa,  where  they  lived  on  a  farm  near  Wapello. 
He  continued  there  until  t868,  when  he  came 
to  Buchanan  County,  Missouri,  and  entered  the 
employ  of  Albe  M.  Saxton.  He  continued  with 
him  for  three  years,  working  by  the  month,  then 
rented  a  farm  which  he  conducted  with  success 
for  a  period  of  five  years.  At  the  end  of  tb- 
time  he  purchased  a  tract  of  80  acres  in  section 
8,  tov/nship  56,  range  34,  in  Agency  township,  ar  ' 
to  this  he  added  until  he  owned  i'8t  acres,  which 
now  make  up  his  home  farm.  This  land  was 
covered  with  timber  and  brush  wlicn  first  ac- 
quired by  him  and  it  rc(|uirc(l  hard  labor  to  clear 
it  and  place  it  in  tillable  shape.  He  has  made 
extensive  improvements,  building  a  good  home 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


359 


and  two  barns,  and  has  succeeded  beyond  the 
average.  He  raised  wheat  for  many  years,  but 
in  recent  years  has  devoted  his  attention  to  stock- 
raising.  He  has  always  been  a  stanch  Democrat, 
and  frequently  has  served  as  delegate  to  conven- 
tions. He  served  as  county  judge  during  the 
years  of  1897  and  1898,  and  gave  eminent  satis- 
faction in  discharge  of  the  duties  of  that  office. 

In  1868,  Judge  Landis  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Mary  Catherine  I\Iann,  who  was  born  in 
Pennsylvania,  October  4.  1849,  ^"d  is  a  daughter 
of  Fleming  and  ]\Iary  Ann  Mann,  both  natives 
of  Pennsylvania.  Two  daughters  blessed  this 
union:  I\Iinnie  Lulu,  deceased;  and  Ida  May, 
who  married  John  Karns,  of  Buchanan  County, 
and  has  three  children  :  George,  Fay  and  Jason  L. 
Religiously,  the  family  belong  to  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church.  Fraternally,  Judge  Landis  i? 
a  prominent  member  of  the  Blue  Lodge,  A.  F. 
&  A.  M.  He  is  a  man  of  great  strength  of  char- 
acter, and  is  held  in  highest  esteem. 


^  »  » 


ON.  HENRY  S.  KELLEY,  LL.  D.,  of 
St.  Joseph,  who  has  been  prominent  in 
legal  and  political  circles  in  Buchanan 
County  and  the  Northwest  for  the  past 
30  years,  has  name  and  fame  as  author 
and  lecturer  over  a  much  wider  territory.  Judge 
Kelley  was  born  on  the  T8th  of  December,  1832, 
near  Cincinnati.  Ohio,  and  is  a  son  of  Samuel  and 
Mary  (Holder)  Kelley. 

William  Kelley,  the  paternal  grandfather  of 
Judge  Kelley,  was  born  near  Dublin,  Ireland,  and 
came  to  the  United  States  in  young  manhood. 
He  settled  first  in  Pennsylvania,  then  removed  to 
Ohio,  in  the  early  days  of  the  founding  of  Cin- 
cinnati, and  that  he  had  thoroughly  adopted  this 
country  as  his  home  could  scarcely  have  ISeeu 
shown  than  by  the  faithful  service  given  by  him- 
self and  his  tv/o  sons,  John  and  David,  in  the 
war  of  18 1 2.  They  w^ere  present  at  Hull's  sur- 
render. William  Kelley  married  a  member  of  the 
Wallace  family,  also  of  Irish  extraction,  who 
was  a  greataunt  of  Gen.  Lew  Wallace  of  military 
and  literary  fame.  William  Kelley  became  a 
man  of  affairs,  prominently  connected  with  a 
number  of  public  enterprises,  one  of  these  being 
the  building  of  the  Miami  Canal,  for  which  he 
held  the  contract. 

Samuel  Kelley,  the  father  of  Judge  Kelley. 
started  out  on  his  business  career  as  a  cooper, 
owning  a  shop  of  his  own,  in  which  he  employed 


a  number  of  workmen.  After  following  the  busi- 
ness for  several  years,  he  sold  out  and  then  set- 
tled down  to  an  agricultural  life  fc5r  the  remainder 
of  his  days.  In  1840  he  removed  from  Hamilton 
County,  Ohio,  to  Wayne  County,  Indiana,  later 
to  Henry  County,  and  still  later  to  Grant  County, 
in  the  same  State.  In  the  last  named  county  he 
died  in  1878,  respected  by  all  who  knew  him,  as 
a  man  of  upright,  honorable  life.  He  married 
Mary  Holder,  who  was  born  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio, 
her  parents  having  removed  thither  from  Penn- 
sylvania. Her  death  also  occurred  in  Grant 
County,  Indiana,  in  1878.  Of  the  11  children  of 
this  marriage,  to  grew  to  maturity  and  four  still 
survive.  The  intense  loyalty  of  this  family  was 
shown  by  five  of  the  brothers  entering  the  Unio]i 
Army  during  the  Civil  War,  two  of  whom,  Samuel 
and  William,  never  returned.  Both  parents  were 
members  of  the  Christian  Church. 

While  Judge  Kelley's  boyhood  was  filled  with 
various  duties  incident  to  settlement  in  a  new 
locality  and  the  work  which  always  presses  on  a 
farm,  his  education  was  not  neglected,  both  father 
and  mother  being  intelligent  and  anxious  to  afford 
their  numerous  children  every  opportunity  in  their 
power.  He  attended  the  district  schools  in  his 
neighborhood,  and,  after  the  family  settled  in 
Grant  Count}-,  he  found  a  chance  to  attend  a 
select  school  at  Marion,  the  county  seat,  by  work- 
ing for  his  board  and  tuition.  During  his  last 
session  there,  he  boarded  at  the  home  of  James 
Brownlee,  the  county  auditor,  who  took  a  great 
interest  in  the  youth  and  encouraged  him  and  gave 
him  instruction  in  law  for  which  the  ambitious 
student  paid  by  office  work.  Fortunately,  about 
this  time,  the  postmaster  required  an  assistant 
and,  as  an  exemplary,  able  young  man,  the  future 
judge  was  given  the  position.  He  continued  his 
law  studies  until  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in 
1854,  having  previously  done  a  little  practicing, 
although  but  21  years  of  age. 

He  immediately  entered  into  active  practice 
and  his  ])ersonal  popularity  was  shown  by  his 
election,  in  the  same  year,  as  chstrict  attorney 
for  the  district  composed  of  the  counties  of  Black- 
ford, Delaware  and  Grant.  He  served  one  term 
as  district  attorney  and  in  1856  he  was  elected 
judge  of  the  same  district,  perhaps  the  youngest 
judge  in  the  United  States.  He  served  in  that 
position  for  four  years,  being  only  23  years  of  age 
at  the  time  of  his  election,  and  the  efficiency  of  his 
service  testified  to  the  thoroughness  of  his  legal 
knowledge  as  well  as  to  an  unusual  mental  devel- 
opment.    In   t86t   Judge  Kelley  went  to  South 


360 


HISTORY  OF    BUCHANAN    COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


Dakota,  locating  at  \'crmilion.  Soon  after  he  was 
made  a  member  of  the  staff  of  Gen.  James  Bouge, 
of  the  State  miUtia.  There  he  entered  upon  the 
practice  of  the  law  and  became  interested  in  many 
of  the  public  enterprises  of  the  locality.  It  was 
through  his  eff'orts  that  a  road  was  located  and 
surveyed  from  Lake  Shetek,  Minnesota,  to  Sioux 
Falls.  South  Dakota,  and  a  mail  route  established, 
which  was  afterward  abandoned  on  account  of 
Indian  troubles.  Pleased  with  the  country  and 
its  prospects,  he  located  on  a  claim  in  1862,  but 
soon  found  the  country  yet  too  uncivilized  to  afford 
a  safe  or  comfortable  home,  Indian  massacres  and 
depredations  being  of  frequent  occurrence.  There- 
fore he  spent  the  winter  of  1863  at  Sioux  City, 
Iowa,  and  in  the  following  spring  returned  to 
Grant  County,  Indiana,  called  there  to  assist  in 
some  legal  business.  Until  the  fall  of  1864  he 
resided  at  Marion,  Indiana,  engaged  in  practice, 
and  then  located  at  W^abash,  where  he  became 
editor  of  the  WabasJi  Tribune,  and  built  up  a 
lucrative  practice. 

In  x-\ugust.   1866,  Judge   Kelley   removed  to 
Missouri,  settling  at  Savannah,  where  he  became 
an  active  practitioner  and  where,  m  1869,  he  was 
elected  alderman.    In  1870  the  Republicans  made 
him  their  candidate  for  circuit  judge,  but  he  was 
then  defeated,  but   in  the  spring  of   1872,  at  a 
s]iecial  election,  he  was  nominated  on  the  same 
ticket  for  the  same  office,  his  able  opponent  being 
Judge  Thomas  Collins,  and  he  was  elected  judge 
of  the  29th  Judicial  Circuit.     In  1874  he  was  re- 
elected, and  again  six  years  later.     In   1884  he 
was  the  unanimous  choice  of  his  party  for  the 
Congressional   nomination,  but  was   defeated   in 
the  election  by  the  late  Hon.  James  N.  Burnes. 
Since  1887  J^^^ge  Kelley  has  made  his  home 
in  St.  Joseph  and  has  continued  in  the  practice 
of  his  profession.    In  1873,  on  the  organization  of 
the    department    of    law,    in    the    University    of 
Missom-i.  Judge  Kcllev  was  aiipointed  lecturer  on 
criminal  law  and  practice,  and  on  pleading  and 
practice,  and  continued  to  lecture  on  these  sub- 
jects in  that   institution   for   the   succeeding    16 
years,  resigning  the  position  in  1889,  on  account 
of  the  pressing  demands  of  his  business.     Judge 
Kelley   was   splendidly   equipped    for   this   work 
and  his  learning  and  sound  com|)rehension  of  law 
and  jurisprudence,  combined  with  his  fine  oratory, 
made  his  lectures  of  the  greatest  value  to  students. 
Judge  Kelley's  scholarly  ability  is  shown  in  his 
published  works,  mainly  on  subjects  pertaining 
to  the  law,  and  l)eginning  as  early  as  1868.     His 
work  on  "Civil  Law"  has  passed  through  three 


editions ;  "Kelley's  Probate  Guide,"  written  in 
1871,  has  had  three  editions,  as  has  "Kelley's 
Criminal  Law  and  Practice,"  published  in  1877, 
which  is  found  in  eyery  law  library,  being  con- 
sidered one  of  the  most  valuable  works  on  the 
subject  in  recent  years.  Judge  Kelley  has  ample 
means,  owning  a  number  of  valuable  tracts  of  real 
estate  in  the  city,  a  valuable  fruit  farm  in  An- 
drew County  and  other  property.  In  1882  the 
degree  of  Doctor  of  Laws  was  conferred  by  the 
LIniversity   of   Missouri. 

In  1855  Judge  Kelley  was  married,  at  Sturgis. 
Michigan,  to  Adelia  Harlan,  who  was  born  at 
Marion,  Indiana,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Hon.  An- 
drew J.  and  Delia  (Hendricks)  Harlan.  Mr. 
Harlan  still  survives,  at  the  age  of  90  years,  the 
only  survivor  of  the  31st  Congress,  in  which  body 
he  served  two  terms.  He  was  a  very  prominent 
politician  of  Indiana,  and  for  seven  years  was  a 
member  of  the  State  Legislature  of  Indiana.  He 
was  Speaker,  during  1867  and  1868.  of  the  Mis- 
souri House  of  Representatives,  and  for  one  term 
was  speaker  of  the  House  of  Representatives  of 
the  Dakota  Legislature.  He  was  appointed  by 
President  Harrison  and  served  four  years  as 
postmaster  at  Wakeeney,  Kansas  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Harlan  now  live  in  Savannah,  INIissouri. 

Mrs.  Kelley  was  reared  at  ^Marion,  Indiana, 
and  was  educated  mainly  at  St.  Augustine  Con- 
vent, at  Fort  Wayne,  Indiana.  Her  death  oc- 
curred on  February  9,  1900,  at  St.  Joseph.  She 
was  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 
and  an  active  worker  in  all  its  various  depart- 
ments and  in  other  charitable  organizations.  The 
six  children  who  survive  her  are  :  David  B.,  Sam- 
uel H.,  Henry  S.,  Mary,  Ralph  and  Thalia. 

David  B.  Kelley  was  born  in  Grant  County, 
Indiana,  was  educated  at  the  University  of  Mis- 
som-i,  was  appointed  postmaster  at  Savannah  by 
President  Arthur,  and  is  now  a  practicing  at- 
torney at  St.  Joseph.  He  married  Flora  lUiis. 
Samuel  H.  Kelley  is  a  graduate  of  Columbian 
College,  of  Washington.  D.  C,  from  which  he 
received  the  degree  of  LL.  B.,  was  adjudicator 
of  claims  in  the  United  States  Treasury  Depart- 
ment from  1882  to  i88,S,  and  was  then  appointed 
chief  clerk  of  the  United  States  Land  Office  at 
Wakeeney,  Kansas,  November  t,  1886.  This 
position  he  resigned  and  removed  in  1889  to  Scott 
Citv,  Kansas,  wdiere  he  enofaged  in  the  practice  of 
law  and  edited  and  published  the  Scott  County 
Nein's,  later  entering  into  practice  with  his  father 
at  St.  Joseph.  In  1888  he  was  nominated  for  the 
Legislature  from  Scott  County,  Kansas,  and  in 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


363 


1890  was  made  the  Republican  nominee  at  St. 
Joseph.  In  18S9  he  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Juha  Graham,  who  was  born  at  Berrien  Springs, 
Michigan.  Henry  S.  Kelley  was  graduated  at  the 
Ensworth  Medical  College,  St.  Joseph,  in  the 
class  of  1893,  and  is  practicing  medicine  at  Fill- 
more. Missouri.  Mary  is  Mrs.  S.  M.  Marshall, 
of  San  Diego,  California.  Ralph  Kelley  is  a 
graduate  of  the  Central  ^Medical  College,  in  the 
class  of  1903,  and  is  practicing  medicine  and  sur- 
gery at  Amazonia,  ^Missouri.  Thalia  remains  with 
her  father  at  home. 

Judge  Kelley  has  always  been  a  stanch  Repub- 
lican and  for  many  years  led  in  the  councils  of  his 
party.  He  belongs  to  the  Ancient  Order  of 
United  Workmen  and  the  Degree  of  Honor.  He 
has  long  been  held  in  the  highest  esteem  by  his 
fellow  citizens,  as  one  who  has  brought  honor  to 
both  the  bench  and  bar  of  his  State  and  one  who, 
both  in  public  and  private  life,  realizes  the  highest 
standard  of  citizenship. 


♦  •» 


OL.  JOHN  DONIPHAN.  The  State  of 
Missouri  has  had  many  distinguished 
citizens  who  have  taken  prominent  po- 
sitions in  the  activities  which  have 
made  her  the  great  and  noble  common- 
wealth she  is.  and  among  these  must  be  classed 
that  eminent  statesman,  lawyer,  orator  and  his- 
torian. Col.  John  Doniphan,  who  passed  out  of 
life,  at  his  home  in  St.  Joseph,  on  December  9, 
190 1.  His  parents  were  Thomas  Smith  and  Re- 
becca (Frazee)  Doniphan. 

The  genealogical  record  of  the  Doniphan  fam- 
ily reveals  the  fact  that  it  descended  from  Spanish 
ancestors.  One  Don  Alphonso  Iphan.  the  remote 
progenitor,  was  a  Spanish  cavalier  who  was 
knighted  by  Philip  II  for  gallantry  on  the  battle- 
field during  the  Moorish  wars.  He  drifted  to 
Scotland  and  there  the  name  acquired  a  Scottish 
burr  and  still  later,  in  the  Engflish  tongue,  became 
Doniphan.  His  son  accomplished  John  Smith  to 
Jamestown  in  1607.  and  in  1650  his  grandson,  who 
had  married  Margaret  Mott.  a  Scotch  heiress,  was 
banished  by  Cromwell  to  \'irginia.  whither  the 
Mott  family  accompanied  him.  Charles  II,  upon 
coming  into  his  own.  rewarded  their  fealty  by  giv- 
ing the  family  a  valuable  grant  of  land  in  the 
northern  neck  of  X'irginia.  This  finally  came  into 
the  possession  of  one,  Mott  Doniphan,  a  vestry- 
man for  many  years  in  the  Church  of  England,  in 
Prince  George  County,  \  irginia.    His  son,  Alex- 


ander Doniphan,  remained  on  the  old  estate 
and  there  was  born  Joseph  Doniphan,  the  paternal 
grandfather  of  the  late  Col.  John  Doniphan. 

The  early  records  are  full  of  the  name  of  Don- 
iphan. Joseph  served  in  the  \'irginia  militia  and 
was  a  schoolmate  and  friend  of  Chief  Justice  Mar- 
shall, of  A'irginia.  In  1779  he  went  to  Kentucky 
and  taught  school  at  Boonesboro  and  upon  his  re- 
turn to  Virginia  married  Anne  Smith,  who  was 
a  daughter  of  Capt.  Thomas  Smith  of  the  \'ir- 
ginia  Light  Horse.  Mr.  Doniphan  held  pleasant 
memories  of  his  sojourn  in  Kentucky  and,  in  spite 
of  Indian  depredations,  he  removed  with  his  fam- 
ily to  Mason  County.  Kentucky,  and  they  spent 
their  first  winter  in  a  double  log  cabin  at  the 
mouth  of  the  Limestone  River,  now  the  site  of 
]\Iaysville,  with  Simon  Kenton,  a  pioneer  whose 
experiences  and  deeds  of  daring  and  hardships 
were  second  only  to  those  of  Daniel  Boone  him- 
self.   Joseph  Doniphan  died  in  ]\Iason  County. 

Thomas  Smith  Doniphan,  the  eldest  son  of 
Joseph,  grew  up  on  the  family  estates  and  took  a 
prominent  part  in  the  War  of  18 12,  in  which  he 
served  as  a  captain  and  as  a  surgeon.  He  had  in- 
herited a  large  number  of  slaves  with  his  land  ; 
as  his  principles  were  against  slavery,  in  1818  he 
moved  to  Brown  County,  Ohio,  mainly  in  order 
to  liberate  his  chattels.  There  he  bought  a  large 
tract  of  land  on  which  he  built  a  cabin  for  each 
family  and  gave  each  a  present  of  their  liberty 
and  the  sum  pf  $50.  His  philanthropy  was  of 
the  practical  kind,  but  he  scarcely  lived  long 
enough  afterward  to  note  its  results. 

The  sons  of  Thomas  Doniphan  were  John  and 
James,  and  both  were  born  in  Brown  County, 
Ohio,  the  former  on  July  12,  1826.  John  Doni- 
phan acquired  his  literary  education  at  the  Frank- 
lin Academy,  Germantown,  Kentucky,  but  he  was 
only  15  years  of  age  when  his  father  died,  and  he 
was  thrown  entire!}'  upon  his  own  resources.  His 
boyish  choice  of  career  was  the  printing  trade 
and  he  entered  an  office  at  Maysville,  Kentucky, 
entering  into  an  apprenticeship  but  not  relying 
entirely  upon  that  for  his  future.  He  began  the 
study  of  the  law  and  in  1844,  through  the  kind- 
ness of  Col.  ^Marshall  Key,  was  made  county  and 
circuit  clerk  of  Mason  County,  his  opportunities 
for  legal  study  thus  being  increased.  In  1846, 
when  his  uncle,  Alexander  \\'.  Doniphan,  made 
iiis  expedition  to  Chihuahua,  ^Mexico,  he  went 
along  as  a  member  of  the  party,  but  the  results 
were  not  satisfying  to  him  and  he  returned  to 
Kentucky  and  was  graduated  at  the  law  school  at 
Louisville,  in  the  class  of  1847.     I"   ^'^4^  ^*"  '"^" 


364 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


turned  to  IMissouri.  resided  a  few  months  at  Lib- 
erty and  then  removed  to  Weston,  which  was  then 
the  second  city  in  the  State.  On  January  i,  1849, 
he  became  a  member  of  the  bar  of  Buchanan 
County.  After  the  Civil  War,  he  settled  at  St. 
Joseph. 

Judge  Doniphan  was  the  first  president  of  the 
Weston,  Atchison  &  St.  Joseph  Railroad  Com- 
pany, now  the  Kansas  City,  St.  Joseph  &  Council 
Bluffs  Railroad  Company,  and  for  10  years  was 
attorney  for  that  corporation.  In  1 870  he  re- 
signed that  position  in  order  to  assist  in  building 
the  Atchison  branch  of  the  Chicago  &  South 
Western.  In  1872  he  was  elected  attorney  of  the 
St.  Joseph  &  Denver  City,  now  the  St.  Joseph  & 
Grand  Island,  which  enabled  him  to  add  many 
miles  of  railroad  to  the  city  of  St.  Joseph,  and 
this  position  he  held  for  15  years. 

In  1862  Mr.  Doniphan  was  elected  colonel  of 
the  39th  Regiment,  Alissouri  Militia,  and  was  in 
active  service  from  that  time  until  the  close  of 
the  war.  For  eight  years  he  was  a  member  of  the 
board  of  managers  of  the  State  Hospital  for  In- 
sane, No.  2,  located  at  St.  Joseph,  and  served  in 
many  capacities  for  the  public's  good  with  no 
hope  of  personal  reward.  For  many  years  he  was 
a  very  prominent  figure  in  politics  and  as  a  states- 
man he  is  gratefully  remembered  by  his  fellow 
citizens.  In  1854  he  was  elected  to  the  State 
Legislature  as  a  Whig,  to  represent  Platte  Coun- 
ty, a  stronghold  of  Democracy,  which  generally 
rolled  up  a  Democratic  majority  of  600  votes.  That 
Colonel  Doniphan,  who  was  then  not  even  an  old 
citizen,  should  have  received  the  election  with  a 
majority  of  106  votes,  was  a  remarkable  tribute 
to  his  worth  as  a  man  and  was  proof  of  the  con- 
fidence he  had  inspired.  He  was  the  first  Whig 
ever  sent  to  the  Legislature  from  Platte  County 
Avithout  a  contest.  Colonel  Doniphan  served  in 
the  State  Senate  four  years,  and  later,  was  elected 
judge  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas.  In  1898, 
without  solicitation,  he  was  elected  police  judge 
of  St.  Joseph  by  his  Democratic  fellow  citizens. 
He  was  noted  for  his  oratorical  powers  and  his 
voice  was  often  heard  during  the  campaigns  in 
advocacy  of  principles  he  believed  to  be  right. 
He  spoke  often  and  convincingly  against  the 
measure  known  as  the  "test  oath"  and  other  feat- 
ures of  the  Drake  constitution  and  was  ever  ready 
to  advocate  by  voice,  pen  and  influence  those 
measures  which  seemed  to  him  to  be  just  and 
right. 

On  November  t8,  1852,  Colonel  Doniphan 
was  married  to  Fannie  Thornton,  who  is  a  daugh- 


ter of  the  late  Col.  John  and  Elizabeth  ( Trigg) 
Thornton.    Their  three  sons  are  deceased. 

Col.  John  Thornton  was  born  in  1786,  at  Lan- 
caster, Pennsylvania,  of  English  ancestry.  He 
was  30  years  old  when  he  removed  to  St.  Gene- 
vieve, Missouri,  and  in  1S18  he  settled  in  Howard 
County,  and  two  years  later,  removed  to  the  vi- 
cinity of  Liberty.  When  Ray  County  vv^as  or- 
ganized, he  was  appointed  judge,  and  in  1822  was 
appointed  judge  of  Clay  County.  With  the  ex- 
ception of  one  term,  he  represented  his  county  in 
the  State  Legislature  from  1824  to  1838,  and  was 
Speaker  of  the  House  of  Representatives  in  1828 
and  in  1830.  It  is  generally  believed  that  Colonel 
Thornton  would  have  been  elected  United  States 
Senator  from  Missouri,  had  it  not  been  for  his 
advocacy  of  the  nullification  doctrine  of  John  C. 
Calhoun. 

In  1820  Colonel  Thornton  married  Elizabeth 
Trigg,  who  was  a  daughter  of  Gen.  Stephen 
Trigg,  of  Howard  County,  and  a  niece  of  Col. 
Stephen  Trigg,  who  was  killed  at  the  Blue  Lick, 
also  of  General  Clark  of  Kentucky,  a  relative  of 
Gen.  George  Rogers  Clark  and  of  Paul  Jones. 
The  interesting  story  is  current  that  Colonel 
Thornton's  first  three  children  were  born  in  three 
different  counties,  although  all  in  the  same  log 
house,  which  was  located  near  Liberty,  and  that 
territory  was  first  Howard,  then  Ray  and  finally 
Clay  County,  within  three  or  more  years.  Col- 
onel Thornton's  eight  children  included  seven 
daughters  and  one  son.  The  latter,  John  C.  C. 
Thornton,  became  lieutenant-colonel  of  the  regi- 
ment commanded  by  John  T.  Hughes,  in  the  Civil 
War,  under  Gen.  Sterling  Price.  He  died  re- 
cently in  Montana,  where  he  was  a  successful  at- 
torney and  miner  and  man  of  business.  The 
daughters  all  married,  becoming :  Mrs.  Alex- 
ander W.  Doniphan,  Mrs.  O.  P.  Moss,  Mrs.  Wil- 
liam Morton,  Mrs.  James  H.  Baldwin,  Mrs.  Rob- 
ert Donnell,  Mrs.  John  Doniphan  and  Mrs.  L.  M. 
Lawson. 

Colonel  Doniphan  was  both  a  Tvlason  and  an 
Odd  Fellow,  and  was  one  of  the  most  prominent 
members  of  the  latter  organization  in  the  State  of 
Missouri,  having  been  grand  master  and  grand 
representative.  He  possessed  many  of  those  so- 
cial qualities  which  make  family  life  pleasant, 
and  was  noted  for  sterling  traits  which  mark  a 
man  of  noble  character.  Mrs.  Doniphan  still 
resides  in  a  most  beautiful  home  at  No.  1019 
Olive  street.  She  is  interested  in  many  social 
bodies  of  the  day  and  serves  on  a  number  of 
directing  boards  that  have  philanthropy  for  their 


I 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


365 


their  object.  She  gives  largely  of  time  and  means 
to  charity  and  is  deeply  beloved  by  those  who  are 
permitted  close  acquaintance. 


♦ « » 


APT.  BENJAMIN  F.  BUZARD,  a 
member  of  the  Board  of  Public  Works 
since  that  body  was  established  in 
March.  1903.  is  one  of  the  best  known 
citizens  of  St.  Joseph,  where  he  has 
resided  since  1861,  with  the  exception  of  the  years 
spent  in  the  army  during  the  Civil  War. 

Mr.  Buzard  was  born  in  Mahoning  Count^^ 
Ohio,  October  16,  1838,  and  is  a  son  of  Michael 
Buzard,  who  in  early  life  was  a  school  teacher 
and  later  a  manufacturer  of  pottery.  Due  to  an 
unfortunate  accident,  he  lost  his  life  at  the  earlv 
age  of  28  years.  His  widow  survived  him  until 
1902,  when  she  too  died,  aged  88  years,  at  her 
home  in  Doniphan  County,  Kansas,  whither  she 
had  moved  with  her  family  in  the  early  "fifties.'" 
Our  subject  had  two  brothers,  now  deceased,  and 
one  sister,  namely  :  Alvin  H.,  a  non-commissioned 
officer  in  the  Second  California  Cavalry  during 
the  Civil  War;  Alichael  G.,  who  served  in  th(' 
same  regiment  as  our  subject,  enlisting  as  a 
private  but  being  mustered  out  as  a  ist  lieutenant ; 
and  yivs.  Jesse  Reed,  who  resides  in  Oakland. 
California. 

Benjamin  F.  Buzard,  during  his  early  man- 
liood  in  Ohio,  learned  the  trade  of  a  carpenter, 
which  afterward  stood  him  in  good  stead  whilf 
in  the  army  and  many  times  in  after  life.  In 
1852  he  came  West  with  his  mother  and  family, 
who  located  for  a  time  in  Holt  County,  Missouri, 
removing  thence  to  Doniphan  County,  Kansas 
some  25  miles  from  St.  Joseph.  His  first  visit 
to  St.  Joseph  was  in  1852,  and  in  1861  he  came 
here  to  reside.  In  that  year  the  Captain  with 
others  assisted  in  raising  Company  F  for  Colonel 
Peabody's  battalion  at  St.  Joseph,  but  the  bat- 
talion was  not  accepted.  This  did  not  discourage 
them  and  they  continued  enlisting  men.  under 
the  authority  of  Gen.  Nathaniel  Lyon,  afterward 
killed  at  Wilson  Creek,  Missouri,  formerly  the 
13th  Regiment,  INIissouri  Vol.  Inf.  Before  the 
muster  roll  and  other  papers  pertaining  to  the 
organization  of  the  regiment  were  dispatched  to 
headquarters  at  St.  Louis,  the  regiment  was 
captured  at  the  battle  of  Lexington,  Missouri, 
and  the  papers  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy. 
The  regiment  was  paroled.  By  the  time  the 
colonel  of  the  regiment  reached  headquarters  the 


numbers  from  i  to  24  had  been  assigned  to  other 
regiments  and  this  regiment  was  numbered  25, 
by  v>hich  it  was  afterward  known.  After  the 
battle  of  Lexington,  our  subject  was  made  2nd 
lieutenant  of  Company  F  and  on  December  8, 
1862,  was  promoted  to  ist  lieutenant  of  Com- 
pany F.  On  ]\Iay  3,  1863,  he  was  made  captain 
of  Company  K,  25th  Reg.,  Missouri  Vol.  Inf., 
and  served  with  the  regiment  until  January  i, 
1864,  when  the  regiment  was  consolidated  with 
the  Bissell  Engineer  Regiment  of  the  West,  form- 
ing the  1st  Missouri  Engineers.  Captain  Buzard 
was  assigned  to  Company  H  of  that  regiment. 
After  Atlanta  was  taken  and  before  starting  on 
the  "March  to  the  Sea,"  the  term  of  service  of 
many  of  the  men  having  expired,  the  remainder 
were  consolidated  into  five  companies.  Our  sub- 
ject's term  had  expired,  but  he  declined  to  return 
home  and  was  assigned  to  Company  D  of  that 
regiment.  During  the  "March  to  the  Sea,"'  Cap- 
tain Buzard  had  charge  of  the  pontoon  train  of 
the  Army  of  the  Tennessee,  which  composed  the 
right  wing  of  Sherman's  army.  He  served  in 
that  capacity  during  the  remainder  of  the  war. 
Although  participtaing  in  all  the  engagements 
of  the  regiment,  27  in  all,  he  was  never  wounded. 
At  first  he  was  under  command  of  General  Grant, 
and  later  under  General  Sherman,  participating 
actively  in  the  Atlanta  campaign  and  the  "March 
to  the  Sea."  His  duties  were  arduous  and  ne- 
cessitated much  night  work.  Returning  to  St. 
Joseph  at  the  close  of  the  war,  he  entered  actively 
into  business,  first  as  a  bridge  contractor  and 
subsequently  in  the  grocery  business,  in  which 
he  continued  until  1870.  He  remained  out  of 
active  business  for  the  next  few  years,  but  served 
as  deputy  city  collector  four  years,  from  1870  to 
1873,  inclusive.  In  1876  he  was  elected  chief  of 
police  of  St.  Joseph  and  served  with  credit  for  a 
term  of  two  years.  He  later  engaged  in  the 
cattle  business  in  the  Indian  Territory  and  Texas 
up  to  within  the  past  five  years,  during  which 
time  he  has  been  identified  with  the  IMissouri  & 
Kansas  Telephone  Company,  having  charge  of 
the  collection  department.  He  is  a  very  able 
man,  possessing  a  pleasing  personality  and 
strength  of  character,  and  stands  high  in  the 
esteem  of  his  fellow  citizens. 

In  1865,  just  after  his  return  from  the  army, 
Captain  Buzard  was  joined  in  marriage  with 
Minnie  Nicholson,  daughter  of  Robert  Nicholson 
of  St.  Joseph,  and  they  have  four  sons,  the  first 
two  of  whom  are  married.  They  are  as  follows : 
Frank  S.,  who  js  in  the  dairy  business  near  St. 


366 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


Joseph ;  George  N.,  who  is  a  mail  carrier  ;  Charles 
J.,  who  is  in  the  employ  of  the  Battreal-Whitting- 
hill  Shoe  Company ;  and  Chester  H.,  a  student  in 
the  St.  Joseph  High  School.  Politically,  our  sub- 
ject is  an  enthusiastic  Republican.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  Custer  Post,  G.  A.  R.,  of  which  he  is  past 
commander ;  and  of  St.  Joseph  Lodge,  A".  F.  & 
A.  M.;  Mitchell  Chapter,  No.  89,  R.  A.  M..  of 
which  he  is  past  high  priest ;  St.  Joseph  Com- 
mandery.  No.  4.  K.  T.,  of  which  he  is  past  emi- 
nent commander ;  and  Moila  Temple,  Mystic 
Shrine.  In  September,  1887.  the  Society  of  ist 
Engineers  and  25th  Infantry,  Missouri  Volun- 
teers, was  organized  with  Captain  Buzard  as  the 
first  president,  which  office  he  has  held  ever  since. 
Mrs.  Buzard  and  the  other  members  of  the  fam- 
ily are  Episcopalians. 


^ » » 


LPHONSE  HESNAULT,  who  resides 

in  section  27,  township  58,  range  35, 

^^  @      in    Washington    township,    Buchanan 

a^mJi       County,    is    a   prominent    farmer    and 

dairvman.     He  was  born  in  Hancock 

County.  Illinois,  September  8.  1856,  and  is  a  son 

of  Martin  and  Aline  (Henry)  Hesnault. 

Martin  Hesnault  was  born  in  L" ranee  and  in 
1848  came  to  the  United  States  with  a  party  of 
Frenchmen,   wliich  he  helped   to  organize.     He 
first    located    in    Texas,    then    moved    with    the 
colony  to   Hancock   County,    Illinois,   where   he 
remained  a  few  }-ears.    He  then  farmed  in  Adams 
county,     Iowa,     until      i860,     in     which     year 
he     moved     to     Buchanan     County,     Missouri, 
here    locating    in    St.    Jose])h,    where    he    fol- 
lowed    the     trade     of     shoemaking     for     seven 
years.        He      next      farmed      four      years     on 
the  King  farm  just  northwest  of  St.  Joseph,  and 
in  1 87 1  moved  u])on  the  farm  which  our  subject 
now    owns    and    oj^eratcs.    living    here    until    his 
death  in  1895,  at  the  age  of  'J2  years.     He  was  a 
very   active    and   successful    man.    self-made    in 
every  respect,  and  left  a  farm  of  T90  acres.     In 
politics,  he  was  a  Re])ul)lican.     While  in  Illinois, 
he   was   joined    in  marriage   with    Aline   Henry, 
who  was  born  in  France  and  is  now  living  at  the 
home  of  her  son.  .Mphonsc.  enjoying  life  at  the 
age  of  67  years.     Tliey  became  parents  of  two 
sons   and   one   daughter:    Estella    (Meyer),   de- 
ceased ;  Alphonse  :  and  Cuss,  who  is  engaged  in 
farming  ou  a  farm  adjoining  that  of  our  subject. 
.'Mphonse  Hesnault  was  reared  on  the  home 
farm    and    received    liis    educational    trainings  in 


the  common  schools  of  the  district.  He  has  fol- 
lowed farming  all  his  life,  and  is  now  owner  of 
a  part  of  the  old  homestead,  his  farm  consisting 
of  100  acres.  He  is  a  man  of  public  spirit  and 
enterprise  and  is  deeply  interested  in  the  welfare 
of  his  community  and  the  county  in  general. 

Mr.  Hesnault  was  married  to  Caroline  Biery, 
who  was  born  in  Washington  township,  Buchanan 
County,  Missouri,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Ulrich 
Biery,  who  was  born  in  Switzerland  and  came  to 
this  country  in  1862.  and  followed  farming  along 
the  river  until  his  death.  Mr.  and  ]\Irs.  Hesnault 
have  eight  children,  as  follows:  Martin,  Henry, 
Estella,  Joseph,  Lewis,  Mathilda  and  F^rank  and 
Edward  (twins).  The  homestead  is  just  one 
mile  north  of  the  city  limits  of  St.  Joseph,  and 
is  a  very  valuable  piece  of  property.  Politically, 
our  subject  is  a  Reptiblican.  Fraternally,  he 
belongs  to  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America. 


■♦  ♦ » 


10HN  W.  TRICKETT,  a  prominent  con- 
tractor of  St.  Joseph,  was  born  at  Iowa 
Cit\-,  Iowa,  in  1857,  and  is  a  son  of 
John  and  Lucy  (Underbill)  Trickett. 
The  venerable  father  of  our  subject  is 
still  living,  his  fiome  being  in  Chicago,  Illinois. 
His  birth  took  place  in  Virginia  in  1813.  His 
early  life  was  spent  in  work  as  a  millwright,  but 
later  he  became  a  general  builder.  He  has  been 
twice  married,  first  to  Ursula  Knott,  who  was 
born  in  Virginia,  but  belonged  to  the  same  Ten- 
nessee branch  of  the  family  from  which  Gov- 
ernor Knott  sprung.  The  three  survivors  of  their 
four  cbildren  are :  Edward,  who  is  chief  of  the 
Kansas  City  Fire  Department ;  Charles  and 
Mary.  His  second  marriage  was  to  Lucy  Under- 
bill, who  was  born  in  Kentucky  and  died  in  1877 
at  the  age  of  54  years.  They  had  12  children, 
the  seven  survivors  being:  Belle,  Evelyn.  Sarah, 
Lucv,  Ursula.  Alice  and  John  W. 

John  W.  Trickett  was  three  years  old  when 
his  parents  removed  to  Ouincy,  Illinois,  and  there 
he  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  and  then 
learned  the  carpenter's  trade.  He  worked  at  this 
in  Ouincy  and  also  in  Chicago,  until  1880,  when 
he  aame  to  St.  Joseph.  Missouri.  Here  he  en- 
gaged in  carpenter  work  and  entered  into  con- 
tract building  on  his  own  account  and  has  met 
with  great  success.  He  has  erected  many  of  the 
finestresidences  in  the*city  and  also  large  busi- 
ness blocks  and  office  buildings.  Four  years  after 
coming  to  St.  Joseph,  he  returned  for  a  time  to^ 


?Tf.  "^ 


\ 


JOHN    T.   BERGHOFF,  M.  D. 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


369 


Chicagfo  where  he  was  eng-asred  in  contract  biiild- 


&"fe^ 


ing  until  1898,  when  he  came  back  to  St.  Joseph 
and  has  been  engaged  in  the  same  btisiness  in  this 
city  ever  since.  His  work  is  of  the  kind  to  give 
satisfaction  and  he  has  had  as  employers  some  of 
the  largest  capitalists  of  this  section  of  the  State. 

In  1875,  Mr.  Trickett  married  Mary  Keefe. 
and  they  have  had  13  children,  the  11  survivors 
being:  Lucy,  born  at  Ouincy,  Illinois,  who  mar- 
ried James  Welch  and  has  one  son,  Frank,  born  at 
St.  Joseph  ;  Mary,  born  at  Quincy  and  Alice,  born 
at  St.  Joseph,  who  live  at  home ;  John,  born  at 
St.  Joseph,  who  married  Etta  Durgin :  and 
George,  Catherine,  Maud,  Evelyn,  Helen,  Harry 
and  Leroy,  all  born  at  St.  Joseph,  who  live  at 
home. 

Fraternall}',  Mr.  Trickett  is  a  member  of  the 
Improved  Order  of  Red  Men;  Ancient  Order  of 
United  Workmen ;  Lodge  No.  390,  Modern 
Brotherhood  of  America  ;  and  has  been  treasurer 
of  Missouri  Camp,  No.  1893,  Modern  W'oodiuen 
of  America,  for  the  past  seven  years.  In  political 
sentiment,  he  is  a  stanch  Republican.  Mr. 
Trickett  is  known  as  an  upriglit,  honest  man, 
skilled  in  his  profession  and  worthy  of  confidence 
and  esteem.  He  takes  his  place  with  the  repre- 
sentative business  men  of  St.  Joseph. 


OHN  Tl  BERCHOFF,  M.  D.,  who  for 
more  than  40  years  was  identified  with 
the  public  affairs  and  the  professional 
interests  of  St.  Joseph,  passed  quietly 
out  of  life,  at  his  home.  No.  183 1  South 
20th  street,  on  January  13.  1897,  after  an  illness 
of  more  than  a  year's  duration. 

The  birth  of  this  eminent  physician  and  sur- 
geon, whose  portrait  accompanies  this  sketch, 
took  place  November  17,  1823,  at  Hachen,  Kreis 
and  Regirungs  Cezirk.  Arnsberg,  W^estphalen, 
(lermany,  and  he  was  a  son  of  John  and  Theresia 
(Wiegstein)  Berghoff.  He  grew  up  at  Arnsberg 
and  there  acquired  his  literary  education  and 
studied  pharmacy.  In  1846  he  came  to  the  United 
States,  landing  at  Calveston,  Texas,  on  April  15, 
of  that  year,  and  he  remained  in  that  Southern 
city  through  the  summer,  in  October  removing  to 
St.  Louis.  In  1850  he  opened  a  drug  store  in  St. 
Louis,  and  two  \ears  later  he  commenced  the 
study  of  medicine  under  Dr.  Thomas  Y.  Banister, 
resident  physician  to  the  St.  Louis  City  Hospital, 
lujr  three  years  Dr.  Bcrghofif  served  as  the  older 
physician's   assistant,   attended   three   courses   of 

19 


lectures  at  the  Medical  Department  of  St.  Louis 
University  (now  St.  Louis  Medical  College)  and 
was  graduated  March  i,  1855. 

In  1859  Dr.  Berghofif  located  at  St.  Joseph^ 
and  upon  the  breaking  out  of  the  war  in  1861  en- 
tered the  L'nion  service  as  surgeon  of  the  13th 
Regiment,  Missouri  Vol.  Inf.,  under  Colonel 
Peabody.  At  the  battle  of  Lexington,  he  was 
captured  by  the  enemy,  but  was  paroled  and  sent 
to  St.  Louis  by  Gen.  Sterling  Price.  He  was  re- 
captured at  Centralia,  Missouri,  but  was  released 
after  proving  himself  a  paroled  prisoner.  On 
April  6,  1862,  he  was  again  taken  prisoner,  at  the 
battle  of  Shiloh,  and  being  a  skilled  surgeon  his 
services  w-ere  gladly  made  use  of  in  a  Confeder- 
ate hos]:)ital.  There  were  three  surgeons,  four 
hospital  attendants  and  56  wounded  Union  men 
in  charge  of  Surgeon  Berghofif.  and  these  through 
his  management,  were  liberated  under  an  agree- 
ment entered  into  by  the  Confederate  and  L^nion 
forces  on  April  10,  1862.  Later,  Dr.  Berghoff 
served  with  the  25th  Missouri  Regiment,  organ- 
ized from  the  original  13th,  until  its  consolidation 
with  the  First  Regiment  of  Missouri  Engineers, 
and  was  honorably  discharged  from  the  service, 
January  30.  1864,  at  Nashville,  Tennessee.  Upon 
his  return  home,  he  was  commissioned  surgeon  of 
the  87th  Regiment,  enlisted  niinutemen,  and  on 
March  loth  was  commissioned  surgeon  of  the 
Missouri  militia  and  examining  surgeon  for  the 
draft. 

In  1868  and  1870,  Dr.  Berghofif  was  elected 
coroner  of  Buchanan  County,  and  in  1868  was 
appointed  and  elected  president  of  the  Board  of 
United  States  Examining  Surgeons,  at  St.  Joseph, 
serving  until  1893,  t.'xcept  during  the  administra- 
tion of  President  Cleveland,  and  he  also  served  as 
city  health  officer,  under  INIayor  William  M. 
Shepherd.  For  eight  years  he  held  the  position 
of  professor  of  the  principles  and  practice  of  sur- 
gery in  the  Northwestern  Medical  College  at  St. 
Joseph,  now  the  Central  Medical  College  of  St. 
Joseph. 

Dr.  Berghofif  was  a  member  of  the  American 
Aledical  Association ;  American  Public  Health 
Association  ;  Missouri  State  Medical  Association  : 
Missouri  Valley  Medical  Society:  and  District 
Medical  Society  of  North  Missouri. 

Before  the  Missouri  State  Medical  Associa- 
tion, in  ^lay.  1893,  s"<^l  before  the  Mississippi 
Valley  Medical  Society,  on  October  4.  1893,  Dr. 
Berghofif  presented  a  ])aper  on  the  "Treatment  of 
Fractures  of  the  Leg,"  which  attracted  much  at- 
tention as  he  was  known  to  the  profession  as  a 


370 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN    COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


surgeon  who  had  given  this  particular  study  very 
close  attention  and  had  perfected  an  apparatus 
for  the  treatment  of  such  fractures. 

This  "Universal  Fracture  Apparatus"  was  in- 
vented by  the  late  Dr.  Berghofif  and  was  patented 
September  19,  1893.  It  was  the  outgrowth  of 
the  patient  study  of  20  years,  and,  in  its  com- 
pleted beauty  and  utility,  can  not  be  excelled  for 
the  use  for  which  it  is  intended,  this  being  for 
the  treatment  of  fractures  and  for  diseases  of  hip, 
knee  and  ankle  joints.  Only  its  unavoidable  cost 
has  prevented  its  universal  use  with  surgeons, 
who  are  yearly  adding  it  to  their  equipments,  but 
its  inventor  passed  away  before  he  had  ever  re- 
ceived any  adequate  return  for  the  large  amount 
invested  in  perfecting  it. 

In  1847  Dr.  Berghofif  was  married,  first  to 
Caroline  Rosenburg,  of  St.  Louis,  who  died  April 
17,  1884,  without  issue.  On  December  27,  1884, 
Dr.  Berghofif  married,  second,  Maria  Adams,  who 
was  born  in  Germany,  but  became  a  resident 
of  Ouincy,  Illinois.  This  was  a  most  happy 
union,  Mrs.  Berghofif  having  read  medicine  prior 
to  her  marriage  and  attended  lectures  in  the 
Ouincv  (Illinois)  Hospital,  and  thus  was  able' to 
eiiter  entirely  into  her  able  husband's  aims  and 
studies.  She  still  survives  with  their  four  chil- 
<lren,  viz:  Maria  E.,  Caroline  M.,  John  T.  and 
Theodore  Arnold. 

Dr.  Berghofif  left  a  large  practice  and  hosts 
of  professional  and  personal  friends.  His  funeral 
was  conducted  under  the  auspices  of  Custer  Post, 
Grand  Army  of  the  Rei^ublic,  of  which  he  was  a 
valued  member,  and  interment  was  at  Calvary 
Cemetery.  He  was  a  man  of  the  highest  personal 
character  and  his  74  years  of  upright,  honorable 
life  left  the  world  both  wiser  and  better  than  at 
his  birth. 


-♦-•-♦- 


OHN  W.  WHEELER,  one  of  the  enter- 
prising young  farmers  of  Wayne  town- 
ship, Buchanan  County,  who  owns  a 
well-cultivated  farm  of  80  acres,  situated 
in  section  9,  was  born  in  this  county, 
June. 5,  1873,  and  is  a  son  of  John  A.  and  Rebecca 
C.  (Keeling)  Wheeler. 

Tohn  A.  Wheeler,  father  of  our  subject,  was 
born  in  Virginia  and  removed  with  his  parents 
to  Boone  County,  Missouri,  when  young.  He  was 
but  18  years  of  age  when  he  enlisted  for  army 
service  and  served  four  years.  After  an  honor- 
able discharge,  he  returned  to  Boone  County, 
whence  he  came  to  Buchanan  County,  where  he 


made  his  permanent  home  and  died  January  5, 
1894.  He  was  considered  one  of  the  good  farm- 
ers of  Wayne  township,  and  one  of  its  most 
respected  citizens.  He  married  Rebecca  C.  Keel- 
ing, of  Missouri,  and  they  had  11  children,  viz: 
John,  of  this  sketch  ;  Albert  and  Thomas,  farm- 
ers of  Wayne  township  ;  Elizabeth,  wife  of  John 
Maddocks,  a  farmer  of  Robinson  County,  Kan- 
sas ;  Fred ;  Louisa,  wife  of  John  Clayton  ;  James 
and  Jesse,  residents  of  Wayne  township ;  and 
Edward,  Florence  and  Dora,  who  died  young. 

John  W.  Wheeler  obtained  his  education  in 
the  common  schools  and  was  19  years  of  age 
when  he  engaged  in  farming  as  an  occupation. 
He  began  for  himself  on  a  rented  farm,  and  has 
always  been  noted  for  his  energy  and  industry. 
His  present  farm  is  carefully  cultivated  and  ranks 
with  the  best  in  the  township.  He  has  a  com- 
fortable, well-appointed  home  with  pleasant  sur- 
roundings. 

On  August  3,  1892,  Mr.  Wheeler  was  mar- 
ried to  Eliza  Morrison,  who  was  a  daughter  of 
John  Morrison,  a  farmer  of  Wayne  township. 
She  died  in  1899,  leaving  four  children:  Will- 
iam, May,  Harvey  and  Ruby.  On  May  9,  1902, 
Mr.  Wheeler  married  Lonie  King,  who  is  a 
daughter  of  A.  King,  a  prominent  farmer  of 
Wayne  township,  and  they  have  one  child, — 
Vioia. 

Mr.  Wheeler  takes  an  interest  in  local  mat- 
ters and  is  serving  as  school  director,  but  is  not 
politically  identified  with  either  of  the  great 
political  parties.  He  is  devoted  to  his  home  and 
family  and  is  respected  by  the  community  for  his 
sterling  traits  of  character. 


■♦ » » 


IRAM  COOK,  one  of  the  substantial 
farmers  and  old  residents  of  Platte 
township,  Buchanan  County,  and  own- 
ing 244  acres  of  land,  all  of  which,  with 
the  exception  of  four  acres  located  in 
Platte  township,  lies  in  section  32,  township  55, 
range  33,  in  Platte  township,  Buchanan  County, 
was  born  near  Nashville,  Tennessee,  March  9, 
1833,  and  is  a  son  of  Adam  and  Katherine  (Ot- 
tinger)   Cook. 

Adam  Cook  was  born  in  Tennessee  and  lived 
there  until  he  removed  to  Platte  County,  Mis- 
souri, in  1849,  buying  a  claim  near  the  village 
of  Edgerton.  He  cultivated  his  160  acres  of 
land  and  lived  upon  it  until  his  death  in  1898, 
at  the  age  of  C)6  years.  In  youth  he  enlisted  for 
service  in  the  War  of  181 2,  but  was  rejected  on 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


371 


account  of  his  tender  age.  A  strong  Whig,  he 
took  part  in  the  pubhc  affairs  of  his  day.  In 
reHgious  behef  he  was  a  Lutheran.  He  married 
Katherine  Ottinger,  who  was  born  in  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  died  in  Missouri  in  1861,  aged  65 
}ears.  They  had  nine  children,  namely :  Mrs. 
Jane  Ottinger,  now  a  venerable  lady  of  90  years, 
a  resident  of  /Vndrew  County,  Missouri;  John, 
who  was  killed  during  the  border  troubles  in 
Kansas ;  Mrs.  Margaret  Ottinger,  deceased ;  An- 
drew, formerly  a  member  of  the  Missouri  State 
Militia,  who  resides  in  Kansas ;  Hiram,  of  this 
sketch  ;  Mrs.  Katherine  Gwynn,  deceased ;  Mrs. 
Magdalena  Grantham,  deceased ;  and  Mrs.  Susan 
Collins,  of  Edgerton. 

Our  subject  has  been  a  resident  of  Buchanan 
County  for  more  than  a  half  century  and  all  this 
time  has  been  identified  with  her  agricultural  in- 
terests. He  distinctly  recalls  the  Christmas  Day, 
T849,  when  his  father's  tired  horses  drew  the  old 
farm  wagon,  which  had  been  the  family  home  for 
six  weeks,  into  the  village  of  Liberty,  Clay  Coun- 
ty. The  winter  was  passed  with  the  friendly  and 
hospitable  residents  there,  but  early  in  the  fol- 
lowing spring  the  family  settled  in  Platte  Coun- 
ty. In  1865  they  crossed  the  line  into  Buchanan 
County  and  here  our  subject  entered  upon  the 
cultivation  of  his  present  farm.  In  addition  to 
this  property,  he  owns  160  acres  near  Edgerton. 
All  this  land  was  put  under  cultivation,  a  part 
of  it  was  devoted  to  general  farming  and  four 
acres  were  given  to  orchards  and  a  sut^cient  por- 
tion was  set  aside  for  grazing  and  pasturage, 
for  Mr.  Cook  has  made  a  feature  of  stock-rais- 
ing. He  has  himself  effected  all  the  modern  im- 
provements upon  the  place,  and  they  include  all 
the  comforts  and  conveniences  of  a  first-class 
farm.  In  1889  he  built  the  present  commodious 
residence.  Previously  the  family  had  made  use 
of  a  hewed-log  house,  two  stories  in  height,  which 
had  been  erected  by  Charles  Powell,  who  had 
preempted  the  place.  It  is  still  a  comfortable 
residence,  one  room  being  finished,  as  few  houses 
are  in  the  present  day,  in  beautiful  black  walnut. 
This  ])icturesque  dwelling  was  the  finest  of  its 
l<ind  ever  built  in  the  locality.  Another  old  build- 
ing on  Mr.  Cook's  place  is  an  old  barn  which 
was  put  up  by  Samuel  Turner,  prior  to  the  Civil 
War.  It  is  evident  that  into  the  construction  of 
these  buildings  went  honest  work  and  sound  ma- 
terial. 

/     During  the  Civil  War,  Mr.  Cook  served  one 

year  in   the  Enrolled  Militia  of  Missouri  under 

■Col.   James   Price,  but  the  occasion  never  came 


for  it  to  take  part  in  any  battles.  He  has  lived  a 
cjuiet,  peaceful,  useful  life,  devoting  himself  to 
the  developing  of  his  land  and  to  the  support  of 
local  movements  for  the  benefit  of  all  concerned. 
For  some  time  he  has  been  practically  retired 
from  farm  activity,  his  sons  capably  taking  his 
place,  for  he  has  earned  his  rest. 

Mr.  Cook  was  united  in  marriage  with  Mar- 
garet Stamford,  who  was  born  in  Ray  County, 
Missouri,  but  was  reared  in  Platte  County,  where 
she  died  at  the  age  of  55  years.  They  had  these 
children :  William,  of  Platte  County ;  Magdalena, 
who  married  Adolph  Mischner,  of  Platte  County, 
and  has  five  children  ;  George,  of  Platte  County, 
who  has  three  children ;  AUie,  who  married 
George  Gurton,  of  Gower,  and  has  two  children  ; 
Henry,  of  Platte  township,  who  has  two  chil- 
dren ;  Palmyra,  ho  married '^  Oliver  Gwynn,  of 
Buchanan  County,  and  has  four  children  ;  James, 
of  Platte  township  ;  and  Curtis,  residing  at  home, 
w'ho  has  two  children. 

Mr.  Cook's  second  marriage  was  to  Mrs. 
Mary  (Power)  Canfield.  By  a  previous  mar- 
riage, Mrs.  Cook  had  one  daughter, — Lily.  In 
politics,  Mr.  Cook  has  been  a  lifelong  Republican, 
casting  his  first  presidential  vote  for  Abraham 
Lincoln  and  for  every  candidate  of  this  party  ever 
since.  To  him  the  principles  of  this  party  seem 
those  which  best  insure  the  welfare  of  the  coun- 
try. For  a  number  of  years  he  has  filled  various 
school  offices  in  Platte  township  and  has  given 
much  attention  to  the  advancement  of  education 
in  his  locality.  He  is  a  leading  member  of  the 
Baptist    Church    at    Edgerton. 


♦ « » 


SAAC  BROWN,  one  of  the  representative 
men  and  successful  farmers  of  Marion 
township,  Buchanan  County,  living  re- 
tired on  his  fine  farm  of  120  acres  in  sec- 
tion 33,  township  57,  range  33,  has  re- 
sided here  for  the  past  35  years.  He  was. born 
April  19,  1833,  in  Wayne  County,  Indiana,  and 
is  a  son  of  Samuel  and  Sarah  (Van  Meter) 
Brown. 

Samuel  Brown  was  born  and  reared  in  Ohio, 
where  he  learned  the  trade  of  carpenter.  At  the 
age  of  21  years  he  went  to  Wayne  County.  In- 
diana, where  he  married  and  lived  until  1842, 
when  he  removed  to  Manchester,  Indiana,  where 
he  died  in  1847.  He  was  a  Democrat  in  politics. 
Both  he  and  his  wife  were  members  of  the  Chris- 
tian Church.    After  the  death  of  her  husband,  the 


372 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN    COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


devoted  mother  determined  to  keep  her  children 
together  and  this  she  succeeded  in  doing  until  the 
survivors  reached  maturity.  She  died  at  Lo- 
gansport,  Indiana.  Her  children  were :  Helen, 
deceased  :  Isaac,  of  this  sketch  :  Frank,  deceased  ; 
Wallace  \\"..  a  carpenter  and  farmer  at  ^lexico, 
Indiana  :  Samuel,  a  farmer  living  near  Logans- 
port.  Indiana ;  Amanda,  of  Rome,  Indiana  ;  and 
Letitia,  who  died  young. 

Isaac  Brown,  being  the  oldest  son  of  the  fam- 
ily, had  many  responsibilities  thrust  upon  him  in 
boyhood  and  had  little  chance  to  attend  school. 
He  recalls  a  short  season  at  the  neighboring  log 
school  house,  but  his  attendance  was  so  limited 
that  he  acquired  little  beyond  the  first  principles. 
When  he  was  20  years  old.  he  started  out  to  make 
his  own  fortune.  He  learned  the  carpenter's 
trade  from  his  uncle,  George  Brown,  and  for  the 
first  year  worked  for  S33  and  for  every  day  that 
he  was  able  to  put  in  at  work  outside  of  the  shop 
he  received  50  cents.  His  neighbors  about  this 
time  began  to  talk  of  removing  to  Northwestern 
Missouri  to  take  advantage  of  the  rich  farming- 
lands,  and  it  needed  little  persuasion  to  induce 
him  to  join  them.  The  party  of  five  families 
started  out  with  ox  teams,  for  they  had  much  hard 
traveling  before  them,  and  the  party  readied  St. 
Joseph,  Buchanan  County,  on  July  4,  1852,  after 
nine  weeks  of  journeying. 

Mr.  Brown  was  engaged  first  by  Joseph 
Pickett  on  the  latter's  farm,  but  later  he  became 
connected  with  the  construction  force  which  did 
the  very  first  work  in  the  building  of  he  Hanni- 
bal &  St.  Joseph  Railroad.  He  became  foreman 
and  worked  for  the  road  for  a  year  and  then, 
starting  out  to  do  carpenter  work  all  over  the 
countrv,  he  found  plenty  to  do  at  good  wages  in 
and  around  St.  Joseph.  In  1869,  he  bought  his 
present  farm  and  has  occupied  it  ever  since,  be- 
being  considered  as  one  of  the  pioneers  of  ]\Iarion 
township.  He  has  made  all  the  improvements 
on  the  place  and  at  the  present  time  carries  on  a 
general  farming  and  stock-raising  business  in 
addition  to  carpenter  work.  He  has  some  22  acres 
of  fine  orchard  and  raises  a  large  amount  of  ex- 
cellent fruit.  Mr.  Brown  served  in  the  Missouri 
State  Militia  for  one  year. 

At  Easton.  Missouri,  Mr.  Brown  was  mar- 
ried to  Jane  Woodward,  who  was  born  in  Ken- 
tucky, but  died  in  Missouri,  mourned  by  all  who 
knew  her  and  tenderly  remembered  by  her  hus- 
band and  her  six  surviving  children,  viz  :  Alice,  at 
home ;  Sallie  L..  at  home ;  James,  a  farmer  in 
Washington    township ;   Aubrey,    a    teacher   and 


also  a  dairyman,  at  Hemple.  Missouri :  Amy,  a 
teacher  in  the  schools  of  St.  Joseph  ;  and  Charles, 
the  home  farmer. 

^Ir.  Brown  has  been  a  lifelong  Democrat,  and 
he  has  frequently  held  township  offices.  For  the 
past  15  years  he  has  been  a  member  of  the  School 
Board.  He  belongs  to  and  liberally  supports  the 
Christian  Church.  He  is  one  of  the  self-made 
men  of  his  locality  and  one  who  commands  the 
respect  of  all  who  know  him. 


♦  * » 


AMES  KAY,  for  many  years  one  of  the 
leading  merchants  of  St.  Joseph,  and 
prominently  identified  with  the  city's 
business  interests  from  185 1  until  he 
retired  from  business  activity,  was  born 
in  \'irginia  in  1816,  and  died  at  his  home  in  this 
city,  in   1893. 

Mr.  Kay's  business  career  began  early,  his 
schooling  in  his  native  State  being  completed  at 
the  age  of  13  years.  He  then  went  to  Dover, 
Tennessee,  and  there  entered  a  dry  goods  store. 
He  soon  displayed  an  aptness  for  commercial  life 
and  continued  in  the  mercantile  line  until  man- 
hood. He  had  amassed  a  fair  capital  by  the  time 
he  decided  to  locate  in  business  in  the  rapidly  de- 
veloping city  of  St.  Joseph.  In  1851.  he  started 
for  this  city  with  his  wife  and  two  sons  on  the 
packet  boat  "Isabelle."  one  of  the  first  passenger 
boats  on  the  Cumberland  River.  The  travelers 
congratulated  themselves  that  this  mode  of  trans- 
portation enabled  them  to  travel  from  St.  Louis 
to  St.  Joseph  in  the  wonderfully  short  space  of 
nine  days. 

Upon  reaching  St.  Joseph  and  settling  on  a 
location.  Mr.  Kay  entered  into  jjartnership  with 
J.  C.  Ingram,  forming  the  firm  of  Ingram  & 
Kay,  and  they  opened  up  a  large  dry  goods  es- 
tablishment. One  year  later,  Mr.  Ingram  was 
succeeded  in  the  business  by  John  W.  Bailey, 
the  brother-in-law  of  Mr.  Kay,  and  the  firm  of 
P)ailey  &  Kay  continued  in  the  wholesale  and  re- 
tail dry  goods  business  until  1879.  ^*  ^^'^^  t^^^" 
reorsfanized  and  William  G.  Fairleigh  became  a 
partner,  and  then  the  style  became  Bailey,  Fair- 
leigh &  Weil.  Mr.  Kay  retiring.  For  many  years 
this  firm  continued  to  be  the  leading  one  in  its 
line   in    St.   Joseph. 

In  1851  ^Ir.  Kay  was  united  in  marriage  at 
Dover,  Tennessee,  with  Eliza  Bailey,  who  is  a 
daughter  of  William  and  Mary  (Williams) 
Bailey.     The   former  was   a   native  of  Virginia^ 


GOTTLIEB   BANDEL   AND    DAUGHTER 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


375 


and  the  latter  of  Pennsylvania.  The  two  chil- 
dren born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kay  were  two  sons, — 
Reuben  and  Henry.  Reuben  Kay  was  a  soldier 
in  the  Confederate  Army  and  died  unmarried. 
Henry  Kay  became  a  minister  in  the  ^lethodist 
Episcopal  Church  and  is  now  deceased.  He  mar- 
ried Mary  Lewis  and  she  also  has  passed  away, 
leaving  four  children,  namely :  Mary  Lewis, 
Harr\-  Baile> .  Ruby  Wenona  and  James  Barnett. 
The  first  and  last  named  of  these  children  reside 
with  Mrs.  Kay  at  St.  Joseph.  Harry  Bailey  Kay 
is  a  very  promising  young  business  man.  at  pres- 
ent assistant  cashier  of  a  bank  at  Los  Angeles, 
California.  Ruby  W'enona  Kay  resides  with  an 
uncle  in  St.  Louis. 

The  late  ]\Ir.  Kay  was  a  citizen  of  high  char- 
acter, held  in  universal  esteem  in  St.  Joseph.  In 
all  the  city's  earlier  movements  of  progress  and 
development,  he  took  an  active  and  interested 
part.  He  was  for  many  years  and  until  his  death 
one  of  the  most  prominent  and  active  members 
of  the  Francis  Street  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church.  South.  He  led  the  singing  and  held 
many  church  ofiices.  He  was  very  liberal  in  his 
gifts.  Mrs.  Kay  resides  in  a  pleasant  home  situ- 
ated at  No.  424  North  Ninth  street.  She  is  also 
an  active  member  of  the  Erancis  Street  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  South. 


♦  * » 


OTTLIEB  BANDEL.  one  of  the  best 
known  of  the  German  citizens  of  St. 
Joseph,  whose  portrait  accompanies  this 
sketch,  is  superintendent  of  the  City 
Workhouse,  the  duties  of  which  office  he 
is  discharging  in  a  most  satisfactory  manner. 

?klr.  Bandel  is  one  of  15  children  born  to  Fred- 
erick and  Mary  (Gruber)  Bandel,  both  natives  of 
Germany.  The  father  came  to  the  L'nited  States 
in  1855,  and  lived  in  Ohio  for  a  short  time.  He 
later  removed  to  .'^pringfield,  Illinois,  where  he 
lived  until  his  death  in  the  early  "seventies." 

Gottlieb  Bandel  was  born  in  Wurtemburg. 
Germany,  January  16,  1854,  but  was  reared  and 
educated  in  the  L'nited  States,  being  little  more 
than  a  year  old  upon  the  removal  of  his  parents 
to  this  country.  After  completing  his  education, 
he  learned  the  trade  of  a  mason,  which  he  fol- 
lowed in  Springfield.  Illinois,  and  later  in  St.  Jo- 
seph, Missouri,  to  which  city  he  removed.  He 
followed  his  trade  here  until  April  16.  1904.  when 
he  was  appointed  by  the  mayor  to  succeed  the  late 
H.   Raidt  as  superintendent  of  the  City  Work- 


house. He  soon  proved  his  worthiness  for  the 
place  and  has  served  with  an  efficiency  which  has 
seldom  characterized  the  position  in  the  past.  He 
has  four  guards  under  him. 

On  July  5.  1875,  Mr.  Bandel  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Hattie  E.  Morrison,  a  daughter  of 
William  [Morrison,  and  they  are  the  parents  of 
eiglrt  children.  Religiously,  he  and  his  family  are 
faithful  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church.  The  family  home  is  at  No.  913  North 
Third  street.  Politically,  he  is  a  stanch  Democrat 
and  an  active  party  worker. 


♦ » » 


OHN  G.  .MAYER,  one  of  the  well-known 
truck  gardeners  and  highly  esteemed 
citizens  of  Washington  township,  Bu- 
chanan County,  located  in  section  28, 
township  58,  range  35.  on  the  Savannah 
road,  just  north  of  the  city  limits  of  St.  Joseph, 
was  born  in  Germany,  March  6,  1853.  and  is  a 
son  of  George  Mayer,  who  lived  to  a  good  old 
age  on  his  farm  in  Germany. 

Our  subject  grew  to  manhood  on  his  father's 
farm  and  there  obtained  a  practical  knowledge  of 
agriculture.  He  attended  the  local  schools  and 
thus  obtained  a  good  education.  In  1873  he  left 
his  own  land  to  come  to  America,  and  landed  at 
the  port  of  the  city  of  New  York  on  October  24th 
of  that  year.  His  first  regular  employment  was 
in  the  coal  mines  at  Danville.  Pennsylvania, 
where  he  earned  good  wages  and  worked  until 
1877.  However,  as  he  had  come  to  the  United 
States  with  the  idea  of  becoming  the  owner  of 
some  of  its  fertile  land,  he  then  started  West  in 
search  of  a  satisfactory  location.  After  spending 
two  months  in  Kansas  prospecting  he  came  to 
Buchanan  County.  Missouri.  Here  he  secured 
work  on  a  farm  and  continued  at  farm  work 
until  1882.  each  year  being  better  and  better 
pleased  with  the  climate  and  agricultural  advan- 
tages of  this  section,  and  then  purchased  his 
truck  farm  of  12  acres  adjacent  to  St.  Joseph, 
which  he  has  operated  ever  since.  His  land  is 
very  fertile  and  he  has  cultivated  it  to  the  high- 
est point  of  excellence,  devoting  it  to  gardening 
and  small  fruits.  He  finds  a  ready  market  in  the 
citv  and  his  choice  produce  commands  the  high- 
est price  on  account  of  its  excellence.  He  has  a 
very  comfortable  home. — a  two-story  dwelling 
with  seven  rooms, — and  his  surroundings  show 
thrift  and  prosperity. 

Mr.  Mayer  was  married  first  in  1882  to  Stella 


376 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY  AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


Hessnault,  who  died  in  1886,  leaving  two  chil- 
dren,— Rosa  and  Louis.  His  second  union  was 
with  Mary  Marti  and  they  have  four  children : 
pNlary,  Ernest.  Flora  and  Albert,  all  bright,  in- 
telligent young  people,  who  are  enjoying  the  best 
of  educational  privileges. 

Politically,  Mr.  Mayer  is  a  Democrat.  He 
belongs  to  the  Woodmen  of  the  World.  He  is  a 
self-made  man  and  deserves  the  respect  in  which 
he  is  held.  Honest  industry  has  brought  him  his 
present  prosperity  and  he  is  classed  with  the  sub- 
stantial men  of  his  township. 


^ » » 


SAAC  OWENS,  one  of  the  prominent  and 
influential  citizens  of  Agency,  Buchanan 
County,  is  now  living  in  retirement  after 
many  years  of  activity  as  a  farmer  and 
merchant.  He  was  born  in  Calvert  Coun- 
ty, Maryland,  November  3,  1828.  and  is  a  son 
of  Benjamin  and  Martha  L.  (Ireland)  Owens. 
His  grandfather,  Benjamin  Owens,  who  was  a 
native  of  Wales,  came  to  America  with  four 
brothers  and  located  in  Maryland,  while  his 
brothers  settled  in  Ohio  and  Kentucky. 

Benjamin  Owens,  father  of  our  subject,  was 
born  in  Calvert  County.  Maryland,  December 
24,  1806,  and  died  in  Doniphan  County,  Kansas, 
January  23,  1883.  He  was  always  a  farmer  and 
planter,  and  while  a  resident  of  Maryland  con- 
ducted a  large  tobacco  plantation.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  County  Court  in  Maryland  many 
years,  and  always  was  an  active  Democrat.  Re- 
ligiously, he  was  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  South.  He  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Martha  L.  Irela:nd,  who  was  born 
in  Calvert  County,  Maryland,  of  Irish  p'arentage, 
in  1807.  She  died  in  Kansas  City.  Kansas,  at  the 
age  of  82  years,  having  given  birth  to  seven  chil- 
dren, as  follows :  Isaac ;  Young,  who  died  in  Clay 
County,  Missouri,  during  the  Civil  A\'ar ;  James 
Benjamin,  deceased;  Margaret  Ann  (Henshall), 
deceased  ;  Sarah  Elizabeth,  widow  of  Capt.  T.  E. 
Weaver  of  St.  Louis:  ^lartha  P.  (Burgess),  de- 
ceased and  Mary-L.  (Bird),  of  Kansas  City. 

Isaac  Owens  was  reared  and  lived  on  the 
home  farm  until  he  was  19  years  of  age.  then  went 
to  Natchez,  Mississippi,  where  he  clerked  in  a 
general  mercantile^ store  for  one  year,  and  man- 
aged a  farm  in  Catahoula  Parish  for  two  years. 
He  went  to  California  I'ia  the  Isthmus  of  Pana- 
ma in  185 1  and  during  his  two  years  residence  in 
that  State  engaged  in  mining  and  ranching.     He 


returned  to  Maryland  I'ia  the  Isthmus  and  New 
York  City,  and  after  a  visit  of  some  five  months 
with  his  home  people  came  West  to  St.  Joseph, 
Missouri,  in  March.  1854.  In  June  of  that  year 
he  returned  home,  and  in  March,  1855,  again 
came  to  St.  Joseph,  being  followed  shortly  after 
by  his  father  and  his  family.  He  located  upon  a 
farm  seven  miles  northeast  of  St.  Joseph  in  An- 
drew County,  where  he  followed  farming  until 
1865.  He  was  considered  a  Southern  sympathizer 
and  lost  considerable  property  during  the  Civil 
War.  Horses  were  stolen,  farm  products  used, 
and  26  slaves  belonging  to  him  and  his  father 
were  set  free  by  the  Emancipation  Proclamation. 
He  made  a  trip  overland  to  Denver  in  1865,  but 
returned  after  three  months  and  entered  the  mer- 
cantile business  in  St.  Joseph,  where  the  !Metro- 
pole  Hotel  in  now  situated.  He  was  engaged  in 
the  grocery  business  here  for  six  years,  first  in 
partnership  with  E.  E.  Bacon  and  later  with  ]\Ir. 
Biggerstaff,  luider  the  firm  name  of  Owens  & 
Biggerstaff.  He  finally  sold  out  to  Mr.  Bigger- 
staff  and  moved  to  the  town  of  Easton.  where  he 
followed  the  general  mercantile  business  one  year, 
and  then  established  a  feed  mill  in  St.  Joseph,  the 
first  in  the  city.  Later,  selling  his  interest  in  the 
mill,  he  followed  farming  in  Doniphan  Comity, 
Kansas,  for  three  years,  after  which  he  returned 
to  Andrew  County.  Missouri,  wh.ere  he  farmed 
seven  years.  Fie  next  moved  to  Newport,  Jack- 
son County,  Arkansas,  where  he  conducted  a  gen- 
eral store  seven  years.  In  1892  he  returned  to 
St.  Joseph,  conducted  a  grocery  store  for  five 
years  and  then  made  an  assignment.  He  then 
located  at  xA.gency.  where  he  has  since  resided. 
Here  he  was  identified  with  the  Miller  Brothers' 
Bank  for  some  time  and  then  served  as  assistant 
postmaster  one  \ear.  He  is  now  living  in  happy 
retirement,  surrounded  by  his  family  and  many 
friends  of  long  acquaintance. 

On  April  14,  1856,  Mr.  Owens  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Katherine  Farmer,  who  was  born 
in  Spottsylvania  County,  ^'irginia,  May  23,  1835, 
and  is  a  daughter  of  James  A.  and  Rebecca  J. 
(Jones)  Farmer,  natives  of  \"irginia.  The  fol- 
lowing children  were  born  to  bless  this  union  : 
Francis  Clyde,  of  Agency :  Mary  L.,  wife  of  J. 
H.  Karnes,  of  Buchanan  County ;  Harry  B.,  of 
Denver ;  Clarence  P.,  who  died  in  St.  Joseph  at 
the  age  of  four  years ;  and  William  H.,  who  is  a 
traveling  representative  of  the  Standard  Oil  Com- 
pany. 

Dr.  Francis  Clyde  Owens,  the  eldest  son.  is 
a  prominent  druggist  and  practitioner  of  medicine 


i 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


Z77 


of  Agency.  He  was  born  seven  miles  northeast 
of  St.  Joseph,  Missouri,  December  i6,  1857,  and 
was  reared  on  a  farm  until  he  reached  his  ma- 
jority, attending  the  common  schools  and  the 
St.  Joseph  High  School.  He  was  located  in 
Colorado  three  years,  on  the  Cherry  Creek  hay 
ranch  of  George  Lord,  18  miles  from  Denver. 
He  attended  Rush  Medical  College  at  Chicago 
two  years  in  preparation  for  the  practice  of  medi- 
cine, and  then  went  to  Newport.  Arkansas,  where 
he  lived  six  years,  being  identified  with  the  gen- 
eral store  conducted  by  his  father.  From  New- 
port he  went  to  Greene  County,  locating  in  the 
vicinity  of  Faragould.  where  he  practiced  for 
five  years.  He  located  in  Agency  in  1896,  and 
purchased  the  drug  store  which  he  now  conducts, 
and  has  since  also  engaged  in  the  practice  of 
medicine.  He  was  graduated  from  Ensworth 
Medical  College  of  St.  Joseph  in  1900.  He  is  an 
active  Democrat.  Fraternally  he  is  a  member  of 
the  Masons,  Woodmen  of  the  World,  and  is 
medical  examiner  for  the  M.  W.  A.  and  T.  A.  A. 
In  1881,  Dr.  Owens  married  Anna  L.  Parker,  and 
has  six  children :  Margaret,  Lucy,  Leila,  Ruth, 
Elizabeth  and  Francis  C,  Jr. 

Isaac  Owens  has  always  been  a  stanch  Dem- 
ocrat and  served  six  years  as  a  justice  of  the 
peace.  He  has  been  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  South,  for  a  period  of  60 
years  and  is  active  in  church  work.  Fraternally, 
he  has  been  a  member  of  the  Masonic  order  for 
40  years  and  is  in  good  standing. 


♦  »  » 


[LLIAM  REDMAN,  one  of  the  well- 
known  residents  of  Lake  township, 
Buchanan  County,  and  a  member  of 
a  family  which  first  located  here  in 
1855,  was  born  in  Lewis  County, 
Kentucky.  April  9.  1848.  and  is  a  son  of  James 
and  Susan   (Sheridan)   Redman. 

The  paternal  grandparents  of  our  subject 
were  Daniel  and  Sally  (Calhoun)  Redman,  prob- 
ably natives  of  Virginia.  They  evidently  were 
pioneers  in  Kentucky,  where  their  son  James  was 
born.  James  Redman  was  reared  and  edvicated 
in  Lewis  County,  Kentucky.  In  1855  he  came  to 
Ihichanan  County,  Missouri,  locating  at  the  vil- 
lage of  Rushville,  where  he  followed  farming  and 
carpenter  work.  Here  he  died  in  1885.  His 
wi(low  still  survives.  She  is  a  daughter  of  An- 
drew Sheridan,  who  was  reared  on  the  Monon- 
gahela  River,  in  Pennsylvania.     On  a  return  to 


Pennsylvania  from  New  Orleans,  he  met  the 
mother  of  Mrs.  Redman  in  Kentucky,  and  they 
were  married  and  settled  there.  The  children  of 
James  Rcdmaii  and  wife  were :  three  daughters, 
— Mary  Jane,  Elizabeth  and  Mahala,  all  deceased  ; 
and  one  son, — our  subject. 

William  Redman  obtained  his  education  in  the 
schools  of  Rushville,  but  his  opportunities  were 
limited  as  he  was  obliged  to  take  much  of  the  re- 
sponsibility of  the  family  upon  him,  on  account 
of  his  father's  delicate  health.  He  managed  the 
home  farm  until  he  reached  maturity  and  then 
began  to  farm  for  himself,  which  he  has  contin- 
ued until  the  present  time.  He  is  making  prep- 
arations to  retire  in  the  near  future  to  a  pleasant 
home  in  St.  Joseph,  purposing  to  live  there  per- 
manently. 

In  1873  he  visited  Kansas,  but  in  1877  he  re- 
turned to  look  after  home  interests  and  remained 
some  18  months  and  then  sold  his  Kansas  hold- 
ings and  returned  permanently  to  Lake  township, 
Buchanan  County. 

In  the  fall  of  1875,  Mr.  Redman  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Isabella  Mallatt,  who  is  a  daughter 
of  Lliram  ^[allatt,  of  Wilson  County,  Kansas, 
formerly  of  Indiana.  They  had  four  children  : 
Carl,  Lovell,  who  died  aged  six  years ;  Beulah 
and  Ruby. 

Politically,  Air.  Redman  has  always  supported 
the  principles  and  candidates  of  the  Democratic 
party.  He  is  one  of  the  township's  highly  re- 
spected citizens,  one  who  has  always  given  his 
careful  attention  to  matters  pertaining  to  his 
locality  and  is  one  who  can  always  be  depended 
upon  to  afiford  support  to  undertakings  designed 
to  benefit  this  section. 


♦  * » 


EORGE  BODE,  the  subject  of  the  fol- 
lowing sketch,  was  born  in  Hiimme 
Kreis  Hofgeismar,  Llessen,  Germany, 
on  the  1st  day  of  July,  1839.  The  father 
was  a  tailor  and  the  mother  was  a  de- 
scendant of  French  Huguenots  who  had  re- 
moved to  Germany  to  avoid  persecution.  The 
father  died  in  1842  when  our  subject  was  two 
and  a  half  years  old  and  the  early  guidance  and 
care  of  George  were  left  to  a  tender  and  devoted 
mother,  Rosina  (Martin)  Bode,  who  has  slept  be- 
neath the  green  sod  near  Cassel,  Llessen,  since 
1 87 1.  Our  subject  had  two  brothers, — Conrad 
and  John.  Conrad  Bode,  who  died  in  Germany, 
was    the    father    of    William     I'ode,    Dr.    Louis 


378 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


F.  Bode,  Mrs.  John  C.  Schmidt  and  Mrs.  Henry 
Kueker.  John  Bode,  who  was  formerly  a  shoe 
merchant  in  St.  Joseph,  Missouri,  deceased  in 
1891,  was  the  father  of  Martin  and  John  Bode 
and  Mrs.  Frank  Gamerl  and  Mrs.  Michael 
Sweeney.  Mrs.  Rosina  Wilmes.  onr  subject's  sis- 
ter, died  in  Germany  ;  her  children  are  all  resi- 
dents of  the  United  States. — Mrs.  Albert  Tietz 
and  Conrad,  George  and  Henry  Wilmes,  of  Cali- 
fornia and  Colorado. 

When  George  Bode  landed  in  Baltimore, 
Maryland,  on  July  i,  1859,  it  was  as  a  poor  but 
determined  young-  man,  entirely  dependent  on 
his  sturdy  manhood  as  the  only  source  for  sup- 
port, with  the  language  and  customs  of  the  coun- 
try to  acquire.  In  Germany  he  had  a  position 
with  the  crown  railroads,  but  had  no  trade  or 
profession.  He  arrived  at  St.  Joseph,  Missouri, 
on  July  12th,  coming  by  way  of  St.  Louis  and 
Belleville  and  by  steamer  up  the  Missouri,  where 
the  virgin  soil  on  either  side  of  the  stream  was 
yet  the  haunts  of  the  bufifalo  and  the  red  men  of 
the  plains.  His  first  position  was  as  a  chore  boy 
in  a  grocery  store ;  then  he  obtained  a  position  as 
a  dispenser  of  liquid  refreshments  and  finally 
opened  a  saloon  on  Edmond  street,  between 
Fourth  and  Fifth  streets.  Fred  Stephan,  who 
had  arrived  here  from  Buffalo,  New  York,  was 
his  associate  and  for  28  years  the  business  was 
kept  up  on  the  most  agreeable  and  flourishing 
terms.  The  stand  at  Nos.  412-414  Edmond 
street,  was  known  as  the  "Bufifalo"  and  was  the 
center  of  a  large  and  sociable  clientele,  from 
which  the  nucleus  of  a  large  fortune  was  ob- 
tained. Jerked  buffalo  meat  being  always  on 
hand  for  the  customers,  this  became  a  famous 
place  on  the  overland  route  to  the  coast  in  the 
gold  days.  Mr.  Bode  is  considered  a  most  ex- 
cellent judge  of  realties  and  is  often  sought  for 
his  opinion  on  values  of  property.  He  has  a 
modern  home  at  No.  715  South  Ninth  street,  the 
"Buffalo"  saloon  at  Nos.  412-414  Edmond  street, 
the  "Elk"  at  No.  517  Edmond  and  numerous 
others  in  the  city  of  St.  Joseph. 

In  1867  Mr.  Bode  was  married  to  Elenora 
Wenz,  who  was  born  in  Germany  and  came  to 
America  with  her  brothers  and  sisters  in  i860. 
She  died  at  St.  Joseph,  in  1895,  aged  48  years, 
survived  by  her  four  children  :  George,  who  is  a 
bookkeeper  in  the  German-American  Bank  of  St. 
Joseph  ;  Meta,  wife  of  Dr.  Levi  S.  Long,  who  re- 
sides with  her  father ;  Arthur,  who  was  sergeant 
of  Company  I,  Fourth  United  States  Cavalry,  the 
first    company    ordered   to    the    Philippines, — he 


came  home  after  nine  months  service  in  the 
islands  and  died  at  St.  Joseph  in  1899,  aged  21 
years;  and  Agnes  (wife  of  Felix  Brach),  who 
died  in  1903,  aged  23  years. 

Mr.  Bode  cast  his  first  vote  for  Abraham  Lin- 
coln and  since  then  has  been  identified  with  the 
Republican  party.  He  belongs  to  a  number  of 
fraternal  organizations  and  in  many  of  them  has 
held  ofifices  of  trust  and  responsibility  for  many 
years.  For  38  years  he  has  been  an  Odd  Fellovv^ ; 
for  26  years,  since  the  founding  of  the  Knights 
of  Pythias,  he  has  been  a  member ;  for  20  years  a 
member  of  the  German  Benevolent  Association 
and  its  treasurer ;  for  eight  years  treasurer  of 
Logan  Tribe,  No.  27,  Improved  Order  of  Red 
Men.  In  all  these  organizations  he  displays  the 
genial  qualities  of  good  comradeship  as  well  as 
those  upon  which  these  orders  are  founded.  He 
not  only  has  a  wide  acquaintance  in  St.  Joseph, 
but  an  extended  circle  of  friends.  Although  not 
disposed  to  speak  of  his  many  charities,  many 
worthy  benevolent  enterprises  here  have  been 
forwarded  by  his  generosity  and  many  a  dollar 
has  passed  from  him  to  a  brother  in  need  without 
any  record  ever  beeing  made  by  the  outside 
world.  These  are  a  few  of  the  reasons  why 
George  Bode  is  esteemed  and  relied  upon  by  his 
fellow  citizens. 


♦  • » 


WEN  DANIEL,  one  of  the  representa- 
tive citizens  and  substantial  farmers  of 
Platte  township,  Buchanan  County, 
who  resides  on  his  well-improved  farm 
of  236  acres,  in  section  19,  township  55, 
range  33,  was  born  on  this  property  in  a  little 
pioneer  log  house  16  by  18  feet  in  dimensions,  on 
May  28,  1840,  and  is  a  son  of  John  and  Maria 
(Hite)  Daniel. 

John  Daniel,  our  subject's  father,  was  born  in 
Virginia  and  removed  to  Shelby  County,  Ken- 
tucky, at  the  age  of  17  years.  He  owned  slaves 
and  property  in  the  vicinity  of  Louisville  prior 
to  coming  to  Buchanan  County.  Missouri,  after 
his  second  marriage,  in  1832.  He  entered  160 
acres  of  land  for  himself  and  claims  for  his  chil- 
dren, and  owned  some  100  acres  additional,  which 
he  purchased.  At  the  time  of  his  death,  in  1862, 
he  left  money  for  our  subject  to  use  in  obtaining 
a  good  education,  but  it  was  never  applied  to  that 
purpose.  John  Daniel  was  married  three  times 
and  became  the  father  of  16  children.  His  first 
marriage  was  to  a  Miss  Briscoe,  and  they  had  13 
children.    His  second  union  was  with  Maria  Hite, 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


379 


who  was  born  in  Kentucky  and  died  on  the  pres- 
ent home  farm,  at  the  age  of  32  years.  The  two 
children  of  this  marriage  were :  William,  who 
joined  the  Confederate  Army,  was  subsequently 
taken  prisoner  and  later,  after  his  release,  was 
killed  in  a  skirmish:  and  Owen,  the  subject  of 
this  sketch.  The  third  marriage  of  Mr.  Daniel 
was  to  his  sister-in-law,  ]\lrs.  Elizabeth  (Briscoe) 
Taylor,  and  they  had  one  son,  James,  now  a  resi- 
dent of  Oregon. 

Our  subject  was  12  years  old  when  his  father 
died.  His  educational  advantages  were  only 
those  afforded  by  the  public  schools  of  the  time 
and  locality,  and  he  grew  to  manhood  on  the  home 
farm.  In  August,  1864,  he  enlisted  for  service 
in  the  Civil  War,  entering  Company  G,  44th  Reg., 
Missouri  Vol.  Inf.,  under  Col.  Robert  Bradshaw, 
and  throughout  the  war  saw  many  of  the  hard- 
ships of  army  life.  He  took  part  in  the  battles  of 
Franklin,  Nashville,  Tennessee,  and  Mobile  and 
Montgomery,  Alabama,  and  that  his  regiment 
saw  hard  service  may  be  judged  when  it  is  noted 
that  of  its  1,100  original  members  only  460  re- 
mained to  be  mustered  out.  Mr.  Daniel  was  cap- 
tured at  the  battle  of  Franklin  but  suffered  only 
a  short  imprisonment.  He  spent  two  months  in  a 
hospital  at  Memphis,  Tennessee,  by  reason  of  a 
serious  attack  of  rheumatism.  His  record  was 
that  of  a  true  and  courageous  soldier. 

After  the  close  of  the  war,  he  returned  to  the 
home  farm  which  is  situated  in  section  19,  town- 
ship 55,  range  33,  in  Platte  township,  and  has 
been  engaged  here  in  general  farming  and  stock- 
raising  ever  since.  In  addition  to  this  large  and 
valuable  property,  he  owns  the  City  Hotel  at 
Edgerton  and  is  justly  considered  one  of  the 
county's  capitalists. 

On  May  5,  i860,  Mr.  Daniel  was  married  to 
Mary  E.  Baum,  and  they  have  had  nine  chil- 
dren :  Lucy  C,  who  married  John  Courtney,  and 
at  her  death  left  one  son, — James  ;  John  W.,  re- 
siding with  his  father,  who  has  three  children  ; 
James,  who  is  a  farmer  of  Platte  township ; 
I.aura,  who  married  Joseph  Baum,  and  had  three 
children;  Cora,  who  married  Arthur  Maxwell,  of 
St.  Louis,  and  has  one  child  ;  William,  a  farmer  of 
Platte  township,  who  has  three  children  :  Thomas, 
who  is  a  farmer  of  Platte  township ;  George,  who 
assists  in  operating  the  home  farm ;  and  Eve- 
line, who  married  Edward  Lyons  of  East  St. 
Louis,  Illinois,  and  has  one  child. 

Mr.  Daniel  has  seen  manv  changes  in  his 
neighborhood  during  his  long  life  here  and  can 
recall  manv  events  which  have  become  matters 


of  history,  one  of  these  being  the  occasion  of  the 
Mormon  raid  when  Smith  was  killed.  This  lo- 
cality was  formerly  known  as  the  Daniel  settle- 
ment, on  account  of  so  many  of  the  name  being 
located  here. 

Politically,  Mr.  Daniel  is  a  Republican,  and 
he  is  a  valued  member  of  the  local  GrSnd  Army 
of  the  Republic  post.  For  many  years  he  has 
been  a  consistent  member  of  the  Missionary 
Baptist  Church  and  is  noted  for  his  thorough 
knowledge  of  the  Bible.  He  has  long  been  one 
of  his  township's  representative  men  and  com- 
mands the  respect  and  esteem  of  all  who  have 
known  him  through  the  \ears  that  have  elapsed 
since  childhood. 


-^~*-^~ 


ICHAEL  JOSEPH  McCABE.  The 
late  Michael  Joseph  McCabe,  as  city 
engineer,  was  mainly  responsible  for 
the  perfecting  of  the  present  s\steni 
of  water-works  and  the  completion  of 
a  sewerage  system  that  has  resulted  in  making 
St.  Joseph  one  of  the  most  healthful  places  of 
residence  in  this  section.  Mr.  McCabe  was  born 
in  Ireland.  October  25.  1837,  and  died  October 
17,  1895,  at  his  father's  home,  in  County  Mon- 
aghan,  Ireland,  and  was  laid  to  rest  among  his 
ancestors. 

Mr.  McCabe  came  to  America  in  185 1  and 
soon  engaged  in  railroad  engineering  at  St.  Louis, 
Missouri.  In  1861  he  entered  the  United  States 
service  as  government  engineer  and  remained  in 
this  responsible  position  until  1866.  Three  years 
later  he  came  to  St.  Joseph  and  until  1876  he  was 
engaged  as  a  civil  engineer  by  different  railroads. 
In  the  last  named  year  he  was  elected  city  en- 
gineer, an  office  he  retained  almost  continuously 
until  1892.  His  work  in  this  position  covered 
almost  all  of  the  important  public  improvements 
and  sanitary  measures  of  this  period.  To  his 
ability  is  attributable  the  perfecting  of  the  pres- 
ent system  of  water- works,  one  acknowledged  to 
be  among  the  most  complete  in  the  State.  Under 
his  administration  the  first  asphalt  paving  was 
W\i\  and  much  brick  work  done  and  his  system  of 
sewerage  has  proved  all  that  was  claimed  for  it. 
The  electric  light  system  of  St.  Joseph  was  intro- 
fluced  under  his  supervision  and  jealous  care  of 
the  city's  best  interests. 

In  1894  Mr.  McCabe  and  Charles  Nowland 
were  the  contractors  for  the  extension  of  the 
Blacksnake  sewer,  this  being  his  last  important 


38o 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY  AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


work.  Failing  health,  superinduced  by  close  at- 
tention to  his  manifold  business '  affairs,  made 
necessary  a  pause  in  his  busy  career  and  he  finally 
was  induced  to  accompany  his  wife  on  a  trip  to 
Europe,  in  the  hope  that  change  of  scene  and 
perfect  rest  would  restore  his  failing  powers. 
However,  this  was  not  to  be.  Shortly  after 
reaching  his  native  land,  the  end  came  and  his  re- 
mains now  lie  in  the  bosom  of  the  land  which  gave 
him  birth. 

Mr.  McCabe  is  survived  by  his  widow  and 
two  daughters.  In  1873  he  was  married  to  Eliza- 
beth Florence  Welch,  who  was  born  in  Ireland 
and  is  a  daughter  of  Edward  and  Mary  (Carroll) 
Welch,  natives  of  Ireland,  who  came  to  America 
in  185 1,  bringing  a  family  of  six  children.  Mr. 
Welch  settled  first  in  Ohio,  removed  then  to  In- 
diana and  later  to  Illinois,  finally  locating  per- 
manently in  Missouri,  where  both  he  and  his  wife 
died,  the  latter  surviving  to  the  age  of  97  years. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  McCabe  had  two  children,  both 
born  ill  St.  Joseph,  viz :  Rose  Elise  and  Mary 
Frances.  The  latter  married  Francis  Clarence 
O'Donoghue  and  has  one  son,  Clarence,  born  in 
St.  Joseph. 

The  late  Mr.  McCabe  was  a  faithful  Catholic 
and  liberally  supported  the  many  charities  of  the 
church.  He  possessed  the  warm  heart  of  his  na- 
tionality and  was  ever  ready  to  lend  an  ear  to 
those  in  need  and  to  give  the  helping  hand  to 
others  less  fortunate  than  himself.  He  was  uni- 
versally respected  in  St.  Joseph  and  was  esteemed 
by  friends  in  all  walks  of  life.  While  his  death 
remains  an  irreparable  loss  to  his  family,  they 
can   take  pride  in   the  good  name  he   left  as  a 


heritage. 


^  ♦♦■ 


LBE  M.  SAXTON,  deceased,  one  of  the 
pioneer  merchants  of  St.  Joseph,  and 
one  of  the  city's  commercial  founders, 
was  born  at  Cleveland,  Ohio,  February 
12,  1821. 
Trior  to  1841,  when  he  removed  to  St.  Louis. 
Missouri,  he  had  attended  school,  but  before  at- 
taining manhood  had  decided  to  start  out  in  life 
for  himself,  with  entirely  new  surroundings.  His 
sole  capital  of  $56  he  took  with  him  to  St.  Louis, 
and  there  began  trading  in  country  produce, 
thereby  laying  the  foundation  of  an  ample  for- 
tune. In  1843  'ic  came  to  St.  Joseph,  while  this 
section  of  Buchanan  County  was  still  known  as 
Blacksnake  Hills.  Here  he  opened  a  store  in  con- 
nection with  Charles  A.  and  Elias  Perry,  and  in 


1848  formed  a  jiartnership  with  Robert  W.  Don- 
nell.  They  conducted  a  large  general  store  for 
10  years  and  prospered  greatly.  Mr.  Saxton  fore- 
saw the  certain  growth  of  the  city  and  invested 
his  spare  cajMtal  in  land,  realizing  from  this 
many  score  over.  In  1858  he  retired  from  the 
mercantile  business,  but  only  to  enter  the  bank- 
ing and  steamboat  traffic  lines.  He  was  part 
owner  of  those  well  known  boats, — "Silver  Heels"^ 
and  "Omaha."  In  partnership  wdth  T.  D.  Hast- 
ings, he  also  built  some  80  miles  of  the  Kansas 
City  &  Northwestern  Railroad,  and  240  miles  of 
the  St.  Joseph  &  Denver  City  road.  He  built  up 
a  great  part  of  the  city,  owning  some  of  its  most 
valuable  portions.  The  Saxton  Bank,  afterward 
the  Saxton  National  Bank,  he  built  on  the  corner 
of  Fourth  and  Francis  streets,  one  of  the  finest 
buildings  of  its  day.  This  bank  was  succeeded 
by  the  First  National  Bank  of  P)Uchanan  County. 

In  1856,  Mr.  Saxton  married  Mrs.  Sarah  E. 
Flint,  whom  he  survived  until  June  27,  1889. 
They  had  no  issue,  and  his  brothers  and  step- 
children inherited  his  large  fortune. 

Mr.  Saxton  was  a  progressive,  public-spirited 
man  and  was  particularly  noted  for  his  readiness 
to  help  the  worthy,  struggling  }oung  man.  He 
always  commanded  the  respect  of  those  with 
whom  he  came  in  contact,  in  business,  social  or 
public  life. 

♦-►-♦■ 

AMES  C.  RILEY,  one  of  the  prominent 
citizens  of  Agency,  and  a  leading  capi- 
talist of  Buchanan  County,  was  born 
March  23,  1855,  in  Buchanan  County, 
which  has  been  his  home  ever  since,  with 
the  exception  of  one  year  passed  in  Kansas.  He 
is  a  son  of  William  and  Janarie  (McBride)  Riley,. 
old  pioneer  settlers  in  IMissouri. 

William  Riley  was  born  in  January,  1813,  in 
Kentucky,  where  he  followed  farming  until  1847, 
when  he  came  to  Boone  County,  Missouri,  and 
to  Buchanan  County,  two  years  later.  He  in- 
vested his  capital  in  land,  owned  a  half  section 
in  Center  township  and  reared  his  family  in 
what  was  considered  ]>lenty  and  luxury  for  those 
days.  He  was  a  liberal,  open-handed  man,  ready 
to  contribute  to  every  worthy  enterprise  and 
moral  movement  and  it  is  recorded  of  him  that 
he  paid  the  half  or  whole  of  the  salary  of  the 
preacher  officiating  at  the  local  Baptist  Church, 
of  which  body  he  was  a  leading  member.  His 
death  took  place  September  20,  1892.  The  mother 
of  our  subject  died  when  aged  60  years.    Of  their 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


381 


13  children,  10  lived  to  maturity, — six  sons  and 
four  daughters. 

James  C.  Riley  remained  on  his  father's  farm 
until  23  years  of  age  and  then  started  into  a 
general  mercantile  and  wholesale  wood  business 
at  Agency.  At  the  present  time  he  conducts  a 
general  store.  Some  years  ago,  he  discontinued 
his  wood  business,  in  which  he  had  large  deal- 
ings. It  was  his  custom  to  buy  up  large  wooded 
tracts  and  have  the  timber  made  into  cord  wood, 
which  he  sold  to  retailers.  Mr.  Riley  is  inter- 
ested in  a  number  of  successful  business  enter- 
prises and  is  one  of  the  directors  of  the  Farmers' 
State  Bank,  at  Agency. 

In  1882  Mr.  Riley  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Bettie  Smith,  who  was  born  at  Agency,  Mis- 
souri, December  15,  1865,  and  is  a  daughter  of 
James  A.  and  Fannie  Smith,  natives  of  Tennes- 
see and  Kentucky,  respectively.  They  have  had 
six  children,  namely:  William  B.,  born  in  1883, 
was  m  -ricd  in  January,  1902,  to  Willia  Wood  ; 
Carrie,  born  in  1886,  who  was  married  in  Janu- 
ary, 1904,  to  Wesley  McCauley  ;  Harry,  born  in 
1890;  Maude,  born  in  1893  ;  Frank,  born  in  1897; 
and  Ernest,  born  in  1899. 

Like  his  father,  Mr.  Riley  has  always  been 
prominently  identified  with  the  Democratic  party. 
He  is  a  leading  member  and  one  of  the  trustees  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church  at  Agency  and  one  of  its 
most  liberal  supporters.  His  fraternal  associa- 
tion is  with  the  Woodmen  of  the  World.  Mr. 
Riley  is  a  representative  and  highly  esteemed 
citizen,  a  man  of  high  personal  character  and 
long  and  successful  business  experience. 


^  *  »■ 


E 

1 

ji 

1 

ILLIAM  E.  PENTZ,  M.  D.,  one  of 
the  leading  physicians  and  surgeons 
of  St.  Joseph,  a  member  of  the  faculty 
of  the  Ensworth  Medical  College,  and 
one  of  the  city's  broad-minded  and 
liberal  men,  was  born  at  St.  Joseph,  April  3,  1874, 
and  is  a  son  of  John  E.  and  Euphemia  (Dough- 
erty) Pentz. 

Dr.  Pentz  comes  of  Dutch  ancestry  on  the  one 
side  and  of  Irish  on  the  other.  His  paternal 
grandfather  was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  a  descen- 
dant of  one  of  the  old  settled  families  of  that 
State.  His  maternal  grandfather  was  born  in 
Ireland  and,  after  graduating  in  medicine  at  the 
Dublin  University,  came  to  America  and  located 
at  Crab  Orchard,  Kentucky,  where  he  practiced 
his  profession  until  the  close  of  his  life,  becoming 


eminent  in  his  locality.  He  was  one  of  the  lead- 
ing supporters  of  the  Baptist  Church  in  his 
section. 

John  E.  Pentz,  father  of  Dr.  Pentz,  was  born 
at  York,  Pennsylvania,  and  died  at  St.  Joseph, 
Missouri,  in  1884,  aged  54  years.  In  young 
manhood  he  was  a  student  at  Jefferson  Medical 
College,  Philadelphia,  but  never  practiced,  his 
tastes  leading  him  in  other  directions.  Subse- 
quently he  became  an  expert  sign  writer  and  car- 
riage painter  and,  after  coming  to  St.  Joseph,  in 
1869,  he  established  a  carriage  repository  here 
and  continued  the  business  of  carriage  painting 
for  many  years.  He  was  one  of  the  charter  mem- 
bers of  Lodge  No.  49,  Ancient  Order  of  United 
Workmen,  and  belonged  also  to  the  Independent 
Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and  the  Select  Knights. 
Politically,  he  was  a  Republican. 

The  mother  of  Dr.  Pentz  was  a  daughter  of 
Dr.  James  E.  Dougherty.  The  three  children  of  , 
the  family  were :  Elizabeth,  who  is  the  wife  of 
.Martin  Patrie,  of  Market  Lake,  Idaho;  Stella 
May,  who  is  the  wife  of  Ernest  M.  Lindsay,  of 
St.  Joseph  ;  and  W^illiam  E.,  of  this  sketch.  Mr. 
Pentz  was  reared  a  Lutheran,  but  after  locating 
at  St.  Joseph  both  he  and  his  wife  united  with 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

Dr.  Pentz  secured  his  early  education  in  the 
public  schools  of  St.  Joseph,  then  enjoyed  col- 
legiate advantages  and  was  graduated  in  medicine 
at  the  Ensworth  Medical  College,  St.  Joseph. 
After  two  years  of  clinical  experience  in  the  State 
Hospital  for  Insane,  No.  2,  he  practiced  in  St. 
Joseph,  Missouri,  for  four  years  and  then,  in 
July,  1900,  accepted  an  appointment  as  surgeon 
in  the  British  transport  service.  He, served  as 
surgeon-in-chief  on  the  transports  "Drayton 
Grange"  and  "Mechanician,"  making  two  trips  to 
South  Africa  during  the  Boer  War.  The  trans- 
port "Drayton  Grange"  was  the  largest  vessel  of 
its  kind  afloat  and  Dr.  Pentz  was  one  of  the 
passengers  on  its  maiden  trip.  He  had  many 
unusual  experiences  and  met  with  much  courtesy 
from  the  British  surgeons  with  whom  he  came 
in  contact.  During  his  stay  at  Durban,  be  was 
entertained  by  Dr.  Prince,  physician  to  the  late 
Cecil  Rhodes.  He  also  visited  General  Cronje  at 
St.  Helena,  and  was  in  London  during  King- 
Edward's  coronation.  He  closed  his  term  of 
service  with  the  transport  service  on  February 
25,  1901,  and  went  to  London,  where  he  spent 
some  seven  months  in  gaining  valuable  experi- 
ence in  hospital  work.  In  the  fall  of  that  year  he 
returned  to  St.  Joseph,  opened  an  office  and  has 


382 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


been  in  the  enjoyment  of  a  lucrative  practice  ever 
since.  He  is  a  member  of  the  facuhy  of  Ensworth 
Medical  College,  and  belongs  to  all  the  leading 
medical  organizations  of  county  and  State.  He 
belongs  also  to  numerous  secret  and  social  socie- 
ties and  is  prominent  in  all  movements  of  civic 
importance  especially  along  medical  lines.  He 
is  conveniently  located  in  the  Hughes  Building. 


ILLIA^l  C.  LYKIXS.  a  prominent 
farmer  and  orchardist  of  Washing- 
ton township,  Buchanan  County, 
owning  65  acres  of  valuable  land  in 
section  26.  township  58,  range  35, 
about  two  and  a  half  miles  north  of  the  city 
limits  of  St.  Joseph,  was  born  in  Washington 
township.  February  28.  1847.  He  is  a  son  of 
Claybourn  B.  and  Xancy  (Johnson)  Lykins. 

The  Lykins  family  originated  in  Sweden  and 
five  brothers  came  to  America  and  settled  in  Yh- 
ginia.  There  David  Lykins.  our  subject's  grand- 
father, was  born  but  later  became  a  resident  of 
Indiana.  Claybourn  B.  Lykins  was  born  at  Terre 
Haute,  Indiana.  Februar>|  13.  1813.  and  was 
reared  on  a  farm.  In  young  manhood  he  came 
to  INIissouri  and  settled  in  Buchanan  County  in 
1837.  In  1842  he  located  on  the  present  farm 
of  our  subject  in  \\'ashington  township,  which 
then  included  160  acres.  During  the  Civil  War 
he  was  a  member  of  Johnson's  Artillery,  attached 
to  the  Fifth  Missouri  Cavalry,  and  a  stanch 
Union  man  all  through  the  Rebellion.  He  always 
supported  the  Republican  party.  His  death  oc- 
curred at  the  age  of  65  years.  He  married  Nancy 
Johnson  in  Missouri,  and  they  had  nine  children. 
Our  subject  was  reared  on  the  home  farm  and 
was  educated  in  the  country  schools.  He  re- 
mained at  home  until  1872  and  then  started  out 
to  see  something  of  the  West  and  was  variously 
engaged  for  some  years.  He  spent  one  year  at 
Fort  Collins,  Colorado,  and  20  years  at  Cheyenne, 
Wyoming,  engaged  in  the  stock  business  and 
while  there  was  employed  for  a  time  by  the 
Wyoming  Detective  Association.  After  his  re- 
turn to  Buchanan  County,  in  1899,  he  settled  on 
his  father's  old  farm,  land  that  commands  some 
of  the  highest  prices  in  the  township.  Here  he 
carries  on  general  farming  and  fruit  growing, 
making  a  specialty  of  berries  and  apples.  His 
apple  orchard,  which  is  conceded  to  be  one  of  the 
finest  in  the  townshi]),  comprises  30  acres.  He  is 
favorably  located  to  take  advantage  of  the  St. 


Joseph  markets.  The  adjoining  tract  of  12  acres 
is  owned  by  his  brother,  John  J.,  who  was  born  in 
Andrew  County,  Missouri,  March  15,  1845,  ^"<J 
married  Lina  Dyerley.  He  holds  his  land  at 
about  $300  per  acre. 

March  28,  1878.  our  subject  married  Ida 
Cloud,  who  was  born  in  Kansas,  and  they  have 
three  children :  Jessie,  Ivy  and  Ray.  Mr.  Lykins 
and  his  brother  are  identified  with  the  Republi- 
can party.  Our  subject  is  one  of  the  township's 
most  enterprising  men  and  one  of  its  most  re- 
spected. 

Mr.  Lykins  had  two  brothers  in  the  Civil  War, 
— Andrew  and  David ;  David  was  killed  at  New- 
tonia,  Missouri,  in  Price's  last  raid. 


^  * » 


ILTOX  TOOTLE,  Jr..  vice-president 
of  the  Tootle-Lemon  National  Bank 
and  manager  of  the  enormous  estate 
of  the  late  Milton  Tootle,  is  at  the 
head  of  many  of  the  principal  busi- 
ness enterprises  and  manufacturing  concerns  of 
the  city  of  St.  Joseph.  He  is  a  man  of  inherent 
business  qualities,  and  is  worthy  of  filling  that 
niche  in  commercial  afifairs  left  vacant  upon  the 
death  of  his  father. 

Our  subject  is  a  son  of  ]\Iilton  and  Katherine 
(O'Neill)  Tootle,  and  was  born  in  St.  Joseph, 
Missouri,  ]\Iarch  18.  1872.  His  father,  who  died 
January  2,  1887.  will  long  live  in  the  memory  of 
the  people  of  this  community  by  reason  of  his 
great  success  in  the  business  world  and  his  many 
noble  acts  of  kindness  and  charity.  A  brief 
sketch  of  his  life  appears  elsewhere  in  this  work. 
]\Iilton  Tootle.  Jr..  received  his  education  at 
St,  Paul's  School,  at  Concord.  X^ew  Hampshire. 
In  1893  he  became  a  member  of  the  firm  of  bank- 
ers known  as  Tootle,  Lemon  &  Company, 
lately  changed  to  the  Tootle-Lemon  Na- 
tional Bank,  of  which  he  is  vice-president. 
This  financial  institution  was  organized  in  July, 
1889,  Thomas  E.  Tootle,  John  S.  Lemon,  James 
McCord  and  Samuel  M.  X^'ave  being  the  stock- 
holders. Of  the  business  pioneers  named  above, 
John  S.  Lemon  is  the  only  survivor.  In  April. 
1893,  Thomas  E.  Tootle  retired  from  the  banking 
business,  and  our  subject  succeeded  to  his  inter- 
ests in  Tootle,  Lemon  &  Company.  In  1899,  this 
bank  moved  into  one  of  the  finest  bank  buildings 
in  the  State  of  Missouri,  and  in  every  respect 
takes  rank  with  the  leading  and  most  success- 
ful  banking   houses   of   the    State.      It   is   now 


JOSEPH    J.    BANSBACH,   M.  D. 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


385 


owned  by  Mr.  Tootle,  John  S.  Lemon  and  Gra- 
ham G.  Lacy,  excUisively,  they  having  acquired 
the  holdings  of  all  other  stockholders,  in  Decem- 
ber, 1898.  Mr.  Tootle  has  many  other  business 
interests.  He  is  owner  of  the  Tootle  Theatre, 
one  of  the  handsomest  in  the  United  States  ;  di- 
.  rector  in  the  Tootle.  Wheeler  &  Motter  Mercan- 
tile Company ;  president  of  the  Tootle-Kessler 
Millinery  Company;  vice-]:)resident  of  the  Buell 
Manufacturing  Company  ;  director  in  the  St.  Jo- 
seph Gas  Company  ;  and  president  of  The  Tootle 
Estate. 

Milton  Tootle,  Jr.,  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Lillian  B.  Duckworth,  a  daughter  of  George 
K.  Duckworth  of  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  and  they  have 
three  sons :  Milton,  Duckworth  and  William 
Dameron.  In  politics,  our  subject  is  a  Republi- 
can. He  and  his  family  are  members  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church.  He  is  a  liberal  giver  of 
his  wealth  to  worthy  charitable  and  philanthropic 
causes.  He  and  his  family  reside  in  one  of  the 
finest  homes  architecture  could  plan,  and  are 
leaders  in  the  social  circles  of  St.  Joseph.  Mr. 
Tootle  is  a  member  of  the  Benton  Club,  and  was 
one  of  the  founders  of  the  Countrv  Club. 


OSEPH  J.  BANSBACH,  M.  D.,  one  of 
the  leading  physicians  and  surgeons  of 
St.  Joseph,  recently  elected  coroner  of 
Buchanan.  County,  was  born  in  this  city 
on  February  16,  1875,  and  is  a  son  of 
Joseph  and  Louise  (Floerke)  Bansbach. 

The  father  of  Dr.  Bansbach  was  born  in  Ger- 
many and  came  to  Buchanan  County  in  its  early 
days,  settling  at  St.  Joseph,  where  the  family  has 
always  been  one  of  prominence.  For  many  years 
he  was  superintendent  of  carriers  for  the  St.  Jo- 
seph Post  Office.  He  married  here  and  had  two 
children. 

Dr.  Bansbach  was  educated  at  St.  Joseph,  first 
in  the  public  schools  and  then  at  Ensworth  Med- 
ical College,  where  he  was  graduated  in  medicine. 
In  1898  he  took  a  post-graduate  course  at  the 
Post-Graduate  College  of  New  York  and  a  clinical 
course  at  the  Willard  Parker  Hospital  of  New 
York  city.  Lpon  his  return  to  St.  Joseph,  in 
T899,  thus  thoroughly  qualified,  he  entered  upon 
a  markedly  successful  professional  career.  His 
practice  has  grown  to  such  proportions  that  he 
requires  three  thoroughly  equipped  rooms  which 
are  located  at  No.  825  Frederick  avenue. 

Dr.  Bansbach  is  an  ardent  Republican  and  in 


the  fall  of  1904  was  nominated  on  the  Republican 
ticket  for  the  office  of  coroner  of  Buchanan  Coun- 
ty and  was  elected.  He  keeps  fully  abreast  of 
the  times,  is  a  close  student  and  successful  scien- 
tific investigator,  and  belongs  to  the  Buchanan 
County  Medical  Society,  the  State  Medical  So- 
ciety and  the  American  Medical  Association.  Fra- 
ternally he  is  an  Elk  and  a  member  of  the  Fra- 
ternal Order  of  Eagles,  for  which  he  is  medical 
examiner.  He  is  also  medical  examiner  for  the 
National  Life  Insurance  Company,  of  Chicago, 
Illinois.  Personally  and  professionally,  he  is  a 
very  popular  citizen  of  St.  Joseph.  He  has  always 
taken  a  deep  and  intelligent  interest  in  the  wel- 
fare of  his  native  city  and  has  always  been  identi- 
fied with  public-spirited  movements  promising  to 
be  of  real  benefit.  His  portrait  accompanies  this 
sketch. 


■♦♦» 


EORGE  W.  CROSSFIELD,  one  of  the 
prominent  citizens  and  good  farmers  of 
Lake  township,  Buchanan  County,  who 
owns  a  well-cultivated  farm  in  section 
26,  townshi])  56.  range  37,  was  born  in 
Edgar  County,  Illinois,  April  2"],  1854,  and  is  a 
son  of  John  M.  and  Mary  Ann  (Whalen)  Cross- 
field. 

John  M.  Crossfield.  father  of  our  subject,  was 
born  in  Bartholomew  County,  Indiana,  and  early 
in  manhood  moved  to  Edgar  County,  Illinois,  fol- 
lowing the  occupation  of  farming  there  until 
1866,  when  he  came  to  Buchanan  County,  Mis- 
souri, where  he  continued  his  agricultural  life  as 
long  as  he  lived.  He  was  twice  married,  first  to 
Mary  Ann  Whalen,  who  died  in  1854,  leaving 
two  sons, — John  F.,  now  a  farmer  in  Oklahoma, 
and  George  W.,  who  was  then  but  an  infant.  The 
father's  second  marriage  was  to  Cynthia  Ann 
Couch,  of  Illinois,  and  the  children  born  to  them 
■  were:  William  M.,  a  resident  of  Lake  township; 
Green  Clay ;  Marietta,  wife  of  Daniel  Hammel,  of 
Oklahoma;  and  Rosetta,  who  died,  aged  12  years. 
Our  subject's  whole  mature  life  has  been  de- 
voted to  farming.  Until  he  reached  the  age  of 
19  years,  he  attended  the  public  schools  of_Lake 
township,  and  until  he  became  of  age  assisted 
his  father  on  the  home  farm.  He  then  began  to 
farm  for  himself  in  Lake  township.  He  located 
on  his  present  property  of  80  acres,  which  he  has 
continued  to  cultivate  and  improve  to  the  present 
time,  following  modern  ideas  and  making  use  of 
improved  machinery. 

In   1873,   Mr.  Crossfield  married  Clarissa  E. 


386 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY  AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


Lewis,  who  was  born  in  1856,  and  is  a  daughter  of 
WiUiam  Lewis,  a  farmer  of  Lake  township.  They 
have  six  children,  all  of  whom  are  still  at  home: 
George  Clarence,  Willis  Wallace,  Jesse,  Lewis  S., 
Charles  and  Gertrude  E. 

Mr.  Crossfield  has  always  been  identified  with 
t'.ie  Republican  party.  He  has  ever  taken  an  in- 
telligent interest  in  township  affairs,  has  served 
a?  road  overseer  and  has  contributed  time  and 
m<,ans  to  further  many  local  improvements.  Hon- 
est and  upright  in  all  his  dealings,  he  commands 
the  respect  of  all  who  know  him  and  is  justly  re- 
garded as  a  valued  and  representative  citizen. 


-♦-•-♦- 


TEPHEN  S.  BROWN,  senior  member  of 
the  firm  of  Brown  &  Dolman,  of  St. 
Joseph,  and  one  of  the  ablest  lawyers 
"in  this  section  of  the  State,  was  born  in 
St.  Lawrence  County,  New  York,  Feb- 
ruary 14,  1846.  There  he  grew  to  manhood  and 
mastered  the  intricacies  of  the  legal  profession 
before  he  had  reached  his  23d  year.  Realizing 
the  advantages  which  a  new  country  offered  to  an 
enterprising  and  ambitious  young  man,  he  cast 
his  lot  with  Missouri,  locating  in  DeKalb  County 
in  1869.  There  he  opened  an  office  and  his  diligent 
application  to  his  profession,  together  with  his  de- 
termination to  succeed,  soon  enabled  him  to  sur- 
mount the  difficulties  which  beset  the  pathway  of 
the  novice  and,  as  he  gained  the  confidence  of  the 
people,  he  acquired  a  practice  which  was  at  once 
lucrative  and  satisfactory.  He  remained  there 
until  June  i,  1882,  when  he  moved  to  St.  Joseph 
and  the  success  and  popularity  achieved  in 
DeKalb  County  followed  him  to  his  new  field  and 
have  been  increased  by  his  22  years  of  residence 
and  work  among  the  people  of  Buchanan  County. 
He  has  conducted  some  of  the  most  difficult  cases 
tried  in  the  State  or  Federal  courts.  Mr.  Brown 
is  pleasantly  located  in  the  National  Bank  of  St. 
Joseph  building. 


■♦ « »■ 


FORGE  BOONE,  Jr.,  is  the  owner  and 
]:iroprietor  of  the  St.  Charles  Hotel  at 
St.  Josei)h,  where  he  is  recognized  as 
one  of  the  foremost  business  men.  He 
is  a  native  of  Iowa,  having  been  born 
at  IManchester,  January  18,  i860,  and  is  a  son  of 
George  and  Martha  _( lUingworth)  Boone.  The 
Boone  family,  of  which  this  article  treats,  is  in 
no  wav  related   to  the   Boone   family,  of  which 


Daniel  Boone  was  a  conspicuous  member ;  both 
families,  however,  originated  in  Devonshire, 
England. 

George  Boone,  Sr.,  was  born  in  Devonshire. 
England,  April  3,   1824,  and  was  five  years  old 
when  his  father  died,  leaving  a  farm  of  120  acres 
now  in  the  possession  of  an  older  brother  of  our 
subject's    father.      George    Boone,    Sr.,    lived    at 
home  and  learned  the  trade  of  a  miller,  and  after 
coming  to  America  in  1850  followed  his  trade  at 
Buffalo,   New   York,   and   in   that   vicinity   until 
1857.    He  then  removed  to  Iowa,  settling  first  in 
Manchester,  where  he  followed  his  trade  as  an 
expert  miller   and   millwright  until    1868,   when 
he  settled  in  Ouasqueton,  Iowa.    There  he  bought 
a  mill  and  operated  it  with  a  great  deal  of  success 
until  1873,  when  he  disposed  of  it  to  engage  in 
the^  railroad   contracting  and   construction   busi- 
ness, which  he  followed  until  1883,  residing  dur- 
ing  these   years    at   Byron,    Illinois.        He   then 
bought  a  hotel  in  Marysville,  Kansas.     On  July 
I,   1885,  he  removed  to  Hiawatha,  Kansas,  and 
engaged  in  the  hotel  business  until  1888,  in  which 
year  he  made  a  trip  to  his  native  land,  the  date 
on  which  he  sailed  being  exactly  38  years  from 
the  date  he  left  England  for  America.     He  spent 
four  months  abroad  and  on  his   return   to  this 
country    located    at    Nebraska    City,    Nebraska, 
where  he  purchased  the  Morton  House.     After 
conducting  it  one  year,  he  went  to  Horton,  Kan- 
sas, and  still  later  to  Junction  City,  Kansas,  where 
he  now  lives  and  where  he  was  engaged  in  the 
hotel  business  until  1894.     Since  that  date  he  has 
lived  a  retired   life,  and  is  held   in   the  highest 
esteem  of  his  fellow  men.     He  was  married  in 
England  to  Maria  Hamlyn,  by  whom  he  had  two 
daughters, — one  who  died  in  infancy ;  and  Eliza- 
beth, wife  of  G.  McWilliams,  of  Waterloo,  Iowa. 
In     1855     he     formed     a     second     union     with 
Martha       Illingworth,       who       was       born       in 
1832  and   was   a  daughter   of   Nathaniel   Illing- 
worth.    Mr.  Illingworth  worked  at  his  trade  as  a 
tailor  at  Lancaster,  New  York,  and  also  kept  a 
toll-gate.      George    and     Martha     (Illingworth) 
Boone  became  parents  of  the  following  children  : 
Margaret,  wife  of  F.  D.  Johnston,  of  Waterloo, 
Iowa  ;  Jessie,  wife  of  C.  F.  Brown,  of  Stillman 
Valley,  Illinois ;  Stephen,  of  Junction  City,  Kan- 
sas ;  George,  Jr. ;  Mary,  deceased  wife  of  J.  R. 
Allen,  of  Kansas  City.  Missouri ;  Grace,  wife  of 
George  S.  Hovey,  of  Kansas  City,  Missouri ;  and 
Frederick    I.,   of   Junction    City,    Kansas.      Mrs. 
Boone  was  called  to  her  final  rest  on   May  28, 
1901. 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


387 


George  Boone,  Jr.,  received  his  education  in 
the  common  schools  of  Byron,  IlHnois,  and  was 
associated  in  business  with  his  father  until  1891, 
in  which  year  he  came  to  St.  Joseph.  He  has 
since  conducted  the  St.  Charles  Hotel  here,  and 
in  1901  purchased  the  property.  He  is  a  stock- 
holder, director  and  president  of  the  Western 
Mantle.  ^Marble  &  Tile  Company  of  St.  Joseph, 
and  in  all  of  his  many  transactions  has  displayed 
superior  business  ability.  He  has  made  many 
friends  among  the  citizens  of  this  section  of  the 
State,  and  has  a  wide  acquaintance  with  the  trav- 
■eling  public.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Kansas  & 
^Missouri  Hotel  Keepers'  Association,  being  a 
member  of  the  executive  board,  and  is  a  member 
of  the  Hotel  Glen's  ^Mutual  Benefit  Association, 
the  national  organization  of  which  he  is  vice- 
president. 

On  November  i,  1892,  ^vlr.  Boone  was  mar- 
ried to  Mrs.  Flora  Carlson,  nee  Resterer.  an 
estimable  lady  of  accomplishment  and  refinement. 
Politically  our  subject  was  a  Democrat  until  the 
silver  issue  became  paramount,  since  which  time 
he  has  been  a  stanch  Republican. 


♦ » » 


:N.  JONATHAN  MILES  BASSETT. 
Among  the  distinguished  lawyers  and 
notable  and  representative  men  of  Mis- 
souri, was  the  late  Gen.  Jonathan  Miles 
Bassett.  who  died  in  this  city  in  1871. 
Of  New  England  birth  and  rearing,  almost  the 
Avhole  of  his  life  was  spent  in  the  West,  where  he 
earned  laurels  and  fortune.  General  Bassett  was 
"born  February  17,  1817.  at  New  Haven.  Con- 
necticut, and  there  he  was  given  the  educational 
advantages  offered  by  the  public  schools  of  his 
time. 

Those  were  the  days  when  a  youth,  on  emerg- 
ing from  school,  immediately  set  about  to  become 
proficient  in  some  craft  or  trade,  the  following  of 
<ji  which  would  assure  his  future.  Young  Bas- 
sett decided  in  favor  of  the  printer's  trade,  was  ap- 
prenticed to  the  same  and  completed  his  educa- 
tion at  Springfield.  Illinois.  At  various  times  in 
after  life,  although  occupied  with  other  interests, 
Tie  returned  to  his  first  love,  resuming  his  con- 
nection with  journalistic  work.  In  Springfield  he 
iDCgan  to  read  law  and  continued  under  the  en- 
couragement of  such  statesmen  and  lawyers  as 
Governor  Carlin.  Subsequently  he  was  admitted 
to  the  bar  by  Judge  Stephen  A.  Douglas.  Shortly 
after,  he  removed  to  Quincy.  Illinois,  where  he 
took  charge  of  a  newspaper,  published  it  for  sev- 


eral years  and  then  resigned  it  into  other  hands 
in  order  to  give  more  attention  to  a  pressing  law 
practice. 

In  1844  the  brilliant  young  lawyer  removed 
to  Missouri,  locating  at  Plattsburg,  in  Clinton 
County,  where  he  soon  took  his  place  as  a  lead- 
ing member  of  the  bar.  He  became  active  in  pol- 
itics and  was  chosen  a  delegate  to  the  State  con- 
vention at  Jefferson  City,  which  met  for  the  pur- 
pose of  framing  a  new  constitution.  Shortly  after 
his  marriage,  in  1850,  he  removed  to  St.  Joseph, 
of  which  city  he  continued  a  resident  until  his 
death,  and  in  which  city  he  gained  great  eminence 
in  his  profession.  In  the  course  of  time  he  became 
an  important  political  factor,  was  elected  circuit 
attorney  for  this  judicial  district,  and  subse- 
quently became  mayor  of  the  city.  In  the  agitat- 
ing days  at  the  beginning  of  the  Civil  War,  he 
boldly  announced  himself  an  luicompromising 
Union  man  and  his  example  and  eft'orts  did  much 
to  arouse  loyal  sentiment  in  Northwestern  Mis- 
souri. His  title  was  obtained  as  commander  of  the 
State  militia.  He  was  appointed  provost  marshal 
of  the  district  including  St.  Joseph,  and  served  ef- 
fectively for  several  years. 

In  1850  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Nan- 
nie Dixon,  who  was  born  at  Raleigh.  North  Caro- 
lina. They  had  two  children:  Harry  D..  late 
judge  of  the  Buchanan  County  Court,  who  was 
born  August  26.  1852,  and  died  August  28,  1903  ; 
and  Deedie  Bell,  who  was  born  in  1856.  and  is  the 
widow  of  the  late  John  T.  Maddux,  whose  death 
occurred  November  28,  1900.  a  sketch  of  whom 
as  well  as  of  the  late  Judge  Bassett,  will  be  found 
in  this  volume. 

The  late  General  Bassett  was  of  such  com- 
manding presence  as  to  attract  attention  in  anv 
body,  and  his  mental  equipment  and  personal 
character  were  equally  above  those  of  the  com- 
mon herd.  St.  Joseph  has  few  citizens  who  have 
been  more  thoroughly  and  honorably  representa- 
tive. Hjs  real  kindness  of  heart,  his.  generous 
sympathfes.  his  charities  and  his  justice,  all  won 
to  him  personal  attachments  of  remarkable 
strength. 


^ » » 


OHN  WESLEY  MUIR,  senior  member 
of  the  well-known  law  firm  of  Muir  & 
Griswold,  of  St.  Joseph,  is  one  of  the 
rising  attorneys  and  politicians  of  this 
city.  He  was  born  in  the  State  of  Ken- 
tucky. August  7^  1872.  and  is  a  son  of  John  Wes- 
ley and  Rachel  J.  (Goodwin)  Muir. 


388 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN    COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


The  fatlKn-  of  Mr.  Muir  was  born  and  reared 
in  Kentucky,  but  (bed  in  Texas  in  1886,  aged  59 
years.  He  was  a  son  of  a  wealtby  planter  of  Vir- 
ginia, who  left  his  three  sons  and  six  daughters 
well  provided  for  at  his  death.  The  Muir  family 
originated  in  Scotland  and  settled  in  Virginia 
at  an  early  day  ;  and  the  branch  of  the  family 
under  consideration  removed  at  a  later  date  from 
Virginia  to  Kentucky,  and  its  present  represen- 
tative from  the  latter  State  to  Missouri.  Prior 
to  the  Civil  War,  the  father  of  Mr.  Muir  was  an 
extensive  planter  and  large  slave-owner  in  Ken- 
tucky. He  entered  the  Confederate  Army  and 
the  fortunes  of  war  swept  away  a  large  part  of 
his  wealth.  His  widow  still  survives  and  resides 
at  Bloomington,  Illinois.  Her  two  children  are: 
John  Wesley  and  Joseph  G.  Mrs.  Aluir  belongs 
"to  one  of  the  old  established  families  of  Lexing- 
ton, Kentucky. 

John  W.  Muir  was  reared  on  his  father's 
plantation  and  until  the  family  removed  to 
Texas,  in  1884.  his  education  was  pursued  under 
tutors.  He  entered  the  public  schools  in  Texas 
and  subsequently  in  Illinois,  to  which  State  he 
removed  with  his  mother  and  brother  in  1888, 
and  later  attended  the  State  Normal  School  and 
the  Illinois  Wesleyan  University  at  Bloomington, 
winning  for  himself  an  enviable  reputation  as  an 
orator  and  debater  in  both  institutions.  While 
completing  his  higher  education,  he  taught  school 
for  some  three  years  and  also  did  newspaper  work, 
in  this  way  paying  his  way  through  college.  He 
had  only  scholarly  tastes  and  inclinations  and 
sought  only  such  business  openings  as  would  ad- 
vance him  in  professional  life.  In  1897  an  oppor- 
tunity was  afforded  him  in  California,  to  take 
charge  of  the  circulating  department  of  the  Los 
Angeles  Record  and  of  the  San  Diego  Sun,  tvyo 
separate  papers  but  under  the  same  ownership. 
They  were  the  first  penny  papers  published  on  the 
Pacific  Coast. 

Mr.  Muir  remained  in  California  for  two 
years,  gaining  valuable  experience  in  his  associa- 
tion with  men  and  affairs,  and  then  returned  to 
Illinois,  where  he  accepted  the  position  of  princi- 
pal of  the  Sheffield  High  School,  where  he  re- 
mained two  years.  Working  his  way  as  before 
in  the  journalistic  field,  he  successfully  took  a 
three-year  course  in  the  law  department  of  the 
Wesleyan  University  in  two  years  and  was  one 
of  the  originators  and  editors  of  the  first  col- 
lege annual  or  class  book,  ever  issued  by  that  in- 
stitution. He  was  graduated  from  the  law  school 
in  1902  and  at  once  formed  his  present  partner- 


ship with  C.  J.  Griswold,  under  the  firm  name  of 
Muir  &  Griswold.  Both  able  young  men  are 
graduates  of  the  same  law  school  and  thus  have 
fraternal  as  well  as  business  ties.  They  have 
made  themselves  felt  in  city  and  county  litigation 
and  have  a  bright  prospect  ahead. 

Politically,  Mr.  Muir  is  a  stanch  Democrat,  a 
hearty  worker  for  the  success  of  his  party.  Being 
a  fine  orator,  his  services  are  in  demand  in  every 
campaign.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Monroe  Club 
and  of  the  college  fraternity  Sigma  Chi.  He  is 
an  enthusiastic  worker  in  the  Knights  of  Pythias, 
having  been  chairman  of  the  committee  of  60  that 
had  charge  of  the  Pythian  big  night  of  May 
26,   1904. 


♦  * » 


lERRE  ISIDORE  LEONARD,  M.  D., 
one  of  the  leading  eye  and  ear  special- 
ists of  the  West,  came  to  St.  Joseph 
accompanied  by  his  parents  in  1880. 
He  had  two  brothers  who  had  been  in 
business  here  since  1870.  His  father  soon  after 
his  arrival  purchased  a  suburban  home  at  No. 
1810  Pacific  street,  where  Dr.  Leonard  still  re- 
sides. 

After  a  high  school  education,  he  entered  the 
office  of  Dr.  Thomas  H.  Doyle  in  the  fall  of  1880 
to  begin  the  study  of  medicine.  In  1884  he 
graduated  from  the  St.  Joseph  Medical  College 
(now  the  Ensworth).  Then  he  pursued  his  stud- 
ies at  Bellevue  Hospital  Medical  College,  New 
York  City,  from  which  institution  he  graduated 
in  1885.  At  the  suggestion  of  his  preceptor.  Dr. 
Doyle,  he  entered  the  University  of  Pennsylvania 
at  Philadelphia  and  took  up  the  special  study  of 
pathology  and  bacteriology,  and  on  his  return, 
began  teaching  these  branches  at  the  home  col- 
lege. Having  a  knowledge  of  French  and  Ger- 
man, he  followed  the  good  old  German  custom  of 
supplementing  the  regular  course  of  study  by  a 
season  of  travel  {Wander jahrc)  for  the  purpose 
of  seeing  how  people  in  other  places  perform  that 
work  which  is  to  occupy  the  remainder  of  their 
lives.  Foreign  travel,  the  contact  with  different 
men  and  dififerent  customs,  broadens  the  mind 
and  improves  the  judgment.  It  was  on  this  trip 
to  Europe  that  Dr.  Leonard  began  to  make  special 
studies  of  the  diseases  of  the  eye,  ear,  nose  and 
throat  in  Paris,  Berlin  and  Vienna.  On  his  return 
in  1890,  he  devoted  all  his  time  to  the  practice  of 
these  specialties.  Dr.  Leonard  has  been  teaching 
pathology  and  is  professor  of  the  eye.  ear,  nose 
and  throat  at  the  Ensworth  Medical  College.    He- 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


393 


ick,  was  the  first  to  awaken  an  interest  in  the  work 
of  improving  the  standard  of  cattle  in  this  coun- 
try. He  formed  a  company  for  the  importation 
of  thoroughbred  Hve  stock  and  visited  England 
several  times  for  the  purpose  of  purchasing  the 
finest  blooded  animals  he  could  find.  His  son, 
George  Renick,  also  went  to  the  mother  country 
several  times  for  the  same  purpose,  and  it  may  be 
truthfully  said  that  the  Renick  family  was  the 
pioneer  in  this  great  industry,  which  has  grown 
and  developed  so  amazingly  as  to  put  America  in 
the  very  front  rank  as  producer  of  the  finest  live 
stock  sent  to  the  markets  of  the  world.  Three 
brothers  of  Mrs.  Wyeth  were  in  the  Union  Army 
during  the  Civil  War,  one  of  them  being  killed 
while  in  the  service.  Three  children  were  born  to 
our  subject  and  his  worthy  wife,  one  of  whom, 
Huston  Wyeth,  is  now  living  and  is  at  the  head 
of  the  great  establishment  founded  by  his  father. 
One  of  these  children  died  in  infancy  in  Ohio,  and 
the  second  child,  a  daughter,  grew  to  maturity 
and  died  at  the  age  of  36  years.  Mrs.  Wyeth  re- 
sides in  a  beautiful  mansion  at  No.  417  South  12th 
street. 

A  portrait  of  the  late- William  Maxwell  Wyeth 
accompanies  this  sketch,  being  presented  on  a 
foregoing  page. 


-•-•-♦- 


ROF.  FREDERICK  WILLIAM 
PLATO,  Baron  von  Polnitz,  was  so 
universally  esteemed,  admired  and  be- 
loved in  the  city  of  St.  Joseph  that  his 
accidental  death  on  May  26,  1899, 
aroused  feelings  of  the  deepest  sorrow  in  this 
community.  His  birth  took  place  on  February 
24,  1833,  in  the  ancestral  castle  in  the  province  of 
Bismarck,  Germany,  and  he  was  a  son  of  Peter 
Nicolaus  Plato,  Baron  von  Polnitz. 

While  the  late  Professor  Plato  was  still  a 
child,  reverses  came  upon  the  family.  Equipped 
with  little  except  great  musical  gifts  and  a  pleas- 
ing personality,  he  made  his  way  to  the  United 
States,  when  16  years  old.  He  was  fortunate  in 
finding  those  who  could  appreciate  his  great  mus- 
ical talent  and  would  assist  him  in  its  develop- 
ment. After  some  years  spent  in  New  Orleans 
and  Galveston,  Texas,  he  removed  to  Louisville, 
Kentucky.  There  he  met  with  much  encourage- 
ment from  a  music-loving  people  and  he  estab- 
lished the  first  brass  band  the  city  ever  had, 
which  he  conducted  for  some  years.  Later  he 
removed  to  Atchison,  Kansas,  where  he  resided 


several  years  and  then  came  to  St.  Joseph,  Mis- 
souri, permanently  locating  here  in  1881.  Three 
years  later  he  became  organist  at  the  Roman 
Catholic  Cathedral  in  this  city,  a  position  he  held 
at  the  time  of  his  death.  He  was  Connected  more 
or  less  with  almost  all  of  the  important  musical 
events  in  this  city  and  was  continually  engaged  in 
arranging  and  directing  musical  work  in  connec- 
tion with  the  Catholic  Church  and  its  schools.  It 
was  in  making  final  preparations  to  direct  the 
music  for  the  commencement  exercises  of  St. 
Patrick's  Boys'  School,  that  the  sad  accident  oc- 
curred which  terminated  a  life  that  was  dear  and 
valued  by  so  many.  A  careless  driver,  disre- 
garding the  rights  of  the  pedestrian,  hurled  Pro- 


fessor   Plato    to    the    ground, 


causmg 


m  juries 


which  he  only  survived  three  days. 

Few  of  Professor  Plato's  associates  know  that 
he  was  a  Prussian  nobleman,  for  he  was  singu- 
larly free  from  all  affectation  and  was  often  heard 
to  remark  upon  his  affection  for  and  pride  in  his 
adopted  country,  where  he  had  won  so  many 
laurels. 

In  1854  Professor  Plato  was  married  at 
Louisville,  Kentucky,  to  Margaret  Baron,  who  is 
one  of  seven  children  born  to  Frank  and  Cath- 
erine (Rothe)  Baron.  For  years  Frank  Baron 
carried  on  large  manufacturing  enterprises  in  his 
native  land,  but  subsequently  retired  and  spent 
his  closing  years  in  Kentucky.  The  seven  chil- 
dren of  the  late  Professor  Plato  all  survive, 
namply  :  Louisa,  wife  of  Walter  F.  Pratt,  of  Cal- 
ifornia ;  Roland,  of  St.  Joseph ;  Julius,  of  St. 
Joseph  ;  Katherine,  wife  of  William  Rothe,  of  El 
Paso,  Texas  ;  and  Adelaide,  Annie  and  Cornelia, 
who  live  at  home.  The  daughters  have  inherited 
great  musical  talent  and  Adelaide  is  one  of  the 
leading  music  teachers  of  the  city.  Cornelia  is  a 
teacher  of  German  and  English  in  the  St.  Joseph 
public  schools.  Their  beautiful  home  is  situated 
at  No.  917  Jules  street. 

The  late  Professor  Plato  had  a  very  wide  ac- 
quaintance and  an  equal  number  of  friends.  His 
disposition  was  such  that  it  has  been  justly  said 
of  him  that  "the  music  of  life  was  to  him  devoid 
of  all  discord."  The  general  honhoinie  of  his 
address  and  the  wholesome  philosophy  with  which 
he  viewed  life  showing  on  his  countenance  and 
marking  every  act  of  his  life,  brought  cheer  and 
happiness  to  others.  He  will  long  be  missed  not 
only  by  a  family  by  whom  he  was  unusually  be- 
loved and  admired,  but  by  the  church  he  so 
faithfully  served,  by  many  musical  organizations 
which  he  inspired  and  helped  and  by  the  wide. 


394 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN    COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


wide  circle  of  personal  friends  who  knew  him  as 
one  of  Nature's  noblemen. 

The  family  belong  to  the  Catholic  Church 
with  which  Professor  Plato  united  some  years 
prior  to  his  decease  and  whose  teachings  he  fol- 
lowed out  as  long  as  he  lived.  The  last  rites  of 
this  church  were  performed  over  his  remains,  at 
the  Cathedral  where  so  often  his  inspiring  music 
had  uplifted  the  hearts  of  his  fellow  worshippers, 
by  his  friend.  Bishop  Burke,  assisted  by  several 
of  the  clergy  of  the  diocese. 


♦  * » 


ALEB  B.  LUCAS,  auditor  of  the  city 
of  St.  Joseph,  is  one  of  the  leaders  of 
the  Republican  party  of  this  section 
and  is  a  prominent  citizen.  He  is  one 
of  a  family  of  seven  children  born  to 
Jacob  and  Elizabeth  (Turnipseed)  Lucas,  his 
father  being  a  native  of  Pennsylvania  and  his 
mother,  of  Ohio. 

Caleb  B.  Lucas  was  born  in  Highland  County, 
Ohio,  June  14,  185 1,  and  was  reared  and  educated 
in  that  county.  He  came  to  St.  Joseph.  }*Iissouri, 
in  1880.  and  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  show 
cases  and  store  and  office  fixtures.  Pie  estab- 
lished a  good  business,  his  trade  extending 
throughout  this  and  adjoining  States,  and  con- 
tinued with  success  until  1895,  when  he  sold  out 
to  enter  upon  his  duties  as  city  assessor,  an  office 
to  which  he  was  appointetd  b}-  ]\Ia}or  William 
M.  Shepherd.  He  served  as  such  until  1897. 
then  was  identified  with  D.  H.  Hatfield  for  about 
two  years.  In  the  spring  of  1900  he  was  elected 
auditor  of  St.  Joseph,  and  on  the  expiration  of  his 
term  in  1902  was  reelected  for  a  term  of  four 
years.  He  has  proved  a  very  efficient  official, 
and  has  gained  the  commendation  of  the  public. 
He  is  possessed  of  superior  natural  ability,  is 
conscientious  and  honest  and  enjoys  the  highest 
esteem  of  his  fellow  citizens.  He  is  a  stanch  Re- 
publican and  has  always  been  an  cnthisiastic 
worker  for  party  success. 

Mr.  Lucas  was  married  to  Evaline  Bell,  who 
was  a  daughter  of  Thomas  Bell,  of  England. 
Her  death  in  .September,  1902.  was  a  sad  blow 
to  her  husband  and  children,  as  well  to  her 
man_\-  friends  who  had  known  and  loved  her  for 
many  years.  The  children  born  to  this  union  are : 
Irene  B..  a  teacher  in  the  Garfield  School  of  St. 
Joseph:  Carrie  K.,  who  married  C.  W.-Prewitt 
and  has  two  children, — C.  W.,  Jr.,  and  Evaline : 
and  Florence  A.,  the  youngest,  who  is  attending 


the  St.  Joseph  High  School.  Religiously,  the 
family  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church.  Fraternally,  our  subject  is  a  member 
of  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America  and  the 
Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of  Elks. 


UGUST  NUNNING,  head  of  the  great 
Nunning  Brewery  Company,  is  one  of 
the  enterprising  business  men  of  St. 
Joseph.  He  is  a  son  of  Henry  and 
Johanna  (Arndt)  Nunning. 
The  late  Henry  Nunning  was  born  in  A\'est- 
phalia,  Germany,  and  died  at  St.  Joseph,  March 
26,  1884,  after  a  residence  in  this  city  of  29  busy 
years.  He  established  one  of  the  first  breweries 
here,  one  which,  imder  his  direction  and  manage- 
ment, expanded  into  a  great  commercial  enter- 
prise. He  conducted  the  business  under  his  own 
name  until  the  admission  of  our  subject  to  part- 
nership, when  the  firm  style  became.  Henry 
Nunning  &  Son. 

In  1880,  August  Nunning  became  his  father's 
partner  in  the  brewing  business,  bringing  to  it 
new  ideas  and  more  modern  methods  which,  while 
they  could  scarcely  add  to  the  excellence  of  the 
product,  enabled  the  business  to  be  more  econ- 
omically and  expeditiously  conducted.  The  pro- 
duct of  this  brewery  has  met  the  public  taste  and 
has  stood  the  tests  and  comparisons  of  a  quarter 
of  a  century.  Since  his  father's  death.  Mr.  Nun- 
ning has  become  the  head  of  the  house  and  the 
same  honesty  and  integrity  marks  the  firm's  pol- 
icy now  as  was  born  with  the  inception  of  the 
business. 

The  brewerv  is  equipped  with  all  the  machin- 
ery and  conveniences  necessary  for  the  produc- 
tion of  pure,  healthful  and  invigorating  beverages. 


^  ♦» 


ON.  HARRY  D.  BASSETT.  Few  pub- 
lic men  of  Buchanan  County  have 
passed  out  of  life  more  generally  and 
sincerely  mourned  than  the  late  Judge 
Harry  D.  Bassett.  at  the  time  of  his 
death  one  of  the  county's  honored  judges,  and  a 
highly  valued  and  esteemed  citizen  of  St.  Joseph. 
Judge  Bassett  was  born  at  St.  Joseph,  August 
26.  1852,  and  died  at  his  home  in  this  city.  No. 
321  North  Sixth  street.  August  28,  1903.  His 
paternal  ancestry  was  of  old  colonial  stock  and 
his    maternal,   of   the    aristocracy   of   the    "Old 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


395 


North"   State.   He   \vas  a  son   of   the   late   Gen. 
Jonathan  Miles  and  Nannie  (Dixon)  Bassett. 

Gen.  Jonathan  M.  Bassett.  father  of  Judge 
Bassett,  of  whom  a  sketch  will  be  found  in  this 
volume,  was  born  in  Connecticut  and  was  a  pio- 
neer settler  of  the  Platte  Purchase,  having  lo- 
cated at  Plattsburg  in  1844.  Later  he  removed 
to  St.  Joseph,  where  he  was  made  circuit  attor- 
ney and  in  1855  was  elected  mayor  of  this  city. 
He  served  also  as  provost  marshal  of  St.  Joseph 
and  held  military  rank  in  the  State  militia.  His 
death  was  occasioned  in  1871  by, an  afifection  of 
the  heart.  He  married  Nannie  Dixon,  of  Raleigh, 
North  Carolina,  and  the  two  children  of  this 
marriage  were  Judge  Bassett  and  an  only  sister, 
the  widow  of  the  late  John  T.  Maddux,  of  St. 
Joseph. 

The  late  Judge  Bassett  belonged  particularly 
to  Buchanan  County,  his  educational,  business 
and  political  training  all  having  been  received 
within  her  borders.  He  began  public  life  as  a 
deputy  in  county  offices  at  the  Court  House,  and 
served  for  22  years  in  the  offices  of  assessor, 
county  clerk  and  collector.  In  1887  ^\^  was 
elected  county  assessor  and  served  as  such  until 
1894,  when  he  engaged  in  the  insurance  business 
with  Hon.  Eugene  Spratt.  In  November,  1902, 
Harry  D.  Bassett  was  nominated  on  the  Demo- 
cratic ticket  and  later  elected  county  judge  by  an 
overwhelming  majority,  and  his  service  in  this 
honorable  office  was  but  a  continuation  of  years 
of  loyalty  to  the  interests  of  his  fellow  citizens. 

CJn  May  15.  1889,  Judge  Bassett  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Ida  Cahoun.  who  is  a  daughter 
of  Calvin  A.  and  Catherine  (McNally)  Ca- 
houn, the  former  of  whom  was  a  native  of  Ohio, 
and  an  extensive  contractor  of  St.  Joseph.  ]^Irs. 
Bassett  and  two  children, — Harry  M.  and  Ruth, 
— survived  Judge  Bassett,  but  the  little  daugh- 
ter died  in  1904,  aged  10  years.  Mrs.  Bassett 
resides  at  No.  602  North  12th  street. 

The  death  of  Judge  Bassett  was  sudden  and 
unexpected,  his  slight  illness  being  attributed 
to  the  extreme  heat.  His  death  was  just  as  he 
had  often  expressed  a  wish  that  it  should  be, 
a  passing  away  in  ])eaceful  sleep,  so  calm  and 
quiet,  that  the  stricken  wife  at  his  side  did  not 
know  when  the  spark  of  life  became  extinct.  His 
funeral  obsequies  were  conducted  from  the  home 
of  his  only  sister,  Mrs.  Deedie  Maddux,  who  had 
herself  been  bereaved  in  1900.  The  city  and 
county  offices  were  closed  on  the  occasion  of  his 
funeral  and  his  remains  were  laid  to  rest  in 
beautiful  Mount  Mora  Cemetery,  surrounded  by 


a  large  concourse  of  prominent  citizens  and  per- 
sonal friends,  who  sought  thus  to  testify  to  their 
respect.  The  pall-bearers  were  selected  from  life- 
long friends,  among  them  being  Judge  W.  M. 
Stanton,  Judge  John  H.  Duncan  and  others  who 
tenderly  performed  the  mournful  duty. 

Judge  Bassett  was  prominent  socially  and  had 
always  taken  a  deep  interest  in  charitable  work, 
identifying  himself  with  various  organizations  of 
that  character.  He  held  fraternal  relations  with 
the  Red  Men  and  the  Knights  of  Pythias.  His 
record  on  the  bench  was  one  that  reflected  his 
sterling  traits  of  character.  After  taking  up 
his  duties,  he  speedily  showed  himself  learned, 
fearless  and  impartial,  an  inflexible  exponent  of 
the  law.  As  a  citizen  he  proved  solicitous, 
through  years  of  public  service,  for  the  welfare 
of  his  fellow  citizens.  He  was  affectionately 
known  as  "Harry."  his  genial  personality  and  his 
frank  and  friendly  bearing  endearing  him  to  his 
associates  and  arousing  the  deepest  devotion  from 
his  kindred. 


OHN  M.  HUFFMAN,  M.  D.,  one  of  the 
leading  citizens  of  St.  Joseph,  of  which 
citv  he  has  been  a  resident  since  1888, 
was  born  in  Buchanan  County,  Mis- 
souri, and  has  been  identified  with  pro- 
fessional and  business  interests  in  this  State  al- 
most all   his   life. 

Dr.  Huffman  completed  the  educational  course 
of  the  common  and  high  schools  in  his  native 
county,  read  medicine  with  W.  H.  Bryan,  one  of 
the  leading  practitioners  of  Savannah,  Missouri, 
and  was  graduated  in  1870  from  the  Jefferson 
Medical  College,  at  Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania. 
He  settled  for  practice  at  Whitesville,  Missouri, 
and  continued  in  active  professional  work  for 
some  15  years.  His  close  attention  to  the  ills 
of  others  caused  a  decline  in  his  own  health  and 
finally  forced  him-  to  retire  from  the  medical  field. 
In  looking  about  for  good  investments  for  his 
capital,  during  which  period  he  traveled  ex- 
tensively, he  came  to  St.  Joseph,  almost  immed- 
iatelv  taking  an  interest  in  real  estate  affairs.^ 
He  is  now  one  of  the  leading  real  estate  men  of 
the  city,  and  bears  an  excellent  reputation  for 
honest  and  fair  dealings. 

Dr.  Huffman  was  the  prime  mover  in  tlie 
organization  of  the  W}att  Park  Land  Company, 
of  which  he  became  president.  He  also  became 
closely  identified  with  the  various  business  enter- 
prises which  have  been  so  beneficial  to  St.  Joseph 


396 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY  AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


and  the  adjacent  country.  He  was  one  of  the 
promoters  and  was  president  of  the  Wyatt  Park 
Street  Railway  Company,  which  was  among  the 
very  first  street  -railways  using-  electric  power. 
At  the  present  time  he  is  the  senior  member  of 
the  real  estate  firm  of  Huffman,  Williams  & 
Ruis,  located  at  No.  515  Francis  street.  He  is 
also  connected  with  an  office  at  Savannah,  Mis- 
souri. The  firm  of  Huffman,  Williams  &  Ruis 
has  an  immense  capital  invested  and  handles 
the  greater  part  of  the  choicest  city  property, 
sub-divisions  and  farming  lands  of  this  section. 
It  has  added  greatly  to  the  value  of  its  own  and 
adjacent  property  by  fine  improvements  and  has 
been  the  means  of  inducing  many  to  become  happy 
and  contented  residents  of  this  beautiful  city. 
Personally,  Dr.  Huffman  is  held  in  the  highest 
esteem.  He  is  considered  a  judicious  business 
man  and  h.is  opinion  in  real  estate  matters  and 
markets  is  never  questioned.  He  is  a  Shriner 
and  has  been  a  member  of  the  Masonic  order  for 
38  years. 

^~*~* 

F.ORGE  F.  CASEY,  city  assessor  of  St. 
Joseph,  and  for  many  years  one  of  the 
city's  prominent  insurance  men,  is  also 
well  and  favorably  known  on  account 
of  a  long  connection  both  with  railroad 
matters  and  with  the  St.  Joseph  Post  Office.  Mr. 
Casey  was  born  November  i,  1858,  in  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  is  a  son  of  Samuel  L.  and  Mary 
Ouincy  (Sheafe)  Casey.  The  father  was  a  mem- 
ber of  one  of  the  first  families  of  Kentucky,  and 
served  as  a  Member  of  Congress  from  that  State, 
while  Abraham  Lincoln  was  President,  whose 
friend  and  confidential  adviser  he  was. 

Our  subject  was  educated  in  Ohio  and  began 
his  business  career  as  assistant  cashier  in  the 
general  freight  offices  of  the  Louisville  &  Nash- 
ville Railroad  Company.  In  1888  he  came  to 
St.  Joseph,  ^Missouri,  and  followed  an  insurance 
business  for  one  year  and  then  accepted  the  posi- 
tion of  chief  clerk  in  the  office  of  the  division 
engineer  of  the  Missouri  River  Commission,  re- 
maining two  years  in  that  position  and  then 
accepting  a  similar  one,  for  one  year,  with  Dowe, 
Johnson  &  Rusk.  In  June.  1892,  he  was  ap- 
pointed superintendent  of  the  St.  Joseph  Post 
Office  by  the  late  Postmaster  Ernst,  and  served 
under  him  and  his  successor,  F.  M.  Atkinson,  for 
four  years. 

Mr.  Cascv  then  resumed  his  insurance  busi- 


at  the  Post  Office  and  served  in  that  capacity 
until  February,  1901.  He  again  resumed  his 
insurance  business,  in  which  he  continued  for 
almost  two  years  and  then  was  appointed  city 
assessor  of  St.  Joseph  by  Mayor  Borden.  Mr. 
Casey  has,  in  all  these  positions,  displayed  the 
same  fidelity  to  his  employers  and  has  won  uni- 
versal esteem,  irrespective  of  party. 

In  1900  Mr.  Casey  married  Cornelia  L.  Ra- 
vold,  who  is  a  daughter  of  Dr.  H.  J.  Ravold, 
one  of  the  prominent  physicians  of  Greenville, 
Illinois.  They  have  one  bright  little  daughter 
named  Louisa  Wait.  Both  Mr.  Casey  and  wife 
are  members  of  Christ  Protestant  Episcopal 
Church.  He  belongs  also  to  the  Brotherhood  of 
St.  Andrew  and  is  secretary  of  the  local  or- 
ganization. The  attractive  family  home  is  lo- 
cated at  No.  724  North  23rd  street. 

Mr.  Casey  has  been  very  prominent  in  the 
Order  of  Columbian  Knights  for  many  years  and 
has  capably  filled  many  offices  and  been  honored 
on  many  occasions.  He  is  treasurer  of  the  local 
organization,  Lodge  No.  127,  and  is  past  presi- 
dent of  the  same,  and  is  also  grand  vice-presi- 
dent for  the  State  of  Missouri.  Plis  uprightness 
of  life  and  his  genial  manner  and  generous  hos- 
pitality have  attracted  to  him  as  friends  many  of 
the  best  class  of  citizens  of  Buchanan  Countv. 


^  * »- 


ness  until  Tulv 


T899, 


when  he  was  made  cashier 


ARTIN  WILLI A.M  JACKSON,  one 
of  the  leading  business  men  of  St. 
Joseph,  the  head  of  the  M.  W.  Jack- 
son Plumbing  Company,  was  born 
in  Andrew  County,  Missouri,  Octo- 
ber 15,  1862,  and  is  a  son  of  John  L.  and  Mary 
M.   (Osborne)   Jackson. 

Martin  Jackson,  the  paternal  grandfather  of 
our  subject,  was  a  native  of  Kentucky. 
In  1848  he  came  to  iNlissouri  and  took 
up  land  in  Andrew  County  as  one  of 
the  first  settlers.  The  maternal  grandfather  went 
to  California  prior  to  1849,  in  which  year  he 
started  home  with  $20,000  in  gold,  but  died  on 
the  steamer  that  was  bringing  him  back.  John 
L.  Jackson,  father  of  our  subject,  was  born  in 
1834  at  Louisville,  Kentucky,  and  was  taken  in 
boyhood  to  Andrew  County,  Missouri.  His 
father  had  been  a  distiller  in  Kentucky  and  built 
a  large  distillery  in  Andrew  County  and  operated 
it  until  1865  and  John  L.  was  associated  with  his 
father  in  this  large  business.  They  also  operated 
a  flouring  mill,  the  power  being  supplied  by  10 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


397 


oxen,  and  their  farming  and  stock-raising  inter- 
ests were  of  equal  importance.  Both  were  men 
of  business  enterprise,  and  when  freighting  to 
the  West  became  profitable  they  put  20  freight 
wagons  on  the  trail  between  St.  Joseph  and  Den- 
ver, each  wagon  having  a  team  of  10  oxen.  When 
the  war  broke  out,  their  business  in  this  line  was 
abandoned.  John  L.  Jackson  continued  to  farm 
in  Andrew  County  until  1894,  when  he  retired 
and  now  makes  his  home  in  St.  Joseph,  the  old 
homestead  farm  still  being  in  the  possession  of 
the  family.  He  was  made  a  Mason  at  Dighton, 
Kansas,  and  has  always  taken  an  active  interest 
in  the  organization.  John  L.  Jackson  married 
Mary  Oi^borne,  a  daughter  of  Martin  Osborne, 
of  Andrew  County,  ^Missouri,  who  was  a  native 
of  Kentucky.  Of  the  seven  children  born  to 
this  marriage,  five  grew  to  maturity,  namely : 
Martin  William,  of  this  sketch  ;  Alice,  wife  of 
Arthur  Crouch,  of  St.  Joseph ;  Elizabeth,  wife  of 
Robert  Davidson,  of  St.  Joseph ;  Frank,  of  St. 
Joseph,  and  Emmett  Lee,  of  Los  Angeles,  Cali- 
fornia. The  mother  of  these  children  has  passed 
away.  She  was  a  consistent  member  of  the 
Christian  Church,  of  which  Mr.  Jackson  is  also 
a   member. 

Our  subject  was  reared  on  the  home  farm 
/  and  attended  the  local  schools  in  boyhood,  and 
when  18  years  of  age  went  to  Oregon,  Holt  Coun- 
tv,  and  spent  two  years  in  the  Northwestern 
Normal  School  there,  and  then  to  the  Kirksville 
State  Normal  School,  where  he  was  graduated 
in  1889.  Mr.  Jackson  then  took  a  commercial 
course  in  the  Gem  City  Business  College,  at 
Ouincy,  Illinois.  At  various  times  and  points, 
during  his  school  years,  Mr.  Jackson  had  taught 
winter  schools.  After  graduating  at  Quincv,  he 
was  bookkeeper  in  the  office  of  the  Quincy  Daily 
Herald  for  about  six  months,  and  then  went  to 
Lathrop.  Missouri,  where  he  was  bookkeeper  for 
three  months  and,  later,  cashier  of  the  Lathrop 
Bank,  with  which  he  remained  for  three  vears. 
In  1886  he  came  to  St.  Joseph  where  he  entered 
the  employ  of  the  Champion  ]\Iachine  Company 
as  bookkeeper,  and  six  months  later,  went  to 
work  for  Tootle,  Wheeler  &  Motter.  After  sev- 
eral other  changes,  he  became  associated  with 
M.  E.  Herbert,  plumber  and  boiler  manufacturer, 
with  whom  he  continued  for  six  years.  In  1891 
he  organized  his  present  business,  locating  it  first 
on  South  Sixth  street,  where  he  remained  some 
years,  but  for  the  last  decade  has  been  in  business 
at  No.  TIT  South  Fourth  street.  He  is  one  of 
the  leading  business  men  in  his  line  in  the  citv. 


Mr.  Jackson  married  Mary  M.  Messick,  a  daugh- 
ter of  N.  L.  Messick,  of  St.  Joseph,  and  they 
have  had  six  children,  those  surviving  being 
Neva,  Roy,  Raxwell,  Alden  and  Plato.  Mr.  Jack- 
son was  made  a  Mason  at  Fillmore,  Missouri,  and 
is  also  a  member  of  Eclipse  Lodge,  No.  143,  I.  O. 
O.  F.     Politicallv,  he  is  a  Democrat. 


^ » » 


OSEPH  McINERNY,  for  many  years 
one  of  the  builders  and  promoters  of 
St.  Joseph's  material  prosperity,  and  one 
of  her  most  highly  regarded  citizens, 
died  at  his  home  in  this  city  on  Decem- 
ber 5,  1896.  He  was  born  April  29,  1841,  in  the 
parish  of  Kilmurry.  Ireland,  a  son  of  those  who 
could  give  him  educational  advantages  and  re- 
ligious training,  but  could  not  assist  him  in  push- 
ing forward  a  business  career  which  might  prove 
his  life  work. 

Hence,  it  was  but  natural,  as  the  youth  ap- 
proached }-oung  manhood,  that  he  should  seek 
opportunities  for  himself  and  that  subsequently 
he  should  be  landed  on  American  shores.  By 
1862  he  had  made  friends  and  money  in  the  new 
country  and  was  established  in  a  hotel  business 
at  Freehold,  New  Jersey.  In  1863  he  removed 
to  Fort  Valley,  New  Jersey,  just  at  the  time  when 
the  Pennsylvania  oil  discoveries  created  so  much 
excitement.  In  the  following  year  he  went  to 
the  oil  fields  and  spent  three  years  there  and  then 
settled  at  Meadville,  Pennsylvania,  where  he 
dealt  in  oil  and  oil  lands  until  1869.  when  he  re- 
moved to  Kent.  Ohio.  About  t8  months  later 
he  removed  to  Rock  Island,  Illinois,  and  in  Sep- 
tember. 1870.  came  to  St.  Joseph.  IMissouri.  His 
business  foresight  told  him  that  here  was  every 
condition  to  build  up  a  great  business  center  and 
he  showed  his  faith  in  its  future  by  investing  in 
property.  He  purchased  land  of  the  late  ]\Iilton 
Tootle.  This  property  at  that  time  was  still 
prairie  land,  but  on  it  Mr.  Mclnerny  subsequently 
erected  the  Commercial  Hotel,  which  he  con- 
ducted for  so  many  years  as  one  of  the  leading 
hostelries  of  the  city.  In  the  years  that  followed 
he  was  a  very  important  factor  in  the  development 
of  the  city's  resources,  lending  his  influence  to  the 
establishment  of  schools  and  churches  and  liber- 
ally assisting  financially  in  their  construction. 

Mr.  IMcInerny  was  married  on  October  3, 
1871.  to  Marv  Kelley.  who  was  born  also  in  the 
parish  of  Kilmurry,  Ireland,  and  had  attended 
the  same  school  as  he.     They  were  separated  for 


398 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAX   COUNTY  AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


some  years  and  only  accidentally  met  at  Rock 
Island,  Illinois,  and  they  were  later  married  at 
Davenport,  Iowa.  To  this  congenial  and  happy 
lUiion  eight  children  were  born,  of  whom  three 
daughters  and  one  son  are  now  living,  viz : 
Theresa,  who  lives  with  her  mother ;  Nellie,  who 
is  the  wife  of  J.  J.  O'Donoghue  ;  Agnes  E.,  who 
lives  at  home ;  and  Joseph,  one  of  the  leading 
physicians  and  surgeons  of  this  city.  Dr.  Joseph 
Mdnerny  was  born  in  St.  Joseph,  ^[issouri,  Feb- 
ruary 19,  1873,  and  here  received  his  literary  edu- 
cation and  later  entered  the  Northwestern  Medical 
College  of  St.  Joseph.  He  took  a  ]:)ost-graduate 
course  in  1893-94  at  Rush  Medical  College,  Chi- 
cago, Illinois.  The  family  reside  in  a  beautiful, 
luxurious  home  at  No.  11 15  Jules  street. 

The  late  Mr.  Mclnerny  was  a  devout  Catholic 
and  he  was  deeply  and  continually  interested  in 
the  furthering  of  its  work.  His  death  was  a 
sad  blow  to  many  charitable  institutions  which  it 
had  been  his  pleasure  to  assist.  His  fine  business 
ability  was  generally  recognized,  and  his  admirers 
valued  him  for  his  integrity  of  character.  He 
was  no  seeker  for  political  honors  but  they  came 
unsought  and  for  years  he  served  as  one  of  the 
city  aldermen.  He  became  active  in  the  St. 
Joseph  Land  League  and  for  years  was  in  control 
of  its  operations  as  president.  His  life  was  one 
of  great  activity  and  its  results  may  be  seen  in 
many  tangible  forms  in  St.  Joseph.  Self-made 
to  a  great  degree,  he  set  an  example  of  thrift, 
industry  and  integrity  which  serves  as  an  honor- 
able memorial. 


-♦«"♦- 


ATHON  G.  GETCHELL,  sole  owner  of 
the  Getchell  Laundry  Company,  of  St. 
Joseph,  and  one  of  the  city's  enter- 
prising  and  successful  citizens,  was  born 
in  1855  ^^  Bath,  Maine. 
^Ir.  Getchell  obtained  his  education  at  Bath, 
completing  the  common  and  high  school  courses 
anil  the  commercial  course  at  Grundy's  Business 
College  at  Cincinnati,  Ohio.  He  acquired  a 
knowledge  of  the  roofing  business  and,  when  he 
had  reached  his  majority,  his  father  took  him 
into  partnership,  under  the  firm  name  of  Getchell 
&  Son.  In  1878  he  located  at  Memphis.  Ten- 
nessee, where  he  engaged  iu  roofing  until  1884, 
when  he  came  to  St.  Joseph,  Missouri,  and  en- 
gaged with  the  St.  Joseph  Gas  Compan\-,  selling 
its  products.  In  1885  he  formed  the  St.  Joseph 
Roofing   Company,    in    partnership    with    C.    H 


Nash,  and  remained  in  association  with  Mr.  Nash 
for  two  years.  He  then  formed  the  firm  of 
Getchell  &  Company,  his  partner  being  J.  M. 
Burns,  Jr.,  and  engaged  in  the  paving  and  gen- 
eral contracting  business,  which  continued  until 
1892. 

In  1 89 1,  Mr.  Getchell  was  instrumental  in 
organizing  the  Empire  Loan  Company,  of  which 
he  was  general  manager  and  secretary.  In  1892 
he  became  manager  of  the  Merchants'  Transfer 
Company,  which  had  been  organized  that  year, 
and  continued  in  its  management  until  1899.  when 
the  company  was  sold  to  the  Brown  Transfer 
Company.  In  1898,  Mr.  Getchell  had  organized 
My  Laundr}-  Company,  of  which  he  was 
president,  and  when  he  resigned  the  management 
of  the  transfer  company,  he  assumed  the  manage- 
ment of  the  former  enterprise  and  met  with  great 
success.  The  energies  of  the  company  were 
crippled  for  a  time  by  a  fire  which  destroyed  the 
laundry  plant,  and  it  resulted  in  Mr.  Getchell 
organizing  the  Getchell  Laundry  Company  in 
1903,  with  O.  McClintock,  W.  A.  Dalman  and 
A.  S.  McGhee,  but  later  purchased  the  interests 
of  his  })artaers  and  now  is  sole  owner  and  pro- 
prietor of  one  of  the  best  paying  industries  of  the 
city. 

On  February  10.  1880,  INIr.  Getchell  was  mar- 
ried to  Minnie  Whetstone,  who  was  born  in 
Cincinnati,  Ohio,  in  1866,  and  is  a  daughter  of 
Hon.  Thomas  L.  Whetstone,  a  prominent  poli- 
tician of  Ohio  and  a  former  State  Senator.  Their 
children  are  :  Sadie  L.,  who  married  Dr.  Milton 
T.  Perry,  of  Boston,  Massachusetts  ;  Fannie  N., 
who  married  M.  R.  C.  Blankenship  of  Guthrie, 
Oklahoma;  and  Clarence  H.,  Hathon  G..  Jr..  and 
Esther. 

Mr.  Getchell  has  taken  a  prominent  part  in  the 
various  public-spirited  enterprises  that  have  con- 
tributed to  the  growth  and  prosperity  of  St. 
Jose])h.  He  was  one  of  the  first  to  agitate  the 
establishment  of  free  public  libraries  and  has 
served  as  one  of  the  directors  and  the  secretary 
of  the  St.  Joseph  Free  Public  Library.  He  has 
also  been  a  valued  member  of  the  Board  of 
Education.  He  is  well  known  all  over  the  State 
in  Masonic  circles,  belonging  to  the  higher 
branches  of  Masonry,  a  charter  member  of  Moila 
Temple,  of  the  Mvstic  Shrine,  and  a  member  of 
Mispah  Lodge.  A.  F.  &  A.  M..  of  Memphis, 
Tennessee.  His  political  sympathies  are  all  with 
the  Republican  party  and  on  numerous  occasions 
he  has  been  selected  as  a  delegate  to  important 
conventions.     He  served  as  president  of  the  St. 


COL.  ELIJAH   GATES 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


401 


Joseph  Blaine  Club.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Commercial  and  the  Benton  clubs  and  was  elected 
four  times  as  dii:ector  in  the  Commercial  Club. 


^ » » 


(IL.  ELIJAH  GATES,  whose  portrait 
accompanies  this  article,  is  one  of  the 
i)est-known  citizens  of  St.  Joseph, 
where  he  has  lived  for  so  man}'  years. 
He  first  came  to  Buchanan  County 
nearly  a  half  century  ago,  and  has  lived  here  con- 
tinuously with  the  exception  of  four  years  spent 
in  the  Confederate  service  during  the  Civil  ^^'ar 
.  and  six  years  spent  at  Jefferson  City  as  a  public 
official. 

Elijah  Gates  was  born  in  Garrard  County, 
Kentucky,  in  1827,  and  is  a  s.on  of  John  Gates, 
who  was  the  owner  of  a  large  plantation  in  that 
country.  He  was  but  one  and  a  half  years  old 
when  his  father  died.  He  received  his  education  in 
the  common  schools  of  his  native  county  and  at  the 
age  of  20  years  came  to  ^Missouri,  where  he  en- 
gaged in  farming.  About  10  years  later,  in  1857, 
lie  removed  to  Buchanan  County  and  followed 
farming  until  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  War.  In 
1 86 1,  he  enlisted  from  St.  Joseph  and  was  soon 
elected  captain  of  Company  A  of  the  jMissouri 
State  Guards,  Moran's  chvision.  After  three 
months  of  service  he  was  promoted  to  be  lieuten- 
ant-colonel, and  three  months  later  to  the  rank  of 
colonel.  He  formed  a  regiment  in  Springfield, 
^Missouri,  and  served  under  Gen.  Sterling  Price 
until  the  fall  of  1861.  In  the  spring  of  1862,  he 
crossed  the  Mississi])pi  and  joined  the  army  under 
Beauregard  at  Corinth,  and  continued  in  service 
east  of  the  Mississippi  throughout  the  remainder 
of  the  war.  He  was  thrice  taken  prisoner  and  at 
the  battle  of  Franklin  was  wounded  so  badly  in 
the  left  arm  as  to  lose  that  member.  He  was  cap- 
tured but  made  his  escape  and  went  to  ^lobile, 
\\here  he  took  command  of  a  brigade  and  parti- 
cipated in  the  battle  of  ^Mobile.  He  was  captured 
at  Big  Black,  Mississippi,  but  escaped  a  few  days 
later.  He  was  captured  at  Blakely.  opposite  ^lo- 
bile,  in  the  last  battle  of  the  war,  was  incarcerated 
at  Ship  Island  three  weeks,  then  sent  to  Jackson 
just  as  General  Taylor  surrendered.  He  was  in 
practically  all  the  engagements  of  the  ^Missouri 
troops,  and  about  half  of  the  time  was  in  com- 
mand of  his  brigade.  He  returned  home  July  5, 
T865,  after  four  years  of  long  and  hard  service. 
He  resumed  the  business  of  a  farmer  and  contin- 
iied  until  1874,  when  he  was  elected  sheriff"  on  the 


Democratic  ticket,  in  wliich  position  he  served 
for  four  years.  He  was  elected  State  Treasurer 
of  INIissouri  and  served  four  years,  residing  in 
Jefferson  City  a  period  of  six  years,  during  one 
year  of  which  period  he  was  in  the  commission 
business  in  St.  Louis.  From  1884  to  1886,  he 
served  as  coal  oil  inspector,  having  been  appointed 
by  Governor  Stone.  He  was  in  the  transfer  and 
bus  business  in  St.  Joseph  as  a  member  of  the 
firm  of  Piner  &  Gates  for  many  years,  but  during 
the  past  few  years  has  been  living  in  retirement. 
He  is  a  man  representative  of  the  highest  type 
of  character,  and  has  many  stanch  friends 
throughout  this  section  of  the  State. 

Colonel  Gates  was  married  in  Livingston 
County,  Missouri,  in  1852,  to  [Maria  Stamper,  who 
was  born  in  Monroe  County,  [Missouri,  and  died 
December  24,  1898.  They  became  the  parents  of 
nine  children,  as  follows:  Elmina  (Lyons),  of 
Kansas  City :  John  L.,  grain  inspector  at  Kansas 
City ;  Joel  E.,  a  druggist  located  at  the  corner  of 
Eighth  and  Locust  streets,  St.  Joseph ;  Luella 
(McCarty).  a  widow,  whose  home  is  in  St. 
Joseph,  but  who  at  the  present  time  is  a  stenog- 
rapher at  the  World's  Fair  at  St.  Louis;  Ehjah, 
who  is  employed  in  the  railroad  offices  at  Kansas 
City ;  Charles,  city  salesman  for  the  firm  of  Nave, 
McCord  &  Co.:  Maggie  C.  (Robinson),  of  St. 
Joseph,  and  Ben  D.,  of  St.  Louis  (twins)  ;  and 
"Georgia  C.  (Wood),  of  Troy,  Kansas.  Relig- 
iously Mr.  Gates  is  a  member  of  the  Christian 
Church.  The  family  residence  is  at  No.  701  South 
Ninth  street. 


■♦♦ » 


HARLES  NOWLAND,  one  of  the  lead- 
ing business  men  of  St.  Joseph,  a  large 
dealer  in  lime,  cement  and  building  ma- 
terial, was  born  in  Leeds,  Yorkshire, 
England.  February  6.  1852,  and  is  a 
son  of  Henry  and  Mary  Nowland. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  also  a  native 
of  the  city  of  Leeds.  He  followed  the  trade  of 
brick-layer  for  some  years,  but  in  1853  removed 
to  London  and  entered  into  building  and  con- 
tracting, handling  a  vast  amount  of  business.  He 
(lied  at  the  age  of  59  years,  in  1880.  He  was 
made  a  Mason,  in  London,  and  served  as  master 
of  his  lodge.  The  children  who  grew  to  maturity 
were:  Emma,  wife  of  William  Joiner,  of  London, 
England:  Frances  (Mrs.  Evatt).  of  Kensington. 
London:  Caroline  (Mrs.  Clark),  of  London: 
Charles,  of  this  sketch :  Albert,  of  London ; 
Horace  L. ;  and  Florence  K.  (Mrs.  Randall),  of 


402 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY  AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


Peckham,  London.  Horace  L.  was  accidentally 
killed  by  a  passenger  train,  in  1896,  at  St. 
Joseph,  Missouri. 

Mr.  Nowland  was  reared  in  the  comfortable 
surroundings  of  a  prosperous  workingman's 
home,  attended  school  an(l  learned  the  trade  of 
bricklaying  with  his  father  and  assisted  the  latter 
until  1870.  In  that  year  he  came  to  the  United 
States  and  subsequently  located  at  St.  Joseph, 
where  he  followed  his  trade  until  1876  and  then 
started  into  business  as  a  contractor  and  builder, 
continuing  in  the  business  until  the  spring  of 
1903.  The  result  of  his  activity  in  the  building 
line,  during  these  years,  may  be  seen  in  a  num- 
ber of  the  durable,  substantial  and  ornamental 
structures  which  house  many  of  St.  Joseph's 
greatest  industries.  He  was  the  builder  of  the 
beautiful  Free  Public  Library,  a  structure  which 
has  been  copied  at  other  points  and  has  always 
been  admired  for  its  admirable  adaptability. 

Mr.  Nowland  married  Mary  Jones,  daughter 
of  John  Jones,  of  Hampshire.  England,  and  six 
of  their  eight  children  still  survive,  namely :  Alice, 
wife  of  James  Dickinson,  of  Kansas  City ;  Min- 
nie ;  Maude,  wife  of  Carl  Fuelling,  of  St.  Jo- 
seph ;  and  Frank,  George  and  Catherine,  of  St. 
Joseph.  ]\Ir.  Nowland  was  reared  in  the 
Protestant  Episcopal  Church.  Politically,  he  has 
always  been  a  Democrat  and  has  been  one  of  his 
party's  leaders  in  this  city.  Lie  has  filled  various 
city  offices  and  served  in  the  City  Council  during 
1885,  1886  and  1887.  Through  his  own  eftorts 
he  has  risen  to  a  place  among  the  substantial 
business  men  of  this  city  and  is  honored  and  re- 
spected by  all  who  know  him. 


-*—"*- 


OHN  T.  MADDUX,  deceased,  for  many 
years  traveling  representative  for  the 
great  business  house  of  Englehart- 
Davison  ]Mercantile  Company,  at  St.  Jo- 
seph, and  one  of  the  most  highly  es- 
teemed residents  of  this  city,  was  born  at  Hills- 
boro,  Illinois,  and  died  at  his  home.  No.  620 
North  Ninth  street,  St.  Joseph,  on  November 
28,   1900. 

The  late  Mr.  Maddux  was  reared  and  edu-, 
cated  in  his  native  place,  and  was  20  years  of  age 
when  he  came  to  St.  Joseph.  This  city  was  his 
chosen  home,  although  his  extensive  travels  all 
over  the  country  made  him  acquainted  with  the 
advantages  and  attractions  of  many  other  points. 
For  a  short  time  he  was  a  member  of  the  whole- 


sale firm  of  Tootle,  Maddux  &  Weakley  Millinery 
Company,  but  during  the  greater  part  of  his  life 
in  St.  Joseph  he  was  associated  with  the  Engle- 
liart-Winning  Mercantile  Company  and  the  suc- 
cessors of  that  firm.  He  was  known  in  nearly  all 
the  small  towns  in  the  West  where  he  was  most 
successful  in  securing  business  for  his  firm,  be- 
ing universally  liked  for  his  honorable  methods 
and  for  winning  personality  which  brought  him 
confidence  and  esteem.  His  same  genial,  sincere 
manner  endeared  him  to  his  St.  Joseph  friends, 
and  he  was  equally  loyal  to  them. 

On  December  21,  1880,  Mr.  Maddux  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Deedie  Bell  Bassett,  who 
is  a  daughter  of  the  late  Gen.  Jonathan  M.  and 
Nannie  (Dixon)  Bassett,  and  a  sister  of  the  late 
Judge  Harry  D.  Bassett,  who,  with  his  father, 
has  a  sketch  in  this  volume.  The  Bassett  family 
has  been  one  of  social  prominence  in  St.  Joseph 
for  many  years,  Mrs.  Maddux's  father  having 
come  here  in  1850.  He  was  one  of  the  pioneer 
settlers  in  the  Platte  Purchase  in  1844,  and  died 
in  1 87 1,  recognized  as  one  of  the  distinguished 
men  of  his  State.  Mrs.  Maddux  still  survives,^ 
with  three  children :  Elise  M.,  Robert  L.  and 
AHldred  L.  Mr.  Maddux  was  also  survived  by 
several  brothers  and  sisters. 

Politically,  Mr.  Maddux  was  a  Democrat  and 
he  consistently  defended  its  principles  without 
any  desire  for  party  rewards.  He  held  fraternal 
relations  with  the  Ancient  Order  of  United  W'ork- 
mcn.  For  many  years  he  had  been  a  communicant 
of  the  F'rotestant  Episcopal  Church. 


♦  *♦■ 


ENJAMIN  ULLMAN,  a  retired  citizen 
and,  until  recently,  the  leading  cattle 
buyer  and  butcher  of  St.  Joseph,  is 
one  of  the  early  pioneers  of  the  county, 
having  settled  here  near  the  middle  of 
the  past  century  and  for  35  years  he  has  lived 
in  his  present  home  at  No.  311  South  Fourth 
street.  Mr.  UUman  was  born  in  Philadelphia, 
1  Pennsylvania,  August  i,  1824,  and  has  been 
l)lessed  with  good  health  during  all  his  life  so 
that  his  80  years  sit  lightly  upon  him  and  he 
is  easily  taken  for  a  much  younger  man.  His 
vouth  was  i)assed  in  Philadel]ihia,  where  at  the 
age  of  15  he  took  up  the  business  of  a  butcher 
and  has  been  thus  engaged  up  to  six  years  ago, 
when  he  retired  from  active  life.  In  1857  he  took 
the  Western  fever  and  removed  by  rail  to  Iowa 
City,  Iowa,  thence  by  wagon  across  the  prairies 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


403 


to  St.  Joseph  which  was  at  that  time  but  a 
village  of  the  frontier.  He  at  once  began  buying 
and  butchering  and.  at  the  opening  of  the  war, 
received  a  contract  from  the  government  to  furn- 
ish meat  and  provisions  for  the  troops  stationed 
in  the  vicinity  of  St.  Joseph.  Times  were  set- 
tled and  money  scarce,  city  scrip  often  being  the 
only  available  currency,  but  Mr.  Ullman  had 
great  faith  in  the  future  of  his  chosen  city  and 
readily  accepted  the  scrip  which  was  fully  re- 
deemed by  the  city  a  few  years  later.  Mr.  Ull- 
man established  his  butcher  shop  on  Alarket 
square,  where  he  owns  considerable  property  and 
his  slaughter  houses  were  located  near  the  corner 
of  Atchison  and  Sixth  streets  where  his  son,  John, 
now  conducts  a  road  house.  Industry  and  pluck 
brought  success,  and  he  has  had  the  satisfaction 
of  accumulating  a  neat  property,  which  is  grow- 
ing in  value  day  by  day. 

Before  coming  West,  Mr.  Ullman  was  mar- 
ried to  Catherine  Jane  Buzzard,  also  a  native  of 
Philadelphia,  and  there  their  two  eldest  children 
were  born.  Four  others  blessed  their  union,  but 
two.  only,  are  living, — Mrs.  Emma  Perkins,  a 
widow  who.  with  her  five  children^  resides  in  this 
city,  and  John,  who  is  also  a  resident  and  busi- 
ness man  of  St.  Joseph.  Mrs.  Ullman  passed 
away  25  years  ago.  Mr.  Ullman  is  Independent 
in  his  political  affiliations  and  has  steadily  re- 
fused all  public  offices,  preferring  to  devote  his 
time  to  his  business.  He  is  actively  interested  in 
the  progress  of  the  city  and  bought  a  liberal 
share  of  stock  in  the  City  Hall,  when  a  joint- 
stock  company  was  formed  for  the  erection  of 
that  fine,  three-story  building  in  the  center  of 
Market  square.  He  is  liberal  in  his  religious 
views  as  in  all  else  and  his  life  has  been  passed 
in  accordance  with  these  ideas.  Hale,  hearty  and 
shrewd,  lie  is  a  splendid  representative  of  a  type 
of  noble  manhood  fast  disappearing  from  our 
midst. 


^ » » 


HOMAS  EDWARDS,  who  has  been  in 
the  hat  business  at  St.  Joseph  for  almost 
a  half  century,  was  born  in  1826  in 
South  Wales,  and  is  a  son  of  Isaac  Ed- 
wards, who  never  left  his  native  land. 
The  grandfather  was  Thomas  Edwards,  whose 
life  was  terminated  at  the  age  of  96  years  by  a 
fall  from  a  horse. 

The  Edwards  family  has  been  identified  with 
the  hat  industry  for  many  years.  The  first  of 
the  family  to  engage  in  it  was  one  Thomas  Ed- 


wards, who  made  hats  in  London  in  1621,  and  for 
300  years  the  business  has  gone  from  father  to  son 
until  the  present  time.  Isaac  Edwards,  father  of 
our  subject,  was  a  hat  manufacturer  and  also 
kept  a  revenue  stamp  ofifice  in  South  Wales,  where 
he  died  aged  84  years.  Two  of  his  four  children 
still  survive:  Thomas,  our  subject  and  Ann 
Aubrey,  widow  of  David  P.  Morgan,  who  lives 
in  Wales. 

After  completing  his  trade  with  his  father, 
Thomas  Edwards  went  to  work  for  Thomas 
Richards,  in  Manchester.  England,  making  silk 
and  beaver  hats.  In  1851  he  came  to  the  United 
States  and  worked  as  a  journeyman  in  Phila- 
delphia until  1857.  when  he  came  to  St.  Joseph, 
as  one  of  the  early  settlers.  He  opened  a  store 
on  Second  street,  with  his  brother  Isaac,  under 
the  firm  name  of  Edwards  Brothers.  This  was  a 
jewelry  business  and  after  two  years  he  withdrew 
and  opened  a  hat  store  for  himself,  first  on 
^larket  square,  later  on  Third  and  Felix  streets 
and  in  1885  he  removed  to  his  present  quarters 
at  No.  421  Felix  street.  Through  the  many 
changes  in  the  manufacture  of  hats,  ]\Ir.  Edwards 
has  kept  a  first-class  stock,  entirely  up-to-date 
and  complete  enough  to  suit  every  customer.  He 
has  manv  interesting  relics  of  the  early  days  of 
hat-making,  stored  in  the  Felix  street  building, 
many  of  these,  once  the  height  of  fashion,  pre- 
senting a   ludicrous   appearance   at  present. 

]\Ir.  Edwards  was  a  member  of  what  is  said 
to  have  been  the  first  union  ever  organized  by 
skilled  labor,  the  Hatters'  Society  of  Great  Britain 
and  Ireland,  of  1845.  He  still  has  a  certificate 
from  that  society  which  shows  that  he  had  been 
an  apprentice  for  seven  years,  during  which  time 
he  was  perfected  in  all  the  branches  of  the  trade. 
He  was  also  a  member  of  the  Journeymen  Fur 
and  Silk  Hat  Finishers'  Association  of  Philadel- 
phia, said  to  have  been  the  first  union  in  this 
country,  having  joined  that  association  after  com- 
ing to  America  in  1851.  Among  other  inter- 
esting relics,  Mr.  Edwards  owns  a  certificate 
which  was  issued  in  1840.  in  the  fourth  year  of 
the  reign  of  Queen  Victoria,  by  which  he  agrees 
to  serve  his  father  for  the  term  of  seven  years  as 
an  apprentice,  without  pa}-.  This  document  is 
very  interesting,  not  only  on  account  of  its  age, 
but  as  to  its  provisions  in  the  light  of  modern 
compacts.  The  paper  binds  the  apprentice  to 
look  after  the  interests  of  his  master,  to  guard 
well  the  secrets  of  the  trade,  not  to  visit  saloon 
or  gambling  house  and  not  to  gamble  away  the 
property   of   his   master.      This   agreement    Mr. 


404 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


Edwards  entered  into  at  the  age  of  15  years  and, 
it  is  needless  to  say,  he  faithfully  kept. 

In  1874  he  married  ]\Iary  Powell,  who  was 
born  at  Wheeling,  West  \'irginia,  and  their  five 
children  were  all  born  at  St.  Joseph,  namely : 
IMeliis.  who  married  James  D.  Rhodes  of  Penn- 
sylvania, and  has  two  children, — Elizabeth  and 
Thomas  E. ;  Narvon ;  Rhondda  Aubrey ;  Gwen- 
dolen ;  and  Olwyn. 

Mr.  Edwards  has  never  affiliated  with  either 
great  political  party,  voting  as  his  judgment  dic- 
tates. He  is  one  of  the  most  highly  respected 
citizens  of  St.  Joseph. 


♦ » » 


AMES  M.  IRVINE,  president  of  the 
Union  Printing  Company,  of  St.  Joseph, 
publishers  and  proprietors  of  the  West- 
ern Fruit  Groiver,  and  leaders  in  the  job 
printing  business  in  this  city,  was  born 
at  Hannibal,  Missouri,  January  17,  1871,  and  is 
a  son  of  James  Ryland  and  Susan  ]\I.  (Bridge- 
ford)  Irvine. 

James  Ryland  Irvine  was  born  in  Pike  Coun- 
ty, Missouri,  and  died  in  1874  at  Hannibal,  where 
he  had  been  a  merchant  for  many  years.  He  was 
a  son  of  Robert  and  Joanna  (Ryland)  Irvine,  the 
former  of  whom  was  born  in  Kentuck}-  and  came 
in  1826  to  Missouri,  where  he  took  up  land  and 
followed  farming  for  many  years.  The  mother  of 
our  subject  resides  at  Nevada,  Missouri.  She 
was  born  in  Clay  County,  [Missouri,  and  is  a 
daughter  of  Richard  and  Susan  (Thomason) 
Bridgeford,  both  natives  of  Kentucky  and  early 
settlers  in  Missouri.  The  two  survivors  of  the 
parental  family  of  five  children  are  ovir  subject 
and  a  brother,  George  W..  a  paper-hanger  by 
trade,  who  resides  in  Louisiana. 

James  M.  Irvine  obtained  his  education  in  the 
jmblic  schools  at  New  London  and  Nevada,  prior 
to  the  age  of  13  years,  when  he  became  an  ap- 
jirentice  in  a  jirinting  office  at  the  latter  place. 
On  completing  his  term  of  service,  he  worked  for 
12  months  at  Fort  Scott,  Kansas,  and  18  months 
on  the  Daily  Capital,  at  Topeka.  In  1889  he  came 
to  St.  Joseph,  entering  the  composing  room  of  the 
Daily  News,  on  which  he  later  became  telegraph 
editor  and  reporter.  During  the  last  years  of  his 
service  on  that  journal  he  was  foreman  of  the 
composing  room. 

In  1897,  Mr.  Irvine,  in  partnership  with  three 
friends,  started,  as  a  venture,  the  Western  Fruit 
Grower.     Although   none   of   the   four  partners 


could  give  his  undivided  time  to  this  paper,  it 
seemed  to  meet  a  long  felt  want  and  its  generous 
support  gave  Mr.  Irvine  the  encouragement  he 
needed,  inducing  his  resignation  in  the  following 
year  from  the  Daily  News.  Ciiving  all  his  time 
to  this  new  enterprise,  he  built  up  a  business 
of  large  proportions.  B\-  1889  it  had  grown  to 
such  importance  that  a  company  was  formed  and 
the  business  was  incorporated  as  the  L'nion  Print- 
ing Company.  In  September,  1902,  the  publish- 
ing business  of  the  Western  Fruit  Grower  was 
organized  as  a  separate  corporation,  The  Fruit 
Grower  Company.  The  officers  of  both  organiza- 
tions, which  are  really  one,  are  identically  the 
.same.  Mr.  Irvine  is  president ;  W.  G.  Campbell, 
Jr..  is  vice-president :  F.  L.  Campbell  is  treasurer; 
and  Charles  Works  is  secretary.  All  are  ex- 
perienced printers  and  good  business  men  and 
this  company  is  one  of  the  leaders  in  the  job 
printing  line  in  St.  Joseph. 

In  January,  1895,  Mr.  Irvine  was  married  to 
IMildred  Patterson,  who  was  born  in  Leaven- 
worth, Kansas,  but  was  reared  in  St.  Joseph. 
They  have  two  children,  Robert  P.  and  Helen, 
both  born  in  St.  Joseph. 

Politically.  Mr.  Irvine  is  a  Democrat.  He  is 
connected  with  various  social  organizations,  and 
is  regarded  as  one  of  the  representative  citizens 
of  St.  Joseph.  Few  men  are  more  thoroughly  con- 
versant with  every  detail  of  the  printing  business 
and.  in  combination  with  good  judgment  and 
great  executive  ability,  he  has  safely  guided  this 
large  business  enterprise  into  the  harbor  of  suc- 
cess. 


^  » » 


OX.  SA:\IUEL  PATTERSON  HUS- 
TON. When  Death  claims  so  distin- 
guished a  citizen  as  the  late  Judge  Sam- 
uel P.  Huston,  of  St.  Joseph,  his  fellow 
citizens  have  cause  to  feel  that  one 
more  vacant  space  has  been  made  in  that  notable 
body  of  prominent  men  of  the  last  decade,  to 
whose  wisdom,  ability  and  uprightness  this  city 
owes  so  great  a  debt.  Judge  Huston  was  born 
January  i,  1839,  in  Armstrong  County,  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  died  at  his  home  at  No.  no  North 
19th  street,  St.  Joseph,  November  24,  1903. 

The  boyhood  of  Samuel  P.  Huston  was  passed 
in  his  native  surroundings,  his  environments  be- 
ing of  a  character  to  develop  the  courtesy  and 
kindliness  which  was  characteristic  through  life. 
His  father  afforded  him  liberal  educational  op- 
portunities and,  after  completing  his  studies  at 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


405 


Elder's  Ridge  Academy,  he  entered  Jefferson  Col- 
lege, where  his  studious  habits  and  brilliancy  of 
intellect  placed  him  in  the  front  rank  of  his  class. 
He  was  still  a  student  there  when  the  Civil  War 
was  precipitated,  and,  with  youthful  enthusiasm 
and  loyal  devotion  to  his  country,  he  put  aside 
his  beloved  books  to  become  a  soldier,  in  1861 
entering  the  ranks  of  the  25th  Regiment,  Ohio 
Vol.  Inf.,  in  which  he  was  promoted  to  the  rank 
of  2nd  lieutenant.  In  1863,  on  account  of  ill 
health,  he  resigned  his  commission,  but  after  three 
montlis  of  rest  and  recuperation  he  organized  an- 
other company,  which  formed  a  part  of  the  99th 
Regiment,  Pennsylvania  Vol.  Inf.,  of  which  com- 
pany he  was  ist  lieutenant  and  served  as  such 
until  the  close  of  the  war,  his  record  being  one 
to  which  he  could  always  refer  with  justifiable 
pride. 

At  the  close  of  the  great  struggle  in  which 
he  had  borne  so  honorable  a  part,  he  began  the 
study  of  law  in  the  office  of  Hon.  Jackson  Boggs, 
of  Kittanning,  Pennsylvania,  one  of  the  most 
noted  lawyers  in  that  portion  of  the  "Keystone" 
State.  While  thus  engaged,  he  showed  the  ver- 
satility of  his  talents,  b}-  ably  editing  the  Anii- 
stroiio^  Republican,  and  it  is  probable  that  if  he 
had  chosen  a  journalistic  life  he  would  have  at- 
tained   eminence    in    that    direction. 

In  the  spring  of  1866,  in  search  of  a  promising 
field  of  labor,  he  came  to  Missouri  and  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar  in  Linn  County,  and,  receiving 
encouragement,  he  located  at  Brookfield,  where 
for  the  subsequent  17  years  he  took  a  prominent 
place  both  in  the  pul)lic  life  and  the  legal  affairs 
of  the  section.  At  one  time  he  represented  the 
county  in  the  State  Legislature  and  throughout 
his  residence  there  was  active  in  the  councils  of 
the  Republican  party.  He  established  a  very 
large  and  lucrative  law  practice  and,  through  the 
satisfactory  termination  of  a  number  of  suits  in 
whicli  he  was  leading  counsel,  involving  the  title 
to  real  estate,  he  established  a  reputation  for 
thorough  and  careful  preparation  of  cases  on 
appeal,  which  placed  him  among  the.  eminent 
practitioners  before  the  Supreme  Court  of  the 
State.  He  removed  to  St.  Joseph,  in  September, 
1882.  His  previous  career  had  been  such  -as  to 
make  him  a  welcome  addition  to  the  bar  of 
Buchanan  County,  and  he  soon  assumed  a  leader- 
ship which  continued  mitil  his  death.  In  1885 
he  associated  himself  with  the  late  Judge  Thomas 
H.  Parish,  the  firm  name  being  Huston  &  Parish, 
and  this  congenial  ])artn('rship  endured  until  the 


late  Judge  Parish  was  elected  to  the  circuit  bench 
of  Buchanan  County.  Judge  Huston  then  formed 
a  partnership  with  Senator  A.  W.  Brewster,  and 
this  association  continued  until  Judge  Huston's 
decease.  Although  he  never  sought  official  posi- 
tion, he  was  twice  appointed  city  counselor  by 
Mayor  Shepherd,  and  during  the  four  years  of 
his  incumbency,  his  abilities  as  a  lawyer  and  jurist 
were  brought  prominently  to  the  attention  of  the 
public. 

After  establishing  himself  firmly  at  Brook- 
field  and  becoming  assured  of  professional  suc- 
cess, the  young  lawyer  returned  to  his  native 
county,  where,  on  C)ctober  I,  1867,  he  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Martha  Campbell,  who  was  born 
at  Rosston,  Pennsylvania.  Seven  children  were 
born  to  this  most  happy  union,  three  of  whom 
.still  survive :  Florence,  Martha  and  Samuel  P., 
the  latter  of  whom  resides  near  Maryville,  Nod- 
away County,  Missouri.  The  daughters  reside 
with  their  mother  in  the  family  hoi.ie  at  St.  Jo- 
seph. Judge  Huston  was  a  valued  member  of  the 
\\'estminster  Presbyterian  Church. 

For  many  years  Judge  Huston's  health  had 
been  delicate,  but  he  was  only  confined  to  his 
home  for  three  weeks  preceding  his  death,  and 
during  this  period  the  respect  and  esteem  shown 
by  his  associates  were  touching  testimonials  to 
the  affection  he  had  inspired  in  those  of  his  pro- 
fession. The  statement  of  a  young  lawyer,  that 
"he  is  the  kindest  man  I  ever  knew."  but  ex- 
pressed an  almost  universal  feeling.  His  death 
occasioned  newspaper  comment  all  over  the 
country,  his  reputation  having  extended  far  be- 
yond the  confines  of  his  own  State.  Comments 
on  his  personal  character  and  high  abilities  as  a 
lawyer  were  circulated  by  the  Brookfield  Gazette,. 
Brookfield,  ^Missouri ;  St.  Joseph,  Missouri, 
Press;  St.  Joseph.  Missouri,  Gazette;  Alton,  Illi- 
nois. Democrat;  Bloomington,  Illinois.  Paiita- 
i^raph;  Brazil,  Indiana,  Times;  Chicago.  Illinois, 
Chronicle  and  Inter  Ocean;  Council  Bluffs,  Iowa, 
Nonpareil :  Des  ]\loines.  Iowa,  News;  Dubuque, 
Iowa.  Times;  Emporia,  Kansas,  Gazette:  Hen- 
derson, Kentucky,  Journal :  Jacksonville,  Illinois, 
Courier;  Joplin,  Missouri,  Ne-dus-Hcraki ;  Kansas 
City,  Missouri,  Journal:  Kansas  City,  Missouri, 
Star:  Kalamazoo,  Michigan.  Nen's;  Lincoln,  Ne- 
braska. Journal;  Macon,  Missouri,  Democrat: 
Maryville,  Missouri,  Republican :  Macon,  Mis- 
souri, Republican ;  New  York  ^Commercial : 
Omaha,  Nebraska,  Bee  and  Herald:  Pittsburg, 
Pennsylvania.  Headlight,  Dispatch  and  Gazette,- 


4o6 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEP}! 


St.  Albans,  Vermont,  Messenger;  St.  Charles, 
Missouri,  Ncivs;  and  St.  Louis,  Missouri, 
Democrat. 

As  has  been  noted,  Judge  Huston  was  a 
zealous  supporter  of  the  principles  of  the  Re- 
1)ublican  party  and  upon  numerous  occasions  was 
profifered  offices  of  great  responsibility.  All  the 
duties  of  a  public  nature  that  he  ever  assumed 
lie  performed  with  the  fidelity  which  character- 
ized his  attitude  to  his  clients,  and  he  represented 
the  highest  ideals  of  citizenship.  His  loss  was 
one  which  fell  upon  family,  friends,  party  and 
profession,  his  whole  life  having  been  one  to 
entitle  him  to  love,  respect  and  admiration. 

Alpetings  of  the  Buchanan  County  Bar  Asso- 
ciation and  of  the  Linn  County  Bar  Association 
were  held  and  appropriate  steps  were  taken  in 
commemoration  of  Judge  Huston.  We  are  per- 
mitted to  append  the  resolution  adopted  at  the 
regular  term  of  the  Circuit  Counrt  of  Linn  Coun- 
ty, on  December  i6,  1903,  the  presiding  judge 
on  this  occasion  being  Judge  John  P.  Butler. 
The  body  of  the  article  is  as  follows : 

Resolution  of  Respect  in  memory  of  the  lives  and 
character  of  the  late  Judge  Harry  Lander  and  of  the 
late  Samuel  P.  Huston,  adopted  by  the  Bar  Association 
of  Linn  County,  Missouri,  on  December  16,  1903. 

Whereas,  Since  the  last  session  of  the  Circuit  Court 
of  Linn  County,  Missouri,  the  grim  visitor  Death  has 
removed  from  our  midst  two  of  the  most  prominent 
and  able  attorneys  of  tlie  bar  of  Linn  County  in  the 
person  of  Judge  Harry  Lander  and  in  the  person  of  the 
Hon.  Samuel  P.  Hus'ton,  and  it  is  therefore  meet  and 
proper  that  we  give  expression  to  our  feelings  and 
sorrow : 

Therefore,  Be  it  resolved  by  the  Bar  Association 
of  Linn  County,  that  in  the  death  of  Judge  Harry  Lander 
and  of  Hon.  Samuel  P.  Huston,  the  bar  of  Linn  County 
has  lost  two  of  its  ablest  members,  who  have  for 
many  years  been  actively  engaged  in  the  practice  of 
law  in  Linn  County  and  throughout  the  State  of  Mis- 
souri ;  tliat  their  broad-mindedness  and  deep  learning 
in  the  law,  their  cheerfulness  of  disposition  and  their 
unselfishness  and  honesty  in  their  professional  and  pri- 
vate lives,  endeared  them  to  the  members  of  the  bar 
of  Linn  County  in  a  peculiar  way  and  that  we  deeply 
feel  their  loss  and  will  ever  hold  their  memory  in  high 
esteem. 

Resolved,  Further.  Tliat  this  token  of  our  respect 
to  their  memory  be  presentetd  to  the  court  and  that 
we  ask  that  it  be  spread  upon  the  records  of  the  court 
and  that  the  clerk  of  the  court  be  requested  to  furnish 
a  certified   copy   of   these   proceedings   to    each   of   the 


families  of  our  deceased  fricn.ds  and  ask  that  the  same 
be  spread  upon  the  record  of  this  court. 

This  document  bears  the  signatures  of  A.  W. 
Alullins,  C.  C.  Biger,  E.  B.  Fields,  F.  W.  Powers, 
and  E.  R.  Stejjhens. 

The  report  of  the  proceedings  on  this  occa- 
sion continue : 

Whereupon,  and  after  remarks'  by  the  members  of 
the  bar  present,  on  the  lives  and  characters  of  Messrs. 
Lander  and  Huston,  it  is  ordered  by  the  Court  that  the 
said  resolution  as  reported  by  the  said  committee  be 
entered  at  length  upon  the  records  of  this  court  and 
certified  by  the  clerk  in  accordance  with  said  resolution. 

It  is  further  ordered  that  as  an  additional  mark  of 
respect  for  such  deceased  members  of  the  bar  that 
this  court  now  adjourn  until  eight  o'clock  tomorrow 
morning.  | 

This  report  is  signed  by  J.  ]\L  Black,  as  clerk 
of  the  Circuit  Court  of  Linn  County. 


-♦-♦-♦- 


OHN  ARTHUR  FLOURNOY,  of  St. 
Joseph,  one  of  the  able  members  of  the 
Ihichanan  County  Bar,  was  born  in  Ray 
County,  Missouri.  April  21,  1864,  and 
is  a  "  son  of  John  S.  and  Nancy 
Flournoy. 

The  parents  of  Mr.  Flournoy  belong  to  old 
and  prominent  families  of  Washington  County, 
Kentucky.  They  came  to  Missouri  in  1854,  set- 
tling near  Richmond,  in  Ray  County,  where  they 
became  well  known  and  highly  respected  members 
of  that  community. 

John  A.  Flournoy  was  educated  in  the  schools 
at  Richmond  and  in  the  Kirksville  Normal 
School.  In  1889  he  came  to  St.  Joseph  and  read 
law  for  two  years  with  the  late  Col.  John 
Doniphan,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1891. 
Since  that  time  Mr.  Flournoy  has  been  in  active 
practice  and  has  received  a  very  generous  share 
of  the  law  business  of  the  city,  and  has  handled 
it  with  the  ability  and  judgment  which  has 
brought  hiin  success.  On  January  12,  1900,  he 
was  appointed  justice  of  the  peace  in  the  Stock 
Yards  district,  in  South  St.  Joseph,  and  in  1902 
was  elected  to  the  office  for  a  full  term.  He 
occupies  welLlocated  offices  at  King  Hill  and 
Hyde   Park  avenues.   South   St.  Joseph. 

Mr.  Flournoy  married  Julia  Gann,  who  is  a 
daughter  of  Samuel  Gann,  one  of  the  prominent 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


407 


pioneer  settlers  of  Buchanan  County,  and  they 
have  three  interesting  children :  Martha  Victoria, 
born  December  10,  1892;  Samuel  G.,  born  June 
18,  1894,  a  namesake  of  his  grandfather;  and 
]\Iidia  Josephine,  born  August  20,  1896. 

i\Ir.  Flournoy  is  a  stanch  Democrat  and  is 
held  in  high  regard  by  his  party.  If  he  has  pro- 
fessional or  political  ambitions,  they  are  of  an 
honorable  character  and  he  possesses  all  the 
necessary  qualifications  for  prominence  in  both 
careers.    He  is  a  member  of  the  Christian  Church. 


■4  «  » 


OHN  D.  RICHARDSON,  deceased,  for 
many  years  was  one  of  the  most  active 
business  men  of  the  city  of  St.  Joseph, 
where  he  was  identified  with  various  in- 
terests and  enterprises,  but  during  the 
last  few  years  of  his  life  lived  in  retirement  in 
the  enjoyment  of  a  well-earned  rest  after  years 
of  toil. 

INIr.  Richardson  was  born  in  Clarksburg, 
Virginia  (now  West  Virginia),  August  i,  18 14, 
and  was  a  son  of  William  and  Mary  (Dunn) 
Richardson,  his  father  being  a  prominent  planter 
of  that  State.  John  D.  Richardson  was  educated 
in  his  native  State,  and  in  the  early  days  of 
St.  Joseph's  history  came  West  to  this  city.  As 
one  of  the  pioneers  he  had  much  to  do  with  the 
development  of  the  city's  commercial  importance, 
and  attained  a  high  degree  of  success  in  business, 
becoming  identified  with  many  of  the  largest 
manufacturing  plants  in  St.  Joseph.  After  many 
vears  of  unceasing  activity,  he  retired  to  private 
life,  to  the  companionship  of  his  family,  and  lived 
in  happiness  until  he  was  called  to  his  final  rest 
on  July  28,  1898. 

Mr.  Richardson's  first  marriage  was  with 
IMary  C.  Richardson,  a  first  cousin,  who  died  in 
1872,  leaving  nine  children.  On  December  12, 
187.^,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Jane  C. 
Willis,  a  daughter  of  John  Willis,  of  Orange 
County.  Virginia,  and  she  with  four  children  sur- 
vives him.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Masonic 
fraternity,  and  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal 
Church.  He  was  a  strong  Democrat  in  politics. 
The  Richardson  family  is  among  the  best  fam- 
ilies of  St.  Joseph,  where  the  name  is  an  old 
and  highly  respected  one.  Mr.  Richardson  was  a 
man  of  generous  impulse  and  freely  gave  of  his 
means  to  the  help  of  the  needy  and  sufifering,  and 
to  the  support  of  his  church,  in  which  he  took 
a  deep  interest.     He  was  a  very  well  read  man 


and  took  a  deep  interest  in  the  St.  Joseph  Free 
Public  Library.  He  was  a  man  of  pleasing  per- 
sonality and  great  strength  of  character,  and  his 
death  was  sadly  mourned  by  his  many  friends 
throusfhout  this  section  of  the  State.  Mrs.  John 
D.  Richardson  resides  at  her  beautiful  home  at 
No.  220  South  17th  street,  where  the  hospitality 
characteristic  of  Southern  people  and  "Southern 
homes  is  ever  in  evidence. 


■♦  ♦  » 


ILLIAM  L.  BUECHLE,  one  of  the 
representative  business  men  of  St. 
Joseph,  closely  identified  with  her 
vast  real  estate  interests,  and  promi- 
nent also  in  political  life,  was  born 
in  Buchanan  County,  Missouri,  April  17,  i860, 
one  of  a  family  of  seven  children  born  to  his 
parents,  William  and  Anna    (Altman)    Buechle. 

The  father  of  Mr.  Buechle  was  born  in  Ger- 
many, and  came  to  the  United  States  in  1856. 
An  extensive  fruit  grower  for  many  years,  he 
is  living  retired  at  the  present  time. 

Our  subject  was  educated  in  St.  Joseph,  and 
entered  upon  his  public  career  in  the  city  auditor's 
ofifice,  serving  as  deputy  for  several  years.  He 
took  an  active  interest  in  civic  matters  and  in 
1890  was  elected  to  the  City  Council  as  member- 
at-large.  In  1892  he  was  reelected  and  for  three 
terms  served  as  president  of  the  board.  He  tlien 
went  into  the  State  National  Bank  as  teller, 
served  as  such  for  six  years  and  then  turned  his 
attention  to  the  real  estate  business.  Until  March, 
1898,  he  continued  to  deal  in  real  estate,  ne- 
gotiating loans  and  placing  investments  and  doing 
a  large  part  of  the  business  in  this  line,  in  St. 
Joseph.  He  then  accepted  the  apjx^intment  made 
by  President  McKinley,  of  surveyor  of  customs, 
at  St.  Joseph,  and  continued  in  the  ofifice  until 
1902,  when  he  resumed  his  real  estate  business. 

On  June  23,  1897,  Mr.  Buechle  was  married 
to  Elizabeth  Osborn,  and  they  have  one  daugh- 
ter,— Maxae.  ]\Irs.  Buechle  is  a  member  of  the 
Christian  Church  at  St.  Joseph,  and  is  very  active 
in  its  various  departments. 

Politically,  Mr.  Buechle  is  an  ardent  Republi- 
can and  has  been  a  leader  in  his  party  in  this 
locality  for  a  number  of  years.  He  has  been 
chairman  of  the  Republican  City  Committee  for 
four  years.  Serving  also  the  same  committee 
for  four  years  as  its  secretary  and  at  present  is 
chairman  of  the  Republican  County  Committee. 
He  is  connected  fraternally  with  the  Knights  of 
Pythias  and   the  Masonic   orders,   having  taken 


4o8 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN    COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


all  the  higher  degrees  in  the  latter  organization. 
He  is  a  man  whose  business  methods  inspire 
confidence  and  whose  sterling  traits  of  character 
command  respect.  He  is  an  excellent  representa- 
tive of  the  progressive  and  enterprising  man  of 
afifairs  of  the  present  day,  one  able  to  accomplish 
results  and  prove  his  value  to  his  fellow  citizens. 


ENRY  NUNNING.  In  the  death  of 
Henry  Nunning,  on  March  26,  1884, 
the  city  of  St.  Joseph  lost  not  only  one 
of  her  oldest  business  citizens,  but  one 
of  her  honored,  representative  men. 
Mr.  Nunning  was  born  near  Warendorf,  West- 
phalia, Germany,  March  16,  1821.  a  scion  of  two 
of  the  oldest   families  of  Westphalia. 

Mr.  Nunning  was  reared  in  the  old  family 
home,  which  in  the  solidity  of  its  construction  and 
the  endurance  of  its  timbers  resembles  the  char- 
acter of  the  family  which,  after  generations,  it 
still  shelters.  He  received  his  education  in  the 
schools  at  Warendorf  and  was  still  young  in  years 
when  he  began  to  consider  a  future  career.  It 
was  the  advice  of  his  father  that  he  should  learn 
a  self-supporting  trade  before  going  far  afield, 
and  he  became  an  apprentice  to  the  brewing  busi- 
ness, at  the  neighboring  town  of  Munster.  At 
a  later  time,  on  account  of  limited  business  op- 
portunities in  his  native  province,  Mr.  Nunning 
decided  to  push  his  interests  in  the  United  States, 
and  .subsequently  crossed  the  Atlantic  and 
landed  in  the  great  Western  metropolis.  As  it 
was  not  his  intention  to  settle  in  so  congested  a 
section  of  the  country,  Mr.  Nunning  started 
Westward  in  search  of  a  desirable  location.  Be- 
fore reaching  St.  Joseph,  in  1855,  he  first  visited 
Buft'alo.  Fort  Wayne,  Indiana  and  Laporte,  Indi- 
ana, and  remained  in  the  latter  city  in  the  brew- 
ing business  from  185 1  to  1854. 

Mr.  Nunning,  as  noted,  established  what  is 
now  one  of  the  most  important  business  enter- 
prises of  this  city,  under  the  firm  name  of  the 
Henrv  Nunning  Brewery,  which  was  continued 
until  the  admission  of  his  son.  August  Nunning, 
when  it  became  Henry  Nunning  &  Son. 
Throughout  a  long  and  successful  business  career, 
Mr.  Nunning  continued  a  high  commercial 
standard,  with  the  result  that  the  fame  of  his 
product  yearly  ex])anded  and  is  probably  in 
greater  demand  in  the  territory  which  claims  St. 
Joseph  as  its  distributing  point,  than  that  of  any 
other  establishment. 


In  politics  he  was  an  active  Republican,  but 
possessed  no  desire  for  official  life.  Prior  to 
coming  to  America  he  had  given  several  years 
to  military  service,  as  required  by  the  laws  of 
his  country,  and  he  took  part  in  the  Baden  Revo- 
lution. 

In  1853  Mr.  Nunning  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Johanna  .Vrndt,  of  Michigan  City,  Indiana, 
and  they  had  eight  children,  four  of  whom  died  in 
infancy.  The  others  were :  August,  who  suc- 
ceeded his  father  in  business  ;  Mrs.  William  C. 
Byrne,  of  St.  Joseph ;  Mrs.  James  T.  Carbry,  of 
.St.  Jose]:)li  ;  and  Louise,  who  died  some  years 
since,'  and  whose  remains  were  interred  at  St. 
Blasien,  in  the  Black  Forest,  Germany. 

The  late  Mr.  Nunning  was  prominent  in  many 
\\a}s  in  St.  Joseph.  He  was  of  a  kind  and  genial 
(lis])osition.  ever  ready  to  help  those  in  need 
and  liberal  in  the  distribution  of  his  wealth  for 
the  general  good.  He  always  took  a  deep  interest 
in  the  various  German  associations  in  this  city  and 
was  the  benefactor  of  numerous  German  charities. 


♦  *  » — 

1  CHARD  WALSH,  who  died  at  St. 
Joseph,  Missouri,  on  May  10,  1904, 
was  for  many  years  a  prominent  busi- 
ness man  of  this  city,  where  he  con- 
ducted a  tobacco  and  cigar  store.  He 
was  highl\-  successful  in  business  and  was  widely 
known  among  the  people,  who  respected  him  as 
a  man  of  sterling  worth  and  of  the  strictest  in- 
te^rifv. 

Mr.  Walsh  was  one  of  a  family  of  five  chil- 
dren born  to  John  and  Mary  (Curran)  Walsh, 
and  was  born  in  Ireland  in  1840.  He  came  to 
the  United  States  in  1870,  and  the  following  year 
located  in  St.  Joseph,  Missouri,  where  he  became 
identified  with  the  well  known  firm  of  Nave  & 
]\IcCord.  He  continued  with  this  firm  for  five 
vears.  then  embarked  in  the  tobacco  and  cigar 
business.  At  this  business  he  met  with  a  high 
degree  of  success  and  continued  in  it  for  a  period 
of  23  years,  retiring  in  1899  to  spend  the  re- 
mainder of  his  days  in  happy  retirement,  in  the 
conii)ani()nship  of  his  wife  and  children.  His 
death  on  May  10,  1904,  deprived  the  city  of  one 
of  its  most  useful  citizens,  and  was  sadly  mourned 
bv  his  manv  friends  throughout  the  community 
who  felt  thev  had  sustained  a  personal  loss. 

Mr.  \\'alsh  was  united  in  marriage  with  Mary 
Loftus,  a  daughter  of  William  Loftus,  and  they 
became  parents  of  the  following  children :  John: 


WILLIAM    E.    SPRATT 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


411 


J.,  who  is  identified  with  The  First  National 
Bank  of  St.  Joseph ;  WilUam  R.,  of  San  Fran- 
cisco, CaHfornia;  and  Beatrice  and  Marie,  who 
Hve  at  home  with  their  mother.  Rehg-iously, 
thev  are  members  of  the  Catholic  Church.  They 
reside  at  No.  11 28  Henry  street,  and  move  in  the 
best  social  circles.  Mr.  Walsh  was  a  Democrat, 
and  unswervino:  in  his  support  of  party  principles. 


ILLIAM  E.  SPRATT,  one  of  the  ener- 
getic and  enterprising  young  business 
men  of  St.  Joseph,  now  serving  his 
first  term  as  Mayor  of  the  city,  is  en- 
gaged in  the  real  estate  and  loan  busi- 
ness, with  office  at  No.  415  Francis  street. 

Mr.  Spratt  was  born  in  1867  ^^  Lexington, 
Lafayette  County,  ^Missouri.  His  father  was  for 
many  years  a  banker  in  Hamilton,  Caldwell  Coun- 
ty, Missouri,  and  at  the  present  time  is  residing 
with  our  subject.  His  mother  dying  in  1869, 
when  he  was  two  years  old,  William  E.  Spratt 
w^as  taken  to  St.  Joseph  to  live  wath  his  grandpar- 
ents. He  was  reared  here  until  1876,  when  he  re- 
moved to  Hamilton,  Missouri,  and  from  there  wa? 
sent  away  to  school,  being  absent  from  St.  Joseph 
for  a  period  of  11  years.  In  1886  he  was  grad- 
uated from  St.  James  Alilitary  Academy  at  Macon 
City,  Missouri,  and  returned  to  St.  Joseph  in  the 
spring  of  the  following  year.  He  then  engaged 
in  the  real  estate  business  with  his  uncle.  Col. 
John  F.  Tyler,  who  has  been  engaged  in  the 
practice  of  law  and  interested  in  the  real  estate 
business  in  St.  Joseph  since  the  close  of  the  Civil 
War.  The  name  of  the  firm  is  John  F.  Tyler  & 
Company,  and  to  this  business  Mr.  Spratt  has 
given  his  undivided  attention.  He  is  a  Demo- 
crat in  politics.  He  was  candidate  for  mayor  of 
St.  Joseph  in  1902  and  was  defeated  by  only  eight 
votes,  although  the  city  is  normally  between  600 
and  800  Republican.  This  was  a  high  tribute 
paid  to  ]\Ir.  Spratt's  personal  popularity,  and  in 
1904  he  was  renominated  by  acclamation  and  was 
elected  by  800  majority,  I^eing  the  third  Demo- 
cratic mayor  in  22  vears.  He  has  been  president 
of  the  St.  Joseph  Horse  Show  Association  since 
its  organization  some  three  years  ago,  and  the  an- 
nual horse  shows  of  this  organization  are  a  credit 
to  the  city.  He  is  also  a  director  of  the  Auditor- 
ium Association,  and  identifies  himself  with  every 
organization  and  measure  calculated  to  benefit  the 
city. 

In   1890,  Mr.  Spratt  was  united  in  marriage 
21 


with  Effie  L.  Cowgill,  who  was  born  in  Indiana 
and  was  a  child  when  brought  to  Caldwell  Coun- 
ty, Missouri.  Her  father,  Hon.  James  Cowgill, 
was  a  farmer  and  stock-raiser  many  years,  and 
once  served  as  presiding  judge  of  Caldwell  Coun- 
ty. He  was  also  a  member  of  the  Legislature  of 
Missouri,  and  later  State  railroad  and  warehouse 
commissioner.  When  elected  to  the  latter  posi- 
tion, he  moved  to  Kansas  City  in  1892,  and  has 
since  resided  there.  He  is  now  serving  a  second 
term  as  treasurer  of  that  city.  Three  children  were 
born  to  our  subject  and  his  worthy  wife,  namely: 
Tyler,  who  died  in  infancy ;  Elliott  Cowgill ;  and 
Leah.  The  family  home  is  at  No.  1017  Edmond 
street,  where  Mr.  Spratt  is  alwa}'s  to  be  found 
during  his  leisure  hours.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows;  Benevolent 
and  Protective  Order  of  Elks ;  and  several  other 
fraternal  organizations.  Religiously,  Mrs.  Spratt 
is  a  member  of  the  First  Baptist  Church.  A  por- 
trait of  IMr.  Spratt  accompanies  this  sketch. 


■♦♦ » 


IRANDA  C.  RILEY,  deceased,  was 
one  of  the  prominent  business  men 
of  St.  Joseph,  who,  after  a  busy  life 
of  some  20  years,  had  retired  to  en- 
joy the  fruits  of  his  honest  labor  and 
the  comforts  of  one  of  the  city's  beautiful  homes. 
Mr.  Riley  was  born  in  1824  and  died  July  24, 
1895.  He  was  one  of  a  family  of  eight  children 
born  to  his  parents,  Benjamin  and  Emma  (Cot- 
ton) Riley. 

The  late  Mr.  Riley  came  to  St.  Joseph  in 
1864  from  Clinton  County,  Missouri.  He  en- 
tered into  the  contracting  business  here  and  built 
up  a  large  trade.  In  business  he  was  considered 
a  man  of  honesty  and  fair  dealing  and,  on  account 
of  the  reliability  of  his  work,  many  of  the  most 
important  contracts  of  the  city  were  placed  in  his 
hands.  He  was  very  prominent  in  political  cir- 
cles and  served  as  county  assessor,  and  for  many 
years  was  a  justice  of  the  peace  at  Haynesville, 
Clinton  County,  Missouri.  He  was  noted  for 
his  good  judgment  and  sound  sense  and  was  a 
useful  and  representative  citizen.  His  remains 
rest  in  Mount  Mora  Cemetery,  St.  Joseph. 

On  December  27.  1849,  Mr.  Riley  was  mar- 
ried to  IMartha  J.  Fryor,  who  is  a  daughter  of 
the  late  Jefiferson  Pryor,  who  was  a  very  promi- 
nent citizen  of  Clinton  County,  Missouri,  hav- 
ing come  to  Missouri  from  Kentucky,  when  ]\Irs. 
Riley  was  13  years  of  age.     One  son  wms  born 


412 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


to  this  union.  Don,  who  is  the  proprietor  of  the 
largest  hvery  stables  in  St.  Joseph;  he  married 
Zada  Beardsley,  who  is  a  daughter  of  Henry 
C.  Beardsley.  jNIrs.  Riley  and  her  son  both  re- 
side in  a  handsome  home  at  No.  423  North  17th 
street.  They  are  members  of  the  Christian 
Church.  For  20  years  Don  Riley  has  been  in 
business  in  St.  Joseph,  and,  like  his  late  father, 
enjoys  the  esteem  of  his  fellow  citizens.  He  is 
an  enterprising  and  progressive  man  and  his 
stables  are  conducted  in  first-class  style,  being 
equipped  in  a  modern  way  and  containing  every 
convenience  and  vehicle  of  modern  transporta- 
tion, including  some  of  the  best  horses  in  Bu- 
chanan Countv. 


■♦  * » 


ijOHN  \Y.  DESHON,  a  prosperous  general 
farmer  and  dairyman  of  Washington 
township,  Buchanan  County,  who  owns 
a  productive  farm  of  65  acres  in  sec- 
tion 25,  township  57,  range  35,  was 
born  December  26,  1849,  in  Grayson  County,  Vir- 
ginia, and  is  a  son  of  Newton  C.  and  Mary 
(Bucklev)  Deshon. 

Newton  C.  Deshon  was  born  in  Grayson 
County.  Virginia,  and  there  grew  to  manhood. 
He  then  went  to  North  Carolina,  where  he  mar- 
ried into  one  of  the  old  families  of  that  State, 
and  was  25  years  old  when,  in  1855,  he  came 
with  the  family  to  Buchanan  County,  Missouri. 
The  long  overland  trip  was  made  in  a  lumber 
wagon  and  the  little  party  of  parents  and  three 
children  landed  at  what  is  now  Saxton,  on  the 
20th  of  the  following  October.  His  means  were 
limited  and  he  first  rented  a  small  tract  of  land 
which  he  farmed  until  1859,  when  he  paid  $75 
an  acre  for  I2><  acres  of  land  in  section  26,  town- 
ship 57,  range  35,  in  Washington  township.  Up- 
on this  property  he  erected  a  story  and  a  half 
house  and  made  a  number  of  improvements  and 
it  continued  to  be  his  home  as  long  as  he, sur- 
vived, his  death  taking  place  in  1889.  In  politics 
ji  Democrat,  the  only  office  he  held  was  that  of 
school  director.  His  widow  survived  until  1904. 
The  children  of  Newton  C.  Deshon  and  wife 
were:  John  W.,  Sarah  S.,  wife  of  A.  H.  Jack- 
son, of  Garrettsburg ;  Fannie,  wife  of  J.  W.  Pal- 
mer, of  Saxton;  Freeland,  deceased,  who  mar- 
ried Martha  Fitzgerald ;  Sena,  deceased,  who  was 
the  wife  of  William  Landis  ;  Alexander  Jefiferson, 
of  Garrettsburg ;  Robert  E.  Lee,  who  died  young . 
Allen,  residing  on  the  old  place  in  Washington 


township ;  Oliver,  residing  at  Kansas  City ;  and 
Elizabeth. 

The  only  educational  advantages  enjoyed  by 
our  subject  were  those  afforded  by  the  subscrip- 
tion schools.  The  sessions  were  held  in  an  old 
log  house,  with  a  puncheon  floor  and  with  slabs 
for  seats  and  desks.  He  remained  at  home  imtil 
his  first  marriage  and  then  moved  to  his  present 
farm,  which  was  formerly  known  as  the  Carson 
place.  Here  he  secured  65  acres  of  uncultivated 
land,  for  which  he  paid  $25  an  acre.  It  was  with- 
out improvements  of  any  kind  and  it  has  required 
years  of  industry  to  make  it  what  it  now  is,  one 
of  the  finest  farms  of  the  township.  Mr.  Deshon 
is  a  practical  farmer  and  thoroughly  understands 
the  successful  management  of  all  agricultural  af- 
fairs. He  raises  wheat,  corn,  oats  and  hay  in 
abundances  and  also  has  fine  cattle  and  stock  and 
does  a  good  dairy  business.  His  surroundings 
indicate  thrift  and  prosperity  and  the  opinion  of 
his  neighbors  is  that  he  justly  deserves  his  suc- 
cess. 

Mr.  Deshon  was  married  first  to  Helen  Hill, 
of  Buchanan  County,  Missouri,  who  died  in  1891 
the  mother  of  seven  children,  namely:  Mary  S., 
deceased  ;  Alice,  wife  of  Frank  Courtney,  of  the 
Indian  Territory ;  Olive,  wife  of  William  Spoore, 
of  Garrettsburg;  Sena,  wife  of  William  Court- 
iTey,  of  the  Indian  Territory  ;  Wesley,  of  South 
St.  Joseph :  Cleveland,  of  South  St.  Joseph ;  and 
Pearl,  who  lives  at  home.  Mr.  Deshon's  second 
marriage  was  to  Myrtle  Coots,  of  Platte  City, 
?yIissouri.  To  them  were  born  eight  children, 
viz  :  twin  infants,  deceased  ;  Everett ;  Thomas  E. ; 
Marion  A. ;  Ray  J. ;  Warren  and  Virginia  E. 

In  politics.  Mr.  Deshon  has  always  been  affil- 
iated with  the  Democratic  party  and  he  has  al- 
ways taken  an  interest  in  township  afifairs,  testify- 
ing to  the  same  by  consenting  to  serve  on  the 
School  Board  for  many  years.  He  belongs  to  the 
Masonic  fraternity,  being  a  member  of  Blue 
Lodge.  No.  508,  at  Saxton.  He  is  one  of  the 
leading  members  and  generous  supporters  of  the 
Ebenezer  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  at  Saxton. 


■♦« » 


ON.  DUDLEY  M.  STEELE,  whose 
death  occurred  in  March,  1896,  was 
for  many  years  a  very  prominent  busi- 
n*ess  citizen  of  St.  Joseph,  mainly  identi- 
fied with  the  wholesale  grocery  trade, 
both  in  this  city  and  at  other  points.  He  was 
born  near  Nicholasville,  Jessamine  County,  Ken- 


AND    REPRESENTATR'E    CITIZENS. 


413 


tucky,  and  was  one  of  nine  children  born  to 
Samuel  Campbell  and  Elizabeth  (Mitchum) 
Steele. 

Samuel  Campbell  Steele  was  born  in  \'irginia, 
but  in  his  youth  accompanied  his  father  and 
three  brothers  over  the  mountains  into  what  was 
then  the  wilderness  of  Kentucky.  He  became  a 
prominent  farmer,  miller  and  distiller,  but  died 
when  Dudley  M.  was  15  years  of  ag-e.  His  wife, 
who  was  born  October  12,  1812,  was  a  daughter 
of  Dudley  ]\litchum  of  Woodford  County,  Ken- 
tucky, and  died  when  our  subject  was  seven  years 
old. 

Dudley  M.  Steele  obtained  a  good  education 
which  included  some  knowledge  of  the  classics, 
and  commenced  his  business  career  at  Lexington, 
Kentucky,  where  he  was  employed  in  a  mercantile 
establishment  several  years.  He  did  not  feel 
satisfied  with  his  prospects  in  Lexington,  how- 
ever, and  was  ready  to  give  ear  to  the  glowing 
accounts  of  the  fine  agricultural  opportunities 
opening  up  to  settlers  in  the  Platte  \"alley  of 
Missouri.  His  friends  attributed  his  infatuation 
to  a  love  of  adventure  and  the  recklessness  of 
vouth,  but  he  persisted  and  one  fine  morning  bade 
them  adieu,  mounted  his  horse  and  galloped 
toward  the  West.  In  June,  1842,  he  reached  the 
site  of  the  present  city  of  St.  Joseph,  ^Missouri, 
and  in  the  same  vear  commenced  farming  near 
Rochester,  Andrew  County.  He  was  shortly  af- 
terward appointed  a  justice  of  the  peace  and,  al- 
though inexperienced,  served  efficiently  through 
his  term.  He  continued  to  farm  until  he  became 
interested  in  the  discovery  of  gold  in  California 
and  decided  to  visit  that  region  and  investigate 
for  himself.  He  was  made  captain  of  a  party  of 
20  of  his  neighbors  from  Andrew  County ;  after 
many  adventures  they  arrived  safely  at  theeir 
destination  after  a  journey  of  four  months.  Mr. 
Steele  decided  his  talents  could  best  be  employed  I 
there  in  stock-raising,  which  he  continued  until 
the  fall  of  1 85 1,  a  part  of  the  time  being  in 
partnership  with  Tames  McCord.  He  returned 
to  Missouri  by  way  of  the  Isthifius  of  Panama, 
and  in  18.^2  became  a  member  of  the  stock  firm 
of  Steele.  McCord  &  Company,  which  for  many 
3'ears  was  one  of  the  most  prominent  in  raising 
and  dealing  in  American  stock,  in  Upper  Cali- 
fornia. During  these  years  he  crossed  the  plains 
three  times  with  trains,  always  making  his  return 
bv  the  water  route. 

In  18^6,  Mr.  Steele  was  elected  to  the  Legis- 
lature by  the  largest  majority  ever  given  in 
Colusa  and   Tehama  counties,  and   served  with 


characteristic  efficiency.  After  he  had  resigned 
his  interests  in  California,  he  embarked  in  the 
wholesale  grocery  business  at  St.  Joseph  and  at 
Omaha,  in  1872,  under  the  firm  name  of  D.  M. 
Steele  &  Company,  locating  first  on  Fourth  street 
and  later  building  the  present  home  of  the  com- 
pany on  Third  and  ]\Iessanie  streets.  In  1884 
the  firm  became  Steele  &  Walker.  In  March, 
1868,  he  was  elected  president  of  the  Fire  & 
Marine  Insurance  Company  and  was  twice  re- 
elected, and  about  this  time  was  actively  inter- 
ested in  the  promotion  of  the  St.  Joseph  '&  Den- 
ver City  Railroad,  of  which  he  was  president.  In 
1876  he  was  made  president  of  the  Board  of 
Trade  and  a  director  of  the  Bridge  Company. 
Through  his  many  years  of  public  service  and 
business  connection,  he  displayed  rare  good  judg- 
ment and  ability  of  a  high  order.  He  was  of  a 
genial,  cordial  disposition  and  his  kindness  of 
heart  and  generosity  were  often  shown  in  his 
ready  assistance  to  those  in  need. 

In  1847,  Dudley  }»I.  Steele  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Mary  E.  Mitchum,  of  \\'oodford  County, 
Kentucky,  who  died  June  17,  1849.  I"  1858,  Mr. 
Steele,  married  Eliza  Smith  ]\Iay  of  Washington 
County,  Kentucky,  who  died  three  years  later, 
leaving  one  son,  John  M.,  who  resides  in  Kansas 
City.  In  jNIarch,  1868,  he  married  ]\Iinnie  With- 
ers, who  died  in  1894,  leaving  one  son  and  two 
daughters,  namely:  \\'ebb  W.  and  ]vlrs.  A.  B. 
Weakley,  who  reside  in  Kansas;  and  Edna-M., 
wife  of  Dr.  Barton  Pitts  of  St.  Joseph,  jMissouri. 


♦  * » 


AMES  FINLEY.  The  late  James  Finley, 
through  fidelity  to  duty  and  close  and 
careful  attention  to  the  best  interests  of 
the  city,  occupied  a  prominent  position 
in  St.  Joseph,  where  a  great  part  of  his 
life  was  spent  in  guarding  the  rights  of  his  fellow 
citizens.  Mr.  Finley  was  born  'in  Ireland,  one 
of  the  nine  children  in  the  family  of  his  father, 
James  Finley. 

About  1852  ^Ir.  Finley  came  to  America. 
Possessing  the  stalwart  frame  and  sturdy  health 
of  his  nationality,  he  learned  the  heavy  trade  of 
molder  and  found  work  at  this  in  the  foundries 
in  Connecticut.  In  1857  he  came  West  and  lo- 
cated at  St.  Joseph,  soon  securing  employment  at 
his  trade  in  this  city.  At  that  time  St.  Joseph  was 
in  a  transition  state ;  its  population  was  increas- 
ing with  the  great  amount  of  travel  from  the 
East,  and  the  authorities  looked  about   for  ju- 


414 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


dicious  and  suita1)le  men  to  accept  necessary  civic 
positions.  Mr.  Finley  was  chosen  as  city  mar- 
shal and  in  this  office  served  faithfully  for  a 
number  of  years.  During  the  administration  of 
Mayor  Craig,  he  was  made  city  detective  and  here, 
too,  the  same  fidelity  to  the  interests  of  the  public 
was  shown.  He  became  thoroughly  trusted  by 
the  better  class  of  citizens  and  was  only  feared  by 
the  breakers  of  the  law. 

On  January  6,  1897,  Mr.  Finley  died  at  his 
home  in  St.  Joseph,  sincerely  mourned  not  only 
by  his  loving  family,  but  by  a  large  circle  of 
friends  and  fellow  citizens.  A  devout  member 
of  the  Catholic  Church,  his  burial  was  in  beauti- 
ful  Mount  Olivet   Cemetery. 

In  1853,  Mr.  Finley  was  married  to  Johanna 
McMahan,  who  was  a  native  of  Hartford,  Con- 
necticut, and  a  daughter  of  Lawrence  McMahan, 
a  native  of  Ireland.  Their  five  children  all  have 
homes  of  their  own  and  families,  except  the 
youngest  daughter,  Margaret,  who  remains  the 
support  and  stay  of  her  beloved  mother.  The 
family  is  a  leading  one  in  the  Catholic  Church. 


-♦-♦-♦- 


A.  DONELAN,  M.  D..  who  for  many 
years  has  been  engaged  in  the  practice 
of  his  profession  in  St.  Joseph,  was 
until  recently  president  of  the  St. 
Joseph  Board  of  Education  and  dis- 
charged his  duties  as  such  in  a  manner  to  win  the 
commendation  and  approval  of  the  people.  He 
was  born  April  5,  1824,  in  Lisbon  township,  St. 
Lawrence  County,  New  York,  some  seven  miles 
below  Ogdcnsburg,  and  is  a  son  of  Michael  and 
Mary  (Armstrong)  Donelan,  both  natives  of 
Ireland. 

Michael  Donelan,  father  of  our  subject,  was 
educated  in  Trinity  College  and  on  leaving  that 
institution,  through  the  influence  of  Michael  h'in- 
ucan.  secured  an  appointment  in  the  British  Navy. 
After  six  or  seven  years  in  the  service  he  tired  of 
a  sea-faring  life  and  resigned.  He  came  to  the 
United  States  and  purchased  a  farm  seven  miles 
below  Ogdensburg,  New  York,  in  St.  Lawrence 
County.  He  married  and  settled  down  upon  his 
farm,  making  many  improvements,  but  as  he  did 
not  meet  with  die  anticipated  success  rented  the 
land  and  obtained  a  position  as  clerk  on  a  steam- 
boat plying  on  the  St.  Lawrence  River.  Some 
years  later  he  moved  West  with  his  family  to 
Cincinnati,  leaving  our  subject  with  the  latter's 
grandparents,    Richard    and    Nancy    Armstrong 


He  clerked  in  a  store  in  Cincinnati  a  few  years, 
and  during  his  residence  there  had  the  misfortune 
to  lose  his  wife  by  death.  Soon  after,  with  his 
brother,  E.  F.  Donelan,  he  moved  to  Abington, 
Wayne  County,  Indiana,  where  they  opened  a  dry- 
goods  store  and  continued  in  business  some 
eight  or  ten  years.  Michael  Donelan  died  in  1846, 
just  after  he  completed  an  extensive  trip  through 
the  new  territory  of  Iowa  and  south  through  the 
Platte  Purchase,  in  search  of  a  location  for  stock- 
raising  and  merchandising.  He  rode  on  horse- 
back through  Iowa,  Missouri,  Arkansas  and 
Louisiana  and  the  Doctor  remembers  his  father 
telling  him  the  Platte  Purchase  comprised  the 
best  body  of  land  he  had  ever  seen. 

After  the  death  of  his  father,  E.  A.  Donelan 
decided  to  learn  a  trade  and  hired  to  a  carpenter 
for  a  year  at  meagre  wages,  at  the  expiration  of 
which  time  he  entered  Beach  Grove  Seminary  in 
Union    County,   Indiana,   which   was   taught   by 
William  Haughton,  a  Quaker,  and  bore  the  repu- 
tation of  being  the  best  institution  in  that  section. 
He  spent  two  years  at  the  school,  doing  outside 
work  nights  and  mornings  for  his  board.    Being 
attracted  to  professional  life,  he  took  up  the  study 
of  medicine  with  Dr.  Ziba  Casterline,  of  Liberty, 
Union  County,   Indiana,  with  whom  he  studied 
two  years,  also  doing  outside  work  at  odd  times. 
He  then  secured  a  teacher's  certificate  and  taught 
for  to  winters,  in  the  meantime  continuing  his 
work  of  preparing  for  the  medical  profession.    In 
the   fall  of   1847  ^i^'  attended  the  Ohio  Medical 
College  at  Cincinnati,  returning  in  the  spring  to 
Abington  where  he  embarked  in  practice.     Re- 
calling his  father's  remarks  about  the  Platte  I'ur- 
chase,  he  collected  what  outstanding  money  he 
could  and  started  West,  going  from  Cincinnati  to 
St.  Louis  by  steamer.     He  then  went  to  Weston 
and  after  a  brief  stop  jiroceeded  to  DeKalb,  I'u- 
chanan  County,   stopping  in  St.  Joseph  in   Sep- 
tember, 1848.     He  visited  Savannah,  which  was 
then    considerably    larger   than    St.    Joseph,   and 
other  nearby  to\yns.  and  finally  decided  to  locate 
at  Barton,  now  known  as  Amazonia.    He  secured 
a  good  practice  and  continued  there  until   1850, 
when  he  moved  to  Savannah  and  practiced  with 
Dr.  Thomas  Young,  whose  practice  was  larger 
than  he  could  very  well  care  for.     In   1852,  the 
Doctor  was  elected"  to  the  Legislature  as  a  Benton 
Democrat,  his  first  service  in  that  body  being  in 
the  called  session  imder  Governor  King  for  rail- 
road  purposes.      He   was   re-elected   during  the 
administration   of  Governor  Sterling  Price,  and 
with  the  aid  of  David  Hickman  of  Boone  County 


THOMPSON    E.   POTTER,   M.  D. 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


417 


drafted  die  first  general  school  law  the  State 
ever  had.  Prior  to  that  time  the  Secretary  of 
State  had  charge  of  the  school  affairs,  there  were 
neither  State  nor  county  superintendents,  and 
many  of  the  counties  were  riot  organized  for 
school  purposes.  This  was  the  beginning  of  his 
work  for  the  good  of  the  public  schools,  and  dur- 
ing the  half  century  which  has  since  passed  he  has 
l^een  a  constant  worker  for  the  betterment  of  the 
public  school  system  and  in  behalf  of  educational 
institutions  in  general. 

The  California  migration  of  1849  K^^'^  ^^■ 
Joseph  a  start  and  showed  the  advantage  of  its 
location  on  the  river.  In  1857,  Dr.  Donelan  de- 
cided to  move  to  St.  Joseph,  but  first  went  to 
Plattsmouth,  Nebraska,  intending  to  spend  five 
or  six  weeks  with  his  cousin.  Dr.  William  Done- 
lan, who  was  just  starting  in  practice  there. 
There  were  many  old  Missouri  friends  there,  and 
before  the  expiration  of  his  visit  of  six  weeks  he 
was  elected  to  the  Territorial  Legislature  and  at 
the  following  election  was  elected  a  member  of 
the  Council  and  served  as  president  of  that  body ; 
in  the  meantime  he  was  mayor  of  Plattsmouth. 
He  became  owner  of  two  or  three  farms  and  con- 
siderable town  property,  but  becoming  short  of 
ready  money  in  i860  he  moved  to  St.  Joseph.  He 
traded  a  farm  for  a  drug  store  on  Second  and 
Jules  streets  and  began  the  practice  of  medicine. 
The  Civil  War  broke  out.  and  owing  to  the  fact 
that  so  many  of  the  profession  enlisted  in  the 
service  he  was  kept  busy  day  and  night.  During 
the  first  year  or  two  of  the  strife  his  position  was 
not  altogether  a  pleasant  one  and  not  without  its 
dangers,  as  he  was  classed  as  a  Southern  sym- 
pathizer, although  a  Constitutional  Union  man. 
He  decided  not  to  enter  either  army,  and  although 
his  practice  became  very  extensive  it  was  not 
remunerative  as  the  people  had  no  money  and 
merchants  used  scrip. 

Dr.  Donelan  served  as  city  physician,  also  as 
county  physician,  and  was  appointed  by  Governor 
Brown  as  one  of  the  managers  of  the  Fulton 
Asylum.  He  was  appointed  by  Governors  Wood- 
son, Phelps  and  Crittenden  as  manager  of  the 
State  Insane  Asylum,  No.  2,  at  St.  Joseph.  He 
received  an  appointment  from  Governor  Stone  as 
fish  commissioner  and  instituted  more  improve- 
ments than  had  been  made  during  the  10  years 
previously.  At  different  times  he  has  served  in 
the  State  Legislature,  covering  a  period  of  10 
years  in  all.  He  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the 
College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons,  now  the 
Ensworth  Medical  College,  and  filled  the  chairs 


of  materia  medica.  gynecology  and  diseases  of 
children  for  a  period  of  16  years.  He  was 
elected  from  the  city  at  large  as  a  member  of  the 
St.  Joseph  School  Board  for  a  term  of  six  years, 
and  was  elected  for  a  second  term,  serving  la 
years  as  president  of  the  iDoard.  He  served  until 
1904  when  he  refused  to  be  a  candidate  again. 
He  filled  various  offices  in  dift'erent  medical  so- 
cieties and  served  as  treasurer  of  the  State  Medi- 
cal Society,  president  of  the  Northwest  Missouri 
Medical  Society,  and  president  of  the  St.  Joseph 
Medical  Society.  After  the  expiration  of  his 
term  on  the  School  Board,  he  was  unanimously 
elected  medical  examiner  of  the  public  schools. 

In  the  many  positions  of  trust  with  which  he 
has  been  honored.  Dr.  Donelan  has  always  been 
found  faithful  to  the  interests  assigned  to  him 
and  the  trust  reposed  in  him.  He  represents' the 
highest  type  of  citizenship  and  has  man}-  stanch 
friends  throughout  this  section  of  the  State. 

Dr.  Donelan  married  Mrs.  Matttic  Fulkerson, 
who  died  April  17,  1890. 


-♦-•-»- 


HOMPSON  E.  POTTER,  M.  D.,  presi- 
dent of  the  Central  Medical  College  of 
St.  Joseph,  was  one  of  the  founders  of 
this  institution  in  1894.    He  is  a  man  of 
wide  experience  both  as  a  practitioner 
and  an  instructor,  serving  for  some  years  as  a 
professor  in  the  Northwestern  Medical  College  of 
St.  Joseph. 

Dr.  Potter  was  born  in  Clinton  County,  Mis- 
souri, December  18,  1849,  ^'^d  is  a  son  of  Thomas 
and  Hessa  (Smith)  Potter.  His  maternal  grand- 
father was  Thompson  Smith,  a  prominent  early 
settler  of  Missouri,  who  served  continuously  as  a 
member  of  the  Missouri  Legislature  for  a  period 
of  20  years. 

Soon  after  the  birth  of  Dr.  Potter,  he  was 
taken  by  his  parents  to  DeKalb  County,  Missouri, 
where  he  spent  his  boyhood  days  upon  a  farm.. 
He  attended  the  common  schools  until  he  reached 
the  age  of  16  years,  then  entered  McGee  College, 
located  near  IMacon,  Missouri.  After  completing 
a  literary  course,  he  began  teaching  school,  at  the 
same  time  studying  niedicinc  under  a  private  pre- 
ceptor. His  mother  encouraged  and  assisted  him 
in  the  pursuit  of  his  medical  studies.  In  the  fall 
of  1873.  he  entered  Jefferson  Medical  College  of 
Philadelphia,  where  he  soon  became  distinguished 
as  a  brilliant  and  untiring  student..  He  completed 
three  courses  in  this  institution  and  v.as  graduated 


4i8 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY  AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


in  March,  1875.  taking-  a  $50  prize  for  the  best 
thesis.  Returning  to  Missouri,  he  located  at  Cam- 
eron, where  he  remained  nearly  12  years,  building 
lip  a  large  and  well  paying  practice.  In  1882,  he 
was  appointed  local  surgeon  for  the  Hannibal  & 
St.  Joseph  Railroad  and  served  as  such  until  he 
resigned  in  t886.  In  1883.  the  pension  examin- 
board  for  the  Third  Congressional  District  was 
created  at  Cameron,  and  although  an  uncomprom- 
ising Democrat,  he  was  appointed  on  this  board  by 
President  Arthur  and  served  as  secretary  three 
years.  He  resigned  in  1886  because  of  his  re- 
moval to  St.  Joseph  to  accept  the  chair  of  physi- 
ology and  diseases  of  the  nervous  system  in  the 
Northwestern  Medical  College  of  St.  Joseph.  He 
was  later  given  the  chair  of  operative  and  clin- 
ical surg-ery  in  this  institution,  which  he  filled 
with  great  credit  until  1894,  when  he  resigned. 
In  1889,  Dr.  Potter  founded  and  became  editor 
of  the  Western  Medical  and  Surgical  Reporter, 
which  was  established  in  the  interest  of  the  col- 
lege, and  soon  after  he  obtained  entire  control  of 
the  journal.  He  has  always  been  a  member  of 
State  and  local  medical  societies,  and  has  obtained 
wide  prominence  through  the  professional  press, 
to  which  he  has  been  a  valued  contributor.  In 
the  spring  of  1894,  Dr.  Potter  with  five  other 
medical  gentlemen  founded  the  Central  Medical 
College  of  St.  Joseph,  an  institution  standing  in 
the  front  rank  among  the  Western  medical  col- 
leges, and  has  served  as  its  president  and  as  pro- 
fessor of  surgery.  The  Doctor  maintains  fine 
offices  in  the  Carbry  Block,  corner  of  Seventh  and 
Edmond  streets,  and  has  met  with  remarkable  suc- 
cess in  private  practice,  especially  in  surgerv.  He 
is  a  man  of  strong  personality,  and  is  v»'ell  liked 
by  his  professional  brethren  and  the  public  in  gen- 
eral.   His  portrait  is  shown  on  a  foregoing  page. 


■♦  ♦ » 


^.TER  ALEXANDER  JONES,  a  promi- 
nent resident  of  Bloomington  township, 
Buchanan  County,  recently  elected 
county  surveyor,  resides  in  section  21, 
where  he  has  lived  and  farmed  for  many 
years.  He  was  born  on  Sugar  Creek  in  the  old 
log'  cabin  in  which  his  parents  lived,  on  Septem- 
ber 6,  1838,  and  is  a  son  of  Holland  and  Nancy 
W.  (Mahan)  Jones,  and  grandson  of  David 
Jones,  who  was  a  native  of  Holland  and  came  to 
this  country  at  an  early  date. 

Holland  Jones  was  one  of  two  sons  born  to  his 
parents,  having-  a  brother  named  David.    He  was 


born  in  Virginia  in  1801,  and  when  seven  years 
of  age  accompanied  his  parents  across  the 
mountains  into  Kentucky.  He  later  moved  to 
Illinois,  thence  to  Buchanan  County,  Missouri, 
where  he  was  one  of  the  three  first  settlers  in 
Bloomington  township,  the  other  two  being 
Hiram  Roberts  and  James  Wilson.  He  secured  a 
claim  in  section  27.  where  our  subject  was  born, 
and  secured  a  patent  to  the  land  sig-ned  by  Presi- 
dent James  K.  Polk  in  184 1.  He  embarked  in  the 
general  store  business  in  partnership  with  Joel 
Hedgpeth,  under  the  firm  name  of  Jones  &  Hedg- 
peth,  which  existed  for  several  years.  Farming 
formed  his  principal  occupation  and  he  contin- 
ued at  it  successfully  until  his  death  on  November 
6,  1886.  He  was  united  in  marriage  with  Nancy 
W.  Mahan,  whose  father  was  a  graduate  of  the 
schools  of  Dublin,  Ireland.  He  came  to  the 
United  States  to  teach  and  located  at  Shelbyville, 
Kentucky,  where  his  first  school  was  conducted 
in  the  Court  House,  where  Nancy  W.  was  born 
in  1805.  He  was  also  graduated  from  Yale  and 
another  big  Eastern  institution  of  learning.  He 
was  a  Presbyterian  minister.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Jones  were  parents  of  eight  children,  three  of 
whom  grew  to  maturity :  Elizabeth,  now  a  resi- 
dent of  Kansas,  who  married  James  Greer,  of 
North  Carolina ;  Peter  A. ;  and  Amos  K.,  who 
married  Sarah  J.  Peabody,  and  is  a  resident  of 
St.  Joseph. 

Peter  A.  Jones  received  his  early  education  in 
the  schools  of  Buchanan  and  Platte  counties,  sup- 
plemented by  a  course  in  Pleasant  Ridge  College, 
which  was  conducted  by  B.  W.  Vineyard  in  Platte 
County.  Since  1855  he  has  taught  school  at  dif- 
ferent periods  and  with  unqualified  success,  many 
of  his  pupils  attaining  prominence,  24  of  them 
becoming  teachers,  five  physicians,  one  lawyer, 
and  three  ministers.  In  his  long  experience  as  an 
instructor  he  has  had  but  two  schools  without  the 
county,  and  has  tlie  distinction  of  teaching  some 
of  the  grandchildren  of  his  early  pupils. 

On  July  12,  i86r,  Mr.  Jones  enlisted  in  Com- 
pany D,  13th  Reg.,  Missouri  Vol.  Inf.,  under 
Colonel  Peabody,  and  later  in  Company  A,  51st 
Reg.,  Missouri  Vol.  Inf.  He  assisted  in  organ- 
izing both  companies  and  was  made  captain  of 
the  latter  one.  He  also  was  lieutenant  in  Com- 
pau}'  I.  under  Captain  Perry,  and  later  captain  of 
Company  H.  87th  Regiment,  enrolled  Militia  of 
Missouri.  He  was  appointed  by  William  Fowler 
of  St.  Joseph  as  enrolling  officer  of  the  Seventh 
Congressional  District,  and  in  one  draft  enrolled 
five  townships.     He  served  the  cause  faithfully 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


419 


and  was  honorably  discharged  August  31,  1865. 

After  the  close  of  the  war,  Mr.  Jones  re- 
sumed the  occupation  of  teaching,  and  also  fol- 
lowed farming.  He  owns  a  farm  of  1543^  acres 
in  sections  28  and  21,  Bloomington  township, 
and  has  his  home  in  the  latter  section.  Many  im- 
portant changes  have  occurred  within  his  mem- 
ory, and  particularly  in  the  manner  of  harvesting 
crops.  He  used  to  follow  the  old  wooden  mold- 
board  plow,  and  cut  grain  with  a  reaping  hook, 
later  with  a  cradle,  and  finally  with  the  dropper 
vuitil  the  binder  came  into  use.  He  has  especial 
reasons  for  remembering  the  reaping  hook  as  he 
bears  a  sc"r  which  he  received  while  following  his 
father  with  a  reaping  hook.  Hemp  was  raised 
extensively  at  that  early  day  and  was  cut  with  a 
hemp  hook.  His  place  was  heavily  timbered  and 
has  been  cleared  of  thousands  of  feet  of  good  wal- 
nut and  oak  timber.  The  old  log  house  of  the 
]:)rimitive  age  still  stands  on  his  place  as  a  re- 
minder of  the  daA'S  which  will  never  recur,  and 
an  old  flint-lock  gun  adds  to  the  familiarity  of  the 
scene  to  those  who  were  pioneers.  The  timber  in 
those  days  was  transformed  into  boards  by  two 
men  with  a  saw,  one  standing  upon  the  log  and 
the  other  beneath,  and  in  this  way  the  boards  for 
the  door  of  the  old  log  house  were  made.  Fire- 
places were  used  for  cooking,  pots  and  kettles 
being  hung  on  the  old  cranes,  and  stoves  with 
their  skillets  and  modern  utensils,  were  a  matter 
of  great  curiosity,  when  they  first  came  into  use. 
That  was  before  the  days  when  kerosene  was 
used,  light  being  almost  entirely  supplied  by 
candles  of  tallow,  and  fires  were  kindled  by  the 
use  of  flint  and  tinder. 

On  February  23,  1862,  Mr.  Jones  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Sarah  E.  Gafton,  who  had  at- 
tended school  under  him.  She  is  a  daughter  of 
William  C.  and  Lavina  (Bragg)  Garton  of  Ken- 
tucky, the  former  dying  in  this  county  in  1897, 
and  the  latter  on  May  13,  1894.  This  union  was 
productive  of  the  following  oiTspring:  Abraham 
L.,  a  grain  merchant  of  DeKalb ;  S.  R.,  a  physi- 
cian of  Rushville ;  Mary  L.,  wife  of  John  Yocum, 
of  Bloomington  township ;  Martha  M.,  wife  of 
James  M.  Moore,  of  Bloomington  township  ;  one 
who  died  in  infancy :  William  H.,  a  barber  of 
Rushville,  who  married  Lillie  Brown  ;  Lilly  B., 
wife  of  J.  R.  Sampson,  of  St.  Joseph  ;  Charles 
A.,  who  married  Eva  Roach,  of  Sugar  Creek; 
Zachariah  G.,  who  married  Musie  Brown,  a  sister 
of  William  H.  Brown's  wife ;  Nancy  A.,  wife  of 
Byerley  Pepper  of  Platte  County ;  and  Byrdie  A. 
Mr.  Jones  has  served  as  director  in  his  school 


district  for  13  years.  He  is  a  man  of  educational 
attainments,  a  student  by  nature,  and  has  done 
much  to  benefit  the  schools  of  the  county.  He  is 
also  a  surveyor  and  his  party  elected  him  county 
surveyor  on  November  8,  1904.  He  has  always 
been  a  Republican  and  cast  his  first  vote  for  Abra- 
ham Lincoln  in  i860,  and  has  always  voted  the 
national  ticket  straight  since.  He  has  frequently 
been  called  upon  to  serve  as  delegate  to  county 
conventions  and  works  hard  for  partv  success. 
Fraternallv,  he  is  a  member  of  Wellington  Lodge, 
No.  22,  a'.  F.  &  A.  M. 


♦ » » 


OHN  N.  KARNS.  one  of  the  prominent 
farmers  of  Washington  township,  Bu- 
chanan County,  who  owns  a  well-im- 
proved and  fertile  and  productive  farm 
of  312  acres,  in  section  33,  township  57, 
range  34,  belongs  to  one  of  the  old  and  hon- 
orable families  of  this  county.  Mr.  Karns  was 
born  February  11,  1864,  on  the  old  Karns  home- 
stead, of  which  his  present  farm  is  a  portion,  and 
is  a  son  of  George  Sampson  and  Matilda  (Wat- 
son) Karns. 

Michael  Karns,  the  paternal  grandfather  of 
our  subject,  was  born  in  Bedford  County,  Vir- 
ginia. The  family  records  tell  of  his  and  two 
brothers'  participation  in  the  War  of  1812.  He 
married  Mary  Bales,  who  was  born  in  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  they  came  to  ]\Tissouri  in  1837,  locat- 
ing first  at  the  old  Indian  agency  which  is  now 
included  in  Center  township,  Buchanan  County, 
but  in  1839  they  moved  to  Washington  township. 
At  that  time  all  this  smiling,  cultivated,  farming 
land  was  covered  with  heavy  timber,  Indians  and 
wild  animals  still  found  homes  here  and  the  hard- 
est pioneer  conditions  prevailed.  That  this  must 
have  been  a  time  of  dire  trial  to  our  subject's 
grandparents  can  scarcely  be  doubted,  and  espe- 
cially to  the  grandmother.  She  had  been  ten- 
derly reared  and  highly  educated  and  was  fitted 
by  personal  attractions  and  social  advantages  to 
shine  in  the  highest  circles  of  civilized  communi- 
ties. But  she  cheerfully  accepted  the  life  of  hard- 
ship, which  provision  for  the  large  family  of  nine 
children  made  necessary,  and  she  was  for  years 
the  center  of  not  only  a  loving  family,  but  of  the 
neighborhood  who  ever  found  warm  hospitality 
extended  at  the  Karns  homestead.  With  her  hus- 
band she  was  active  in  the  work  of  the  early 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in  Washington 
township.     The  pioneer  preacher  knew  that  his 


420 


HISTORY  OF    BUCHANAN   COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


welcome  always  awaited  him  at  the  home  of 
these  most  worthy  people.  Michael  Kariis  died 
in  1847,  '^"t  she  survived  until  1862. 

The  late  George  Sampson  Karns,  the  son  of 
Michael  and  Mary  (Bales)  Karns,  and  the  father 
of  our  subject,  was  born  in  Bedford  County,  Vir- 
ginia, December  23,  182 1.  and  died  in  Buchanan 
County,  Missouri,  March  12,  1904,  passing  away 
honored  and  respected  by  all  who  had  known  him. 
He  was  four  years  of  age  when  his  parents  made 
their  first  removal,  to  Lee  County,  \irginia,  and 
was  16  years  old  when  they  came  to  Buchanan 
County,  Missouri.  Although  he  was  not  the 
eldest  son  of  the  family,  he  seemed  to  be  the  one 
endowed  with  the  greatest  amount  of  ability  to 
plan  and  to  execute  the  plans  for  the  general  good, 
and  while  still  a  youth  he  was  looked  up  to  by 
the  rest  of  the  household. 

At  the  time  the  Karns  first  settled  in  this 
State,  they  were  in  very  straitened  circum- 
stances. The  money  capital  possessed  by  the 
family  was  represented  by  the  sum  of  $5.05.  At 
that  time  the  schools  were  very  indifferent  and 
far  apart,  but  even  these  poor  advantages  were 
denied  George  after  coming  to  this  section,  and 
his  real  schooling  was  completed  when  he  was 
not  more  than  nine  years  of  age.  In  his  mother, 
however,  he  found  an  inspiration  and  a  helper 
and  although,  while  still  a  boy,  he  had  to  take 
almost  a  man's  part  in  the  developing  of  the  home 
farm,  he  was  nmbitious  enough  to  take  advantage 
of  every  educational  opportunity  that  came  in  his 
way.  He  read  every  book  to  be  obtained  and 
doubtless  listened  closely  to  the  conversations 
which  took  place  by  the  side  of  the  hospitable 
hearthstone,  his  parents  always  keeping  to  the 
old  Southern  custom  of  entertaining  the  visitors 
in  the  locality.  Thus  Mr.  Karns  became  well  in- 
formed, notably  so.  and  was  considered  one  of 
the  best  posted  men  of  his  locality,  taking  an 
interest  in  both  public  matters  and  local  afifairs 
until  the  close  of  his  long  and  useful  life,  at  th.e 
age  of  82  vears. 

After  the  death  of  his  father,  George  Samp- 
son Karns  remained  at  home  and  managed  the 
home  farm  for  his  mother,  wliile  his  brothers. 
John  N.  and  James  C,  left  the  homestead  and 
crossed  the  plains  to  seek  their  fortunes,  with 
thousands  of  others,  in  the  mines  of  California. 
Five  \ears  after  the  death  of  his  father,  Mr. 
Karns  was  married,  in  1850,  to  IMatilda  Watson, 
who  was  born  in  1831.  not  far  from  Lafavette, 
Indiana,  on  the  site  of  the  battlefield  of  Tippe- 
canoe, and  died  in  Buchanan  County,  ^Missouri, 


the  age  of 


CX'tober  3r.  1872.  She  was  a  daughter  of  Dr. 
Paschal  and  Ella  (Jenkins)  Watson,  who  were 
early  settlers  at  Grand  River,  Missouri.  Dr. 
Watson  was  a  very  prominent  man  of  his  day, 
one  of  the  leading  medical  practitioners  and  a 
stanch  Whig,  who  took  a  very  active  part  in  the 
political  campaigns  of  his  time. 

The  children  of  George  Sampson  Karns  and 
wife  were :  Mary  E..  who  married  W.  V.  Grier,  a 
farmer  of  Clinton  County,  Missouri,  and  has  six 
children, — Clinton  (residing  in  Buchanan 
County),  Ralph  W.  (an  attorney  of  St.  Joseph), 
George  S.  (of  Kansas  City.  Missouri),  and 
Arthur.  Nellie  and  Mary,  who  live  at  home ; 
Elizabeth  A.,  who  is  the  wife  of  Leroy  F.  Jeff- 
ries, a  farmer  of  Washington  township ;  Sarah 
J.,  who  resides  at  St.  Joseph ;  Paschal  W..  who  is 
a  farmer  in  Agency  township  ;  Belle,  who  married 
W.  H.  Gilpin,  of  Washington  township :  Carrie 
B..  who  married  Edward  B.  Gilpin,  of  Washing- 
ton township,  and  has  four  children ;  John  N., 
who  is  the  immediate  subject  of  this  sketch  ;  Mar- 
garet, who  married  C.  A.  Tull.  and  resides  on  the 
old  homestead  ;  and  Etta,  who  died  tinmarried.  at 
24  years. 

When  George  Sampson  Karns  started  out  for 
himself,  it  was  with  a  heavy  debt  on  his  farm, 
but  the  same  perseverance  and  industry  which 
had  made  him  a  dependable  youth  continued  with 
him  in  the  management  of  his  own  affairs  and  he 
became,  in  the  course  of  years,  one  of  the  county's 
substantial  as  he  had  long  been  one  of  its  re- 
spected men.  Prior  to  his  death,  he  erected  a 
beautiful  home  at  a  cost  of  $4,000.  and  his  im- 
mediate surroundings  were  in  keeping  with  it. 
While  he  never  sought  political  office,  he  was 
always  willing  to  perform  a  citizen's  duty  and 
was  foremost  in  promoting  enterprises  which  re- 
flected benefits  upon  his  locality.  His  political 
affiliation  was  with  the  Republican  party  and  he 
consistently  supported  its  principles  through  days 
of  public  storm  and  stress.  He  was  a  luember 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  South. 

John  N.  Karns,  our  subject,  was  educated  in 
the  schools  of  Washington  township,  enjoying 
advantages  never  afforded  his  father.  He  re- 
mained on  the  old  homestead  until  his  marriage 
and  for  several  years  after.  In  December,  1893, 
he  located  on  his  present  farm,  where  he  has  312 
acres  of  some  of  the  best  land  in  the  northern 
section  of  the  county.  It  is  a  part  of  the  old 
homestead  farm  and  has  been  brought  to  a  fine 
state  of  cultivation.  He  is  a  practical  farmer  and 
has  discovered  that  his  most  profitable  crops  are 


THOMAS    W.    EVANS 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


423 


corn  and  hay.  He  has  given  much  attention  to 
the  raising  of  good  cattle  and  horses  of  high 
grade,  mainly  intended  for  driving  purposes.  His 
stock  is  all  first  class.  His  Poland-China  hogs 
and  his  cattle  are  well  worth  exhibiting  at  agri- 
cultural expositions.  In  1903,  Mr.  Karns  erected 
his  present  handsome  residence,  which  is  one  of 
comfort  and  modern  convenience. 

In  October,  1890,  ]\Ir.  Karns  was  married  to 
Ida  May  Landis,  who  was  born  at  Sigourney, 
Iowa,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Judge  J.  H.  Landis.  a 
sketch  of  whom  will  be  found  in  this  volume. 
Three  children  have  been  born  to  this  union, 
namely:  George  Sampson,  born  August  21.  189 1  ; 
Fay  Katherine,  born  January  18,  1893  :  and  Jason 
Landis.  born  March  25.  1895. 

Politically,  Mr.  Karns,  like  his  father,  has 
always  been  identified  with  the  Republican  party. 
Both  he  and  his  wife  belong  to  the  IMethodist 
Episcopal  Church,  South. 


-^  ♦ » 


40MAS  W.  EVANS,  who  has  been  al- 
most exclusively  engaged  in  the  banking 
business  since  early  manhood,  is  cashier 
of  the  Merchants'  Bank  of  St.  Joseph, 
Missouri,  one  of  the  oldest  as  well  as 
one  of  the  soundest  financial  institutions  of  the 
city. 

The  Merchants'  Bank  v.  as  organized  in  1878 
as  the  successor  to  the  First  National  Bank  of  St. 
Joseph,  which  was  organized  in  1863  by  Thomas 
E.  Tootle,  John  B.  Hundley,  and  Gen.  B.  F.  Loan, 
and  was  the  first  national  bank  in  existence  in  St. 
Joseph.  The  first  president  was  Thomas  E. 
Tootle,  who  still  resides  in  this  citv,  Mr.  Hund- 
lev  being  vice-president  and  E.  M.  Yates,  cashier. 
It  was  reorganized  into  the  Merchants'  Bank  in 
1878,  and  each  succeeding  year  since  has  wit- 
nessed its  growth  in  strength  and  influence.  Its 
present  officers  are  Louis  Boder.  president :  J.  H. 
Robison,  vice-president ;  Thomas  W.  Evans,  cash- 
ier :  and  Max  Andriano,  assistant  cashier.  Its 
directorate  includes:  ^Ir.  Boder,  Mr.  Robison, 
Tames  M.  Wilson,  William  H.  Griffith  and 
Thomas  W.  Evans.  It  has  a  capital  stock  of 
$200,000  and  its  condition  in  all  its  departments 
is  most  satisfactorv. 

Thomas  W.  Evans  was  born  in  Guernsey 
County.  Ohio,  in  1843,  and  was  there  reared  to 
manhood,  receiving  his  educational  training  in 
the  public  schools.  .'\t  the  aee  of  t8  years,  in 
1861,  he  enlisted  in  Company  B.  T5th  Reg..  Ohio 


Vol.  Inf..  and  served  as  a  private  four  years  and 
four  months,  being  in  the  4th  Army  Corps  at  the 
time  of  his  discharge  at  San  Antonio,  Texas,  at 
the  close  of  the  war.  He  returned  to  his  home 
in  Ohio  and  remained  until  1867.  when  he  went 
West  to  P'lattsmouth,  Nebraska.  There  he  en- 
gaged in  the  banking  business  with  the  firm  of 
Tootle.  Hanna  &  Clark,  which  organized  the  First 
National  Bank  of  that  city.  Mr.  Evans  served  as 
assistant  cashier  until  the  spring  of  1874,  when  he 
came  to  St.  Joseph  and  entered  the  First  National 
Bank  in  the  same  capacity.  In  1880  he  succeeded 
Mr.  Yates  as  cashier  of  the  Merchants'  Bank,  and 
served  efficiently  as  such  until  1887.  when  the 
stock  of  this  bank  changed  hands.  In  July.  1890, 
he  was  again  called  to  the  office  of  cashier  of  the 
Merchants'  Bank  of  St.  Joseph,  the  duties  of 
which  office  he  has  faithfully  and  satisfactorily 
discharged  since.  He  is  a  man  of  recognized 
business  ability,  widely  acquainted  throughout 
this  section  of  the  State,  and  enjoys  the  highest 
respect  of  everyone. 

Mr.  Evans  was  joined  in  marriage  with  Mary 
C.  Venable,  a  daughter  of  Joseph  Venable,  who 
had  resided  in  St.  Joseph  prior  to  1861,  but  who 
was  living  at  Memphis,  Tennessee,  at  the  time  of 
his  death  by  yellow  fever  in  1878.  In  politics,  our 
subject  has  always  been  a  Republican,  and  from 
1882  to  1884  served  as  treasurer  of  the  city  of  St. 
Joseph.  He  is  a  member  of  Custer  Post.  No.  7, 
G.  A.  R..  of  which  he  is  past  commander,  and  is 
past  senior  vice-department  commander  of  Mis- 
souri. Religiously,  he  is  a  member  of  the  First 
Presbyterian  Church,  in  which  he  is  an  elder.  His 
portrait  accompanies  this  sketch,  being  presented 
on  a  foregoing  page. 


♦  *» 


ORGE  MARKER,  a  prominent  retired 
citizen  of  Easton.  Buchanan  County, 
was  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business 
here  for  a  number  of  years  and  is  widely 
known  among  the  citizens  of  this  sec- 
tion. He  was  born  in  Stark  County.  Ohio,  Feb- 
ruary 14.  1838,  and  is  a  son  of  Jacob  and  Cath- 
erine (Chaney)  ^Marker. 

Philip  iMarker,  grandfather  of  our  subject, 
was  born  in  Germany  and  after  his  marriage 
came  to  America,  locating  in  Pennsylvania.  He 
came  West  to  Buchanan  County,  Missouri,  in 
1838.  making  most  of  the  journey  in  a  wagon, 
and  took  a  claim  in  Marion  township.  He  and 
his  wife  both  died  in  this  township  and  are  buried 


424 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY  AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


in  Bowen  Cemetery.  Jacob  Marker,  father  of 
our  subject,  was  born  in  Alsace,  Germany,  and 
came  to  this  country  with  his  parents.  He  moved 
from  near  Oil  City,  Pennsylvania,  to  Stark 
County,  Ohio,  where  he  lived  until  1842,  then 
started  West  for  Missouri.  He  located  in  section 
23,  township  57,  range  33,  in  Marion  township, 
Buchanan  County,  on  80  acres  of  government 
land,  and  later  acquired  an  additional  tract  of  40 
acres.  It  was  mostly  timber  land,  but  he  cleared 
much  of  it  and  engaged  in  farming  with  suc- 
cess. He  died  at  the  age  of  69  years  and  his  wife 
at  89  years,  both  being  buried  in  Blakeley  Ceme- 
tery. He  married  Catherine  Chaney,  also  a  na- 
tive of  Alsace.  Germany,  who  accompanied  her 
parents  to  this  country.  As  a  result  of  this 
union,  seven  children  were  born :  Catherine 
(widow  of  Ezra  Birt),  who  lives  at  Stewarts- 
ville,  Missouri ;  Philip,  who  is  a  retired  farmer 
living  at  Hemple,  Missouri;  George;  Mary  Ann, 
deceased  wife  of  Larkin  Blakeley ;  Fred,  a  re- 
tired farmer  of  Clarksdale,  Missouri ;  Elizabeth, 
wife  of  Robert  Lewis,  who  lives  in  Tremont 
township ;  and  Matilda,  who  married  James 
Clark  of  Gentry  County,  Missouri. 

George  Marker  attended  school  but  little,  as 
the  opportunity  was  not  present,  and  at  the  age 
of  19  years  went  to  California  by  steamer,  zna 
New  York  City.  There  he  sold  goods,  drove  a 
pack  train  and  drove  cattle  to  market,  going  to 
Washington,  Idaho  and  Oregon.  He  continued 
there  until  1864,  when  he  went  to  San  Francisco, 
and  from  there  crossed  the  plains  on  horseback 
to  Missouri.  He  located  in  St.  Joseph  and  en- 
gaged in  freighting  between  that  city  and  Den- 
ver, driving  seven  yoke  of  oxen  to  a  wagon  and  a 
trailer.  He  hauled  groceries  and  provisions,  and 
made  one  trip  with  army  supplies  for  the  gov- 
ernment. He  continued  this  work  for  one  sea- 
son, then  purchased  the  original  80  acres  bought 
by  his  father  in  Marion  township,  where  he  lived 
initil  1873.  In  that  year  he  sold  the  farm  and 
located  in  St.  Joseph,  where  he  engaged  in  team- 
ing and  later  settled  at  Frazer.  In  1874  he  located 
at  Easton  and  established  a  general  store,  which 
lie  conducted  with  a  high  degree  of  success  until 
1897,  since  which  time  he  has  lived  a  retired 
life.  He  has  been  connected  with  various  banks 
at  dififerent  places,  and  owns  considerable 
property. 

In  tlie  fall  of  1866,  Mr.  Marker  was  joined  in 
marriage  with  Rebecca  Clark,  a  daughter  of  Jesse 
Clark  of  Kentucky,  who  came  to  Buchanan 
Count^•  at  an  earlv  date,  settling  in  Marion  town- 


ship. Mrs.  Marker  died  February  8,  1878,  leav- 
ing one  child,  Leonora  B.,  who  married  J.  C. 
Frick,  of  Easton,  and  has  two  children, — Harry 
P.  and  Ragina.  Our  subject  was  again  married,, 
in  1880,  to  Nancy  J.  Leftwich,  who  died  in  1882. 
In  October,  1882,  he  married  Cynthia  Graves,  of 
Tremont  township,  this  county,  and  they  have 
four  children :  Cleveland  H.,  assistant  cashier  of 
the  Kidder  Bank  of  Kidder,  Missouri;  HazeU 
born  in  January,  1887 ''  Georgia,  born  November 
4,  1888;  and  Clifford  C,  born  January  15,  1890. 
In  politics,  he  is  a  Democrat  and  has  served  as 
school  director. 


^ « » 


OBERT  JEPTHA  WHITE,  one  of  the 
progressive  business  men  of  Rushville, 
Buchanan  County,  who  carries  on  in  the 
town  a  large  blacksmithing,  milling  and 
feed  grinding  business,  was  born  in 
Lorain  County.  Ohio,  January  28,  1856,  and  is  a 
son  of  Walter  C.  and  Rosetta  (Robinson)  WHiite. 
Walter  C.  White  was  born  at  Niagara  Falls, 
New  York,  where  he  was  reared  and  educated, 
and  for  some  years  worked  at  ship  carpentry. 
Later  he  moved  to  Oberlin,  Ohio,  where  he  en- 
gaged for  a  time  in  brick  manufacturing,  but 
spent  the  latter  part  of  his  life  as  a  farmer,  and 
died  there  in  1872.  He  married  Rosetta  Robin- 
son and  they  reared  a  family  of  six  children, 
namely :  Charles  W.,  deceased  ;  Alice,  deceased, 
who  was  the  wife  of  Stephen  Kellogg,  of  Lorain 
County,  Ohio;  Robert  Jeptha,  of  this  sketch: 
Josei^hine.  deceased,  wlio  was  the  wife  of  Samuel 
Hozier ;  Nellie,  who  married  Charles  F.  Conklin, 
of  East  Gilead,  Michigan ;  and  Frederick,  of 
Cleveland,  Ohio.  Walter  C.  White  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  First  Congregational  Church  of  Ober- 
lin, a  man  who  was  highly  respected  by  all  who 
knew  him.  F'olitically,  he  was  identified  with 
the  Republican  party. 

Our  subject  completed  his  common-school  ed- 
ucation in  Lorain  County  at  the  age  of  15  years, 
and  then  began  to  assist  in  caring  for  the  family, 
working  with  his  father  until  18  years  old  in  the 
brickmaking  business.  They  manufactured  the 
brick  which  was  used  in  the  construction  of  sev- 
eral of  the  leading  churches  of  Oberlin.  In  that 
city  he  then  learned  the  trade  of  blacksmith,  in 
the  shop  of  Penfield  &  Son,  with  whom  he  re- 
mained two  years.  In  December,  1876,  he  came 
West  in  search  of  a  good,  permanent  location  for 
his   business,    settling   first   at    Cromwell,    Iowa, 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


425 


where  he  worked  for  two  years.  He  then  spent 
two  years  at  Clermont,  Missouri,  and  then  re- 
turned to  Iowa  and  entered  the  shops  of  the  Chi- 
cago, Burlington  &  Ouincy  Railroad  Company,  at 
Creston.  In  1882  he  removed  to  Lenox,  Taylor 
County.  Iowa,  two  years  later  going  to  McCook, 
Nebraska.  After  nine  months  there,  he  returned 
for  a  few  days  to  Creston  and  then  moved  to  St. 
Joseph,  Missouri.  After  spending  some  time  at 
San  Antonio,  Cosby  and  Helena,  Missouri,  Mr. 
White  finally  selected  Rushville  as  offering  the 
best  business  field  and  located  here  on  August 
28,  1900.  He  has  a  pleasant  home  and  good  bus- 
iness prospects  and  has  been  welcomed  as  a 
skilled  workman  and  responsible  business  man. 

On  March  18,  1879,  Mr.  White  was  married 
to  Clara  Garreth,  a  daughter  of  Zacharias  Gar- 
reth,  of  St.  Joseph,  and  they  have  three  children  : 
Nellie,  wife  of  Henry  Garby,  of  Cosby,  Missouri ; 
Earl,  of  St.  Joseph  ;  and  Mary,  wife  of  Clifford 
Clark  of  St.  Joseph.  Each  one  of  his  children 
have  been  blessed  with  a  son  or  daughter  and  Mr. 
White  has  thus  thrice  been  made  a  grandfather. 
He  is  a  consistent  member  of  the  Christian 
Church. 

Ever  since  his  majority,  Mr.  White  has  been 
identified  with  the  Republican  party.  Fraternallv, 
he  is  connected  with  the  Masons  and  the  Odd 
Fellows.  He  is  a  man  who  is  well  informed  on  all 
questions,  especially  on  matters  concerning  the 
State  of  Missouri,  through  which  he  has  trav- 
eled so  extensively.  At  all  the  different  points 
where  business  connections  held  him.  he  left 
friends  behind,  and  he  has  had  no  difficulty  in 
making  many  friends  at  Rushville.  He  takes  an 
active  interest  in  educational  matters  and  has 
shown  himself  ready  to  assist  in  civic  reforms 
and  improvements. 


■♦* » 


UGO  GREBEL,  one  of  the  most  prom- 
inent business  men  of  St.  Joseph,  is 
manager  of  the  Anheuser-Busch  Brew- 
ing Association  for  this  citv,  doing  an 
exclusively  wholesale  business. 
Mr.  Grebel  was  born  August  8,  1856,  at  Zit- 
tau,  Saxony,  Germany,  and  is  a  son  of  August 
and  Agnes  (Behrens)  Grebel.  August  Grebel 
was  a  son  of  a  Lutheran  minister,  and  was  born 
in  Thuringia,  Germany.  A  financier  and  capital- 
ist, he  was  for  many  years  a  man  of  business  and 
social  importance  at  Zittau.  He  married  the 
daughter    of    a    manufacturer    at     Magdeburg, 


Prussia,   and    they   had   seven   children,   two   of 
whom  located  in  America. 

Hugo  Grebel  had  all  the  educational  and  so- 
cial  advantages    given   the   children   of   wealthy 
parents.    He  attended  the  best  schools,  graduated 
at  the  local  gymnasium  and  later  took  a  classical 
course  at  a  leading  academy.     His  tastes  led  him 
to  enter  business  life  and  in  1872  he  became  book- 
keeper in  a  large  industrial  establishment,  where 
he  remained  three  years.     He  then  entered  the 
German    Army,    serving   in    the   66th    Regiment 
Prussian  Iirfantry,  and  later  as  ist  lieutenant  in 
the  I02d  Regiment,  Saxon  Infantry.     After  his 
army  service  and  a  visit  to  England,  he  returned 
home  and  entered  into  business  with  his  father. 
In    1884  Jie  went  to  Leipsic  to  manage  a  type 
foundry  owned  by  his  father  and  built  up  a  very 
large   business  which   gave   employment   to    150 
men.    As  agent  of  this  business,  Mr.  Grebel  trav- 
eled a  number  of  years  over  some  of  the  most 
interesting  portions  of  South  America  and  in  1888 
came  to  New  York  by  way  of  San  Francisco.    A 
second  visit  in  1890  confirmed  his  former  pleas- 
ant imj^ressions,  resulting  in  the  sale  of  his  busi- 
ness   in    Germany    and    removal    to    the   United 
States.   Since  December,    1891,   IMr.   Grebel  has 
been  connected  with  the  Anheuser-Busch  Brew- 
ing Association  of  St.  Louis,  whose  reputation  in 
the  manufacture  of  beer  extends  to  all  foreign 
countries.     This  company  established  a  branch  at 
St.  Joseph  in  1885,  purchasing  groimd  at  the  cor- 
ner of  Fifth  street  and  ]\Iitchell  avenue,  where 
they  erected   a  building.      In    1892,   Mr.   Grebel 
was    appointed    agent     of    the    company    at    St. 
Joseph,  with  full  control,  and  his  subsequent  suc- 
cess has  proved  the  selection  a  wise  one.     His 
traveling  experience  made  his  appointment  to  this 
responsible   position    desirable,    and   it   has   been 
justified  by  a  large  increase  in  business  and  an 
extended  field  of  operation.     It  was  found  that 
the  building  erected  was  not  large  enough  to  ac- 
commodate the  increased  trade,  and  in  1903  the 
old   building  was  replaced   by   a  new   one  at  a 
cost  of  $32,000,  the  dimensions  of  which  are  75 
bv   280   feet.      It   is   a   brick   structure   and   the 
office  and  warehouse  are  imexcelled  in  equipment 
and  the  arrangements  for  expeditious  handling  of 
trade. 

In  1892,  Hugo  Grebel  was  joined  in  mar- 
riage with  Bertha  Wezler.  who  came  of  a  prom- 
inent St.  Louis  family,  and  they  live  in  a  fine 
home  at  No.  no  North  12th  street.  Our  sub- 
ject is  a  highly  educated  gentleman,  of  genial 
temperament    and     pleasant    manner.      He    has 


426 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN    COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


Ix-en  president  of  the  Landwehr-Verein,  and  be- 
long-s  to  the  Red  Men  and  the  Elks.  His  social 
circle  is  wide,  both  among  Germans  and  Ameri- 
cans, and  he  is  a  very  highly  esteemed  citizen  of 
St.  Joseph. 


•♦• » 


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1 

ILLIAM  S.  KINNISON,  the  leading 
druggist  of  St.  Joseph,  operating  two 
large  drug  houses  here,  is  one  of  the 
city's  self-made,  successful  business 
men.  He  was  born  in  Andrew 
County,  Missouri,  in  1866,  and  is  a  son  of  Cyrus 
J.  and"  Abigail   (Jones)   Kinnison. 

The  Kinnison  family  obtains  its  name  and 
many  of  its  leading  characteristics  from  Scotland. 
Two  brothers  from  the  Highlands  established 
themselves  in  Virginia,  prior  to  the  Revolution- 
ary War.  This  pioneering  spirit  seemingly  was 
inherited  by  the  grandfather  of  our  subject, 
William  W.  Kinnison,  who,  born  in  Virginia,  went 
to  Ohio,  thence  to  Iowa  and  still  later  to  Mis- 
souri, where  he  died  aged  72  years. 

Cyrus  J.  Kinnison  was  born  in  Ohio  in  1834 
and  went  to  Illinois  in  young  manhood.  When 
President  Lincoln  issued  his  calls  for  troops,  Mr. 
Kinnison  enlisted  as  a  private  in  the  Union 
Army,  entering  an  Iowa  regiment,  in  which  he 
served  until  the  close  of  the  war.  He  was 
wounded  and  was  also  taken  prisoner,  being  con- 
fined for  a  time  in  Texas.  After  the  close  of  hos- 
tilities he  went  to  Andrew  County,  Missouri,  and 
has  since  resided  at  Bolckow.  He  has  been  active 
in  local  affairs  and  has  held  office  on  numerous 
occasions.  He  married  Abigail  Jones,  who  was 
horn  in  Indiana,  and  thev  had  a  family  of  seven 
children,  tlie  five  survivors  being:  Allison  W., 
born  in  Illinois,  now  engaged  in  a  livery  business 
at  Maryville,  Missouri,  who  married  Cordelia 
Robinsnn,  and  has  four  children, — Goldie,  Rob- 
ert. Rollo  and  Clyde ;  Charles  A.,  born  in  Illi- 
nois, resides  on  a  farm  in  Missouri ;  William  S. 
of  this  sketch :  Cora  B.,  born  in  Missouri,  mar- 
ried Thomas  O.  Randall,  of  Andrew  Countv ;  and 
Hattie  E.,  born  in  Missouri,  who  resides  at 
home. 

William  S.  Kinnison's  education  in  the  com- 
mon schools  of  Andrew  County  and  St.  Joseph 
was  obtained  before  he  was  13  years  old  as  at  that 
age  he  entered  the  drug  store  of  Dr.  Riley  of 
Bolckow,  this  being  the  beginning  of  a  very  suc- 
cessful business  career.  Later  he  was  engaged 
for  three  years  with  A.  Kienzle,  of  St.  Joseph,  and 
later,  with  the  Van  Natta-Lynds  Drug  Company 


of  St.  Jose|)h,  remaining  with  the  latter  concern 
for  13  years.  In  1889  he  engaged  in  a  retail  drug 
business  for  himself,  opening  a  store  on  the  cor- 
ner of  Fourth  and  Edmond  streets,  St.  Joseph. 
This  he  still  continues  and  since  September  i, 
1903,  has  been  the  owner  and  operator  of  the 
drug  business  on  the  corner  of  Seventh  and  Ed- 
mond streets,  this  combination  representing  two 
of  the  most  successful  retail  drug  stores  in  the 
city. 

In  1890,  Mr.  Kinnison  was  married  in  St. 
Joseph  to  Bertha  M.  Max,  who  was  born  in  St. 
Joseph,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Jacob  J.  Max,  one 
of  the  old  settlers  here.  Thev  have  two  children, 
—Doris  C.  and  Max  W. 

Mr.  Kinnison  has  spent  almost  his  whole  life 
in  the  drug  trade  and  few  have  a  wider  or  more 
thorough  knowledge  of  the  business  than  he.  His 
gratifying  success  must  be  attributed  to  his  per- 
severance and  industry.  The  qualities  which 
made  him,  as  a  lad  of  13  years,  decide  on  a  career 
and  consistently  shape  his  life  in  the  same  direc- 
tiin  ever  since,  have  won  him  the  confidence  of 
the  public  and  his  consequent  large  and  con- 
stantly increasing  business  prominence.  In  pol- 
itics he  is  one  of  the  city's  stanch  Republicans. 
His  fraternal  connection  is  limited  to  membership 
in  the  Knights  of  Pythias  at  St.  Joseph. 


-*—~^~ 


IRAM  L.  BREWSTER,  one  of  the  lead- 
ing farmers  of  Wayne  township,  Bu- 
chanan County,  who  resides  on  his  well- 
cultivated  farm  of  240  acres,  situated  in 
section  29,  is  one  of  the  representative 
men  of  his  locality.  Mr.  Brewster  was  born  in 
Wayne  County,  Ohio,  February  ^o,  1844,  and  is 
a  son  of  William  and  Caroline  (Mattice) 
Brewster. 

Calvin  Brewster,  the  grandfather  of  our  sub- 
ject, was  born  at  Windsor,  Connecticut,  where  he 
followed  farming  until  the  age  of  50  years,  when 
he  removed  to  Stark  County,  Ohio,  and  there 
continued  to  follow  in  agricultural  life.  Later, 
he  lived  several  years  in  Van  Buren  County,  Iowa, 
removing  from  there  to  Nevada,  where  he  died  at 
over  go  years  of  age.  He  was  the  father  of  16 
children,  all  of  whom  reached  mature  years. 

Vv^illiam  Brewster,  father  of  our  subject,  was 
bom  in  i8t6  in  Stark  County,  Ohio,  where  he  was 
reared  and  educated.  He  was  accidentally  killed 
in  1863,  near  Toledo,  Ohio.  He  married  Caro- 
line Mattice,  and  thev  had  these  children  :  Marilla, 
who  died  young ;  George,  who  served  through 


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HON.   AUGUSTUS    SALTZMAN 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


429 


almost  three  years  of  the  Civil  War,  a  member  of 
Company  E,  230!  Reg.,  Michigan  Vol.  Inf.,  and 
died  shortly  after  being  honorably  discharged ; 
and  Hiram  L.,  of  this  sketch.  The  mother  died 
in  Buchanan  County,  Missouri,  in  April,  1904. 

Hiram  L.  Brewster  attended  school  in  Medina 
County,  Ohio,  until  the  age  of  14  years,  and  he 
then  spent  two  years  as  a  clerk  in  a  bank  at  Three 
Rivers.  Michigan,  and  an  equal  length  of  time  as 
a  clerk  in  the  postofifice  at  the  same  place.  In 
July,  1861,  he  enlisted  for  service  in  the  Civil 
War,  in  Company  E,  nth  Reg.,  Michigan  Vol. 
Inf.,  and  was  honorably  discharged  after  five 
months,  on  account  of  illness.  In  August,  1862, 
he  reenlisted,  entering  Company  G,  25th  Reg., 
Michigan  Vol.  Inf.,  and  continued  in  the  army 
until  his  honorable  discharge  at  Jackson,  Michi- 
gan, in  July,  1865,  having  seen  much  hard  service, 
and  having  participated  in  all  the  engagements 
with  his  regiment  in  the  campaign  from  Chat- 
tanooga to  Atlanta. 

After  returning  from  the  army.  Mr.  Brewster 
spent  a  year  at  the  home  of  his  uncle  in  Ohio.  He 
then  started  overland  to  Fort  Scott,  Kansas,  with 
a  fine  Canadian  team,  and,  after  some  prospect- 
ing, settled  on  the  farm  on  which  he  still  resides, 
having  lived  in  Buclianan  County  since  1866. 
For  nine  winters  after  locating  in  Wayne  town- 
sliip,  Mr.  Brewster  taught  school,  spending  his 
summers  in  the  cultivation  of  his  farm,  and  from 
1877  to  1884  he  was  successfully  engaged  in  a 
mercantile  business  at  Halls  Station.,  Since  then 
he  has  devoted  himself  entirely  to  the  operation 
of  his  large  farm.  With  his  intelligent  knowl- 
edge of  all  the  principles  of  farming,  he  has  met 
with  gratifying  success  and  is  counted  with  the 
township's  substantial  men. 

From  early  manhood  he  has  been  identified 
with  the  Republican  party  and  with  true  ideas  of 
citizenship  shirks  no  political  duty,  but  has  never 
sought  office.  From  1880  to  1900  he  was  em- 
ployed as  one  of  the  census  enumerators. 

Mr.  Brewster  is  a  consistent  member  of  the 
Baptist  Church  and  for  seven  years  held  the  office 
of  clerk  in  the  local  body.  Fraternalh-,  he  is  con- 
nected with  the  Masons. 


^ » ♦-■ 


OX.  AUGUSTUS  SALTZMAN.  One 
of  the  best  known  citizens  of  the  city  of 
St.  Joseph  is  Judge  Augustus  Saltzman, 
who  has  been  a  resident  of  Buchanan 
County  for  54  years.  He  was  born  in 
Prince  George  Cotmty.  Maryland.  April  2,  1842  : 


the  same  year  his  parents  moved  to  St.  Louis,  Aiis- 
souri,  where  they  lived  until  the  spring  of  1850, 
in  June  of  that  year  removing  to  St.  Jose]:ih. 
Many  of  the  old  pioneers  of  the  county  will  re- 
member Judge  Saltzman's  father,  who  was  a  car- 
penter and  contractor  by  trade  and  who  assisted 
in  erecting  many  of  the  old  landmarks  of  the  city. 
Main  street  being  in  those  days  the  principal 
business  district  of  the  town.  Judge  Saltzman 
received  but  a  common-school  education,  such  as 
was  obtainable  in  those  early  days.  When  but 
16  years  of  age,  he  helped  to  grade  the  road-bed 
of  the  Hannibal  &  St.  Joseph  Railroad.  His  fa- 
ther taught  him  the  carpenter's  trade,  after  which 
he  started  in  to  learn  the  mercantile  business.  He 
worked  for  Maj.  F.  W.  Smith,  general  merchan- 
dise, Fischer  &  Collins,  boots  and  shoes,  and  was 
also  in  the  employ  of  H.  B.  Ketcham,  queensware 
and  crockery,  and  was  registering  clerk  in  the 
Post  Office  under  Hon.  John  L.  Bittinger. 

At  the  breaking  out  of  the  Civil  War,  at  the 
age  of  19,  he  enlisted  in  Company  B,  1st  Reg., 
Nebraska  Vol.  Inf..  as  a  private,  and  participated 
in  most  of  the  important  battles  of  the  West,  be- 
ing at  Wilson  Creek,  Fort  Donelson,  Fort  Henry, 
Shiloh  and  others.  After  his  term  of  service  ex- 
pired, he  returned  home  and  assisted  in  organizing 
Company  A,  43rd  Reg.,  Missouri  Vol.  Inf.,  of 
which  he  was  commissioned  ist  lieutenant,  and 
during  the  greater  part  of  the  term  of  his  last  ser- 
vice was  acting  assistant  adjutant-general. 

At  the  close  .of  the  war  in  1865,  he  received  an 
honorable  discharge,  returned  to  St.  Joseph  and 
engaged  in  the  drug  business,  from  which  he  re- 
tired on  receiving  from  the  County  Court  an  ap- 
pointment as  justice  of  the  peace  to  fill  the  va- 
cancy caused  by  the  death  of  Felix  Robidoux. 
At  this  time  he  began  the  study  of  the  law  under 
and  with  the  law  firm  of  Hon.  J.  C.  Parker,  Col. 
James  Strong  and  Jefif  Chandler.  He  held  the 
office  "of  justice  of  the  peace  for  16  consecutive 
years.  In  1872  he  was  appointed  chief  of  the  St. 
Joseph  fire  department  and  in  1882  was  elected 
city  attorney.  After  this  he  built  the  steamboat 
'"Saltzman"  here  in  the  city  on  the  bank  of  the 
river  and  ran  it  several  years. 

On  October  17,  1876,  our  subject  was  married 
to  Virginia  Crone ;  no  children  have  been  born  to 
their  union. 

In  1896,  Judge  Saltzman  was  elected  county 
judge  of  the  Second  District  by  a  flattering  ma- 
jority, and  proved  himself  a  competent  and  con- 
scientious official,  inaugurating  modern  business 
principles  in  the  management  of  county  aflFairs 


430 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


and  by  his  honorable  administration  of  his  office 
acquitting  himself  in  a  manner  highly  creditable 
and  to  the  entire  satisfaction  of  the  people  who 
chose  him  as  their  public  servant.  His  practical 
application  and  fitness  for  the  duties  of  the  posi- 
tion won  for  him  a  re-election  in  1898  by  a  hand- 
somely increased  majority. 

Judge  Saltzman  is  a  man  of  sterling  charac- 
ter and  unsullied  reputation,  and  an  enterprising 
and  public-spirited  citizen  ever  seeking  to  pro- 
mote the  upbuilding  of  St.  Joseph  and  Buchanan 
County.  In  the  positions  of  trust  that  have  been 
committed  to  his  charge  he  has  evej  merited  the 
confidence  reposed  in  him  and  he  may  well  pride 
himself  that  his  sterling  qualities  of  character 
have  earned  for  him  an  enviable  reputation.  His 
portrait  accompanies  this  sketch. 


■♦ » » 


DWARD  B.  GILPIN.  One  of  the  fine 
farms  of  that  part  of  Buchanan  County, 
known  as  Washington  township,  is  that 
highly  cultivated  tract  of  205  acres  sit- 
uated in  section  30.  township  57,  range 
34,  owned  by  Edward  B.  Gilpin,  one  of  the  town- 
ship's substantial  and  representative  citizens.  Mr. 
Gilpin  was  born  in  Chester  County,  Pennsylvania. 
September  10,  1856,  and  is  a  son  of  Gideon  and 
Eliza  C.  (Hey burn)  Gilpin. 

The  Gilpin  family  is  of  English  extraction. 
It  was  founded  in  America  by  emigrants  of  that 
name  who  accompanied  William  Penn,  the  great 
Quaker  pioneer,  when  he  came  to  Pennsylvania. 
The  Gilpins  separated  from  the  immediate  Penn 
colony,  going  north  and  establishing  themselves  in 
Delaware  County.  The  land  there  was  then 
owned  by  the  Indians,  and  for  safety  the  new 
settlers  excavated  a  cave  to  which  they  could 
retire  when  danger  threatened,  and  this  cave  is 
still  shown  in  Birmingham  township,  Delaware 
County,  and  still  bears  the  name  of  Gilpin's  Cave. 
The  family  records  tell  that  this  ancestor,  Joseph 
Gilpin,  reared  here  a  family  of  14  children, 
cleared  up  a  large  body  of  land  and  firmly  estab- 
lished the  Quaker  faith  in  that  neighborhood. 
Like  many  other  families  that  joined  fortunes 
with  William  F'eiln,  the  Gilpin  family  belonged 
to  the  nobility  in  England.  Their  settlement  in 
Pennsylvania  was  mainly  the  result  of  religious 
persecutions  in  their  own  land. 

Isaac  Gilpin,  the  great-grandfather  of  our 
subject,  took  part  in  the  Revolutionary  War.  It 
is  probable  that  he  lived  for  a  considerable  period 


in  the  old  brick  house  which  still  stands  in  Dela- 
ware County,  the  first  one  ever  erected  there,  but 
this  did  not--remain  his  location  continuously.  We 
learn  that  he  was  a  man  of  affairs,  held  official 
position  along  the  Eastern  Shore  of  Maryland  and 
had  a  seat  in  the  Colonial  Congress.  His  mar- 
riage to  a  Miss  Darlington  united  two  old  fam- 
ilies of  the  days  of  Penn's  settlement.  They  had 
four  children:  George  F.,  who  lived  on  his  fath- 
er's homestead ;  Ruth  C.  who  married  Ziba 
Darlington ;  John  D.,  the  gramifather  of  our 
subject ;  and  Hannah,  who  never  married. 

John  D.  Gilpin  was  reared  on  the  old  family 
homestead,  where  he  was  born  in  1799  and  died 
in  1893.  He  too  was  a  man  of  prominence,  one 
selected  by  his  fellow  citizens  to  hold  offices  and 
to  represent  their  interests  in  legislative  and  judi- 
cial bodies.  He  farmed  the  homestead  acres  and 
there  reared  a  family  by  two  marriages.  His 
first  wife,  Sarah  Taylor,  was  born  in  1800  and 
died  in  1837.  Her  children  were  :  Hannah,  Re- 
becca, Ann,  Gideon,  Elizabeth  and  Sarah.  Gideon 
and  Sarah  survive,  the  latter  being  a  resident  of 
Spokane,  Washington.  John  D.  Gilpin  was  an 
active  member  of  the  Whig  party.  His  religious 
life  was  directed  according  to  the  simple,  peace- 
ful methods  of  the  Quaker  faith. 

Gideon  Gilpin,  father  of  our  subject,  was 
born  May  5,  1828,  in  Delaware  County,  Penn- 
sylvania, in  the  old  brick  house  mentioned  above. 
An  interesting  fact  connected  with  this  residence 
is  that  it  was  made  the  headquarters  of  Lord 
Howe  at  one  time  in  the  Revolutionary  War,  and 
several  romances  dealing  with  the  movements  of 
the  Patriot  army  refer  to  this  old  home,  which 
has  sheltered  so  many  generations  and  has  wit- 
nessed strange  events  under  its  roof,  the  facts, 
perhaps,  not  being  more  wonderful  than  the  fanci- 
ful tales.  A  gun  belonging  to  Lord  Howe  was 
preserved  by  the  family  until  it,  with  many  other 
valuable  and  interesting  relics,  was  destroyed  by 
fire,  after  Gideon  Gilpin  had  moved  to  the  West. 

When  Gideon  Gilpin  was  old  enough  to  attend 
school,  the  only  ones  available  in  his  locality  were 
the  subscription  schools,  where  only  elemental 
instruction  could  be  obtained.  Later  he  was  sent 
to  a  Friends'  boarding  school,  in  Chester  County, 
Pennsylvania.  After  completing  his  education, 
he  returned  to  the  home  farm  where  he  continued 
to  reside  until  about  1868.  He  then  moved  to 
the  West  and  spent  one  year  in  Boone  County, 
and  three  years  in  Cass  County,  Iowa,  and  then 
removed  to  Buchanan  County,  Missouri.  In 
Cass  County  he  had  owned  a  hotel,  but  this  he 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


431 


sold  when  he  came  to  Buchanan  County.  He  in- 
vested here  in  farming  lands  and  at  one  time 
owned  1200  acres.  For  some  10  years  he  car- 
ried on  an  extensive  stock  business  and  was  also 
interested  in  real  estate.  When  he  finally  located 
at  St.  Joseph,  he  embarked  in  a  grocery  business,  * 
establishing  the  store  with  which  he  was  con- 
nected for  two  years,  under  the  firm  name  of  Gil- 
pin &  Company,  on  the  corner  of  17th  and  Francis 
streets.  He  had  other  business  interests  which 
took  him  over  the  greater  part  of  the  Southwest 
for  a  number  of  years.  During  his  whole  active 
life  he  was  a  strong  supporter  of  the  Republican 
party.  Like  his  ancestors,  Mr.  Gilpin  adhered 
to  the  faith  of  the  Society  of  Friends. 

In  Delaware  County,  Pennsylvania,  April  i, 
1850,  Mr.  Gilpin  was  married  to  Eliza  C.  Hey- 
burn,  who  was  born  in  that  county.  November  27, 
1829.  She  was  a  daughter  of  George  and  Rachel 
D.  (Brinton)  Heyburn,  both  of  whom  were  na- 
tives of  Delaware  County,  but  of  English  ances- 
try. 'Sir.  Heyburn  was  a  prominent  member  of 
the  Society  of  Friends.  He  was  also  a  strong 
Vx'hig  in  his  political  sympathies.  George  Hey- 
burn and  wife  had  11  children,  namely:  Edith  S., 
of  Chester  County,  Pennsylvania ;  Letitia,  John 
B.  and  Phoebe,  deceased ;  Eliza  C,  the  mother  of 
our  subject;  William,  Sarah  L.  and  Edmund,  de- 
ceased; Lydia  Emma,  of  Chester  County,  Penn- 
sylvania ;  and  Elizabeth  and  Edward,  both  de- 
ceased. 

Gideon  Gilpin  and  wife  had  12  children, 
namely  :  Sarah,  deceased  ;  William  H.,  of  Saxton  ; 
John  D.,  of  the  business  firm  of  Gilpin  Brothers ; 
George  H. ;  Edward  B.,  of  this  sketch ;  Charles 
Sumner,  a  cigar  and  tobacco  dealer  at  St.  Louis  ; 
Joseph,  who  married  Bertha  Hagdorn  and  re- 
sides at  St.  Joseph  ;  Vincent,  who  married  Sophia 
Van  Hatten  and  is  interested  in  coal  mining  but 
resides  at  St.  Joseph  ;  Elwood.  owner  of  a  good 
mine  in  Idaho ;  Mary,  wife  of  Frank  Haskell, 
who  is  in  the  cigar  and  tobacco  business  at  St. 
Louis  ;  Harry,  owner  of  mines  at  Central  City, 
Alaska,  a  prominent  citizen,  owner  of  a  store  and 
an  engineer  on  a  local  steamboat ;  Rachel  H.,  wife 
of  Benjamin  Robinson,  of  St.  Joseph,  Missouri; 
and  Elizabeth  H..  of  \\'ashington  township.  Sir. 
Gilpin  gave  his  children  the  best  available  educa- 
tional opportunities  and  has  the  gratification  of 
knowing  that  all  are  well  established  in  life  and 
are  respected  and  esteemed  members  of  their 
various  communities. 

Edward  B.  Gilpin,  the  immediate  subject  of 
this  sketch,  is  of  the  sixth  generation  of  American 


Gilpins.  He  commenced  his  education  in  Dela- 
ware County,  Pennsylvania,  continued  it  in  Boone 
County,  Iowa,  and  completed  it  in  Cass  County, 
Iowa.  He  accompanied  his  parents  to  Buchanan 
County  and  remained  at  home  until  the  age  of  21 
years.  He  was  reared  to  agricultural  pursuits 
and  has  spent  the  greater  part  of  his  life  as  a 
farmer,  although  for  three  years,  during  which  he 
continued  to  also  attend  to  his  farming,  he  dealt 
in  real  estate  at  St.  Joseph.  He  proved  himself  a 
good  business  man  in  this  connection,  but  his 
choice  of  occupation  has  been  agriculture. 

In  the  fall  of  1882,  Sir.  Gilpin  bought  a  tract 
of  good  land,  containing  125  acres,  locally  known 
as  the  Mosley  farm,  in  section  30,  township  57, 
range  34,  in  Washington  township,  and  to  tl^s  he 
added,  in  1901,  the  Thomas  Hastings  place,  of  80 
acres,  also  in  A\'ashington  township,  making  an 
aggregate  of  fine  farming  land  of  205  acres.  This 
is  probably  as  productive  land  as  can  be  found  in 
Washington  township  and  Mr.  Gilpin  has  it  all 
under  cultivation.  His  crops  consist  of  wheat, 
oats,  corn,  hay  and  potatoes  and  his  stock  includes 
first-class  cattle,  horses  and  hogs.  In  1901  he 
had  the  misfortune  of  having  his  home  destroyed 
by  fire,  but  a  new  and  more  commodious  one  has 
taken  its  place. 

In  1883  jNIr.  Gilpin  was  married  to  Carrrie  B. 
Karns,  v.ho  is  a  daughter  of  George  Sampson 
Karns,  a  prominent  citizen  and  wealthy  fanier  of 
Washington  township.  Four  children  have  been 
born  to  them,  viz :  Grace  C,  Clara  Myrtle,  Ber- 
nard and  Charles  S..  all  of  whom  are  at  home. 
Sir.  Gilpin  and  family  belong  to  the  ]Methodist 
Episcopal  Church. 

Fraternally,  our  subject  is  connected  with  the 
Camp  of  the  W'oodmen  of  the  ^^'orld  at  Saxton, 
Politically,  he  is  a  Republican.  He  is  one  of  the 
township's  most  worthy  men  and  enjoys  the 
esteem  of  all  who  know  him.  He  is  recognized 
as  a  liberal,  broad-minded  man,  who  keeps  posted 
on  all  current  events  and  works  for  the  advance- 
ment of  his  immediate  community  and  township. 
He  has  been  particularly  active  in  school  matters. 


■♦  * » 


HARLES  M.  STREET,  senior  member 
of  the  law  firm  of  Street,  Eastin  & 
Corby,  of  St.  Joseph,  occupies  a  recog- 
nized position  as  a  member  of  the  bar 
of  Buchanan  County.  He  was  born 
in  St.  Joseph,  r^Iissoun"  in  1871,  and  is  a  son  of 
James  M.  and  ^lary  (Ewing)  Street. 


432 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY  AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


The  Street  family  is  of  English  extraction  and 
Quaker  ancestry.  The  founder  of  the  family  in 
America  was  Peter  Street,  who  landed  on  the 
shore  of  Delaware  Bay  in  1707.  His  son  Zadoc 
and  his  son,  Aaron,  with  their  patriarchial  fam- 
ilies, crossed  the  Alleghany  Mountains  to  Ohio, 
meeting  with  all  kinds  of  hardships  on  the  jour- 
ney. They  founded  Salem,  the  "city  of  peace." 
and  there  grew  and  prospered.  Descendant's 
were  among  the  founders  of  Salem,  Illinois,  and 
of  Salem,  Iowa,  carrying  into  each  locality  not 
only  the  peacefully  suggestive  name,  but  also  the 
peaceful,  quiet  virtues  which  particularly  mark 
the  members  of  the  Society  of  Friends,  as  the 
religious  body  is  now  generally  denominated. 

James  M.  Street,  father  of  our  subject,  was 
born  at  Toledo,  Ohio,  and  died  at  St.  Joseph, 
Missouri,  in  1896,  aged  61  years.  The  mother 
died  in  1877,  aged  42  years.  The  family  con- 
sisted of  four  sons  and  one  daughter,  namely : 
Emery  J.,  one  of  the  most  prominent  citizens  of 
Kansas  City,  Missouri,  vice-president  and  finan- 
cial manager  of  the  R.  H.  Williams  Grocery 
Company  and  president  of  the  Kansas  City  Driv- 
ing Association  ;  Ewing  M.,  of  Kansas  City,  Mis- 
souri, private  secretary  to  the  general  manager 
of  the  Kansas  City  Southern  Railway  Company  ; 
Annie  M,,  a  resident  of  Kansas  City,  Missouri ; 
Charles  ]\I..  of  this  sketch;  and  Eugene  F.,  who 
is  billing  clerk  for  the  Southern  Pacific  Company 
at  Los  Angeles,  California.  James  "SI.  Street 
moved  from  Ohio  to  Evans ville,  Indiana,  where 
he  studied  law  under  Hon.  John  W.  Foster,  and 
later  practiced  in  that  State.  In  1867  he  came  to 
St.  Joseph,  Missouri,  entering  into  the  insurance 
business,  which  he  continued  with  great  suc- 
cess, representing  many  of  the  leading  companies 
of  the  East.  He  was  active  in  cit\-  affairs  and 
was  a  member  of  the  City  Council,  and  at  one 
time  officiated  as  mayor  during  the  absence  of 
Mayor  Hosea. 

After  completing  his  common-school  educa- 
tion at  St.  Joseph,  and  making  necessary  prepar- 
ation, our  subject  spent  a  year  in  the  University 
of  Michigan  at  Ann  Arbor.  His  study  of  the 
law  was  ])rosecuted  under  the  direction  of  M.  A. 
Reed,  of  St.  Jose])h.  and  he  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  in  1893,  becciming  in  1895  a  partner  in  the 
firm  of  Reed,  James  &  Street.  Later  Mr.  Street 
practiced  alone  for  a  time.  In  May,  1903,  the 
present  firm  came  into  existence.  It  is  a  combin- 
ation of  30uth  and  talent  and  occupies  a  prom- 
inent place  in  the  professional  ranks  of  the  city 
and  county. 


In  1898,  at  St.  Joseph,  Mr.  Street  was  married 
to  Viola  A.  Bailey,  who  is  a  daughter  of  N.  C. 
Bailey,  of  Troy,  Kansas.  They  have  two  chil- 
dren, both  born  in  St.  Joseph, — C.  Milton,  Jr.  and 
Elva  G.  Mr.  Street  has  a  half-brother,  Ralph 
W.,  who  is  the  son  of  his  father's  second  mar- 
riage with  Susan  Wood,  a  native  of  Dunkirk, 
New,  York,  who  died  in  1897,  aged  56  years. 
This  promising  young  man  is  a  graduate  of  the 
St.  ^Joseph  High  School  and  is  a  student  at  the 
University  of  Michigan  at  Ann  Arbor,  where  he 
will  graduate  in  the  law  department  in  the  class 
of  1905. 

Politically,  Mr.  Street  is  affiliated  with  the 
Republican  party.  His  fraternal  membership  is 
with  the  Elks. 


^ « » 


ANASSA  PATTON  LAY,  Sr.,  one 
of  the  prominent  citizens  of  Buch- 
anan County,  and  a  well-known 
agriculturist  of  Rush  township, 
where  he  resides  on  a  highly  culti- 
vated farm  of  30  acres,  situated  in  section  12, 
was  born  in  Scott  County,  Virginia,  July  14, 
1830,  and  is  a  son  of  Benjamin  F.  and  Lucy 
( Br}ant)   Lay. 

The  early  family  home  of  the  Lay  family  for 
many  generations  was  in  North  Carolina,  and 
there  Isaac  Lay,  our  subject's  grandfather,  was 
born  and  reared.  His  occupation  was  farming 
and  this  he  carried  on  in  his  native  State  and 
later  in  Scott  County,  Virginia,  to  which  county 
he  had  removed  and  where  he  subsequently  died. 
He  was  the  father  of  six  children:  Benjamin  F., 
Buck,  James,  William,  Lawrence  and  Rachel. 

Benjamin  F.  Lay  was  born  in  North  Caro- 
lina and  resided  there  until  after  his  marriage, 
when  he  removed  to  Scott  County,  Virginia,  and 
later,  to  Claiborne  County,  Tennessee,  where  he- 
farmed  four  years.  In  1842  he  came  to  Missouri, 
settling  in  Daviess  County,  where  he  continued 
to  farm  until  1883,  when  he  came  to  Buchanan 
County  and  spent  his  eight  remaining  years  with 
his  son,  our  subject.  Benjamin  F.  Lay  married 
Lucy  Br}-ant,  who  was  a  daughter  of  Thomas 
Bryant,  a  young  aide-de-camp  to  General  Wash- 
ington during  the  Revolutionary  War,  who  was 
a  witness  to  the  surrender  of  Lord  Cornwallis. 
The  eight  children  of  this  union  were:  Ephraim, 
deceased ;  Theresa,  wife  of  Ewen  Lake ;  Miles 
and  Calvin,  deceased ;  Manassa  Patton,  of  this 
sketch  ;  Louisa,  deceased,  who  was  the  wife  of." 


CHARLES    W.    BROWN 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


435 


Harvey  Groves ;  John,  deceased ;  and  Charity, 
deceased,  who  was  the  wife  of  Joseph  Early. 

Benjamin  F.  Lay  was  a  prominent  man  of  his 
day,  active  in  both  pubhc  and  local  afifairs.  In 
early  life  a  Whig,  he  later  became  a  Democrat 
and  served  in  many  responsible  offices.  He  was 
constable  and  depnty  collector  of  Harrison  town- 
ship, Daviess  County,  Missouri,  and  was  a  man 
whose  judgment  was  consulted  in  all  local  mat- 
ters. For  years  he  was  a  deacon  in  the  Baptist 
Church  and  his  home  was  alwa}s  open  to  minis- 
ters of  that  church.  In  every  relation  of  life  he 
proved  himself  worthy  and  he  left  to  his  family 
a  name  of  unblemished  integrity. 

Our  subject  received  his  early  education  in 
the  schools  of  Daviess  County,  Missouri,  and 
grew  to  manhood  assisting  his  father  on  the 
home  farm.  In  1870,  after  study  and  preparation, 
he  entered  the  ministry  of  the  ^Methodist  Epis- 
co])al  Church,  South,  and  continued  his  pastoral 
duties  until  1880.  After  severing  his  relations 
with  that  body,  he  united  with  the  Christian 
Church  and  now  occupies  the  position  of  elder. 

In  185 1  ]\Ir.  Lay  moved  to  Buchanan  County, 
Missouri,  and  settled  down  to  farming  and,  al- 
though not  yet  ordained,  preached  in  the  local 
churches.  In  1861  he  enlisted  in  the  Confederate 
Army,  entering  a  company  in  Col.  Elijah  Gates' 
regiment,  and  served  until  the  close  of  the  war. 
He  was  taken  prisoner  at  Grantico,  Louisiana, 
and  after  two  weeks  was  exchanged  and  rejoined 
his  company. 

Mr.  Lay  was  married  first,  in  1850,  to  ^la- 
tilda  Lynch,  who  died  in  1878.  They  had  a  fam- 
ily of  seven  children,  namely:  Sarah,  Ephraim, 
^tanassa  P.,  Jr.,  ]\Iary  Low,  Wesley,  Fanny  and 
Charit}'.  Sarah  married  Joseph  Reynolds  and 
they  had  five  children  :  Mamie,  who  married 
Henry  Meyers  and  has  four  children, — William, 
Otis,  Timothy  and  an  unnamed  infant ;  Susan, 
who  married  Charles  Foster  and  has  one  daugh- 
ter,— Josie :  Lawrence,  who  married  Bertha 
Latchau,  and  has  one  son. — Timothy;  Florence, 
who  married  Archie  ?\ leans  and  has  three  chil- 
dren,— Ronald,  Helen  and  Joseph  ;  and  Timmie. 
Ephraim  married  Mattie  Devorse.  Manassa  P., 
Jr..  married  Rosa  La  Fave  and  has  two  children, 
— Roy  and  Earl.  Mary  Low  married  Charles 
Conard  and  has  seven  children, — Ruby,  Ray, 
Henry,  Veta,  Lucy,  Joseph  Patton  and  Oakley. 
Wesley  married  Mary  Frazier  and  has  three  chil- 
dren,— Bertha.  Pearl  and  an  unnamed  son. 
Fanny  married  T.  Y.  Elliott  and  has  three  chil- 
dren.— Cecil.  Willis  and  Ira.  Charitv  married 
22 


James  Smith  and  has  four  children, — Clarence, 
.\i.  P.,  Roy  and  Alurlin. 

In  1880,  ]\Ir.  Lay  was  married  to  his  present 
wife,  Mrs,  Amanda  Armstrong  (nee  Bundy). 

Our  subject  has  always  been  one  of  the  prom- 
inent, progressive  and  broadminded  men  of  his 
locality,  a  leader  in  educational  and  moral  move- 
ments and  one  whose  sterling  traits  of  character 
have  always  brought  him  respect  and  esteem. 
He  is  an  outspoken  supporter  of  the  Prohibition 
party,  to  which  he  has  devoted  his  energies  for  a 
long  time.  He  was  prominently  mentioned  on 
several  occasions  for  responsible  offices  such  as 
county  judge  and  as  State  representative  and 
there  are  few  men  in  Rush  township  who  are  bet- 
ter equipped  mentally  or  morally  for  such  of- 
fices of  trust.  His  fraternal  connections  include 
the  Good  Templars,  the  Masons  and  the  Odd 
Fellows. 


♦  •  »■ 


HARLES  W.  BROWX,  deceased, 
whose  portrait  accompanies  this 
sketch,  was  prominently  identified  witli 
the  real  estate  interests  of  St.  Joseph, 
Missouri,  for  a  quarter  of  a  century. 
Mr.  Brown  was  born  in  1857  in  Washington 
County,  Ohio,  where  his  early  life  was  passed  and 
his  education  secured.  He  died  January  13, 
1901,  at  his  home  in  St.  Joseph. 

When  Mr.  Brown  came  to  this  city  about 
1876,  he  selected  the  real  estate  line  as  the  one 
most  promising  to  his  business  point  of  view  and 
he  lived  to  realize  his  ambitions,  the  city  having 
developed  along  the  paths  he  foresaw,  miles  of 
streets  having  been  added  to  her  jurisdiction  and 
more  and  more  adjacent  territory  having  been 
absorbed  from  }ear  to  year.  In  this  prosperity 
he  was  a  prominent  factor  and  for  25  years  gave 
his  attention  to  enhancing  the  values  of  real 
estate  in  this  locality  and  in  promoting  the  estab- 
lishment here  of  some  of  the  city's  greatest  indus- 
tries. For  a  time  he  was  associated  with  the  late 
J.  M.  Hall,  but  more  recently  with  his  brother, 
George  Brown,  under  the  firm  name  of  Brown 
&  Brown,  with  offices  at  Fourth  and  Francis 
streets. 

Mr.  Brown  was  married  on  June  16,  1880.  to 
Sallie  R.  Rogers,  a  daughter  of  James  W.  Rogers 
and  a  member  of  a  prominent  Kentucky  family. 
He  is  survived  by  Mrs.  Brown  and  by  three  chil- 
dren.— Fay,  Hazel  and  Roland :  as  well  as  by 
three  brothers,  viz:  George,  his  late  partner,  John, 
an  insurance  agent,  and  William  W..  who  is  in 


436 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


the  real  estate  business.    The  family  are  members 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

Mr.  Brown  was  fraternally  connected  with 
King  Hill  Lodge  No.  19,  Independent  Order  of 
Odd  Fellows;  Pocahontas  Tribe,  Improved  Order 
of  Red  Men  ;  and  Camp  No.  3044,  Modern  Wood- 
men of  America.  The  imposing  funeral  services 
Avere  conducted  from  the  Brown  family  residence, 
No.  608  North  24th  street,  St.  Joseph,  by  the  Odd 
Fellows,  attended  by  the  members  of  the  other 
fraternities.  His  record  is  one  which  has  only 
reflected  credit  upon  his  city  and  he  left  to  his 
family  a  name  and  fame  unblemished. 


<♦ » » 


UELLER  BROTHERS,  well-known 
and  thoroughly  up-to-date  gardeners 
of  Washington  township,  Buchanan 
County,  are  successfully  engaged  in 
market  gardening  on  their  valuable 
tract  of  34  acres,  located  in  section  33,  township 
58,  range  35,  a  short  distance  from  the  northern 
limits  o'f  the  city  of  St.  Joseph.  Ernst  and  Fred- 
erick Mueller,  constituting  the  business  asso- 
ciation known  as  Mueller  Brothers,  are  both  na- 
tives of  Washington  township,  Buchanan  County, 
the  former  born  December  15,  1870,  and  the  lat- 
ter September  7,  1874.  and  are  sons  of  George 
and  Elizabeth  (Walter)  Mueller. 

The  parents  of  our  subjects  were  born  in 
Switzerland.  They  came  to  the  United  States 
in  1867  and  located  first  in  Buchanan  County 
iiear  the  New  Elm  School,  where  Mr.  Mueller 
was  engaged  in  farming  until  1875,  in  which  year 
he  bought  the  farm  in  Washington  township, 
(now  owned  and  operated  by  his  sons  Ernst  and 
Frederick)  and  farmed  it  until  1898,  when  his 
sons  purchased  it.  Since  then  he  has  lived  a  re- 
tired life  in  St.  Joseph,  having  an  ample  com- 
petency to  enjoy  in  his  declining  years.  The  four 
surviving  children  are :  George,  Ernst,  Frederick 
and  Carrie. 

Mueller  Brothers  have  made  their  little  farm 
-a  veritable  garden  spot.  They  devote  the  whole 
of  it  to  market  gardening,  and  make  a  specialty 
of  growing  vegetables  out  of  season  under  glass. 
Their  cold  frames,  hot  houses,  etc.,  require  10,- 
000  square  feet  of  glass  to  cover  them.  They 
liave  every  convenience  for  the  growth  and  prop- 
agation of  choice  vegetables  and  are  always 
able  to  compete  with  Southern  markets.  They 
•employ  some  six  men.  Those  residents  of  St. 
Joseph   who   have  never   penetrated  three  miles 


north  from  Market  square,  near  the  Savannah 
road,  have  a  pleasant  experience  before  them  in 
viewing  the  wonders  accomplished  by  Mueller 
Brothers'  skill  and  excellent  methods. 

Ernst  Mueller  married  Freda  Ruegsegger, 
who  was  born  in  Switzerland,  and  their  three 
sons  bear  the  names  of  Raymond,  Harold  and 
Rupert.  Frederick  Mueller  married  Sophia  M. 
Hofifelmeyer,  a  native  of  Andrew  County  Mis- 
souri. Both  families  live  together  in  a  beautiful 
residence  that  was  recently  completed.  Both  of 
our  subjects  are  Democrats  in  politics,  German 
Lutherans  in  their  church  affiliations,  and  in  their 
fraternal  relations  are  members  of  Magnolia 
Camp,  No.  5154,  Modern  Woodmen  of  America. 
They  are  honorable  and  upright  business  men  and 
are  held  in  great  esteem  by  all  who  know  them. 


-•-•"•- 


ON.  BENJAMIN  F.  STUART,  a  well- 
known  resident  of  Bloomington  town- 
ship, Buchanan  County,  is  engaged  in 
agricultural  pursuits,  stock-raising  and 
fruit-growing.  He  has  an  excellent 
farm  of  161  acres  in  section  30,  known  as  the 
"Highland  Farm,"  and  has  attained  a  high  de- 
gree of  success.  He  is  a  native  of  this  township, 
iDorn  on  the  old  Stuart  homestead  on  July  3,  i860. 
He  is  a  son  of  Benjamin  and  Martha  (Cox) 
Stuart  and  grandson  of  Samuel  and  Mary 
(Howard)  Stuart. 

The  paternal  great-grandfather  of  our  subject 
came  from  his  native  country,  Scotland,  to 
America  in  the  i8th  century  and  located  on  the 
Eastern  shore  of  Maryland,  where  he  followed 
farming.  His  son,  Samuel  Stuart,  was  born  in 
Scotland  and  came  with  his  parents  to  Maryland, 
thence  removed  to  Virginia  where  he  farmed  near 
where  the  battle  of  Bull  Run  was  afterwards 
fou"-ht  in  the  Civil  War.  He  later  moved  to  Ken- 
tucky  and  still  later  to  Indiana,  where  he  died. 
He  married  IMary  Howard,  and  had  three  sons, — 
John,  William  and  Benjamin, — and  four  daugh- 
ters,— Sarah,  Betsey,  Jane  and  Nancy. 

Benjamin  Stuart  was  born  in  Green  County, 
Kentucky,  May  25,  1816,  and  at  the  age  of  16 
years  moved  to  Washington  County,  Indiana, 
where  he  learned  the  carpenter's  trade,  which  he 
followed  there  for  nine  years.  In  184 1  he  came 
West  to  Missouri,  locating  in  Weston,  Platte 
County,  where  he  engaged  in  farming  in  addition 
to  following  his  trade.  In  1856  he  came  to  Bu- 
chanan County,  acquired  a  farm  in  Bloomington 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


437 


township,  and  here  followed  farming,  stock-rais- 
ing and  fruit-growing  with  success  until  his  death 
on  November  24,  1891.  On  July  7,  1842,  he  was 
joined  in  matrimony  with  Martha  Cox,  daughter 
of  William  Cox,  a  pioneer  farmer  of  Platte 
County.  Mrs.  Stuart  died  January  11,  1892.  Our 
subject's  parents  were  both  members  of  the  Chris- 
tian Church.  In  politics,  .he  was  originally  a 
Whig  and  then  became  a  Democrat.  He  and  his 
wife  were  parents  of  the  following  children : 
Mary  E.  (wife  of  George  Miles),  deceased;  Ida 
Virginia,  deceased ;  Benjamin  F. ;  Anna,  de- 
ceased ;  and  three  who  died  in  infancy. 

Benjamin  F.  Stuart  received  his  educational 
training  in  the  schools  of  the  district  in  which  he 
now  resides,  which  he  attended  until  18  years  of 
age.  He  later  pursued  a  course  of  study  in 
Bryant's  Commercial  College  at  St.  Joseph,  after 
which  he  returned  to  the  farm  and  worked  until 
1890.  In  that  year  he  began  teaching  and  con- 
tinued for  five  terms,  also  selling  nursery  stock 
for  two  years.  Since  then  he  has  devoted  his 
entire  time  and  attention  to  the  farm  and  has 
since  engaged  in  farming  in  a  general  way,  stock- 
raising  and  fruit-growing.  As  a  grower  of  fancy 
fruit,  he  has  attained  quite  an  extensive  reputa- 
tion, and  he  frequently  has  been  called  upon  to 
contribute  to  journals  on  horticultural  subjects. 
An  article  of  particular  merit  was  the  one  on 
"Spraying."  which  he  read  before  the  Platte  Pur- 
chase Fruit-Growers'  Association,  and  which 
afterward  was  reproduced  in  the  Western  Friiit- 
Grozcer.  He  is  the  patentee  of  a  sickle-bar,  the 
prominent  features  of  which  are  its  simplicity  and 
the  ease  and  rapidity  with  which  the  knives  may 
be  replaced  when  broken.  He  has  a  farm  of  i6t 
acres  in  Bloomington  township.  From  this  farm 
one  can  see  into  five  counties  and  count  191  farm 
houses.  He  has  also  a  farm  of  75  acres  jn  Rush 
township.  Both  are  under  a  high  state  of  culti- 
vation and  well  improved.  He  has  an  orchard  of 
50  acres,  comprising  about  3,000  trees, — mostly 
apples  and  peaches.  He  has  also  been  successful 
in  raising  cattle,  horses,  mules  and  hogs.  He  is 
a  man  of  highest  character  and  enjoys  the  high 
esteem  and  respect  of  his  neighbors  and  ac- 
quaintances throughout  this  section. 

On  April  24,  1884,  ^Ir.  Stuart  was  married  to 
Clara  Gray,  a  daughter  of  Madison  Gray,  a  mer- 
chant of  Rushville,  Missouri,  and  they  had  one 
child, — Crystal, — now  deceased.  On  April  4, 
1892,  Mr.  Stuart  was  married  to  Mary  Wellman, 
a  daughter  of  Jeremiah  Wellman,  of  Lewis 
County,  Kentucky,  by  whom  he  has  the  following 


children :  Clare  E.,  Jessie,  Ben  W.,  Blanche,  Leo 
and  Julian.  Mr.  Stuart  and  family  are  members 
of  the  Christian  Church.  He  is  a  Democrat  in 
politics,  and  served  six  years,  from  1887,  ""^  the 
State  Legislature,  being  elected  Speaker  pro  tern 
of  the  House  during  the  last  session.  The  Aus- 
tralian Ballot  law  and  grain  inspection  bills  were 
passed  during  his  term.  He  introduced  and  se- 
cured the  passage  of  the  first  law  on  the  Missouri 
statutes  making  fraud  at  a  primary  election  an 
offense  within  the  law. 


< « » 


RED  BANKER,  Jr.,  one  of  the  most 
successful  young  farmers  of  Wayne 
township,  Buchanan  County,  operating 
a  well-improved  and  finely  cultivated 
farm  of  100  acres,  in  section  16,  was 
born  in  this  township,  August  16,  1873,  and  is  a 
son  of  Fred  and  Nancy  L.  (Starmer)  Banker. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  born  July  8, 
1 83 1,  in  Dutchess  County,  New  York,  where  he 
was  afiforded  an  academical  education.  He  left 
his  native  State  on  March  20,  185 1,  for  Leaven- 
worth, Kansas,  and  shortly  afterward  came  to 
Buchanan  County,  where  he  engaged  in  teaching 
school  for  a  time  and  then  settled  down  to  farm- 
ing. He  still  survives,  active  in  mind  and  body, 
but  practically  retired  from  active  pursuits.  On 
May  14,  1868,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Nancy  L.  Starmer,  of  Buchanan  County,  who 
was  born  in  Tennessee,  February  27,  1842,  and 
died  December  29,  1879,  survived  by  four  of  her 
five  children,  viz:  Mary  H.,  born  November  6, 
1870,  who  is  the  wife  of  W.  L.  Brown,  who  is 
engaged  in  the  transfer  business  in  St.  Joseph  ; 
Fred,  Jr..  of  this  sketch ;  John  K.,  born  Novem- 
ber 13,  1874,  who  is  a  farmer  of  Wayne  town- 
ship ;  and  Bettie  A.,  born  June  24,  1877,  who  is 
the  wife  of  Earl  L.  Thrasher,  a  farmer  of  Wayne 
township.  Mr.  Banker  is  one  of  the  township's 
most  substantial  and  respected  citizens.  He  owns 
some  400  acres  of  fine  land,  mostly  under  culti- 
vation and  well-improved,  his  residence  being 
one  of  the  handsomest  rural  homes  in  the  town- 
ship. Mr.  Banker  has  served  as  justice  of  the 
peace  and  for  years  has  been  one  of  the  promin- 
ent Democrats  of  his  section. 

Fred  Banker,  Jr.,  was  educated  in  the  com- 
mon schools  of  Wayne  township  and  began  farm- 
ing at  the  age  of  16  years,  an  occupation  he  has 
continued  ever  since.  His  land  ranks  with  any 
other  in  the  township  as  to  fertility,  and  its  ex- 


438 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


cellent  cultivation  and  substantial  improvements 
make  it  one  of  the  most  valuable. 

On  July  7,  1895,  our  subject  was  married  to 
Daisy  Roundy,  who  is  a  daughter  of  C.  B. 
Roundy.  a  well-known  educator,  residing  at 
Geary  City,  Kansas.  They  have  two  children : 
Elsena,  and  Evangeline.  Both  ]\Ir.  Banker  and 
wife  are  consistent  members  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church. 

Like  his  father,  ^Ir.  Banker  has  always  sup- 
ported the  Democratic  party.  He  served  one 
year  as  constable,  but  at  the  close  of  that  period 
resigned  the  ofifice.  He  is  a  progressive,  enter- 
prising young  man  who  has  won  the  reputation 
of  being  both  an  excellent  farmer  and  a  reliable 
and  useful  citizen,  and,  as  such,  commands  the 
respect  of  all  who  know  him.  The  family  is 
one  held  in  the  highest  esteem  in  Wayne  town- 
ship. 

♦-•-♦ 


AROLD  C.  WEDDLE,  D.  D.  S.,  one  of 
the  leading  dental  practitioners  of  St. 
Joseph,  was  born  in  this  city  in  1875, 
and  is  a  son  of  Frederick  and  ^lary 
Christina  (Xelson)  W'eddle. 
The  ancestral  history  of  Dr.  W^eddle  reaches 
back  to  the  Royal  Palace  of  the  King  of  Denmark, 
where  his  father  was  born  and  where  his  grand- 
father filled  a  high  official  position  under  King 
Christian  IX.  The  life  of  the  late  Frederick 
Weddle  was  one  of  unusual  adventure.  Exiled 
from  his  native  land  with  his  father,  who  was 
banished  for  political  reasons,  he  came  to  Amer- 
ica and  to  the  West,  where  his  name  is  identified 
with  many  facts  of  history,  notably  the  Pony  Ex- 
press, which  had  its  beginning  in  St.  Joseph,  and 
which  was  the  forerunner  of  the  lightning  express 
that  whirls  the  mail  from  one  coast  to  the  other. 
Frederick  Weddle  was  born  May  31,  1829, 
in  the  Royal  Palace  at  Copenhagen,  Denmark, 
and  lived  in  courtly  surroundings  through  his 
early  boyhood,  his  fatlier  being  chief  magistrate 
of  the  Royal  Court  and,  as  such,  the  royal  coun- 
selor of  King  Christian  IX.  He  was  educated 
at  court  and  was  a  playmate  of  the  royal  prince, 
who  afterward  ascended  the  throne  as  King 
Christian  IX.,  and  is  still  the  ruler.  When  about 
16  years  of  age,  grave  matters,  involving  the 
rights  of  the  ]:)eople  arose,  and  in  the  consequent 
controversy  Counselor  Frederick  Clausen  Wed- 
dle, our  subject's  distinguished  grandfather,  op- 
posed the  ruler  in  curtailing  the  freedom  of  his 
subjects.    This  brought  to  him  disgrace  and  ban- 


ishment and,  with  his  only  son,  our  subject's 
father,  the  faithful  Danish  official  was  obliged  to 
leave  his  friends,  his  home  and  his  immense  es- 
tates and  seek  oblivion  in  a  foreign  land.  His 
wife  was  left  behind  until  such  time  as  she  could 
safely  join  her  husband  and  son  in  their  banish- 
ment, but  this  never  came  and  she  did  not  live  to 
see  them  again. 

It  was  in  America  that  the  aged  counselor 
and  his  son  sought  the  freedom  denied  them  in 
their  native  land.  A  faithful  servitor  followed 
their  fortunes.  In  difTerent  places  they  resided 
for  a  time,  finally  locating  at  St.  Joseph,  Missouri, 
then  but  a  border  village.  Subsequently  the 
father  died  at  Los  Angeles,  California.  The  un- 
usual surroundings  into  which  the  youth,  bred 
in  the  courtly  life  of  the  castle  of  the  king,  now 
found  himself,  exerted  a  wonderful  fascination 
and  he  eagerly  entered  into  the  wild  and  adven- 
turous life  of  the  time  and  locality.  He  soon  was 
employed  by  Ben  Holliday,  of  Pony  Express 
fame,  and  before  he  had  reached  the  age  of  man- 
hood he  was  appointed  superintendent  of  the  St. 
Joseph  and  Salt  Lake  City  mail  route.  After 
some  years  in  this  service,  he  joined  the  United 
States  Army,  receiving  a  captain's  commission 
and  an  appointment  in  the  commissary  depart- 
ment. He  was  stationed  at  Fort  Leavenworth 
and  was  placed  in  charge  of  the  government  sui> 
plies  and  freighting  trains.  He  was  at  Fort 
Leavenworth  when  the  Civil  War  broke  out  and 
was  called  thence  to  St.  Louis  and  later  to  Wash- 
ington, where  he  served  in  the  commissary  de- 
partment and  continued  in  charge  of  the  govern- 
ment teams  until  two  years  after  the  Civil  War. 

In  the  meantime  his  family  continued  to  re- 
side at  St.  Joseph,  and  he  came  back  to  this  citv 
for  a  time,  but  in  1867  he  went  to  the  Black  Hills 
to  again  engage  in  the  business  of  freighting  for 
the  government,  finding  enjoyment  in  the  dan- 
gers and  hardships  of  that  work.  Those  were 
perilous  times,  indeed.  The  Indians  were  mad- 
dened by  the  invasions  of  the  whites,  and,  crazed 
bv  their  fire-water  and  armed  by  faithless  agents, 
were  ]ircpared  for  just  such  dreadful  deeds  as 
were  enacted  through  those  years  of  terror  in  the 
mountains  and  valleys  of  the  great  West.  The 
freighters  were  in  the  greatest  danger.  They 
were  men  of  steel,  accustomed  to  face  death  in 
every  dreadful  form  and  to  oppose  the  crafty 
enemy  hidden  on  every  side.  ^Ir.  Weddle  had 
grown  into  an  experienced  man  of  this  type  and 
successfully  escaped  many  dangers,  his  life  being 
frequently   saved  by  the  smallest  chance.     This 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


439 


was  the  case  at  the  bloody  massacre  of  the  Little 
Big  Horn,  when  his  friend  General  Custer  and  his 
gallant  associates  met  their  terrible  fate. 

In  1876,  Mr.  W'eddle  returned  to  Buchanan 
County,  to  make  his  home  permanently  with  his 
family,  and  remained  quietly  at  home,  engaged 
in  peaceful  pursuits  until  his  death,  which  oc- 
curred, the  result  of  an  accident,  on  July  25, 
1901.  He  owned  an  estate  some  six  miles  south- 
east of  St.  Joseph,  where  he  engaged  in  farming 
and  stock-raising.  He  was  72  years  of  age.  but 
the  hard  life  had  left  him  hale  and  hearty  and  it 
was  while  combating  with  one  of  his  steers  that 
he  was  thrown  to  the  ground  and  so  seriously  in- 
jured that  his  death  resulted.  In  spite  of  his 
many  experiences,  both  in.  boyhood  and  manhood, 
he  was  very  reticent  concerning  what  he  had  en- 
dured and  also  what  he  had  accomplished.  Of 
his  royal  associations  in  youth,  he  seldom  spoke 
and  it  was  only  in  his  last  da^-'s  that  he  revealed  to 
his  son,  our  subject,  the  interesting  details  we 
have  been  permitted  to  perpetuate  in  this  very 
incomplete  record  of  the  life  of  a  very  remark- 
able man. 

At  St.  Joseph,  INIissouri,  '\la.y  22,  1861,  Fred- 
erick Weddle  was  united  in  marriage  with  Alary 
Christina  Nelson,  who  was  born  in  Norway. 
She  still  resides  in  the  old  homestead  in  Center 
township,  Buchanan  County,  a  lady  most  highly 
respected  and  a  consistent  member  of  the  Lu- 
theran Church.  Her  late  husband  was  one  of  the 
charter  members  of  the  First  English  Lutheran 
Church  of  St.  Joseph,  and  was  made  one  of  its 
elders  upon  its  organization.  He  was  interested 
in  its  prosperity  until  the  close  of  his  life.  The 
seven  children  of  this  marriage  were:  Frederick 
A.,  Peter  N.,  Charlotte,  Alartha  E.,  \'aldemar, 
Harold  C.  and  Nellie. 

Harold  C.  Weddle,  to  whose  immediate 
biography  we  return,  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  of  St.  Joseph.  In  selecting  a  future  ca- 
reer, he  decided  upon  dental  surgery  and  entered 
the  office  of  Dr.  Cronkite,  a  well-known  dentist 
of  this  city,  who  prepared  him  for  entrance  into 
the  Kansas  City  Dental  College,  where  he  was 
graduated  in  1900.  He  returned  to  St.  Joseph, 
entered  into  practice  here  and  has  continued  with 
much  success.  He  is  well  located  for  business  and 
employs  all  the  modern  methods  known  to  the  pro- 
fession. He  is  also  very  highly  considered  per- 
sonally and  is  justly  regarded  as  one  of  the  city's 
representative  young  professional  men. 

On  September  t6,  T903.  Dr.  Weddle  was  mar- 


ried to  Lillian  AI.  Bateman,  a  member  of  one  of 
St.  Joseph's  old  and  prominent  families. 

While  not  active  politically,  Dr.  Weddle  is  a 
stanch  Democrat  and  rejoices  in  his  party's  suc- 
cess, without  any  thought  of  personal  advantage. 
His  fraternal  connection  is  with  the  Benevolent 
and  Protective  Order  of  Elks. 


-♦-•-•^ 


AMES  W.  ATWILL.  a  coal  operator  of 
St.  Joseph,  was  born  in  February,  1844, 
at  Boston,  Massachusetts.  He  served 
in  the  Civil  War  from  1861  to  1865, 
and  from  the  latter  year  until  1870  was 
in  the  mercantile  business  at  St.  Louis,  Missouri. 
From  1870  to  1872,  he  was  engaged  with  coal 
companies  as  sales  agent ;  from  1872  to  1879,  gen- 
eral freight  and  ticket  agent  of  the  old  St.  Jo- 
seph &  Denver  City  Railroad,  now  called  the 
St.  Joseph  &  Grand  Island  Railway,  since  which 
time  uiTtil  1904  he  has  been  operating  in  the 
coal  mines  of  ^Missouri  and  Iowa. 

Mr.  Atwill  has  been  twice  elected  councilmaiT 
of  the  old  Fourth  Ward,  serving  from  1879  until 
1881.  Since  1901  he  has  been  president  of  the 
St.  Joseph  Free  Public  Library, 

On  March  16. 
lina,  Mr.  Atwill  was  married  to  Miss  Wiswall, 
who  died  in  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  April  17,  1867. 
As  his  second  wife,  he  married  Aliss  Richards 
of  West  Roxbury.  Massachusetts,  on  September 
17,  1870,  and  has  these  children  :  Eliza  M.,  born 
at  St.. Louis;  Frank  R.,  born  at  St.  Joseph;  and 
Esther  W.,  born  at  St.  Joseph. 

Mr.  Atwill  is  a  member  of  die  following  so- 
cieties :  Mayfiower  Descendants,  Colonial  Wars, 
Sons  of  the  Revolution,  Military  Order  of  the 
Loyal  Legion  of  the  United  States,  Grand  Army 
of  the  Republic  and  Knights  Templar. 


1865.  at  Beaufort,  North  Caro- 


♦ » » 


OHN  W.  PAGE,  president  of  the  De- 
Kalb  State  Bank  and  a  prominent  citizen 
and  capitalist  of  Buchanan  County,  was 
born  in  Fleiuing  County,  Kentucky, 
September   20,    1842,   and   is   a   son   of 

Jesse  and   Emilv    ( Plummer)    Page. 

William  Page,  grandfather  of  John  \\'.  Page, 

was  a  native  of  Virginia,  belonging  to  a  sturdy 

stock  which   reared  large   families,   hved  sober. 

virtuous  lives  and  often  outlived  the  Psalmist's 


440 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY  AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


three  score  and  ten  years.  He  died  within  two 
years  of  rounding  out  a  century.  The  father  of 
our  subject  was  reared  in  Kentucky  and  came  to 
Klissouri  in  1845,  settHng  down  in  the  wilderness 
which  then  enveloped  the  whole  of  Platte  County. 
The  tract  of  land  selected  by  Jesse  Page  was  a 
dense  forest  at  that  time,  which  was  still  the 
home  of  wild  animals  and  the  only  roads  were  the 
paths  made  by  the  Indians.  A  little  home  of  logs 
was  soon  constructed  and  the  father  courageously 
started  in  to  clearing  away  the  dense  forest 
growth,  with  the  woodman's  ax  as  his  only  imple- 
ment. Industry,  determination  and  persistency 
brought  about  their  certain  reward,  and  the  time 
came  when  this  forest  farm,  cleared  and  culti- 
vated, attracted  a  buyer  and  it  was  disposed  of  to 
great  advantage.  Mr.  Page  bought  another  farm 
on  which  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life.  He 
engaged  in  extensive  farming  and  stock-raising, 
accumulated  a  large  capital  and  was  one  of  the 
much  respected  and  highly  valued  men  of  his 
locality. 

Jesse  Page  married  Emily  Plummer,  who  was 
born  in  Kentucky  in  1820  and  still  survives. 
This  venerable  and  beloved  lady  has  survived  her 
husband  and  several  of  her  12  children,  and  still 
looks  out  on  life  with  the  cheerful  spirit  which 
enabled  her  to  endure  the  hardships  and  priva- 
tions of  pioneer  life  in  Missouri,  after  giving  up 
the  comforts  of  the  old  Kentucky  home.  The 
children  born  to  Jesse  and  Emily  (Plummer) 
Page  were  the  following :  Frank,  of  Platte  Coun- 
ty, Missouri ;  John  W.,  of  DeKalb ;  Elizabeth 
(Mrs.  Osborne),  of  Buchanan  County;  William, 
deceased;  Amanda  (Mrs.  Rees),  deceased; 
Louisa  (Mrs.  Lawson),  of  Platte  County; 
George,  of  Buchanan  County ;  Melissa  ( Mrs. 
Holland),  of  Kansas;  James,  of  Oakland,  Cali- 
fornia; Alice  (Airs.  Hargrove)  ;  Charles,  of  Bu- 
chanan County  ;  and  Amy,  wife  of  Luther  Brown, 
of  Platte  County. 

Our  subject  was  three  years  old  when  his 
parents  moved  to  Platte  County  and  he  can  still 
recall  the  time  when  there  was  not  one  piece  of 
cleared  land  from  the  home  farm  to  Bean  Lake, 
a  distance  of  four  miles.  He  well  remembers 
many  of  their  Indian  visitors  and  recalls  tlie 
great  and  wonderful  days  of  his  boyhood  when 
he  was  permitted  to  accompany  his  father  to 
Weston,  the  nearest  trading  point,  to  secure  sup- 
plies. His  school  opportunities  were  far  indeed 
removed  from  those'  of  the  present  day,  and  his 
first  school  house  was  a  log  structure,  with  slabs 
for  benches,  long  ])lanks  for  writing  desks  and 


very  little  artificial  ventilation,  the  latter  being 
not  a  necessity  on  account  of  the  construction  of 
the  building.  This  school  was  supported  by  sub- 
scriptions and  all  its  appliances  Avere  of  the  most 
primitive  character.  Later  he  attended  the  pub- 
lic schools  for  some  years,  during  the  fall  and  win- 
ter terms,  working  on  the  farm  during  the  sum- 
mer seasons.  Thus  Mr.  Page  grew  into  a  sturdy, 
healthful,  intelligent  manhood  and  at  the  age 
of  22  was  ready  to  start  out  to  make  his  own  way ; 
he  selected  an  agricultural  life,  both  from  choice 
and  because  his  practical  education  had  been  in 
this  line.  He  remained  in  Platte  County,  opera- 
ting farming  land  and  handling  a  large  amount 
of  stock,  until  he  had  amassed  a  large  capital 
and  had  become  financially  interested  in  the  De- 
Kalb State  Bank,  of  which  he  was  elected  presi- 
dent on  October  21,  1902. 

In  1904  Mr.  Page  removed  to  DeKalb,  where 
he  has  a  beautiful  residence  of  modern  style  and 
architecture,  located  on  an  eminence  and  sur- 
rounded by  large  ornamental  grounds.  He  owns 
several  large  farms  in  Buchanan  and  Platte  coun- 
ties, and  finds  much  of  his  time  occupied  in  look- 
ing after  his  landed  interests.  The  banking  insti- 
tution, of  which  he  is  president,  is  one  of  the 
sound,  conservative  concerns  of  the  county  which 
does  a  large  amount  of  safe  business,  has  many 
depositors  and  meets  every  requirement  of  the 
section. 

In  1865,  Mr.  Page  was  married  to  Caroline 
Grooms,  who  was  born  in  Clark  County,  Ken- 
tucky, and  they  have  had  two  children,  Mary 
and  Nannie,  the  latter  of  whom  died  at  the  age 
of  two  years.  The  former  married  Thomas 
Pyles,  of  DeKalb,  and  is  the  mother  of  six  chil- 
dren, namely:  Nannie,  John,  James,  Frank,  Caro- 
line and  Chester.  Mr.  Page  and  wife  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Sugar  Creek  Christian  Church,  of 
which  he  has  been  deacon  for  years. 


# »» 


1 

n 

J 

LIVER  G.  COX,  who  fills  the  responsible 
position  of  day  watchman  of  the  great 
reservoir  which  supplies  the  citizens  of 
St.  Joseph  with  their  water  supply,  was 
born  in  England,  August  12,  1859,  and 
is  a  son  of  George  Cox. 

Mr.  Cox  was  reared  on  a  farm  until  he  came 
to  the  United  States,  in  1879.  He  took  up  farm- 
ing in  Jefferson  County,  Wisconsin,  for  a  short 
time,  and  then  went  to  South  Dakota.  There  he 
raised  wheat  for  eight  years  and  tlien  went  to 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


441 


Oregon,  continuing  his  agricultural  life.  For  the 
past  10  years,  Mr.  Cox  has  been  a  resident  of 
Buchanan  County,  and  for  four  years  has  held 
his  present  position. 

Many  duties  are  connected  with  the  position 
which  Mr.  Cox  so  capably  fills.  The  three  great 
basins,  which  hold  the  water  that  is  distributed 
over  St.  Joseph,  cover  some  three  acres  and  this 
place,  under  'Sir.  Cox's  superintendence,  resem- 
bles a  great  park.  One  of  these  reservoirs  holds 
5,000,000  gallons  of  water,  the  second  holds 
3,000,000  gallons,  and  the  third  holds  4,000,- 
000.  The  supply  all  comes  from  the  Missouri 
River,  one  mile  northwest  of  the  city,  and  the 
distributing  tank  holds  886,000  gallons.  It  would 
scarcely  have  been  possible  to  find  a  more  efficient 
man  for  the  work  of  superintending  this  plant 
than  Mr.  Cox.  He  not  only  performs  all  the 
necessary  duties,  but  takes  a  personal  interest  in 
ever}thiiig  in  connection  with  the  grounds. 

Mr.  Cox  has  a  pleasant  home  and  an  interest- 
ing family.  He  married  Isabel  Chambers,  who 
was  also  born  in  England,  and  they  have  10  chil- 
dren:  Richard,  Olive,  Louise,  William,  Robert. 
Isabel,  Alice,  Charles,  Florence  and  Harold. 

Politically,  Mr.  Cox  is  a  Republican.  He  is 
a  man  of  discrimination  and  judgment,  perfectly 
reliable  in  every  way  and  his  continuance  in  his 
present  position,  from  year  to  year,  indicates  the 
confidence  the  citv  feels  in  his  trustworthiness. 


♦  »♦■ 


Chandler,  and  after  being  admitted  to  the  bar  he 
engaged  and  continued  in  the  practice  of  the  law 
until  1893,  since  which  time  ill  health  has  caused 
him  to  practically  retire  from  any  active  duties 
along  this  line.  During  the  late  years  of  his 
practice  a  good  deal  of  his  time  was  devoted  to 
looking  after  his  large  real  estate  holdings,  that 
had  been  acquired  through  his  own  efforts,  and 
since  1893  such  interest  has  required  his  un- 
divided time. 

In  1867,  Mr.  Zimmerman  was  married  to  Ada 
Hawley,  a  daughter  of  James  M.  Hawley,  once 
a  prominent  merchant  of  this  section,  and  wlio 
was  born  in  Avon,  Michigan,  in  1848.  They 
have  two  children,  Lura  M.,  wife  of  Dr.  J.  C. 
Stor}^  of  St.  Joseph  ;  and  Eugene  H.  Zimmerman, 
who  is  cashier  of  the  Tootle-Lemon  National 
Bank  of  St.  Joseph. 


UGENE  C.  ZnOIER^IAN,  one  of  the 
highly  esteemed  retired  business  men 
of  St.  Joseph,  was  born  in  Frederick 
County,  iMaryland,  October  28,  1846. 
His  father,  who  was  engaged  in  the 
mercantile  business  at  Baltimore,  died  in  1850, 
leaving  a  widow  with  two  children,  one  of  whom 
is  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  and  who  was  at  the 
time  four  years  of  age. 

Mr.  Zimmerman  was  early  thrown  upon  his 
own  resources,  and  is  in  every  sense  of  the  word 
a  self-made  man.  He  attended  the  preparatory 
class  at  Heidelberg  College  in  Ohio,  and  after 
coming  to  St.  Joseph,  shortly  before  the  Civil 
War,  continued  his  studies  in  a  private  school 
in  this  city.  In  the  early  part  of  the  Civil  War 
Mr.  Zimmerman  enlisted  as  a  private  in  the 
Fourth  Regiment,  Missouri  Vol.  Cav..  but  after 
about  six  months  of  service  was  mustered  out 
on  account  of  sickness.  He  then  began  the  study 
of  the  law   in   the  office  of   Parker,    Strong  & 


-♦-♦-♦- 


lOHN  RAILEY  STEELE,  one  of  the 
leading  farmers  and  extensive  stock- 
raisers  of  Bloomington  township,  Bu- 
chanan County,  residing  in  section  5,  on 
his  valuable  farm  of  128  acres,  was  born 
in  Buchanan  County,  Alissouri.  February  15^ 
1854,  and  is  a  son  of  William  T.  and  Elizabeth 
(Dooley)  Steele.  The  grandparents  of  Mr. 
Steele  were  Rev.  Oliver  and  Sarah  (Hill)  Steele. 

William  T.  .Steele  was  twice  married,  and  our 
subject  is  the  oldest  child  of  the  first  union.  The 
father  and  grandfather  were  pioneers  in  Platte 
County,  Missouri.  The  grandfather  was  very 
well  known  and  popular  over  such  a  wide  extent 
of  country  that  he  was  called  upon  to  perform 
more  marriage  ceremonies  than  any  other  clergy- 
man of  the  State. 

John  Railey  Steele  is  a  man  of  education  and 
business  experience  and  has  been  a  farmer  all  his 
life  since  resigning  his  position  of  pedagogue. 
He  was  educated  in  the  Sleepy  Hollow  District 
School,  in  Buchanan  County,  and  then  taught 
school  in  the  districts  of  Linn  Grove,  Hall's  Sta- 
tion and  Wilson,  after  three  terms  attendance  at 
the  Platte  City  and  Independence  schools.  His 
record  in  the  latter  school  was  higher  than  any 
reached  by  the  other  pupils,  registering  100  in 
all  his  studies  and  in  deportment.  He  then  began 
farming  and  formed  a  partnership  in  the  stock 
business,  with  his  brother,  under  the  firm  name 
of  J.  R.  &  O.  C.  Steele,  which  continued  until 
1904.     They  were  buyers  and  shippers  of  stock. 

Mr.  Steele's  present  fine  farm  is  one  of  the 


442 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


most  valuable  in  the  township,  being  well  located 
and  well  watered.  He  has  given  a  great  deal  of 
attention  to  Shorthorn  cattle  and  Poland-China 
hogs.  When  he  first  settled  here,  only  40  acres 
of  the  property  were  under  cultivation.  The  log 
house,  probably  60  years  old,  the  home  of  the 
original  settler  of  the  farm,  has  been  replaced  by 
one  of  the  finest  modern  homes  in  the  township, 
at  a  cost  of  $3,000.  Wide  porches  on  every  side 
afford  pleasant  resting  places  at  all  times  of  the 
day,  while  the  beautiful  trees  give  grateful  shade. 
Mr.  Steele  has  a  beautiful  home  of  which  he  may 
feel  justly  proud,  as  it  will  compare  favorably 
with  a  city  residence,  both  in  comfort  and  ap- 
pearance. 

Mr.  Steele  was  married  first  to  Stella  Brown, 
daughter  of  Thomas  and  Julia  A.  (Kenley) 
Brown,  of  Buchanan  County,  and  they  had  two 
children :  William,  wdio  resides  at  home ;  and 
Alice,  who  married  Cecil  Curtis  and  has  two  chil- 
dren. Mr.  Steele  was  married  second  to  Ida  M. 
Swartz,  who  was  born  in  Doniphan  County,  Kan- 
sas, and  is  a  daughter  of  John  and  Margaret 
(Blair)  Swartz.  They  have  two  children:  Oliver 
S.  and  Elizabeth  Ruth'  Both  ]\Ir.  and  Mrs.  Steele 
are  consistent  members  of  the  DeKalb  Christian 
Church,  of  which  he  is  a  deacon,  and  both  are 
teachers  in  the  Sunday-school.  While  not  seek- 
ing office,  he  has  frequently  been  called  on  to 
take  a  prominent  part  in  the  affairs  of  Blooming- 
ton  township.  He  served  as  clerk  of  the  Sleepy 
Hollow  School  District,  and  has  always  paid  at- 
tention to  public  questions  affecting  the  welfare 
of  his  coiiimunity.  He  is  in  favor  of  good  roads 
legislation. 


♦ » » 


OHN  \y.  LOWER,  who  resides  on  a 
farm  in  section  2,  Bloomington  town- 
ship, Buchanan  County,  comes  of  one  of 
the  pioneer  families  of  Northwestern 
Missouri.  He  was  born  on  a  farm  in 
Wayne  township,  Buchanan  County,  Missouri, 
July  1 1,  185 1,  and  is  a  son  of  Henry  and  Sarah  A. 
(Sandy)  Lower  and  grandson  of  Jacob  and  Sarah 
(Cline)  Lower.  His  great-grandfather  was  one 
of  several  brothers  who  came  from  England  to 
this  country. 

Jacob  Lower  was  born  in  Tennessee  in  1787, 
and  in  several  Indian  wars  did  service  under 
Gen.  Andrew  Jackson,  acting  as  orderly  ser- 
geant. After  his  marriage  he  continued  to  reside 
in  Tennessee  until  1836.  then  moved  to  Mis- 
souri, where  he  resided  in  Jackson  County  one  and 


a  half  years.  In  the  fall  of  1837,  his  two  sons, 
Henry  and  Jacob,  located  a  claim  in  section  t,6, 
Wayne  township,  on  which  they  erected  a  log 
cabin.  Jacob  Lower,  Sr.,  removed  to  the  claim 
with  his  family  and  there  lived  until  1857,  when 
he  and  his  wife  died  of  Asiatic  cholera,  one  dying 
August  6th,  and  the  other  two  days  later.  His 
wife,  Sarah  Cline,  was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania. 
They  were  married  in  Tennessee  and  became  pa- 
rents of  the  following  children  :  Mattie,  wife  of 
.Vnthony  Graves  :  Andrew  ;  Rosa,  wife  of  Jesse 
Blevins ;  Henry ;  Letitia,  wife  of  Joseph  Thomp- 
son ;  Isaac  ;  John  ;  and  Jacob.  All  of  the  chil- 
dren married  and  reared  families. 

Henry  Lower,  father  of  our  subject,  was  born 
July  14.  1 8 18,  in  Roane  County.  Tennessee.  He 
came  with  his  parents  to  jMis.souri  and  assisted 
materially  in  clearing  the  land  of  the  Jackson 
County  farm  and  putting  it  in  a  tillable  state. 
His  educational  advantages  were  exceedingly 
limited.  He  remained  at  home  until  he  was  25 
years  of  age,  in  the  meantime  working  out  for 
others.  In  1837,  he  went  as  a  teamster  with 
freighters  to  vSanta  Fe.  New  Mexico,  a  trip  at- 
tended with  great  difficu.ltics  and  hardships,  ow- 
ing to  numerous  and  troublesome  Indians.  Upon 
one  occasion  the  party  was  completely  surrounded 
by  red  men  but  fortunately  had  a  cannon,  with 
which  they  freightened  the  redskins  away.  He 
located  a  claim  in  section  36.  Wayne  township, 
Buchanan  County,  and  lived  in  a  cabin,  16  by 
18  feet,  which  he  built.  As  his  family  grew  he 
increased  the  house,  and  made  various  improve- 
ments such  as  replacing  a  chimney  of  sticks 
and  clay  with  one  built  of  stone.  At  that  time 
they  cooked  in  the  old  open  fire-place,  and  all  of 
their  clothing  was  homespun.  They  made  their 
own  tallow  candles  to  provide  them  with  light. 
The  implements  with  which  they  farmed  would 
indeed  be  crude  at  this  day  and  age.  The  first 
plow  w^as  the  old  wooden  mold-board  plow  and 
grain  was  cut  with  a  reaping  hook.  In  1866, 
Henry  Lower  erected  what  was  a  handsome  house 
in  those  days,  a  two-story  frame  of  six  rooms, 
which  cost  $2,500,  as  building  material  was  very 
high  at  the  close  of  the  war.  On  February  4, 
1844,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Sarah  A. 
Sandy,  who  was  born  March  14.  1822,  in  Owen 
County,  Indiana,  and  was  a  daughter  of  Henry 
and  Elizabeth  (Carson)  Sandy,  her  father  a  na- 
tive of  INIaryland  and  her  modier  of  Ireland. 
Both  died  near  Bethel  Church  in  Wayne  town- 
ship. Mrs.  Sandy  was  one  of  the  first  members 
of  the  Christian  Church  at  the  time  it  was  or- 


HON.   WILLIAM     RIDGEWAY    PENICK 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


445 


ganized  in  Indiana.  Henry  Lower  was  a  life- 
long member  of  the  Christian  Church,  and  con- 
tributed $500  toward  the  erection  of  Bethel 
Church.  He  served  as  deacon  and  elder  imtil  his 
death.  His  wife  died  in  June,  1890,  and  he 
survived  until  ^larch  24.  1895,  when  he  died  at 
the  age  of  yy  years.  Socially,  he  was  a  member 
of  the  Grange  in  which  he  served  as  master. 
In  politics  he  was  always  Democratic,  and  was  a 
follower  of  Andrew  Jackson  for  many  years. 
During  the  Civil  War  he  was  a  member  of  the 
militia.  Of  his  brothers  and  sisters,  one  sur- 
vives. John,  of  Lodi,  California.  To  Henry 
Lower  and  his  wife  were  born  10  children,  as 
follows:  Louisa  J.,  wife  of  Calvin  Jarratt.  a 
farmer  of  Xodawa}-  County,  Missouri ;  Sarah, 
A\ife  of  James  Brady,  a  farmer  of  Buchanan 
County;  Mary  E.,  wife  of  Joseph  Dittemore,  a 
farmer  of  Colorado;  John  W.,  our  subject; 
James  C,  a  farmer  and  cattle-buyer  of  Et^ngham, 
Kansas ;  IMartha  Adeline,  who  was  about  38 
years  old  at  the  time  of  her  decease ;  Isaac  N., 
deceased,  who  was  a  farmer  of  Wayne  town- 
ship ;  Henry  ]\I.,  a  farmer  of  Wayne  township, 
a  record  of  whose  life  appears  elsewhere  in  this 
v»-ork ;  Anna,  w-ho  died  at  the  age  of  19  years ; 
and  Lillie  M.,  who  died  at  the  age  of  19  years. 
John  W.  Lower,  our  subject,  was  educated 
in  the  district  school  and  was  reared  on  the  farm. 
His  early  life  was  that  of  the  ordinary  farmer 
boy,  attending  school  during  the  dull  winter 
months  and  working  hard  throughout  the  sum- 
mer season.  He  attended  Warrensburg  Normal 
School  three  months,  and  Kirksville  Normal 
School  four  months.  He  then  taught  three 
months  in  Nodaway  County,  and  two  terms  in 
Lewis  district, — one  of  six  months  and  one  of 
four  months.  He  then  returned  hpme  where  he 
lived  until  his  marriage  in  1883,  when  he  moved 
to  Doniphan  County,  Kansas,  and  settled  on  a 
quarter  section  of  land  four  miles  south  of  Troy. 
"He  lived  there  three  and  a  half  years,  cleared  it 
of  its  brush  and  erected  good  buildings  upon  it, 
then  sold  it  to  good  advantage  and  returned  to 
Buchanan  County.  He  purchased  tlie  northwest 
quarter  of  section  2,  Bloomington  township,  only 
45  acres  of  which  were  in  cultivation,  the  re- 
mainder being  heavily  timbered.  This  was  known 
as  the  John  S.  Pickett  place.  He  cleared  and 
broke  the  land,  and  at  the  present  time  has  90 
acres  under  cultivation,  the  rest  being  in  pasture 
and  timber.  The  farm  is  well  stocked  with  Here- 
ford cattle,  Giester  White  hogs,  and  draft  horses. 
Success  has  attended  every  step  of  his  business 


career,  and  he  takes  rank  among  the  substantial 
men  of  the  county. 

On  February  22.  1883.  the  anniversary  of 
Washington's  birth  and  also  that  of  Mrs.  Lower's 
mother,  was  the  day  on  which  John  W.  Lower 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Bettie  Roberts,  a 
daughter  of  James  and  Margaret  J.  (Sampson) 
Roberts.  Mrs.  Roberts  was  a  daughter  of  John 
Sampson.  ]\Ir.  Roberts  was  a  son  of  Hon.  Cor- 
nelius and  Lucinda  (Thompson)  Roberts,  both 
deceased.  After  the  death  of  James  Roberts, 
Mrs.  Roberts  formed  a  second  matrimonial  al- 
liance with  Henry  Dittemore.  of  Wayne  town- 
ship. Mrs.  Lower  was  four  years  old  when  she 
lost  her  father.  Her  educational  training  was 
such  as  could  be  procured  in  the  schools  in  the 
vicinity  of  her  home.  Her  union  with  T\lr.  Lower 
has  been  productive  of  no  issue,  but  they  reared 
one  child,  Maude  (\\'alters)  Lower,  giving  her 
good  schooling  and  training.  She  is  now  the 
wife  of  Louis  Hector,  of  Maysville,  INlis^uri, 
whom  she  married  in  1902,  and  they  have  one 
child, — ^Merrill   Edison  Hector. 

John  W.  Lower  is  a  public-spirited  man  and 
takes  an  interest  in  the  affairs  of  the  community. 
He  served  as  school  director  for  six  years.  He 
is  a  member  of  Bethel  Christian  Church,  of  which 
he  has  been  an  elder  to  years,  and  was  one  of  the 
charter  members  of  the  new  organization.  He 
has  served  as  superintendent  of  the  Sunday- 
school  for  a  period  of  24  years,  and  has  a  school 
of  65  members. 


■♦ « » 


ON.  WILLIAM  RIDGE  WAY  PEN- 
ICK,  formerly  mayor  of  St.  Joseph, 
and  for  many  years  one  of  her  most 
prominent  citizens  in  business,  political 
and  social  life,  passed  away  on  Decem- 
ber 4.  1901.  leaving  behind  him  a  record  of  op- 
portunities grasped  and  noble  deeds  done.  Mr. 
Penick  was  born  near  Columbia,  Boone  County, 
^Tissouri,  May  20,  1829,  and  was  a  son  of  JoeL 
J.  and  Sophia  B.  (Ridgeway)  Penick. 

Joel  J.  Penick,  father  of  our  subject,  was  a 
native  of  Prince  Edward  County.  Virginia,  but 
in  childhood  was  taken  b}'  his  parents  to  Ken- 
tucky and  there  grew  up  amidst  pioneer  sur- 
roundings. While  still  a  youth  he  went  to  ]\lis- 
souri,  and  soon  after  was  married  to  Sophia  B. 
Ridgeway.  who  was  born  near  Kincaid's  Fort,  in 
Howard  County.  Missouri,  and  when  their  son 
William  R.  was  born  the  father  was  but  21  and 
the  mother  but  16  years  of  age. 


446 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY  AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


When  eight  years  old  the  parents  of  Mr. 
Penick  removed  to  Missouri  to  what  was  called 
the  "Platte  Purchase,"  which  included,  hesides 
Buchanan  County,  a  number  of  other  counties  in 
the  northwest  corner  of  the  vStatc.  At  that  time 
the  county  was  so  sparsely  settled  and  educational 
opportunities  were  so  few,  that  only  the  care  and 
exertions  of  his  parents,  combined  with  his  own 
energy  and  determination,  enabled  him  to  secure 
enough  book  learning  to  fit  him  for  the  most  or- 
dinary transactions  of  business.  His  social  ad- 
vantages also  were  lamentably  contracted,  but  he 
managed,  through  school  attendance  for  a  few 
months  in  the  winter  and  by  bu}ing  and  borrow- 
ing the  few  books  in  the  locality,  to  instruct  him- 
self by  the  light  of  the  hearth  fire  at  night,  to  keep 
ahead  of  others  of  his  age,  and  to  make  a  few 
congenial  friends.  When,  after  many  unsuccess- 
ful trials,  a  competent  teacher  had  been  secured, 
he  was  17  years  old,  but  under  three  months'  in- 
struction from  this  teacher,  he  made  more  pro- 
gress than  in  all  his  previous  years  of  plodding 
alone. 

In  the  following  summer,  his  parents  re- 
moved to  St.  Joseph,  and  as  no  farm  duties  now 
required  his  attention,  he  was  permitted  to  resume 
attendance  at  school.  Some  three  weeks  later, 
the  teacher  died  and  the  directors  entrusted  the 
conduct  of  the  school  to  him  as  the  most  ad- 
vanced and  reliable  pupil.  After  teaching  very 
successfully  for  three  months,  continuing  his 
own  studies  in  the  evenings,  he  spent  a  few 
months  at  high  school  in  St.  Joseph  and  also 
served  for  a  short  time  as  bookkeeper  for  Will- 
iam Ray.  The  opportunity  was  again  given  him 
of  teaching  the  district  school  and  this  he  ac- 
cepted. About  this  time  he  entered  upon  the 
study  of  medicine,  a  science  for  which  he  had 
botli  taste  and  ability,  and  he  applied  himself 
closely  to  the  study  of  pharmacy,  chemistry  and 
anatomy,  and  in  the  following  spring  he  was  en- 
gaged as  a  clerk  in  the  drug  store  of  Haycraft  & 
Howard.  This  position  he  accepted  more  readily 
on  account  of  the  opportunity  it  promised  of  a 
more  practical  study  of  drugs  in  their  relation  to 
medical  science,  for  his  mind  was  still  fixed  on  a 
medical  career.  Ere  three  months  had  passed, 
his  employers  found  him  so  interested  and  con- 
versant with  the  business  and  also  so  popular  with 
the  patrons,  that  they  did  not  hesitate  to' engage 
him  permanently.  On  account  of  the  small  salary 
thev  could  pay.  thcv  permitted  him  to  conduct, 
in  addition  to  his  duties  to  them,  a  small  book 


business.  His  whole  capital  of  $14  he  invested  in 
liooks  and  stationery,  and,  as  his  employers  read- 
ily recommended  him,  as  worthy  of  credit,  to 
large  dealers  in  St.  Louis  and  Louisville,  he  was 
able  to  make  a  good  beginning,  buying  partly  on 
time  and  partly  for  cash.  For  three  years  he  con- 
tinued to  carry  on  this  business  with  increasing 
success,  and  at  its  close,  through  economy  and 
business  ability,  had  acquired  a  capital  of  $1,500, 
which  he  invested,  as  a  partner  with  Dr.  Robert 
I..  Wood,  in  a  drug  and  book  store  at  another 
location  in  St.  Joseph.  His  personal  popularity 
was  shown  when  his  old  customers  followed  him 
to  his  new  location;  at  the  end  of  13  months,  he 
bought  his  partner's  interest  and  became  the  head 
of  the  business. 

During  the  Civil  War,  Mr.  Penick  was  a  con- 
sistent supporter  of  the  government  and  devoted 
a  large  portion  of  his  time  to  assisting  in  sup- 
pressing the  Rebellion  and  strengthening  the 
Union  cause.  It  was  Mr.  Penick  who  organized 
that  powerful  secret  organization  called  the  "Un- 
conditional L^nion  Club  of  Missouri,"  which,  was 
made  up  of  about  100  different  clubs  and  which 
contributed  much  in  the  direction  of  keeping 
L'nion  men  united  in  the  northwestern  part  of  the 
.State.  While  the  war  was  in  progress,  Mr. 
Penick  held  five  military  commissions,  first  being 
appointed  major  on  the  stafif  of  Brig.-Gen.  Ben 
F.  Loan;  then  lieutenant-colonel  (afterward  col- 
onel) of  the  Fifth  Regiment  Cavalry,  Missouri 
State  Militia,  a  regiment  he  raised  for  the  serv- 
ice of  the  L^nited  States  :  later  colonel  of  a  regi- 
ment in  the  service  of  the  State  and  a  brigadier- 
general  of  militia  in  Northwestern  Missouri.  This 
service  was  all  more  or  less  of  a  very  dangerous 
character  as  it  was  mostly  fighting  guerrillas  under 
Todd,  Ouantrell  and  others,  through  Platte,  Clay, 
Cass  and  Jackson  counties.  He  possessed  the 
air  and  appearance  of  a  military  man  and  inspired 
respect  in  every  position  he  filled. 

In  the  common  acceptation  of  the  word,  he 
was  never  a  politician,  but  his  fellow  citizens 
])laced  him  in  political  offices  on  many  occasions 
and  in  all  of  these  he  served  the  people  well  and 
impartially.  For  four  years  he  was  coroner  of 
Buchanan  County  and  served  one  year  as  a  mem- 
ber of  the  City  Comicil  of  St.  Joseph.  During 
his  two  years  administration  as  mayor  of  St. 
Joseph,  by  his  labor  and  influence  there  was  or- 
ganized a  paid  Fire  Department,  the  nucleus  of 
what  is  now  one  of  the  citv's  sources  of  pride. 
This  was  but  one  of  the  public  enterprises  which 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


447 


were  brought  to  success  by  his  active  energies, 
his  influence  extending  over  charitable,  educa- 
tional and  benevolent  enterprises.  During  a  por- 
tion of  the  time  that  he  was  mayor,  he  was  also 
president  of  the  St.  Joseph  &  Denver  City  Rail- 
road Company,  and  it  was  through  his  influence 
and  energy  and  that  of  his  City  Council,  that  the 
work  was  recommenced  on  the  road  in  1886  that 
resulted  in  its  completion.  The  beginning  of 
work  on  this  road  antedated  the  Civil  War,  on 
which  account  its  construction  had  been  sus- 
pended. 

On  January  11,  1852,  Mr.  Penick  was  married 
to  Amanda  D.  Grigg,  by  whom  he  is  survived, 
with  two  children  :  William  R.,  Jr.,  and  Eda,  who 
is  the  wife  of  Lee  Larison,  of  Golden,  Colorado. 
Mrs.  Penick  and  son  reside  at  No.  1612  Francis 
street.  Here  INIr.  Penick  spent  his  declining 
years,  retired  from  the  active  cares  of  business 
and  public  life. 

Outside  of  his  city  and  county  Mr.  Penick 
was  probably  best  known  on  account  of  his  Ma- 
sonic connections.  He  entered  the  fraternity 
many  years  ago  and  had  taken  all  the  degrees 
conferred  in  the  United  States,  up  to  and  includ- 
ing the  32d  degree  of  the  Scottish  Rite.  He  had 
been  master  of  the  lodge,  high  priest  of  the  chap- 
ter, commander  of  the  commandery.  master  of 
the  lodge  of  Perfection  and  master  of  the  council 
of  Royal  and  Select  blasters.  He  has  been  hon- 
ored by  nearly  all  the  IMasonic  Grand  bodies  of 
Missouri  with  the  highest  ofifices  in  their  gift.  He 
was  grand  master  of  the  Grand  Lodge,  grand 
high  priest  of  the  Grand  Chapter,  deputy  grand 
commander  of  the  Grand  Commandery  of 
Knights  Templar  and  grand  master  of  the  Grand 
Council  of  Royal  and  Select  IMasters.  Three  of 
these  grand  ofifices  he  held  at  the  same  time,  which 
was  an  honor  rarely  enjoyed  by  any  individual. 
During  his  official  connection  with  the  Grand 
Lodge,  he  took  an  active  interest  in  the  afifairs  of 
the  Masonic  College,  which  had  been  organized 
in  Missouri,  and  all  his  influence  was  exerted 
to  secure  its  prosperity  and  preserve  it  to  the 
craft. 

The  late  Mr.  Penick  is  but  briefly  brought  to 
mind  by  the  foregoing.  He  was  "a  man  among 
men"  and  his  mcmorv  will  lone  live  in  the  hearts 
of  his  fellow  citizens,  wherever  his  iife  touched 
theirs.  Courteous  and  gentlemanly  in  address, 
hospitable,  kind  and  charitable,  he  was  admired,' 
respected  and  beloved.  His  portrait  accompanies 
this  sketch. 


HEODORE  B.  HOAGLAND,  president 
of   the   Hoagland   Loan    &   Investment 
Company,  is  one  of  the  substantial  busi- 
ness men  of  St.  Joseph,  where  he  has  re- 
sided nearly  all  his  life.    He  was  born  in 
Boonville,    Cooper    County,    ]\lissouri,    in    1845, 
and  is  a  son  of  George  T.  and  Nannie   (Gale) 
Hoagland,  the  family  being  of  Dutch  descent. 

George  T.  Hoagland,  father  of  our  subject, 
was  born  in  New  Jersey,  and  about  1838  first  came 
to  Missouri.  In  1852,  he  located  in  St.  Joseph 
and  started  in  the  lumber  business,  having  prev- 
iously followed  the  carpenter's  trade  and  con- 
tracting. He  followed  the  lumber  business  in 
this  city  during  the  remainder  of  his  active  busi- 
ness life,  established  a  similar  business  at  Omaha, 
Nebraska,  which  is  now  conducted  by  his  son, 
George  A.,  one  at  Council  Bluffs,  and  one  at 
Hannibal,  Missouri,  also  engaging  in  the  manu- 
facture and  sale  of  lumber  at  Eau  Claire,  Wis- 
consin, and  Chippewa  Falls,  Wisconsin.  He  was 
a  stockholder  in  the  Badger  Lumber  Company, 
which  maintains  its  head  office  in  Kansas  City, 
and  operates  in  Kansas,  Nebraska,  Oklahoma  and 
Missouri.  He  retired  from  active  business  about 
20  years  prior  to  his  death,  which  occurred,  Octo- 
ber 30,  1903.  He  was  a  Prohibitionist  in  politics 
during  his  last  years,  and  the  only  office  ever 
held  by  him  was  that  of  councilman,  in  which 
capacity  he  served  a  number  of  years.  Religioush-. 
he  was  a  member  of  the  jMethodist  Episcopal 
Church,  South.  He  was  a  member  of  the  "Silver 
Grays,"  an  organization  existing  during  the  Civil 
War.  He  married  Nannie  Gale,  by  whom  he  had 
three  children,  namely :  George  A.,  who  lives 
at  Omaha ;  Theodore  B.,  our  subject ;  and  Ema- 
line  B.,  wife  of  B.  R.  Vineyard,  a  successful  law- 
yer of  St.  Joseph.  Mrs.  Hoagland  is  now  in  her 
89th  year  and  enjoys  the  best  of  health.  She 
resides  in  the  fine  home  built  by  her  husband  at 
the  northwest  corner  of  loth  and  Robidoux 
streets.  Mr.  Hoagland  was  a  very  temperate  man 
and  never  indulged  in  the  use  of  alcoholic  drinks, 
tea.  coffee  or  tobacco  in  any  form. 

Theodore  B.  Hoagland  was  reared  and  edu- 
cated at  St.  Joseph,  attending  private  schools. 
He  became  associated  with  his  father  in  the  lum- 
ber business  at  St.  Joseph,  but  was  soon  obliged 
to  give  it  up  because  of  failing  health.  About 
1880,  his  father  inaugurated  a  real  estate  and 
loan  business,  of  which  our  subject  became  man- 
ager. He  displayed  a  high  order  of  business 
ability  ^nd   continued   in   that  position   until   the 


448 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY  AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


organization,  in  1902,  by  the  Hoagland  family, 
of  the  Hoagland  Loan  &  Investment  Company, 
for  the  pnrpose  of  making  realty  loans  in  the 
vicinity  of  St.  Joseph.  The  ofificers  of  this  com- 
pany are  Theodore  B.,  president;  George  A. 
Hoagland,  vice-president ;  and  L.  E.  Thompson, 
secretary.  The  board  of  directors  includes  Theo- 
dore B.  Hoagland.  George  A.  Hoagland  and  Ema- 
line  B.  Vinevard.  This  is  one  of  the  lare'est  com- 
])anies  of  the  kind  in  Northwestern  Missouri  and 
has  met  with  deserved  success.  Our  subject  is 
unmarried  and  lives  at  home  with  his  mother. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  South,  and  in  politics  favors  the  Prohibi- 
tion party. 

^~*~*- 


OL.  JOSEPH  A.  CORBY,  a  resident  of 
St.  Joseph  for  over  37  years,  was  born 
July  25,  1847,  '"  Cincinnati,  Ohio.  In 
1865  he  moved  with  his  father  to 
Memphis,  Tennessee,  and  lived  there 
until  the  spring  of  1867  when  he  came  to  St. 
Joseph,  Missouri,  to  visit  his  uncle,  John  Corby, 
and  has  lived  here  ever  since.  He  was  assistant 
city  engineer  in  1867-68,  and  was  engaged  in  the 
abstract  and  real  estate  business  from  1869  to 
1873.  He  owned  and  published  the  St.  Joseph 
Daily  Gazette  from  1873  to  1875.  In  1879  he 
built  the  Bell  Telephone  Exchange,  and  in  1881 
built  the  tclphone  line  from  St.  Joseph  to  Atchi- 
son, Kansas,  which  was  the  first  telephone  line 
connecting  two  cities  to  be  built  in  the  United 
States  west  of  Buffalo,  New  York.  He  also 
built  the  first  telephone  exchange  in  Atchison. 
Kansas,  and  in  ,1882  assisted  in  organizing  the 
Missouri  &  Kansas  Telephone  Company. 

In  1878  Colonel  Corby  built  and  operated  the 
Frederick  Avenue  Street  Railway,  and  in  1887 
rebuilt  this  line  as  a  double-track  road  and  pur- 
chased the  Citizens'  Street  Railway.  In  1883 
he  built  and  managed  the  first  electric  light  plant 
in  St.  Joseph  and  in  1889,  sold  the  street  rail- 
ways and  the  electric  light  plant  to  the  Harri- 
man  syndicate.  In  1882  Colonel  Corby  built  the 
Pacific  Mutual  telegraph  lines  into  this  city  and 
two  years  later  extended  them  to  Omaha,  Ne- 
braska. These  lines  are  now  part  of  the  Postal 
telegraph  system. 

In  1863  Colonel  Corby  joined  the  Union 
Army  and  served  until  1865.  In  January,  i88t, 
he  was  elected  captain  of  the  "Saxton  Rifles" 
of  this  city,  and  in  1882  was  elected  lieutenant- 
colonel  of  the  Fourth  Regiment,   Missouri   Na- 


tional Guard,  which  position  he  resigned  in  1885. 
He  was  elected  colonel  of  the  Fourth  Regiment 
in  April,  1896,  and  was  mustered  into  the  United 
States  Army  with  his  regiment  in  April, 
1898,  and  served  during  the  Spanish-Amer- 
ican War  until  la^bruary,  1899,  when  the 
regiment  was  mustered  out  of  the  United  States 
service.  In  March.  1900,  the  Fourth  Regiment, 
Missouri  National  (iuard,  was  disbanded  on  re- 
quest of  Colonel  Corby. 

In  1872,  our  subject  married  Miss  E.  S. 
Harris,  of  St.  Joseph,  and  has  one  daughter  and 
four   sons,   all   of   whom   are   living.    . 


^ « ♦■ 


ENRY  iM.  LOWER,  who  comes  of  a 
prominent  family  of  Buchanan  County, 
resides  on  a  quarter  section  of  land  in 
section  36,  Wayne  township,  where  he 
has  a  finely  cultivated  farm  and  a  very 
comfortable  home. 

The  Lower  family  was  established  in  this 
country  during  colonial  days'by  several  brothers, 
who  came  from  England.  Of  one  of  these  sturdy 
pioneers,  Jacob  Lower,  grandfather  of  our  sub- 
ject, was  a  son.  He  was  born  in  Tennessee  in 
1787,  and  served  in  several  Indian  wars  under 
Gen.  Andrew  Jackson.  He  moved  with  his  fam- 
ily to  Jackson  County,  Missouri,  in  1836,  and 
in  1838  came  to  Buchanan  County,  where  in  the 
previous  year  his  sons  Henry  and  Jacob,  had  lo- 
cated a  claim  in  section  36,  Wayne  township. 
Here  our  subject's  grandparents  resided  until 
1857.  in  wdiich  year  they  died  of  Asiatic  cholera, 
one  on  August  6th  and  the  other  two  days  later. 
Jacob  Lower's  v.ife  was  Sarah  Cline,  a  native 
of  Pennsylvania ;  they  had  the  following  ofif- 
spring:  Henry,  father  of  our  subject;  Jacob; 
John;  Andrew;  Isaac;  ]\Iattie,  wife  of  Anthony 
Graves ;  Letitia,  wife  of  Joseph  Thompson,  and 
Rosa,  wife  of  Jesse  Blevins. 

Henry  Lower  was  born  in  Roane  County, 
Tennessee,  July  -14,  1818,  and  removed  with  his 
fatlier  to  Jackson  County,  INIissouri.  He  came  on 
to  Buchanan  County  the  following  year,  and 
thereafter  followed  farming  here  almost  contin^- 
uously.  He  made  one  trip  with  freighters  to 
Santa  Fe,  New  Mexico,  which  was  extremely 
hazardous,  as  the  Indians  were  very  troublesome. 
The  party  was  at  one  time  stuTOundcd  by  a  band 
of  500  Indians,  but  fortunately  a  cannon  which 
had  been  brought  along  frightened  them  and  put 
them  to  flight.  On  February  4,  1844,  Henry 
Lower  was  united   in    marriage   with    Sarah   A. 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


449 


Sandy,  who  was  born  in  Owen  County,  Indiana, 
March  14,  1822,  and  was  a  daughter  of  Henry 
and  Elizabeth  (Carson)  Sandy,  her  father  a  na- 
tive of  Maryland  and  her  mother,  of  Ireland. 
The  follow'ing  children  were  born  to  them : 
Louisa  J.,  wiie  of  Calvin  Jarratt,  a  farmer  of 
Nodaway  County,  Missouri ;  Sarah,  wife  of 
James  Brady,  a  farmer  of  Buchanan  County ; 
Mary  E.,  \4.ife  of  Joseph  Dittemore,  of  Colorado ; 
John  W.,  a  farmer  of  Bloomington  township ; 
James  C.  a  farmer  of  Effingham,  Kansas; 
Martha  Adeline,  deceased ;  Isaac  N.,  deceased ; 
Henry  M.,  our  subject;  and  Anna  and  Lillie  M., 
deceased.  Mrs.  Lower  died  in  June,  1890,  and 
^Ir.  "Lower,  in  Alarch,  1895. 

Henry  M.  Lower  completed  his  education  in 
Wayne  township  at  the  age  of  18  years,  then 
began  farming  for  himself.  He  was  married 
October  15,  1885,  to  Mary  J.  Sampson,  a  daugh- 
ter of  James  Sampson,  by  whom  he  has  one  child, 
Sula  Mary,  who  is  now  at  home.  Mrs.  Lower 
died  October  2,  1900,  and  after  her  death  Mr. 
Lower  moved  to  DeKalb,  where  he  engaged  in 
the  grain  business  for  about  three  years.  On 
October  14,  1903,  'Mv.  Lower  was  married  to 
Leone  Dunlap.  a  daughter  of  R.  C.  Dunlap,  an 
agriculturist  of  prominence  in  Bloomington  town- 
ship. Since  this  marriage,  our  subject  and  his 
wife  have  resided  on  his  farm  of  160  acres  in 
Wa}ne  township.  He  has  a  very  valuable  tract, 
which  is  devoted  to  general  farming  and  stock- 
raising.  Religiously,  he  is  a  member  of  the  Chris- 
tian Church,  in  which  he  has  been  a  deacon  for 
a  few  years.  Politically,  he  has  always  been  an 
enthusiastic  Democrat. 


♦  • » 


ON.  JOHN  H.  DUNCAN,  judge  of  the 
l-'irst  District  of  the  County  Court  of 
P>uchanan     County,      from     Crawford 
ByS^I      township,   is  a  man  of  prominence  in 

this  section  where  he  has  lived  for  ' 
more  than  55  years.  He  is  a  pioneer  citizen  and  ] 
has  performed  his  part  in  the  wonderful  trans-  [ 
formation  of  this  country  from  its  wild  state. 

Judge  Duncan  was  born  in  Cherokee  County, 
Alabama,  and  is  a  son  of  Col.  B.  M.  and  Amanda 
(Lawrence)  Duncan,  his  father  being  a  colonel  in 
the  State  Militia  of  Alabama,  having  held  a  com- 
mission under  Governor  Arthur  P.  Bagbv.  B. 
M.  Duncan  erected  the  first  cotton  gin  and  com- 
press in  the  Cherokee  Purchase  of  Alabama.  In 
1845,    with    his    familv,    he    came    to    Buchanan 


County,  Missouri,  overland  with  ox  teams  and 
horses,  a  long  hard  journey.  In  this  county  he 
followed  farming  until  his  death  in  the  early 
•'eighties"  at  the  age  of  80  years.  His  grand- 
father came  to  this  country  from  Scotland,  and 
was  killed  during  the  Revolutionary  War.  His. 
wife's  uncle  also  served  in  the  \\'ar  of  the  Revo- 
lution. B.  AI.  Duncan  was  a  candidate  for  the 
Legislature  of  Missouri  in  i860,  but  was  de- 
feated by  a  small  plurality.  l\Irs.  Duncan  is  now 
living  with  our  subject  at  the  advanced  age  of 
90  years  and  is  enjoying  very  good  health.  John 
H.  Duncan  had  a  half  brother,  who  followed 
farming  and  milling  in  Kansas  until  death.  He 
has  five  sisters,  all  living:  Mrs.  John  Lockwood, 
of  Columbia,  Missouri,  mother  of  Dr.  William 
Lockwood  of  South  St.  Joseph,  and  B.  ]\I.  Lock- 
wood,  an  attorney  of  St.-  Joseph  ;  Mrs.  I.  V.  La- 
Tourett,  of  Cleveland.  Oklahoma,  whose  husband 
formerly  was  a  stockman  near  Maryville,  Nod- 
away County,  Missouri ;  Mrs.  J.  H.  Utz,  w^ho 
lives  near  St.  Joseph ;  Tulia,  wife  of  Richard 
Burch,  of  Bartlesville,  Indian  Territory,  where  he 
formerly  was  a  teacher  and  school  commissioner ; 
and  Mrs.  C.  M.  Davidson,  whose  husband  is  a 
farmer  near  Dearborn.  Platte  County.  [Missouri. 

John  H.  Duncan  was  five  }-ears  of  age  when 
brought  to  Buchanan  County,  and  here  was 
reared  and  educated.  In  September.  1861,  he  en- 
listed in  the  Confederate  Army  and  saw  four 
years  of  hard  service  up  to  the  time  of  his  sur- 
render at  Baton  Rouge.  He  was  a  non-com- 
missioned officer  most  of  the  time,  and  being  a 
fine  drill  master  was  offered  a  commission.  After 
the  close  of  the  war,  he  returned  to  St.  Joseph, 
and  subsequently  went  to  Kansas  for  a  time. 
He  resumed  work  as  an  agriculturist  and  contin- 
ued with  a  high  degree  of  success  on  his  farm 
in  Crawford  township  until  1902.  when  he  was 
elected  on  the  Democratic  ticket  to  the  office  of 
judge  of  the  First  District  of  the  County  Court 
of  Buchanan  County  for  a  term  of  two  years. 
Judge  Duncan  was  re-elected  in  November,  1904, 
for  another  term  of  two  years.  Lentil  his  election 
to  the  bench,  he  always  engaged  in  general  farm- 
ing and  stock-raising:  his  hogs  were  of  the  Po- 
land China  breed.  The  farm  is  now  under  the 
management  and  care  of  his  son-in-law.  W.  D. 
Simmons. 

Judge  Duncan  was  joined  in  marriage  with 
Sarah  S.  Kirkman,  a  daughter  of  Squire  William 
Kirkman.  deceased,  an  early  resident  of  Buch- 
anan County.  Mrs.  Duncan  was  born  in  this 
county  and  died  here  in  January.  1898.  aged  44 


450 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


years.  Six  children  were  born  to  them,  as  fol- 
lows :  Mrs.  W.  D.  Simmons,  of  Crawford  town- 
ship ;  Williani  IVL,  who  is  in  business  in  St.  Jo- 
seph ;  M.  L.,  who  is  in  the  insurance  business  in 
St.  Joseph;  Mrs.  H.  D.  Maupin,  of  St.  Joseph; 
Malcom,  aged  14  years,  who  lives  at  home ;  and 
Jennie,  aged  1 1  years,  who  also  Is  at  home. 
Judge  Duncan  is  a  Democrat  and  a  strong  party 
worker.  His  services  as  judge  of  the  County 
Court  have  been  of  the  highest  order,  and  have 
merited  the  commendation  of  his  fellow  citizens. 
Religiously,  he  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church. 


-♦-•-♦- 


RITZ  AIAST.  The  great  busmess  m- 
terests  of  St.  Joseph  were  founded  by 
men  of  enterprise  and  ability  but  many 
of  the  most  important  have  been  brought 
to  their  present  success  by  the  progres- 
sive methods  of  a  younger  generation.  Promin- 
ent in  this  latter  class  was  the  late  Fritz  Mast, 
who  was  the  junior  member  of  the  firm  of  Hofif- 
man  &  Mast,  of  St.  Joseph,  where  his  birth  took 
place  JNIay  3,  1869,  and  his  death  July  8,  1898. 
He  was  a  son  of  Christ  and  Augusta  (Figge) 
Mast. 

Christ  Mast,  father  of  the  late  Fritz  Mast, 
was  born  in  Altenstein,  Wurtemberg,  Germany, 
and  was  16  years  of  age  when  he  came  to  Amer- 
ica. He  soon  found  a  home  in  Philadelphia, 
Pennsylvania,  where  he  learned  the  printing 
trade.  He  was  working  in  that  city  when  the 
Civil  War  broke  out,  and  early  in  1861  he  enlisted 
in  a  Pennsylvania  regiment  and  served  until  the 
close  of  the  war.  Soon  after  its  close,  he  came  to 
St.  Joseph,  Missouri,  and  embarked  in  a  liquor 
and  ice  business  on  Edmond  street,  later  having 
his  headquarters  on  Market  square.  He  was  a 
successful  business  man  and  soon  built  up  a  very 
large  trade  in  ice,  enough  to  warrant  the  form- 
ing of  a  corporation  under  the  name  of  St.  Jo- 
seph Ice  Company,  with  himself  as  president 
and  with  a  capital  stock  of  $30,000.  Later  he 
became  the  sole  proprietor  of  this  business  and 
ably  managed  it  until  his  death,  which  occurred 
October  9,  1886,  at  the  age  of  50  years.  In  poli- 
tics he  was  a  Republican  and  he  was  a  member 
of  Custer  Post,  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic. 
In  1875  lis  ^^'«is  appointed  United  States  deputy 
revenue  collector  and  served  in  that  capacity 
until  September.  1885,  when  the  new  adminis- 
tration chose  another  for  the  place.     He  owned 


a  large  amount  of  real  estate  and  was  closely 
identified  with  the  city's  growth.  He  married 
in  St.  Joseph,  Augusta  Figge,  who  was  also  born 
in  Germany.  The  family  consisted  of  four  chil- 
dren, viz :  Fritz,  Eda,  Josephine  and  Oscar. 

Our  subject  attended  the  common  and  high 
schools  of  St.  Joseph  until  the  death  of  his  fa- 
ther threw  business  responsibilities  upon  his 
shoulders,  and  he  was  only  17  years  of  age  when 
he  took  charge  of  the  large  ice  business,  which 
he  managed  very  capably  for  some  time.  When 
he  sold  the  business,  in  1888,  to  J.  O.  Stevens, 
the  company  was  doing  the  largest  ice  business 
in  the  city.  In  January,  1889,  Mr.  Mast  pur- 
chased an  interest  with  Mr.  Hofifman  and  the 
firm  became  agents  for  the  William  J.  Lemp 
Brewing  Company,  of  St.  Louis,  and  they  suc- 
cessfully carried  on  a  wholesale  liquor  business, 
Air.  Mast  being  the  traveling  representative. 

At  St.  Joseph,  on  July  16,  1890,  Mr.  Mast 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Emma  Engle,  a 
member  of  one  of  the  prominent  families  of  St. 
Joseph,  and  they  had  two  children :  Irma  Jo- 
sephine and  Elsie  E.  Mrs.  Mast  resides  with 
her  little  daughters  in  a  beautiful  home  at 
No.  503  South  Ninth  street. 

Politically,  Mr.  Mast  was  a  Republican,  al- 
though he  never  took  the  active  interest  in  poli- 
tics that  his  father  did,  who  for  years  was  chair- 
man of  the  City  Council.  Our  subject  was  very 
popular  with  all  classes  and  he  was  a  valued 
member  of  the  Sons  of  Veterans  and  the  Im- 
proved Order  of  Red  Men  and  the  Knights  of 
Pythias. 


■♦  * » 


ON.  THOMAS  JEFFERSON  HILL, 
formerly  a  member  of  the  County 
Court  of  Buchanan  County,  is  a  prom- 
inent farmer  residing  in  section  4, 
Bloomington  township.  He  w-as  born 
in  this  township  on  May  23,  1858,  and  is  a  son 
of  Thomas  and  Margaret   (Norris)   Hill. 

Thomas  Hill  was  born  in  White  County, 
Tennessee,  April  21,  1826,  and  came  in  1840,  to 
Buchanan  County,  Missouri,  where  he  was  perma- 
nently settled  until  1865.  He  was  then  engaged  in 
freighting  and  mining  in  the  mountains  until  1868, 
with  the  exception  of  which  time  he  followed 
farming  all  his  life.  He  cleared  and  improved 
a  fine  farm  of  455  acres  in  Bloomington  town- 
ship, upon  which  he  lived  until  his  death.  Dur- 
ing the  Civil  War  he  served  a  short  time  in  the 
"Paw-Paw  Militia."    Fraternally,  he  was  a  mem- 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


451 


ber  of  Wellington  Lodge,  No.  22,  A.  F.  &  A.  M. 
He  was  married  July  30,  1846,  to  Margaret 
Norris,  who  was  born  in  Johnson  County,  Mis- 
souri, January  8,  1832,  and  accompanied  her 
parents  to  Buchanan  County  in  1839.  This  union 
resulted  in  the  following  issue :  William,  born 
August  8,  1847,  who  married  Rose  Miller  and 
lives  at  DeKalb ;  Mrs.  Mary  E.  Perkins,  born 
September  18.  1848,  a  resident  of  St.  Joseph; 
Mrs.  Lucy  J.  Ort,  born  February  23,  1850,  who 
lives  at  Grinnell,  Kansas ;  John,  born  August  23, 
1852,  who  is  deceased;  James  R.,  born  March  i, 
1856;  Thomas  Jefferson;  Mrs.  Alice  McNeil, 
born  August  18,  1864;  Florence  Carson,  born 
January  i,  1869.  who  lives  in  Montana;  and 
Robert  E.,  born  August  25.  1870. 

Thomas  J.  Hill  received  his  education  in  the 
district  schools  and  the  DeKalb  School,  and  with 
the  exception  of  the  four  years  from  1898  to  1902, 
when  he  served  as  a  member  of  the  County  Court, 
has  always  engaged  in  farming.  He  has  a  highly 
improved  farm  of  207  acres  in  section  4,  Bloom- 
ington  township,  and  follows  general  farming  and 
stock-raising.  He  has  materially  aided  in  im- 
proving the  roads  of  his  district,  serving  most 
efficiently  in  the  capacity  of  road  overseer  for  a 
period  of  five'  years. 

In  1878,  Judge  Hill  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Florence  B.  Carton,  a  daughter  of  Stephen 
Carton,  and  granddaughter  of  Zechariah  Carton. 
The  latter  was  bom  iMarch  6,  1781,  in  Kentucky, 
and  located  in  Indiana  when  it  was  still  a  Terri- 
tory. In  1839,  he  came  to  Missouri,  settling  one 
and  a  half  miles  south  of  Bloomington,  which  is 
now  known  as  DeKalb,  where  he  preempted  a 
claim  in  section  15,  Bloomington  township.  He 
had  a  160-acre  tract  which  he  and  his  sons  cleared 
and  cultivated.  He  died  in  1852  and  his  wife 
in  1855.  He  married  Polly  ]\[iller,  a  native  of 
Kentucky,  and  they  reared  the  following  chil- 
dren :  Uriah,  Nancy,  Marie,  John,  Jennie,  Sallie, 
William  C,  Polly,  Stephen  and  Louis,  three  of 
whom  are  now  living. 

Stephen  Carton,  father  of  Mrs.  Hill,  was  born 
in  Decatur  County,  Indiana,  May  15,  1826,  and 
followed  farming  from  the  time  he  was  10  years 
old.  In  his  boyhood  days,  very  crude  farming 
implements  were  in  use.  He  first  used  the  wood- 
en mold-board  plow,  known  as  the  Barshire,  cut 
grain  with  a  reaping  hook,  later  with  a  cradle, 
and  then  with  a  cradle  and  dropper,  the  binding 
being  done  by  hand.  Tallow  candles  were  molded 
at  home  and  used  for  light,  and  flint  and  tinder 
used  to  ignite  the  candles.     In  1846,  in  the  Mex- 


ican W^ar,  he  was  a  teamster  in  the  United  States 
Army.  In  the  spring  of  1847  he  returned  home 
and  worked  in  the  hemp  fields  until  1850.  In 
that  year  he  removed  to  DeKalb  and  opened  and 
conducted  wdiat  was  known  as  the  Kaughphey 
House.  In  1886  he  purchased  80  acres  of  land 
in  section  16,  Bloomington  township,  and  there- 
after farmed  it.  He  helped  to  erect  churches  and 
schools  and  was  a  valued  member  of  the  com- 
munity. On  August  8,  1850,  he  married  Sarah 
J.  Percy,  who  was  born  in  Putnam  County,  Indi- 
ana, and  died  June  12,  1855,  leaving  a  son,  Law- 
rence W.  Mr.  Carton  was  again  married,  No- 
vember 28,  1855,  to  Jane  Bretz  of  Marion  County, 
Ohio,  by  whom  he  had  five  children,  four  of 
whom  are  living:  James  B.,  who  is  at  home; 
Blanche  (Pratter),  whose  husband  is  a  farmer  of 
this  county;  Florence  B.,  wife  of  our  subject; 
and  May,  who  lives  at  home.  Religiously,  he 
and  his  wnie  were  members  of  the  Missionary 
Baptist  Church.  Mrs.  Carton  died  July  8,  1904, 
aged  67  years. 

Judge  Hill  and  his  wife  have  had  no  issue. 
Religiously,  they  are  members  of  the  Missionary 
Baptist  Church.  They  have  a  fine  residence 
situated  on  a  hill  on  their  farm,  commanding  a 
fine  view  of  the  surrounding  countrv.  He  is  a 
stanch  Democrat  in  politics,  was  a  delegate  to 
the  State  convention  in  1896,  and  served  as 
county  central  committeeman  for  four  years. 
Fraternally,  he  is  a  member  of  DeKalb  Lodge, 
No.  191,  I.  O.  O.  F. ;  and  Camp  No.  1893,  M. 
W.  A.,  of  St.  Joseph. 


^ » » 


ATE  L.  HICKOX,  M.  D.,  the  leading 
physician  and  surgeon  of  the  home- 
opathic school  in  St.  Joseph,  and  a  tal- 
ented lady  and  successful  practitioner, 
was  born  at  Clayville,  New  York,  and 
is  a  daughter  of  Cornelius  J.  and  Mary  L.  (Luce) 
Knickerbocker. 

Dr.  Hickox  belongs  to  one  of  the  oldest  and 
most  aristocratic  families  of  the  Empire  State. 
Her  father  died  in  New  York  in  1885,  survived 
by  his  widow  and  three  children.  The  mother  of 
Dr.  Hickox  resides  in  Boston,  Massachusetts. 

The  common  schools  of  her  native  town  gave 
Dr.  Hickox  her  early  education,  which  she  sup- 
plemented by  academic  studies  at  Saquoit  Acad- 
emy and  Whitestown  Seminary,  completing  her 
literary  course  at  the  Clinton  Liberal  Institute, 
where  she  was  graduated  in   1872.     Dr.  Hickox 


452 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN    COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


read  medicine  under  Dr.  Wright,  of  Newton, 
Iowa,  for  two  years,  and  under  Dr.  E.  S.  Bailey, 
of  Chicago,  and  took  a  four-year  course  at 
Hahnemann  Medical  College  at  Chicago,  from 
which  she  was  graduated  in  1887.  In  the  same 
year  she  began  practice  at  Chicago  where  she 
met  with  much  success,  but  came  to  St.  Joseph  in 
1889,  finding  here  an  appreciative  public.  Her 
skill  was  immediately  recognized  and  she  soon 
took  a  leading  place  with  her  professional  breth- 
ren and  is  now  recognized  as  one  of  the  most  able 
physicians  of  her  school  in  the  city.  Not  only  is 
Dr.  Hickox  eminently  qualified  for  the  responsi- 
bilities resting  upon  her,  but  she  possesses  in 
marked  degree  all  those  necessary  attributes  of 
the  real,  true  physician.  She  has  a  wide  circle  of 
personal  frieirds  who  admire  and  love  the  woman 
as  they  esteem  and  respect  the  physician. 

In  1874,  Dr.  Hickox,  then  Miss  Knicker- 
bocker, was  united  in  marriage  with  James  F. 
Hickox,  and  they  have  one  daughter, — Augusta 
K.  The  latter  is  the  wife  of  George  F.  Ander- 
son, of  St.  Joseph,  who  is  the  trafiic  manager  for 
Swift  &  Company,  packers  of  St.  Joseph.  The 
family  belong  to  the  Protestant  Episcopal 
Church.  They  occupy  a  very  pleasant  and  attrac- 
tive home  and  Dr.  Hickox  makes  use  of  three 
well-equipped  rooms,  for  ofifice  purposes,  in  the 
Commercial  Block.  She  is  medical  examiner  for 
the  Ladies  of  the  Maccabees,  and  was  formerly 
examiner  for  the  Knights  and  Ladies  of  Honor, 
Knights  and  Ladies  of  Security,  Fraternal  Aid, 
Iron  Hall  and  others.  She  is  a  valued  member  of 
the  American  Institute  of  Homeopathy  and  the 
Missouri  State  and  the  Missouri  A'alley  Home- 
opathic Medical  Associations.  At  the  session  of 
the  Missouri  Valley  Homeopathic  Medical  As- 
sociation, held  in  Kansas  City,  Missouri,  in  Oc- 
tober. 1904.  Dr.  Hickox  was  elected  a  second  vice- 
]5rcsident  for  the  ensin"ng  year. 


♦  •» 


URD  B.  WRIGHT,  librarian  of  the  Free 
Public  Library  of  St.  Joseph,  which 
he  was  largely  instrumental  in  estab- 
lishing, was  for  many  years  prominent 
in  journalistic  work  in  this  section  of 
the  State.  He  was  born  September  4,  i860,  in 
Weston.  Platte  County.  Missouri,  and  is  a  son 
of  Allen  and  Frances   (Sheley)  Wright. 

Allen  Wright  was  born  in  Kentucky,  whither 
his  parents  had  moved  from  Virginia.  He  mar- 
ried Frances  Shelev,  who  was  born  in  Clav  Coun- 


ty, Missouri,  and  is  a  daughter  of  George  Steptoe 
and  Fannie  (Moberly)  Sheley,  who  migrated 
from  Virginia  to  this  State.  Allen  Wright  died 
in  1866,  and  in  1868  the  family  moved  from  Wes- 
ton to  Cameron,  Missouri,  and  later  to  Kearney, 
Missouri.  Two  years  later  they  returned  to  Cam- 
eron, where  Purd  B.  Wright  received  a  common- 
school  education  and  at  the  age  of  16  entered  the 
printing  office  of  the  Vindicator,  with  which  paper 
he  learned  the  trade  and  subsequently  served  on 
the  stafif  as  local  editor.  In  1883  he  came  to  St. 
Joseph  as  field  correspondent  of  the  St.  Joseph 
Herald,  but  returned  to  Cameron  later  in  the  year. 
Early  in  1884,  he  was  recalled  to  St.  Joseph  as 
city  editor.  In  April,  1885,  upon  the  reorganiza- 
tion of  St.  Joseph  as  a  city  of  the  second  class, 
Mr.  Wright  became  city  clerk,  an  office  he  filled 
with  credit  for  a  period  of  10  years.  In  1890,  in 
connection  with  Edward  S.  Douglas,  he  did  the 
preliminary  work  in  the  organization  of  the  Free 
Public  Library,  which  has  been  of  great  benefit 
to  the  people.  In  1895,  he  purchased  the  Journal 
of  Coiniuerce  and  conducted  it  for  one  year,  serv- 
ing at  the  same  time  as  secretary  of  the  Commer- 
cial Club  and  secretary  of  the  Retail  Grocers'  As- 
sociation. In  October,  1896,  he  was  elected 
librarian  of  the  Free  Public  Library,  which  posi- 
tion he  still  retains.  He  was  prominent  in  the  or- 
ganization of  the  Missouri  Library  Association, 
and  in  1903  was  elected  president  of  that  society. 
In  1884,  Mr.  Wright  was  married  to  Lulu  M. 
Floyd,  of  Sioux  City,  Iowa,  by  whom  he  has  had 
one  son, — Purd  B.,  Jr.,  who  was  born  in  Febru- 
ary, 1 90 1.  Our  subject  is  a  man  of  high  char- 
acter and  is  held  in  high  esteem  by  all  who  know 
him. 


♦ » » 


HARLES  K.  LESLIE,  president  and 
general  manager  of  the  DeKalb  Hard- 
ware &  Furniture  Company,  is  one  of 
the  enterprising  spirits  of  DeKalb, 
where  he  has  resided  many  years  and 
devoted  his  energies  to  the  upbuilding  of  the 
town.  He  was  born  in  Fulton  County,  Illinois, 
May  10,  1863,  and  is  a  son  of  Thomas  H.  and 
Jennie  (Landis)  Leslie. 

Thomas  H.  Leslie  was  the  oldest  of  six  chil- 
dren born  to  Luther  T.  and  Dorcas  (Van  Dorn) 
Leslie,  and  of  these  children  one  son  and  one 
daughter  are  now  li\?ing.  Thomas  H.  Leslie  in 
early  life  was  a  farmer,  fruit-grower  and  nursery- 
man, and  in  late  years  dealt  extensively  in  real 
estate  in  Illinois  and  in  Arkansas  Countv,  Arkan- 


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AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


455 


sas.  He  was  a  veteran  of  the  Civil  War,  enlist- 
ing from  Illinois,  and  continued  in  the  service  for 
four  years,  participating  in  many  of  the  prin- 
cipal engagements.  He  ranked  as  hospital 
steward.  He  and  his  wife  are  now  deceased. 
They  were  parents  of  six  children,  as  follows : 
E.  T.,  of  DeKalb :  H.  H. ;  Anna,  wife  of  E.  V. 
Davis,  of  DeKalb  ;  Mrs.  E.  L.  Chaney ;  F.  J.,  who 
died  in  early  manhood ;  and  Charles  K. 

Charles  K.  Leslie  was  reared  on  his  father's 
farm  and  like  most  farmer  boys  worked  in  sum- 
mer and  attended  district  school  during  the  w'in- 
ter  months.  He  attended  school  in  Illinois  and 
then  in  Arkansas  County,  Arkansas,  after  which 
he  returned  to  Illinois,  where  he  entered  a  private 
bank.  He  learned  the  banking  business  thor- 
oughly, then  returned  to  Arkansas  where  he  en- 
gaged in  banking  with  prominent  business  men. 
In  connection  with  these  gentlemen,  he  established 
the  town  of  Stuttgart,  which  has  acquired  a  popu- 
lation of  about  4.000  inhabitants.  In  1896,  Mr. 
Leslie  moved  to  DeKalb,  Missouri,  and  engaged 
as  cashier  of  the  Derge-Campbell  Banking  Com- 
pany, a  State  bank,  with  which  he  continued  until 
August,  1903.  He  then  took  charge  of  the  De- 
Kalb Hardware  &  Furniture  Company,  of  which 
he  has  been  president  and  manager  since  its  in- 
corporation. I.  X.  Lewns  is  vice-president  of  the 
company,  E.  T.  Leslie,  secretary,  and  \A'alter  W. 
Head,  treasurer.  It  was  organized  in  1897  and 
later  incorporated  with  a  capital  stock  of  $20,000.' 
This  company  carries  a  complete  line  of  general 
hardware,  furniture,  farm  implements,  wagons 
and  buggies  and  does  the  principal  undertaking 
Inisiness  in  its  section.  In  addition,  the  companv 
conducts  a  lumber-yard,  with  a  $6,000  stock.  The 
lumber  business  is  carried  on  by  a  duplicate  sys- 
tem, each  day's  receipts  being  itemized  and  re- 
corded through  the  DeKalb  Hardware  &  Furni- 
ture Company's  ofifice.  It  is^  the  most  complete 
busin.ess  of  the  kind  in  the  count}-,  and  the  re- 
ceipts of  this  com])an}-  arc  increasing  rapidly  each 
>ear,  which  fact  pays  a  silent  tribute  to  the  abilitv 
of  its  president  and  manager.  Mr.  Leslie  is  one 
of  the  most  ])rogressive  men  of  the  town,  and  has 
served  as  president  of  the  School  Board,  has 
served  three  terms  on  the  Town  Board  and  as 
mayor  two  terms. 

In  1890,  Cliarles  K.  Leslie  was  married  in  Ar- 
kansas to  Edna  E.  Sullards,  who  was  born  in 
\'ernon  County,  Missouri,  and  they  are  parents 
of  three  children  :  Charles  K.,  Jr. ;  Ciladys  J. ;  and 
Mildred.  Fraternally,  our  subject  is  a  member 
of  Camp  Xo.  5256,  M.  W.  A.:  Lodge  Xo.  191, 

23 


I.  O.  O.  F. ;  and  the  Ancient  Order  of  United 
Workmen.  Religiously,  he  and  his  wife  are 
members  of  the  Alethodist  Episcopal  Church, 
South,  of  which  he  was  one  of  the  stewards  a 
number  of  years.  They  reside  in  DeKalb  in  a 
comfortable  and  modern  home  south  of  the 
school. 


^« » 


T.  JOSEPH  HOSPITAL,  a  vit-w  of 
which  appears  on  the  opposite  page,  is 
conducted  by  the  Sisterhood  of  St.  Vin- 
cent de  Paul.  It  is  without  doubt  the 
best  equipped  and  most  modern  hospital 
m  the  Missouri  \'alley.  It  represents  the  per- 
sistent, conscientious  and  well-directed  efiforts  of 
a  sisterhood  of  noble,  self-sacrificing  women  of 
the  Catholic  faith,  who  have  dedicated  their  lives 
to  the  cause  of  charity  and  to  the  care  of  the  sick 
and  suffering. 

The  pretentious  structure  known  as  St. 
Joseph  Hospital  is  beautifully  situated  in  the 
center  of  extensive,  w^ell-kept  grounds,  on  the 
corner  of  10th  and  Powell  streets.  This  per- 
fected institution  has  developed  from  a  most  un- 
promising beginning.  In  1868  a  colony  of  Sis- 
ters came  to  St.  Joseph  from  Baltimore,  for  the 
purpose  of  establishing  a  hospital.  As  there  was 
no  encouragement  in  that  line,  at  the  time,  the . 
good  Sisters  opened  an  academy  for  girls,  on  the 
south  side  of  Felix  street,  in  a  building  then 
owned  by  the  late  Dr.  A.  S.  Long.  The  school 
was  continued  at  this  location  until  1883,  when 
the  community  moved  to  its  present  home.  Here 
a  magnificent  btiilding  had  been  erected  by  the 
late  Mrs.  Amanda  Corby,  upon  a  block  of  ground 
which  had  been  donated  for  the  purpose  by  her 
late  husband,  some  years  previously. 

After  the  Sisters  had  taken  charge  of  the  new- 
building,  they  continued  their  school  until  the 
l)reparation  and  equipment  for  the  opening  of  the 
hospital  was  completed  and  this  great  charity 
was  inaugurated  in  1891.  Since  then  additions 
have  been  made  to  the  original  building,  a  not- 
able one  being  completed  in  1903.  The  hospital 
has  a  capacity  for  accommodating  200  patients. 
While  it  is  under  the  immediate  direction  of  the 
Catholic  Church,  the  sick  and  sufi^ering  of  all 
or  of  no  creed  are  welcomed,  the  abounding  char- 
ity being  broad  and  deep  enough  to  ignore  all 
creeds  and  to  recognize  only  the  pitiful  need  of 
human  help.  Presiding  over  this  great  institu- 
tion with  all  the  necessary  executive  ability  and 
with  the  unworldlv  devotion  of  a  devout  Sister 


456 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY  AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


of  her  order,  is  Sister  ]\Iary  Gabriel,  who  came 
to  the  institution  in  1900,  succeeding  Sister  Mary 
Rose.  She  has  under  her  gentle  sway  a  corps  of 
20  trained  Sisters,  whose  kind  ministrations  and 
watchful,  unselfish  care  have  won  the  love  and 
admiration  of  hundreds  of  patients  who  have  had 
nothing  else  to  give. 


♦ « » 


EREMIAH  M.  KARRIS,  deceased,  was 
for  many  years  one  of  the  leading  busi- 
ness men  of  St.  Joseph,  whose  large 
marble  and  granite  industry  ranked  vvith 
the  prosperous  concerns  of  this  city. 
Mr.  Farris  was  born  in  Howard  County,  Mis- 
souri, on  Christmas  Day,  1837,  and  was  one  of  a 
family  of  eight  children  born  to  his  parents  Will- 
iam and  Eliza  (Murphy)  Farris.  His  death  oc- 
curred lulv  25,  1901,  at  his  home  at  No.  607 
North  I2th  street  in  this  city.  The  parents  of  the 
mother  of  our  subject  were  prominent  people 
of  Virginia  and  large  slave-holders. 

The  late  Mr.  Farris  was  educated  in  the 
schools  of  Boonville,  Cooper  County,  Missoiiri, 
and  was  only  a  boy  when  he  started  out  in  life 
for  himself,  becoming  a  pilot  on  the  river.  He  con- 
tinued to  follow  this  calling  until  he  located  at 
St.  Joseph,  in  i860,  when  he  became  associated 
with  E.  K.  Bedwell,  who  carried  on  a  stone  and 
granite  business.  Mr.  Farris  continued  with  him 
until  he  had  completely  mastered  the  trade  and 
then  bought  the  business,  which  he  thereafter 
carried  on  here  until  his  death.  As  a  business 
man  he  was  held  in  the  highest  esteem.  He  pros- 
pered but  only  in  a  legitimate  way,  his  methods  at 
all  times  being  upright  and  honoraljle. 

Mr.  Farris  married  Sallie  J.  Nixon,  who  is  a 
daughter  of  the  late  George  W.  Nixon,  who  was 
one  of  the  pioneer  business  men  and  large  capi- 
talists of  St.  Joseph.  At  one  time  the  late  Mr. 
Nixon  owned  a  vast  amount  of  property  right  in 
the  center  of  St.  Joseph,  a  large  tract  being  lo- 
cated at  Sixth  and  Felix  streets.  Of  the  seven 
children  born  to  this  marriage,  two  are  deceased, 
viz :  Mabel  and  Effie  L.  The  latter,  who  was  the 
wife  of  C.  W.  Halstead,  died  in  1897,  leaving  a 
beautiful  little  daughter,  Juanita,  who  is  her 
grandmother's  companion  and  darling.  Miss 
.'Mable  Farris'  death  occurred  about  four  months 
after  her  father's  death,  being  struck  by  a  run- 
away team.  The  surviving  members  of  the  fam- 
ily are:  Emma  E.,  Minnie  H.,  George  W.  and 
Jerre  J.  and  Jesse  J.  (twins).     Mr.  Farris  was  a 


consistent  and  liberal  member  of  the  Christian 
Church,  to  which  his  widow  and  family  belong. 
While  never  willing  to  hold  political  office, 
the  late  Mr.  Farris  was  a  strong  supporter  of  the 
Democratic  party.  He  was  associated  fraternally 
with  the  Odd  Fellows  and  the  Knights  of  Pythias. 
Through  a  long  and  upright  life  he  won  the 
esteem  of  his  fellow  citizens  and  the  affection  of 
his  family  and  his  memory  will  long  be  kept 
green  through  the  good  he  did  and  the  influence 
he  exerted. 


♦ » » 


OHN  H.  SAMPSON,  11.  D.,  one  of  the 
well-established  and  prominent  physi- 
cians and  surgeons  of  St.  Joseph,  was 
born  January  29,  1857,  in  Buchanan 
County,  Missouri,  and  is  a  son  of  Ben- 
jamin and  Eliza  (Ewell)  Sampson. 

The  mother  of  Dr.  Sampson  was  also  a  native 
of  ]\Iissouri,  born  in  Ray  County,  but  the  father 
came  from  across  the  Mississippi,  a  native  of  Illi- 
nois. His  life  was  mainly  spent  in  this  State,  en- 
gaged in  farming  and  milling.  The  son  grew  to 
young  manhood  acquainted  with  both  industries, 
but  chose  to  lead  a  professional  life.  His  prim- 
ary study  of  medicine  was  conducted  under  a 
local  practitioner,  and  when  prepared  he  entered 
the  Missouri  Medical  College  at  St.  Louis,  an 
institution  which  has  been  the  alma  mater  of  many 
a  noted  member  of  the  profession  of  medicine. 
Here  Dr.  Sampson  was  graduated  in  1881  and  in 
1 89 1  he  returned  for  a  post-graduate  course. 

Soon  after  receiving  his  diploma.  Dr.  Samp- 
son located  at  New  Market,  Platte  County,  Mis- 
souri, where  he  remain.cd  four  years.  There  he 
met  with  a  kind  reception,  built  up  a  large  prac- 
tice and  still  retains  many  of  his  patrons  from 
that  section.  He  moved  to  DeKalb,  Missouri, 
March  15,  1885,  and  remained  there  11  years  in 
the  practice  of  the  profession,  in  association  with 
J.  W.  and  C.  H.  Martin  of  that  city,  until  his  re- 
moval to  St.  Joseph.  In  order  to  extend  his 
field  of  usefulness  and  also  to  gain  the  experience 
which  falls  only  to  the  city  physician.  Dr.  Samp- 
son located  in  St.  Joseph,  February  19,  1896.  Here 
he  also  met  with  gratifying  success  and  has 
formed  many  pleasant  business,  professional  and 
social  ties.  His  well-appointed  office,  consisting 
of  a  suite  of  six  rooms,  with  all  the  modern  appli- 
ances called  in  requisition  in  these  enlightened 
davs,  is  located  conveniently  at  No.  118^  North 
Fifth  street.  He  has  lectured  on  various  branches 
at  the  Ensworth  Medical  College,  and  is  now  a 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


457 


member  of  the  faculty,  lecturing  on  pediatrics  at 
the  present  time. 

On  x*\ugust  7,  1878,  Dr.  Sampson  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Mary  J.  Parnell,  of  Buchanan 
County,  Missouri.  They  have  an  interesting  fam- 
ily of  one  son  and  five  daughters.  His  son,  C.  M. 
Sampson,  is  a  graduate  of  the  St.  Joseph  High 
School  and  at  the  present  time  is  a  member  of 
the   graduating  class  of  the   Ensworth   Medical 


College. 


-♦-•-♦- 


LI\'ER  C.  STEELE,  who  comes  of  one 
of  the  oldest  and  most  prominent 
pioneer  families  of  Buchanan  County, 
is  located  upon  the  old  family  home- 
stead in  section  8,  Bloomington  town- 
ship. He  was  born  in  Nodaway  County,  Mis- 
souri, October  21,  1862,  and  is  a  son  of  William 
T.  and  Elizabeth  (Dooley)  Steele,  and  a  grand- 
son of  Rev.  Oliver  C.  and  Sarah  (Hill)  Steele. 
The  great-grandfather  of  our  subject  was  a 
native  of  Scotland  and  established  the  Steele 
family  in  the  United  States.  He  was  a  member 
of  the  old  Hard-Shell  Baptist  Church,  but  sub- 
sequently became  identified  with  the  Christian 
Church.  Rev.  Oliver  C.  Steele  was  born  in  Ken- 
tucky in  1803  and  began  preaching  the  Gospel 
in  early  manhood.  He  had  limited  educational 
advantages,  and  after  his  marriage  his  v\nfe  taught 
him  to  read.  He  was  naturally  studious  and  in- 
tellectual, and  at  the  time  of  his  death  had  a 
library  of  more  than  500  volumes.  He  was  in- 
strumental in  many  young  men  (among  them 
IMoses  E.  Lard)  attending  Bethany  College,  who 
became  laborers  in  the  work  of  introducing 
Christianity  into  the  comunity  in  those  early 
times.  He  ably  defended  the  scriptural  teachings 
and  held  that  all  human  creeds  should  be  put 
aside  and  the  Bible  be  made  the  sole  guide. 

William  T.  Steele  was  born  in  Madison  Coun- 
ty, Kentucky,  July  18,  1823,  and  lived  in  Rich- 
mond until  1840,  then  moved  to  Platte  County, 
Missouri,  where  he  was  located  until  1856.  He 
then  resided  in  Nodaway  County  for  six  years, 
and  from  1862  until  the  spring  of  1866  lived  in 
Andrew  County.  In  the  latter  year  he  came  to 
Buchanan  County.  His  education  was  secured 
in  the  public  schools,  and  in  Bethany  College  and 
the  Academy  of  Cincinnati,  attending  each  of  the 
latter  institutions  two  years.  He  owned  a  large 
farm  in  Buchanan  County,  which  he  greatly  im- 
proved, setting  out  an  excellent  orchard  of  sev- 
eral   hundred    of    apple    and    other    fruit    trees. 


He   was   married   April    17,    1853,    to   Elizabeth 
Dooley,  who  was  born  in  Park  County,  Indiana, 
December  11,  1835,  ^^^'^  ^^'^^  ^  daughter  of  Elder 
John   Dooley,    M.   D.,    who   came   to   Buchanan 
County   from   Springfield.   Missouri,   March    16, 
1867.      They   had   the    following   issue:      John; 
Sarah,   Clara   and  Oliver  C.     Mrs.   Steele  died 
March  16,   1867,  and  he  formed  a  second  union 
with  her  sister,  Julia  Dooley,  on  December   18, 
1867.    The  latter  was  born  in  Park  County,  Indi- 
ana,  February  4,   1838,  and  as  a  result  of  her 
union  with  Mr.  Steele  had  the  following  children : 
Silas,  Elizabeth  and  William  T.    Mr.  Steele  died 
July   15,    1899,   and  his  wife  on   November   16, 
1903.     He  was  a  man  of  religious  nature  and 
for   40   years    was    a   member   of   the   Christian 
Church. 

Oliver  C.  Steele  was  reared  on  a  farm,  and  at- 
tended the  district  schools  and  the  Platte  City 
School.  He  has  always  engaged  in  general  farm- 
ing and  stock-raising,  and  was  associated  with  his 
brother,  J.  R.  Steele,  in  that  business,  buying  and 
shipping  stock  under  the  firm  name  of  O.  C.  & 
J.  R.  Steele  until  1904,  when  the  partnership  was 
dissolved.  He  was  married  in  1889  and  continued 
on  the  old  homestead  with  his  parents  a  few 
months  thereafter,  then  moved  upon  his  present 
farm  of  156  acres  in  section  8,  Bloomington  town- 
ship. One  half  of  his  farm  is  under  cultivation, 
and  he  has  made  many  important  improvements 
upon  it,  building  fences  and  setting  out  a  good 
orchard.  He  also  erected  a  comfortable  resi- 
dence. His  wife  has  been  a  true  helpmeet,  as- 
sisting to  pay  for  the  home  farm.  She  inherited 
from  her  father  a  farm  of  160  acres  in  Doniphan 
County,  Kansas.  She  is  a  woman  of  the  highest 
order  of  intelligence  and  refinement,  and  to  her 
is  due  much  credit  for  the  success  of  her  hus- 
band. The  home  farm  is  well  stocked,  Mr. 
Steele  having  standard  cattle,  75  head  of  hogs 
and  good  horses. 

On  November  13,  1889,  Oliver  C.  Steele  was 
married  to  Mary  E.  Fenton,  who  was  born  in 
Kansas,  September  5,  1863,  and  is  a  daughter  of 
Samuel  and  Delila  (Fenton)  Fenton,  being  de- 
scended from  old  colonial  stock  on  both  sides  of 
the  house.  Her  father,  Samuel  Fenton,  was  born 
January  28,  1809,  in  Kentucky,  and  was  a  son 
of  John  and  Sarah  (Fields)  Fenton,  and  grand- 
son of  Michael  Fenton.  John  and  Sarah  (Fields) 
Fenton  were  parents  of  the  following  children, 
all  now  deceased:  Samuel;  Melinda ;  William; 
Martha  ;  Madison  ;  Elizabeth  and  Amanda.  When 
a  young  man,  Samuel  Fenton  moved  to  near  Win- 


458 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN    COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


Chester,  Ohio,  and  received  a  good  educational 
training  in  Kentncky.  being  of  a  Hterary  turn  of 
mind.  In  Ohio,  he  engaged  in  farming  and 
>tock-raising  until  1858,  then  made  a  visit  to 
Missouri  in  search  of  a  location.  July  4,  i860, 
he  removed  to  Doniphan  County,  Kansas,  and 
purchased  four  quarter  sections  of  land,  the  coun- 
trv  being  in  a  comparatively  wild  state  at  that 
time.  \y\\i\  game  abounded,  and  Indians  were 
common  in  that  locality.  He  and  his  family 
lived  in  the  little  preemption  house,  which  the 
preemptor  had  built  on  this  claim,  and  had  80 
acres  under  cultivation,  following  general  farm- 
ing and  stock-raising.  Atchison,  Kansas,  w  as  the 
nearest  trading  point.  He  was  a  great  home 
man  and  a  lover  of  books,  and  lived  on  his  farm 
there  until  his  death,  January  17,  1887.  Febru- 
ary 24,  i860,  he  was  married  in  Ohio,  to  Delila 
Fenton.  who  was  born  in  Ohio,  May  3,  1829. 

Delila  Fenton  was  a  daughter  of  William  and 
Mary  (Kendall)  Fenton,  and  a  granddaughter  of 
Jeremiah  and  Rosa  (Lawrence)  Fenton.  Her 
earliest  ancestors  in  this  country  came  from  Eng- 
land and  first  located  in  A'irginia,  on  what  they 
call  Apple  Fie  Ridge.  They  moved  to  Pennsyl- 
vania, thence  to  Kentucky  and  still  later  to  Adams 
County,  Ohio.  Her  mother,  Mary  Kendall,  was 
of  Welsh  descent,  paternally,  and  German  descent 
maternally.  Her  father,  James  Kendall,  moved 
from  Pennsylvania  to  Ohio,  where  he  purchased 
1,000  acres  of  land  to  provide  farms  for  his 
sons  and  after  purchasing  a  farm  for  himself 
had  $1,000  left.  He  was  an  immensely  wealthy 
man  for  his  times.  They  were  strong  Methodists. 
William  Fenton  and  his  wife  were  parents  of  the 
following  children :  Samuel,  deceased ;  Ruhama. 
deceased  ;  Rosanna,  deceased  ;  Elizabeth,  who  lives 
in  Greenfield,  Missouri,  at  the  age  of  80  years ; 
Marv  Ann,  deceased ;  Delila,  mother  of  Mrs. 
Steele,  who  is  75  years  of  age ;  Caroline,  who  is 
living  at  the  age  of  72  years  ;  Jeremiah,  aged  67 
years ;  Rachel  Brown  ;  James  Brown ;  and  Will- 
iam Baker.  Mrs.  Fenton,  mother  of  Mary  Steele, 
recently  visited  the  old  homestead  in  Ohio,  where 
she  was  born,  and  the  conditions  had  changed 
.so  she  did  not  realize  it  was  the  same  i)lace.  Her 
grandfather's  ])lace  had  been  torn  down,  and  the 
great  advancement  along  all  lines  brought  forcibly 
to  her  mind  the  great  changes  constantly  wrought 
by  the  progress  of  civilization.  Her  cousin,  John 
Cockrell,  a  son  of  Randolph  Cockrell,  who  was 
a  prominent  attorney  and  a  Member  of  Con- 
gress, was  famed  as  an  editor  and  commanded 
the  enormous  salary  of  $20,000  a  year.     Another 


cousin,  Lucien  Fenton,  lives  in  Winchester,  Ohio, 
and  served  in  the  United  States  Congress  two 
terms.  Governor  Fenton  of  New  York  was  also 
a  connection  of  the  family.  Mrs.  Fenton  was 
educated  in  the  district  schools  in  Ohio,  and  later 
attended  the  school  in  the  town  of  Winchester. 
She  is  a  woman  of  literary  attainments  and  is 
well  read.  Her  father  was  a  soldier  in  the  War 
of  1812,  and  received  a  land  warrant  for  fighting 
Indians,  and  two  brothers  served  in  the  Union 
Army'  during  the  Civil  War.  Samuel  and  Delila 
Fenton  were  parents  of  the  following  children : 
Alfred  L.,  of  Dentonville,  Kansas,  who  married 
Anna  Schulsky ;  John  Fenton,  who  died  in  in- 
fancy ;  George  Washington,  deceased ;  Mary  E. ; 
and  Elizabeth  C,  wife  of  Andrew  O.  Delaney,  of 
Leona,  Kansas. 

Oliver  C.  and  Mary  E.  (Fenton)  Steele  are 
parents  of  three  sons :  Samuel  Fenton  ;  Thomas 
Christopher  and  Alfred  C.  They  have  a  modern 
home  on  their  farm  in  Bloomington  township, 
where  they  welcome  their  many  friends  through- 
out the  communitv. 


♦  ♦  » 


ICHARD  EDWARD  TURNER,  who 
was  engaged  in  the  wholesale  grocery 
business  in  St.  Joseph  for  a  period  of 
more  than  37  years,  is  one  of  the  fore- 
most residents  of  the  city,  where  he  is 
now  living  in  the  peace  and  enjoyment  of  retired 
life  at  his  fine  residence  at  No.  515  North  Fifth 
street.  He  has  been  identified  with  many  quasi- 
public  and  private  enterprises,  and  has  contributed 
his  full  share  toward  making  St.  Joseph  a  city  of 
the  first  class  in  every  respect. 

Mr.  Turner  was  born  at  Culpeper  Court 
House,  Virginia,  August  25,  1830,  and  is  a  son 
of  Zephaniah  and  Susan  (Tutt)  Turner,  who 
were  married  at  Culpeper  Court  House,  Decem- 
ber 19,  1816.  The  father  of  Zephaniah  was  a 
colonel  in  the  Revolutionary  Armv,  and  he  him- 
self fought  for  his  country  in  the  \\'ar  of  1812. 

Richard  Edward  Turner  attended  the  public 
schools  in  Ohio  and  Missouri  until  he  was  14 
years  old,  and  such  education  as  he  has  since  re- 
ceived has  been  through  contact  with  the  world. 
.At  the  age  of  14  he  was  clerk  in  the  store  of 
James  A.  Tutt,  at  Alillersburg,  Missouri,  and  in 
1848  he  took  charge  of  the  mercantile  house  of 
T.  P.  Bell  in  Cooper  County,  which  he  conducted 
with  success  for  some  time.  He  next  engaged 
with   a   whrtlc^alc  and    retail   dr}-   goods   firm   at 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


459 


Boonville,  Missouri,  until  the  spring-  of  1850. 
when  he  accepted  a  situation  as  bookkeeper  for 
Abram  Nave  at  Savannah,  Missouri.  In  185 1, 
&Ir.  Turner  went  to  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah,  witli  a 
stock  of  goods  owned  by  Mr.  Nave  and  himself 
and  spent  the  winter  of  1851-52  at  that  place.  He 
found  it  necessary  to  exchange  the  merchandise 
in  his  charge  for  horses,  cattle  and  mules,  which 
he  took  to  California  and- disposed  of  profitably, 
returning  to  Savannah  in  November,  1852,  by 
way  of  the  Isthmus  of  Panama  and  New  Orleans. 
In  1854,  Mr.  Nave  and  ])artners  sent  Mr.  Turner 
to  California  in  charge  of  a  second  expedition. 
The  party  was  made  up  of  30  men,  with  16 
wagons.  50  horses  and  mules  and  700  steers  in 
the  train,  which  he  safely  conducted  to  the  ranch 
on  the  Sacramento  River,  and  in  the  fall  of  1854 
returned  to  Savannah  b\  wa\'  of  Nicaragua  and 
New  York. 

On  January  i,  1855,  Mr.  Turner  formed  a 
partnership  with  Abram  Nave  and  James  Mc- 
Cord  to  conduct,  under  his  management,  a  retail 
store  at  Oregon,  Missouri.  The  venture  was  suc- 
cessful. In  1858,  they  removed  the  stock  to 
Eorest  City,  where  the  business  was  continued 
until  i860.  In  that  year  Mr.  Turner  purchased 
the,  interests  of  his  partners  and  associated  him- 
self with  H.  L.  Williams  and  John  AI.  Frazer, 
under  the  firm  name  of  Turner,  Frazer  &  Com- 
pany. The  new  firm  .conducted  the  business  at 
the  old  stand  until  1864,  Vvdien  they  removed  it  to 
St.  Joseph,  and  established  a  wholesale  grocery 
house,  the  firm  later  becoming  incorporated  as 
the  Turner-Frazer  Mercantile  Company.  A 
large  store  was  built  at  Third  and  Charles  streets 
and  was  occupied  by  them  some  20  years ;  it  is 
now  occupied  by  the  Sheridan-Clayton  Paper 
Com]:)any.     Mr.  Turner  retired  on  May  i,  1901. 

During  these  many  years  of  activity,  Mr. 
Turner  had  many  and  varied  interests.  He  has 
been  member  of  the  board  of  trustees  of  William 
Jewell  College,  of  Liberty,  ]Missouri,  for  25  vears 
and  president  of  the  board  for  six  years ;  is  chair- 
man of  the  board  of  trustees  of  the  Hoagland 
Memorial  Fund  ;  was  president  of  the  Merchants' 
P>ank  of  St.  Joseph  three  years  ;  was  instrumental 
in  building  the  first  street  railway  line  and  the 
first  electric  light  plant  in  St.  Joseph,  and  was 
president  of  the  street  railway  company  for  25 
years  and  of  the  electric  light  company  for  a  con- 
siderable period  ;  was  a  promoter  of  the  St.  loseph 
&  St.  Louis  road,  now  the  Santa  Fe  Railway, 
serving  as  vicc-presirlent  when  the  road  was  built : 
was  connected  with  the  company  that  built  the 


St.  Joseph  &  Grand  Island  road  to  Hastings, 
Nebraska ;  was  president  of  the  first  Board  of 
Trade  in  St.  Joseph  ;  and  is  a  large  stockholder 
in  the  Jones- Payne  Hat  Company,  of  St.  Jo- 
seph. Mr.  Turner  is  preeminently  a  business 
man,  business  being  his  life  and  pleasure.  He 
made  moderate  gain  annually,  and  that  satisfied 
him  :  slowly  but  surely  he  earned  his  competency, 
wtih  the  pleasing  retrospection  that  it  has  been 
fairly  acquired. 

Mr.  Turner  has  been  a  Alason  for  40  years, 
and  is  a  member  of  the  Missionary  Baptist 
Church.  Fie  is  a  conservative  Democrat,  favor- 
ing tariff  for  revenue  only  and  a  gold  standard. 
He  is  in  good  health  and  active,  and  his  future 
promises  much  of  good  to  himself  and  society. 


♦  *  »■ 


EORGE  TUNIS  HOAGLAND,  de- 
ceased, became  identified  with  the  lum- 
ber business  at  St.  Joseph  in  the  early 
davs  of  the  city's  history,  when  this 
was  a  field  of  unlimited  opportunities. 
He  availed  himself  of  every  opportunity  for  ad- 
vancement and  became  one  of  the  most  pros- 
perous business  men  of  Northwestern  ^Missouri. 

Mr.  Hoagland  vvas  born  at  Elizabethtown 
(now  Elizabeth),  New  Jersey,  February  7.  1814, 
and  was  a  son  of  Cornelius  and  Catherine 
(Brown)  Hoagland.  He  received  but  a  meagre 
education  in  the  common  schools  of  his  native 
town,  laying  aside  his  books  when  very  young  to 
learn  the  trade  of  a  carpenter.  He  followed 
carpentering  in  and  about  Elizabethtown  and  af- 
terward in'^New  York  City  until  1838,  when  he 
removed  to  Boonville,  Missouri,  and  engaged  in 
selling  lumber  and  contracting  for  the  erection 
of  public  and  private  buildings.  He  continued 
there  until  1852,  when  he  removed  to  St.  Joseph, 
which  continued  as  his  home  until  his  death  on 
October  30,  1903.  He  established  the  first  lum- 
ber-yard in  St.  Joseph  in  1852,  and  in  1861  opened 
a  similar  business  in  (Omaha,  Nebraska,  which  is 
now  being  carried  on  by  his  eldest  son,  George 
A.  Hoagland.  who  is  owner  and  manager.  In 
1862  our  subject  opened  a  lumber-yard  at  Coun- 
cil Bluffs,  Iowa,  and  some  years  later  a  whole- 
sale lumber-yard  at  Hannibal.  Missouri.  Subse- 
quently he  became  interested  in  the  manufacture 
and  sale  of  lumber  at  Eau  Claire,  Wisconsin,  and 
at  Chippewa  Falls,  Wisconsin.  He  was  also  a 
stockholder  in  the  Badger  Lumber  Company, 
which   has  yards  at  various  points  in  Missouri, 


4Co 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY  AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


Nebraska,  Kansas,  and  Oklahoma,  the  headquar- 
ters of  the  business  being  in  Kansas  City,  Mis- 
souri. Mr.  Hoagland,  in  politics,  held  to  a  strong 
independence,  regarding  it  to  be  the  duty  of  the 
citizen  to  act  as  his  conscience  might  dictate, 
disregarding  all  blind  allegiance  to  a  party  for 
the  party's  sake,  or  because  he  might  have  acted 
with  it  at  one  time  or  other.  In  early  manhood 
he  was  a  Whig.  As  old  issues  disappeared  and 
new  issues  arose,  he  became  a  Democrat.  Before 
his  death  he  acted  with  the  Prohibitionists.  In 
a  personal  way  he  cared  nothing  for  practical 
politics,  and  never  held  any  public  office  except 
that  of  councilman,  considering  that  such  service 
is  a  duty  that  a  good  citizen  owes  to  his  neigh- 
bors and  to  his  community. 

Fully  70  years  ago,  George  T.  Hoagland 
became  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church 
but  subsequently  united  with  the  Alethodist  Epis- 
copal Church,  South.  He  had  always  lived  a  con- 
sistent. Christian  life,  and  his  religion  was  much 
more  than  a  mere  profession.  His  benefactions 
were  frequent  and  generous.  Friends,  who  have 
reason  to  know  whereof  they  speak,  have  stated 
that  his  contributions  for  religious,  philanthropic 
and  benevolent  purposes  during  the  last  15  years 
of  his  life  were  in  excess  of  $100,000. 

Mr.  Hoagland  was  imited  in  marriage  with 
Nannie  A.  Gale,  of  Elizabethtown,  New  Jersey, 
February  2,  1842.  Three  children  were  born  to 
them,  all  of  whom  are  now  living,  namely : 
George  A.,  of  Omaha,  Nebraska  ;  Theodore  B., 
in  business  in  St.  Joseph;  and  Emaline  B.,  wife 
of  B.  R.  Vineyard,  who  is  a  prominent  attorney 
of  St.  Joseph.  Mr.  Hoagland  retired  from  active 
business  about  1880,  and  lived  in  the  pleasant 
companionship  of  his  wife  and  family.  Upon 
his  death  he  left  a  large  estate.  Mrs.  Hoagland, 
although  in  the  89th  year  of  her  age,  is  hale  and 
hearty  and  is  spending  her  declining  years  in  the 
peace  and  comfort  of  home  life,  surrounded  by 
her  children  and  grandchildren. 


SAAC  V.  RILEY,  county  school  commis- 
sioner of  Buchanan  County,  was  born  in 
this  county  on  August  10,  1869,  and  is 
one  of  a  family  of  1 1  children  born  to  his 
parents,  Isaac  and  Raghene  (Long) 
Riley,  old  pioneer  settlers,  residents  of  Wayne 
township. 

Mr.  Riley  grew  to  manhood  on  his  father's 
farm  and  secured  his  education  in  the  common 


schools  of  the  county.  He  has  always  been 
deeply  interested  in  educational  matters  and  his 
choice  as  county  school  commissioner  in  April. 
1903,  gave  general  satisfaction.  The  office  is 
no  sinecure,  as  he  has  under  his  charge  some  80 
teachers.  The  position  requires  many  qualities, 
which  Mr.  Riley  possesses  in  eminent  degree,  not 
the  least  of  these  being  great  executive  ability. 
This  position  brings  him  into  contact  with  citi- 
zens from  all  parts  of  the  county  and  is  in  regu- 
lar line  for  higher  things.  It  is  the  opinion  of 
his  friends  that  he  has  the  ability  to  effectively 
perform  the  duties  of  a  State  office. 

Mr.  Riley  is  fraternally  connected  with  both 
the  Masons  and  the  Odd  Fellows.  He  lives  on 
the  Riley  homestead  in  Wayne  township,  not  far 
distant  from  the  pleasant  town  of  DeKalb.  He 
deservedly  has  a  wide  circle  of  warm  personal 
friends.  To  these  he  continually  adds  through 
his  able  administration  of  the  duties  of  his  posi- 
tion as  school  commissioner.  His  predecessor  in 
office  was  the  late  well-known  educator,  H.  O. 
Nevell. 


MOS  LINCOLN  JONES,  a  prominent 
business  man  and  representative  citi- 
zen of  DeKalb,  Buchanan  County, 
who  conducts  a  large  coal,  feed  and 
flour  business  and  owns  a  large  eleva- 
tor in  the  town,  belongs  to  one  of  the  old  pioneer 
families  of  this  section  of  the  State.  He  was  born 
December  23,  1862,  in  Bloomington  township, 
Buchanan  County,  Missouri,  and  is  a  son  of 
Peter  Alexander  Jones,  an  esteemed  resident  of 
Bloomington  township. 

Holland  Jones,  our  subject's  grandfather,  was 
born  in  Virginia,  June  27,  1801,  and  when  seven 
years  of  age,  accompanied  his  parents  to  Ken- 
tucky. Later  he  went  to  Illinois,  and  in  1846 
came  to  ^lissouri,  preempting  a  claim  of  320 
acres  of  fine  land  in  Bloomington  township,  Bu- 
chanan County,  the  patent  to  which,  signed  by 
President  James  K.  Polk  in  1841.  is  in  our  sub- 
ject's possession.  This  land  he  cultivated  until 
1881,  when,  he  sold  it  to  his  son,  Peter  A.  Jones, 
who  still  occupies  it.  The  grandfather  died  No- 
vember 6,  1886.  He  had  been  twice  married  and 
three  of  his  eight  children  of  his  first  union  still 
survive,  Peter  A.  Jones  being  one.  Of  the 
eight  children  of  his  second  marriage,  five  are 
still  surviving. 

Peter  Alexander  Jones,  the  father  of  our 
subject,  was  born  in  Buchanan  County.  Missouri, 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


461 


and  has  always  farmed  in  Bloomington  township. 
A  sketch  of  his  Hfe  is  given  elsewhere  in  this 
work. 

Amos  L.  Jones  was  reared  on  the  home  farm 
and  was  educated  in  the  district  schools  of  Bloom- 
ington tov>-nship,  attending  during  the  winter  ses- 
sions and  assisting  in  the  farm  work  in  the  sum- 
mer. Through  close  application  he  fitted  himself 
for  teaching  by  the  time  he  had  reached  his  ma- 
jority, and  spent  about  seven  years  as  a  teacher 
through  Buchanan  and  Platte  counties.  After 
his  marriage  in  1884.  he  settled  on  the  old  home- 
stead and  lived  there  for  16  years  and  then  re- 
moved to  his  own  farm,  also  in  Bloomington 
township,  which  he  occupied  for  two  years.  In 
1901  he  purchased  a  farm  within  a  quarter  of  a 
mile  of  DeKalb  and  lived  there  two  years.  In 
1904  he  bought  a  well-located  lot  and  liandsome 
residence  on  the  east  side  of  the  public  square  in 
DeKalb,  and  this  has  been  the  family  home  ever 
since.  In  the  fall  of  1902  he  purchased  an  ele- 
vator which  has  a  capacity  of  4,000  bushels,  and 
did  a  large  business  in  1903,  shipping  about 
80,000  bushels  of  wheat.  He  also  carries  on  a 
large  business  in  coal,  feed  and  flour  and  is  one 
of  the  leading  business  citizens  of  the  place. 

On  March  30,  1884,  Mr.  Jones  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Naomi  B.  Miller,  who  is  a  daugh- 
ter of  John  H.  and  Margaret  (Brown)  Miller,  old 
and  honored  settlers  of  Buchanan  County.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Miller  had  three  children  and  Mrs. 
Jones  is  the  second'  in  order  of  birth.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Jones  have  four  children  :  Bessie  B.,  Lena 
lA.,  Rollie  E.  and  Virgil  R.  The  family  belong 
to  the  Christian  Church. 

Politically,  Mr.  Jones  is  identified  with  the 
Republican  party,  and  is  a  member  of  the  village 
and  the  school  boards.  Fraternally,  he  is  con- 
nected with  Lodge  No.  191,  Independent  Order 
of  Odd  Fellows,  and  Camp  No.  5256,  Modern 
Woodmen  of  America. 


^ » » 


L.  MARNEY,  who  was  one  of  the  most 
prominent     business     citizens     of     St. 
Joseph,  for  niore  than  30  years  having, 
dominated  the  mercantile  line,  died  in 
Chicago,    Illinois,    on    July    18,    1898. 

while  en  route  to  the  Atlantic  coast,  in  search  of 

health. 

The  late  E.  L.  Marney  was  horn  at  Rouses 

Point,  near  Ogdensburg,  New  York,  in  1842,  arid 

he  was  educated  and  began  his  business  career 


in  that  locality.  For  a  number  of  years  he  was 
associated  with,  the  railroad  business,  but  after 
locating  in  St.  Joseph,  in  1867,  he  confined  his  atr 
tention  to  merchandising.  As  a  member  of  the 
retail  mercantile  firm  of  Chambers  &  Marney,  he 
built  up  an  immense  business ;  the  death  of  Mr. 
Chambers  some  years  previous  to  his  own  made 
no  change  in  the  firm  name,  although  it  added 
responsibilities  to  Mr.  Marney.  He  was  a  man 
of  fine  business  ability  as  was  evidenced  by  the 
success  of  all  his  undertakings.  He  had  long  been 
considered  one  of  the  city's  capitalists. 

In  1873,  Mr.  Marney  was  married  in  St. 
Joseph  to  Mrs.  Columbia  Williams,  who  still 
survives,  with  two  daughters, — Ethel  and  Mar- 
guerite. 

The  death  of  Mr.  Marney  removed  from  St. 
Joseph  a  citizen,  whose  example  was  followed, 
counsel  asked  and  friendship  desired,  and  whose 
public  spirit  and  whose  superior  qualities  of  mind 
and  character  made  him  a  prominent  factor ,  for 
so  many  years  in  the  city's  life.  His  place  in  the 
development  of  the  commercial  prestige  of  St. 
Joseph  will  long  remain.  The  beautiful  old  fam- 
ily home  of  Mr.  Marney  continues  to  be  that  of 
his  family,  and  is  located  at  12th  and  Francis 
streets,  St.  Joseph. 


^  «  ^ 


APT.  JOHN  BLOOMER.  Few  citizens 
of  St.  Joseph  were  better  known  than 
the  late  Capt.  John  Bloomer,  whose 
death  took  place  on  November  3,  1900, 
and  few  indeed  are  recalled  with  more 
sincere  respect.  Captain  Bloomer  was  born  in 
County  Tyrone,  Ireland,  near  Omagh,  May  15, 
1835.  and  was  a  son  of  Michael  and  Ann 
(McSherry)  Bloomer. 

A  sister  of  Captain  Bloomer  had  found  a  home 
at  Litchfield,  Connecticut,  and  when  he  had 
reached  the  age  of  18  years  and  had  accumulated 
enough  capital  to  carry  him  across  the  Atlantic, 
he  joined  this  sister  and  very  soon  found  remun- 
erative work  on  the  neighboring  farms.  Three 
years  later  he  moved  to  Dodge  County,  Nebraska, 
where  he  entered  and  improved  a  farm  for  three 
years  and  then  sold  it  in  order  to  settle  at  St. 
Joseph,  Missouri,  which  was  then  becoming  a 
great  freight  depot. 

Captain  Bloomer  came  to  this  city  in  1859 
and  being  a  man  of  courage  and  physical  strength, 
both  being  necessities  in  those  dangerous  days, 
he    was    engaged    very    quickly    for    freighting 


462 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY   AND    ST.   JOSEPH 


across  the  plains  to  Denver,  some  800  miles  dis- 
tant. He  engaged  in  work  for  the  government  at 
first  but  later  began  freighting  for. himself  and 
h»  continued  in  the  business  until  the  close  of 
the  Civil  War. 

In  1866,  Captain  Bloomer  first  became  a 
member  of  the  wSt.  Joseph  police  force;  in  1868 
he  was  appointed  street  commissioner ;  and  in 
1887,  when  the  new  cit}'  charter  was  adopted  and 
the  metropolitan  police  system  was  inaugurated, 
he  was  made  police  sergeant.  In  March.  1888, 
he  succeeded  the  late  Captain  Broyles  to  the  cap- 
taincy, and  this  position  he  held  until  his  death, 
with  a  fidelity  to  the  interests  of  the  public,  which 
earned  for  him  the  esteem  and  gratitude  of  his 
fellow  citizens.  He  was  unswerving  in  the  line  of 
duty  and  made  the  police  force  under  his  admin- 
istration a  credit  to  his  management  and  an 
lionor  to  the  city. 

In  1858,  in  Nebraska.  Captain  Bloomer  mar- 
ried Abbie  O'Reilly,  who  was  formerly  a  resi- 
dent of  New  York  City,  and  they  had  nine  chil- 
dren, of  whom  six  are  now  deceased.  The  chil- 
dren living  arc  three  daughters:  Fannie  (Mrs. 
B.  O'Connor),  of  St.  Joseph;  and  Abbie  and 
Anna,  who  live  at  home.  These  children  were  all 
given  superior  educational  advantages  and  pre- 
])ared  to  take  prominent  positions  in  society.  The 
family  are  members  of  the  Catholic  Church. 

Captain  Bloomer  was  a  liberal  contributor  in 
support  of  the  various  benevolent  enterprises  of 
the  Catholic  Church,  of  which  he  was  a  devout 
member,  and  was  always  ready  to  give  gener- 
ously to  advance  the  best  interests  of  the  city  in 
any  direction.  A  beautiful  monument  marks  the 
spot  in  Mount  Olivet  Cemetery  where  his  re- 
mains lie.  and  his  memory  will  long  be  cherished 
by  his  family  and  many  friends.  His  widow,  one 
of  the  highly  esteemed  residents  of  St.  Joseph, 
lives  in  a  comfortable  home  at  No.  1502  South 
1  ith  street. 


^ » » 


HRIST  OZENBERGER,  a  prominent 
farmer  of  Washington  township,  Bu- 
chanan County,  owning  a  ])roductive 
farm  of  100  acres,  situated  in  section 
32,  township  58,  range  34,  is  also  an 
honored  survivor  of  the  great  Civil  War,  through 
which  he  served  with  gallantry  and  loyalty.  He 
was  born  in  Holmes  County,  Ohio,  January  19, 
1837,  and  is  a  son  of  Nicholas  and  Magdalena 
(Scheidcgcr)   Ozenberger. 


The  Ozenberger  family  originated  in  Switzer- 
land. There  our  subject's  father  was  born  Jan- 
uary 11.  1807.  With  his  brother.  Peter,  and 
other  members  of  the  family,  including"  his  father. 
Christian  Ozenberger.  he  came  to  the  United 
States  in  183 1  as  a  member  of  a  large  party  of 
Swiss,  who  chartered  a  boat  for  the  passage.  They 
landed  in  New  York  and  settled  as  pioneers  in 
Holmes  County,  Ohio.  Nicholas  Ozenberger  was 
a  carpenter  by  trade  and  also  owned  a  farm  in 
Ohio.  In  183 1  he  married,  and  in  the  fall  of  1847, 
with  his  family,  started  by  boat  for  St.  Joseph, 
Missouri.  He  bought  200  acres  of  land  in  Bu- 
chanan County  and  farmed  here  until  the  close  of 
his  life,  at  the  age  of  87  years  and  five  days.  His 
widow  survived  until  September,  1904,  lier  age 
at  death  being  92  years  and  24  days.  They  had 
13  children,  the  survivors  being:  Elizabeth  (Mrs. 
Spellman)  ;  ]\Iarion  (Mrs.  Wildy)  ;  Christ,  of 
this  sketch;  Magdalena  (Mrs.  Zessett)  ;  Abraham 
and  Peter,  farmers  in  Washington  township ; 
Samuel;  Sarah  (Mrs.  Stuber),  Caroline  (Mrs. 
l-"unkhouser)  ;  and  George,  who  assists  our  sub- 
ject on  the  home  farm. 

Mr.  Ozeriberger  of  this  sketch  was  reared  to 
farm  life  and  has  been  actively  engaged  in  agri- 
cultural pursuits  ever  since  he  left  school.  His 
wide  experience  has  enabled  him  to  cope  success- 
fully with  the  various  diversities  of  soil,  with  the 
climatic  changes  and  with  all  those  problems 
which  meet  the  farmer  on  every  side.  His  100 
acres  are  devoted  largely  to  grains  and  to  grapes. 
In  1874  he  built  the  commodious  family  resi- 
dence, but  the  old  log  cabin  which  was  erected 
43  years  ago  is  still  standing.  It  comfortably 
sheltered  the  family  for  many  years. 

In  1862  Mr.  Ozenberger  entered  the  I'nion 
Army  for  service  in  the  Civil  War,  then  in  pro- 
gress, enlisting  at  St.  Joseph,  in  the  82d  Missouri 
Regiment,  Vol.  Cav.,  uncler  Colonel  McDonald. 
Under  this  gallant  leader  the  regiment  performed 
many  deeds  of  valor  through  Missouri  and  Kan- 
sas and  proved  of  the  greatest  value  to  the  gov- 
ernment. Although  Mr.  Ozenberger  was  in  dan- 
ger on  many  occasions,  he  passed  safely  through 
all  dangers  and,  after  30  months  in  the  army,  was 
honorably  discharged.  Since  then  he  has  resided 
o.n  the  old  homestead  in  Washington  townshi]:). 
The  family  is  well  known  in  this  locality,  its 
members  being  noted  for  excellence  in  farming 
and  for  their  genuine,  substantial  characters  and 
good  citizenship.  Politically,  Mr.  Ozenberger 
has  always  been  a  Republican,  as  was  his  father. 


KENDALL  BROOKS  RANDOLPH 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


465 


ENDALL  BROOKS  RANDOLPH,  a 
prominent  and  highly  successful  attor- 
ney of  St.  Joseph,  whose  portrait  ap- 
])ears  on  the  opposite  page,  was  born 
October  10.  1859,  at  Atlanta.  Logan 
County,  Illinois,  and  is  a  son  of  Rev.  Moses  M. 
and  Josephine  M.  (Mounier)  Randolph. 

The  Randolph  family  were  early  settlers  of 
the  State  of  Virginia.  The  grandfather  of  our 
subject,  William  Randolph,  located  as  a  pioneer 
in  lUinoist  where  he  became  an  extensive  land- 
owner. Moses  M.  Randolph  was  a  student  of 
Shurtleff  College.  Copper  Alton,  and  later  of 
Hamilton  University,  New  York  where  he  fitted 
himself  for  the  ministry.  After  serving  other 
Baptist  churches,  he  was  placed  in  charge  of  a 
Baptist  Church  at  Tonica,  LaSalle  County,  Illi- 
nois. This  was  during  the  first  days  of  the  Re- 
bellion, and  in  1862  a  company  was  formed  in  the 
church  of  which  he  was  pastor — Company  B'., 
104th  Reg.,  Illinois  \'ol.  Inf. — and  he  was  made 
1st  lieutenant.  They  marched  to  the  front  of 
battle  and  on  December  10,  1862,  at  Hartsville, 
Tennessee,  in  the  first  engagement  in  which  the 
company  participated.  Rev.  Mr.  Randolph  was 
among  those  brave  "boys  in  blue"  who  sacrificed 
their  lives  for  their  country's  honor.  He  had  been 
joined  in  marriage  to  Josephine  M.  Mounier,  a 
native  of  Philadelphia.  Mrs.  Randolph's  father, 
wi'.o  had  been  a  soldier  in  Napoleon's  army,  came 
to  the  United  States  soon  after  the  famous  battle 
of  Waterloo,  and  settled  in  Pennsylvania.  The 
children  born  to  our  subject's  parents  were  as 
follows:  Kendall  Brooks;  Ella  R.  (Mrs.  Canary), 
whose  husband  is  a  contractor  residing  in  Chi- 
cago :  Francis  W.,  who  died  February  12,  1894, 
in  his  31st  year  at  Kansas  City  where  he  was  a 
prosperous  young  lawyer  and  at  one  time  as- 
sistant counsel  of  the  city ;  and  Grace,  also  de- 
ceased. After  her  widowhood,  iNTrs.  Randolph 
remained  a  few  years  at  Tonica,  then  removed  to 
Normal,  Illinois,  for  a  short  time,  from  there  mov- 
ing to  DeKalb  County,  Missouri,  and  later  locat- 
ing in  Maysville  where  she  departed  this  life 
April    14,    1904. 

Kendall  B.  Randolph  may  well  be  called  a 
self-made  man,  having  worked  his  way  with  zeal 
and  unflagging  energy  through  many  difficulties 
to  his  present  promising  position  in  life.  He  was 
educated  at  Normal,  Illinois.  Having  decided 
upon  the  legal  profession,  he  made  use  of  every 
opportunity  to  become  master  of  its  manv  knotty 
points  and  to  this  end  engaged  in  teaching  school 
in  DcKalb  and  Daviess  counties,  Missouri,  at  the 


same  time  spending  his  leisure  time  in  the  study 
of  Blackstone's  "Commentaries"  and  other  text- 
books. He  then  entered  the  law  office  of  T.  W. 
Collins,  under  whose  preceptorship  he  studied 
for  six  months  at  St.  Josepli,  and  in  October, 
1882,  two  years  after  he  first  took  up  the  study, 
he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  at  ^Maysville.  Two 
years  later  he  was  elected  prosecuting  attorney 
of  DeKalb  County  and  served  two  years.  In 
1888,  he  opened  a  law  office  in  St.  Joseph  and 
for  a  number  of  }ears  was  junior  member  of  the 
firm  of  Reed.  James  &  Randolph,  with  offices  on 
Francis  street,  but  later  he  moved  to  his  com- 
modious quarters  in  the  German-American  Bank 
Building.  He  engages  in  general  practice  in  the 
State  and  Federal  Courts  and  is  a  member  of  the 
bar  of  the  Fruited  States  Supreme  Court.  He  has 
been  quite  successful,  having  a  large  and  desir- 
able clientage.  In  1901  he  was  appointed  city 
counselor  of  St.  Joseph  by  Mayor  John  Combe 
and  served  with  credit  in  that  capacity  for  two 
years,  retiring  in  April,  1903.  In  1896  he  was 
the  Republican  nominee  for  circuit  judge  against 
Thomas  H.  Parrish  and  ran  largely  ahead  of  his 
ticket,  and  again  in  1898.  against  Judge  A.  .M. 
Woodsom,  also  running  ahead  of  his  ticket. 

Mr.  Randolph  was  married  May  3,  1885,  to 
Addie  Weatherby,  daughter  of  Dr.  L.  H.  Weath- 
erby,  of  Maysville,  and  five  children  have  been 
born  to  them,  viz:  Cloie,  born  April  15.  1887; 
Lewis  F.,  born  September  28,  1889 ;  John  P.,  bom 
July  5,  1895  ;  Helen  P.,  born  January  19,  1901  ; 
and  Kendall  B.,  Jr.,  born  March  31,  1904.  ^Mr. 
Randolph  is  a  Mason,  being  a  member  of  St. 
Joseph  Commandery,  K.  T.,  and  Moila  Temple, 
A.  A.  O.  N.  M.  S.,  and  is  also  a  Modern.  Wood- 
man of  America.  His  wife  is  a  Daughter  of  Isis, 
an  auxiliarv  organization  to  the  Mvstic  Shrine. 


^  ♦ » 


ETER  F.  OZENBERGER,  one  of  the 
leading  farmers  of  Washington  town- 
ship, Buchanan  County,  and  a  member 
of  one  of  the  earliest  settled  families 
of  the  county,  was  born  December  24, 
1858,  on  his  present  farm  of  60  acres,  situated  in 
section  2,  township  57,  range  35.  He  is  a  son  of 
Peter  and  Elizabeth  (Steiner)  Ozenberger. 

Our  subject  comes  of  a  pioneer  family.  His 
paternal  grandfather.  Christian  Ozenberger,  was 
a  native  of  Switzerland,  where  he  became  a  man 
of  wealth  and  influence  and  held  public  office.  At 
this   distant   dav,    under   dififerent   conditions   of 


466 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY   AND   ST.    JOSEPH 


life,  we  can  not  perhaps  fully  understand  why  this 
Swiss  official  consented  to  cross  the  sea  and  seek 
a  new  home  for  himself  and  a  colony  of  his  coun- 
trymen, but  such  was  the  case.  When  the  father 
of  our  subject  was  about  20  years  old,  the  worthy 
grandfather  joined  120  of  his  fellow  citizens  and 
they  chartered  a  vessel  to  take  them  to  America, 
paying  the  goodly  sum  of  $10,000.  The  trip  from 
their  native  cantons  was  made  on  foot,  througli 
Switzerland  and  France  to  the  port  of  Havre, 
where  the  sailing  vessel  awaited  them  and  safely 
landed  them  at  the  port  of  New  York,  after  43 
days  on  the  Atlantic  Ocean.  The  little  colony  of 
emigrants  started  out  again  on  foot,  walked  over 
the  tow-path  of  the  Erie  Canal  and  finally  reached 
their  destination, — Holmes  County,  Ohio.  They 
were  the  pioneers  of  that  section,  which  is  still 
noted  for  the  dirift  and  energy  of  its  people. 

The  sturdy  old  grandfather  died  in  Ohio,  at 
the  age  of  82  years,  leaving  his  fellow  country- 
men and  family  well  established  and  prosperous. 
The  Ozenbergers  remained  in  Ohio  from  183 1 
until  1849.  Peter  Ozenberger,  father  of  our  sub- 
ject, was  born  in  Switzerland,  September  it, 
181 1,  and  married  in  Ohio.  With  his  family,  in 
the  spring  of  1849  he  went  to  Wheeling,  Vir- 
ginia (now  West  Virginia),  where  they  embarked 
for  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  bound  for  St.  Joseph, 
which  point  was  also  reached  by  boat,  z'ia  the 
Ohio,  Mississippi  and  IMissouri  rivers.  Mr. 
Ozenberger  was  a  farmer  and  came  to  the  State 
with  the  intention  of  following  an  agricultural 
life.  He  soon  found  land  in  Buchanan  County 
to  suit  his  fancy,  and  our  subject's  farm  is  a  part 
of  the  original  160-acre  tract  his  father  bought. 
He  increased  his  possession  to  180  acres  and 
continued  to  farm  here  until  the  close  of  his  life, 
at  the  age  of  74  years.  His  children  were :  Cath- 
erine, Daniel,  Elizabeth,  Rosa,  William  A.,  Caro- 
line, John  (deceased),  Peter  F.  and  Charles. 

Peter  F.  Ozenberger  was  educated  in  the 
Woodbine  District  School.  His  life  has  been  de- 
voted to  farming  and  dairying.  The  farm's  loca- 
tion within  a  mile  and  a  half  of  the  citv  limits 
of  St.  Joseph,  adds  to  its  value,  but  it  has  always 
been  a  valuable  property  on*  account  of  the  fer- 
tility of  its  soil.  The  excellent  cultivation  given 
it  by  Mr.  Ozenberger  has  increased  its  value  ma- 
terially. He  devotes  eight  acres  to  orchard  and 
garden  and  reserves  enough  land  to  pasture  20 
cows,  utilizing  the  remainder  in  general  farming. 

Mr.  Ozenberger  has  been  married  twice,  first 
to  M.  A.  Roth,  who  was  survived  by  two  chil- 
dren: Elmer  and  Laura.     His  present  wife  was 


formerly  Bertha  Jecklin,  and  they  have  two  chil- 
dren :  Henry  and  Ruth.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ozen- 
berger are  consistent  members  of  the  German  Re- 
formed Church.  Politically,  he  is  a  Democrat. 
He  belongs  to  two  fraternal  organizations,  the  In- 
dependent Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and  the  Mod- 
ern Woodmen  of  America.  Mr.  Ozenberger  is  a 
man  who  is  thoroughly  respected  by  all  who 
know  him,  being  honest  and  upright  in  his  deal- 
ings with  his  fellow  men  and  prominent  in  church 
and  community. 


4 » » 


ON.  SIMEON  KEMPER  was,  at  the 
time  of  death,  March  11,  1883,  one  of 
the  oldest  citizens  of  Buchanan  County 
in  point  of  residence  and  years,  being 
84  years  of  age.  He  was  born  in  Mont- 
gomery County,  Kentucky,  February  5,  1799, 
and  moved  in  1837  with  his  family  to  Missouri, 
where  he  lived  one  year  in  Clay  County  and  one 
year  in  Clinton  County. 

On  February  20,  1840,  Mr.  Kemper  located 
in  Buchanan  County,  on  the  northwest  quarter 
of  section  9,  township  57,  range  35,  building  at 
that  time  a  double  log  house  which  he  occupied 
several  years.  This  property  he  afterward 
platted,  and  placed  it  on  the  market  as  Kemper's 
Addition.  It  was  annexed  to  the  city  and  is  now 
the  most  beautiful  residence  portion  of  St.  Jo- 
seph. Early  in  May,  1843,  ^^^-  Kemper  was 
employed  by  Joseph  Robidoux  to  lay  ofif  the  city 
of  St.  Joseph  ;  he  staked  oft"  the  city  twice,  the 
first  time  diagonally  with  the  land,  and  the  second 
time  north  and  south.  The  city  proper  is  located 
on  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  8,  township 
57.  range  35,  and  was  then  known  as  Blacksnake 
Llills,  since  which  time  many  additions  have 
been  annexed. 

One  of  the  many  interesting  incidents  con- 
nected with  the  life  of  Mr.  Kemper  was  when 
Joseph  Robidoux,  deciding  to  plat  his  land  into 
city  lots,  permitted  two  voung  engineers,  Simeon 
Kemper  and  Frederick  W.  Smith,  rivals  in  busi- 
ness, to  compete  with  plans.  The  Kemper  city 
plat  showed  wide  streets  and  Western  expansive- 
ncss,  while  the  Smith  plan  was  after  European 
models,  with  narrow  streets,  the  idea  being  utility 
more  than  beauty.  The  latter  plan  pleased  Robi- 
doux, who  regarded  old  St.  Louis  as  a  model  city 
and  he  adopted  the  Smith  i:)lan.  The  people  of 
St.  Joseph  to-day,  who  find  the  streets  too  nar- 
row for  their  busy  traffic,  have  much  cause  to 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


467 


wish  that  the  Kemper  plan  had  been  the  one 
adopted.  Mr.  Kemper  was  the  first  city  and 
county  surveyor. 

In  October,  1848,  under  the  direction  of  Gov- 
ernor Robert  M.  Stewart,  he  made  a  preHminary 
survey  through  to  Hannibal,  of  the  Hannibal  & 
St.  Joseph  Railroad,  about  two  months  being  re- 
quired for  the  work.  Some  two  years  afterward, 
under  the  superintendence  of  Major  Bucklin,  he 
located  the  permanent  line  about  one-third  of  the 
way,  working  almost  the  whole  of  one  winter,  for 
all  of  which  work  it  is  said  he  never  received 
remuneration  of  any  kind. 

'  In  1835,  Mr.  Kemper  married  Jane  A.  Short- 
ridge,  a  native  of  Baltimore,  Maryland.  Of  their 
10  children  only  one  survives,  Charles  S.  Kemper, 
who  has  long  been  connected  with  the  wholesale 
dry  goods  business  of  St.  Joseph  and  at  present 
is  a  buyer  for  the  Richardson-Roberts  Dry  Goods 
Company.  He  married  Mary  Robinson,  of  Dan- 
ville, Missouri,  and  has  a  familv  of  six  children  : 
Jennie  R.,  Charles  S.,  Jr.,  Mary  Lee,  Eliza,  Mil- 
dred and  Louise.  They  reside  at  No.  1328  Fran- 
cis street,  St.  Joseph. 

For  very  many  years,  Simeon  Kemper  was  an 
earnest  and  consistent  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  South.  During  his  long  resi- 
dence in  this  city  of  his  choice  and  afifection,  he 
championed  every  movement  designed  to  advance 
her  interests  or  to  build  up  her  commercial  and 
social  standing.  He  commanded  the  respect  of 
old  and  young  and  was  beloved  by  his  kindred, 
honored  by  his  contemporaries  and  esteemed  by 
all  who  knew  him.  As  one  of  the  foundation 
builders  of  St.  Joseph,  his  name  deserves  a  last- 
ing memorial. 


» »» 


OHN  DeCLUE,  a  pioneer  among  the 
leading  builders  and  contractors  of  St. 
Joseph,  and  proprietor  of  a  large  plan- 
ing mill  in  this  city,  was  born  in  the  city 
of  New  York,  in  1821,  and  died  October 
23,  1899. 

Mr.  DeClue  enjoyed  the  educational  advan- 
tages offered  in  a  city  like  the  great  metropolis 
in  which  he  was  born.  When  he  grew  to  man- 
hood, he  learned  the  trade  of  carpenter,  and 
equipped  with  this  he  made  a  visit  to  Illinois, 
but  not  finding  conditions  to  suit  him  there  he 
returned  to  New  York  two  years  later,  in  1852, 
and  remained  there  until  1859,  when  he  came  to 
St.  Joseph,  Missouri.  He  had  made  great  pro- 
gress in  his  trade,  and  immediately  began  contract- 


ing and  building  here  on  a  large  scale.  Many  of 
the  fine  and  substantial  buildings,  which  are  orna- 
ments to  the  city,  stand  as  monuments  to  his  taste 
and  skill,  notably  the  Buchanan  County  Court 
House,  St.  Joseph  High  School  and  the  elegant 
residence  of  the  late  Milton  Tootle.  He  was 
president  for  a  number  of  years  of  the  Builders' 
&  Trades'  Exchange,  as  well  as  a  director  of  the 
Free  Public  Library. 

Mr.  DeClue  was  married  on  August  7,  1885, 
to  Maggie  McElheney.  At  his  death  he  was  sur- 
vived by  his  widow  and  by  five  children,  as  fol- 
lows:  Edward,  who  died  in  1900;  Ella  M,  (IMrs. 
H.  J.  Nelson),  of  St.  Joseph;  Frank,  of  Salt 
Lake  City,  Utah  ;  and  Grace  and  Norman,  who 
live  with  their  mother  in  the  family  residence  at 
No.  1020  Sylvanie  street.  Mr.  DeClue  was  a 
Republican  in  politics.  He  w-as  for  many  years 
a  devoted  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  to 
which  he  was  a  generous  contributor.  It  is  told 
in  Holy  Writ,  that  "the  Lord  loves  a  cheerful 
giver,"  and  surely  blessings  must  have  been  given 
this  most  cheerful,  consistent  Christian,  whose 
hand  was  ever  open  to  the  wants  of  the  church 
and  was  never  closed  to  the  call  of  the  poor  or 
afflicted. 


^  * » 


OHN  CORBY,  whose  death  occurred  on 
]\Iay  9,  1870,  was  one  of  the  best  known 
of  the  pioneer  citizens  of  St.  Joseph, 
having  located  here  when  the  town  was 
but  a  trading  post.  With  every  con- 
fidence in  the  future  of  the  place  he  invested  in 
real  estate  here  and  wnth  its  development  he  grew 
to  a  position  of  wealth  and  influence  in  the  com- 
munity. 

John  Corby  was  born  in  Limerick,  Ireland, 
June  24,  1808,  and  was  the  eldest  son  and  second 
born  of  the  10  children  of  John  and  Bridget 
(Sheehan)  Corby,  who  immigrated  to  America 
with  their  family,  locating  on  a  farm  in  Beaver 
County,  Pennsylvania.  There  our  subject  re- 
mained for  a  few  years,  then  started  out  to  make 
his  way  in  the  world,  although  for  the  first  few 
years  his  earnings  went  to  his  parents'  assistance. 
His  life  was  an  industrious  and  frugal  one,  and  in 
a  few  years  he  was  able  to  engage  in  contract- 
ing. He  became  a  contractor  on  the  Baltimore  & 
Washington  Railway,  one  of  the  first  to  be  built 
in  this  country,  and  afterward  took  large  con- 
tracts in  the  construction  of  the  Pittsburg  & 
Eric  Canal,  on  the  Grand  Slack  Water  Naviga- 
tion project  for  Licking  River,  Kentucky,  on  the 


468 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN    COUNTY  AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


]\[adison  &  Indianapolis  Railroad,  and  for  vari- 
ous railroads,  pikes  and  levees  in  Ohio,  Kentucky, 
^Mississippi.  Arkansas  and  Louisiana.  In  1843, 
]vlr.  Corby  came  west  to  St.  Joseph,  Missouri, 
and,  being  pleased  with  the  then  trading  post, 
purchased  of  Joseph  Robidoux.  a  number  of  lots. 
Tlie  following  spring  he  bought  a  large  stock  of 
goods  and  commenced  merchandising,  and  also 
built  the  first  brick  house  in  St.  Joseph.  For 
some  years  he  conducted  the  largest  retail  busi- 
ness in  the  city  and  immediate  vicinity,  investing 
his  profits  in  real  estate,  and  at  the  present  time 
the  estate  left  by  him  is  one  of  the  most  valuable 
ones  in  the  city.  In  1857,  Mr.  Corby  retired 
from  the  dry  goods  business  and  opened  a  bank, 
which  became  one  of  the  soundest  financial  insti- 
tutions of  St.  Joseph,  and  with  which  he  was 
identified  imtil  his  death.  He  was  among  the 
foremost  in  support  of  institutions  and  enter- 
])rises  calculated  to  benefit  the  city,  and  was  one 
of  the  organizers  of  the  Hannibal  &  St.  Joseph 
Railroad  Company,  of  which  he  was  one  of  the 
first  directors.  Resigning  his  office  with  the  com- 
pany, he  took  a  contract  for  the  construction  of 
25  miles  of  the  road.  The  Roseport  &  Maryville 
(or  Palmetto)  Railroad  Company  was  organ- 
ized in  1857  with  Gen.  M.  Jeff.  Thompson  as 
president  and  Mr.  Corby  as  vice-president,  the 
latter  soon  after  becoming  president.  Under  his 
administration  it  was  consolidated  with  the 
Northern  Railroad  of  Kansas  under  the  name  of 
the  St.  Joseph  &  Denver  City  Railroad  Com- 
pany, the  company  securing  by  the  con- 
solidation,— 125,000  acres  of  land,  a  grant 
from  the  State  of  Kansas.  At  this  time 
Mr.  Corby  was  also  a  director  of  the 
St.  Joseph  &  Topeka  Railroad  Company.  In  1858 
he  was  one  of  the  incorporators  and  a  director  of 
the  St.  Joseph  branch  of  the  Bank  of  the  State 
of  Missouri,  which  in  1864  was  merged  into  the 
State  National  Bank,  of  which  he  was  a  director 
luitil  a  short  time  before  his  death.  He  was  also 
an  incorporator  and  director  of  the  St.  Joseph 
Fire  &  Marine  Insurance  Company.  In  1856  he 
Avas  elected  mayor  of  the  city,  and  at  different 
times  has  served  as  a  member  of  the  City  Coun- 
cil. He  was  attacked  with  heart  disease  in  1867. 
and  consulted  with  the  best  of  the  medical  pro- 
fession with  but  little  benefit.  In  1869  he  went  to 
Florida  to  spend  the  winter,  returning  home  Feb- 
bruary  2,  1870,  about  three  months  prior  to  his 
death. 

On  May  30,  1852.  John  Corby  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Amanda  Musick,  youngest  daugh- 


ter of  Joel  L.  ^lusick  of  Florisant,  St,  Louis 
Count}".  There  being  no  children,  the  manage- 
ment of  the  estate  devolved  upon  Joseph  A. 
Corby,  a  nephew,  until  1898,  when  a  son  of  the 
latter,  John  Corby,  assumed  its  management.  Our 
subject  was  president  of  the  Hibernian  Benevo- 
lent Society  from  its  organization  in  1867  until 
his  death.  He  was  in  many  respects  a  remarkable 
man.  He  made  liberal  donations  to  the  Academy 
of  the  Sacred  Heart  of  St.  Joseph  and  other  insti- 
tutions in  early  years.  During  one  year  he  gave 
about  $5,000  to  St.  Joseph  Hospital :  S5.000  to  a 
female  seminary  to  be  located  on  St.  Joseph 
avenue  and  Albermarle -street ;  lots  valued  at 
Sio.ooo  to  aid  in  building  the.  Cathedral  of  St. 
Joseph ;  and  a  160-acre  tract  of  land  near  the  city, 
valued  at  from  $8,000  to  Sio.ooo.  for  a  Catholic 
cemetery. 

In  the  center  of  this  tract  of   160  acres,   10 
acres  are  reserved  as  a  church  site.     Mr.  Corby 
'  erected  a  memorial  chapel.  84  by  45  feet  in  dimen- 
'  sions.  of  beautiful  architecture,  representative  of 
I  the  Gothic  style  of  the  13th  century.    On  the  out- 
side of  the  north  wall,  which  is  ornamented  with 
i  two    beautiful     columns,     carved     to    symbolize 
mourning,  is  inscribed  in  raised  letters :  "Erected 
to  the  Memory  of  John  Corby."    The  chapel  will 
seat  about  300  people,  and  is  indeed  a  gem  of 
beauty.     Its  massive  durability  and  artistic  ele- 
gance are  a  fitting  and  lovely  expression  of  the 
genuine  piety  and  wifely   affection  of  her  who 
so  tenderly  and  practically  ])ays  loving  tribute  to 
him  whom  it  is  built  to  con.imemorate.    A  view  of 
this   memorial    chapel    is    presented    on    another 
page  in  this  work. 


»  « » 


ICHARD  FRAKES,  one  of  the  substan- 
tial  citizens   and  extensive   farmers  of 
Lake  township,  Buchanan  County,  whc 
resides  on  his  fine  farm  of  300  acres, 
situated  in  section  14.  was  born  on  the 
old  Joseph  Frakes  homestead  in  Lake  township. 
Buchanan  County,  z\ugust  26,  1864,  and  is  a  son 
;  of  Joseph  and  Psyche  (Clevinger)  Frakes. 

Joseph  Frakes  was  born  in  Kentucky,  where 
he  spent  his  youth,  and  removed  in  early  man- 
hood to  Ray  County,  Missouri.    He  brought  with 
I  him  his  love  of  outdoor  sports  and  frequently  at- 
,  tended  the  shooting  matches  in  his  neighborhood, 
'  being  considered  a  "crack  shot.''    He  enjoyed  the 
excellent  hunting  that  was  yet  to  be   found  in 
manv  sections  of  the  countv.     Later  he  removed 


iaii^ 


^■*  imit 


>^ 


CHARLES    A.   PERRY 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


471 


to  Doniphan  County,  Kansas,  and  then  to  Bu- 
chanan County.  ^Missouri,  following  farming  in 
both  localities.  His  last  years  were  spent  on  his 
farm  in  Lake  township,  Buchanan  County,  where 
he  died  at  the  age  of  78  years.  The  venerable 
mother  of  our  subject  still  survives,  the  beloved 
center  of  her  faithful  son's  household.  The  chil- 
dren of  Joseph  Frakes  and  wife  were :  Nathan, 
Jasper.  Sarah,  Mason.  Joseph.  William.  John, 
Emma.  Richard,  Jane  and  Mary. 

Richard  Frakes,  the  ninth  member  of  his 
parents'  family,  spent  his  first  25  years  on  the 
homestead  farm,  from  early  boyhood  following 
the  plow  and  performing  all  those  duties  which 
make  up  the  sum  of  a  successful  farmer's  life. 
His  educational  opportunities  were  limited,  but 
an  active  mind  and  quick  intelligence  have  long 
since  overcome  any  lack  of  book  learning.  Dur- 
ing his  first  year  of  farming  for  himself,  he  lived 
at  home  and  then  took  charge  of  a  property  locally 
known  as  the  Fcnton  place.  This  he  operated 
until  his  father's  death,  when  he  returned  to  the 
homestead  and  assumed  the  care  of  his  aged 
mother.  ]Mr.  Frakes  has  remained  here  ever 
since,  owning  one  of  the  very  best  farms  in  the 
county  along  the  Missouri  River.  In  addition  to 
this  farm,  he  owns  120  acres  in  Texas  and  a  con- 
siderable amount  of  valuable  town  ]:)ropcrty  in 
Rushville. 

( )n  April  10.  18P9.  Mr.  Frakes  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Ella  X'anhoozer,  who  is  a  daugh- 
ter of  William  X'anhoozer,  a  rural  mail  carrier, 
now  residing  at  Rushville.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Frakes 
have  three  children  :  Delia.  Angle  and  Eddie. 

Politically,  Mr.  Frakes  has  always  been  affili- 
ated with  the  Democratic  party,  but  he  has  never 
sought  office.  Like  the  other  members  of  this 
representative  family  of  Buchanan  County,  he  is 
respected  and  honored  for  his  many  sterling  traits 
of  character. 


^ » » 


HARLES  A.  PERRY.  The  passing 
away  on  October  11,  1896,  of  the  late 
Charles  A.   Perry,  whose  portrait  ac- 

companies    this    sketch,    removed    one 

more  of  that  hoary-headed  band  who 
so  many  years  ago  assisted  in  founding  the  pres- 
ent prosperity  of  St.  Joseph,  and  who  through 
long  and  useful  lives  stood  as  examjiles  of  honor 
and  integrity,  of  business  enterprise  and  public 
spirit.  Mr.  Ferry  was  born  in  Montgomery 
County,  Maryland,  December  6,  1818. 

Charles   A.    Perr\    was   reared   in   his   native 


place  and  was  educated  there  as  a  merchant  and 
remained  in  Montgomery  County  until  1839, 
when  he  removed  to  Clay  County,  Missouri.  In 
1 84 1  he  removed  to  Platte  County  and  settled  at 
W'eston,  which  was  then  the  great  frontier  trad- 
ing point  of  Missouri.  There  he  and  his  brother, 
E.  H.  Perry,  entered  into  a  mercantile  business 
and  in  the  following  year  they  established  a 
branch  house  in  the  then  hamlet  of  Blacksnake 
Hills,  the  first  suggestive  name  given  the  present 
noble  city  of  St.  Joseph.  In  1843  business  had 
prospered  so  well  with  the  Perry  brothers  that 
they  erected  for  a  store  house  the  first  brick 
building  in  the  place,  locating  it  on  ]\Iain  street, 
near  Francis,  and  stocking  it  with  domestic  goods,-^ 
queensware  and  all  the  various  articles  to  supply 
a  large  contingent  territory. 

Their  business  expanded  and  they  secured 
contracts  for  a  large  part  of  the  Salt  Lake  City 
trade.  At  first  they  sent  the  goods  by  ox  teams, 
the  cattle  later  being  taken  on  to  California, 
where  their  sale  brought  excellent  priced,  but  at 
a  later  date  they  substituted  mules  for  the  oxen. 
They  continued  to  be  actively  engaged  in  the 
freighting  business  until  the  completion  of  the 
railroad  to  the  Pacific  Coast,  when  this  once 
lucrative  occupation  became  numbered  with  the 
things  of  the  past. 

In  his  long-  frontier  life  ^Ir.  Perrv  had  manv 
thrilling  adventures  and  hair-breadth  escapes.  In 
1845  '""c  was  the  sutler  of  Col.  Alexander  W. 
Doniphan's  command,  in  his  celebrated  expedi- 
tion, and  in  1854  he  went  through  to  Salt  Lake 
City,  in  the  same  capacity,  with  Colonel  Stephens, 
and  was  engaged  in  furnishing  government  sup- 
plies until  1857.  When  the  post  was  established 
at  Fort  Riley,  Mr.  Perry  took  the  contract  for 
furnishing  it  supplies  and,  the  better  to  facilitate 
this  end,  purchased  a  steamboat  on  which  he 
shipped  them  up  the  Kaw  River.  It  is  history 
that  Mr.  Perry  was  the  pioneer  and  the  only  suc- 
cessful navigator  of  this  stream. 

After  the  breaking  out  of  the  late  Civil  War. 
Mr.  Perry  took  the  contract  for  supplying  the 
army  of  the  plains  with  corn,  and  the  magnitude 
of  this  undertaking  may  be  inferred  from  the 
fact,  that  in  15  months  it  amounted  to  S250.000. 
At  one  time  he  had  in  his  employ  1.200  teams. 
During  this  time  his  intereest  in  St.  Joseph  con- 
tinued and  he  carried  on  here  a  commission  and 
storage  business,  making  a  success  as  he  did  of 
every  important  venture  in  life.  He  knew  how 
to  grasp  opportunities  and  to  turn  them  to  ac- 
count and  the  extended  historv  of  his  life,  with  its 


472 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY  AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


various  settings  and  stirring  events,  v/ould  form 
one  of  the  most  interesting  books  of  local  history. 

In  1840  Mr.  Perry  married  Martha  Young  of 
Shelby  County,  Kentucky,  and  he  is  survived  by 
three  daughters  and  one  son,  as  follows:  Alverda 
(Jackson),  who  resides  in  Los  Angeles,  Califor- 
nia; William  A.,  who  lives  in  Denver,  Colorado; 
and  Florence  and  Arcadia  (Mrs.  George  W. 
Alarlow),  who  reside  at  No.  611  Bush  street, 
St.  Joseph.  Mrs.  Perry  died  in  1868  and  in  1870 
Mr.  Perry  was  married  to  America  Hamilton.  To 
the  second  union  were  born  three  children,  as  fol- 
lows :  John  A.,  of  Lebanon,  Tennessee ;  Mrs.  H. 
E.  Truex  of  Mexico.  Missouri ;  and  Robert  H.,  of 
San  Francisco,  California. 

Personally  Mr.  Perry  was  a  man  of  dignified 
manner  and  striking  appearance,  and  he  pos- 
sessed the  urbanity  and  almost  knightly  cour- 
tesy which  distinguished  a  generation  that  is  fast 
•i:)assing  away.  His  sympathetic  nature  is  remem- 
bered by  those  who  more  than  once  experienced 
his  liberal  help  in  the  early  days  at  St.  Joseph. 
He  had  the  respect  and  confidence  of  his  fellow 
citizens  to  a  marked  degree.  His  name  and  fame 
belong  to  the  days  when  the  brain  was  the  dy- 
namo of  human  activity  and  when  almost  super- 
human courage  and  dauntless  enterprise  were 
needed  to  follow  where  it  pointed  the  path. 


■♦♦♦'- 


TRAM  C.  BOONE,  who  has  been  exten- 
sively engaged  in  the  milling  business 
at  Agency  for  many  years,  is  proprietor 
of  one  of  the  oldest  mills  in  Buchanan 
County.  He  was  born  in  Agency 
township,  Buchanan  County,  Missouri,  December 
5.  1852,  and  is  a  son  of  RatlifT  R.  and  Sarah  E. 
(Frans)  Boone,  his  father  a  native  of  Indiana  and 
his  mother  of  Kentucky. 

Ratlifif  R.  Boone  was  a  boy  when  he  accom- 
panied his  parents  to  Boone  County,  Kentucky, 
wdiich  had  been  named  in  honor  of  Daniel  Boone, 
who  was  a  distant  relative  of  the  family.  In 
1842,  he  came  West  to  Buchanan  County.  -Mis- 
souri, and  entered  a  tract  of  land  now  owned  by 
Maj.  W.  Farris,  having  just  enough  money  to 
pay  for  making  the  entry.  His  struggle  in  earn- 
ing a  competency  was  a  hard  one.  and  frequently 
he  found  himself  so  short  of  funds  that  he  was 
unable  to  pay  the  necessary  25  cents  postage 
which  was  due  on  a  letter  upon  its  delivery.  He 
was  the  owner  of  27  slaves  at  the  outbreak  of  the 
Civil  War  and  w^hen  all  slaves  were  emancipated 


he  sustained  a  severe  financial  loss.  Although  he 
did  not  go  to  the  front  in  this  war,  he  was  a 
number  of  times  arrested  by  soldiers  and  incar- 
cerated at  St.  Joseph,  where  he  was  subjected  to 
many  hardships,  upon  one  occasion  nearly  freez- 
ing to  death.  He  retained  ownership  in  his  pre- 
empted claim  some  years,  then  sold  it  and  ac- 
quired 220  acres  on  Sac  Prairie,  80  acres  of 
timber  land,  later  buying  and  selling  numerous 
tracts.  At  the  close  of  the  Civil  War,  W.  B.  and 
J.  A.  Smith  established  one  of  the  first  flouring 
mills  in  the  county,  and  this  Mr.  Boone,  in  part- 
nership with  his  son-in-law,  J.  C.  Smith,  pur- 
chased. Another  son-in-law,  E.  M.  Yates,  later 
purchased  a  half  interest  and  the  Boone  &  Yates 
Mill  Company  continued  in  charge  until  Mr. 
Boone's  death,  when  Hiram.  C.  Boone,  our  sub- 
ject, succeeded  to  the  ownership  of  the  plant. 
Ratlifif  R.  Boone  and  his  wife  became  the  parents 
of  seven  children,  as  follov/s :  Fannie  (Smith); 
John  F. ;  Sallie  (Gibson),  who  lives  near 
Agency;  Lliram  C. ;  Victoria  (Yates),  deceased; 
Susie  (Ray),  of  Louisville,  Kentucky;  and  Mal- 
vina,  wife  of  Dr.  R.  F.  Dow,  of  Agency.  Politi- 
cally, Mr.  Boone  was  a  Democrat. 

Hiram  C.  Boone  has  always  lived  in  Bu- 
chanan County.  He  was  reared  on  his  father's 
farm  until  he  was  16  or  18  years  old,  and  then 
removed  with  his  parents  to  Agency,  where  he 
worked  in  the  mill  for  some  10  or  12  years,  after 
which  he  returned  to  the  farm  for  a  short  time. 
He  again  removed  to  Agency  and  conducted  the 
mill  of  Boone  &  Yates  as  head  miller  until  the 
death  of  his  father  in  1886,  when  he  purchased  it. 
It  has  since  been  owned  and  conducted  by  him 
alone,  and  he  does  a  regular  merchant  and  ex- 
change business.  He  is  one  of  the  substantial 
business  men  of  the  community,  and  is  highly 
esteemed. 

In  1873,  Mr.  Boone  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Nancy  Randall,  a  native  of  Buchanan 
County,  and  a  daughter  of  William  and  Elizabeth 
Randall.  Thirteen  children,  all  living,  were  born 
to  them,  and  are  as  follows  :  Robbie,  wife  of  Will- 
iam Powell  of  Agency  township  ;  Ada,  wife  of 
O.  M.  Smith,  a  merchant,  of  Agency;  Issie  M., 
widow  of  Howard  Glenn,  of  the  Indian  Terri- 
tory ;  Hiram  G.,  who  assists  his  father  in  the  con- 
duct of  the  afifairs  of  the  mill :  John  W. ;  Claude  ; 
Ratlifif;  Victoria,  wife  of  Robert  Clinton,  of 
Agency;  Jesse;  William;  Nellie;  Randall:  and 
Pauline.  The  children  were  well  raised,  receiv- 
ing superior  educational  as  well  as  home  train- 
ing, and  have  become  useful  men  and   women. 


AND    REPRESEXTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


473 


;Mr.  Boone  has  always  been  a  Democrat  in  poli- 
tics, and  has  held  a  number  of  township  offices, 
such  as  school  director  and  as  member  of  the 
township  board.  Religiously;  he  is  a  member  of 
Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church.  Fraternally, 
he  is  a  ^lason  and  an  Odd  Fellow. 


^  * » 


1852. 


ILLIA^I  B.  BASS,  one  of  the  success- 
ful farmers  and  highly  respected  citi- 
zens of  Crawford  township,  Bu- 
chanan County,  as  he  is  also  one  of 
the  self-made  men  of  his  locality,  re- 
sides on  a  farm  of  ii3,?4  acres  situated  in  section 
Mr.  Bass  was  born  in  Kentucky,  ]\Iarch  14, 
and  is  a  son  of  William  and  Elizabeth 
(A\'alker)  Bass. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  were  born  in  Ken- 
tucky. The  father  died  when  his  children  were 
still  young,  and  in  the  winter  of  1867  the  widow 
came  to  Buchanan  County,  [Missouri,  with  her 
five  children,  namely :  John  R.,  a  farmer  of  Lake 
township,  who  married  a  Miss  Harper  and  has 
five  children  living :  ^lary.  who  married  W.  W. 
Payne,  a  farmer  of  Lake  township,  and  has  six 
children:  William  B.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch; 
[Minnie,  who  died  at  the  age  of  12  years ;  and 
Bettie.  who  married  John  C.  Caulay,  proprietor  of 
the  Hotel  Faucett.  and  has  had  five  children, — 
Gertrude,  Elden  D..  Hattie  (deceased),  and  Eula 
and  Ella. 

Mrs.  Bass  had  but  limited  means  when  she 
came  to  Buchanan  County,  but  she  had  devoted 
and  industrious  sons.  Our  subject  took  his  fath- 
er's place  as  nearly  as  possible  and  his  mother  has 
always  had  her  home  with  him.  Such  education 
as  he  secured  was  in  the  district  schools,  but  his 
time  has  been  pretty  closely  engaged  in  farming, 
either  for  others  or  on  his  own  account.  For 
about  10  years  after  coming  to  Buchanan  County, 
he  worked  as  a  farm  hand,  saved  his  earnings, 
rented  farming  land  for  three  years  and  by  that 
time  had  accumulated  enough  capital  to  invest  in 
land.  He  purchased  69  acres  of  well-situated 
land  which  was  partly  under  cultivation.  This 
property  he  continued  to  clear  and  add  to  until  he 
now  owns  113^  acres  of  as  desirable  land  as  can 
be  found  in  Crawford  township.  He  has  neg- 
lected no  desirable  improvements,  erecting  sub- 
stantial buildings,  having  a  beautiful  residence 
within  100  yards  of  the  public  highway,  put  in 
fencing  and  setting  out  orchards.  He  has  quietly 
Avorked  along  on  practical  lines  and  the  results  do 


much  credit  to  his  good,  common  sense  and  to  his 
industry. 

In  1880  Mr.  Bass  was  married  to  Sally 
Turner  having  preempted  the  present  farm  of  our 
The  Turners  are  old  pioneer  people  here,  ]\Ir. 
Turner  having  pre-empted  the  present  farm  of  our 
subject.  Mr.  and  [Mrs.  Bass  have  one  son,  Leon 
Eddy  Lewis,  who  was  born  in  1881,  was  edu- 
cated in  School  District  Xo.  i,  and  is  making  his 
own  way  as  a  carpenter.  He  is  one  of  the  intelli- 
gent and  self-respecting  young  men  of  the  town- 
ship. 

]Mr.  Bass  is  not  a  very  active  politician  out- 
side of  local  matters.  He  has  always  been  an 
advocate  of  schools  and  good  roads  and  has  voted 
for  the  candidates  who  supported  these  measures. 
In  fraternal  life  he  is  prominent  both  as  a  jMason 
and  as  an  Odd  Fellow,  in  the  former  being  con- 
nected with  Birmington  Lodge  Xo.  150.  A.  F.  & 
A.  M.,  and  Tabernacle  Chapter,  X'^o.  54,  R.  A.  [M., 
in  which  he  has  taken  all  the  degrees,  and  in  the 
latter  has  passed  all  the  chairs  in  Truth  Lodge, 
Xo.  216. 


^ » » 


L  GPI  W.  CRAIG,  secretary  and  treasurer 
of  the  Craig-Barr  [Mercantile  Company, 
of  St.  Joseph,  and  one  of  the  city's  rep- 
resentative men,  was  born  at  Waltham, 
Kansas,  December   17,   1870,  and  is  a 

^^'illiam    B.   and   Caroline   B.    (Kelsey) 


son    of 
Craig. 

The  father  of  [Mr.  Craig  was  born  at  Frank- 
lin, Ohio,  and  died  at  St.  Joseph,  [Missouri,  Xo- 
vember  8,  1902,  aged  71  years.  He  was  an  Ohio 
farmer  boy  until  his  majority,  when  he  went  to 
the  village  of  Sidney  and  embarked  in  a  mer- 
cantile business.  Later  he  removed  to  Elwood, 
Kansas,  opening  up  a  store  there  which  he  con- 
tinued to  conduct  until  the  close  of  the  Civil  War, 
and  then  removed  to  \\'altham.  where  he  engasfed 
in  merchandising  until  1872.  In  that  year  he  re- 
moved to  St.  Joseph  and  entered  the  employ  of 
D.  [M.  Steele  &  Company  and  remained  with  this 
firm  and  its  successors  until  its  failure.  Later  he 
became  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Craig-Barr 
firm,  which  Mas  later  incorporated  as  the  Craig- 
Barr  [Mercantile  Company,  and  he  remained  in 
active  cooperation  with  this  large  business  con- 
cern until  his  death.  He  was  a  stanch  member 
of  the  Republican  party. 

During  his  residence  at  Sidncv,  Ohio,  \\'illiam 
B.  Craig  married  Caroline  B.  Kelsey,  who  was  a 


daughter  of  Guy 


C.  Kelsey,  a  leading  citizen  of 


474 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY  AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


the  town,  and  they  had  a  family  of  eight  children 
born  to  them  :  Guy  C,  deceased ;  Fisher  A.,  of 
St.  Joseph  ;  Annie  K.,  of  St.  Joseph  ;  Kate,  wife  of 
O.  C.  Jones,  of  Waltham,  Kansas ;  Hugh  W.  of 
this  sketch  ;  Harry  S.,  of  St.  Joseph  ;  and  Mary 
W.,  wife  of  George  B.  Smith,  of  Chicago.  Mr. 
Craig  was  a  member  of  the  Unitarian  Church. 

Hugh  W.  Craig  was  given  excellent  educa- 
tional opportunities  and  completed  his  education 
at  Highland  University,  at  Highland,  Kansas. 
He  decided  upon  a  business  career  and  immedi- 
ately entered  the  employ  of  Steele,  Walker  & 
Company,  as  traveling  salesman,  meeting  with 
very  satisfactory  success.  Upon  the  organization 
of  the  Craig-Barr  Alercantile  Company,  he  be- 
came a  member  of  the  firm  and  upon  its  incor- 
poration became  its  secretary  and  treasurer.  This 
is  one  of  the  large  and  prospering  enterprises  of 
St.  Joseph.  Its  officers  are  men  of  capital  and 
experience  and  it  adds  materially  to  the  reputa- 
tion of  St.  Jose])h  as  a  commercial  center. 

Politically,  Mr.  Craig  is  a  RepubHcan,  and 
fraternally,  he  is  an  Elk. 


♦  * » 


ON.  WILLIAM.  M.  SHEPHERD,  one 
of  the  conspicuous  figures  in  the  recent 
history  of  St.  Joseph,  for  six  years 
Mayor  of  the  city,  and  prominently 
identified  with  its  business  life  as  well 
as  political  interests,  was  born  at  Medina. 
Lenawee  County,  Michigan,  July  3,  1846,  and 
died  at  Denver,  Colorado,  September  19,  1899. 
His  father  was  Rev.  Paul  Shepherd. 

Mavor  Shepherd's  early  life  was  devoted  to 
the  drug  business,  and  he  conducted  a  drug  store 
at  Troy,  Kansas,  i)rior  to  coming  to  St.  Joseph 
in  1875.  His  first  business  connection  at  St. 
Joseph  was  as  business  manager  of  the  Daily 
Herald.  In  1880  he  was  ap])ointed  assistant 
under  Postmaster  F.  M.  Tracy,  which  position 
he  filled  for  four  years,  and  then  returned  to  the 
Herald.  In  i8(jO  he  was  first  elected  mayor  of 
St.  Joseph  and  his  able  management  of  municipal 
afifairs  caused  his  re-election  in  two  subsequent 
cam])aigns,  and  lie  served  until  .April,  1896. 
Upon  his  return  to  private  life,  he  became  agent 
for  the  Barber  As])halt  Company,  with  which  he 
continued  imtil  1898,  when  he  was  appointed 
deinUv  revenue  collector.  This  position  he  filled 
until  his  death,  wliicli  occurred  in  another  State 
and  city,  where  he  had  gone  in  the  hope  of  re- 
gaining health. 

Personally,   a    figure   of   unusual    manly   pro- 


portions, he  was  big  in  mind  and  heart.  He  was 
noted  for  his  generous  charities  and  it  has  been 
said  that  on  many  occasions  he  was  poorer  than 
those  who  accepted  his  beneficence.  He  was  dis- 
tinguished for  his  public  spirit,  progressiveness 
.and  civic  pride.  St.  Joseph  has  great  cause  to 
remember  him  with  honor  and  gratitude.  He  is 
survived  by  one  son  who  is  a  resident  of 
Michigan. 


•♦« » 


ICHOLAS  P.  DRAUT,  deceased,  was 
one  of  the  leading  business  men  of  St. 
Joseph,  president  of  the  St.  Joseph 
Buggy  &  Manufacturing  Company  and 
identified  with  the  city's  commercial, 
social  and  religious  life.  Mr.  Draut  was  born  in 
Germany,  March  8,  1862. 

The  late  Mr.  Draut  was  eight  years  of  age 
when  his  parents  brought  him  to  the  United 
States  and  settled  at  Maryville,  Missouri,  one 
year  later  coming  to  St.  Joseph,  where  he  grew 
to  manhood  and  acquired  an  excellent  education 
in  both  the  German  and  English  languages,  at- 
tending Christian  Brothers'  College.  He  learned 
the  blacksmith  trade  under  Mr.  Miles,  the  car- 
riage manufacturer,  under  whom  he  worked  as 
a  mechanic  for  some  years  and  was  then  made 
president  and  manager  of  the  St.  Joseph  Buggy 
&  Manufacturing  Company.  His  conduct  of  the 
affairs  of  this  large  organization  resulted  in 
great  prosperity  and,  at  the  time  of  his  death,, 
which  took  place  at  his  residence.  No.  731  South 
16th  street,  on  December  9.  1901,  the  company 
held  a  very  prominent  place  among  the  important 
manufacttu-ing  enterprises  of  Buchanan  County. 

Mr.  Draut  was  married  on  November  8,  1889, 
to  Bertha  Battmer,  who  is  a  daughter  of  Henry 
J.  Battmer,  formerly  of  Illinois,  but  for  the  past 
30  years  a  resident  of  St.  Joseph.  They  had 
these  children:  Nicholas  P.,  Jr.,  Thresia  M.,  Han- 
nah E.,  Michael  A.  and  Frederick  J.  The  fam- 
ily belong  to  the  Roman  Catholic  Church  and  the 
late  Mr.  Draut  was  a  consistent  and  valued  mem- 
l)er  of  the  congregation  of  Father  Linnencamp. 

Mr.  Draut  was  a  Democrat  but  took  only  a 
citizen's  interest  in  political  contests.  His  fra- 
ternal relations  were  with  the  Foresters  and 
Woodmen. 

In  his  death  the  city  of  St.  Joseph  lost  a  good, 
honorable  citizen  and  his  family  a  loving  husband 
and  father.  A  beautiful  tombstone  marks  his 
last  resting  place  in  a  beautiful  spot  in  Mount 
Olivet  Cemeterv. 


/ 


THOMAS    R.   ASHBROOK 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


477 


HOMAS  R.  ASHBROOK,  comptroller 
of  the  city  of  St.  Joseph,  whose  portrait 
accompanies  this  sketch,  is  a  man  of  a 
hig^h  order  of  business  ability  and  has 
efficiently  discharged  the  duties  of  this 
office,  as  well  as  other  offices  with  which  he  has 
been  honored  in  the  past.  He  is  one  of  the  local 
leaders  of  the  Republican  party  and  through  his 
able  conduct  of  affairs  enjoys  the  support  of 
many  of  the  opposition. 

Mr.  Ashbrook  was  born  at  Ashville,  Ohio,  De- 
cember 9,  185 1,  that  town  having  been  laid  out  by 
his  father  at  an  early  day.  His  parents  came  to 
St.  Joseph  in  1858  and  resided  here  the  remainder 
of  their  lives,  the  mother  dying  in  April.  1896, 
and  the  father  in  1898.  Thomas  R.  Ashbrook 
accompanied  his  parents  to  St.  Joseph  in  1858, 
and  has  made  this  city  his  home  ever  since.  He 
was  graduated  from  the  St.  Joseph  High  School 
in  1873.  and  thereafter  spent  two  years  in  Phil- 
lips' Academy  at  Exeter,  New  Hampshire.  He 
early  evinced  a  liking  for  politics  and  in  1886 
was  elected  on  the  Republican  ticket  as  alderman 
from  the  Second  Ward.  In  1894,  he  was  elected 
city  auditor  of  St.  Joseph  to  which  office  he  was 
reelected  in  1896  and  again  in  1898.  He  was 
elected  to  his  present  office,  that  of  comptroller, 
in  the  spring  of  1904  on  the  Republican  ticket, 
receiving  the  handsome  majority  of  447  over  A. 
W.  Horn,  the  Democratic  nominee.  He  has  been 
a  success  in  politics,  his  personal  popularity  giv- 
ing him  the  solid  vote  of  his  party  and  many  from 
the  opposing  party. 

Mr.  Ashbrook  was  united  in  marriage  in  1880 
with  Emma  S.  Mast,  and  with  his  family  of  three 
children, — William  R.,  Charles  M.  and  Isabelle, — 
resides  in  a  comfortable  home  at  No.  1921  Jones 
street. 


-♦-•-♦- 


L'DOLPH  F.  HEIM.  a  well-known  ar- 
chitect of  St.  Joseph,  was  born  in  Ham- 
burg. Germany,  January  30.  1874,  and 
is  a  son  of  Adolph  A'.  A.  and  Anna 
(Gensen)  Heim. 
Rudolph  Heim.  grandfather  of  our  subject, 
was  a  native  of  L'avaria  and  filled  the  position  of 
judge  at  Schehslitz.  He  married  Ottila  von 
Kretschmann.  who  was  born  in  1800  and  died  in 
1870.  She  was  a  daughter  of  Theodore  Conrad 
and  Christian  Frederika  (von  Stern)  von 
Kretschmann,  the  former  of  whom  was  born  in 
T762  and  was  minister  of  state  and  held  im- 
portant land  offices.     His  father,  Johann  Adam 

24 


von   Kretschmann,   was   counselor   of   justice   at 
Bayreuth,  and  his  mother  was  Christiana  Dor- 
othea   Keck.      The   grandfather   of   our    subject, 
died  in   1845.     The  whole  family  is  one  of  dis- 
tijiction  in  Germany. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  born  in  Ba- 
varia. Germany,  June  16,  1843,  and  prior  to  en- 
tering the  army  was  trained  as  an  architect.  Upon 
entering  into  military  life,  with  which  he  was 
connected  a  number  of  years,  he  was  assigned  to 
the  general  staff,  which  corresponds  to  the  en- 
gineering corps  in  the  United  States.  After  ful- 
filling his  military  duties,  he  resumed  study,  at 
Munich  and  then  settled  permanently  at  Ham- 
burg, where  he  still  follows  his  profession.  He 
has  been  the  architect  employed  in  the  construc- 
tion of  some  of  the  most  substantial  buildings  on 
the  Colonade.  which  is  the  main  business  thor- 
oughfare of  Hamburg.  He  is  connected  with 
the  leading  social  organizations  of  his  city  and 
belongs  to  the  Masonic  fraternity.  In  1869  he 
married  Anna  Gensen  and  they  had  eight  chil- 
dren, the  four  who  survived  infancy  being : 
Edward  \\'..  who  is  an  electrical  engineer  at 
Hamburg;  Frida,  who  is  principal  of  a  young- 
ladies'  institute  at  Dresden ;  Rudolph  F.,  of  this 
sketch;  and  Eva  E.,  who  is  a  very  accomplished 
teacher  in  a  private  school  in  Berlin.  The  family 
all  belong  to  the  German  Evangelical  Church. 

Rudolph  F.  Heim  was  instructed  in  a  private 
school  until  he  was  nine  years  old.  his  studies 
including  German,  French  and  English.  He 
then  attended  the  gymnasium  at  Osterburg  until 
he  was  12  years  old,  paying  attention  to  the 
classics,  and  then  was  transferred  to  a  high  class 
school  at  Arendsee,  where  he  was  instructed  in 
the  studies  corresponding  to  those  in  the  Ameri- 
can high  school  curriculum. 

In  1888,  when  14  years  of  age.  he  prevailed 
upon  his  parents  to  permit  him  to  come  to  Amer- 
ica and  join  the  family  of  his  uncle,  F.  W.  Gen- 
sen, secretary  of  the  P'feiffer  Stone  Company,  of 
St.  Joseph.  He  made  the  long  voyage  and  trip 
alone  and  after  reaching  St.  Joseph  took  a  busi- 
ness course  at  the  Rittner  Commercial  College. 
He  then  devoted  four  vears  to  learning:  the  stone- 
cutting  trade  and  during  his  apprenticeship  pre- 
pared many  of  the  drawings  used  in  the  shop. 
After  completing  his  time  at  the  trade,  he  worked 
in  California  for  a  year  as  a  journeyman.  In 
February,  1895,  he  returned  to  Germany  and  en- 
tered the  great  technical  school  at  Holzminden, 
where  he  was  graduated  in  1897.  receiving  the 
coveted  degree  of  Master  of  Building. 


4/8 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY  AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


After  a  few  months  of  visiting  and  renewal 
of  old  friendships  in  Hamburg,  Mr.  Heim  re- 
turned to  America  in  1897,  entering  the  employ  of 
E.  J.  Eckel,  at  St.  Joseph,  with  whom  he  re- 
mained until  1901,  when  he  opened  an  architect's 
office  at  Atchison,  Kansas,  where  he  stayed  until 
October  of  that  year.  He  then  entered  into  part- 
nership with  John  H.  Felt  of  St.  Joseph,  under 
the  firm  name  of  Felt  &  Heim,  which  held  until 
October,  1902.  In  January,  1903,  he  opened  his 
present  offices  in  the  German-American  Bank 
Building,  where  he  can  usually  be  found,  one  of 
the  busiest  men  in  the  city.  His  work  is  mainly 
the  making  of  plans  for  residences,  flats  and 
business  houses  and  he  has  done  considerable 
drawing  for  parties  outside  of  St.  Joseph,  and 
with  such  accuracy  and  beauty  of  design  that 
he  finds  his  business  constantly  increasing. 

In  June.  1901,  Mr.  Heim  was  married  to 
Helen  L.  Haefeli,  who  is  a  daughter  of  Wern- 
hard  and  Catherine  Haefeli,  of  St.  Joseph.  They 
have  one  little  daughter, — Corinne  Ida.  They 
belong  to  the  German  Lutheran  Church.  Mr. 
Heim  is  a  member  of  St.  Joseph  Lodge,  No.  40, 
B.  P.  O.  E. 


■♦  *  »■ 


7  ISflk 


ILLIAM  FRAKES,  one  of  the  leading 
farmers  of  Lake  township,  Buchanan 
County,  whose  fine  farm  of  200  acres 
is  situated  in  section  35,  was  born  in 
Doniphan  County,  Kansas,  June  13, 
1856,  and  is  a  son  of  Joseph  and  Psyche  (Clev- 
inger)  Frakes. 

The  Frakes  family  originated  in  Kentucky 
and  there  the  father  of  the  numerous  Frakes  of 
Buchanan  County  was  born  and  reared.  In 
young  manhood  he  removed  to  Ray  County,  Mis- 
souri, where  his  feats  of  fine  marksmanship  are 
still  recalled.  Later  he  moved  to  Doniphan 
County  Kansas,  and  still  later  to  Buchanan 
County,  .Missouri,  where  his  death  took  place  at 
the  age  of  78  years.  His  venerable  widow,  who 
has  reached  the  age  of  87  years,  still  survives, 
residing  on  the  old  homestead  in  Lake  township. 
Our  subject  was  one  of  11  children.  His 
■educational  opportunities  were  very  limited.  He 
remained  on  the  home  farm,  working  for  his 
father,  until  he  was  32  years  of  age,  becoming 
master  of  all  kinds  of  agricultural  work  before 
beginning  for  himself.  For  the  past  16  years  he 
has  resided  on  his  present  farm,  one  of  the  best 
improved  and  carefully  cultivated  properties  of 
the  township.     Mr.  Frakes  is  one  of  the  leading 


citizens,  a  man  of  excellent  judgment  and  honor- 
able character. 

Mr.  Frakes  married  Anna  Yazel,  who  is  the 
estimable  daughter  of  Kelly  Yazel,  who  formerly 
operated  a  sawmill  at  Rushville.  They  have  had 
five  children:  Mattie  (deceased),  Psyche,  Vir- 
ginia, OUie  and  William.  Mr.  Frakes  has  given 
his  children  the  educational  opportunities  denied 
himself  and  they  are  worthy  representatives  of  a 
prominent  famil3^  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Frakes  are  well- 
known,  kind  and  hospitable  people.  Like  his 
brothers,  Mr.  Frakes  has  always  been  identified 
with  the  Democratic  party,  but  he  has  never  been 
an  office  seeker. 


♦ » » 


OHN  F.  BOONE,  who  has  been  a  lifelong 
resident  of  Buchanan  County,  Missouri, 
is  a  well-known  citizen  of  Agency, 
where  he  has  been  living  a  practically 
retired  life  for  many  years.  He  was  born 
here  December  4,  1847,  3^"<^^  was  one  of  seven  chil- 
dren born  to  Ratlifl:  R.  and  Sarah  E.  (Frans) 
Boone. 

Ratlifif  R.  Boone  was  born  in  Indiana,  along 
the  Ohio  River,  and  when  a  boy  moved  with  his 
parents  to  Boone  County,  Kentucky,  where  he 
grew  to  maturity.  He  came  West  to  Buchanan 
County,  Missouri,  in  1842,  and  preempted  a 
claim  of  160  acres  which  he  later  sold.  He  then 
moved  to  Sac  Prairie,  where  he  became  owner  of 
220  acres,  80  acres  of  which  was  timber  land.  He 
also  bought  and  sold  numerous  other  properties 
and  proved  himself  a  most  capable  business  man. 
Some  time  after  the  close  of  the  Civil  War,  in 
which  he  lost  all  of  his  slaves,  numbering  27,  he 
engaged  in  the  milling  business  with  his  son-in- 
law,  J.  C.  Smith.  He  subsequently  was  in  part- 
nership with  another  son-in-law,  E.  M.  Yates, 
under  the  style  and  title  of  the  Boone  &  Yates 
Mill  Company  of  Agency.  This  latter  firm  con- 
tinued until  Mr.  Boone's  death,  when  a  son, 
Hiram  C.  Boone,  became  owner  and  has  since 
conducted  it.  At  the  time  of  his  death,  RatliflF 
R.  Boone  left  an  estate  valued  at  $50,000,  which 
bespeaks  exceptional  business  ability,  as  he  barely 
had  enough  money  to  pay  for  entering  land  when 
he  arrived  in  this  county.  He  was  joined  in  mar- 
riage with  Sarah  E.  Frans,  a  native  of  Kentucky, 
who  died  here  at  the  age  of  62  years.  The 
following  children  were  born  to  them :  Fannie 
(Smith)  ;  John  F. ;  Sallie  (Gibson)  ;  Hiram  C. ; 
Victoria    (Yates),    deceased;    Susie    (Ray),    of 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


479 


Louisville,  Kentucky  ;  and  Alalvina,  wife  of  Dr. 
R.  F.  Dow,  of  Agency.  Politically,  the  father 
was  a  Democrat. 

John  F.  Boone  was  reared  in  Buchanan 
County  wdiere  he  has  lived  all  his  days,  and  dur- 
ing this  time  has  made  but  two  trips  beyond  the 
confines  of  the  State,  one  to  Texas  and  the  other 
to  Kentucky.  He  became  the  owner  of  i66  acres 
of  land,  known  as  the  Bedford  place,  in  Garretts- 
burg,  along  the  Platte  River,  but  did  not  live 
upon  it,  selling  it  four  years  after  it  came  into  his 
possession.  During  tlie  past  20  years  he  has 
lived  in  retirement,  although  he  still  makes  fre- 
quent loans  of  money.  He  is  a  business  man  of 
ability,  and  his  years  of  early  toil  entitle  him  to 
the  life  of  ease  and  comfort  which  have  been  his 
in  late  years. 

In  March,  1869,  John  F.  Boone  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Martha  E.  Taylor,  a  daughter  of 
Charles  M.  and  Katherine  Taylor,  both  natives  of 
Kentucky,  who  removed  to  Missouri  where  Mrs. 
Boone  was  reared.  No  children  were  born  to 
bless  this  union.  Our  subject  is  a  stanch  Demo- 
crat in  politics,  and  is  deeply  interested  in  his 
party's  success.  Religiously,  he  and  his  wife 
•are  members  of  the  Baptist  Church.  Mr.  Boone 
is  a  Roval  Arch  Mason. 


♦ « » 


OSEPH  RITNER  GOOD,  now  living  in 
St.  Joseph  retired  from  business  care, 
has  long  been  identified  with  this  city 
and  its  various  interests.  Mr.  Good 
was  born  in  Berks  County,  Pennsyl- 
vania, October  19,  1832,  and  is  a  son  of  Edward 
and  Elizabeth  (Anspach)  Good,  a  grandson  of 
Edward  Good  and  a  great-grandson  of  William 
Good. 

William  Good  was  born  in  Edinburgh,  Scot- 
land, in  171 1.  His  son  Edward  was  born  in 
1742. 

Edward  Good,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was 
born  in  Pennsylvania  in  1795  and  died  in  1850. 
He  was  a  miller  in  Berks  County  in  his  earlier 
years  but  later  turned  his  attention  exclusively  to 
farming.  In  religious  belief  he  was  a  Lutheran. 
He  married  Elizabeth  x\nspach,  who'was  born  in 
1804  and  died  in  1889.  Her  father  was  a  pros- 
perous farmer  and  her  grandfather  took  part  in 
the  Revolutionary  War.  The  family  is  of  Ger- 
man extraction. 

Joseph  R.  Good  was  the  youngest  son  in  a 
family  of  eight   children.     He  grew   up  on   his 


father's  farm  and  in  addition  to  the  educational 
advantages  he  enjoyed  in  the  district  schools  he 
attended  Strasburg  Academy  for  three  years.  On 
completing  his  studies,  he  went  to  Philadelphia 
and  secured  employment  in  a  drug  store  and  in 
1852  entered  the  College  of  Pharmacy  and  was 
graduated  there  in  1854.  He  continued  clerking' 
until  1857,  when  he  came  West  and  after  pros- 
pecting for  three  months  in  Kansas  located  in  the 
fall  of  that  year  in  St.  Joseph. 

For  two  years  after  settling  in  St.  Joseph,  Mr. 
Good  worked  as  a  clerk  in  a  drug  store  and  then 
went  to  Kirksville,  Adair  County,  Missouri,  and 
engaged  in  farming  in  that  vicinity  until  1863. 
He  then  enlisted  as  a  member  of  Company  B, 
39th  Reg.,  Missouri  Vol.  Inf.,  and  was  mustered 
in  at  Hannibal  with  the  rank  of  1st  lieutenant,  but 
before  leaving  Macon  was  commissioned  captain 
by  Governor  Fletcher.  His  service  consisted 
mainly  in  guard  duty,  with  frequent  skirmishing 
in  Missouri,  in  the  neighborhood  of  Macon,  St. 
Louis  and  Ste.  Genevieve  and  in  Tennessee,  in  the 
vicinity  of  Nashville.  He  remained  in  the  serv- 
ice until  the  close  of  the  war,  and  was  mustered 
out  and  honorably  discharged  at  St.  Louis,  in 
September,  1865. 

In  the  fall  of  1865,  Mr.  Good  brought  his 
family  fo  St.  Joseph.  He  was  first  engaged  as  a 
clerk  for  Penick  &  Loving,  but  soon  was  admitted 
to  partnership.  In  1875  he  sold  his  interest  in 
this  firm  and  bought  out  the  establishment  of 
Samuel  Hayes,  located  on  Market  square,  where 
he  continued  for  a  short  time  and  again  sold. 
Later  he  became  the  senior  member  of  the  firm 
of  Good,  Smith  &  Company,  wholesale  druggists, 
with  store  on  the  corner  of  Third  and  Edmond 
streets,  where  a  large  business  was  built  up.  Sub- 
sequently he  sold  out  to  Samuel  I.  Smith  &  Com- 
pany and  clerked  for  this  firm  for  some  six  years 
until  it  was  merged  into  the  Van  Natta-Lynds 
Drug  Company,  of  which  he  became  special  house 
salesman.  In  1887  he  became  a  stockholder  in 
the  St.  Joseph  Show  Case  Company,  buying  a 
quarter  interest,  and  was  elected  president ;  in 
April,  1 89 1,  he  became  general  manager.  In  the 
following  spring,  in  partnership  w-ith  his  son, 
Edward  S.,  he  purchased  the  interest  of  the  other 
stockholders,  and  Edward  S.  became  treasurer 
and  J.  A.  Aukerman,  secretary.  In  1893  Mr. 
Good  retired  from  business.  His  long  career  had 
brought  him  ample  returns  and  also  the  esteem 
of  the  business  world. 

In  1859,  Mr.  Good  was  married  to  Hannah 
Seltzer,  who  was  born  in  Berks  County,  Pennsyl- 


48o 


HISTORY  OF    BUCHANAN   COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


vania,  and  is  a  daughter  of  the  late  Michael  and 
Catherine  (Hain)  Seltzer.  Jacob  Seltzer,  the 
grandfather  of  Michael,  was  born  October  31, 
1732,  and  died  October  18,  1788.  He  married 
Maria  Katherine  Hiester,  who  was  born  Febru- 
ary 20,  1735,  and  died  June  5,  181 7.  Their  son 
Jacob  Seltzer,  the  grandfather  of  ]\lrs.  Good,  was 
born  September  5.  1764,  and  died  January  5, 
1825.  He  married  Katherine  Kaufman,  who  was 
born  September  5,  1766,  and  died  October  25. 
1842.  Michael  Seltzer  was  born  October  4,  1807, 
and  died  February  i,  1896.  On  March  16,  1829. 
he  was  married  to  Catherine  Hain,  who  was  born 
October  17.  1807,  and  died  February  11,  16/O. 
Catherine  Hain  was  a  daughter  of  Benjamin  S. 
Hain,  who  died  in  1867,  aged  84  years.  Joseph 
Hain,  father  of  Benjamin  S.  and  great-grand- 
father of  Mrs.  Good,  was  born  May  21,  1754,  and 
died  January  21,  1834.  Catherine,  his  wife  was 
born  May  21,  1764,  and  died  January  28,  1835. 
The  Hains  came  to  this  country  during  the  reign 
of  Queen  Anne  of  England,  under  her  protection, 
landing  in  New  York  City  in  17 12.  They  settled 
in  Schoharie  County,  New  York.  After  having 
cleared  and  improved  the  land  upon  which  they 
had  located,  their  title  to  the  property  was  dis- 
puted by  persons  in  the  New  York  government ; 
thereupon  they  left  New  York,  losing  their  lands 
and  the  im])rovements  made  upon  them,  and  re- 
moved to  Berks  County,  Pennsylvania,  in  1728, 
where  they  took  out  patents  for  a  large  body  of 
land,  some  of  which  is  still  owned  by  the  Hain 
descendants.  In  1766  a  church  (called  the 
"Hains  Church")  was  erected  near  Wernersville, 
Berks  County,  Pennsylvania,  by  the  Hains  and 
others :  after  having  been  remodeled  three  times, 
it  still  stands  as  a  monument  to  the  pioneer 
settlers. 

Five  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Good,  namely :  Edward  S.,  born  in  Adair  County, 
Missouri,  who  married  Mildred  Klaus,  and  has 
two  children — Lcota  and  Edward  Wyeth,  both 
born  in  St.  Joseph;  (ieorge  M.,  born  in  Adair 
County,  who  married  Donna  Clark  and  has  one 
daughter.— Emily  Oace.  born  in  St.  Joseph ; 
Kate  Elizabeth,  born  in  St.  Joseph,  who  married 
John  I.  Fidler  and  has  one  daughter, — 
Irene  R.,  l)orn  in  Pennsylvania;  Mary  An- 
netta.  born  in  St.  Joseph,  who  married  Thomas 
R.  Wall  and  has  two  children, — Annetta,  born  in 
St.  Louis,  and  Thomas  R.,  Jr.,  born  in  St.  Joseph ; 
and  Ella  born  in  St.  Joseph,  who  married  Frank 
W.  Baker,  of  New  York  City.  Edward  S.  Good 
has    been    traveling    salesman    for    the    Nave    & 


McCord  Mercantile  Company  of  St.  Joseph,  for 
the  past  18  years. 

Mr.  Good  has  always  afifiliated  with  the  Re- 
]iublican  party.  In  his  earlier  years  he  was  identi- 
fied with  a  number  of  fraternal  orders,  but  takes 
no  active  part  in  any  of  these  now.  He  has 
watched  with  interest  the  wonderful  commercial 
developiuent  of  St.  Joseph  and  must  be  ranked 
with  the  city's  representative  men. 


-♦-•"♦- 


OHN  C.  KELLER,  a  successful  farmer 
of  Bloomington  township,  Buchanan 
County,  was  born  in  Clark  County,  In- 
diana, December  14,  1829,  and  is  a  son 
of  Martin  and  Polly  (Robb)  Keller  and 
grandson  of  John  Keller. 

John  Keller  was  of  Pennsylvania  Dutch  stock, 
as  was  his  wife,  whose  maiden  name  was  Sally 
Rader.  They  were  parents  of  the  following  chil- 
dren ;  Joseph  ;  Obecl ;  Martin  ;  John  ;  Margaret ; 
Mary  ;  Ann  ;  Ruth  and  Eliza.  All  of  the  children 
married  and  reared  families.  John  Keller  moved 
with  his  family  to  Bartholomew  County,  Indiana, 
where  he  acquired  a  quarter  section  of  land  at  a 
time  when  Indiana  was  a  Territory. 

Martin  Keller  was  born  in  Virginia  in  June, 
1803,  and  was  reared  near  Wheeling.  He  went 
with  his  parents  to  Indiana  at  an  early  date,  and 
was  there  married.  He  died  there  April  20,  1855, 
and  his  widow  moved  to  Bartholomew  County, 
Indiana,  with  her  family.  She  was  born  in  Clark 
County,  Indiana,  and  died  January  9,  1892.  Mar- 
tin Keller  and  wife  were  parents  of  nine  children, 
two  of  whom  died  in  infancy.  The  seven  that 
grew  to  maturity  were  as  follows :  Milton  ;  John 
C. ;  Elizabeth  (Thompson);  Alfred;  Martin,  of 
Oklahoma  Territory ;  Polly  and  Mahala.  Our 
subject  and  his  brother  Martin  are  the  only  two 
now  living. 

John  C.  Keller  was  reared  on  the  farm  and 
received  his  educational  training  in  the  common 
scliools  of  Bartholomew  County,  Indiana.  At  the 
age  of  21  years  he  began  farming  for  himself  and 
has  continued  at  this  vocation  ever  since.  On 
October  12,  i860,  he  came  to  Buchanan  County, 
Missouri,  settling  in  Lake  township,  on  a  farm 
now  owned  by  George  Montgomery,  one  half 
being  under  cultivation  and  the  other  half  timber- 
land.  He  continued  there  until  the  spring  of 
1872,  then  moved  to  section  30,  Bloomington 
township,  where  he  has  since  resided.  For  some 
years  he  lived  in  the  log  house  on  the  place,  with' 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


481 


its  old-fashioned  fire-place  and  with  its  ceiling, 
door  and  staircase  made  of  solid  walnut.  The 
farm  was  heavily  timbered,  and  hard  labor  was 
required  to  clear  it  and  place  it  in  tillable  shape. 
He  has  137  acres  in  section  30,  Bloomington 
township,  and  a  tract  of  50  acres  in  section  25, 
Rush  township.  He  follows  general  farming  and 
stock-raising  and  has  prospered  more  and  more 
as  each  year  has  passed.  He  has  always  been 
public-spirited  and  alive  to  the  best  interests  of 
this  section,  being  especially  interested  in  the 
matter  of  improving  the  roads. 

On  May  31.  1855,  Mr.  Keller  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Clarinda  Cox,  who  was  born  in 
Decatur  County,  Indiana,  October  18,  1834,  and 
died  May  15,  1888,  having  given  birth  to  the 
following  children :  jMartin,  a  farmer  of  Bloom- 
ington township,  who  married  Ella  Lawrence  and 
has  a  daughter, — Ethel ;  Myra,  deceased,  who 
was  the  wife  of  Benjamin  Saunders  and  the 
mother  of  one  son, — Arnold,  of  Platte  County, 
Missouri ;  James  A.  deceased,  who  married  Nellie 
Elliott,  and  had  three  children, — Edith,  Anna 
and  Eula ;  Mary  J.  deceased,  who  was  the  wife  of 
Robert  Brown ;  Sarah  E.,  deceased,  who  was  the 
Avife  of  James  Allison  ;  Martha,  who  lives  at  home  ; 
Virtie,  deceased ;  and  John  C,  Jr.,  who  mar- 
ried Kate  Allison  and  lives  on  the  home  place  in 
section  30,  Bloomington  township.  Religiously, 
our  subject  is  a  member  of  the  Sugar  Creek 
Christian  Church,  of  which  his  wife  was  also  a 
member.  During  the  Civil  War,  in  August,  1862, 
he  became  a  member  of  the  Enrolled  Militia  of 
Missouri,  and  served  until  December  of  that  year, 
when  the  company  was  disbanded.  In  1864.  he 
joined  another  company  and  served  until  after 
the  second  election  of  Lincoln.  He  is  a  Repub- 
lican in  politics  and  cast  his  first  vote  for  General 
Scott  in  1852.  He  has  served  as  township  clerk 
and  as  school  director. 


♦ « » 


'■)HN  BORING  HUNDLEY.  Among  the 
prominent  business  men  of  St.  Joseph, 
was  the  late  John  Boring  Hundley,  who 
for  32  years  was  identified  with  the  mer- 
cantile interests  of  this  city  and  who 
passed  away  here  on  August  31,  1896,  a  man  of 
unblemished  integrity.  Mr.  Hundley  was  born 
in  Washington  County,  Tennessee,  December  19, 
1819,  and  was  a  son  of  John  Simms  and  Mary 
(Boring)   Hundlev. 

The  late  Mr.  Hundley  was  given  the  best  edu- 


cational advantages  afforded  by  the  common 
schools  of  his  native  locality  and  entered  upon 
business  life  with  a  foundation  well  laid  and 
with  moral  principles  which  had  been  instilled 
by  a  good  mother.  He  was  20  years  old  when  he 
left  his  home  and  went  to  Missouri,  where  he  soon 
engaged  in  teaching  school,  a  profession  he  fol- 
lowed for  two  years,  or  until  he  had  accumulated 
enough  capital  to  enable  him  to  venture  into  busi- 
ness. INIr.  Hundley  then  went  to  Gentry  County, 
Missouri,  where  he  opened  a  country  store.  In 
those  days  the  country  store  was  a  point  of  gen- 
eral interest,  it  frequently  being  made  the  meeting 
place  of  neighbors  for  miles  around  who  wished 
to  discuss  some  political  question  or  to  agree  upon 
some  township  improvement.  Aside  from  it  being 
a  trading  place  for  the  good  wives  and  mothers, 
it  was  a  kind  of  social  center,  the  elimination  of 
which  at  that  time  would  have  made  a  great  blank 
in  the  lives  of  the  widely  separated  settlers.  Mr. 
Hundley  was  just  the  right  man  to  be  proprietor 
of  such  a  place,  knowing  how  to  select  mer- 
chandise to  fill  the  wants  of  his  customers  and 
possessing  the  pleasant,  accommodating  manner 
which  made  all  welcome.  He  not  only  secured 
the  confidence  of  the  whole  surrounding  country, 
but  their  high  esteem  as  well  and  was  elected  to 
one  of  the  leading  county  offices,  that  of  treasurer, 
by  one  of  the  largest  majorities  ever  given  in  that 
county  to  any  candidate.  This  office  he  faithfully 
filled  for  12  years,  when  he  retired  voluntarily 
from  public  life. 

At  this  time  Mr.  Hundley  removed  to  St. 
Joseph,  locating  in  this  city  in  1864.  Here  he 
engaged  in  merchandising  and  founded  the  large 
boot  and  shoe  house  which,  under  different  styles, 
has  developed  into  one  of  the  largest  wholesale 
houses  in  St.  Joseph.  For  some  22  years  Mr. 
Hundley  continued  to  be  active  in  the  city's  busi- 
ness afifairs,  but  in  1886  failing  health  caused  his 
retirement.  The  10  succeeding  years  of  his  ex- 
istence were  given  to  the  quiet  pleasures  suitable 
to  his  years  and  state  of  health,  and  to  carrying 
out  various  beneficent  enterprises  which  were 
dear  to  his  heart. 

In  1848,  ]Mr.  Hundley  was  married  to  Tabitha 
A.  Witten,  who  was  born  in  Tazewell  County, 
Virginia,  and  at  the  time  of  his  decease  their  eight 
children  survived.  Two  years  later  occurred  the 
death  of  one  son,  Eugene.  Mrs.  Hundley  still 
survives. 

In  1869,  Mr.  Hundley  connected  himself  with 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  South,  and  until 
the  close  of  his  life  was  one  of  its  most  active  and 


482 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY  AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


liberal  members.  The  name  of  John  Boring 
Hundley  will  live  in  the  memory  of  his  fellow 
citizens  in  association  with  the  Hundley  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  Church,  South,  of  St.  Joseph.  His 
generous  donations  made  the  erection  of  this  edi- 
fice possible,  and  the  name  of  the  benefactor  was 
given  this  noble  monument  of  his  faith.  Not 
only  to  the  church  of  his  choice  was  Mr.  Hundley 
liberal,  but  to  every  good  and  charitable  cause  as 
well  and  also  to  public  enterprises  which  appealed 
to  his  judgment  as  being  designed  to  benefit  his 
fellow  citizens. 


•***- 


AMES  McCORD.  The  death  of  James 
McCord  on  September  24,  1903,  lost  to 
St.  Joseph  a  citizen  of  great  commercial 
achievement  and  of  exalted  personal 
character.  Conspicuous  as  was  his  busi- 
ness success,  it  did  not  represent  the  whole  man, 
for  few  citizens  have  shown  more  interest  or  de- 
voted more  time  or  means  to  the  developing  and 
perfecting  of  those  agencies  which  promote  public 
welfare  and  bring  about  the  largest  measure  of 
general  happiness.  His  loss,  therefore,  was  both 
a  private  and  public  bereavement. 

The  birth  of  James  McCord  took  place  on  Jan- 
uary 7.  1826,  in  Randolph  County,  Virginia,  and 
his  ])arents  were  William  and  Sally  Moss  (Field) 
McCord.  In  both  the  paternal  and  the  maternal 
lines,  the  families  were  of  enough  distinction  to 
have  attained  public  mention.  The  McCords 
came  of  sturdy  stock  from  the  North  of  Ireland, 
whence  they  removed  to  Virginia  early  in  the  i8th 
century.  The  name  appears  in  the  public  records 
of  Albemarle  County,  where  John  McCord,  in 
1740,  signed  the  document  calling  a  Presbyterian 
minister.  In  1750  record  is  found,  in  Albemarle 
County,  of  Robert  Field,  who  was  the  maternal 
great-grandfather  of  James  McCord,  and  honor- 
able mention  is  made  of  John  Field,  his  grand- 
father, as  a  captain  in  the  Eighth  Virginia  Regi- 
ment, in  the  War  of  181 2.  The  late  James 
McCord,  however,  needed  no  accom])lishments  of 
his  ancestors  to  impress  upon  his  fellow  citizens 
his  true  value  as  a  man. 

Both  parents  of  Mr.  McCord  were  born  and 
reared  in  Albemarle  County,  Virginia,  where 
William  McCord  first  engaged  in  the  practice  of 
the  law.  He  was  prosecuting  attornev  for  Ran- 
dolph County  from  1829  to  1836.  In  the  latter 
year  he  removed  his  family  to^  Cape  Girardeau, 
Missouri,   a   wonderful  journey   for  those  davs. 


Two  years  later  the  family  settled  at  Versailles,, 
in  Morgan  County,  where  Mr.  McCord  resumed 
the  practice  of  the  law,  dying  shortly  afterward, 
in  C3ctober,  1839.  His  widow  survived  him  13 
years,  dying  in  1852,  at  Savannah,  Missouri. 

The  death  of  his  father  left  James  McCord 
with  many  responsibilities  in  early  boyhood  and 
before  he  was  15  years  of  age  in  1840,  he  entered 
upon  a  business  career  which,  at  that  time  no  one 
would  have  been  daring  enough  to  predict,  would 
later  carry  his  name  into  almost  every  State  of 
the  Union.  As  clerk  in  a  country  store,  at  Cal- 
houn, Henry  County,  Missouri,  his  duties  were 
faithfully  performed  for  the  first  year  with  no 
remuneration  except  his  board,  but  he  had  become 
valuable  enough  to  his  employer  by  the  second 
year,  to  receive  a  salary  of  $75,  which  was  in- 
creased to  $100  in  the  third  year.  In  1843  '""^ 
went  to  W^arsaw,  Missouri,  and  working  in  the 
same  capacity  received  his  board  and  a  salary  of 
$150,  which  was  increased  to  $250  in  1844.  Better 
than  this,  he  had  by  his  fidelity  to  his  employer's 
interests  so  won  the  latter's  confidence,  that  he 
was  made  business  agent  to  St.  I>ouis  and  New 
Orleans,  and  later  to  other  points.  During  this 
period  of  traveling,  he  visited  the  Platte  Pur- 
chase, Weston,  Savannah  and  St.  Joseph,  in  all 
of  these  places  studying  business  conditions  and 
possibilities  and  laying  up  facts  which  he  \\''as 
able  to  put  to  his  own  use  when  he  entered  into 
business  for  himself. 

In  1846,  feeling  well  qualified  through  his 
years  of  experience,  he  entered  into  business, 
forming  a  partnership  with  Abram  Nave,  his 
brother-in-law,  at  Savannah,  Andrew  County, 
where  the  latter  was  engaged  in  business  at  that 
time.  This  personal  friendship  and  business  as- 
sociation continued  unbroken  for  a  period  of  52 
years,  the  death  of  Mr.  Nave  terminating  a  con- 
nection which  had  in  it  the  elements  of  a  Damon 
and  Pythias  affection.  The  two  partners  estab- 
lished a  business  at  Oregon,  Holt  County,  Mis- 
souri, where  Mr.  McCord  remained  until  1849, 
when  he  made  some  preparations  to  make  the 
tri]:)  to  the  California  Eldorado  by  sea,  but  later 
changed  his  mind  and  engaged  in  the  produce 
business,  shi])ping  from  St.  I.ouis  to  New  Or- 
leans. He  had  not  given  up  the  idea  of  visiting 
California,  however,  for  he  crossed  the  plains  in 
April,  1850,  and  remained  on  the  Pacific  Coast 
until  the  following  year  when  he  returned  and 
resumed  his  business^  relations  with  Mr.  Nave,  at 
Savannah,  Missouri.  In  1852  he  made  a  second 
trip  to  the  Pacific  Coast,  in  company  with  Abram 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


483 


Nave,  Charles  L.  Clark  and  D.  M.  Steele,  on  this 
occasion  driving  a  herd  of  cattle  across  the  plains. 
This  business  proved  remunerative  and  was  re- 
peated for  several  years,  or  as  long  as  it  was 
profitable. 

Our  subject  and  his  partner  still  continued 
their  mercantile  establishment  at  Savannah,  but 
they  now  came  to  a  realization  of  the  business 
opportunities  ofifered  them,  by  the  opening  up  of 
travel  and  the  rapid  settlement  of  new  localities. 
That  they  were  men  equal  to  the  occasion,  the 
great  commercial  concerns  in  which  millions  are 
invested,  which  now  recall  their  names  in  a  half 
dozen  States,  fully  attest.  In  1857  a  wholesale 
grocery  business  was  established  at  St.  Joseph. 
Missouri,  under  the  firm  name  of  Nave,  McCord 
&  Company;  in  1861  followed  the  establishment 
of  a  similar  concern  at  Omaha,  Nebraska,  with 
the  late  Charles  L.  Clark  as  resident  partner.  In 
1863  t^ie  fi^'"  o^  C.  D.  Smith  &  Company  was 
established  at  St.  Joseph,  INIissouri,  with  Abram 
Nave,  James  McCord,  D.  M.  Steele  and  C.  D. 
Smith  as  partners,  the  last  named  being  the  man- 
ager: in  1868,  Leach,  Nave  &  Company,  which 
later  become  McCord,  Nave  &  Company,  was 
established  at  Kansas  City,  IMissouri ;  and  in 
1 87 1,  Nave,  Goddard  &  Company,  later  Nave  & 
McCord,  entered  into  the  commercial  life  of  St. 
Louis,  ^lissouri.  At  the  time  of  his  decease, 
James  AlcCord  was  connected  with  these  great 
business  houses :  The  Nave-McCord  Mercantile 
Company,  of  St.  Joseph,  of  which  he  was  presi- 
dent,— a  business  established  in  1846,  incorporated 
in  1880  and  reincorporated  in  1900;  The  Mc- 
Cord-Brady  Company,  of  Omaha,  Nebraska ;  The 
McCord-Chapman-Greer  Mercantile  Company,  of 
Pueblo,  Colorado;  The  McCord-Collins  Com- 
pany, of  Fort  Worth.  Texas ;  The  McCord-Col- 
lins  Mercantile  Company,  of  Oklahoma  City, 
Oklahoma  ;  The  Smith-^IcCord  Dry  Goods  Com- 
pany, of  Kansas  City,  Missouri ;  The  Kistler- 
Metzler  ^vlercantile  Company,  of  Topeka,  Kan- 
sas ;  The  McCord  Rubber  Company,  of  St.  Jo- 
seph, Missouri ;  The  Sentney  Wholesale  Grocery 
Company,  of  Hutchinson.  Kansas ;  The  ]\lcCord- 
Harlow  Shoe  Company,  of  St.  Joseph,  Missouri ; 
The  Henry  Krug  Packing  Company,  of  St.  Jo- 
seph, Missouri ;  The  James  ]\IcCord  Realty  Com- 
pany, of  St.  Joseph,  Missouri ;  and  The  Nave  & 
McCord  Cattle  Company,  the  owner  of  a  ranch 
of  100,000  acres  in  Garza  County,  Texas. 

On  October  5,  1854,  ]\Ir.  McCord  was  mar- 
ried to  Mary  E.  Hallack,  who  was  born  in  Jessa- 
mine County,  Kentucky,  February  28,  1838,  and 


still  survives.  The  nine  children  born  to  them 
are  all  living,  namely:  W.  H.,  of  Omaha.  Ne- 
braska ;  James  H.,  Samuel  S.,  Susan  and  Lucy 
(wife  of  J.  H.  Parker,  Jr.),  all  of  St.  Joseph; 
Mary  Ada.  wife  of  J.  Burnett  Collins,  of  Fort 
Worth,  Texas ;  George  L.,  of  Pueblo,  Colorado ; 
Robert  H.,  of  Kansas  City,  Missouri ;  and  Fran- 
cis, of  New  York  City.  The  James  McCord  sons 
are  all  actively  interested  in  the  management  of 
one  or  more  of  the  mercantile  concerns  of  which 
their  able  father  was  one  of  the  founders,  and  are 
universally  recognized  in  the  business  world  as 
successful  and  sagacious  men. 

Although  so  immersed  in  the  various  cares, 
complexities  and  responsibilities  unavoidably 
connected  with  active  participation  in  so  many 
gigantic  enterprises,  James  McCord  found  time 
to  take  a  deep  interest  in  both  public  and  civic 
aft'airs,  to  give  personal  attention  to  the  distri- 
bution of  his  generous  charities,  to  absorb  good 
literature  and  enjoy  travel,  to  give  a  part  of  him- 
self to  a  most  devoted  family,  and  to  cultivate 
those  social  amenities  which  go  so  far  to  rest  and 
sweeten  life. 

To  quote  from  one  who  knew  and  loved  him 
for  more  than  30  years. 

"In  looking  back  it  is  difficult  to  select  the 
most  prominent  attribute  of  his  character.  His 
wide  experience,  extensive  knowledge  upon  all 
subjects,  together  with  his  other  excellent  traits, 
made  him  a  perfect  type  of  the  American  citizen 
and  gentleman.  His  constant  attention  to  his 
business  resulted  in  establishing  the  name  of 
McCord  as  a  synonym  for  honest  dealing,  from 
Texas  to  Dakota,  and  from  the  Missouri  River 
to  the  coast." 

In  political  sentiment.  Mr.  ]\IcCord  was  first 
a  Whig  and  later  a  Republican,  in  national  and 
State  issues,  but  he  reserved  to  himself  the  right 
to  support,  in  local  matters,  the  individual  in 
whom  he  had  the  most  confidence.  He  came  of  a 
Presbyterian  family  but  never  formally  united 
with  that  or  any  other  religious  body,  his  faiths 
and  tenets  being  best  shown  by  his  life  and  its 
moral  influence.  His  charities  were  large  but 
were  given  with  no  special  recognition  of  any 
creed  or  condition,  being  generously  bestowed 
upon  the  needy  and  unfortunate,  wherever  they 
were  found. 

Unassuming  and  quiet,  totally  opposed  to  any 
display  of  the  wealth  he  had  accumulated,  he 
spent  his  busy  years  in  cordial  relationship  with 
his  neighbors  and  friends,  gratified  by  their  es- 
teem   and    approbation.      He    was    particularly 


484 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY  AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


blessed  in  his  domestic  life  and  had  the  satisfac- 
tion of  seeing  his  children  grow  np  to  matnrity, 
inheriting  the  business  acumen  which  had  made 
him  prosperous  and  the  gentle,  attractive  attri- 
butes of  their  mother,  whose  companionship  had 
been  so  important  a  factor  in  his  life. 


^ » » 


ARK  J.  FARBER,  M.  D.,  Ph.  G.,  a 
well-known  member  of  the  medical 
profession  at  St.  Joseph,  now  hold- 
ing the  position  of.  professor  of  der- 
matolog'v   at  the   Ens  worth    Medical 


-"&..' 


College  in  this  city,  was  born  May  17,  1865,  in 
the  old  city  of  Moscow,  Russia,  and  is  a  son  of 
Josei:)h  S.  and  Matilda  (Mendelstam)  Farber. 

The  father  of  Dr.  Farber  was  a  large  manu- 
facturer of  silks,  satins  and  velvets  in  Russia, 
the  work  being  carried  on  in  the  old  way,  with 
hand  looms,  300  of  these  being  used  in  his  fac- 
tories. He  manufactured  for  a  large  wholesale 
trade.  Joseph  S.  Farber  was  married  twice  and 
our  subject  is  the  third  child  of  the  first  union, 
his  young  mother  dying  when  he  was  but  three 
days  old. 

Dr.  Farber  was  educated  in  his  native  city  at 
the  gymnasium.  He  possesses  a  certificate  from 
the  Imperial  University  of  Moscow,  both  in 
pharmacy  and  medicine.  At  the  age  of  24  years 
he  left  his  own  country  to  come  to  a  land  where 
talent  and  ability  had  a  better  chance  of  recog- 
nition and  where  a  wider  and  freer  field  was  of- 
fered men  Of  ambition.  Hampered  at  first  by  his 
want  of  knowledge  of  the  English  language,  he 
applied  himself  closely  to  its  study  and,  to  famil- 
iarize himself  with  medical  thought  and  method 
in  his  adopted  land,  entered  the  medical  depart- 
ment of  the  University  of  New  York  City.  After 
one  year  of  study  there,  he  married  and  shortly 
after,  in  1890,  came  to  St.  Joseph,  Missouri,  where 
he  entered  the  Northwestern  Medical  College 
and  was  graduated  in  tSqt. 

Dr.  Farber  then  settled  at  Rochester.  I\lis- 
souri,  and  practiced  his  profession  there  for  five 
years,  retttrning  then  to  St.  Joseph,  where  he  has 
been  located  ever  since,  in  the  enjoyment  of  a 
large  and  lucrative  practice.  He  fills  the  ]:)Osition 
of  professor  of  dermatology  at  one  of  tlie  lead- 
ing medical  institutions  of  the  State,  and  he  be- 
longs to  the  Buchanan  County  and  the  Missouri 
State  medical  societies  and  the  American  Medi- 
cal Association,  taking  an  active  part  in  their  dis- 
cussions. 


On  March  10,  1889,  Dr.  Farber  was  married 
to  Wilhelmine  Schnee,  and  they  had  one  son, — 
Raoul  (pronounced  Ralph  in  English).  The 
mother  died  in  1896,  aged  31  years.  Dr.  Farber 
Uiarried,  as  his  second  wife,  Lillian  Frank,  a 
daughter  of  Solomon  Frank,  of  St.  Joseph. 

Politically,  Dr.  Farber  has  identified  himself 
with  the  Democratic  party.  His  fraternal  con- 
nections include  Lodge  243,  A.  F.  &  A.  M. ; 
St.  Joseph  Lodge,  No.  249,  A.  O.  U.  W. ;  Mis- 
souri Camp,  No.  1893,  Modern  Woodmen  of 
America;  Enterprise  Camp,  No.  178,  Woodmen 
of  the  World ;  Select  Knights  and  Ladies  and  the 
Fraternal  Home  Association. 


-♦-•-♦- 


EV.  JAMES  POWER,  deceased,  was  one 
of  the  great  factors  in  the  early  relig- 
ious and  educational  advancement  of 
St.  Joseph,  where  his  memory  is  per- 
petuated not  only  in  the  hearts  of  those 
he  benefited,  but  by  great  structures  founded  by 
his  energy  and  piety.  Father  Power  was  born 
May  13,  1815,  in  County  Waterford,  Ireland,  and 
died  at  the  Christian  Brothers'  College,  St.  Jo- 
seph, May  5,  1899. 

Father  Power  was  ordained  in  Philadelphia, 
Pennsylvania,  and  in  1856  he  came  West,  zealous 
in  pushing  the  work  of  the  church  in  the  border 
towns.     Prior  to  this  he  had  established  a  coloni- 


zation   society 


the    working   classes,    at 


Reading,  Pennsylvania,  and  in  the  interest  of  this 
society  he  bought  a  large  body  of  land  in  Nod- 
away and  Gentry  counties,  to  which  he  brought  a 
colony  in  1858.  He  established  his  people  at 
Conception,  Nodaway  County,  where  he  erected 
the  first  Catholic  Church  in  Northwestern  Mis- 
souri. As  a  pioneer  missionary,  he  was  located 
for  a  time,  in  1857,  at  St.  Joseph. 

Father  Power  induced  a  colony  of  Benedic- 
tine monks  to  come  from  Switzerland  and  to 
found  what  is  now  the  abbey  at  Conception.  But 
it  is  at  St.  Joseph  that  the  hopes  of  his  heart  took 
root  and  flowered  to  such  perfection  and  his  last 
years  were  spent  in  retirement  as  chaplain  at  the 
Christian  Brothers'  College,  for  which  he  had 
erected  the  first  building.  It  is  now  a  part  of  the 
present  imposing  structure  and  its  mission  con- 
tinues the  same  as  when  it  first  rose  from  its 
foundations  under  the  eyes  of  the  zealous  priest. 
Father  Power  also  founded  the  Convent  of  the 
Perpetual  Adoration  at  Conception.  He  founded 
also  the   St.  James   Industrial    School   for   Boys 


DANIEL    MORTON    M.  D. 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


487 


and  endowed  several  perpetual  scholarships  in  the 
Christian  Brothers'  College  for  the  benefit  of 
poor  youths. 

Father  Power  is  recalled  as  a  man  of  quiet, 
unassuming  manner,  one  who  devoted  his  life  to 
the  bearing  of  burdens  for  others  and  to  foster- 
ing every  holy  inspiration  for  the  benefit  of  those 
about  him.  A  true  Catholic  in  every  sense  of 
the  word,  he  found  his  happiness  in  ministering 
to  all  who  came  within  his  sphere,  irrespective  of 
class  or  condition. 


♦  <  » 


ANIEL  MORTON,  M.  D.,  one  of  the 
prominent  physicians  and  surgeons  of 
St.  Joseph,  and  widely  known  as  an 
able  speaker  and  writer  on  medical  and 
historical  subjects  was  born  November 
25,  1864,  at  Russellville,  Logan  County,  Ken- 
tucky, in  the  Logan  Female  Academy,  of  which 
his  father  was  at  that  time  president.  He  is  a 
son  of  Rev.  David  Morton,  D.  D.,  and  Hannah, 
Wilson  (Bottomley)  Morton. 

His  ancestors  were  among  the  pioneers  of 
America,  settling  in  \^irginia,  Maryland  and 
Pennsylvania  prior  to  the  Revolution.  They  came 
from  England,  Scotland,  Holland  and  France. 
From  John  Morton  the  direct  line  is  traced 
through  Capt.  John  ]\Iorton.  Jr. :  Joseph  Morton  ; 
William  Jordan  Morton,  of  "Snowden,"  Logan 
County,  Kentucky ;  oNIarmaduke  Beckwith  Mor- 
ton, of  "The  Knob,"  Russellville,  Kentucky ; 
David  Morton,  D.  D.,  to  Dr.  Daniel  ^Morton,  the 
subject  of  this  sketch.  The  collateral  lines  are 
Ashton  (Aston),  Beckwith.  Caldwell,  Cocke 
(Cox),  Cook,  Davis,  Dinwiddle,  Dubois.  Elten, 
Hawkins,  Hite,  Lane.  Mountjoy,  Means,  j\Iorton, 
Perrin,  Pryor,  Smith,  Thornton.  Van  ]\Ieter  and 
Wood.  From  these  families  have  come  men  dis- 
tinguished in  every  walk  of  life.  Among  them, 
Sir  Marmaduke  Beckwith,  of  Virginia  and  his 
son.  Sir  Jonathan  Beckwith,  the  latter  a  signer 
of  the  Northern  Neck  Declaration  of  Indepen- 
dence ;  Charles  Smith,  who  was  with  George 
Washington  at  the  battle  of  Great  Meadows  and 
Braddock's  Defeat,  losing  his  left  hand  in  the 
latter  fight ;  Joist  Hite,  who  ])lanted  a  colony  in 
the  Shenandoah  \'alley,  the  first  permanent  settle- 
ment of  whites  west  of  the  Blue  Ridge ;  Col.  \^al- 
cntine  Wood  :  John  Caldwell  Calhoun,  the  states- 
man ;  United  States  Senator  Jackson  Morton,  of 
Florida ;  Gen.  J.  E.  B.  Stuart,  of  the  Confed- 
erate States  Army,  one  of  the  most  distinguished 


officers  in  the  Southern  Army  ;  Gen.  James  Bar- 
bour Terrill,  commander  of  "Stonewall"  Jackson's 
"Fighting  13th:"  Col.  John  W.  Caldwell,  of  the 
"Orphan  Brigade"  of  Kentucky,  C.  S.  A.,  a  most 
gallant  officer ;  ^^'illiam  H.  English.  Democratic 
vice-presidential  candidate  and  author  of  the 
valuable  history. — "The  Conquest  of  the  North- 
west by  Gen.  George  Rogers  Clark."  and  David 
Morton,  D.  D.,  one  of  Kentucky's  distinguished 
divines,  and  founder  of  the  Church  Extension 
Society  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
South . 

Until  1878.  Dr.  Morton  was  a  student  at 
Bethel  College,  Russellville,  Kentucky.  After  the 
removal  of  the  family  to  Louisville,  Kentucky,  in 
1879,  Dr.  Morton  entered  the  High  School  of 
that  city,  remaining  until  1882.  In  1880.  how- 
ever, he  had  commenced  to  earu  his  own  living, 
and  with  his  brothers  formed  the  firm  of  Morton 
Brothers,  stationers,  printers  and  binders.  From 
this  small  beginning  has  grown  the  widely  known 
stationers'  supply  house.  The  Office  Supply  Com- 
pany of  Louisville.  In  1885  he  disposed  of  his 
interest  in  order  to  begin  the  study  of  medicine. 
He  was  graduated  from  the  University  of  Louis- 
ville Medical  Department  in  1887,  ranking  third 
in  a  class  of  87.  Th  entire  winter  of  1887-88 
was  spent  in  attendance  on  medical  lectures  at 
Columbia  College,  New  York  City,  ^ledical  De- 
partment, which  was  then  known  as  the  College  of 
Physicians  and  Surgeons. 

Dr.  Morton  left  Louisville  in  1888  and  entered 
upon  the  practice  of  medicine,  at  St.  Joseph,  }^Iis- 
souri.  Surgery  has  always  been  his  specialty, 
and  he  has  built  up  a  reputation  in  this  branch 
of  medicine  extending  not  only  through  the  ter- 
ritory contiguous  to  St.  Joseph,  but  over  the 
neighboring  States,  from  which  he  draws  a  very 
extensive  practice.  During  the  winter  of  1889- 
90,  Dr.  Morton  occupied  the  chair  of  dermatologv 
and  rectal  surgery  at  Ens  worth  Medical  College. 
He  has  made  for  himself  an  enviable  reputation 
as  an  instructor.  lu  1889  he  was  appointed  at- 
tending physician  to  the  Ladies'  Union  Benevo- 
lent Association.  This  is  the  organization  that 
managed  the  Home  of  the  Friendless  and  the 
charities  which  grew  out  of  it.  He  has  been 
connected  with  this  association  ever  since,  serv- 
ing as  attending  physician  and  consulting  phvsi- 
cian  at  the  Home  of  the  Friendless,  the  Home 
for.  Little  Wanderers  and  the  ^lemorial  Home 
for  the  Aged.  His  duties  were  further  increased 
in  1893  by  his  acceptance  of  the  position  of  asso- 
ciate editor  of  the  St.  Louis  Medical  Portnii^htly. 


488 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


At  this  time  he  was  appointed  assistant  surgeon 
of  the  St.  Joseph  &  Grand  Island  Railway,  by  Dr. 
E.  S.  Garner,  and  on  November  20,  1893,  was  sp- 
pointed  United  States  pension  examining  sur- 
geon, and  served  until  June  19,  1899.  On  August 
I,  1898,  he  was  appointed  chief  surgeon  of  the  St. 
Joseph  &  Grand  Island  Railway  and  of  the  Kan- 
sas City  &  Omaha  Railway,  and  served  as  such 
until  January  i,  1904. 

The  succeeding  years  continued  to  be  filled 
with  duties  of  a  public  character,  while  a  private 
practice  absorbed  his  time  and  energies  far  be- 
yond that  of  ordinary  practitioners.  In  1899  he 
was  appointed  county  physician  and  served  as 
such  until  March,  1901.  and  from  1899  to  1900 
he  again  was  lecturer  on  rectal  surgery  at  Ens- 
worth  Medical  College.  On  June  25,  1900,  he 
was  commissioned  major  and  surgeon  of  the 
Fourth  Regiment  Infantry,  Missouri  National 
Guard.  In  the  same  year  he  was  appointed  sur- 
geon of  the  St.  Joseph  Terminal  Company  and 
served  as  such  until  1904.  On  January  30,  1904, 
he  was  detailed  acting  Chief  Surgeon  of  the 
Missouri  National  Guard,  being  the  highest  med- 
ical officer  of  the  State  on  the  active  list.  At 
present  he  lectures  on  the  subject  of  abdominal 
surgery  at  the  St.  Joseph  Hospital  Training 
School  for  Nurses. 

Dr.  Daniel  Morton  has  been  identified  with 
St.  Joseph  Hospital  from  its  very  beginning  and 
in  connection  with  the  late  Dr.  E.  S.  Garner  and 
other  surgeons  of  that  time  was  instrumental  in 
inducing  the  Sisters  of  Charity  of  St.  Vincent  de 
Paul  to  undertake  the  work  which  has  grown 
into  the  present  magnificent  institution.  On  No- 
vember 15,  1888,  Dr.  Morton  became  associate 
editor  of  the  St.  Joseph  Medical  Herald.  Later 
he  became  editor  and  continued  as  such  until 
May,  1891.  His  contributions  to  the  medical 
press  have  been  numerous  and  along  the  lines  of 
medical  education  and  surgery.  Aside  from 
these,  he  has  also  written  a  biography  of  his 
father,  David  Morton,  and  a  history  of  the  Mor- 
ton family,  entitled  "The  Mortons  and  Their 
Kin,"  as  well  as  a  history  of  the  Ladies'  Union 
Benevolent  Association  for  the  first  25  years  of 
its  existence.  Dr.  Morton  has  always  been  an 
active  medical  society  man,  belonging  to  all  the 
local  medical  societies  and  to  others,  both  State 
and  National.  He  was  a  delegate  to  the  Inter- 
national Association  of  Military  Surgeons,  which 
met  at  the  Louisiana  Purchase  Exposition  at  St. 
Louis  in  1904.  He  was  one  of  the  founders  of 
the  St.  Joseph  Medical  and  Surgical  Society,  and 


also  of  the  Buchanan  County  Medical  Society. 
In  1903  he  was  elected  president  of  the  St.  Joseph 
Medical  Society  and  has  frequently  held  office  in 
the  various  societies  of  which  he  is  a  member. 

Dr.  Morton  was  married  on  March  8,  1894,  to 
Fannie  E.  Johnson,  who  is  a  daughter  of  William 
B.  and  Mary  (Colhoun)  Johnson,  and  a  grand- 
daughter of  John  Colhoun,  one  of  St.  Joseph's 
pioneers. 

Dr.  Morton  has  been  a  member  of  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church,  South,  since  the  age  of 
12  years.  In  1889  he  was  elected  a  member  of 
the  board  of  stewards  of  the  Francis  Street  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church,  South,  of  St.  Joseph,  and 
served  as  such  until  1893.  In  the  same  year  he 
was  elected  a  member  of  the  board  of  directors  of 
the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association,  serving 
until  1895,  and  again  from  1898  to  1899.  In 
June,  1904,  he  was  elected  vice-president  of  the 
St.  Joseph  Church  Extension  Society  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  South.  In  addition 
to  the  various  responsibilities  associated  with  so 
many  offices.  Dr.  Morton  has  always  been  ready 
to  perform  the  duties  of  a  good  citizen,  taking  an 
active  interest  in  all  that  concerns  the  welfare  of 
St.  Joseph.  On  June  i,  1903,  he  accepted  the 
appointment  as  a  member  of  the  St.  Joseph  Free 
Public  Library.  Dr.  Morton's  position  in  St. 
Joseph,  both  as  a  citizen  and  as  an  eminent  mem- 
ber of  his  profession,  entitles  him  to  the  general 
esteem  in  which  he  is  held.  His  portrait  accom- 
panies .this  sketch. 

♦■•-♦ 


OSEPH  FRAKES,  a  prominent  member 
of  one  of  the  old  pioneer  families  of 
Northwestern  Missouri,  and  a  well- 
known  farmer  of  Lake  township,  Bu-* 
chanan  County,  where  he  owns  and 
operates  a  well-cultivated  farm  of  86  acres  in 
section  22,  was  born  September  6,  1854,  in  Doni- 
phan County,  Kansas.  He  is  a  son  of  Joseph 
and  Psyche  (Clevinger)  Frakes. 

Joseph  Frakes,  father  of  our  subject,  was  born 
in  Kentucky,  where  he  resided  until  manhood, 
when  he  came  to  Missouri,  locating  in  Ray 
County.  From  there  he  removed  to  Doniphan 
County,  Kansas,  and  then  to  Buchanan  County, 
?\lissouri,  following  farming  as  an  occupation. 
His  last  years  were  passed  in  Lake  township,  Bu- 
chanan County,  where  he  died  at  the  age  of  78" 
years.  His  widow  still  survives,  at  the  age  of  87 
years,   still   living  on   the   old   family  homestead 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


489 


with  her  youngest  son,  Richard.  Their  chil- 
dren were :  Nathan,  Jasper,  Sarah,  Mason,  Jo- 
seph, Wilham,  John,  Emma,  Richard,  Jane  and 
Mary. 

On  account  of  the  disturbing  influence  of  the 
Civil  War,  our  subject's  boyhood  was  passed 
without  the  enjoyment  of  good  educational  ad- 
vantages. Hard  work  on  the  farm  was  his  por- 
tion for  the  first  25  years  of  his  life,  all  this  time 
on  the  homestead  farm.  Since  then  he  has  been 
engaged  in  farming  on  his  present  place,  a  well- 
watered,  admirably  located  tract  of  86  acres. 
Mr.  Frakes  has  this  large  body  of  land  almost  all 
under  cultivation,  and  is  counted  among  the  good 
farmers  and  substantial  citizens  of  Lake  town- 
ship. 

On  June  25,  1880,  Mr.  Frakes  was  married  to 
Rillie  Jane  Warner,  who  is  a  daughter  of  Wilson 
Warner,  a  farmer  and  fisherman  of  Doniphan 
County,  Kansas.  They  have  had  these  children : 
Luther ;  Goldie,  who  married  Augustus  Nitz,  of 
St.  Joseph,  and  has  one  child, — Hazel ;  Myrtle ; 
Richard ;  Millie  ;  Lena  ;  Josie ;  Bessie ;  Rillie  ;  and 
John  and  Millard  (twins),  George  and  Monty, 
all  four  of  whom  died  young. 

Mr.  Frakes  has  always  been  identified  with 
the  Democratic  party,  to  which  organization  the 
other  members  of  this  well-known  family  of  Bu- 
chanan County  have  always  given  their  support. 


♦ « » 


RANT  C.  THAYER,  one  of  the  leading 
business  men  and  prominent  and  repre- 
sentative citizens  of  St.  Joseph,  en- 
gaged in  a  cement,  lime  and  coal  busi- 
ness, was  born  in  1849  i"  New  York, 
and  is  a  son  of  Robert  H.  and  Amma  (Crawford) 
Thayer. 

Mr.  Thayer  comes  of  old  and  honored  New 
England  ancestry.  The  Thayer  family  was  estab- 
lished in  Massachusetts  in  colonial  days  and 
many  of  its  members  still  reside  in  the  old  "Bav" 
State.  It  is  a  family  of  honorable  traditions 
which  its  descendants  have  lived  up  to.  Robert 
H.  Thayer  was  a  contractor  and  lumber  dealer. 
He  died  at  Virginia  City,  Nevada,  when  his  son 
was  13  years  of  age.  The  mother  of  our  subject 
survived  until  1892,  dying  in  New  York. 

Brant  C.  Thayer  was  five  years  old  when  his 
parents  went  to  California  and  he  obtained  his 
education  in  that  State.  After  the  death  of  his 
father,  he  accompanied  his  mother  to  New  York. 
In  1867,  he  was  in  Michigan  for  a  short  period, 


and  then  went  to  Rockford,  Illinois,  where  he  en- 
tered into  the  employ  of  the  reaper  works.  From 
Rockford  he  went  to  Chicago,  and  there  entered 
the  construction  department  of  the  American 
Bridge  Company.  Mr.  Thayer  continued  with 
this  company  for  about  nine  years  and  then  be- 
came associated  as  assistant  engineer  with  S. 
Waters  Fox,  in  the  government  service  on  the  im- 
provements on  the  Missouri  River.  In  1884  he 
established  his  home  in  St.  Joseph  and  was  as- 
sociated with  Mr.  Fox  for  11  years.  In  1895  he 
engaged  here  in  a  coal  and  building  material  bus- 
iness, having  a  partner  for  a  short  time,  under 
the  name  of  the  Thayer  Cement,  Lime  &  Coal 
Company,  and  this  business  he  has  continued  until 
the  present,  meeting  with  the  success  which  comes 
as  the  result  of  experience,  judgment  and  upright 
and  fair  dealings. 

In  1874  Mr.  Thayer  was  married  at  Chicago, 
Illinois,  to  Alice  Dacy,  a  native  of  that  city,  and 
they  have  four  children,  all  of  whom  are  well 
established  in  life,  viz :  Amma,  who  married  R. 
AL  Nichols,  of  New  York,  and  has  one  son, — 
John  T. ;  Brant  C.-,  Jr.,  an  electrician  of  St.  Jo- 
seph, who  married  Ota  Saunders  :  Alice,  wife  of 
Perry  A.  Welty,  of  St.  Joseph ;  and  May,  who 
is  the  wife  of  R.  M.  Chaplin  of  Chicago. 

Mr.  Thayer  is  identified  with  the  Republican 
party  and  has  been  prominent  in  city  affairs  for 
a  number  of  years.  He  is  serving  as  a  member 
of  the  City  Council  from  the  Fourth  Ward  and 
is  regarded  as  a  citizen  who  faithfully  performs 
his  civic  duties.  He  is  an  active  member  of  the 
Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  having 
passed  all  the  chairs  in  King  Hill  Lodge.  No.  19, 
of  St.  Joseph.  He  is  also  one  of  the  leading 
spirits  in  the  Commercial  Club  of  this  city. 


♦ « » 


lUDLEY  ROACH  is  one  of  the  represen- 
tative farmers  of  Buchanan  (Tounty, 
where  he  has  resided  for  a  period  of 
60  years.  He  has  a  fine  farm  of  568^ 
acres  in  Center  township  and  has  a 
comfortable  home  in  section  17  of  that  township. 
He  was  born  in  Estill  County,  Kentucky,  Novem- 
ber 18,  1833,  and  is  a  son  of  Henrv  and  Molly 
(Wills)  Roach. 

Henry  Roach,  grandfather  of  our  subject,  was 
born  in  England  and  came  to  the  United  States 
during  the  Revolutionary  War.  in  which  he 
served  seven  years  as  a  sailor  in  the  United 
States  Navy.  He  died  in  Madison  County, 
Kentucky,  when  our  subject  was  one  year  old. 


490 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN    COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


Henr,v  Roach,  father  of  our  subject,  was  born 
in  Madison  County,  Kentucky,  in  1802  and  died 
in  Platte  County,  Missouri,  in  1854,  aged  52  years. 
He  removed  to  Buchanan  County  in  1844  and 
followed  farming  extensively,  principally  raising 
hemp.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church, 
and  a  Democrat  in  politics.  He  was  a  slave- 
owner, and  after  his  death  five  of  his  slaves  sold 
for  $6,000.  He  married  Molly  Wills,  who  was 
born  in  Estill  County,  Kentucky,  and  died  near 
Nortonville,  Kansas,  at  the  age  of  84  years.  Ten 
children  blessed  their  union,  as  follows :  Simpson, 
of  Oklahoma  Territory,  who  served  one  year  in 
Jennison's  artillery  during  the  Civil  War;  Fred, 
deceased  in  Kansas  in  1902,  who  served  in  the 
Kansas  State  Militia  during  the  Civil  War ;  Dud- 
ley, our  subject;  Henry,  of  Kansas;  Sallie  Ann 
(Evans),  of  Oklahoma  Territory;  Polly  Ann 
(Betts).  deceased;  Andrew,  deceased;  Michael, 
of  Oldahoma  Territory;  Malinda  (Knapp),  of 
Kansas;  and  Jesse,  of  Oklahoma  Territory. 

When  nearly  11  years  of  age,  Dudley  Roach 
moved  with  his  parents  to  Platte  County,  Mis- 
.souri,  the  trip  being  made  to  Frankfort,  Ken- 
tucky, by  means  of  a  boat  of  their  own  construc- 
tion, thence  by  steamboat  to  Weston.  Missouri. 
They  walked  out  to  a  farm  and  resided  upon  it  10 
years,  living  in  two  log  cabins,  one  14  by  14  feet 
and  the  other  12  by  12  feet  in  dimensions.  In  1854 
they  came  to  Buchanan  County,  where  his  father 
purchased  175  acres  in  section  17,  Center  town- 
ship, which  is  the  nucleus  of  the  present  farm  of 
our  subject.  This  land  was  cleared  and  im- 
proved with  the  exception  of  about  40  acres,  and 
.the  family  resided  in  a  log  cabin,  20  by  20  feet  in 
dimensions,  during  the  first  seven  years,  at  the 
end  of  which  time  the  house  was  built  which 
stands  on  the  premises  to-day.  Dudley  Roach 
purchased  the  farm  of  his  father,  and  to  this  has 
added  until  at  tlie  present  time  he  has  568^^ 
acres  of  exceptionally  good  land.  Upon  it  he  has 
built  five  good  frame  liouscs  and  a  modern  brick 
house,  three  barns,  and  granaries  and  necessary 
outbuildings.  He  has  always  raised  considerable 
grain,  and  one  year  had  200  acres  in  wheat,  har- 
vesting 4,000  bushels.  He  also  has  raised  stock 
on  an  extensive  scale,  having  as  high  as  600  head 
of  sheep  at  a  time.  At  the  present  he  has  40 
head  of  horses  and  mules  and  a  large  number  of 
cattle.  He  has  an  excellent  apple  orchard  of  20 
acres.  He  is  a  scientific  farmer  and  has  met  with 
unusual  success. 

In  1853,  Dudley  Roach  was  married  to  Susie 
Finnell,  who  was  born  in  Estill  County,  Kentucky, 


in  1839,  and  was  a  daughter  of  Fountain  and 
Mary  Finnell.  She  died  in  February,  1880,  leav- 
ing the  following  children:  Kate  (Waller),  de- 
ceased; Mary  (Arthur),  of  Center  township; 
John,  of  Center  township :  Simpson,  of  Oklahoma 
Territory ;  Henry,  who  died  at  the  age  of  19 
years ;  and  Fountain,  who  resides  on  the  home 
farm.  Our  subject  has  14  grandchildren.  He  is 
a  Republican  in  politics.  He  is  a  ]\Iason  and  an 
Odd  Fellow.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Enrolled 
Militia  of  Missouri  for  three  summers  during  the 
war  and  finally  was  made  2nd  lieutenant.  Dur- 
ing two  summers  he  slept  out  of  doors  at  night, 
so  the  enemy  could  not  capture  him. 


-♦-•-♦- 


MOR  JACKSON,  now  a  highly  re- 
spected retired  resident  of  St.  Joseph, 
has  been  identified  with  the  interests 
of  this  part  of  the  State  for  very  many 
years  and  has  an  interesting  personal 
and  family  history.  Mr.  Jackson  was  born  in 
Surry  County,  North  Carolina,  August  28,  1838, 
and  is  a  son  of  Irdell  and  Elizabeth  (Whitlock) 
Jackson. 

Thomas  Jackson,  our  subject's  grandfather, 
belonged  to  the  old  Quaker  family  of  the  name 
in  Pennsylvania.  He  removed  to  North  Carolina 
and  established  the  family  there  and  there  his  son, 
Irdell  Jackson,  was  born  on  the  old  plantation 
near  ]\!ount  Airy.  Prior  to  1856  the  father  of 
our  subject  cultivated  large  tracts  of  land,  owning 
many  slaves,  and  raised  immense  crops  of  to- 
bacco, corn  and  cotton.  In  the  above  named  year 
he  removed  to  Buchanan  County,  Missouri,  buy- 
ing a  quarter  section  of  land  near  Agency.  This 
he  devoted  to  stock-raising,  in  which  industry  he 
continued  until  his  death,  in  1861,  at  the  age  of 
63  years.  He  married  Elizabeth  Whitlock.  who 
was  a  daughter  of  Thomas  Whitlock,  a  native  of 
\'irginia.  They  had  a  family  of  seven  children, 
namely :  \''iolet,  deceased,  who  married  H.  G. 
Gordon,  and  lived  at  Wyatt  Park;  Charles. and 
Jacob,  both  deceased  :  Alexander  H.,  a  resident 
of  Garrettsburg,  Buchanan  County  ;  Amor,  of  this 
sketch  ;  and  Thomas  H.  and  Lucy  Jane,  both  de- 
ceased. They  all  were  members  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church. 

Amor   Jackson    was    reared    on    his    father'-s-., 
farm  and  continued  to  reside  at  home  until  his 
father's  death.     Then  he  came  West  and  enlisted 
in    Company    I,   8ist   Reg.,   Enrolled   Militia   of 
Missouri,  as  orderly  sergeant  and  saw  consider- 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CTITZENS. 


491 


able  service  during  the  progress  of  the  Civil  War. 
This  war  and  its  issues  brought  heavy  tinancial 
loss  on  him,  as  the  slaves  he  had  brought  from 
North  Carolina  became  free.  He  then  went  into 
the  freighting  business  between  St.  Joseph  and 
Pike's  Peak  and  continued  in  this  profitable  bus- 
iness for  some  three  years.  Upon  his  return  to 
St.  Joseph,  he  introduced  an  improved  threshing 
machine  in  this  section  and  operated  it  for  some 
time  through  the  county  and  then  embarked  in  a 
grocery  business  at  Saxton.  He  was  made  post- 
master and  railroad  agent,  and  continued  there 
for  13  years.  In  1890  ]Mr.  Jackson  sold  his  prop- 
erty at  Saxton,  including  his  store  and  farm,  the 
latter  comprising  165  acres,  and  bought  200  acres 
near  Easton.  There  he  continued  to  raise  grain 
and  stock  for  some  three  years,  and  then  began 
the  milling  business.  He  operated  a  large  ilour- 
ing  mill  until  1896  and  then  retired  from  active 
labor,  and  took  up  his  residence  in  St.  Joseph, 
where  he  had  owned  some  24  valuable  city  lots 
since  1895.  His  time  is  mainly  occupied  in  look- 
ing after  his  various  investments  and  in  an  enjoy- 
ment of  the  ease  which  years  of  business  pre- 
cluded. 

In  1867  ^Ir.  Jackson  was  married  to  Hilary  E. 
Jackson,  a  daughter  of  Alfred  Jackson,  of  similar 
name  but  not  of  known  kindred,  and  eight  of  their 
nine  children  grew  to  maturity,  viz :  Laura  Eliza- 
beth, Jacob.  Robert  L.  and  Alexander  H.,  all  of 
St.  Joseph  ;  Susan,  wife  of  Walter  L.  Lynch,  of 
Kansas  City :  Nellie,  wife  of  Harry  Knowl.  of 
St.  Joseph ;  Alfred,  of  St.  Joseph,  and  Arthur,  of 
Buffalo,  New  York.  The  family  all  belong  to  the 
^Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  ^^Ir.  Jackson  has 
been  one  of  the  trustees  and  is  a  class  leader 
in  Ebenezer  Church,  Agency  township.  Politi- 
cally, he  is  a  Democrat.  Wherever  he  has  lived 
he  has  filled  township  offices,  serving  faithfully 
on  the  School  Board  and  for  10  years  was  road 
overseer. 

Alfred  Jackson,  the  father  of  Mrs.  Amor 
Jackson,  was  born  in  Kentucky.  When  but  11 
years  of  age  his  father  died  and  he  made  his  way 
to  Richmond,  Ray  County,  Missouri,  where  he 
entered  the  employ  of  a  farmer,  working  one  vear 
at  mauling  rails  and  later  in  a  tanyard.  As  soon 
as  he  was  old  enough,  he  worked  as  a  farm  hand 
and  at  manhood  first  rented  land  and  then  bought 
a  farm  in  Jackson  County.  Two  years  later  he 
sold  that  property  to  advantage  and  moved  to 
Rock  House  Prairie,  in  Agency  township,  and 
bought  a  farm  of  160  acres.  In  1865  he  removed 
to  Nebraska  Citv.  Nebraska,  but  six  montlis  later 


returned  to  Buchanan  County  and  bought  a  farm 
in  Center  township  on  which  he  resided  until  his 
death  in  1875,  ^t  the  age  of  63  years.  In  politi- 
cal faith  he  was  a  Democrat.  He  married  Je- 
mima Tarwater,  of  Richmond,  Ray  County,  Mis- 
souri, formerly  of  Tennessee.  Of  their  13  chil- 
dren, 12  grew  to  maturity,  namely:  Samuel,  of 
Tremont  township  ;  William,  deceased  ;  Andrew, 
deceased ;  Joseph,  of  Amity,  ^Missouri ;  Thomas, 
of  Nebraska  City,  Nebraska ;  George  W.,  form- 
erly of  Atchison  County,  deceased ;  Levi,  of  Dur- 
bin,  Missotiri ;  Chesley,  of  Whitesville,  Andrew 
County,  ^Missouri ;  Chesterfield,  deceased ;  Tabor, 
of  Amity,  IMissouri ;  Charles  of  Clinton  County, 
and  ^Irs.  Jackson.  Alfred  Jackson  and  wife  were 
Baptists  and  for  many  years  the  former  was  a 
deacon  in  the  church. 

The  name  of  Jackson  is  thus  a  very  familiar 
one  in  this  part  of  Missouri  and  wherever  found 
will  be  associated  with  men  of  probity,  integrity 
and  good  citizenship. 


^  *» 


OHN  O.  GAUGH,  one  of  the  well-known 
and  highly  esteemed  citizens  of  St.  Jo- 
seph, who  has  been  identified  with  the 
^  painting  trade  here  for  hmany  years, 
was  born  in  1853  ^^  Crawford  County, 
Pennsylvania,  and  is  a  son  of  Christian  T.  and 
Sarah  Catharine   (Henry)   Gaugh. 

Christian  T.  Gaugh  was  born  September  25, 
1834,  in  Fayette  County,  Pennsylvania.  When 
two  years  old,  he  was  taken  to  Crawford  County 
and  was  reared  on  a  farm.  Such  education  as  he 
secured  was  in  the  old  log  school  houses  of  his 
locality.  When  16  years  old,  he  was  apprenticed 
to  learn  the  painting  and  carriage-making  trade 
at  Hartstown.  There  he  worked  for  four  years, 
receiving  a  shilling  a  day  and  his  board.  After 
completing  his  apprenticeship,  he  worked  for  a 
time  for  his  old  empolyer  and  then,  with  a  part- 
ner, started  a  carriage  and  wagon  shop  at  James- 
town, Pennsylvania.  After  some  }ears  he  went 
to  Newport,  Kentucky,  where  he  engaged  in 
house  painting  for  one  year  and  then  removed  to 
Rock  Island,  Illinois.  In  the  fall  of  1856  he  set- 
tled at  Sioux  City,  Iowa,  and  in  the  spring  of 
1 861  he  enlisted  in  Company  I,  Seventh  Reg., 
Iowa  Vol.  Cav..  and  was  sent  out  on  the  plains, 
in  the  command  under  General  Sully.  The  mem- 
bers of  this  company  furnished  their  own  horses 
and  felt  honored  to  be  selected  as  their  general's- 
body-guard. 


492 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


Mr.  Gaugh  was  then  detailed  acting  hospital 
steward  and  served  as  such  very  acceptably  for 
i8  months,  when  an  accidental  discovery  of  the 
old  surgeon  in  command  promoted  the  soldier 
from  the  position  of  steward  to  that  of  baker, 
arguing-  that  hospital  stewards  might  easily  be 
found,  while  good  army  bakers  were  not  very 
plentiful.  Mr.  Gaugh  had  learned  the  mysteries 
of  the  oven  in  his  boyhood,  and  he  became  baker 
for  the  Sioux  City  hospital  and  afterward  at 
Laramie.  He  remained  in  the  service  until  his 
three-year  term  of  enlistment  had  expired  and 
then  was  honorably  discharged. 

In  the  spring  of  1865  he  came  to  St.  Joseph, 
Missouri,  purchased  a  lot  and  erected  a  home. 
He  began  taking  contracts  for  painting  and  con- 
tinued in  the  business,  in  1880  admitting  his  son, 
John  O.,  to  a  partnership.  The  firm  style  con- 
tinued C.  T.  Gaugh  &  Son  until  Christian  T. 
Gaugh's  death,  September  10,  1898. 

Mr.  Gaugh  was  a  man  of  sterling  character. 
His  father,  John  Gaugh,  had  removed  from 
Washington  County,  Pennsylvania,  to  Crawford 
County  as  a  pioneer,  settling  in  the  wilderness 
some  three  miles  from  the  Ohio  State  line. 
There  young  Christian  assisted  in  the  clearing 
of  the  160-acre  farm  and  learned  many  lessons 
of  industry  and  economy.  His  mother,  Esther 
(Given)  Gaugh,  was  a  native  of  the  North  of 
Ireland  and  had  been  reared  a  Scotch  Presbyter- 
ian. She  carefully  reared  a  family  of  12  chil- 
dren in  the  wilderness  and  doubtless  imparted 
to  her  son  many  of  her  excellent  characteristics. 
She  died  in  1867,  aged  85  years.  John  Gaugh 
died  in  1852,  aged  'JJ  years.  He  had  served  in 
public  office  and  for  20  years  was  a  justice  of  the 
peace. 

In  July,  1847,  i"  Crawford  County,  Chris- 
tian T.  Gaugh  was  married  to  Sarah  C.  Henry, 
who  died  at  St.  Joseph,  Missouri,  in  June,  1887. 
They  had  five  children :  Mary,  who  died  at  the 
age  of  four  years ;  Marquis  Alexander,  a  gradu- 
ate of  the  St.  Joseph  Medical  College,  who  is  a 
practicing  physician  at  Chillicothe,  Missouri ; 
John  O.,  of  this  sketch ;  William  H.,  a  graduate 
of  the  St.  Joseph  Medical  College,  who  is  a  prac- 
ticing physician  at  Sherburne,  Minnesota;  and 
Ida,  deceased,  who  was  the  wife  of  A.  M.  Brown. 

Ever  since  its  organization  until  his  death, 
the  late"  Christian  T.  (jaugh  was  identified  with 
the  Republican  party  and  he  had  a  personal  ac- 
quaintance with  some  of  its  greatest  leaders.  In 
1857,  having  some  trouble  about  a  tract  of  land 
in    Bloomington,    Illinois,    and    finding    that    he 


would  need  the  services  of  a  lawyer,  he  began 
to  ask  in  the  strange  city  the  advice  of  various 
representative  citizens  as  to  who  would  be  a  good 
man  to  take  his  case.  The  universal  answer  he 
received  was :  "If  possible,  secure  the  services 
of  honest  old  Abe  Lincoln."  Mr.  Gaugh  was 
fortunate  in  being  able  to  employ  him  and  thus 
was  started  a  friendship  that  neither  separation 
nor  the  honors  of  a  nation  ever  disturbed.  Mr. 
Gaugh  was  a  member  of  Custer  Post,  Grand 
Army  of  the  Republic.  He  belonged  to  the  West- 
minster Presbyterian  Church,  and  at  one  time 
was  one  of  its  elders.  He  was  a  man  who  de- 
served the  universal  esteem  in  which  he  was  held. 

Our  subject  came  to  St.  Joseph  with  his  par- 
ents and  has  continued  to  be  a  resident  here. 
Entering  into  partnership  with  his  late  father,  in 
1880,  after  an  apprenticeship  and  journey  work, 
he  succeeded  to  the  business  upon  the  death  of 
his  father  and  has  continued  in  the  same  since. 
He  is  one  of  the  largest  and  leading  contractors 
in  the  city. 

In  1875  he  married  Mary  Annis  Sibley,  who 
was  born  at  Moline,  Illinois,  and  is  a  daughter 
of  Dr.  William  Sibley,  who  was  the  prominent 
physician  of  that  place. 

Like  his  father,  Mr.  Gaugh  is  a  stanch  Re- 
publican. He  has  been  closely  identified  with  a 
number  of  social  and  fraternal  organizations  and 
has  filled  official  positions  with  a  number  of  these. 
He  belongs  to  Enterprise  Lodge,  No.  232,  I.  O. 
O.  F. ;  Pride  of  the  West  Lodge,  No.  42,  A.  O. 
U.  W.,  of  which  he  is  pastmaster  workman ;  Mis- 
souri Camp,  No.  1893,  M.  W.  A. ;  and  has  twice 
been  president  of  St.  Joseph  Council.  No.  189, 
Knights  and  Ladies  of  Security, — the  banner 
council  of  the  order. 


ARRY  MARVIN   HUNDLEY,  one  of 
the   leading   merchants   and   prominent 
citizens   of   St.   Joseph,   senior  partner 
of  the  great  mercantile  house  of  Hund- 
ley-Smith   Dry    Goods    Company,    and 
identified  with  the  city's  best  interests,  was  born 
January  30,  1868,  and  is  a  son  of  the  late  John 
Boring  and  Tabitha   (Witten)   Hundley. 

Mr.  Htmdley  was  educated  in  the  common 
and  high  schools  of  St.  Joseph,  and  soon  after 
comi)lcting  his  education  became  an  employee  of 
the  wholesale  dry  goods  house  of  McKinney, 
Hundley  &  Walker,  of  which  firm  his  late  father 
was   a    member.     Beginning   at    the   bottom,    he 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


493 


i* 


thorousrhlv  mastered  everv  detail  of  the  \vhole- 
sale  business  and,  in  1893,  when  the  former  firm 
was  succeeded  by  Kemper,  Hundley  &  McDon- 
ald, he  was  advanced  to  a  responsible  position, 
and  in  1896  was  elected  president  and  treasurer. 
In  the  following  year  the  present  style  of  Hund- 
ley-Smith Dry  Goods  Company  was  adopted,  Mr. 
Hundley  continuing  at  the  head.  He  is  recog- 
nized as  one  of  the  city's  most  reliable  as  well  as 
able  business  men.  The  company  has  but  recently 
removed  into  larger,  more  commodious  and  more 
modern  quarters,  ^securing  increased  floor  space 
and  expanding  its  scope,  these  improvements  re- 
quiring many  more  traveling  representatives  and 
a  large  addition  to  the  home  working  force.  It 
stands  well  at  the  head  of  the  jobbing  concerns 
of  St.  Joseph  and  probably  occupies  the  largest 
structures.  Much  of  the  company's  success  is 
due  to  ]\Ir.  Hundley's  enterprise  and  executive 
ability. 

On  October  21,  1891,  Mr.  Hundley  was  mar- 
ried to  IMary  Esther  Pindell,  of  St.  Joseph. 

Our  subject  has  long  been  one  of  the  most 
active  members  of  the  Commercial  Club  of  St. 
Joseph,  and  he  has  demonstrated  his  public  spirit 
on  many  occasions  when  loyalty  to  the  city  was 
demanded.  His  work  was  especially  valued  and 
effective  in  the  formulation  and  perfection  of 
plans  for  the  jubilee  in  1898  and  equally  so  in 
1899.  He  is  prominently  identified  with  the 
Hundley  ^lethodist  Episcopal  Church  and  a 
member  of  its  official  body.  His  late  father,  John 
Boring  Hundley,  was  the  generous  benefactor 
who  made  the  erection  of  this  stately  edifice  pos- 
sible, and  in  loving  memory  of  him  the  church 
was  named.  There  is  scarcely  any  other  name 
held  in  higher  esteem  in  St.  Joseph,  standing  as 
it  does  for  business  integrity  and  high  personal 
character. 


•»  »  » — 

ERBY   \Y.    REYNOLDS,    a   prominent 
and    successful    farmer    of    Buchanan 
County,  owning  a  well-cultivated  farm 
of    160   acres,    situated    in    section    21, 
township  56.  range  35,  in  Center  town- 
ship, was  born  in  this  township,  ]\Iarch  5,  1853, 
and  is  a  son  of  Yerby  W.  and  ]\Iary   (Moore) 
Reynolds. 

James  Reynolds,  the  paternal  grandfather  of 
our  subject,  was  born  in  \'irginia,  was  one  of  the 
pioneer  settlers  in  Tennessee  and  came  to  j\Iis- 
souri  in   1818.     His  children  were:  William  ^^^, 


John  W.,  James  J.,  Hugh  B.,  Levi,  Martha, 
Cynthia  and  Yerby  W.  The  last  named  was  born 
in  Jackson  County,  Tennessee,  January  30,  18 16, 
and  accompanied  his  parents  to  ^lissouri,  where 
they  settled  in  Clay  County.  In  ]\Iarch,  1838, 
he  came  to  Buchanan  County,  where  he  died 
July  II,  1873.  He  had  followed  farming  all  his 
life.  He  married  Mary  Moore,  who  was  born 
in  Woodford  County,  Kentucky,  ]\Iay  12,  1823, 
and  died  on  the  farm  in  Buchanan  County  at  the 
age  of  66  years.  They  had  nine  children,  namely  : 
Cynthia  A.  (^Irs.  Barton),  deceased;  Fannie  J. 
(Mrs.  Farwell)  ;  James  J.,  of  Buchanan  County; 
John  F.,  of  Center  township ;  Joseph  L.,  of 
Buchanan  County;  Hilary  L.  (Mrs.  Graham),  of 
Agency ;  Yerby  W.,  of  this  sketch ;  Martha  E. 
(Mrs.  Jackman)  ;  and  Susan  ^L,  who  died  at 
the  age  of  11  years. 

Our  subject  has  resided  on  his  present  farm 
for  the  past  20  years,  and,  as  he  facetiously  ex- 
presses it,  he  has  put  everything  on  the  place  ex- 
cept the  "dirt."  The  improvements,  all  of  a  first- 
class  character,  include  a  fine  dwelling,  com- 
modious barns  and  outbuildings,  an  orchard  of 
eight  acres,  cattle  and  stock  on  many  pastures 
and  crops  of  ripening  grain.  Only  those  who 
have  labored  hard  and  industriously  can  appre- 
ciate what  it  means  to  entirely  improve  a  tract 
of  virgin  land.  Mr.  Reynolds  has  a  very  com- 
fortable home  here  and  is  considered  one  of  the 
good  farmers  of  the  neighborhood. 

]\Ir.  Reynolds  was  married  first  on  October  6, 
1878,  to  Sarah  J.  Haynes,  who  was  born  at 
Carmi,  \Miite  County.  Illinois,  and  died  April  23, 
1890.  aged  32  years,  leaving  four  children:  Hugh 
E.,  born  October  10,  1879,  who  is  employed  at 
the  State  Hospital  for  Insane,  No.  2 :  ]\Iary  L., 
born  December  13,  1881,  who  is  a  teacher,  mak- 
ing her  home  with  her  parents ;  Yerby  W.,  Jr., 
born  October  2,  1883,  who  lives  at  home ;  ^nd 
Joseph  C,  bom  October  8,  1885,  who  is  enlisted 
in  the  United  States  ]\Iarine  Corps.  On  ]\Iarch 
I,  1892,  }\Ir.  Reynolds  was  married  to  [Nlary  E. 
Wood,  who  was  born  in  Center  township,  Buch- 
anan County,  Missouri,  February  15,  1857.  and 
they  have  two  children :  Isham  F.,  born  January 
14,  1893  ;  and  Ruth  M.,  born  August  23,  1894. 

Mr.  Reynolds  has  always  been  an  active  mem- 
ber of  the  Democratic  party.  For  the  past  2^ 
years  he  has  been  a  school  director  and  has  also 
served  as  school  clerk,  always  having  taken  a 
great  interest  in  educational  matters  in  the  town- 
ship. 


494 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN    COUNTY   AND    ST.   JOSEPH 


m 


AMES  N.  HAYS,  a  veteran  of  the  Civil 
War  and  a  representative  citizen  of 
Buchanan  County,  is  located  in  section 
1 6,  Center  township,  where  he  has  fol- 
lowed farming  for  many  years.  He 
was  born  in  Polk  County,  Tennessee,  September 
13,  1839.  and  is  a  son  of  Harold  and  Kate 
( Fonts j  Hays. 

Harold  Hays  was  born  in  Dublin,  Ireland,  in 
1808,  and  when  a  young  man  went  to  Scotland, 
and  thence  to  France.  He  was  married  at  Paris 
and  shortly  afterward  came  to  the  United  States, 
locating  in  North  Carolina.  He  later  moved  to 
Tennessee,  where  he  became  a  wealthy  planter, 
acquiring  a  competency  through  his  individual 
efforts.  When  the  war  broke  out,  his  sympathies 
were  enlisted  with  the  Union  cause,  and  he  was 
incarcerated  by  the  Rebels  and  died  in  Tusca- 
loosa Prison  in  1862.  Religiously,  he  was  of  the 
Catholic  faith.  He  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Kate  Fonts,  who  was  born  in  Paris,  France,  and 
died  in  Tennessee  during  the  early  part  of  the 
Civil  \\'ar,  aged  50  years.  Our  subject  is  the 
youngest  of  eight  children  born  to  his  parents, 
and  is  the  only  one  now  living.  They  were  as 
follows:  Henry,  Helen.  John.  Isabelle,  James  N. 
and  three  who  died  in  infancy. 

James  N.  Hays  was  reared  on  his  father's 
farm  until  he  was  22  years  of  age  and  received 
his  educational  training  by  attending  the  common 
schools  until  he  was  past  17  years,  then  one  year 
at  Benton  Academy,  and  four  years  at  Bat  Creek 
College.  The  war  interfered  with  further  pur- 
suit of  his  studies  and  in  1861  he  went  to  jNIur- 
freesboro.  Being  a  Union  man,  he  enlisted  in 
Company  B,  9th  Reg.,  Michigan  Vol.  Inf.,  un- 
der Capt.  O.  C.  Rounds.  In  the  first  engage- 
ment, in  June  or  July,  1862,  he  was  taken  captive 
with  his  entire  company  by  General  Forrest,  and 
paroled.  They  were  sent  North  to  Camp  Chase, 
near  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  to  await  exchange.  He 
remained  there  until  fall  of  that  year,  and  then 
was  detailed  in  Capt.  A.  15.  Dodd"s  office  at 
Columbus,  Ohio,  where  he  wrote  discharges.  In 
the  fall  of  1863,  he  was  sent  to  Wisconsin  and 
attached  to  Company  H.  30th  Reg.,  Wisconsin 
\'ol.  Inf.,  under  Colonel  Dill.  In  the  si)ring  of 
the  following  year  he  was  sent  to  Fort  Snelling, 
Minnesota,  and  attached  to  the  Third  Minne- 
sota Battery,  under  Captain  Jones.  \\'ith  this 
battery  he  crossed  the  plains  and  fought  the 
Sioux  Indians.  Returning,  he  was  sent  under 
Lieutenant  \\'hipple  to  Fort  Ripley,  Minnesota, 
where  the  detachment  of  troops  wintered ;  from 


there  he  went  to  Detroit  and  was  discharged 
after  a  service  covering  a  period  of  three  years. 
At  Murfreesboro  he  received  a  bayonet  thrust 
in  the  hip  and  a  minie-ball  in  the  leg,  but  his 
wounds  were  not  serious  and  kept  him  in  the 
hospital  but  a  short  time.  After  the  war  he  en- 
tered Bryant  &  Stratton's  Business  College  at 
Detroit,  Michigan,  and  completed  his  course, 
after  which  he  was  employed  in  the  freight  de- 
partment of  the  C,  C.  &  C  Railroad  Company 
at  Columbus.  In  1868,  he  went  to  Jefifersonville, 
Indiana,  and  accepted  a  position  as  foreman  in 
the  military  clothing  department,  under  Captain 
Hull.  In  the  spring  of  1869  he  journeyed  West 
to  Wyandotte  County,  Kansas,  and  purchased  a 
farm  of  48  acres,  on  which  he  raised  one  crop. 
In  the  fall  of  that  year  he  removed  to  Platte 
County,  Missouri,  and  taught  school  until  1870. 
He  then  followed  farming  until  1880,  when  he 
came  to  Buchanan  County.  He  purchased  a  farm 
of  204  acres  north  of  Dearborn,  improved  it  and 
built  a  fine  dwelling  and  barn.  After  living  upon 
this  farm  14  years,  he  sold  out  and  purchased 
220  acres  near  Faucett,  which  was  sold  by  him  in 
1902.  He  then  purchased  his  present  farm  of 
117^  acres,  located  in  section  16,  Center  town- 
ship, where  he  has  since  resided.  He  has  en- 
gaged extensively  in  general  farming  and  stock- 
raising,  has  greatly  improved  the  place  by  build- 
ing a  new  barn  and  remodeling  the  farm  dwell- 
ing. He  set  out  300  cherry  trees,  100  peach 
trees  and  100  apple  trees.  He  makes  a  specialty 
of  raising  Shorthorn  and  Durham  cattle  and  has 
the  farm  well  stocked. 

Mr.  Hays  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Martha  C.  ]\Iaget,  who  was  bom  in  Platte 
County,  Missouri,  March  16,  1849,  ^"d  died  in 
Buchanan  County,  July  29,  1893.  She  was  a 
daughter  of  Rufus  and  Jane  ]\Iaget.  The  issue 
of  this  union  were  the  following  children  :  Ole 
May,  who  died  at  the  age  of  13  years ;  Alva,  who 
died  when  nine  months  old ;  Montie,  who  died  at 
the  age  of  13  \ears  ;  Delia  Pearl,  who  died  at  the 
age  of  17  years ;  Lulu  Ethel,  aged  20  years ; 
flattie,  aged  14  years,  who  is  attending  school 
at  the  present  time ;  and  [Morgan  R.,  born  March 
27,  1872,  who  is  in  the  mountains  of  the  West. 
\n  1895,  our  subject  was  married  to  Elizabeth 
Alice  blathers,  who  was  born  in  Buchanan 
County,  [Missouri,  [March  16.  1863,  and  is  a 
daughter  of  Joseph  and  Sarah  Mathers.  Two 
children  have  been  born  to  them :  Edna  May, 
born  November  9,  1896:  and  Sarah  [Melissa,  born 
August  4,   1899.     [Mr.  Hays  has  always  been  a 


MAJ.  JOHN    L.   BITTINGER 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


497 


stanch  supporter  of  Democratic  principles,  and  is 
deeply  interested  in  his  party's  success.  Relig- 
iously, he  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  South.  Fraternally,  he  is  a  Mason  and 
Knight  Templar,  and  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F. 
He  is  a  man  of  high  principles  and  enjoys  the  con- 
fidence and  respect  of  his  fellow  men  to  a  marked 
degree. 


♦  • » 


ASON  FRAKES,  one  of  the  prom- 
inent agriculturists  of  Lake  township, 
Buchanan  County,  owning  a  fine, 
well-improved  farm  of  i6o  acres,  in 
section  22,  was  born  April  i,  1855, 
in  Doniphan  County,  Kansas,  and  is  a  son  of 
Joseph  and  Psyche  (Clevinger)  Frakes. 

The  Frakes  family  came  from  Kentucky, 
where  Joseph  Frakes  was  born  and  grew  to  man- 
hood. He  settled  first  in  Ray  County,  Missouri, 
one  of  the  early  settlers,  but  later  moved  to  Doni- 
phan County,  Kansas,  and  still  later,  to  Buchanan 
Comity,  Missouri.  His  occupation  was  farming 
and,  with  the  assistance  of  his  numerous  sons, 
he  operated  large  bodies  of  land.  His  death  , 
took  i)lace  in  Lake  township,  at  the  age  of  78 
years.  His  venerable  widow  still  survives,  re- 
markably preserved  in  mind  and  body,  having 
reached  the  unusual  age  of  87  years. 

The  outbreak  of  the  Civil  War,  when  our 
subject  was  but  six  years  of  age,  interfered  with 
his  boyhood  attendance  at  school,  educational  im- 
provements being  almost  at  a  standstill  for  sev- 
eral years  in. country  localities.  He  assisted  in 
the  work  on  the  home  farm  and  remained  with 
his  father  until  25  years  of  age,  and  then  started 
into  work  for  himself  on  his  present  property. 
Mr.  Frakes  is  a  practical,  experienced  farmer 
and  has  closely  devoted  himself  to  the  cultivation 
of  his  land,  engaging  in  general  farming,  stock- 
raising  and  fruit-growing.  His  improvements 
are  of  an  excellent  kind  and  his  property  is  one 
of  the  attractive  and  very  valuable  ones  of  Lake 
township. 

On  December  25,  1882,  Mr.  Frakes  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Montie  Warner,  who 
was  born  in  Doniphan  County,  Kansas,  Septem- 
ber 3,  1867,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Wilson  and 
Samantha  (White)  Warner.  Mr.  Warner  was 
born  in  Kentucky  and  remained  there  until  after 
his  marriage,  when  he  moved  to  Kansas.  His 
four  children  were:  Mack,  deceased  in  1900  at 
Wellington,  Missouri,  who  married  Cora  Craig- 
lands ;  Louis,   residing  in   Kansas,   who  married 

25 


Emma  Hatcher,  since  deceased ;  Rillie  Jane,  wife 
of  Joseph  Frakes,  a  farmer  of  Lake  township ; 
and  Montie,  wife  of  our  subject. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mason  Frakes  have  five  chil- 
dren, all  of  whom  reside  at  home:  Mason  G., 
Charles,  Nora  L.,  Ollie  and  Nellie. 

Mr.  Frakes  like  the  other  members  of  the 
family,  residing  chiefly  in  Wayne  and  Lake  town- 
ships, has  always  been  noted  for  his  active  support 
of  the  Democratic  party.  He  is  a  good,  repre- 
sentative citizen  of  Lake  township  and  commands 
the  respect  of  all  who  know  him. 


•*  * » 


M    n 


AJ.  JOHN  L.  BITTINGER,  one  of 
.St.  Joseph's  most  distinguished  pub- 
lic men,  whose  portrait  accompanies 
this  sketch,  was  consul  general  of  the 
United  States  at  Montreal,  Canada, 
from  1897  until  May,  1903.  He  is  now  living  a 
i:)ractically  retired  life  after  many  years  of  ac- 
tivity in  the  field  of  journalism.  He  was  for  many 
years  the  publisher  and  editor  of  the  St.  Joseph 
Herald,  whose  prestige  he  established.  Since 
the  organization  of  the  party,  he  has  been  a  leader 
in  the  Republican  politics  of  the  State,  one  with 
whom  the  national  leaders  cotinsel. 

Major  Bittinger  was  born  near  Chambers- 
burg,  Pennsylvania,  November  28,  1833,  and  is  a 
son  of  John  and  Susan  (Ritter)  Bittinger,  with 
whom  he  sttbsequently  removed  to  Rowsburg, 
Ohio.  There  he  attended  the  village  schools 
until  he  was  12  years  old,  when  his  father  died. 
He  then  secured  employment  near  his  home,  with 
a  farmer,  who  afterward  removed  to  Green 
County,  Wisconsin,  taking  our  subject  with  him. 
There  the  latter  worked  on  the  farm  and  at- 
tended school  for  three  years,  besides  reading 
such  books  as  were  obtainable.  In  1852  he  be- 
came an  apprentice  in  the  office  of  the  Freeport 
Journal  at  Free]:>ort,  Illinois,  and  at  the  end  of 
six  months  was  advanced  to  the  position  of  fore- 
man. During  the  remainder  of  his  three  years 
connection  with  that  publication,  he  made  all 
selections  for  the  paper,  collected  and  wrote  the 
local  news  and  assisted  largely  in  the  editorial 
work.  In  1854,  he  was  selected  as  a  delegate  to 
the  congressional  convention  held  at  Rockford, 
which  nominated  Hon.  Flihu  B.  Washburnc, 
that  worthy  having  just  completed  a  term  in  Con- 
gress as  a  Whig  Representative.  This  was  the 
first  convention  of  the  Republicans  in  the  State 
of  Illinois.     In   1855,  Mr.  Bittinger  accepted  the 


498 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


position  of  assistant  foreman  of  the  St.  Louis 
Intelligencer,  and  in  1857  became  foreman  of  the 
67.  Lojiis  Democrat.  The  following  year  he  was 
elected  delegate  to  represent  the  St.  Lotiis  Typo- 
graphical L'nion  at  the  National  Typographical 
Convention  in  Chicago,  and  the  succeeding  year 
at  Boston.  He  became  publisher  of  the  St.  Louis 
Evening  Bulletin,  but  disposed  of  his  interests  in 
the  fall  of  1859.  In  June,  i860,  he  removed  to  St. 
Joseph,  Missouri,  where  he  has  since  resided, 
with  the  exception  of  such  times  when  he  has 
been  temporarily  absent,  engaged  in  the  discharge 
of  official  duties  that  have  called  him  elsewere. 
He  was  appointed  postmaster  by  his  boyhood 
personal  friend.  President  Lincoln,  and  as  the 
Civil  \\'ar  had  just  begun  he  was  looked  to  by  his 
party  for  all  information  and  recommendations 
from  his  section  of  the  State,  the  utmost  con- 
fidence being  reposed  in  his  judgment  by  party 
leaders.  In  the  summer  of  1861,  he  turned  the 
management  of  postal  affairs  to  his  deputy  and 
clerks  and  volunteered  for  army  service  as  a 
private.  He  was  soon  after  advanced  to  rank  of 
major  and  served  as  aide-de-camp  to  Gen.  Will- 
ard  P.  Hall,  commander  of  the  Department  of 
Northwest  Missouri. 

In  1862,  Major  Bittinger  was  elected  a  dele- 
gate to  the  first  Republican  State  Convention 
and  served  as  its  secretary.  He  was  appointed  a 
member  of  the  State  Central  Committee  that 
year,  and  has  served  as  a  member  of  the  com- 
mittee ever  since.  He  was  elected  in  the  fall  of 
1862  to  represent  his  district  in  the  State  Legis- 
lature, and  was  re-elected  at  intervals  five  terms, 
serving  12  years  in  all.  During  his  first  term  he 
served  as  Speaker  pro  teiii  of  the  House  and  gave 
evidence  of  striking  parliamentary  ability.  He 
secured  many  benefits  for  the  city  of  St.  Joseph, 
among  other  things  the  incorporation  and  inaug- 
uration of  the  street  railway  system.  He  secured 
the  location  at  St.  Joseph  of  the  State  Hospital 
for  Insane,  No.  2.  He  was  the  first  to  suggest 
the  construction  of  a  bridge  over  the  Missouri 
River  at  this  point  and  helped  in  organizing  the 
company,  of  which  he  was  a  director  and  auditor 
of  accounts.  The  bridge  stands  today  as  a  mon- 
ument to  his  persevering  eft'orts. 

In  1862,  RIajor  Bittinger  purchased  a  half 
interest  in  the  .9/.  Joseph  Herald,  and  becoming 
managing  editor  soon  made  it  the  most  powerful 
and  influential  journal  west  of  the  Mississippi 
River.  He  temporarily  retired  from  journalistic 
work  in  1878,  but  in  1881  accepted  a  call  to  the 
position  of  managing  editor  of  the  Kansas  City 


Journal.  Resigning  in  1885,  he  made  a  tour  of 
Europe,  holding  himself  free  from  business  en- 
gagements ttntil  1889,  when  he  again  assumed 
control  of  the  St.  Joseph  Herald.  His  long  press 
and  political  experience  have  given  him  a  wide 
acquaintance  and  a  commanding  influence.  He 
was  the  first  temporary  president  of  the  Missouri 
Press  Association,  which  was  organized  in  1867. 
He  has  traveled  extensively  in  America  and 
abroad,  an  interesting  account  of  these  journeys 
having  been  given  the  public  from  his  pen.  He 
was  a  delegate  to  the  Republican  National  Con- 
vention of  1872  at  Philadelphia,  which  renomi- 
nated President  Grant,  and  also  to  the  convention 
at  St.  Louis  in  1896,  which  nominated  William 
McKinley  for  President.  In  1897,  he  was  ap- 
pointed by  President  McKinley  as  consul  general 
of  the  United  States  at  Montreal. 

On  June  10,  1862,  Major  Bittinger  was  joined 
in  marriage  with  Annie  M.  Smith  of  Freeport, 
Illinois,  and  they  live  in  their  beautiful  home  at 
No.  224  South  loth  street,  St.  Joseph.  Frater- 
nally, he  is  a  member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias, 
Legion  of  Honor,  Benevolent  and  Protective 
Order  of  Elks  and  Royal  Court.  He  is  honorary 
member  of  the  Missouri  Editorial  Association 
and  of  other  organizations  having  connections 
with  the  profession  he  graced  so  long.  He  is  now 
practically  retired  from  the  activity  of  his  stren- 
uous life,  but  is  doing  some  literary  work,  among 
other  things  writing  a  sketch  of  St.  Joseph  for 
the  "World's  Fair  Book"  to  be  published  in  1904. 


lOHN  A.  VANHOOZER,  postmaster  at 
Rushville,  Buchanan  County,  and  pro- 
prietor of  one  of  the  leading  mercantile 
houses  of  the  town,  was  born  in  Jeffer- 
son County,  Tennessee,  October  15, 
1858.  He  is  a  son  of  David  and  Malinda  (Camp- 
bell)   (Sasseen)  Vanhoozer. 

The  Vanhoozer  family,  as  its  name  indicates, 
came  originally  from  Holland.  The  founder  of 
the  family  in  America  was  John  Vanhoozer,  the 
great-grandfather  of  our  subject,  who  settled 
at  what  was  called  Bays'  Mountain,  in  Eastern 
Tennessee,  where  he  followed  the  trade  of  hatter. 
His  son,  William  Vanhoozer,  was  born  in  Tennes- 
see, followed  farming  and  died  early  in  the  "six- 
ties." He  ])articipated  in  the  W'ar  of  1812.  His 
children  were :  Sampson,  Isaac.  John,  David, 
Betsv,   Lettie,   Nancy  and  Sarah.     • 

David  Vanhoozer  was  born  in  Tennessee,  July 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


499 


4,  1827,  enjoyed  the  best  educational  advantages 
the  times  afforded,  and  was  instructed  in  young 
manhood  in  two  self-supporting  trades,  those  of 
blacksmith  and  shoemaker.  In  January,  1867, 
he  came  to  Buchanan  County,  Missouri,  and  fol- 
lowed farming  the  remainder  of  his  life,  dying 
here  May  15,  1894.  He  married  Mrs.  Malinda 
(Campbell)  Sasseen,  a  daughter  of  Jesse  Camp- 
bell, of  Jefiferson  County,  Tennessee.  Mrs.  Van- 
hoozer  died  February  14,  1904,  survived  by  her 
one  child, — John  A. 

John  A.  Vanhoozer  was  eight  years  of  age 
when  his  parents  came  to  Buchanan  County. 
After  completing  the  common-school  course,  he 
entered  Bryant's  Commercial  College,  at  St. 
Joseph,  and  was  graduated  at  the  age  of  18  years, 
fully  prepared  to  enter  upon  a  business  career. 
He  first  accepted  a  clerkship  in  the  store  of  \V. 
W.  Wells,  at  Rushville,  and  remained  there  two 
years.  In  order  to  see  something  of  the  world, 
he  visited  Atchison  and  Muscotah,  Kansas  ;  Cen- 
tral City  and  Blackhawk,  Colorado,  and  other 
points,  clerking  for  a  time  in  these  places,  and 
returning  three  years  later  to  Rushville.  Dur- 
ing the  summer  of  1885  he  followed  farming  but 
in  the  spring  of  1886  he  opened  a  mercantile 
business  at  Rushville,  which  he  has  continued  to 
operate  ever  since,  becoming  one  of  the  leading 
business  men  of  .the  town.  For  the  past  six 
years  he  has  also  been  postmaster  and  is  active 
and  prominent  in  all  public  movements. 

On  November  12,  1866,  Mr.  Vanhoozer  was 
married  to  Mary  Allison,  a  daughter  of  Louis 
and  Nancy  (Patton)  Allison,  of  Rush  township, 
and  they  have  had  five  children :  Malinda ;  Eva, 
who  died  in  infancy ;  a  babe,  that  died  unnamed ; 
David  Louis  ;  and  Agnes.  The  family  belong  to 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  South. 

Politically,  Mr.  Vanhoozer  has  always  been  a 
zealous  Republican  and  in  1896  he  was  chosen  by 
his  party  as  its  candidate  for  county  treasurer. 
The  county  is  normally  Democratic,  but  Mr.  Van- 
hoozer was  defeated  b}-  a  very  small  majority. 


♦  *  ♦• 


IIOMAS  W.  STAMEY.  the  efficient  city 
building  inspector  of  St.  Joseph,  and  a 
citizen  who  is  held  in  high  esteem,  was 
l)c)rn  in  1849  i"  Caldwell  County,  North 
Carolina,  and  is  a  son  of  James  Pinck- 
ney  and  Lauretta  (Coleman)  Stamey. 

The  Stamey  family  was  established  in  North 
Carolina  by  John  Stamey,  a  native  of  Pennsyl- 


vania and  the  grandfather  of  our  subject.  The 
father  was  born  in  Catawba  County,  North  Caro- 
lina, and  died  in  Burke  County,  in  the  same  State, 
at  the  age  of  60  years.  He  worked  at  his  trade 
of  millwright  until  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  War, 
when  he  entered  the  Confederate  Army,  as  a 
member  of  the  band  attached  to  the  55th  North 
Carolina  Regiment.  He  was  taken  prisoner  in 
the  noted  battle  of  Gettysburg  by  the  Federal 
troops  and  was  confined  at  Point  Lookout  for  22 
months.  After  the  close  of  the  war,  he  resumed 
work  at  his  trade  and  passed  the  remainder  of 
his  life  in  his  native  State.  In  politics  he  was 
an  ardent  Democrat  and  exerted  considerable  in- 
fluence in  his  locality.  The  mother  of  our  subject 
died  in  North  Carolina.  The  two  survivors  of 
their  three  children  are  Thomas  W.  and  William. 

During  the  first  16  years  of  his  life,  Mr. 
Stamey  attended  school  and  learned  his  father's 
trade  and  also  gained  a  very  fair  knowledge  of 
the  cabinet-maker's  trade.  After  the  war  he 
spent  two  years  in  Virginia,  engaged  in  milling, 
and  then  removed  to  Saline  Count}',  Missouri, 
where  he  followed  farming  for  10  years.  He 
sold  this  farm  and  bought  another  in  An- 
drew County,  which  he  operated  for  some 
four  years  and  then  concluded  to  join  some 
friends,  who  had  been  attracted  by  unusual  in- 
ducements, in  their  removal  to  Kansas.  This 
did  not  prove  a  successful  venture,  and  two  years 
later  be  returned  to  Missouri,  with  added  love 
for  this  State,  and  in  1889  settled  at  St.  Joseph, 
Here  he  entered  into  a  general  contracting  busi- 
ness which  he  continued  until  a  recent  date,  when 
he  transferred  his  interests  over  to  his  two  sons. 
Since  September,  1904,  Mr.  Stamey  has  been 
city  building  inspector,  a  position  for  which  he 
is  eminently  qualified  by  long  years  of  experience. 

In  .1870,  Mr.  Stamey  was  married  to  Mary 
J.  Welch,  who  was  born  in  Missouri,  and  they 
have  six  children,  namely  ;  James  Thomas,  born 
in  Saline  County,  Missouri,  who  married  Nora 
Lewis,  of  St.  Joseph,  and  has  two  children, — 
Olla  and  Myrtle:  John  Wesley,  born  in  Saline 
County,  who  married  Ella  Widows  and  has  one 
son, — Roy ;  Mora,  born  in  Pettis  County,  Mis- 
souri, who  married'  Lavelle  Elliott  and  has  one 
child, — Thomas  Henry ;  Olive,  born  in  Pettis 
County;  Mary,  born  in  St.  Joseph;  and  Walter 
C,  born  in  Andrew  County,  who  married  Lois 
Walthrop,  of  St.  Joseph. 

A  stanch  Democrat,  'Mr.  Stamey  has  always 
been  active  in  public  aft'airs  wherever  he  has 
lived,   serving   in   various   local  offices  in   Saline 


500 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY  AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


County  and  on  the  School  Board.  He  belongs 
to  several  fraternal  organizations  and  has  been 
officially  connected  with  the  Ancient  Order  of 
United  Workmen.  Mr.  Stamey  is  a  type  of  the 
self-made  man.  His  early  opportunities  were 
contracted,  but  through  energy,  persistence  and 
industry  he  overcame  what  would  have  seemed 
insurmountable  difficulties  to  some.  He  enjoys 
public  confidence  and  the  respect  and  esteem  of 
his  fellow  citizens. 


♦  * » 


LFRED  MICHAU,  for  almost  a  half 
century  an  esteemed  and  honored  cit- 
izen of  St.  Joseph,  has  been  one  of  the 
most  prosperous  of  her  business  men 
and  one  of  the  wealthiest  in  the  city. 
He  was  born  in  JeiTerson  County,  Missouri,  in 
1824,  and  has  spent  his  entire  80  years  within  her 
borders.  His  father,  St.  Amant  Michau,  moved 
to  Carondelet,  St.  Louis,  when  our  subject  was  a 
small  lad  and  there  engaged  in  the  manufacture 
of  shot,  a  business  which  he  conducted  until  some 
time  in  the  "forties"  and  in  which  he  amassed 
considerable  wealth. 

In  1846,  soon  after  the  death  of  his  father, 
Alfred  Michau  located  in  IMaryville,  Nodaway 
County,  and  engaged  in  the  dry  goods  business 
and  it  was  but  a  short  time  before  he  became  a 
partner  of  John  Saunders,  who  conducted  a  store 
at  Maryville.  The  new  firm  of  Saunders  & 
Michau  was  continued  for  several  years  with 
the  best  results,  then  Mr.  Saunders  withdrew 
from  the  company  and  opened  a  hotel — the 
Saunders  House — at  St.  Joseph,  which  he  con- 
ducted until  his  death  in  187 1.  He  was  a  man 
of  superior  ability  and  was  highly  esteemed  by 
those  who  met  him  in  a  social  or  business  way 
and  is  still  kindly  remembered  by  many  of  the 
older  residents  of  St.  Joseph.  A  brother  of  our 
subject  was  taken  into  the  firm  and  it  was  then 
known  as  A.  &  L.  Michau  ;  later  die  firm  became 
Lieber,  Michau  &  Company.  The  store  at  Mary- 
ville was  continued  until  1866  when  Alfred 
Michau  disposed  of  his  interest  to  his  brotlier  and 
moved  to  this  city.  He  purchased  a  half  block 
of  land  on  Felix  street,  between  Sixth  and  Sev- 
enth streets,  and  subsequently  erected  the  hand- 
some buildings  now  occupied  by  the  Sampson 
Dry  Goods  Company.  The  Leader,  etc.,  which  are 
the  best  and  most  (lesiral)le  property  in  St.  Jo- 
seph, yiv.  Michau  has  been  retired  from  busi- 
ness for  several  years  but  still  takes  a  lively  inter- 
est in  it. 


Mr.  Michau  was  married  in  185 1  to  Nancy 
J.  Saunders,  a  daughter  of  John  Saunders.  Mrs. 
Michau  was  born  in  1830  in  Richmond,  Madi- 
son County,  Kentucky,  and  was  13  years  of  age 
when  her  parents  took  up  their  residence  in  St. 
Joseph.  Later  they  moved  to  Maryville  where 
she  married  Mr.  Michau,  so  it  was  not  as  a 
stranger  that  she  accompanied  her  husband  to 
their  new  home  here.  Of  the  children  born  to 
this  worthy  couple,  three  are  living,  namely :  J. 
T.,  residing  with  his  parents,  who  is  a  rising 
ycjung  attorney  and  also  an  author  of  some  note 
who  is  now  engaged  on  a  work  on  archeology ; 
E.  F.,  who  is  with  the  Tootle,  Wheeler  &  Motter 
iMercantile  Company  :  and  E.  B.,  who,  as  his  fa- 
ther's agent,  relieves  him  of  all  care  in  looking 
after  their  extensive  business.  The  family  are 
members  of  the  Christian  Church.  Mr.  Michau 
is  a  Republican. 


-♦-•-♦- 


ATHAN  FRAKES,  one  of  the  prom- 
inent farmers  and  representative  citi- 
zens of  Wayne  township,  Buchanan 
County,  owning  a  well-improved  farm 
of  320  acres,  in  section  19,  was  born  in 
Clay  County,  Missouri,  in  1838,  and  is  a  son  of 
Joseph  and  Psyche   (Clevinger)    Frakes. 

Joseph  Frakes,  father  of  our  subject,  was 
born  in  Kentucky,  where  he  remained  until  man- 
hood and  then  removed  to  Ray  County,  Missouri. 
During  his  residence  there  he  engaged  in  hunt- 
ing and  was  a  noted  ''crack  shot"  at  the  shoot- 
ing matches  in  his  neighborhood.  He  later  re- 
moved to  Doniphan  County,  Kansas  and  then 
to  Buchanan  County,  Missouri,  following  agri- 
cultural pursuits  in  both  localities.  His  last  years 
were  spent  in  Lake  to\\;nship,  Buchanan  County, 
where  he  died  at  the  age  of  78  years.  His  chil- 
dren were:  Nathan,  Jasper,  Sarah.  Mason,  Jo- 
seph, ^^'illiam.  John,  Emma,  Richard,  Jane  and 
Mary.  The  mother  of  our  subject  still  resides  on 
the  old  homestead,  with  her  son  Richard.  She 
has  reached  the  age  of  87  years  and  is  remark- 
ably active  both  in  body  and  mind. 

Our  subject  came  to  Buchanan  County  with 
his  parents  and  has  been  engaged  in  farming 
here  all  his  life.  He  owns  one  of  the  fine  farms 
of  Wayne  township,  almost  the  whole  of  which 
is  under  cultivation.  His  improvements  are  mod- 
ern in  character  and  his  surroundings  give  every 
evidence  of  good  management,  thrift  and  pros- 
perity. 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


^01 


IMr.  Frakes  was  married,  first,  to  ^Martha 
Louisa  Seibert,  a  daughter  of  Henry  Seibert. 
and  they  had  these  children :  Emehne,  wife  of 
D.  Barnes ;  Martha,  wife  of  James  Bunton : 
Sarah,  wife  of  \\'ilHam  Ebhng;  Syna,  wife  of 
Edward  Stevenson ;  Louisa,  wife  of  John  Yea- 
ger ;  and  MeHssa  and  Sidney,  who  died  }oung. 
ATr.  Frakes  was  married,  second,  to  Sarah  Jane 
Dockery,  in  1878.  She  was  a  daughter  of  Mer- 
rill Dockery,  a  farmer  of  Buchanan  county. 
Two  sons  were  bom  to  this  union  :  William,  who 
died  at  the  age  of  15  years;  and  Jasper,  who  re- 
sides at  home.  On  ]\Iay  28,  1886,  Mr.  Frakes 
was  married  to  Amanda  Dockery,  a  sister  to  his 
deceased  wife,  and  their  children  were :  Psyche, 
Joseph  Merrill,  Nathan.  Mason.  Richard,  George, 
Ella,  Belle  and  William. 

Mr.  Frakes  has  always  been  a  Democrat  in 
his  political  convictions.  He  has  witnessed  manv 
wonderful  changes  during  his  long  life  in  Buch- 
anan County.  He  is  well  known  and  enjoys  the 
esteem  of  his  fellow  citizens. 


■♦  * » 


AMUEL  M.  NA\'E.  The  passing  of  so 
honorable  and  upright  a  man  as  the  late 
Samuel  M.  Nave,  whose  death  took 
place  at  his  beautiful  home  at  No.  2019 
Clay  street,  St.  Joseph,  on  April  10, 
1901,  affected  many  circles  in  the  city  where  he 
had  spent  so  many  useful,  happy  and  prosperous 
years.  He  was  born  at  Savannah,  }*lissouri,  on 
February  i,  1849,  and  was  a  son  of  Abram  and 
Lucy  J.  (?\IcCord)  Nave. 

On  both  paternal  and  maternal  sides  the  an- 
cestral line  reaches  to  old  and  distinguished 
Southern  families.  The  paternal  grandfather, 
Henry  Nave,  after  giving  loyal  service  during  the 
War  of  1812,  located  in  Tennessee,  where  his  son 
Abram  was  born,  and  from  there  the  family  re- 
moved to  Missouri.  On  the  maternal  side,  the 
line  reaches  to  English  forebears  who  established 
themselves  generations  ago  in  \*irginia.  There 
William  McCord  the  grandfather,  became  a 
])rominent  figure  in  professional  life,  and  later  a 
leading  legal  practitioner  at  \^ersailles,  ^lissouri. 
The  father  of  the  late  Samuel  M.  Nave  was 
for  many  years  identified  with  the  mercantile 
interests  of  St.  Joseph,  and  connecting  branches 
at  Kansas  City,  ^lissouri,  at  Omaha,  Nebraska, 
and  elsewhere.  His  death  took  place  at  St.  Jo- 
.seph  on  June  23,  1898.  In  association  with  his 
brother-in-law.  Tames  McCord.  of  whom  a  sketch 


will  be  found  in  this  volume,  he  was  the  founder 
and  promoter  of  many  large  business  undertak- 
ings in  this  city  and  vicinity. 

The  late  Samuel  M.  Nave  secured  his  primary 
education  at  Savannah.  Missouri,  continued  his 
studies  at  St.  Joseph,  to  which  his  parents  had 
removed  in  1859.  and  completed  a  very  liberal 
education  at  Princeton,  where  he  was  graduated 
in  the  classical  course  in  1871.  Putting  aside  the 
pleasure  of  travel  and  the  other  recreations  which 
wealth  and  education  and  social  environment  of- 
fered, he  returned  to  St.  Joseph  and  entered  the 
wholesale  grocery  house  of  Nave  &  McCord,  de- 
termined to  master  the  details  and  prepare  him- 
self for  a  useful  business  career.  Practically,  he 
was  a  member  of  the  firm  and.  upon  its  incorpor- 
ation under  the  name  of  the  Nave-McCord  }der- 
cantile  Company,  he  became  the  vice-president,  an 
honorable  and  responsible  position  he  held  until 
his  death.  He  was  distinctively  a  man  of  busi- 
ness and  was  capable  of  handling  other  large  in- 
terests and  of  guarding  their  affairs  and  mold- 
ing their  policies  with  a  carefulness  and  fore- 
sight which  brought  them  safely  through  times 
of  financial  stringency  and  business  depression. 
He  was  treasurer  of  the  Henry  Krug  Packing 
Company  of  St.  Joseph ;  was  president  of  the 
Townsend  Wliolesale  Grocery  Company,  of  South 
McAlester.  Indian  Territory,  and  was  vice-presi- 
dent of  the  Nave-McCord  Cattle  Company.  He 
was  one  of  the  founders  of  the  Tootle-Lemon 
Bank,  and  was  a  director  in  The  National  Bank 
of  St.  Joseph.  In  addition  to  these  great  busi- 
ness responsibilities.  ]\Ir.  Nave  took  a  citizen's 
interest  and  pride  in  St.  Joseph  and  served  one 
term  as  police  commissioner  under  the  adminis- 
tration of  Governor  Francis.  Possessing  a  strong 
mentality,  and  personal  magnetism,  had  he  de- 
sired political  honors,  they  would  have  been  his 
for  the  asking,  but  his  business  and  his  home  pos- 
sessed more  charms  for  him  than  did  the  public 
arena. 

On  [March  28.  1877.  Mr.  Nave  was  married 
to  Minnie  Holliday.  who  was  born  in  St.  Louis, 
Missouri,  and  is  a  daughter  of  John  J.  and  Lu- 
cretia  (Force)  Holliday.  the  latter  of  whom  was 
born  in.  Kentucky,  a  niember  of  one  of  the  dis- 
tinguished old  families  of  the  "Blue  Grass"  State. 
The  father  of  Mrs.  Nave  was  one  of  the  largest 
iron  merchants  in  St.  Louis,  a  very  prominent 
politician  there  and  was  the  first  president  of  the 
St.  Louis  School  Board.  The  Holliday  family 
belongs  to  St.  Louis'  most  exclusive  social  circle, 
made  up,  as  it  is,  of  families  of  large  wealth,  age 


502 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY  AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


and  the  refinement  which  is  a  heritage.  ]\lr.  and 
Mrs.  Nave  had  two  children  :  Lucile,  who  mar- 
ried Irving  Brokaw,  of  New  York  City ;  and 
Samuel  Fritz,  who  married  Ruth  Addy,  of  Cin- 
cinnati, Ohio.  Samuel  Fritz  Nave  is  the  secre- 
tary of  the  R.  H.  Faucett  Mill  Company,  wdiich 
is  located  at  Nos.  821-827  South  Seventh  street, 
St.  Joseph,  one  of  the  city's  large  industries.  Of 
this  company  R.  H.  Faucett  is  president  and  J.  F. 
Faucett  is  vice-president,  both  large  capitalists 
and  leading  citizens. 


^  * » 


OHN  BRODER,  now  one  of  the  highly 
esteemed  retired  residents  of  St.  Jo- 
seph, and  formerly  one  of  its  valued 
officials,  was  born  at  Middlebury,  Ver- 
mont, July  14,  1830,  and  is  a  son  of 
William  and  Mary  (McGee)   Broder. 

Upon  leaving  home,  John  Broder  worked  on 
a  farm  in  Massachusetts  for  three  years  and  then 
entered  the  employ  of  the  Boston  &  Worcester 
Railroad  Company.  He  continued  to  follow  rail- 
roafl  work,  in  Stark  and  Wayne  counties,  Ohio, 
luitil  1854,  when  he  was  engaged  on  construction 
work  on  the  Ohio  &  Mississippi  Railroad,  in  Illi- 
nois, and  later  he  was  employed  in  the  yards  of 
this  company,  at  St.  Louis,  Missouri.  In  the 
meantime  he  was  becoming  more  and  more  pro- 
ficient in  railroad  work  and  he  was  made  foreman 
on  the  Alton  extension,  the  first  road  built  between 
Alton,  Illinois,  and  St.  Louis,  Missouri.  From 
1855  to  i860,  Mr.  Broder  was  in  charge  of  rail- 
road construction  in  Tennessee  and  came  to  St. 
Joseph  in  the  spring  of  the  latter  year.  His  first 
work  here  was  in  the  laying  of  the  four  and 
one-half  miles  of  track  west  of  the  Missouri 
River  of  the  St.  Joseph  &  Grand  Island  Railroad, 
a  very  important  enterprise  of  that  time.  Mr. 
Broder  then  took  employment  with  the  old  \'al- 
ley  road  and  in  1866  he  superintended  the  laying 
of  TOO  miles  of  track  out  from  Atchison  on  the 
Central  branch  of  the  Union  Pacific  road.  In  the 
fall  of  1868  he  was  appointed  roadmastt^r  on  the 
Valley  road,  with  headquarters  at  St.  Joseph, 
and  remained  in  that  position  eight  months. 

Until  the  fall  of  1872,  Mr.  Broder  continued 
to  be  one  of  the  busiest  and  most  successful  rail- 
road men  of  this  section,  building  and  filling- 
contracts  for  miles  and  miles  of  railroad,  includ- 
ing the  superintendence  of  the  laying  of  the  track 
of  the  St.  Joseph  &  Grand  Island  road  ;  as  road- 
master  of  the   St.   Louis   (S:   St.    Toseph   road   to 


Lexington  (now  a  branch  of  the  Santa  Fe)  and 
the  laying  of  the  track  from  St.  Joseph  to 
Atchison,  of  the  Hannibal  &  St.  Joseph  road. 
His  last  railroad  work  was  the  filling  of  the  con- 
tract for  the  narrow-guage  road  between  Union 
Star  and  x\lbany.  His  long  years  in  railroad 
building  had  brought  him  substantial  returns  and 
had  also  established  him  in  the  confidence  and 
esteem  of  the  owners  and  operators  of  these 
many  lines. 

Mr.  Broder  invested  in  property  at  St.  Joseph 
and  has  made  this  city  his  home  almost  from -his 
first  coming  here.  In  1874-75  he  was  city  mar- 
shal of  St.  Joseph.  In  1884  he  was  appointed 
deputy  sheriff,  under  Sheriff'  John  Carey,  and  in 
1885  was  made  chief  of  the  police  force  of  St. 
Joseph,  which  position  he  filled  most  efficiently 
for  15  years,  having  a  large  force  of  men  and 
officers  under  his  charge  and  ample  funds  at  his 
command  with  which  to  work.  His  adminis- 
tration was  marked  with  m^ny  reforms  and  the 
public  interests  and  private  rights  were  guarded 
as  never  before  in  the  history  of  the  city.  Mr. 
Broder  retired  from  office  with  the  most  cordial 
feelings  for  the  other  members  of  the  city  board. 
For  a  number  of  years  past  he  has  been  interested 
in  mining. 

On  September  15.  1869,  Mr.  Broder  married 
Florence  C.  Cole,  and  they  reside  in  a  handsome 
home  situated  at  No.  1014  South  nth  street. 
He  has  long  been  a  very  prominent  member  of 
the  Masonic  fraternity,  belonging  to  these  or- 
ganizations: Charity  Lodge,  No.  331,  A.  F.  & 
A.  M. ;  St.  Joseph  Chapter,  No.  14,  R.  A.  M.  ; 
St.  Joseph  Commandery,  No.  4,  K.  T. ;  and  St. 
Joseph  Council,  No.  9,  R.  &  S.  M. ;  and  Moila 
Temple,  A.  A.  O.  N.  M.  S.,  all  of  St.  Joseph. 


♦  ♦♦• 


ON.  CHARLES  J.  BORDEN,  ex-mayor 
of  St.  Joseph,  and  one  of  the  foremost 
business  men  of  the  city,  has  frequently 

, been    called    upon    to    serve    in    official 

capacities  and  as  a  public  servant  he 
has  alwa}s  done  his  work  well  and  in  a  manner 
that  has  w(mi  the  commendation  of  the  people. 
He  is  superintendent  of  the  St.  Joseph  Plow 
Company,  and  in  his  private  aff'airs  has  given 
evidence  of  the  same  enterprise,  progressiveness 
and  ability  as  has  characterized  his  public  acts. 

Mr.  Borden  was  born  at  Falls  River,  Massa- 
chusetts, near  the  Rhode  Island  State  line,  in 
1839.  and  was  four  months  of  age  wh.en  his  par- 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


503 


ents  moved  to  Casanova,  New  York.  His  mother 
dying  when  he  was  three  years  old,  he  was  taken 
to  a  relative  to  live,  about  10  miles  south  of 
Utica,  in  (3neida  County,  and  there  he  resided 
some  14  years.  He  began  life  for  himself  at  an 
early  age,  his  first  venture  being  upon  the  sea 
and  in  th's  work  he  made  a  trip  around  the 
world.  He  then  returned  to  Massachusetts  and 
later  went  to  Rhode  Island,  where  he  enlisted  in 
1862  in  Company  C,  ist  Reg.,  Rhode  Island 
Light  Artillery.  He  served  until  the  close  of  the 
war  and  although  he  saw  much  hard  fighting 
never  received  the  slightest  injury  himself.  He 
was  in  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  for  two  years, 
and  was  then  transferred  to  the  navy  in  which 
he  served  during  the  last  year  of  the  war.  Re- 
turning to  Rhode  Island  at  the  close  of  the  war, 
he  engaged  in  various  lines  of  business,  spending 
a  year  or  two  of  this  period  in  a  wagon  shop.  In 
1870  he  came  \A'est  to  r^Iissouri,  and  in  ]\Iacon 
County  was  identified  with  a  plow  factory.  He 
came  to  St.  Joseph  in  1883  to  accept  the  position 
of  superintendent  of  the  Patrick  Frazer  Plow 
Company,  which  was  shortly  after  reorganized 
as  the  St.  Joseph  Plow  Company.  The  officers 
of  this  company  are :  J.  M.  Ford,  president ;  j\I. 
C.  Powell,  secretary ;  and  Charles  J.  Borden,  su- 
perintendent. The  plant,  which  is  the  only  one 
of  its  kind  in  the  city,  gives  employment  to  about 
80  men  and  is  located  on  Eighth  street,  between 
Duncan  street  and  Doniphan  avenue.  Mr.  Bor- 
den has  mainly  devoted  his  attention  to  this  busi- 
ness, and  has  entire  charge  of  the  manufacttiring 
branch  of  it.  The  reciuirements  of  the  position 
are  so  exacting,  it  is  doubtful  whether  ^Ir.  Bor- 
den can  again  be  prevailed  upon  to  accept  ptiblic 
office.  He  served  faithfully  in  the  City  Council 
six  years,  was  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Public 
Works  in  1901,  and  v.-as  elected  a  member  of 
the  Board  of  Education  for  a  term  of  six  years. 
but  resigned  at  the  end  of  the  fourth  year  when- 
elected  mayor  in  igo2.  During  his  incumbency 
of  this  ofiice  the  city  made  wonderful  progress, 
much  credit  being  due  his  progressive  and  busi- 
ness-like administration  of  its  afifairs.  During 
his  administration  he  was  called  upon  bv  To- 
peka,  Kansas,  for  assistance  and  succor  because 
of  the  devastations  of  the  great  flood.  Upon 
his  own  responsibility,  he  engaged  some  60  men 
and  did  valiant  service  there  in  rescuing  from  the 
turbulent  waters  some  500  men,  women  and  chil- 
dren and  placing  them  upon  dry  land  in  safety. 

Charles  J.  Borden  was  married  in  Rhode  Isl- 
and,  and   had   one   son,   Alfred   A.,   a   traveling 


salesman  of  Sioux  City,  Iowa,  who  died  in  De- 
cember, 1903,  at  the  age  of  35  years,  leaving  a 
family  of  three  children.  Our  subject  is  a  Ma- 
son and  a  member  of  the  Benevolent  and  Pro- 
tective Order  of  Elks  and  the  Ancient  Order  of 
United  \\'oodmen.  He  is  a  member  of  Custer 
Post,  G.  A.  R..  of  which  he  is  past  commander. 
Religiously,  Mrs.  Borden  is  a  member  of  the 
Presbvterian  Church. 


r)HN  S.  LEMON,  who  has  been  identi- 
fied with  the  business  interests  of  St. 
Joseph  for  more  than  half  a  century, 
is  president  of  the  Tootle-Lemon  Na- 
tional Bank,  the  largest  banking  insti- 
tution, in  point  of  volume  of  business,  in  the 
city. 

John  S.  Lemon  was  born  in  Shepherdsville, 
Bullitt  County,  Kentucky,  in  August,  1833.  His 
father  was  a  farmer  by  occupation,  and  lived 
there  ail  his  life,  our  subject  being  the  only  one 
of  the  family  to  come  West.  He  was  a  boy  of 
20  years  when  he  started  West  for  Hannibal, 
Missoviri,  with  the  intention  of  entering  the  mer- 
cantile business.  He  went  down  the  Ohio  by 
boat,  then  up  the  Mississippi  to  St.  Louis,  where 
he  changed  boats.  He  did  not  stop  at  Hannibal 
as  he  originally  intended,  but  came  on  to  St. 
Joseph,  which  at  that  time  could  be  reached  only 
by  water  or  by  horse.  There  were  a  small  num- 
ber of  stores  and  the  trade  came  principally  from 
the  Indians.  He  was  here  six  weeks  before  se- 
curing a  position  with  the  general  mercantile 
house  of  Powell  &  Levy,  at  a  small  salary.  Two 
years  later  he  acquired  an  interest  in  the  business, 
and  three  years  later  the  firm  name  was  changed 
to  Powell,  Levy  &  Lemon.  The  store  was  first 
located  on  what  is  now  Main  street,  and  subse- 
quentl}'  was  removed  to  Fourth  street.  This 
I  firm  continued  until  after  the  Civil  \\'ar.  when  the 
j  old  members  withdrew,  Mr.  Powell  going  to 
St.  Louis,  and  the  firm  became  Lemon,  Hosea  & 
Company,  doing  a  general  mercantile  business. 
The  firm  continued  for  several  years,  doing  a  large 
Indian  business,  then  Mr.  Lemon  sold  out.  He 
became  interested  in  the  banking  business  soon 
after  the  war  and  was  identified  with  the  Mer- 
chants' Bank  until  it  sold  out.  In  association 
with  IMilton  Tootle,  he  established  the  private 
bank  of  Tootle,  Lemon  &  Company,  which  has 
since  become  the  Tootle-Lemon  National  Bank. 
For  the  past  20  years,  our  subject  has  been  pres- 


504 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


ident  of  this  bank,  giving  it  the  greater  part  of 
his  attention  until  1902,  since  which  time  it  has 
been  practically  in  charge  of  Milton  Tootle,  Jr., 
and  Graham  G.  Lacy.  In  addition  to  his  banking 
interests,  he  is  interested  in  various  mercantile 
and  commercial  enterprises,  and  is  the  owner  of 
a  large  amount  of  property  in  the  city.  He  be- 
gan his  career  without  capital,  and  the  great  suc- 
cess attained  by  him  has  come  through  hard 
work,  well-directed  efforts  and  judicious  invest- 
ments. 

John  S.  Lemon  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Annie  I.  Samuel,  of  Savannah,  jMissouri,  a 
daughter  of  G.  W.  Samuel,  who  located  in  Sa- 
vannah at  an  early  day  and  had  large  banking 
and  other  interests  there.  He  lived  at  the  home 
of  our  subject  during  the  last  25  years  of  his  life. 
Mrs.  Lemon  has  two  sisters,  namely :  ]\lrs.  H. 
W.  Yates,  of  Omaha,  Nebraska,  where  her  hus- 
band is  president  of  the  Nebraska  National  Bank  ; 
and  Mrs.  J.  T.  Johnson,  of  St.  Joseph,  whose 
husband  is  retired  from  business.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Lemon  are  parents  of  the  following  children : 
Florence,  wife  of  W.  W.  Farish,  of  New  York, 
wh©  is  in  the  dry  goods  commission  business ; 
Mary  M.  (Sipple),  whose  husband  is  in  the  com- 
mission business  in  St.  Louis ;  Henry  Y.,  who 
was  a  student  in  Princeton  University,  but  who 
is  at,  the  present  starting  his  business  career  with 
the  Tootle-Lemon  National  Bank ;  and  Letitia 
Todd,  who  is  at  home.  Politically,  Mr.  Lemon  is 
a  Democrat.  Fraternally,  he  has  been  a  Mason 
ever  since  coming  of  age.  Mrs.  Lemon  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church.  In  the 
early  "seventies,"  our  subject  built  a  home  at  No. 
517  North  Fifth  street,  where  he  and  his  family 
have  since  resided. 


» » » 


^RICH  SCHNEIDER.  The  passing 
from  life  of  the  late  Ulrich  Schneider 
removed  from  St.  Joseph  an  honored 
pioneer,  a  veteran  of  the  Civil  War,  a 
business  man  whose  interests  touched 
manv  of  the  leading  industries  of  the  country,  and 
a  valued  member  of  many  societies  and  benefactor 
of  hundreds  of  charities.  Mr.  Schneider  was 
born  ^larch  30,  1837,  in  Zainingcn,  Wurtcmburg, 
Germany,  and  died  at  his  home  in  St.  Joseph,  No- 
vember 10,  1902,  after  a  year's  serious  illness. 

^Ir.  Schneider  was  educated  in  his  native 
land,  but  he  was  only  a  youth  of  20  years  when 
he  landed  on  tlie  shores  of  America,  dependent 


upon  his  own  resources  and  his  own  undirected 
efforts  for  his  success  in  life.  What  he  accom- 
plished stands  to-day  as  a  monument  to  energy, 
industry  and  integrity.  From  1857  until  1861, 
when  he  came  to  St.  Joseph,  he  resided  in  Tus- 
carawas County.  Ohio.  He  was  one  of  the  early 
volunteers  when  the  war  broke  out,  entering  the 
43d  Regiment,  Missouri  Yol.  Inf.,  and  continued 
in  the  service  until  the  close  of  the  war,  being 
finally  mustered  out  at  St.  Louis. 

At  tlie  battle  of  Glasgow,  Missouri,  he  was 
captured  by  the  Confederates  and  was  reported 
killed.  The  fact  was  that  a  minie-ball  tore  off  the 
head  of  the  man  at  his  side,  and  the  stricken  sol- 
dier fell  against  his  commander.  Lieutenant 
Schneider,  just  as  they  were  crossing  a  gully. 
The  impact  threw  both  living  and  dead  into  the 
trench,  and  the  soldiers  of  General  Price  thus 
made  him  a  prisoner.  Exchanged  soon  after- 
ward, he  immediately  rejoined  his  regiment  and 
made  a  still  further  record  for  gallant  services. 

In  1865  Mr.  Schneider  returned  to  Buchanan 
County  and  located  at  DeKalb.  In  1870  he  w^as 
appointed  deputy  county  clerk  imder  County 
Clerk  John  B.  Harder.  In  1877  he  first  entered 
into  the  insurance  business,  with  which  his  name 
was  so  prominently  identified  through  the  re- 
mainder of  his  life.  In  addition  to  numerous  in- 
terests, he  was,  at  the  time  of  death,  president  of 
the  Guaranty  Abstract  Company,  and  a  director 
in  the  German- American  Bank.  His  25  years  of 
continuous  connection  with  insurance,  real  estate 
and  abstract  interests  had  made  him  known  in  the 
highest  commercial  circles  and  his  business  repu- 
tation was  one  of  unimpeachable  integrity.  He 
was  a  man  of  warm  heart  and  generous  instincts, 
ever  willing  to  assist  the  needy  and  to  encourage 
the  worthy,  in  a  practical  way.  His  charities  were 
large  although  unostentatious,  and  his  influence 
was  ever  given  to  assist  movements  of  true  benev- 
olence. He  was  a  worthy  member  of  Zion  Ger- 
man Evangelical  Church. 

Mr.  Schneider's  death  resulted  from  stomach 
troubles  which  the  most  skilled  specialists  of  St. 
Joseph,  St.  Louis,  Kansas  City.  Columbus 
(Ohio)  and  Chicago  could  not  cure.  Change  of 
climate  only  stayed  the  disease  and  did  not  cure. 
At  his  own  request,  Mr.  Schneider  was  brought 
to  his  home,  where,  surrounded  by  an  unusuall}^ 
devoted  family  of  children  and  anxious  friends  in 
every  walk  of  life,  he  was  permitted  to  breathe 
his  last.  The  funeral  services  were  conducted  by 
the  Masons,  of  which  order  he  had  long  been  a 
member  of  high  degree.     He  was  past  eminent 


JOHN    H.  FELT 


AND   REPRESENTATIVE   CITIZENS. 


507 


commander  of  St.  Joseph  Commandery,  No.  4, 
Knights  Templar  and  a  Shriner,  a  Pythian 
Knight,  an  Odd  Fellow,  and  belonged  also  to  the 
Red  Men,  Woodmen  of  the  World,  Order  of  the 
Eastern  Star,  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  St. 
Joseph  Turn-\'erein  and  Schwabcn-Verein. 

J\Ir.  Schneider's  wife  died  in  1880.  He  was 
survived  by  nine  children,  namel}':  John  G.,  vice- 
president  of  the  German-American  Bank,  who 
resides  at  Krug  Park  place ;  Karl  U.,  residing  at 
the  old  family  homestead,  No.  1018  Powell  street, 
who  succeeded  his  father  in  the  insurance,  loan 
and  abstract  business ;  Mrs.  James  Richmond  ; 
Mrs.  Snelson  Chesney,  residing  at  No.  15 19 
Charles  street,  whose  husband  is  vice-president 
of  the  St.  Joseph  Stock  Yards  Bank:  Mrs.  Will- 
iam Rainalter,  residing  at  No.  401  North  22d 
street,  whose  husband  is  credit  man  for  the  Na- 
tional Biscuit  Company  :  and  Lena,  Ada,  Mamie 
and  Lillian. 

In  every  circle  in  which  he  moved,  Mr. 
Schneider  left  a  noticeably  vacant  place.  He  was 
so  companionable,  so  genial,  so  hospitable  that  he 
won  friends  on  every  side,  while  his  old-time  in- 
tegrity and  solidity  of  character  brought  him 
the  entire  confidence  of  the  business  world. 


♦ « » 


OHN  H.  FELT,  President  of  J.  H.  Felt 
&  Company,  architects,  of   St.  Joseph, 
whose    reputation    in   his   profession   is 
enviable  in  character,  is  still  compara- 
tively  a   young  man,   his  birth  having 
taken  place  on  August  6,  1867,  at  Greenfield,  In- 
diana.    His  parents  were  Sylvester  W.  and  Re- 
becca J.  (Latshaw)   Felt. 

Joseph  Felt,  the  paternal  grandfather,  was 
born  in  Packersfield.  New  Hampshire,  June  17, 
1789,  the  family  being  evidently  of  colonial  de- 
scent. He  followed  the  milling  business,  but 
when  his  country  needed  the  services  of  loyal  men, 
in  the  War  of  1812.  he  performed  a  soldier's 
<luty.  He  died  at  Winchester,  New  Hampshire, 
October  30,  1871.  His  son,  the  father  of  our 
subject,  was  born  March  21.  1823.  at  Nelson, 
New  Hampshire,  where  he  was  reared  and  edu- 
cated. He  did  not  adopt  his  father's  calling,  but 
went  to  Virginia  in  early  manhood  and  there  be- 
came a  skilled  worker  in  stone  masonrv.  Subse- 
quently he  was  entrusted  with  the  stone  construc- 
tion work  for  the  Baltimore  &  Ohio  Railroad, 
building,  among  other  notable  structures,  the 
bridge  at  Bull  Run  and  the  ^^'ashington  aqueduct. 


When  the  Civil  War  was  precipitated,  Syl- 
vester W.  Felt  removed  to  Indiana,  settling  for 
10  years  at  Greenfield,  where  he  filled  the  office  of 
assessor,  and  followed  farming  in  Hancock 
County.  Politically,  he  was  affiliated  with  the 
Democratic  party.  He  was  married  December 
25,  1856,  in  Augusta  County,  \'irginia,  to  Re- 
becca J.  Latshaw,  who  still  survives,  a  resident 
of  Greenfield,  Indiana.  She  was  born  November 
9,  183 1,  in  Adams  County,  Pennsylvania,  and  is 
a  daughter  of  Joseph  Latshaw,  a  native  of  Penn- 
sylvania, of  German  descent.  Mrs.  Felt  has 
always  been  an  active  worker  in  the  Baptist 
Church.  The  children  born  to  this  marriage 
were:  Henrietta,  wife  of  James  S.  Clift,  residing 
near  Morristown.  Indiana;  Edward  \\'.,  judge  of 
the  i8th  Judicial  Circuit  of  Indiana,  a  resident  of 
Greenfield ;  Frank  V.,  also  of  Greenfield ;  Cora 
v.,  wife  of  Joseph  M.  Fisk.  of  Greenfield  :  John 
H.,  of  this  sketch  :  and  Minnie,  who  died  at  the 
age  of  eight  years. 

Our  subject,  John  H.  Felt,  was  educated  in 
the  public  schools  of  Greenfield  and  numbered 
among  his  acquaintances  the  poet,  James  AMiit- 
comb  Riley,  a  native  of  the  same  place.  From 
boyhood  Mr.  F"elt  was  more  interested  in  archi- 
tecture than  in  any  other  line,  but  in  his  earlier 
years  no  opportunity  was  afforded  him  for  its 
serious  study.  After  leaving  school,  he  entered  a 
planing  mill,  at  Greenfield,  of  which  he  was  su- 
perintendent for  six  years,  and  during  all  this 
time  he  was  using  every  spare  moment  in  the 
study  of  architectural  works.  His  natural  ability 
in  this  direction  combined  with  his  perseverance 
in  study  and  constant  observation  of  all  manner 
of  construction,  gave  him  enough  courage  to 
open  an  architectural  office,  in  connection  with  his 
mill  duties,  which  he  continued  for  two  years. 
During  this  period  he  received  so  much  encour- 
agement and  furnished  plans  which  proved  to  be 
of  such  utility,  that  he  decided  to  open  an  office 
in  the  city  and  to  devote  his  life  to  this  ])rofession. 
His  work  at  Greenfield,  which  included  school 
houses,  churches  and  residences,  testifies  to  his 
ability  and  established  his  reputation  as  a  compe- 
tent architect  in  his  native  city. 

In  1898  ^Ir.  Felt  came  to  St.  Joseph,  ^Missouri, 
and  here  formed  a  partnership  with  Homer  H. 
Carr,  who  had  formerly  been  employed  by  Mr. 
Felt,  in  Indiana,  the  firm  name  being  Felt  & 
Carr.  This  partnershi])  continued  until  1901, 
when,  on  account  of  failing  health.  Mr.  Carr  with- 
drew from  the  firm.  Since  then  the  business  has 
been  conducted  as  J.  H.  Felt  &  Company.     In 


5o8 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY  AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


1904  this  company  entered  into  a  new  enterprise, 
the  pubHshing  of  a  monthly  magazine  nnder  the 
appropriate  title  of  Modern  Avchitcctiirc.  The 
aim  of  this  work  is  to  create  a  demand  for  a  better 
class  of  architectnre  and  architectural  service,  for 
the  country  is  unfortunately  Hooded  with  cheap 
designs  which  are  accepted  by  ignorant  builders, 
whose  completed  work  is  never  satisfactory.  This 
publication  has  met  with  a  flattering  reception 
and  seems  to  fill  a  long  felt  want. 

Among  the  leading  buildings  constructed  by 
our  subject's  designs  may  be  mentioned:  the 
King  Hill  Building ;  residence  for  Dr.  Heddens  ; 
residence  of  William  Bergman ;  residence  of 
George  J.  Englehart :  the  high  school  buildings 
at  Savannah,  Grant  City  and  Alacon,  Missouri, 
and  York,  Nebraska  ;  the  ( )dd  Fellows'  School  at 
Literty,  Missouri;  the  Missouri  College  for  the 
Feeble  ]\Iindcd  and  Epileptics,  at  Marshall,  Mis- 
souri, and  like  buildings  all  over  the  country. 

Mr.  Felt  married  Kate  M.  Stallard,  and  they 
have  two  children:  Margaret  R.  and  Arthur  W. 
They  attend  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

Mr.  Felt  enjoys  outdoor  sports,  is  particularly 
fond  of  hunting,  and  belongs  to  the  Hunting 
Club  of  this  city.  He  has  long  been  pronlinent  in 
fraternal  life,  actively  identified  with  all  the  lead- 
ing secret  societies  and  with  business,  political 
and  social  organizations.  He  is  an  Elk ;  a  mem- 
l)er  of  Zeredatha  Lodge,  No.  189,  A.  F.  &  A.  M., 
Hugh  de  Payens  Commandery,  No.  51,  K.  T., 
and  Moila  Temple,  A.  A.  O.  N.  M.  S. ;  a  mem- 
ber of  Enterprise  Lodge,  No.  232,  L  O.  O.  F. ; 
senior  past  sachem  of  the  lotlge  of  Red  Men  at 
Greenfield,  ^lissouri ;  and  belongs  to  the  Lotus, 
Commercial  and  Monroe  clubs  of  St.  Joseph. 
His  portrait  accompanies  this  sketch. 


♦  » » 


EORGE  W.  ALLISON,  one  of  the  prom- 
inent citizens  and  successful  farmers 
and  fruit  growers  of  Rush  township, 
who  owns  a  well-cultivated  farm  of  160 
acres  in  section  13,  was  born  in  Rush 
township,  Buchanan  County.  Missouri,  October 
18,  1852,  and  is  a  son  of  William  and  ?\Iary  A. 
(Parkison)  Allison. 

The  Allison  family  is  of  old  Kentucky  stock 
and  the  ])aternal  grandfather  of  our  subject  John 
Allison,  farmed  within  seven  miles  of  Bowlino: 
(jreen  until  1819,  when  he  came  to  Missouri  and 
settled  in  Lafayette  County.  There  he  reared  his 
family   of   eight    children,    viz:    William,    Posey, 


Ewing,  Martin,  John  H.,  Robert,  Ruth  and 
Jemima,  all  of  whom  have  passed  away. 

William  Allison,  father  of  our  subject,  was 
born  near  Bowling  Green,  Kentucky,  in  1802.  He 
was  a  youth  of  16  years  when  his  parents  removed 
to  Missouri,  and  he  assisted  his  father  in  farminer 
in  Lafayette  County  until  July,  1823,  when  he  was 
married  and  started  for  himself.  He  farmed  in 
Lafayette  County  until  the  spring  of  1838,  when 
he  moved  to  Buchanan  County  and  located  in 
what  was  still  a  wilderness,  in  Rush  township. 
Here  the  remainder  of  his  life  was  spent,  engaged 
in  tilling  the  soil  and  raising  cattle  and  stock. 
He  was  a  man  of  noble  character  and  was  early 
chosen  for  the  office  of  justice  of  the  peace,  one 
which  he  filled  with  good  judgment  and  impar- 
tiality, which  resulted  in  his  retaining  as  long  as 
he  lived  the  esteem  of  his  fellow  citizens.  He 
was  an  elder  and  leading  member  of  the  pioneer 
Christian  Church  and  ministered  in  that  body  for 
many  years.  He  was  twice  married,  first,  to  Mary 
A.  TrapiJ,  of  Lafayette  County,  Missouri,  who 
died  July  10,  1847.  leaving  eight  children,  viz : 
Louis,  deceased  ;  James  Henry ;  Rachel,  wife  of 
Alexander  Brown,  of  Sugar  Creek;  Jemima,  de- 
ceased, who  was  the  wife  of  James  Golden  ;  Mar- 
tin, deceased,  who  married  Polly  Taylor;  John 
William,  who  married  Elizabeth  Wells  ;  Rowena. 
deceased,  who  was  the  wife  of  Joseph  Ham,  and 
Nancy  Adeline  (Johnson). 

William  Allison  married,  second  Mary  A. 
Parkison,  who  was  a  daughter  of  George  Parki- 
son, a  farmer  of  Lafayettte  County,  Missouri, 
and  they  had  two  children  :  Eliza,  who  died  in 
infancy ;  and  (Jeorge  A\' .,  of  this  sketch.  William 
Allison  died  April  i,  1891,  and  was  survived  by 
his  widow  until  December  25,  1902.  Both  were 
laid  to  rest  in  Sugar  Creek  Cemetery.  They  are 
recalled  as  people  of  sterling  worth,  the  father  a 
man  of  liberal  mind  and  enlightened  understand- 
ing, and  the  mother  as  endowed  with  all  the 
Christian  virtues  that  go  to  make  a  perfect  wife, 
mother  and  neighbor. 

Our  subject  obtained  his  education  in  the 
schools  of  Rush  town.ship,  completing  his  studies 
at  the  age  of  19  years.  His  first  work  away  from 
home  was  as  a  clerk  in  a  dry  goods  establishment 
at  Atchison,  Kansas,  but  he  did  not  remain  away 
long,  his  father,  on  account  of  failing  health  and 
many  res])onsibilities,  requiring  his  assistance  on 
the  farm.  This  farm  has  continued  his  home 
ever  since  and  under  his  management  has  been 
made  one  of  the  most  productive  in  the  locality. 
Tt  is  well  improved  and  all  of  it  is  fenced.     Mr. 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


;o9 


Allison  has  given  a  great  deal  of  attention  to  his 
orchards,  having  20  acres  in  apples  and  peaches, 
and  grows  some  of  the  finest  fruit  to  be  found 
in  local  agricultural  exhibits. 

On  December  2},.  1875,  our  subject  was  united 
in  marriage  with  E.  Alice  Gillespie,  who  is  a 
daughter  of  Hon.  G.  \\'.  and  Frances  (McRun- 
alds)  Gillespie  of  Atchison,  Kansas.  They  have 
four  children :  Kate  G..  who  married  J.  C.  Keller. 
Jr.,  of  Bloomington  township,  and  has  one  child. 
— Alice ;  Fannie  A.,  who  married  A.  T.  Steele,  of 
Rush  township,  and  has  one  child, — Ethel ;  and 
Lavilla  E.  and  Lucy  A. 

Politically,  IMr.  Allison  is  a  stanch  Democrat. 
With  his  famil}-.  he  belongs  to  the  Christian 
Church. 


^  * » 


ICHAEL  K.  GOETZ,  deceased,  whose 
long  business  career  in  St.  Joseph 
brought  him  into  prominence  as  one 
of  the  city's  commercial  factors,  and 
whose  upright  life  made  him  an  hon- 
ored citizen,  was  born  in  Ingenheim,  Alsace,  Ger- 
many, on  January  16,  1833,  and  he  was  a  son  of 
^lichael  K.  and  Mary  C.  (Koell)  Goetz. 

Both  parents  of  the  late  ^Ir.  Goetz  were  na- 
tives of  Germany,  where  the  father  died  at  the 
age  of  28  years,  in  the  year  of  our  subject's  birth, 
and  the  mother,  at  the  age  of  64  years.  The  fam- 
ily consisted  of  two  children. 

Michael  K.  Goetz  remained  with  his  mother 
on  the  home  farm  until  the  age  of  21  years  and 
then  decided  to  break  old  ties  and  find  a  new 
home  across  the  Atlantic  Ocean.  On  June  24. 
1854,  he  took  passage  at  Havre,  in  the  sailing 
vessel  "Connecticut,"  and  after  being  tossed  on 
the  waters  for  61  days  reached  the  welcome  port 
of  New  York  in  August.  His  destination  being 
Buffalo,  he  made  his  way  there  and  soon  was  em- 
ployed in  a  grocery  store  owned  by  a  cousin,  and 
there  he  worked  for  a  period  of  three  and  a  half 
\ears.  By  this  time  he  had  learned  the  language 
and  had  saved  some  money  and  concluded  to  make 
his  way  to  California,  the  land  in  which  so  many 
had  succeeded.  First  he  went  to  St.  Louis  and 
then  took  a  steamer  up  the  Missouri  River  to  St. 
Joseph,  arriving  here  in  April,  1858.  Ere  long 
his  business  sense  foretold  that  this  point  had 
every  advantage  to  make  it  an  important  center 
and.  giving  up  his  plans  for  Western  prospecting. 
he  found  employment  in  the  brewery  of  Henrv 
Nunning.  with  whom  he  worked  10  months.  That 


the  insight  he  gained  there  was  not  lost  was  evi- 
denced by  his  starting  successfully  in  the  same 
line  himself,  in  1859,  when  he  founded  what  is 
now  the  ^I.  K.  Goetz  Brewing  Company,  an  en- 
terprise which  prospered  from  the  first  and  was 
incorporated  in  1895. 

^Ir.  Goetz  commenced  business  in  a  small 
way,  erecting  a  small  frame  building  in  which 
to  house  his  plant  and  was  one  of  the  very  first 
to  carry  on  scientific,  modern  brewing  in  this  sec- 
tion of  the  W  est.  The  increase  in  his  business 
soon  required  improved  buildings  and  the  plant 
now  covers  several  blocks  and  is  located  on  the 
corner  of  Sixth  and  Albemarle  streets,  where  are 
also  the  offices  of  the  Company.  ]\Ir.  Goetz 
adopted  modern  methods  and  machinery  and  in 
1885  he  installed  an  ice  plant,  one  of  the  very 
first  brewers  of  the  West  to  thus  add  to  his  equip- 
ment. The  fame  of  his  product  soon  spread  until 
n.ow  the  company  does  a  business  of  50,000  bar- 
'  rels  of  beer  a  year,  gives  employment  to  60  people 
and  ships  all  over  the  country.    It  is  a  very  inter- 

•  esting  incident  to  be  permitted  to  go  through  the 

•  large  plant  of  this  concern  and  see  the  careful. 
'  scientific  processes  employed,  the  use  of  all  mod- 
!  ern  .sanitary  surroundings  and  the  latest  per- 
;  fected  machinery,  by  which  the  product  is  placed 

on  the  market  as  a  healthful  beverage.  The  plant 
of  this  company  is  the  largest  in  this  city. 

In  addition  to  the  brewery.   Mr.   Goetz  had 
;  other  business  enterprises  in  hand  and  owned  con- 
siderable valuable  property,  including  25  business 
-  tracts  and  six  residences  in  St.  Joseph.     He  was 
:  a  man  of  liberal  spirit,  took  an  interest  in  public 
matters  in  which  the  welfare  of  the  city  was  con- 
cerned, but  he  identified  himself  with  no  particu- 
lar political  party.     He  was  always  ready  to  per- 
form a  citizen's  duty  but  he  had  convictions  of 
his  own  and  relied  much  upon  his  personal  judg- 
ment, which  seldom  failed  him. 

At  St.  Joseph,  in  1864,  ^Ir.  Goetz  married 
Caroline  Klink,  who  \\as  born  at  W'urtemburg. 
Germany,  and  came  to  the  L'nited  States  at  the 
age  of  10  years.  Mr.  Goetz  died  August  1 1,  1901, 
and  his  wife,  ^larch  13,  1902.  They  had  six  chil- 
dren, viz  :  Emma,  who  was  educated  at  St.  Jo- 
seph :  William  L..  a  practical  brewer,  a  thorough 
chemist  and  a  graduate  of  the  American  Brewing 
Academy  at  Chicago  and  of  Bryant  &  Stratton's 
Business  College,  who  is  president  of  the  !M.  K. 
(ioetz  Brewing  Company  ;  Frank  L.,  a  graduate 
of  Rittner's  College,  v,ho  is  vice-president  of  the 
company :  Albert  R.,  also  a  graduate  of  Rittner's 
College,  who  is  secretary  and  treasurer  of  the 


510 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY  AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


company ;  Henry  E.,  who  is  assistant  secretary 
and  treasurer ;  and  Anna,  the  only  daughter,  who 
is  the  youngest  of  the  family.  All  the  members 
of  the  family  are  married  and  living  in  their  own 
homes,  except  Henry  E.,  who  lives  with  his 
brother  Albert  R.  in  the  old  homestead,  which  is 
one  of  the  fine  homes  of  St.  Joseph. 

The  late  Mr.  Goetz  was  a  member  of  the 
United  States  Brewers'  Association  and  his  social 
connection  was  with  the  Turners.  In  every  rela- 
tion of  life  he  was  an  honorable  man  and  must  be 
uumbcred  with  the  early  builders  of  St.  Joseph's 
prosperity. 


♦ » » 


ILLIS  M.  SHERWOOD.  The  late 
Willis  M.  Sherwood  was  a  citizen  of 
whom  St.  Joseph  was  justly  proud, 
being  a  successful  business  man,  a 
public-spirited  citizen  and  one  whose 
life  was  replete  with  kind  actions  and  ennobling 
influences.  Mr.  Sherwood  was  born  in  Geneseo, 
Livingston  County,  New  York,  November  15, 
1818,  and  died  December  6,  1902.  He  was  one 
of  nine  children  born  to  John  and  Lucy  (Barber) 
Sherwood,  of  whom  but  one  still  survives. 

A  brief  account  of  the  ancestry  of  the  late  Mr. 
Sherwood  will  be  of  general  interest.  The  family 
originated  in  the  North  of  England,  where 
Thomas  Sherwood  was  born  in  1586.  In  1634 
the  early  records  tell  of  his  settlement  at  Boston, 
Massachusetts.  In  1655  he  removed  to  Fairfield, 
Connecticut,  where  he  became  a  man  of  affairs. 
Two  children  were  born  to  him  and  his  wife 
Alice.  One  of  these,  Isaac,  who  married  Eliza- 
beth Jackson,  resided  for  a  time  in  Fairfield  and 
then  removed  to  New  York  but,  finding  the  coun- 
try too  unsettled,  returned  to  Connecticut.  Their 
son,  Joseph  Sherwood,  was  born  in  1712,  married 
and  became  father  of  a  son,  Nathan,  who  was 
born  at  Fairfield,  Connecticut.  January  6,  1738. 

During  the  Revolutionary  War,  Nathan  Sher- 
wood was  one  of  the  early  patriots  who  offered 
sword  and  life  in  defense  of  the  rights  of  the  Col- 
onies. After  the  war  was  over,  he  followed  the 
trade  of  shoemaker,  first  in  Connecticut  and  later 
in  Vermont.  In  181 5  he  accomi)anied  his  son, 
John  Sherwood,  to  Ontario  County,  New  York, 
but  later  removed  to  Orleans  County,  New  York, 
where  he  died  February  7,  1824. 

John  Sherwood,  son  of  Nathan  and  father  of 
our  subject,  was  born  in  Connecticut,  March  19, 
1782,  and  died  in  1862,  on  the  anniversary  of  his 
birth.     His  occupation  was  mainly  farming,  but 


he  later  became  a  large  contractor  on  the  Erie 
Canal.  In  1819  he  removed  to  Orleans  County, 
where  he  engaged  in  farming  imtil  the  close  of 
his  life.  The  mother  of  our  subject  was  a  daugh- 
ter of  Hon.  Elisha  Barber,  a  native  of  Connecti- 
cut, but  an  early  settler  in  Franklin  County,  Ver- 
mont, where  he  was  an  attorney  and  county  judge. 
Mrs.  Sherwood  died  in  1872. 

Willis  i\l.  Sherwood  was  reared  on  his  fath- 
er's farm  and  was  educated  in  the  district  schools 
and  Millville  Academy.  He  then  engaged  in 
teaching  and  later  took  up  the  study  of  medicine 
under  Drs.  Ford  and  Hill  at  Medina,  New  York. 
Before  settling  down  to  medical  practice,  he  spent 
one  year  (1839)  in  Augusta,  South  Carolina,  but 
subsequently  returned  to  New  York  and  in  1844 
was  married.  With  his  wife  he  returned  to  the 
South  and  practiced  medicine  for  12  years  in 
Duplin  County,  North  Carolina.  He  also  en- 
gaged in  a  wholesale  grocery  and  commission 
business  in  Wilmington. 

In  1857,  Mr.  Sherwood  removed  to  Otoe  City, 
Otoe  County,  Nebraska,  and  came  to  St.  Joseph 
in  the  following  year,  immediately  taking  a  place 
with  the  leading  men  of  the  city.  Before  a  year 
had  passed  he  had  been  appointed  a  justice  of  the 
peace,  the  duties  of  which  office  he  filled  for  a 
year.  In  1861,  when  a  call  came  for  the  State's 
loyal  citizens  to  respond,  like  his  ancestor  of  other 
days  he  was  found  ready.  He  was  made  quarter- 
master of  the  first  troops  raised  in  Northwestern 
Missouri,  later  entered  the  State  Militia  and  was 
stationed  the  greater  part  of  his  term  of  service 
on  detached  duty.  A  loyal  Union  man,  he  found  it 
best  for  all  concerned  to  be  careful,  quiet  and  dis- 
creet, one  of  the  men  so  useful  in  times  of  ex- 
cited public  feeling. 

In  1863,  Mr.  Sherwood  was  elected  clerk  of 
the  County  Court,  a  position  in  which  he  served 
for  six  years  with  the  greatest  diplomacy  and 
served  also  for  two  years  as  clerk  of  the  Pro- 
bate Court.  He  also  studied  law  and  in  1873 
was  admitted  to  the  bar,  although  he  never  prac- 
ticed. For  two  years  he  was  alderman  from  the 
First  Ward,  elected  by  the  Republican  party.  Of 
this  organization  he  was  always  a  zealous  member 
and  was  a  delegate  to  many  conventions. 

For  a  few  years  Mr.  Sherwood  traveled  as 
representative  of  commission  houses  and  upon  his 
return  to  St.  Joseph  embarked  with  Mr.  Wade  in 
an  insurance  business,  the  firm  of  Sherwood  & 
Wade  being  one  of  the  city's  most  prosperous 
concerns  for  a  number  of  years.  Failing  health, 
however,  warned  him  that  rest  was  necessary  and 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


511 


he  put  aside  business  cares,  forever  as  it  resulted, 
and  traveled  for  a  time  in  California. 

In  1844  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Char- 
lotte C.  Hall,  who  was  born  in  Connecticut.  The 
children  born  to  this  union  were :  Martin  K.,  a 
resident  of  St.  Joseph  and  has  for  the  past  34 
years  represented  importers  in  teas;  Willis  H., 
an  insurance  man  of  St.  Joseph;  Marv  (Mrs. 
McNeil)  ;  Dr.  David  H. ;  and  Ella,  wife  of  Will- 
iam F.  Dyer,  of  St.  Joseph. 

Mr.  Sherwood  was  a  ruling  elder  in  the  First 
Presbyterian  Church  and  he  was  one  of  the  active 
workers  in  the  Sunday-school,  in  which  he  had 
given  generous  service  as  a  teacher  and  as  super- 
intendent. He  assisted  in  the  organization  of 
this  church  in  1853  and  during  life  was  inter- 
ested in  all  its  charities  and  benevolences.  The 
public  schools  also  came  in  for  a  share  of  Mr. 
Sherwood's  attention  and  he  was  generous  in  his 
support  of  all  educational  movements.  He  was 
one  of  the  originators  and  promoters  of  the  sys- 
tem of  public  fountains  which  were  placed  in  1881 
and  add  so  much  to  the  city's  attractiveness.  He 
served  on  various  directing  boards  of  charitable 
and  civic  bodies  and  at  the  time  of  his  death  was 
vice-president  of  the  Humane  Society  and  one  of 
its  most  earnest  advocates. 

Mr.  Sherwood  was  not  connected  with  the 
various  secret  organizations  of  the  day,  but  he 
held  membership  in  Custer  Post,  Grand  Army  of 
the  Republic,  of  which  he  served  at  one  time  as 
chaplain.  Air.  Sherwood  has  passed  to  his  haven 
of  eternal  peace  and  just  reward,  but  the  results 
of  his  manly,  beneficent  life  remain  to  inspire 
others  and  to  prove  the  worth  and  sweetness  of  a 
noble,  unselfish  life. 


♦ «  » 


VAIUEL  BALL  GREEN.    The  late  dis- 
tinguished citizen  of  St.  Joseph,  Samuel 
Ball  Green,  was  born  January  21,  1850, 
near  Savannah,  Andrew   County.  Mis- 
souri, and  died  at  his  home  in  St.  Jo- 
seph, June  26,  1890.    He  was  a  son  of  Samuel  and 
Amanda  (Davis)  Green,  both  of  whom  were  na- 
tives of  Virginia. 

The  early  years  of  Mr.  Green's  life  were 
passed  on  a  farm,  and  he  obtained  his  carlv  edu- 
cation in  the  country  schools.  At  the  beginning 
of  the  Civil  War,  he  and  his  mother  went  to  AIo- 
bile,  Alabama,  taking  with  them  a  large  number 
of  slaves,  hoping  that  their  slave  property  would 
be  secure  midcr  the  Confederate  srovernmcnt.    At 


the  close  of  the  war,  they  returned  to  Missouri 
and  settled  at  St.  Joseph,  where  Samuel  was 
graduated  from  the  High  School.  In  1867  he 
accompanied  Judge  Alexander  Davis  to  Mon- 
tana, and  became  the  latter's  pupil  in  the  study  of 
the  law.  When  only  18  years  of  age,  he  was  ap- 
pointed clerk  of  the  Circuit  Court,  at  Virginia 
City,  Montana,  and  faithfully  and  efficiently  per- 
formed the  duties  of  the  position. 

In  1870,  Mr.  Green  returned  to  Buchanan 
County,  Missouri,  and  for  one  year  was  engaged 
in  farming  and  then  located  in  St.  Joseph  and 
embarked  in  a  wood  and  coal  business.  Although 
his  affairs  prospered  on  account  of  his  sagacity 
as  a  business  man,  the  bent  of  his  mind  was  in  the 
direction  of  the  law,  and  he  completed  the  studies 
he  had  commenced  under  Judge  Davis,  and  was 
admitted  to  the  bar,  in  1874,  by  Judge  Grubb.  In 
1878  he  was  elected  city  recorder  of  St.  Joseph, 
and  was  a  conspicuous  figure  in  the  conduct  of 
city  affairs  during  the  administration  of  Mayor 
Finer.  Thereafter,  until  his  death,  he  applied 
himself  assiduously  to  professional  labors,  and 
became  recognized  throughout  a  wide  extent  of 
territory,  as  one  of  the  ablest  members  of  the 
Missouri  bar.  He  accepted  the  appointment  of 
city  counselor  of  St.  Joseph,  and  in  1882  he 
became  a  member  of  the  law  firm  of  Woodson, 
Green  &  Burnes,  which  was  composed  of  Judge 
Silas  Woodson,  Samuel  B.  Green  and  D.  D. 
Burnes.  Two  years  later,  the  Criminal  Court  was 
established  at  St.  Joseph  and  Judge  Woodson  was 
appointed  to  the  bench  of  this  court,  and  the 
former  business  was  continued  as  Green  & 
Burnes,  until  the  death  of  Mr.  Green. 

While  Mr.  Green  was  never  a  seeker  after 
official  preferment  himself,  he  took  an  interest  in 
politics  and  public  affairs,  and  was  the  confiden- 
tial friend  and  adviser  of  Col.  James  N.  Burnes. 
while  that  gentleman  was  in  public  life.  When 
Colonel  Burnes  died,  our  subject  was  pressed  to 
accept  the  nomination  for  Congress,  as  Colonel 
Burnes'  successor,  but  he  declined  the  honor, 
saying  that  he  thought  it  should  go  to  one  of  the 
other  counties  of  the  district.  As  a  practitioner 
of  the  law,  he  was  remarkably  successful,  not 
only  in  his  championship  of  the  interests  of  his 
clients,  and  the  winning  of  cases,  but  in  exciting 
the  respect  and  esteem  of  the  general  public,  and 
of  his  contemporaries  of  the  Buchanan  County 
bar. 

Mr.  Green's  high  standard  at  the  bar  is  best 
attested  by  the  action  of  the  Buchanan  County 
P.ar  Association,  at  the  time  of  his  death.    At  that 


512 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


time  a  committee,  appointed  to  draft  suitable 
resolutions,  presented  the  following,  which  were 
unanimously  adopted : 

Tile  closing  hours  of  this*  term  of  court  are  called 
upon  to  witnes's  an  event  profoundly  sad  and  sorrowful 
—the  death  of  Samuel  B.  Green,  one  of  the  ablest,  no- 
blest and  most  successful  members  of  this  bar.  He  was 
born  in  this  vicinity,  and  hi?  life  was  spent  in  this  city 
and  community.  At  an  early  age  he  was  thrown  upon 
his  own  resources,  but  he  went  forth  to  battle  with  every 
opposing  difficulty,  animated  by  that  noble  heroism  and 
lofty  determination  which  brook  not  defeat.  At  the 
time  of  his  death  he  had  been  a  member  of  this  bar 
about  15  years.  During  that  time  he  achieved  a  suc- 
cess in  his  profes'sion  such  as  few  men  of  his  age  have 
ever  achieved.  He  was  endowed  with  qualities  and 
characteristics  which  meant  success.  He  was  remark- 
able for  his  untiring  energy,  for  his  strong,  clear,  vigor- 
ous thought,  the  great  analytical  powers  of  his  mind, 
his  profound,  even  philosophical,  knowledge  of  men,  his 
invincible  logic,  his  convincing  eloquence,  and  his  un- 
swerving fidelity  and  noble  devotion  to  every  trust  com- 
mitted to  his  care. 

He  prepared  his  cases  with  great  industry,  outlined 
them  with  a  keen,  clear  comprehension  of  all  the  diffi- 
culties, forecasted  with  rare  and  remarkable  accuracy 
the  points  of  opposition,  went  into  trials  thoroughly 
equipped,  conducted  them  with  consummate  skill  and 
won.  Although  cut  down  upon  the  threshold  of  mature 
manhood,  he  had  advanced  to  the  front  rank  of  his  pro- 
fession in  this  State,  and  fell  crowned  with  a  success 
nobly  and  well  deserved. 

In  all  the  relations'  of  life,  he  was  remarkable  for 
his  fidelity  to  friends — he  was  true  as  steel — and  in  his 
devotion  in  this  respect,  he  was  never  known  to  falter. 
He  had  many  friends,  and,  what  is  better,  by  his  candid, 
straightforward  course  in  life,  he  deserved  them.  The 
high,  the  low,  the  rich,  the  poor,  stood  ready  to  do  him 
honor.  He  was  well  known  throughout  different  parts 
of  the  State,  was  highly  regarded  wherever  known,  and 
to-day  thousands  of  the  best  citizens  in  this  city  and 
elsewhere  mourn  his  sad  and  untimely  death.  As  hus- 
band, father  and  brother,  he  was  kind,  gentle,  loving 
and  affectionate.     Therefore  be   it 

Resolved,  that  in  hi?  death,  this  bar  has  lost  one 
of  its  ablest  and  most  successful  lawyers,  and  the  pro- 
fession in  this  State  one  of  its  noble  and  most  worthy 
members :  j 

That  this  city  has  lost  one  of  it?  most  energetic,  en- 
terprising popular,  upright  and  patriotic  citizens : 

That  we  hereby  tender  his  grief  stricken  widow  and 
family,  and  his  sad  and  sorrowing  relatives,  our  pro- 
found sympathy  in  their  sore  bereavement : 


That  we  request  the  Circuit  Court  in  both  divisions', 
and  the  Criminal  Court,  to  set  apart  upon  their  respect- 
ive records  a  memorial  page,  and  that  these  resolutions 
be  recorded  thereon  as  evidence  of  the  high  esteem  in 
which  he  was  held  by  us': 

That  a  copy  of  these  resolutions,  duly  engrossed  and 
properly  attested,  by  the  president  and  secretary  of  this 
meeting,  be  transmitted  to  his  widow  and  family. 

On  this  occasion  numerous  tributes  were  paid 
to  his  virtues  and  abilities,  and  his  worth  as  a  man 
and  a  citizen,  by  members  of  the  bar  of  St.  Joseph, 
who  honored  him  for  his  high  character  and  loved 
him  for  his  many  noble  qualities.  His  old  law 
partner,  Hon.  D.  D.  Burnes,  said  of  him :  "He 
was  as  noble  as  he  was  fearless  and  true,  and  as 
gentle  as  he  was  brave,"  and  this  seems  to  have 
been  the  sentiment  of  all  who  knew  him.  A 
touching  incident  of  the  obsequies  was  the  plac- 
ing upon  the  casket  of  a  large  pillow  of  roses, 
surmounted  by  swinging  gates,  upon  which 
perched  a  white  dove.  It  bore  the  inscription 
"True  to  his  friends." 

The  obsequies  were  impressive  in  character 
and  the  remains  of  Mr.  Greeii  were  followed  to 
Mount  Mora  Cemetery  by  one  of  the  largest  con- 
courses of  people,  representing  all  classes  of  citi- 
zens, which  has  ever  shown  respect  in  this  way 
to  the  memory  of  a  deceased  citizen  of  St.  Joseph. 

Mr.  Green  is  survived  by  his  widow  and  three 
children.  He  was  married  June  25,  1873,  to 
Martha  Taylor  Mitchell,  who  is  a  daughter  <  . 
Alexander  J.  and  Harriet  (Rowan)  Alitcheli, 
residents  of  St.  Joseph,  but  natives  of  Kentucky. 
Three  children  were  born  to  them,  viz :  Leslie 
Mitchell,  Helen  B.  and  Nelson  M.  Helen  B. 
died  December  22.  1898.  Mrs.  Green  resides  in 
a  beatitiful  home  in  St.  Joseph,  situated  at  No. 
1710  Francis  street. 


♦  *  ♦ 


ship    $7 


FNJAMIN  F.  CORNFLTUS,  a  promi- 
nent retired  farmer  of  St.  Joseph,  now 
residing  in  his  comfortable  home  at 
No.  2007  Mulberry  street,  owns  a  fine 
farm  of  280  acres,  in  section  15.  town- 
range    34.    in    ]\larion    township,    upon 


which  he  lived  for  many  years.  He  was  born  in 
Clay  County,  Missouri,  April  25,  1834,  and  is  a 
son  of  Benjamin  and  Polly  .Ann  (Davis)  Cor- 
nelius. 

The    father   of    Mr.    Cornelius   was   born    in 
Christian     Countv,     Kentuckv,     where    he    was 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


513 


reared.  Subsequently  he  lived  both  in  Indiana 
and  in  Tennessee,  and  tlien  located  in  Clay 
County.  ^lissouri.  about  1818.  He  was  a  great 
s]:)ortsman  and  the  heavy  timber  then  covering 
the  country  afforded  him  opportunities  for  hunt- 
ing, which  he  greatly  enjoyed.  Some  of  his 
hunting  trips  covered  six  weeks  time  and  the  fam- 
ily larder  was  well  supplied  with  bear  meat,  veni- 
son and  wild  turkeys.  His  farm  was  a  govern- 
ment claim  and  was  wild  and  entirely  unim- 
proved when  he  settled  on  it.  He  lived  in  Clay 
County  for  some  20  years.  About  1836  he  came 
to  Buchanan  County  and  settled  on  a  claim  in 
section  15,  township  57.  range  34.  He  built  on 
his  wild  land  a  double  log  cabin  and  started  into 
clearing  the  land.  At  that  time  his  was  the  only 
settled  farm  within  a  radius  of  four  miles.  Our 
subject  still  keeps  standing  one  of  his  father's 
old  log  stables,  which  is  still  stanch  although 
erected  in  1838.  Corn,  wheat  and  hemp  were  the 
main  products  of  the  soil,  but  Mr.  Cornelius  also 
raised  much  stock,  especially  cattle.  His  death 
took  place  in  i860,  his  wife  having  passed  away 
in  1855.  Their  children  were:  James  B.,  de- 
ceased :  Susan,  deceased,  who  was  the  wife  of 
John  Blakely :  Alzadia,  deceased,  who  was  the 
wife  of  John  Spencer :  William,  deceased,  who 
was  a  farmer  of  ]\Iarion  township ;  ^^largaret. 
who  married  Nathan  Walker,  and  resides  at 
McPherson,  Kansas :  Lucinda,  who  married 
Henry  Barker,  and  died  in  Arkansas;  Benjamin 
F..  of  this  sketch:  Columbus  G.,  formerly  of  Bu- 
chanan County,  who  is  deceased  ;  and  Eliza,  who 
died  in  1902,  unmarried. 

Our  subject  had  but  few  educational  oppor- 
tunities and  these  were  confined  to  such  as  were 
oft'ered  by  the  subscription  schools.  He  had 
been  his  father's  main  dependence  on  the  farm 
and  he  managed  the  place  until  the  death  of  his 
parent.  After  this  event  he  married  and  in  1861 
moved  to  Doniphan  County,  Kansas,  but  in  1862 
he  returned  to  the  home  farm,  where  he  contin- 
ued to  reside  until  1896,  when  he  retired  to  St. 
Joseph.  He  has  leased  his  land  and  enjoys  a 
large  income  from  it.  During  his  active  operation 
of  it.  he  carried  on  general  farming,  stock-rais- 
ing and  fruit-growing.  The  farm  is  well  culti- 
vated and  improved  and  ranks  as  one  of  the  best 
in  the  township. 

In  i860.  Mr.  Cornelius  was  married  to  Eliza 
J.  Blakeley.  who  was  born  in  Buchanan  County. 
Missouri,  and  died  February  i,  1900,  aged  55 
years.  She  was  buried  in  the  old  Blakelv  grave- 
yard in  Marion  township.     She  was  the  mother 


of  three  children,  of  whom  but  one  survives : 
Thomas  Emmett,  who  married  JNIargaret  Brig- 
ham  and  resides  in  St.  Joseph,  operating  a  feed 
and  fuel  business.  He  has  one  child,  Lessie  E. 
Two  of  our  subject's  children  died  young:  \\'ill- 
iam  Price,  aged  eight  years,  and  Laura  B.,  aged 
three  years. 

^Ir.  Cornelius  has  always  been  identified  with 
the  Democratic  party  but  has  not  been  an  office 
seeker.  He  belongs  to  the  Cumberland  Presby- 
terian Church.  He  is  a  man  noted  for  his  upright 
life  and  exemplary  character,  one  whose  simple 
word  satisfies  as  well  as  a  legal  document,  and  he 
is  a  worthy  representative  of  one  of  the  oldest 
pioneer  families  in  this  section  of  the  State. 


» » » 


OHN  WILLIAM  ALLISON,  who  is  a 
member  of  one  of  the  oldest  pioneer 
families  of  Rush  township,  Buchanan 
County,  owns  a  highly  cultivated  farm 
of  20  acres  in  section  21.  Rush  town- 
ship. He  was  born  on  the  old  family  homestead 
in  Rush  township,  on  ]March  16,  1839.  ^"^^  ^^  ^ 
son  of  William  and  Mar\-  A.  (Trapp)  Allison. 

The  Allison  family  came  from  Kentucky  to 
Missouri  as  early  as  1819,  when  the  grandfather, 
John  Allison,  settled  in  Lafayette  County.  He 
had  eight  children :  William,  Posey,  Ewing, 
]\Iartin,  John  H.,  Robert,  Ruth  and  Jemima,  all 
of  whom  have  passed  out  of  life. 

William  Allison,  father  of  John  William,  was 
born  in  1802,  near  Bowling  Green,  Kentucky,  and 
he  was  a  youth  of  16  years  when  his  parents 
moved  to  Missouri,  where  he  assisted  his  father 
until  his  own  removal  to  Buchanan  County,  in 
1838.  The  balance  of  his  life  was  passed  in  farm- 
ing in  Rush  township  and  in  attending  to  the  pub- 
lic matters  which  came  under  his  jurisdiction  as 
a  justice  of  the  peace.  He  was  a  prominent  man 
in  his  day.  For  a  number  of  years  he  was  one  of 
the  pioneer  ministers  in  the  Christian  -Church  in 
his  locality.  He  was  twice  married,  first  to  ^Nlary 
A.  Trapp,  of  Lafayette  County,  who  died  July 
10,  1847,  leaving  eight  children :  Louis,  de- 
ceased ;  James  Henry,  who  married  Martha  East- 
bourn ;  Rachel,  wife  of  Alexander  Brown,  of  Su- 
gar Creek :  Jemima,  deceased,  who  was  the  wife 
of  James  Golden  :  Martin,  deceased,  who  married 
Polly  Taylor;  John  William,  of  this  sketch; 
Rowena.  deceased,  who  was  the  wife  of  Joseph 
Ham;  and  Nancy  Adeline  (Johnson).  His  sec- 
ond marriage  was  to   Mary  A.   Parkisnn.      His 


514 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


death  took  place  April  i,  1891,  and  his  burial  was 
in  Sugar  Creek  Cemetery. 

John  William  Allison  completed  his  schooling 
at  the  age  of  17  years,  having  attended  the  old 
log  house  school  in  Rush  township.  He  remained 
with  his  father  on  the  farm  until  he  became  of 
age  and  then  began  for  himself.  He  has  carried 
on  general  farming,  stock-raising  and  fruit  grow- 
ing ever  since,  and  has  one  of  the  most  highly 
cultivated  small  farms  in  Rush  township.  His 
improvements  are  also  of  excellent  character  and 
make  his  property  very  valuable. 

On  April  23.  1863,  Mr.  Allison  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Elizabeth  Wells,  who  is  a  daugh- 
ter of  William  S.  Wells,  of  Rush  township.  They 
have  had  six  children,  the  survivors  being  :  Stella, 
who  married  John  Crook,  of  Rush  township,  and 
has  three  children, — William,  Lola  and  Beulah  ; 
Molly,  who  married,  first,  Charles  C.  Conard, 
and,  second,  Augustus  Nagle,  of  Kansas  City, 
and  has  four  children  by  the  first  marriage, — 
Elizabeth,  Inez,  Frances  and  Captain  J\I.;  and 
Nellie,  who  married  Julius  Smith,  and  had  three 
children,  of  whom  one  is  now  living, — Harry  P. 
Gertrude  died  at  the  age  of  14  years,  and  George 
B.  and  Nora  died  in  infancy. 

Mr.  Allison  and  family  all  belong  to  the  Chris- 
tian Church.  He  has  always  been  identified  with 
the  Democratic  party.  Formerly  he  was  an  active 
member  of  the  Odd  Fellows.  Mr.  Allison  has 
lived  to  see  great  changes  take  place  in  the  south- 
western section  of  the  county  and  he  has  always 
done  the  full  duty  of  a  good  citizen  in  furthering 
movements  of  educational  and  moral  importance. 
He  is  a  mmeber  of  a  family  that  is  noted  for  its 
agricultural  prosperity  and  its  sterling  character. 


■♦  ♦  » 


APT.  CHARLES  F.  KELLER,  a  prom- 
inent member  of  the  Buchanan  County 
I'ar,  has  been  a  resident  of  St.  Joseph 
since  1866.  He  was  born  at  Colum- 
bus, Ohio,  February  9,  1864,  and  is  a 
son  of  Jacob  Keller,  who  is  well  known  in  the 
grocery  line. 

Our  subject  came  to  St.  Joseph  with  his 
parents  in  1866,  and  his  education  was  acquired 
in  this  city,  first  in  the  public  schools  and  later  at 
the  Christian  Brothers'  College.  For  a  time  he 
assisted  in  his  father's  business,  then  learned  the 
cigarmaker's  trade  and  still  later  engaged  in  a 
grocery  business  for  himself.  He  then  decided 
to  enter  the  law,  and  after  sufficient  reading  in 


the  office  of  Kelly,  Crosby,  Rusk  &  Craig,  he  en- 
tered the  Missouri  State  University  and  was 
graduated  in  the  law  department,  in  1890  begin- 
ning his  practice. 

During  the  Spanish-American  War,  Captain 
Keller  won  distinction  as  an  officer  and  com- 
manded one  of  the  best  drilled  companies  of  the 
Fourth  Regiment,  Missouri  Infantry,  U.  S.  Vol- 
unteers. Prior  to  the  opening  of  the  war,  Mr. 
Keller  had  been  judge  advocate  of  the  Fourth 
Regiment,  Missouri  National  Guard,  with  the 
rank  of  captain.  He  recruited  Company  I,  which 
was  mustered  in  with  the  Fourth  Regiment,  and 
commanded  it  all  through  the  service  until  mus- 
tered out  at  Greenville,  South  Carolina,  Feb- 
ruary 10,  1899. 

On  April  26,  1893,  Captain  Keller  was  mar- 
ried to  Annie  Farrell,  of  St.  Joseph,  and  they 
have  four  children. 

Captain  Keller  is  a  strong  Democrat,  and  at 
the  time  he  entered  the  army  was  a  candidate  for 
prosecuting  attorney.  He  possesses  all  the  qual- 
ifications for  leadership  and  the  fidelity  he  dis- 
]:)layed  as  a  soldier  is  but  indicative  of  his  politi- 
cal and  professional  fitness  for  future  honors.  In 
1904  he  was  delegate  to  the  Democratic  conven- 
tion, held  at  Joplin,  Missouri.  He  and  the  mem- 
):)ers  of  his  family  are  Catholics,  identified  with 
the  Cathedral  parish.  He  is  past  head  consul  of 
jurisdiction  E,  Woodmen  of  the  World,  and 
major  of  the  Third  Battalion  of  Foresters,  of 
Modern  Woodmen  of  America,  at  St.  Joseph. 


ILLIAM  HURST,  a  prominent  farmer 
of  Buchanan  County,  resides  on  the 
old  family  homestead  in  section  6, 
Ijloomington  township,  which  was 
preempted  by  his  father  in  1843.  He 
was  born  on  this  place  February  7,  1854.  and  is 
a  son  of  Armsterd  and  Matilda  (Paris)  Hurst. 

Armsterd  Hurst  was  born  in  Fleming  County, 
Kentucky,  November  10,  1819,  and  was  a  son 
of  Henry  and  Nancy  (Staggs)  Hurst,  a  grandson 
of  John  and  Elizabeth  (Harper)  Hurst,  and 
great-grandson  of  Harrison  Hurst,  the  earliest 
ancestor  of  whom  there  is  record.  At  an  early 
date  the  familv  was  established  in  Mrginia. 
Armsterd  Flurst  had  one  brother,  Ambrose  Dud- 
ley, who  is  deceased.  The  latter  married  Rachel 
Hurst;  as  he  and  his  wife  were  preparing  to  join 
his  brother  in  Missouri  both  were  taken  sick 
and  died,  after  a  marriage  of  l)ut  a  few  months. 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


515 


Armsterd  Hurst  received  his  education  in  the 
district  schools  of  Fleming  County,  Kentucky, 
and  always  engaged  in  farming.  He  was  mar- 
ried on  December  9,  1841,  to  Matilda  Paris,  and 
in  the  following  spring  came  with  his  wife  to 
Missouri,  proceeding  by  boat  to  Weston,  Platte 
County,  in  which  county  he  located  and  lived 
until  the  spring  of  1843.  They  then  moved  to 
Buchanan  County,  where  he  preempted  and 
cleared  the  present  home  farm  of  our  subject, 
in  section  6,  Bloomington  township.  It  was  a 
heavily  timbered  tract  and  it  was  with  the  great- 
est difficulty  placed  in  tillable  condition.  The 
implements  used  in  the  culture  and  reaping  of 
crops  in  those  days  were  most  crude,  and  con- 
sisted of  the  old  wooden  mold-board  plow  and  the 
reaping  hook,  the  latter  being  followed  by  the 
cradle  and  that  by  the  dropper,  which  delivered 
the  sheaves  of  grain  on  the  field  unbound,  as  the 
binding  had  to  be  done  by  hand.  Weston  was 
the  nearest  trading  point  at  that  early  day. 
Hemp  was  the  principal  crop  for  the  first  few 
years,  and  the  grinding  was  done  at  a  water-mill. 
Mr.  Hurst  and  liis  estimable  wife  were  among 
the  early  members  of  the  Christian  Church  at 
Sugar  Creek,  first  attending  church  in  the  log 
school  house  conducted  by  Rev.  William  Allison, 
father  of  James  H.  Allison,  of  DeKalb.  To 
Armsterd  Hurst  and  wife  were  born  the  follow- 
ing issue :  Mary  Frances,  wife  of  Philip  Staggs, 
of  Agency;  Nancy  Elizabeth,  deceased;  Geneva, 
wife  of  R.  C.  Dunlap,  who  lives  in  section  17, 
Bloomington  township;  Amanda  (wife  of  Jo- 
seph Long) ,  deceased  ;  Armikla,  deceased  ;  Wil- 
liam, our  subject;  Ella  (twin  sister  of  William), 
who  is  the  wife  of  William  Roundtree,  of  St. 
Joseph  ;  James,  who  married  Aha  JMoore,  of  Mis- 
souri ;  Henry,  who  married  Anna  Davidson,  of 
Missouri;  Monroe,  who  married  Jane  Kneaves 
and  is  deceased  ;  and  one  who  died  in  infancy. 
Armsterd  Hurst  died  April  20,  1897,  'i"^'  the 
funeral  sermon  was  delivered  by  his  old  friend. 
Rev.  James  C.  Creel.  Mrs.  Hurst  survives  him 
and  is  living  on  the  old  homestead,  which  has 
been  her  home  for  more  than  61  years.  She  has 
witnessed  the  wonderful  change  of  this  country 
from  a  wilderness,  sparsely  settled,  with  trails 
crossing  it  here  and  there,  to  a  community  of 
finely  cultivated  farms.  She  has  a  wide  acquaint- 
ance among  the  older  residents  of  the  county. 

William  Hurst  has  always  lived  on  the  home 
farm,  receiving  his  early  education  in  the  schools 
of  the  district.  He  has  made  great  improvements 
on  the  farm,  which  he  devotes  to  general  farm- 

26 


ing  and  stock-raising.  He  has  224  acres  of  good 
tillable  land,  and  has  made  a  decided  success  at 
his  vocation.  He  is  a  man  of  public  spirit  and 
has  taken  an  earnest  interest  in  everything  that 
would  in  any  way  benefit  the  community.  He 
has  served  as  director  of  Sleepy  Hollow  School 
District  for  a  number  of  years. 

On  June  14,  1893,  William  Hurst  was  mar- 
ried to  Mollie  Martin,  a  daughter  of  Prior  and 
Elizabeth  (Barnes)  Martin.  She  was  bom  in 
Buchanan  County,  iMissouri,  March  17,  1862. 
She  attended  the  district  schools  and  later  Kirks- 
ville  Normal  School  one  year,  after  which  she 
tught  school  in  this  county  for  a  period  of  14 
years.  Mrs.  Hurst's  father.  Prior  Martin,  is  a 
son  of  John  ]\Iartin,  and  was  born  in  Union 
County,  Tennessee,  November  11,  1840,  and 
came  to  Buchanan  County  with  his  parents  when 
he  was  two  years  old.  He  and  his  wife  now 
reside  in  Atchison  County,  Kansas,  wither  they 
moved  from  Buchanan  County  in  1890.  Our 
subject  and  his  wife  are  parents  of  the  following 
children  :  Elizabeth  ;  William,  Jr. ;  Clifton  L. ; 
Genevieve ;  and  James.  Religiously,  they  are 
members  of  the  Sugar  Creek  Christian  Church. 
In  politics  Mr.  Hurst  is  a  Democrat  and  is  alwavs 
interested  in  the  success  of  his  party. 


♦ » » 


ON.  JOHN  KELLY.  The  death  of 
the  late  Judge  John  Kelly,  at  the  fam- 
ily home  in  St.  Joseph,  on  August  12, 
1904,  removed  from  Buchanan  county 
a  citizen  who  was  held  in  the  highest 
esteem,  both  on  account  of  his  high  personal 
character  and  by  reason  of  his  efficiency  in  public 
office. 

Recent  bereavements  in  the  death  of  several 
of  his  beloved  children  had  brought  the  deepest 
affliction  upon  him  and  had  undermined  a  con- 
stitution, which  originally  had  been  strong.  Onlv 
those  in  the  closest  sympathy  with  him,  realized 
how  deeply  these  bereavements  had  weakened  his 
hold  on  life. 

By  every  possible  token,  his  associates  of  the 
County  Court  and  the  civic  authorities  endeav- 
ored to  show  their  deep  sorrow  and  their  high 
esteem  for  one  whose  life  and  character  were 
such  as  to  excite  regard  and  admiration. 

Judge  Kelly  was  born  in  County  Claire,  Ire- 
land, May  17,  1839,  and  came  to  America  when 
13  years  of  age.  He  remain.ed  in  New  York  a 
year  or  so  and  then  came  to  St.  Joseph,  Missouri, 


5i6 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY  AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


where  his  mother  and  two  of  his  brothers  were 
already  hving.  After  a  short  time,  he  and  his 
brother  Peter  went  to  Montana,  where  he  was 
employed  for  eight  years  in  the  mines.  He  re- 
turned to  St.  Joseph  in  1861,  and  with  his  brother 
Peter  embarked  in  a  grocery  business  on  South 
Eleventh  street. 

A  staunch  Democrat,  Judge  Kelly  took  an 
active  interest  in  politics  from  early  manhood. 
After  becoming  one  of  the  substantial  and  repre- 
sentative business  men  of  this  city,  he  was  elected 
a  member  of  the  County  Court,  and  served  with 
efficiency  during  three  terms,  retiring  from  the 
bench  in  1889.  He  then  became  a  deputy  in  the 
office  of  the  county  recorder  and  served  under 
Recorders  Gates  and  Kearns.  In  1903  the  death 
of  Judge  Harry  D.  Bassett  made  a  vacancy  in  the 
County  Court,' and  Governor  Dockery  appointed 
Judge  Kelly  to  fill  the  same,  and  in  the  following 
May  he  was  nominated  for  the  office,  and  it  is 
safe  to  say  that  had  he  lived  he  would  have  been 
elected. 

Shortly  after  locating  in  St.  Joseph,  Judge 
Kelly  married  Mary  INIcNamara,  a  daughter  of 
Thomas  McNamara,  who  is  an  old  resident  of 
this  city,  now  in  his  88th  year.  ]\Ir.  McNamara 
v.-as  one  of  the  first  men  employed  at  the  old 
Union  Depot  in  St.  Joseph.  The  death  of  Judge 
Kelly  left  a  deeply  bereaved  family,  which  in- 
cluded his  widow  and  one  son  and  three  daugh- 
ters, viz :  James  M.,  who  is  a  bookkeeper  at  the 
McDonald  factory ;  Annie  and  Agnes,  who  reside 
at  home;  and  Mrs.  J.  H.  Sifers,  of  St.  Joseph. 
Judge  Kelly  was  a  man  devoted  to  his  home  and 
intense  in  his  love  of  his  family.  He  was  a 
devout  Catholic,  as  are  all  the  members  of  the 
family,  and  was  a  member  of  the  Catholic 
Knights  of  America,  of  which  he  was  first  vice- 
president  ;  St.  Patrick's  Benevolent  Society,  of 
which  he  was  secretary  ;  and  of  the  Ancient  Order 
of  Hibernians.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Monroe 
Club  from  its  organization.  The  family  reside  at 
No.  1 32 1  Penn  street. 


-♦-•-♦- 


1ST  &'HUTCHINGS,  the  leading  pho- 
tographers of  St.  Joseph,  occupy  a 
l)rominent  position  in  both  the  business 
and  the  artistic  circles  of  this  city. 
This  strong  firm  is  composed  of  Carl 
Rudolph  Gist  and  Otis  L.  Hutchings,  the  former 
of  whom  has  gained  an  enviable  reputation  as  a 
portrait  painter,  although  still  a  young  man,  and 
the  latter  of  whom  has  long  been  acknowledged 


the  most  satisfying  and  artistic  photographer  in 
this  section  of  the  State. 

Carl  Rudolph  Gist  was  born  in  Maysville, 
Missouri,  July  30,  1873,  and  is  a  son  of  John 
A.  and  Eveline  (Wilson)  Gist.  The  family  orig- 
inated in  the  notable  American  State  of 
Kentucky,  and  there  the  paternal  grandparents, 
Joseph  and  Permelia  (Murphy)  Gist,  were  born. 
John  A.  Gist  w^as  born  in  Missouri,  and  was  a 
successful  merchant  at  Maysville  for  a  number  of 
years.  His  death  took  place  in  1880,  at  the  age 
of  42  years. 

Carl  R.  Gist  completed  his  education  in  the 
public  schools  at  Maysville  by  the  time  he  was  16 
\ears  of  age.  From  childhood  he  had  been  noted 
for  the  possession  of  artistic  abilities  and  it  was 
a  fortunate  circumstance  which  brought  about 
his  association  with  a  traveling  portrait  painter. 
This  German  artist  had  already  become  known 
at  Berlin  and  during  the  five  years  of  association 
with  the  talented  and  ambitious  youth  imparted 
the  necessary  technical  knowledge  which  young 
Gist's  abilities  supplemented.  The  time  came 
when  the  pupil  was  capable  of  assuming  the  role 
of  teacher.  Mr.  Gist  located  for  one  year  in  the 
city  of  Topeka,  Kansas,  where  his  fine  portrait 
painting  brought  him  into  deserved  prominence, 
and  then  '  he  came  to  St.  Joseph  to  settle  per- 
manently. This  city  has  been  his  continuous 
home  with  the  exception  of  the  year  1900-01, 
which  was  profitably  spent  in  the  art  schools  of 
Munich.  Since  1904  he  has  been  associated 
with  Otis  L.  Hutchings. 

In  1893  Mr.  Gist  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Maude  Barnes,  who  is  a  daughter  of  Stephen 
Barnes,  of  Elmdale,  Kansas,  and  they  have  one 
daughter,  Salome. 

Mr.  Gist  is  not  of  the  temperament  to  be  an 
active  politician,  in  fact,  he  belongs  to  no  particu- 
lar party,  casting  his  vote  independently.  His 
fraternal  associations  include  the  Knights  of 
Pvthias,  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America  and 
the  Elks. 

Otis  L.  Hutchings,  the  second  member  of  the 
firm  of  Gist  &  Hutchings,  was  born  near  Muncie, 
Indiana,  April  i,  1864,  and  is  a  son  of  John  L. 
and  Eliza  Ann   (Ribble)  Hutchings. 

John  L.  Hutchings  was  born  in  A^irginia  in 
1826  and  died  in  1871.  The  greater  part  of  his 
life  was  passed  in  Indiana,  where  he  was  a  farm- 
er, and  for  a  number  of  years  a  merchant  at 
Muncie.  He  was  well  known,  was  prominent  in 
Masonry,  and  both  he  and  his  wife  were  leading 
members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


517 


After  his  father's  death,  Otis  L.  Hutchings 
accompanied  his  mother  to  Clarinda,  Iowa,  where 
he  was  reared  and  attended  the  pubhc  schools. 
His  elder  brother  was  a  competent  photographer 
and  the  youth  early  became  interested  in  the  art 
and  soon  mastered  the  mechanical  details.  In 
1885  he  went  to  Dayton,  Ohio,  where  he  was 
fortunate  enough  to  secure  employment  in  the 
gallery  of  Wolfe,  the  noted  inventor  of  the  clock- 
work solar  camera.  Two  years  later  he  went  to 
the  Pacific  Coast  and  was  employed  in  the  studio 
of  Taber,  at  San  Francisco,  where  he  assisted  in 
turning  out  some  of  the  fine  work  for  which  that 
studio  is  justly  celebrated.  Two  years  later  he 
located  at  Washington,  Kansas,  where  he  re- 
mained some  years  and  then  removed  to  Marshall, 
jMissouri.  During  his  six  years  residence  there 
he  made  a  reputation  for  artistic  work  which  pre- 
pared for  his  welcome,  when  he  located  perma- 
nently at  St.  Joseph,  in  1901.  His  association 
with  Mr.  Gist,  in  1904,  made  a  combination  of 
talent  by  which  the  public  has  been  benefited. 

Mr.  Hutchings  is  prominent  in  fraternal  life, 
a  member  of  the  Elks  and  of  all  the  Masonic 
bodies  at  St.  Joseph,  including  the  Scottish  Rite. 

St.  Joseph  is  fortunate  in  having  a  house  of 
such  acknowledged  artistic  merit  as  that  of  Gist 
&  Hutchings.  Entirely  aside  from  the  satis- 
factory photographic  work  done  at  this  handsome 
studio  in  the  King  Hill  Building,  a  visit  to  these 
artistic  parlors  is,  in  a  way,  an  education,  espec- 
ially if  either  proprietor  can  find  time  to  call  at- 
tention to  a  few  of  the  beautiful  portraits  and 
specimens  of  photographic  work.  The  develop- 
ments of  the  art  of  photography  in  the  past  few 
years  has,  indeed,  been  wonderful  and  the  public 
has  only  to  glance  through  his  favorite  magazine 
to  see  its  triumphs.  The  fact  remains,  however, 
as  Mr.  Gist  has  but  recently  remarked,  that  "so 
many  photographers  are  still  mere  mechanics, 
expert,  perhaps  in  handling  their  machine  and 
chemicals,  but  knowing  little  of  the  art  of  lighting 
the  face  and  figure  and  of  posing." 

Just  here  lies  the  difiference  between  the  work 
of  such  artists  as  Mr.  Gist  and  Mr.  Hutchings. 
Their  collection  includes  work  of  the  most  del- 
icate expression,  clear  of  tone  and  true  of  line. 
]\Ir.  Gist  has  the  happy  faculty  of  catching  that 
subtle  interpretation  of  character  and  temper- 
ament which  makes  the  difference  between  a 
picture  and  a  portrait,  while  Mr.  Hutchings  has 
no  less  skill  in  the  use  of  his  camera.  These 
modern  days  are  full  of  demand.  We  want  the 
best,   the  very  best,  and  perhaps  no  profession 


has  more  demands  made  upon  it  than  the  artistic, 
which  fills  our  eye  with  the  beauty  of  line  and 
feature,  charms  with  color  and  preserves  for  the 
delight  and  enlightenment  of  future  generations 
glories  which  the  hand  of  Time  would  otherwise 
pass  into  oblivion. 


^  *» 


AJ.  HENRY  R.  W.  HARTWIG, 
recently  elected  presiding  judge  of 
the  County  Court  of  Buchanan 
County,  ex-mayor  of  St.  Joseph,  and 
capitalist,  soldier  and  politician,  is 
one  of  the  city's  distinguished  and  hon- 
ored citizens.  He  was  born  at  Niedermoell- 
rich,  near  Hesse-Cassel,  Prussia,  on  April  11, 
1837,  and  is  a  son  of  Frederick  Oswald  and 
Elizabeth  (Rosenblath)   Hartwig. 

The  family  of  which  Major  Hartwig  is  so 
worthy  a  member  was  one  of  high  standing  in 
the  fatherland.  His  grandfather  was  a  preacher 
of  the  German  Reformed  Church  and  traveled 
for  the  faith  over  a  large  extent  of  country. 
While  on  a  sacred  mission  to  the  island  of  Sur- 
inam, a  Dutch  possession,  he  married  Maria 
Louise  von  Choillet  and  with  her  returned  to 
Prussia.  There  they  reared  a  family,  several 
members  of  which  attained  military  prominence. 
One  son,  Gustave  C,  was  a  lieutenant  under 
Blucher  and  participated  in  the  battles  of  Leipsic 
and  W^aterloo.  The  father  of  Major  Hartwig 
was  an  agriculturist  and  lived  and  died  on  his 
own  estates  in  Prussia. 

The  boyhood  of  Henry  R.  W.  Hartwig  was 
passed  on  his  father's  farm  and  in  attendance 
upon  the  local  schools.  A  quiet,  agricultural 
career  was  open  to  him  there,  on  the  family 
estates,  but  his  ambition  reached  out  for  another 
career.  After  considering  the  advantages  offered 
to  young  and  ambitious  men  by  the  great  land 
across  the  ocean,  he  decided  to  try  his  fortune  in 
America  and  reached  the  port  of  New  York  in 
1854.  His  business  career  was  commenced  as 
a  dry  goods  clerk  at  Cleveland.  Ohio,  where  he 
remained  until  the  spring  of  1857,  when  he 
was  infected  with  the  fever  which  sent  hundreds 
of  the  young  men  of  the  East  to  build  up  the 
enterprises  of  the  undeveloped  West.  He  spent 
one  year  at  Council  Bluffs,  Iowa,  and  in 
Nebraska,  and  in  1858  he  located  at  St.  Joseph, 
Missouri. 

After  deciding  to  locate  permanently  at  this 
point,  he  entered  into  the  business  of  outfitting- 


5i8 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY  AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


miners  for  the  long  journey  to  Colorado,  as  those 
were  the  days  of  the  gold  excitement  there  and 
the  Pike's  Peak  emigration.  Possessing  the 
business  ability  which  marks  his  nationality, 
Major  Plartwig  was  able  to  realize  considerable 
capital  in  the  first  year  and,  as  he  had  come  to 
the  West  with  some  means,  found  himself  in  a 
position  to  embark  in  an  enterprise  of  his  own. 
He  established  a  wholesale  and  retail  liquor 
business,  under  the  firm  name  of  H.  R.  W. 
Hartwig  &  Compan}-,  which  was  continued  until 
1863,  when  Major  Hartwig  engaged  in  a  grain 
and  commission  business,  later  transferring  his 
interests  to  groceries  and  liquors.  In  1869 
the  grocery  feature,  was  discontinued  and 
from  that  time  until  1888  he  was  en- 
gaged in  the  wholesale  liquor  and  rectify- 
ing business.  In  1869  his  brother,  Ernest  F. 
Hartwig,  became  associated  with  him,  and  when 
he  retired  from  business  in  1888,  his  partner 
continued  and  is  still  engaged  in  the  business. 

The  outbreak  of  the  Civil  War,  which  put  to 
test  the  manly  courage  and  faithful  loyalty  of  so 
many  hitherto  peaceful,  quiet,  prosperous  citi- 
zens, found  in  Major  Hartwig  one  who  could 
put  aside  his  personal  advantage  in  defense  of 
principles  he  believed  right.  The  spirit  of  the 
true  soldier  was  inborn,  and  from  the  day  he 
entered  the  service  until  his  discharge  he  had  an 
untarnished  record  on  the  battle-field  and  in  the 
disciplined  camp.  In  the  summer  of  1861,  he 
enlisted  in  Captain  Harbine's  company  of  En- 
rolled Missouri  Militia  and  at  once  was  made  a 
sergeant.  On  August  21,  1862,  he  was  promoted 
by  Governor  Gamble  to  be  ist  lieutenant  of  Lan- 
dry's battery  of  artillery.  Soon  after,  Captain 
Landry  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  major  of 
the  Swiss  St.  Louis  regiment  and  the  battery  was 
reorganized,  with  Captain  Hartwig"  at  its  head 
and  it  was  then  known  as  "Hartwig's  Independ- 
ent Artillery."  In  that  service,  the  gallant  cap- 
tain and  his  devoted  soldiers  continued  until  1864, 
when  he  was  promoted  by  Governor  Hall.  In 
October,  1865,  when  the  Missouri  State  Militia 
was  reorganized,  Governor  Fletcher  com- 
missioned him  major  of  the  First  Regiment.  In 
1867  he  was  still  further  honored  by  this  wise 
executive,  by  appointment  as  commissioner  to 
represent  Missouri  at  the  Paris  Exposition. 

Major  Hartwig's  political  career  has  likewise 
been  one  of  imusual  prominence.  From  its  first 
organization,  he  has  been  in  close  accord  with 
the  Republican  party,  and  has  been  honored  many 
times   by   this   great   organization,    his   years   of 


political  activity  continuing  from  1870,  when  he 
was  elected  city  collector  of  St.  Joseph,  to 
November,  1904,  when  as  one  of  the  nominees 
on  the  Republican  ticket  he  was  elected  presiding 
judge  of  the  County  Court  by  a  large  majority. 
In  the  meantime,  after  serving  two  years  as  city 
collector,  in  1884  he  was  called  to  the  executive 
chair  of  the  city  and  for  two  years  served  as 
mayor,  during  which  time  the  municipality  grew 
and  was  admitted  to  the  second  class  of  cities, 
numerous  civic  improvements  were  inaugurated 
and  a  period  of  unusual  prosperity  dawned  upon 
St.  Joseph. 

In  1888  he  was  nominated  for  Congress  and 
was  defeated  only  account  of  the  personal  pup- 
ularity  of  his  opponent,  Hon.  James  N.  Burnes. 
Although  devoted  to  the  tenets  of  his  own  party. 
Major  Hartwig  must  not  be  placed  with,  the 
usual  class  of  politicians,  being  a  type  of  a  class 
which  flourished  when  the  spoils  of  office  were 
a  much  less  prominent  feature  of  political  life 
than  they  are  to-day.  His  recent  election  to  one 
of  the  county's  most  responsible  and  honorable 
offices  tells  its  own  story  of  the  appreciation  felt 
for  him  by  his  fellow  citizens. 

On  March  i,  i860.  Major  Hartwig  was  mar- 
ried to  Caroline  Kuechler,  of  St.  Joseph,  whose 
death  took  place  December  2,  1885.  Of  their 
two  sons,  George  Henry,  born  in  i860,  died  June 
7,  1867,  and  Ernest  C,  born  January  i,  1864,  is 
a  prominent  business  man  of  this  city,  cashier  of 
The  First  National  Bank  of  St.  Joseph.  On 
March  24,  1898,  Major  Hartwig  married  a  sec- 
ond time,  being  united  with  Emma  Vegely,  who 
is  a  daughter  of  August  Vegely,  who  came  to  St. 
Joseph  in  1852  and  for  many  years  was  engaged 
in  the  manufacture  of  candy  in  this  city.  His 
death  took  place  j\[arch  27,  1885.  The  residence 
of  Major  Hartwig  and  family  is  at  No.  2706 
Seneca  street,  a  home  where  hospitalitv  reigns, 
which  has  been  the  scene  of  many  notable  gather- 
ings and  of  innumerable  pleasant  social  func- 
tions. 

Although  not  actively  engaged  in  church 
work,  Major  Hartwig  is  a  man  of  high  moral 
character  and  clings  to  the  creed  of  his  ancestors, 
that  of  the  German  Reformed  Church.  His  lib- 
erality in  connection  with  both  organized  and 
private  charities  is  well  known  and  he  is  the  bene- 
factor of  many  benevolent  societies. 

Major  Llartwig  has  always  worked  for  the 
development  of  the  city's  commercial  interests 
and  has  been  prominently  identified  with  the 
Hoard  of  Trade  and  with  the  Commercial  Club, 


^%r 


\ 


^mm^ 


GEORGE   JOHN    ENGLEHART 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


521 


serving  as  president  of  the  latter  organization 
from  1894  to  1897.  He  has  also  been  president  of 
the  Hartwig  Realty  &  Investment  Company, 
which  owns  large  holdings  of  valuable  real  estate 
not  alone  in  St.  Joseph  and  vicinity,  but  in  Den- 
ver, Colorado ;  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah  ;  Wichita, 
Kansas,  and  large  bodies  of  land  in  Missouri, 
Kansas  and  Nebraska.  For  some  years  he  has 
devoted  his  attention  mainly  to  looking  after  his 
large  property  interests  and  to  the  enjoyment  of 
travel  and  to  social  relaxations.  He  is  regarded 
as  one  of  St.  Joseph's  most  enterprising  and 
representative  citizens,  and  the  fact  that,  after 
some  years  of  withdrawal  from  the  lime-light  of 
public  lile,  he  has  been  recalled  by  his  fellow  citi- 
zens, attests  the  sincerity  of  their  esteem  for  one 
whose  years  of  service  in  behalf  of  the  city  have 
been  characterized  by  ability  and  fidelity  to  the 
confidence  reposed  in  him. 


EORGE   JOHN   ENGLEHART,  presi- 
dent   of   the    Johnston-Woodbury    Hat 
Company  and  the  Englehart-Davidson 
_      Millinery  Company,  of  St.  Joseph,  ex- 
mayor  and  a  prominent  citizen  in  all  the 
city's  activities,  was  born  in  Hohensiiltzen,  Ger- 
many, and  was  brought  in  infancy  to  America  by 
his  parents. 

Until  the  age  of  16  years,  i\Ir.  Englehart's 
time  was  passed  attending  the  district  schools  of 
Richland  County,  Ohio,  and  assisting  on  his 
father's  farm,  which  was  situated  in  the  vicinity 
of  Mansfield.  He  then  became  a  dry  goods  clerk 
at  Mount  \'ernon,  Ohio,  and  continued  in  this 
capacity  there  and  in  Cincinnati  until  1855,  when 
he  made  a  trip  to  California  and  engaged  in  min- 
ing there  for  three  and  a  half  years.  Contented 
with  his  success  in  the  gold  regions,  he  re- 
turned to  Ohio  on  the  steamer  "Golden  Gate," 
sailing  from  San  Francisco  to  New  York.  The 
W'ork  of  the  home  farm,  after  these  years  of  ad- 
venture and  excitement,  did  not  satisfy  him  and 
as  there  was  no  promise  of  anything  different,  he 
decided  to  join  the  great  army  of  settlers,  who 
were  then  seeking  homes  in  Kansas.  In  a  most 
interesting  manner,  Mr.  Englehart  recalls  his 
trip  from  St.  Louis  up  the  Missouri  River  as  far 
as  Iowa  Point,  making  his  first  acquaintance  with 
St.  Joseph,  wiien  the  "Southerner"  was  dis- 
charging its  freight  at  the  docks. 

Mr.  Englehart's  objective  point  was  the  farm 
of  his  brother,  situated  near  Hiawatha,  now  the 


county  seat  of  Brown  County,  which  was  then  a 
village  of  a  few  houses.  Mr.  Englehart  was  sat- 
isfied with  the  prospects  for  business  there  and, 
with  an  old  mining  friend,  established  a  store  at 
Hiawatha,  the  firm  becoming  Englehart  &  Fair- 
child.  Six  years  later,  Mr.  Englehart  disposed 
of  his  interest  to  Mr.  Fairchild,  and  came  to  St. 
Joseph,  where  he  soon  became  identified  with  the 
keen,  progressive  men,  who  with  himself  founded 
much  of  this  city's  present  commercial  prosperity. 
He  entered  into  his  first  partnership,  June  i,  1865, 
with  the  house  of  Tootle  &  Fairleigh.  The  year 
1866  saw  the  founding  of  the  great  business 
enterprise  now  known  as  the  Johnston- Wood- 
bury Hat  Company,  Mr.  Englehart  and  Nelson  P. 
Smith  starting  into  the  wholesale  hat  and  cap 
lousiness.  The  death  of  Mr.  Smith,  a  victim  of 
the  cholera  which  was  then  devastating  the  coun- 
try, deprived  the  firm  of  the  business  perceptions 
of  an  able  man,  but  Mr.  Englehart  then  admitted 
Maj.  S.  A.  Garth.  In  1868  Mr.  Englehart  pur- 
chased Major  Garth's  interest  and  consolidated 
the  business  with  that  of  Samuel  Lockwood,  who 
had  already  been  in  the  business,  having  opened 
the  first  hat  store  in  St.  Joseph.  With  Mr. 
Lockwood's  practical  ideas  and  knowledge,  the 
business  was  much  expanded  and  millinery  was 
added  and  this  house  has  the  distinction  of  being 
the  first  wholesale  millinery  house  started  west 
of  Chicago  and  St.  Louis. 

In  1890  the  branches  were  separated  for  easier 
handling,  and  two  corporations  were  formed 
under  the  names  of  the  Johnston-Fife  Hat  Com- 
pany and  the  Englehart-Davidson  Millinery 
Company,  Mr.  Englehart  being  at  the  head  of 
both  boards  of  directors  and  the  leading  stock- 
holder. Under  the  present  titles,  caused  by  sub- 
sequent changes  in  the  management,  the  branches 
are  now  known  to  the  trade  and  the  public  as  the 
Johnston-Woodbury  Hat  Company  and  the  En- 
glehart-Davidson Mercantile  Company.  The  of- 
ficers of  the  latter  concern  are :  George  J.  Engle- 
hp.rt,  president;  August  Quentin.  vice-president; 
and  James  L.  Davidson,  secretary  and  treasurer. 
The  business  is  located  at  Nos.  212-214  North 
Fourth  street,  where  commodious  and  imposing 
quarters  are  occupied.  The  house  is  well  known 
in  all  the  trade  centers  of  the  West,  an  army  of 
traveling  men  visiting  each  section.  It  is  one 
of  the  great  millinery  distributors  west  of  the 
Mississippi  River 

Mr.  Englehart  not  only  deserves  to  be  classed 
with  other  great  "captains  of  industry,"  who  have 
met   with   notable   success,  but   he   lias  also  im- 


522 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY  AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


pressed  his  strong  personality  on  the  pubhc  and 
pohtical  life  of  his  city.  In  politics  an  ardent 
supporter  of  the  principles  of  the  Republican 
party.  He  has  frequently  been  honored  by  its 
members  with  public  tokens  of  their  esteem. 
Shortly  after  settling  in  Brown  County,  Kansas, 
he  was  elected  county  treasurer,  an  office  he  held 
four  years.  In  1886  he  was  nominated  for  mayor 
of  St.  Joseph,  but  was  defeated  by  Hon.  Thomas 
H.  Doyle  by  the  narrow  margin  of  40  votes ;  in 
1888  he  was  again  brought  forward  by  his  party 
and  was  elected  over  the  late  R.  T.  Davis.  As  an 
overwhelming  majority  was  the  result  of  this 
election,  his  friends  insisted  upon  his  acceptance 
of  the  nomination  to  the  State  Senate,  in  1890, 
but  Mr.  Englehart  felt  obliged  to  decline  the 
proffered  honor  on  account  of  the  press  of  busi- 
ness responsibilities.  In  1887  he  was  elected 
president  of  the  Board  of  Trade  of  St.  Joseph, 
for  which  position  his  business  acumen  and  en- 
terprising spirit  admirably  fitted  him.  Mr.  En- 
glehart formerly  occupied  one  of  the  city's  beau- 
tiful homes,  located  on  Convent  Hill,  but  now 
resides  in  East  Orange,  New  Jersey. 

Mr.  Englehart  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Coralin  Loomis,  of  Manlius,  New  York.  They 
had  four  children  born  to  them :  Mabel ;  Stella 
G. ;  Bertha  L. ;  and  Grace  Putnam,  who  is  de- 
ceased. A  portrait  of  Mr.  Englehart  appears  on 
a  foregoing  page  in  proximity  to  this. 


^  ♦ » 


AMES  HENRY  ALLISON,  who  comes 
of  one  of  the  pioneer  families  of  Bu- 
chanan County  and  is  himself  a  pioneer, 
is  living  in  retirement  at  DeKalb  in  the 
enjoyment  of  the  fruits  of  an  industrious 
life  and  the  happy  companionship  of  his  fam.ily. 
He  was  born  in  Lafayette  County,  Missouri,  Feb- 
ruary 16,  1833,  and  is  a  son  of  William  and  Mary 
A.   (Trapp)  Allison. 

William  Allison  was  born  in  Kentucky  in 
[802,  and  at  an  early  age  entered  the  ministry  of 
the  Christian  Church.  His  life  was  practically 
given  to  the  cause  of  Christianity  and  he  served 
in  the  ministry  more  than  40  years.  He  never 
received  a  cent  for  any  work  he  did  in  this  cause, 
which  he  held  above  pecuniary  reward.  He  first 
preached  in  the  old  log  school  house  in  his  dis- 
trict, and  organized  the  Sugar  Creek  Church, 
which  he  had  the  satisfaction  of  seeing  grow  to 
large  membership.  When  he  grew  so  feeble  from 
age   that   he   could   attend   divine   worship   only 


with  assistance,  his  son  would  convey  him  there. 
The  ladies  of  the  church  presented  him  with  a 
fine  cushion  chair  and  in  this  he  was  taken  to 
church  during  his  later  years.  He  pre-empted  a 
claim  in  Rush  township,  Buchanan  County,  in 
1838,  at  a  time  when  Indians  were  numerous  and 
wild  animals  abounded.  The  country  was  a 
forest  and  was  full  of  deer,  wild  turkeys  and 
other  game,  and  the  streams  were  plentifully 
stocked  with  fish.  He  witnessed  a  great  improve- 
ment in  the  moral  tone  of  the  community  and 
also  the  change  from  a  wild  frontier  country  to 
a  prosperous  farming  community.  His  first  wife, 
Mary  A.  (Trapp)  Allison,  died  July  10,  1847. 
Of  the  eight  children  born  to  them,  four  are 
living :  Rachel,  wife  of  Alexander  Brown,  of 
Sugar  Creek ;  James  Henry ;  Nancy  Adeline 
(Johnson),  a  widow,  and  John  William,  who 
lives  near  Winthrop  in  Rush  township.  His 
second  wife  was  Mary  A.  Parkison,  who  bore  him 
two  children :  Eliza,  who  died  in  infancy ;  and 
George  W.,  a  farmer  of  Rush  township.  William 
Allison  died  April  i,  1891.  His  widow  lived  until 
December  25.  1902. 

James  H.  Allison  was  reared  on  his  father's 
farm  and  attended  the  primitive  log  school  house, 
with  holes  cut  in  the  sides  to  let  in  light,  with 
slabs  for  benches  and  desks,  and  an  old  fire-place 
running  the  length  of  the  building.  The  fire  in 
this  fire-place  was  started  by  an  old  flint-lock 
gun.  At  that  time  the  trading  point  was  Weston, 
14  miles  away ;  it  was  a  favorite  gathering  place, 
where  the  pioneers  congregated  and  waited  their 
turn  to  grind.  During  the  Civil  War,  Mr.  Allison 
served  six  months  in  the  Missouri  State  Militia. 
He  spent  most  of  his  active  life  in  sections  13 
and  14,  Rush  township,  where  he  has  a  farm  of 
250  acres,  which  is  provided  with  a  modern  farm 
house  and  substantial  out  buildings.  There  is 
also  a  fine  orchard  on  the  place.  For  a  period  of 
four  years  he  engaged  in  clerking  in  Atchison, 
Kansas  and  Rushville,  and  the  remainder  of  the 
time  was  spent  on  the  farm  until  1901,  when  he 
moved  to  DeKalb  and  erected  a  handsome  home. 

December  16,  1855,  Mr.  Allison  was  joined 
in  marriage  with  Martha  Eastbourn,  who  was 
born  in  Mason  County,  Kentucky,  December  i, 
1836,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Thomas  Jeft'erson 
Eastbourn,  who  moved  froni  Baltimore,  Mary- 
land, to  Kentucky,  and  in  1838  located  in  Platte 
County,  Missouri.  Mr.  Eastbourn  was  a  tailor 
by  trade  and  located  at  Mason's  Store,  where  he 
established  a  good  trade  at  the  same  time 
taking  up  a  claim  by  pre-emption.    He  was  joined 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


523 


in  marriage  with  ^Irs.  Elizabeth  Brown,  nee 
Jones,  whose  mother  was  Nancy  Field,  a  native 
of  \'irginia.  She  also  was  a  tailoress  and  worked 
at  the  trade  after  the  death  of  her  husband,  who 
died  in  1845,  just  after  two  years  service  during 
the  ^Mexican  \\'ar.  ]Mrs.  Eastbourn  was  a 
woman  of  remarkable  energy  and  deep  intellect, 
retaining  her  faculties  up  to  the  last,  dying  ]\Iarch 
4,  1904,  aged  93  years.  They  had  four  children : 
James  E.,  of  Texas;  Francis  M. ;  Annie  M.,  wife 
of  Jasper  C.  Allison,  of  Rushville ;  and  Mrs. 
James  H.  Allison.  Our  subject  and  his  wife 
have  five  children :  Lloyd  M.,  who  married 
Maude  Jenkins  ;  James  L.,  who  died  in  infancy  : 
Elizabeth,  wife  of  J.  B.  Fenton,  of  Rushville : 
William  P.,  engaged  in  the  livery  business  at 
DeKalb,  who  married  Hattie  A.  Davis,  and  has 
three  children  ;  and  Annie,  who  married  James 
Sampson  and  lives  on  the  old  Allison  homestead 
in  Rush  township.  Religiously,  Mrs.  Allison's 
family  are  Baptists,  while  our  subject's  family 
belong  to  the  Christian  Church. 


♦ » » 


OHN  S.  LAWRENCE,  a  prosperous 
farmer  residing  in  section  31,  Blooming- 
ton  township,  Buchanan  County,  has 
been  a  resident  of  this  county  since 
infancy.  He  was  born  in  Clark  Coimty, 
Kentucky,  April  20,  1853,  and  is  a  son  of  John 
AI.  and  Mary  E.  (Sewell)  Lawrence,  and  grand- 
son of  John  and  Elizabeth  (Ese)  Lawrence,  both 
natives  of  Virginia. 

John  M.  Lawrence  was  born  in  Clark  County, 
Kentucky,  September  14,  1819,  and  in  the  spring 
of  1853  removed  to  Platte  County,  ^Missouri, 
where  he  lived  until  the  fall  of  1855.  He  then 
came  to  Buchanan  County  and  settled  on  the 
west  80  acres  of  what  became  the  homestead 
farm,  which  he  acquired  of  William  ]\Iessick, 
later  acquiring  the  east  80  acres  of  David  Hart. 
It  is  all  located  in  section  31,  Bloomington  town- 
ship. He  cleared  the  farm  of  timber  and  broke 
it  for  cultivation  with  oxen,  and  engaged  in 
general  farming  and  stock-raising.  He  was  very 
fond  of  stock,  a  good  judge  of  men  and  animals 
and  a  highly  successful  trader.  He  was  closely 
identified  with  the  growth  of  the  community  and 
was  always  an  advocate  of  good  schools,  churches 
and  roads.  He  was  of  the  Christian  belief,  and 
lielped  to  build  the  Sugar  Creek  Christian  church. 
He  died  July  15,  1886.  On  September  13,  1846. 
he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Marv  E.  Sewell, 


who  was  born  in  Clark  County,  Kentucky, 
December  9,  1822,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Samuel 
and  Mary  (Hayes)  Sewell,  her  father  a  native 
of  Maryland  and  her  mother,  of  X'irginia.  She 
is  now  82  years  of  age,  and  has  a  sister,  ]Mrs. 
Delilah  Risk,  who  is  living  in  Platte  County  at 
the  age  of  86  years.  The  following  children 
were  born  to  John  M.  and  ]\Iary  E.  (Sewell) 
Lawrence :  Nannie,  widow  of  William  Page,  of 
Bloomington  township ;  Zechariah  T.,  who  mar- 
ried Nellie  Bean  and  lives  in  Whiting,  Kansas ; 
Walter  Scott,  who  married  Louise  Campbell  and 
lives  in  Wliiting,  Kansas ;  John  S. ;  William ; 
Mary  Ellen,  wife  of  Martin  Keller,  of  Blooming- 
ton township :  and  IMilton  Sewell,  who  married 
Margaret  Peel,  of  Bloomington  township. 

William  Lawrence,  our  subject's  brother,  was 
born  in  Buchanan  County  July  10,  1855,  and 
married  Alice  Curtis,  by  whom  he  has  the  fol- 
lowing children :  Walter,  who  married  Iva 
Brown;  Stella  (wife  of  D.  Dyer),  who  is  keeping 
house  for  her  uncle,  our  subject;  Leslie,  who  is 
living  at  home  :  John,  deceased  ;  two  who  died  in 
infancy ;  Nellie,  who  lives  at  home  ;  and  Robert, 
who  lives  in  sectioin  31,  Bloomington  township. 

John  S.  Lawrence  was  two  years  of  age  when 
he  came  from  Kentucky  to  Missouri  with  his 
parents,  and  here  he  received  his  educational 
training  in  the  old  log  school  house,  with  its 
old-fashioned  fire-place  and  with  benches  and 
desks  made  of  slabs,  this  school  now  being  known 
as  \'alley  Chapel  School.  He  has  never  married 
and  has  always  lived  on  the  home  farm  of  i6c 
acres  in  section  31,  Bloomington  township 
(which  property  he  owns),  taking  care  of  his 
parents.  He  owns  the  homestead  farm,  also  97 
acres  in  section  29,  Bloomington  township.  He 
is  the  owner  of  a  120-acre  farm  in  Rush  town- 
ship, which  is  all  under  cultivation,  with  30  acres 
of  the  tract  in  an  apple  orchard,  set  out  by  our 
subject  and  now  in  bearing.  He  lias  made  a 
success  of  farming,  and  like  his  father  has  been 
particularly  successful  in  raising  and  dealing  in 
horses,  mules,  cattle  and  hogs.  He  raises 
thoroughbred  Poland-China  hogs  and  Shropshire 
sheep  for  the  home  market.  He  is  a  public- 
spirited  citizen  with  the  welfare  of  his  home 
community  always  foremost  in  his  heart,  and  he 
has  always  supported  deserving  measm-es  for 
local  improvement.  He  has  taken  an  especial 
interest  in  the  betterment  of  the  roads  of  the 
lownship.  He  was  a  director  of  the  Valley 
Chapel  school  flistrict  some  years,  and  has  been 
a  member  of  the  Anti-Horse  Thief  Association. 


524 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY  AND   ST.    JOSEPH 


He  has  made  many  and  extensive  improvements 
on  the  old  homestead,  inckiding  the  remodeUng 
of  the  old  home,  in  which  he  has  lived  since 
infancy,  and  the  building  of  a  barn  50  by  32 
feet  in  dimensions. 

Our  subject's  father,  John  j\I.  Lawrence,  was 
an  extensive  breeder  and  dealer  in  horses  and 
mules.  He  bred  and  owned  the  premium  saddle 
and  harness  horse  "Young  Pat  Claiborne,"  a 
beautiful  bay,  16  hands  high,  with  fine  style  and 
action,  which  was  exhibited  in  22  rings  and  took 
22  blue  ribbons,  being  shown  at  fairs  at  Platte 
City  and  Kansas  City,  Missouri,  and  Bismarck, 
Kansas.  He  also  took  two  first  premiums  at  stock 
shows  in  Buchanan  County.  He  ^vas  a  grand 
horse  and  his  colts  sold  for  large  prices.  Our 
subject  owned  a  half  interest  in  the  horse  when 
his  father  died. 


-♦-•-♦- 


OHN  O.  BARKLEY.  Among  the  prom- 
inent and  enterprising  citizens  of  St. 
Joseph,  none  are  more  deserving  of 
mention  among  the  representative  men 
of  Buchanan  County  than  the  popular 
and  afifable  commercial  agent  of  the  Missouri 
Pacific  Railway  Company,  whose  name  appears 
at  the  head  of  this  article.  Born  in  Marshall, 
Missouri,  he  was  there  reared  and  educated, 
going  through  the  High  School  and  at  once 
taking  up  railroading  when  about  17  years  of 
age.  He  has  been  with  the  Missouri  Pacific  since 
1878,  working  his  way  up  from  the  ranks  in  the 
telegraph  office  of  the  company  to  the  present 
important  and  responsible  position  as  commercial 
agent  of  the  road,  having  charge  of  the  local 
and  commercial  freight.  His  first  official  position 
was  that  of  telegraph  operator  at  Lexington,  this 
State,  from  which  he  was  advanced  to  the  position 
of  traveling  auditor  and  in  1892  was  sent  to  St. 
Jose])h  to  look  after  the  interests  of  the  company 
here.  He  is  alert  and  active,  keenly  alive  to  the 
best  interests  of  his  company  and  the  indications 
point  to  his  still  farther  advancement. 

Mrs.  Barkley  is  from  Mobile,  Alabama,  and  is 
the  daughter  of  Rev.  W.  E.  Penn,  a  Baptist  min- 
ister long  since  deceased  but  at  one  time  widely 
known  throughout  the  Union  as  a  traveling  evan- 
gelist, whose  life  was  devoted  to  the  betterment 
of  htimanitv.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Barklev  have  five 
children,  A.  P.,  J.  C,  Mildred  M.,'A.  S.  and 
Frances.  Mr.  Barkley  is  a  stanch  Democrat  and 
was  elected  alderman-at-large  from  the  First 
^^^^rd  in  1901,  his  term  expiring  in  April.  1906. 


He  is  engaged  in  various  business  enterprises  in 
St.  Joseph  and  is  one  of  the  instigators  of  the 
Auditorium  movement  recently  inaugurated.  He 
is  a  Mason  of  high  standing  and  has  membership 
in  Moila  Temple,  Nobles  of  the  Mystic  Shrine. 
He  belongs  to  a  number  of  clubs — the  Benton, 
Lotus,  Commercial  and  others, — and  is  a  director 
of  the  Commercial  Club. 


^  * » 


ON.  SILAS  WOODSON,  who  was 
elected  Governor  of  Missouri  in  1872, 
and  honored  the  office  more  than  the 
office  honored  him,  began  life  in  the 
humble  little  home  of  a  small  farmer 
in  Knox  County,  Kentucky,  where  he  was  born 
May   18,   1 8 19. 

Lie  was  one  of  his  country's  self-made  men. 
His  duties  on  his  father's  farm  and  attendance  at 
the  little  log  school  house,  in  the  neighborhood, 
absorbed  his  boyhood.  When  he  secured  a  clerk- 
ship in  a  country  store,  he  devoted  his  leisure  to 
reading  and  study,  giving  particular  attention  to 
the  law,  and  in  1842.  through  his  own  efforts,  was 
admitted  to  the  bar.  In  the  same  year  he  was 
sent  to  the  Kentucky  Legislature  and  in  the  fol- 
lowing year  was  made  circuit  attorney,  in  which 
office  he  served  until  1848.  In  1849  ^^e  was 
elected  to  the  Kentucky  Constitutional  Conven- 
tion, and  in  1853  served  again  as  a  member  of 
the  Kentucky  Legislature. 

The  young  lawyer  and  politician  came  to  St. 
Joseph  in  August,  1854,  opening  a  law  office 
here,  and  in  i860  he  was  elected  judge  of  the 
T2th  Judicial  Circuit.  During  the  years  of  the 
Civil  War,  he  remained  a  Union  man,  and  served 
m\  the  staff  of  Gen.  Willard  P.  Hall.  In  1872 
he  was  elected  Governor  of  Missouri,  on  the 
Liberal  Democratic  ticket,  defeating  Hon.  John 
B.  Henderson,  the  Republican  nominee.  At  the 
expiration  of  his  term  during  which  he  made  a 
great  and  enduring  record  for  official  honesty, 
he  resumed  the  practice  of  the  law  at  St.  Joseph, 
and  in  1885  he  was  appointed  judge  of  the 
Criminal  Court  of  Buchanan  County,  a  position 
he  held  with  honor,  dignity  and  efficiency,  until 
1895,  when  he  retired  on  accomit  of  failing 
health. 

Governor  Woodson  was  thrice  married.  His 
last  wife  was  Jennie  Lard,  to  whom  he  was  united 
December  29,  1866,  a  daughter  of  Rev.  IMoses 
E.  Lard.  Mrs.  Woodson,  with  two  daughters, 
survives  him.     His  death  took  place  October  9, 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


525 


1896.  During  his  last  illness  he  embraced  the 
Catholic  faith.  A  man  of  unblemished  personal 
character,  he  was  a  great  statesman,  a  powerful 
advocate  and  an  incorruptible  judge. 


^« » 


ILLIA^I    R.    FENTON.    one   of   the 

prominent    citizens    and   progressive 

and  enterprising  farmers  of  Bloom- 

ington  township,   Buchanan   County, 

who   owns   a   finely   cultivated   farm 

of  231  acres  in  section  6,  was  born  at  Rushville, 

Buchanan  County.   November  3,   1868.  and  is  a 

son  of  Alfred  and  Alice  (Long)   Fenton. 

Alfred  Fenton.  father  of  our  subject,  was 
born  May  25,  1824.  in  Mason  County.  Kentucky, 
and  was  a  son  of  John  Fenton,  who  was  born 
about  1808,  in  Loudoun  County.  Mrginia.  and 
was  a  son  of  Michael  Fenton.  John  Fenton 
married  Sarah  Fields  in  Kentucky,  and  prior  to 
1840  removed  to  Adams  County.  Ohio,  where 
Alfred  Fenton,  who  was  born  in  ]\Iason  County, 
Kentucky,  was  educated. 

In  1850  the  latter  came  to  j\Iissouri  and  three 
years  later  settled  in  Buchanan  County.  In  asso- 
ciation with  his  brother,  E.  M.  Fenton,  he  con- 
ducted a  store  at  Rushville  and  until  1859  was 
engaged  there  in  selling  both  merchandise  and 
stock,  handling  hemp  and  doing  a  general  trading 
business.  In  1859  he  went  to  Colorado  and 
started  up  a  grocery  business  and  has  the  record 
for  having  the  very  first  plank  floor  ever  laid  in 
a  Denver  business  house,  and  the  first  store  build- 
ing erected  in  Denver.  He  still  continued  inter- 
ested in  stock  until  he  returned  to  Rushville,  and 
later,  with  his  brother,  became  interested  in  sev- 
{ ral  mills,  one  located  at  Rushville  and  the  other 
at  Weston.  He  died  September  18.  1898.  During 
tlie  Civil  War  he  was  engaged  in  freighting 
across  the  plains.  He  was  a  very  active  Dem- 
ocrat and  in  his  day  was  the  most  prominent 
member  of  his  party  in  Rush  township.  He  was 
very  positive  in  his  convictions  and  was  known 
as  a  man  of  very  strong  will  power.  He  was 
good  and  kind  to  the  poor  and  was  a  true  friend 
to  all  who  deserved  his  friendship.  In  1865  ^^^ 
married  Alice  Long,  a  native  of  Buchanan 
County  and  our  subject  is  the  oldest  son  and 
second  child  in  their  family. 

W.  R.  Fenton  obtained  his  education  in  the 
public  schools  of  St.  Joseph  and  at  the  Christian 
Brothers'  College,  returning  in  1887  to  the  home- 


stead farm.  In  1894  he  settled  on  his  present 
farm  in  section  6,  Bloomington  township,  which 
was  then  only  slightl\-  improved.  Since  locating 
here,  he  has  fenced  his  property  and  has  other- 
wise improved  it.  increasing  its  value  very  mater- 
ially. He  raises  and  handles  Shorthorn  cattle 
and  hogs  and  is  known  as  one  of  the  leading 
stock  men  of  the  township.  A  practical  farmer, 
he  has  adopted  modern  methods  and  utilizes  im- 
proved machinery  and  has  set  an  example  in 
keeping  up  the  standard  of  his  stock  which  ex- 
ample has  been  followed  by  many  of  his  fellow 
agriculturists  to  the  benefit  of  the  whole  town- 
ship. 

On  August  15,  1895,  ^Ir.  Fenton  was  married 
to  ^largaret  \'aughn.  who  is  a  daughter  of 
Michael  and  Mary  (Dooney)  \'aughn,  residents 
of  St.  Joseph,  but  natives  of  Ireland.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Fenton  have  four  children :  ^lary  Alice, 
?\Iargaret  Helen.  Katherine  and  Alfred  \'aughn. 

Mr.  Fenton 's  activity  in  the  Democratic  party 
ever  since  his  maturity,  has  resulted  in  making 
him  a  leading  factor  in  this  organization  in  his 
township.  He  has  frequently  served  as  a  delegate 
both  to  State  and  Congressional  conventions  and 
was  selected  as  delegate  to  his  party's  great 
National  convention  at  Kansas  City. 

In  ^Masonic  circles.  ]\Ir.  Fenton  has  reached 
high  degree,  belonging  to  Rushville  Chapter.  No. 
238;  St.  Joseph  Council,  No.  9.  R.  and  S.  ^I. ; 
and  St.  Joseph  Chapter  Rose  Croix,  No.  4,  A.  A. 
S.  R.  He  belongs  also  to  Camp  No.  5882,  ]\Iod- 
ern  \\"oodmen  of  America. 


^ » » 


EORGE  W.  MONTGOMERY,  one  of 
the  large  farmers  and  representative 
citizens  of  Lake  township.  Buchanan 
County,  who  resides  on  his  well-cul- 
tivated farm  of  200  acres  in  section  25, 
born  near  Seymour.  Jackson  County. 
September  12.  1849.  ?'"<i  i^  a  son  of 
K.  and  Elizabeth   ('\\'halen) 


Montgom- 


was 

Indiana. 
Thomas 
ery. 

The  ^lontgomery  family  is  of  Scotch  extrac- 
tion, and  Richard  Montgomery,  the  grandfather, 
was  born  and  reared  at  Glasgow,  where  he  mar- 
ried. Later  he  immigrated  to  America  and  set- 
tled at  Boston,  on  the  Ohio  River,  later  moving 
to  ^Madison.  Indiana,  where  he  followed  farming 
for  the  remainder  of  his  life.  He  was  the  father 
of  a  large  family  and  those  who  reached  maturity 
were :  Richard.  John.  Thomas  K..  ^lary  Jane, 
Theophilus.  Henry,  James  and  Robert. 


526 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY  AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


Thomas  K.  Montgomery,  father  of  our  sub- 
ject, presumably  was  born  in  Ohio ;  it  is  certain, 
however,  that  he  was  reared  and  educated  in 
Indiana.  He  followed  the  business  of  farming 
and  wagon-making,  and  at  the  time  of  his  mar- 
riage he  was  engaged  in  business  at  Columbus, 
Indiana,  where  he  operated  a  wagon  shop.  In 
1845  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Elizabeth 
Whalen,  a  daughter  of  John  Whalen,  a  farmer 
wdio  formerly  lived  in  Indiana,  but  who  later  re- 
moved to  Lake  township,  Buchanan  County, 
Missouri,  where  he  died .  The  children  of 
Thomas  K.  Montgomery  and  wife  were:  Jane, 
wife  of  Oliver  Walker,  a  resident  of  Seymour, 
Indiana ;  Mary  Elizabeth,  wife  of  William 
Adams,  of  Cincinnati,  Ohio;  and  George  W.,  the 
subject  of  this  sketch.  The  father  died  when  our 
subject  was  six  years  old  and  the  mother  married 
Rev.  William  Gossett,  a  Methodist  minister 
and  a  farmer  of  Jackson  County,  Indiana.  The 
children  of  this  second  marriage  were:  John  T., 
deceased  ;  Sarah  Maria,  wife  of  Dell  Abbott,  of 
Jackson  County,  Indiana ;  George  Austin,  who 
died  young;  William  A.,  a  resident  of  Jackson 
County,  Indiana  ;  and  Oliver  Morton  and  Charles, 
both  residents  of  Buchanan  County,  Missouri. 
The  mother  died  in  1885  and  was  interred  in 
Jackson  County,  Indiana. 

George  W.  Montgomery  was  educated  in  the 
common  schools  of  Jackson  County  and  the  High 
School  at  Seymour.  He  then  engaged  in  farm- 
ing on  his  own  account  in  his  native  State,  where 
he  remained  until  the  spring  of  1880,  when  he 
came  to  Buchanan  County.  Missouri,  settling  on 
the  place  where  he  now  resides.  It  was  owned  by 
his  mother  and  he  rented  it  and  continued  to 
operate  it  until  her  death,  in  1885,  when  he  pur- 
chased it  of  the  other  heirs.  Originally  it  con- 
sisted of  an  80-acre  tract,  but  it  has  been  aug- 
mented b}'  purchases  from  time  to  time  until  it 
now  comprises  200  acres,  almost  all  of  it  being 
under  cultivation.  Mr.  Montgomery  owns  other 
property,  480  acres  being  located  in  Lane  County, 
Kansas.  He  is  a  practical  farmer,  cultivating 
his  land  according  to  approved  methods  and  with 
the  use  of  modern  machinery  and  reaping  results 
that  must  be  very  satisfactory.  He  has  given 
much  attention  to  the  raising  of  fine  stock,  for 
which  he  finds  a  ready  market. 

On  February  22,  1871,  Mr.  Montgomery  was 

married  to  Elizabeth  L.  Shannon,  a  daughter  of 

John    Shannon,    a    farmer    of    Jackson    County, 

Jndiana.     They  have  two  children:  John  E.,  who 

lives  at  home,  and  is  his  father's  riglit  hand  man  ; 


and  George  Silas,  who  is  married  and  lives  on 
the  home  farm.  The  latter  married  Dollie  HameL 
a  daughter  of  Daniel  Hamel,  a  farmer  of  Okla- 
homa Territory,  and  they  have  a  little  daughter — 
Luetta. 

Politically,  j\Ir.  JMontgomery  has  always  been 
identified  with  the  Republican  party.  He  has 
never  accepted  office,  his  ambition  not  being  in 
that  direction,  and  his  life  being  too  much  occu- 
pied in  carefully  looking  after  his  agricultural 
interests.  He  bears  the  reputation  of  being  one 
of  the  most  honorable  and  upright  men  of  his 
township  and  enjoys  a  large  measure  of  public 
esteem. 


^  ♦  » 


ERBERT  A.  OWEN,  an  attorney-at-law 
of  St.  Joseph,  who  also  conducts  an 
abstract  and  real  estate  business,  is  a 
prominent  and  representative  citizen  of 
the  city.  He  was  born  at  St.  Joseph, 
Missouri,  and  is  a  son  of  the  late  James  A.  and 
Agnes  (Cargill)  Owen.  He  can  trace  his  an- 
cestry back  many  generations  to  old  and  promi- 
nent families  of  Owen  and  Henry  Counties,. 
Kentucky. 

James  A.  Owen  married  Agnes  Cargill, 
daughter  of  the  late  James  Cargill,  v/ho  built 
one  of  the  earliest  grist  mills  on  the  river  bank 
at  St.  Joseph.  Later  Mr.  Cargill  built  a  mill  on 
the  corner  of  Eighth  and  Felix  streets,  on  the 
site  now  occupied  by  the  Hirsch  Brothers  DrV 
Goods  Company.  He  conducted  that  mill  until 
the  time  of  his  death.  Mrs.  Owen  was  but  eight 
years  of  age  when  the  family  came  here  from 
Virginia.  Her  brother,  George  W.  Cargill,  is 
practicing  law  at  Charleston,  West  Virginia. 
The  children  of  James  A.  Owen  consisting  of 
one  son  and  four  daughters,  all  reside  in  St. 
Joseph.  He  erected  the  comfortable  family  resi- 
dence at  Ninth  and  Jules  streets  almost  45  years 
ago. 

Herbert  A.  Owen  completed  the  common  and 
high  school  courses  at  St.  Joseph  and  spent  one 
year  at  the  United  States  Military  Academy  at 
West  Point,  being  an  appointee  of  Hon.  David 
Rea,  Member  of  Congress  from  the  Fourth  Con- 
gressional District  of  Alissouri.  An  accidental 
injury  interrupted  Mr.  Owen's  military  career. 
Prior  to  his  West  Point  appointment,  he  had  been 
associated  with  the  Gazette,  and  he  resumed  work 
on  this  newspaper  after  his  return.  Later  he 
resigned  his  position  here  in  order  to  accept 
another  with  the  Merchants'  Bank,  in  the  latter 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


527 


part  of  1879,  and  remained  with  this  institution 
until  1882  when  he  entered  into  business  for  him- 
self. Mr.  Owen  entered  into  the  real  estate  busi- 
ness, was  admitted  to  the  bar  of  Buchanan 
County,  entered  into  the  abstract  line  and  now 
operates  extensively  as  the  St.  Joseph  Abstract 
Company,  and  also  manages  the  Owen  estate. 

Politically,  Air.  Owen  is  identified  with  the 
Democratic  party.  His  fraternal  associations  in- 
clude the  higher  branches  of  Masonry. 


■♦ » » 


ILLIAM  I.  HEDDENS,  M.  D.  The 
death  of  Dr.  William  I.  Heddens, 
July  3,  1 89 1,  removed  from  St.  Jos- 
eph a  valued  and  high-minded  citizen 
and  lost  to  the  medical  profession  of 
Missouri  one  of  its  most  eminent  men.  He  was 
born  in  Preble  Comity,  Ohio,  and  was  a  son  of 
James  and  Martha  Heddens.  The  former  was 
a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  and  the  latter  of  South 
Carolina. 

The  late  Dr.  Heddens  obtained  his  literary 
training  at  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  one  which  sufficed 
to  place  him  in  the  front  rank  with  the  intellectual 
men  of  his  time,  and  his  medical  education  was 
pursued  at  Jefferson  Medical  College,  Philadel- 
phia, many  of  his  classmates,  becoming  like  him- 
self, widely  known  in  the  profession. 

Dr.  Heddens  settled  first  for  practice  at  Bar- 
boursville,  Kentucky,  where  his  justly  prominent 
son  and  successor.  Dr.  James  Weir  Heddens,  of 
St.  Joseph,  was  born.  Two  years  later  he  came 
to  this  city,  recognizing  the  wide  field  opening 
up  here  for  both  business  and  professional  life. 
Dr.  Heddens  became  distinguished  all  over  the 
State,  and  he  was  in  active  cooperation  with 
the  leading  medical  organizations  of  the  country. 
By  many  of  these  he  was  signally  honored  and 
served  as  president  of  the  St.  Joseph  Medical 
Society  in  1877;  of  the  Northwest  Medical  As- 
sociation, in  1875  S"d  1877 ;  vice-president  of 
the  Medical  Association  of  the  State  of  Missouri 
in  1876;  was  a  permanent  meinber  of  the  Amer- 
ican Medical  Association  and  a  member  of  the 
International  Medical  Congress.  Had  Dr.  Hed- 
dens no  other  claim  to  distinctioin,  his  foundiupf 
of  'the  Ensworth  Medical  College  and  Hospital 
at  St.  Joseph,  would  have  sufficed  to  keep  green 
his  memory  in  the  hearts  of  his  fellow  citizens. 
This  great  enterprise  prospered  under  his  fos- 
tering care  and  he  continued  its  honored  president 
until  his  decease. 


His  death  caused  profound  sorrow  all  over 
the  State  and  among  the  innumerable  tributes 
paid  to  his  memory,  that  of  an  admirinng  friend, 
one  of  Missouri's  chief  executives,  briefly  ex- 
pressed the  general  feeling:  "Professional  suc- 
cess with  high  scholarship  and  general  literary 
and  scientific  attainments,  were  united  to  an  ex- 
ceptional degree  in  Dr.  Heddens.  He  has  always 
been  a  devout  student,  ever  searching  for  more 
light  in  his  profession."  He  possessed  in  an 
unusual  degree  the  dignity  of  bearing  and 
suavity  of  manner  which  command  respect  and 
the  strong  personality  that  inspires  confidence. 
Genial,  cordial  and  cheerful,  his  patients  looked 
upon  him  in  the  light  of  more  than  a  physician, 
and,  while  neither  acknowledging  nor  accepting 
any  of  the  fads  and  cults  of  the  day,  he  could  not 
be  unconscious  of  the  healing  powers  of  his 
presence. 

In  March,  1855,  Dr.  Heddens  was  married 
to  Catherine  Adams,  of  Barboursville,  Kentucky, 
and  six  children  were  born  to  this  union.  The 
death  of  Airs.  Heddens  occurred  June  6,  1874. 
She  was  admired  and  beloved  by  all  who  knew 
her.  Dr.  Heddens  was  married  the  second  time 
October  17,  1877,  to  Mattie  D.  Offutt,  of  Shelby- 
ville,  Kentucky,  who  died  November  21,  1904. 
To  this  union  two  children  were  born. 

In  his  political  convictions,  the  late  Dr.  Hed- 
dens was  a  Democrat  but  never  took  more  time 
from  his  profession  than  to  cast  his  vote  as  a 
true  and  public-spirited  citizen.  His  fraternal 
connections  included  the  Masons  and  Odd  Fel- 
lows. He  was  a  consistent  member  of  the  Chris- 
tian Church.  He  was  a  man  of  large  charities 
and  many  of  his  kind  and  generous  acts  were 
entirely  hidden  from  the  public.  No  citizen  ever 
passed  to  posterity  a  better  or  a  cleaner  record 
and  no  one  could  have  possessed  in  greater  degree 
the  esteem  of  those  who  knew  him  best. 


♦ » » 


lAVID  M.  WILSON,  one  of  the  well 
known  agriculturists  of  Lake  town- 
ship, Buchanan  County,  who  owns  a 
fine,  productive  farm  of  85  acres  in 
section  36,  was  born  in  Bartholomew 
County,  Indiana,  May  15,  1859,  and  is  a  son  of 
Josiah  and  Elizabeth  (Parks)  Wilson,  and  a 
brother  of  Thomas  W.  Wilson,  of  Wayne  town- 
ship, Buchanan  County,  Missouri. 

David  M.  Wilson  came  to  Buchanan  County 
with  his  father  anfl  he  obtained  his  education  in 


528 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


the  schools  of  Lake  township,  completing  it  at  the 
age  of  20  years.  He  then  worked  for  his  father 
on  the  homestead  farm  for  some  two  }'ears,  gain- 
ing the  practical  experience  which  has  been  ser- 
viceable to  him  ever  since.  After  this  prepara- 
tion, he  began  farming  for  himself  and  has  never 
had  any  desire  to  change  his  occupation.  His 
well-cultivated  farm  of  85  acres  shows  the  result 
of  careful  management,  and  he  raises  a  large 
amount  of  stock  and  grows  much  alfalfa. 

In  November,  1881,  Mr.  Wilson  was  married 
to  his  first  wife,  Frances  Starmer,  daughter  of 
Jacob  Starmer,  a  prominent  farmer  of  Lake 
township,  and  they  had  one  child,  Florence,  who 
is  the  wife  of  Joseph  Peck,  a  farmer  of  Lake 
township.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Peck  have  two  child- 
ren :  Lester  and  an  infant.  The  mother  of  Mrs. 
Peck  died  in  1882.  In  February,  1887,  Mr. 
Wilson  married  Lena  Ehret,  who  is  a  daughter 
of  John  Ehret,  a  farmer  of  Lake  township. 

Mr.  Wilson  has  always  been  a  stanch  member 
of  the  Democratic  party.  He  has  been  road 
overseer  in  his  township  and  is  always  prominent 
in  local  movements  of  all  kinds.  He  is  justly 
considered  one  of  the  reliable  and  representative 
men  of  his  locality. 


^ « » 


YLYESTER  HAMMY,  whose  fine  home 
is  situated  at  the  southwest  end  of  Lake 
Contrary,  in  section  35,  township  57, 
range  36,  Washington  township, 
Buchanan  County,  is  one  of  the  highly 
respected  citizens  and  extensive  farmers  and 
stock-raisers  of  this  locality.  He  was  born  Jan- 
uary 17,  1830,  at  Koer,  Switzerland,  and  is  a  son 
of  Sylvester  and  Annie   (Kroll)   Hammy. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  always  lived  in 
Switzerland.  The  father  was  a  farmer  and  stock- 
man, one  who  reared  his  children  in  plenty  and 
gave  them  educational  opportunities.  He  was  a 
worthy  member  of  the  Lutheran  Church.  Our 
subject  is  the  fifth  member  of  his  parents'  large 
family,  three  of  whom  died  in  infancy.  In  addi- 
tion to  Sylvester,  the  following  lived  to  maturity: 
Christian,  a  resident  of  Louisville,  Kentucky; 
Phoebe,  Margaret  and  Peter,  deceased ;  Andrew, 
also  deceased,  who  was  killed  in  1869,  near  Fort 
Wallace,  Colorado ;  Emeline,  a  resident  of  Ken- 
tucky;  and  Michael,  a  member  of  the  8ist  Regi- 
ment, Indiana  Vol.  Inf.,  who  was  killed  in  Ten- 
nessee, in  1863. 

Sylvester  Hammy  was  reared  in  the  home 
occupations  until  19  years  of  age,  attending  the 


local  schools,  but  when  his  brothers  and  sisters 
prepared  to  leave  home  and  find  fortune  in 
another  land,  he  was  willing  to  accompany  them. 
In  1849,  therefore,  the  family  embarked  for 
America  on  a  sailing  vessel  which,  after  a  long 
and  wearisome  voyage  of  48  da}s,  landed  them 
at  New  Orleans.  Their  destination  was  Greene 
County,  Indiana,  where  the  family  purchased 
land  and  settled  on  it  with  a  determination  to 
make  good  homes.  The  brothers  cleared  and 
improved  240  acres  there.  In  1853  our  subject 
sold  his  interest  to  his  brother  Christian,  and  em- 
barked in  the  dairy  business  at  New  Albany, 
Indiana. 

Mr.  Hammy  possesses  those  characteristics 
which  contribute  to  success,  and  after  five  years 
in  the  dairy  business  he  had  means  saved  to 
encourage  him  in  settling  in  a  new  section,  grow- 
ing up  with  the  country  and  making  a  choice  of 
land  suited  best  to  his  needs.  For  three  years 
after  coming  to  Buchanan  County,  he  worked 
hard  at  logging  and  other  emplo}'ments  and  then 
bought  80  acres  of  heavily  timbered  land  in 
Wayne  township,  moving  into  the  small  house 
which  had  been  previously  erected  on  the  pro- 
perty. From  this  beginning,  Mr.  Hammy  con- 
tinued to  prosper  and  now  owns  719  acres,  sit- 
uated in  Wayne  and  Washington  townships,  all 
of  it  valuable  property.  He  carries  on  general 
farming,  raising  wheat,  oats,  corn  and  hay.  He 
also  raises  a  large  number  of  fine  cattle,  horses, 
mules  and  hogs  each  year.  He  thoroughly  un- 
derstands his  business  and,  with  industry  and 
provident  economy,  has  grown  from  a  poor  boy 
into  one  of  the  country's  capitalists,  his  success 
being  the  result  of  his  own  efforts. 

In  Greene  County,  Indiana,  Mr.  Hammy 
was  married  to  Fannie  Gimbei ,  who  was  born  at 
Baden,  Germany,  and  came  to  the  United  States 
in  1852.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hammy  have  had  five 
children :  Edward,  who  died  young ;  Annie,  who 
died  young;  Mary,  who  is  the  wife  of  James  W. 
Shepherd,  of  Washington  township,  whose 
sketch  appears  elsewhere  in  this  work  ;  John,  the 
manager  of  his  father's  large  farming  operations, 
who  married  Ida  E.  Irwin,  of  Wayne  township ; 
and  Emily,  who  died  young.  Our  subject's  wife 
died  September  i,  1867. 

Mr.  Hammy  is  identified  with  the  Democratic 
]:)arty,  but  he  has  never  sought  any  political  office. 
He  has  been  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity 
for  manv  vears,  connected  with  King  Hill  Lodge. 
No.  376,  A.  F.  and  A.  M.,  and  with  the  Royal 
Arch  Chapter. 


ANLIFF    C.    HYDE 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


531 


Mr.  Hammy  is  well  known  and  is  respected 
for  his  honest  and  upright  character.  His  long 
life  in  this  locality  has  been  one  of  continued 
industry.  His  neighbors  have  always  found  him 
fair  and  just  and  he  has  many  friends. 


NLIFF  C.  HYDE,  one  of  the  most 
prominent  citizens  of  Washington 
township.  Buchanan  County,  whose 
portrait  is  shown  on  the  foregoing 
page,  resides  on  a  fine  farm  of  454 
acres,  and  has  been  identified  with  the  township's 
agricultural  interests  and  public  affairs  for  many 
years.  Mr.  Hyde  is  one  of  the  county's  most  ven- 
erable citizens,  having  been  born  January  11, 
1819,  in  Bath  County,  Kentucky.  His  parents 
were  James  L.  and  Amy  (Howland)  Hyde. 

James  L.  Hyde  and  wife  were  natives  of  Con- 
necticut and  Delaware  County,  New  York,  re- 
spectively. They  were  married  in  Delaware 
County,  New  York,  and  removed  to  -Kentucky 
in  the  year  prior  to  our  subject's  birth. 

The  father  was  a  "natural  born  mechanic," 
one  of  the  men  sometimes  denominated  a  "Jack 
of  all  trades''  and  he  could  shoe  a  horse,  con- 
struct a  wagon  or  manage  a  farm  with  equal 
success.  In  October,  1840,  he  removed  with  his 
family,  to  Buchanan  County,  Missouri,  and  set- 
tled in  section  32.  township  57,  range  35,  in 
Washington  township  one  of  the  first  to  make  a 
home  in  this  region,  then  wild  and  uncultivated. 
Here  he  preempted  160  acres  of  land,  before  the 
county  was  surveyed,  and  to  aft'ord  shelter  for 
his  family  built  a  cabin  of  hewed  logs,  16  by  16 
feet  in  tlimensions.  This  continued  his  home 
until  his  death  in  1873.  He  was  a  man  of  char- 
acter and  was  selected  to  hold  almost  every  town- 
ship ofiice,  serving  for  years  as  school  trustee 
and  as  a  justice  of  the  peace.  Politically  a  stanch 
Democrat,  he  was  equally  consistent  in  his  ad- 
herence to  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
South. 

James  L.  Hyde  was  twice  married,  first  to 
Amy  Howland,  who  died  in  1845,  and  second  to 
Elizabeth  Arterbury,  of  Missouri.  The  five  chil- 
dren of  the  first  marriage  were :  Eleanor,  of  Den- 
ver, Colorado ;  Phoebe,  deceased :  Lyman,  de- 
ceased ;  Emma,  deceased  ;  and  Anliff  C,  of  this 
sketch. 

Our  subject  obtained  his  education  in  the  sub- 
scription schools  which  afi^orded  the  youth  of  his 
day  their  only   educational   advantages,  and   re- 


mained with  his  parents,  assisting  in  the  man- 
agement of  the  home  farm.  In  April,  1849,  he 
joined  the  great  exodus  to  the  Pacific  slope,  driv- 
ing an  ox  team  across  the  plains,  one  of  a  party 
of  six,  with  three  terms.  After  working  two 
years  in  the  mines,  he  started  home,  in  185 1,  by 
way  of  Central  America,  and  had  many  adven- 
tures before  he  once  more  reached  his  family. 
During  six  days  spent  at  Greytown,  Nicaragua, 
Central  America,  while  awaiting  a  vessel  to  take 
them  home,  Mr.  Hyde  was  chosen  as  the  spokes- 
man of  a  party  which  visited  a  British  man-of- 
war  in  the  harbor,  to  induce  the  captain  to  trans- 
port the  party  to  Chagres,  Colombia,  which  he 
did.     The  party  consisted  of  400  passengers. 

Upon  his  return  to  Buchanan  County,  he  re- 
sumed farming  and  has  been  one  of  the  progres- 
sive agriculturists  of  this  section.  The  first 
McCormick  reaper  ever  used  in  this  county  was 
set  up  on  his  place  by  Mr.  IvIcCormick,  himself, 
who  at  that  time  was  not  the  millionaire  he  later 
became.  Mr.  Hyde  has  always  shown  his  enter- 
prise by  utilizing  modern  machinery  and  his  large 
farm  has  brought  him  immense  returns.  He  has 
carried  on  very  extensive  operations,  and  has 
become  known  as  a  grower  of  choice  fruit  and 
much  high  grade  stock.  He  has  also  dealt  in  real 
estate  and  in  1898  laid  out  57  acres  of  his  land  in 
town  lots,  making  a  fine  addition  to  St.  Joseph. 
This  section  of  the  city  was  named  Hyde  Park, 
in  his  honor. 

On  March  3,  1845,  ^^^-  Hyde  married  his 
first  wife,  Elizabeth  Whitlock,  of  Clay  County, 
Missouri,  who  died  in  1846,  survived  by  one 
child,  since  deceased.  As  his  second  wife,  Mr. 
Hyde  married  Thirza  L.  Cure,  of  Delaware 
County,  New  York,  who  died  January  12,  1903. 
Eight  children  grew  to  maturity  viz :  John,  a 
farmer  and  mill  operator  in  Buchanan  County  ; 
Jane,  deceased,  the  wife  of  W.  S.  Martin,  who 
was  killed  in  a  railroad  accident ;  Augusta,  wife 
of  George  Conner,  residing  in  Hyde  Park  ;  James, 
a  merchant  in  South  St.  Joseph,  who  married 
Katie  Harper ;  William,  who  married  Mary 
Harper  and  lives  in  Texas  ;  Cassie  D.,  wife  of 
Isaac  Edds,  of  Hyde  Park  ;  Charles  A.,  who  re- 
sides in  Hyde  Park ;  and  Calvin  A.  The  last 
named  has  always  resided  with  Iris  father.  He 
married  Mollie  Moore  and  they  have  one  chiild, 
— James.  By  a  former  marriage  Calvin  A.  Hyde 
had  a  daughter,  Mary,  who  died  November  12, 
1904,  aged  II  years. 

^Ir.  Hyde  has  always  been  a  prominent  citi- 
zen of  his  township  and  has  served  '>n  the  .'school 


532 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


Board  for  the  past  30  years.  He  is  a  member  of 
King  Hill  Lodge  No.  376,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  of 
which  he  is  a  charter  member  and  for  several 
years  was  master.  Two  of  his  sons,  Calvin  A. 
and  John,  also  belong  to  this  body. 

Mr.  Hyde  has  lived  through  many  of  the  most 
formative  periods  of  his  State's  history  and  has 
always  born  an  honorable  part.  He  was  one 
of  the  organizers  of  the  "Paw-Paw  Militia"  and 
served  for  18  months  under  Captain  Farris. 
Through  natural  ability  and  wide-extending  in- 
terests, Mr.  Hyde  has  viewed  life  from  a  higher 
plane  than  many  of  his  fellow  citizens.  He  can 
look  back  over  a  pleasant  vista  marked  by  efforts 
for  the  public's  welfare  as  well  as  his  own,  and 
in  the  evening  of  life  can  feel  secure  in  the  affec- 
tion of  a  devoted  family  and  the  esteem  of  his 
fellow  citizens.  He  has  always  shown  a  liberal 
spirit  and  has  contributed  materially  to  the  ad- 
vancement of  the  educational  and  moral  inter- 
ests of  his  section. 


^  * » 


AMES  WEIR  HEDDENS,  M.  D.,  who 
is  recognized  as  one  of  the  eminent 
physicians  and  surgeons  of  Missouri, 
and  is  also  one  of  the  prominent  and 
valued  citizens  of  St.  Joseph,  was  born 
in  1857  in  Barboursville,  Knox  County, .  Ken- 
tucky, and  is  the  second  son  of  the  late  Dr. 
William  I.  and  Catherine  (Adams)  Heddens. 

The  late  Dr.  William  I.  Heddens,  founder 
and  president  of  the  Ensworth  Medical  College 
and  Hospital,  was  born  in  Preble  County,  Ohio, 
February  14,  1828,  and  was  graduated  in  med- 
icine at  the  Jefferson  Medical  College  of  Phil- 
adelphia, and  became  a  resident  of  St.  Joseph, 
Missouri,  three  years  later.  For  more  than  30 
years  he  was  prominent  in  the  professional  and 
social  life  of  this  city. 

Dr.  James  Weir  Heddens  was  but  two  years 
old  when  his  father  came  to  St.  Joseph,  and  his 
bo}-hood  was  spent  in  this  city  and  here  he  at- 
tended the  public  schools.  Having  access  to  his 
father's  library,  he  manifested  a  great  interest  in 
medicine  while  only  a  youth  and,  under  the 
direction  of  his  eminent  father,  he  was  prepared 
to  enter  medical  college  before  he  had  reached 
his  majority.  He  selected  Jefferson  IMedical 
College  as  his  alma  mater,  that  grand  old  insti- 
tution which  has  fathered  and  fostered  so  many 
of  the  great  physicians  of  the  country,  and  there 
he  was  graduated  in   1879,  taking  the  prize  in 


anatomy.  He  remained  under  the  supervision  of 
that  world-wide  noted  physician  and  surgeon, 
Dr.  Joseph  Pancoast,  for  a  term  of  hospital 
experience. 

Upon  his  return  to  St.  Joseph,  Dr.  Heddens 
was  offered  the  chair  of  anatomy  in  the  faculty 
of  the  College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons,  of 
St.  Joseph,  and  ably  filled  that  position  until 
1 90 1.  He  resigned  in  order  to  accept  the  chair 
of  operative  surgery  and  gynecology  in  the  Ens- 
worth  Medical  College,  in  which  institution  he 
is  one  of  the  life  trustees.  Under  four  successive 
administrations.  Dr.  Heddens  has  served  as  com- 
missioner of  State  Hospital  for  the  Insane,  No.  2, 
and  as  president  of  the  board  of  managers. 

In  1887  Dr.  Heddens  was  married  to  Mary 
Barrett,  of  Henderson,  Kentucky,  and  they  have 
two  children. 

Dr.  Heddens  well  sustains  the  reputation  he 
has  made,  his  love  of  his  profession  amounting 
to  enthusiasm.  The  opportunities  which  have 
been  afforded  him,  for  the  careful  study  of  varied 
and  peculiar  diseases,  have  more  than  once  been 
made  of  great  value  to  the  profession,  through 
the  publication  of  his  deductions  and  scientific 
discoveries.  He  keeps  fully  posted  concerning 
all  modern  lines  of  medical  thought  and  his  city 
is  to  be  congratulated  on  being  the  home  of  a 
practitioner  who  so  ably  honors  the  profession. 


^ « » 


ARTLETT  M.  LOCKWOOD,  one  of  the 
prominent  attorneys  of  St.  Joseph,  was 
born  near  Marysville,  Kansas,  October 
18,  1874,  and  is  a  son  of  John  and  Mary 
(Duncan)  Lockwood. 
The  father  of  our  subject  was  born  in  Mich- 
igan. After  the  death  of  his  mother,  when  he  was 
very  small,  he  was  taken  into  the  home  of  a 
cousin,  where  he  grev/  to  young  manhood.  He 
had  Init  few  educational  opportunities,  but'  he 
learned  the  carpenter's  trade  by  which  he  sup- 
ported himself  until  1858,  when  he  came  to  the 
West.  He  soon  became  a  freighter  across  the 
plains,  between  St^  Joseph  and  Denver,  and  dur- 
ing this  time  he  took  up  a  claim  in  Blue  Valley, 
Marshall  County,  Kansas.  He  engaged  in  grain- 
growing  and  stock-raising  and  became  one  of  the 
leading  agriculturists  of  his  section.  During  the 
height  of  the  Grange  movement  he  was  elected  to 
take  charge  of  the  local  store.  This  he  conducted 
as  long  as  the  scheme  was  supported  and  then,  in 
partnership  with  a  Mr.  McCurdy,  purchased  the 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


533 


stock,  and  they  operated  the  store  until  1881,  un- 
der the  firm  name  of  Lockwood  &  McCurdy.  On 
account  of  the  failing  health  of  both  partners,  the 
business  was  removed  to  Arizona  and  there  they 
contracted  with  the  Atlantic  &  Pacific  Railroad 
to  furnish  supplies  to  the  construction  gangs.  On 
January  i,  1883.  Mr.  Lockwood  purchased  a  store 
at  Rockport,  Atchison  County,  Missouri,  and  con- 
tinued in  business  there  until  1897,  when  he  re- 
moved to  Columbia,  IMissouri,  in  order  to  proper- 
ly educate  his  children.  Mr.  Lockwood  now  lives 
there,  retired  from  business.  Early  in  life  he  was 
an  independent  voter,  but  later  became  identified 
with  the  Democratic  party,  and  subsequently  he 
was  elected  to  represent  ]\Iarshall  County  in  the 
State  Legislature.  He  belongs  to  the  Alasonic 
fraternity. 

He  was  married  to  Mary  J.  Duncan,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Bartlett  M.  Duncan,  and  a  sister  of  Judge 
John  H.  Duncan,  of  the  Buchanan  County  Court, 
and  they  had  nine  children :  William  D.,  a  phy- 
sician of  St.  Joseph  ;  Marquis  H.,  who  is  super- 
intendent of  patents  and  inventions  for  the  firm 
of  Wyckofif,  Seamans  &  Benedict,  manufacturers 
of  the  "Remington"  typewriters,  of  New  York 
City :  Frank  L.,  who  will  graduate  in  the  engin- 
eering department  of  the  State  University  of  Mis- 
souri in  the  class  of  1905  ;  Bartlett  M.,  of  this 
sketch;  Helen  M.,  who  died  while  a  member  of 
the  junior  class  in  the  State  University  of  Mis- 
souri ;  Robert  J.,  who  is  an  employee  of  Swift  & 
Company,  at  St.  Joseph  ;  and  Marvin  B.,  Charles 
C,  and  Sarah  L.,  who  live  at  home,  attending 
school.  The  mother  of  this  family  is  a  very  active 
and  interested  worker  in  the  affairs  of  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church,  South. 

Bartlett  M.  Lockwood  completed  the  common 
and  high  school  courses  at  Rockport,  and  then 
engaged  in  clerking  in  his  father's  store  until  he 
entered  the  State  University  of  ^lissouri  in  1894, 
where  he  was  graduated  in  the  academical  and 
law  departments  in  1901.  He  had  served,  in  the 
meantime,  in  the  Spanish- American  War,  as  cor- 
poral of  Company  I,  Fifth  Regiment,  Missouri 
\'olunteers — a  student  volunteer  company  from 
the  State  University.  Mr.  Lockwood  came  to 
St.  Joseph  July  5.  1901,  and  went  into  the  ofifices 
of  Huston  &  Brewster  until  ^March  i,  1902,  when 
he  opened  an  ofiice  of  his  own,  and  has  been  act- 
ively engaged  in  practice  here  ever  since.  His 
interests  are  centered  now  in  this  city  and  he 
takes  pride  in  furthering  her  enterprises  and  in 
assisting  in  progressive  movements. 

Mr.  Lockwood  married  Miss  Edith  Beaslev, 


daughter  of  P.  J.  Beasley,  of  Columbia,  Missouri, 
and  they  have  one  son, — John  Marshall.  He  is 
an  active  Democratic  politician  and  is  looked  on 
as  one  of  the  able  young  leaders.  Both  he  and 
wife  belong  to  the  Francis  Street  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church,  South. 


■♦ « » 


ENNIS  CURTIN,  retired  from  business 
activity  for  the  past  20  years,  was 
formerly  one  of  the  most  active, 
energetic  and  useful  business  men  of 
St.  Joseph,  and  now  enjoys  a  com- 
petency and  the  esteem  and  regard  of  his  fellow 
citizens.  Mr.  Curtin  was  born  in  Ireland,  in 
1832,  and  is  a  son  of  Timothy  and  Mary  (Han- 
nan)  Curtin. 

The  parents  of  Mr.  Curtin  spent  their  whole 
lives  in  Ireland  and  there  reared  a  family  of  12 
children,  consisting  of  ii  sons  and  one  daughter. 
The  latter  remained  with  her  parents  in  the  old 
country.  Mr.  Curtin  of  this  sketch  has  three 
brothers  living:  Patrick,  of  St.  Joseph,  formerly 
his  business  partner ;  Edward,  of  San  Francisco, 
California;  and  David,  of  Sidney,  New  South 
Wales,  Australia. 

Dennis  Curtin  was  17  years  old  when  he  ac- 
companied his  brother  Alichael  and  familv  to 
America,  in  1849.  He  found  farm  work  in  the 
State  of  New  York  and  remained  in  Orange 
County  until  185 1,  when  he  decided  to  seek  his 
fortune  farther  West.  At  Chicago,  Illinois,  he 
was  employed  for  a  time  as  a  laborer  and  at  St. 
Louis  he  again  found  a  fanricr  desiring  his  ser- 
vices. He  then  spent  several  seasons  on  a  river 
plantation  in  Mississippi.  Upon  his  return  to 
St.  Louis,  he  accidentally  came  up  with  his 
brother  Patrick,  which  was  a  pleasant  surprise 
indeed  as  he  did  not  know  his  brother  was  in 
America.  Together  the  brothers  went  to  Frank- 
lin County,  Missouri,  where  they  secured  farm 
work  until  September,  1856,  when  they  came  to 
St.  Joseph  and  here  formed  a  partnership  as 
contractors  for  street  grading.  The  firm  of  Cur- 
tin Brothers  was  not  only  one  of  the  earliest  busi- 
ness combinations  but  was  also  one  of  the  most 
reliable  and  successful.  For  many  years  they 
handled  a  great  part  of  the  important  work  in 
their  line  in  the  city,  their  contracts  reaching 
into  many  thousands  of  dollars.  By  hard  work, 
close  attention  to  business  and  a  provident  fru- 
gality, Mr.  Curtin  amassed  a  comfortable  fortune. 
His  success  was  entirely  brought  about  through 


534 


HISTORY  OJ^   BUCHANAN   COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


his  own  efforts,  for  he  is  one  of  the  city's  self- 
made  men. 

At  St.  Joseph,  in  1861,  Mr.  Curtin  was  united 
in  marriage  with  JuHa  Barry,  born  in  Ireland, 
who  died  in  1893,  leaving  six  children:  William 
H.,  who  married  Mrs.  Louise  (Smedley)  Smith, 
of  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah  ;  Katherine  ;  John  ;  Julia  ; 
Mary;  and  David,  wdio  married  Ann  Newman, 
of  Des  Moines,  Iowa,  and  has  one  child,  Kath- 
erine Louisa,  born  at  St.  Joseph. 

Mr.  Curtin  has  seen  many  remarkable  changes 
since  he  first  came  to  St.  Joseph.  The  trip  from 
St.  Louis  was  by  steamer  and  consumed  one 
week.  From  a  country  village  he  has  watched 
its  development  into  a  city  and  has  been  identi- 
fied with  much  of  this  growth. 


♦ » » 


AMUEL  H.  BRUMLEY,  who  is  now  liv- 
ing a  retired  life,  has  been  for  many 
years  one  of  the  most  prominent  agri- 
culturists of  Bloomington  township, 
Buchanan  County,  where  he  has  a  large 
and  well-improved  farm.  He  was  born  in  Parke 
County,  Indiana,  May  15,  1842,  and  is  a  son  of 
Daniel  and  Elizabeth  (Brown)  Brumley. 

William  Brumley,  great-grandfather  of  our 
subject,  was  born  in  Ireland,  and  came  to  this 
country  at  an  early  date,  settling  in  Virginia  dur- 
ing the  colonial  period.  He  was  the  father  of 
William  Brumley,  Jr.,  a  native  of  Virginia,  and 
the  latter  in  turn  was  the  father  of  three  daugh- 
ters and  five  sons,  the  third  of  whom  was  Daniel, 
father  of  Samuel  H. 

Daniel  Brumley  was  born  in  Jefferson  County, 
Kentucky.  February  14.  1818,  and  received  his 
early  education  in  the  old  log  school  house  of  his 
district.  He  always  lived  on  the  farm  and  as  a 
well  educated  and  informed  man  was  frequently 
consulted  by  his  neighbors.  He  was  married  in 
Kentucky  and  then  moved  to  Buchanan  County, 
Missouri,  making  the  trip  overland  with  a  two- 
horse  team.  They  traveled  20  or  25  miles  per 
day,  and  camped  out  at  nights  ;  the  trip  consumed 
about  six  weeks.  They  arrived  in  the  fall  of  1844, 
and  settled  two  and  a  half  miles  northwest  of 
DcKalb  on  what  was  known  as  the  Thomas  Hill 
place,  buying  out  the  man  who  had  pre-empted 
the  quarter  section.  There  was  a  double,  hewed- 
log  house  on  the  place,  in  which  they  lived  about 
three  years,  during  which  time  they  made  many 
important  improvements.  He  then  sold  out  and 
moved  on  the  W.  T.  Steele  farm,  which  he  con- 


ducted one  year,  and  in  1849  moved  to  the  Will- 
oughby  Morris  farm  of  80  acres,  the  east  half  of 
the  southwest  quarter  of  section  21,  Blooming- 
ton  township.  There  was  also  a  double  hewed- 
log  house  upon  this  place,  in  which  he  lived  with 
his  family  for  some  years.  The  place  was  heavily 
timbered  with  walnut,  pin  oak  and  burr  oak, 
enough  of  which  was  cleared  off  to  pay  for  a 
farm  at  $75  per  acre.  He  acquired  400  acres,  all 
of  which  was  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation, 
and  he  lived  on  this  old  homestead  until  his  death 
on  April  20,  1888.  He  delighted  in  agricultural 
pursuits  and  the  raising  of  good  animals,  wath 
which  he  kept  his  place  well  stocked.  His  wife 
survived  him  until  January  11,  1892,  when  she 
died  at  the  age  of  74  years.  He  was  a  member 
the  "Paw-Paw  Militia."  He  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Elizabeth  Brown,  who  was  born  in 
1818,  and  they  were  parents  of  11  children,  three 
of  whom  died  in  infancy.  Those  who  grew  to  ma- 
turity were:  Mary  Elizabeth  (widow  of  D.  V. 
Stone),  who  came  with  her  husband  to  Buchanan 
County,  Missouri,  in  1858, — he  was  from  near 
Knoxville,  Tennessee ;  William  P.,  who  married 
Mary  E.  Dicken  in  1862  and  lives  in  Louisville, 
Kentucky ;  Samuel  H. ;  Thomas  E.,  deceased, 
who  married  Mary  King,  of  Fort  Worth,  Texas ; 
George  W.,  who  married  Mary  Belle  Pistole,  of 
Andrew  County,  Missouri,  and  lives  in  DeKalb; 
Henry  H.,  \vho  married  Mary  J.  Simmons,  of 
Platte  County,  Missouri,  and  lives  in  that  county ; 
John,  who  died  at  the  age  of  32  years,  was  an  in- 
valid from  the  time  of  his  birth;  and  Lucy  A., 
who  is  the  wife  of  W.  W.  Simmons,  whose  sister 
married  her  brother  Henry  Brumley, — they  live 
near  Emporia,  Kansas. 

Samuel  H.  Brimiley  was  reared  on  his  father's 
farm  and  attended  the  subscription  school  which 
was  conducted  in  the  old  log  house  of  the  dis- 
trict. When  the  war  broke  out,  he  joined  the 
Confederate  Army,  September  12,  1861.  and 
served  in  the  brigade  under  Colonel  Cockrell,  now 
United  States  Senator,  a  noted  man  of  the  State 
of  Missouri  and  a  warm  friend  of  McKinley,  and 
under  Col.  Elijah  Gates  of  St.  Joseph.  He  re- 
turned from  the  war  on  September  18^  1865,  and 
that  year  began  farming  for  himself  in  section  21, 
Bloomington  township.  In  1867  he  went  to 
Louisville,  Kentticky,  and  farmed  in  that  vicinity 
until  the  spring  of  1868,  then  returned  to  Buch- 
anan County,  where  he  followed  agricultural  pur- 
suits until  1903,  when  he  retired  from  active  busi- 
ness and  took  up  his  residence  in  the  outskirts  of 
DeKalb.     His  homestead  farm  of  478^:1  acres  in 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


535 


Bloomington  township,  now  being  worked  by  a 
tenant,  is  located  in  sections  15,  18,  20,  21,  28  and 
29,  all  of  which  is  vmder  cultivation.  He  now  has 
a  tenant  on  the  old  homestead.  From  1884  to 
1895  he  made  a  specialty  of  raising  and  dealing 
in  mules  and  was  very  successful.  He  also  raised 
a  high  grade  of  Galloways  and  Polled  Angus  cat- 
tle. He  remembers  well  the  time  when  his  father 
cultivated  his  corn  with  a  single-shovel  plow  and 
cut  grain  with  a  sickle  and  cradle,  and  later  with 
a  dropper,  after  which  came  the  binder.  He  is  a 
public-siprited  man,  taking  an  interest  in  the  de- 
velopment of  the  community  and  especially  in  the 
good  roads  movement,  favoring  the  cutting  of 
hills  and  equalizing  of  grades.  He  was  director 
of  Jones  School  for  about  12  years. 

November  15,  1870,  Mr.  Brumlcy  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Loretta  Home,  a  daughter  of 
Amos  and  Elizabeth  Frances  (Ellison)  Home, 
and  they  had  two  children,  both  deceased  :  i\Iary 
and  Eucy  Loretta.  ^Irs.  Brumley  died  August 
25.  1873.  and  he  was  married  March  20,  1874, 
to  a  sister  of  his  first  wife,  vSarah  Alice  Horne, 
1)\-  whom  he  has  five  children  :  Vane,  a  farmer 
of  lUoomington  township,  who  married  Bettie 
Hill  and  has  two  children, — Carl  and  Alice;  Guy, 
a  farmer  of  Bloomington  township,  who  married 
Stella  Dix,  and  has  a  son, — Earl ;  Charles  H.,  who 
is  farming  in  Bloomington  township,  who  married 
Maude  Light,  and  has  a  daughter, — Orbeta ; 
Mary,  who  died  at  the  age  of  six  years ;  and 
Amos,  who  lives  at  home  attending  the  public 
schools.  Religiously,  our  subject  and  his  family 
are  all  devout  members  of  the  Sugar  Creek  Chris- 
tian Church,  In  politics,  he  is  a  stanch  supporter 
of  the  Democratic  partv. 


♦ « » 


EORGE  D.  BERRY,  one  of  the  leading 
men  ot  St.  Joseph,  president  of  the  Ber- 
ry Foundry  &  Manufacturing  Company, 
and  president  of  the  Berry  Electric  '& 
Manufacturing  Company,  was  bom  Jan- 
uary 28,  1868,  in  Collin  County,  Texas,  and  is  a 
son   of   George   D.   and   Elizabeth    C.    (Dysart) 
Berry. 

The  grandfather  of  our  subject,  Capt  George 
D.  Berry,  was  a  son  of  Thomas  J.  Berry,  who 
served  in  the  Revolutionary  War.  He  was  a  river 
man  and  commanded  a  steamboat  on  the  Ohio 
river.  He  lost  his  life  in  the  act  of  saving  that  of 
his  son,  George  D.  The  latter,  a  child,  fell  into 
the  water  from  the  deck  of  his  father's  boat,  and 

27 


Captain  Berry  jumped  overboard,  caught  the  child 
and  threw  him  into  waiting  hands,  but  was  swept 
out  of  reach  by  the  rapid  current. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  born  at  Mays- 
ville,  Kentucky,  and  died  in  1870.  He  graduated 
from  a  medical  college  in  Cincinnati,  then  removed 
to  Andrew  County,  Missouri,  where  he  practiced 
until  the  breaking  out  of  the  Civil  War,  when  he 
moved  to  Collin  County,  Texas,  and  continued  his 
practice  there.  He  served  for  a  short  period  as 
a  surgeon  in  the  Confederate  Army.  In  1868  he 
came  to  Agency,  Buchanan  County,  Missouri, 
where  he  continued  a  medical  practitioner  until 
the  close  of  his  life.  During  his  residence  in 
Texas,  he  hauled  the  first  load  of  flour  that  was 
ever  taken  into  San  Antonio,  and  received  $20 
a  sack  for  it.  He  married  Elizabeth  C.  Dvsart, 
(laughter  of  Meek  Dysart,  and  four  of  their  six 
children  reached  maturity,  viz:  Thomas  J.,  of 
St."  Joseph  ;  Charles  R.,  of  St.  Joseph  ;  George  D. ; 
and  D.  D.  The  mother  of  this  family  died  Jan- 
uary T,  1900.  She  was  a  consistent  member  of 
the  Christian  Church,  a  faithful,  loving  mother, 
who  is  most  tenderly  remembered. 

George  D.  Berry  was  educated  in  the  schools 
of  St.  Joseph,  and  after  completing  his  educa- 
tion entered  the  employ  of  the  St.  Joseph  &  Grand 
Island  Railway  Company,  with  which  he  worked 
his  way  up  from  the  bottom  to  the  position  of  pur- 
chasing agent  and  assistant  to  the  general  man- 
ager. He  remained  with  this  corporation  until 
July,  1900,  when  he  resigned  and  remained  un- 
connected with  any  firm,  busily  arranging  for  the 
organization  of  enterprises  of  his  own.  In  Jan- 
uary, 1902,  his  plans  were  brought  to  completion 
by  the  organization  and  incorporation  of  the 
Berry  Foundry  &  Manufacturing  Company.  Mr. 
Berry  became  the  president  of  this  business,  the 
only  one  of  its  kind  in  St.  Joseph.  It  makes  a 
specialty  of  the  manufacture  of  architectural  iron 
and  railroad  work  and  gives  employment  to  over 
100  men. 

Mr.  Berry  and  family  have  a  pleasant  home  in 
this  city.  He  married  Annie  M.  Roberts,  who  is 
a  daughter  of  Tliomas  C.  Roberts,  of  St.  Joseph, 
and  they  have  one  son,  Edwin  Carlisle.  Mrs. 
Berry  is  a  member  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal 
Church. 

Mr.  Berry  is  identified  with  the  Democratic 
party  and  has  been  active  in  civic  afifairs  ever 
since  young  manhood.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
City  Council  from  1896  to  1898,  and  has  worked 
hard  for  the  welfare  and  advancement  of  the  city 
in  every  direction.     He  belongs  to  the  Monroe 


536 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY  AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


and  Benton  clubs,  and  to  Lodge  No.  40  of  the 
Elks.  As  a  Mason,  he  is  a  member  of  Charity 
Lodge,  No.  331,  A.  F.  &  A.  U.;  Mitchell  Chap- 
ter, No.  89,  R.  A.  AL;  Hugh  de  Payens  Com- 
manderv,  No.  51,  K.  T. ;  and  Moila  Temple,  A. 
A.  O.  N.  M.  S. 


^  * » 


DWARD  AL^XWELL,  who  for  more 
than  60  years  has  resided  on  his  farm 
situated  two  miles  north  of  Krug  Park, 
St.  Joseph,  is  one  of  Buchanan  Coun- 
ty's oldest  and  most  honored  pioneers. 
His  life  here,  with  the  lives  of  his  two  older 
brothers,  has  been  quiet  and  uneventful,  despite 
the  tumults  of  the  outside  world,  and  its  recital 
is  interesting  in  that  it  shows  the  victory  of  cour- 
age and  industry  over  the  wild  forces  of  Nature, 
and  the  certain  rewards  which  await  those  who 
hope  and,  while  hoping,  work. 

Edward  Maxwell,  like  his  late  oldest  brother, 
Logan  A.,  and  the  one  survivor,  James,  was  born 
near  the  mouth  of  the  Cumberland  River  in  Ken- 
tucky, and,  as  they  were  reared  in  a  secluded 
home,  with  few  educational  opportunities,  they 
were  taught  the  virtues  of  industry  and  honesty. 
Equipped  with  little  else,  except  abounding  health 
and  stalwart  frames,  they  set  out  to  find  homes 
for  themselves  in  what  was  then  a  dense 
wilderness. 

The  first  to  leave  the  family  roof-tree  was 
Logan  A.,  the  eldest  brother,  who  came  to  Bu- 
chanan County  and  made  a  settlement  as  early  as 
1837.  He  entered  the  farm  on  which  he  spent 
the  rest  of  his  life  direct  from  the  government. 
He  brought  with  him  his  wife  and  one  little  child, 
both  of  whom  he  survived  many  years.  The  start 
from  the  little  Kentucky  home  was  made  in  an 
ox-team  wagon,  and  one  can  easily  imagine  the 
anxiety  of  those  left  behind,  when  the  turn  of  the 
road  hid  the  pioneering  family  which  had  un- 
bridged  streams  to  cross  and  trackless  prairies 
and  dangerous  mountains  ahead,  before  they 
could  reach  their  destination.  No  telegraphic 
message  could  be  sent  on  the  way  to  announce  to 
the  warm  hearts  behind  the  progress  of  their 
journey,  which  took  several  months  to  complete. 
When  they  finally  reached  their  own  selected  land, 
they  found  few  white  settlers  before  them,  but 
the  Lidian  villages  at  Jimtown  and  Sparta  were 
still  standing.  The  survivors  of  Logan  A.  Max- 
well are :  Emeline,  who  lives  at  the  old  home- 
stead ;  John,  who  also  resides  there ;  Charles,  who 


is  a  resident  of  St.  Joseph  ;  Mrs.  Armstrong,  wife 
of  Rev.  C.  C.  Armstrong,  of  Buchanan  County ; 
Mrs.  A.  M.  Reynolds,  of  Topeka,  Kansas ;  and  18 
grandchildren  and  three  great-grandchildren. 

Li  1838,  James  Maxwell  started  out  to  join 
his  brother  in  Buchanan  County,  and  he  made 
the  trip  on  horseback.  He  selected  a  farm  ad- 
joining that  of  his  brother,  joined  interests  with 
him,  and  there  reared  a  large  and  happy  family, 
the  survivors  of  which  are :  James,  John,  Edward 
and  Henry,  all  residents  of  St.  Joseph ;  Samuel 
D.,  of  Bedford,  Iowa;  Wesley,  of  Buchanan 
County ;  Mrs.  Charles  Smith,  of  Wyatt  Park, 
St.  Joseph;  Jane  (Mrs.  Ferdinand  McCoun),  of 
Buchanan  County;  Addie  (Mrs.  John  McCoun), 
of  St.  Joseph ;  and  26  grandchildren  and  five 
great-grandchildren. 

Edward  Maxwell,  our  immediate  subject,  the 
third  brother,  remained  at  the  old  home  but  three 
years  after  James  had  ridden  away  over  the 
mountains  to  the  new  promised  land.  His  mode 
of  transportation  was  by  boat,  and  he  was  met  at 
Liberty  landing  by  his  brother  Logan  A.,  who 
piloted  him  to  the  fertile  uplands  and  valleys, 
amid  which  they  had  founded  happy  homes. 
Adjoining  his  brothers  lay  a  tract  of  desirable 
land  and  upon  this  he  settled,  and  here  the  trio, 
in  the  wilderness,  not  only  built  up  agricultural 
prosperity,  by  years  of  toil,  hardship  and  self- 
denial,  but  reared  families  whose  members  have 
become  honored  residents  of  communities  widely 
scattered,  and  have  been  examples  of  fraternal 
afifection  and  brotherly  helpfulness,  which  have 
not  been  without  useful  influence. 

Edward  Maxwell  survives  his  faithful  life 
companion,  who  passed  away  some  years  ago. 
His  surviving  children  are :  William,  a  well- 
known  farmer  of  Andrew  County ;  Howard,  a 
salesman  for  the  Jones,  Townsend  St  Shireman 
Clothing  Company,  at  St.  Joseph  ;  Marvin  E.,  of 
Kansas  City  ;  George  B.,  of  St.  Joseph  ;  Margaret 
(Mrs.  Frank  Stephens),  of  St.  Joseph;  Mary  E. 
(Mrs.  Henry  Peters),  of  Buchanan  County;  and 
nine  grandchildren  and  21  great-grandchildren. 

The  three  Maxwell  brothers  came  to  Bu- 
chanan County,  as  noted,  without  fortune,  but 
through  their  own  exertions  accumulated  an 
abundance  of  this  world's  goods.  It  is  a  long 
path  to  retrace  to  the  time  when  they  grew  their 
wheat  on  the  present  site  of  a  part  of  St.  Joseph, 
harvesting  the  grain  with  an  old-fashioned  cradle, 
and  working  for  37  cents  an  acre.  No  flight  of 
imagination  at  that  time  could  have  predicted  the 
present  wonderful  machinery,  in  fact  in  their  day 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


537 


the  cradle  so  far  surpassed  its  predecessors, — the 
sickle  and  the  reaping  hook, — that  its  utility 
abundantly  satisfied  its  users.  The  changes  which 
have  come  about  seem  almost  incredible,  and  that 
those  still  survive,  who  found  here  only  the  voices 
and  conditions  of  primeval  Nature,  seems  almost 
inarvelous. 

Our  venerable  subject,  who  is  crowned  with 
the  silver  of  84  years,  is  a  perfect  type  of  the 
sturdy  Revolutionary  stock  from  which  he 
sprung.  The  evening  of  his  life  is  filled  with  ease 
and  comfort.  His  cheery  nature  and  honest 
interest  in  the  happenings  of  his  home  world 
attach  him  to  kindred  and  friends  and  when,  with 
old-time  Southern  hospitality,  he  welcomes  the 
stranger,  the  latter  goes  out  from  his  presence 
with  an  appreciation  of  the  vitality  of  the  success 
which  attends  the  quiet,  sober,  virtuous  perform- 
ing of  the  duties  of  every  day,  realizing  that  all 
heroism  does  not  belong  on  the  batttle-field. 


-♦-•-♦- 


EV.  WILLIAM  RAY  DOBYNS,  D.  D., 
pastor  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church, 
of  St.  Joseph,  was  born  May  17,  1861,  at 
Columbus,  Johnson  County,  Missouri, 
and  is  a  son  of  Dr.  Benjamin  F.  and 
Margaret  Ruth  (!vIorrow)  Dobyns. 

The  Dobyns  family  on  one  side  is  of  French 
Huguenot  and  on  the  other  of  Scotch-Irish  de- 
scent, and  the  name  has  been  one  of  distinction 
in  many  States  of  the  Union  for  a  long  period. 
Dr.  Benjamin  F.  Dobyns  was  born  at  Mays  Lick, 
Mason  County,  Kentucky.  His  medical  training 
was  secured  at  Louisville  and  he  was  graduated 
from  the  medical  college  in  that  city  in  1849.  ^^ 
was  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Johnson  County, 
Missouri,  where  he  practiced  his  profession  until 
his  death,  which  occurred  in  1869.  He  was  a  rep- 
resentative man  of  that  section  of  the  State,  was 
prominent  in  local  politics  and  an  active  member 
and  official  of  the  Blue  Lodge,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  at 
Columbus.  He  married  Margaret  Ruth  Morrow, 
who  was  a  daughter  of  Rev.  Robert  D.  Morrow, 
a  noted  clergyman  of  Johnson  County.  She  died 
August  31,  1878,  aged  53  years.  Of  the  five  chil- 
dren of  this  marriage,  the  three  survivors  are : 
John  R. ;  William  Ray;  and  James  F.,  of  Kansas 
City.  John  R.  Dobyns  is  sui)crintendcnt  of  the 
State  Institute  for  the  Deaf,  at  Jackson,  Mississ- 
ippi, an  educator  of  note.  He  is  secretary  of  the 
World's  Council  of  Educators  of  the  Deaf. 
William  Ray  Dobyns  was  primarily  educated 


in  the  common  schools  of  Johnson  County,  and 
then  entered  Marshall  Academy,  which  was  then 
under   the   charge   of   that   able   educator,   Prof. 
George  B.  Newton.     At  this  academy  have  been 
trained  more  men  who  have  taken  prominent  po- 
sitions in  after  life  than  in  any  other  similar  edu- 
cational institution  of  this  part  of  the  State.  From 
the  academic   shades   of   Marshall,   Mr.   Dobyns 
went  to  Austin,  Texas,  being  variously  engaged 
as  a  telegraph  messenger,  as  a  clerk  in  a  dry  goods 
store,  as  a  traveling  representative  of  a  wagon 
house  and  as  a  herder  of  cattle.    For  two  years  he 
was  engaged  in  the  study  of  medicine  but  never 
matriculated.     He  had  come  under  the  powerful 
preaching  of  his  uncle,  Rev.  Joshua  Barbee,  and 
had   been   converted   to   the   reality   of   religious 
truth.     At  the  same  time  he  experienced  the  call 
to   enter  the  ministry,  but  he  combated  this  as 
long  as  possible,  but  in  September,  1883,  he  en- 
tered Westminster  College,  at  Fulton,  Missouri, 
and    began   the   serious    study   of   theology.      In 
1886  he  entered   McCormick   Theological    Sem- 
inary, Chicago,  where  he  was  graduated  in  1889, 
with  the  degree  of  B.  D.    His  28th  birthday  was 
made  memorable  as  on  that  day  he  was  ordained 
to  the  ministry,  and  at  the  same  time  was  installed 
as  pastor  of  Emmanuel  Presbyterian  Church,  at 
Chicago.    This  was  a  mission  that  he  had  founded 
during  his  seminary  life  and  his  installation  as 
pastor  was  gratifying  both  to  him  and  the  con- 
gregation.    He  remained  there  until  1891.    Dur- 
ing this  time  he  also  acted  as  financial  secretary 
of  Westminster  College.     As  his  health  had  be- 
come impaired,  it  was  thought  best  to  make  a 
change. 

From  Chicago  Rev.  ]\Ir.  Dobyns  then  went  to 
Marshall,  Missouri,  where  he  remained  until 
December,  1899,  when  he  accepted  the  call  to  his 
present  pastorate.  His  work  here  has  been  con- 
genial and  fruitful.  In  recognition  of  his  schol- 
arship and  piety,  Westminster  conferred  upon 
him  the  degree  of  D.  D.,  and  he  is  counted  one  of 
the  representative  graduates  of  that  great  college 
of  theology. 

On  July  19,  1889,  Dr.  Dobyns  was  married  to 
Mary  T.  Buckland,  who  is  a  daughter  of  Hon. 
Thomas  A.  Buckland,  of  St.  Louis.  One  little 
daughter,  named  Margaret  Ruth  in  remembrance 
of  our  subject's  mother,  died  aged  11  months. 
Hon.  Thomas  A.  Buckland  was  a  prominent  mer- 
chant in  St.  Louis,  a  leading  politician  and  for  a 
number  of  years  was  a  member  of  the  State 
Senate.  Politically,  Dr.  Dobyns  is  an  old-time 
Democrat. 


538 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY  AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


He  has  traveled  extensively,  and  was  the  rep- 
resentative of  the  State  of  Missouri,  in  the  Eighth 
Council  of  the  Alliance  of  Presbyterian  Churches 
throughout  the  world,  which  met  at  Liverpool, 
England,    June    28    to   July   9,    1904,    inclusive. 
During  the  past  few  months,  he  has  made  a  visit 
to  Egypt  and  Palestine,  and  to  all  the  countries 
of  Europe  except  Austria,  Russia  and  Spain.  Dr. 
Dobyns  is  a  man  of  winning  manner  and  pos- 
sesses that  gift  of  spiritual  awakening  that,  far 
beyond  his  scholarship,  proves  the  value  of  his 
calling.     He  preaches  of  the  value  of  character, 
truth,  honor,  love  and  righteousness,  and  his  heart 
has  been  warmed  to  see  harvests  whiten  where 
he  has  sown  the  seed. 


^  * » 


ROF.  CHARLES  EMMETT  MILLER, 
professor  of  ancient  languages  in  the 
St.  Joseph  Lligh  School,  has  been  iden- 
tified with  this  institution  since  1875 
and  takes  rank  among  the  foremost 
educators  of  the  State  of  Missouri. 

Our  subject  was  born  at  Bath,  New  York,  in 
1853,  and  came  West  to  St.  Joseph,  Missouri, 
with  his  parents  when  about  12  years  of  age.  He 
received  his  early  education  at  St.  Joseph  :  en- 
tering the  High  School  in  1868,  he  completed  the 
course  in  1871,  and  spent  a  part  of  the  year  fol- 
lowing his  graduation  in  pursuing  a  post-gradu- 
ate course  there.  The  next  year  he  entered  Phil- 
lips' Exeter  Academy  at  Exeter,  New  Hampshire, 
and  in  1873  finished'  the  advanced  course  in  that 
school.  Returning  to  St.  Joseph,  he  was  ap- 
pointed assistant  teacher  in  ancient  and  modern 
languages  in  the  St.  Joseph  High  School  at  the 
opening  of  its  next  term,  in  September,  1875.  In 
1887,  the  chair  of  ancient  languages  was  left  va- 
cant by  the  departure  of  Professor  Buddenberg 
for  Europe,  on  account  of  failing  health,  and  Pro- 
fessor Miller  was  promoted  to  that  chair.  He 
served  in  that  ca])acity  until  1892,  when  he  be- 
came principal  of  the  school,  a  position  filled  by 
him  until  1903,  when  he  resigned  to  resume  his 
duties  as  professor  of  ancient  languages. 

Professor  Miller's  eminent  and  increasing 
success  has  been  due  in  no  small  degree  to  his 
ability  to  solve  with  accuracy  and  speed,  and 
with  justice  in  each  particular  case,  the  question 
so  vexing  to  thoughtful  teachers  and  parents 
everywhere :  To  what  extent  may  the  natural 
bent  of  the  average  boy  run  and  be  gratified  ?  Pro- 
fessor Miller   is   peculiarly   fitted   for  his   work, 


both  in  acquirements  and  in  natural  qualifications. 
He  works  in  the  constant  realization  that  the 
better  part  of  the  community  is  always  to  be  found 
in  school.  His  work  is  always  practical.  He 
never  exaggerates  the  importance  of  a  pupil's 
ability  to  write  upon  demand  and  without  thought 
the  17th  letter  of  the  English  alphabet  or  to  give 
off  hand  the  proper  names  of  the  several  stars 
composing  the  "Great  Bear."'  His  interest  in 
education  has  not  been  confined  to  the  school 
room.  For  many  years  he  has  been  a  member  of 
the  State  Teachers'  Association  of  Missouri,  and 
in  1883  was  elected  its  vice-president.  His  ef- 
forts before  that  association  have  been  marked  by 
profound  scholarship.  One  of  his  contributions 
to  the  work  of  that  body  was  a  paper  read  at  the 
meeting  at  the  State  University  of  Missouri  at 
Columbia  as  a  reply  to  Professor  Fisher's  "Three 
Pronunciations  of  Latin.''  This  paper  was  pub- 
lished in  pamphlet  form  at  the  request  and  ex- 
pense of  the  association  and  was  highly  praised 
in  all  educational  journals  of  the  country.  This 
pamphlet  had  its  influence  in  clearing  up  some 
of  the  difficult  questions  in  early  Latin  literature 
and  in  establishing  as  the  correct  method  the  pro- 
nunciation now  in  use  in  most  of  our  best  col- 
leges. Since  its  publication.  Professor  Miller  has 
been  considered  and  referred  to  as  authority  upon 
the  subject  of  which  it  treats.  His  general  schol- 
arship is  of  high  order,  while  in  point  of  thorough 
and  accurate  acciuaintance  with  the  Greek  and 
Latin  languages  and  literature,  and  their  sources 
and  growth,  lie  has  few  equals  even  among  the 
specialists  in  that  line  of  research.  The  profes- 
sors of  Harvard  and  Yale  and  other  colleges  have 
recognized  his  success  as  a  teacher  of  Latin  and 
Greek,  and  have  frequently  complimented  him  on 
the  exact  and  lasting  work  done  by  him  as  shown 
by  the  high  standard  in  the  classics  attained  by 
students  entering  those  colleges  from  the  St.  Jo- 
seph High  School.  To  Professor  Miller's  thor- 
ough knowledge  of  its  true  mission,  his  constant 
fidelity  to  its  high  purpose,  and  his  unselfish  am- 
bition to  see  it  accomplish  that  mission  and  pur- 
pose, as  much  as  to  any  other  factor,  do  we  owe 
the  continuity  of  character  and  the  constant 
growth  that  have  placed  this  high  school  first 
among  the  educational  institutions  of  its  kind. 

In  1874  Professor  Miller  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Luella  Robbins,  a  daughter  of  Hon. 
William  Robbins,  a  prominent  Ohio  statesman 
and  a  near  relative  of  the  family  of  Daniel  Web- 
ster. Mrs.  Miller  was  born  in  1846  and  as  a 
restilt   of   her   union   with   our   subject   has   two 


CAPT.   WENHARD    HAEFELI 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


541 


daug-hters :  Camelia  Maud  and  Harriet  Neely. 
Miss  Camelia  Maud  Miller  was  born  in  St.  Jo- 
seph, Missouri,  February  22,  1878,  and  was  grad- 
uated from  the  High  School  in  1895,  and  from 
the  State  University  of  Missouri  in  1899.  Im- 
mediately after  graduating  from  the  latter  insti- 
tution she  taught  school  one  year  and  in  the  fall 
of  1900  became  teacher  in  the  St.  Joseph  High 
School,  where  she  has  since  continued.  j\Iiss 
Harriet  Neely  Miller  was  born  in  St.  Joseph,  Mis- 
souri, October  7.  1880,  and  on  June  i,  1903,  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Gordon  Spencer  Robert- 
son of  Chicago,  Illinois,  where  her  husband  is 
identified  with  Swift  &  Company. 


■♦« » 


APT.  WERNHARD  HAEFELI,  whose 
portrait  accompanies  this  sketch,  for 
many  years  one  of  the  prominent  farm- 
ers and  leading  citizens  of  Buchanan 
County,  the  owner  of  a  finely  culti- 
vated estate  of  64  acres  in  section  it,  township  5J7, 
range  35.  in  Washington  township,  passed  out  of 
life  on  January  12,  1902,  leaving  behind  him  a 
reputation  for  honesty  and  reliability,  for  kind- 
ness of  heart  and  for  all  those  qualities  which 
make  up  the  good  citizen  and  neighbor,  the  faith- 
ful husband  and  devoted  father. 

Captain  Haefeli  was  born  in  the  canton  of 
Solothurn,  Switzerland,  September  29,  1834,  and 
was  a  son  of  John  and  Magdalena  (Sauner) 
Haefeli.  The  father  was  a  farmer  and  cattle 
trader,  and  both  he  and  his  good  wife  passed 
their  entire  lives  in  their  native  land.  Of  their 
family  of  five  children,  all  are  deceased. 

Our  subject  was  the  eldest  of  his  parents' 
children,  and  he  was  reared  on  the  home  farm 
and  was  afforded  a  good  German  education. 
When  he  started  out  for  himself,  he  learned  the 
trade  of  a  baker,  and  in  1856,  desirous  of  trying 
his  fortunes  in  the  coimtry  of  freedom  and  plent}' 
beyond  the  sea,  he  took  ])assage  on  a  sailing  ves- 
sel which  landed  him  at  the  port  of  New  Or- 
leans. From  there  he  journeyed  to  Brunswick, 
Missouri,  and,  not  finding  work  at  his  trade,  he 
obtained  employment  on  a  farm  and  in  a  sawmill, 
where  he  continued  for  18  months.  From  there 
he  went  to  Lexington,  but  seven  weeks  later 
came  to  St.  Joseph.  Willing  to  work  at  any  hon- 
est labor,  he  sought  and  found  employment  in  the 
stone  quarries,  first  with  a  Mr.  Venable  and  later 
with  a  Mr.  Suable,  but  after  his  marriage,  in 
i860,  he  rented  what  was  known  as  the  Alibrecht 


farm  and  this  he  cultivated  for  seven  years.  These 
years  were  devoted  to  hard  work  and  close  econ- 
omy and  the  result  was  that  he  accumulated 
enough  to  then  purchase  his  late  farm  on  which 
he  lived  happy  and  contented  for  33  years. 

While  Mr.  Haefeli  carefully  cultivated  his 
land  and  thus  reaped  rich  rewards  from  its  fer- 
tile soil,  he  had  other  sources  of  income.  He 
earlv  became  interested  in  raising  trotting  horses 
and  fine  Holstein,  Jersey  and  Shorthorn  cattle. 
He  owned  a  number  of  trotting  horses  of  more 
than  local  note,  among  these  being  "George 
Forward"  registered  as  No.  1961,  the  grandson 
of  "George  Wilkes,"  and  also  No.  519,  a  four- 
year-old  stallion.  In  1870  he  erected  a  beauti- 
ful residence  on  his  place,  at  a  cost  of  $3,000,  and 
a  barn,  28  by  50  feet  in  dimensions,  at  a  cost  of 
$800.  He  also  set  out  1,000  fruit  trees  which 
still  produce  abundantly. 

On  February  21,  i860,  Mr.  Haefeli  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Catherine  Ozenberger, 
who  is  a  daughter  of  Peter  and  Elizabeth 
(Steiner)  Ozenberger,  natives  of  Switzerland, 
where  the  father  was  born  in  i8ti  and  the  mother 
in  1814.  In  1830  they  emigrated  to  America  and 
in  1838  they  were  married  in  Holmes  County, 
Ohio.  In  1849  they  took  up  their  residence  on  a 
farm  in  section  2,  township  57,  range  35,  in 
Washington  township,  Buchanan  County,  where 
the  mother  died  in  October,  1872,  and  the  father 
in  March,  1885.  They  were  consistent  members 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church  and  were  esteemed  by 
all  who  knew  them. 

Mr.  Haefeli  and  wife  had  10  children, 
namely:  Amelia  R.,  Albert  W.,  Henrv  J.,  Rosa 
M.,  Ida  E.,  Louis  W.,  Minnie  K.,  'Otilla  C, 
Helen  L.  and  Sophia  M.,  the  last  of  whom  is  de- 
ceased. The  three  sons  are  prominent  real  estate 
men  with  offices  at  No.  704  Felix  street.  His 
estimable  widow  resides  at  No.  635  North  22d 
street.  St.  Joseph.  She  is  a  devoted  member  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church.  Mr.  Haefeli  was 
reared  a  Catholic. 

Politically,  our  subject  was  identified  with  the 
Republican  party,  becoming  a  supporter  of  its. 
principles  soon  after  coming  to  the  United  States. 
During  the  Civil  War  he  served,  with  the  ranK 
of  corporal,  in  the  command  of  Capt.  Louis  Hax, 
but  this  was  not  his  first  military  experience,  as 
he  had  served  in  the  Swiss  Army  before  leaving 
his  own  land.  Socially,  he  belonged  to  the  Grutli 
Society.  He  always  took  a  great  interest  in  edu- 
cational matters  and  not  only  afiforded  his  chil- 
dren  opportunities  out  of  the  common,  but  as- 


542 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY  AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


sisted  others  to  obtain  an  education  and  cheer- 
fully and  capably  served  as  a  school  director  of 
District  No.  2. 

The  late  Mr.  Haefeli  spent  five  months  in  1885 
in  his  own  land,  visiting  the  scenes  of  his  youth, 
but  did  not  have  any  desire  to  return  permanently. 
America  had  welcomed  him  and  he  had  shown 
his  gratitude  by  becoming  one  of  the  valued  and 
esteemed  citizens  of  his  adopted  country. 


♦ «  » 


OHN  ALBUS,  Jr.,  collector  of  customs 
for  the  St.  Joseph  port  of  entry,  is  a 
well-known  citizen  of  St.  Joseph  w'here 
he  has  lived  nearly  his  entire  life.  He 
was  born  at  Leavenworth,  Kansas,  Oc- 
tober 4,  i860,  and  is  a  son  of  John  and  Elizabeth 
(Kessler)  Albus. 

John  Albus,  Sr.,  was  born  in  Weildorf,  Ba- 
varia, June  24,  1830,  and  sailed  from  Hamburg 
for  America  in  September,  1849,  i'l  the  sailing 
vessel  "Herschel,"  the  voyage  consuming  125 
days.  There  were  763  passengers  on  board 
when  they  started  and  only  345  left  wdien  they 
arrived  in  New  York,  January  6,  1850,  418  per- 
sons, including  every  child  on  board,  having  died 
during  the  passage.  Mr.  Albus  traveled  through 
the  East  for  two  years,  and  then  came  to  St. 
Joseph,  Missouri,  arriving  on  July  4,  1852.  He 
resided  in  this  city  continuously  until  his  death, 
with  the  exception  of  five  years  from  1857  to 
1862,  which  he  spent  in  Weston,  Missouri,  and 
Leavenworth,  Kansas.  For  many  years  he  en- 
gaged in  the  freighting  business  making  12  trips 
across  the  plains  just  preceding  and  immediately 
following  the  Civil  War.  In  1867  he  engaged 
in  the  hotel  business  at  St.  Joseph  and  continued 
for  some  years,  but  during  the  last  20  years  of  his 
life  lived  in  practical  retirement.  He  has  two 
brothers  and  one  sister  still  living,  namely :  Jo- 
seph and  Vincent  Albus,  of  Kiowa  County, 
Colorado;  and  Mrs.  Michael  Kircher,  who  lives 
in  Miles  City,  Montana.  He  was  a  Republican 
all  his  life,  but  never  took  an  active  part  in  poli- 
tical affairs.  He  was  a  member  of  the  German 
Catholic  Church  and  of  the  Bavarian  Society. 
He  was  united  in  marriage  with  Elizabeth  Kess- 
ler, who  was  born  in  Ohio,  and  came  in  infancy 
to  Buchanan  County.  Missouri,  where  she  has 
since  resided  almost  continuously.  Her  father 
was  an  early  settler  in  this  community,  and  fol- 
lowed farming.  Three  children  blessed  this 
union:  John,  Jr.;  Jcseph  ;  and  Mrs.  Richard  L, 
Spencer. 


John  Albus,  Jr.,  was  nearly  three  years  of  age 
when  his  parents  removed  from  his  native  place 
to  St.  Joseph,  and  here  he  has  since  lived,  receiv- 
ing his  education  in  the  public  schools.  For  a 
number  of  years,  he  engaged  in  the  wholesale  and 
retail  stationery  business,  and  then  in  the  print- 
ing and  stationery  business.  He  was  very  suc- 
cessful and  folowed  that  line  of  business  until 
March  i,  1903,  when  he  was  appointed  collector 
of  customs  for  the  St.  Joseph  port  of  entry,  suc- 
ceeding W.  L.  Buechle.  He  has  taken  an  active 
interest  in  politics  for  24  years,  and  is  recognized 
as  one  of  the  Republican  party  leaders  in  St. 
Joseph.  From  1 891  to  1896,  he  served  creditably 
as  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Education. 

Mr.  Albus  was  united  in  marriage  with  a 
daughter  of  Louis  Hanssen,  of  Davenport,  Iowa, 
and  they  are  parents  of  three  children,  as  follows : 
John  Clarence  ;  Leon  Hanssen  ;  and  Marie  Louise. 
They  reside  at  No.  728  North  22d  street,  where 
they  have  a  very  comfortable  home.  Fraternally, 
our  subject  is  a  member  of  Charity  Lodge,  No. 
331,  A.  F.  &  A.  M. ;  Mitchell  Chapter,  No.  89, 
R.  A.  M. ;  St.  Joseph  Lodge,  No.  40,  B.  P.  O.  E. ; 
Woodmen  of  the  World ;  Knights  of  Pythias ; 
and  Royal  Arcanum.  The  family  belong  to  the 
First  Christian  Church. 


^♦» 


Hx-VRLES  KEARNY,  deceased,  was  one 
of  the  pioneer  citizens  of  St.  Joseph, 
Missouri,  where  he  located  as  early  as 
1855.  He  was  a  man  of  prominence  in 
business  circles,  and  in  his  death  it  w^as 
felt  the  city  had  sustained  a  great  loss. 

Mr.  Kearny  was  born  March  7,  1834.  and 
came  of  distinguished  parentage.  His  father, 
Ma j. -Gen.  Stephen  Watts  Kearny,  U.  S.  A.,  now 
deceased,  was  the  first  Governor  of  New 
Mexico,  and  his  mother  was  a  step-daughter  of 
William  Clarke,  who  was  the  first  Governor  of 
Missouri  Territory,  appointed  in  1813,  and  gained 
fame  as  one  of  the  leaders  in  the  memorable 
Lewis  and  Clarke  Expedition,  from  the  Missouri 
to  the  mouth  of  the  Columbia  River.  Gen.  Phil. 
Kearny  was  a  first  cousin  of  Charles  Kearny,  who 
also  was  a  kinsman  of  Rear-Admiral  Radford  of 
the  United  States  Navy.  ]\Ir.  Kearny's  sister, 
Mrs.  Western  Bascome,  resides  in  St.  Louis, 
where  her  husband  is  British  consul. 

Charles  Kearny  first  located  in  St.  Joseph  in 
1855,  and  for  some  years  engaged  in  the  mercan- 
tile business.     He  was  later  identified  with  the 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


543 


old  Pacific  House,  now  known  as  the  Metropole 
Hotel,  for  many  years,  and  met  with  success.  He 
possessed  good  business  ability  and  succeeded  in 
every  enterprise  he  undertook.  He  was  always 
known  as  a  fair-minded  business  man,  and  was 
highly  respected  by  every  one. 

Air.  Kearny  died  at  St.  Joseph,  Missouri, 
March  15,  1904,  leaving  a  wife  and  seven  chil- 
dren. His  children  are  as  follows :  Airs.  Alary  K. 
Bloss,  Airs.  Herbert  A.  Owen,  Charles  R.  (who 
is  identified  with  the  John  S.  Brittain  Dry  Goods 
Company),  Robert  S.,  and  Airs.  James  E.  Pat- 
rick, all  of  St.  Joseph ;  Airs.  William  E.  Bragg, 
of  Crested  Butte,  Alontana ;  and  Phil.  Kearny, 
an  electrical  engineer  of  New  York  City. 


■♦  *» 


EAT  B.  AIAY,  a  prominent  farmer  and 
stock  dealer  of  Buchanan  County,  re- 
sides in  section  20,  Bloomington  town- 
ship, and  is  well  known  throughout  this 
section.  He  was  born  in  Alarshall  town- 
ship, Platte  County,  Alissouri,  Alay  10,  1839,  and 
is  a  son  of  Silas  and  Alary  (Jones)  Alay,  the 
former  a  native  of  Alabama  and  the  latter  of 
Tennessee. 

Silas  Alay  came  West  to  Alissouri  in  1837, 
settling  in  Platte  County,  where  he  was  one  of 
the  pioneers.  Indians  were  numerous  in  that 
locality,  and  everything  was  in  a  primitive  state. 
He  first  erected  a  cabin  of  round  logs,  16  by  16 
feet  in  dimensions,  with  clapboa'rd  door  and  pin 
to  fasten  it.  and  with  chimney  made  of  clay  and 
sticks.  Five  of  his  children  were  born  in  this 
rude  structure.  He  later  built  a  hewed-log 
house  with  a  brick  chimney,  and  this  still  stands 
on  the  old  home  farm  in  Platte  County.  He 
cleared  the  farm  that  he  preempted  and  used  the 
old  Kerry  w^ooden  mold-lDoard  plow  when  plow- 
ing. His  grain  was  cut  with  the  reaping  hook 
in  the  early  days  ;  later  the  cradle  was  used,  after 
which  came  the  dropper,  then  the  binder.  The 
money  with  which  he  purchased  his  first  horse 
was  earned  by  grubbing  brush  at  25  cents  per 
day,  and  he  also  cut  many  a  cord  of  wood  at  25 
cents  per  cord,  and  split  and  carried  rails  at  25 
cents  per  hundred.  His  wife  used  the  spinning 
wheel  and  made  all  the  clothes  worn  bv  the  fam- 
ily, some  of  her  handiwork  now  being  in  the 
possession  of  our  subject.  They  continued  to  live 
in  that  county  until  1857.  then  moved  to  Barry 
County,  Alissouri,  where  Air.  Alay  died  in  1897, 
his  wife  having  preceded  him  to  the  unknown 


beyond  some  20  }ears  previously.  They  had  the 
following  issue:  Nancy  R.  (Crooke),  deceased; 
Alary,  deceased  ;  L.  B. ;  Jerusha  Ann,  deceased  ; 
Alartha  Alice,  deceased;  Aliriam  deceased;  and 
Jennette'  Florence,  wife  of  W.  A.  Bowen  of  St. 
Joseph. 

L.  B.  Alay  was  reared  on  the  home  farm  and 
received  his  preliminary  education  in  the  dis- 
trict schools,  which  were  held  in  a  log  house 
with  slabs  for  desks  and  benches.  He  later  at- 
tended Pleasant  Ridge  College  in  Platte  County. 
He  wore  homespun  clothing  until  he  was  18  years 
of  age,  when  he  received  his  first  bought  suit, 
which  cost  $40.  At  the  age  of  19  years  he  began 
farming  in  his  native  county,  and  continued  there 
until  1872,  when  he  moved  to  Barry  County, 
Alissouri.  In  1874  he  came  to  Buchanan  County, 
and  settled  on  his  present  farm  in  section  20, 
Bloomington  township,  which  was  a  part  of  his 
wife's  homestead.  He  built  a  substantial  resi- 
dence, good  barns  and  fences  and  set  out  an  ex- 
cellent orchard.  He  has  fine  blue  grass  pastures, 
which  are  invaluable  to  him  in  the  fattening  of 
stock.  He  deals  in  butcher  meat,  fattening  cattle, 
sheep  and  hogs  for  the  market.  He  has  taken  an 
earnest  interest  in  the  development  of  this  countv. 
and  has  given  especial  attention  to  the  improve- 
ment of  roads.  He  has  a  fine  private  road  lead- 
ing to  the  main  road.  He  has  a  relic  of  pioneer 
days  which  he  very  highly  prizes, — a  cupboard  of 
native  walnut.  His  wife  has  a  hand-made  bu- 
reau, built  entirely  of  cherry,  which  was  owned 
by  an  early  settler. 

AJr.  Alay  was  united  in  marriage  with  Amanda 
Aloore,  a  daughter  of  \\'illiam  and  Eliza  (  Elli- 
son) Aloore.  pioneers  of  this  county,  and  they 
have  eight  children :  Robert  L..  deceased  :  Fred, 
of  Weston,  who  married  Edna  Vermillion ;  Eva 
Irene  ;  Susan  ;  Alary  Eliza  ;  Elmer  ;  Arsceno  ;  and 
Georgia  Ann.  Politically,  Air.  Alay  is  a  Demo- 
crat and  served  as  clerk  of  the  school  district  a 
number  of  years.  For  a  short  time  he  served 
under  Captain  Hart  of  DeKalb  during  the  Civil 
War,  but  was  discharged  on  account  of  sickness. 


■♦ » » 


ANIEL  A.  LOUTERAIILCH,  a  re- 
spected citizen  and  an  extensive  farmer 
of  Buchanan  County,  residing  in  section 
21^  township  55,  range  34,  in  Platte 
township,  and  owning  a  well-improved 
farm  of  370  acres  situated  in  Platte  and  Jackson 
townships,  in  sections  22,  2}^,  26,  2^  and  14,  was 


544 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY  AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


born  in  Jackson  township,  Buchanan  County, 
December  17,  i860.  His  parents  were  Adam  and 
I\Iary  M.   (\\'eltmer)   Loutermilch. 

The  Loutermilch  family  is  of  German  extrac- 
tion, but  the  father  of  our  subject  was  born  in 
Dauphin  County,  Pennsylvania,  which  is  largely 
settled  by  natives  of  Germany  and  their  descen- 
dants. Adam  Loutermilch  was  born  ]\Iarch  6, 
1824,  and  when  he  landed  in  ^Missouri,  May  10, 
185 1,  it  was  after  the  birth  of  two  of  his  chil- 
dren. He  married  Mary  M.  Weltmer,  who  was 
born  October  10,  1827,  and  died  June  3,  1885. 
They  had  six  children,  namely:  Benjamin  T.,  of 
Platte  township  ;  Isaac  M.  of  Smith  County,  Kan- 
sas ;  Lydia  Ann,  who  died  aged  17  years;  Mary 
Jane,  who  died  aged  four  years ;  Daniel  A.,  of 
this  sketch  ;and  William,  who  died  in  infancy. 
The  family  covered  the  long  distance  from  their 
old  Pennsylvania  home  to  the  pioneer  settlement 
in  Buchanan  County  by  canal  and  steamboat,  the 
trip  being  one  of  the  great  events  in  the  lives  of 
the  quiet  agricultural  people.  Both  parents  of  our 
subject  were  consistent  members  of  the  Metho- 
dist Church  and  they  lived  and  died  respected  by 
all  who  knew  them. 

Our  subject  has  justly  named  his  large  estate 
the  "Pleasant  Mew  Stock  Farm,"  for  it  is  well 
watered,  well  located  and  so  improved  that  it 
not  only  furnishes  a  comfortable  and  attractive 
home,  but  has  a  value  beyond  almost  any  other  in 
either  Platte  or  Jackson  townships.  Air.  Louter- 
milch has,  made  almost  all  this  through  his  own 
exertions.  In  young  manhood  he  started  out  with 
a  tract  of  85  acres,  having  sold  his  original  one- 
half  interest  of  60  acres  in  his  father's  estate  to 
his  brother.  Subsequently,  he  purchased  the  60 
acres  with  20  acres  more  belonging  to  his 
brother,  thereby  becoming  the  owner  of  the  orig- 
inal farm  that  belonged  to  his  father.  To  this 
property  he  subsequently  added  other  farms,  so 
that  he  now  has  nearly  400  acres  of  land.  This 
makes  a  large  farm,  but  it  is  not  too  large  for  a 
man  of  the  good  management  and  ^ability  of  our 
subject  to  handle,  nor  too  large  to  accommodate 
his  150  head  of  Poland-China  hogs  and  large 
herds  of  cattle.  He  buys,  feeds  and  ships  both 
cattle  and  hogs,  raises  some  horses  and  mules  and 
has  all  his  farming  land  under  fine  cultivation. 
His  improvements  are  first  class,  including  a 
commodious  residence,  large  barns  and  outbuild- 
ings and  all  the  conveniences  necessarv  for  the 
conduct  of  large  operations. 

On  November  10,  1881,  Mr.  Loutermilch 
married  Georgia  A.  Mumford,  who  was  born  in 


Jackson  township,  Buchanan  County,  Missouri, 
September  18,  i860,  and  is  a  daughter  of  George 
and  Sally  Mumford,  natives  of  Pennsylvania 
and  Kentucky,  respectively.  They  have  one  son, 
Charles  E.,  who  was  born  December  14,  1893. 

Politically,  Mr.  Loutermilch  is  identified  with 
the  Republican  party  and  he  keeps  fully  abreast 
of  the  times  in  public  affairs.  He  has  accepted 
nothing  but  school  offices  in  his  township,  but 
has  always  taken  a  deep  interest  in  everything 
promising  to  benefit  his  locality.  Mrs.  Louter- 
milch is  a  consistent  member  of  the  Baptist 
Church  to  which  our  subject  liberally  contributes. 
He  has  earned  his  present  success  by  unflagging 
industry  and  that  he  is  considered  one  of  his 
township's  substantial  men,  is  because  he  has  de- 
voted himself  closely  to  business  for  many  }ears 
and  has  exercised  good  judgment  and  pursued 
honorable   methods    in    dealing   with    his    fellow 


citizens. 


■♦♦  » 


RANK  W.  BEACH,  city  clerk  of  St. 
Joseph,  and  probably  one  of  the  best 
known  men  in  Buchanan  County,  was 
born  in  this  city  in  1869  and  is  a  son  of 
Col.  John  T.  Beach,  one  of  St.  Joseph's 
most  prominent  and  influential  citizens,  a  biog- 
raphy of  whom  \\ill  be  found  on  another  page  of 
this  history. 

Mr.  Beach  was  reared  and  received  his  early 
education  in  St.  Joseph,  supplementing  this  with 
a  course  in  the  best  colleges  of  Northern  Illinois. 
College  days  over,  he  returned  home  in  1891  and 
took  up  the  graver  duties  of  life,  engaging  in 
business  and  becoming  identified  with  the  leading 
interests  of  the  city. 

Having  strong  political  convictions,  he  has 
become  one  of  the  important  and  influential  fac- 
tors in  the  Republican  party  of  jNIissouri.  In  1894 
he  was  chosen  secretary  of  the  Republican  County 
Committee  and  the  following  January  was  in- 
stalled as  deputy  under  Sheriff  Joseph  Andriano. 
He  served  in  this  capacity  for  two  years  and  in 
1898  was  the  Republican  candidate  for  the  State 
Legislature,  being  defeated,  after  a  close  contest, 
by  a  small  majority.  In  1900  he  was  with  the 
bureau  of  speakers  at  the  Republican  national 
headquarters,  Chicago,  and  that  fall  returned 
to  accept  a  two-year  term  as  city  clerk.  So  cap- 
able and  efficient  has  he  been  in  this  office,  that 
he  was  reappointed  for  a  second  term.  j\Ir. 
Beach  is  an  affable,  agreeable  gentleman,  an  at- 
tendant of  the  ]\Ietliodist  Episcopal  Church  and 


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AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


547 


a  member  of  the  B.  P.  O.  E.  He  also  maintains 
his  position  in  politics  and  is  now  the  treasurer  of 
the  Republican  City  Committee. 


♦  * » 


I 

a    S   h 


AVID  E.  HEATON,  proprietor  of  the 
oldest  undertaking  establishment  in  St. 
Joseph,  commands  the  patronage  of  the 
leading  people  of  the  city  and  its 
vicinity.  He  is  also  engaged  in  the 
manufacture  of  caskets  and  other  necessities  of 
the  business  at  his  large  plant  on  South  Seventh 
street. 

David  E.  Heaton  was  born  in  St.  Joseph,  Mis- 
souri, April  17,  1855,  and  is  a  son  of  David  John- 
son and  Lucinda  (King)  Heaton.  The  Heaton 
family  came  originally  from  England.  David  J. 
Heaton  was  born  in  Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania, 
in  1808,  and  when  very  young  moved  to  Coving- 
ton, Kentucky,  where  he  was  reared.  After  com- 
pleting his  trade  as  a  cabinet-maker,  he  went  to 
Cincinnati,  having  been  employed  at  various 
other  towns  in  Ohio.  He  came  to  St.  Joseph  in 
1842  and  located  in  Sparta,  the  county  seat,  but 
returned  to  this  city  in  1844.  He  engaged  in  the 
manufacture  and  sale  of  furniture  in  St.  Joseph 
until  his  business  was  destroyed  by  fire  in  1859, 
after  which  he  devoted  his  attention  exclusively 
to  undertaking.  The  firm  became  Heaton,  Quig- 
gins  &  Company  in  1870,  and  our  subject  worked 
for  the  company  until  1874  when  C.  W.  Quig- 
gins  withdrew  and  removed  to  Kentucky.  The 
business  was  then  conducted  by  our  subject  and 
his  father  until  1878,  when  the  former  bought 
the  latter's  interest.  The  senior  Heaton  again 
acquired  an  interest  in  1880,  and  continued  in  the 
business  until  1883,  when  he  sold  out  to  W.  P. 
White.  He  continued  to  live  in  St.  Joseph  until 
his  death  April  16,  1897.  at  the  age  of  89  years, 
and  at  the  time  of  his  death  was  the  oldest  living 
undertaker  in  the  United  States. 

In  1885.  the  business  was  sold  to  J.  C.  Rose, 
but  after  a  few  months  David  E.  Heaton  pur- 
chased the  entire  stock  and  has  since  conducted 
it  alone,  vastly  improving  the  facilities  and  in- 
creasing the  volume  of  business.  He  does  two- 
thirds  of  the  undertaking  in  the  city  of  St.  Jo- 
seph, and  conducts  from  600  to  800  funerals  an- 
nually. During  tlie  past  five  years  he  has  manu- 
factured his  own  goods,  his  plant  turning  out 
upwards  of  1,000  caskets  per  year.  The  building, 
which  is  located  at  Nos.  109-111  South  Seventh 
street,  is  40  by  120  feet  in  dimensions,  and  con- 


sists of  two  stories  and  basement.  The  manu- 
facturing is  entirely  in  charge  of  a  thoroughly 
competent  man,  George  J.  BeGole.  formerly  of 
Owosso,  Michigan.  As  a  necessary  auxiliary 
business,  Mr.  Heaton  has  a  two-story  stable  at 
Nos.  211-213  North  loth  street,  60  by  120  feet 
in  dimensions,  in  which  he  has  fine  hearses, 
carriages  and  21  horses,  which  are  used  ex- 
clusively in  the  business.  He  employs  about 
15  men.  ]\Ir.  Heaton  is  also  a  director  of  The 
National  Bank  of  St.  Joseph.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Benton,  Lotus  and  Monroe  clubs,  and  in  1903 
was  president  of  the  last  named.  He  has  been 
president  of  the  Auditorium  Company  since  it 
was  formed  in  1902,  which  company  has  now  a 
building  in  course  of  construction,  which  will  be 
a  credit  to  the  city  when  completed. 

David  E.  Pleaton  was  united  in  marriage  Oc- 
tober 5,  1882,  at  Tecumseh,  Nebraska,  to  Mollie 
H.  Thurman,  a  daughter  of  Dr.  H.  C.  Thurman, 
a  physician  and  druggist  of  that  place,  deceased 
about  20  years  ago.  Mrs.  Heaton  was  born  at 
Sidney,  Iowa ;  she  has  two  daughters.  Hazel  E. 
and  Bessie  D.,  who  were  educated  at  ^lonticcUo 
Seminary  at  Godfrey,  Illinois.  She  and  her 
daughters  are  members  of  the  Protestant  Episco- 
pal Church.  Our  subject  is  at  the  present  time 
building  a  beautiful  home  at  the  comer  of  22d 
and  Clay  streets.  Politically,  he  is  a  Democrat. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  order  and  its 
various  branches,  including  the  Shrine,  and  also 
belongs  to  the  Elks.  Odd  Fellows,  and  Ancient 
Order  of  United  \\^orkmen.  having  joined  the  last 
named  organization  in  1878. 


CAD  EM  Y  OF  THE  SACRED 
HEART.  This  notable  institution, 
which  is  one  of  the  landmarks  of  St. 
Joseph,  stands  as  an  exponent  of  the 
Christian  zeal  of  a  band  of  self-sacri- 
ficing Christian  workers,  whose  pious  labors  ex- 
tend over  the  civilized  world.  The  order  of  Cath- 
olic Sisters,  under  the  guidance  and  care  of  which 
this,  and  32  other  similar  institutions,  are  con- 
ducted, was  founded  in  France,  but  its  work  is 
bounded  by  no  racial  distinction. 

In  considering  the  great  work  which  has  been 
accomplished  by  the  Academy  of  the  Sacred 
Heart  at  St.  Joseph,  it  is  interesting  to  recall  the 
early  days  of  its  founding.  In  1818,  INIadame 
Duchesne  came  from  France  to  the  United 
.States  with  a  colonv  of  nuns,  to  establish,  almost 


548 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY   AND    ST.   JOSEPH 


on  the  borders  of  civilization,  a  pioneer  convent 
of  the  order.  St.  Louis  was  a  French  city,  and 
there  the  pious  religious  were  given  heart}-  wel- 
come and  founded  there  the  present  great  con- 
vent which  has  sent  its  Sisters  to  all  parts  of  the 
country.  From  that  convent,  in  1853,  four  nuns 
came  to  St.  Joseph,  on  their  gentle,  uplifting  mis- 
sion. They  were  women  of  exalted  Christian 
character,  upheld  by  the  dignity  and  sublimity  of 
their  great  work  and,  in  those  early  days  at  this 
point,  they  needed  the  self  restraint,  the  educa- 
tion, the  enthusiasm  and  the  piety,  for  which  they 
have  always  been  noted. 

They  quietly  established  a  school  and,  would 
the  limits  of  this  article  permit,  it  would  be  of 
absorbing  interest  to  recall,  in  detail,  the  first 
steps  and  the  difficulties  surmounted.  That  their 
mere  presence  exerted  wonderful  influence  was 
evident,  for  during  their  first  month  they  had  en- 
rolled 100  pupils.  Within  the  short  period  of 
three  years,  as  one  of  the  results  of  their  work, 
the  foundations  for  the  present  buildings  were 
laid,  and  plans  were  considered  for  enlarging  and 
spreading  this  great  enterprise. 

In  1857  the  good  Sisters  were  rejoiced  to  see 
the  completion  of  the  first  of  the  structures  which 
now  are  known  as  the  Academy  of  the  Sacred 
Heart.  Later  improvements  have  resulted  in  a 
magnificent  brick  structure,  120  by  60  feet  in  di- 
mensions, three  stories  high,  with  mansard  roof 
and  tower,  from  which  may  be  seen  miles  and 
miles  of  the  beautiful  surrounding  landscape.  As 
the  years  have  passed,  the  institution  has  been 
modernized  to  meet  present  day  requirements,  no 
expense  having  been  spared  in  making  it  per- 
fectly sanitary  and  in  equipping  it  with  chemi- 
cal and  physical  laboratories  and  gymnasium,  and 
with  the  home  comforts  that  careful  parents  de- 
sire for  their  daughters.  While  changes  have 
thus  been  made  in  grounds  and  buildings,  as  occa- 
sion demanded,  no  change  has  been  introduced 
as  to  the  central  idea  of  instruction,  that  being  the 
educating  of  the  150  young  lady  students,  to  the 
highest  degree  of  usefulness  in  any  sphere  of  life. 
The  graduates  of  this  institution  are  young 
women  who  retain  the  womanly  graces,  are 
equipped  mentally  and  fitted  physically  for  all 
that  outside  life  may  demand  of  them,  and  pro- 
tected by  the  memory  of  the  moral  influences 
which  guarded  them  during  their  whole  stay. 

Fine  buildings,  spacious  grounds,  competent 
teachers  and  mtional  methods  go  far  to  making 
the  Academy  of  the  Sacred  Heart  one  of  the  ideal 
educational  institutions  of  the  country.    The  pres- 


ent board  of  instructors  includes  teachers  trained 
for  the  work,  who  demand  the  excellence  found 
in  the  higher  college  curriculums.  The  president 
of  the  board  is  Rev.  Mother  McMenamy ;  Ma- 
dame Keating  is  vice-president ;  Madame  Clancy 
is  secretary  and  treasurer.  The  school  offers  un- 
usual opportunities  for  the  study  of  literature, 
foreign  languages,  art  and  music,  and  each  stu- 
dent is  led  to  the  highest  point  of  her  own  capac- 
ity. Aside  from  their  purely  mental  and  physical 
training,  which  includes  the  broadest  culture  and 
the  educating  of  mind,  body  and  manner,  the 
moral  surroundings  are  such  that  few  young" 
women  could  avoid  being  impressed  with  the  ex- 
amples shown  them,  in  the  50  Sisters  of  this  con- 
vent, of  the  beauty  of  exalted  character,  and  thus 
are  insensibly  led  to  emulate  virtues  so  constantly 
brought  to  their  view.  The  Sisters  live  in  close 
fellowship  with  the  students,  entering  into  their 
hopes  and  ambitions  with  loving  interest,  and 
when  they  go  out  into  the  world  follow  them 
with  their  prayers.  Among  the  cultured  ladies, 
not  only  of  St.  Joseph,  but  of  many  other  widely 
separated  points,  may  be  foimd  many  who  recall 
the  days  they  spent  at  the  Academy  of  the  Sacred 
Heart,  with  its  ennobling  atmosphere  and  its 
beautiful  surroundings,  as  the  happiest  and  rich- 
est seasons  of  their  lives. 


^  * » 


FORGE  T.  LETTS,  one  of  the  well- 
known  business  men  of  St.  Joseph,  su- 
perintendent of  the  Troy  (Kansas) 
plant  of  the  Missouri  Valley  Preserv- 
ing Company,  of  this  city,  was  born 
January  18,  1874,  in  Birmingham,  England,  and 
is  a  son  of  William  T.  and  Elizabeth  (Palmer) 
Letts. 

William  T.  Letts,  the  well-known  box  manu- 
facturer of  St.  Joseph,  was  born  in  Northampton, 
England.  ]\Iay  17,  185 1.  and  is  a  son  of  George 
and  Mary  (Knight)  Letts.  The  grandfather  of 
our  subject  was  born  in  Roth  well,  Northampton- 
shire, in  1818.  and  died  in  1898.  He  was  a  man- 
ufacturer of  violin  strings.  Of  his  13  children, 
12  grew  to  maturity.  One  of  his  sons  served  in 
the  Crimean  War.  William  T.  Letts  learned  his 
father's  trade  and  remained  at  home  until  the  age 
of  20  years,  and  then  removed  to  Bradford,  in 
Yorkshire,  where  he  carried  on  a  grocery  busi- 
ness for  six  years.  Then  he  drifted  to  the  great 
manufacturing  city  of  Birmingham  and  found  em- 
ployment    as      traveling     salesman      with     the 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


549 


John  Woods  whip  and  harness  house,  re- 
maining five  years  with  this  firm.  In  i88i 
he  crossed  to  America,  landing  at  the 
port  of  New  York.  In  looking  about  for 
a  suitable  location,  he  spent  some  months 
at  Newark,  New  Jersey,  and  then  pushed 
as  far  West  as  Chicago.  In  that  great  city  he 
found  employment  in  a  box  factory  and  remained 
several  years  there  in  this  business  and  then  re- 
moved to  Cedar  Rapids,  Iowa.  His  idea  was 
to  establish  a  box  factory  of  his  own,  his  experi- 
ence in  the  manufacturing  business  having  been 
sufficient  to  make  him  thoroughly  acquainted  with 
all  the  details.  From  Cedar  Rapids  he  removed 
to  Fort  Dodge,  Iowa,  and  in  1885  to  St.  Joseph. 
Here  he  found  the  field  propitious  and  soon  en- 
tered upon  the  manufacture  of  boxes  in  a  small 
way.  It  prospered  from  the  start  and  has  steadily 
grown  until,  by  1903,  the  annual  output  de- 
manded 50  car-loads  of  lumber  and  the  employ- 
ment of  15  hands,  taking  its  place  among  the 
leading  industries  of  the  city. 

In  1870  William  T.  Letts  was  married  to 
Elizabeth  Palmer,  of  Longbuckly,  Northampton- 
shire, England,  a  daughter  of  Thomas  Palmer  of 
that  locality.  Of  their  nine  children  eight  still 
survive,  namely :  William  Walter,  of  St.  Joseph  ; 
George  T.,  our  subject;  Henry  James,  employed 
in  his  father's  factory  ;  Johanna,  wife  of  Reuben 
T.  Smith,  of  St.  Joseph ;  and  Charles,  Joseph, 
Frederick  and  Ellen  Beatrice  of  St.  Joseph.  The 
mother  of  these  children  died  in  1899,  aged  52 
years.  Mr.  Letts  was  married  in  1899  to  Mrs. 
Annie  (Eraser)  Arnold,  who  is  a  native  of  Glen- 
garry County,  Ontario,  Canada,  a  daughter  of 
Donald  Eraser,  who  was  born  at  Glasgow, 
Scotland. 

Politically,  William  T.  Letts  is  a  Republican. 
He  is  fraternally  connected  with  St.  Joseph 
Lodge,  No.  I,  Woodmen  of  the  World,  in  which 
order  he  has  held  the  office  of  vice-lieutenant ;  of 
the  Knights  and  Ladies  of  Security ;  and  of  Lo- 
gan Tribe,  No.  27,  Improved  Order  of  Red  Men. 
He  is  a  man  who  commands  the  respect  of  his 
fellow  citizens.  He  has  worked  hard  with  hand 
and  brain  and  has  not  forgotten,  in  the  following 
of  his  own  fortunes,  the  welfare  of  his  city, 
advancing  her  interests  on  every  possible  occa- 
sion. His  contribution  to  the  industrial  output 
is  considerable  and  represents  the  results  of 
years  of  persevering  energy. 

Our  subject  remained  with  his  father,  attend- 
ing -school  at  St.  Jose])h  and  assisting  in  the  box 
factory,  until  September,  1894,  when  he  entered 


the  employ  of  the  Missouri  Valley  Prfserving 
Company  of  St.  Joseph.  He  was  first  made  su- 
perintendent of  the  St.  Joseph  plant  in  1899  ^"<^1 
capably  held  this  office  until  1904,  when  he  was 
made  superintendent  of  the  erection  of  their  new 
plant  at  Troy,  Kansas,  and  has  been  its  manager 
ever  since. 

On  July  3,  1894,  Mr.  Letts  was  married  to 
Sarah  Frances  Jones,  who  is  a  daughter  of  Larkin 
E.  Jones,  of  Severance,  Kansas.  They  have  two 
children, — Claude  and  Maude  (twins).  Their 
pleasant  home  is  situated  at  No.  407  Doniphan 
avenue,  St.  Joseph. 

Politically,  Mr.  Letts,  like  his  father,  is  iden- 
tified with  the  Republican  party.  He  is  a  member 
of  St.  Joseph  Camp,  No.  i.  Woodmen  of  the 
\Vorld ;  and  Logan  Tribe,  No.  27,  Improved 
Order  of  Red  Men.  In  this  fraternal  organization, 
he  has  passed  all  the  chairs  and  has  been  elected 
a  delegate  to  the  State  council. 


♦ « » 


EV.  WLADISLAUS  RAKOWSKI.  pas- 
tor in  charge  of  SS.  Peter  and  Paul's 
Catholic  Church,  of  St.  Joseph,  is  one 
of  the  most  highly  cultured  and  schol- 
arly clergymen,  as  he  is  also  the  young- 
est priest  of  his  church,  in  this  city.  He  was 
born  September  10,  1866,  at  Posen,  in  Poland, 
and  is  one  of  the  family  of  seven  children  born  to 
his  parents,  Hon.  John  and  Adolphine  Rakowski. 
The  father  was  of  Prussian  birth  and  died  in 
1883. 

Father  Rakowski  attended  the  Catholic 
schools  of  his  native  town  of  Posen  for  nine  years 
and  then  pursued  his  academical  studies  in 
Muenster,  Westphalen,  where  he  remained  four 
years  under  the  careful  instruction  of  noted  teach- 
ers of  the  church,  who  thus  prepared  him  for  his 
ordination,  on  July  22,  1892,  by  Archbishop 
Count  Florian  de  Stablewski.  The  young  priest 
was  assigned  first  to  the  parish  of  Tuchorza, 
Prussia,  and  second,  to  Drzeczkowo,  Prussia.  In 
his  native  country  his  zeal  and  devotion  were  re- 
warded by  the  approbation  of  his  superiors  and 
by  the  afifection  of  his  people.  After  coming  to 
the  L^nited  States,  in  1901,  he  remained  four 
weeks  at  New  Britain,  Connecticut,  officiating  for 
an  absent  pastor,  and  was  then  appointed  to  take 
charge  of  SS.  Peter  and  Paul's  Church,  at  Du- 
luth,  Minnisota.  After  a  pastorate  of  one  year 
and  three  months  at  this  ])oint,  he  was  sent  to  take 
charge  of  SS.   Peter  and  Paul's  Church,  at  St. 


550 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


Joseph,  the  second  largest  parish  in  this  cit}-. 
When  he  reached  here,  he  was  confronted  with 
the  necessity  of  immediately  building  a  new 
church.  A  foundation  had  been  laid  12  years 
previously  and  it  only  required  an  earnest  and 
magnetic  worker  to  inspire  the  parish  with  the 
desire  to  complete  the  work  so  well  begun. 
Th.rough  the  untiring  efforts  of  Father  Rakowski, 
the  sum  of  $30,000  was  raised  and  by  1904  the 
beautiful  structure  was  completed,  a  magnificent 
stone  building  of  chaste  architecture,  which 
covers  an  area  of  128  by  60  feet.  The  church  has 
a  seating  capacity  of  800  and  is  fitted  with  all 
modern  furnishings  and  equipments  designed  for 
the  comfort  of  the  congregation.  The  church 
owns  the  site,  in  size  375  by  199  feet,  which  was 
purchased  from  the  late  Ex-Governor  Willard  P. 
Hall,  at  a  cost  of  $5,000.  One  very  beautiful 
feature  of  this  church  is  its  24  gorgeous  windows, 
each  one  having  been  ])resented  by  a  different 
member  of  the  parish  at  an  approximate  cost  of 
$60.  The  handsomest  one  Father  Rakowski  in- 
sisted upon  presenting  as  a  gift  from  himself. 
This  is  a  marvel  of  artistic  beauty  and  was  pro- 
duced at  a  cost  of  $150.  In  connection  with  the 
church  there  is  a  successful  parish  school,  con- 
ducted by  the  Felician  Sisters  of  the  Polish- 
Franciscan  order,  which  has  an  attendance  of  iCh: 
pupils. 

Father  Rakowski  is  much  beloved  by  his  peo- 
ple and  is  very  highly  esteemed  by  the  citizens  of 
St.  Joseph,  irrespective  or  creeds. 


RS.  CHRISTINA  LOUISA  WAL- 
TER, one  of  the  most  highly  es- 
teemed and  venerable  residents  of 
Washington  township,  Buchanan 
County,  who  owns  a  farm  of  147 
acres  situated  in  sections  7  and  8,  township  57, 
range  34,  was  born  in  Rothenburg,  Germany, 
May  18,  1832,  and  is  a  daughter  of  John  F. 
Meyer. 

Mrs.  Walter  has  been  married  twice.  Her 
first  husband,  John  F.  Fischer,  to  whom  she  was 
married  in  1853,  was  also  born  in  Germany.  He 
came  to  the  United  States  when  he  was  20  years 
of  age,  landing  at  New  York,  and  in  that  city  he 
was  married  to  our  subject.  They  lived  three 
years  in  New  York  and  then  removed  as  far  West 
as  Chicago,  Illinois,  which  was  then  but  a  small 
town,  ancl  lived  there  until  1859,  when  they  came 
to   St.   Joseph,    Missouri.      He   was   one   of  the 


pioneer  merchants,  establishing  a  store  on  Ed- 
mond  street,  which  he  conducted  for  two  years 
and  then  sold  to  a  Mr.  Boiler.  Mr.  Fischer  then 
bought  100  acres  of  Mrs.  Walter's  present  farm, 
which  he  continued  to  work  until  death,  in  1864. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Plscher  had  three  children,  namely: 
Caroline,  Julia  and  Clara. 

In  1866  Mrs.  Fischer  was  married  to  IMichael 
Walter,  who  was  born  in  Germany.  He  came 
to  the  United  States  in  young  manhood  and  set- 
tled at  Dayton,  Ohio,  where  he  engaged  in  the 
butchering  business  until  he  came  to  St.  Joseph. 
After  his  marriage,  he  resided  on  the  farm.  He 
was  accidentally  drowned  in  1869.  The  one  child 
of  this  marriage,  Nellie,  resides  at  home  with  her 
mother. 

Mrs.  Walter  has  capably  managed  her  prop- 
erty for  many  years.  It  is  devoted  to  general 
farming  and  stock-raising.  Its  nearness  to  St. 
Joseph,  being  only  seven  miles  from  Market 
square,  gives  not  only  a  fine  market,  but  enables 
Airs.  W^alter  and  her  family  to  enjoy  both  city 
and  country  life.  The  home  is  a  very  comfortable 
two-story  dwelling,  surrounded  by  trees  which 
Mrs.  Walter  has  watched  grow  froni  mere 
saplings. 

Mrs.  Walter  is  widely  known  for  her  kind- 
ness of  heart  and  open  hospitality.  She  is  a  most 
worthy  member  of  the  Lutheran  Church. 


^  *  »■ 


AMES  E.  PATRICK,  attorney-at-law 
and  member  of  the  prominent  firm  of 
Patrick  &  Lea,  real  estate  dealers,  pro- 
moters and  rental  agents,  with  a  fine 
suite  of  offices  at  No.  511  Francis  street, 
St.  Josejih,  with  offices  also  in  the  Tacoma  Build- 
ing in  Chicago,  was  born  in  Nebraska  City,  Ne- 
braska, in  1874.  and  is  a  son  of  James  W.  and 
Josephine  J.  (Jobe)  Patrick. 

James  E.  Patrick  was  educated  in  St.  Joseph 
and  in  the  University  of  Michigan,  where  he  was 
graduated  from  the  law  department  in  1893.  He 
was  admitted  to  practice  in  Buchanan  County  in 
1894,  and  immediately  thereafter  accepted  the 
position  of  attorney  and  secretary  to  George  T. 
Hoagland,  now  deceased.  When  the  Floagland 
Loan  &  Investment  Company  was  incorporated, 
he  continued  as  its  attorney  and  secretary  until 
August  I,  1903,  when  he  resigned  to  devote  his 
attention  to  his  present  business.  The  firm  of 
Patrick  &  Lea.  the  junior  member  being  J.  J.  Lea, 
is  the  only  one  in  the  city  conducting  an  extensive 


tm 


Wi 


aS^- ;■-■■: 


\ 


HON.   THOMAS    JEFFERSON    BURGESS 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


553. 


outside  business  in  real  estate,  loans  and  invest- 
ments, their  business  extending  pretty  well  over 
the  United  States.  They  handle  city  and  farm 
properties  all  over  the  country.  In  the  stocks 
and  bonds  department,  unlisted  stocks  and  bonds 
are  handled,  mainly  local,  this  being  a  departure 
from  the  usual  lines  of  real  estate  men.  In  the 
promoting  department  all  legitimate  enterprises 
and  inventions  are  financed  and  put  upon  their 
feet.  They  represent  the  Prudential  Life  In- 
surance Company,  making  farm  loans  in  this 
section  of  the  State,  and  also  make  loans  for 
other  clients  on  farm  and  city  properties  near  St. 
Joseph  in  Missouri,  Kansas  and  Nebraska.  The 
growth  of  the  firm's  business  necessitated  the 
opening  of  an  office  in  Chicago  also,  and  Mr. 
Patrick  is  now  devoting  most  of  his  time  to  the 
Chicago  office.  He  is  interested  in  the  St.  Jo- 
seph, Stanberry  &  Northern  Railway  Company 
and  St.  Joseph  Interurban  Railway  Company  at 
St.  Joseph,  of  which  he  is  vice-president.  When 
the  road  is  completed,  it  will  be  the  first  interur- 
ban railway  to  enter  St.  Joseph.  Our  subject  is 
one  of  the  most  enterprising  and  energetic  busi- 
ness men  of  the  city,  and  is  held  in  highest  es- 
teem by  everyone  with  whom  he  is  brought  in 
contact. 

In  1899,  Mr.  Patrick  was  joined  in  marriage 
with  Jennie  Kearny,  a  daughter  of  the  late 
Charles  Kearny,  a  record  of  whose  life  appears 
elsewhere  in  this  work.  This  union  has  been 
blessed  with  one  daughter. — Ellen  Kearny  Pat- 
rick. Our  subject  is  a  Democrat  in  politics,  and 
sociall}-,  is  a  member  of  the  Lotus  and  Commer- 
cial clubs.  In  religious  attachment  he  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church. 


< » » 


()X.  THO^IAS  JEFFERSON  BUR- 
GESS. The  death  of  the  late  Thomas 
Jeff^erson  Burgess,  which  took  place  at 
St.  Joseph,  Missouri,  on  May  10,  1900, 
removed  from  Buchanan  Countv  a 
prominent  and  influential  citizen.  Mr.  Burgess 
was  born  June  15,  1828,  at  Clay's  Lick,  Mason 
County,  Kentucky,  and  was  a  son  of  John  D.  and 
Lydia  M.  (Wise)  Burgess. 

Mr.  Burgess  came  to  St.  Joseph  in  March. 
1850,  and  immediately  began  fitting  out  a  team, 
for  the  purpose  of  making  the  trip  across  the 
plains  to  California.  He  joined  a  large  expedi- 
tion of  prospective  miners  in  the  gold  fields,  and 
the  trip  across  the  Western  plains  and  the  Rocky 


Mountains  was  safely  accomplished.  The  ex- 
pedition did  not  continue  on  to  the  coast,  but 
stopped  at  Nevada  City,  Nevada,  where  most  of 
its  members  engaged  in  mining,  but  Mr.  Burgess, 
the  most  intelligent  and  ambitious  member  of 
the  party  began  the  -study  of  the  law,  which  he 
later  continued  at  Grass  Valley  and  was  still 
later  admitted  to  the  bar.  Mr.  Burgess  became 
associate  County  Judge,  an  office  which  brought 
him  into  great  prominence  and  one  which  carried 
with  it  much  responsibility  in  the  then  unsettled 
condition  of  the  country.  In  185 1,  opposed  by 
William  M.  Stewart,  later  United  States  Senator, 
he  made  the  successful  race  for  sheriff  of  Nevada 
County.  In  1858  he  returned  to  St.  Joseph  and 
settled  on  his  father's  farm,  located  one  mile  east 
of  the  city,  which  is  now  known  as  "Walnut 
Grove  Place."  The  parents  died  here  and  Mr. 
Burgess  devoted  himself  to  the  breeding  of  fine 
stock,  each  year  purchasing  thoroughbred  ani- 
mals at  the  Kentucky  State  Fair.  For  some  10 
years  he  gratified  his  taste  for  agricultural  pur- 
suits and  then  removed  to  St.  Joseph,  where  he 
organized  the  Burgess  &  Eraser  Hardware 
Company. 

Mr.  Burgess  was  a  very  large  landowner  and 
many  of  the  additions  to  the  city,  which  have 
been  platted  and  are  now  choice  residence  and 
business  sites,  were  formerly  his  property.  In 
association  with  other  capitalists,  he  build  at 
large  cost  the  Commercial  Block,  which  later 
became  the  home  of  the  Central  Savings  Bank. 

On  December  22,  1859,  Mr.  Burgess  was 
married  to  Martha  P.  Owens,  who  was  born  in 
^Maryland  and  was  a  daughter  of  the  late  Ben- 
jamin Owens,  of  Andrew  County.  Mrs.  Burgess 
died  November  3,  1899.  Three  of  the  four  chil- 
dren born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Burgess  are  now  liv- 
ing, namely :  Thomas  Jefferson,  Jr.,  who  is  in 
business  in  Kansas  City,  Missouri;  MattieW..  of 
Indianapolis,  Indiana ;  and  Mrs.  Ida  Laird,  who 
lives  on  the  old  homestead  with  her  son,  Tom 
Burgess  Laird.  Recently  the  old  family  residence 
was  destroyed  by  fire,  and  Mrs.  Laird  erected  on 
its  site  a  very  fine  modern  house,  which  was  com- 
pleted in  September,  1904. 

In  1852,  while  engaged  in  practicing  law  in 
Nevada  County,  Nevada,  Mr.  Burgess  was  made 
a  Mason,  and  later  became  a  Knight  Templar  in 
the  organization.  Both  he  and  his  wife  were 
worthy  members  of  the  Christian  Church  and 
were  noted  for  their  many  charities  and  benefac- 
tions to  the  poor  and  needy.  Politically  a  Demo- 
crat, he  desired  the  success  of  his  ])artv.  but  was 


554 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


always  intolerant  of  departures  from  its  old-time 
principles.  Personally  he  was  a  man  of  great 
courage,  of  a  genial,  hearty  manner,  and  his 
friends  were  scattered  from  the  Missouri  River 
to  the  Pacific  Coast.  His  portrait  accompanies 
this  sketch. 


■♦•» 


LBERT  C.  SHORE,  one  of  the  well- 
known  citizens  of  Buchanan  County, 
who  has  been  one  of  the  successful 
farmers  of  Platte  township,  and  now 
lives  practically  retired  on  his  farm  in 
section  24,  township  55.  range  34,  consisting  of 
56  acres  of  fine  land,  was  born  April  23,  1842,  in 
Scioto  .County,  Ohio,  and  is  a  son  of  James  and 
Armina  (Chatfield)   Shope. 

The  Shope  family  is  of  German  extraction, 
but  as  far  back  as  the  grandfather  its  members 
have  been  of  Virginia  birth.  John  Shope  served 
in  the  War  of  181 2,  and  was  a  large  property 
owner  in  A'irginia.  His  son,  James  Shope,  was 
born  near  Lynchburg,  Virginia,  August  12,  1812, 
and  was  a  small  boy  when  his  parents  removed 
to  Scioto  County,  Ohio,  where  he  was  reared  and 
married.  In  1835  he  moved  to  Cass  County,  In- 
diana, where  he  followed  an  agricultural  life  and 
died  in  1900,  aged  87  years.  He  married  Armina 
Chatfield,  who  was  born  in  New  York  in  1813, 
and  died  in  Indiana.  Their  four  children  were: 
Elias,  who  died  at  the  age  of  eight  years  ;  Amy, 
who  died  in  infancy  :  Mary  Ann,  wife  of  William 
P.  Chick,  of  Scioto  County,  Ohio,  and  xA-lbert  C, 
of  this  sketch.  Our  subject  has  a  half  brother, 
Emmett  Shope,  of  Cass  County,  Indiana,  by  his 
father's  second  marriage.  James  Shope  was 
always  a  stanch  supporter  of  the  principles  of  the 
Democratic  party. 

Albert  C.  Shope  was  12  years  old  when  his 
parents  left  Ohio  and  his  education  was  then 
about  completed.  After  settling  in  Indiana  he 
■assisted  his  father  in  farming  and  in  operating 
a  steam  thresher  until  the  opening  of  the  Civil 
War.  At  that  time  he  did  not  long  hesitate  be- 
tween the  call  of  his  country  and  his  own  personal 
advantage,  but  offered  his  services  as  a  private, 
enlisting  August  16,  1861,  in  Company  A,  39th 
Reg.  Indiana  Vol.  Inf.,  under  Col.  Thomas  Har- 
rison, who  belonged  to  the  distinguished  Harrison 
family  which  has  figured  so  ^prominently  in  the 
affairs  of  the  country ;  in  fact,  he  was  a  cousin  of 
the  late  President  Benjamin  Harrison.  Under 
Capt.  Horace  Blake,  Company  A  was  assigned  to 
duty  in  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland,  and  the 


list  of  battles  in  which  our  subject  fought  for  his 
flag  and  country  includes  those  of  the  greatest 
importance  in  the  whole  period  of  the  war.  At 
Shiloh  ;  Perryville,  Kentucky ;  Stone  River,  Ten- 
nessee ;  Deccord's  Ford ;  Chickamauga ;  Lookout 
Mountain;  jMissionary  Ridge;  Buzzard's  Roost; 
and  in  numerous  skirmishes,  marches,  hardships 
and  dangers,  Mr.  Shope  did  his  duty  as  a  true 
and  loyal  soldier.  After  the  battle  of  Stone  River, 
he  was  transferred  to  the  mounted  infantry,  under 
General  Wilder,  but  later  was  changed  again,  to 
the  Eighth  Regiment,  Indiana  Cavalry,  under 
General  Kilpatrick,  and  under  this  gallant  soldier 
our  subject  remained  until  his  honorable  dis- 
charge on  August  24,  1864.  He  has  an  enviable 
record,  having  been  with  his  regiment  at  every 
roll-call,  although  after  the  batttle  of  Perryville 
he  was  disabled  on  account  of  performing  picket 
duty  in  a  terrific  snow-storm.  Confined  to  an 
ambulance  for  two  days,  he  refused  to  leave  the 
regiment  and  returned  to  active  duty  when  many 
a  less  courageous  man  would  have  rested  in  a 
hospital.  This  exposure  resulted  in  a  kind  of 
muscular  rheumatism  of  the  back,  which  entitles 
him  to  his  pension  of  $60  a  month.  He  went  out 
of  the  service  a  private,  although  he  had  been 
ofifered  promotion. 

At  the  end  of  his  military  service,  he  returned 
to  Indiana,  where  he  continued  to  farm  for  a 
time  and  was  then  led  to  take  an  interest  in  the 
rich  farming  sections  of  Kansas.  He  finally  in- 
vested $900  in  a  quarter  section  of  land  in  Sum- 
ner County,  Kansas,  and  established  his  family 
there.  This  proved  a  most  unfortunate  move  as 
that  year  the  scourge  of  grasshoppers  came  upon 
Kansas  and  the  crop  which  he  had  worked  so 
hard  to  raise  was  entirely  destroyed.  Discour- 
aged by  this  misfortune,  he  decided  to  remove 
from  that  locality  and,  as  he  found  a  good  oppor- 
tunity to  trade  his  quarter  section  of  land  in  that 
State  for  a  quarter  section  in  Buchanan  County, 
Missouri,  he  settled  here.  Prior  to  the  consum- 
mation of  this  deal,  however,  he  had  removed  to 
Platte  County,  Missouri,  and  secured  employ- 
ment which  paid  him  $1  a  day  and  he  worked  for 
three  years  at  these  wages  for  one  employer.  Sub- 
sequently he  traded  his  quarter  section  of  land 
for  his  present  farm  of  56  acres  in  section  24, 
township  55,  range  34.  Misfortune  again  at- 
tended him  in  his  new  home.  On  July  29,  1898, 
one  of  those  mysterious  atmospheric  conditions 
arose  in  his  locality,  which  soon  developed  into  a 
cyclone  of  terrifific  force,  and,  as  his  farm  was  im- 
mediately in  its  path,  complete  devastation  was 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


555 


left  behind,  and  the  hves  of  himself  and  family 
were  preserved  only  by  their  providently  shelter- 
ing themselves  in  the  cellar  of  their  home. 

Space  forbids  extended  mention  of  the  great 
loss  sustained  by  Mr.  Shope  in  this  terrible  visi- 
tation, or  lengthened  comment  upon  the  courage 
with  which  this  old  soldier,  who  had  bravely 
faced  tlie  enemy's  bullets,  began  to  rebuild  his 
home  from  the  very  bottom.  Everything  had  been 
swept  away,  residence,  barns,  fences,  crops  and 
stock,  including  two  horses,  three  cows,  14  head 
of  hogs,  400  chickens  and  100  turkeys.  His  land 
was  left  him.  but  that  was  all,  but  still  not  all,  for 
his  courage  remained  and  his  native  genius  for 
almost  any  kind  of  work.  He  understood  car- 
pentering and  had  operated  a  steam  threshing 
machine  and  a  sawmill  prior  to  the  cyclone,  and 
he  soon  had  rebuilt  and  restocked  his  place.  He 
does  general  farming  now  and  raises  some  stock, 
but  the  greater  part  of  the  work  is  delegated  to 
younger   hands. 

On  May  5,  1863,  ^I^-  Shope  was  married  to 
Ann  Noel,  who  was  born  in  Vigo  County,  Indi- 
ana, five  miles  from  Terre  Haute  on  September 
14,  1838,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Isaiah  and  Eliza 
(Tritt)  Noel,  the  former  of  whom  was  born  in 
Kentucky  and  the  lattter  in  Virginia,  both  of 
whom  died  in  Indiana.  Two  daughters  were 
born  to  this  union :  Mary  C.  M.  and  Sarah  E.  G. 
The  former  was  born  in  Indiana,  February  8, 
1864,  ^"d  was  married  to  John  Gregory,  Febru- 
ary 16.  1887.  She  was  a  woman  of  most  lovable 
character  and  her  death  on  February  27,  1903,  left 
grief  in  the  hearts  of  many.  Her  four  surviving 
children  are :  Ward  D.,  John  A.,  Hilda  and  Ellen. 
The  second  daughter  was  born  in  Indiana,  ]\lay 
21,  1869,  and  she  was  married  Alarch  10,  1897, 
to  Allen  Kelly,  a  farmer  of  Clinton  County, 
Missouri.  They  have  a  family  of  five  children: 
Dayton  and  Mary  (twins),  Olive  A.,  James  A. 
and  Grace. 

Prior  to  coming  to  Missouri,  Mr.  Shope  voted 
with  the  Republican  party,  but  since  locating  here 
has  been  led  to  change  his  views  and  is  now  iden- 
tified with  the  Democratic  party.  As  a  man  of 
experience  and  intelligence,  he  has  always  taken 
great  interest  in  public  affairs  and  his  efficiency 
has  been  recognized  on  many  occasions  with 
proffers  of  political  position,  but  he  has  never 
been  willing  to  accept  any  local  office  except  in 
connection  with  the  township  schools.  Upon  one 
occasion  he  was  put  forward  as  his  party's  legis- 
lative candidate  in  the  Third  Legislative  Dis- 
trict, Inn  was  defeated  by  Mr.  Stewart,  a  very 


prominent   man    in    the    county    whose   personal 
following  was  large. 

For  many  years  Mr.  Shope  has  been  connected 
v/ith  the  Masonic  fraternity  and  has  always  con- 
tinued in  good  standing.  He  is  an  honored  mem- 
ber of  Edgerton  Post,  Grand  Army  of  the 
Republic. 


♦  ♦♦■ 


INTON  PIKE,  whose  success  at  the  bar 
is  well  known  to  the  citizens  of  St. 
Joseph  and  vicinity,  is  a  scion  of  a  fam- 
ily which  has  long  been  established  in 
America,  John  Pike,  the  first  of  that 
name  in  America,  having  come  over  in  the 
"James"  in  1635,  bringing  five  children  with  him. 
His  son  Robert  was  one  of  the  most  prominent 
men  in  Massachusetts  Colony,  and  so  far  as  the 
records  show  was  the  only  one  to  raise  his  voice 
against  the  persecution  of  the  so-called  witches. 
Our  subject's  great-great  grandfather  was  one  of 
the  first  settlers  of  York  County,  Maine. 

Vinton  Pike  is  a  son  of  Charles  W.  and  Susan 
(Lewis)  Pike,  of  whom  only  the  latter  is  now 
living.  His  father  was  a  farmer  and  pedagogue. 
Three  sons  were  born  to  this  union,  namely :  Vm- 
ton;  Charles  Elvin,  a  successful  lawyer  of  Du- 
rango,  Colorado,  where  he  graced  the  bench  for 
some  years  ;  and  John  B.,  who  also  practiced  law 
for  some  years  and  is  a  resident  of  Hiram, 
Maine. 

Vinton  Pike  was  born  in  York  County,  Maine, 
April  3,  1850.  and  received  his  educational  train- 
ing in  the  public  schools  and  at  North  Bridgton 
Academy.  He  came  to  St.  Joseph,  Missouri,  as 
early  as  April  19,  1869,  and  studied  law  in  the 
office  and  under  the  preceptorship  of  his  uncle, 
Hon.  Bennett  Pike,  who  for  many  years  was  con- 
spicuous in  public  life  in  Missouri.  Bennett 
Pike  located  in  Atchison  County,  Missouri,  in 
1859,  and  during  1862  and  1863  was  a  member  of 
the  State  Legislature  for  that  county.  He  removed 
to  St.  Joseph  in  1864,  and  from  that  year  until 
the  fall  of  1870  served  as  United  States  district 
attorney  for  the  Western  District  of  Missouri. 
He  was  judge  of  the  12th  Judicial  District  from 
1870  to  1872,  after  which  he  devoted  his  atten- 
tion to  his  large  law  practice.  In  1879  he  moved 
to  St.  Louis  where  he  took  rank  among  the  fore- 
most members  of  the  bar  and  practiced  until  his 
death  in  1892,  aged  64  years. 

Vinton  Pike  was  admitted  to  the  bar  May  23, 
1872,  and  has  since  engaged  in  general  practice 
with  a  high  degree  of  success.     He  has  a  fine 


556 


HISTORY  OF    BUCHANAN   COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


suite  of  offices  in  the  German-American  Bank 
Building.  He  is  a  "Sound  Money"  Democrat  and 
from  1882  to  1884  served  as  city  counselor,  but 
has  never  accepted  an  office  which  has  not  been  in 
line  with  his  professional  work.  Fraternally,  he 
is  a  member  of  Zeredatha  Lodge,  No.  189,  A.  F. 
&  A.  M..  of  St.  Joseph. 

Mr.  Pike  was  married  at  St.  Joseph  to  a 
daughter  of  Richard  H.  Hereford,  M.  D.,  who 
came  to  Buchanan  County  about  1861,  and  was 
prominent  as  a  practitioner  of  medicine  until  his 
death  in  i88t.  His  son,  John  B.  Hereford,  M.  D., 
is  also  a  member  of  the  medical  jirofession  and  is 
engaged  in  practice  at  Cripple  Creek,  Colorado. 
Our  subject  and  his  wife  are  the  parents  of  two 
sons  and  one  daughter,  as  follows:  Vinton,  Jr., 
aged  24  years,  who  is  with  Mr.  Ballew,  the  ex- 
tensive lumberman  of  Princeton;  Hereford,  who 
is  a  lithographer  with  the  Combe  Printing  Com- 
pany, of  St.  Joseph  ;  and  Katherine  Frances,  aged 
seven  years.  The  family  residence  is  at  No.  181 7 
Jules  street.  Religiously,  Mrs.  Pike  is  a  member 
of  the  Christian  Church. 


■♦ » » 


AURENCE  J.  STUPPY,  president  of  the 
Stuppy  Floral  Company,  of  St.  Joseph, 
has  been  established  here  in  the  florist 
business  since  1873  and  is  now  at  the 
head  of  a  company  which  controls  and 
operates  the  largest  and  best  equipped  green- 
houses in  this  section  of  the  State.  Mr.  Stuppy 
was  born  at  Ste.  Genevieve,  Missouri,  September 
5.  1849,  and  is  a  son  of  Francis  X.  and  Mary  A. 
(Kohler)  Stuppy,  the  former  a  native  of  France 
and  the  latter,  of  Switzerland. 

Francis  X.  Stuppy,  who  was  18  }ears  of  age 
when  he  came  to  America,  reached  Missouri  in 
1846.  His  excellent  educational  acquirements 
made  him  an  acceptable  teacher,  druggist  and 
agent,  and  subsequently  he  entered  into  the  busi- 
ness of  selling  musical  instruments.  He  was 
made  a  notary  public  and  deputy  city  assessor, 
and  so  high  was  his  character  that  during  the 
Civil  War  he  was  the  only  citizen  of  St.  Joseph 
permitted  to  deal  in  ammunition.  He  was  a  man 
of  strong  Union  sentiment.  His  death  occurred 
in  1897. 

Laurence  J.  Stujipy  enjoyed  much  better  edu- 
cational advantages  than  had  his  father,  as  he 
was  educated  both  in  German  schools  at  St.  Jo- 
seph, and  the  English  schools  then  under  the  su- 
perintendence of  Prof.  Edward  B.  Neely,  and  in 


1862  he  became  a  student  in  St.  Benedict's  Col- 
lege, at  Atchison,  Kansas.  After  several  years 
there,  he  learned  photography  and  pharmacy 
and  he  and  his  brother,  J.  B.  Stuppy,  opened  up 
the  first  store  in  the  block  at  Sixth  and  Felix 
streets. 

Mr.  Stuppy's  beginning  in  the  florist  business 
was  with  no  idea  of  making  it  the  main  interest 
of  his   life.      He   simply   loved   flowers   and   de- 
sired to  surround  himself  with  them  and  to  en- 
joy the  results  of  his  experiments  in  their  de- 
velopment.    He  began  in  1873  with  three  green- 
houses  in   the   northwestern    part   of   the   town, 
where   his   flowers   so   generously   responded   to 
his  care  and  attention,  and  brought  him  such  fi- 
nancial returns,  that  he  finally  decided  to  give 
up  other  business  enterprises  and  to  devote  him- 
self to  the  cultivation  of  flowers  as  his  sole  occu- 
pation.    Old  residents  still  recall  his  four  green- 
houses on  the  corner  of  Sixth  and,  Jules  streets. 
They  were  torn  down  to  make  way  for  larger  and 
more  convenient  ones.    In  1887,  Mr.  Stuppy  pur- 
chased a  block  of  land  on  the  Mount  Mora  road, 
adjacent  to  Mount  Mora  Cemetery,  and  here  he 
erected   seven   greenhouses,  with   an  area  under 
glass   equivalent  to  a  space   80  by    140   feet   in 
dimensions.   There  are  now  21  greenhouses,  with 
over  75,000  square  feet  under  glass.     They  are 
equipped  with  all  kinds  of  modern  improvements 
and   are   heated  by   steam.      The  central   green- 
houses make  a  specialty  of  roses,  of  which  Mr. 
Stuppy  has  the  greatest  variety,  some  of  his  own 
developing ;  under  his  excellent  care  they  bloom 
luxuriantly  throughout  the  year.     Cut  flowers  of 
all  kinds  and  palms  and  plants  for  every  occasion 
are  dealt  in,  both  wholesale  and  retail.    Ten  men 
are  employed  in  and  about  the  greenhouses.     Mr. 
Stuppy  remains  the  president  of  the  company ; 
Mrs.    Stuppy   is   treasurer;   and   his   son,   Frank 
X.,  is  secretary  and  manager.     The  main  office 
and  salesrooms  are  located  at  Sixth  and  Francis 
streets,   with   a  branch   cut   flower  store   at  No. 
823    Frect'erick    avenue,    while    the    greenhouses 
extend  from  No.  815  to  No.  835  Mount  Mora 
road,  or  North  15th  street. 

In  May,  1876,  Mr.  Stuppy  was  married  to 
Annie  E.  Schiesl,  who  was  born  in  Dunkirk, 
New  York.  They  have  six  children  living: 
Frank  X.,  secretary  and  manager  of  the  above 
mentioned  company ;  Annie  E. ;  Marie ;  John  B., 
also  connected  with  the  company ;  Helen  ;  Doro- 
thy. Laurence  J.  Stuppy.  Jr.,  our  subject's 
youngest  son,  died  in  1896.  The  family  are 
Catholics  and  are  members  of  the  Cathedral  con- 


JOHN    W.    FLEEMAN 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


559 


gregation.  Politically,  Air.  Stuppy  is  a  Demo- 
crat. He  owns  much  city  property,,  including 
his  own  handsome  residence  at  No.  604  North 
nth  street. 


OHN  W.  FLEEMAN,  a  well-known  and 
highly  esteemed  citizen  of  St.  Joseph, 
who  entered  into  business  here  in  1865. 
was  born  in  Washtenaw  County,  Michi- 
gan, Alay  I,  1842,  and  is  a  son  of  Leon- 
ard and  Engelika  (Rheinfrank)   Fleeman. 

The  parents  of  Air.  Fleeman  were  natives  of 
Bavaria.  Germany.  Leonard  Fleeman  came  to 
the  United  States  in  boyhood  and  lived  at  Easton. 
Pennsylvania,  until  1834,  when  he  moved  to 
Washtenaw  County,  Michigan.  There  he  secured 
a  large  tract  of  wild  land  and  resided  there  until 
his  death,  in  1875.  He  married  Engelika  Rhein- 
frank, and  they  had  a  family  of  10  children.  Our 
subject  and  three  of  his  sisters  have  established 
homes  in  the  ^^^est.  Elizabeth  married  John 
Haefiinger  and  resides  in  St.  Joseph ;  Louisa 
married  Charles  Hohlfeld  and  resides  in  Alon- 
tana  ;  Kate  married  E.  Aliller  and  lives  five  miles 
north  of  Atchison,  Kansas. 

John  W.  Fleeman  was  educated  in  the  schools 
of  Washtenaw  County,  and  started  into  business 
life  as  a  clerk  in  a  store  at  Saline,  Alichigan. 
where  he  was  employed  for  three  years.  By  this 
time  he  had  decided  upon  the  trade  which  seemed 
to  offer  the  best  future,  and  he  entered  upon  a 
three-years  apprenticeship  to  a  carriage-maker, 
and  worked  at  Ann  Arbor.  Alichigan,  and  at  Co- 
lumbus and  Cincinnati,  Ohio.  In  1864,  Air.  Flee- 
man came  to  St.  Joseph,  Alissouri,  and  was  em- 
ployed for  a  short  time  in  work  at  his  trade  by 
AI.  Aloore,  of  this  city,  subsequently  becoming  a 
member  of  the  carriage-making  firm  of  Eraser  & 
Company,  on  the  corner  of  Third  and  Charles 
streets.  Air.  Fleeman  remained  with  this  firm  for 
two  years  and  later  was  in  the  employ  of  W.  E. 
Williams  for  a  short  season. 

.\bout  this  time.  Air.  Fleeman  began  to  invest 
in  South  St.  Joseph  property  and  after  acquiring 
about  73^  acres  at  King  Hill  began  market  gar- 
dening. He  raised  vegetables  and  fruits  and  later 
made  a  specialty  of  the  growing  of  celerv.  While 
he  prospered  in  this  industry,  he  continued  to 
invest  in  land  on  the  south  side  and  now  owns  a 
number  of  very  desirable  houses  and  unimproved 
lots  in  this  portion  of  the  city.  For  years  it  has 
been  his  habit  to  spend  a  portion  of  his  time  in 
Colorado,  where  he  has  also  acquired  large  prop- 

28 


erty  interests,  owning  334  lots  and  a  substantial 
business  block  in  Colorado  City,  Colorado. 

In  January,  1867,  Air.  Fleeman  was  married 
to  Dorothea  Aling,  who  was  born  in  the  Black 
Forest,  Germany,  and  who  died  in  1883,  leaving 
four  children :  Charles  C,  who  married  Emma 
Haeberle  and  is  a  gardener  at  Red  Bluff,  Cali- 
fornia :  Olivia,  who  married  Ferdinand  Haeberle, 
a  farmer  and  market  gardener  of  Washington 
township  ;  Lillie  C,  who  married  H.  O.  Siden- 
faden,  who  conducts  an  undertaking  business  in 
St.  Joseph,  at  the  corner  of  Fourth  and  Alessanie 
streets ;  and  Flora,  who  married  Gustaf  Haeberle. 
The  family  reside  at  No.  5606  South  Third  street, 
St.  Joseph.  Air.  Fleeman's  second  marriage  was 
to  Frederika  Haeberle,  who  was  born  in  Stutt- 
gart, Germany,  and  died  in  1897,  leaving  one  son, 
A\'illiam,  who  is  employed  as  an  undertaker  at 
Chicago  Heights,  Illinois. 

Politically  a  Democrat,  Air.  Fleeman  has  taken 
some  interest  in  politics  but  not  to  the  extent  of 
accepting  political  preferment,  except  when  he 
was  an  independent  candidate  for  the  City  Coun- 
cil, receiving  35  more  votes  than  both  the  other 
candidates  that  opposed  him.  He  has  been  hon- 
ored by  the  citizens  of  South  St.  Joseph  by  the 
naming  of  one  of  their  leading  thoroughfares  for 
him.  Fraternally,  he  is  a  member  of  Red  Cloud 
Tribe,  No.  31,  Improved  Order  of  Red  Alen,  of 
which  he  has  been  the  treasiu-er  since  its  organi- 
zation, and  a  member  of  the  Fraternal  Home  As- 
sociation, Banner  Lodge,  No.  31,  South  St. 
Joseph.  A  portrait  of  Air.  Fleeman  accompanies 
this  sketch. 


■***■ 


OHN  E.  RILEY,  a  farmer  of  promi- 
nence residing  in  section  26,  Wayne 
township.  Buchanan  County,  was  born 
in  Callaway  County,  Alissouri,  Decem- 
ber II,  1836  and  is  a  son  of  Isaac  B. 
and  Alary  (Hill)  Riley. 

The  Riley  family  came  originally  from  the 
North  of  Ireland,  seven  brothers  of  that  name 
coming  to  this  country  about  the  year  1700  and 
locating  on  the  Eastern  Shore  of  Alaryland,  where 
they  followed  the  occupation  of  ship-building. 
The  earliest  ancestor  of  record  was  James  Riley, 
great-grandfather  of  our  subject,  who  was  pre- 
sumably born  in  Alaryland,  where  he  followed 
farming.  His  son,  John  W.  Riley,  the  next  in 
line  of  descent,  was  born  in  Alaryland  about  10 
miles  from  the  city  of  Washington.    He  followed 


^6o 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY   AND    ST.   JOSEPH 


farming  in  North  Carolina,  where  he  was  mar- 
ried, and  at  an  early  date  removed  to  Clark 
County,  Kentucky.  He  remained  there  until 
1826,  then  removed  farther  West  to  Boone 
County,  Missouri.  He  later  came  to  Buchanan 
County,  where  he  died  in  185 1.  He  married  Sarah 
Elsberry  and  they  were  parents  of  eight  chil- 
dren, as  follows :  Zechariah,  Isaac  B.,  Cynthia, 
Elizabeth.  William,  John,  Louisa  and  Agnes. 

Isaac  B.  Riley,  our  subject's  father,  was  prob- 
ably born  in  North  Carolina  in  1800.  In  1820, 
he  married  Mary  Hill  in  Fayette  County,  Ken- 
tucky. She  was  of  English  descent,  her  grand- 
father having  come  to  America  prior  to  the  Rev- 
olutionary War,  and  having  located  in  Pennsyl- 
vania where  he  held  the  position  under  the 
crown,  corresponding  to  the  present  day  justice 
of  the  peace.  When  war  was  declared,  he  re- 
mainerl  loyal  to  his  mother  country  and  returned 
to  England,  where  he  died.  His  son,  father  of 
Mrs.  Riley,  was  probably  born  in  Pennsylvania, 
whence  he  moved  to  Fayette  County,  Kentucky, 
at  an  early  day  and  followed  farming.  He  mar- 
ried a  Miss  McCullough  before  leaving  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  they  had  the  following  issue :  David, 
Fleming,  John,  James,  William,  Elizabeth,  Mary 
and  Isabel.  About  1824,  Isaac  B.  Riley  moved 
to  Boone  County,  Missouri,  and  engaged  at  the 
saddler's  trade,  which  he  had  learned  in  Win- 
chester, Kentucky,  as  a  boy.  About  1834  he 
moved  to  Callaway  County,  Missouri,  where  he 
preempted  a  tract  of  land,  but  two  years  later  he 
returned  to  Boone  County.  In  1845  lie  came  to 
Buchanan  county  where  he  farmed  until  1852, 
then  moved  to  DeKalb  County,  where  he  died 
eight  months  later,  in  the  month  of  October.  His 
wife  returned  to  Buchanan  County  in  1856,  where 
she  spent  the  remainder  of  her  life,  dving  October 
26,  1881. 

John  E.  Riley  received  his  early  education  in 
Boone  and  Buchanan  counties,  leaving  school  at 
the  age  of  14  years.  His  father  having  died  when 
John  was  16  years  old,  the  care  of  his  mother  de- 
volved upon  him  and  he  remained  on  the  farm 
until  1856.  He  then  removed  to  section  26, 
Wayne  townshi]'),  Buchanan  County,  where  he 
has  since  lived  and  been  variously  engaged  as 
farmer,  stock-rajser  and  fruit-grower.  He  has 
100  acres,  all  iinder  cultivation,  and  a  well-im- 
proved farm.  He  served  in  the  Missouri  State 
Militia  about  two  years,  having  been  called  out  in 
August.  1862,  and  served  in  Company  A,  51st 
Reg.,  Missouri  Vol.  Inf.,  until  mustered  out  Sep- 
tember I,  1865. 


On  the  13th  of  December,  1874,  Mr.  Riley 
Vv'as  united  in  marriage  with  Isabel  Long,  a 
daughter  of  Solomon  Long,  a  pioneer  of  Bu- 
chanan County,  and  to  them  have  been  born  the 
following  children :  Katie,  who  died  at  19  years 
of  age ;  Edward,  who  died  at  23  years  of  age ; 
John  M.,  who  is  attending  school  at  Liberty, 
Missouri  rjuno  Jane  ;  James  C. ;  and  Delia  Gail, 
who  died  at  the  age  of  nine  years.  Mrs.  Riley 
died  April  23,  1894.  John  E.  Riley  was  formerly 
a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church,  of  which  he  was 
a  deacon,  but  now  holds  that  office  in  the  Bethel 
Christian  Church,  of  which  he  is  a  member.  He 
has  been  a  lifelong  Democrat  and  has  served  as 
road  overseer  and  school  director.  Fraternally, 
he  is  a  member  of  Wellington  Lodge,  No.  22,  A. 
F.  &  A.  M.  He  is  a  man  of  pleasing  character 
and  has  many  friends. 


OL.  JAMES  T.  BEACH,  deceased,  a 
distinguished  citizen  of  St.  Joseph  for 
more  than  40  years,  was  one  of  the 
best  known  men  identified  with  the  Re- 
publican party  in  Missouri,  for  many 
years  directing  and  managing  the  affairs  of  the 
party.  His  death  which  occurred  on  Decem- 
ber 13.  1900,  was  a  shock  to  his  many  friends 
throughout  the  State,  although  forewarned  by 
his  sickness  during  the  last  two  years  of  his  life. 
Colonel  Beach  was  born  in  Niagara  County, 
New  York,  in  1836.  He  spent  his  youthful  days 
and  early  manhood  in  Northern  Illinois,  and 
came  West  to  St.  Joseph,  Missouri,  in  1858,  re- 
siding in  this  city  thereafter  until  his  death.  He 
soon  came  into  prominence  here  by  reason  of  his 
decided  stand  for  the  preservation  of  the  Union 
during  the  Civil  War.  In  that  stormy  period  he 
conducted  the  Daily  Union,  an  abolition  paper, 
and  was  one  of  the  foremost  spirits  in  that  cause. 
He  with  his  four  brothers  enlisted  in  the  service 
and  for  a  time  he  was  a  member  of  the  staff  of 
General  Fisk.  Although  he  did  not  hold  that 
rank  in  the  army,  he  was  for  many  years  prior  to 
his  death  known  by  the  honorary  title  of  "Col- 
onel." During  the  reconstruction  days,  Colonel 
Beach  was  secretary  of  the  National  Co-Operative 
Association  of  America,  which  was  one  of  the 
important  political  organizations  at  that  time. 
Ex-Senator  William  Mahone,  of  Virginia,  was 
president,  and  General  Longstreet,  the  treas- 
urer. The  object  of  the  association  was  to  secure 
the  full  Republican  vote  of  the  Southern  States, 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


^6i 


and  as  secretary  of  the  body  Colonel  Beach  did 
some  of  his  best  political  work.  One  of  the  finest 
collections  of  personal  letters  from  well-known 
men  of  the  period  belonged  to  Colonel  Beach.  He 
possessed  letters  from  nearly  all  the  men  who 
were  prominent  in  this  country  during  the  latter 
half  of  the  19th  century,  and  the  collection  was 
one  of  which  he  was  justly  proud. 

Colonel  Beach  was  appointed  postmaster  of 
St.  Joseph  in  1876  by  General  Grant,  of  whom  he 
was  a  close  personal  friend.  He  was  connected 
with  the  internal  revenue  department  and  was 
deputy  surveyor  of  the  port  during  President  Gar- 
field's administration.  Under  President  Arthur 
he  served  as  United  States  commissioner  in  this 
city.  In  Missouri  he  stood  among  the  leaders 
of  his  party.  In  this  section  of  the  State  he  was 
the  head  of  the  forces  of  Chauncey  I.  Filley  of 
St.  Louis  and  is  said  to  have  stood  closer  to  that 
leader  than  any  other  man.  He  attended  all  the 
important  State  conventions  and  during  the  Re- 
publican National  Convention  in  St.  Louis  in 
1896  was  in  charge  of  the  Filley  headquarters  at 
the  Planters'  Hotel.  For  16  consecutive  years  he 
was  secretary  of  the  Republican  State  Commit- 
tee. His  death  was  due  to  diabetes  with  which 
disease  he  had  been  a  sufferer  for  several  years. 
He  became  suddenly  worse  while  in  St.  Louis 
early  in  December,  1900,  and  upon  returning  to 
St.  Joseph  was  assisted  to  his  bed  from  which  he 
never  arose,  dying  some  two  weeks  later.  Mrs. 
Beach  was  sick  in  St.  Louis  at  the  time  and  was 
unable  t6  be  at  the  bedside  of  her  lifelong  com- 
panion. She  died  one  month  later,  January  12, 
1901,  from  nervous  prostration,  caused  by  the 
shock  following  the  death  of  her  husband.  Colo- 
nel and  Mrs.  Beach  were  both  buried  in  the  fam- 
ily lot  at  St.  Charles,  Illinois,  their  funerals  oc- 
curring just  one  month  apart  to  the  hour. 

Mrs.  Beach,  whose  maiden  name  was  Sarah 
Helen  Foote,  was  born  March  3,  1835,  i"  New 
York  State,  but  when  she  was  two  years  of  age 
her  parents  removed  to  Kane  County,  Illinois, 
where  she  lived  until  i860.  On  August  27th  of 
that  year  she  was  married  to  Colonel  Beach  at 
Nebraska  City  and  came  at  once  to  St.  Joseph, 
which  they  thereafter  made  their  home.  Among 
the  philanthropic  women  of  the  city  no  one  was 
better  known  than  Mrs.  Beach.  She  was  one  of 
the  two  surviving  charter  members  of  the  First 
Methodist  Church,  Judge  Toole  now  being  the 
only  one  alive.  Her  husband  was  another  charter 
member,  the  meetings  during  which  the  congre- 
gation  was   organized  being  held   at   the   Beach 


home.  She  was  the  only  woman  member  on  the 
board  of  trustees,  in  addition  to  which  she  had 
for  many  years  been  president  of  the  Foreign 
Missions  Society  of  the  church,  an  active  worker 
in  the  Woman's  Christian  Temperance  Union,  the 
\\'oman's  Relief  Corps  and  a  member  of  the  board 
of  directors  of  the  Ladies'  Union  Benevolent  As- 
sociation. This  is  the  organization  which  has 
charge  of  two  of  the  most  extensive  charitable  in- 
stitutions of  the  city, — the  Home  for  Little  Wan- 
derers and  Memorial  Home  for  the  Aged.  She 
was  vice-president  of  that  organization  and  chair- 
man of  the  committee  on  religious  work.  She 
was  a  leading  figure  in  all  charitable  enterprises, 
a  tireless  church-worker  and  widely  known  for 
her  good  deeds  among  the  poor  and  unfortunate 
of  St.  Joseph. 

The  members  of  the  family  surviving  Colonel 
and  Mrs.  Beach  are:  Elmer  E.,  who  lives  at 
Wichita,  Kansas ;  Frank  W.,  well  known  in  local 
political  circles,  who  is  city  clerk  of  St.  Joseph ; 
Norwood  A.,  chief  clerk  in  the  Missouri  Pacific 
commercial  agent's  office :  Lucy  W.  and  Bessie  E. 
Colonel  Beach  is  also  survived  by  four  brothers : 
Frank  D..  of  Munson,  Massachusetts ;  Charles 
H.,  of  Sycamore,  Illinois ;  Fred  H.,  of  Batavia, 
Illinois  ;  and  J.  W.,  who  resides  in  St.  Joseph. 


EORGE  C.  POTTER,  M.  D..  one  of 
the  well-known  and  successful  medical 
practitioners  at  St.  Joseph,  who  has 
been  identified  with  Central  Medical 
College  of  this  city  for  a  number  of 
years,  for  the  past  five  filling  the  chair  of  ob- 
stetrics, was  born  at  Maysville,  DeKalb  County, 
Missouri,  September  11.  1853,  and  is  a  son  of 
Thomas  and  Hessa  Z.   (Smith)   Potter. 

Dr.  Potter  obtained  his  education  in  the  com- 
mon and  high  schools  at  Cameron,  Missouri,  and 
then  entered  the  medical  department  of  the 
Northwestern  IMedical  College,  at  St.  Joseph, 
where  he  was  graduated  in  1882.  He  immediate- 
ly entered  into  practice  at  Cameron  and  remained 
in  that  localitv  until  1892,  operating  a  drug  store 
at  Cameron,  in  addition  to  conducting  a  large 
medical  practice.  Prior  to  entering  the  pro- 
fession, he  had  been  a  pharmacist  for  some  13 
years. 

Dr.  Potter  is  one  of  the  directors  of  the 
Central  Medical  College  of  St.  Joseph,  and  for 
four  years  he  lectured  in  this  institution  on  dis- 
eases of  the  skin  and  diseases  of  children,  and  for 


562 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY  AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


the  past  five  years  has  filled  the  chair  of  obstetrics. 
He  is  one  of  the  valued  members  of  the  county 
and  State  medical  organizations  and  of  the  Amer- 
ican jMedical  Association. 

Dr.  Potter  married  Alary  E.  Root,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Daniel  Root,  of  Fayette,  Missouri,  and  they 
have  one  son,  Charles  S.  Mrs.  Potter  belongs 
to  the  same  branch  of  the  Root  family  as  does 
Hon.  Elihu  Root,  of  New  York.  Politically,  Dr. 
Potter  is  affiliated  with  the  Democratic  party. 
Fraternally,  he  is  an  Odd  Fellow. 


nsi 

M 

J 

^—^ 

ILLIAAI  W.  BELL.  St.  Joseph  has 
many  claims  to  beauty,  but  the 
palatial  homes  of  her  living  attract 
no  more  attention  than  does  her 
great  "God's  Acre,"  that  quiet  city 
of  her  dead  known  as  ]\lount  ]\Iora.  This  sacred 
spot,  so  beautiful  in  its  location,  surroundings 
and  seemly  adornments,  is  under  the  entire  su- 
perintendence of  ^^'illiam  W.  Bell,  whose  experi- 
ence and  natural  faculty  perfectly  fit  him  for 
this  responsible  position.  I\Ir.  Bell  was  born  near 
Kelso,  on  the  Tweed,  Scotland,  January  29,  1869, 
and  is  a  son  of  Andrew  and  Elizabeth  (Wilson) 
Bell. 

Both  the  parents  of  Air.  Bell  were  born  in 
Scotland  and  there  the  father  died  when  his  son 
was  but  an  infant.  The  mother  was  left  with 
a  family  of  four  children.  She  was  a  daughter 
of  John  and  Elizabeth  (Turnbull)  ^^'ilson,  farm- 
ing people  of  Roxburyshire.  Scotland,  and  she 
inherited  many  of  the  sturdy  traits  of  character 
of  her  ancestry.  When  her  son  William  was  12 
years  of  age,  she  decided  to  come  to  America 
in  order  to  afford  her  children  wider  opportu- 
nities. The  family  settled  in  Middlefield  town- 
ship, Otsego  County,  New  York,  where  our  sub- 
ject's brothers, — Andrew  and  John. — who  op- 
erate the  farm,  and  his  sister. — Elspeth, — still  re- 
side. The  members  of  the  family,  in  every 
branch,  from  early  days,  have  been  strict  Pres- 
byterians. 

After  coming  to  America,  our  subject  re- 
mained on  the  home  farm  in  New  York  until 
19  years  of  age.  when  he  went  to  Elizabeth.  New 
Jersey,  and  worked  about  a  year  there  on  bridge 
construction,  removing  then  as  far  Westward  as 
as  Iowa  City,  Iowa,  where  he  worked  for  two 
years  on  a  farm.  Trying  life  as  a  lumberman, 
he  then  worked  for  a  short  time  in  the  pineries 
of  Minnesota,  but.  on  receiving  an  appointment 


in  connection  with  the  State  Insane  Hospital 
at  Mount  Pleasant,  Iowa,  he  returned  to  that 
State  and  remained  there  until  his  marriage. 
Follo\\-ing  this  he  was  employed  for  two  months 
at  Red  Oak,  Iowa,  and  then  accepted  an  appoint- 
ment to  the  State  Insane  Hospital  at  Clarinda, 
Iowa,  where  he  continued  until  1898,  when  he 
came  to  St.  Joseph.  He  was  employed  at  the 
Mount  Alora  Cemetery  and  his  services  were  soon 
seen  to  be  so  valuable,  that  in  1900  he  was  ap- 
pointed superintendent  of  the  cemetery.  The 
changes  have  been  remarkable  and  the  improve- 
ments notable  since  Mr.  Bell  took  charge.  A  new 
entrance  has  been  erected,  a  superintendent's 
house  built,  the  greenhouses  have  been  relocated, 
enlarged  and  improved,  much  grading  has  been 
done,  the  work  costing  about  $15,000.  Under 
Mr.  Bell's  capable  management  the  money  has 
been  economically  expended  and  the  result  is  a 
place  of  quiet  beauty,  which  is  in  every  way 
creditable  to  St.  Joseph  and  especially  so  to  the 
superintendent  whose  zeal  and  energy  have  never 
flagged. 

On  November  6,  1894,  Air.  Bell  was  married 
to  Carrie  E.  Hall,  a  daughter  of  Thomas  Hall, 
of  Salem,  Iowa,  who  had  been  connected  with 
the  State  Hospital  for  the  Insane  at  Alount  Pleas- 
ant for  some  six  years.  The  four  children  of 
this  marriage  are :  Alice  E.,  Edith  Indiana, 
Andrew  and  Elizabeth  C.  Air.  Bell  belongs  to 
Charity  Lodge,  No.  331,  A.  F.  and  A.  AI.,  and  is 
a  member  of  the  Alodern  Woodmen  of  America. 


^«  »■ 


ASPER  C.  ALLISON,  one  of  the  prom- 
inent citizens  of  Rushville,  Buchanan 
County,  a  justice  of  the  peace  for  the 
past  12  years  and  president  of  the 
School  Board,  and  senior  member  of 
the  mercantile  firm  of  Allison  &  Gardner,  of 
Rusliville,  was  born  August  8.  1841.  in  Rush 
township,  Buchanan  County,  Alissouri,  and  is  a 
son  of  John  H.  and  Dicy  Ann  (Trapp)  Allison. 

John  H.  Allison,  father  of  our  subject,  was 
a  son  of  William  Allison,  and  was  born  in  18 13 
in  Kentucky.  His  bo}-hood  was  spent  there ; 
early  in  manhood,  about  1832,  he  came  West, 
locating  in  the  Platte  Purchase  in  what  is.  now 
Lafayette  County,  Alissouri.  There  he  farmed 
until  1835,  when  he  first  came  to  Buchanan 
County.  After  living  here  a  short  time,  he  re- 
turned to  Lafayette  County  and  in  1837  removed 
to    Buchanan    County,    locating   permanently    in 


ROBERT    H.  FAUCETT 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


565 


Rush  township.  He  continued  in  agricultural 
pursuits  until  the  close  of  his  life.  He  married 
Dicy  Ann  Trapp.  who  was  a  daughter  of  Rev. 
William  Trapp,  of  Andrew  County,  a  minister 
of  the  Baptist  Church,  and  a  sister  of  Rev. 
William  R.  Trapp,  a  Christian  minister  of  Noda- 
way County.  They  had  12  children:  Jasper  C. ; 
Dora,  who  died  in  infancy  ;  Houston,  a  farmer  of 
Rush  township ;  Florilla,  deceased,  who  was  the 
wife  of  the  late  Ambrose  Seever ;  William  F., 
a  farmer  of  Rush  township  ;  Tyrrell,  who  died  in 
childhood ;  Sarah  Frances,  Alwilda  and  John 
Henry,  all  of  whom  died  young;  George  Al.,  of 
St.  Joseph ;  Polly  Ann,  wife  of  William  Stanton, 
a  farmer  of  Rush  township ;  and  James,  a  resi- 
dent of  Gower.  ^Missouri.  John  H.  Allison  was 
an  elder  in  the  Christian  Church.  In  politics  he 
was  known  as  a  Douglas  Democrat.  He  was  a 
man  of  consequence  in  his  community,  was  justice 
of  the  peace  for  12  years  and  was  held  in  the 
highest   esteem   by  his   fellow   citizens. 

Our  subject  was  educated  in  the  public  schools 
of  Rush  township,  where  he  owns  a  fine  property 
of  80  acres,  including  30  acres  of  orchard.  In 
189T,  he  moved  into  the  village  to  reside  in  his 
present  fine  residence  which  was  completed  that 
year.  In  1903,  he  entered  into  partnership  with 
William  A.  Gardner,  in  a  general  mercantile 
business,  and  has  been  actively  engaged  in  the 
same  ever  since. 

On  July  4,  1861,  Mr.  Allison  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Annie  M.  Eastbourn,  daughter  of 
Thomas  J.  and  Elizabeth  (Jones)  Eastbourn,  of 
Buchanan  County.  Mr.  Eastbourn  was  a  veteran 
of  the  Mexican  War,  being  a  drum  major  at- 
tached to  Colonel  Doniphan's  brigade.  Air.  and 
Mrs.  Allison  have  one  son,  John  T.,  who  mar- 
ried Betty  Elliott,  daughter  of  Dawson  Elliott,  a 
farmer  of  Rush  township,  and  they  have  had 
eight  children,  of  whom  seven  are  now  living, — 
Grace,  Guy,  Vivian,  Eunice,  Dawson  J.,  Christine 
and  Lois.  The  family  belong  to  the  Christian 
Church. 

Politically,  Mr.  Allison  has  always  been  a 
staunch  Democrat.  Like  his  father,  he  is  one 
of  the  solid,  substantial,  representative  men  of 
the  locality.  For  the  past  decade  and  over,  he 
has  served  as  justice  of  the  peace,  to  the  satis- 
faction of  all  concerned,  and  has  been  a  very 
useful  member  of  the  School  Board,  serving  at 
present  as  its  presiding  officer.  Fraternally,  he 
belongs  to  the  Odd  Fellows,  and  is  a  member  of 
Rushville  Lodge,  No.  238,  A.  F.  and  A.  M. ;  and 


Ringo  Chapter,  No.  6,  R.  A.  AL,  of  DeKalb,  of 
which  he  is  past  high  priest. 

In  1861.  during  the  gold  excitement,  our  sub- 
ject went  to  Pike's  Peak  and  was  there  about 
three  months.  In  1900  he  made  a  trip  to  Texas 
with  a  view  to  locating  there,  but  he  did  not  like 
it  so  well  as  Missouri. 


^ » » 


OBERT  H.  FAUCETT,  whose  portrait 
is  herewith  shown,  is  president  of  the 
R.  H.  Faucett  Mill  Company,  one  of 
the  most  important  industries  of  St. 
Joseph.  He  was  born  in  County 
Queens,  Ireland,  in  August,  1835,  and  is  a  son  of 
Robert  and  Ann  (Malackey)  Faucett. 

Mr.  Faucett  came  to  the  L^nited  States  in 
young  manhood.  His  success  in  life  is  but  one 
of  many  examples  of  the  inherent  strength  of  the 
Irish  character,  and  of  the  certain  rewards  which 
wait  upon  persistent,  intelligent  effort.  While 
more  fortunate  boys  were  at  school,  Mr.  Faucett 
was  earning  his  own  living.  From  his  father  he 
had  learned  the  principles  of  the  milling  business, 
and  he  acquired  also  a  knowledge  of  the  carpen- 
ter's trade,  and,  when  these  crafts  failed  him,  he 
found  other  means  to  secure  an  honest  existence. 
In  1858  Mr.  Faucett  came  to  St.  Joseph,  ]\Iis- 
souri,  and  in  1863  he  purchased  a  part  interest  in 
the  E.  M.  Davidson  mill.  Two  years  later,  in 
connection  with  his  brother-in-law,  the  late  Judge 
Ferrell,  he  built  the  Eagle  mills,  of  Halleck,  Mis- 
souri. In  1868  he  bought  his  partner's  inter- 
est, and  rebuilt  and  enlarged  the  plant,  making  it 
the  largest  in  the  county.  It  was  a  paying  prop- 
erty until  destroyed  by  fire,  in  July,  188 1.  In 
1875,  he  leased  the  old  Kercheval  mills,  in  St. 
Joseph,  remodeled  them  and  made  them  also  a 
paying  property.  In  1879,  he  became  owner  of 
the  Phoenix  mills,  of  Platte  City,  which  he 
handled  successfully  until  he  disposed  of  them,  in 
1889. 

In  1882,  in  connection  with  the  late  R.  T. 
Davis  and  others,  he  formed  a  company  and  built 
in  St.  Joseph  what  is  now  known  as  the  R.  T. 
Davis  mill.  The  company  was  capitalized  for 
$roo,ooo,  the  old  firm  of  R.  H.  Faucett  &  Com- 
pany holding  a  majority  of  the  stock.  Mr. 
Faucett  was  made  president  of  the  company  and 
general  manager,  and  managed  the  mill  until  the 
company  sold  the  stock  in  the  fall  of  1884,  receiv- 
ing  50  per   cent,   jiremium   on    the   same.      Mr. 


566 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY  AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


Faucett  then  bought  the  Eagle  Milling  corpora- 
tion, rebuilt  the  mill  and  changed  the  name  to  the 
R.  H.  Faucett  Mill  Company,  increasing  the  cap- 
ital from  $30,000  to  S50.000.  Perhaps  no  man  on 
the  Missouri  River  has  been  more  successful  in 
the  milling  business  than  has  Robert  H.  Faucett. 
In  early  life  he  learned  that  success  in  milling 
requires  a  general  knowledge  of  the  whole  busi- 
ness and  close  attention  to  details,  and  by  adopt- 
ing this  rule,  all  his  milling  business  has  proved 
sviccessful.  He  has  not  by  any  means  confined 
himself  to  flouring  mills  exclusively,  but  has  also 
been  largely  interested  in  sawmills  and  in  the  lum- 
ber business,  and  is,  to-day.  one  of  the  largest 
owners  of  farm  lands  and  real  estate  in  St. 
Joseph. 

On  October  6.  1859,  Robert  H.  Faucett  was 
married  to  Elizabeth  Baker,  who  was  born  in 
Buchanan  County.  August  20,  1841.  and  is  a 
daughter  of  Zebediah  Baker,  one  of  the  early  set- 
tlers of  this  county.  Both  Mr.  Faucett  and  wife 
are  in  the  enjoyment  of  perfect  health.  They  have 
four  living  children. — three  sons  and  one  daugh- 
ter, viz:  R.  E.  and  W.  H..  who  reside  on  farms 
close  to  Faucett.  a  village  on  the  Chicago  Great 
Western  Railway.  12  miles  south  of  St.  Joseph, 
named  in  honor  of  Mr.  Faucett ;  J.  T.,  who  is  vice- 
president  and  general  manager  of  the  R.  H. 
Faucett  'SUM  Company :  and  Fannie  J.,  who  is  the 
wife  of  Dr.  W.  F.  Ross,  a  prominent  dentist  of 
St.  Joseph. 

Although  yiv.  Faucett  has  so  long  been  prom- 
inent as  a  citizen  of  St.  Joseph,  he  never  has  had 
any  political  aspirations  and  never  sought  nor 
would  accept  any  office.  In  politics  he  was  always 
in  close  sympathy  with  the  Democratic  party  until 
the  agitation  concerning  free  silver  brought  out  a 
candidate  he  could  not  consistently  follow.  How- 
ever, his  sympathies  still  lean  toward  old  affilia- 
tions, especially  so  since  the  best  leaders  of  the  old 
partv  are  free  to  admit  that  a  mistake  had  been 
made.  The  Odd  Fellows  is  the  only  order  to 
Avhich  he  ever  belonged.  ]\Ir.  Faucett  and  his  en- 
tire family  are  members  of  the  Ci^mberland  Pres- 
byterian Church. 

Mr.  Faucctt's  uprightness  of  character  and 
genial  manner  in  business  has  brought  him  manv 
warm  personal  friends.  With  pleasure  and 
surely  with  pardonable  pride,  he  mentions  that 
during  over  40  years  in  business,  and  the  handling 
of  millions  of  dollars,  he  has  never  been  sued  in 
any  court,  never  had  a  dollar  of  his  paper  go  to 
protest,  and  never  issued  a  check  that  was  dis- 
honored. 


Young  men.  study  this.  The  same  avenues  are 

still   open   to   those  pursuing  the   same   upright 

course. 

♦-.-♦^ 


LARKSON  HILL  FOOTE,  who  for 
many  years  was  prominently  engaged 
in  the  insurance  business  in  St.  Joseph, 
is  now  living  a  retired  life  in  this  city. 
He  is  a  man  of  superior  business  ability 
and  enjoys  the  highest  esteem  of  all  with  whom 
he  has  been  brought  in  contact  in  business,  as  well 
as  in  social  relations.  He  was  born  at  Potsdam, 
New  York.  February  13.  1832.  is  a  son  of  Or- 
semus  L.  and  ]\Iary  Ann  (Hill)  Foote,  and  a 
grandson  of  Johnson  Foote. 

Johnson  Foote  was  a  native  of  \'ermont,  where 
he  followed  farming  throughout  his  active  life, 
and  was  one  of  the  famous  "Green  ^Mountain 
Boys"  in  the  War  of  the  Revolution. 

Orsemus  L.  Foote  was  born  at  Montpelier, 
Vermont,  where  he  was  reared  until  his  i6th 
year,  when  he  removed  with  his  parents  to  Pots- 
dam, New  York.  Two  years  later  they  returned 
to  Vermont,  where  they  remained  two  years 
more,  then  located  a  second  time  at  Potsdam, 
New  York,  where  he  followed  farming  during 
his  younger  days.  He  was  married  there  and 
remained  until  1853  when  he  migrated  to  Iowa, 
locating  at  Dyersville,  and  there  resided  until 
he  died  of  Asiatic  cholera  in  1852.  There  he 
owned  a  large  farm  jof  160  acres,  built  and  con- 
ducted a  hotel  and  also  a  flouring  mill.  He  was 
very  active  in  business  and  met  with  a  high 
degree  of  success,  being  a  man  of  considerable 
property  at  the  time  of  his  death.  He  was  a 
Whig  in  politics,  but  steadfastly  refused  to  accept 
such  offices  as  were  tendered  him.  being  without 
political  ambition.  He  was  united  in  marriage 
with  ]Mary  Ann  Hill,  a  native  of  Potsdam,  New 
York,  and  they  became  parents  of  seven  children, 
five  of  whom  grew  to  maturitv,  namely :  Delaney 
A.,  of  Norwood.  New  York,  widow  of  John 
Kinsman ;  Clarkson  H. ;  William  Henry,  who 
died  at  Dyersville.  Iowa,  of  Asiatic  cholera ; 
Elizabeth,  deceased  wife  of  James  M.  Jarrett.  of 
^Minneapolis.  Minnesota;  Orsemus  L..  Jr..  de- 
ceased; and  Leverett.  deceased.  Our  subject's 
parents  were  both  members  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church.  ]Mrs.  Foote  lived  with  her 
son  Clarkson  H.  for  many  years  prior  to  her 
death  in  1902.  at  the  advanced  age  of  97  years 
and   II   months. 

Clarkson   H.    Foote   remained   at   home   until 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


567 


he  reached  the  age  of  20  years  and  attended  the 
pubhc  schools.  He  then  went  to  Yreka,  Siskiyou 
County,  CaHfornia,  and  opened  and  developed 
new  mines  with  fair  success.  In  the  meantime 
he  also  engaged  in  farming,  raising  the  first  crops 
of  potatoes  and  wheat  in  the  county,  the  yield 
of  the  latter  being  exceedingly  heavy,  and  the 
wheat  was  sold  as  seed  wheat  for  $20  per  bushel. 
He  owned  320  acres  there  and  remained  for  five 
years,  when,  upon  hearing  of  his  father's  death, 
he  sold  out  and  returned  to  Dyersville,  Iowa,  and 
took  charge  of  the  estate  left  by  his  father.  He 
conducted  the  hotel  and  mill  for  a  period  of 
five  years,  and  in  1865  went  to  Rochester,  Min- 
nesota, where  he  organized  the  Rochester  Fire 
Insurance  Company.  Two  years  later  he  dis- 
posed of  his  interest  there  and  came  to  St.  Jos- 
eph and  organized  the  Northwestern  Insurance 
Company,  which  he  sold  after  two  years  to  the 
American  Insurance  Company,  of  Chicago.  He 
then  took  charge  of  the  interests  of  the  latter 
concern  in  Kansas,  Missouri,  Iowa  and  Nebraska, 
and  continued  with  them  and  their  successors 
until  1891,  when  he  retired  from  business  activity. 
In  1864,  Mr.  Foote  was  joined  in  marriage 
with  Videlia  Roberts,  whose  parents  came  from 
their  native  State,  Kentucky,  to  Missouri.  Five 
children  were  born  to  them  and  three  are  living: 
Delaney  A.,  wife  of  Clarence  Wilson ;  William 
(".,  of  San  Diego,  California;  and  Minnie, 
widow  of  Edward  T.  Miles.  Mrs.  Foote  died 
June  13,  1900.  Mr.  Foote  is  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  of  which  he  has 
been  trustee  many  years,  and  of  which  his  wife 
was  also  a  member.  He  is  a  Mason,  and  in 
politics  is  a  stanch  Republican. 


■♦* » 


AiNlES  RANEY,  proprietor  of  a  general 
store,  and  the  postmaster  of  Willow 
Brook,  has  been  a  resident  of  Buchanan 
County  almost  continuously  since  the 
age  of  12  years.  He  is  a  man  of  wide 
acquaintance  in  this  vicinity,  and  has  a  host  of 
friends.  He  was  born  in  Lawrence  Countv, 
Indiana,  November  2"],  1829,  and  is  a  son  of 
George  and  Margaret  (Osborne)  Raney.  The 
family  was  established  in  this  country  by  his 
great-grandfather,  who  came  from  Ireland.  Flis 
grandfather  was  Joseph  Raney,  who  fought  in 
the  Revolutionary  War,  and  thereafter  drew  a 
pension  until  his  death. 

George  Raney  was  born  in  Kentucky  in  1799, 


and  was  taken  to  Indiana  by  his  parents.  There 
he  was  married,  and  in  184 1  he  came  West  to 
Buchanan  County,  Missouri,  where  he  died  in 
1878.  He  lived  on  the  farm  now  owned  by  his 
heirs,  but  frequently  accepted  odd  jobs  at  his 
trade  as  a  millwright.  He  was  a  strict  Old 
School  Presbyterian.  He  married  Margaret 
Osborne,  who  was  born  in  Tennessee  and  died 
in  Buchanan  County  in  1894,  aged  about  75 
years.  Two  children  were  born  to  them,  Mary 
Jane  (deceased  in  1893),  who  was  the  wife  of 
Martin  Hersch,  who  is  now  living  in  Center 
township,  Buchanan  County,  at  the  age  of  nearly 
88  years  ;  and  James. 

In  the  fall  .of  1841,  James  Raney  came  with 
his  parents  to  Buchanan  County,  ]\Iissouri,  and 
in  the  spring  of  the  following  year  they  settled 
upon  a  farm  one  mile  and  a  quarter  southeast 
of  Willow  Brook.  The  trip  to  this  country  from 
Indiana  consumed  31  days,  being  made  by  four- 
horse  wagons.  There  were  five  families  in  the 
party  and  as  many  teams.  They  brought  some  20 
head  of  cattle  with  them.  The  father  entered  a 
tract  of  160  acres,  the  southwest  quarter  of  sec- 
tion 36,  in  Center  township,  and  this  is  now 
owned  by  our  subject  and  the  heirs  of  his  de- 
ceased sister.  A  log  cabin,  T2  by  14  feet  in 
dimensions,  was  first  erected,  and  in  this  the 
family  resided  for  many  years.  The  town  of 
Weston,  20  miles  away  was  then  the  trading 
place,  and  Sparta  the  post  office.  During  the 
first  season,  10  acres  of  the  land  were  cleared 
and  broken,  and  the  amount  of  cultivated  land 
increased  each  succeeding  year.  In  1857,  James 
Raney  moved  to  Jackson  County,  Kansas,  where 
he  followed  farming  during  a  period  of  five  years. 
He  enlisted  on  September  2,  1862,  in  Company 
H,  nth  Reg.  Kansas  Vol.  Cav.,  of  which  he  was 
sergeant  for  two  years,  under  Capt.  Joe 
Fluntoon  and  under  Cols.  Thomas  Ewing  and 
Thomas  Moonlight.  The  company  was  organ- 
ized on  September  I5tli  at  Fort  Leavenworth, 
and  on  October  4.  1862,  went  to  Fort  Scott.  It 
participated  in  a  battle  in  the  ■  Indian  Territory, 
at  Kane  Hill,  Arkansas,  and  at  Prairie  Grove. 
The  regiment  then  returned  to  Fort  Leavenworth 
for  winter  and  spring,  then  was  sent  to  Jackson 
County,  Missouri,  where  it  remained  until  fall. 
The  men  were  then  sent  to  Kansas  during  Price's 
raid,  and  were  in  numerous  engagements  with 
Price,  following  him  from  Kansas  City  to  Weber 
Falls,  on  the  Arkansas  River,  a  day  seldom  pass- 
ing without  an  engagement.  They  then  returned 
to  Paola.  Kansas,  to  headquarters,  then  to  Fort 


568 


HISTORY  OF    BUCHANAN    COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


Riley,  where  the  winter  of  1864-65  was  spent. 
In  the  spring  they  were  sent  out  among-  the 
Indians  on  the  plains  and  had  a  number  of  en- 
g-ag-ements,  13  of  the  members  of  Company  H 
being  killed.  They  were  discharged  at  Fort 
Leaven^worth  in  September,  1865,  after  which 
James  Raney  returned  to  the  old  homestead  in 
Buchanan  County,  where  he  followed  farming 
until  1 89 1,  when  he  established  a  general  store  at 
Willow  Brook,  building  a  store  building  and 
a  residence.  On  July  13,  1891,  he  was  appointed 
postmaster,  but  resigned  in  1903.  He  was  re- 
appointed on  June  i,  1904,  and  now  serves  as 
such.  At  the  opening  of  the  new  country  in 
(jklahoma  in  1901,  Mr.  Raney  was  fortunate 
enough  to  draw  a  claim,  upon  which  he  resided 
17  months,  then  sold  and  returned  to  Willow 
Brook. 

In  1850,  Mr.  Raney  was  joined  in  matrimony 
with  Margaret  Ann  Means,  who  was  born  in 
Lafayette  County,  Missouri,  December  26,  1836, 
and  is  a  daughter  of  James  C.  and  Elvira  Means, 
who  came  to  Buchanan  County  in  1836  and  spent 
the  remainder  of  their  lives  here.  No  children 
have  been  born  to  our  subject.  Although  reared 
a  Democrat,  Mr.  Raney  has  long  been  a  consistent 
Republican.  Religiously,  he  is  a  member  of  the 
Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church.  He  is  also  a 
member  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic. 


♦ » » 


ERMAN  SCHUMACHER,  one  of  the 
practical  and  successful  farmers  of 
Washington  township.  Buchanan 
County,  who  resides  on  a  fine  farm  of 
120  acres,  situated  in  section  30,  town- 
ship 57,  range  34,  was  born  here,  December  10, 
1872,  and  is  a  son  of  William  and  Anna  (Ram- 
mart)  Schumacher. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  were  both  born 
in  Westphalia,  Germany,  where  they  were  mar- 
ried. They  came  to  America  in  1868  and  joined 
relatives  and  friends  who  were  already  settled 
at  St.  Joseph.  William  Schumacher  lived  in  St. 
Jose])h  for  one  year  and  then  rented  land  in 
Washington  township  for  some  15  years.  He 
then  bought  the  present  farm  of  our  subject  in 
section  30,  township  57,  range  34,  which  was 
then  known  as  the  Alexander  Jackson  farm.  It 
was  but  ]-)oorly  improved  and  Mr.  Schumacher 
and  sons  jnade  practically  all  the  improvements 
of  value.  William  Schumacher  died  on  h.is  farm 
in  November,  1892,  aged  65  years.    He  was  one 


of  the  most  highly  respected  farmers  of  his  lo- 
cality. He  left  a  widow  and  six  children,  namely  : 
Henrietta,  who  resides  at  Los  Angeles,  Cali- 
fornia ;  Frederick,  a  farmer  in  Washington  town- 
ship, who  married  Anna  Siskey.  and  has  two 
children, — Elmer  and  Elsa ;  Caroline,  who  lives 
at  home  ;  Herman,  of  this  sketch ;  Emma,  who 
lives  in  St.  Joseph  ;  and  Minnie,  who  also  resides 
at  home.  The  family  belong  to  the  German 
Lutheran  Church. 

Our  subject  has  always  resided  on  the  home- 
stead farm  and  since  the  death  of  his  father  has 
had  in  charge  its  exclusive  operation.  He  has 
always  been  industrious  and  has  placed  the  land 
under  a  high  state  of  cultivation,  increasing  its 
production  yearly  and  thus  adding  to  its  value. 
Like  his  brother  and  sisters,  he  was  given  good 
educational  advantages  and  is  not  only  a  good 
farmer,  but  an  intelhgent,  well-posted  man.  In 
addition  to  raising  grains  and  stock  of  all  kinds, 
Mr.  Schumacher  has  paid  considerable  attention 
to  small  fruits,  for  which  he  finds  a  ready  market. 
Formerly  his  father  owned  property  in  St.  Jos- 
eph, but  the  present  farm  is  now  all  the  real 
estate  held  by  the  family  as  a  whole. 

Our  subject  is  well  known  in  the  locality  in 
which  his  useful  life  has  been  spent  and  he  has 
a  wide  circle  of  friends.  Like  his  father,  he  is  a 
Republican  but  neither  have  cared  for  political 
preferment.  He  belongs  to  the  Fraternal  Aid 
Association,  Council  No.  631,  at  Saxton.  He  is 
an  honorable  upright  man  and  one  of  the  repre- 
sentative agriculturists  of  Washington  township. 


■♦  * » 


I'DOLPH  JANICKE,  fresco  artist,  a  res- 
ident of  St.  Joseph,  whose  work  is 
widely  known  in  Missouri,  was  born  in 
Berlin,  Germany,  IMarch  30,  1872,  and 
is  a  son  of  August  and  Augusta  (Jae- 
dicke)  Janickc. 

The  father  of  Rudolph  Janicke  was  born 
IMay  6,  1843,  near  Berlin.  Germany,  where  he 
still  continues  in  the  stock  business,  a  vocation 
in  which  he  succeeded  his  father.  He  married 
Augusta  Jaedicke,  who  was  a  daughter  of  Chris- 
tian Jaedicke,  of  Ferbellin,  Germany.  There  were 
nine  children  born  to  this  marriage,  and  all  the 
survivors,  except  Rudolph  Janicke.  reside  in  Ger- 
manv. 

Rudol])h  Janicke  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  and  the  gymnasium  at  Berlin,  and  was  14 
years  of  age  when  he  commenced  to  learn  the 


HORATIO    NELSON    CORNELL 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


57^ 


business  of  frescoing,  and  served  an  apprentice- 
ship of  three  and  a  half  years.  He  developed 
talent  in  this  line  and  enthusiastically  devoted 
close  attention  to  it,  taking  lessons  for  three 
winters  with  a  celebrated  fresco  artist.  After 
working  as  a  journeyman,  until  1891,  he  decided 
to  come  to  America,  with  the  expectation  of  find- 
ing a  suitable  field.  He  located  first  at  St.  Louis 
and  later  entered  into  partnership  with  George 
W.  Chambers,  under  the  firm  name  of  Chambers 
&  Janicke,  an  association  that  continued  for 
three  years,  when  Mr.  Janicke  became  foreman 
for  \V.  W.  Davis,  with  whom  he  remained  until 
1901.  when  he  came  to  St.  Joseph.  Here  he  em- 
barked in  the  glass  and  fresco  business,  but  in 
the  following  year  disposed  of  the  former  line, 
his  contracts  for  frescoing  absorbing  all  his  at- 
tention. His  specialty  is  the  ornamentation  of 
churches  and  public  buildings,  and  he  has  scarcely 
an  equal  through  all  this  section  of  Missouri  and 
has  filled  large  contracts  in  Kansas,  Nebraska, 
Iowa,  Minnesota,  Tennessee  and  Arkansas.  He 
uses  his  own  designs,  which  conform  to  modern 
ideas  and  are  beautiful  in  the  extreme.  His 
business  offices  are  situated  on  the  ground  floor 
of  the  Irish-American  Building,  St.  Joseph. 

Mr.  Janicke  married  Amanda  Straub,  a 
daughter  of  Lorenz  Straub.  of  Hermann.  Mis- 
souri, and  they  have  two  children, — Sylvia  and 

an  infant. 

♦-•-♦ 


ORATIO  NELSON  CORNELL,  whose 
])ortrait  accompanies  this  sketch,  was 
for  many  years  closely  identified  with 
the  real  estate  business  at  St.  Joseph, 
and  was  one  of  the  city's  most  enter- 
prising and  public-spirited  men.  He  was  born  at 
Randolph,  Orange  County,  A^ermont.  November 
16,  1828,  and  died  at  Fullerton.  Nebraska,  April 
29,  1902,  while  on  a  visit.  He  was  a  son  of  James 
and  Lucy  (Smith)  Cornell. 

The  parents  of  the  late  Horatio  N.  Cornell 
were  natives  of  the  "Green  ^^lountain"  State, 
where  they  were  reared. and  married.  James  Cor- 
nell was  a  hatter  by  trade  and  also  followed  farm- 
ing. About  1834  he  removed  with  his  family 
first  to  New  York,  later  to  Pennsylvania  and,  still 
later,  farther  West.  Our  subject  was  the  young- 
est of  13  children. 

L'ntil  he  was  15  years  of  age,  Mr.  Cornell  re- 
mained at  home,  assisting  his  father  and  attending 
school.  He  then  enlisted  in  the  United  States 
service  as  a  marine  on  tlic  Cnitcd  States  steamer 


"Michigan"  which  was  then,  in  1845,  i^'^  com- 
mission on  the  Great  Lakes,  but  his  naval  career 
was  cut  short  on  account  of  an  injury  received 
about  one  }ear  later.  He  then  returned  home  and 
learned  the  harness  business  which  he  followed 
more  or  less  continuously,  for  a  number  of 
years,  remaining  for  four  years  at  Erie,  Penn- 
sylvania. In  1850  he  crossed  the  plains  to  Cali- 
fornia and  followed  his  trade  at  Maryville,  in 
that  State,  for  some  five  years.  With  consider- 
able capital  he  then  moved  to  Nebraska  City,  Ne- 
braska, and  enjoyed  great  prosperity  during  the 
Civil  War,  having  obtained  the  contract  for  fur- 
nishing  harness  for  the  horses  used  in  freighting 
across  the  plains.  In  1864  Mr.  Cornell  removed 
to  Idaho,  where  he  remained  in  business  for  three 
years  and  also  spent  some  time  ranching  in  Mon- 
tana. He  was  a  man  of  excellent  business  faculty 
and  made  a  success  of  almost  every  venture.  Re- 
turning to  Nebraska  City  in  1867,  he  continued 
there  until  1876,  when  he  came  to  St.  Joseph, 
Missouri,  entering  the  real  estate  business,  a  line 
in  which  he  had  prospered  at  Nebraska  City. 
Until  a  few  years  of  his  death,  Mr.  Cornell  was 
extensively  interested  in  both  country  and  city 
property  and  was  the  direct  means  of  bringing  a 
great  amount  of  eastern  capital  to  this  section. 

On  August  14,  1861,  Mr.  Cornell  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Mary  H.  DeNeen,  and  they  had 
seven  children,  the  five  who  reached  maturity 
being:  Grace,  wife  of  Joseph  F.  Carder,  of  St. 
Joseph ;  Edward  Lee,  of  St.  Joseph ;  Horatio  Nel- 
son ;  Joy  DeNeen  ;  and  Lucy  Edith. 

Although  a  stanch  supporter  of  the  principles 
of  the  Democratic  party  and  a  man  eminently 
fitted  for  public  responsibilities,  the  late  Mr.  Cor- 
nell was  never  desirous  of  office,  his  one  term  of 
public  service  being  as  a  member  of  the  City 
Council  of  Nebraska  City.  During  his  residence 
there  he  was  admitted  to  the  Masonic  organiza- 
tion, of  which  he  continued  an  active  member  the 
remainder  of  his  life.  He  was  a  liberal  sup- 
porter and  a  consistent  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  South,  a  religious  body  with 
which  his  surviving  widow  and  family  are  also 
connected. 

Mrs.  Cornell  still  occupies  the  comfortable 
family  home  at  No.  629  South  i8th  street,  St'.  ' 
Joseph.  She  comes  of  an  old  Maryland  family, 
her  father,  Joab  DeNeen,  having  been  born  at 
Cumberland,  in  1818.  He  v*'as  engaged  through 
youth  in  mercantile  pursuits  in  his  native  jilace, 
but  at  the  age  of  18  years  he  removed  to  Indian- 
apolis,   Indiana.      His    father,    George   DeNeen, 


572 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY  AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


was  born  in  France  and  came  to  the  United  States 
in  youth,  settling  first  in  Pennsylvania  but  remov- 
ing later  to  the  mountainous  sections  of  Mary- 
land. He  was  a  great  hunter  and  was  accustomed 
to  go  on  long  hunting  expeditions,  penetrating  far 
into  the  forests.  Upon  one  occasion  he  did  not 
return  and  an  expedition  sent  out  after  him  found 
that  he  had  been  frozen  so  badly  that  he  soon  died 
from  exposure.  This  was  prior  to  the  removal 
of  his  son  to  Indiana.  The  latter  established  him- 
self in  a  mercantile  business  and  soon  after  was 
married  to  a  very  wealthy  lady  of  that  locality, 
Robena  Sharpe,  who  died  leaving  no  issue.  At  a 
later  date  Mr.  DeNecn  embarked  in  a  tailoring 
business  at  Covington,  Indiana,  having  a  very 
large  trade,  necessitating  the  employment  of  i6 
tailors. 

At  Covington,  Mr.  DeNeen  contracted  his 
second  marriage,  the  bride  being  Elizabeth 
McArty,  who  was  born  June  3,  1825,  in  Marion 
County,  Kentucky,  and  died  December  19,  1861. 
Mrs.  Cornell  was  born  in  Indiana,  December  14, 
1846,  but  was  reared  at  Nebraska  City.  She  was 
the  oldest  of  her  parents'  five  children.  Mr. 
DeNeen  died  April  14,  1889.  Both  he  and  his 
wife  were  worthy  members  of  the  Bapfist 
Church.  The  DeNeen  family  is  one  of  social 
prominence  in  St.  Joseph. 


■♦  *  ♦■ 


EORGE  W.  BARR,  for  many  years  at 
the  head  of  the  Craig-Barr  Mercantile 
Company  of  St.  Joseph,  which  is  widely 
known  throughout  this  section  of  the 
State,  is  now  living  in  retirement.  He 
was  born  in  Lewistown,  county  seat  of  Mifflin 
County,  Pennsylvania,  October  13,  1827,  and  is 
a  son  of  David  and  Catherine  (Runkle)  Barr. 
George  Barr,  grandfather  of  our  subject,  was  of 
Scotch  ancestry  and  was  born  in  Pennsylvania, 
where  he  followed  farming.  Two  of  his  brothers, 
Daniel  and  Abraham,  were  in  the  War  of  1812. 
David  Barr  was  born  in  Center  County,  Penn- 
sylvania, in  1806,  and  was  reared  on  the  home 
farm  where  he  lived  until  his  marriage  at  the  age 
of  21  years.  In  1827  he  bought  out  the  general 
mercantile  business  of  Andrew  Gregg  at  Spring 
Mills,  Pennsylvania,  which  he  conducted  until 
1842.-  He  then  sold  out  and  moved  to  Mifflin 
County,  Pennsylvania,  where  he  purchased  the 
old  General  Custer  farm  and  engaged  in  farming 
for  four  years.  He  then  purchased  a  store  of 
John  R.  Phillips  in  McVeytown,  and  conducted  it 


until  his  death  in  1847.  tie  was  an  old-line  Whig, 
but  not  actively  identified  with  political  affairs. 
He  was  united  in  marriage  with  Catherine  Runkle, 
a  daughter  of  Jacob  Runkle,  who  was  born  in 
Schuylkill  County,  Pennsylvania,  of  German  de- 
scent and  was  a  participant  in  the  War  of  1812. 
This  union  resulted  in  the  following  issue : 
George  W, ;  Susan,  deceased  wife  of  George  H. 
Kline,  of  Louisville,  Kentucky ;  Jacob,  deceased ; 
B.  Franklin,  of  Tusseyville,  Center  County, 
Pennsylvania ;  and  Sarah,  deceased,  whose  first 
husband  was  Solomon  Etlinger.  Religiously, 
the  family  are  Presbyterians. 

George  W.  Barr  remained  at  home  until  he 
became  of  age,  receiving  his  educational  training 
in  such  schools  as  his  township  afforded.  He 
entered  into  a  partnership  with  a  cousin,  John 
R.  Barr,  under  the  firm  name  of  J.  R.  &  G.  W. 
Barr,  which  firm  opened  and  conducted  a  store 
at  Spring  Mills,  Pennsylvania,  with  good  success 
until  1852.  He  then  sold  his  interest  and  located 
at  Pittsburg,  where  he  engaged  in  the  lumber 
business  for  two  years,  after  which  he  removed 
to  the  lumber  country  northeast  of  that  city, 
locating  at  the  town  of  Punxsutawney.  He 
bought  timberland  and  rafted  timber  to  Pitts- 
burg, continuing  in  a  most  successful  manner 
until  1853.  In  that  year  a  heavy  freshet  carried 
his  timber,  which  had  been  placed  on  the  Alle- 
gheny River  to  be  rafted  to  Cincinnati  and  Louis- 
ville, beyond  his  control.  He  lost  all  he  had,  but 
managed  to  borrow  $500,  which  enabled  him  to 
regain  a  portion  of  it.  which  he  took  to  Wheeling 
and  sawed  into  lumber,  renting  a  sawmill  for  that 
purpose.  He  had  about  $5,000  worth  of  timber. 
He  came  West  to  St.  Joseph,  Missouri,  in  1857, 
landing  in  this  city  on  March  27th.  He  went 
from  here  to  Ehvood,  Kansas,  where  he  became 
one  of  the  main  stockholders  in  the  town,  helping 
to  lay  it  out.  In  1864,  Mr.  Barr  was  in  the  noted 
Price's  raid  through  Kansas  and  Missouri,  being 
captain  of  Company  B,  Ninth  Regiment.  He 
remained  until  1865,  in  the  meantime  conducting 
a  store  at  Elwood.  In  1865,  he  established  a 
flouring  mill  at  Wathena  under  the  firmjiame  of 
Barr  &  Ferguson,  his  partner  being  A.  ]\I.  Fer- 
Sfuson.  In  1866,  Mr.  Ferguson  sold  out  to  W. 
B.  Craig  &  Company,  the  firm  becoming  Barr, 
Craig  &  Company  and  continuing  as  such  until 
1870,  when  they  disposed  of  the  business  to  E. 
\^  Snivelv.  Our  subject  then  engaged  in  the 
grain  commission  business  until  July  3,  1873. 
when  he  formed  a  partnership  with  D.  M.  Steele, 
W.    B.    Kemper   and   William    B.    Craig,   under 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


573 


the  firm  style  of  D.  M.  Steele  &  Company,  for  the 
purpose  of  engaging  in  the  wholesale  grocery 
business.  J\Ir.  Barr  continued  as  a  member  of 
the  firm  until  1883,  then  sold  his  interest,  but 
continued  with  the  concern  as  traveling  salesman 
until  about  a  year  prior  to  their  failure.  He 
was  then  out  of  the  business  until  1893,  when 
the  Craig-Barr  Mercantile  Company  was  estab- 
lished and  incorporated  with  Mr.  Barr  as  presi- 
dent. He  continued  in  that  capacity  until  March 
I,  1904,  when  he  retired  from  active  business. 
The  company  handles  flour  and  produce  and 
ranks  as  one  of  the  largest  firms  engaged  in  that 
line  of  business  in  Northwestern  Missouri. 

Mr.  Barr  is  a  stanch  Republican  in  politics, 
and  was  one  of  the  first  commissioners  of  Doni- 
phan County,  Kansas,  serving  three  terms  as 
such.  He  also  was  mayor  of  Elwood,  Kansas,  in 
i860.  He  was  made  a  member  of  the  Masonic 
fraternity  at  Wathena ;  is  a  member  of  the  Royal 
Arch  Chapter  at  Troy,  Kansas ;  St.  Joseph  Com- 
manderv,  No.  4,  K.  T., ;  and  Moila  Temple,  A.  A. 
O.  N.  M.  S.,  of  St.  Joseph. 

On  June  17,  1856,  Mr.  Barr  was  united  in 
marriage  at  Allegheny  City,  Pennsylvania,  to 
Elizabeth  Henry,  a  daughter  of  James  Henry,  of 
Allegheny  City,  and  they  became  parents  of  two 
children,  one  of  whom,  D.  Franklin,  is  now  living 
and  is  a  resident  of  Leadville,  Colorado.  Mrs. 
Barr  died  April  6,  1861,  aged  28  years.  He  was 
married  a  second  time  in  1862,  to  Lucinda  Kelsey, 
of  Sidney,  Ohio,  and  they  have  one  son.  Guy  C., 
of  St.  Joseph,  Missouri.  Religiously,  Mrs.  Barr 
is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 


■♦  «♦• 


WTD  H.  MADDOX,  one  of  the  large 
farmers  of  Platte  township  and  one  of 
the  representative  men  of  the  south- 
eastern section  of  Buchanan  County, 
resides  on  a  well-cultivated  farm  of 
more  than  104  acres  situated  in  section  20,  town- 
ship 55,  range  33.  Mr.  Maddox  was  born  on 
this  farm,  February  22,  1846.  and  is  a  son  of 
William  C.  and   Militta    (Daniel)    Maddox. 

The  founder  of  the  Maddox  family  in  Amer- 
ica was  born  in  France.  He  established  himself 
in  Virginia,  where  John  W.  Maddox,  the  paternal 
grandfather,  was  born.  The  latter  removed  to 
Shelby  County,  Kentucky,  where  he  operated  a 
mill  and  where  he  died  in  1856,  aged  95  vears. 
His  oldest  son,  William  C,  was  born  in  Shelby 
County,  Kentucky,  and  adopted  his  father's  trade 


of  millwright.  Prior  to  leaving  there,  he  erected 
the  first  steam  sawmill  in  that  county,  wdiich  was 
such  an  innovation  that  people  came  a  distance 
of  30  miles  to  see  its  operation.  In  1833  he  drove 
across  country  to  Platte  township,  Buchanan 
County,  and  spent  the  first  winter  in  an  old 
cabin  on  the  banks  of  the  Casteel,  in  section  19, 
where  he  spent  two  years.  He  then  entered  a 
farm  in  section  20.  He  cleared  part  of  the  farm 
and  later  built  a  comfortable  house  and  a  wagon 
shop,  and  for  a  number  of  years  built  many 
wagons  and  did  blacksmithing.  He  supplied 
wagons  for  the  United  States  government  during 
the  Mexican  War  and  during  this  period  served 
as  a  drummer  at  Fort  Leavenworth.  An  incident 
in  his  life  was  beating  the  drum  at  the  first 
official  hanging  in  Buchanan  County.  His  sons 
operated  the  farm  and  he  worked  mainly  at  his 
trade  and  built  the  first  mill  on  the  Platte  River, 
near  Matney's,  for  his  uncle,  John  Britt.  For 
a  long  time  he  was  one  of  the  most  prominent 
men  of  his  locality.  In  his  later  years  he  retired 
to  Cower,  Clinton  County,  where  he  died  at  the 
age  of  65  years.  Reared  in  the  principles  of  the 
Democratic  party,  he  cast  his  last  Democratic 
vote  during  the  candidacy  of  Stephen  A.  Doug- 
las, for  whom  he  had  a  great  admiration,  but  in 
subsequent  elections  was  identified  with  the  Re- 
publican party.  He  liberally  supported  the 
Christian  Church,  of  which  he  was  a  member. 
Beyond  serving  in  school  offices,  he  never 
accepted  public  office. 

William  C.  Maddox  married  Militta  Daniel, 
who  was  born  in  Kentucky.  She  died  at  Gower, 
Missouri,  in  October,  1876,  aged  60  years.  Of 
their  12  cliildren,  two  died  in  infancy,  the  others 
being:  Mrs.  Letitia  Elliott,  of  Kansas;  Mrs. 
Mary  J.  Nash,  of  Gower ;  Mrs.  Susan  Sparks 
and  Mrs.  Amanda  Pain,  both  deceased;  William, 
a  member  of  the  17th  Regiment,  Kansas  \'ol. 
Inf.,  who  died  in  the  Civil  War;  David  H..  of 
this  sketch  ;  John  H.,  of  Wellington,  Kansas,  a 
veteran  of  the  Civil  War ;  ]\Irs.  Matilda  Aheart, 
of  St.  Joseph  ;  Thomas,  of  Clinton  County ;  and 
Mrs.  Sarah  Elizabeth  Corwin,  of  Wellington, 
Kansas. 

With  the  exception  of  two  years  during  tlie 
Civil  War,  spent  in  Kansas,  our  subject  has 
always  lived  on  his  present  farm.  He  has  104 V2 
acres  in  his  farm,  one-half  of  which  he  has  cleared 
himself,  and  follows  general  farming  and  stock- 
raising.  He  ships  cattle  and  hogs  and  raises  a 
large  acreage  of  corn.  His  home  is  one  of  com- 
fort and  convenience  and  his  barns,  fences  and 


574 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


orchards  all  show  the  good  management  which 
has  gained  him  his  reputation  as  a  good  farmer. 
Mr.  Maddox  is  also  entitled  to  regard  as  a  sur- 
vivor of  the  Civil  War,  one  who  offered  his  ser- 
vices in  the  time  of  his  country's  need.  In  July, 
1864,  he  enlisted  in  Company  B,  17th  Reg., 
Kansas  \'ol.  Inf.,  under  Col.  S.  A.  Drake,  and 
remained  in  the  service  until  the  close  of  the  war. 
His  duties  were  mainly  confined  to  guard  duty 
and  scouting  and,  on  account  of  fever,  he  was 
twice  confined  in  a  hospital,  once  at  Pueblo,  Kan- 
sas, and  again  at  Leavenworth,  Kansas.  He  has 
a  good  record  as  a  soldier  and  takes  a  justifiable 
pride  in  the  same. 

In  1866,  in  Kansas,  INIr.  Maddox  was  married 
to  Ellen  Corwin,  who  was  born  in  Indiana  in 
1846,  and  died  here  on  February  22,  1874,  leav- 
ing one  child,  Samuel  P.,  a  resident  of  Platte 
County,  who  has  one  girl, — Opal. 

In  July,  1875,  ^'^^-  Maddox  was  married  to 
Mrs.  Katherine  Parson,  who  was  born  in  Platte 
Comity,  Missouri,  and  they  have  one  daughter, 
Effie  Jane,  who  married  Albert  Cone,  of 
Buchanan  County,  Missouri.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Cone  have  two  sons  :  David  and  Leonard.  Mrs. 
Maddox  had  two  children  by  her  previous  mar- 
riage ;  Ida.  who  married  x\lbert  Munkers,  of 
Johnson  County,  Missouri,  and  Alfred  of 
Colorado. 

Mr.  Maddox  has  always  been  identified  with 
the  Republican  party,  casting  his  first  presiden- 
tial vote  for  General  Grant.  He  has  always  taken 
an  active  interest  in  township  affairs  as  well  as 
outside  matters,  and  has  served  three  terms  as 
road  overseer.  The  family  is  one  which  stands 
well  in  Platte  township  and  Mr.  Maddox  is  a 
worthy  representative  of  this  pioneer  family. 


♦ » » 


ERSCHEL  BARTLETT,  a  member  of 
the  firm  of  Bartlett  Brothers  and  presi- 
dent of  the  Bartlett  Brothers  Invest- 
ment Company,  of  St.  Joseph,  was  born 
in  Washington  township,  Ripley 
County,  Indiana,  November  23,  1841,  and  is  a 
son  of  David  and  Phoebe  (EHsworth)  Bartlett. 
Josiah  Bartlett,  the  grandfather  of  our  im- 
mediate subject,  was  born  in  Connecticut,  a  scion 
of  an  old  colonial  family.  He  later  went  to  New 
York,  thence  to  Hamilton  County,  Ohio,  and 
died  there,  aged  80  years.  His  son,  David  Bart- 
lett, was  born  in  Connecticut,  March  9,  1808. 
He  was  reared  on  a  farm  and  learned  the  trade 


of  tanner  and  currier,  a  tannery,  in  those  days, 
often  being  a  part  of  the  equipment  of  a  farm. 
About  1825  he  accompanied  the  family  to  Hamil- 
ton County,  Ohio,  and  there  went  into  the  tan- 
ning business  with  his  brother,  removing  prior  to 
1 841  to  Ripley  County,  Indiana,  led  to  settle 
there  account  of  the  quantities  of  oak  bark 
obtainable  for  use  in  tanning. 

Here  he  farmed  and  operated  a  large  tannery 
and  also  carried  on  shoemaking  and  the  manu- 
facture of  harness,  thus  by  his  business  enterprise 
combining  the  three  by-products,  as  modern  ideas 
would  express  it,  from  his  extensive  stock-rais- 
ing. He  belonged  to  the  Odd  Fellows  and  was 
a  Republican  in  his  political  sympathy.  In  1852, 
in  the  hope  of  restoring  his  wife  to  health,  he 
went  to  California  and  during  two  years'  resi- 
dence there,  he  carried  on  a  dairy  business  in  Sac- 
ramento. In  1858,  with  his  family,  he  removed 
to  Atchison  County,  Missouri,  and  later,  to  St. 
Joseph,  but  after  residing  here  a  few  years  he 
returned  to  the  farm  in  Atchison  County.  He 
died  September  19,  1870,  and  his  remains  were 
laid  by  the  side  of  his  wife  at  New  Haven,  Ham- 
ilton County,  Ohio.  He  married  Phoebe  Ells- 
worth, who  was  born  in  Pennsylvania  and  was  a 
daughter  of  William  Ellsworth,  who  was  born 
in  Ireland.  Their  children  were :  Josiah  and  Vir- 
gil, both  deceased  ;  Herschel,  of  this  sketch ;  Wil- 
liam H.,  deceased;  David  L. ;  and  Lucv  A.,  wife 
of  Albert  Bartlett,  of  St.  Joseph. 

Plerschel  Bartlett  remained  with  his  parents 
until  of  age,  alternately  farming  and  teaching 
school,  and  he  accompanied  the  family  in  its  re- 
moval to  Atchison  County,  Missouri,  in  1858. 
They  resided  in  the  neighborhood  of  Tarkio  until 
1862,  and  then  the  whole  family  removed  to  St. 
Joseph,  and  our  subject  became  an  employee  of 
a  local  dry  goods  house  and  then  became  a  dis- 
tributing clerk  in  the  Post  Office. 

In  1866  was  founded  what  is  the  oldest  and 
has  become  the  largest  and  most  comprehensive 
real  estate  business  of  this  citv.  It  was  started 
by  our  subject,  in  partnership  with  his  brother, 
the  late  William  H.  Bartlett,  merely  as  buyers  and 
sellers  on  their  own  account.  In  1874  they  com- 
menced negotiating  loans  for  Eastern  parties  and 
their  investment  business  has  now  become  the 
leading  feature  of  the  concern.  About  this  date 
a  third  brother,  David  L.,  was  taken  into  part- 
nership, and  in  1898  the  Bartlett  Brothers  In- 
vestment Company  was  incorporated,  with  Her- 
schel Bartlett  as  president;  David  L..  as  vice- 
president  and  William  H.,  as  secretary  and  treas- 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


575 


urer.     The  last  named  died  September  19,  1904. 

On  September  23,  1881,  Herschel  Bartlett 
was  married  to  Emily  P.  Nye,  who  is  a  daughter 
of  James  A.  Nye,  of  St.  Joseph,  and  they  have 
one  son,  Philip  C.  K.,  who  is  at  Yale,  preparing 
for  graduation  in  the  class  of  1908.  Mr.  Bartlett 
'  is  an  elder  in  and  has  been  one  of  the  trustees  of 
the  Westminster  Presbyterian  Church.  Both  he 
and  his  brother  David  L.  are  members  of  the  Re- 
publican party  and  first-class,  representative  citi- 
zens. 

David  L.  Bartlett  was  born  April  27,  1848. 
After  coming  with  the  other  members  of  the  fam- 
ily to  St.  Joseph,  he  was  connected  with  the  rail- 
way service  and  mercantile  lines  until  he  became 
a  member  of  the  present  firm.  He  married  Grace 
Graves,  of  Boston,  Massachusetts,  and  they  have 
one  son, — Latham  Herschel. 

This  great  business  enterprise  represents  the 
energy  and  ability  of  one  family.  Both  the  sur- 
vivors are  men  of  unblemished  character  who 
command  the  confidence  and  respect  of  all  who 
have  dealings  with  them  or  meet  them  in  social 
intercourse. 


^  * » 


D\\^\RD  A.  PRINZ,  proprietor  of 
Prinz's  Academy  of  Dancing,  of  St. 
Joseph,  and  probably  one  of  the  best 
instructors  in  the  terpsichorean  art  in 
this  section  of  the  State,  was  born  in 
St.  Joseph,  October  3,  1872.  and  is  a  son  of 
Peter  and  Caroline  (Wagner)  Prinz. 

Peter  Prinz  was  born  in  Germany  and  was 
eight  years  of  age  when  he  accompanied  William 
Gernandt  to  America.  They  remained  in  the 
State  of  New  York  for  a  time  and  then  came  to 
St.  Joseph.  Here  Mr.  Prinz  learned  the  barber's 
trade  and  later  became  a  member  of  the  Fire 
Department,  of  which  he  was  foreman  for  many 
years.  He  conducted  his  barber  business  until 
1898,  since  which  time  he  has  been  associated  in 
business  with  our  subject.  He  married  Catherine 
Wagner,  of  St.  Joseph,  and  they  had  six  children, 
namely :  Emelia ;  Josephine,  wife  of  James  J. 
Cavanaugh,  of  San  Francisco ;  Edward  A. ; 
Frederick  A. ;  Annie  W.,  wife  of  Edward  J. 
Kerner,  of  St.  Joseph  ;  and  Augustus,  a  musician 
at  the  Orpheum  Theater,  of  this  city.  Frederick 
A.  died  August  29,  1904,  aged  25  years.  He 
had  been  associated  with  our  subject  in  business. 
He  is  survived  by  a  widow,  formerly  Nellie 
Maxwell,   and  one  son, — Fred   Melvin. 

Edward    A.    Prinz    was    educated    at    Father 


Linnencamp's  parochial  school  in  St.  Joseph,  and, 
as  a  little  lad,  began  his  business  career,  by  car- 
rying a  newspaper  for  the  St.  Joseph  Herald. 
Later  he  became  connected  with  the  business 
department  of  this  paper  and  continued  in  its 
employ  for  five  years.  During  all  this  period 
he  had  improved  every  opportunity  to  study 
dancing  as  a  graceful  art,  in  preparation  to  em- 
bracing it  as  a  career.  In  1891  he  opened  his 
first  school  for  instruction  in  dancing,  in  old 
Younger  Hall,  at  the  corner  of  Eighth  and  Ed- 
mond  streets.  After  one  season,  during  which 
he  received  much  encouragement,  he  moved  to 
the  Samuels  Building  at  Sixth  and  Charles 
streets,  and  in  1898  to  his  present  commodious 
quarters  in  Columbia  Hall,  in  the  Irish-American 
Building.  His  reputation  has  grown  to  such  an 
extent  as  a  teacher  of  deportment  and  the  grace- 
ful and  useful  art  of  dancing,  that  last  year  his 
pupils  numbered  1,100,  of  both  sexes.  In  addi- 
tion to  his  nrivate  school  and  classes,  he  is  the 
dancing  master  at  the  Convent  of  the  Sacred 
Heart,  and  for  the  past  three  years  has  also  been 
instructor  at  the  Blees  IMilitary  Academy,  at 
Macon,  IMissouri.  His  methods  are  those  recog- 
nized by  polite  society  all  over  the  world  and  his 
careful  instruction  covers  every  form  of  the  sub- 
ject. Many  of  his  pupils  belong  to  St.  Joseph's 
most  exclusive  society. 

Mr.  Prinz  has  two  sons :  Leroy  Jerome,  born 
in  1897;  and  Edward  A.,  Jr.,  born  in  1901.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  Catholic  Church.  His  fra- 
ternal connections  include  the  Elks  and  the 
American  National  Association  of  Masters  of 
Dancing. 


♦  > » 


HARLES  H.  BUCKMAN,  one  of  the 
well-known  citizens  of  St.  Joseph, 
now  living  retired  after  a  successful 
mercantile  career,  was  born  in  Wash- 
ington County,  Kentucky,  July  5,  1831, 
and  is  a  son  of  James  W.  and  Mrs.  Susan 
(Yates)    (Fenwick)   Buckman. 

The  paternal  grandfather  was  one  of  the  pio- 
neers who  first  penetrated  into  what  was  then 
the  almost  forbidden  land  of  Kentucky.  He  was 
born  in  Maryland,  but  with  his  brother  Ignatius 
went  to  Kentucky  in  young  manhood,  settling  in 
what  is  now  Washington  County,  right  among 
the  Indians.  For  this  hardihood,  Ignatius  paid 
with  his  life  and  the  grandfather  passed  through 
manv  thrilling  adventures.  James  W.  Buckman 
died  in  Kentucky,  where  his  whole  life  was  spent, 


576 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY  AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


in  1862,  aged  70  years.  The  farm  on  which  he 
Hved  had  been  preempted  by  his  father-in-law, 
but  it  had  been  included  in  a  prior  French  claim, 
which  was  brought  forward  by  Governor  Wick- 
liffe,  as  were  thousands  of  others  at  that  time, 
and  thus  the  land  was  lost  to  the  family.  Those 
were  days  of  great  injustice  and  many  of  the 
pioneers  saw  the  results  of  years  of  privation, 
danger  and  industry  taken  from  their  children. 
James  W.  Buckman  married  Mrs.  Susan  Fen- 
wick,  who  was  a  daughter  of  Thomas  Yates  of 
Washington  County,  Kentucky,  and  they  had 
four  children,  three  of  whom  reached  maturity, 
namely :  James,  deceased ;  Charles  H.,  of  this 
sketch ;  and  Paul  C,  who  was  killed  in  the  Civil 
War,  during  his  first  three  months  of  service  in 
the  Federal  Army.  By  her  previous  marriage, 
Mrs.  Buckman  had  four  sons  and  two  daughters. 
Her  father  was  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  of 
\\'ashington  County,  Kentucky.  The  family  be- 
longed to  the  Catholic  Church. 

Our  subject  worked  on  the  home  farm  until 
the  land  was  wrested  from  the  family,  when  he 
was  about  18  years  of  age.  With  his  father  he 
then  went  into  the  mercantile  business,  in  the 
dry  goods  line,  at  New  Haven,  Nelson  County, 
Kentucky,  and  remained  there  until  1853.  He 
then  entered  the  employ  of  Sylvester  Johnson, 
who  kept  a  general  store  there,  with  whom  he 
continued  until  1856.  In  the  fall  of  1856  he  was 
married  and  then  in  the  spring  of  1857  came  to 
St.  Joseph.  The  trip  consumed  two  weeks,  made 
by  steamboat  from  St.  Louis,  landing  in  this  city 
on  the  I  St  of  April,  1857. 

Mr.  Buckman  immediately  entered  the  employ 
of  Tootle  &  Fairleigh,  and  he  remained  with  that 
firm  until  1865  and  then  entered  into  a  partner- 
ship with  R.  McDonald,  under  the  firm  name  of 
R.  McDonald  &  Company.  They  founded  the 
first  wholesale  dry  goods  house  in  St.  Joseph  and 
the  business  was  continued  for  12  years,  assum- 
ing large  proportions.  Mr.  Buckman  then  re- 
tired and  removed  to  Seneca,  Kansas,  where  he 
entered  into  a  retail  dry  goods  business  for  some 
four  years.  In  1884  he  returned  to  St.  Joseph  and 
since  that  time  has  not  been  connected  with  in- 
dividual   business    enterprises. 

In  1856,  Mr.  lUickman  married  Martha  L. 
Quiggins,  of  Elizabethtown,  Kentucky,  and  they 
had  eight  children,  namely:  Charles  W.,  of  St. 
Joseph  ;  Martha  Louisa  ;  F"rank  H. ;  Mary  Agnes, 
wife  of  William  S.  Harrington,  of  St.  Joseph  ; 
Victor   L. ;  Emma  B. ;  John   E.  and  Bertha  R. 


Mr.  Buckman  and  family  belong  to  the  Catholic 
Church. 

During  his  long  commercial  life,  ]\Ir.  Buck- 
man  proved  himself  a  good  citizen,  assisting 
in  the  various  public-spirited  enterprises  and  sup- 
porting its  moral  and  educational  movements. 
He  belongs  to  those  whose  enterprise  and  ability 
helped  to  accomplish  St.  Joseph's  prosperity. 


-♦-•->- 


APT.  JOHN  PATTON,  one  of  the  most 
highly  esteemed  citizens  of  Rush  town- 
ship, Buchanan  County,  who  resides 
on  his  well-cultivated  farm  of  120 
acres  in  section  27,  is  also  a  distin- 
guished survivor  of  the  great  Civil  War,  in  which 
he  served  with  gallantry.  Captain  Patton  was 
born  in  Jefferson  County,  Tennessee,  October  13, 
1 82 1,  and  is  a  son  of  Thomas  and  Martha 
(Blakeley)   Patton. 

The  Patton  family  is  of  Scotch-Irish  extrac- 
tion, and  its  early  founders  in  America  settled  in 
North  Carolina,  where  branches  still  remain. 
Thomas  Patton,  father  of  Captain  Patton,  was 
born  in  the  "Old  North"  State,  later  removed  to 
Tennessee,  and  in  1831  come  to  Missouri  and 
settled  on  a  farm  in  Jackson  County,  where  he 
lived  until  1844,  when  he  removed  to  Nodaway 
County  and  later  to  Gentry  County,  where  he 
purchased  a  large  body  of  unimproved  land. 
About  1848  he  came  to  Rush  township,  Buchanan 
County,  where  he  died  in  1855  at  the  age  of  75 
years.  He  married  Martha  Blakeley,  of  Tennes- 
see, who  died  in  1833  in  Jackson  County,  the 
mother  of  these  children:  Andrew  C,  Margaret, 
Matilda,  Robert,  Katherine,  Charles,  Mary, 
Thomas,  John,  and  Ganum.  Of  these  our  sub- 
ject is  the  only  survivor. 

John  Patton  attended  a  Quaker  school  in 
Jefferson  County,  Tennessee,  until  he  was  10 
years  of  age,  when  the  family  moved  to  Jackson 
County,  Missouri.  Educational  opportunities 
were  limited  here  and  the  greater  part  of  his  time 
was  passed  in  hard  work  on  his  father's  fanri. 
When  he  reached  maturity,  he  began  to  farm  for 
himself,  in  Nodaway  County,  where  he  owned 
the  first  quarter  section  ever  preempted.  Pioneer 
conditions  still  existed  here  and  after  two  years  • 
(in  1847)  he  traded  his  land  in  this  county  for 
land  in  Gentry  County,  on  which  he  resided  until 
t86i.  The  excitement  of  war  had  then  spread 
over  the  country,  and  men  were  taking  sides  as 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


577 


their  convictions  led  them,  and  in  ^lay,  on  the 
day  following  the  battle  of  Wilson's  Creek,  he 
with  six  companions  jojned  the  Confederate 
forces  under  General  Price.  This  was  not,  how- 
ever, his  first  military  experience,  as  he  served 
14  months  in  the  ^Mexican  War,  as  a  member  of 
the  Second  ^Missouri  Cavalry,  and  an  interesting 
incident  was  that  in  this  service  his  captain  was 
the  Brigadier-General  Slack  of  his  command  in 
the  Civil  War.  and  his  colonel  was  Major-General 
Price,  his  beloved  commander  in  his  second  ser- 
vice. After  his  enlistment.  Captain  Patton  re- 
turned to  Gentry  County  and  raised  a  battalion 
of  400  nien,  was  made  its  major,  and  they  joined 
General  Price  at  Lexington.  In  January,  1862, 
the  command  was  reorganized  at  Springfield, 
Missouri,  and  our  subject  was  made  captain  of 
Company  H,  Second  Missouri  Cavalry,  under 
Col.  Elijah  Gates,  and  in  that  capacity  he  served 
until  his  capture  at  the  battle  of  Champion  Hills, 
in  1863.  He  took  part  in  the  battles  of  Blue 
■Mills.  Lexington.  Pea  Ridge,  the  two  battles  of 
Corinth.  Grand  Gulf  and  Champion  Hills.  He 
was  paroled  in  ]\Iarch,  1865,  after  21  months 
imprisonment  on  Johnson  Island,  and  walked  all 
the  way  from  Richmond  to  Mobile,  to  rejoin 
his  regiment.  However,  as  he  was  under  parole, 
his  fidelity  to  his  cause  could  not  be  recognized, 
and  he  returned  to  Missouri. 

Captain  Patton  found  the  family  estate  in  bad 
shape,  his  own  wealth  had  melted  away,  and,  con- 
fronted with  these  facts,  he  began  to  resume  his 
old  occupations,  bravely  accepting  what  was  in- 
eivtable.  He  began  the  redeeming  of  400  acres 
of  land  in  Gentry  County,  cutting  the  timber  and 
selling  ties,  and  subsequently  traded  the  land 
for  his  present  farm  in  Buchanan  County,  on 
which  he  settled,  ^March  10,  1867,  and  where  he 
has  resided  ever  since.  He  has  a  very  fine  prop- 
erty here,  in  good  condition,  well-improved,  and 
a  comfortable  and  attractive  home. 

On  May  12,  1844,  Captain  Patton  married 
Sarah  Bowers,  a  daughter  of  William  Bowers,  of 
Jackson,  ]\Iissouri,  who  died  in  1850,  while  he 
was  in  California.  She  was  survived  by  two  chil- 
dren:  Luthena,  wife  of  G.  W.  Brumfield,  a 
farmer  in  Montana :  and  John,  a  resident  of  Ari- 
zona. Captain  Patton  was  married  Januarv  15, 
18^5.  to  Almeda  Jane  Sego,  a  daughter  of  Lem- 
uel D.  Sego.  of  Gentry  County,  Missouri,  and 
they  had  two  children :  Ambrose,  who  is  circuit 
clerk  of  Buchanan  Counnty ;  and  Sterling  Price, 
who  resides  on  the  home  farm  with  his  father. 
The  last  named  married  Bina  Whitlow,  a  dausrh- 


ter  of  Benjamin  Whitlow,  of  Winthrop,  and  has 
two  sons, — Mnton  W.  and  an  unnamed  infant. 
]\Irs.  Patton,  mother  of  these  sons, .died  in  1895, 
aged  61  years. 

Captain  Patton  has  survived  many  of  his  old 
comrades  in  arms  and  many  of  those  who  crossed 
the  plains  with  him,  by  ox-team,  to  California, 
in  1849.  He  was  one  of  the  Argonauts  of  that 
interesting  period  of  our  country's  history.  For 
one  year  he  worked  at  mining  in  the  gold  fields 
and  then  opened  a  mine  store  which  he  conducted 
until  1853,  when  he  returned  to  Missouri.  He 
has  always  been  a  consistent  Democrat  and  has 
been  honored  by  his  party  on  many  occasions. 
He  was  the  first  sheriff  of  W^orth  County,  under 
appointment  of  Governor  Jackson,  and  for  a 
number  of  years  served  as  a  justice  of  the  peace 
in  Gentrv  Countv.  His  long  life  has  been  full 
of  events  and  few  can  recall  the  incidents  of  the 
past  half  century  with  more  clearness  or  dra- 
matic interest.  Having  personally  participated 
in  two  of  the  great  wars  of  the  country,  having 
been  one  of  that  daring  band  to  cross  the  great 
American  Desert  and  scale  the  mountain  passes, 
and  a  pioneer  along  the  border  of  civilization, 
his  recollections  are  of  such  a  nature  that  they 
deserve  preservation  in  lasting  form.  In  the 
evening  of  life,  he  finds  himself  surrounded  by 
devoted  kindred  and  many  friends  and  this  in- 
complete record  is  but  a  small  tribute  to  one  of 
Buchanan  Countv's  notable  men. 


♦  » » 


ILLIAM  KRUMM,  Sr..  one  of  the 
most  highly  esteemed  citizens  of  St. 
Joseph,  now  living  retired  from  busi- 

ness,  for  many  years  was  the  head  of 

the  well-known  firm  of  \\"illiam 
Krumm  &  Sons,  florists.  Mr.  Krumm  was  born 
April  13,  1829,  in  Erfort,  Germany,  where  his 
parents  spent  their  entire  lives. 

At  the  age  of  18  years,  William  Krumm 
landed  from  ?.  German  vessel  at  the  port  of  New 
York.  He  had  been  liberally  educated  and  was 
not  without  means,  and  soon  penetrated  as  far 
West  as  Council  Blufl:'s,  Iowa.  His  first  visit 
to  St.  Joseph  was  while  on  a  hunting  trip.  Later 
he  went  South  and  spent  four  years  in  the  city  of 
New  Orleans.  In  Cincinnati  he  learned  the  trade 
of  builder  and  perfected  himself  in  the  profes- 
sion of  architecture  and  in  the  various  cities  in 
which  he  lived  he  carried  on  business  as  architect 
and  builder.  In  1856  he  went  to  California  and 
worked  for  a  year  in  the  mines  in  Placer  Countv, 


578 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


and  upon  his  return  located  at  Quincy,  Illinois. 
After  his  marriage  there,  shortly  after,  he  estab- 
lished himself  in  business  at  Quincy,  where  he  re- 
mained for  four  years  and  then  moved  to  Leaven- 
worth, Kansas,  where  he  resided  until  1865,  when 
he  came  to  St.  Joseph  to  settle  permanently. 

In  1869,  Mr.  Krumm  bought  25  acres  of  land 
in  section  22,  township  57.  range  35.  Washing- 
ton township,  at  28th  and  Hickory  streets,  St. 
Joseph,  and  started  into  market  gardening  and 
floriculture.  His  beginnings  were  on  a  very 
modest  scale  but  have  so  expanded  that  the 
greenhouses  of  the  firm  now  cover  two  acres  and 
plants  and  flowers  are  shipped  all  over  Missouri, 
Iowa,  Kansas  and  Nebraska,  and  still  fartlier 
West.  As  his  sons  grew  up,  Mr.  Krumm  took 
them  into  partnership  and  they  now  manage  the 
entire  business,  the  founder  of  it  having  been 
practically  retired  for  some  years. 

At  Quincy,  Illinois,  Mr.  Krumm  married  Mar- 
garet Rufif,  a  native  of  Alsace,  France,  and  they 
have  had  a  family  of  seven  children,  namely ; 
Casper,  who  follows  the  business  of  harness-mak- 
ing, at  Kansas  City ;  William,  Jr.,  who  is  a  car- 
riage-maker and  blacksmith,  at  Wliitman,  Kan- 
sas ;  John,  Henry  and  Frederick,  all  of  whom 
reside  with  their  father,  who  make  up  the  firm 
of  Krumm  Brothers,  florists,  at  St.  Joseph  :  Ada, 
who  is  the  wife  of  A.  Lazaleer,  a  farmer  of  Wash- 
ington township ;  and  Maggie,  who  is  the  wife  of 
Frederick  Leight,  a  gardener  of  \\'ashington 
township. 

The  business  established  by  Mr.  Krumm  con- 
tinues to  be  one  of  the  successful  enterprises  of 
St.  Joseph.  In  addition  to  the  large  greenhouses 
mentioned  above,  Krumm  Brothers  operate  a 
store  at  No.  704  Felix  street.  The  young  men 
have  grown  up  in  the  business  under  their  fa- 
ther's instruction  and  supervision  and  are  not 
only  practical  florists  but  are  also  good  business 
men.  Mr.  Krumm  has  the  satisfaction  of  know- 
ing that  all  his  children  are  well  established  in 
life  and  are  respected  members  of  their  various 
communities. 

Politically,  Mr.  Krumm  has  been  identified 
with  the  Republican  party  ever  since  attaining 
his  majority,  but  has  never  consented  to  accept 
public  office  of  any  kind.  His  fraternal  relations 
as  a  Mason  include  membership  in  the  Blue 
Lodge:  Royal  Arch  Chapter;  Commanderv 
Knights  Templar:  and  Moila  Temple,  A.  A.  O. 
N.  M.  S.  He  is  also  an  Odd  Fellow,  and  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Knights  of  Honor  of  St.  Joseph.  He  is 
a  member  of  the  Christian  Church. 


P^BnTlTT 

n; 

^ 

M 

(^ 

1 

ILLIAM  F.  ROSS,  D.  D.  S.,  a  prom- 
inent practitioner  of  dental  surgery, 
at  St.  Joseph,  was  born  at  Stanberry, 
Gentry  County,  Missouri,  Septem- 
ber 25,  1870,  and  is  a  son  of  John  A. 
and   Martha  R.    (Howell)    Ross. 

The  father  of  Dr.  Ross  was  born  at  Halifax, 
Nova  Scotia,  and  accompanied  his  parents  to  the 
United  States  in  1840.  After  a  short  period  in 
Ohio,  they  came  to  Northwestern  Missouri, 
among  the  early  pioneers  of  this  locality.  The 
family  engaged  extensively  in  farming  and  stock- 
raising.  In  1849  John  A.  Ross  crossed  the  plains 
to  California,  where  he  met  with  great  success 
in  the  gold  regions.  In  1852  he  returned  to 
Gentry  County,  Missouri,  where  he  bought  a  land 
claim  and  kept  adding  to  his  property  until  he 
owned  1,500  acres.  He  devoted  his  energies  for 
a  time  to  the  raising  of  cattle  and  became  the 
largest  shipper  in  the  county.  In  1886  he  re- 
moved to  Stanberry,  where  he  lived  retired  until 
the  close  of  his  life,  in  1897.  He  was  a  large 
capitalist  and  was  the  first  president  of  the  bank 
at  Albany,  Missouri,  which  was  organized  in 
1876.  Later  he  was  a  stockholder  in  the  bank 
at  Stanberry,  and  the  bank  at  Mound  City,  and 
subsequentlv  he  became  president  of  a  bank  at 
Lebanon,  Illinois,  and  at  the  time  of  his  death 
he  was  president  of  a  bank  at  King  City,  Mis- 
souri. For  many  years  he  was  a  prominent  Dem- 
ocrat, a  worker  for  his  party's  success,  but  would 
never  accept  office  for  himself.  He  belonged  to 
the  Masonic  bodies  at  Stanberry. 

John  A.  Ross  was  twice  married.  His  second 
union  was  with  a  daughter  of  James  Howell,  of 
Albany.  IMissouri.  and  10  children  were  born 
to  them,  nine  of  whom  reached  maturity,  viz : 
James  H.,  a  dentist  of  St.  Joseph :  George  A.,  of 
Mexico,  Missouri;  William  F.,  of  this  sketch; 
Ella  R.,  wife  of  R.  B.  Cofifey,  of  Stanberry,  Mis- 
souri ;  Myrtle,  wife  of  B.  R.  Williams,  of  Cal- 
lao,  Missouri;  Martha,  wife  of  O.  R.  Garman.  of 
Idaho  Springs.  Colorado ;  Thomas,  of  Stanberry, 
Missouri ;  Ethel,  wife  of  I.  F.  Harlan,  of  Moberly, 
Missouri ;  and  Ollie.  who  lives  at  home.  The 
family  were  reared  in  the  faith  of  the  Baptist 
Church. 

\\'illiani  F.  Ross  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  and  the  normal  school  at  Stanberry.  He 
then  entered  the  Louisville  College  of  Dentistry, 
from  which  he  was  graduated  with  his  degree, 
in  1896.  Coming  to  St.  Joseph,  he  practiced  here 
a  short  time  and  then  went  to  South  America, 
z'ia    Europe,    learned    the    Portuguese    language 


ROBERT    H.   MITCHELL 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


581 


and  practiced  his  profession  at  Rio  de  Janeiro. 
The  death  of  his  father  recalled  him  to  Alissouri ; 
after  assisting  in  the  settlement  of  the  large  estate, 
he  commenced  to  practice  at  St.  Joseph,  meeting 
with  much  success.  He  occupies  fine  offices  at 
suite  31,  Ballinger  Building. 

On  September  28,  1899,  Dr.  Ross  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Frances  J.  Faucett,  who  is  a 
daughter  of  Robert  H.  Faucett,  one  of  St.  Jo- 
seph's most  prominent  citizens,  president  of  the 
R.  H.  Faucett  ]\lill  Company.  The  two  children 
of  this  marriage  are :  Faucett  W.  and  John  A. 
Mrs.  Ross,  a  lady  of  many  accomplishments,  is 
a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  at  Faucett. 
Politically,  Dr.  Ross  is  a  Democrat.  He  is  a 
prominent  member  of  the  State  Dental  Associa- 
tion and  the  International  Dental  Congress.  He 
is  a  young  man  of  high  personal  character. 


♦ « » 


OBERT  H.  MITCFIELL,  one  of  the 
most  prominent  agriculturists  of  Bloom- 
ington  township.  Buchanan  County, 
whose  portrait  accompanies  this  sketch, 
has  a  fine  farm  in  sections  24  and  25 
and  a  home  of  which  he  may  well  be  ])roud.  He 
was  born  near  DeKalb,  Buchanan  County,  Mis- 
souri, March  11.  i860,  and  is  a  son  of  James  W. 
and  Sarah  J.   (Bryant)  Mitchell. 

James  W.  Mitclrell  was  born  in  Fairfax 
County,  \'irginia,  April  20,  1833.  and  came  to 
Buchanan  County,  Missouri,  in  1856,  then  moved 
to  Atchison  County,  where  he  remained  until 
1859.  He  next  engaged  in  mining  in  Colorado 
until  1862,  when  he  returned  and  permanently 
located  in  Buchanan  County.  He  engaged  in 
farming  until  his  death  on  a  farm  half  a  mile 
west  of  what  is  now  our  subject's  place  in  Bloom- 
ington  township.  He  was  joined  in  marriage 
with  Sarah  J.  Bryant,  who  was  born  in  Buchanan 
County,  Missouri,  October  29,  1839,  and  was  a 
daughter  of  James  and  Rose  (Davis)  Bryant, 
her  parents  being  the  first  couple  married  in 
Bloomington  township,  the  event  taking  place 
early  in  1839.  Mrs.  Sally  Davis,  mother  of  Mrs. 
Rose  (Davis)  IVyant,  lived  to  be  100  years  and 
100  days  old,  dying  in  1873.  The  following  chil- 
dren were  born  to  James  W.  and  Sarah  J.  (Bry- 
ant) Mitchell :  Robert  H. ;  Hugh  B.,  born  Sep- 
tember 13,  1861  ;  Anna  L.,  born  December  13, 
1865,  who  is  the  wife  of  D.  G.  Roberts  and  lives 
in  Crawford  township  :  Elizabeth  M.,  born  No- 
vember 10,  1867,  who  is  the  wife  of  S.  P.  Mor- 
lock,  of  Little  Rock,  Arkansas  :  Francis  D.,  born 

29 


January  18,  1870,  who  is  a  druggist  of  Kansas 
City  :  Rose  Emma,  born  September  7,  1872,  who 
married  Woodward  Roberts  of  Platte  Countv ; 
Mary  F.,  born  November  22,  1874,  who  is  the 
w^fe  of  William  George,  of  Dearborn,  Missouri ; 
James  W.  ^Mitchell  was  a  member  of  the  Chris- 
tion  Church,  and  his  wife  a  member  of  the  Bap- 
tist Church.  After  his  death,  she  formed  a  sec- 
ond union  with  William  Allen,  and  is  now  a 
widow  residing  in  Dearborn,  Missouri. 

Robert  H.  Mitchell  has  a  fine  farm  of  240 
acres  situated  only  five  miles  southeast  of  De- 
Kalb. and  is  the  owner  and  breeder  of  thorough- 
bred Shorthorn  cattle  and  Poland-China  hogs. 
j  His  farm,  which  is  known  as  the  "Shorthorn 
Farm,"  is  one  of  the  most  highly  improved  larm- 
ing  properties  in  Buchanan  (I^ounty.  He  has 
spent  more  than  $5,000  on  improvements,  has  th^. 
property  all  fenced  and  has  modern  barns  and  the 
necessary  outbuildings.  His  dwelling  is  situ- 
ated on  an  elevation,  commanding  a  fine  view 
of  the  surrounding  country  ;  the  lawn  about  has  a 
velvety  appearance  ;  and  the  well-trimmed  trees 
add  to  its  attractive  appearance,  all  of  which  has 
given  it  the  reputation  of  being  one  of  the  best 
kept  estates  in  l^)Uchanan  County.  His  success  as 
a  farmer  is  well  deserved  and  he  stands  high  in 
the  esteem  of  his  fellow  men.  He  engaged  in  the 
profession  of  teaching  for  many  years  and  is  a 
man  of  literary  attainments.  He  wrote  an  article 
entitled  "Success"  which  appeared  in  a  DeKalb 
paper  in  1901,  and  its  merit  is  such  that  we  re- 
produce it : 

"Purposes,  however  wise,  without  plans  can 
not  be  relied  on  for  good  results.  Random  or 
spasmodic  efforts  like  aimless  shots  are  usuallv 
no  better  than  wasted  time  and  strength.  The 
purposes  of  shrewd  men  in  the  lousiness  of  this 
life  are  alwa}s  followed  by  carefully  formed 
plans;  whether  the  object  is  learning,  honor  or 
wealth,  the  ways  and  means  are  always  laid  out 
according  to  the  best  rules  and  methods.  The 
mariner  has  his  charts,  the  architect  his  plans, 
and  the  sculptor  his  model,  and  all  as  a  means 
and  condition  of  success.  Invention,  genius  or 
even  what  is  called  inspiration  can  do  little  in 
any  department  of  theoretic  or  practical  science 
except  as  it  works  by  a  well-formed  plan  ;  then 
every  step  is  an  advance  toward  the  accomplish- 
ment of  the  object.  Every  tack  of  the  ship  made 
according  to  nautical  law  keeps  her  steadily  near- 
ing  the  port ;  each  stroke  of  the  chisel  brings  the 
marble  in  closer  likeness  to  the  model.  No  efforts 
or  time  is  lost,  for  nothing  is  done  rashly  or  at 


582 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


random.  Therefore  let  every  young  man  early 
in  life  begin  to  mature  his  plans  for  life.  The 
first  step  in  the  ladder  to  success  is  a  practical 
education  for  the  duties  of  life  and  then  with 
definite  plans  and  a  little  resolution  all  becomes 


easy, 


A  short  biography  of  Mr.  Mitchell  which  ap- 
peared in  the  same  publication  bearing  date  of 
December  27,  1901,  shows  the  esteem  in  which 
he  is  held  in  his  home  community.  It  follows: 
"The  gentleman  whose  portrait  heads  this  sketch, 
Robert  H.  Mitchell,  is  at  present  one  of  our  most 
prominent  and  enterprising  farmers.  He  is  the 
(nvner  and  breeder  of  thoroughbred  Shorthorn 
cattle  and  Poland-China  hogs.  His  fine  farm  of 
240  acres  is  situated  only  five  miles  southeast  of 
DeKalb,  and  Mr.  INIitchell  is  certainly  in  a  posi- 
tion with  his  keen  perception  of  sagacious  busi- 
ness principles  to  make  his  mark  in  the  financial 
world. 

"At  one  time  ]\Ir.  Mitchell  was  the  acting 
cashier  of  the  Derge-Campbell  bank  of  this  place. 
He  was  born  near  DeKalb,  Buchanan  county, 
^Missouri,  in  i860  and  grew  to  manhood  here.  He 
is  a  young  man  of  sterling  traits  of  character  and 
an  indomitable  will,  which  has  crowned  his  life 
with  merited  and  well-earned  success.  Starting 
out  in  life  when  a  mere  boy  he  began  the  battle  of 
life  with  no  other  equipment  than  strong  faculties 
of  mind,  an  untarnished  name  and  a  determina- 
tion to  win  his  way  to  a  high  plane  in  life — 
morally  and  financially — despite  every  obstacle. 
That  he  has  accunuilated  a  snug  income,  given 
his  mind  the  culture  and  polish  of  a  Ifberal  edu- 
cation and  retained  the  respect  and  esteem  of  the 
people  whom  he  has  mingled  with  from  boyhood, 
is  incontrovertible  attestation  that  success  has 
crowned  his  eft'orts.  After  enjoying  the  educa- 
tional advantages  of  the  district  schools  here,  he 
entered  the  State  Normal  at  Warrensburg,  Mis- 
souri, in  1880,  taking  a  thorough  course  there. 
At  the  end  of  the  term  Mr.  INIitchell  had  made 
such  progress  in  his  studies  as  to  be  able  to 
enter  the  higher  schools  as  a  teacher.  He  went 
to  Sacramento,  California,  and  taught  in  the  high 
schools  of  that  city ;  he  afterward  was  called  to 
Linkville.  Oregon,  where  he  was  installed  as 
principal  of  the  high  schools  of  that  place.  Not- 
withstanding he  is  yet  a  young  man,  he  has  spent 
eleven  years  as  an  instructor  in  the  schoolroom. 

"For  several  years  he  was  with  the  Rice-Stix 
Dry  Goods  Company,  of  St.  Louis,  where  he  won 
the  highest  esteem  of  his  employers  as  a  man  of 
vast  business  sense  from  every  standpoint. 


"On  October  6,  1897.  he  was  married  to  I^lor- 
ence  Chesnut,  of  near  Dearborn.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Mitchell  have  an  elegant  country  home,  sur- 
rounded by  all  conveniences  and  comforts  that 
tend  to  make  a  person  happy  and  contented." 

Fraternally,  our  subject  is  a  high  Mason  and 
belongs  to  the  following  lodges :  Wellington 
Lodge  No.  22,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  DeKalb ;  Chap- 
ter No.  8,  R.  A.  M.,  of  St.  Louis  ;  Hiram  Coun- 
cil, of  St.  Louis  ;  St.  Aldemar  Commandery,  No. 
18,  of  St.  Louis ;  Moolah  Temple,  A.  A.  O.  N. 
M.  S.,  of  St.  Louis.  He  also  has  membership  in 
DeKalb  Lodge,  No.  191,  I.  O.  O.  F.  Mrs. 
Mitchell  is  a  member  of  the  Order  of  the  Eastern 
Star.  Our  subject  is  a  member  of  the  Central 
Christian  Church. 


■♦ « ♦■ 


LIVER  A.  SANDUSKY,  the  pioneer 
produce  merchant  along  the  Missouri 
River,  has  for  many  years  been  one  of 
the  leading  business  men  of  St.  Joseph. 
He  is  a  native  of  Kentucky,  having 
been  born  near  the  city  of  Lexington,  February 
7,  1832,  and  is  a  son  of  Jacob  E.  and  Hannah 
(Middleton)   Sandusky. 

The  family  is  of  Polish  origin,  the  name  or- 
iginally being  spelled  Sodowsky,  and  was  estab- 
lished in  Virginia  in  the  early  colonial  days.  The 
great-grandfather  of  our  subject  went  West  from 
Virginia  to  Kentucky  with  Daniel  Boone,  settling 
in  the  blue  grass  region,  where  he  improved  a 
farm.  Tlie  country  was  extremely  wild  and  un- 
settled at  that  time,  and  frequently  trouble  and 
skirmishes  with  Indians  were  had.  While  with 
a  surveying  party  at  Salt  Lick,  this  sturdy  pio- 
neer and  his  party  were  set  upon  by  the  Indians, 
and  believing  "discretion  is  the  better  part  of 
valor"  made  for  the  woods,  hiding  in  bushes  un- 
til they  finally  made  their  escape.  He  helped 
survey  that  section  of  the  country,  and  in  after 
years,  when  he  was  80  years  old,  he  was  called 
into  court  to  testify  as  to  surveys  and  the  location 
of  old  lines  established  many  years  previously. 
Ephraim  Sandusky,  his  son,,  the  grandfather  of 
our  subject,  was  also  a  pioneer  of  Kentucky,  and 
became  the  owner  of  700  acres  of  land  10  miles 
from  Lexington.  He  participated  in  the  War  of 
1812. 

Jacob  E.  Sandusky  was  born  on  the  same  farm 
as  his  son,  in  1808,  and  became  ain  extensive 
farmer,  carrying  on  his  operations  near  Lexing- 
ton.   In  1838  he  purchased  land  in  Clark  County, 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


583 


Missouri,  with  the  intention  of  moving  thither, 
but  gave  up  that  plan  and  located  in  Shelby 
County,  Kentucky,  where  he  lived  and  farmed 
until  his  death  in  1898,  aged  90  years.  He  was 
first  married  to  Hannah  Aliddleton,  a  native  of 
Kentucky  and  a  daughter  of  James  ^liddleton, 
of  Maryland,  who  removed  to  Kentucky  and 
settled  on  the  Shelby  Pike,  between  Franklin 
and  Louisville.  ^Ir.  and  ]\Irs.  Sandusky  were 
both  personal  friends  of  Henry  Clay.  They  were 
parents  of  three  children,  two  of  whom  are  now 
living.  He  formed  a  second  union  with  Nancy 
Blades,  by  whom  he  had  five  children. 

Oliver  A.  Sandusky  spent  his  boyhood  days 
on  his  father's  farm  near  Lexington  and  near 
Shelbyville,  in  Shelby  County,  whither  his  par- 
ents had  moved  when  he  was  seven  years  old. 
He  was  reared  to  hard  labor  and  worked  on  the 
farm  until  he  reached  the  age  of  23  years,  his 
educational  training  being  limited  to  such  ad- 
vantages as  the  district  school  afforded  during 
its  three  months  session  in  the  winter.  In  1855. 
he  came  by  way  of  boat,  the  "Star  Polar,"  to 
Missouri,  locating  at  St.  Joseph,  near  which  city 
he  assumed  the  management  of  a  farm  of  200 
acres,  located  in  Andrew  County.  After  his  mar- 
riage in  1857,  he  located  on  a  farm  of  80  acres  in 
Andrew  County,  which  he  purchased  and  con- 
ducted until  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  War.  He 
enlisted  in  Company  M.  9th  Reg..  Missouri  Vol. 
Cav.,  was  mustered  in  at  St.  Joseph  and  cam- 
paigned in  Missouri  under  Gen.  Odin  Guitar. 
During  1864  he  engaged  in  considerable  skirm- 
ishing and  saw  much  hard  fighting,  being  cap- 
tured at  Glasgow  by  Shelly  of  Price's  army.  He 
was  paroled  and  sent  to  the  barracks  at  St.  Louis, 
and  still  later  to  Macon  City  where  he  remained 
until  the  close  of  the  war.  After  his  discharge 
he  returned  to  his  farm  but  soon  sold  out  and  in 
the  fall  of  1865  engaged  in  the  grocery  business 
at  the  comer  of  Sixth  and  Edmond  streets,  St. 
Joseph,  where  he  continued  for  about  eight  years. 
He  gradually  drifted  into  the  general  produce 
business  and  became  highly  successful.  In  1873 
he  located  on  Market  square  and  handled  general 
produce  and  fruits,  particularly  apples.  He  now 
buys  and  sells  from  200  to  250  cars  of  apples  a 
season,  shipping  to  various  points  in  Missouri, 
Kansas  and  Nebraska,  doing  all  business  from 
his  office  in  St.  Joseph.  He  deals  in  eggs,  butter 
and  potatoes  in  car-load  lots,  general  farm  pro- 
duce, onions,  berries  and  various  small  fruits.  He 
is  the  oldest  commission  merchant  in  the  city. 
He  has  been  identified  wth  many  industries  of  the 


city  and  was  at  one  time  a  large  stockholder  in 
the  Llano  Live  Stock  &  Land  Company,  which 
owned  some  30,000  acres  of  land  in  Texas.  He 
is  considered  one  of  the  most  enterprising  and 
prosperous  business  men  of  Buchanan  County 
and  has  been  blessed  with  success  in  whatsoever 
business  he  has  turned  his  hand.  He  is  public- 
spirited  and  has  at  all  times  the  welfare  of  his 
home  city  at  heart. 

JNIr.  Sandusky  was  married  in  1857  to  Serelda 
Potter,  who  was  born  in  Caldwell  County,  ]\Iis- 
souri,  and  is  a  daughter  of  John  Potter,  an  early- 
settler  in  this  State.  This  union  has  been  with- 
out issue,  but  in  1871  they  took  a  niece  of  ]\Irs. 
Sandusky  to  raise,  namely :  Serelda  Olive  Ford. 
In  1879,  they  took  a  nephew  of  our  subject  to 
raise.  Oliver  A.  Sandusky.  Jr.  The  latter  mar- 
ried ]Mabel  [Matthews,  of  Hampton.  Kansas,  and 
they  have  three  children :  Richard  and  Jacob, 
born  in  Hamlin,  Kansas,  and  Thomas,  born  in 
St.  Joseph.  He  is  identified  with  our  subject  in 
business  and  has  given  evidence  of  superior  busi- 
ness ability.  Serelda  Olive  Ford  was  married 
in  1880  to  James  S.  Polk,  and  they  are  the  par- 
ents of  five  sons  and  two  daughters,  as  follows : 
Mabel  S.,  born  in  St.  Joseph ;  Paul  H. ;  Ethel  F. ; 
Glenn  Scott ;  Oliver  Baxter ;  James  Samuel ;  and 
George. 

Politically,  Oliver  A.  Sandusky  is  a  supporter 
of  Democratic  principles  and  is  always  deeplv  in- 
terested in  his  party's  success.  He  and  his  wife 
reside  in  their  comfortable  home  at  No.  720  South 
loth  street. 


^ » » 


A:\IES  R.  FLE^IING,  a  successful 
farmer  and  stock-raiser  of  WashinsTton 
township,  Buchanan  County,  has  had  a 
most  interesting  and  varied  career  in 
the  business  world.  He  was  born  in 
County  Tipperary,  Ireland,  February  2,  1827.  and 
is  a  son  of  Daniel  and  IMary  (Ryan)  Fleming, 
both  natives  of  Ireland  where  they  lived  all  their 
lives. 

Daniel  Fleming  engaged  in  farming  in  Ire- 
land and  remained  there  throughout  life.  He  had 
three  brothers  who  came  to  America, — Thomas, 
James  and  ^lichael, — all  of  whom  served  in  the 
War  of  181 2.  He  and  his  wife  were  parents  of 
the  following  children  :  James  R. :  Malachi ;  John  ; 
Thomas  :  Daniel :  Anthony ;  and  ^Margaret,  who 
lives  in  Dublin,  Ireland.  Our  subject  and  his 
sister  are  the  only  survivors  of  this  family. 

James  R.  Fleming  attended  the  subscription 


584 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN    COUNTY  AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


schools  of  his  native  country  and  Hvcd  at  home 
until  he  reached  the  age  of  19  years.  He  then 
came  to  America  oij  a  sailing;  vessel,  the  trip  con- 
suming- 21  (lays,  and  landed  in  Quebec.  He  went 
from  there  to'lM-anklin  County,  New  York,  where 
he  worked  on  a  railroad,  then  went  to  Cattaraugus 
County.  New  York.  One  year  later  he  went  to 
Rochester,  and  from  there  to  Columbiana  County, 
Ohio,  where  he  remained  one  season.  He  went 
to  West  X'irginia  for  a  short  time,  then  to  IMays- 
ville,  Kentucky,  where  for  three  years  he  worked 
on  a  turnpike  and  followed  farming.  He  next 
went  to  Arkansas,  where  he  did  some  ditching, 
then  to  New  Orleans,  where  he  spent  the  winter. 
Returning  North,  he  located  in  St.  Louis  for  a 
time,  then  came  to  St.  Joseph,  IMissouri,  in  1852. 
Here  he  engaged  in  contracting  on  the  Hanni- 
bal &  St.  Joseph  Railroad,  and  later  did  street 
grading.  He  also  conducted  a  dray  and  transfer 
line  here  for  a  period  of  five  years,  after  which 
he  went  West  to  Colorado.  Ccilifornia,  Idaho. 
Montana  and  other  Western  States,  remaining  in 
the  West  a  jK'riod  of  seven  years.  He  came  back 
to  Buchanan  Comity  and  purchased  80  acres  of 
undeveloped  land  in  section  34.  township  57, 
range  34,  Washington  township,  which  he  subse- 
quently added  to  until  at  the  present  time  he  has 
165  acres.  It  was  mostly  Avild  land,  with  a  small 
clearing  and  old  buildings.  He  has  placed  it 
under  a  high  state  of  cultivation,  fenced  it  and 
built  a  good  home  and  substantial  barns  and  out- 
buildings. He  raises  wheat,  oats,  corn  and  hay, 
and  has  his  place  well  stocked  with  cattle,  horses, 
mules  and  hogs.  He  also  raises  some  fruit.  ]\Irs. 
Fleming  has  gained  an  enviable  reputation  as  a 
butter  maker,  and  has  a  ready  sale  for  this  com- 
modity on  the'  St.  Joseph  market.  Mr.  Fleming 
is  purely  a  self-made  man,  and  such  success  as 
he  has  attained  has  come  solely  through  hard 
labor  and  judicious  management. 

James  R.  Fleming  was  married  in  1856  to 
Lydia  Miller,  who  was  born  in  \\'ayne  County. 
Ohio,  March  1,  1835.  and  is  a  daughter  of  David 
H.  and  Elizabeth  ( IJoDair)  Miller,  her  father  be- 
ing a  native  of  Switzerland  and  her  mother,  of 
France.  Her  parents  were  married  in  Lancas- 
ter County,  Pennsylvania,  and  from  there  moved 
to  Wayne  County.  Ohio,  moving  to  Buchanan 
County.  jMissouri.  in  1847.  ^'i"-  ^liHer  owned 
240  acres  in  Washington  township,  and  a  block 
in  St.  Joseph,  and  was  w^ell  known  here.  He 
moved  to  Bond  County.  Illinois,  where  he  died. 
He  spoke  five  dififerent  languages  and  served  as 
interpreter  for   President   Lincoln.     He  and  his 


wife  had  five  children :  Kate ;  Samuel,  of  Bond 
County,  Illinois  ;  Jonas,  of  Carroll  County,  Mis- 
souri ;  So])hia.  deceased ;  and  Lydia.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Fleming  have  five  children  :  Mary  Ann,  wife 
of  John  Hayes,  of  St.  Joseph:  Margaret,  wife  of 
John  Smith,  of  St.  Josejih  :  John,  of  St.  Joseph; 
Jennie  (deceased),  who  was  the  wife  of  George 
Smith  ;  and  Elizabeth.  They  have  adopted  two 
sons. — Henry  and  Ceorgc  Masters, — who  con- 
iluct  the  affairs  of  tbe  farm.  Our  subject  is  a 
Democrat  in  ])olitics,  and  served  as  school  director 
five  years.  Religiously,  he  and  his  wife  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Catholic  Church  at  Saxton. 


♦  * » 


ILLIA.M  F.  MARSH,  one  of  the  well- 
known  farmers  of  Tremont  township, 
Buchanan  County,  located  on  a  fine  . 
farm  of  130  acres  in  section  15.  town- 
ship 56,  range  34,  belongs  to  an  old 
pioneer  family  of  Tremont  township.  He  was 
i:)orn  near  Mount  Airy,  Surry  County.  North 
Carolina,  Sej^tcmber  11,  1836,  and  is  a  son  of 
Henry  H.  and  Elizabeth  (Gordon)  ]\Iarsh. 

The  parents  of  Mr.  Marsh  were  both  natives 
of  Surry  County,  where  they  married  and  lived 
until  1854.  when  they  removed  to  Buchanan 
County,  Missouri.  Mr,.  Marsh  died  in  the  fol- 
lowing year,  leaving  his  widow  with  seven  chil- 
dren, namely :  John  P.,  deceased  :  Squire  \'..  de- 
ceased in  Alabama  :  William  F..  of  this  sketch ; 
Mary  A.,  wife  of  James  Poe,  of  St.  Joseph ; 
Samuel  N..  a  farmer  of  Platte  County.  Missouri ; 
(jranville  H.,  deceased  ;  and  Sarah  H..  wife  of 
William  Wyatt,  of  St.  Joseph. 

The  educational  opportunities  which  are 
almost  forced  upon  the  children  of  the  present 
day  were  not  aft'orded  our  subject  in  his  youth. 
The  death  of  his  father,  soon  after  the  removal  of 
the  family  to  its  pioneer  home,  threw  much  of  the 
responsibility  for  the  family's  welfare  upon  his 
young  shoulders  and  he  made  it  his  business  to 
care  for  his  mother  until  her  death  in  1879  and 
to  assist  the  younger  members  of  the  family. 

On  June  14.  1864,  Mr.  Marsh  was  married  to 
Mary  M.  Dowell.  who  was  born  in  Breckenridge 
County,  Kentucky,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Lorenzo 
D.  and  Minerva  Jane  (.Atkinson)  Dowell.  both 
natives  of  Breckenridge  County.  Mr.  Dowell 
came  to  Buchanan  County  in  the  fall  of  1854  and 
settled  on  the  farm  now  occupied  by  our  subject. 
At  that  time  it  was  wild  prairie  and  timber  and 
he  was  one  of  the  first  settlers  in  this  section,. 


WILLIAM    GERNANDT 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CmZENS. 


587 


Game  was  yet  so  abxindant  that  deer  and  wild 
turkeys  could  be  shot  from  the  doorstep.  He 
lived  to  clear  up  a  fine  farm,  which  he  put  in 
good  condition  and  made  many  improvements. 
His  death  took  place  here  March  11,  1873,  but 
his  widow,  who  was  born  December  16,  1824, 
still  survives.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dowell  had  six 
children :  Nancy  E.  wife  of  \\\  H.  Norton,  of 
Talmage,  Nebraska  :  James  T.,  deceased ;  Mary 
M.v  wife  of  Mr.  Marsh ;  Georgia  C..  wife  of 
Thomas  Jackson  of  Nebraska  City,  Nebraska ; 
Grififin  P.  of  .St.  Joseph,  Missouri ;  and  John  A., 
a  commercial  traveler. 

After  marriage,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Marsh  lived 
in  Tremont  township  until  1870,  when  they  re- 
moved to  St.  Joseph,  where  Mr.  Marsh  was  en- 
gaged for  five  years  in  railroad  work,  and  then 
returned  to  the  farm.  Mrs.  Marsh  and  her 
mother  are  both  active  members  of  the  Christian 
Church. 

At  the  hospitable  Marsh  homestead,  the  genial 
host  has  many  interesting  stories  to  tell  of  con- 
ditions existing  in  the  county's  pioneer  days.  He 
has  known  almost  all  of  the  families  who  have 
become  identified  with  affairs  in  Buchanan 
County  since  1854.  z-\lthough  he  has  always 
voted  the  Democratic  ticket,  he  has  never  cared 
for  political  ofiice,  his  interests  always  being  cen- 
tered in  farming.  The  family  is  well  known  and 
highly  respected  in  Tremont  township. 


■♦*» 


Ml 


ILLIAM  GERNANDT,  one  of  the 
respected  and  esteemed  citizens  of  St. 
Joseph,  who  has  lived  retired  from 
business  activity  since  1886,  was 
born  in  Guntersblum,  Hessen-Darm- 
stadt,  Germany,  June  18,  1833.  and  is  a  son  of 
Jacob  Gernandt.  The  story  of  his  successful 
business  career  is  of  interest,  as  it  portrays  the 
rise  to  wealth  of  one  who  was  not  blessed  with  the 
advantages  of  education  or  of  means,  when  he 
started  out  in  the  world  for  himself.  He  is  a 
self-made  man  in  every  respect. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  were  both  born 
in  Hessen-Darmstadt,  the  mother  being  a  mem- 
ber of  a  family  named  Loos.  She  died  in  1834 
and  the  father  died  in  1839,  leaving  a  family  ot 
four  sons :  Fred,  deceased,  who  was  a  resident  of 
Rochester,  New  York;  Jacob,  of  Auburn,  New 
York ;  George,  deceased,  who  lived  in  Jorda'n, 
New  York  ;  and  ^^'illiam. 

William  Gernandt  lost  his  mother  when  one 


vcar  old  and  his  father  when  six  years  of  age, 
and  was  reared  during  his  orphaned  childhood 
on  the  farm  of  Adam  Loos,  where  he  made  him- 
self useful  and  attended  school  until  the  age 
of  14  years.  He  was  then  apprenticed  to  the 
barber's  trade  and  remained  with  his  employer 
four  years.  He  had  carefully  saved  his  money 
in  order  to  join  in  America  his  brother  Jacob, 
who  had  established  himself  at  Auburn,  New 
York,  in  the  barber  business.  The  voyage  was 
made  in  a  sailing  vessel  from  Liverpool,  England  ; 
on  arriving  at  New  York,  he  found  a  welcome 
from  his  brother  awaiting  him.  He  remained  in 
j  the  latter 's  employ  for  10  months  and  by  that 
time  had  become  enough  accustomed  to  the  ways 
of  the  new  cr>untr\-  to  set  up  a  shop  of  his  own 
at  Binghamton,  New  York,  from  which  city 
he  removed  some  years  later  to  Syracuse.  Next 
removing  to  Indianapolis,  Indiana,  he  there  car- 
ried on  his  business  until  1858,  when,  in  March 
of  that  year,  he  came  to  St.  Joseph,  Missouri. 
He  bought  .out  an  establishment  on  Market 
square,  owned  by  Philip  Arnholt,  but  later  sold 
it  back  to  the  former  proprietor ;  however,  in 
1862,  he  repurchased  the  business  and  carried  it 
on  at  this  place  until  1869. 

The  outbreak  of  the  Civil  War  caused  a  dis- 
turbance in  business  all  over  the  country.  At 
one  period  Mr.  Gernandt  served  as  a  soldier,  in 
Company  D,  25th  Reg.,  Missouri  Vol.  Inf.  In 
the  fall  of  1 86 1  he  revisited  his  native  land  and 
while  there,  on  June  11,  1862,  he  married  Char- 
lotte Loos,  who  was  also  a  native  of  Gunters- 
blum, and  a  daughter  of  Adam  Loos,  whose 
adopted  son  he  was.  Mr.  Gernandt  brought  his 
bride  to  America  in  the  same  year  on  the  great 
iron  steamship,  the  "Great  Eastern,"  which  was 
at  that  time  the  largest  vessel  of  its  kind  afloat. 
He  returned  to  St.  Jose]:>h,  resumed  his  former 
business  and  also  engaged  in  operating  a  tannery, 
in  partnership  with  W.  R.  Knight,  and  about  the 
time  he  closed  this  plant,  in  1872,  he  became  in- 
terested in  a  mercantile  business  in  the  line  of 
leather  and  shoe  findings,  which  he  established  on 
North  Second  street.  This  business  Mr.  Ger- 
nandt developed  into  a  very  large  enterprise,  on 
both  wdiolesale  and  retail  lines,  and  many  repre- 
sentatives were  employed  to  cover  many  of  the 
adjacent  States.  In  1886  he  disposed  of  his  in- 
terests in  this  business  and  has  only  been  passively 
interested  in  other  concerns  since. 

Mr.  Gernandt  owns  considerable  valuable 
property  in  and  bordering  the  city  and  also  owns 
stock  in  a  large  jewelry  house  at  Pomona,  Cali- 


588 


HISTORY  OF    BUCHANAN   COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


fornia.  ]\Ir.  and  Mrs.  Gernandt  make  it  their 
pleasant  custom  to  spend  a  part  of  each  year  in 
CaHfornia,  where  they  have  many  pleasant  social 
ties.  They  have  a  handsome  residence  at  No. 
309  North  17th  street,  which  has  been  the  fam- 
ily home  for  35  years.  Their  two  sons, — Will- 
iam F.  and  George  O., — are  both  representative 
business  men,  the  former  being  connected  with 
the  German-x\merican  Bank,  and  the  latter  with 
the  Wyeth  Hardware  &  Manufacturing  Com- 
pany, of  St.  Joseph.  The  family  are  consistent 
members  of  the  German  EvangeUcal  Church. 
Politically,  Mr.  Gernandt  is  identified  with  the 
Republican  party,  and  socially,  is  a  member  of 
the  German  Turn-Verein.  His  portrait  accom- 
panies this  sketch,  being  shown  on  a  preceding 

page. 

♦ »  » 


ON.  HARRY  KEENE,  deceased,  form- 
erly county  judge  of  Buchanan  County, 
was  also  a  prominent  business  citizen 
of  St.  Joseph  and  one  of  her  valued 
residents.  Judge  Keene  was  born  in 
Bristol,  England.  September  18,  1847.  and  was  a 
son  of  Joseph  and  EHzabeth  (Churchhouse) 
Keene. 

The  ancestors  of  the  late  Judge  Keene,  on 
both  paternal  and  maternal  sides,  had  long  been 
residents  of  England,  the  first  of  the  family  to 
come  to  America  being  Joseph  Keene,  his  father. 
In  1850,  accompanying  a  brother,  Joseph  Keene, 
he  crossed  the  ocean  and  located  near  Dubuque, 
Iowa,  where  he  began  to  farm,  anxious. to  found 
a  home  to  which  he  could  bring  his  family  from 
their  native  land.  He  worked  hard,  taking  pride 
in  what  he  accomplished,  and,  apparently  with 
high  hopes  and  eager  expectations,  started  on  his 
return  journey  in  1855.  From  that  time  his  fate 
is  shrouded  in  darkness.  The  mother  subse- 
quently came  to  America  and  died  at  Park  Ridge, 
Cook  County,  Illinois,  in  1877. 

The  late  Judge  Keene  was  one  of  13  children 
and  grew  u])  on  a  farm  near  Bristol,  attending 
school  until  the  age  of  10  years,  when  he  was  a])- 
prenticed  to  the  drug  business.  After  three  years 
he  left  this  business  and  entered  the  employ  of  a 
butcher,  later  becoming  fireman  on  the  Bristol  & 
Exeter  Railroad.  In  these  changes  we  can  see 
the  strivings  of  a  youth  dependent  upon  his  own 
resources,  with  no  strong  backing  behind  him. 
After  three  years  of  railroad  work  he  turned 
his  eyes  to  America,  and  as  soon  as  he  could 
accumulate  enough  capital  he  sailed  from  Liver- 


pool and  landed  safely  in  the  port  of  New  York. 
He  then  proceeded  directly  to  Cook  County,  Illi- 
nois, and  was  employed  as  a  farm  hand.  Later 
he  came  still  farther  West  and  when  he  arrived 
at  St.  Joseph,  his  future  home,  he  accepted  rail- 
road work  again,  becoming  fireman  on  the  old 
Platte  Country  Railroad,  which  later  became  the 
Missouri  Valley  and  subsequently  the  Kansas 
City  line. 

In  1870  he  became  an  engineer  and  continued 
for  seven  years  in  service  between  Kansas  City 
and  Omaha,  and  during  all  these  years  never  met 
with  a  serious  accident.  In  1877  he  retired  from 
railroad  work  and  conducted  a  restaurant  on  Ed- 
mond  street  until  1880,  when  he  sold  out  and 
turned  his  attention  to  manufacturing  soda  and 
mineral  waters,  taking  Joseph  Hayward  as  part- 
ner. The  firm  style  was  Keene  &  Hayward  which 
continued  uuntil  1890,  when  the  business  was  dis- 
posed of.  Judge  Keene  then  entered  into  the  real 
estate  business  and  met  with  success  in  this  new 
venture.  In  1890  he  became  interested  in  the 
Uvalde  Irrigation,  Manufacturing  &  Water  Com- 
pany, of  L^valde  County,  Texas,  and  was  made 
secretary  of  the  company. 

The  death  of  Judge  Keene  occurred  on  June 
2,  1900.  while  but  in  middle  life  and  in  the  en- 
joyment of  vigorous  mental  powers  which  had 
made  him  a  factor  in  business,  political  and  social 
life.  In  each  circle  he  had  made  an  indelible  im- 
pression, and  was  probably  one  of  the  most 
popular  men  St.  Joseph  ever  had  as  a  citizen.  In 
In  1888  he  was  nominated  on  the  Republican 
ticket  and  elected  county  judge  by  a  large  ma- 
jority. During  the  continuance  of  his  term,  from 
January,  1889,  to  December  31,  1891,  he,  was  an 
indefatigable  worker  for  the  county's  interests 
and  had  the  satisfaction  of  furthering  many  im- 
provements. Under  his  direction  many  improve- 
ments were  made  at  the  County  Poor  Farm, 
county  roads  were  built  and  strengthened  and 
many  reforms  were  advocated  as  they  came 
within  his  jurisdiction.  Thoroughly  learned  in 
the  law,  he  never  applied  for  admission  to  the 
bar  until  just  prior  to  his  death,  having  completed 
the  course  in  Sprague's  Correspondence  School. 

Widely  known  throughout  Buchanan  County, 
he  was  probably  best  known  in  other  sections  on 
account  of  his  numerous  fraternal  connections. 
He  was  a  Mason  of  high  degree  and  held  many 
official  positions.  He  was  deputy  grand  master 
of  the  State  of  Missouri ;  was  a  member  of  St. 
Joseph  Lodge.  No.  78.  A.  F.  &  A.  M. ;  St.  Jo- 
seph Chapter,  No.  14.  R.  A.  ^1. ;  thrice  illustrious 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


589 


master  of  the  Royal  and  Select  JXIasons,  St.  Jo- 
seph Council,  No.  9 ;  a  member  of  St.  Joseph 
Commanclery,  No.  4,  K.  T. ;  a  member  of  Moila 
Temple,  Nobles  of  the  Mystic  Shrine ;  also  a 
Knight  of  Pythias  and  a  charter  member  of  the 
Ancient  Order  of  United  Workman.  He  took 
pride  in  his  INIasonic  connections  and  was  hon- 
ored, trusted  and  beloved  by  his  brothers  of  the 
fraternity.  In  1880  he  became  a  representative 
of  the  subordinate  lodge  and  soon  passed  through 
the  different  offices  of  the  Grand  Lodge,  being 
appointed  in  November,  1892,  deputy  grand  mas- 
ter of  the  Grand  Lodge  of  Missouri.  In  1886  he 
was  made  district  lecturer  of  the  12th  District  of 
^lissouri,  which  included  Buchanan,  Andrew  and 
DeKalb  counties.  From  1887  to  1892  he  held  this 
commission  and  in  1888  was  representative  from 
Missouri  at  the  meeting  of  the  Grand  Lodge  of 
Colorado,  being  appointed  by  Grand  Master  Will- 
iam D.  Todd. 

Judge  Keene  is  survived  by  a  widow.  On 
September  6,  1866,  in  England,  he  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Elizabeth  Dunstan,  who  was  born 
in  that  country  in  1847,  t^''^  same  year  of  her  hus- 
band's birth.  A  happy  and  congenial  compan- 
ionship of  more  than  30  years  was  severed  by 
his  death  and  there  only  remains  the  memory  of 
one  who  proved  himself  worthy  in  every  relation 
of  life.  His  fellow  citizens  and  associates  in  his 
many  business  inidertakings  mourned  the  loss  of 
one  so  well  qualified  for  public  life  and  its  many 
responsibilities,  but  she  mourns  the  loss  of  one 
whose  goodness  of  heart  and  tender  sympathy 
smoothed  her  pathway  for  so  long  a  period. 


■♦ » » 


EORGE  WASHINGTON  PAGE,  one 
of  the  well-known  citizens  and  success- 
ful farmers  of  Rush  township,  Bu- 
chanan County,  who  resides  on  his  well- 
cultivated  farm  of  150  acres,  situated  in 
section  23,  belongs  to  one  of  the  oldest  and  most 
honorable  pioneer  families  of  Northwestern  Mis- 
souri. He  is  a  native  of  this  State,  born  in  Platte 
County,  August  18,  1854,  and  is  a  son  of  Jesse 
and  Emily  (Plummer)  Page. 

William  Page,  the  paternal  grandfather,  was 
born  in  Virginia,  but  removed  to  Kentucky, 
where  he  almost  reached  the  age  of  100  years. 
Jesse  Page,  his  oldest  son.  was  born  in  Ken- 
tucky, and  came  to  Missouri  in  1845,  settling 
down  in  the  dense  wilderness  of  Platte  County, 
building  his  home  of  logs  in  close  proximity  to 


:  tlie  wigwams  of  the  Indians  and  tlie  retreats  of 
the  wild  creatures  of  the  forest.  Coming  of  a 
strong  and  robust  ancestry,  he  was  able  to  put 
forth  almost  superhuman  efforts  in  the  clearing 
and  cultivation  of  his  land  and  made  the  pioneer 
farm  into  one  of  fertility  and  productiveness.  At 
a  later  time,  he  sold  this  property  to  one  who  was 
spared  the  toil  and  hardship  endured  by  its  first 
owner.  Mr.  Page  bought  a  second  farm  on 
which  the  remainder  of  his  life  was  passed. 
Through  his  farming  and  stock-raising  enter- 
prises, he  had  accumulated  a  large  capital,  and, 
at  death,  was  considered  one  of  the  substantial 
men  of  his  section,  as  he  also  was  one  of  the  most 
highly  respected. 

The  mother  of  our  subject,  formerly  Emily 
Plummer,  \\as  born  in  Kentucky  84  years  ago. 
She  still  survives,  reverenced  and  beloved  by  her 
family  and  tenderly  regarded  by  many  to  whom 
she  kindly  ministered  during  the  days  of  pio- 
neering in  the  early  times  in  Platte  County.  Her 
cheerful  sympathy  and  assistance  iii  times  of 
trouble  and  sickness  made  her  beloved  in  her 
neighborhood  and  it  is  hoped  that  many  more 
peaceful  years  may  be  enjoyed  by  her.  The 
children  of  Jesse  and  Emily  (Plummer)  Page 
were:  Frank,  of  Platte  Countv.  Missouri;  John 
W.,  of  DeKalb:  Elizabeth  (Mrs.  Osborne),  of 
Buchanan  County  ;  William,  deceased ;  Amanda 
(Mrs.  Rees),  deceased;  Louisa  (Mrs.  Lawson), 
of  Platte  County ;  George  W' .,  of  this  sketch ; 
Melissa  (Mrs.  Holland),  of  Kansas;  James,  of 
Oakland,  California;  Alice  (Mrs.  Hargrove); 
Charles,  of  Buchanan  County ;  and  Amy,  wife  of 
Luther  Brown,  of  Platte  County. 

Our  subject  obtained  the  best  education  af- 
forded at  that  time  in  the  schools  of  Platte 
County,  which  he  attended  during  the  winter  ses- 
sions until  the  age  of  20  years.  He  then  began 
farming  for  himself  in  Buchanan  County,  to 
which  he  had  moved  in  1875,  and  resided  in 
Bloomington  township  for  24  years.  Mr.  Page 
returned  to  Platte  County  for  two  years,  but 
came  back  to  Buchanan  County  and  settled  on  his 
present  fine  farm  in  Rush  township,  which  he  has 
operated  ever  since,  extensively  engaged  in  gen- 
eral farming  and  stock-raising.  He  has  given  n 
great  deal  of  attention  to  the  raising  and  breed- 
ing of  fine  stock  and  has  done  much  in  this  sec- 
tion "to  improve  the  quality  of  the  stock.  He  is 
justly  regarded  one  of  the  leading  farmers  of 
Rush  township. 

On  January  7.  1875,  Mr.  Page  was  married 
to   Alice   Gore,  -who  is   a   daughter   of  the   late 


590 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN    COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEL'H 


Henry  Gore,  a  farmer  of  Rush  township.  They 
have  had  a  family  of  five  children,  namely :  OUie 
May,  who  married  Thomas  R.  Cook,  of  I3eKalb, 
and  has  two  children, — Bryant  and  Earl ;  Will- 
iam Henry,  who  married  Geneva  Allison,  daugh- 
ter of  William  Allison,  and  has  one  daughter, — 
Ruth  Ann ;  Jesse  J.,  a  farmer  of  Rush  township, 
who  married  Nellie  Yocum.  daughter  of  John 
Yocum,  and  has  one  daughter, — Ruby  A. ;  Cleve- 
land, who  married  Edith  Gardner,  daughter  of 
Frank  Gardner ;  and  George,  who  lives  at  home. 
Although  Mr.  Page  has  never  consented  to 
accept  public  office,  he  has  always  done  his  full 
duty  as  a  public-spirited  citizen,  has  taken  a 
deep  interest  in  township  improvements  and  has 
supported  educatioual  measures.  Politically,  he 
is  a  Democrat.  His  membership  in  the  Central 
Protective  Association  was  the  result  of  one-time 
local  conditions,  which  made  such  organization 
necessary.  With  his  family,  he  belongs  to  the 
Christian  Church,  to  which  he  has  always  given 
a  liberal  support. 


♦  * » 


/VRTIN  HERSCH  is  possibly  the  old- 
est of  the  pioneers  of  Buchanan 
County  now  living.  He  came  to  this 
county  in  1839  and  the  following 
year  entered  a  claim  in  section  36, 
Center  township,  on  which  he  has  resided  ever 
since.  He  was  born  in  Rofo  township,  Lancaster 
County,  Pennsylvania,  February  26,  1817,  and  is 
a  son  of  Martin  and  Katherine  (Shade)  Hersch, 
being  of  German  parentage. 

It  is  not  known  definitely  whether  Martin 
Hersch,  Sr.,  was  born  in  Germany  or  in  Lan- 
caster County,  Pennsylvania,  but  he  spent  the 
greater  part  of  his  life  in  that  county  and  died 
there  about  1831.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Lu- 
theran Church.  ]\Iartin  Hersch's  marriage  to 
Katherine  Shade,  who  was  born  in  Germany,  was 
blessed,  with  the  following  issue :  Henry,  who  died 
in  Pennsylvania ;  Martin ;  John,  who  died  in 
Pennsylvania ;  Katherine,  deceased ;  and  Fannie 
(Musser),  deceased.  Mrs.  Hersch  formed  a 
second  marital  union  with  Jacob  Kessler,  by 
whom  she  had  a  son  and  two  daughters. 

At  the  age  of  16  years,  our  subject  began  to 
learn  the  trade  of  a  cooper,  and  served  an  ap- 
prenticeship of  two  years.  He  then  worked  at 
the  trade  of  a  painter  two  years.  At  the  age  of 
22  years,  he  left  the  old  homestead  and  went  to 
Dayton,  Ohio,  where  he  engaged  in  coopering  for 


a  year.  He  then  went  to  Terre  Haute,  Indiana, 
and  other  points  along  the  Wabash  River,  where 
he  followed  his  trade  and  was  employed  in  the 
steamboat  service  until  1839.  He  then  came 
West,  on  a  steamboat  to  Liberty,  Missouri,  thence 
to  Buchanan  County  by  team,  and  here  he  has  re- 
sided ever  since.  In  the  early  days  he  made  bar- 
rels for  Joseph  Robidoux,  the  founder  of  the  city 
of  St.  Joseph.  He  followed  farming  with  a  great 
deal  of  success  and  at  the  same  time  plied  his 
trade  as  a  cooper.  He  has  a  farm  of  244  acres  in 
section  36,  Center  township,  and  on  this  property 
first  lived  in  a  cabin,  14  by  14  feet,  the  first  four 
or  five  years  without  a  floor  to  it.  In  i860,  he 
built  a  commodious  home  for  those  days,  and  has 
since  added  to  and  modernized  it.  He  has  a 
model  farm,  with  good  substantial  barns  and  out- 
buildings, and  has  a  fine  orchard  of  nine  acres. 
During  the  Civil  War  he  served  in  the  Missouri 
State  Militia  under  Captain  Hunter,  and  assisted 
in  the  capture  of  a  great  many  Rebels.  He  also 
participated  in  the  battle  at  Lexington,  known  as 
the  Lone  Jack  fight.  He  had  horses  and  consid- 
erable other  property  stolen  from  him  during  the 
war.  He  was  originally  a  Whig  in  politics,  and 
later  a  Republican.  For  one  of  his  years  he  is 
wonderfully  preserved.  He  enjoys  the  full  use  of 
his  mental  faculties,  and  is  possessed  of  a  won- 
derful power  of  sight,  being  able  to  read  readily 
without  the  aid  of  glasses. 

In  1845,  ^^i"-  Hersch  was  joined  in  marriage 
with  Mary  Jane  Raney,  who  was  born  in  Ten- 
nessee, December  17,  1827,  and  was  a  daughter  of 
George  and  Margaret  (Osborne)  Raney.  She 
died  March  31,  1893,  leaving  three  children: 
Henry  and  George  (twins),  born  February  i, 
1847;  ^"^1  Katherine  (Bell).  George  Hersch 
manages  his  father's  farm.  He  was  married  Sep- 
tember 12,  1869,  to  Minnie  McWilliams,  who 
was  born  in  Carroll  County,  July  5,  185 1.  and  is  a 
daughter  of  David  and  Elizabeth  A Ic Williams. 
They  have  seven  children :  William  M.,  of  South 
Dakota ;  Leonard  R.,  of  Nebraska ;  Mary,  de- 
ceased;  Margaret  (Oxford),  of  Nebraska;  Frank 
B.,  of  Nebraska ;  Lydia,  who  lives  with  our  sub- 
ject; and  Ival,  of  Nebraska.  Henry  Hersch.  the 
twin  of  George,  lives  in  this  county  and  has  two 
children:  James  and  Sarah  ^1.  Katherine  (Bell) 
is  a  widow  and  has  three  children :  Oscar  E., 
James  H.  and  Martin  A. 

Martin  Hersch  also  reared  two  girls,  Isabclle 
and  Arabelle  Atchison  (twins),  who  were  orphan 
cousins  of  j\Trs.  Hersch.  Arabelle  is  now  Mrs. 
Anderson  and  resides  in  Kansas  Citv,  and  Tsa- 


HON.   JOHN    T.    CHESNUT 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


593 


belle    is    ]Mrs.    Paton,    a    resident    of    Colorado 
Springs. 

Air.  Hersch  has  always  kept  open  door  for  all 
his  friends,  who  delight  in  accepting  of  his  hos- 
pitality. He  has  three  carp  ponds  upon  his  estate, 
fed  by  springs,  and  his  neighbors  and  friends  are 
wont  to  spend  many  pleasant  hours  fishing  here. 
He  is  representative  of  the  highest  type  of  citi- 
zenship, is  deeply  interested  in  the  afifairs  of  im- 
portance to  his  communit}-  and  country,  and  has 
ever  evinced  a  public  spirit. 


♦ » » 


(JN.  JOHN  T.  CHESNUT.  judge  of 
the  Count}-  Court  of  Buchanan  County, 
whose  portrait  accompanies  this  sketch, 
is  a  pioneer  citizen  of  this  community, 
where  he  has  lived  since  1842.  He  is 
one  of  13  children  born  to  Andrew  C.  and  Evaline 
(Jones)  Chesnut.  The  father  was  born  and 
reared  in  the  State  of  Kentucky  where  he  fol- 
lowed the  life  of  a  planter  until  1842,  in  which 
}ear  he  came  West  to  Buchanan  County,  Mis- 
souri. Here  he  followed  farming  in  the  south- 
ern part  of  the  county  until  his  death.  He  was 
an  honored  citizen,  and  had  the  respect  of  his 
fellow   citizens   to  a   marked   degree. 

John  T.  Chesnut  was  born  in  Laurel  County, 
Kentucky,  August  12,  1839,  and  was  three  years 
of  age  when  his  parents  removed  to  Buchanan 
County,  Missouri.  He  was  reared  on  his  father's 
farm  and  received  his  educational  training  in  the 
]jrivate  schools.  He  then  took  up  mercantile  and 
agricultural  pursuits,  which  he  successfully  fol- 
lowed until  1894.  In  that  year  he  was  elected 
to  the  office  of  circuit  clerk  on  the  Democratic 
ticket;  he  was  re-elected  in  1898  and  filled  that 
office  until  1902.  On  Alay  25,  1904.  he  was  ap- 
pointed by  the  Governor  of  ^Missouri  to  fill  the 
tmexpired  term  of  the  late  Judge  Stanton  as  judge 
of  the  County  Court  of  Buchanan  County.  He 
has  since  filled  the  office  with  credit  and  was  the 
choice  of  his  party  for  the  nomination  to  succeed 
himself.  He  is  a  man  of  great  ability  and  stands 
well  in  public  opinion. 

Judge  Chesnut  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Edna  Nidy,  a  daughter  of  John  Nidy.  who  was  a 
very  prosperous  farmer  of  Buchanan  County. 
Airs.  Chesnut  was  called  to  her  final  rest  on  Feb- 
ruary 13,  T904,  leaving  her  husband  and  one 
daughter,  Airs.  Carrie  T.  Staener.  to  mourn  her 
lass.  The  family  home  is  at  No.  312  South  xyih 
street,  St.  Joseph.    Politically.  Judge  Chesnut  has 


always  been  unswerving  in  his  allegiance  to  the 
Democratic  party.  He  is  a  prominent  member  of 
the  Alasonic  order. 


^ » » 


ILLIAAI  D.  PYNE.  one  of  the  prom- 
inent citizens  of  Agency  township, 
Buchanan  County,  and  a  leading  agri- 
culturist, resides  in  section  7,  on  his 
fine  farm  of  180  acres,  located  in  sec- 
tions 6  and  7.  Air.  Pyne  was  born  in  Augusta 
Countv,  Mrginia,  September  5,  1855,  and  is  a  son 
of  Alarshall  B.  and  Alargaret  S.  (Douglas)  Pyne. 
The  Pvne  family  is  of  Scotch-Irish  descent. 
Its  early  members  settled  in  Pennsylvania  and 
there  the  grandfather  of  our  subject  was  born. 
He  went  from  Luzerne  County,  Pennsylvania,  to 
\'irginia  and  settled  in  Clarke  County,  where 
!  Alarshall  B.  Pyne  was  born,  in  1825.  In  his 
early  life  he  taught  school  in  his  native  locality 
and'then  went  to  Philadelphia  as  bookkeeper  for 
Oliver  Alartin  &  Company,  wholesale  merchants, 
and  on  his  return  resumed  teaching.  Three  years 
■  after  his  marriage,  he  came  to  Buchanan  County, 
Alissouri.  bought  a  farm  of  160  acres,  to  which  he 
later  added  20  acres,  and  lived  on  this  farm  all 
his  remaining  years,  dying  June  21,  1897.  He 
set  out  the  four-acre  orchard  and  he  built  the 
present  comfortable  residence  of  our  subject.  He 
was  a  well-informed  man,  and  in  some  ways  was 
ahead  of  his  time.  With  the  liberality  of  thought 
of  the  present  day.  he  probably  could  have  ad- 
justed himself  both  politically  and  religiously.  A 
Whig,  then  a  Know  Nothing,  he  later  became 
identified  with  the  Democratic  party.  Reared  in 
the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church,  he  did  not  sub- 
scribe to  its  ritual  entirely,  in  later  life  leaning 
more  in  the  direction  of  the  Presbyterian  faith, 
which  church  he  attended.  He  married  Alargaret 
S.  Douglas,  who  was  born  in  Rockbridge  County, 
Virginia,  Alarch  27.  1827,  and  she  still  survives, 
one  of  the  most  active  members  of  our  subject's 
family.  Her  children  are:  William  D.,  Alary  AT., 
Katherine  and  Jeb,  all  living  on  the  old  home- 
stead. The  maternal  descent  is  German,  and  the 
maternal  grandparents  were  William  and  Eliza 
Douglas,  of  Pennsylvania. 

William  D.  -Pyne  has  been  a  resident  on  the 
home  farm  since  1856.  It  is  one  of  the  highly 
improved  farms  of  the  county.  In  addition  to  his 
farm,  Air.  Pyne  has  other  interests,  being  secre- 
tary of  the  board  of  directors  of  the  Farmers' 
Bank  at  Agency. 


594 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


Politically,  he  is  a  Democrat.  He  has  long 
been  one  of  the  leading  members  of  the  Presby- 
terian Church,  one  of  its  deacons,  and  is  a  man 
who  lives  an  honest,  upright,  exemplary  life. 
He  has  never  married.  The  old  homestead  is 
now,  as  in  former  days,  a  center  of  hospitality. 


-♦-♦-♦- 


T.  JOSEPH  COMMERCIAL  COL- 
LEGE (CHRISTIAN  BROTHERS). 
How  many  memories  the  name  of  this 
famous  educational  institution  brings  to 
the  minds  of  many  of  the  leading  busi- 
ness men,  not  only  of  St.  Joseph,  where  it  was 
established  in  1865,  but  to  successful  and  repre- 
sentative men  all  over  the  State.  Under  the 
teaching  and  supervision  of  the  Christian  Broth- 
ers, youthful  minds  are  directed  into  proper  chan- 
nels, morals  are  protected  and  virtues  nourished, 
and,  from  the  bottom  of  the  ladder,  students  are 
trained,  step  by  step,  until  they  are  qualified  for 
almost  any  position  in  commercial,  public  or  social 
life. 

The  headquarters  of  this  representative  body 
of  the  Catholic  Church  is  at  Paris,  France,  but 
many    branches    have    been    established    in    tlie 
United   States.     The  beginning  of  the  work  at 
St.  Joseph,  was  in  a  building  wh.ich  had  been 
erected  by  the  noted  pioneer  priest.  Father  James 
Power,  a  good  and  holy  man,  and  its  first  director 
was  Brother  Noah.     This  building  had  been  used 
as  barracks  by  the  soldiers  during  the  Civil  War, 
and  one  of  the  first  fruits  of  peace  was  the  open- 
ing of  the   structure   as  an   educational   institu- 
tion.    In  1886  the  present  imposing  building  was 
erected  at  great  cost,  and  was  thoroughly  equipped 
with  every  modern  improvement  contributive  to 
the  mental  and  physical  development  of  the  stu- 
dents.    These  come  from  all  over  the  country, 
accommodations  being  provided  for  a  large  num- 
ber, the  present  roll  including  some  300  students. 
The  college  curriculum  is  kept  up  to  a  very  high 
standard,   compa""ing   favorably   with   other   col- 
leges throughout  the  country.     The  present  of- 
ficers of  the  college  are:  Rev.  Brother  Liguori, 
president ;     Brother     Novatian,     vice-president ; 
Brother    Flavian,    secretary ;    and    Brother    Ger- 
ardus,  treasurer. 

The  Christian  Brothers  are,  to  the  students, 
just  what  the  name  imi)lies.  All  are  highly  edu- 
cated men,  thoroughly  fitted  through  natural  gifts 
and  scholarly  training,  to  direct  the  educational 
aspirations  of  any  youth,  and  they  arc  much  more, 


for  they  have  been  selected  by  the  highest  church 
authority,  for  their  special  virtues  of  patience, 
gentle  sympathy,  firmness  and  spirit  of  Christian 
brotherhood.  If  a  student  should  gain  absolutely 
no  mental  training  here,  which  would  be  im- 
possible, the  daily  association  with  this  band  of 
educated,  refined  and  earnest  men,  who  ha\e 
dedicated  their  whole  lives  to  this  work,  would  be 
an  advantage  beyond  price.  While  the  Catholic 
faith  is  the  one  recognized  in  the  institution,  stu- 
dents of  other  denominations  are  welcomed,  no 
interference  being  made  with  their  religious 
beliefs. 

St.  Joseph  is  justly  proud  of  her  prominence 
in  many  directions ;  her  great  business  centers, 
her  public  improvements,  her  substantial  citizens 
and  her  refined  and  intellectual  social  life,  but,, 
probably,  most  of  her  educational  institutions, 
and  not  the  least  of  these  is  the  St.  Joseph  Com- 
mercial College,  under  the  management  of  the 
Christian  Brothers. 


INFIELD  SCOTT  MORRISON, 
M.  D.,  a  prominent  member  of  the 
medical  fraternity  in  Buchanan 
County,  a  member  of  the  Buchanan 
County  Medical  Society,  member  of 
the  American  Medical  Association  and  examiner 
for  various  life  .  insurance  companies,  and  an 
eminently  successful  practitioner  at  Rushville, 
was  born  in  Fleming  County,  Kentucky,  April 
28,  1852,  and  is  a  son  of  David  S.  and  Eliza 
(Heyter)  Morrison. 

The  Morrison  family  is  of  Scotch,  Irish  and 
German  ancestry.  F"rederick  Morrison,  the  pa- 
ternal grandfather  of  Dr.  Morrison,  was  born  in 
Limerick,  Ireland,  came  to  America  in  early  man- 
hood and  located  in  Virginia.  After  coming  to 
this  country,  he  married  Elizabeth  Smith,  who 
was  born  November  25,  1774,  in  Germany.  She 
was  a  woman  of  great  piety  and  subject  well  re- 
members seeing  her  read  her  old  Dutch  Bible. 
Their  children  were :  William  D. ;  David  S. ; 
Squire;  Nancy  (Mrs.  Helphestine)  :  Eliza 
(Pope)  ;  Mary,  wife  of  John  Nealis ;  and  Martha, 
wife  of  Charles  Nealis.  Frederick  ]\Iorrison  and 
wife  both  died  in  Virginia. 

David  S.  ]\Torrison,  father  of  Dr.  Morrison, 
was  born  February  5,  1802,  in  Virginia,  where  he 
taught  school  for  several  years  after  completing 
his  education.  In  1834  he  removed  to  Fleming 
County,  Kentucky,  where  he  engaged  in  farm- 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


595 


ing,  an  occupation  he  followed  during  the  whole 
of  his  active  life.  His  death  occurred  February 
8,  1875. 

In  1833,  David  S.  Morrison  married  Eliza 
Heyter,  who  was  born  in  Virginia,  June  14,  1816, 
and  was  a  daughter  of  Esau  and  Elizabeth  (Elli- 
son) Heyter.  Esau  Heyter  was  a  prominent 
planter,  the  owner  of  many  slaves,  and  operated 
a  mill  at  what  was  known  as  Heyter's  Crossing, 
of  the  Holston  River,  in  Washington  County, 
Virginia.  The  children  born  to  David  S.  Mor- 
rison and  wife  were:  William  H.,  born  Septem- 
ber 10,  1836,  a  farmer  of  Fleming  County,  Ken- 
tucky;  Frank  Andrews,  born  September  25, 
1840,  now  deceased,  who  was  a  large  live-stock 
dealer ;  Henry  Clay,  born  June  14,  1843,  who 
served  through  the  Civil  War,  a  member  of  the 
loth  Regiment  Kentucky  Vol.  Cav.,  and  is  now 
a  farmer  in  Fleming  County ;  Elizabeth  Jane, 
born  October  18,  1845,  "^vho  married  Robert 
Story,  a  successful  farmer  of  Fleming  County ; 
Leander  Cox,  born  August  15,  1850,  now  de- 
ceased, who  was  a  Kentucky  farmer ;  Winfield 
Scott,  our  subject;  Mary  Ellison  (Mrs.  Carey), 
born  August  15,  1854,  who  resides  in  Fleming 
County;  Charles  Nealis,  born  August  31,  1856, 
who  died  October  15,  1862,  from  an  attack  of 
diphtheria  ;  IMartha  Bell,  born  April  29,  1858.  who 
married  Richard  Graham,  a  brick  manufacturer 
of  Chandler.  Oklahoma,  and  son  of  Hon.  Robert 
Graham,  of  Fleming  County.  The  mother  of  this 
family  died  in  1881.  Both  David  S.  Morrison 
and  wife  were  consistent  members  of  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church,  in  which  he  filled  the 
office  of  steward  for  many  years.  Politically,  he 
was  identified  with  the  Republican  party. 

Winfield  S.  Morrison  obtained  his  early  edu- 
cation in  the  common  schools  in  his  native  lo- 
cality, completing  the  course  at  the  age  of  16 
years.  His  17th  year  was  spent  at  College  Hill 
Academy,  a  noted  educational  institution,  near 
Richmond,  Kentucky.  For  the  subsequent  five 
years,  he  followed  teaching  as  a  profession,  com- 
manding salaries  ranging  from  $40  to  $150  per 
month,  and  filling  positions  from  that  of  peda- 
gogue of  a  country  school  to  that  of  principal  of 
the  High  School  at  Hillsboro,  Kentuckv.  During 
this  period  he  attended  the  National  Normal 
School  at  Lebanon.  Ohio,  and  was  graduated 
both  from  the  business  and  engineering  depart- 
ments, and  later  completed  the  scientific  course  in 
this  institution.  For  the  next  three  years  he  at- 
tended the  Ohio  Medical  College  at  Cincinnati 
and  was  graduated  with  the  class  of  1880. 


After  this  thorough  preparation,  in  several 
professional  lines,  Dr.  Morrison  gave  himself  a 
year  of  recreation,  spending  a  large  portion  of  it 
Kentucky,  and  then  took  up  the  serious  duties 
for  which  he  was  so  well  equipped  in  every  way. 
He  selected  Rushville,  Buchanan  County,  Mis- 
souri, as  the  field  of  his  life  work  and  has  con- 
tinued in  the  practice  of  medicine  here  ever  since, 
and,  both  as  practitioner  and  consulting  physi- 
cian, is  known  all  over  Buchanan  County. 
Always  abreast  of  the  times  and  keeping  in  close 
touch  with  all  scientific  advance  in  his  profes- 
sion, he  took  a  post-graduate  course  at  the  Post- 
Graduate  Medical  School,  at  Chicago.  He  owns 
one  of  the  most  comprehensive  libraries  in  the 
county,  and  the  range  of  subjects  indicates  the 
varied  interests  and  intellectual  inclinations  of  a 
scholarly  man.  The  collection  of  medical  works 
includes  every  branch  of  the  science  and  through 
their  study  Dr.  Morrison  has  been  materially  as- 
sisted in  solving  perplexing  problems  which  face 
everv  sincere  practitioner. 

The  Doctor  has  always  taken  a  great  interest 
in  promoting  the  educational  facilities  of  Rush- 
ville. The  graded  school  was  established  mainly 
through  his  efi"orts  and  not  only  did  he  give  time 
and  effort,  but  contributed  liberally  of  his  means 
when  the  school  fund  was  found  insufficient  to 
meet  the  demands.  He  served  many  years  on  the 
School  Board  and  when  he  resigned  an  article 
appeared  in  the  Rushville  paper,  from  which  we 
quote  the  following :  "As  school  trustee,  the  Doc- 
tor was  the  man  for  the  position.  He  has  an  ex- 
cellent education,  besides  he  used  to  rank  among 
the  finest  teachers  in  the  State  of  Kentucky.  These 
advantages,  combined  with  his  business  qualifi- 
cations, made  him  a  very  competent  and  valuable 
man  in  the  management  of  school  affairs,  and  it 
is  doubtful  if  a  man  of  his  qualifications  to  fill  the 
vacancy  can  be  found." 

On  September  15,  1881,  Dr.  IMorrison  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Allie  Lee  Wells,  who  is 
a  daughter  of  Elder  J.  M.  and  Elizabeth  Wells. 
Mrs.  Morrison  was  born  May  15,  1867,  at  Rush- 
ville, Missouri,  where  she  is  highlv  esteemed  for 
her  womanly  character.  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Morrison 
have  had  eight  children,  namelv :  \^irgil,  Paul  S., 
Althea,  Hannibal,  Ruth.  Marv  Irene,  Ethel  Mar- 
guerite and  Anna  Mable.  Virgil,  born  July  25, 
1882,  noAv  a  student  in  the  Ensworth  Medical 
College,  at  St.  Joseph,  will  graduate  in  the  class 
of  TO05.  Paul  S.,  born  July  11,  1884,  ^^ter  com- 
pleting a  three-years  course  at  St.  Benedict's  Col- 
lege, Atchison,  Kansas,  has  entered  his  father's 


596 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY  AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


drug  store,  which  is  the  leading"  pharmacy  in  the 
town.  Ruth,  the  fifth  member  of  the  family,  died 
in  childhood.  Mrs.  Morrison  is  a  consistent 
member  of  the  Christian  Church. 

Dr.  Morrison  has  always  been  identified  with 
the  Democratic  party.  His  fraternal  connec- 
tion ,^is  with  the  Free  Masons.  He  is  one  of  the 
town's  prominent,  public-spirited  and  represen- 
tative citizens,  and  he  is  justly  regarded  with 
high  esteem,  both  from  a  personal  and  profes- 
sional standpoint. 


♦ « » 


AMES  HORIGAN.  The  death  of  the 
late  James  Horigan  at  his  beautiful 
home  in  St.  Joseph,  removed  from  this 
city  one  of  its  pioneer  business  men, 
and  one  whose  great  financial  success 
may  be  directly  attributed  to  his  perseverance, 
application,  patient  industr}-  and  his  keen,  intelli- 
gent and  trained  habits  of  observation.  Mr. 
Horigan  was  born  in  Ireland  and  was  a  true  rep- 
resentative of  a  country  that  has  contributed  to 
America  many  of  her  most  worthy  citizens. 

The  late  Mr.  Horigan  came  to  the  United 
States  in  1850  and  10  years  later  established  him- 
self at  St.  Joseph,  IMissouri.  Here  he  founded 
the  great  business  now  known  all  over  the  coun- 
try as  the  Horigan  Supply  Company.  Its  be- 
ginning, like  that  of  many  other  important  enter- 
prises, was  small  and  insignificant  and  thus  it 
required  more  business  ability  to  expand  than  if 
a  large  capital  had  been  invested.  He  was  thor- 
oughly acquainted  with  every  detail  of  the 
plumbing  and  associated  lines  of  business  and, 
when  St.  Joseph  was  ready  to  extend  her  system 
of  public  improvements,  Mr.  Horigan  was  the 
recognized  authority  on  work  in  his  line.  As 
years  passed,  he  still  stood  at  the  head  of  his 
constantly  expanding  business  and  he  was  per- 
mitted to  see  it  the  largest  and  most  important 
house  of  its  line  in  the  West.  The  Horigan  Sup- 
ply Company,  which  is  located  at  Nos.  209-211 
South  Fourth  street,  St.  Joseph,  is  known  all  over 
the  country  as  manufacturers  and  jobbers  of 
plumbers',  gas  and  steamfitters'  supplies,  pumps, 
wrought  iron  pipe,  fittings,  Eclii)se  cylinder  and 
engine  oils  aild  engine  and  mill  supplies.  At 
the  death  of  Mr.  Horigan,  the  management  of  this 
large  concern  fell  into  the  capable  hands  of  the 
founder's  only  son,  John  J.  Horigan,  who  is  pres- 
ident of  the  company  and  one  of  tlic  leading 
young  business  men  of  St.  Joseph.. 


During  his  many  years  of  business  life  at  St. 
Joseph,  the  late  Mr.  Horigan  not  only  amassed  a 
large  fortune,  but  he  also  made  for  himsdf  an 
enviable  reputation  as  a  business  man  of  sound 
judgment,  imquestioned  integrity,  and,  without 
filling  an\-  public  ofiice,  was  considered  one  of  the 
cit}  "s  most  useful  citizens. 

I\Ir.  Horigan  was  survived  by  his  widow . 
(who  is  now  deceased)  and  by  one  son  and  three 
daughters.  The  son,  John  J.  Horigan,  was  born 
in  St.  Joseph,  October  10,  1869,  and,  as  noted, 
occupies  a  prominent  place  in  the  city's  business 
life.  One  daughter  is  the  wife  of  Joseph  Flynn, 
who  is  secretary  and  has  charge  of  the  counting 
room  of  the  Horigan  Supply  Company ;  a  second 
daughter  is  the  wife  of  Otto  H.  Ouentin,  pro- 
l)rictor  of  the  O.  H.  Ouentin  Drug  Company,  and 
interested  in  the  Ouentin-Knight  Millinery  Com- 
pany, both  of  St.  Joseph  ;  and  the  third  is  the 
wife  of  Thomas  P.  Holland,  who  is  senior  mem- 
ber of  the  Holland  &  OTirien  Shoe  Company,  of 
St.  Joseph,  and  treasurer  of  the  Tootle,  Wheeler 
&  Motter  Mercantile  Company,  of  St.  Joseph. 

]\Ir.  Horigan  was  a  worthy  member  of  the 
Catholic  Church.  He  was  of  an  exceptionally 
genial  disposition,  was  extremely  generous  and 
kind-hearted  and  the  occasion  was  never  known 
when  he  was  not  willing  to  assist  those  less  for- 
tunate than  himself.  To  a  remarkable  degree  he 
had  the  esteem  and  confidence  of  his  fellow  citi- 
zens and  the  devotion  of  his  immediate  family 
was  marked.  As  a  token  of  their  love  and  re- 
spect, they  erected  the  beautiful  stone  structure, 
of  Gothic  architecture,  in  Mount  Olivet  Cemetery, 
known  as  the  Horigan  ^lemorial  Chapel.  lt.«; 
estimated  cost  was  $10,000,  but  as  a  token  of 
filial  love  its  value  can  not  be  measured.  No 
man  of  Mr.  Horigan's  material  and  moral  worth 
can  pass  away  from  a  community  without  his 
loss  being  deeply  felt ;  few  dejiart  leaving  behind 
the  record  of  more  good  deeds,  more  generous 
benefactions  or  more  kindl\-  impulses,  than  the 
late  James  Horigan. 

♦-♦-♦^ 


OHN  G.  ADAMS.  For  many  years  the 
late  John  G.  Adams  was  a  prominent 
farmer  and  valued  citizen  of  Buchanan 
County.  He  was  a  native  of  Missouri, 
born  in  St.  Charles  County,  October  18, 
1840,  and  died  in  his  home  in  section  31,  township 
57,  range  34,  in  Washington  township,  December 
2^.  1891.  He  was  a  son  of  lohn  and  ^Margaret 
(Gill)  Adams, 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


597 


John  Adams,  our  subject's  father,  was  born  in 
Virginia  but  passed  the  greater  part  of  his  hfe  in 
Missouri,  locating  in  St.  Charles  County  as  a 
boy  and  following  farming  and  tanning.  He 
married  Margaret  Gill,  of  [Missouri,  and  they  had 
a  family  of  seven  daughters  and  three  sons. 

•John  G.  Adams  remained  at  home  until  the 
opening  of  the  Civil  War,  when  he  enlisted  in  the 
Union  Army,  entering  Company  E,  First  Reg., 
Kansas  Vol.  Inf.,  and  after  serving  three  years 
was  mustered  out  at  Litttle  Rock,  Arkansas,  but 
he  reenlisted  and  served  until  the  dose  of  the 
war.  He  was  attached  to  the  command  under 
General  Grant  and  took  part  in  the  great  batttles 
of  that  part  of  the  army,  including  Shiloh  and 
Corinth.  Although  he  escaped  wounds,  he  suf- 
fered for  a  time  with  fever  and  one  occasion  had 
a  very  narrow  escape  from  death,  his  horse  being 
shot  from  under  him. 

After  the  close  of  the  war,  he  returned  to  St. 
Charles  County  and  took  a  course  in  a  commer- 
cial college,  but  in  1866  he  came  to  Buchanan 
County  and  engaged  in  farm  work  and  car- 
pentering. Late  he  entered  the  employ  of 
Frank  Thompson,  one  of  the  large  farmers  of 
Washington  township,  \\ho  later  became  his 
father-in-law.  After  the  death  of  ]Mr.  Thomp- 
son, ;Mr.  Adams  purchased  the  farm  and  con- 
tinued to  operate  it  until  his  death,  as  mentioned 
above.  He  was  a  man  of  more  than  ordinary 
prominence  in  his  locality,  possessing  all  those 
qualities  which  command  the  respect  of  the  pub- 
lic and  win  the  esteem  of  acquaintances.  Politi- 
cally, a  Democrat,  he  declined  many  proffers  of 
political  office  but  willingly  served  on  the  School 
Board  and  in  agricultural  organizations.  At  the 
time  of  his  decease  he  was  president  of  the  Farm- 
ers' Alliance  and  president  of  the  Central  Pro- 
tective Association.  For  years  he  had  been  a 
member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  and  a  liberal 
contributor  to  its  various  works  of  benevolence. 
He  was  a  Mason. 

In  1867  ]\lr.  Adams  was  married  to  Mary  F. 
Thompson,  who  was  born  in  W'ashington  town- 
ship, Buchanan  County,  IMissouri,  and  is  a 
daughter  of  Frank  and  ]\Iahulda  (Lynch) 
Thompson.  Frank  Thompson  was  born  May  18, 
1813,  in  Sumner  County,  Tennessee,  and  died  in 
Buchanan  County,  ^lissouri,  April  18,  1870.  He 
was  reared  in  Tennessee  and  came  to  Buchanan 
County  by  wagon,  in  1843,  o"^  of  the  earliest 
pioneers.  He  preempted  160  acres  of  wild  land, 
the  present  farm  of  our  subject,  and  continued 
its   cultivation   through   life.      He  took  a   prom- 


inent part  in  all  matters  of  public  concern  in  the 
township  and  was  recognized  as  one  of  the  lead- 
ing men  of  his  day  in  his  locality.  :\Ir.  Thomp- 
son married,  first,  Sarah  Jane  Bagby,  of  Ken- 
tucky, who  died  two  years  after  the  family  came 
to  [Missouri.  Their  children  were:  Robert  M., 
of  Oklahoma  Territory;  William  L.,  of  Holt 
County,  [Missouri ;  and  Anna  E.,  deceased,  who 
was  the  wife  of  George  Hurst.  He  married,  sec- 
ond, Mahulda  Lynch,  who  was  born  in  Allen 
County,  Kentucky,  February  6,  1824.  She  still 
resides  on  the  old  homestead  with  her  daughter, 
Mrs.  Adams,  from  whom  she  has  never  been  sep- 
arated for  even  one  day.  Eight  children  were 
born  to  this  marriage,  namely:  [Mary  F.  (Mrs. 
.\dams),  widow  of  our  subject;  Zuria'h,  who  died 
December  2,  1863;  Willis,  who  died  in  infancy; 
Flora,  who  is  the  wife  of  Henry  Higgins,  of  An- 
drew County,  Missouri ;  Malinda,  who  is  the  wife 
of  John  Miner,  a  farmer  living  near  Easton,  Mis- 
souri;  and  Mahulda  F.  Sarah  Jane  and  Alice 
who  are  deceased.  The  children  of  Mr.  Thomp- 
son were  all  given  the  best  educational  opportun- 
ities afforded  by  the  local  schools.  Mr.  Thomp- 
son was  always  identified  with  the  Democratic 
party  but  he  never  cared  for  political  honors.  He 
possessed  considerable  medical  knowledge  and 
frequently  answered  calls  miles  distant,  to  pre- 
scribe for  his  neighbors'  ailments.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  Baptist  Church.  In  the  deaths  of 
Mr.  Thompson  and  Mr.  Adams.  A\'ashington 
township  lost  two  of  its  most  respected  and  hon- 
ored men.  Both  were  men  of  the  highest  integ- 
rity and  both  reared  families,  whose  members, 
under  their  training,  have  grown  to  be  good  and 
worthy  members  of  society.  In  the  earlv  da^s 
when  ]Mr.  Thompson  built  his  little  cabin  in  the 
wilderness  here,  he  displayed  the  traits  of  char- 
acter which  made  him  a  natural  leader,  a  position 
he  held  as  long  as  he  lived.  His  memory  is  still 
held  in  high  regard,  not  only  as  one  of  the  earlv 
pioneers,  but  as  a  man  of'  worth  and  sterling- 
character. 

The  late  Mr.  Adams  was  survived  by  his 
widow  and  a  part  of  his  family  of  seven  children, 
the  record  being  as  follows :  Allen  F.,  born  Oc- 
tober 2,  1869,  deceased  February  24,  1890 :  Ada 
T.,  born  December  2.  1872,  who  is  the  wife  of 
Robert  Heger  of  Saxton, — she  attended  the 
Sisters'  school  at  Chillicothe,  Missouri :  Opal, 
born  February  13,  1875.  "^vho  married  Paul  L'hlig, 
of  Gentry  County.  [Missouri,  and  has  three  chil- 
dren,— John,  Robert  and  Allen  :  James  H.,  born 
i  February  21,  1879,  deceased  July  2,  1893:  John 


598 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN    COUNTY    AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


Quincy.  born  April  15,  1882,  who  married  Grace 
Snyder  and  conducts  a  livery  business  in  Gentry 
County,  Missouri, — he  attended  the  Lexington 
Military  School  one  year;  Mary  Adelia,  born 
February  24,  1884,  deceased  September  11,  1884; 
and  Robert  H.,  born  November  14,  1888,  who 
is  now  attending  college  at  St.  Joseph. 


♦ » » 


1  OHN  FRANCIS  FOGG,  one  of  the  well- 
known  farmers  and  stock-raisers  of 
Agency  township,  Buchanan  County, 
the  owner  of  200  well-improved  acres 
situated  in  section  7,  township  56, 
range  34,  was  born  in  Rappahannock  County, 
Virginia,  November  28,  183 1,  and  is  a  son  of 
Thomas  and  Mary    (O'Neale)    Fogg. 

Thomas  Fogg  spent  his  whole  life  in  Vir- 
ginia, where  he  died  at  the  age  of  74  years.  He 
was  a  large  planter.  Politically,  he  was  a  Whig. 
He  married  Mary  O'Neale,  who  was  born  in  Vir- 
ginia and  died  aged  84  years.  She  was  a  daugh- 
ter of  Daniel  O'Neale,  a  millwright  by  trade,  who 
spent  his  life  in  Virginia.  Our  subject  was  born 
in  his  Grandfather  O'Neale's  house.  He  was  the 
eldest  of  10  children,  the  others  being:  James,  of 
Washington  township,  this  county ;  Joseph,  of 
Holt  County.  Missouri ;  Mary,  deceased  ;  Eliza- 
beth, Mildred  and  Jane,  of  Virginia;  Adeline,  de- 
ceased; Charles  Elias,  of  Virginia;  and  Thomas, 
deceased. 

Our  subject  remained  on  his  father's  farm 
until  21  years  of  age  and  then  learned  the  car- 
■penter's  trade  at  which  he  worked  several  years. 
When  his  uncle  William  O'Neale  and  the  latter's 
family  proposed  moving  to  IMissouri,  he  con- 
cluded to  accompany  them.  Transportation  in 
those  days  was  by  wagon  and  boat  and  these  agen- 
cies were  used  to  convey  the  family  and  belong- 
ings first  to  St.  Louis,  and  then  to  St.  Joseph. 
Mr.  Fogg  is  always  accustomed  to  say  that  he 
walked  the  greater  part  of  the  distance.  He 
worked  at  his  trade  in  St.  Joseph  until  1867,  when 
he  married  and  then  went  to  farming,  working 
with  his  father-in-law  for  four  years.  The  latter 
gave  him  a  small  tract  which  he  himself  increased 
to  TOO  acres  and  later  added  100  more,  and  now 
has  one  of  the  good  farms  of  Agency  township. 
He  raises  grain  and  stock,  his  land  being  well 
situated  for  the  large  production  of  both. 

In  1867,  Mr.  Fogg  was  married  to  Helen 
Dysart,  who  was  born  in  Kentucky  and  is  a 
daughter  of  Col.  James  Dysart,  and  they  have  six 


children,  namely :  Mary,  who  married  Frank 
Ewing,  of  Washington  township,  and  has  one 
child, — Francis  ;  Adaline,  who  married  William 
Lower,  of  Washington  township,  and  has  tv.'O 
children, — Beatrice  and  John  Francis ;  James 
Thomas,  residing  at  home ;  William  Gentry,  the 
namesake  of  a  candidate  for  Governor,  who  runs 
a  feed  mill  in  St.  Joseph ;  Pearl,  who  lives  at 
home;  and  Sam  Jones,  named  after  the  noted 
revivalist. 

The  Fogg  family  is  probably  of  English  ex- 
traction. It  is  widely  distributed  and  the  name  is 
found  among  agriculturists  and  business  and  pro- 
fessional men.  During  last  July  a  reunion  of  the 
family  was  held,  which  was  attended  by  more 
than  200  members.  It  was  a  very  interesting 
occasion. 

Politically,  Mr.  Fogg  has  always  been  iden- 
tified with  the  Democratic  party,  but  takes  only  a 
good  citizen's  interest,  not  seeking  any  ofiicial 
position.  Fie  has  served  in  school  offices  and  dur- 

Paw-Paw  Militia." 
a  verv  well-known  citizen  and  on 


ing  the  Civil  War  was  in  the 


Fogg  is 


Mr. 

account   of  his 

many  friends. 


sterling 


traits   of   character  has 


^ « ♦■ 


EORGE  W.  OILMAN,  one  of  the  repre- 
sentative farmers  of  Lake  township, 
Buchanan  County,  residing  on  his  well- 
improved  farm  of  225  acres  in  section 
26,  was  born  at  Rushville,  Buchanan 
County,  November  6.  1873.  and  is  a  son  of  Henry 
and  Polly  Ann  (Watson)  Oilman. 

The  Oilman  family  is  of  English  descent. 
Henry  Oilman,  father  of  our  subject,  was  born  in 
England  and  came  to  America  at  the  age  of  15 
years.  Soon  after  his  arrival,  he  secured  work  at 
Chicago,  Illinois,  as  a  day  laborer  and  continued 
there  for  some  time.  Removing  to  Buchanan 
County,  Missouri,  he  obtained  employment  as  a 
section  hand  on  the  Burlington  road,  at  Rushville. 
His  efficiency  soon  gained  him  promotion  and  for 
20  years  he  served  that  road  as  foreman.  Since 
1904  he  has  lived  at  vSt.  Joseph.  Henry  Oilman 
married  Polly  Aiin  Watson,  who  is  a  daughter  of 
Elijah  Watson,  who  was  a  prominent  farmer  of 
Buchanan  County.  The  six  children  born  to 
them  were :  Frederick,  an  employee  of  the  Bur- 
lington road  at  Rushville ;  Margaret,  wnfe  of  Al- 
bert Conard,  section  foreman  on  the  Burlington 
road  in  Iowa  ;  Kate,  wife  of  T.  Jefl^erson  Fenton, 
a  farmer  of  Bloomington  township,  this  county ; 
Beatrice  and   Edwarcl,   who   live  at  home ;  and 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


599 


George,  of  this  sketch.  Mr.  Gihnan  has  always 
been  a  member  of  the  Democratic  party  since 
reaching  his  majority.  He  was  one  of  the  charter 
members  of  the  Rushville  lodge  of  Odd  Fellows. 

George  Gilman  completed  his  education  in  the 
public  schools  of  Rushville  when  20  years  of  age 
and  then  began  to  farm.  After  two  years  of  till- 
ing the  soil,  he  began  work  as  a  section  hand  on 
the  Burlington  road,  but  three  years  later  re- 
turned to  agricultural  pursuits.  For  the  past  five 
3-ears  he  has  devoted  all  his  attention  to  the  man- 
agement of  his  large  farm,  which  he  has  devel- 
oped into  one  of  the  best  and  most  productive  in 
his  part  of  the  township.  His  improvements  are 
all  of  a  substantial  character  and  add  both  to  the 
attractiveness  and  to  the  value  of  the  place. 

On  December  23,  1897,  Mr.  Gilman  was  mar- 
ried to  Lucy  Fenton,  who  is  a  daughter  of  Alfred 
and  Alice  (Long)  Fenton,  of  Rushville.  They 
have  two  interesting  children :  Alfred  and 
Beatrice. 

Mr.  Gilman  has  always  been  identified  with 
the  Democratic  party.  He  is  associated  with  both 
the  Masons  and  the  Odd  Fellows  at  Rushville. 
Both  as  a  man  and  citizen,  he  is  held  in  esteem. 
A\'hile  no  seeker  for  political  office,  he  has  always 
taken  a  good  citizen's  interest  in  public  affairs, 
has  advocated  the  election  to  positions  of  trust 
of  men  in  whom  the  public  could  place  reliance, 
and  has  favored  all  educational  movements  and 
desirable  agricultural  legislation. 


♦ « » 


DWARD  SAMUEL  GARNER,  ^I.  D. 
The  death  of  the  late  Dr.  Edward 
Sanuiel  Garner,  at  his  beautiful  home  in 
St.  Joseph,  on  July  7,  1899,  removed 
from  the  professional  ranks  of  this 
city  a  physician  and  surgeon  of  eminent  worth. 
Dr.  Garner  was  born  November  28,  1861,  in 
Richmond,  INIissouri,  and  was  a  son  of  Dr.  Henry 
C.  and  Eugenia  (Hudnall)  Garner,  of  Richmond, 
Alissouri.  Dr.  Henry  C.  Garner  was  a  son  of 
Col.  Jesse  and  Dosia  (Trigg)  Garner,  the  former 
a  native  of  Virginia,  and  the  latter  a  daughter  of 
Gen.  Stephen  Trigg,  of  Bedford  County,  Virginia. 
Col.  John  Trigg,  father  of  General  Trigg,  was 
an  officer  in  the  Revolutionary  Army  and  was  a 
member  of  Congress  from  the  Bedford  district 
in  X'irginia.  In  1797  he  was  elected  to  the 
House  of  Representatives  and  served  in  that 
bod\-  until  1804.  Gen.  Stephen  Trigg  was  mar- 
ried, in  1790,  to  Elizabeth  Clark,  a  daughter  of 


Judge  Robert  Clark,  a  Revolutionary  officer,  and 
in  1794  removed  from  Bedford  County,  Virginia, 
to  Clark  County,  Kentucky,  with  his  own  family 
and  that  of  Judge  Clark.  The  latter  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  convention  that  framed  the  second  con- 
stitution of  Kentucky,  at  Frankfort,  August  17, 
1799.  The  Clark  family  was  one  of  distinction, 
a  son  of  Judge  Clark  becoming  Governor  of  Ken  • 
tucky.  General  Trigg  was  a  member  of  the  Ken- 
tucky Legislature  in  1816-17  and  in  the  following 
year  he  removed  to  Howard  County,  j\lissouri, 
and  served  as  a  member  of  the  House  of  Repre- 
sentatives of  IMissouri  during  the  sessions  of 
1822  and  1823  and  was  also  made  a  major-gen- 
eral of  the  Missouri  State  Militia. 

Dr.  Henry  C.  Garner,  the  grandson  of  Gen- 
eral Trigg,  was  born  in  Howard  County,  Mis- 
souri, and  graduated  from  a  medical  college  in 
Kentucky.  He  became  an  eiuinent  physician  and 
surgeon  and  his  mantle  fell  upon  his  son,  the 
late  Dr.  Edward  S.  Garner  of  this  biography. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  acquired  a  good 
fundamental  education  in  the  public  schools  and 
then  entered  upon  the  study  of  medicine  for 
which  he  had  natural  and  inherited  impulses. 
He  was  a  student  of  the  Missouri  Medical  Col- 
lege at  St.  Louis  for  two  years.  After  his  grad- 
uation from  the  College  of  Physicians  and  Sur- 
geons in  New  York  City,  he  entered  the  Pres- 
byterian Flospital,  in  that  city,  and  was  associated 
with  that  great  institution  as  surgeon  for  four 
years. 

In  1885,  Dr.  Garner  located  at  St.  Joseph, 
Missouri,  and  almost  immediately  took  a  place  in 
the  front  rank  of  his  profession.  jNIucli  of  his 
energy  was  directed  to  the  practice  of  surgery 
and  in  this  branch  his  skill  soon  won  him  a  great 
reputation.  At  the  time  of  his  death.  Dr.  Garner 
was  chief  surgeon  of  the  St.  Joseph  &  Grand 
Island  Railway ;  chief  surgeon  of  the  St.  Joseph 
Railway,  Light,  Heat  &  Power  Company,  and 
was  consulting  surgeon  of  the  Atchison,  Topeka 
&  Santa  Fe  Railway  Company.  For  several 
years  he  was  a  member  of  the  Missouri  State 
Board  of  Health,  being  an  appointee  of  Governor 
Stone. 

Dr.  Garner's  genius  for  svirgery  was  well 
known,  and  many  a  life  has  been  prolonged  for 
years  of  usefulness  by  his  skill  and  many  a  suf- 
ferer has  been  relieved  from  acute  anguish  be- 
cause of  his  ministrations.  His  death  left  heavy 
hearts  in  many  bosoms,  for  hundreds  have  the 
memory  of  the  kind  deeds  he  so  willingly  per- 
formed and  the  marvels  of  cure  his  skill  accom- 


6co 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN    COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


plished.  Early  in  life  he  achieved  marked  dis- 
tinction but  carried  his  honors  with  a  noble  sim- 
plicity. Cultured  himself,  he  emphasized  in  his 
lectures  the  need  and  helpfulness  of  broad  cul- 
ture and  general  education  and  believed  himself  to 
be  all  the  better  physician  and  able  surgeon  be- 
cause he  was  a  thorough  scholar  and  a  cultivated 
gentleman. 

Dr.  Garner  was  reared  in  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church,  but  was  not  actively  identified  with 
any  religious  body.  Of  a  genial  social  nature, 
he  took  liis  recreation  in  the  Benton  and  Country 
clubs,  of  St.  Joseph,  being  a  member  of  both,  and 
enjoyed  social  life  as  far  as  faithful  attention  to 
his  practice  permittted.  He  was  also  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Commercial  Club  of  St.  Joseph,  and 
always  took  a  lively  interest  in  the  city  to  which 
he  had  devoted  so  many  years  of  his  life  and 
where  he  had  earned  lasting  fame. 

Dr.  Garner  ap]:)reciated  his  membership  in  the 
Society  of  Sons  of  the  Revolution,  which  came 
through  the  services  of  his  great-great-grand- 
father, John  Trigg,  captain  of  Virginia  troops  in 
1778. 

Dr.  Garner  was  married  on  February  17, 
1891,  to  Louise  Stcinacker,  who  is  a  daughter  of 
Charles  Steinacker,  a  prominent  merchant  of  St. 
Joseph.  Mrs.  Garner  still  survives,  with  one  son, 
Edward  Samuel,  and  they  reside  in  one  of  the 
most  beautiful  homes  of  St.  Joseph,  which  is 
situated  on  the  corner  of  Eighth  and  Faraon 
streets. 


^ » » 


OHN  W.  HALTER,  one  of  the  prosper- 
ous farmers  of  Buchanan  County,  Mis- 
souri, owning  a  well-improved  farm  of 
85  acres  in  section  6,  Agency  township, 
was  born  in  Buchanan  County,  May  15, 
1866,  and  is  a  son  of  Anthony  and  Kalherine 
(Hafncr)  Halter. 

Anthony  Halter  was  born  May  10,  1826,  in 
France,  and  came  to  the  United  States  with  his 
parents  when  six  years  okl.  His  poor  mother 
died  on  the  ship,  of  cholera,  while  still  in  sight  of 
Havre,  but  the  father  and  children  completed  the 
voyage,  and  settled  in  Stark-  County,  Ohio,  where 
the  father  of  Anthony  owned  a  half  section  of 
land.  He  married  twice  and  reared  a  family  of 
12  children.  He  died  in  vStark  County,  Ohio', 
aged  85  years.  Anthony  Halter  settled  with  his 
father  near  Canton,  Ohio,  but  in  1857  he  came  to 
St.  Joseph.  Missouri,  and  worked  here  in  the 
brick-yards  until  the  opening  of  the  Civil  War. 


He  then  enlisted  in  the  Missouri  State  Militia, 
under  Captain  Dolman,  but  served  only  a  few 
months,  being  discharged  on  account  of  impaired 
health.  He  then  engaged  in  farming,  having  160 
acres  in  his  home  place  and  owning  a  total  of  320 
acres  in  the  vicinity.  He  built  the  large,  com- 
fortable farm  house  that  is  now  .on  the  property. 
Here  he  died  July  10,  1890. 

The  mother  of  our  subject  was  born  in  Switz- 
erland, April  20,  1836,  and  came  to  the  United 
States  with  her  parents  when  12  years  of  age, 
making  the  long  voyage  of  72  days  on  a  sailing 
vessel.  She  died  on  the  homestead,  March  3, 
1896.  Of  the  family  of  12  children,  nine  sur- 
vived infancy,  namely :  Anthony,  of  Buchanan 
County ;  Katherine,  of  Buchanan  County ;  John 
\\'.,  of  this  sketch;  Louis,  who  died  aged  32 
years ;  Mrs.  Sophia  Hunter,  of  Buchanan 
County;  Andrew;  Mrs.  ^lary  Magdalena  Stock, 
of  this  county ;  Joseph  Robert ;  and  Tracy,  who 
died  January  i,  1897,  aged  17  years. 

John  W.  Halter  has  spent  his  entire  life  in 
Buchanan  County  and  has  always  been  engaged 
in  farming.  He  has  been  very  successful  in  his 
efforts  and  is  counted  among  the  township's  sub- 
stantial men. 

On  January  17,  1900,  j\Ir.  Halter  was  mar- 
ried to  Catherine  Zimmerman,  who  was  born 
January  5,  1879,  at  Bufifalo.  New  York,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Adam  and  Mary  (Beyer)  Zimmerman, 
natives  of  Bavaria,  Germany,  who  were  old 
friends  in  Germany,  and  came  to  the  United 
States  prior  to  their  marriage.  They  now  reside 
on  a  farm  near  St.  Joseph.  Mr.  arid  Mrs.  Zim- 
merman had  six  daughters,  namely:  Mrs.  Anna 
Homer:  Mrs.  Mary  (libbs;  Mrs.  Halter;  Tracy; 
Agnes  and  Carrie,  all  residents  of  Buchanan 
County,  the  last  three  residing  at  home.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Halter  are  valued  members  of  the  Catholic 
Church.  In  politics  he  has  always  been  a  stanch 
Democrat. 


ON.  JAMES  P.  SHEWMAKER.  one  of 
the  most  prominent  citizens  of  Bu- 
chanan County,  residing  on  his  farm  in 
section  20,  township  55,  range  33,  in 
Platte  township,  where  he  owns  126 
acres  of  well-improved  land,  was  born  near 
Rochester,  Andrew  County,  Missouri,  December 
7,  1842',  and  is  a  son  of  Woodford  and  Martha 
( .Martin)  Shcwmaker. 

The  Shewmaker  family  is  of  Scotch  ancestry, 
but  our  subject's  grandfather  was  born  in  Ken- 


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AND    REPRESENTATINE    CITIZENS. 


603 


tucky,  to  which  State  earher  members  had  come 
from  Virginia.  The  grandfather  came  to  Bu- 
chanan County  in  1837,  entered  the  present  farm 
of  our  subject,  building  a  log  house  on  it.  16  by 
18  feet  in  dimensions,  which  still  stands,  the  old- 
est house  in  the  township.  Once  the  shelter  of 
a  large  and  happy  family,  its  logs  are  still  sound 
while  many  of  those  who  once  gathered  gladly 
within  its  walls  have  passed  away.  He  put  the 
land  under  cultivation  and  here  resided  all  his 
active  life,  an  honest,  upright,  industrious  man, 
dying  in  1868,  at  the  age  of  74  years. 

Woodford  Shewmaker,  father  of  our  sub- 
ject, was  born  near  Shelby ville,  Kentucky,  and 
died  in  1849,  while  on  his  way  to  California,  at 
the  age  of  55  years.  He  had  accompanied  his 
parents  to  Andrew  County,  Missouri,  where  he 
lievd  until  1842  and  then  came  to  Buchanan 
County,  and  farmed  on  the  present  farm  of  our 
subject  until  his  fatal  start  to  the  gold  fields  of 
California.  His  intention  was  to  drive  overland, 
with  his  ox-team,  but  he  fell  a  victim  to  cholera, 
near  Council  Grove,  Kansas.  He  married  Martha 
Martin,  who  was  born  near  Shelbyville,  Ken- 
tucky, and  died  on  the  homestead  farm,  in  Platte 
township,  September  2"],  1903.  aged  JJ  years. 
They  had  four  children,  namely :  James  P.,  of 
this  sketch ;  William,  of  Morgan  Countv,  Mis- 
souri ;  Ann  Eliza,  who  died  aged  14  years  ;  and 
Elizabeth,  who  died  aged  10  years. 

James  P,  Shewmaker,  the  immediate  subject 
of  this  sketch,  was  reared  on  his  present  farm  to 
which  he  was  brought  in  infancy.  Although 
public  life  has  claimed  much  of  his  time  and  at- 
tention, he  has  always  continued  his  interest  in 
agricultural  afl:'airs  and  has  satisfactotrily  proved 
that  an  intelligent  man  can  be  successful  in  widely 
separated  spheres  of  activity.  Mr.  Shewmaker 
raises  grain,  grows  fruit  and  for  many  years  has 
been  one  of  the  large  shippers  as  well  as  feeders 
of  cattle  and  hogs.  He  owns  a  farm  which  is 
considered  verv  valuable,  both  on  account  of  its 
location  and  cultivation  and  also  because  of  its 
excellent  im])rovenients. 

Mr.  Shewmaker  was  reared  in  the  Democratic 
party,  his  family  always  having  supported  the 
principles  of  the  organization  which  has  been 
known  under  that  name.  His  first  presidential 
vote  was  cast  for  George  B.  McClellan  and  ever 
since  lie  has  been  one  of  the  party  leaders  in 
Buchanan  Countw  Twice  elected  "to  the  State 
Legislature,  he  has  been  justly  regarded  as  a 
masterful  force  in  public  life.  His  record  during 
both  of  these  terms  shows  that  he  was  possessed  of 

30 


\ 

the  judgment,  the  tact  and  ability  required  for  the 
responsible  position  and  his  efficiency  was  many 
times  proved  by  the  fidelity  he  displayed  in  com- 
mittee work.  He  was  one  of  the  most  useful 
members  of  the  committees  on  agriculture,  life 
insurance,  roads  and  highways  and  miscellaneous 
and  unfinished  business,  frequently  devoting  a 
good  part  of  a  night  to  the  careful  consideration 
of  the  questions.  On  many  occasions  he  has 
served  as  delegate  to  State  conventions  and  has 
taken  an  active  part  in  the  elections  of  several 
of  the  State  executives. 

In  1866,  Mr.  Shewmaker  was  married  to  Mi- 
nerva Rockhold.  who  was  born  in  Platte  town- 
ship. Buchanan  County,  Missouri,  December  24, 
1844.  and  is  a  daughter  of  Asa  and  Polly  Rock- 
hold.  They  have  four  children :  Samuel,  of 
Agency,  who  has  five  children ;  James  L.,  a  stu- 
dent of  Central  Medical  College,  of  St.  Joseph; 
Mary,  who  lives  at  home ;  and  Frank,  of  Kansas 
City.  The  last  named  is  connected  with  the  Kan- 
sas City  World  as  stereotyper.  He  has  a  family 
of  four  children. 

Mr.  Shewmaker  is  one  of  the  leading  members 
of  the  Missionary  Baptist  Church  at  Hebron,  of 
which  he  has  been  a  deacon  for  a  long  period. 
He  is  a  man  of  sterling  character,  honest  and  up- 
right in  private  and  public  life  and  he  is  re- 
garded with  sentiments  of  the  highest  esteem 
at  hoiue  and  all  over  the  countv. 


♦ » » 


AMES  W.  SHEPHERD,  one  of  the 
prominent  citizens,  substantial  men 
and  large  farmers  of  Washington  town- 
ship, Buchanan  County,  who  owns 
1,300  acres  of  land  and  resides  in  sec- 
tion 34,  township  57,  range  36,  was  born  July 
9.  1848,  in  Nodaway  County,  Missouri,  and  is 
a  son  of  James  Rier  and  Nancy  (Cluck)  Shep- 
herd. 

James  Rier  Shepherd  was  born  in  Virginia, 
but  his  parents  removed  during  his  boyhood  to 
Jackson  County,  Missouri,  where  he  was  reared 
and  married  Nancy  Cluck,  a  native  of  Tennessee. 
He  was  a  competent  farmer  and  was  considered 
a  good  carpenter  and  followed  both  occupations 
through  life.  His  later  years  were  spent  in 
Nodaway  County,  where  he  died  in  1850.  His 
wife  came  to  our  subject's  home  in  i86r  and 
there  passed  away  in  1866.  Mr.  Shepherd  w-as 
a  stanch  Democrat  and  held  immerous  ofificcs  of 
minor  importance  and  for  a  long  period  served 


6o4 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY  AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


as  a  justice  of  the  peace.  They  had  six  children, 
our  subject  being  the  fourth  in  order  of  birth  and 
the  only  survivor.  The  others  were :  Elizabeth, 
Missouri,  John  W.,  Enoch  E.,  and  Daniel  King. 
Our  subject's  parents  were  worthy  members  of 
the  Old  School  Baptist  Church. 

The  bo}'hood  and  youth  of  our  subject  were 
spent  in  the  hardest  kind  of  work.  Without  hav- 
ing any  school  advantages,  he  had  ability  and 
determination  to  make  something  of  himself,  in 
spite  of  adverse  conditions,  and  has  won  success 
in  his  chosen  occupation  and  now  ranks  also  with 
the  well-informed  men  of  his  acquaintance.  In 
1 86 1  he  came  to  Buchanan  County,  starting  out 
in  life  for  himself  without  a  cent  of  capital.  He 
worked  and  saved  until  he  was  able  to  buy  a 
tract  of  40  acres  of  wild  land  in  section  32,  town- 
ship 57,  range  36,  Washington  township,  where 
he  built  a  cabin  of  hewed  logs,  16  feet  square. 
All  about  this  humble  little  home  grew  the  heavy 
timber  which  only  his  strength  and  industry  could 
clear  off.  He  succeeded  in  clearing  the  farm  and 
lived  on  that  place  until  1875,  when  he  came  to 
his  present  home  in  section  34,  township  57, 
range  36.  Mr.  Shepherd  calculates  that  he  has 
cleared  and  improved  more  than  600  acres  of 
land,  involving  labor  which  only  those  who  have 
had  similar  experiences  can  appreciate.  He  has 
sold  his  timber  in  the  form  of  cord  wood.  His 
farming  has  been  of  a  general  character,  consist- 
ing of  the  raising  of  grain  and  hay  and  a  large 
amount  of  cattle  and  stock.  For  the  year  of  1904 
he  had  about  400  acres  devoted  to  corn,  400  more 
to  \vheat  and  160  to  hay.  He  is  a  practical  farmer 
and  has  worked  out  many  of  his  own  agricul- 
tural problems  for  himself.  While  yearly  adding 
to  his  acreage,  he  has  never  neglected  to  carefully 
cultivate  every  portion  of  his  estate  subject  to 
cultivation. 

In  1 88 1,  Mr.  Shepherd  married  Mary 
Hammy,  who  is  a  daughter  of  Sylvester  Hammy, 
of  Wayne  township,  Buchanan  County.  They 
had  nine  children,  namely:  James  W.,  John  and 
George,  all  deceased ;  Sylvester  H.,  Enoch  Eli- 
jah, Daniel  King,  Robert  E.  Lee,  Mary  Missouri 
and  Stonewall  Jackson.  All  of  these  children 
have  been  given  the  school  advantages  denied 
their  father. 

Politically,  Mr.  Shepherd  was  cradled  in  the 
Democratic  party  and  has  always  been  loyal  to 
it.  He  has  never  accepted  any  ofifice  except  that 
of  school  director.  He  has  been  connected  with 
the  various  Masonic  bodies  for  many  years,  hav- 
ing membership  with  the  King  Hill  Lodge,  No. 


376,  A.  F.  &  A.  M. ;  Royal  Arch  Chapter ;  Com- 
mandery,  Knights  Templar ;  and  Moila  Temple, 
A.  A.  O.  N.  M.  S.  In  every  sense  of  the  word 
Mr.  Shepherd  is  a  self-made  man.  He  is  justly 
entitled  to  respect  as  a  filial  son,  a  kind  husband 
and  good  father  and  also  as  one  of  the  town- 
ship's honorable  and  upright  men,  whose  word 
is  as  good  as  his  bond.  A  picture  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Shepherd  and  their  family,  reproduced  from 
a  photograph  taken  in  the  fall  of  1904,  accom- 
panies this  sketch. 


-♦-♦-•- 


ILLIAM    SACKETTE   LEACH,   M. 

D.,  one  of  the  most  prominent  of 
the  pioneer  citizens  of  St.  Joseph, 
where  he  practiced  his  profession  for 
almost  half  a  century,  was  called  to 
his  final  rest  on  November  20,  1893.  His  de- 
parture was  mourned  as  he  was  a  man  who  ex- 
emplified the  mental  powers  of  a  successful  busi- 
ness man,  the  high  moral  qualities  of  a  spotless 
private  life  and  an  exalted  sense  of  public  duty. 
Our  sketch  can  give  but  a  fragmentary  account 
of  a  life  so  rich  in  good  deeds  and  instructive 
lessons. 

Dr.  Leach  was  born  in  Chenango  County, 
New  York,  November  14,  1828.  His  father, 
Rev.  Fowler  Leach,  was  a  native  of  Connecticut, 
and  a  minister  of  the  Baptist  Church,  distin- 
guished for  his  eminent  piety,  strong  force  of 
character"  and  dignified  scholarship.  He  was  a 
member  of  a  well-known  English  family  that 
immigrated  to  America  during  an  early  period 
of  this  country's  history.  His  wife  was  Malina 
Degrass  Pardee,  a  daughter  of  the  celebrated 
physician,  Dr.  Pardee,  of  Paris,  France. 

William  S.  Leach  received  his  early  education 
at  St.  Gabriel's  College,  a  Jesuit  institute  at  Vin- 
cennes,  Indiana.  Poor  in  purse  but  rich  in  that 
determined  energy  and  unfailing  spirit  of  self- 
reliance  which  has  ever  characterized  the  course 
of  his  successful  life,  he  overcame  obstacles 
which  would  have  daunted  any  young  man  of 
ordinary  enterprise.  After  many  a  hard  struggle 
with  fortune,  he  was  graduated  at  the  Eclectic 
Medical  College  of  Cincinnati  in  1847.  He  im- 
mediately after  moved  to  St.  Louis,  Missouri, 
where  he  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  profes- 
sion. At  the  close  of  the  year  1848,  impelled  by 
a  spirit  of  enterprise  and  by  a  contempt  for  op- 
posing difficulties,  he  determined  to  try  his  for- 
jtune  in  the  West.     Chance  'threw  him  upon  the 


AND    REPRESENT  ATI  VE    CITIZENS. 


60: 


soil  of  die  then  insignificant  village  of  Robidoux's 
Landing,  now  St.  Joseph,  a  flourishing  city  of 
more    than    100,000    inhabitants.      Here    he    en- 
gaged in  practice  and  with  firm  reliance  in  the 
future   gro\\i:h   and   ultimate   importance   of   the 
place  invested  his  carefully  accumulated  means, 
which  he  afterward  saw  fructified  into  eleme4its 
of  permanent  and  substantial  wealth.     He   was 
a  large  real  estate  owner  and  during  the  many 
years  of  his   residence   in   St.   Joseph   erected  a 
considerable  number  of  buildings.    Thrown  upon 
his  own  resources,  he  learned  habits  of  economy 
and  the  value  of  possessions,  which  are  only  ob- 
tained   through    toil.      Naturally    contemplative, 
reading  much,  and  always  doing  his  own  think- 
ing,   his    ideas    of   theology,   politics    and    social 
economy  were  original,  and  he  had  the  courage 
to  express  them  and  follow  wherever  they  logic- 
ally lead.     These  peculiarities  were  noticeable  in 
his  selection  of  a  profession,  for  he  received  his 
degree  from  an  eclectic  college  and  practiced  in 
that  school.     His  education  and  family  traits  ap- 
peared   strongly    in   the   mature   man   and   were 
marked   features  of  his  character.     A  hater   of 
cant   and   shams,    and   thoroughly   despising  the 
demagogues,   he   held   aloof   from   the   arena   of 
party  politics,   though   he   had   decided   opinions 
upon  every  prominent  question  and  always  pub- 
licly expressed  his  views  when  called  upon.     His 
ideas  of  public  policy  were  usually  different  from 
thase    promulgated    by   parties.       In     1872,    he 
espoused  the  principles  of  the  party  which  nom- 
inated Peter  Cooper  for  the  presidency,  and  was 
by     that     party     nominated     for     the     General 
Assembly    of    Missouri,    which    honor    he    de- 
clined.    He   often   lectured   upon  theology,   phy- 
siology and  other  prominent  subjects,  and  in  these 
lectures  exhibited  a  terse,  vigorous  and  popular 
style.     In  business  affairs  he  was  quick  to  per- 
ceive and  prompt  to  decide,  and  those  qualities 
rendered    him    uniformlv    successful.      Though 
born  in  New  York,  Dr.  Leach  was  emphatically 
a  Western  man,  a  man  whose  innate  activity  and 
ambition  pushed  him  beyond  the  tightening  bands 
with  which  the  sedate  towns  and  villages  of  the 
older  States  are  begirt ;  he  was  a  man  with  eyes 
in  front  of  his  head  and  with  ears  eager  to  catch 
the  rush,  rattle  and  roar  of  active,  vigorous  life. 
Such  are  the  successful  men  in  our  new  States, 
and  such  have  been  the  founders  of  our  Western 
cities.     Ere  St,  Joseph  had  scarcely  an  existence, 
he  cast  his  fortunes  in  with  the  people  who  de- 
cided to  erect  a  city  here,  and  he  was  an  indus- 
trious though  often  a  silent  worker  for  the  general 


welfare,  the  growth  and  fame  of  the  city  and 
State.  He  owned  much  valuable  property  in  and 
adjoining  the  city.  When  in  the  prime  of  life, 
he  was  blessed  with  an  excellent  physique  and 
was  conversant  with  and  ever  heedful  of  the  re- 
quirements of  the  laws  of  health.  He  lived  not 
alone  for  himself  but  for  others  as  well,  and  his 
memory  will  long  live  in  the  minds  and  hearts 
of  the  people  of  St.  Joseph. 

In  1 89 1,  Dr.  Leach  started  on  a  trip  to  Eu- 
rope, where  he  spent  over  a  }car.  He  visited 
Turkey,  Egypt,  the  Holy  Land  and  in  fact  spent 
some  time  in  every  country  of  Europe. 

In  1848,  Dr.  Leach  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Lucile  Adelaide  JMassie,  who  at  the  time 
of  her  death  was  in  her  84th  year  and  one  of  the 
oldest  continuous  residents  of  St.  Joseph.  She 
was  born  at  Natchez,  Mississippi,  April  16,  1821, 
and  during  her  childhood  days  was  taken  by  her 
parents  to  Cape  Girardeau,  Missouri.  There  her 
youth  was  passed  and  there  she  married  Dr. 
Leach,  before  their  removal  to  St.  Joseph  in 
1848.  The  death  of  Mrs.  Leach  resulted  from 
the  infirmities  of  old  age.  She  had  been  in  feeble 
health  for  more  than  a  year  prior  to  her  death  on 
August  24,  1904,  and  for  a  month  she  had  been 
confined  to  her  room.  Her  last  days  were  char- 
acterized by  a  cheerfulness  which  had  been  a 
predominant  trait  of  her  character  throughout 
her  life.  L^ncomplainingly  she  bore  the  burden 
of  years  and  sickness  and  fell  asleep  painlessly, 
surrounded  by  those  she  loved. 

Four  children  were  born  to  bless  the  union 
of  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Leach,  namely :  Cora,  who  died 
in  1902 ;  John,  who  was  drowned  in  childhood ; 
Anna,  wife  of  James  Peterson,  of  Council  Bluffs, 
Iowa ;  and  Mrs.  Helen  Dimbleby,  whose  husband 
died  in  1890.  Mrs.  Leach  spent  the  last  years 
of  her  life  living  at  the  home  of  her  daughter, 
Mrs.  Dimbleby,  in  St.  Joseph.  Mrs.  Dimbleby 
has  one  daughter. — Donna,  wife  of  R.  M.  Mc- 
Knight,  of  St.  Joseph. 


♦ » » 


OHN  PATEE.  Among  the  early  pio- 
neers at  St.  Joseph  was  John  Patee, 
whose  name  is  perpetuated  in  various 
parts  of  the  city  by  monuments  testify- 
ing to  his  public  spirit  and  civic  pride. 
Mr.  Patee  was  born  August  i,  1814,  in  Otsego 
County,  New  York. 

Mr.  Patee  was  a  man  over  30  years  of  age 
when  he  came  to  Buchanan  County  and  bought 


6o6 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN    COUNTY  AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


hundreds  of  acres  of  land,  including  much  of  the 
site  of  the  city  of  St.  Josepli.    Where  now  stand 
blocks  of  granite  and  the  industries  of  the  world 
a*e  represented  in  business  traffic,  this  New  York 
farmer,  with  native  shrewdness,  bought  land  at 
$13  per  acre.     He  watched  the  growth  and  de- 
velopment of  the  interests  of  this  section  and  the 
time  came  when  he  platted  his  ground  into  city 
lots.     He  built  the  Patee  Hotel,  a  notable  struc- 
ture at  that  time,  and  he  donated  terminals  to 
the  Hannibal  &  St.  Joseph  Railroad.     He  was  a 
busy   worker   and  held   the   development  of   St. 
Joseph   as   one   of   h'is   dearest   interests.      Patee 
Park  is  a  monument  to  this  public-spirited  citi- 
zen.    He  amassed  vast  wealth  by  the  increase  in 
value  of  his  real  estate,  and  at  the  time  of  his 
death  its  taxable  value  was  $350,000.    At  present, 
several  million  dollars  would  not  cover  its  value. 

Mr.  Patee  did  not  live  to  old  age  nor  long 
enough  to  see  some  of  his  most  cherished  schemes 
for  the  city  fully  developed.  He  died  February 
14,  1868,  and  is  survived  by  a  granddaughter, 
Mrs.  John  Donovan,  and  these  relatives:  Mrs. 
Elmira  Russell,  Patee  Russell,  Mrs.  Fred.  Grif- 
fin, A.  P.  Clayton,  Harry  Patee,  John  S.  Patee 
and  Harry  Russell. 


■♦ « » 


ACOB  STUBER,  one  of  the  prominent 
farmers  of  Washington  township,  Bu- 
chanan County,  owning  83  acres  of  very 
valuable  land  situated  in  section  32, 
township  58,  range  34,  was  born  in 
Switzerland,  October  6,  1853.  He  is  a  son  of 
John  Stuber. 

John  Stuber,  father  of  our  subject,  was  also 
born  in  Switzerland,  and  there  learned  the  trade 
of  a  carpenter.  While  he  was  able  to  provide  a 
sufficiency  for  his  family  by  his  industry,  he  saw 
no  encouraging  future  in  his  own  land  for  his 
children,  and,  with  the  idea  of  providing  them 
with  opportunities,  he  decided  to  migrate  to 
America.  Therefore  in  1853,  with  his  famdy, 
he  embarked  on  a  sailing  vessel,  after  reaching 
a  French  port,  and,  after  65  long  days  on  the 
water,  the  party  finally  was  landed  at  Castle 
Garden,  New  York.  He  found  em])loyment  at 
his  trade  in  the  great  metropolis  and  the  family 
remained  there  for  four  years,  during  the  child- 
hood of  our  subject.  In  1859,  John  Stuber  came 
to  St.  Joseph,  Missouri,  and  soon  selected  a  farm 
of  roo  acres  in  Washington  township.  He  was  a 
man   of   untiring   industry  and   devoted    the    re- 


mainder of  his  active  life  to  agricultural  pursuits, 
becoming  one  of  the  substantial  residents  of  the 
township.  His  wife  died  on  the  farm  at  the  age 
of  78  years,  and  his  death  occurred  in  1899,  at 
the  age  of  80  years.  The  surviving  chiklren  are : 
John,  a  farmer  of  Washington  township;  Nicho- 
las, farming  on  tlie  homestead  farm  ;  Louisa,  the 
wife  of  Peter  Ozenberger ;  Mary ;  Frederick  O. ; 
and  Jacob,  of  this  sketch. 

Jacob  Stuber  was  too  small  to  recall  the  early 
life  of  the  family  after  coming  to  America,  and 
almost  all  his  years  have  been  spent  in  Buchanan 
County,  where  he  is  known  as  an  excellent  farmer 
and  skilled  carpenter.  He  obtained  his  education 
in  the  schools  near  his  country  home,  and  since 
manhood  has  divided  his  attention  between  farm- 
ing and  work  at  his  trade.  His  farm  contains 
83  acres  of  excellent,  well-cultivated  land,  devoted 
to  general  farming.  His  capability  as  a  carpenter 
has  lately  been  shown  in  the  erection  of  a  hand- 
some, comfortable,  modern  residence,  which  pre- 
sents a  very  attractive  as  well  as  substantial  ap- 
pearance. 

Mr.  Stuber  married  the  estimable  daughter  of 
a  neighbor,  Sarah  Ozenberger,  who  is  a  daughter 
of  Nicholas  Ozenberger,  a  pioneer  in  Buchanan 
County,  also  from  Switzerland.  They  have  an 
interesting  family .  of  six  children,  namely : 
George,  Henry,  Charles,  Carrie,  Bertha  and 
Oscar.  The  family  belong  to  the  German  Re- 
formed Church.  In  politics  Mr.  Stuber  is  a 
Republican. 


♦  * » 


ILLIAM  M.  KERNES,  one  of  the  old 
pioneers  of  Buchanah  County,  and  a 
highly  esteemed  retired  resident  of 
of  Marion  township,  located  on  his 
fine  farm  of  118  acres  in  sections  28 
and  33,  township  57,  range  33,  was  born  in  Rus- 
sell County,  Kentucky.  May  21,  [836,  and  is  a 
son  of  George  and  Elizabeth  (  Miller)  Kernes. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  were  both  born 
and  reared  in  Russell  County  and  were  subse- 
quently married  there  and  began  domestic  life. 
In  1839  they  resolved  to  migrate  to  Missouri, 
cheerfully  accepting  the  inevitable  hardships 
attendant  upon  pioneering.  After  a  journey  of 
seven  weeks  in  their  four-horse  wagon,  they 
reached  the  river,  at  St.  Charles.  Their  objective 
point  w^as  Buchanan  County  and  Mr.  Kernes  se- 
cured 80  acres  in  section  17,  township  57,  range 
33,  in  Marion  township,  three  miles  north  of 
Easton.     The  land  was  all  wild  prairie  and  tim- 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


607 


ber.  After  working  hard  here  for  some  years, 
he  sold  the  property  and  secured  80  acres  in  the 
rich  bottom  lands  below  St.  Joseph.  When  the 
freshets  came  his  land  was  overflowed  and  his 
work  all  destroyed  and  he  returned  to  Marion 
township,  where  he  secured  a  tract  of  190  acres, 
which  he  occupied  and  farmed  until  his  death. 

In  those  early  days  in  Missouri,  there  were 
few  pioneer  experiences  with  which  the  family 
did  not  have  to  contend.  j\Ir.  Kernes,  like  the 
majority  of  the  Kentuckians,  well  knew  the  use  of 
a  gun,  and  he  was  considered  a  great  hunter  in 
his  district.  He  tanned  the  hides  of  the  deer  for 
clothing  for  himself  and  family,  coon  skins  made 
their  head  coverings  and  various  hides  were  used 
to  make  moccasins,  which  all  wore.  Their  larder 
was  sup])lied  with  .deer  and  wild  turkeys,  which 
were  still  in  abundance.  Corn  was  the  chief 
article  of  diet,  but  it  was  not  used  in  the  even, 
pulverized  particles  which  now  appear  on  mod- 
ern tables  in  various  forms,  but,  after  the  grind- 
ing was  done  in  an  old  horse-mill,  a  small  grist 
requiring  a  whole  day's  work,  the  final  labor  had 
to  be  performed  with  a  pestle  in  a  wooden  mor- 
tar. Upon  this  coarse  fare,  however,  j\Ir. 
Kernes'  family  grew  brawn  and  muscle,  and  our 
subject,  at  the  age  of  68,  when  other  men,  more 
tenderly  reared,  have  either  passed  away  or  are 
already  leading  a  retired  life,  is  well,  active,  busy 
about  the  affairs  of  the  home  and  with  a  memory 
that  recalls  the  events  of  his  childhood. 

George  Kernes  was  very  well  known  in  Bu- 
chanan County  and  took  an  active  interest  in  all 
local  afifairs ;  he  was  a  strong  Democrat,  but 
never  aspired  to  office.  In  his  earlier  years  he 
was  a  member  of  the  Free  Will  Baptist  Church, 
but  later  united  with  the  Cumberland  Presby- 
terian. His  estimable  wife  did  not  survive  him 
long.  They  reared  four  children  :  William  M., 
of  this  sketch  ;  Jane,  deceased,  who  was  the  wife 
of  Robert  Yancy ;  Alvis,  of  St.  Joseph.  Missouri; 
and  Elias,  of  Topeka,  Kansas. 

In  the  region  where  our  subject  ])assed  his 
boyhood,  progress  had  not  yet  establislied  public 
schools.  The  only  opportunities  the  children 
enjoyed  were  those  afforded  in  subscription 
schools,  the  sessions  being  held  in  a  log  cabin, 
with  split-slab  seats,  and  under  this  humble  roof 
Mr.  Kernes  received  the  onlv  school  instruction 
he  ever  had.  His  lot  was  like  that  of  many  of 
the  pioneer  youths  who  developed  into  the  State's 
best  citizens, — hard  work  and  plenty  of  it, — until 
he  was  21  years  of  age.  After  his  marriage,  he 
located   at   Easton    and   for   a   numl)er  of   vears 


worked  there  as  a  blacksmith  and  as  a  hand  in 
a  saw  and  grist  mill.  After  12  years  of  residence 
in  the  town,  through  hard  work  and  provident 
economy  he  had  accumulated  sufficient  capital  to 
buy  his  present  farm,  and  in  1865  he  purchased 
118  acres  of  wild  land  in  section  33,  Marion  town- 
ship. It  was  rough  prairie  and  years  of  hard 
work  and  careful  management  were  required  to 
bring  it  to  a  finished  state  of  productiveness,  but 
Mr.  Kernes'  enterprise  was  equal  to  the  task  and 
he  now  owns  one  of  the  really  fine  farms  of  the 
township,  improved  with  everything  necessary 
for  a  comfortable  countr}-  home.  He  has  found 
the  raising  of  wheat,  corn,  oats  and  hay  profit- 
able and  has  given  much  attention  to  good  stock 
and  high-grade  cattle. 

On  July  27,  1857,  Mr.  Kernes  was  married 
to  Elizabeth  Deagle,  who  was  born  in  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  they  have  five  children :  George,  a 
farmer  of  DeKalb  County,  Missouri ;  Benjamin, 
a  farmer  of  Clarion  township ;  Allen,  a  farmer 
of  Marion  township ;  Jacob,  a  farmer  on  the 
homestead ;  and  Lucy,  wife  of  Joseph  W.  Baker, 
of  Marion  township.  ^Ir.  and  jMrs.  Kern.cs  have 
the  satisfaction  of  knowing  that  their  children 
are  all  well  settled  in  life. 

INIr.  Kernes  is  a  faithful  fiicmber  of  the  Free 
V\'i]l  Baptist  Church,  a  conscientious.  Christian 
man.  Politically,  he  has  always  voted  the  Dem- 
ocratic ticket  and  in  every  way  has  performed 
the  duties  of  a  good  citizen  in  his  township,  serv- 
ing, as  occasion  demanded,  in  local  offices  and 
for  21  years  was  a  school  director.  He  is  well 
known  all  over  his  section  of  the  county  and  is 
highly  respected.  In  the  years  of  the  Civil  War 
he  was  a  member  of  the  "Paw-Paw  Militia,"  a 
sergeant  in  Company  H,  81  st  Regiment. 


HARLES    L.    HOLLOWAY,    M.    D., 

one  of  the  leading  and  experienced 
medical  practitioners  of  DeKalb,  Bu- 
chanan County,  a  member  of  the  well- 
known  drug  firm  of  F.  C.  Reed  &  Com- 
pany, of  this  place,  is  a  citizen  who  is  held  in  high 
and  deserved  esteemed  throughout  Buchanan 
County.  Dr.  Holloway  was  born  at  Rockport, 
Missouri,  August  13.  1856,  and  is  a  son  of  Wil- 
liam and  Caroline    ( Mullins)   Holloway. 

Both  parents  of  Dr.  Holloway  are  natives  of 
Missouri  and  both  are  living.  They  had  a  fam- 
ily of  five  sons  and  one  daughter  born  to  them, 
namely :   Charles  L.,  of  this   sketch  ;  Thomas,  a 


6o8 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY  AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


farmer  of  Auburn,  Nebraska  ;  Baslia  and  William, 
twins,  the  latter  of  whom  died  March  6,  1897; 
Allie  M.,  a  farmer  of  Auburn,  Nebraska;  and 
Oliver  M.,  a  mechanic  of  St.  Louis,  Missouri. 

Dr.  Holloway's  boyhood  was  spent  on  his 
father's  farm  and  in  attending  the  public  schools 
of  Rockport,  in  the  near  vicinity.  He  subse- 
quently spent  three  years  in  the  State  Normal 
School  at  Kirksville,  in  his  native  State,  and  then 
entered  the  Ohio  Medical  College,  at  Cincinnati, 
where  he  was  most  creditably  graduated  in  1878. 
Although  entitled  to  practice  and  entering  the 
field  in  1879,  Dr.  Holloway  continued  to  be  a 
close  student.  After  six  years  of  practical  ex- 
perience in  Cincinnati,  he  entered  the  Kansas  City 
Medical  College  and  was  graduated  there  in  1885 
and  followed  this  with  a  post-graduate  course  in 
the  College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons  in  the 
city  of  New  York.  With  this  thorough  medical 
equipment,  he  located  at  Forest  City,  Missouri, 
where  he  continued  in  successful  practice  for  the 
succeeding  10  years,  and  then,  in  1896,  estab- 
lished himself  at  DeKalb.  Here  he  has  engaged 
in  practice  more  or  less  continuously  for  the  past 
eight  years,  building  up  a  professional  and  busi- 
ness reputation.  The  drug  firm  of  F.  C.  Reed 
&  Company,  in  which  he  is  interested,  is  a  lead- 
ing business  house  of  the  town,  carrying  a  com- 
plete line  of  standard  drugs,  with  a  graduate 
pharmacist  in  charge  to  fill  prescriptions. 

On  March  10,  1878,  at  Cincinnati,  Dr.  Hollo- 
way  was  married  to  Celia  M.  Mathews,  of  Cin- 
cinnati, and  thev  have  one  daughter, — Caro- 
line M. 


^ »» 


OL.  JOSEPH  A.   FINER,  one  of  the 
best-known  citizens  of  St.  Joseph,  of 
which    city    he    was    mayor    for    four 
years,  is  now  living  in  retirement  after 
many  years  of  business  activity. 
Colonel    Finer   was   born    in    Boone    County, 
Kentucky,   in    1820,   and   there   was   reared   and 
spent  his  boyhood  days,  receiving  his  education  in 
the  common  schools.     In  the  early  "forties"  he 
was  appointed  sherifif  of  Campbell  County,  Ken- 
tucky, by  the   Governor,  and   subsequently  was 
elected  to  that  office,  being  the  first  incumbent 
after  its  change  from  an  appointive  to  an  elective 
office.     He  was  engaged  in  the  banking  business 
at  Campbell  County,  Kentucky,  until   i860,  and 
two  years  later  came  West  to  St.  Joseph.     He 
traded  property  in  Newport  for  some  located  in 
this  city,  where  he  started  a  general  store.     He 


had  the  misfortune  to  lose  his  store  through  a 
destructive  fire,  and  thereafter  engaged  in  various 
lines  of  business  at  dififerent  times.  He  pur- 
chased and  operated  sawmills  at  Lake  Contrary, 
and  several  years  later  embarked  in  the  omnibus 
and  transfer  business.  This  he  conducted  alone 
for  some  time,  then  took  as  a  partner  Col.  Elijah 
Gates,  the  firm  becoming  Finer  &  Gates.  This 
business  was  sold  out  to  Amos  M.  Brown  in  the 
"eighties"  and  is  still  conducted  by  him.  From 
1878  to  1882,  Colonel  Finer  served  as  mayor  of 
St.  Joseph,  and  because  the  city's  finances  were  in 
a  depleted  state,  inaugurated  the  system  of  paying 
city  debts  in  scrip,  sometimes  called  "Piner's 
Scrip."  It  was  in  the  nature  of  "necessity" 
money :  at  a  later  date  all  the  scrip  was  redeemed 
by  the  city.  Colonel  Finer  was  elected  to  the 
State  Legislature  in  1896,  on  the  Democratic 
ticket,  and  was  reelected  in  1898.  He  has  retired 
from  politics  and  business,  and  resides  at  his 
comfortable  home  at  No.  402  South  Eighth  street. 
When  19  years  of  age,  Colonel  Finer  was 
joined  in  marriage  with  Elizabeth  Mains,  of  Ken- 
tucky, who  died  leaving  three  children,  as  fol- 
lows :  C.  A.,  who  died  in  Kentucky  in  early 
youth;  W.  A.,  who  died  in  St.  Joseph  in  1863, 
aged  20  years;  and  Mrs.  C.  M.  Massey,  whose 
husband  was  identified  with  Mr.  Finer  in  the 
omnibus  business,  and  died  in  St.  Joseph  in  1888. 
Colonel  Finer  was  again  married,  in  1853,  to  So- 
phia Bennett,  of  Kentucky,  who  died  in  St.  Jo- 
seph, June  8,  1890.  In  politics,  he  has  always 
been  an  enthusiastic  worker  for  Democratic  suc- 
cess. He  is  the  oldest  Mason  in  the  city,  having 
been  a  member  for  more  than  50  vears  of  St. 
Joseph  Lodge,  No.  78,  A.  F.  &  A.'  M.  Relig- 
iously, he  is  a  member  of  the  Christian  Church. 
Fie  owns  considerable  valuable  property  in  the 
city.  Although  past  the  age  of  80  years,  he  is  a 
very  active  man  whom  many  would  take  to  be 
many  years  younger.  His  has  been  a  most  active 
and  useful  career. 


•♦  * » 


ON.  CHARLES  FREMONT  COCH- 
RAN, Member  of  Congress  from  the 
Fourdi  Congressional  District  of  ]\lis- 
souri,  from  1896  to  1904,  was  born  in 
Kirksville,  Adair  County,  Missouri, 
September  2y,  1848,  and  is  a  son  of  Dr.  W.  A. 
and  Laetitia  (Smith)  Cochran. 

In   1852  the  father  of  Congressman  Cochran 
located  at  Lancaster,  Schuyler  County,  Missouri, 


AXD    REPRESEXTATI\"E    CITIZENS. 


609 


removed  to  Weston,  Platte  County,  in  i857,^and 
to  Atchison.  Kansas,  in  i860.  At  all  these  points 
Mr.  Cochran  attended  the  public  schools  and  then 
learned  the  printer's  trade.  He  continued  to  be 
interested  in  newspaper  work,  both  as  composi- 
tor and  editor,  up  to  1872,  finding  time,  in  the 
meantime,  to  study  law,  and  in  that  year  he  was 
elected  justice  of  the  peace  at  Atchison.  From 
that  time  until  1884  he  was  actively  engaged  in 
a  large  private  practice,  was  elected  prosecuting 
attorney  of  Atchison  County,  Kansas,  and  served 
two  terms.  During  this  time  he  gained  much 
prominence  both  as  counselor  and  as  a  pleader. 

He  early  became  prominent  in  political  affairs 
in  Kansas,  a  loyal  son  of  Democracy,  and  very 
soon  was  counted  one  of  the  party's  most  cogent 
reasoners  and  effective  debaters.  However,  his 
interests  were  still  in  journalistic  work,  to  some 
degree,  and  in  January,  1886,  he  became  part 
owner  and  managing  editor  of  the  St.  Joseph 
Gazette  and  continued  to  direct  the  policy  of  this 
paper  until  1896,  when  he  was  first  elected  to 
Congress.  In  1890,  Congressman  Cochran  was 
elected  to  the  State  Senate,  from  the  district  em- 
bracing Buchanan  County,  and  served  effectively 
for  four  years.  In  1896  he  was  sent  to  Congress 
by  an  admiring  constituencv  and  it  is  only  just 
to  record  that  few  men  were  ever  accorded  a  more 
flattering  recognition  than  he  received  during  his 
first  terms.  In  1898  he  was  reelected,  again  in 
1900  and  in  1902.  and  was  again  a  candidate  in 
1904. 

At  this  time  Mr.  Cochran  was  opposed  bv 
Hon.  Francis  M.  Wilson,  of  Platte  Countv  and 
the  contest  was  the  most  stubborn  and  memorable 
in  the  histor\-  of  the  Platte  Purchase.  The  three 
candidates  who  finally  came  forward  for  the  suf- 
frages of  the  people  were :  ]\Ir.  Cochran,  with 
43  delegates  from  Buchanan  County ;  ^Mr.  \\'il- 
son.  with  36  delegates  from  Platte.  Atchison  and 
Holt  counties ;  and  Charles  F.  Booher.  of  Savan- 
nah, with  31  delegates  from  Andrew  and  Noda- 
way counties.  The  convention  met  and  a  dead- 
lock appeared  after  the  first  ballot,  which  con- 
tinued, the  convention  adjourning  from  dav  to 
day,  without  change,  until  the  1.03  Tst  ballot  was 
reached,  when  Nodaway  County  left  ]\Ir.  Booher 
and  cast  its  vote  for  'Mr.  ^\'ilson,  which  gave  him 
the  nomination. 

In  1874.  Congressman  Cochran  was  married 
to  Louisa  M.  Webb,  who  was  born  in  Leaven- 
worth. Kansas,  and  they  have  one  son.  Charles 
"Webb,  v.ho  is  engaged  in  fruit-growing  in  Howell 


County,   Missouri.     Our  subject  has  similar  in- 
terests there. 

During  his  long  public  career.  Congressman 
Cochran  has  ever  been  a  champion  of  the  labor- 
ing classes  and  an  enemy  of  trusts  and  corpora- 
tions in  their  eft'orts  to  disregard  the  rights  of 
the  people.  He  was  one  of  the  earliest  and  ablest 
advocates  of  the  silver  cause  and  is  well  in- 
formed on  matters  of  finance  and  political  econ- 


omv. 


♦ » » 


HARLES  W.  GOFF,  one  of  the  well- 
known  citizens  and  successful  small 
farmers  and  fruit-growers  of  Wash- 
ington township,  Buchanan  County, 
owning  20  acres  of  highly  cultivated 
land  in  section  i.  township  57,  range  35.  was  bom 
April  28.  1849,  in  Platte  County,  ^lissouri,  and 
is  a  son  of  Abbott  P.  Goft',  formerly  one  of  the 
most  prominent  men  of  St.  Joseph. 

Abbott  P.  Goft'  was  born  at  Clarksburg,  \\v- 
ginia  (nov\-  West  Mrginia),  where  the  Goft'  fam- 
ily has  been  prominent  for  generations.  His 
father  was  sherift'  of  Harrison  County,  and  his 
uncle,  Hon.  Nathan  Goff,  was  a  member  of  Con- 
gress. In  1843.  Abbott  P.  Goff  came  to  IMissburi 
and  located  at  L'nion  Mills,  Platte  County,  en- 
tering into  the  operation  of  a  mill  there  for  a  time, 
but  later  removed  to  St.  Louis,  where  he  con- 
ducted a  banking  business  for  seven  years.  In 
1863  he  came  to  St.  Joseph  and  engaged  in  bank- 
ing, insurance  and  expert  accounting.  His  death 
took  place  in  this  city  in  1884.  Politically,  he 
was  a  Demacrat.  Religiously,  the  Goffs  were 
members  of  the  Chtirch  of  Christ. 

Our  subject  was  reared  and  educated  at  St. 
Joseph  and  then  went  to  ]Macon  County,  ^Missouri, 
where  he  spent  1 1  years  engaged  in  farming  and 
stock-raising.  He  has  occupied  his  present  farm 
for  the  past  14  years.  It  was  originally  owned 
by  his  father-in-law.  George  Whitman,  who  was 
born  in  Germany  in  1818,  and  died  in  1887.  ^Ir. 
\\'hitman  came  to  New  York  when  20  years  of 
age  and  was  engaged  for  12  years  in  farming  in 
the  vicinity  of  Lockport.  New  York.  In  1852 
he  came  to  St.  Joseph  and  soon  bought  200  acres 
of  land,  which  he  operated  until  the  close  of  his 
life.  He  married  Christina  Rentz.  who  was  born 
in  Germany,  and  died  in  1870.  leaving  five  chil- 
dren, namely:  Louisa  (Mrs.  Robert  Richter)  : 
Christina  (Mrs.  Charles  Koch)  :  Caroline,  wife  of 
our   subject:   Sophia    (Mrs.   Charles  Roth)    and 


6io 


PIISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


George.  INlr.  Rentz  and  family  were  Lutherans 
in  religion. 

In  1874,  Mr.  Goft"  was  married  to  Caroline 
AMiitman,  who  was  born  April  i,  1855,  on  our 
subject's  present  farm,  in  a  brick  house  which  is 
still  standing.  Mr.  and  'Sirs.  Gofif  have  nine 
children,  viz:  Olive  (]\lrs.  Lawrence  Ozenber- 
ger)  ;  Addie  (^Irs.  William  Boswell)  ;  Abbott 
P.,  who  manages  the  farm  ;  George  W.,  of  Gold- 
field.  Nevada ;  William  A.,  of  St.  Charles,  Mis- 
souri ;  Horace  R.,  of  the  United  States  Navy ; 
David  O. ;  Susan  J. ;  and  Louis  F. 

Mr.  Goff  and  his  son  Abbott  P.  make  good 
use  of  their  rich  farming  land.  They  devote  five 
acres  to  strawberries  and  two  acres  to  black- 
berries and  they  give  attention  to  20  acres  of 
rented  land  in  addition  to  the  amount  contained 
in  the  homestead,  raising  fine  vegetables  and 
grains.  The  location,  three  miles  east  of  the  city 
limits  of  St.  Joseph,  makes  their  land  especially 
valuable  and  gives  them  the  best  of  markets  for 
their  produce.  Politically,  Air.  Goft'  is  a 
Dem.ocrat. 


■♦ » » 


ILLIAAI  W^\RNER,  a  prominent 
farmer  and  stockman  of  ^^'ashington 
township,  Buchanan  County,  owning 
in  partnership  with  his  brother 
George  a  fine  farm  of  210  acres  in 
section  36,  township  58.  range  35,  was  born  at  St. 
Joseph,  Missouri,  March  15,  i860.  His  brother 
GeTrge  was  born  in  Buchanan  County,  July  24, 
1857.  They  are  sons  of  George  and  Bclvina 
(Reastcr)  Warner. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  born  in  Ger- 
many in  1 8 16,  and  came  to  America  in  young 
manhood,  locating  at  St.  Louis.  He  resided  there 
imtil  1854,  when  he  came  to  St.  Joseph,  where  he 
lived  one  year  and  then  rented  a  farm  one  mile 
east  of  the  city,  which  he  operated  for  five  years. 
He  then  bought  50  acres  of  timberland,  which  is 
now  included  in  the  home  farm,  and  this  he 
cleared  and  cultivated  until  his  death,  which  oc- 
curred in  1875.  He  was  a  very  highly  res])ected 
man  and  was  an  active  member  of  the  Republican 
party.  He  married  Belvina  Reaster.  of  St.  Louis, 
who  was  born  in  Germany.  She  still  survives  and 
resides  with  her  sons  on  the  home  farm.  The 
family  comprised  two  sons  and  two  daughters, 
namely:  Elizabeth,  George,  William  and  Mary, 
all  at  home. 

After  tlie  death  of  the  father,  the  brothers  took 
charge  of  the  farm,  which  they  have  increased  to 


210  acres.  They  have  not  only  developed  the 
land  but  have  engaged  largely  in  stock-raising 
and  now  own  25  head  of  cattle  and  75  head  of 
hogs.  They  devote  35  acres  to  corn  and  20  acres 
to  other  grains,  and  have  fine  pastures,  orchards 
and  gardens.  The  family  home  is  beautifully 
situated  on  an  eminence  and  its  surroundings 
sliow  thrift  and  good  management. 

Politically,  our  subject  and  his  brother  are 
identified  with  the  Republican  party.  In  religious 
faith,  they  are  Catholics.  As  honest,  industrious, 
rc:-])onsible  men,  they  enjoy  the  esteem  of  the 
neighborhood  in  which  they  have  passed  their 
entire  lives. 


■♦* » 


ALL  AS  \^ELMAN,  one  of  the  substan- 
tial citizens  and  large  farmers  of 
^^'aync  township.  Buchanan  County, 
who  resides  on  his  fine  farm  of  338 
acres,  situated  in  section  30,  was  born 
November  14.  1844,  on  a  farm  about  13  miles 
southeast  of  St.  Joseph,  Missouri.  He  is  a  son 
of  Dr.  Peter  C.  and  Keziah  (Wadkins)  \'elman. 
The  Velman  family  is  of  Holland  extraction, 
and  Dr.  Peter  C.  Velman  was  born  at  Amsterdam 
about  1798.  He  was  educated  there  in  medicine 
and  for  three  years  prior  to  coming  to  America 
served  as  surgeon  on  a  Russion  man-of-war.  He 
was  a  man  of  34  years  when  he  came  to  the 
United  States,  landing  at  New  York.  Shortly 
afterward,  he  removed  to  Clay  County,  Mis- 
souri, where  he  resumed  the  practice  of  medicine. 
There  he  married  a  Mrs.  Tolbert,  who  died  soon 
after,  and  in  1839  he  came  to  Buchanan  County, 
locating  one  mile  east  of  Agency  Ford,  where  he 
continued  to  practice  medicine  until  1849.  He 
then  visited  the  gold  fields  of  California,  from 
which  he  returned  in  185 1  with  a  fortune.  He- 
settled  then  in  Wayne  township,  where  he  re- 
mained until  the  close  of  his  life,  in  1863. 

Dr.  Yclman  was  married  a  second  time,  in 
1840,  a  lady  of  English  jjarentage,  named  Keziah 
Wadkins,  becoming  his  wife.  They  had  issue 
as  follows :  Henry  :  Hamilton;  Dallas:  Louisa; 
Allison;  Peter,  of  .\ndrew  County,  r\[issouri ; 
Elizabeth  and  Matilda  (twins)  ;  and  Ann  Eliza. 
The  mother  of  this  family  survived  her  husban  ' 
almost  20  years,  dying  in  1882.  Dr.  Velman  in 
addition  to  being  a  physician  of  skill,  was  a  gifted 
linguist,  fluently  speaking  six  dift'erent  languages. 
Dallas  \^elman,  our  immediate  subject,  never 
had  his  father's  educational  advantages,  having 
had  the  cares  of  the  large  family  thrown  upon 


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AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


613 


his  shoulders  when  only  19  years  of  age.  In- 
herited mental  quickness  and  an  observing  nature 
had  to  take  the  place  of  schooling,  and  that  he  is 
now  a  man  better  informed  than  the  majority 
of  his  neighbors  is  owing  entirely  to  his  own 
individual  efforts.  He  remained  with  his  mother 
until  he  was  26  years  of  age.  In  1871  he  mar- 
ried and  then  moved  to  his  present  farm  where 
he  has  been  engaged  in  farming  ever  since.*  In 
addition  to  this  valuable  propert}',  he  owns  a  farm 
of  no  acres  in  Brown  County,  Kansas. 

On  July  13,  1871.  Mr.  Velman  was  married 
to  Sarah  S.  Mark,  a  daughter  of  Joseph  Mark,  a 
farmer  of  Buchanan  County,  and  they  have  had 
four  children,  viz:  Martin  H.,  who  died  at  the 
age  of  17  years;  a  child  which  died  in  infancy; 
Luretta  Vernon,  who  married  Charles  E.  Mat- 
thews, a  farmer  of  Wayne  township,  and  has  one 
son, — \^elman  ;  and  Cassie,  who  resides  at  home. 
The  family  home  is  one  of  the  most  comfortable 
and  attractive  ones  in  Wayne  township, — an  ele- 
gant residence  surrounded  by  well-kept  grounds. 

Mr.  Velman  may  be  called  a  self-made 
man  for  his  success  in  life  has  all  been  achieved 
through  his  own  efforts.  He  is  respected  and 
esteemed  by  all  who  know  him  and  his  ac- 
quaintance is  wide. 


♦  *  » 


EXERAL  W.  CARREL.  .St.  Joseph, 
Missouri,  has,  among  her  many  es- 
teemed residents,  a  number  of  retired 
farmers,  who,  after  years  of  industry 
in  agricultural  pursuits,  elect  to  spend 
their  evening  of  life  in  comfort  and  well-earned 
ease  in  the  social  environments  of  city  life.  One 
of  the  well-known  men  of  this  class  is  found  in 
General  W.  Carrel,  whose  comfortable  home  is 
situated  at  No.  514  North  22nd  street.  Mr.  Car- 
rel was  born  in  Clay  County,  Missouri,  in  Sep- 
tember, 1832  ,and  is  a  son  of  John  and  Elizabeth 
(Stubblefield)  Carrel. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  were  born,  reared 
and  married  in  Tennessee.  John  Carrel  was 
probably  of  Irish  extraction.  At  a  very  early 
date  in  the  settlement  of  Clay,  County,  Missouri, 
he  located  there  with  his  family,  securing  a  large 
tract  of  the  wild  prairie  land  to  which  he  added 
by  purchase.  Later  in  life  he  removed  to  De- 
Kalb  County  and  there  both  he  and  his  wife 
died.  Their  children  were:  Nathaniel,  Robert, 
William,  George,  Major  and  Nancy,  all  deceased; 
Fannie;  Martha,  deceased;  General  \Y.,  of  this 


-  sketch ;  Jackson,  of  DeKalb  County  ;  and  Fran- 
cis, of  DeKalb  County. 

The  boyhood  of  our  subject  was  spent  in 
hard  work  on  his  father's  farm,  with  absolutely 
no  chance  to  attend  any  kind  of  a  school.  He 
grew  to  manhood  well-trained,  however,  in  all 
agricultural  pursuits  and  possessed  of  that  sound 
business  sense  which,  under  all  conditions,  is  the 
foundation  of  all  practical  success.  He  married 
at  the  age  of  20  years  and  started  into  farming 
for  himself,  buying  land  in  DeKalb  County. 
Later  he  traded  this  for  land  in  Clay  County,  but 
bought  a  second  time  in  DeKalb  County  and  was 
operating  a  farm  there  when  the  Civil  War  broke 
out. 

In  1862,  when  excitement  ran  high,  Mr.  Car- 
rel enlisted  for  army  service,  at  Stewartsville, 
Missouri,  entering  Company  H,  Fourth  Reg., 
Missouri  A'ol.  Cav.,  and  was  soon  thereafter  sent 
to  Jefferson  City.  During  the  whole  two  }ears 
of  service,  Mr.  Carrel  was  in  poor  health,  not 
sick  enough  to  be  discharged,  but  too  ill  to  per- 
form his  duties  with  any  degree  of  comfort.  It 
was  during  this  enforced  period  of  absence  from 
home  that  he  realized  the  noble  qualities  of  his 
most  estimable  wife.  Left  alone  on  the  farm,  with 
five  little  children,  she  bravely  took  upon  herself 
not  only  the  accustomed  duties  of  her  absent 
husband,  but  cared  for  and  provided  for  her 
young  family.  She  cut  wood,  operated  the  farm, 
harvested  the  crops  and  hauled  her  wheat  to  St. 
Joseph  and  sold  it  there.  Every  part  of  the 
farm  was  forced  to  add  to  the  income,  and  her 
poultry,  eggs,  butter  and  cheese  were  all  dis- 
posed of  by  herself  in  the  neighboring  city.  Mr. 
Carrel  remained  on  the  farm  in  DeKalb  County 
until  1 87 1,  when  he  rented  it.  He  sold  it  sub- 
sequently and  bought  his  present  comfortable 
home  in  St.  Joseph  in  1872.  Since  locating  here 
he  has  done  some  teaming,  but  for  the  past  four 

.years  he  has  lived  retired.  He  has  invested 
largely  in  real  estate  in  the  city  and  has  an  ample 
income. 

In  1852,  Mr.  Carrel  was  married  to  Virginia 
Bays,  who  was  born  in  Fayette  County,  Virginia, 
and  is  a  daughter  of  W^illiam  and  Margaret  (Jen- 
kins) Bays,  both  of  whom  were  born  in  Fayette 
County.  They  were  the  first  settlers  in  DeKalb 
County,  Missouri,  where  Mr.  Bays  was  a  large 
flax  grower  and  a  man  of  considerable  prom- 
inence. Both  he  and  his  wife  died  in  that 
county.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bays  had  11  children, 
the  three  stirvivors  of  the  family  being:  }iiilcs. 
of  Caldwell  County,  Missouri;  ]\lartha,  wife  of 


6i4 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


Frank  Lockhart,  of  DeKalb  County ;  and  \"ir- 
ginia,  the  wife  of  our  subject. 

Mr.  and  j\Irs.  Carrel  have  had  seven  children, 
namely:  Sarah,  who  is  the  wife  of  Marshall 
Smith,  of  Clarksdale,  Missouri ;  William,  who  is 
a  carpenter,  living  at  Clarksdale ;  Edward  Alex- 
ander, who  is  a  carpenter  at  Portland,  Oregon ; 
Jackson,  who  is  a  farmer  in  DeKalb  County ; 
Burr  H.,  who  resides  at  Clarksdale ;  and  Mar- 
garet and  Belle,  both  deceased. 

Although  he  has  never  sought  office,  Mr. 
Carrel  has  always  been  interested  in  public  af- 
fairs and  has  actively  supported  the  principles 
and  candidates  of  the  Republican  party.  Both 
he  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Cumberland 
Presbyterian  Church. 

Hard  toil  and  persevering  industry  were  re- 
quired of  our  esteemed  subject  and  his  estimable 
wife  for  many  years.  They  thus  converted  their 
wild  land  into  a  comfortable  home.  Conditions 
in  this  section  of  Missouri  were  very  dififerent  50 
years  ago  and  the  hardships  faced  by  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Carrel  were  such  as  tried  their  endurance 
but  never  weakened  their  affection  for  each  other. 
Their  "Gc*den  Wedding,"  which  anniversary  was 
celebrated  on  June  20,  1901,  was  an  occasion  long 
to  be  remembered.  Surrounded  by  their  chil- 
dren, whom  they  had  reared  with  prudence  and 
wisdom,  preparing  them  for  all  the  duties  of 
life,  and  congratulated  by  friends  of  many  years, 
they  passed  this  milestone,  happy  that  they  had 
been  spared  to  reach  it  together.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Carrel,  whose  portraits  are  shown  on  a  preceding 
page,  are  much  beloved  in  St.  Joseph  and  their 
many  friends  hope  that  they  may  be  able  to  see 
other  pleasant  anniversaries. 


■♦ » » 


RANK  J.  MOSS,  one  of  the  prominent 
business  men  of  St.  Joseph,  who  is 
president  and  manager  of  the  Huttig- 
AIoss  Alanufacturing  Company,  of  this 
city,  was  born  ]\Iarch  20,  1863,  at 
Portage  City,  Wisconsin,  and  is  a  son  of  Thomas 
and  Fannie  (Bonell)  Moss. 

The  parents  of  Mr.  Moss,  who  were  born  at 
Liverpool,  England,  came  to  the  United  States 
in  1847,  settling  on  a  farm  near  JMoundsville, 
Wisconsin.  In  1861.  Thomas  Moss  enlisted  in 
the  Union  Army,  entering  Company  I,  Eighth 
Wisconsin  Heavy  Artillery,  under  General 
Guppy.  His  service  was  confined  to  the  West. 
At  IMissonary  Ridge  he  was  so  severely  wounded 


that  he  was  sent  home  and  died  nine  da}-s  later, 
leaving  his  widow  with  seven  children, — two 
daughters  and  five  sons, — of  which  family  our 
subject  is  the  youngest.  The  mother  still  sur- 
vives and  lives  at  the  old  home  at  Portage  City, 
Wisconsin. 

Frank  J.  Moss  was  employed  on  the  farm  until 
the  age  of  16  years  and  secured  his  education  in 
the  schools  of  his  native  place.  He  entered  into 
business  in  the  employ  of  his  brother,  T.  F.  Moss^ 
who  conducted  a  picture  frame  and  molding  man- 
ufactory at  Hudson,  Wisconsin,  and  there  he 
learned  all  the  practical  details  of  the  business 
during  his  two  years  stay.  He  then  traveled  a 
year  as  a  representative  of  the  Eastman  Dry 
Plate  Company,  of  Rochester,  New  York.  ]\lr. 
Moss  then  conducted  a  photographic  and  picture 
frame  business  at  Iowa  City,  Iowa,  for  one  year 
and  then  entered  into  the  employ  of  the  Huttig 
Brothers'  Manufacturing  Company,  at  Musca- 
tine and  traveled  for  this  house,  making  large  job- 
bing points  from  Philadelphia  in  the  East  to  many 
sections  of  the  South  and  West.  In  1893  he  came 
to  St.  Joseph  as  the  firm's  representative  and  es- 
tablished a  branch  house  here. 

In  the  following  year  this  business  was  incor- 
porated and  Mr.  Moss  became  manager  and  pres- 
ident of  the  company.  He  has  other  business  in- 
terests, being  secretary  and  general  manager  of 
the  Huttig-]\ioss  Lumber  Company  of  Louisiana, 
which  was  incorporated  in  1902.  He  is  also  vice- 
president  of  the  Waverly  Wooden  Works,  a  cor- 
poration which  has  just  been  formed  in  St. 
Joseph. 

When  Mr.  Moss  first  took  charge  of  the  busi- 
ness of  Huttig  Brothers  here,  the  plant  was  lo- 
cated in  a  two-story  iron-clad  building,  100  by 
200  feet  in  dimensions,  located  on  Fourth  and 
Locust  streets.  It  now  occupies  two  city  blocks 
with  163.000  square  feet  of  floor  space.  The 
offices  and  warehouses  occupy  a  two-story  brick 
building  241  feet  long  and  no  wide,  on  the  west 
side  of  Fourth  street,  and  another  frame  building 
366  feet  long  by  40  feet  in  width,  also  two 
stories  in  height.  On  the  east  side  of  the  street 
is  the  factory,  three  stories  and  basement,  90  by 
200  feet,  and  the  remainder  of  the  building  space 
is  covered  with  lumber  sheds.  The  company  gives 
employment  to  200  men  and  the  pay-roll  is  $135,- 
000  annually.  Eight  traveling  men  cover  the 
trade  territory,  which  extends  150  miles  to  the 
East,  as  far  West  as  the  Pacific  Coast  and  as  far 
South  as  the  Gulf  of  Mexico.  The  Huttig-Moss 
Lumber    Company    owns    200,000,000    feet    of 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


615 


cypress  timber  in  Assumption  Parish,  near  Na- 
poleonville,  Louisiana. 

In  1896  JMr.  AIoss  was  married  to  Grace  Flint, 
who  was  born  at  St.  Joseph  and  is  a  daughter  of 
John  D.  and  ]\Iary  (Bell)  Flint.  They  have  one 
daughter,  Frances,  now  six  years  of  age.  Mr. 
Moss  belongs  to  the  Country,  Benton  and  Com- 
mercial clubs  and  is  an  Elk.  As  a  good  citizen 
he  is  interested  in  politics  and  is  identified  with 
the  Republican  party.  He  is  vice-president  of  the 
Missouri  World's  Fair  Commission  at  St.  Louis. 

♦-•-♦ 


AWSON  ELLIOTT,  one  of  the  prom- 
inent farmers  and  mtich  respected  citi- 
zens of  Rush  township,  Buchanan 
County,  who  resides  on  his  well-im- 
proved farm  of  200  acres  in  section  25, 
was  born  in  Aladison  County,  Kentucky,  Janu- 
ary 28,  1833,  and  is  a  son  of  Burgess  and  Nancy 
(Larimore)    Elliott. 

This  family  originated  in  England  and  was 
founded  by  an  early  ancestor  in  Virginia,  whence 
drifted  one  branch  to  Kentucky,  where  Burgess 
Elliott  was  born.  He  was  reared  and  educated 
in  Madison  County,  where  he  followed  farming 
until  April,  1845.  "^vhen  he  came  to  Buchanan 
County,  Missouri.  Here,  in  the  same  pursuit,  he 
spent  the  remainder  of  his  active  life,  dying  in 
1880. 

Burgess  Elliott  married  Nancy  Larimore,  who 
was  also  born  in  Madison  County,  Kentucky,  and 
was  a  daughter  of  Abraham  Larimore,  who  was 
a  farmer  and  blacksmith  there.  They  had  issue 
as  follows :  Abraham,  deceased ;  Dawson,  of  this 
sketch :  Henry,  a  farmer  of  Oklahoma  Terri- 
tory :  Burgess,  deceased  ;  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Madi- 
son Fenton ;  Phoebe,  wife  of  Greenup  Sutton ; 
Nancy,  wife  of  Julius  Perkins,  of  Plattsburg, 
Missouri ;  Levi  P.,  deceased ;  and  Milton  and 
Mary,  deceased.  Burgess  Elliott  was  a  con- 
sistent member  of  the  Christian  Church  and  for 
many  years  was  a  deacon  and  elder.  Politically, 
he  was  a  Democrat. 

Dawson  Elliott,  our  immediate  subject,  was  af- 
forded excellent  educational  opportunities,  at- 
tending school  until  he  was  21  years  of  age  and 
completing  the  course  of  the  Irvin  Valley  Pligh 
School.  On  starting  upon  his  own  business  ca- 
reer, he  chose  farming  as  his  occupation  and  set- 
tled in  Rush  township,  having  here  a  farm  of  200 
acres,  which  he  has  placed  under  the  highest  state 
of  cultivation.    His  improvements  include  a  beau- 


tiful home  with  pleasant  surroundings,  and  barns, 
buildings  and  orchards,  in  fact  all  that  contrib- 
utes to  the  pleasure  and  profit  of  agricultural  life. 

On  July  9,  1854,  Mr.  Elliott  was  married  to 
Elizabeth  Argabright,  who  was  a  daughter  of 
John  Argabright,  a  farmer  and  carpenter  now 
living  in  Nebraska.  Mrs.  Elliott  died  February  5, 
1894.  She  was  a  faithful  member  of  the  Chris- 
tian Church.  They  had  a  family  of  nine  chil- 
dren, as  follows :  Nina,  who  married  Monroe  T. 
Connor,  of  Nebraska,  and  has  six  children, — 
Lemuel,  Eva,  Gertie,  Earl, Ray  and  Mabel  ;Emma, 
who  died  in  childhood ;  Nellie,  wife  of  James 
Keller;  Edmund,  of  Omaha;  Dawson,  Jr.,  a 
promising  youth,  who  died  while  attending 
school  at  Platte  City ;  Betty,  who  married 
Thomas  Allison,  a  farmer  of  Rush  township,  and 
has  six  children, — Grace,  Guy,  Vivian,  Eunice, 
Jasper  D.  and  Lois ;  Lulu  ;  John,  who  married 
Katherine  Reesner,  of  Kansas ;  and  Rosa,  who 
died  in  infanc}". 

During  his  long  residence  in  Rush  township, 
IMr.  Elliott  has  always  taken  an  active  part  in 
all  that  has  promised  to  add  to  the  public  wel- 
fare, has  contributed  liberally  to  educational  and 
religious  organizations  and  has  ever  given  his 
infiuence  in  the  direction  of  temperance  and  mor- 
ality. He  is  well  known  and  most  highly  re- 
spected. His  political  sentiments  are  in  accord 
with  the  Democratic  party.  For  many  years  he 
has  been  a  leading  elder  in  the  Christian  Church 
at  Sugar  Creek. 


■■»»» 


OHX  GLEICH.  one  of  the  highly  re- 
spected and  substantial  farmers  of  Bu- 
chanan County,  owning  220  acres  of  fine 
land  in  section  25,  township  58,  range 
35,  and  section  30,  township  58,  range 
34,  in  Washington  township,  has  retired  from 
business  activity  after  an  active  life  of  many 
years.  He  was  born  in  Germany,  April  15,  1830. 
]\Ir.  Gleich  obtained  his  schooling  in  his  na- 
tive land  and  came  to  America  in  1854.  He 
made  the  voyage  in  a  sailing  vessel,  which  kept 
him  on  the  stormy  ocean  for  43  days,  but  finally 
landed  him  safely  at  New  Orleans.  From  that 
city .  he  went  to  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  and  two 
months  later  came  to  St.  Joseph.  Here  he  fol- 
lowed the  baker's  trade  for  several  years  and  then 
bought  40  acres  of  land  in  Marion  township,  on 
the  Platte  River.  This  he  farmed  until  1865. 
when  he  bought  his  present  farm,  where  he  has 


6i6 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


lived  ever  since.  He  owns  220  acres,  and,  con- 
sidering that  he  came  to  the  United  States  with 
little  capital  except  his  youth,  energy  and  habits 
of  industry,  it  is  a  A'cry  good  showing.  Although 
he  always  worked  hard  until  he  retired,  he  is  still 
ver\"  active  and  is  one  of  the  best  informed  men 
in  his  locality.  His  farm  produces  very  abun- 
dantly, grain  being  grown  very  successfully,  with 
otlier  products.    The  land  is  now  under  rental. 

Mr.  Gleich  was  united  in  marriage  with  Re- 
becca Brosi.  who  was  born  in  Pittsburg,  Pennsyl- 
vania. They  have  had  four  children,  the  three 
survivors  being :  ]\lartha,  Emma  N.  and  Frank,  of 
St.  Joseph.    Henry  is  deceased. 


♦  ♦  » 


\MES  M.  WILSON,  one  of  the  leading 
members  of  the  Buchanan  County  bar, 
was  l:)orn  December  29,  1857,  near  De- 
Kalb,  Buchanan  County,  Missouri,  and 
is  a  son  of  Jasper  and  ^lary  (Garton) 
Wilson. 

The  Wilson  family,  in  some  of  its  branches, 
can  still  be  found  in  di liferent  parts  of  North 
Carolina,  in  which  State  Jasper  Wilson,  the  great- 
grandfather of  James  ]\I.  Wilson,  was  born,  and 
there  married  Jane  Shannon,  of  Scotch-Irish 
descent.  Four  sons  and  one  daughter  were  born 
to  them,  viz :  James,  William.  Jasper,  Quentin, 
and  Annie,  who  became  the  wife  of  Joseph  Che- 
nowelh.  In  1812  they  removed  to  Orange  County. 
Indiana,  settling  in  the  woods  on  the  confines  of 
civilization,  and  there  a  home  was  made  and  the 
great-grandfather  died  in  June.,  1826,  on  Honey 
Creek.  His  widow,  born  in  1774.  survived  him 
manv  years,  dying  in  Illinois  in   1855. 

James  W'ilson.  the  grandfather  of  James  M., 
was  born  in  North  Carolina,  in  January,  1797.  and 
was  15  years  old  when  he  accompanied  his  father 
to  Indiana.  He  continued  his  father's  farming 
operations  in  Orange  County,  and  married  Pris- 
cilla  iNIoore,  who  was  born  in  1798  in  Tennessee. 
Their  children  were  nine  in  number,  the  father 
of  our  subject  being  the  second  in  order  of  birth. 
In  t8i8  James  Wilson  received  a  commission  as 
captain  of  militia  and  took  part  in  numerous 
skirmishes  with  the  Indians.  He  also  served  as  a 
justice  of  the  peace.  In  i8;^5  he  was  at  Chicago 
and  he  took  part  in  the  Black  Hawk  War.  In 
T837,  James  Wilson  moved  into  Missouri  and 
settled  with  his  family  in  the  woods  in  Buchanan 
County,  before  it  was  organized  as  such.  Pie 
preempted  a  claim  when  Sparta  was  still  known 


as  Sactown  and  its  site  was  covered  with  the  wig- 
wams of  the  Indians.  Deer  still  freely  roamed 
through  the  forest,  many  wolves  and  some  bear 
still  remained,  while  geese  and  wild  turkeys  gave 
abundant  opportunity  for  the  Inniter.  The  old 
preemption  house  on  the  present  home  farm  stood 
imtil  but  recently  and  was  probably  the  oldest 
house  in  the  count}'.  Both  James  Wilson  and  his 
son  Hamilton  were  martvrs  to  their  lovaltv.  in 
1861. 

Jasper  Wilson,  father  of  our  subject,  was 
born  in  Orange  County.  Indiana,  in  1822  and, 
after  coming-  to  ^Missouri,  with  his  brothers  as- 
sisted  his  father  in  clearing  up  the  farm  and 
fencing  the  place.  Oxen  were  used  to  break  up 
the  land  and  grub  out  the  roots.  Although  the 
first  corn  was  planted  almost  on  the  top  of  the 
ground,  the  soil  was  so  fertile  that  a  good  }ield 
was  realized  and  he  was  able  to  raise  plenty  of 
vegetables  without  much  effort.  All  the  grind- 
ing had  to  be  done  at  Smithville,  a  distance  of  30 
miles,  the  trip  to  and  fro,  with  the  ox  team,  con- 
suming from  10  to  12  days.  Later,  mills  were 
erected  much  nearer,  at  Platte  City  in  Platte 
County,  the  schools  and  churches  and  other  im- 
provements which  had  been  started  by  his  father 
grew  and  flourished  and  the  tide  of  civilization 
continued  to  sweep  on.  Many  of  those  who 
wrought  and  toiled  did  not  live  to  see  the  realiza- 
tion of  their  hopes,  but  their  descendants  enjoy 
the  fruits  of  their  endeavors. 

Among  Jasper  Wilson's  recollections  of  those 
pioneer  days  are  many  of  a  most  interesting  char- 
acter. He  recalls  when  fires  were  made  by  means 
of  the  flint  and  on  manv  occasions  he  has  gone  to 
a  neighbor  to  borrow  "a  little  fire."  The  evening 
lamp  in  the  early  days  consisted  of  a  cup  of 
lard  with  a  twisted  wick,  but  later  'Sir.  Wilson 
assisted  his  mother  in  the  molding  of  candles. 
Plis  present  farm  of  t6o  acres  is  located  in  section 
14,  Bloomington  township,  this  being  the  first 
land  he  cultivated  after  reaching  his  majority. 
He  later  removed  to  section  22,  where  he  lived 
for  19  years  near  Sugar  Creek.  It  contained  130 
acres  which  he  cleared  and  fenced  and  otherwise 
improved,  but  in  1867  he  moved  back  to  his  pres- 
ent farm. 

Jasper  Wilson  married  Tvlary  Garton.  who  was 
born  in  1824  and  died  in  1887.  She  was  a  daugh- 
ter of  Zachariah  Garton.  who  came  to  Buchanan 
County  in  1838  and  located  near  DeKalb.  where 
he  died  in  1853. 

Mr.  Wilson  has  always  been  a  Republican 
and  a  strong  supporter  of  the  government.    Dur- 


Ax\TD    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


617 


ing  the  Civil  War  he  was  in  the  army  for  a 
time,  with  the  rank  of  lieutenant.  He  has  always 
taken  a  prominent  part  in  local  matters,  assisting 
in  the  building  of  schools,  the  improving  of  the 
highwa}s  and  the  founding  of  churches  and 
charitable  institutions.  He  served  many  years 
as  a  school  director  and  was  also  road  overseer 
for  a  considerable  period.  Although  now  past  82 
years  of  age,  he  retains  in  a  remarkable  degree 
the  vigor  of  youth.  He  has  done  so  much,  has 
seen  so  much  and  can  intelligently  look  back  over 
such  a  long  period  of  the  exciting  history  of  Bu- 
chanan County,  that  a  visit  to  him,  on  the  old 
farm,  is  one  of  the  greatest  enjoyment  and  profit. 

James  M.  Wilson  grew  up  on  the  old  home 
in  Bloomington  township  and  received  his  early 
educational  training  in  the  log  school  house  which 
stood  near  his  home.  He  remained  with  his 
father  until  188 1,  and  then  engaged  in  teaching 
school,  at  the  same  time  entering  upon  the  study 
of  the  law.  In  May,  1886,  he  passed  his  examin- 
ations and  was  admitted  to  the  bar,  and  has 
continued  in  active  practice  ever  since,  and  has 
made  an  enviable  name  for  himself  in  Buchanan 
County. 

On  July  19,  1892,  Mr.  Wilson  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Gertrude  Minor,  who  was  born  at 
Stockbridge,  Missouri,  and  is  a  daughter  of  the 
late  Dr.  John  Elinor,  a  very  prominent  physician 
of  that  locality.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  W^ilson  have  two 
children,  Robert  Nye  and  Bernice. 

Mr.  Wilson  naturally  is  a  Republican,  both  by 
inheritance  and  conviction.  On  a  number  of  oc- 
casions he  has  been  honored  by  his  party  by 
being  selected  as  a  standard-bearer,  and  in  1888 
was  defeated  for  city  attorney  by  a  very  small 
majority.  In  the  same  year  he  was  nominated 
for  prosecuting  attorney,  but  declined  to  accept. 
From  1898  to  1900  he  served  as  chairman  of  the 
Republican  County  Central  Committee.  He  now 
holds  the  office  of  city  counselor  of  St.  Joseph, 
having  been  appointed  to  that  position  by  ]\Iayor 
C.  J.  Borden  in  April,  1903. 

Fraternally,  Mr.  Wilson  is  a  member  of  En- 
terprise Lodge,  No.  282,  I.  O.  O.  F. ;  Zeredatha 
Lodge.  No.  189,  A.  F.  &  A.  M. :  Pride  of  the 
W^est  Lodge,  No.  42,  Ancient  Order  of  United 
W^orkmen  ;  and  Missouri  Camp,  No.  1883,  Mod- 
ern W'oodmen  of  America. 

Mr.  Wilson  is  a  worthy  representative  of  one 
of  the  oldest  and  best  families  of  Bloomington 
township,  but  this  is  not  his  only  claim  to  the  high 
esteem  in  which  he  is  held.  As  a  citizen  of  St. 
Joseph,  he  has  taken  an  active  part  in  her  up- 


building, has  been  interested  in  various  success- 
ful business  enterprises  and  has  honorably  and 
ably  filled  a  place  in  his  profession. 


♦ » » 


HOMAS  BUFORD  ALLEN,  senior 
member  of  the  well-known,  reliable  law 
firm  of  Allen  &  Mayer  and  the  popular 
aspirant  for  judicial  honors  on  the  Cir- 
cuit bench  of  Buchanan  County,  is  a 
son  of  the  late  Judge  N.  B.  and  Sarah  (Bollinger) 
Allen  and  belongs  to  a  family  which  has  given  to 
Missouri  more  than  her  quota  of  lawyers  and 
some  of  the  most  brilliant  legal  lights  of  the  State. 
His  brother^  Albert  O.  Allen,  is  State  Auditor, 
an  office  previously  held  for  two  terms  by  a 
brother-in-law.  Judge  Thomas  Holliday,  while 
Hon.  James  D.  Fox  (whose  wife  is  a  first  cousin), 
occupies  a  seat  on  the  Supreme  bench  of  the 
State.  The  ancestors  of  Mr.  Allen  have  been  so 
closely  identified  with  the  growth  of  Missouri 
since  its  earliest  days  that  the  facts  have  become  a 
matter  of  history  and  need  no  especial  mention  by 
us.  The  Bollingers  were  among  the  earliest  pio- 
neers and  it  was  in  their  honor  that  the  county 
of  that  name  was  called.  There  Sarah  (Bollin- 
ger) Allen  was  born,  while  Fredericktown,  which 
was  named  for  her  uncle  Frederick,  was  ""the 
birthplace  of  her  son  Thomas  Buford  Allen,  who 
was  born  March  26,  1868.  Judge  N.  B.  Allen 
was  born  in  Madison  County  in  1821,  was  a  man 
of  much  more  than  ordinary  ability  and  gained 
and  held  an  envied  place  among  the  leading  at- 
torneys of  the  State.  As  probate  judge  he  was 
admitted  to  have  few  equals,  his  fair  and  im- 
partial interpretation  of  all  points  winning  the 
good  will  and  friendship  of  all  counsel,  even  in 
the  most  bitterly  contested  cases.  He  was  serv- 
ing his  fifth  term  at  the  time  of  his  death  in  July, 
1902.  His  brother,  L.  C.  Allen,  is  a  colonel  in 
the  United  States  Army  (regulars),  being  a  grad- 
uate of  West  Point. 

After  attending  school  in  Fredericktown  and 
teaching  a  few  terms  in  Madison  County,  Thomas 
Buford  Allen  entered  the  State  University  of 
Missouri  at  Colvmibia,  where  he  was  a  close  stu- 
dent for  three  years.  He  read  law  with  Hon.  B. 
B.  Cahoon,  of  Fredericktown.  for  a  time  and 
then  entered  the  law  school  of  Georgetown  Uni- 
versity, at  Washington.  D.  C,  from  which  he 
graduated  with  the  class  of  1891  ;  in  the  following 
year  he  took  post-graduate  work.  In  the  mean- 
time, from  Ojctober.  1889,  until  .August.  1893,  he 


6i8 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY  AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


had  been  employed  in  the  office  of  the  Judge 
Advocate  General,  in  the  War  Department  at 
Washington,  receiving  the  appointment  after  a 
competative  examination  under  the  civil  service 
law.  Not  wishing  to  spend  the  best  years  of  his 
life  in  this  manner,  ^Iv.  Allen  resigned  in  August, 
1893,  and  returned  to  his  native  State  where  he 
at  once  formed  a  partnership  with  Air.  Sherwood, 
with  whom  he  was  associated  at  St.  Joseph,  under 
the  name  of  Sherwood  &  Allen  until  July,  1898. 
He  has  established  a  reputation  as  a  keen,  clear- 
sighted and  careful  lawyer  and  has  the  confidence 
of  the  public  which  has  resulted  in  a  large  patron- 
age among  the  most  desirable  class  of  clients. 
Mr.  Allen  puts  his  entire  energy  into  his  work 
and  it  is  this  vim  and  ardor  which  has  led  to  his 
remarkable  success.  He  has  acted  as  attorney 
for  the  county  collector  for  the  past  five  years, 
and  for  six  years  has  been  a  member  of  the  fac- 
ulty of  Ensworth  Medical  College,  in  which  he 
is  professor  of  medical  jurisprudence. 

Air.  Allen  was  married  in  New  Madrid,  Mis- 
souri, November  10,  1892,  to  Emma  Hunter, 
daughter  of  Joseph  Hunter.  On  March  20,  1903, 
she  entered  the  life  beyond  and  was  laid  to  sleep 
beneath  the  budding  branches  of  a  newly  awak- 
ening springtime.  Two  little  children  were  left 
to  comfort  their  father:  Joseph  Hunter  Allen, 
aged  six  years ;  and  Thomas  B.  Allen,  Jimior, 
aged  three.  Mr.  Allen  is  prominent  in  fraternal 
circles,  being  a  member  of  the  Knights  of  Pvth- 
ias ;  M.  W.  A. ;  B.  P.  O.  E. ;  I.  O.  R.  M. ;  Knights 
and  Ladies  of  Security ;  Yeomen ;  and  American 
Guild.  He  is  attorney  for  several  of  the  local 
lodges  and  also  for  the  mercantile  agency  of  R.  G. 
Dun  &  Company.  He  is  an  active  Democrat  and 
a  very  popular  gentleman. 


■♦*» 


RCH.  COOPER,  one  of  the  prominent 
and  enterprising  men  of  Rushville, 
Buchanan  County,  operating  a  grain 
l)usincss  and  a  butcher  shop  in  the 
town,  was  born  in  Daviess  County, 
Missouri,  October  9.  1854,  and  is  a  son  of  Charles 
and  Aramantha  (Powell)  Cooper. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  born  in  1834, 
at  Greenwichburg,  Kentucky,  where  he  followed 
the  vocation  of  farming  until  he  came  to  Alis- 
souri,  a  pioneer  settler  in  Daviess  County.  He 
cleared  up  a  farm  there  and  operated  it  until 
1869.  when  he  came  to  Buchanan  County,  located 
in  Rush  township  and  continued  to  farm  until  his 


death,  in  1904.  He  married  Aramantha  Powell, 
a  daughter  of  Benjamin  Powell,  a  well-known 
farmer  of  Greenwichburg,  Kentucky,  and  they 
had  a  family  of  11  children,  of  whom  only  two — 
Arch,  and  James — are  now  living.  Barney, 
Frank,  Benjamin,  Elizabeth  and  Levi  are  among 
those  deceased.  Frank,  who  was  a  resident  of 
Arkansas,  died  November  6,  1904.  The  mother 
of  this  family  died  in  1895.  Air.  Cooper  was  a 
prominent  and  influential  member  of  the  Demo- 
cratic party,  but  never  sought  office. 

Arch.  Cooper  attended  school  in  Daviess 
County  and  completed  his  education  in  the  schools 
of  Buchanan  County  at  the  age  of  14  years.  He 
then  began  farming  on  the  home  place  and  as- 
sisted his  father  until  he  attained  his  majority. 
His  inclinations  not  being  in  the  direction  of  agri- 
culture, he  has  devoted  his  attention  mainly  to 
mercantile  pursuits,  for  10  years  operating  a  gen- 
eral mercantile  business  at  Rushville.  At  present 
he  deals  only  in  grain  and  since  June,  1904,  has 
operated  a  first-class  meat  store.  He  is  accounted 
one  of  the  leading  business  men  of  this  busy  town, 
a  man  of  honesty  and  uprightness,  who  com- 
mands the  respect  of  his  fellow  citizens. 

On  August  18,  1879,  ^^i"-  Cooper  was  married 
to  Alollie  Gabbert,  a- daughter  of  Ransom  Gab- 
bert,  a  prominent  farmer  of  Lake  township.  They 
have  three  children :  Nettie,  Ruby  and  Archie. 

Air.  Cooper  has  always  been  identified  with 
the  Democratic  party.  Like  his  father,  he  is  no 
office  seeker,  upholding  only  the  principles  he 
believes  to  be  right,  without  a  desire  for  political 
reward. 


■♦ « » 


OSEPH  LILIGER,  one  of  the  prominent 
and  successful  farmers  of  Washington 
township.  Buchanan  County,  residing  on 
a  well-cultivated  farm  of  58  acres  lo- 
cated in  sections  30  and  31,  township 
58,  range  35,  not  far  from  the  City  \\'ater-\\'orks 
of  St.  Joseph  and  the  Alissouri  River,  was  born  in 
Prussia.  Germany,  in  September,  1831.  He  was 
reared  a  farmer,  that  being  the  calling  of  his 
parents,  Frank  and  Alaria  (Parker)  Liliger. 

After  obtaining  a  good,  common-school  edu- 
cation, he  learned  the  trade  of  blacksmith  and 
worked  at  it  until  he  came  to  the  United  States, 
in  1853.  Landing  at  Baltimore,  Alaryland,  he 
spent  some  time  in  New  Orleans,  then  came  to 
St.  Joseph.  Alissouri,  in  1858.  Here  he  opened 
up  a  blacksmith  shop  and  worked  at  his  trade 
\-ery  profitably   until    1862,   when  he  closed   his 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


619 


shop  on  IMain  street  and  retired  to  his  farm, 
■which  he  had  purchased  in  the  previous  year. 
Tliis  was,  at  the  time,  all  brush  land  and  some 
3-ears  passed  before  ^Ir.  Liliger  had  cleared  it 
and  brought  it  to  a  proper  state  of  cultivation. 
It  is  now  one  of  the  best  farms  of  the  township, 
noted  for  its  fertility.  J\lr.  Liliger  has  proven 
himself  as  good  a  farmer  as  he  was  a  blacksmith 
and  devotes  the  greater  part  of  his  attention  to 
agricultural  matters,  although  the  little  shop  on 
his  land  shows  that  he  still  enjoys  work  at  the 
forge  and  anvil.  Probably  this  exercise  in  part 
accounts  for  his' activity,  in  spite  of  his  73  years. 
He  raises  corn,  vegetables,  grapes  and  fruit,  and, 
■on  account  of  his  farm  being  situated  only  a  little 
over  two  miles  from  St.  Joseph,  he  has  a  fine 
market  there.  Mr.  Liliger  owns  other  valuable 
property,  a  farm  of  320  acres,  in  Butler  County, 
Kansas.  He  is  considered  one  of  the  substantial 
men  of  Washington  township,  and  has  accumu- 
lated his  property  entirely  through  his  own  in- 
dustry, 

Mr.  Liliger  was  married  first,  at  St.  Joseph,  to 
Mary  Stump,  who  died  and  left  three  children, 
namely :  Frank ;  Joseph,  who  manages  the  home 
place  ;  and  Rachel.  ]\Ir.  Liliger's  second  marriage 
was  to  Mary  Thomas,  who  was  born  in  Hardin 
County,  Kentucky,  and  came  with  her  parents  to 
Missouri  in  1851,  when  six  years  of  age.  She  is 
a  daughter  of  William  Thomas,  who  was  a  native 
of  Kentucky,  and  later  a  prominent  farmer  of 
DeKalb  County,  Missouri.  One  son  was  born  to 
this  marriage,  James.  Mrs.  Liliger  is  a  most 
estimable  lady,  an  excellent  housewife  and  good 
manager.  Mr.  Liliger  belongs  to  the  Catholic 
Church  and  his  wife  to  the  Baptist  Church.  In 
politics,  Mr.  Liliger  is  a  Democrat, 


^ » ♦■ 


\TTONIO  ARENA,  president  of  the 
Arena  Fruit  Company,  which  con- 
ducts extensive  business  houses  at  St. 
Joseph  and  Kansas  City,  Missouri,  is 
one  of  the  most  enterprising  business 
citizens  of  the  former  city,  where  he  has  lived 
continuously  since  i88q.  The  business  of  which 
he  is  the  head  was  established  by  him  and  is  one 
of  considerable  importance  in  Western  Missouri 
and  the  adjoining  States. 

Antonio  Arena  was  born  in  Leperdi,  Italy,  in 

1857,  and  came  to  America  at  the  age  of  about  18 

years.     He   located    in    Baltimore,    Maryland,   a 

short  time,  then  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  for  a  year, 

iollowing  the  fruit  business  in  both  cities.     He 


removed  to  St.  Louis  and  two  years  later,  in  Feb- 
ruary, 1880,  came  with  his  wife  to  St,  Joseph, 
Missouri.  Here  he  established  a  small  fruit 
store  on  Market  square,  and  met  with  such  suc- 
cess as  to  necessitate  a  change  to  a  more  favor- 
able location.  In  1881  he  moved  to  Frederick 
avenue,  in  1883  to  Edmond  street,  and  still  later 
to  the  corner  of  Third  and  Felix  streets.  At  this 
time  he  formed  a  partnership  with  A.  G.  Ohio, 
under  the  firm  name  of  Arena,  Ohio  &  Company, 
which  continued  for  three  years.  Mr.  Arena  then 
continued  alone  at  Nos.  210-212  South  Third 
street,  where  he  has  since  remained.  He  was  the 
very  first  to  bring  car-load  shipments  of  bananas 
and  other  fruits  to  St.  Joseph  and  became  the 
leading  merchant  in  the  fruit  and  commission 
business  along  the  Missouri  River.  In  1901  he 
established  a  fruit  business  in  Kansas  City,  Mis- 
souri, and  in  1904  his  interests  were  incorporated 
under  the  title  of  the  Arena  Fruit  Company,  of 
which  he  is  president.  He  does  almost  all  of  the 
buying  himself,  and  frequently  makes  trips  to 
California  to  buy  fruit  directly  of  the  grower.  He 
has  a  thorough  knowledge  of  all  the  details  of  the 
business  and  is  a  man  of  keen  foresight  and  good 
business  judgment.  The  success  attained  by" him 
has  come  wholly  through  his  own  efiforts,  and 
through  honest  business  methods  he  has  become 
firmly  established  in  the  good  will  of  the  people 
of  this  city  and  all  with  whom  he  has  been 
brought  in  contact,  either  socially  or  in  business. 
He  is  public-spirited  and  is  deeply  interested  in 
all  such  projects  and  undertakings  as 'tend  to 
develop  the  city. 

Mr.  Arena  was  joined  in  matrimonv  with 
Augusta  A.  Fossati,  who  was  born  in  Bufifalo, 
New  York,  in  1862,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Joseph 
and  Marie  (Spaghettia)  Fossati,  both  of  whom 
were  natives  of  Italy  and  late  in  life  residents  of 
St.  Louis,  Missouri.  This  union  was  productive 
of  the  following  ofifspring:  Vincent  Mathias  ; 
Joseph  Fossati ;  John  Stern  Antonio  :  Anthony  S. ; 
Louis  Gale ;  and  Sylvester  C.  Politically,^  our 
subject  has  always  been  independent  and  has 
voted  for  the  men  best  qualified  for  office. 


■4 » » 


OHN  KAY  KERCHEVAL,  who  is  now 
retired  from  business  activity,  is  a  well- 
known  citizen  of  St.  Joseph,  where  he 
and  his  family  were  pioneers.  He  comes 
of   a    distinguished    family,    which    has 

been  established  in  this  country  since  the  middle 

of  the  17th  century. 


620 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN    COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


The  Kcrcheval  family  is  of  French  origin.  In 
1635,  during  the  oppression  of  the  Huguenots, 
two  brothers  of  this  name  went  from  France  to 
London,  England,  where  one  subsequently  died. 
The  other,  in  1699,  came  to  America  with  his 
family  and  settled  on  the  James  River  in  \'ir- 
ginia.  In  the  line  of  descent  we  find  that  one  of 
this  famtly  married  Aliss  Ball,  a  sister  of  George 
Washington's  mother.  John  Kercheval,  grand- 
father of  our  subject,  was  born  in  Tennessee 
and  was  an  iron  manufacturer.  He  conducted  the 
old  rolling  mills  at  Fort  Donelson  until  they  were 
destroyed  by  fire  and  subsequently  removed  to 
Alissouri.  W'ith  his  sons  he  entered  land  in  Bu- 
chanan County,  Missouri,  in  the  early  "forties." 

Capt.  Franklin  B.  Kercheval,  father  of  John 
Kav,  was  born  in  Pulaski  Countv,  Tennessee,  on 
July  9,  1817,  and  he  and  his  wife  preceded  his 
parents  to  St.  Joseph.    He  located  on  a  farm  four 
miles  east  of  St.  Joseph,  and  removed  in   1849 
to  the  city,  where  he  conducted  a  hardware  store 
for  five  years.    In  company  with  some  other  gen-' 
tlemen,  he  went  to  Louisville,  Kentucky,  where 
the  steamer  "Omaha"  w'as  built,  and  was  made 
captain  of   that   boat,    which   plied   between    St. 
Louis  and  Sioux  City.     Fie  afterward  built  the 
packet  boat  "Hesperion,"  of  which  he  was  cap- 
tain until  it  was  destroyed  by  fire  in  1862.     Re- 
turning then  to  St.   Joseph,  he  engaged  in   the 
wholesale  grocery  business  for  a  time,  then  pur- 
chased the  steamer  "Omaha,"  which  he  conducted 
until  1864.     His  next  commercial  venture  was  in 
fitting  out  50  wagons,  four  oxen  to  a  wagon,  to  go 
to  \'irginia  City.  Idaho.     In  that  city  he  engaged 
with  our  subject  in  the  wholesale  grocery  busi- 
ness for  four  years,  and  in  1868  returned  to  St. 
Joseph,    where    he    built    the    Eagle    mills,    now 
owned  by  the  R.  H.  Faucett  Mill  Company.  Dur- 
ing his  last  years  he  turned  his  attention  to  real 
estate,   in  which  he  had   large   investments.   He 
became  a  very  w^ealthy  man  and  at  one  time  was 
required   to  pay  more   in   taxes  than  anv  other 
man  of  the  county.     AMiile  in  Montana  he  laid 
out  Kercheval  City,  at  the  mouth  of  Mussel  Shell 
River.      He    was    an   elder   in    the    Presbyterian 
Church,  and  was  an  active  church  worker.     His 
death  occurrred  in  ^larch,  t886.     The  mother  or 
our  subject,  whose  maiden  name  was  Helen  Kay, 
was  born  in  Hopkinsville,  Kentucky. 

John  Kay  Kercheval  was  born  in  Buchanan 
County,  Missouri,  in  1848,  and  received  his  edu- 
cation in  the  public  schools  of  the  county.  He 
later  attended  the  State  I'niversity  of  Missouri, 
at  Columbia.  aft(M-  which  he  engaged  in  business 


in  Montana  with  nis  father  as  related  above.  Re- 
turning to  St.  Joseph,  he  engaged  in  the  grain 
business  for  many  years,  and  met  with  a  high  de- 
gree of  success.  He  also  served  as  deputy  city 
engineer  during  the  Hosea  administration,  under 
his  brother-in-law,  Thomas  M.  Long.  Politically, 
he  is  aftiliated  with  the  Democratic  party.  In 
1896.  he  sustained  a  stroke  of  paralysis,  aiid  has 
since  that  time  lived  in  retirement.  He  is  a  man 
of  strong  character,  and  has  many  lifelong  friends 
throughout  the  community. 

On  Alay  14,  1872,  at  Kansas  City,  Missouri, 
Mr.  Kercheval  was  united  in  marital  bonds  with 
Ella  Sites,  a  native  of  that  city.  Her  father, 
Andrew  J.  Sites,  was  of  English  ancestry  and 
came  of  a  prominent  Virginia  family.  He  removed 
with  his  parents  to  Saline  County,  Missouri,  in 
his  youth.  He  located  in  Kansas  City,  where  he 
was  married  and  started  on  his  business  career, 
only  to  be  cut  down  by  the  "grim  reaper" — Death 
— at  the  early  age  of  22  years.  His  widow,  whose 
maiden  name  was  Ann  Threlkeld,  was  born  in 
Kentucky.  Her  father  was  one  of  the  early  set- 
tlers on  the  town-site  of  Kansas  City,  his  large 
farm  adjoining  Market  square.  His  wafe  was 
Julia  Kercheval,  whose  mother,  a  Reynolds,  was 
directly  descended  frfom  the  noted  artist.  Sir 
Joshua  Reynolds.  Mrs.  Threlkeld  died  in  Cali- 
fornia in  1 89 1,  aged  87  years,  while  on  a  visit  to 
Los  Angeles.  Mrs.  Sites,  after  the  death  of  her 
husband,  became  tlie  wife  of  Hon.  M.  D.  Tref- 
ren,  an  attorney-at-law  and  judge  of  the  Circuit 
Court  at  Kansas  City.  Mr.  Kercheval  has  two 
living  sisters,  namely :  Minie,  wife  of  Thomas 
M.  Long,  of  Alton,  Illinois;  and  Fannie  J.,  wife 
of  John  K.  Thorpe,  of  St.  Joseph. 

Mrs.  Kercheval,  wife  of  our  subject,  received 
a  superior  education  in  Mary  Institute  at  St. 
Louis,  from  which  she  was  graduated  with  the 
class  of  1868.  Since  her  marriage  she  has  re- 
sided at  St.  Joseph.  For  a  period  of  22  years  she 
was  editor  of  the  society  columns  in  the  St.  Jo- 
seph Gazette  and  Herald,  and  also  wrote  for  the 
Kansas  City  and  St.  Louis  papers  for  a  number 
of  years.  A  portion  of  this  work  she  was  obliged 
to  give  up  because  of  the  great  demand  upon  her 
time  and  strength.  She  is  considered  a  leader  in 
the  literary  and  social -circles  of  the  city.  For 
the  past  22)  years,  Mrs.  Kercheval  has  been  iden- 
tified with  the  public  schools  of  St.  Joseph,  first 
teaching  in  the  Washington  School  three  years, 
and  then  becoming  principal  of  the  Floyd  School. 
.She  is  first  vice-president  of  the  Women's  Press 
Club,    and    president    of    the    Kercheval    Study 


■A  Ik 


ijj0^^%' 


JACOB    MADINGER 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


623 


Circle,  of  which  she  is  the  founder.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Kercheval  are  well-known  to  the  citizens 
of  this  city  and  vicinity,  where  they,  have  many 
friends  of  long  years  standing. 


♦ » » 


ACOB  MADINGER.  The  death  of 
Jacob  Madinger,  on  May  2'^,  1897.  at 
his  beautiful  home  on  the  corner  of  Scott 
and  20th  streets,  St.  Joseph,  removed 
from  this  city  one  whom  his  fellow  cit- 
izens had  many  reasons  to  esteem  and  revere. 
He  was  at  the  head  of  many  of  the  earlier  enter- 
prises which  resulted  in  permanent  good  to  the 
city  and  was  ever  ready,  through  life,  to  contri- 
bute time,  talent  and  means  to  promote  its  wel- 
fare. 

The  late  Jacob  Madinger  was  born  in  Stutt- 
gart. Wurtemberg,  Germany,  February  10,  1822, 
and  was  a  son  of  Jacob  Madinger.  who  died  at 
the  age  of  96  years.  The  latter  served  in  the 
German  Army  through  the  war  of  181 2- 15  and 
was  given  a  medal  for  valiant  services. 

Mr.  Madinger  was  the  eldest  of  his  parents' 
four  children.     He  remained  at  home  until  1834, 
when  he  came  to  America,  in  company  with  an 
uncle,   Emanuel  Siebold,  locating  first  at  Louis- 
ville,  Kentucky.     There  he  was  apprenticed  to 
the   butcher  business  and   his   first   wages   were 
$60  a  year.     In  1849  he  made  a  trip  to  the  West 
and  visited  Buchanan  County,  being  particularly 
pleased  with  the  business  prospects  of  St.  Joseph. 
He  had  the  ability  to  foresee  what  this  straggling 
town   might  become,   from   its   geographical   lo- 
cation, and  ere  long  had  decided  to  cast  in  his  lot 
with  the  residents  here.     His  father  had  been  a 
farmer  and  vine  grower  and  the  youth  had  learned 
much  of  the  business.     In  the  fall  of  1850  he  set- 
tled permanently  at  St.  Joseph  and  immediately 
began  a  vineyard,  which  was  the  first  one  laid 
out  in  the  county.     Two  years  after  his  arrival, 
he  had  400  vines  in  growing  condition,  having 
bought  them  at  Cincinnati  and  shipped  them  by 
boat  to  St.  Joseph.     These  were  mainly  of  the 
hardy  Catawba  and   Isabella  varieties,  and  they 
flourished  in  their  new  situation  so  well  that  Mr. 
Madinger  felt  encouraged  to  make  more  outlay. 
He  began  buying  every  new  variety  that  had 
been  developed  and  these  he  studied  and  propa- 
gated, so  that  he  had  at  one  time  in  his  vineyard 
as  manyas  60  dififerent  varieties.    His  fruit  farm 
became   a   great    attraction   and   brought   people 
from  long  distances  to  see  something  so  complete 

31 


and  so  novel.  Mr.  Madinger  did  not  confine  him- 
self to  his  graperies,  but  extended  his  enterprise. 
He  had  large  greenhouses  and  fountains  plaved 
in  various  parts  of  the  grounds,  being  supplied 
from  hidden,  reservoirs. 

In  the  spring  of  1852  he  purchased  a  farm  of 
20  acres  which  was  then  two  miles  from  St. 
Joseph,  but  is  now  included  within  the  city  limits. 
Here  he  laid  out  a  new  vineyard  and  devoted 
three  acres  to  orchards.  He  also  built  a  vault 
and  a  wine  cellar,  intending  to  go  largely  into 
the  manufacture  and  storage  of  port  wine.'  His 
business  was  in  a  very  prosperous  state  when  the 
Civil  War  broke  out  and  many  of  his  plans  were 
overturned.  His  sympathies  were  with  the  Union 
forces  and  he  served  all  through  the  war  as  a 
member  of  the  State  militia,  belo'nging  to  the  first 
company  organized  at  St.  Joseph. 

Mr.  Madinger  had  many  practical  and  pro- 
gressive ideas.  Soon  after  locating  here,  he 
built  on  Market  square,  a  small  shop,  10  by  t6 
feet  in  dimensions,  which  was  the  third  building 
put  up  near  the  square  and  for  the  building  of 
which  he  had  to  bring  lumber  from  Savannah. 
At  a  later  date,  when  the  city  built  a  Market 
House,  he  took  the  first  two  booths,  which  he  oc- 
cupied until  he  sold  out  to  Benjamin  Ullman. 
For  a  number  of  years  he  had  a  contract  for  sup- 
plying the  best  river  boats  with  meat, — a  large 
commission.  It  was  Mr.  Madinger  who  built 
the  first  ice  house  at  St.  Joseph  and  proved  bow- 
easily  this  luxury  could  be  made  a  necessity. 

On   May   15,    1848,   at  Louisville,   Kentucky, 
Mr.  Madinger  was  married  to  Rosina  Yant.    She 
is  a  daughter  of  Jacob  Yant,  who  w^as  born  in 
Switzerland  and  came  to  America  in  1817.     He 
was  a  cabinet-maker  by  trade  and  located  in  this 
business    at    Pittsburg.    Pennsylvania.      In    1834 
he    removed    to   Louisville,    Kentucky,    and    em- 
barked there  in  a  cooperage  business  wdiich  he 
followed  until  1850,  when  he  removed  with  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  ALadinger  to  St.  Joseph,  where  he  died 
at  the  age  of  84  years.     Mrs.  Madinger  is  the 
second   member  of  a   family  of   eight   children. 
One  of  her  brothers,  Jacob  Yant.   deserves   es- 
pecial mention  as  he  died  a  martyr  to  his  country. 
He  was  in  the  Union  service,  a  member  of  the 
80th    Illinois   Regiment,   with   the   rank   of   ser- 
geant.    After  being  taken  prisoner,  he  was  in- 
carcerated at  Andersonville  Prison,  from  which 
place  he  finally  escaped,  but  was  wounded  at  the 
l)attlc   of   Lookout    Mountain   and    died    luly   3, 
1864.  ill  a  hospital  at  Nashville. 

In  1856  Mr.  Madinger  built  a  beautiful  home 


624 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY  AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


which  his  widow  still  occupies,  at  No.  2002  South 
20th  street.  In  1891  he  laid  out  10  acres  of  his 
place  in  lots,  which  are  called  Madinger's  First 
Addition  to  St.  Joseph.  He  assisted  in  securing 
the  Hannibal  &St.  Joseph  Railroad,  helped  in 
the  purchase  of  the  Fair  Grounds  and  was  fore- 
most in  all  that  pertained  to  the  city's  develop- 
ment. Formerly,  he  was  a  member  and  director 
of  the  Buchanan  Agricultural  and  Horticultural 
Society,  of  which  he  was  vice-president  for  a 
number  of  years. 

Politicaliv,  Mr.  ]\Iadinger  was  a  stanch  Re- 
publican. He  assisted  in  starting  the  first  lodge 
in  ]vIasonry  at  St.  Joseph  and  belonged  also  to 
the  Druids,  but  in  his  advanced  years  became  in- 
active in  both  organizations.  He  was  a  most 
worthy  member  of  the  German  Lutheran  Church, 
to  which  his  widow  also  belongs,  and  was  always 
a  liberal  contributor  to  its  support.  There  are 
many  men  in  the  world  but  there  are  none  too 
many  of  the  strength  and  moral  fiber  of  the  late 
Jacob  IMadinger,  whose  portrait  is  shown  on  a 
foregoing  page. 


♦  * » 


E\'.  ^  I  ART  IX  HUGHES,  who  is  widely 
known  throughout  Northwestern  Mis- 
souri, which  was  the  field  of  his  long 
service  in  the  ministry,  is  now  living  in 
happy  retirement  in  the  companionship 
of  his  wife  at  their  home  on  Ashland  avenue,  just 
without  the  limits  of  the  city  of  St.  Joseph.  He 
is  one  of  the  pioneer  resident  of  this  county,  hav- 
ing lived  here  since  he  was  nine  years  of  age. 

Mr.  Hughes  was  born  in  Lee  County,  Vir- 
ginia, January  15,  1828,  and  is  a  son  of  Elias  and 
Rachel  (Gi'lley)  Hughes.  His  grandfather, 
Isaac  Hughes,  was  born  in  Ireland  and  came  to 
'Virginia  with  his  father  when  young.  Elias 
Hughes  was  born  in  Russell  County,  \' irginia,  in 
1803,  and  in  1837,  when  our  subject  was  nine 
years  of  age,  came  to  the  Platte  Purchase  in  Mis- 
souri, locating  in  wdiat  is  now  Buchanan  County. 
He  acquired  a  claim,  but  after  a  short  residence  of 
three  years  moved  with  his  family  to  Andrew 
County,  where  he  farmed  until  death  overtook 
him  at  the  advanced  age  of  85  years.  He  was  a 
Democrat  in  politics  and  w-as  quite  active,  serving 
at  different  times  in  Andrew  County  as  sheriff, 
assessor  and  county  judge. 

Martin  Hughes,  having  come  to  this  county  in 
1837,  is  perhaps  the  oldest  of  the  pioneers  now 
living.     He  attended  in  his  youth  a  subscription 


school  that  was  conducted  in  a  log  school  house 
in  this  county,  and  later  went  to  school  in  An- 
drew County.  He  then  entered  Chapel  Hill  Col- 
lege in  Missouri,  completing  his  education  there 
in  1849.  He  then  engaged  in  his  life  work  as  a 
Presbyterian  minister,  and  followed  it  through- 
out his  active  career,  his  charges  being  mainly 
in  St.  Joseph  and  the  vicinity.  He  has  led  an 
exemplary  life,  and  has  accomplished  much  good 
in  his  various  charges.  He  is  well-known  and 
loved  by  the  people  wherever  he  has  cast  his  lot. 
In  1899  he  retired  from  active  church  work,  and 
lives  on  his  home  place  on  Ashland  avenue,  which 
has  been  his  home  for  more  than  16  years.  His 
house  is  built  of  brick  and  was  erected  by  its 
owner  Henry  Morris  some  55  years  ago.  His 
farm  of  160  acres  of  valuable  land  is  rented  out. 
Politically,  he  is  a  Democrat. 

Rev.  Mr.  Hughes  was  married  to  Ellen  "Max- 
well, a  daught.er  of  Logan  A.  Maxwell,  a  pioneer 
of  this  county.  She  died  in  1863.  He  formed  a 
second  union  with  Mrs.  Matilda  (Connett) 
Hodges,  a  daughter  of  Major  Connett.  She  died 
in  1876,  leaving  four  children  by  this  union: 
William,  Aura.  Ellen  and  Celina.  His  third 
marriage  was  with  Mary  Jane  Brandon,  a  native 
of  Missouri.  The  twilight  of  life  is  being  spent 
in  comfort,  amid  pleasant  surroundings,  and  our 
subject  and  wife  are  very  hospitable  in  the  recep- 
tion of  their  manv  friends  at  their  home. 


♦ » » 


ARRIS  B.  ADLER,  M.  D.,  a  prominent 
member  of  the  medical  fraternity,  at  St. 
Joseph,  justly  ranks  high  in  his  profes- 
sion. The  fact  that  his  superior  at- 
tainments and  thorough  professional 
training  are  the  results  of  years  of  persistent  study 
and  self-denial,  unassisted  by  any  agency  outside 
his  own  energy,  but  adds  to  the  confidence,  re- 
spect and  esteem  in  which  he  is  held  by  his  fellow 
citizens. 

Dr.  Adler's  early  history  is  of  such  absorbing 
interest,  disclosing  not  only  the  qualities  which 
enabled  him  to  emerge  from  penury  to  his  pres- 
ent honorable  position,  but  also  the  social  condi- 
tions of  the  time  and  locality,  that  the  biographer 
hesitates  to  change  one  word  of  his  own  graphic 
story.  It  is  a  story  of  pathetic  interest.  It  has  no 
feature  of  "frenzied  finance"  nor  of  giant  stock 
speculation  bv  which  the  poor  young  man  of  to- 
dav  becomes  the  millionaire  of  to-morrow,  nor 
does  it  deal  w-ith  any  of  the  "luck"  which  the 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


625 


romancer  is  fond  of  picturing  as  awaiting  the 
poor  boy  by  some  happy  turn  of  the  cards.  It  is 
sordid,  but  it  is  human,  and  nothing  could  more 
forcibly  emphasize  the  results  of  indomitable 
energy,  tenacity  of  purpose,  self-control  and 
manly  self-reliance. 

Dr.  Adler,  in  speaking  of  those  early  days 
says: 

"I  was  born  in  a  little  town  in  Prussia,  on  the 
Russian  border,  in  1858.  My  father  had  been 
settled  there  for  many  years  in  the  capacity  of 
theological  instructor,  and  there  my  early  chil- 
hood  was  spent.  When  I  was  eight  years  old,  I 
was  sent  to  a  German  school  and  there  pursued 
my  studies  until  I  was  12  years  of  age.  As  there 
was  no  longer  a  school  in  this  town  in  which  I 
could  advance,  my  father  made  preparations  to 
have  me  admitted  to  an  institution  suitable  to  my 
age  and  mental  acquirements,  but  unfortunately, 
just  at  this  time,  he  contracted  typhoid  fever,  and, 
after  seven  weeks  confinement,  died  at  the  age  of 
39  years.  This  left  my  mother  with  four  boys,  of 
whom  I  was  the  oldest,  and  two  girls,  one  four 
years  older  than  myself,  in  the  most  deplorable 
financial  condition  imaginable. 

"My  ambitions  for  future  study  were  at  an 
end,  since  upon  me  and  my  older  sister  devolved 
the  duty  to  support  the  whole  family.  She  had 
learned  the  art  of  wig-making  and  it  did  not  take 
me  long  to  also  acquire  it,  and  thus  we  managed 
to  support  ourselves,  I  laboring  almost  night  and 
day  until  I  was  13  years  old.  I  had  heard  of 
America  and  the  great  opportunities  in  the  won- 
derful land  across  the  ocean,  and  I  secretly  re- 
solved to  make  the  attempt  to  get  there,  but, 
when,  one  fine  day,  I  announced  my  intention  to 
go  to  America,  my  mother  took  it  merely  as  a 
childish  jest.  I  had  managed  to  save  the  sum  of 
$7  and  with  this  capital  and  only  the  clothes  on 
my  back  I  left  my  mother,  sisters  and  brothers 
and  my  native  town  and  on  the  same  day  I  arrived 
in  a  small  town  called  Stalluponen.  where  I  took 
the  train.  I  went  in  the  fourth-class  department, 
which  has  no  seats.  When  the  passengers  get 
tired,  they  simply  slip  down  on  the  floor,  in  such 
positions  as  best  suit  the  space  afiforded  and  their 
convenience.  About  eight  o'clock  of  the  same 
evening,  I  arrived  at  Konigsberg  and  found  a 
lodging  for  the  night,  leaving  for  Pjcrlin  on  the 
following  morning.  From  Berlin  I  went  to 
Hamburg,  where  I  landed  without  a  silbergrochen 
or  a  place  to  sleep.  On  making  incjuiry,  I  was 
told  that  at  No.  10,  Wud  Newman  Strasse,  there 
was    a    Jewish    hotel,    run    by    a    Polish    Jew, 


Yarmulousky  by  name,  who  is  now  a  banker  in 
New  York  City.  I  found  my  way  to  this  hotel 
and  prevailed  upon  the  proprietor  to  afford  me 
supper  and  a  night's  lodging.  On  the  following 
morning,  I  began  to  look  for  work  and  fortunately 
found  a  position  with  a  Jewish  hair-work  estab- 
lishment, on  a  salary  of  $1  a  week,  dinners  and 
three  o'clock  coffee.  A  German  dollar  is  30 
silbergrochcn,  and  out  of  this  I  managed  to  pay 
Mr.  Yarmulousky  10  silbergrochen  a  week  for 
lodging,  and  with  the  other  20  I  managed  my 
breakfasts  and  suppers  and  other  items.  I  re- 
mained with  that  hair  firm  for  four  months  and 
was  advanced  to  $2  a  week. 

"Mr.  Yarmulousky,  like  the  rest  of  his  coun- 
trymen, was  not  only  a  hotelkeeper,  but  a  thor- 
ough business  man.  He  invested  money  in  any- 
thing that  would  bring  returns  and  at  that  time 
was  doing  a  large  business  in  human  hair.  This 
was  quite  an  industry,  agents  traveling  all  over 
Russia,  Poland  and  Sweden,  buying  hair  from 
every  young  girl  they  met  who  could  be  induced 
to  part  with  it.  Mr.  Yarmulousky  not  only  had 
his  own  special  agents  distributed  all  over  the 
country,  but  used  inducements  with  the  poor 
emigrants  who  had  the  misfortune  to  stop  at  his 
place,  to  part  with  their  hair  for  such  sums  as  his 
cupidity  made  seem  just.  In  this  way  he  had 
accumulated  quite  a  stock  of  human  hair  and  his 
next  step  was  to  convert  it  into  manufactured 
goods,  which  had  a  ready  market.  He  knew  that 
I  was  working  in  that  line  and  by  this  time  was 
considered  quite  an  expert.  He  sent  for  me  to 
come  to  his  ofifice  and,  with  every  appearance  of 
friendliness,  said :  'My  dear  Adler,  why  should 
you  work  for  that  disbeliever  for  $2  a  week,  when 
I  will  pay  }ou  $4  a  week,  with  board  and  lodg- 
ing, for  as  long  as  you  desire  to  remain  in  this 
trade?' 

"With  a  boy's  lack  of  business  experience,  I 
gladly  accepted  this  proposition  of  this  religious 
Jew,  and  started  inunediately  to  work  manu- 
facturing for  Mr.  Yarmulousky.  For  two  weeks 
all  went  well  and  then  I  found  my  room  taken 
from  me,  I  was  compelled  to  sleep  in  the  hall,  on 
the  bare  flagstones,  and  to  this  day  I  have  re- 
ceived not  one  silbergrochen  for  my  work.  For 
four  months  I  lived  on  the  crusts  and  scraps  I 
could  obtain  from  the  cook.  L  still  had  on  the 
same  shirt  in  which  I  had  started  to  work,  had  not 
a  cent  with  which  to  either  buy  another  or  to 
have  it  washed,  in  short,  my  life  was  one  of  the 
extremest  misery.  I  felt  that  I  could  tolerate  it 
no  longer  and  I  determined  to  leave  that  den  and 


626 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


make  an  attempt  to  board  one  of  the  steamers 
for  America.     I  found  out  that  two  days  before 
the  Jewish   New  Year,   September  6,    1872.  the 
steamer  'Silesia'  was  to  leave  for  New  York,  and 
I  fully  made  up  my  mind  to  either  board  it  and 
remain  on  it,  or  jump  overboard  and  never  return 
to  Hamburg.     I  left  Hamburg  at  10  A.  M.  on 
the  lighter  which  conveys  passengers  and  their 
baggage    to    the    Atlantic    steamer,    which   we 
reached  at  12  M.    A  gangway  was  lowered  from 
the  "Silesia'  to  the  vessel  we  were  on,  and  the 
captain  on  one  side  and  another  official  on  the 
other  ordered  the  passengers  to  hold  their  tickets 
in   their   left   hands.      By   2   P.   M.,    1,400   such 
fortunate  passengers,  men,  women  and  children, 
had  boarded  the  'Silesia,'  while  I  remained  on  the 
small  boat,  although  I  had  made  many  futile  at- 
tempts to  get  on  board.     The  gangway  was  then 
removed   and   a   flat   platform    was   lowered   for 
the  purpose  of  bringing  up  the  baggage.     In  my 
wild  desire  to  get  on  board,  I  even  tried  to  climb 
this  inclined  plane,  but  the  sailors  forced  me  back 
with  curses.     When  I  saw  that  my  plans  would 
miscarry,   I  began   to  cry  bitterly  and   thus  at- 
tracted the  attention  of  the  captain.     He  ques- 
tioned  the   cause   of   my   grief,    and,    forced   by 
necessity,    I    told   him   that   my   mother   was   on 
board  the  'Silesia'  and  in  the  crowd  had  lost  me 
and  that  the  sailors  would  not  permit  me  to  go  on 
board.     He  reached  down  and  drew  me  up  and 
marched  me  to  his  office,  took  the  passenger  list 
from  his  table  and  asked  me  for  my  name.     I 
gave  him  one  which  it  is  difficult  for  any  one  but 
a  Jew  to  either  grasp  or  retain.     He  asked  me  if 
my  mother  had  any  other  children  and  I  told  him 
of  one  more  and,  after  a  few  moments  of  reflec- 
tion, said  :  'Well,  boy,  I  shall  go  with  you  below, 
and  he  led  me  down  three  or  four  starways  until 
we  reached  the  steerage,  where  1,400  human  be- 
ings were  huddled  together  worse  than  cattle.     I 
led  him  a  wild  goose  chase  for  an  hour  and  a 
half,  in  search  of  my  suppositious  mother,     h^in- 
ally  I  asked  him  if  the  shi]:)  was  very  large  and  he 
answered  that  it  was  and  that  he  was  tired  and 
would  leave  me  to  search  alone  for  a  half  hour 
and  then,  if  I  did  not  find  my  mother,  he  would 
send  me  back  to  Hamburg.     This  was  the  op- 
portunity I  wanted  and  as  soon  as  he  left  me.  I 
began  to  look  for  a  nook  in  which  to  hide.     I 
found  one  and  lay  hidden  until  I  felt  a  thrill  of 
life  in  the  boat.     The  ca})tain  did  not  return  and 
I  found  a  bunk  and  an  old  mattress  and  there  I 
made  my  hoiue  for  the  next  24  hours.     On  Fri- 
day night  we  reached  Havre,  France,  where  we 


remained  until  4  P.  M.  on  Saturday.  The  steamer 
coaled  here  and  all  the  steerage  passengers  were 
made  to  leave  the  boat  and  then  return  and  de- 
liver the  coupons  from  the  tickets  which  had  been 
given  them  at  Hamburg.  I  made  many  attempts 
to  hide  but  was  not  successful  and  was  forced  off 
the  boat.  Realizing  that  I  was  going  to  be  left 
there,  in  what  country  I  did  not  know,  I  determ- 
ined to  make  an  attem])t  to  escape  on  the  boat 
between  the  captain  and  his  official  at  the  gang- 
way. With  all  my  little  strength,  I  bounded  up, 
but  was  caught  by  the  captain  and  asked  for  my 
ticket.  Again  I  told  the  story  of  my  mother  and 
that  she  had  given  up  the  ticket,  and  again  I  gave 
my  unpronounceable  name.  I  was  permitted  to 
remain  on  board.  In  ro  more  days  I  landed  at 
Castle  Garden,  New  York." 

Thus  ends  Dr.  Adler's  personal  reminiscences. 
After  these  adventures,  and  landing  an  indigent 
boy,  in  a  strange  city,  it  is  probable  many  other 
distressing  situations  faced  him,  but  it  is  sufficient 
to  know  that  the  same  persistency  and  bravery 
that  brought  him  across  the  ocean  enabled  him  to 
find  work  in  the  great  metropolis  and  to  enter  the 
night  school  classes  at  Cooper  Institute.  He  se- 
cured a  position  as  bookkeeper  in  a  mercantile 
house  in  New  York,  where  he  remained  until  1881, 
and  then  took  a  similar  position  in  Colorado  and 
in  the  same  year  began  the  study  of  medicine  un- 
der the  private  instructions  of  Dr.  Delamater,  a 
graduate  of  the  University  of  Michigan  at  Ann 
Arbor.  After  one  year  of  study,  he  came  to  St. 
Joseph,  Missouri,  and  matriculated  in  the  North- 
western Medical  College,  where  he  was  gradu- 
ated in  1884,  and  in  the  following  year  was 
elected  to  the  chair  of  physiology  in  that  institu- 
tion. In  1886  he  returned  to  New  York  and  two 
years  later  was  graduated  from  Bellevuc  Hospital 
Medical  College  and  took  a  post-graduate  course 
at  the  New  York  University,  and  then  entered 
into  practice  in  that  city.  In  1903,  with  ripened 
ex])erience,  he  returned  to  St.  Joseph,  finding 
here  many  old  friends  who  gladly  welcome  him 
back,  and  since  then  he  has  been  closely  occu- 
pied in  practice. 

It  is  a  long  step  from  the  little  stowaway  to 
the  cultivated  gentleman  and  assured  man  of 
science.  His  success  teaches  an  invaluable  lesson 
and  should  offer  encouragement  to  those  who 
find  themselves  confronted  with  conditions  not 
of  their  own  making.  Sometimes  the  rough  dis- 
cipline of  life  brings  out  an  unsuspected  strength 
of  character,  just  as  the  cutting  of  the  lapidary's 
chisel  brings  forth  the  glory  of  the  diamond. 


WILLIAM    G.   HALL,   M.  D. 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


629 


In  February.  1897,  Dr.  Adler  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Rose  Levi,  of  Newport,  Rhode  Isl- 
and, by  wbiich  there  is  one  child, — Samuel  M. 
By  a  former  marriage  there  was  one  daughter, — 
Drusilla. 


■*•*■ 


ILLIAAI  G.  HALL,  M.  D..  who  has 
been  engaged  in  the  practice  of  medi- 
cine in  the  city  of  St.  Joseph  for  a 
period  of  more  than  40  years,  is  one 
of  the  best  known  professional  men 
of  this  section  of  the  State.  He  is  a  scientist  in 
his  profession,  and  has  ever  kept  abreast  of  the 
advancement  made  in  the  science  of  medicine. 

Dr.  Hall  was  born  in  Pennsylvania  and  re- 
ceived his  early  education  in  the  schools  of  Pitts- 
burg. He  entered  upon  the  study  of  medicine  at 
an  early  age,  in  1853-54  attending  Jefferson 
Medical  College  at  Philadelphia.  In  1858  he 
attended  Western  Reserve  Medical  College  at 
Cleveland,  Ohio,  under  Professor  Weber.  He 
later  attended  Cleveland  Homeopathic  Medical 
College  at  Cleveland,  from  which  he  was  gradu- 
ated. He  entered  upon  the  practice  of  medicine 
in  Western  Pennsylvania,  and  shortly  afterward 
at  Chagrin  Falls,  Ohio,  where  he  continued  dur- 
ing the  following  seven  years.  During  the  Civil 
W^ar  he  was  assistant  surgeon  of  the  loth  Regi- 
ment, Ohio  Vol.  Cav. 

In  1865,  Dr.  Hall  removed  to  St.  Joseph,  Mis- 
souri, and  practiced  wi/th  much  success  until 
1885.  In  that  year  he  established  Dr.  Hall's 
Sanitarium  in  this  city,  locating  it  in  a  mag- 
nificent brick  and  stone  building,  three  stories 
high,  with  a  frontage  of  80  feet  and  a  depth  of 
50  feet,  the  construction  of  which  cost  in  the 
neighborhood  of  $75,000.  It  was  well  equipped, 
having  Turkish,  Russian,  electric,  needle  and 
electro-thermal  baths  and  mechanical  massage, 
and  was  fitted  in  an  elaborate  manner.  It  proved 
too  great  a  step  in  advance  of  the  times, 
and  was  doomed  to  failure  after  six  years  of 
varied  success.  The  property  was  sold  for  $12,- 
500.  Since  that  time  Dr.  Hall  has  given  his  at- 
tention solely  to  office  practice,  making  a  specialty 
of  gynecology,  electro-therapuetics,  orificial  sur- 
gery and  vibratory  stimulation.  He  is  a  mem])er 
of  the  American  Institute  of  Homeopathy,  a 
past  president  of  the  American  Association  of 
Orificial  .Surgeons  and  of  the  Alissouri  State  Insti- 
tute of  Homeopathy,  a  member  of  the  Kansas 
State  Medical  Society,  and  an  honorary  member 
of  the  Nebraska  State  Medical  Society.     He  was 


at  one  time  a  member  of  the  Missouri  State  Board 
of  Health. 

In  1872,  Dr.  Hall  was  united  in  marriage 
with  a  daughter  of  Robert  S.  Carter.  Mrs.  Hall 
was  a  native  of  Kentucky  and  later  a  resident  of 
St.  Joseph.  She  died  June  2,  1903.  leaving  one 
son,  Edward  Parks  Hall,  M.  D. 

Edward  Parks  Hall,  M.  D.,  was  born  in  St. 
Joseph,  where  he  received  a  common  and  high 
school  education.     He  decided  upon  the  profes- 
sion in  which  his  father  had  attained  such  prom- 
inence and  success,  and  in   1897  was  graduated 
from  the  Ensworth  Medical  College,  of  St.  Jo- 
seph.    During  1897-98,  he  was  clinical  assistant 
to  Prof.  R.  C.  Miles  and  Francis  J.  Quinlan  in 
the  New  York  Polyclinic,  in  the  department  of 
''the    nose   and    throat:    and    clinical   assistant    in 
the  heart   and   lung  clinic   at  the   Northwestern 
Dispensary   in    New    York   City.      In    1900   and 
1902  he  took  a  course  in  the  Manhattan  Eye  and 
Ear  Infirmary,  the  New  York  Eye  and  Ear  In- 
firmary and  was  clinical  assistant  to  Prof.  A.  E. 
Davis  in  the  eye  and  ear  department  of  the  New 
York  Post-Graduate  College.     He  was  also  first 
assistant  to  Dr.  Pearson  at  the  Presbyterian  Hos- 
pital, of  New  York. 

Dr.  William  G.  Hall  and  his  son  arc  meet- 
ing with  great  success  in  practice  in  St.  Joseph, 
both  being  ardent  students  and  skilled  practi- 
tioners. A  portrait  of  Dr.  William  G.  Hall  ac- 
companies this  sketch. 


-♦-»-♦- 


HARLES  H.  NOLD,  one  of  the  prom- 
inent business  men  of  St.  Joseph,  lead- 
ing in  the  line  of  general  building  ma- 
terial, belongs  to  one  of  the  city's 
early  and  substantial  families.  He  was 
born  in  St.  Joseph,  December  2,  1873.  and  is  a 
son  of  Charles  and  Sarah   (Keiffer)   Nold. 

The  father  of  Mr.  Nold  was  born  near  Ham- 
burg, Germany,  and  came  to  the  PTnited  States 
when  18  years  of  age,  locating  in  Washington 
County.  Illinois.  After  some  six  years  there,  he 
came  to  St.  Joseph,  Missouri,  in  1865.  Since 
that  time  he  has  been  closely  identified  with  the 
building  and  contracting  interests  of  this  cUv 
and  is  now  one  of  the  substantial  men  and  highly 
respected  citizens.  The  mother  of  Mr.  Nold  was. 
born  in  Pennsylvania.  Pier  death  took  place  in 
1900,  at  the  age  of  52  years.  The  family  con- 
sisted of  six  children,  our  subject  being  the  sec- 
ond son  and  third  child. 


630 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN'  COUNTY  AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


In  the  public  schools  of  St.  Joseph,  which  are 
noted  for  their  efficiency  and  excellence,  Mr.  Nold 
secured  a  good  education  which  he  supplemented 
with  a  commercial  course  at  Rittner's  Business 
College  in  this  city.  On  completing  this,  he 
entered  into  the  employ  of  the  W.  D.  Bennett 
Lumber  Company  and  remained  with  them  for 
seven  years.  The  five  succeeding  years  were 
spent  as  traveling  representative  for  the  H.  F. 
Cady  Lumber  Company,  of  Omaha,  Nebraska. 
Mr.  Xold  then  returned  to  his  native  place  to  enter 
into  business  for  himself  and  he  has  built  up  one 
of  the  finest  trades  in  building  material  in  Buch- 
anan County.  He  has  also  established  a  reputa- 
tion as  a  shrewd,  intelligent  business  man,  one 
who,  while  guarding  his  own  personal  interests, 
recognizes  the  ethics  of  honorable  competition. 

Mr.  Nold  has  a  pleasant  home  at  No.  1006 
North  25th  street,  St.  Joseph.  He  married  Lil- 
lian O'Connor,  a  daughter  of  James  O'Connor,  of 
Galesburg,  Illinois.  Politically,  Mr.  Nold  is  an 
active  and  interested  Republican.  Plis  fraternal 
connection  is  with  the  Elks. 


■♦ « » 


OXRAD    TANNER,    Sr.,    one    of    the 

well-known     citizens     of     St.     Joseph 

whose   long  business   connection   here 

has  brought  him  an  ample  fortune  and 

the  regard  of  his  fellow  citizens,  was 

born  May  5,  1834,  in  Siblinyen,  Canton  Schafif- 

hausen,  Switzerland,  and  is  a  son  of  Jacob  John 

and  Barbara  (Surbeck)  Tanner. 

The  mother  of  our  subject  was  born  in  1800 
and  died  in  1887,  and  the  father  died  in  1847, 
aged  52  years.  Their  whole  lives  were  passed 
in  Switzerland.  Their  children  consisted  of  three 
sons  and  four  daughters,  of  whom  the  following 
came  to  the  United  States:  Anna  (Mrs.  Ber- 
wein),  of  Council  Bluffs,  Iowa;  Melchior,  who 
died  here  in  1864;  Jacob,  who  lives  in  Nebraska; 
and  Conrad,  of  this  sketch. 

Mr.  Tanner  came  to  America  alone,  reaching 
the  port  of  New  York  on  February  i,  1852.  He 
first  secured  work,  as  a  gardener,  at  Toledo,  Ohio, 
and  worked  at  various  callings  until  the  fall  of 
the  year,  when  he  came  to  St.  Joseph.  He  had 
a  natural  taste  for  mechanics  and  entered  a  plow 
factor)-  here,  where  he  worked  for  four  and  a  half 
years.  In  the  fall  of  1857  he  secured  a  contract 
to  set  up  plows,  in  Savannah,  Missouri.  Upon 
his  return  to  St.  Josej^h,  he  found  business  dull 
in  his  line  and  this  induced  him   to  go  into  the 


country.  He  spent  seven  years  as  a  farmer  and 
one  of  these  years  as  a  member  of  the  State 
Militia,  returning  to  St.  Joseph  in  1866. 

When  Mr.  Tanner  came  back  to  enter  into 
business  again  in  the  city,  he  formed  a  partner- 
ship with  his  brother  Jacob  in  the  manufacture 
of  wagons,  locating  on  loth  and  Francis  streets. 
Two  years  later  he  built  a  factory  on  Ninth 
street,  which  the  brothers  operated  together  until 
1877  when  Jacob  withdrew  from  the  business. 
Our  subject  continued  alone  until  he  was  suc- 
ceeded by  his  sons,  who-  capably  manage  the 
plant  at  present.  By  attending  strictly  to  his 
business,  Mr.  Tanner  built  up  a  large  establish- 
ment, made  a  large  fortune  for  himself  and  con- 
tributed to  the  prosperity  of  the  city.  Mr.  Tan- 
ner is  one  of  the  capable,  persistent,  trustworthy 
men  of  foreign  birth  but  of  American  ideas,  a 
representative  of  a  class  which  has  done  wonders 
for  every  locality  where  they  have  taken  root. 

In  1857,  Mr.  Tanner  was  married  at  St. 
Joseph,  by  Justice  Robidoux,  to  Genevieve  Her- 
man, who  was  born  at  Baden,  Germany,  Decem- 
ber, 28,  1837,  and  came  to  the  United  States  in 
1855,  accompanying  her  father  and  brother.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Tanner  have  had  these  children :  Con- 
rad, Jr.,  and  William  L.,  who  with  the  father  own 
and  operate  the  wagon  factory,  under  the  firm 
name  of  C.  Tanner  &  Sons;  and  Pauline  (Mrs. 
Wandt),  who  resides  at  home.  Two  sons  are  de- 
ceased :  Edward  and  Adolph,  both  of  whom  were 
formerly  connected  with  the  firm.  They  were 
highly  educated  young  men,  completing  their  ed- 
ucation at  the  New  York  Technical  Institute  and 
their  deaths,  separated  by  three  years,  were  sadly 
felt  in  the  business  as  well  as  in  the  family  cir- 
cle. Edward  was  born  in  1866  and  died  in 
1896,  leaving  two  sons:  Clarence  and  Roy. 
Adolph  died  July  5,  1899,  aged  31  years. 

Mr.  Tanner  has  always  been  a  useful  citizen, 
lending  his  influence  to  all  the  enterprises  promis- 
ing to  benefit  the  city.  Politically,  he  has  always 
been  a  Rej^iublican.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Evan- 
gelical Presbvterian  Church. 


♦  ♦♦■ 


OUIS  J.  DANDURANT,  M.  D.,  one  of 
the  leading  physicians  and  surgeons  of 
.St^.  foseph,  a  member  of  the  faculty  of 
the  St.  Joseph  Hospital,  of  this  city, 
was     born     in     St.     Joseph,     Missouri, 

Anarch  2,   1875,  and  is  a  son  of  Damas  F.  and 

Rose  Anna  (Clark)  Dandurant. 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


631 


John  B.  Dandurant.  the  grandfather  of  Dr. 
Dandurant,  was  born  in  Montreal,  Canada:  He 
resided  in  various  parts  of  the  United  States,  for 
a  time  in  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  and  then  came  to 
St.  Joseph,  locating  here  during  the  life  of  Joseph 
Robidoux.  Damas  F.  Dandurant  was  born  at 
St.  Louis  in  about  1846,  and  was  but  a  child  when 
his  parents  came  to  what  was  then  called  Black- 
snake  Hills.  He  was  afforded  the  best  education 
provided  at  the  time.  He  learned  the  trade  of 
harness-maker  and  was  employed  by  William  M. 
Wyeth,  of  St.  Joseph,  but  later  removed  to 
Union  Star,  Missouri,  and  there  opened  a  shop 
of  his  own.  The  failing  health  of  his  wife  caused 
his  return  to  St.  Joseph,  where  he  reentered  the 
employ  of  the  Wyeth  concern.  He  is  and  always 
has  been  a  stanch  supporter  of  the  Democrat 
party. 

The  mother  of  Dr.  Dandurant  was  a  daugh- 
ter of  John  Clark,  a  native  of  England  and  a 
man  of  superior  education,  who  at  one  time  was 
prominetnly  identified  in  British  politics  with 
Daniel  O'Connell.  He  was  also  president  of  the 
Daniel  O'Connell  Club  and  a  member  of  its  re- 
ception committee  to  receive  O'Connell  at  the 
great  Dublin  mass  meeting  and  banquet.  He  had 
letters  of  recommendation  from  Lord  Disraeli 
and  Gladstone,  who  were  great  personal  friends 
of  his.  He  was  one  of  the  charter  members  of 
the  order  of  Knights  of  Father  Matthew  and  a 
member  of  the  committee  to  draft  the  first  Father 
^Matthew  medal.  The  mother  of  our  subject  was 
also  possessed  of  superior  talent,  being  the  writer 
of  some  choice  poems  and  literature,  as  well  as 
being  a  prominent  member  of  leading  literary 
circles.  Two  of  the  four  children  born  to  the 
union  of  our  subject's  parents  reached  maturity, 
namely  :  Louis  J.,  of  this  sketch  ;  and  Sophia,  who 
is  the  wife  of  E.  L.  Schott.  of  St.  Joseph.  The 
beloved  mother  passed  away  on  December  4. 
1899,  aged  57  years.  She  was  a  devoted  member 
of  Ihe  Catholic  Church. 

Dr.  Dandurant  was  a  student  at  the  Christian 
Brothers'  College  through  his  earlier  years,  going 
from  there  to  the  noted  classical  and  scientfic  in- 
stitution known  as  New  Engleberg  College,  at 
Conception.  Missouri.  A  feature  of  this  college 
is  the  employment  of  highly  educated  instructors 
of  European  reputation.  He  completed  the  course 
in  1892,  and  later  received  the  degree  of  B.  A. 
He  entered  Central  Medical  College,  of  St.  Jos- 
eph, Missouri,  where  he  received  his  medical  de- 
gree in  IMarch.  1898.  He  spent  four  year^,  while 
engaged  in  medical  study,  in  the  St.  Joseph  Hos- 


i  pital,  securing  practical  experience  that  only  such 
training  gives.  He  has  been  connected  with  this 
hospital  continuously  for  10  years. 

Immediately  after  graduation.  Dr.  Dandurant 
opened  an  office  and  also  accepted  the  position  of 
professor  of  chemistry,  toxicology  and  urinalsis. 
In  the  following  year  he  was  appointed  to  the 
chair  of  anatomy,  at  the  St.  Joseph  Hospital,  and 
to  a  place  on  the  surgical  and  gynecological  staff 
of  the  Central  Aledical  College.  The  St.  Joseph 
Hospital  enjoys  an  enviable  reputation  for  its 
skilled  handling  of  both  medical  and  surgical 
cases  and  no  one  practicioner  has  contributed 
more  materially  to  this  than  has  Dr.  Dandurant. 
He  enjoys  the  confidence  of  the  public  and  of  his 
brothers  in  the  profession.  He  is  enthusiastically 
devoted  to  his  profession  and  is  highly  valued  in 
the  leading  medical  organizations,  the  St.  Joseph, 
Buchanan  Comity,  Missouri  State  and  American 
medical  associations. 

Fraternally,  he  is  connected  with  St.  Joseph 
Council,  No.  571,  Knights  of  Columbus,  and  of 
the  Catholic  Order  of  Foresters,  for  which  he  is 
medical  examiner.  Like  other  members  of  h.is 
family,  he  belongs  to  the  Catholic  Church. 


^ « » 


ATRICK  DEL  AN  FY,  one  of  the  prom- 
inent general  farmers  of  Center  town- 
ship, Buchanan  County,  who  operates 
a  fine  farm  of  120  acres,  located  in 
section  11,  was  born  in  this  township, 
June  12,  1858,  and  is  a  son  of  Daniel  and  Eliza 
(\Vhalen)  Delaney. 

Daniel  Delaney  was  born  in  Queens  County, 
Ireland,  in  1802.  He  followed  farming  in  Con- 
necticut, Kentucky,  Illinois,  Nebraska  and  Kan- 
sas and  visited  St.  Joseph  three  times,  coming 
here  the  last  time  in  1856.  He  resided  in  Buch- 
anan County  during  the  whole  period  of  the  Civil 
War  and  as  he  took  no  part  in  public  affairs  was 
never  disturbed  in  his  peaceful  pursuits  of  agri- 
culture. He  survived  until  1891,  dying  at  the  age 
of  87  }ears.  He  married  Eliza  Whalen,  who  Avas 
born  in  the  same  countv  as  himself,  and  she  still 
survives,  at  the  age  of  '/d  years.  Their  four 
children  were:  P"atrick,  of  this  sketch;  Daniel, 
also  of  Center  township ;  Mary,  wife  of  Michael 
Cavanaugh,  of  Clay  County,  Missouri ;  and  John 
H.,  of  Center  township. 

Patrick  Delaney  attended  the  district  schools 
in  his  boyhood  and  has  devoted  his  whole  life  to 
farming  and  stock-raising.    For  the  past  21  years 


632 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


he  has  resided  on  his  present  farm,  a  part  of 
which  he  cleared.  He  gives  his  main  attention  to 
grain-growing  and  the  raising  of  first-class  stock 
and  has  the  reputation  of  being  one  of  the  most 
careful  and  successfiil  farmers  of  the  township. 
His  property  is  well-improved  and  his  residence, 
erected  in  1893,  is  one  of  the  handsome  homes 
of  the  locality.  His  barns  and  outbuildings,  his 
imjiroved  agricultural  machinery  and  his  sleek, 
well-fed  cattle  indicate  thrift  and  prosperity. 

On  November  i,  1880,  Mr.  Delaney  was  mar- 
ried to  Mary  E.  Farrel,  who  was  born  in  Buch- 
anan County  in  April,  1862,  and  is  a  daughter  of 
]\lichael  and  Bridget  (Carey)  Farrel,  and  a  niece 
of  Judge  J.  H.  Carey.  Five  children  have  been 
born  to  them,  namely :  John  P.,  Winnifred.  Dan- 
iel M.,  Mary  E.  and  Patrick  E.  The  family  be- 
long to  the  Catholic  Church. 

Politically,  Mr.  Delaney  is  a  stanch  Demo- 
crat. He  is  considered  one  of  the  substantial 
men  of  Center  township.  He  has  always  been  in- 
dustrious, working  first  for  his  parents  and  later 
for  himself,  and  the  result  of  industry  and  perse- 
verance is  shown  in  his  comfortable  surroundings. 
He  is  educating  his  children  and  takes  an  interest 
in  the  general  welfare  of  his  locality  and  in  every 
way  represents  the  class  of  good  citizens  of  which 
his  county  is  proud. 


OHN  J.  BAZAN,  M.  D.,  one  of  the 
skilled  physicians  and  surgeons  of  St. 
Joseph,  whose  medical  work  here  has 
received  the  commendation  of  the  pub- 
lic, was  born  near  Vienna.  Austria,  Oc- 
tober 22,  T871,  and  is  a  son  of  Thomas  and  Annie 
Bazan. 

The  father  of  Dr.  Bazan  was  also  born  near 
Vienna,  and  there  he  followed  his  trade  of  shoe- 
making  for  a  number  of  years.  With  his  eldest 
son,  he  was  the  founder  of  the  family  in  America, 
where  they  resided  in  New  York  City  for  a  time 
before  th.e  family  joined  them,  in  1881.  In  1882, 
they  came  to  St.  Joseph.  The  father  now  resides 
with  our  subject  in  this  city.  He  is  a  consistent 
member  of  SS.  Peter  and  Paul's  Catholic  Church. 
Dr.  Bazan  completed  his  primary  education 
in  his  native  locality  and  attended  college  in 
Vienna,  where  he  was  graduted  in  the  classical 
department  with  the  degree  of  A.  M.  Immedi- 
ately after  graduation,  he  accompanied  the  mem- 
bers of  his  family  still  remaining  in  Austria,  to 
New  York,  and  in  1882  to  St.  Joseph.    Here  he 


entered  upon  the  study  of  medicine  and  was  grad- 
uated at  the  Central  ^Medical  College  in  1901, 
and  has  confined  his  practice  to  this  city  ever 
since.  He  belongs  to  a  medical  family,  two  of  his 
brothers  being  practicing  physicians,  viz :  Dr. 
Antony  L.  Bazan,  of  Salisbury,  Missouri,  and 
Dr.  Joseph  Bazan,  settled  at  Glasgow,  Missouri. 
One  other  brother,  Andrew  Bazan,  resides  in  this 
city. 

Dr.  Bazan.  like  other  members  of  his  family, 
is  a  devoted  Catholic,  a  member  of  Father  Lin- 
nencamp's   church. 

Dr.  Bazan  has  not  identified  himself  with  any 
political  party.  He  occupies  well-equipped  ofiices 
on  the  corner  of  Eighth  and  Patee  streets,  St. 
Joseph.  His  medical  practice  is  along  modern 
lines  and  his  success  has  brought  him  prominently 
to  public  notice. 


■♦ » » 


B  «  ^(     ! 


ILLIAM  H.  DRYSDALE,  a  promi- 
nent farmer  and  dairyman  of  Buch- 
anan County,  who  owns  a  fine,  well- 
ke])t  farm  of  90  acres,  situated  in 
section  35,  township  58,  range  35,  in 
Washington  township,  was  born  at  St.  Joseph, 
Missouri,  December  i,  1849,  and  is  a  son  of  John 
and   Margaret    (Ryan)    Drysdale. 

The  parents  of  Mr.  Drysdale  were  both  born 
in  Ireland  where  the}'  married.  In  1848  they 
came  to  America  and.  shortly  after,  to  St.  Joseph, 
INIissouri,  making  the  trip  from  Weston  in  a 
wagon.  For  a  time.  John  Drysdale  served  as 
sexton  for  the  old  Calvary  Cemetery  and  made 
his  home  in  St.  Joseph,  but  later  he  rented  land 
and  engaged  in  farming  it  until  T879,  when  the 
present  farm  of  our  subject  was  purchased.  It 
was  originally  covered  with  timber.  In  1888  Mr. 
Drysdale  died,  aged  67  years.  He  had  worked 
industriously  all  his  life,  accumulating  his  prop- 
erty through  his  own  efforts.  His  widow  sur- 
vived him  manv  years,  dying  in  1903.  having 
spent  her  last  days  with  our  subject.  In  two 
more  years  she  would  have  rounded  out  a  century. 
But  two  of  their  children  still  survive, — our  sub- 
ject and  a  sister.  IMrs.  Ellen  Dandurant.  of  St. 
Joseph. 

Our  subject  was  reared  in  h.is  native  place 
and  was  educated  in  parochial  schools  and  at  the 
Christian  Brothers'  (Tollege.  He  has  lived  on 
this  farm  for  35  years  and  it  is  one  of  the  most 
attractive,  best-kept  and  generously  productive  of 
any  farm  in  Washington  township.     He  has  90 


JOHN    M.   DOWNEY 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


63: 


acres  located  on  what  is  known  as  the  Drysdale 
road,  two  and  a  quarter  miles  northeast  of  the  city 
limits.  He  devotes  lo  acres  to  a  mixed  orchard ; 
15  acres  to  corn;  20  acres  to  pasture,  having  a 
dairy  of  28  Jersey  cows  and  a  large  herd  of 
Shorthorn  cattle ;  20  acres  to  hay  and  has  four 
acres  in  blackberries,  a  fruit  he  has  found  very 
])rofitable.  His  two-story  white  house  is  one 
filled  with  comforts  and  the  well-kept  hedge 
which  surrounds  his  property  adds  materially  to 
its  appearance. 

In  1872,  Mr.  Drysdale  was  married  to  Kate 
Conner,  who  was  born  in  Ireland.  They  have 
had  a  family  of  15  children,  the  survivors  being: 
John,  the  only  one  born  off  the  farm ;  James, 
Francis,  Mark,  Charles,  Mary,  .Margaret,  Ellen 
and  Genevieve.  Those  deceased  were :  Willie 
(ist)  and  Willie  (2),  Leo,  Edward,  Joseph  and 
Annie. 

Politically,  Mr.  Drysdale  is  a  Democrat.  He 
is  a  consistent  member  of  the  Catholic  Church 
and  has  reared  his  large  family  in  its  teachings. 
They  are  among  the  most  highly  respected  people 
of  this  section,  honest,  kind  and  hospitable.  Mr. 
Drysdale  has  not  only  made  a  material  success 
of  his  life,  but  has  earned  the  friendship  and 
good  will  of  his  neighbors.  He  has  seen  many 
changes  since  he  first  came  to  his  farm,  and  has 
always  acted  for  the  best  interests  of  Washing- 
Inn  township. 


■♦  »♦• 


RANKLIN  V  A  L  L  A  N  D  I  G  H  A  M 
DOWNEY,  one  of  the  representative 
farmers  of  Lake  township,  Buchanan 
Comity,  owns  and  resides  upon  one  of 
the  finest  farms  in  his  locality,  compris- 
ing 160  acres  of  well-cultivated  land  in  section 
36.  He  was  born  in  Platte  County,  Missouri,  Oc- 
tober 20,  1867,  and  is  a  son  of  John  M.  and  Lu- 
cctta  (W^illiams)  Downey. 

Our  subject  comes  of  an  agricultural  family, 
his  father  having  followed  farming  all  his  life. 
John  M.  Downey,  whose  portrait  accompanies  this 
sketch,  was  born  in  Adams  County,  Ohio,  Febru- 
ary 4,  1840,  and  was  educated  in  the  district 
schools  of  his  native  localit\-.  He  remained  in 
Adams  County  until  1867,  when  he  removed,  with 
his  wife,  by  rail  and  lioat,  to  Platte  County,  Mis- 
souri, where  he  arrived  March  14,  1867.  He  pur- 
chased a  farm,  settled  down  to  agriculture,  reared 
a  family  and  died  there  at  a  good  old  age.  He 
was  one  of  the  largest  fruit-growers  in  Missouri, 
the  firm  of  Rees  &  Downey  having  320  acres  in 


orchards  in  Platte  County.  At  the  time  of  his 
death,  he  owned  1,000  acres  of  land  clear  of  all 
incumbrances.  His  widow  still  survives  and  re- 
sides at  Weston,  Missouri.  He  married  Lucetta 
Williams,  who  is  a  daughter  of  Andrew  Williams, 
formerly  of  Adams  County,  Ohio,  but  who  moved 
to  Platte  County,  Missouri,  in  1868.  The  chil- 
dren of  John  M.  Downey  and  wife  were:  Frank 
V. ;  Thomas  E.,  deceased :  iVndrew  B.,  a  farmer 
of  Platte  County  ;  Rachel  Ann,  wife  of  Lee  Tur- 
pin,  a  butcher  at  St.  Joseph  ;  Henry,  Lucetta  and 
Margaret  IMay,  deceased ;  and  Amanda  Mattie, 
wife  of  Thomas  A.  Rees,  of  Bean  Lake,  Missouri. 

Frank  \\  Downey  was  reared  and  educated  at 
latan,  Platte  County,  leaving  school  at  the  age  of 
21  years.  He  then  began  farming  on  his  own 
account  and  continued  operations  in  Platte  Coun- 
ty until  March,  1902,  when  he  came  to  Buchanan 
County.  He  located  on  his  present  farm,  all  of 
which  is  under  cultivation  and  is  in  fine  condition. 
His  improvements  are  excellent  and  his  property 
ranks  well  with  the  best  in  Lake  township. 

On  November  20,  1889,  Mr.  Downey  was 
married  to  Mary  Belle  Rose,  a  daughter  of  Wil- 
liam and  Frances  (Horton)  Rose,  farming  people 
of  Mason  County,  Kentucky.  They  have  three 
children :  John  Calvin,  Lillie  Frances  and  Roy 
Jennings. 

Mr.  Downey  was  reared  to  support  the  prin- 
ciples of  the  old  Democratic  party  and  was  named 
in  honor  of  one  of  Ohio's  great  Democratic  states- 
men,— Clement  L.  Vallandigham.  However,  he 
is  in  no  way  bigoted  and  in  considering  the  prin- 
ciples involved  is  apt  to  cast  his  vote  for  honor- 
able, upright  and  able  men,  irrespective  of  party 
tics.  Since  coming  to  Buchanan  County,  Mr. 
Downey  has  proved  himself  a  good  citizen  and 
both  he  and  his  estimable  wife  have  formed  many 
pleasant  social  connections. 


♦ « ♦■ 


^.  \UL  M.  HOFFMAN,  deceased,  was  one 
^J  of  the  best-known  and  popular  busi- 
ness men  of  foreign  birth,  in  St.  Joseph, 
where  he  numbered  friends  by  the  hun- 
dred. Mr.  Hofl'man  was  born  in  Ger- 
many, September  2T,  1849,  and  died  at  his  home 
in  St.  Joseph,  January  t8,  1900.  He  was  a  son  of 
Richard  P.  Hoffman,  who  brought  his  family  to 
America  from  Germnny  in  1866. 

The  late  IMr.  Hoffman  was  17  years  of  age 
when  the  family  came  to  the  LTnited  States  and 
settled  in  New  York,  where  the  father  conducted 


636 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY   AND    ST.   JOSEPH 


a  chair  manufactory.  In  his  own  land  Richard 
P.  Hoffman  had  been  a  contractor  and  a  manu- 
facturer of  chinaware.  The  subject  of  this  sketch 
did  not  fancy  either  inchistry,  but  applied  himself 
to  his  books  and  became  an  expert  bookkeeper. 
Prior  to  coming  to  St.  Joseph,  ]\lissouri,  in  1888, 
he  had  been  emplo}-ed  as  a  bookkeeper,  both  in 
New  York  City  and  in  Atchison,  Kansas.  In  this 
city  he  became  manager  for  the  Lemp  Brewing 
Company  and  continued  with  this  house  untiL 
1897,  when  he  engaged  in  a  wholesale  whisky 
business,  in  association  with  the  late  Fritz  Mast. 
The  firm  of  Hoffman  &  ^last  did  a  large  busi- 
ness and  by  its  honorable  methods  held  the  con- 
fidence and  trade  of  the  business  world. 

Mr.  Hoffman  was  married  on  January  29, 
1870,  to  Lillie  Sussmann,  who  is  a  daughter  of 
John  W.  Sussmann,  one  of  the  city's  leading  busi- 
ness men.  They  had  six  children,  viz :  Millie, 
wife  of  Samuel  C.  Simineo,  of  St.  Joseph  ;  Louise 
H. ;  Adeline  L. ;  and  Paul  M.,  Jr.,  Otto  R.  and  an 
infant  unnamed,  deceased.  Mrs.  Hoffman  and 
her  two  daughters  enjoy  a  beautiful  home  located 
at  No.  823  Charles  street,  St.  Joseph. 

In  politics  the  late  Mr.  Hoffman  was  identi- 
fied with  the  Democratic  party.  His  fraternal  re- 
lations were  with  the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  the 
Odd  Fellows.  He  was  a  warm-hearted,  generous 
man,  one  who  was  willingly  contributed  to  the 
city's  charities  and  educational  institutions  and 
set  an  example  of  honesty  in  business  life  and 
devotion  and  affection  in  the  domestic  circle. 


AMES  W.  WALKER,  for  many  years  a 
prominent  business  citizen  of  St.  Joseph, 
closely  associated  with  the  city's  com- 
mercial life,  was  born  in  1856,  at  Savan- 
nah, Andrew  County,  Missouri,  and  died 
at  Kansas  City,  August  22,  1895. 

The  late  Mr.  Walker  was  educated  at  Savan- 
nah and  at  Plattsburg,  to  which  place  the  family 
removed,  his  father,  Henry  T.  Walker,  being 
largely  interested  in  mercantile  pursuits.  Shortly 
after  attaining  his  majority,  Mr.  Walker,  in  as- 
sociation with  his  brother,  S.  A.  Walker,  em- 
barked in  a  banking  business  at  Beloit,  Kansas,  an 
enterprise  which  proved  highly  successful.  On 
January  i,  1884,  Mr.  Walker,  in  partnership  with 
a  prominent  man  of  affairs  at  St.  Joseph,  the  late 
D.  M.  Steele,  embarked  in  a  wholesale  grocery 
business,  under  the  firm  name  of  Steele  &  Wal- 
ker.    On  account  of  I\lr.  Steele's  manv  other  in- 


terests, the  greater  part  of  the  responsibility  fell 
upon  Mr.  Walker's  shoulders,  and  it  was  mainly 
due  to  his  energy  that  this  became  the  largest  gro- 
cery house  on  the  Missouri  River.  During  his 
later  years  he  was  mainly  interested  in  coal  min- 
ing properties  in  Oklahoma,  many  of  these  being 
of  great  promise,  and,  operated  with  his  known 
ability,  would  have  returned  large  rewards.  He 
was  held  in  the  highest  esteem  as  a  man  of  in- 
tegrity and  was  made  receiver  for  the  wholesale 
clothing  firm  of  A.  N.  Schuster,  after  its  failure 
An  1894.  Through  times  of  financial  depression 
and  of  consequent  loss,  Mr.  Walker's  business 
honor  was  never  assailed  nor  was  his  business 
ability  questioned.  At  the  time  of  his  death  he 
was  president  and  owner  of  the  Savannah-Okla- 
homa Coal  Company,  which  he  had  organized, 
and  during  some  years  he  was  interested  in  cattle 
deals  in  Texas. 

On  September  12,  1876,  Mr.  Walker  was  mar- 
ried to  Mary  Vance,  of  Plattsburg,  Missouri,  who 
survives,  with  one  son  and  four  daughters :  Anna, 
who  married  F.  Labrunerie,  of  St.  Joseph,  Mis- 
souri ;  Bessie,  who  married  W.  H.  Griffith,  of  St. 
Joseph  ;  Henry  W.,  of  St.  Joseph  ;  and  Ruby  and 
Margaret,  who  live  at  home  with  their  mother. 
Mr.  Walker's  home  was  always  a  cherished  spot 
and  his  devotion  to  wife  and  children  was  one  of 
his  most  marked  and  lovable  characteristics.  Tlie 
family  are  members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 

For  a  number  of  years  our  subject  was  a  prom- 
inent figure  in  Missouri  politics,  and  was  admit- 
ted to  the  personal  friendship  of  President  Cleve- 
land, whom  he  ardently  supported.  Had  he  lived, 
he  would  in  all  probability  been  the  Democratic 
standard-bearer  in  his  congressional  district.  He 
had  served  on  many  charitable  boards  and  with 
numerous  civic  bodies,  was  interested  in  all  that 
goes  to  the  development  of  the  city's  best  interests 
and  was  able  to  claim  as  personal  friends  many 
of  the  leading  citizens  of  city,  county  and  State. 
James  W.  Walker  will  be  remembered  for  his 
many  sterling  traits  of  character  which  endeared 
him  to  a  wide  circle  outside  his  immediate 
family. 


♦ » » 


UTHER  A.  TODD,  M.  D.,  one  of  the 
leading  physicians  and  surgeons  of  .St. 
Joseph,  and  a  popular  and  representa- 
tive citizen,  was  born  at  Morenci.  ]\Iich- 
igan,  August  3.  1874,  and  is  a  son  of 
Newell  D.  and  Huldah  (Aldrich)  Todd. 

The  father  of  Dr.  Todd  was  born  at  Adrian, 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


637 


Michigan,  in  1845,  ^  son  of  Ransome  Todd,  who 
was  a  native  of  New  York.  Mr.  Todd  remained 
on  his  father's  farm  until  the  age  of  17  years  when 
he  enHsted  for  service  in  the  Civil  War,  as  a  mem- 
ber of  the  nth  Regiment,  Mich.  Vol.  Cav.,  contin- 
uing in  the  army,  until  the  close  of  hostilities. 
After  his  return  from  the  war,  he  learned  the  drug 
business  and  was  associated  with  his  brother, 
Luther  L.,  until  1875,  when  he  removed  to  Atchi- 
son, Kansas,  where  he  accepted  a  position  with  the 
Atchison  &  Eastern  Bridge  Company,  in  1884 
becoming  superintendent,  which  responsible  po- 
sition he  still  fills.  Prior  to  locating  in  Kansas, 
he  was  a  prominent  Republican  and  filled  the 
office  of  county  treasurer,  but  has  taken  no  active 
part  in  political  campaigns  for  a  number  of  years. 
He  is  prominently  identified  with  the  various 
Masonic   bodies. 

The  mother  of  Dr.  Todd  was  a  daughter  of 
Anson  Aldrich,  a  prominent  citizen  of  Fayette 
County,  Ohio,  and  she  became  the  mother  of  three 
children,  the  two  survivors  being  Luther  A.,  of 
this  sketch ;  and  U.  H.,  of  Atchison,  Kansas, 
who  is  a  superintendent  of  the  Atchison  &  East- 
ern Bridge  Company.  The  whole  family  belong 
to  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church. 

Dr.  Todd  entered  upon  his  pursuit  of  an  edu- 
cation in  the  public  schools  of  Atchison,  at  Mid- 
land College,  and  then  had  three  years  of  mili- 
tary training  at  the  Shattuck  Alilitary  College,  at 
Faribault,  Minnesota.  From  this  justly  cele- 
brated institution,  he  entered  the  Kansas  State 
University,  where  he  completed  the  studies  of  the 
junior  year,  going  from  here  to  Columbia  Uni- 
versity, New^  York  City,  where  he  was  graduated 
in  the  medical  department,  in  1900,  earning  his 
degree  of  M.  D.  He  was  appointed  to  Roosevelt 
Hospital,  New  York,  where  he  gained  invaluable 
experience  during  two  years  as  interne,  and  dur- 
ing his  last  six  months  filled  the  position  of  house 
surgeon.  In  March,  1902,  he  came  to  St.  Joseph 
and  opened  an  office,  later  establishing  himself 
in  the  Logan  Building,  and  his  abilities  received 
immediate  recognition.  He  now  fills  several  re- 
sponsible positions  outside  of  a  large  private 
practice,  being  professor  of  minor  surgery  at 
Ensworth  Medical  College :  assistant  surgeon 
for  the  St.  Joseph  &  Grand  Island  Railway  and 
assistant  surgeon  for  the  St.  Joseph  Railway, 
Light,  Heat  &  Power  Company.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  various  county,  city  and  State  medical  so- 
cieties, anrl  of  the  St.  Joseph  Surgical  Society. 

Dr.   Todd   married   Ruth  Hetherington,  who 
is  a  daughter  of  the  late  W.  W.  Hetherington,  of 


Atchison,  Kansas,  and  they  have  two  children, — 
Ruthanna  and  Newell  W.'  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Todd 
belong  to  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church. 

Politically,  Dr.  Todd  is  a  Republican.  Fra- 
ternally, he  is  a  member  of  St.  Joseph  Lodge,  No. 
40,  B.  P.  O.  E. ;  St.  Joseph  Lodge,  No.  22, 
Knights  of  Pythias ;  Roosevelt  Hospital  Alumni 
Association ;  and  he  retains  his  membership  in 
the  college  fraternities  of  Phi  Gamma  Delta  and 
Theta  Nu  Epsilon.  He  belongs  also  to  the  Ben- 
ton and  Lotus  clubs. 


♦ « » 


RS.  AUGUSTA  C.  WILLIAMS,  one 
of  the  most  highly  respected  residents 
of  W^ashington  township,  Buchanan 
County,  who  owns,  operates  and  en- 
tirely manages  a  fine  farm  of  80 
acres,  in  section  25,  township  58,  range  35,  is  the 
widow  of  one  and  the  daughter  of  another  old 
pioneer  of  this  county.  Mrs.  Williams  was  born 
in  1845  in  Buchanan  County,  Missouri,  and  is  a 
daughter  of  Augustus  M.  and  Rebecca  (Farmer) 
Wylie. 

The  father  of  Mrs.  Williams  was  born  in  Vir- 
ginia. In  early  boyhood  he  went  to  Kentucky, 
and  in  manhood  moved  to  Indiana  where  he  mar- 
ried Re])ecca  Farmer.  In  the  year  of  Mrs.  Wil- 
liams' birth,  they  came  with  their  ox  team  to  Mis- 
souri. Attracted  by  the  rich  bottom  land  between 
the  One  Hundred  and  Two  and  the  Platte  rivers, 
they  entered  a  claim  and  remained  on  that  farm 
for  some  years.  Later  they  moved  to  Illinois, 
but  still  later  the  father  went  to  Arkansas  and 
died  in  that  State.  Mr.  Wylie  was  a  man  who 
naturally  took  a  prominent  place  among  his  neigh- 
bors and  fellow  citizens.  Nature  had  given  him  a 
stalwart  frame  and  his  pioneer  life  a  courage  and 
strength  which  served  him  well  during  the  years 
he  served  as  sherifit'  of  Buchanan  County.  The 
occasion  of  the  theft  of  $4,000  in  silver  from  Jo- 
seph Robidoux  in  1842  and  Sherilif  Wylie's  suc- 
cessful efforts  in  recovering  the  money  and  catch- 
ing the  thieves  are  well  recalled  in  local  histories. 
He  was  a  very  determined  man,  one  who  knew  no 
fear  and  was  dreaded  by  law-breakers  from  one 
end  of  the  county  to  the  other.  His  memory" 
should  be  kept  green  as  one  of  the  leading  m.en  of 
his  time  in  this  section.  At  the  time  of  his  death, 
in  1 88 1,  Mr.  Wylie  had  completed  his  78th  year. 
Mrs.  Williams  grew  up  on  her  father's  farm 
and  became  not  only  a  cai)able  housekeeper,  but 
a  woman  of  practical  ideas  about  business  also. 


6s8 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY  AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


otherwise  she  could  not  have  so  capably  managed 
her  large  farm.  She  married  Calvin  Williams, 
who  had  lived  in  Buchanan  County,  since  boy- 
hood, being  a  native  of  \'irginia.  His  death  oc- 
curred in  1872.  leaving  five  children,  namely: 
Belle;  Julia;  Hattie,  wife  of  Edward  Gallup; 
Benjamin,  a  wood  and  coal  dealer  at  No.  511 
Main  street.  St.  Joseph  ;  and  Dora,  deceased. 

Mrs.  Williams  has  seen  many  wonderful 
changes  in  Washington  township  since  her  child- 
hood. Her  property  is  very  valuable  on  account 
of  its  proximity  to  St.  Joseph,  being  situated  six 
miles  northeast  from  ^Market  square.  She  car- 
ries on  a  general  line  of  farming,  employs  plenty 
of  help  and  enjoys  the  reputation  of  being  a  most 
excellent  agriculturist.  Her  comfortable  two- 
story  residence,  some  50  \ards  from  the  public 
highwa}-.  is  surrounded  by  a  beautiful  lawn  and 
some  fine  old  trees.  ^Nlrs.  Williams  is  well-known 
and  has  a  wide  circle  of  friends  not  only  in  the 
immediate  neighborhood  but  in  St.  Joseph. 


♦ » » 


lOHN  A.  ]\IUCHENBERGER.  a  promi- 
nent business  citizen  of  St.  Joseph,  a 
member  of  the  firm  of  Muchenberger 
Brothers,  was  born  July  8,  1869,  in  St. 
Joseph,  Missouri,  and  is  a  son  of  Leo 
and  ^lagdalena  (Bashnagel)  ]\Iuchenberger. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  born  at  Lenz- 
kirch,  in  the  Black  Forest,  Germany,  Septem- 
ber 5.  1828.  As  in  the  case  of  other  German 
vouths.  he  was  encouraged  to  learn  a  trade  and 
ch.ose  that  of  baker,  and  when  he  came  to  Amer- 
ica, at  the  age  of  22  years,  he  was  able  to  earn  his 
own  way.  although  the  country  and  customs  \\ere 
strange.  He  located  at  Iowa  City.  Iowa,  where 
he  opened  a  bakery  and  operated  it  some  }ears. 
In  April.  1869.  he  came  to  St.  Joseph  and  em- 
barked in  a  bakery  business  here,  opening  his  first 
shop  opposite  the  old  Patee  ^Market  House,  but 
two  years  later  he  moved  to  Eighth  and  Felix 
streets,  where  he  conducted  a  thriving  business 
mitil  1880,  when  he  retired  from  activity.  His' 
death  took  place  in  the  following  year.  He  was 
one  of  the  best-known  business  men  of  this  city, 
and  all  who  ever  had  dealings  with  him  found 
him  the  soul  of  honesty  and  a  good  and  kind- 
hearted  man.  He  was  social  by  nature  and  be- 
longed to  the  Odd  Fellows  and  to  the  German 
Turn-Verein.  Both  parents  of  our  subjects  were 
members  of  the  German  Catholic  Church,  most 
■worthy  people  in  every  wa>-.     The  children  who 


reached  maturity  were :  Goodlive.  who  died  in 
1880,  aged  21  years;  Leo  J. :  John  A. ;  and  Otto 
P..  who  was  drowned  in  Lake  Contrary,  August 
28,  1893.  aged  29  years  and  10  months. 

Leo  J.  Muchenberger.  our  subject's  partner 
in  business,  was  born  January  19.  1867.  in  Iowa 
City,  Iowa,  and  was  educated  in  the  public  schools 
of  St.  Joseph  and  at  the  Christian  Brothers'  Col- 
lege. After  a  few  years  of  em]~)loyment  in  the 
wholesale  store  of  Ernst  &  Brill,  he  went  into 
business  for  himself,  establishing  an  art  and  pic- 
ture frame  store,  in  which  he"  continued  until 
1891,  when  he  enlarged  his  business  by  adding  a 
wall  paper  department,  later  going  into  the 
wholesale  wall  paper  trade.  This  business  was 
expanded  until  it  now  covers  ^lissouri,  Kansas, 
Iowa,  Nebraska.  Oklahoma  and  Texas.  In  1899 
a  branch  house  was  opened  at  Kansas  City.  He 
married  Annie  Weckerlin.  a  daughter  of  Philip 
Weckerlin,  of  St.  Joseph,  and  they  have  one 
daughter, — Leanna.  He  is  fraternally  connected 
with  the  Woodmen  of  the  World. 

Our  immediate  subject.  John  A.  ]\Iuchen- 
berger,  was  erlucated  in  the  puplic  schools  and 
then  came  under  the  care  of  Father  Linnencamp 
and  finally  entered  the  Christian  Brothers'  Col- 
lege, where  he  completed  the  course  at  the  age 
of  13  years.  He  then  learned  the  trade  of  pic- 
ture framer  and  shortly  after  entered  into  business 
with  his  brother,  Leo  J.^  under  the  firm  name  of 
Muchenberger  Brothers.  The  business  is  one  of 
the  leading  enterprises  of  St.  Joseph.  Mr.  ]\Iuch- 
enberger  married  Emma  Huffman,  a  young  lady 
reared  in  this  city.  He  is  a  consistent  member  of 
the  Catholic  Church  and  belongs  also  to  the  St. 
Joseph  Benevolent  Society. 


♦  * » 


EXJAMIN  W.  CULVER,  M.  D.,  the 
oldest  medical  practitioner  at  Rush- 
ville.  Buciianan  County,  and  a  man  who 
is  held  in  the  highest  esteem  both  per- 
sonally and  professionally,  was  born  in 
Chemung  County,  New  York.  October  i.  1832, 
and  is  a  son  of  Nathan  and  Lena  (Turner) 
Culver. 

The  Culver  familv  is  of  Scotch  extraction 
and  have  mainly  led  agricultural  lives.  The 
founder  of  the  family  in  America  settled  first  in 
New  Jersev,  a  wealthy  and  influential  State 
largely  indebted  to  the  thrift  and  sterling  char- 
acter of  the  large  majority  of  its  early  Scotch 
settlers.    At  a  later  period  a  branch  of  the  Culver 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


639 


famil}-  established  itself  in  the  rich  farming  lands 
of  Chemung  County,  New  York,  where  the 
grandfather  of  Dr.  Culver  was  born.  Nathan 
Culver,  Jr.,  father  of  Dr.  Culver,  was  born  in 
Chemung  County  and  followed  agricultural  pur- 
suits. His  wife,  Lena  Turner,  was  the  daugh- 
ter of  a  neighboring  farmer.  They  had  six  chil- 
dren. 

Benjamin  W.  Culver  was  reared  through  boy- 
hood on  his  father's  farm,  obtaining  his  early 
education  in  the  district  schools.  He  completed 
his  academic  course  in  Benton  County,  Iowa,  and 
secured  his  medical  training  in  what  was  then 
known  as  the  American  Eclectic  College,  now  the 
Cincinnati  Medical  College,  where  he  was  gradu- 
ated in  1855.  Dr.  Culver's  early  practice  covered 
a  large  territory,  first  in  Iowa,  later  in  Kansas, 
and  in  August,  1873,  he  located  in  Rushville,  Mis- 
souri, where  he  has  been  established  up  to  the 
present  time.  When  Dr.  Culver  settled  in  Buch- 
anan County,  he  found  his  section  of  the  county 
a  heavily  timbered  region,  many  portions  of  it 
not  yet  improved  with  bridges  or  public  highways, 
and  for  five  years  his  professional  visits  were 
made  on  horseback,  traversing  the  bridle-paths 
through  the  forest  that  led  to  the  scattered  homes 
where  his  services  were  needed.  That  nothing 
ever  prevented  his  answering  a  professional  call 
reflects  honor  upon  a  man,  who  in  an  unusual  de- 
gree seems  to  possess  the  esteem  and  love  of  his 
community.  After  more  than  30  years  of  practice 
iiere,  his  people  refuse  to  deny  themselves  of  the 
benefits  of  his  professional  care,  but  the  time  has 
passed  when  he  can  visit  homes.  His  patients 
must  come  to  him  and  he  still  manages  a  very 
large  office  practice. 

Dr.  Culver  was  married  first,  in  1856,  to  Har- 
riet E.  Dolph,  and  they  had  four  children  :  Emma, 
who  married  R.  W.  Jones,  and  at  her  death  left 
t,wo  children, — Nellie  and  Frank;  Frank  L..  of 
Kansas  City ;  Dora  Ann,  widow  of  William  H. 
Allison  of  St.  Josei)h,  who  died  November  21, 
1904, — Mrs.  Allison  has  seven  children,  Clara, 
Gladys,  Dolph,  Matthew,  Bornice,  William  and 
Charles ;  and  Orville,  deceased.  Dr.  Culver's 
second  wife,  Nancy  Reed,  died  two  years  after 
marriage.  His  third  union  was  with  Mrs.  Mary 
Ann  (Gentry)  Bracken. 

Dr.  Culver  belongs  to  the  leading  medical 
organizations  of  the  countrv.  He  has  always 
taken  advantage  of  opportunities  to  perfect  his 
professional  knowledge,  taking  post-graduate 
courses  and  keeping  in  touch  with  modern  scien- 
tific discoveries.     He  has  long  been  one  of  the 


leading  Democratic  politicians  of  his  locality  and 
has  frequently  served  as  a  delegate,  attending  m 
this  capacity  the  congressional  convention  that 
nominated  Hon.  D.  D.  Burnes.  He  has  been 
identified  with  the  Masonic  fraternity  for  many 
vears. 


-♦-•-•- 


AMES  A.  GIBSON,  a  prominent  farmer 
and  stock-raiser  of  Piatt  township, 
Buchanan  County,  located  in  section  11, 
township  55.  range  34,  was  born  in 
Boone  County,  Missouri,  January  2, 
1840.  He  is  a  son  of  Arthur  and  Jane  (Moore) 
Gibson,  and  a  grandson  of  Garrett  Gibson. 

Garrett  Gibson  was  born  in  Buncombe  County, 
North  Carolina,  and  was  of  Scotch-Irish  ancestry. 
He  was  a  wheelwright  by  trade  and  also  fol- 
lowed farming.  He  moved  from  his  native  State 
to  Indiana,  thence  to  Illinois,  and  finally  followed 
his  children  to  Buchanan  County,  Missouri.  He 
was  the  father  of  seven  children,  Arthur  being 
the  oldest  of  his  sons. 

Arthur  Gibson  was  born  in  Buncombe  County, 
North  Carolina,  in  1803,  and  moved  to  Indiana 
with  his  parents,  locating  on  a  farm  near  Green- 
castle.  He  later  went  to  Putnam  County,  Illi- 
nois, with  his  parents,  and  was  there  reared  and 
lived  until  1839,  when  he  came  to  ^Missouri  in  .a 
wagon,  locating  in  Boone  County.  In  the  fall  of 
the  following  year  he  came  to  the  Platte  Pur- 
chase, where  he  resided  on  a  farm  until  his  death, 
having  entered  160  acres  in  section  11,  township 
55,  range  34,  in  Platte  township,  and  having  built 
thereon  a  log  cabin,  14  by  16  feet,  in  which  he 
lived  with  his  family  for  about  three  years.  He 
eventually  acquired  an  estate  of  640  acres,  much 
of  which  he  cleared.  He  raised  hemp  and  wheat 
largely,  marketing  these  products  at  St.  Joseph. 
He  made  all  his  money  in  raising  grain  and  stock, 
although  he  followed  his  trade  as  a  wheelwright 
for  some  time.  He  manufactured  nearlv  all  the 
furniture  used  in  the  community  in  the  early 
days.  He  died  in  August,  1853.  'His  wife.  Jane 
Moore,  who  was  born  in  Tennessee  in  181 1,-  and 
died  in  Jefiferson  County,  Kansas,  at  tlie  home  of 
her  daughter  Mrs.  Levi  Wilhelm,  in  1887,  was  a 
daughter  of  Thomas  and  Nancy  Moore,  early 
settlers  in  the  Platte  Purchase.  She  and  her  hus- 
band were  parents  of  the  following  children : 
Thomas  G.,  deceased,  at  Winchester,  Kansas,  at 
the  age  of  68  }ears,  who  was  a  farmer  of  Okla- 
homa Territory:  Rachel,  wife  of  Levi  Wilhelm, 
of  Winchester,  Kansas;  Louis,  who  was  in  the 


640 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


Confederate  Army,  and  lives  in  Harvey  County, 
Kansas ;  Francis  Marion,  who  was  in  the  100-day 
service  during-  the  Civil  War ;  James  A. ;  Nancy, 
wife  of  ]\Iilton  Witt,  of  Winchester,  Kansas ^ 
Clarissa,  wife  of  Wesley  Clark,  of  Jefferson 
County.  Kansas  ;  William  R.,  a  farmer  of  Jeft'er- 
son  County,  Kansas ;  and  George  W.,  of  St. 
Joseph. 

In  the  fall  of  the  year  of  his  birth,  James  A. 
Gibson  was  taken  by  his  parents  to  his  present 
home  place  in  Platte  township,  Buchanan  County, 
where  he  has  resided  ever  since.  He  has  a  farm 
of  445  acres  in  sections  9,  10  and  it,  having  pur- 
chased 100  acres  of  the  old  home  farm  when  the 
partition  of  his  father's  estate  was  made.  He 
raises  grain  and  stock,  having  a  large  number  of 
horses  and  mules,  as  well  as  Shorthorn  cattle  and 
Poland-China  hogs.  He  is  an  extensive  feeder 
and  shipper,  selling  about  five  car-loads  of  stock 
annually.  About  two  years  ago  he  erected  one 
of  the  finest  country  homes  in  the  township,  in 
which  he  now  lives  with  his  family.  He  has  al- 
wa}s  been  a  stanch  Democrat  and  cast  his  first 
vote  for  Gen.  George  B.  JMcClellan.  He  has  held 
numerous  minor  offices,  has  been  school  trustee 
and  was  at  one  time  defeated  as  candidate  for 
countv  judge.  He  frequently  has  been  delegate 
to  county  and  State  conventions.  He  has  served 
on  the  executive  board  of  the  St.  Joseph  Baptist 
Association. 

In  1863,  Mr.  Gibson  w^as  united  in  marriage 
with  Louisa  Caroline  Holland,  who  was  born  in 
Jackson  township,  Buchanan  County,  Missouri, 
in  February,  1844,  and  is  a  daughter  of  John  and 
Jane  Holland,  natives  of  Tennessee.  As  a  result 
of  this  union,  the  following  children  were  born: 
Elmetta  C,  wife  of  Samuel  Shoemaker,  of  Trc- 
mont  township ;  Emma,  wife  of  John  Roberts,  of 
Tremont  township ;  Thomas  N.,  of  Platte  town- 
ship ;  Magdalene,  wife  of  James  Cone,  of  Marion 
township ;  Jaly  Ann,  wife  of  George  Schuster,  of 
Platte  township  ;  James  W..  of  Platte  township, 
who  attended  the  State  University  of  Missouri 
for  three  years,  and  was  considered  one  of  the  best 
football  players  on  the  "varsity"  team, — he  is  now 
a  teacher  and  a  prominent  political  worker,  being 
clerk  for  Senator  \"oorhees.  a  member  of  the 
Democratic  Central  Committee,  and  having  been 
at  one  time  township  assessor ;  Francis  M.,  who 
lives  in  Platte  township ;  Jennie  S.,  who  died  at 
the  age  of  12  years ;  Dora,  who  is  a  high  school 
teacher;  Jessie,  who  also  is  a  teacher;  George  S., 
who  lives  at  home  and  one  who  died  in  infancy. 
Our  subject's  son,  Francis  M.,  drew  No.  161  in 


the  government  land  lottery  in  the  opening  of  the 
Rosebud  Reservation  in  South  Dakota  in  the 
summer  of  1904,  and  filed  on  No.  155.  He  went 
there  and  after  filing-  built  a  sod  house  and  will 
return  in  the  spring  of  1905  to  reside  there  per- 
manently. Our  subject  served  on  the  petit  jury 
in  the  first  term  of  the  United  States  Court  held 
at  St.  Joseph.  Fraternally,  he  is  a  member  of  the 
Masons,  Grange  and  Farmers'  Alliance. 


^  *  » 


ETER  YOUNG,  one  of  the  prominent 
and  successful  market  gardeners  and 
IS!  Staa  farmers  of  Buchanan  County,  owning 
Ww^Ss  a  beautifully  located  home,  on  an  emi- 
nence above  the  Savannah  road,  sur- 
rounded by  a  fertile  farm  of  563/4  acres,  in  Wash- 
ington township,  in  section  33.  township  58.  range 
35.  was  born  in  Bavaria,  Germany.  October  13, 
1 831.    He  is  a  son  of  Kenrod  Young. 

The  father  of  ]Mr.  Young  was  born  in  1800 
and  was  a  farmer  by  occupation  in  Germany.  In 
1844  he  came  with  his  family  to  America,  making 
the  voyage  in  a  sailing  vessel  which,  after  42 
days  on  the  ocean,  landed  the  travelers  at  the 
port  of  New  York.  Mr.  Young  located  in  Pike 
County.  Ohio,  where  he  purchased  169  acres  of 
land,  which  he  operated  until  1865.  when  he  sold 
that  farm  and  removed  to  Queen  City.  Missouri, 
where  he  resided  until  the  close  of  his  life,  at 
the  age  of  72  years.  Our  subject  was  12  years 
of  age  when  the  family  came  to  America  and  has 
a  very  vivid  recollection  of  the  long  and  stormy 
voyage  on  the  ocean.  He  attended  a  German 
school  in  Pike  County,  Ohio,  and  assisted  in 
farming  the  home  place  until  1849.  He  then 
went  to  Chillicothe  and  learned  the  trade  of  stone- 
mason, during  which  time  he  secured  railroad 
work  which  then  paid  very  well  and  he  continued 
there  for  six  years.  In  1856  he  came  to  St.  Jos- 
eph where  he  found  work  on  the  Hannibal  &  St. 
Joseph  Railroad,  which  was  the  first  line  con- 
structed in  Buchanan  County.  At  the  opening  of 
the  Civil  War,  he  enlisted  in  the  Union  Army,  on 
June  13,  1861,  in  the  13th  Regiment,  Missouri, 
A'^ol.  Inf.,  and  was  taken  prisoner  September  20, 
1861,  at  Lexington.  After  his  release  he  re- 
enlisted  in  the  Fifth  Missouri,  and  was  discharged 
on  lune  24.  1863.  He  then  went  back  to  Ohio 
and  spent  1864  and  1865  in  bridge  construction; 
returning  to  Buchanan  County  in  the  fall  of  the 
latter  year.  Froni  1868  to  1894  Mr.  Young  was 
interested  in  farming  and  also  did  a  large  amount 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


641 


of  contract  work  in  the  way  of  grading  and  mac- 
adamizing the  St.  Joseph  streets.  Mr.  Young's 
farm  is  a  very  valuable  piece  of  property  both 
on  account  of  the  fertility  of  the  soil  and  its  high 
state  of  cultivation  and  also  because  of  its  close 
proximity  to  the  city  of  St.  Joseph,  being  situated 
within  three  and  a  half  miles  of  Market  square. 
He  raises  corn  and  hay  but  devotes  much  of  his 
land  to  fruit,  having  500  apple  trees  and  a  large 
amount  of  small  fruit. 

In  1859,  Mr.  Young  was  married  to  Louisa 
Deriff,  \\ho  was  born  in  Germany,  and  they  have 
a  family  of  seven  sons  and  one  daughter,  namely : 
John  P.,  Lewis  L.,  William,  Charles  C,  Peter 
P.,  Henry  V.,  Christina,  who  is  the  wife  of  John 
Staal  and  George  W. 

Politically,  Mr.  Young  and  all  his  sons  are 
identified  with  the  Republican  party  and  all  are 
well-informed,  sensible  men.  Although  Mr. 
Young  has  turned  over  the  care  of  the  farm  to  his 
son,  he  is  still  vigorous  enough  to  do  an  ordinary 
man's  day's  work.  He  is  very  highly  respected" 
b\-  all  ^^•ho  know  him. 


^ «  » 


TCHAEL  CURRAN,  one  of  the  suc- 
cessful farmers  and  well-known  cit- 
izens of  Buchanan  County,  who  re- 
sides on   a  finely  improved  farm  of 
240    acres,    situated    in    section    9, 
Agency  township,  was  born  in  County  Tyrone, 
Ireland,  in    1836,  and  is   a   son  of  Francis  and 
Bridget  (McGee)  Curran. 

Francis  Curran  was  also  born  in  County 
Tyrone,  where  he  married  and  followed  the  oc- 
cupation of  laborer  until  about  1844.  when  he 
came  to  the  United  States  with  his  family,  set- 
tling in  New  York  City,  where  he  subsequently 
died.  His  widow  some  years  later  accompanied 
her  children  to  ^lissouri  and  died  in  St.  Joseph, 
at  the  age  of  "j^i  years.  Their  children  w^ere :  Pat- 
rick, who  came  to  the  United  States  and  to  St. 
Joseph  with  his  uncle,  the  first  of  the  family,  and 
died  in  California  ;  James,  who  died  at  an  early 
age  in  Ireland  ;  Lettie,  who  died  in  New  York, 
aged  20  years;  Sallie  (Mrs.  Watson),  who  died 
in  California :  Michael,  of  this  sketch;  and  Frank, 
who  died  in  California. 

Our  subject  spent  his  boyhood  and  early  youth 
in  his  native  land  and  in  New  York  City.  In 
1856  the  family  decided  to  join  the  older  brother, 
Patrick,  and  the  maternal  uncle,  Michael  McGee, 
at   St.  Joseph,  Missouri.     From   St.   Louis  thev 


came  up  the  river  on  the  steamboat  "Martha 
Jewett."  Except  for  short  absences,  Mr.  Curran 
has  remained  in  Buchanan  County  ever  since. 
His  uncle  was  a  harness-maker  and  Michael  Cur- 
ran learned  that  trade  with  his  relative  and 
worked  at  the  same  for  some  25  years.  In  1862, 
in  company  with  his  brother  and  brother-in-law, 
he  started  for  the  far  West,  but  at  Salt  Lake  City 
he  concluded  to  return  home.  His  brother  and 
brother-in-law  kept  on  to  California,  where  both 
died.  After  a  few  months  absence,  Mr.  Curran 
was  again  established  in  St.  Joseph. 

After  accumulating  sufficient  capital,  Mr. 
Curran  purchased  his  present  fine  farm  of  240 
acres,  located  in  section  9,  Agency  township.  At 
that  time  it  was  heavily  timbered  and  the  old  log 
cabin  on  the  place  had  to  be  improved  before  it 
was  a  comfortable  home,  but  it  lasted  as  such 
until  1902,  when  the  present  commodious  resi- 
dence and  substantial  barn  were  erected.  All  the 
excellent  improvements  have  been  placed  here 
by  Mr.  Curran,  himself,  including  a  five-acre 
orchard.  He  first  made  grain-growing  his  main 
business,  but  now  devotes  more  attention  to 
stock.  He  has  prospered  and  ranks  with  the  sub- 
stantial men  of  his  township. 

At  St.  Joseph,  in  1881,  :\Ir.  Curran  was  mar- 
ried to  Maggie  Deagens,  who  was  born  in  Can- 
ada, and  died  in  1890,  aged  25  years.  She  was  a 
daughter  of  Archibald  Deagens.  The  four  chil- 
dren of  this  marriage  were :  Lettie,  Frank,  Mag- 
gie and  Mary,  who  died  in  infancy. 

In  politics,  Mr.  Curran  is  a  Democrat.  He  is 
a  worthy  member  of  the  Catholic  Church.  A  good 
farmer  and  kind  and  obliging  neighbor,  he  is  held 
in  universal  esteem  throughout  Agency  township. 
Through  his  own  efforts,  he  has  become  inde- 
pendent and  he  is  but  one  more  example  of  the 
certain  rewards  which  attend  industry,  perse- 
verance and  upright  living. 


■♦  »♦■ 


ATRICK  P.  KANE,  one  of  the  well- 
known  and  popular  and  respected  cit- 
izens of  St.  Joseph,  who  occupies  the  re- 
sponsible position  of  chief  of  the  city 
Fire  Department,  was  born  in  Buch- 
anan County,  Missouri,  March  5,  1864,  and  is  a 
son  of  James  and  ]\Iary  (Burke)  Kane. 

James  Kane  was  born  in  Ireland  but  in  voung 
manhood  came  to  America  and  settled  in  Buch- 
anan County.  Missouri.  By  trade  a  mason,  he 
worked  at  that  for  a  number  of  vears  and  then 


642 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN    COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


became  a  teaming  contractor  and  did  a  large 
business  in  St.  Joseph.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
Cathohc  Church. 

Patrick  P.  Kane  was  reared  and  educated  in 
St.  Joseph.  In  early  manhood  he  took  an  inter- 
est in  the  Fire  Department  and  as  he  possessed 
the  physique  and  the  physical  courage  necessary, 
he  was  admitted  to  membership  in  Hook  and 
Ladder  Company  No.  2.  in  October,  1884.  Strict 
attention  to  cluty  and  daring  bravery  in  the  face  of 
danger  attracted  attention  and  in  1885  he  was  ap- 
pointed foreman  of  his  compan}-  and  still  later, 
in  the  same  year,  was  advanced  to  the  position 
of  assistant  chief.  He  remained  in  this  position 
until  i8qt  when  he  was  made  chief  of  the  de- 
partment, a  promotion  which  met  with  the  ap- 
probation of  his  subordinates  and  pleased  his  fel- 
low citizens,  who  had  learned  to  trust  in  his  fidel- 
ity. The  position  of  chief  of  the  Fire  Department 
of  St.  Joseph  is  no  sinecure,  as  he  has  12  engine 
houses  and  72  men  under  his  command. 

In  1899,  Chief  Kane  was  married  to  !^Iargaret 
\'ahey,  who  is  a  daughter  of  Andrew  Vahey,  a 
native  of  England,  and  they  have  one  daughter, — 
Gertrude.  Their  comfortable  home  is  located  at 
Noj  805  South  nth  street.  Politically,  the  chief 
is  a  stanch  Democrat.  He  is  a  consistent  mem- 
ber of  the  Catholic  Church. 


♦  * » 


RTHl"R  W.  BREWSTER,  a  lawyer  of 
prominence  in  Buchanan  County,  is  at 
the  present  time  postmaster  of  St. 
Joseph,  having  been  appointed  to  the 
office  by  President  Roosevelt.  Febru- 
ary 8,  1902. 

Mr.  Brewster  was  born  in  Ashtabula,  Ohio,  in 
1865,  and  is  a  son  of  A.  S.  Brewster,  who  took  his 
family  to  Kansas  in  1869.  A.  S.  Brewster  is  a 
lawyer  by  profession  and  has  three  sons  who  are 
prominent  in  that  profession.  He  is  at  the  pres- 
ent time  engaged  in  practice  in  Doniphan  County. 
Kansas.  The  mother  of  our  subject  is  also  living, 
as  are  the  following  sons:  S.  i\I.,  prosecuting  at- 
torney of  Doniphan  County,  Kansas ;  Arthur  W., 
our  subject;  R.  R..  an  attorney,  of  Kansas  City. 
Missouri ;  and  Harry  H..  who  is  assistant  i)0st- 
master  of  South  St.  Joseph.  Two  sisters  of  our 
subject  are  living,  of  whom  one  is  unmarried 
and  lives  at  home,  while  the  other  is  the  wife  of 
I.  B.  Morgan,  of  Kansas  City,  Kansas. 

Arthur  W.  Brewster  was  mainly  reared  in 
Kansas,  being  four  vears  old   when  his  jiarents 


moved  to  that  State,  and  received  his  education 
in  the  grade  and  high  schools  and  at  Washburn 
College,  from  which  he  was  graduated  in  1890. 
He  then  studied  law  two  years  under  the  direction 
of  his  father  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  Kan- 
sas, immediately  thereafter  moving  to  St.  Jos- 
eph. He  entered  the  law-  ofSce  of  Huston  & 
Farrish,  and  within  a  }-ear  formed  a  partnership 
with  the  present  police  judge,  P.  J.  Carolus,  un- 
der the  firm  name  of  Carolus  &  Brewster.  In  the 
fall  of  1894,  he  was  elected  to  the  Missouri  State 
Senate,  in  which  office  he  served  four  years,  and 
in  the  meantime  continued  in  the  practice  of  the 
law.  In  1896.  when  ]\Ir.  Parrish  was  elected 
judge  of  the  Circuit  Court,  the  old  firm  was  dis- 
solved and  in  1897  the  firm  of  Huston  &  Brew- 
ster was  established  with  offices  in  the  German- 
Ame'rican  Bank  Building.  It  was  a  strong  com- 
bination of  legal  talent  and  continued  with  suc- 
cess until  dissolved  by  the  death  of  ^Ir.  Huston 
on  November  24,  1903.  Mr.  Huston  was  rec- 
ognized as  one  of  the  foremost  lawyers  of  this 
section  of  the  country  and  is  greatly  missed  by 
the  Buchanan  County  Bar.  In  1898,  ls.lv.  Brew- 
ster was  the  Republican  candidate  for  Congress 
but  was  defeated  by  the  Democratic  nominee,  C. 
F.  Cochran.  He  has  ahvays  been  very  active  in 
working  for  Republican  success  in  the  campaigns, 
and  stands  high  in  the  councils  of  his  party. 

On  Christmas  Day,  1894,  Mr.  Brewster  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Ada  Kanaga.  of  Hutchin- 
son, Kansas,  with  whom  he  had  attended  Wash- 
burn College  at  Topeka.  Religiously,  Mrs.  Brew- 
ster is  a  member  of  the  Congregational  Church. 
Fraternally.  A.  W.  Brewster  is  a  member  of  the 
Knights  of  Pythias,  and  of  the  Ancient  Order  of 
United  Workmen. 


♦  »  » 


APOLEON  B.  MILLER,  a  well-known 
farmer  and  stockman  of  ^^^ashington 
township,  Buchanan  County,  residing 
on  a  very  valuable  farm  of  215  acres, 
in  section  34,  was  born  here.  April  23, 
1859.  in  the  residence  which  is  still  occupied 
by  the  family.  He  is  a  son  of  Isaac  and  Jane 
(Karnes)    ^Miller. 

The  father  of  ]\fr.  ]\Iiller  was  born  in  ^Ion- 
roe  County.  \'irginia.  in  1808.  and  died  in  Buch- 
anan County,  Missouri,  ]\lay  29,  1866.  His  wife 
was  also  born  in  ]\Ionroe  County  and  died  here, 
Januarv  11,  1899.  Both  families  were  prominent 
ones  in  the  "Old  Dominion."    In  1840,  Isaac  Mil- 


GALEN   E.   BISHOP,  M.   D. 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


645 


ler  came  to  Buchanan  County,  Missouri,  and  set- 
tled in  Washington  township,  entering  a  large 
tract  of  land  which  he  subsequently  cleared,  im- 
proved and  added  to  until,  at  his  death,  he  owned 
500  acres  of  fine  land.  He  established  three 
dairies  and  became  one  of  the  largest  stockmen 
of  the  locality,  his  place  being  noted  for  its  fine 
horses  and  excellent  sheep  and  cows.  In  politics 
he  was  first  a  W  hig  and  later  a  Democrat,  being 
a  leader  in  all  township  affairs.  Six  of  his  nine 
children  still  survive,  namely:  ^Martha  S.  (Mrs. 
^latney)  ;  Amanda  S.  (^Nlrs.  Albin)  ;  Sarah  E. 
(Mrs.  Goodlive)  ;  Arabella  (Mrs.  Wilkinson)  ; 
Isaac  A.  and  Napoleon  B.  The  two  sons  own  the 
home  farm  in  partnership. 

This  farm  now  consists  of  215  acres,  40  acres 
having  been  laid  out  in  city  lots,  just  north  of  St. 
Joseph,  the  subdivision  being  known  as  'Tylaple 
Heights."  It  is  a  beautiful  tract  of  land,  admira- 
bly situated  for  residence  purposes  and  the  time 
is  not  far  distant  when  it  will  be  the  home  of 
wealth  and  aristocracy. 

Our  subject  still  occupies  the  old  home  in 
which  he  was  born.  It  is  a  two-story,  brick  res- 
idence and  when  it  was  built,  45  years  ago,  was 
the  finest  home  in  all  the  surrounding  region.  Its 
walls  are  still  solid,  its  brick  uncrumbled  and  its 
timbers  are  sound,  making  it  still  one  of  the  most 
comfortable  residences  on  Ashland  avenue,  just 
one  mile  northeast  of  the  present  city  limits.  The 
farm  is  still  devoted  to  general  farming  and 
stock-raising  and  under  its  present  managenTent 
continues  to  be.  what  it  has  been  for  so  many 
years,  one  of  the  most  productive  and  valuable 
farms  in  Washington  township.  Mr.  Miller,  like 
his  late  father,  has  always  been  a  Democrat,  but 
is  not  a  seeker  for  office.  He  is  one  of  the  solid, 
representative  men  of  his  localitv. 


VLEX  E.  BISHOP.  .AL  D..  one  of  the 
most  distinguished  practitioners  of  med- 
icine and  surgery  in  the  West,  and  for 
almost  40  years  a  physician  at  St.  Jo- 
seph, whose  portrait  accompanies  this 
sketch,  passed  away  in  this  city  on  July  11.  1902. 
Dr.  Bishop  was  born  November  18,  1824,  a  wor- 
thy descendant  of  a  fine  old  English  familv,  and 
a  son  of  Jacob  and  Elizabeth  (Elliott)  Bishop. 
The  family  of  Bishop  was  founded  in  New 
Hampshire  in  colonial  days,  and  its  representatives 
took  prominent  parts  in  all  the  early  struggles 
with  the  Indians,  and  distinguished  themselves  in 

32 


the  Revolutionary  War.  At  the  close  of  that  great 
struggle,  the  progenitor  of  this  branch  of  the 
family  settled  in  Virginia. 

Solomon  Bishop,  grandfather  of  Dr.  Galen  E., 
moved  in  1800  from  Virginia  to  Kentucky,  and 
settled  in  Nelson  County  when  his  son  Jacob  was 
eight  years  old.  The  latter  married  Elizabeth 
Elliott,  whose  brother,  Galen  Elliott,  was  one  of 
the  most  celebrated  physicians  of  Somerset,  Ken- 
tucky. Their  father,  Benjamin  Elliott,  moved  to 
Kentucky  from  Maryland. 

The  late  Dr.  Bishop  was  born  at  Somerset, 
Pulaski  Count}-,  Kentucky,  where  he  was  made 
much  of  by  his  uncle.  Dr.  Elliott,  and  it  is  prob- 
able that  thus  was  introduced  an  element  which 
controlled  the  wlwle  of  his  later  life.  In  1843  he 
accompanied  his  father  and  family  to  Platte  Coun- 
ty, Missouri,  where  the  father  died  in  185 1.  By 
trade  he  was  a  blacksmith  and  his  son  was  trained 
to  work  at  the  forge,  but  from  the  age  of  12  vears 
he  was  determined  to  make  this  only  a  stepping 
stone  to  assist  him  in  securing  a  medical  educa- 
tion. Every  spare  moment  was  devoted  to  studv 
of  what  medical  works  he  could  secure,  spending 
every  penny  he  could  earn  for  their  purchase,  and 
thus  he  prepared  himself  for  practice  before  he . 
had  attained  man's  estate.  During  all  these  vears 
of  hard  work  and  close  application,  he  never  had 
a  preceptor,  never  read  an  hour  under  any  one's 
instructions,  and  he  justly  claimed  the  honor  of 
being  a  self- taught  physician. 

Dr.  Bishop  first  established  himself  in  prac- 
tice at  New  Market,  Platte  County,  Missouri,  in 
1846,  and  from  the  first  he  was  successful  in  his 
treatment  of  disease.  In  truth.  Nature  seemed  to 
have  designed  him  for  healing,  giving  him  the 
strong  and  steady  nerve  of  the  surgeon  and  the 
gentle,  skilled  hand  of  the  physician.  During  the 
period  of  19  years  of  practice  in  Platte  Countv,  his 
reputation  constantly  increased  and  his  services 
were  besought  far  and  near.  This  rough  coun- 
try- practice  in  all  seasons  brought  on  an  attack 
w  hich  threatened  lung  troubles  and  induced  him. 
mainly,  to  look  about  him  for  another  location. 
This  resulted  in  his  settling  at  St.  Joseph,  a  point 
easily  reached  by  his  numerous  patients,  and  in 
the  spring  of  1865  he  became  a  practitioner  in 
this  city. 

After  locating  here.  Dr.  Bishop  devoted  his 
attention  to  an  office  practice,  making  specialties 
of  surgery  and  chronic  diseases.  In  a  way,  he 
was  a  pioneer  in  this  line  here  and  many  of  the 
difficulties  he  met  with  in  those  early  davs  of 
practice  have  all  passed  away.     He  established  a 


646 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


medical  institution  on  Third  street,  St.  Joseph, 
which  became  widely  known  and  extended  his 
fame  and  is  a  credit  and  ornament  to  the  city. 
His  extensive  buildings  were  beautiful  in  archi- 
tectural design  and  finish  and  were  arranged  with 
due  regard  for  all  sanitary  conditions  and  fitted 
with  every  comfort  and  convenience  possible  for 
the  accommodation  of  his  patients  from  all  over 
the  land.  Here  Dr.  Bishop  performed  quietly  and 
skillfully  some  of  the  most  difficult  operations 
known  to  msdical  science. 

Originally,  Dr.  Bishop  belonged  to  the  Allo- 
])athic  school  and  thereby  thoroughly  acquainted 
himself  with  the  merits  of  all  medical  systems. 
and  in  his  practice  he  did  not  hesitate  to  adopt 
what  had  been  proved  rational,  without  regard  to 
the  school  which  originated  the  method.     Thus 
his  views  were  entirely  devoid  of  that  narrowness 
and  unreasonable  prejudice  so   characteristic  of 
those  who  zealously  advocate  particular  dogmas. 
The  best  works  of  all  the  ablest  writers  of  all 
?;chools  of  medicine  could  be  found  on  his  shelves, 
while  his  few  hours  of  leisure  were  devoted  to 
study  and  experiment.     He  was  an  enthusiastic 
student  and,  while  his  great  library  contained  one 
of  the  best  collections  of  medical  works  in  the 
Western  country,  it  also  embraced  the  best  au- 
thorities on  law,  theology,  physical  science  and 
general    literature.      His    beautiful   library    riim, 
which  had  dimensions  of  22  by  30  feet,  contained, 
in   addition   to   his   large   collection  of  standard 
works,  which  were  selected  and  arranged  with 
studied  care,  many  fine  engravings  and  paintings, 
busts  of  noted  scientists  and  other  notable  char- 
acters and  many  works  of  beauty  and  valuable 
articles  of  I'irlii. 

Dr.  Bishop  claimed  originality  in  medical 
science  and  he  was  supported  in  his  claim  by  his 
wonderful  success.  Patients  came  to  him  from 
far  distant  States  and  carried  back  with  them 
the  proofs  of  his  claims.  He  had  been  a  con- 
tributor to  medical  literature  for  a  long  time,  and 
in  1853  he  established  a  medical  journal  of  32 
pages,  which  he  styled  the  Popular  Journal  of 
Medicine  and  Collateral  Sciences,  which  contin- 
ued for  several  months,  Imt  was  abandoned  on  ac- 
count of  the  time  it  took  from  his  practice  in  its 
preparation.  In  it  he  expounded  his  views  on 
many  scientific  subjects  and  it  was  a  valuable 
mine  of  learning.  He  kept  fully  abreast  of  the 
times  in  modern  scientific  thought  and  was  a  sub- 
scriber and  a  reader  of  20  different  medical  jour- 
nals and  periodicals,  both  foreign  and  American. 
His  close  study  and  faithful  attention  to  his  pa- 


tients gave  him  very  little  time  for  recreation,  and, 
remarkable  as  it  may  seem,  during  the  last  12 
vears  of  practice  he  did  not  lose  a  single  da}',  nor 
more  than  three  months  in  a  practice  of  32  years. 
He  was  a  living  demonstration  of  the  results  of 
persevering  industry.  Possessing  a  kind  and  sym- 
pathetic nature  his  mere  presence  brought  relief 
to  those  in  pain  and  often  he  was  able  to  cure 
without  medicaments  of  any  kind.  He  was  hon- 
ored and  revered  by  hundreds  of  grateful  patients 
and  was  esteemed  in  the  highest  degree  by  his 
fellow  citizens  among  whom  he  had  spent  so  many 
busy  and  fruitful  years. 

Dr.  Bishop  was  survived  by  a  widow  and  one 
son  and  one  daughter, — Anna  Lee  and  Galen  E. 
He  married  Catherine  T.  Cochran,  who  is  a 
daughter  of  Hon.  Jesse  Cochran,  and  she  still  is  a 
resident  of  St.  Joseph,  occupying  a  beautiful  home 
at  No.  2610  North  Second  street.  Deprived  of 
a  companionship  of  many  years,  she  with  her  chil- 
dren cherishes  the  memory  of  one  who  occupied 
a  very  high  place  in  his  profession,  in  his  home 
and  in  the  hearts  of  all  who  knew  him  well. 


♦  ♦  » 


ARTIN  L.   SPENCER,  who  is  now 

serving  his  second  term  as  sheriflf  of 

Buchanan  County,  is  well  suited  for 

the  office  and  has  made  an  admirable 

public  official.    He  was  born  17  miles 

south    of    St.    Joseph,    in    Buchanan   County,    in 

November,   1862,  and  is  a  son  of  James  L.  and 

Katherine  S.   (Thomas)   Spencer. 

James  L.  Spencer  came  from  Kentucky  to 
Buchanan  County,  Missouri,  as  early  as  1836,  and 
has  successfully  engaged  in  farming  ever  since. 
He  is  now  located  on  Mitchell  avenue  road,  three 
miles  east  of  St.  Jose])h.  He  has  always  been  a 
stanch  Democrat  and  in  1876  was  elected  sheriff 
of  Buchanan  County,  an  office  to  which  he  was 
reelected  in  1888.  He  married  a  daughter  of  R. 
C.  Thomas,  who  was  an  early  resident  of  Buch- 
anan County,  living  on  a  farm  12  miles  south  of 
St.  Joseph  until  he  removed  to  Piatt  County  in 
the  "eighties,"  dying  there  at  an  advanced  age. 
Mrs.  Spencer  was  born  in  Buchanan  County  and 
has  always  lived  here.  As  a  result  of  her  mar- 
riage she  had  five  children, — two  sons  and  three 
daughters  who  grew  to  maturity:  Sarah  P. ;  Mar- 
tin L. ;  Alice,  wife  of  Emery  Hess,  of  St.  Jose]ih  : 
Katherine  ;  and  James  L.,  Jr. 

Martin  L.  Spencer  was  reared  in  his  native 
county  and  here  attended  the  public  schools,  also 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


647 


the  schools  at  Canton,  ^Missouri.  He  began  his 
active  business  career  in  St.  Joseph  and  for  a 
period  of  eight  years  served  as  steward  at  the 
State  Hospital  for  Insane,  No.  2,  under  Superin- 
tendent C.  R.  Woodson.  He  is  an  unswerving 
Democrat  in  politics,  always  taking  an  active  part 
in  the  campaigns.  He  was  elected  sherifif  of 
Buchanan  County  and  served  in  such  a  credit- 
able manner  as  to  receive  practically  no  opposition 
to  his  candidacy  for  a  second  term,  which  expires 
in  1905.  He  is  a  man  of  strong  character  and 
pleasing  personality  and  stands  high  in  the  esteem 
of  his   fellow  citizens. 

Air.  Spencer  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Delia  A.  Finch,  a  daughter  of  T.  N.  Finch,  a 
farmer  and  early  resident  of  the  Buchanan 
Count}-,  who  served  as  county  recorder  for  a 
period  of  eight  years.  Two  sons  were  born  to 
bless  their  home, — Harold  and  John.  The  family 
home  is  at  No.  316  North  Fifth  street,  and  it  is 
there  Mr.  Spencer  is  always  found  during  his 
leisure  hours.  Fraternally,  he  is  a  member  of 
the  Improved  Order  of  Red  A  ten ;  St.  Joseph 
Lodge,  No.  40,  B.  P.  O.  E. ;  Modern  Woodmen 
of  America :  and  Invincible  Lodge,  No.  470, 
I.  O.  O.  F.  Religiously,  Mrs.  Spencer  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 


-♦-•-♦- 


UGO  ZAGRODZKY,  deceased,  was  for 
many  years  one  of  the  good  farmers  and 
highly   respected  citizens   of  Washing- 
ton township,  Buchanan  County,  own- 
ing a  well-cultivated  farm  of  50  acres  in 
section  36,  township  58,  range  35.     He  was  born 
on  a  farm  seven  miles  from  St.  Paul,  Minnesota, 
in  1857,  '^"'^  ^^'^^  ^  ^o^""  of  Victor  Zagrodzky. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  a  native  of  Po- 
land, a  country  which  has  contributed  to  the 
United  States  many  good  and  worthy  citizens. 
He  came  to  Buchanan  County.  Missouri,  from 
Minnesota,  when  his  son  was  eight  years  of  age, 
and  lived  for  four  years  in  St.  Joseph  and  then 
moved  to  what  later  became  our  subject's  farm  in 
Washington  township. 

From  the  age  of  12  years,  Hugo  Zagrodzky 
followed  farming  on  the  farm  in  W'ashington 
township,  which  he  left  to  his  widow  and  chil- 
dren in  good  condition.  He  spent  his  whole  life 
on  the  farm  except  seven  years,  during  which 
period  he  resided  in  .St.  Jose])h.  He  was  an  hon- 
est, industrious  man,  devoted  to  his  family  and 
was    respected    by    all    with   whom   he    was    ac- 


quainted. The  land  is  verv  valuable  on  account 
of  its  high  state  of  cultivation,  its  improvements 
and  its  close  location  to  St.  Joseph,  being  within 
five  miles  of  the  heart  of  the  city.  The  sons  of 
Mr.  Zagrodzky  have  cultivated  the  farm  since 
the  death  of  their  father  on  October  27,  1899. 
They  raise  corn  and  hay  as  their  main  crops. 

Our  subject  married  Rosa  Goss,  who  was 
born  in  Buchanan  County,  Missouri,  and  is  a 
daughter  of  David  Goss,  who  was  one  of  the 
pioneers  here.  She  has  five  children,  namely : 
Ida  (Mrs.  Ryan)  ;  Frank.  X'ictor,  Albert  and 
Minnie.  The  family  belong  to  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  of  which  Mr.  Zagrodzky  was  also  a  con- 
sistent member  and  liberal  supporter.  In  politics 
he  was  a  Democrat.  He  was  a  good  neighbor,  a 
kind  husband  and  a  devoted  and  careful  father. 
His  memory  is  preserved  in  loving  hearts. 


^  *» 


ILLIAAI  E.  JAMIESON.  who  has 
been  prominent  in  the  affairs  of  St. 
Joseph,  for  many  years,  was  born  in 
Glasgow,  Scotland,  March  27,  1854, 
and  is  a  son  of  William  and  Elizabeth 
(Bell)  Jamieson. 

Thomas  Jamieson,  grandfather  of  our  sub- 
ject, was  a  Paisley  weaver  in  Scotland,  having  a 
handloom  in  his  home,  on  which  he  made  his  own 
shawls  and  cloth.  He  was  a  college-bred  man. 
William  Jamieson,  father  of  our  subject,  was 
born  in  Scotland,  and  upon  coming  to  the  United 
States  located  in  St.  Joseph.  Missouri,  in  1863. 
He  was  formerly  a  marine  engineer,  running  on 
the  Allan  line  of  steamers  from  Liverpool  to 
Montreal.  For  20  years  he  was  engineer  of  Nun- 
ning's  brewery  at  St.  Joseph,  and  also  worked  in 
the  machine  shops  later.  He  died  in  August, 
1901.  at  the  age  of  70  years.  He  was  on  the  first 
board  of  examining  engineers  at  St.  Joseph. 
Mrs.  Elizabeth  (Bell)  Jamieson  died  June  i, 
1904,  at  the  age  of  73  years.  The  Bell  family 
came  to  this  country  about  the  year  1849  <^^^ 
finally  located  in  St.  Joseph  where  the  firm  of 
Bell  Brothers  was  a  prominent  one  in  business 
circles  for  some  years.  Of  the  children  born  to 
our  subject's  parents,  A\'illiam  E.  was  the  oldest. 
He  had  two  brothers  and  two  sisters  who  reached 
maturity,  as  follows  :  j\Iaria  F..  deceased  in  1897, 
who  was  the  wife  of  Emerson  J.  Potts,  of  San 
Francisco.  California,  here  she  practiced  medi- 
cine for  some  years  ;  John  B..  who  was  born  in 
Scotland,    died    at   Aurora,    Illinois,    March    20, 


648 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


1904 ;  Samuel,  born  in  St.  Joseph,  who  is  a  ma- 
chinist employed  in  Chicago;  and  Mrs.  Elizabeth 
Criqui,  of  Buffalo,  New  York. 

William  E.  Jamieson  was  reared  in  St.  Jo- 
seph and  attended  Edward  B.  Neely's  private 
school  at  the  corner  of  loth  and  Francis  streets. 
Upon  leaving  school,  in  1867,  he  began  to  learn 
the  trade  of  a  harness-maker,  serving  an  appren- 
ticeship under  Israel  Landis.  He  then  served  a 
four-years  apprenticeship  in  the  machine  shop  of 
Burnside,  Crowthers  &  Rogers,  and  in  1875  en- 
tered the  employ  of  the  St.  Jose])h  &  Denver 
City  Railroad  Company,  now  known  as  the  St. 
Joseph  &  Grand  Island  Railway  Company,  with 
which  he  remained  13  years.  He  was  then  superin- 
tendent of  the  St.  Joseph  Sand  Company  until  the 
fall  of  1890,  and  from  that  time  until  January 
31,  1892,  worked  for  the  St.  Joseph  Terminal 
Company.  In  1892  he  organized  the  Jamieson, 
"Ment  &  Combe  Iron  \\^orks,  but  this  was  soon 
changed  to  the  Jamieson-Combe  Iron  Works,  a 
corporation.  They  began  on  Charles  street  in  a 
small  way,  doing  chiefly  general  repairs  in  iron 
work,  and  in  a  short  time  their  business  was 
more  than  doubled.  Our  subject  continued  as 
president  of  the  company  until  September,  1904, 
when  he  disposed  of  his  interest.  In  that  year, 
with  his  two  oldest  sons  as  associates,  he  estab- 
lished the  Jamieson  Machine  Company.  They 
erected  a  two-story  brick  building,  40  by  120 
feet,  at  Nos.  213-215  North  Second  street, 
adapted  especially  for  a  modern  machine  shop. 
It  has  the  most  modern  equipment  of  any  machine 
shop  in  this  section  of  the  country,  electricity 
being  used  as  motive  power. 

Politically,  "Sir.  Jamieson  has  always  been  a 
stanch  Republican,  and  since  1886  has  been  an 
active  worker  for  party  success.  In  that  year  he 
was  elected  a  member  at  large  to  the  Council 
from  the  Fifth  Ward,  one  of  the  first  elected 
under  the  city's  charter  as  a  city  of  the  second 
class,  and  was  reelected  in  1888,  but  in  1890  was 
defeated  from  the  Seventh  Ward.  He  was  elected 
local  alderman  from  the  Seventh  Ward  in  1891, 
serving  two  years,  and  was  reelected  in  1895 
and  1900  for  terms  of  two  years,  serving  as  pres- 
ident of  the  upper  house  the  last  year.  He  was 
a  candidate  for  mayor  in  1902,  but  was  defeated 
at  the  primaries  by  C.  J.  Borden. 

Mr.  Jamieson  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Amelia  C.  Emmeluth,  who  was  born  in  St.  Jo- 
seph and  is  a  daughter  of  William  Emmeluth, 
who  came  here  in  the  "fifties."  Six  children  bless 
this  union,  nanuiv :  William  T.,  associated  with 


our  subject  in  the  machine  business,  who  is  a 
Mason  and  Shriner ;  John  B.,  also  associated  in 
the  business ;  Richard,  who  is  attending  gram- 
mar school ;  Elizabeth,  wdio  is  attending  high 
school ;  and  Corinne  and  Josephine,  who  live  at 
home.  Fraternally.  Mr.  Jamieson  is  a  Mason, 
having  held  all  the  offices  in  the  Blue  Lodge  up  to 
master,  and  is  a  member  of  all  the  York  rite  bod- 
ies in  St.  Joseph,  including  the  Shrine.  He  is 
past  commander  of  .St.  Joseph  Tent,  No.  23,  _K. 
().  T.  M.  In  religious  views,  Mrs.  Jamieson  is  a 
Lutlieran,  and  her  children.  Episcopalians. 


ILLIAM  F.  ALLISON,  one  of  the 
well-known  agriculturists  of  Rush 
township,  Buchanan  County,  who  re- 
sides on  his  well-improved  farm  of 
100  acres,  situated  in  section  23, 
belongs  to  one  of  the  oldest  pioneer  families  of 
this  locality.  He  was  born  on  the  old  Allison 
homestead  in  Rush  township,  July  29,  1856,  and 
is  a  son  of  John  H.  and  Dicy  Ann  (Trapp) 
Allison.^ 

William  Allison,  the  paternal  grandfather,  re- 
sided in   Kentucky  where  John  H.  Allison  was 
born,  in  18 13.    About  1832  John  H.  Allison  came 
to  Missouri  and  located  in  the  Platte  Purchase 
in  what  is  now  Lafayette  County,  where  he  fol- 
lowed farming  until  1835.     In  that  year  he  came 
to  Buchanan  County,  but  returned  to  Lafayette 
County  soon  thereafter,  where  he  continued  to 
reside,    engaged    in    agricultural    pursuits,    until 
1837.  when  he  removed  to  Buchanan  Comity  and 
settled  permanently  in  Rush  township,  where  he 
spent  the  remainder  of  his  life.     His  wife,  Dicy 
Ann   Trapp,   was   a   daughter   of   Rev.   William 
Trapp,    of   Andrew    County,   a   minister   of   the 
Ba])tist   Church,   and   a   sister   of   Rev.   William 
R.  Trapp,  of  Nodaway  County,  a  minister  of  the 
Christian  Church.    They  had  12  children:  Jasper 
C. :  Dora,  who  died  in  infancy  :  Houston,  who  is 
a  farmer  in   Rush  township ;  Florilla,  deceased, 
who  was  the  wife  of  the  late  Ambrose  Seever ; 
William   F.,  who  is  the  subject  of  this   sketch; 
Tyrrell,  who  died  in  childhood  ;  Sarah  Frances, 
.'\lwilda  and  John  Henry^  all  of  whom  died  in 
childliood  ;  George  M.,  who  resides  in  St.  Joseph  ; 
Polly  Ann,  who  is  the  wife  of  William  Stanton,  a 
farmer  of  Rush  township ;  and  James,  who  is  a 
resident  of  Gower,  Missouri.     John  H.  Allison 
was  a  man  of  consequence  in  his  community,  was 
a  justice  of  the  peace  for  12  years,  and  was  held 


JOSEPH  ANDRIANO 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


6;  I 


in  universal  esteem  by  his  fellow  citizens.  In 
politics  he  was  a  Democrat  of  the  Douglas 
school.  For  many  years  he  was  an  elder  in  the 
Christian  Church. 

\\'illiam  F.  Allison  spent  his  boyhood  like 
other  youths  of  his  locality,  attending  school  in 
the  old  log  house.  i)rovided  by  the  district  for 
educational  purposes,  until  the  age  of  i8  years 
and  in  the  meantime  learning  practical  farming 
on  the  homestead.  He  has  always  been  a  farmer 
and  stock-raiser  and  has  given  much  careful  at- 
tention to  fruit  growing,  having  orchards  of 
ai)ple,  peach,  pear  and  small  fruits.  Mr.  x\llison 
owns  lOO  acres  of  land  here,  all  of  which  he  has 
under  an  excellent  state  of  cultivation.  His  im- 
provements are  all  of  a  substantial  character  and 
indicate  thrift,  comfort  and  convenience. 

On  January  6.  1879,  Mr.  Allison  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Rodilla  Seever,  who  is  a  daugh- 
ter of  W.  P.  Seever,  a  farmer  of  Rush  township. 
They  have  had  nine  children,  namely:  Geneva, 
who  married  William  H.  Page,  a  farmer  of 
Bloom ingt on  township,  and  has  one  child, — 
Myrtle  Ruth;  Edward  C.  and  Frederick  M.,  both 
of  whom  are  teachers  ;  Mary  Ethel,  who  died  in 
childhood ;  Grover  C,  Lena,  Robert  S.  and  John 
Wyatt,  all  of  whom  still  reside  at  home ;  and 
Ruby,  who  died  in  infancy. 

PoHtically,  Mr.  Allison  is  a  stanch  Democrat. 
He  has  never  accepted  any  local  office  with  the 
exception  of  that  of  school  director,  his  interest 
ir.  educational  matters  making  him  willing  to 
serve  as  such.  For  a  number  of  years  he  has 
been  one  of  the  elders  of  the  Sugar  Creek  Chris- 
tian Church,  in  which  he  was  formerly  a  deacon. 
Mr.  Allison  is  known  as  a  good  farmer,  as  an 
honest  and  upright  man  and  as  a  citizen  who  is 
in  every  way  a  credit  to  Rush  township. 


nSEPH  ANDRTANO,  who  is  a  member 
of  the  City  Council  of  St.  Joseph,  whose 
portrait  accompanies  this  sketch,  is  a 
well-known  citizen  of  the  city,  where  he 
has  been  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of 
carbonated  drinks  for  many  years.  The  estab- 
lishment conducted  by  him  was  established  by  his 
father  as  early  as  1858,  being  the  first  bottling 
works  in  the  city.  He  was  born  in  Heidelberg, 
Germany,  October  15,  184T,  and  is  a  son  of  Albert 
and  Lizette   (Meyer)   Andriano. 

The  paternal  great-grandfather  of  our  subject 
came  of  a  wealthx-  militarv  family  of  Italy,  where 


he  was  knighted  in  1600.  He  located  at  Man- 
heim,  Germany,  where  he  established  a  tobacco 
factory  and  an  oil  mill,  manufacturing  oil  from 
nuts.  He  also  established  the  first  porcelain  man- 
ufactory in  Germany  and  for  his  enterprise  was 
knighted  in  that  countr}-,  where  he  died.  The 
paternal  grandmother  of  our  subject  was  a  vis- 
countess. 

Albert  Andriano's  uncle,  Lawrence  Brentano, 
was  the  instigator  of  the  Brentano  Revolution  in 
Germany,  in  1848,  in  which  both  fought.  After 
the  strife  had  been  quelled,  they  came  to  America, 
Albert  Andriano  locatin.g  in  St.  Louis  and  Law- 
rence Brentano,  in  Chicago,  Illinois,  in  later  years 
becoming  Member  of  Congress  from  Cook  Coun- 
ty. Tor  many  years  he  was  editor  of  the  Sfaafs- 
Zeitimg.  From  St.  Louis,  Mr.  Andriano  removed 
to  St.  Joseph  where  he  conducted  a  boarding 
house  tmtil  1858,  in  which  year  he  established 
the  plant  for  bottling  and  manufacturing  car- 
i)onated  drinks.  He  was  very  successful  in  this 
venture  and  continued  until  1862,  when  he  dis- 
posed of  his  interest  to  his  son,  thereafter  living 
in  retirement  until  his  death  September  11,  1882, 
aged  73  years.  He  was  a  very  active  Republican 
in  politics  and  for  one  year  was  president  of  the 
City  Council.  His  wife,  whose  maiden  name  was 
Lizette  Aleyer,  was  born  in  Dantzic,  Germany, 
where  her  father  was  an  extensive  brewer.  Her 
only  brother,  who  succeeded  his  father  in  business, 
died  in  1875,  leaving  a  personal  estate  of  $250,000 
and  con'^iderable  realty.  Her  first  marriage  was 
with  a  ^Ir.  Borngesser  in  Germany,  and  they  had 
six  children,  all  of  whom  came  to  St.  Joseph,  as 
follows :  Henry,  who  now  resides  in  St.  Louis ; 
William,  who  lives  with  his  sister,  Mrs.  Bom- 
beck;  Jacob,  Theodore  and  Mary,  deceased;  and 
Cordelia,  wife  of  D.  F.  Bombeck,  who  lives  on 
22nd  street,  St.  Josejih.  Mrs.  Borngesser  was 
joined  in  marriage  with  Albert  Andriano  in  Ger- 
many. After  the  failure  of  the  Brentano  Revolu- 
tion, the  family  were  separated  and  were  reunited 
at  Havre,  France,  in  1849,  ^^'i^^  sailed  for  St.  Louis 
by  way  of  New  Orleans.  They  became  parents 
of  two  children :  Joseph  and  Lena.  Lena  An- 
driano married  Col.  G.  H.  Koch,  who  died  in 
New  York  state.  She  formed  a  second  union  with 
Dr.  Hildebrand,  of  Chicago,  Illinois,  and  they 
resided  in  Berlin,  Germany,  for  a  time,  finally 
locating  in  San  Francisco,  California,  where  the 
Doctor  died  and  where  Mrs.  Hildebrand  now 
lives.  The  mother  of  our  subject  died  in  St.  Jo- 
seph in  1877,  aged  75  years. 

Joseph  Andriano  attended  school  in  Germany 


6-^2 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY  AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


two  years,  and  was  seven  and  a  half  years  old 
when  he  came  to  St.  Joseph.  Here  he  first  attend- 
ed the  old  school  where  the  Tootle  Theatre  now 
is,  under  F.  X.  Stuppy  as  teacher,  then  a  school 
on  South  Fourth  street  taught  by  a  Catholic 
priest.  He  went  to  Joseph  Trice  to  receive  in- 
struction in  German,  and  later  to  Charles  Burnes, 
who  when  the  Civil  War  broke  out  organized  a 
company  for  service  in  the  Union  Army.  Mr. 
Andriano  joined  Company  C,  of  the  State  Infan- 
try, with  which  he  served  one  year,  being  .ad- 
vanced to  the  rank  of  sergeant-major.  When 
Henry  R.  ^\^  Hartwig  recruited  a  battery,  our 
subject  joined  and  was  elected  ist  lieutenant;  the 
battery  was  attached  to  Company  E,  25th  Reg., 
Missouri  \'ol.  Inf.  He  was  elected  captain  of  the 
battery  and  served  as  such  until  the  close  of  the 
war,  after  four  years  of  hard  service.  In  1862, 
he  purchased  his  father's  interest  in  the  bottling 
works  established  by  him,  and  conducted  it  alone 
for  four  years.  He  then  took  Louis  Fuelling  into 
the  partnership,  and  they  continued  until  1869 
when  he  sold  his  interest  to  Air.  Fuelling.  He 
then  went  to  Chicago  and  engaged  in  the  passen- 
ger omnibus  business  in  partnership  with  his  fa- 


ther-in-law,  William   H.   Younor, 


runnmg 


from 


Wabash  avenue  and  22nd  street  to  Lake  street, 
and  later  established  the  Lincoln  Park  Omnibus 
Line,  but  they  were  burned  out  in  the  great  Chi- 
cago fire  of  1871.  They  gained  a  new  start  and 
continued  the  business  for  about  one  year,  when 
they  were  compelled  to  close  because  of  the  panic 
of  1873.  Air.  Andriano  then  returned  to  St.  Jo- 
seph and  accepted  the  position  of  chief  of  the 
registry  department  under  Postmaster  Francis 
M.  Posegate.  He  resigned  two  years  later  and  in 
1880  was  elected  city  collector  on  the  Republican 
ticket,  serving  as  such  until  1885.  He  then  pur- 
chased an  interest  in  the  firm  of  J.  B.  Huber  & 
Company,  composed  of  Isaac  Ballinger,  Nicholas 
J.  Schlupp  and  John  B.  Huber.  The  firm  was 
changed  to  the  St.  Joseph  Brewing  Company,  and 
our  subject  was  elected  president  and  manager. 
After  Air.  Ballinger's  death,  it  was  reorganized 
as  a  stock  company  under  the  same  name  and  Air. 
Andriano  continued  as  president  and  manager 
until  1892  when  he  sold  his  stock.  In  the  fall 
of  1886,  he  was  elected  sheriff  of  Buchanan  Coun- 
ty, his  being  the  honor  of  having  been  the  only 
Republican  elected  for  a  period  of  16  years.  He 
served  until  January  i,  1889,  and  from  1891  to 
1893  served  as  county  treasurer.  In  1894  he  was 
again  elected  sherifif  of  the  county  and  served  with 
credit  throughout  the  term  of  two  vears.     He  is 


now  a  member  of  the  City  Council,  and  in  190 1 
was  elected  to  the  upper  house  for  a  term  of  four 
years.  He  is  now  devoting  his  attention  to  the 
bottling  business  which  he  established  in  1899, 
building  a  structure  for  that  purpose  on  Patee 
street,  between  Eighth  and  Ninth  streets.  The 
plant  has  a  capacity  of  1,000  cases  per  day  and  is 
one  of  the  most  successful  in  the  city. 

Air.  Andriano  was  married  in  Chicago  to  Isa- 
belle  Young,  who  was  born  in  New  Jersey  and  is 
a  daughter  of  ^^'illiam  H.  Young.  Her  father 
came  from  New  Jersey  to  St.  Joseph  in  i860  and 
engaged  in  outfitting  trains  for  the  West.  After 
his  experiences  in  Chicago  as  told  above,  he  re- 
turned to  St.  Joseph,  where  he  lived  until  his 
death.  This  union  was  blessed  by  the  birth  of  one 
son  and  a  daughter,  namely :  William  Albert, 
who  died  in  infancy ;  and  Airs.  J.  D.  Alartin, 
whose  husband  is  a  member  of  the  wholesale  dry 
goods  house  of  Tootle,  AMieeler  &  Alotter  Aler- 
cantile  Company.  Fraternally,  Air.  Andriano 
is  a  member  of  Zeredatha  Lodge,  No.  189,  A.  F.  & 
A.  AI..  and  the  Royal  Arch  Chapter.  He  is  also 
a  member  of  the  Improved  Order  of  Red  Alcn, 
Knights  of  Pythias,  Ancient  Order  of  United 
Workmen  au-d  the  Turn-Verein.  In  religious 
views,  he  and  his  familv  are  liberal. 


■♦-»-♦- — ■ — - 

OHN  AI.  FRAZER.  a  capitaHst  and 
prominent  citizen  of  St.  Joseph,  was  for 
many  years  engaged  in  the  wholesale 
grocery  business  in  this  city  as  a  mem- 
ber of  the  well-known  firm  of  Turner, 
Frazer  &  Company.  He  has  been  a  resident  of 
St.  Joseph  continuously  since  1864  and  is  widely 
known  throughout  this  section  of  the  country. 

Air.  Frazer  was  born  in  Cumberland  County, 
Pennsylvania,  and  when  a  boy,  in  1853,  removed 
to  Oregon.  Alissouri,  where  an  older  brother  was 
located.  After  remaining  there  a  period  of  seven 
years,  he  removed  to  Forest  City,  Alissouri.  where 
in.  i860  he  formed  a  partnership  with  R.  E. 
Turner  and  H.  L.  Williams  and  engaged  in  a 
general  merchandise  business.  In  1863.  in  Holt 
Countv.  he  recruited  a  company  for  the  12th 
Regiment,  Alissouri  \'ol.  Cav.,  in  the  L'nion 
Army,  but  most  of  his  men  being  over  age  the 
government  \\ould  not  receive  them  into  the 
service,  although  nearly  all  of  the  men  were  of 
the  highest  character  and  were  willing  to  fight  for 
their  country.  The  success  of  the  partners  in 
their  mercantile  venture  was  such  as  to  warrant 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


653 


them  in  seeking  a  wider  field  for  operation  and  in 
1864  the  firm  of  Turner,  Frazer  &  Company  was 
estabHshed  in  St.  Joseph,  with  place  of  business 
on  Fourth  street.  After  continuing  there  some 
three  years,  the  firm  removed  in  1868  to  Third 
street.  In  the  early  "seventies"  they  erected  a 
commodious  building  on  Charles  street,  with  im- 
proved facilities  for  handling  the  largely  in- 
creased volume  of  business.  The  firm  name  of 
Turner,  Frazer  &  Company  was  familiar  to  the 
people  throughout  the  northwest  part  of  the  State 
and  continued  so  until  the  business  was  sold  in 
1898  to  the  firm  of  Letts,  Spencer  &  Company,  a 
corporation  in  which  our  subject  is  a  stockholder. 
Since  that  date  ]Mr.  Frazer  has  lived  practically  in 
retirement,  although  he  still  has  large  invest- 
ments which  require  his  attention.  He  has  been 
one  of  the  city's  most  progressive  citizens  and 
has  always  been  enthusiastic  in  his  support  of 
such  measures  and  enterprises  as  were  likely  to 
advance  the  city's  interests.  He  was  foremost 
among  those  enterprising  spirits  who  secured  the 
erection  of  the  Board  of  Trade  Building  on  Third 
and  Edmond  streets,  one  of  the  best  equipped 
and  largest  office  buildings  in  the  city,  in  which 
is  located  the  Merchants'  Bank,  the  St.  Joseph  & 
Grand  Island  Railway  offices,  many  grain  brokers 
and  dealers,  the  Commercial  Club  rooms,  and  until 
recently  the  ofiices  of  the  Western  Union  Tele- 
grai)h  Company.  He  has  large  investments  in 
property  in  and  surrounding  St.  Joseph,  to  which 
he  devotes  his  sole  attention  at  the  present  time. 

In  1862,  Mr.  Frazer  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Anna  L.  Bangs,  of  Springfield,  Alassachu- 
setts.  The  happiness  of  his  home  life  was  inter- 
rupted by  her  death  in  1880.  He  attends  the 
Presbyterian  Church.  Fraternally,  he  is  a  mem- 
ber of  Charity  Lodge,  No.  331,  A.  F.  &  A.  M. 
In  politics,  he  is  a  stanch  Republican. 


♦ » » 


tJJAH  BOWEN,  one  of  the  most  suc- 
cessful farmers  of  Marion  township, 
Buchanan  County,  was  born  six  miles 
from  Canton,  in  Stark  County.  Ohio, 
and  is  a  son  of  Ephraim  and  Anna 
Catherine  (Kaucher)  Bowen,  both  natives  of 
Berks  County,  Pennsylvania. 

Ephraim  Bowen  was  reared  and  educated  in 
Berks  County,  Pennsylvania,  and  there  was  em- 
ployed in  a  mill.  After  his  marriage  he  moved 
to  Ohio,  where  he  purchased  a  farm  and  engaged 
in  agricultural  pursuits  until  the  fall  of  1844.  He 


then  came  West,  going  from  Wellsville,  Ohio,  to 
Weston,  IMissouri,  by  boat,  thence  by  team  to 
Buchanan  County,  where  he  took  a  government 
claim  in  Clarion  township.  He  received  160 
acres  of  land,  on  which  he  made  a  clearing  and 
built  a  house  of  logs,  in  which  he  and  his  family 
lived  for  some  years.  He  died  in  1877  and  his 
wife  in  1881.  They  were  members  of  the  Ger- 
man Lutheran  Church.  Eight  children  were  born 
to  them,  as  follows :  Levi,  who  lives  on  a  part  of 
the  old  homestead  in  Marion  township  ;  Sabina, 
wife  of  George  Boycr,  of  Nebraska  City,  Ne- 
braska :  Elijah  ;  Ephraim  ;  and  four  children  who 
died  at  an  early  age.  Mr.  Bowen  was  a  Demo- 
crat in  politics  until  the  Civil  War,  and  thereafter 
a  Republican.  He  served  many  years  as  a  jus- 
tice of  the  peace,  later  as  county  assessor  and  at 
different  times  held  other  township  and  county 
offices.  He  was  one  of  the  first  of  those  able  to 
speak  German  to  locate  in  Marion  township, 
where  many  of  that  nationality  now  live. 

Elijah  Bowen  attended  the  subscription 
schools  of  his  district,  and  was  obliged  to  go  a 
distance  of  four  miles  to  and  from  school.  He 
lived  on  the  home  farm  until  185 1.  when  he  pur- 
chased 91  acres  in  Marion  township.  He  im- 
proved and  lived  upon  this  property  until  1864, 
when  he  sold  it  and  purchased  80  acres  in  sec- 
tions 29  and  32,  township  57,  range  33,  in  Alarion 
township,  where  he  now  lives,  his  home  being  in 
section  29.  This  farm  consisted  of  a  wild  piece 
of  land  and  it  required  hard  labor  to  clear  it  and 
place  it  in  its  present  high  state  of  cultivation. 
He  has  built  good  houses  and  outbuildings  and 
is  reckoned  among  the  most  enterprising  farmers 
of  the  township.  He  conducted  a  dairy  for  some 
four  years,  but  now  follows  diversified  farming, 
raising  wheat,  oats,  corn  and  hay,  and  some 
stock. 

Mr.  Bowen  was  joined  in  marriage,  in  1857, 
with  Alelinda  Woodward  of  Clay  County,  Mis- 
souri, and  they  have  the  following  issue :  \\'illiam 
E.,  who  is  in  the  real  estate  business  in  St.  Jo- 
seph ;  Kate,  who  married  Jesse  Atchison,  of  Lib- 
erty, Missouri;  Annie,  wife  of  R.  M.  Durham, 
who  lives  near  Hemple,  Missouri ;  Nettie,  wife  of 
C.  J.  Gibson  of  Grundy  County,  Missouri ;  Law- 
rence C,  who  is  in  the  insurance  business ;  Tru- 
man, who  is  attending  William  Jewell  College ; 
and  Harry  and  IVIay.  who  are  at  home.  In  na- 
tional politics,  our  subject  is  a  Democrat,  and 
served  as  deputy  assessor  under  John  P.  Boyle 
and  John  C.  Landis  for  four  years,  and  as  clerk 
of  School  District  No.  3  for  30  years.     He  is  a 


654 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN    COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


member  of  the  Missionary  Baptist  Church,  whicl 
he  joined  more  than  30  years  ago,  and  is  now  a 
deacon  of  the  church. 


♦  * » 


AMES  McBRIDE,  one  of  the  highly  es- 
teemed citizens  and  good  farmers  of 
Washington  township.  Buchanan 
County,  who  owns  a  valuable  farm  of 
120  acres  in  section  19,  township  57, 
range  34,  was  born  in  Lififord  parish,  Ballindrait, 
County  Donegal,  Ireland.  May  13,  1837,  and  is  a 
son  of  Edward  and  Margaret  (McGrennehan) 
McBride. 

Our  subject's  parents  were  honest,  worthy, 
hardworking  people  in  County  Donegal,  but  the 
father's  business  of  weaving  did  not  provide  for 
the  future  of  his  sons  and  five  of  them. — Frank. 
William,  Edward.  Patrick  and  James — emigrated 
to  America.  The  parents  lived  and  died  in  the 
old  country.  They  had  13  children,  nine  of  whom 
reached  maturity. 

On  account  of  the  death  of  his  father  in  his 
boyhood,  our  subject  went  to  live  with  a  sister, 
with  whom  he  remained  for  six  years,  engaged  in 
farming.  In  1856.  having  accumulated  enough 
to  pay  his  passage,  he  embarked  on  a  sailing  ves- 
sel for  America,  and.  after  a  voyage  of  27  days, 
landed  at  Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania,  where  he 
remained  tvvo  weeks  and  then  went  to  Schu}'lkill 
County.  There  he  worked  for  three  years  in  the 
coai  mines,  going  then  to  Linn  County,  Iowa,  for 
a  short  time  and  then  to  Denver,  Colorado. 
About  1859  he  came  to  St.  Joseph  where  he  first 
worked  as  a  farm  hand  and  then  rented  land  in 
Buchanan  County.  In  1882  he  purchased  his 
present  farm  of  120  acres  in  section  19,  township 
57,  range  34,  Washington  township.  It  was 
partly  improved  and  Mr.  McBride  has  completed 
its  improvement  and  has  made  here  one  of  the 
really  fine  farms  for  which  this  township  is  justly 
noted.  He  follows  a  general  farming  business 
and  raises  grain  and  stock. 

On  February  28,  1865,  Mr.  McBride  was 
united  in  marriage  by  Bishop  Hennessey  at  St. 
Josej^h.  Missouri,  to  Catherine  Britton.  the  esti- 
mable lady  who  has  nobly  seconded  all  his  efiforts 
and  has  materially  assisted  him  to  his  present 
prosperity.  She  is  a  daughter  of  George  W.  and 
Jane  (Brazille)  Britton.  the  former  of  whom  was 
of  English  birth  and  the  latter  of  French.  Mr. 
Britton  came  to  America  at  the  age  of  14  jears, 
mo^-ed  to  Wisconsin  at  the  age  of  t8,  was  there 


married  and  then  removed  to  St.  Louis,  later  to 
Jefferson  City  and  in  1849  to  St.  Joseph.  By 
trade  Mr.  Britton  was  a  painter.  Both  he  and 
his  wife  died  in  Buchanan  County. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  McBride  have  three  children  : 
John,  Margaret  and  Edward.  ^Margaret  married 
Joseph  Burns,  a  merchant  at  Saxton.  Buchanan 
County,  and  they  have  two  children  :  James  and 
Catherine  M.  Edward  is  his  father's  farmer.  He 
married  Nellie  Whittaker  and  they  have  six  chil- 
dren:  Pearl,  INIona  C,  James  Bell,  Eva.  Ruth 
and  Edward.  Our  subject  and  family  belong  to 
the  Catholic  Church.  Politically,  he  is  a  Demo- 
crat and  has  served  as  school  director  and  in 
other  township  offices. 

Mr.  and  Airs.  McBride  are  well-known  and 
they  have  the  esteem  of  many  friends.  They 
began  life  with  little  capital  except  their  health 
and  aft'ection.  and  what  they  have  together  accom- 
plished is  but  the  result  of  industry  and  good 
management.  Their  hospitable  home  is  one  of 
comfort  and.  surrounded  by  their  children  and 
grandchildren',  they  present  a  pleasant  picture  of 
domestic  happiness.  Mr.  McBride  has  the  repu- 
tation of  being  a  man  of  sterling  integrity  and  one 
whose  simple  word  is  just  as  binding  as  any 
legal  paper  could  make  it.  He  stands  as  one  of 
the  representative  men  of  the  township. 


■♦  * » 


UGUSTUS  W.  HORN,  the  genial 
alderman  from  the  Eighth  Ward,  is 
one  of  the  most  prosperous  as  he  is  one 
of  the  most  public-spirited  citizens  of 
St.  Joseph,  and  "Horn  Heights,"  his 
recently  platted  addition  to  the  city,  is  rapidly 
becoming  one  of  the  most  attractive  and  desir- 
able residence  portions  of  this  city.  Mr.  Horn 
was  born  in  St.  Joseph  in  1854  and  is  a  son  of 
the  late  John  A.  and  A.  L.  (Horning)  Horn, 
who  will  be  remembered  by  most  of  our  readers. 
John  A.  Horn  was  of  German  ancestry,  his 
parents  locating  in  Virginia,  from  which  State  he 
migrated  first  to  Booneville,  Missouri,  and  later 
to  St.  Joseph.  In  1843  he  secured  a  quarter  sec- 
tion of  land  from  the  government  and,  realizing 
the  advantages  offered  in  the  way  of  commerce, 
he  opened  a  store  of  general  merchandise  and 
soon  established  trading  relations  with  the  In- 
dians and  trappers.  He  also  furnished  su])plies 
for  the  long  trains  of  wagons  that  carried  ireight 
across  the  plains  and,  as  the  migration  to  the 
coast  became  heavier  his  trade  also  increased,  the 


CLIFFORD    C.   BUTTON,   D.  D.  S. 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


657 


town  flourished  and  he  found  it  advisable  to  move 
his  store  from  the  river  where  he  had  first  located 
to  Second  street,  a  more  accessible  site.     Here  he 
continued  until  1870  when  he  retired  from  busi- 
ness,  the  remaining    16  years   of  his   life  being 
spent  on  the  homestead,  which  was  now  becoming 
crowded  by  the  constantly  growing  city  of  St. 
Joseph.     Alany  exciting  incidents  formed  a  part 
of  the  life  of  this  section  in  the  early  days  of  its 
history  before  the  Civil  War.     Mr.  Horn  figured 
miwillingly  in  one  of  these  incidents,  being  held 
up  and  shot  b}-  a  robber.     He  was  a  Democrat 
and  a  man  of  strong  character  and  upright  prin- 
ciples.     The   mother   of   our   subject   was   Miss 
Horning  of  Westport,  a  suburb  of  Kansas  City, 
before  her  marriage  with  John  A.   Horn.     She 
survived  her  husband  several  years  and  left  the 
following  children  to  bless  and  venerate  the  mem- 
ory of  a  devoted  mother,  viz :  Lewis  H.,  who  died 
in  this  city  about  eight  years  ago  and  was  a  suc- 
cessful newspaper  man,  for  many  years  connected 
with   the   Gazette;  John    V.,   a   manufacturer  of 
cigars  and  tobacco  at  San  Diego,  California ;  Au- 
gustus W.,  our  subject:   Bertha,  widow  of  Dr. 
A.  S.  Long,  a  prominent  physician  who  died  in 
1903  ;  and  Charles,  who  is  now  associated  in  bus- 
iness with  our  subject  but  was  formerly  engaged 
in  the  brick  busines  in  St.  Joseph. 

In  1870,  Augustus  W.  Horn  went  to  Kansas 
City,  where  he  accepted  a  clerkship  in  a  grocery 
store  and  a  few  years  later  engaged  in  the  cloth- 
ing business  which  he  conducted  for  13  years.  He 
then  embarked  in  the  grain  and  commission  busi- 
ness, dealing  also  in  real  estate,  and  was  recog- 
nized as  a  shrewd,  reliable  and  leading  business 
man  of  Kansas  City.  In  1892  he  returned  to  St. 
Joseph,  as  he  had  been  made  executor  of  his 
father's  estate,  and  the  nature  of  the  business 
made  it  expedient  for  him  to  reside  in  this  citv 
in  order  to  give  to  it  the  careful  attention  desired. 
Part  of  the  land  of  the  homestead  had  been  dis- 
posed of  and  107  acres  then  constituted  the' home- 
stead. This  Mr.  Horn  at  once  conceived  the  idea 
of  platting  and  putting  on  the  market  as  an  addi- 
tion to  the  city.  He  was  not  long  in  carrying  out 
this  plan  ;  the  plat  was  made  in  1890  and  later 
developments  have  shown  the  wisdom  of  his 
course.  He  and  his  brother  are  constructing 
houses  on  these  lots  which  they  sell  on  the  install- 
ment plan,  and  "Horn  Heights"  l)i(l  fair  to  be- 
come one  of  the  prettiest  suburbs  of  St.  Joseph. 
Mr.  Horn  devotes  his  entire  attention  to  looking 
after  this  business  and  the  interests  of  the  city. 
He    was    selected    on    the    Democratic    ticket    as 


alderman  from  the  Eighth  Ward  in  1900  and  has 
proved  such  a  capable  and  efficient  councilman 
that  he  has  been  retained  in  that  capacity  since. 

The  lady  wdth  whom  he  was  united  in  mar- 
riage was  Lillie  E.  Bruce,  daughter  of  Col.  Henry 
Bruce,  of  Kansas  City.  She  was  born  and  reared 
in  Covington,  Kentucky.  They  have  buried  three 
children ;  their  only  living  child,  John  A.,  a 
young  man  of  22  years,  is  now  emplo}ed  as  bill 
clerk  in  the  Santa  Fe  offices.  They  are  members 
of  the  Baptist  Church.  Fraternally,  Mr.  Horn  is 
a  member  of  the  Masonic,  Odd  Fellows  and 
Knights  of  Pythias  lodges  of  Kansas  City  and 
the  Red  Men,  Modern  Woodmen  of  America  and 
Ancient  Order  of  United  Workmen,  of  St. 
Joseph. 


-♦-•-♦- 


LIFFORD  C.  DUTTON,  D.  D.  S.,  one 

of  St.  Joseph's  leading  professional 
men,  a  member  of  tlie  dental  firm  of 
Dutton  Brothers  of  this  city,  was  born 
at  Mount  Pleasant,  Henry  County, 
Iowa,  November  22,  1872,  and  is  a  son  of  Daniel 
W.  and  Amanda  (Beeler)  Dutton. 

The  father  of  Dr.  Dutton  was  born  at  Mount 
Pleasant,  Iowa,  in  1842.  and  now  lives  retired  at 
his  city  home  in  IMount  Pleasant.    He  has  been  a 
prominent  farmer  and  large  stock-raiser,  belong- 
ing to  a   family   noted   in    this   industry   in   the 
"Hawkeye"  State.     The  Duttons  for  years  have 
been  leaders  in  raising  and  dealing  in  stock  and 
Dr.  Dutton's  uncle,  Jasper  Dutton,  still  operates 
about  4,000  acres  of  land.    The  family  was  estab- 
lished in  Iowa  in  1840  by  George  Dutton,  father 
of  Daniel  W.,  who  came  as  a  pioneer  from  his 
New  England  home  to  what  was  then  the   far 
west.     During  the  Civil  war,  Daniel  W.  Dutton 
served  several  years  as  a  member  of  the  Fourth 
Regiment,  Iowa  Vol.   Cav.     He  is  a  prominent 
member  of  the   IMethodist  Episcopal  Church   at 
]\Iount  Pleasant  and  one  of  the  most  highly  re- 
spected citizens  of  Henry  Coimty.     Of  the  five 
children  born  to  him  and  his  wife,  Amanda  Bee- 
ler, four  reached  maturity,  namely :     Clififord  C, 
of  this  sketch  :  Blake  W.,  a  dentist  of  Chicago, 
Illinois ;  and  Alta  and  ]\Iaude,  both  of  whom  re- 
side at  home.     Maude  is  a  graduate  of  the  Art 
Institute  of  Chicago  and  has  evinced  promising 
talent.     L'^'pon  her  graduation,  her  work  was  ex- 
hibited at  the  World's  Fair  with  the  work  of  other 
talented  members  of  her  art  class. 

Dr.  Dutton  was  educated  in  the  public  schools 
of  Mount  Pleasant  and  enjoyed  collegiate  advan- 


6;8 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY  AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


tages  through  three  years  at  the  Iowa  Wesleyan 
University.  From  there  he  went  to  Chicago,  that 
mecca  of  ambitious  young  professional  aspirants, 
and,  after  some  years  of  study  and  experience  in 
the  Chicago  College  of  Dental  Surgery,  was  grad- 
uated in  1896,  with  his  professional  degree.  He 
practiced  for  two  years  in  Chicago  and  then  came 
to  St.  Joseph,  Missouri,  opening  an  office  here, 
in  partnership  with  his  brother,  who  is  a  graduate 
of  the  same  college.  Dr.  Dutton  is  favorably  lo- 
cated and  enjoys  a  fair  share  of  the  best  dental 
practice  of  the  city. 

Dr.  Dutton  married  Blanche  Martha  Pa}ne, 
a  student  of  the  Iowa  Wesleyan  University  and  a 
member  of  the  Greek  fraternity,  Pi  Beta  Phi, 
She  is  a  daughter  of  C  W.  Payne,  of  IMount 
Pleasant,  Iowa,  who  is  one  of  the  prominent  men 
and  leading  Republican  politicians  of  Henry 
County  and  who  has  served-  several  terms  in  the 
Iowa  State  Legislature.  A  portrait  of  Dr.  Dut- 
ton accompanies  this  sketch. 


-♦-•-♦- 


SJAMES  BLACK,  one  of  the  successful 
farmers  of  Rush  township,  Buchanan 
County,  owning  a  fine  farm  of  182  acres 
in  sections  13  and  24,  Rush  township, 
and  section  18,  Bloomington  township, 
was  born  in  Kentucky,  May  18,  1840.  He  is  a 
son  of  James  and  Sallie  (Martin)  Black. 

William  Black,  the  i)aternal  grandfather,  was 
of  Scotch-Irish  birth.  He-  came  early  to  Ken- 
tucky and  settled  at  the  point  called  Jimtown, 
where  he  followed  farming  and  trading.  He 
married  Polly  Guess  and  their  children  were : 
Annie,  Nellie,  James  and  David.  The  subsequent 
lives  of  William  Black  and  wife  were  spent  in 
Kentucky. 

James  Black,  our  subject's  father,  was  born 
and  reared  in  Kentucky,  where  he  became  a  suc- 
cessful farmer  prior  to  coming  to  Buchanan 
County,  in  1847.  His  death  occurred  in  1868  in 
Bloomington  township,  where  he  had  cleared  a 
fine  farm.  He  married  Sallie  Martin,  a  daughter 
of  Robert  Martin,  a  farmer  of  Tennessee,  and 
they  had  these  children  :  William  G.,  a  farmer  of 
Clay  County,  Missouri ;  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Cleve- 
land Black,  both  now  deceased ;  Robert,  a  farmer 
of  Rush  township  ;  Mary,  wife  of  Joseph  How- 
ard, of  Oklahoma  Territory;  Armilda.  wife  of 
David  Hart,  a  farmer  of  Oklahoma  Territory ; 
David,  deceased  :  James,  of  this  sketch  ;  John,  a 
fanner   of   Bloomington    township ;   Thomas   PI. 


M.,  deceased ;  Sarah  Jane,  wife  of  James  Moore, 
a  farmer  of  Oklahoina  Territory  ;  and  Cleveland, 
of  Bloomington  township.  Mrs.  Black  died  Au- 
gust II,  1899,  having  survived  her  husband  more 
than  30  years.  Mr.  Black  was  a  strong  supporter 
of  the  Democratic  party  and  during  his  earlier 
life  was  a  major  in  the  Kentucky  State  ]\lilitia. 
James  Black,  of  this  sketch,  his  father's  name- 
sake, was  seven  years  old  when  his  parents  came 
to  Buchanan  County,  and  he  was  educated  in  the 
old  Sleepy  Hollow  School,  in  Bloomington  town- 
ship. At  the  age  of  20  years,  he  completed  his 
schooling  and  then  enlisted  in  the  State  Militia, 
under  General  Jackson,  and  served  about  10 
months,  during  this  time,  participating  in  the 
battles  of  Pea  Ridge,  Blue  ]\lills  Landing,  and 
Lexington,  .\ftcr  his  return  from  the  army,  he 
operated  the  farm  for  his  father  for  a  year  and 
then  crossed  the  plains  to  Denver.  He  spent  two 
years  in  that  locality,  farming  and  mining,  and 
three  subsequent  years  in  other  parts  of  Colorado, 
and  in  Utah  and  Montana,  engaged  in  teaming 
and  mining.  After  his  return  to  Buchanan 
County  until  1896  he  lived  in  Center  township, 
engaged  in  farming.  Since  1896  he  has  remained 
in  Rush  township,  concerned  in  the  operation  of 
his  large  farm,  carrying  on  farming  and  stock- 


raismg. 


On  February  22,  1872,  Mr.  Black  married 
Annie  Thomas,  a  daughter  of  William  and  jMary 
(Carl)  Thomas,  farming  people  of  Buchanan 
County.  They  have  had  nine  children,  two  of 
whom  have  passed  away.  The  record  is  as  fol- 
lows :  Hudson  T.,  who  married  Margaret  Sutton 
and  has  three  children  ;  Mary,  deceased  ;  Carol, 
who  married  Ethel  Sutton;  and  Sallie  ]\1.,  Eliza- 
beth, James  B.,  Tempy  and  Squire  F.,  all  at 
home  :  and  a  babe,  deceased.  The  family  belong 
to  the  Christian  Church.  Mr.  Black  is  a  prom- 
inent Democrat  of  his  section.  He  is  well-known 
throughout  his  neighborhood  where  the  family 
has  been  settled  so  long,  and  is  one  of  its  'repre- 
sentative men,  interested  in  all  public  affa'irs  and 
progressive  movements. 


■♦*  » 


ILLIAM  H.  UTZ,  of  the  law  firm  of 
Duncan  &  Utz,  and  a  member  and 
treasurer  of  the  Board  of  Police 
Commissioners  of  St.  Joseph,  was 
born  in  Crawford  township,  Bu- 
chanan County,  Missouri,  his  parents  being  J.  H. 
and  Sarah  E.  (Duncan)  Utz,  who  located  in  Cen- 
ter township,  this  county,  in  1857. 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


659 


J.  H.  Utz  was  among  the  first  to  respond  to 
the  call  for  men,  serving  under  Gen.  Sterling 
Price  for  six  months  and  at  the  expiration  of  his 
term  he  returned  home.  He  had  not  been  home 
long  when  the  killing  of  several  neighbors  by  the 
Federals  led  him,  with  a  number  of  others,  to 
reenlist.  This  band  of  men  sought  to  make  their 
way  South  to  rejoin  the  Confederate  Army,  but 
the  State  was  so  full  of  Union  soldiers  that  this 
was  found  impracticable,  and  so  they  turned  their 
footsteps  Northward,  intending  to  find  employ- 
ment in  a  section  where  their  Southern  sym- 
pathies would  not  be  suspected.  In  DcKalb 
County  they  were  arrested  by  Union  soldiers  and 
w-ere  tried  and  condemned  as  bushwhackers. 
President  Lincoln  first  extended  the  time  for 
their  execution,  and  later  commuted  the  sentence 
to  imprisonment  in  the  penitentiary  at  Jefiferson 
City  until  the  close  of  the  war.  The  gallows  had 
been  erected  on  each  occasion  before  the  inter- 
position of  the  President  was  made. 

While  at  home,  just  before  he  started  to  re- 
enlist.  Air.  Utz  was  married  to  Sarah  E.  Duncan 
and  of  the  10  children  born  to  this  union,  all  are 
living,  namely:  William  H.,  our  subject;  S.  B.,  a 
prosperous  farmer  and  stock-buyer  of  Buchanan 
County ;  R.  E.  Lee,  who  has  combined  the  busi- 
ness of  fruit-raising  with  that  of  farming ;  John 
A.,  also  a  well-to-do  farmer;  Jane  C.  (Mrs. 
William  Moore),  whose  husband  is  a  farmer  of 
Crawford  township  ;  Amanda  and  Annie  S.,  who 
are  at  home  ;  Sarah  D.,  wife  of  Dr.  Brigham.  who 
resides  at  Agency ;  Mary  E.,  a  teacher  in  the 
McKinley  School,  St.  Joseph  ;  and  Jessie,  who  is 
engaged  in  teaching  in  Andrew  County. 

William  H.  Utz  was  reared  to  manhood  in 
Buchanan  County  and  here  obtained  the  rudi- 
ments of  a  sound,  practical  education.  In  the  fall 
of  1883  he  entered  Central  College,  in  Howard 
County,  where  he  remained  one  term,  then  re- 
turned home  and  taught  one  winter  in  the  public 
schools.  In  the  meantime  deciding  to  take  up  the 
study  of  law,  he  entered  the  law  dej^artmc.nt  of 
the  State  LTniversity  of  Missouri,  from  which  he 
was  graduated  in  1889.  In  the  following  month 
(July)  he  was  admitted  by  Judge  Silas  Woodson 
to  the  bar  and  has  been  a  practitioner  at  St.  Jo- 
seph since  that  time.  He  first  entered  the  office 
of  Casteel  &  Hayes  and  later  the  office  of  D.  D. 
Burnes.  where  he  was  associated  with  Judge 
Stroj)  for  a])out  five  years.  During  the  years  of 
1895  and  1896  he  served  as  assistant  prosecuting 
attorney  and  the  following  year  formed  his  pres- 
ent partnershi])  with  A.  B.  Duncan  and  this  com- 


bination has  proved  one  of  the  strongest  firms  in 
the  city.  He  has  been  a  member  of  the  Board  of 
Police  Commissioners  since  his  appointment 
April  18,  1901,  and  has  discharged  the  duties  of 
that  office  in  a  manner  to  win  him  the  highest 
commendation  of  the  citizens. 

Mr.  Utz  married  Alice  Henry,  of  St.  Joseph, 
and  their  friends  find  a  hearty  welcome  at  their 
cozy  home.  No.  1222  North  loth  street.  They 
have  one  child,  Mary  Elizabeth.  They  attend 
the  Francis  Street  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
South.  Mr.  L"tz  is  a  lifelong  Democrat  and  fra- 
ternally is  something  of  a  "joiner,"  having  mem- 
bership in  the  following  orders,  viz :  Zeredatha 
Lodge,  No.  189,  A.  F.  &  A.  M. ;  St.  Josepli 
Chapter,  No.  14,  R.  A.  M. ;  St.  Joseph  Com- 
manderv,  No.  4,  K.  T. ;  St.  Joseph  Chapter,  N(j. 
198,  O.'  E.  S. ;  St.  Joseph  Council,  No.  9,  R.  & 
S.  M. ;  Moila  Temple,  A.  A.  O.  N.  M.  S. ;  and 
Arapahoe  Tribe,  No.  26,  I.  O.  R.  M. 


♦  * » 


RNEST  F.  HARTWIG,  one  of  the  enter- 
prising, successful  and  prominent  citi- 
zens of  St.  Joseph,  conducting  an  exten-' 
sive  business  as  a  wdiolesale  dealer  in 
liquors,  was  born  in  NiedermoUrich, 
near  Cassel,  Germany,  and  is  a  son  of  Frederick 
Oswald  and  Elizabeth  (Rosenblath)  Hartwig. 

The  father  of  Mr.  Hartwig  was  a  farmer  in 
his  native  land,  but  the  grandfather  was  a 
preacher  in  the  German  Reformed  Church,  a  man 
of  great  prominence  in  his  day.  An  uncle  of  Mr. 
HartW'ig  was  a  lieutenant  under  General  Blucher 
and  participated  in  the  battles  of  Leipsic  and 
W^aterloo. 

Mr.  Hartwig  was  educated  in  his  native  land 
and  was  reared  on  a  farm,  but  his  inclination  led 
him  to  prefer  business,  and,  in  1862.  he  followed 
his  older  brother,  Henry  R.  W.  Hartwig  (of 
whom  a  sketch  will  be  found  in  this  volume)  to 
America,  and  joined  him  at  St.  Joseph,  Missouri. 
This  city  has  been  the  permanent  home  of  our 
subject  ever  since.  Soon  after  reaching  this  city, 
he  became  bookkeeper  for  the  mercantile  house  of 
Stix  &  Eckjart,  and  remained  with  that  firm 
until  1869,  and  then  became  associated  with  the 
firm  of  H.  R.  W.  Hartwig  &  Company,  in  the 
wholesale  liquor  business.  The  older  brother  soon 
became  a  prominent  factor  in  politics  and,  with 
many  responsibilities  of  office  upon  him,  being 
made  mayor  of  the  city  in  1884,  he  gradually 
withdrew   from   the   business,   severing  his  con- 


66o 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHAXAX   COUNTY  AND   ST.   JOSEPH. 


nection  entirely  in  1888.  since  which  time  our 
subject  has  been  at  the  head  of  the  concern. 
Since  its  founding,  in  1864,  this  house  has  been 
noted  for  its  business  integrity,  a  reputation  it  has 
sustained.  No  business  house  stands  higher  with 
the  commercial  world  throughout  the  West, 
where  it  is  best  known,  and  no  business  man  is 
regarded  with  more  esteem  than  its  present  pro-  • 
prietor.  He  is  treasurer  of  the  St.  Joseph  Cham- 
ber of  Commerce,  and,  with  his  brother,  Alaj. 
Henry  R.  \\\  Hartwig.  is  prominently  identified 
with  the  Commercial  Club. 

On  March  18,  1868,  Mr.  Hartwig  was  mar- 
ried to  Emma  Freidrich,  and  they  have  a  family 
of  five  children,  viz:  Henry  O.,  Emma.  Cath- 
erine, Nieta  and  Caroline.  The  family  belong 
to  the  Lutheran  Church.  They  enjoy  one  of  the 
most  beautiful  homes  in  St.  Joseph,  located  at  No. 
502  South  Ninth  street. 

Mr.  Hartwig  belongs  to  a  number  of  fra- 
ternal and  social  organizations,  being  popular  in 
all,  namely:  Knights  of  Pythias,  Red  ^len  and 
the  Benton  and  Country  clubs,  the  latter  being 
exclusive  social  bodies.  !Mr.  Hartwig  is  one  of 
the  city's  substantial  men,  liberal  and  public-"spir- 
ited  and  has  always  actively  encouraged  laudable 
enterprises.  His  genial  manner  has  attracted 
many  to  his  friendship  and  he  is  widely  knowii 
through  this  section  of  the  State.  He  belongs  to 
a  family  whose  affairs  have  been  closely  inter- 
woven with  those  of  St.  Joseph  for  many  years. 


♦  < » 


^ANCIS  BROWNE.  The  passing  away 
from  earth  of  so  prominent  and  noble  a 
man  as  the  late  Francis  Bro\\iie  removed 
one  whose  life  had  been  filled  with 
much  that  was  calculated  to  win  public 
esteem,  personal  affection  and  reverent  memory. 
The  late  Francis  Browne,  capitalist  and  philan- 
thropist, was  born  May  6,  1832.  in  County  Cork, 
Ireland,  and  died  in  his  palatial  home  in  St.  Jo- 
seph, May  28  1895.  His  parents  were  Francis 
and  Ann  (Geohagan)  Browne. 

The  father  of  the  late  ]Mr.  Browne  was  a.  na- 
tive of  County  Cork  and  the  mother  of  County 
Dublin,  Ireland,  and  our  subject  was  their  only 
child.  For  a  number  of  years  the  father  was  a 
large  merchant  in  the  city  of  Cork,  proprietor 
of  extensive  stonequarries  and  also  owned  large 
sutler  stores,  having  government  contracts  to  fii' 
In  183 1  a  disastrous  fire  devastated  his  fortune 
and  his  death  occurred  shortlv  after,  when  his  son 


was  less  than  a  month  old.  The  shock  and  grief 
also  prostrated  his  mother  and  the  little  lad  was 
left  an  orphan  at  the  age  of  six  months.  He  fotind 
a  tender  mother  in  an  aunt,  his  father's  sister,  a 
widow  with  two  sons,  one  of  whom,  at  a  later 
date,  came  to  America  as  a  surgeon  on  the  same 
vessel  which  brought  the  noted  Father  Matthew, 
the  noted  Irish  temperance  reformer,  to  the 
United  States.  Later  this  able  surgeon  was  ap- 
pointed surgeon  of  a  regiment  in  the  British 
Army  and  accompanied  the  68th  Regiment  to 
Southern  Russia,  which  regiment  took  part  in 
the  siege  of  Sevastopol.  The  other  cousin  of  our 
subject  entered  the  civil  service  and  was  ap- 
pointed clerk  in  the  quartermaster  general's  office 
and  finally  rose  to  be  its  chief,  filling  that  posi- 
tion when  our  subject  visited  him  in  1885. 

The  orphan  boy  was  placed  by  his  estimable 
aunt  in  a  private  school,  where  he  remained  until 
he  was  17  years  of  age.  He  then  started  out  on 
his  own  account,  and.  as  has  been  remarked  of 
another  great  capitalist,  he  owed  everything  to 
himself  and  nothing  to  luck.  For  one  year  he 
was  employed  as  a  copyist  by  the  British  govern- 
ment, in  the  Royal  Engineers'  department,  and 
then  became  clerk  for  a  Mr.  ]\IcGarry  in  Butte- 
vant.  with  whom  he  remained  until  August.  185 1. 
Then  he  came  to  America,  landing  at  the  port  of 
New  York,  after  a  stomiy  passage  of  38  days. 
Learning  that  better  opportunities  could  be 
found,  in  the  class  of  work  for  which  he  was 
fitted,  at  New  Haven,  Connecticut,  he  made  his 
way  to  that  city,  where  he  secured  employment 
as  a  stationary  engineer,  and  where  he  remained 
until  April  6.  1857. 

About  this  time  emigration  was  strongly  set- 
ting Westward,  and  Mr.  Browne,  with  the  en- 
couragement of  Father  Tracy,  a  Catholic  priest 
from  Missouri,  decided  to  seek  a  home  in  a  \"\'est- 
ern  center,  their  objective  point  being  a  place 
called  St.  John's,  Nebraska.  With  his  w-ife,  Mr. 
Browne  reached  St.  Louis,  but  as  he  could  gain 
no  information  concerning  the  place  for  which  he 
had  started,  he  engaged  their  passage  on  the 
river  boat  "Washington  City."  for  St.  Joseph, 
where  they  arrived  May  i.  1857. 

At  that  time.  St.  Joseph,  far  from  sustaining 
its  present  proud  position  of  the  third  city  in  the 
State  and  one  of  the  wealthiest  of  its  size  in  the 
I'nited  States,  was  only  an  overgrown  town, 
whose  energies  had  been  taxed  in  fitting  out  min- 
ing expeditions  for  the  far  West.  In  this  line  the 
grocery  houses  took  the  lead  and  very  soon  Mr. 
Browne    secured    employment    with    one    of    the 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


66 1 


largest  grocery  houses  in  the  place.  He  remained 
with  this  firm  until  i860  and  then  entered  the 
employ  of  William  Riddle,  going  then  to  the  firm 
of  Nave  &  McCord,  which  even  then  was  a  firm 
of  prominence  through  all  this  section  of  the 
State.  His  salary  was  fixed  at  $30  a  month,  but 
a  very  few  months  had  elapsed  before  he  was 
tendered  Si. 000  per  year,  and  within  two  years  he 
was  receiving  $1,500  a  year. 

In  February,  1866,  ^Ir.  Browne  was  given 
an  interest  in  the  firm  of  Nave  &  McCord,  being 
installed  at  the  time  of  its  incorporation  as  sec- 
retary and  treasurer,  a  position  he  held  until  his 
resignation  on  April  i,  1885.  Mr.  Browne  was 
not  only  associated  with  this  firm  in  its  gro- 
cery interests,  but  also  in  its  great  packing  and 
manufacturing  industries  and  in  its  extensive 
dealings  in  cattle.  During  his  long  connection 
with  his  partners-,  he  held  the  most  cordial  rela- 
tions with  both  of  them  and  he  was  often  heard 
to  remark  on  the  warm  and  fraternal  friendship 
which  existed  between  himself  and  the  late  James 
McCord.  To  this  most  estimable  man,  'Sir. 
Browne  attributed  much  of  his  success  in  life. 
This  may,  in  a  measure,  have  been  true,  but 
without  the  possession  of  his  own  inherent  quali- 
ties, no  friendly  encouragement  could  have 
brough  thim  the  material  prosperity  he  enjoyed. 

The  late  Francis  Browne  was  twice  married. 
In  1852  he  was  united  to  Lucy  'SI.  Littleton,  who 
was  born  in  Count}-  Cork,  Ireland,  the  attachment 
between  them  having  been  formed  prior  to  their 
removal  to  America.  Mrs.  Browne  diefl  in  De- 
cember, 1880,  the  mother  of  five  children,  the  four 
survivors  being:  Ann.  who  is  the  wife  of  Albert 
J.  N.  Enright.  of  St.  Joseph  ;  William,  who  mar- 
ried ^Minnie  Hays;  Mary  C.  (Burtis)  and  Francis 
P.  Joseph  H.  died  in  1885.  In  the  year  just 
mentioned.  Mr.  Browne  visited  his  old  home  in 
Ireland  and  while  in  Europe  was  married  on 
August  27,  1885,  to  ]\Iary  A.  Davis,  who  was  liorn 
in  1864.  Five  children  were  also  born  to  this 
union,  two  of  whom  still  survive :  Louis  Francis 
and  Raymond  T.  Mrs.  Browne  also  survives  and 
resides  in  a  beautiful  home  at  No.  408  South  12th 
street. 

The  mother-of  our  subject  was  a  Catholic,  but 
the  father  was  an  Episcopalian,  and  the  son  was 
reared  by  his  paternal  aunt  in  the  latter  faith. 
In  i860  he  identified  himself  with  the  Catholic 
Church  and  until  his  death  he  was  a  faithful,  sin- 
cere son  of  the  church.  In  1861  he  deeded  a  tract 
of  40  acres  to  the  Academy  of  the  Sacred  Heart, 
of  St.  Joseph  and  aided  in  the  building  of  a  new 


structure,  furnishing  all  teams  and  implements 
and  later  he  assumed  all  the  indebtedness  of  the 
institution,  making  it  a  gift  free  from '  all  in- 
cumbrances. Thus  Francis  Browne  still  lives 
not  only  in  the  affections  of  his  immediate 
family  and  his  personal  friends,  but  in  the  grate- 
ful remembrance  of  hundreds  who  will  benefit 
bv  his  bountv. 


^  • » 


OHN  H.  FLYNN,  M.  D..  one  of  the 
leading  physicians  of  St.  Joseph,  and  a 
prominent  and  representative  citizen, 
was  born  at  Nebraska  City,  Nebraska, 
October  5,  1870,  and  is  a  son  of  James 
^I.  and  Anna  ^I.  (Owens)  Flynn. 

The  father  of  Dr.  Flynn  was  born  in  Canada, 
of  Irish  parentage,  and  the  mother  is  a  native  of 
F'ennsyhania.  They  have  a  family  of  nine  chil- 
dren, of  whom  Dr.  Flynn  is  the  eldest,  the  others 
being:  William  C,  a  mail  carrier;  Thomas  L., 
now  of  Denver,  Colorado,  who  spent  six  years 
in  the  service  of  the  United  States  as  a  soldier, — 
three  vears  in  Cuba  and  three  years  in  the  Philip- 
pine Islands ;  Winnifred  Ann,  a  Sister  in  the 
Sacred  Heart  Convent,  at  Omaha ;  Eunice  E.,  a 
Sister  of  Charity,  now  located  at  ^Mobile,  Ala"-' 
bama ;  ]^Iaude  M.,  a  stenographer  at  St.  Joseph; 
Bertha  Grace,  a  teacher  in  the  Neely  School,  St. 
Joseph :  Paul  Ignatius,  in  the  employ  of  the 
\\'yeth  Hardware  &  Manufacturing  Company,  at 
St.  Joseph :  James  Francis,  a  student,  in  the  grad- 
uating class  of  1904,  at  the  Christian  Brothers' 
College.  St.  Joseph.  The  family  residence  is  at 
No.  1 1 15  Powell  street. 

In  his  early  manhood,  prior  to  his  marriage, 
James  ^I.  Flynn  served  five  years  in  the  United 
States  Army  on  the  frontier,  first  as  a  member  of 
Company  F,  13th  Regiment,  and  later  on  the  22(1 
Regiment.  While  our  subject  was  still  a  child. 
Mr.  Flynn  removed  with  his  family  from  Ne- 
braska City  to  Clay  County,  Nebraska,  where  he 
took  up  a  homestead  claim  and  remained  on  it 
until  the  fall  of  1881.  He  then  removed  to  Lin- 
coln County.  Nebraska,  but  in  the  spring  of  the 
the  following  year  went  to  Denver,  Colorado,  and 
in  the  fall  of  1884.  to  Hot  Springs.  Arkansas.  In 
the  spring  of  1886.  he  removed  to  Denison,  Texas, 
and  in  1890  came  to  St.  Joseph.  For  nine  years 
he  served  as  sexton  at  the  Cathedral  of  St.  Jo- 
seph, but  now  lives  retired. 

John  H.  Flynn  attended  school  wherever  the 
faniily  was  located, up  to  the  time  of  settling  at 
Denison,  Texas,  where  he  entered  a  business  col- 


662 


Hl:>rORY  OF   BUCHANAN    COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


lege,  and  also  acquired  a  knowledge  of  teleg- 
raphy. This  he  turned  to  account  as  assistant 
operator  at  Eufaula,  Creek  Nation,  for  a  time, 
but  failing  health  caused  him  to  seek  a  more  ac- 
tive career.  Hence  he  took  up  the  study  of  me- 
chanics and  became  a  practical  machinist,  work- 
ing as  such  first  at  Denison  and  later  at  St.  Jo- 
seph, to  ^vhich  city  he  removed  in  the  summer  of 
1890.  For  a  time  he  was  employed  as  machinist 
by  the  St.  Joseph  Street  Railway  Company,  and 
later  he  bought  an  interest  in  the  St.  Joseph  Plat- 
ing Compan}',  and  was  its  manager  for  one  year. 
After  selling  his  interest  to  Stewart  &  Yenawine, 
he  accepted  a  position  with  the  Tootle,  Wheeler 
&  Motter  Alercantile  Company  and  about  this 
time  began  the  study  of  medicine.  After  due 
preparation,  he  entered  Ensworth  Medical  Col- 
lege, of  St.  Joseph,  where  he  was  graduated  in 
1897.  He  spent  one  year  of  practice  at  Leona, 
Kansas,  and  then  returned  to  St.  Joseph  and 
opened  his  present  office  at  No.  2221  South  Sixth 
street,  where  he  has  all  modern  appliances  and  a 
complete  medical  library.  He  spent  the  winter 
of  1894-95  in  practice  at  the  Ensworth  Hospital 
and  the  year  1896-97  with  Dr.  Jacob  Geiger, 
which  was  prior  to  his  graduation.  He  has  a 
yev\  large  practice  and  is  numbered  with  the 
skilled  practitioners  of  this  section. 

Dr.  Flynn  was  married  at  St.  Joseph  to  Hettie 
AlcCleary,  and  they  have  one  daughter,  Marie, 
born  in  this  city.  Dr.  Flynn,  like  the  other  mem- 
bers of  his  family,  is  a  member  of  the  Catholic 
Church. 


■♦*» 


C.  PRYOR,  a  prominent  resident  of 
Washington  township,  Buchanan 
County,  is  engaged  in  farming  and 
dairying  with  much  success.  He  was 
born  in  Chillicothe,  Ohio,  September  5, 
1845,  and  is  a  son  of  Silas  H.  and  Lavina  F. 
(Fulton)  Pryor. 

Silas  H.  Pryor  was  reared  in  Virginia,  and 
echicated  in  the  schools  of  Harper's  Ferry  (his 
birthplace)  and  of  Washington.  D.  C.  From  his 
boyhood  he  was  in  the  employ  of  the  United 
vStates  Army  in  the  manufacture  of  guns  and 
was  a  very  skilled  workman  ;  many  of  the  old 
guns  now  in  use  bear  his  initials.  He  worked  at 
Harper's  Ferry,  then  at  Chillicothe,  Ohio,  until 
1848,  when  he  came  West  to  Missouri,  acquiring 
1,000  acres  of  land  in  Daviess  County.  He  con- 
tinued here  until  1864,  then  returned  to  Ohio, 
sold  his  farm  in  Daviess  County  one  year  later 


and  came  to  Washington  township,  Buchanan 
County,  where  he  purchased  a  farm  of  122  acres, 
situated  in  sections  30  and  31,  township  57,  range 

34,  and  sections  25  and  36,  township  57,  range 

35,  which  is  now  owned  by  his  son.  Here  he  re- 
sided until  his  death  at  the  age  of  83  years,  10 
months  and  23  days.  He  was  a  stanch  Democrat, 
and  for  many  years  was  a  Mason.  He  was  joined 
in  marriage  with  Lavina  F.  Fulton,  who  was  born 
in  Chillicothe,  Ohio,  and  comes  of  a  very  prom- 
inent family  of  that  section.  Her  grandfather, 
John  A.  Fulton,  was  an  attorney-at-law  and  also  a 
United  States  surveyor,  having  surveyed  and  laid 
out  Ross  County  and  other  counties  in  Ohio.  He 
was  a  wealthy  man  of  philanthropic  tendencies. 
He  had  a  very  fine  telescope  and  library  which  he 
willed  to  Ross  County,  and  he  also  built  a  fine 
library  building  there.  William  Fulton,  father  of 
Mrs.  Pryor,  helped  lay  out  and  survey  the  city  of 
St.  Louis,  and  also  the  Cherokee  Strip,  being  a 
United  States  surveyor  many  years.  He  spent 
most  of  his  life  at  Chillicothe,  Ohio.  Mrs.  Pryor 
now  resides  in  Dallas,  Texas.  Silas  H.  Pryor 
and  his  wife  became  parents  of  nine  children,  of 
whom  the  following  are  living:  Tarleton  F.,  a 
farmer  of  Jasper  County,  Missouri ;  J.  C,  our 
subject;  Fillmore,  who  is  farming  in  Oklahoma 
Territory ;  and  Missouri,  who  lives  in  Dallas, 
Texas,  with  her  mother.  Those  deceased  are : 
Virginia.  Austin  M.,  Milton  Clay,  Florence  Ala- 
bama and  South  Carolina  Belle. 

J.  C.  Pryor  received  his  education  in  the 
schools  of  his  home  district  in  Daviess  County, 
and  lived  with  his  father  until  he  came  to  this 
county.  Li  1879,  in  connection  with  Albe  M. 
Saxton  and  Charles  B.  France,  he  went  to  the 
Cherokee  Strip  and  engaged  in  the  cattle  busi- 
ness, under  the  firm  name  of  J.  C.  Pryor  &  Com- 
pany, for  II  years  and  five  months.  He  was -the 
first  to  take  fence  wire  into  the  "Strip,'"  where  the 
firm  had  175,000  acres  of  land  under  fence.  They 
raised  cattle  and  some  horses,  which  were  shipped 
to  the  Kansas  City  market.  The  firm  brand  was 
P  (the  first  letter  of  Mr.  Pryor's  surname)  fol- 
lowed by  a  circumscribed  diamond.  In  1890.  he  re- 
turned to  Buchanan  County  and  purchased  the 
old  home  farm  of  his  father,  and  of  this  he  has 
since  sold  all  but  80  acres.  During  the  past 
eight  years,  he  lias  engaged  in  the  dairy  busi- 
ness with  success.  He  is  well-known  over  the 
county,  and  is  everywhere  held  in  highest  esteem. 

On  May  9,  1888,  ]\Tr.  Pryor  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Sallie  McNeill,  of  Jamesport,  Mis- 
souri,  and  they  have  three  children :   Polk   P. ; 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


663 


Preston  P. ;  and  Pearl  P.  He  has  always  been  a 
stanch  Democrat  in  politics,  and  for  some  years 
has  served  as  central  committeeman  and  treas- 
urer. He  was  president  of  the  School  Board  of 
the  township  for  10  years.  Religiously,  he  is  a 
member  of  the  Old  School  Presbyterian  Church. 
He  is  a  member  of  Saxton  Lodge.  No.  508,  A.  }■ . 
&  A.  AI. ;  Knights  of  Pythias ;  and  the  Improved 
Order  of  Red  Men. 


^  * » 


HOMAS  WESLEY  WILSON,  post- 
master and  proprietor  of  the  largest 
mercantile  establishment  at  Halls,  Bu- 
chanan County,  has  been  a  resident  of 
this  community  for  more  than  30  years, 
and  is  widely  known  to  the  people  of  the  vicinity. 
He  was  born  in  Bartholomew  County,  Indiana, 
near  Columbus.  September  10,  1853.  and  is  a 
son  of  Josiah  and  Elizabeth  (Parks)  Wilson,  and 
a  grandson  of  Hiram  and  Hannah  (Phipps) 
"\Mlson. 

Hiram  Wilson  was  a  native  of  Virginia,  but 
moved  about  the  year  1801  to  Indiana,  where  for 
many  years  he  followed  the  trade  of  a  blacksmith. 
He  married  Hannah  Phipps  and  had  the  follow- 
ing children  :  Josiah  ;  Jane  ;  Eliza  ;  and  Martin, 
who  lives  at  Halls  and  is  the  only  surviving  mem- 
ber of  this  family. 

Josiah  \\'ilson  was  born  at  Columbus,  Indiana, 
September  10,  1823,  and  received  a  common- 
school  education  there.  Upon  leaving  school,  he 
learned  the  trade  of  a  blacksmith,  which  he  fol- 
lowed until  he  reached  the  age  of  20  years.  At 
that  time  he  enlisted  under  Gen.  Zachary  Taylor, 
taking  part  in  the  battles  of  Santa  Anna.  Buena 
^'ista  and  others  of  note  in  the  War  with  ?\lexico. 
After  being  in  the  service  about  18  months  he  was 
honorably  discharged  and  returned  to  his  home  in 
Indiana.  He  was  appointed  to  the  position  of 
superintendent  of  the  Bartholomew  County 
Poor  Farm,  which  he  filled  three  successive  years. 
He  then  went  into  the  mercantile  business,  in 
which  he  continued  five  years.  He  followed  his 
trade  as  a  blacksmith  three  years,  after  which  he 
/}:)urchased  and  conducted  a  farm  until  187 1,  at 
whicli  time  he  removed  to  Buchanan  County,  Mis- 
souri. For  three  years  he  again  followed  his 
trade  as  a  blacksmith,  then  engaged  in  the  mer- 
cantile business  for  six  years  in  the  building  now 
occupied  by  our  subject.  He  then  retired'  from 
active  business  and  moved  on  a  farm  where  he 
resided  until  his  death,  which  occurred  October 


31,  1903.  In  1848,  he  married  Elizabeth  Parks,  a 
daughter  of  Thomas  Parks,  of  Ohio,  and  they  had 
the  following  issue :  Thomas  W. ;  Alfred  Buena 
\'ista,  who  married  Anna  Starmer,  is  a  farmer  of 
Wayne  township ;  David  AL,  a  farmer  of  Lake 
township ;  Hiram  U.,  who  was  killed  on  a  railroad 
at  the  age  of  22,  while  employed  as  a  brakeman ; 
AI.  J.,  a  farmer  of  Lake  township,  who  married 
Hattie  Alinteer ;  Charles  S.,  a  farmer  of  Lake 
township,  who  married  Delia  Lewis ;  and  Emma 
Belle,  who  died  at  the  age  of  17  years.  Airs. 
Wilson  died  February  19,  1901. 

Thomas  W.  Wilson  received  his  early  educa- 
tion in  Indiana,  supplemented  by  one  term  in  a 
school  in  Buchanan  County  in  1871,  at  which  time 
he  came  with  his  parents.  During  the  succeed- 
ing year  he  was  occupied  in  farming,  then  began 
the  study  of  telegraphy  and  general  railroad  work. 


After   working   extra   one    vear. 


he    was   given 


charge  of  the  station  at  Halls,  which  he  managed 
successfully  24  years.  C)n  November  i,  1902,  he 
discontinued  that  work  to  devote  his  entire  atten- 
tion to  the  mercantile  business,  which  for  nine 
years  prior  had  been  in  charge  of  his  daughter. 

OnAugust  17,  1873,  Air.  Wilson  married  Eliza 
Alark,  a  daughter  of  Joseph  Alark,  of  Wayne 
township,  by  whom  he  has  had  three  children : 
Olive  Florence ;  Arthur  Eugene,  who  died  aged 
five  years ;  and  Alyrtle  E.  Religiously,  he  is  a 
member  of  the  Baptist  Church  and  serves  as  dea- 
con. He  is  an  unswerving  Democrat  and  has 
held  several  offices  of  honor  and  trust  in  his  town- 
ship. He  is  at  present  postmaster  of  Halls,  and 
serves  efficiently.  Fraternally,  he  is  a  Alason. 
He  has  the  largest  store  in  the  town,  carrying  a 
complete  line  of  dry  goods,  boots  and  shoes  and 
groceries. 


■♦» » 


ALVIN  W.  BENIGHT,  one  of  the  old 
and  honored  residents  of  Easton,  who 
has  filled  the  office  of  justice  of  the 
peace  since  1880,  is  a  man  who  is 
known  and  esteemed  all  over  Buchanan 
county,  where  he  was  long  associated  with  mill- 
ing and  mercantile  life.  He  was  born  Decembef 
II,  1824,  in  Kanawha  County,  Virginia  (now 
West  Virginia),  and  is  a  son  of  Thaddeus  and 
Abigail  (Waite)  Benight. 

Thaddeus  Benight  was  born  in  Bradford 
County,  Pennsylvania,  in  1797:  liis  wife  was 
born  in  Vermont  and  removed  in  girlhood  with 
her  parents  to  Ohio,  where  she  was  married. 
About  1820,  Thaddeus  Benight  and  wife  moved 


664 


HISTORY  OF    BUCHANAN    COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


to  what  is  now  \\'est  Virginia,  but  in  1846  they 
returned  to  Ohio  for  two  years,  and  in  1848  came 
to  St.  Joseph,  ^lissouri.  Here  he  died  in  Oc- 
tober, 1850,  survived  by  his  widow  for  four 
years."  Their  seven  children  were  :  Sarah  L.  (wife 
of  Anderson  Smith),  deceased ;  Calvin  W.,  of  this 
sketch;  ^'lary  (wife  of  Daniel  Force  of  St.  Jo- 
seph), deceased;  Samuel  D.,  deceased,  who  was 
prominent  in  Buchanan  County,  serving  on  the 
bench  and  in  other  offices  ;  Benjamin  W.,  a  farmer 
living  south  of  St.  Joseph;  Phrebe  G.  (wife  of 
Robert  Maupin),  deceased  ;  and  Susie  E.  (wife  of 
Robert  Darnell,  a  farmer  of  Platte  County),  de- 
ceased. Thaddeus  Benight  traded  his  farm  ni 
Ohio  for  a  tract  of  land  containing  320  acres  m 
Andrew  Countv,  situated  northeast  of  St.  Jo- 
seph, but  did  not  live  long  enough  to  enjoy  it. 
He  was  a  stern  supporter  of  Whig  principles,  but 
would  never  accept  political  office.  For  years 
he  was  a  consistent  member  of  the  Missionary 
Baptist  Church. 

Our  esteemed  subject  in  boyhood,  had  the 
best  educational  advantages  to  be  secured  in  the 
subscription  schools  of  his  locality,  but  these 
were  meager.  When  his  parents  came  West,  he 
was  24  years  of  age,  and  he  recalls  the  long  trip, 
made  bv  water,  the  journey  consuming  17  days. 
The  death  of  the  father  greatly  changed  the  fam- 
ily's plans,  and  in  1850  he  decided  to  join  a  party 
setting  out  for  California.  It  consisted  of  45 
people  with  19  wagons  and  90  head  of  cattle.  It 
took  four  months 'to  cross  the  plains  and  moun- 
tains and  main-  of  those  who  started  out  well  and 
hopeful  grew  sick  and  some  died'of  cholera.  Our 
subject  stopped  at  a  point  which  at  that  time 
bore  the  suggestive  name  of  Hangtown,  its  pres- 
ent name  being  Placerville,  California.  There  he 
worKed  in  the  mines  for  two  years  and  in  May, 
1852,  returned  to  St.  Joseph.  After  a  visit  in 
West  \'irginia  for  a  few  months  he  returned  to 
settle  permanently  in  Buchanan  County. 

In  partnership  with  Norman  Buell,  Mr.  Be- 
night built  a  flour  and  woolen  mill,  on  Blacksnake 
River,  but  in  the  fall  of  1855  he  sold  his  interest 
and  settled  at  Easton.  Here,  in  association  with 
a  Mr.  Ranch,  he  built  a  mill  and  operated  it  some 
years.  Mr.  Ranch  sold  his  interest  to  J.  L. 
Stoner,  who  bought  Mr.  Benight's  interest  in 
1880.  For  a  number  of  years  our  subject  also 
conducted  a  mercantile  business  at  Easton  and  is 
probably  the  oldest  continuous  resident  of  the 
place. 

On  May  i.  1856,  Mr.  Benight  was  married  to 
Mary  L.  Talbot,  who  was  born  in  Kentucky,  and 


they  have  had  nine  children  :  Thaddeus,  a  miner 
at  Hillside,  Colorado ;  Julia  A.,  wife  of  Charles 
Neimeyer,  of  Duluth,  Minnesota;  R.  C,  a  furni- 
ture dealer  of  St.  Joseph ;  Maggie  L.,  wife  of  Dr. 
J.  A.  Alinor,  of  Marion  township;  Octa  K.,  a 
teacher  in  St.  Joseph  ;  Sybil,  a  teacher  in  Minne- 
sota ;  Harry  W^,  a  merchant  of  Denver,  Colo- 
rado ;  Robert  M.,  an  attendant  at  the  State  Hos- 
pital for  Insane,  No.  2,  at  St.  Joseph ;  and  Mable, 
wife  of  J.  M.  Boyer,  a  resident  of  Kansas. 

For  the  past  14  years  our  subject  has  im- 
partially dispensed  justice  in  Easton  and  has  done 
a  large  amount  of  legal  work.  He  is  a  citizen 
who  has  been  closely  identified  with  the  develop- 
ment of  Easton  and  vicinity,  owns  considerable 
valuable  property  here  and  has  many  warm  per- 
sonal friends.  Politically,  he  has  always  sup- 
ported the  Democratic  party.  Formerly  he  w^as 
active  in  the  Masonic  fraternity.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Christian  Church. 


HARLES  F.  BYRD,  M.  D.,  one  of  the 
prominent  physicians  and  surgeons  of 
St.  Joseph,  was  born  in  Indiana,  Janu- 
ary 23,  1866,  and  is  a  son  of  Thomas 
and  Martha  J.  (Harris)  Byrd. 
The  parents  of  Dr.  Byrd  were  also  natives  of 
Indiana.  The  father  was  a  well-known  and  sub- 
stantial farmer  of  Putnam  County,  and  died  on 
his  own  estate  there  on  March  6,  1895.  There 
were  seven  children  in  the  parental,  family. 

Charles  F.  Byrd  was  educated  in  the  com- 
mon schools  of  his  native  locality  until  about  the 
age  of  16  years,  when  he  learned  telegraphy 
and  subsequently  became  operator  for  the  Indiana, 
Decatur  &  Western  Railroad  Company  and  re- 
mained with  this  corporation  for  two  years  and 
then  took  up  the  study  of  medicine  with  Dr.  C. 
H.  Wallace  of  St.  Joseph,  Missouri.  Later  he 
entered  the  Ensworth  Medical  College  of  this 
city,  where  he  was  graduated  in  the  class  of  1894. 
In  1895.  Dr.  Byrd  located  in  Gentry  County 
where  he  practiced  for  three  and  a  half  years 
and  then  settled  permanently  at  St.  Joseph.  His 
professional  success  has  been  marked  and  he 
now  has  a  large  and  lucrative  practice  and  is 
recognized  as  one  of  the  leading  members  of  the 
medical  fraternity  in  Buchanan  County.  He  is 
the  physician  and  surgeon  for  the  St.  Joseph 
Railway,  Light,  Heat  &  Power  Company,  ex- 
aminer for  the  Bankers'  Life  Insurance  Company, 
of  Lincoln.  Nebraska,  and  j)hysician  and  ex- 
aminer for  the  Knights  of  the  Maccabees. 


FERDINAND    LUTZ 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


667 


Dr.  Byrd  was  married  in  1893  to  Nora  S. 
Ackles,  who  is  a  daughter  of  James  O.  Ackles,  of 
\\'aterville,  Kansas,  and  they  have  three  children, 
— Eunice  G.,  Jessamine  W.  and  an  infant  boy. 
Both  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Byrd  are  members  of  the 
Christian  Church.  They  have  a  pleasant,  attrac- 
tive home  and  the  Doctor  has  well-appointed 
offices  at  No.  2002  St.  Joseph  avenue. 

Politically.  Dr.  Byrd  is  a  Democrat  and  in 
1904  he  was  the  candidate  of  his  party  for  county 
coroner.  He  belongs  to  the  various  medical  or- 
ganizations and  keeps  fully  abreast  of  modern 
medical  thought. 


^  * » 


1  OHN  KIRSCHNER.  a  worthy  represen- 
tative of  one  of  the  old  families  of  this 
section,  resides  on  his  valuable  farm  of 
75  acres,  situated  in  section  28,  town- 
ship 57,  range  35,  in  ^^"ashington  town- 
ship, Buchanan  County.  He  was  born  at  St.  Jo- 
seph, October  16,  1847,  ^"^  is  a  son  of  John 
Peter  and  Anna  Eva  (Groh)   Kirschner. 

John  Peter  Kirschner  was  born  in  Bavaria, 
Germany,  where  he  lived  until  1845.  "when  he 
immigrated  to  the  United  States.  He  settled  in 
Clay  County,  ^Missouri,  where  he  married,  and  in 
the  following  year  came  to  St.  Joseph  and  started 
the  first  bakery  business  in  this  city.  He  operated 
his  bakery  until  1867,  when  he  removed  to  a 
farm  of  160  acres  in  Washington  township,  which 
he  had  purchased  in  1855.  It  was  but  rough 
timberland  at  that  time,  but  he  lived  on  it  long 
enough  to  completely  change  its  condition.  At 
the  time  of  his  death,  May  9,  1898,  it  was  ranked 
with  the  township's  best  farms.  He  was  survived 
by  his  widow  until  January  12,  1902.  Politically, 
John  Peter  Kirschner  was  a  Democrat.  He  was  an 
honest,  upright  man,  an'd  was  a  liberal  supporter 
and  member  of  the  German  Catholic  Church  at 
St.  Joseph.  The  four  of  his  nine  children  who 
survived  infancy  are  as  follows:  John,  of  this 
sketch :  Peter  Joseph,  a  physician,  of  St.  Jo- 
seph :  George  Edward,  living  retired  in  St.  Jo- 
seph ;  and  Lena,  who  was  married  te  John  Adam 
Steinbrenner,  on  March  2"],  1901,  and  has  one 
child, — Lottie  Ann. 

Our  subject  attended  school  in  St.  Joseph  and   I 
then  learned  the  baker's  trade  with  his  father,  and   ' 
followed  it  until    1867,  when  he  located  on  the 
farm   in   section   28,  township   57,   range  35.  in 
Washington  township,  where  he  now  lives.     He 
carries  on  general  farming,  devoting  much  atten- 

33 


tion  to  the  culture  of  small  fruits.  \\'ashington 
township  has  been  called  the  garden  spot  of  Bu- 
chanan County  and  Mr.  Kirchner's  part  of  it 
justifies  the  name. 

Mr.  Kirschner  was  married  first.  December 
30.  1875.  to  ^lary  Eichholz,  of  St.  Joseph,  who 
died  in  1885,  leaving  five  children:  Charles  E.,  a 
druggist  of  St.  Joseph.  Anna,  Joseph  W.,  Emma 
and  r^Iary  G.  In  1887  he  married  his  sister-in- 
law,  Kate  Eichholz.  and  two  children  were  born 
to  this  marriage :  Rosa  and  Josephine. 

]\Ir.  Kirschner  is  one  of  the  township's  active 
Democratic  politicians  and  is  a  man  of  influence 
in  his  locality.  For  21  years  he  has  served  as 
school  director.  He  is  a  consistent  member  of 
the  German  Lutheran  Church. 


* » » 


.Air. 


ERDINAND  LUTZ,  deceased,  who  was 
prominently  engaged,  in  the  hotel  busi- 
ness in  St.  Joseph  for  a  quarter  of  a 
century,  was  at  the  head  of  one  of  the 
best  German  families  of  the  city. 
Lutz  was  born  in  Germany,  June  29. 
1835,  and  was  one  of  a  family  of  three  children 
born  to  his  parents.  A\'hen  a  boy  he  learned  the 
trade  of  a  baker  in  his  native  land,  which  he  fol- 
lowed upon  his  arrival  in  this  coimtry.  He  ar- 
rived at  New  York  City  fn  1852,  and  subsequently 
removed  to  Chicago,  where  he  followed  his  trade 
for  seven  years. 

In  answer  to  the  call  for  men  to  fight  the  bat- 
tles of  the  North,  Mr.  Lutz  enlisted,  in  April, 
1862,  as  3rd  sergeant  in  Company  H,  5th  Reg., 
Missouri  \'ol.  Cav.,  and  served  until  the  close  of 
the  war.  He  saw  much  hard  service,  and  as  is 
characteristic-  of  his  race  made  an  excellent  sol- 
dier. 

When  the  news  of  the  discovery  of  large  de- 
posits of  gold  in  Colorado  swept  the  country,  he 
was  numbered  among  the  victims  of  the  gold 
fever.  He  lost  no  time  in  going  to  Colorado, 
where  he  engaged  in  mining.  He  met  with  suc- 
cess for  some  years,  and  upon  returning  East- 
ward located  at  St.  Joseph.  He  engaged  in  the 
hotel  and  restaurant  business  on  Second  street 
and  found  his  experience  at  the  baker's  trade  a 
great  help,  his  establishment  always  being  noted 
for  the  excellence  of  its  table.  For  a  period  of  23 
years  he  kept  the  old  Colorado  House,  but  retired 
'to  spend  the  last  years  of  his  life  in  ease  and  com- 
fort. His  death  occurred  January  16,  1901.  He 
left  his  family  well  provided  for. 


668 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


On  October  28,  1863.  Ferdinand  Lutz  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Theresa  Hunt,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Bernard  Hunt,  of  Germany,  and  of  their 
children  one  is  now  hving,  Henry.  Our  subject 
was  a  member  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Repub- 
Hc  and  was  a  stanch  RcpubHcan  in  pohtics,  al- 
though he  would  never  consent  to  run  for  ofifice. 
INlrs.Lutz  is  living  in  her  beautiful  residence  at 
No.  502  North  22nd  street,  in  which  vicinity  she 
owns  considerable  valuable  property.  She  is  a 
ladv  of  generous  impulse  and  liberally  contributes 
to  the  aid  of  the  poor  and  sufifering.  Religiously, 
she  and  her  son  are  members  of  the  Catholic 
Church.  Our  subject  was  a  Catholic  and  very  lib- 
eral in  giving  of  his  means  to  worthy  causes.  His 
portrait  accompanies  this  sketch. 


^ » » 


OHN  OLIVER  KNAPP,  who  is  one  of 
the  best  known  citizens  of  St.  Joseph, 
of  which  city  he  has  been  a  resident 
since  1847,  and  a  member  of  the  city's 
Fire  Department  since  1875,  was  born  in 
St.  Louis,  Missouri,  April  15,  1846,  and  is  a  son 
of  Edward  J.  and  Emily  (Mallett)  Knapp. 

Edward  J.  Knapp  was  born  in  Orange  County, 
New  York,  and  followed  the  trade  of  painter. 
His  death  took  place  in  1879  "^  St.  Joseph,  to 
which  city  he  had  removed  with  his  family  in 
1847,  when  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  one  year 
old.  There  were  11  children  in  the  parental 
family. 

John  O.  Knapp  was  reared  to  manhood  in  St. 
Joseph  and  here  secured  a  good  common-school 
education.  He  i)repared  himself  for  a  business 
career  as  steamboat  engineer,  and  followed  river 
pursuits  until  about  1872,  having  many  advent- 
lU'cs  and  more  than  once  being  in  serious  danger 
on  account  of  the  wrecking  of  boats,  while  at- 
tending to  his  duties.  After  discontinuing  his 
work  on  the  river,  he  had  charge  of  the  machinery 
on  the  St.  Joseph  Bridge  for  several  years. 

In  1875,  ^I^i"-  Knapp  entered  the  city's  service 
as  a  member  of  the  Fire  Department,  and  many 
citizens  of  St.  Joseph  have  reason  to  feel  grate- 
ful, in  time  of  danger  and  terror,  that  so  courag- 
eous and  faithful  a  helper  was  at  his  post  of  duty. 
His  years  of  service  have  not  been  without  ac- 
cident, a  serious  one  happening  to  him  in  1877, 
the  marks  of  which  he  will  probably  retain  as 
long  as  he  lives.  In  1892  he  was  promoted  to  the 
responsible  position  of  assistant  chief  of  the  de- 
partment, under  Chief  M.  M.  Kane,  a  brother  of 


the  present  head  of  the  department,  P.  F.  Kane. 
The  position  which  the  Fire  Department  of  St.  Jo- 
seph is  able  to  take  in  any  competitive  drill  or  ex- 
hibition is  due  to  the  thorough  training  it  re- 
ceives under  its  efficient  officers.  The  position  of 
assistant  chief  carries  with  it  almost  the  same 
responsibility  as  does  that  of  chief,  and  requires 
a  man  of  the  highest  personal  courage,  a  knowl- 
edge of  a  thousand  details,  concerning  the  suc- 
cessful fighting  of  the  fire  fiend,  as  well  as  ex- 
ecutive ability  of  a  high  order.  St.  Joseph  has 
reason  to  repose  confidence  in  her  Fire  Depart- 
ment under  its  present  management.  J\Ir.  Knapp 
is  stationed  at  Engine  House  No.  i.  Few  men  in 
the  city  are  better  or  more  favorably  known.  He 
has  resided  for  the  past  51  years  imder  the  same 
roof  at  No.  418  South  Fifth  street.  In  politics  he 
is  a  strong  Democrat. 


-•-•-♦- 


:ORGE  M.  ALLISON,  one  of  the  repre- 
sentative citizens  of  St.  Joseph,  and  a 
well-known  Democratic  politician  ot 
Buchanan  County,  was  born  in  Rush 
township,  Buchanan  County,  Missouri, 
February  20,  1863,  and  is  a  son  of  John  H.  and 
Dicy  Ann  (Trapp)  Allison. 

The  father  of  Mr.  Allison  was  born  in  Ken- 
tucky, but  passed  the  greater  part  of  his  life  as  a 
farmer  in  Missouri,  to  which  State  he  removed 
about  1832,  settling  in  the  Platte  Purchase  in 
what  is  now  Lafayette  County.  In  1835  he  came 
to  Buchanan  County,  but  soon  thereafter  returned 
to  Lafayette  County,  where  he  lived  until  1837, 
when  he  removed  to  Buchanan  County  and  set- 
tled permanently  in  Rush  township.  His  wife 
was  a  daughter  of  Rev.  William  Trapp,  of  An- 
drew County,  a  minister  of  the  Baptist  Church, 
and  a  sister  of  Rev.  William  R.  Trapp,  of  Noda- 
way County,  who  was  a  minister  of  the  Christian 
Church.  For  20  years  John  H.  Allison  served  as 
a  justice  of  the  peace  in  Rush  township,  and  was 
a  man  of  considerable  prominence  in  his  neigh- 
borhood. His  death  took  place  in  1888.  His 
wife  died  in  1870.  Their  family  consisted  of  12 
children. 

The  boyhood  of  our  subject  was  that  of  the 
usual  active,  healthy  and  intelligent  country 
youth,  his  school  attendance  alternating  with  farm 
duties  until  he  was  old  enough  to  become  a  stu- 
dent in  the  academy  at  Platte  City.  After  com- 
pleting the  prescribed  course  and  securing  the  nec- 
essary papers,  he  began  to  teach  school  and  sue- 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


669 


cessfuUy  followed  the  profession,  during  the 
winter  seasons,  for  eight  years,  giving  his  sum- 
mers to  farm  work.  In  1894  Air.  Allison  came  to 
St.  Joseph  and  soon  became  interested  in  politics, 
was  shortly  afterward  made  a  deputy  county  clerk 
and  at  the  present  time  is  serving  as  assistant  cir- 
cuit clerk  under  Circuit  Clerk  Patton.  In  1904  he 
was  nominated  on  the  Democratic  ticket  for  the 
position  of  county  treasurer  but  was  defeated  by 
a  small  majority,  by  the  Republican  landslide  of 
that  year. 

Mr.  Allison  was  married  to  IMahala  Thomp- 
son, who  died  in  1888.  His  second  marriage  was 
to  Jennie  Dickson,  v;ho  is  a  daughter  of  James  K. 
Dickson,  one  of  the  pioneer  merchants  of  Rush- 
ville,  Missouri.  Mr.  Allison  has  two  children, 
both  of  whom  were  born  to  him  by  his  first  wife, 
viz :  Mabel,  who  is  a  graduate  of  the  class  of 
1904,  of  the  St.  Joseph  High  School ;  and  Everett, 
also  a  graduate  of  the  .St.  Joseph  High  School, 
who  is  an  employee  of  the  Sheridan-Clayton  Pa- 
per Company. 

Fraternally,  Mr.  Allison  is  an  Odd  Fellow, 
connected  with  Enterprise  Lodge,  No.  232,  of 
St.  Joseph  ;  and  a  member  of  the  Modern  Wood- 
men of  America  and  the  Improved  Order  of  Red 
Men.  As  a  public  official  he  enjoys  the  full  con- 
fidence of  all  political  parties  and  his  long  con- 
nection with  county  matters  makes  him  well 
qualified  for  the  responsible  position  he  now  fills. 
He  is  an  earnest  worker  in  behalf  of  his  party  and 
is  highly  vajued  by  his  associates.  His  personal 
friends  are  many,  attracted  by  his  pleasant,  gen- 
ial manner  and  by  his  sterling  traits  of  character. 


■♦ « » 


OHN  A.  DEAKINS,  a  representative 
farmer  of  Platte  township,  Buchanan 
County,  has  been  a  resident  of  this 
county  for  more  than  half  a  century.  He 
was  born  near  Jonesboro.  Tennessee, 
August  13,  1847,  ^'""^1  '^  ^  SO"  of  Richard  and 
Katherine  (Garst)  Deakins. 

Richard  Deakins  was  born  in  Tennessee,  Feb- 
ruary 22,  1799,  and  came  of  Scotch-Irish  ances- 
try. His  parents  had  moved  to  Tennessee  from 
Maryland.  He  was  a  miller  by  trade  in  early 
life  and  followed  that  vocation  until  he  came  to 
Missouri,  in  1854,  after  which  he  engaged  in 
farming  until  his  death,  which  took  place  July 
II,  1873.  He  was  a  Democrat  in  politics.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  iMissionary  Baptist  Church. 
He  was  joined  in  marriage  with  Katherine  Garst, 


who  was  born  in  Roanoke  County,  Virginia, 
April  26,  1820.  and  now  lives  in  the  State  of 
Washington  with  her  son,  Charles.  She  was  one 
of  18  children  born  to  her  father  and  his  two 
wives.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Deakins  were  parents  of  the 
following  children :  Samuel,  who  died  in  Weston, 
Kansas,  aged  42  years;  John  A.  and  Richard, 
who  live  in  Buchanan  County  ;  Tennessee  (Wads- 
worth),  who  died  in  1900;  Charles,  who  lives  in 
the  State  of  Washington;  Katherine  (Gayley), 
of  California ;  Absalom,  who  died  April  19, 
1878  ;  and  Theodore,  who  died  August  27,  1879. 

John  A.  Deakins  was  seven  years  of  age  wdien, 
in  1854,  he  accompanied  his  parents  to  Missouri. 
They  started  in  September  of  that  year  with  three 
teams,  bringing  their  household  goods  with  them. 
Thev  passed  through  Arkansas,  and  on  November 
nth  arrived  in  Buchanan  County.  The  first 
winter  was  spent  in  a  log  house,  which  they 
rented,  located  where  Garrettsburg  now  is.  on  the 
Platte  River.  In  the  spring  of  1855,  they  rented 
a  farm  south  of  Easton  upon  which  tliey  lived 
until  the  spring  of  1856,  and  then  purchased  the 
northeast  quarter  of  section  14,  township  55, 
range  34,  in  Platte  township.  Our  subject  has 
since  resided  on  this  or  an  adjoining  farm.  He 
has  160  acres  which  he  devotes  to  general  farm- 
ing and  stock-raising.  The  building  in  which 
he  lives  was  originally  built  by  his  father, 
but  an  addition  thereto  was  built  by  him- 
self as  well  as  two  large  barns  and  other  build- 
ings, while  most  of  the  improvements  were 
effected  by  him.  He  has  a  fine  orchard  set  out, 
has  placed  most  of  the  land  under  cultivation  and 
has  it  all  fenced  and  cross-fenced.  He  has 
achieved  success  in  his  farming  operations,  and 
takes  rank  among  the  substantial  and  reliable 
men  of  the  community.  He  has  always  been  a 
Democrat  in  politics  and  has  entertained  many  of 
the  political  leaders  at  his  house,  but  has  never 
aspired  to  office.  He  frequently  has  been  called 
upon  to  accept  township  offices,  such  as  road 
overseer  and  school  director,  and  has  without  ex- 
ception discharged  his  duties  faithfully  and  to  the 
best  interests  of  the  community. 

On  October  31.  1867,  he  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Eliza  Kinnaird,  who  was  born  on  an 
adjoining  farm  in  Platte  township,  Buchanan 
County,  December  5,  1841,  and  is  a  daughter  of 
Charles  and  Melinda  (McNeely)  Kinnaird.  The 
following  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Deakins  :  Anna,  who  married  George  Bogard,  of 
Andrew  County,  and  has  three  children, — Wil- 
liam, John  and  Lola ;  Kate,  who  married  A.  E. 


6y:i 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


Marteny,  of  St.  Joseph,  cashier  in  the  St.  Joseph 
Terminal  Company's  office,  and  has  four  chil- 
dren,— Edward,  Katherine,  John  and  David ; 
Betty,  who  married  William  Moore,  of  Platte 
township,  and  has  a  son, — Eugene ;  Lida,  wife  of 
James  Hines ;  Lulu,  who  married  William  Gib- 
son, of  Platte  township,  and  has  a  daughter, — 
Gladys ;  and  David,  who  lives  on  the  home  farm. 
Religiously,  the  family  belong  to  the  Christian 
Church  of  Gower,  which  Mr.  Deakins  helped  to 
build,  and  of  which  he  is  a  deacon. 


■♦  > » 


HARLES  N.  STARRIER,  who  is  the 
fortunate  possessor  of  one  of  the  best 
farms  of  Rush  township,  Buchanan 
County,  consisting  of  300  acres  of  well- 
cultivated  land  in  section  2,  w^as  born 
in  Harrison  County,  ^lissouri.  December  11, 
1857,  and  is  a  son  of  Jacob  T.  and  Elizabeth 
(Blackley)   Starmer. 

Alexander  Starmer,  our  subject's  grandfather' 
was  born  in  Tennessee  and  died  in  1863  when 
nearly  70  years  of  age.  Throughout  his  life  he 
always  followed  agricultural  pursuits.  For  the 
five  or  six  years  preceding  his  death  he  lived  in 
Red  River  County,  Texas.  He  married  Annie 
Tener,  daughter  of  Jacob  Tener,  of  Tennessee. 
In  religious  belief,  they  were  strict  Methodists. 
Our  subject's  maternal  great-grandfather,  Rev. 
Jesse  Blackley.  who  was  a  son  of  Alexander 
Blackley  and  a  Hard-Shell  Baptist  preacher,  was 
born  in  Tennessee  and  died  in  1857,  aged  84 
years.  His  wife,  whose  maiden  name  was  Polly 
Kearns,  died  six  hours  later  from  grief.  She  was 
84  years  old  and  was  a  native  of  Ireland.  Rev. 
Jesse  Blackley  fought  under  Gen.  Andrew  Jack- 
son in  the  War  of  1812.  Our  subject's  maternal 
great-grandfather.  Bachelor  Crickmore,  was  born 
in  h>ance  and  married  Mary  Brown,  a  native  of 
Virginia,  from  which  State  he  migrated  with  his 
wife  and  family  to  Whitley  County.  Kentucky, 
where  he  and  his  wife  died. 

Jacob  T.  Starmer  was  born  in  Tennessee, 
October  14,  1829,  was  reared  on  his  father's  farm, 
and  later  served  in  the  Mexican  War,  after  which 
he  came  to  Missouri  and  settled  on  a  farm  in 
Harrison  County,  where  he  remained  until  1865, 
when  he  came  to  Buchanan  County,  locating  in 
Lake  township,  where  his  death  took  place  Feb- 
ruary 14,  188 1.  He  was  a  stanch  Democrat  in  his 
political  convictions,  and  for  years  was  actively 
interested  in  the  ?\lasonic  fraternity.    He  married 


Elizabeth  Blackley,  born  September  3,  1832,  who 
was  a  daughter. of  Nathaniel  and  Frankie  (Crick- 
more)  Blackley,  of  Kentucky,  and  they  reared 
this  family :  James  L.,  now  a  contractor  in  Color- 
ado ;  George  W.,  a  resident  of  St.  Joseph  ;  Wil- 
liam T.  and  Rhoda  J.,  deceased  ;  Charles  N.,  of 
this  sketch  ;  Annie  E.,  wife  of  B.  V.  Wilson,  a 
farmer  of  Wayne  township ;  Nathanial  H.,  a 
resident  of  St.  Joseph  ;  Frances  E.,  wife  of  David 
Wilson;  Nancy,  wife  of  Fenton  jMitten;  Didy- 
mire  Malvina,  the  wife  of  Rev.  O.  P.  Garlock  ; 
Sophronia,  the  widow  of  Hugo  Myers,  of  St. 
Joseph  ;  and  Jacob  T.  and  Alexander,  deceased. 
The  parents  of  this  family  both  belonged  to  the 
Metliodist  Episcopal  Church  and  were  highly  re- 
spected residents  of  the  township. 

Our  subject,  Charles  N.  Starmer,  was  eight 
\ears  of  age  when  his  parents  came  to  Buchanan 
County,  where  he  attended  school,  more  or  less 
regularly,  until  the  age  of  20  years.  He  then  left 
home  and  spent  two  years  in  Montana,  engaged  in 
freighting,  an  enterprise  which  required  physical 
endurance,  courage  and  considerable  business 
ability.  Since  his  return  to  Buchanan  County,  he 
has  followed  farming  exclusively.  He  owns  a 
very  fine  property  and  has  almost  all  of  it  under 
cultivation.  To  successfully  operate  so  large  a 
body  of  land  requires  good  judgment,  large  ex- 
perience and  close  and  careful  attention,  and  the 
success  which  has  crowned  Mr.  Starmer's  efforts 
shows  that  he  possesses  all  the  qualifications  of  a 
good  farmer. 

Mr.  Starmer  married  Nettie  Howard,  who  is 
a  daughter  of  William  Howard,  a  prominent 
farmer  of  Rush  township,  and  they  have  three 
children :  George,  Charles  N.  and  Romulus  Dixon 
Bryan. 

Although  one  of  the  useful  and  influential 
men  of  his  township  and  a  leading  Democrat,  Mr. 
Starmer  has  never  been  willing  to  accept  political 
offijce.  His  interests  are  centered  in  the  cultiva- 
tion of  his  farm,  the  improvement  of  educational 
and  moral  conditions  in  his  neighborhood  and  the 
rearing  of  his  sons  to  be  all  that  loyal  Missourians 
desire  in  citizenship.  He  stands  as  one  of  the 
honorable  and  representative  men  of  his  locality. 


■♦  * » 


LWOOD  J.  NETHERTON,  D.  V.  S.,  a 
well-known  citizen  of  St.  Joseph,  hold- 
ing the  office  of  city  sanitary  inspector, 
with  membership  on  the  Board  of 
Health,  is  also  a  leading  member  of  his 
profession  in  Missouri,  being  deputy  State  vet- 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


671 


erinary  surgeon.  He  was  born  in  Daviess 
County,  Missouri.  August  11.  1874.  and  is  a  son 
of  George  and  Hannah  (Everly)  Netlierton. 

The  father  of  Dr.  Netherton  was  also  born  in 
Daviess  Count}-.  He  was  a  large  farmer  and  was 
also  a  graduate  physician  and  a  graduate  veterin- 
ary practitioner.  He  secured  his  diploma  at  the 
Kansas  City  Medical  College,  at  Kansas  City,  in 
1894.  but  had  previously,  in  1888,  graduated  at 
the  Chicago  \'eterinary  ]\Iedical  College.  He  con- 
tinued to  practice  veterinary  medicine  until  1894. 

Dr.  Netherton,  our  subject,  was  educated  in 
the  schools  of  Daviess  County  and  graduated 
from  the  Gallatin  High  School,  and  in  1896  from 
the  Kansas  City  X'eterinary  College.  He  practiced 
at  Gallatin  until  1898,  when  he  came  to  St.  Jo- 
seph, where  he  took  front  rank  in  his  profession. 
In  190 1  he  was  honored  by  appointment  to  the 
office  of  deputy  State  veterinary  surgeon. 

Dr.  Netherton  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Alice  M.  Woods,  who  is  a  daughter  of  Capt.  John 
Woods,of  Virginia,  a  hero  of  the  late  Civil  War. 
This  ceremony  took  place  on  October  2,  1896,  and 
they  have  a  bright  little  daughter  named  Lucille, 
lloth  Dr.  Netherton  and  wife  are  members  of  the 
Baptist  Church.  They  reside  at  No.  901  North 
20th  street. 

Politically,  the  Doctor  is  identified  with  the 
Democratic  party.  Fraternally,  he  is  connected 
with  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  the  Eagles  and  the 
W'oodmen. 


<  •  *■ 


IXIAM  H.  FLOYD,  Jr.,  city  engi- 
neer of  St.  Joseph,  one  of  the  most 
prominent  men  of  his  profession  in 
this  section  of  the  State,  was  born 
at  Medford,  Massachusetts,  October 
26.  1852,  and  is  one  of  the  family  of  two  children 
born  to  his  parents,  William  H.  and  Sarah  E. 
(Cram)  Floyd. 

Our  subject  has  been  a  resident  of  St.  Joseph, 
Missouri,  ever  since  the  age  of  seven  years.  He 
attended  the  i)ublic  schools  and  the  High  School 
here  and  then  went  to  Troy,  New  York,  where 
he  completed  an  engineering  course  at  the  Rensse- 
laer Polytechnic  Institute  in  1874.  In  1875  '"""^ 
became  connected  with  the  Kansas  City  &  St. 
Joseph  Railroad  Company,  entering  their  employ 
as  an  engineer  and  for  three  years  worked  as  as- 
sistant engineer  in  various  localities.  Mr.  Floyd 
was  then  engaged  as  engineer  for  a  period  of 
two  years  in  the  construction  of  the  Citv  Water 
Works  at  St.  Joseph,  going  then  into  the  employ 


of  the  government  as  an  assistant  engineer  on 
river  improvements  for  five  years.  \Mth  all  this 
experience  back  of  him,  he  then  opened  an  office 
in  St.  Joseph  and  contiinied  to  accept  and  carry 
out  large  contracts  for  all  kinds  of  sm^veying 
and  civil  engineering  work.  After  some  10  years 
in  business  for  himself,  he  accepted,  in  1901,  his 
present  position,  that  of  city  engineer.  The  grave 
responsibilities  attached  to  this  office  are  easily 
met  by  Mr.  Floyd,  who  has  had  exceptional  ex- 
perience in  this  line  of  work. 

In  1879,  Mr.  Floyd  was  married  to  Minnie  W. 
Stroud,  vvho  is  a  daughter  of  Lewis  Stroud,  of 
St.  Joseph,  and  they  have  three  children,  namely : 
Julia  S..  William  H.  (the  third  of  the  name  in 
line  of  descent,)  and  Louise. 

Politically,  Mr.  Floyd  is  identified  with  the 
Republican  party  but  is  no  seeker  for  political 
preferment.  His  fraternal  association  is  with 
the  Elks.  The  pleasant  family  home  is  an  at- 
tractive one  on  22nd  street  between  Oak  and 
Cedar  streets.  Mr.  Floyd  is  one  of  the  substan- 
tial, representative  men  of  his  city,  thoroughly 
posted  on  all  engineering  matters  and  deeply  in- 
terested in  the  progress  his  profession  is  con- 
stantly making. 


♦  »  » 


WTD  A.  TURNER,  who  owns  and 
conducts  the  "Fair  View  Fruit  Farm" 
in  section  5,  Center  township,  is  located 
one  and  a  half  miles  from  South  St. 
Joseph.  He  has  risen  to  a  position  of 
prominence  in  h^s  comnnniity,  having  gained  a 
competency  through  years  of  persistent  effort 
and  without  assistance  from  any  one.  He  was 
born  in  Center  township,  P>uchanan  County,  Mis- 
souri, April  30,  1845,  '^"^^  ^^^^  always  resided 
here.  He  is  a  son  of  William  and  Mary  (Har- 
ness) Turner,  and  grandson  of  Lancaster  Turner. 
Lancaster  Turner  was  born  in  Kentucky,  and 
at  an  early  date  came  to  Buchanan  County,  Mis- 
souri, and  entered  land  at  Agency  Ford.  Wil- 
liam Turner  also  was  born  in  Kentucky  and  came 
with  his  parents  to  Agency  Ford.  Here  he  en- 
gaged in  the  mercantile  1:)nsiness,  at  which  he  con- 
tinued until  1852.  when  he  met  death  bv  shoot- 
ing, aged  33  years.  He  married  Mary  Harness, 
a  native  of  Virginia,  who  came  to  Buchanan 
Countv,  Missouri,  as  a  child  and  lived  here  until 
her  death  in  190T,  aged  73  years.  Her  union 
with  Mr.  Turner  resulted  in  the  following  issue : 
Raclicl    (Evans),   of   Michigan;    Mary   E.,   who 


672 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY  AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


died  at  the  age  o"^  18  years;  Sally,  who  died  in 
childhood  ;  Jane,  who  died  young ;  and  David  A. 

David  A.  Turner  was  very  young  when  his 
father  died  and  his  early  life  was  attended  with 
many  hardships.  He  was  bound  out  to  his  uncle, 
Capt.  Peter  Gift,  who  conducted  a  blacksmith 
shop  in  old  Sparta,  and  later  to  a  minister  who 
was  very  severe  with  him.  His  first  work  for 
himself  was  in  the  employ  of  Thomas  Wallis,  re- 
ceiving $10  per  month  as  wages.  On  February 
II,  1862,  he  enlisted  in  Company  C,  25th  Reg., 
Missouri  A^ol.  Inf.,  under  Capain  Wade  and 
Colonel  Peal)ody,  both  of  whom  lost  their  lives 
in  the  battle  of  Shiloh,  in  which  the  regiment 
participated.  Mr.  Turner  fought  in  that  battle 
and  at  Jonesboro,  then  w'ent  with  the  army  of 
Sherman  in  its  "March  to  the  Sea,"  and  was  dis- 
charged at  Goldsboro,  North  Carolina,  March 
26,  1865.  With  54  others,  he  was  the  first  of 
Sherman's  army  to  reach  W^ashington  on  its 
march  north  from  Atlanta.  At  the  time  of  his 
discharge  he  was  orderly  on  General  Howard's 
stafi".  At  the  beginning  of  the  war,  before  going 
south,  at  New  Madrid,  Missouri,  he  met  with  an 
accident  while  on  scouting  iduty,  his  horse  fall- 
ing upon  him.  He  did  not  go  to  the  hospital  but 
was  treated  in  his  company,  and  it  was  but  a 
short  time  before  he  could  perform  his  duties. 
Upon  the  close  of  the  war  he  returned,  to  his 
farm  and  has  followed  farming  since.  He  ac- 
quired 25i>4  acres  in  section  5.  Center  township, 
known  as  "Fair  \'iew  Fruit  Farm."  He  has  85 
acres  of  fruit,  65  acres  of  apples  of  different  vari- 
eties, a  i2-acre  vineyard,  eight  acres  of  peaches, 
six  acres  of  strawberries  and  five  acres  of  black- 
berries. He  has  100  acres  of  hay  land,  and  the 
entire  farm  is  under  cultivation.  He  has  made 
many  improvements  on  the  place,  built  houses  and 
barns,  and  has  one  of  the  best  improved  farms  in 
the  township.  Land  which  he  bought  for  $20 
per  acre  when  he  first  came  to  this  country,  he 
sold  three  years  later  for  $75  an  acre. 

On  December  4,  1869.  Mr.  Turner  was  mar- 
ried to  Louise  Mathison,  a  native  of  Scotland, 
who  came  to  this  countrv  when  voung  and  died 
here  October  27,  1879,  aged  26  vears,  leaving 
two  daughters:  Belle,  wife  of  J.  H.  Ducate,  of 
Denver.  Colorado;  and  Goklie'  wife  of  Harrv 
Korf.  He  was  again  married  March  3,  1882.  to 
Elizabeth  McClaren,  who  was  born  in  Chicago, 
Illmois,  August  22,  1855,  and  is  a  daughter'of 
Alexander  McClaren,  a  native  of  England.  Three 
chUdren  have  been  born  to  them  :  David  A..  Will- 
iam Albert  and  Mary  A.     ^Fr.  Turner  is  a  Re- 


publican in  politics,  and  in  1901  was  a  candidate 
on  that  ticket  for  county  judge  but  was  defeated. 
Fraternally,  he  is  a  Mason  and  a  Mystic  Shriner. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  G.  A.  R.,  and  of  the  local 
and  the  State  horticultural  societies,  in  whose 
affairs  he  takes  a  prominent  part. 


♦ »  » 


lOHN  E.  BLACKWELL,  a  prominent 
farmer  residing  one  and  a  half  miles 
north  of  St.  Joseph,  on  the  northeast 
quarter  of  section  28,  township  58,  range 
35,  in  Washington  township,  has  spent 
his  entire  life  upon  this  farm.  He  is  one  of  the 
reliable  citizens  of  the  community,  and  has  many 
acquaintances  throughout  the  county  who  hold 
him  in  high  esteem.  He  was  born  on  his  present 
farm  Mav  18,  1847,  and  is  a  son  of  James  H.  and 
Sarah  A^    (Byrd)    Blackwell. 

James  H.  Blackwell  was  born  in  Clark  County, 
Kentucky,  in  181 5,  his  father  having  come  to  that 
county  from  Germany  in  early  manhood.  He  was 
reared  on  a  farm  and  lived  there  until  1842  when 
he  started,  in  company  wath  his  wife,  for  Mis- 
souri, going  as  far  as  St.  Louis  by  boat,  thence  to 
Buchanan  County  on  horse.  They  located  on  the 
northeast  quarter  of  section  28,  Washington 
township,  which  he  preempted.  He  cleared  the 
farm  of  a  heavy  growth  of  timber  and  brush,  con- 
verting it  into  cultivated  fields.  He  increased  his 
holdings  to  240  acres,  and  was  a  well-to-do  man. 
He  died  on  May  15,  1865,  aged  50  years.  He  was 
joined  in  marriage  with  Sarah  A.  Byrd,  who  was 
born  in  Clark  County,  Kentucky,  and  was  a 
daughter  of  Mitchell  Byrd.  a  native  of  Virginia. 
She  died  in  Buchanan  County  at  the  age  of  67 
years,  being  survived  by  the  following  children : 
John  E. ;  Henry  S.,  a  farmer  of  Washington 
township  ;  and  Ormstead,  of  St.  Joseph. 

John  E.  Blackwell  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  of  this  county,  and  has  always  followed 
farming  on  the  old  homestead.  He  owns  88 
acres  of  land,  which  he  devotes  to  the  raising  of 
corn,  hay  and  potatoes,  in  addition  to  which  he 
is  quite  extensively  engaged  in  stock-raising. 

Mr.  Blackwell  was  married  to  Maggie  Steffen. 
a  native  of  Germany  and  a  daughter  of  Hartman 
Steffen,  a  i-»rominent  farmer  of  Washington  town- 
ship. The  latter  was  born  in  Germany.  Novem- 
ber 12,  1842,  and  was  married  there  to  Charlotte 
Garish.  They  came  to  the  Lmited  States  in  1867, 
and  for  one  year  were  located  in  Ohio,  after  which 
they   came  to  Washington   township,   Buchanan 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


^IZ 


County,  where  Mr.  Steffen  has  since  farmed. 
Our  subject  and  his  wife  have  two  children  Hving : 
James  H.  and  George  W.  He  is  independent  in 
poHtics,  while  fraternally,  he  is  a  member  of  the 
Masons  and  of  the  Odd  Fellows.  Religiously,  he 
and  his  family  are  members  of  the  Cumberland 
Presbyterian  Church. 


■♦♦♦■ 


ICERO  HAMILTON,  one  of  the  prom- 
inent citizens  of  DeKalb,  Buchanan 
County,  extensivel)'  engaged  as  a  con- 
tractor in  plastering,  papering  and 
decorating  work,  was  born  December 
28,  1852,  in  Louisa  County,  Iowa,  and  is  a  son  of 
Dr.  William  and  Mary  (McDonald)  Hamilton. 
Dr.  William  Hamilton  was  a  native  of  Can- 
ada, where  he  was  born  in  1824.  He  became 
prominent  in  his  profession  in  Iowa,  being  a  grad- 
uate of  the  Eclectic  Medical  College  of  Cincin- 
nati, Ohio,  and  later  served  in  the  ^Mexican  War, 
for  which  service  he  was  given  a  land  warrant. 
His  death  took  place  in  1868.  He  and  his  wife 
were  parents  of  seven  children,  namely :  Elvira, 
wife  of  David  Gofif,  of  Butte,  Montana;  Cicero,  of 
this  sketch  ;  Elizabeth,  wife  of  P.  H.  Smith,  of 
Omaha.  Nebraska  ;  Harriet,  deceased  ;  Flora,  wife 
of  Arthur  Hufifman  ;  Cora,  deceased  ;  and  Charles, 
of  Shenandoah,  Iowa.  The  mother  still  survives 
and  is  now  the  wife  of  A.  J.  Wilson,  of  Hamburg. 
Iowa. 

Cicero  Hamilton  attended  the  public  schools 
of  Hamburg  until  the  age  of  14  years  and  then 
was  apprenticed  to  the  printer's  trade  in  the  office 
of  the  Fremont  County  Times,  where  he  served 
three  years.  This  business  he  never  closely  fol- 
lowed, but  in  1874,  after  removing  to  Winterset, 
Madison  County,  Iowa,  he  learned  the  plastering 
trade  and  soon  went  into  contracting  in  the  same. 
From  1880  to  1881,  he  followed  contracting  at 
Atchison,  Kansas,  and  then  moved  across  the 
Missouri  River,  and  continued  to  follow  this  bus- 
iness until  1886,  when  he  located  permanently  at 
DeKalb.  His  work  can  be  seen  all  over  both 
Platte  and  Buchanan  counties  and  includes  every 
kind  of  plastering,  papering  and  decorating. 

On  May  31,  1876,  Mr.  Hamilton  was  married 
to  Mattie  Emma  Strong  by  Rev.  J.  K.  Cornell. 
She  was  born  in  April,  1855,  and  died  on  Novem- 
ber T.  T879,  leaving  one  son.  W.  T.,  who  married 
Sarah  Roberts  and  now  resides  in  the  residence 
adjoining  that  of  his  father  on  the  north.  On 
April   12,    1885,  I\Ir.   Hamilton  was  married  bv 


Rev.  W.  S.  Connor,  to  his  sister-in-law,  Sarah 
V.  Strong,  who  was  born  October  16,  1859.  The 
children  of  this  union  are :  Raymond  W.,  born 
November  5,  1885;  Guy  L.,  born  June  7,  1889; 
Mary  E.,  born  December  12,  1890;  Walter  Cic- 
ero, born  October  14,  1892 ;  Charles  F.,  born 
November  21,  1896;  and  Ralph,  born  December 
2,  1897. 

For  a  number  of  years  Mr.  Hamilton  was  very 
prominent  in  political  circles,  one  of  the  leading 
Republicans  of  his  district.  His  party  has  hon- 
ored him  times  without  number  by  sending  him  as 
a  delegate  to  the  various  conventions  and  he  has 
been  an  important  factor  in  party  councils.  The 
party  named  him  for  several  ver}-  responsible  po- 
sitions, once  as  representative  from  the  Third 
Legislative  District  against  Benjamin  F.  Stuart, 
again  as  recorder  of  deeds  against  Joel  E.  Gates, 
in  1894.  when  he  was  defeated  by  only  168  votes, 
and  in  1898,  for  the  same  office,  against  Joseph 
Carnes,  the  present  incumbent,  when  our  subject 
ran  far  ahead  of  his  ticket.  During  his  active  po- 
litical career  he  served  as  a  delegate  to  the  State 
convention  at  Jefiferson  City,  June  24.  1902,  and 
with  justifiable  pride  he  recalls  the  fact  that  he 
was  a  delegate  to  the  congressional  convention  at 
vSavannah  that  nominated  the  delegates  to  the 
convention  that  nominated  the  late  President  Mc- 
Kinley.  For  several  years  he  served  as  cenral 
committeeman  from  Bloomington  township.  He 
has  practically  retired  from  politics  and  now  de- 
votes his  whole  time  to  the  demands  of  a  very 
large  business. 

Mr.  Hamilton  is  a  prominent  Maso!i.  He  is  a 
member  of  Rushville  Lodge,  No.  238,  A.  F.  &  A. 
M.,  of  which  he  is  past  master,  being  past  master 
as  well  of  Wellington  Lodge,  No.  22,  of  DeKalb. 
He  is  a  member  of  Ringo  Chapter,  No.  6,  R.  A. 
M.,  of  which  he  is  past  high  priest.  His  family 
attend  the  Baptist  Church,  while  his  views  are 
liberal. 


-*-•-•- 


n&v 

^^  ^ 

1 

ILLIAM     STDENFADEN     was     for 
many    years    a   well-known    and    re- 
spected citizen  of  St.  Joseph, to  which 
city  he  came  in    1853.     Mr.   Siden- 
faden  was  born  in  Prussia,  Germany, 
September  10,  1829,  and  died  at  St.  Joseph,  Au- 
1902. 
The  late  Mr.  Sidenfaden  remained  at  home 
until  he  was  20  years  of  age,  when  he  immigrated 
to  the  United  States.     After  a  short  time  spent 
at    Chicago,    he    pursued    his    way    Westward, 


gust  25 


674 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY  AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


through  several  towns  in  Kansas,  seeking  a  de- 
sirable location  for  his  business,  that  of  cabinet- 
making.  He  reached  St.  Joseph  in  1853  ^i""^^  ^0°*'' 
secured  work  with  Weber  &  Reister,  on  Felix 
street,  remaining  with  them  until  prepared  to 
buy  the  business.  Shortly  after  it  came  into  his 
])Ossession  he  added  undertaking,  locating  on  the 
corner  of  Fourth  and  JMessanie  streets,  in  1867. 
Here  he  continued  in  business  until  within  a  few 
years  of  his  death.  It  is  continued  by  his  son 
Herman  O.,  who  is  very  competent,  having 
learned  the  work  from  the  bottom,  under  his  fath- 
er's  instruction. 

Mr.  Sidenfaden  is  survived  by  a  widow  and 
five  children,  namely:  Emma  (Mrs.  Maier),  of 
St.  Joseph  ;  Herman  O.,  who  succeeded  his  father 
in  business ;  William,  Jr.,  who  resides  in  Salt 
Lake  City,  Utah ;  Edward,  who  is  a  resident  of 
Chicago ;  and  Henry,  who  lives  in  St.  Joseph.  All 
the  sons  are  intelligent,  successful  business  men. 
Herman  O.  resides  at  No.  320  Messanic  street, 
and  his  mother  occupies  a  very  comfortable  and 
attractive  home  at  No.  524  South  Ninth  street. 

For  a  number  of  years,  the  late  Mr.  Siden- 
faden was  a  member  of  the  City  Council,  where 
his  advice  and  good  judgment  were  often  of  the 
greatest  value  to  the  city.  He  served  on  the 
board  which  secured  the  present  system  of  city 
water-works  and  lent  his  aid  to  all  measures  for 
the  city's  advancement,  which  he  judged  of  prac- 
tical benefit.  At  the  time  of  his  death,  he  was  the 
oldest  member  of  the  St.  Joseph  Benevolent  So- 
ciety. He  was  shrewd,  skillful  and  judicious  in 
the  conduct  of  his  own  afifairs  and  was  no  less  so 
in  the  public  charges  he  held.  He  left  behind 
him  a  record  of  unblemished  honesty  and  many 
friends  who  knew  his  kindness  of  heart  and  his 
many  other  estimable  qualities. 

Mr.  Sidenfaden  was  always  identified  with  the 
Democratic  party.  His  son  and  successor  is  also 
a  Democrat  and  he  is  also  one  of  St.  Joseph's 
honorable  and  progressive  business  men. 


■♦  *» 


de- 


lEODORE  H.  BORNGESSER 
ceased,  was  one  of  the  pioneer  merchants 
and  leading  business  men  of  St.  Joseph 
for  many  years.  He  was  born  in  Heid- 
elberg, Germany,  June  14,1829,  and  died 
at  his  home  in  St.  Joseph,  after  a  long  and  useful 
life.  July  Ti,  1891. 

The  late  Mr.  Borngesser  was  well  educated  in 
his  native  land  and  came  to  America  in  1853.  pre- 


pared to  enter  into  business.  He  located  at  St. 
Louis,  Missouri,  entering  into  partnership  with 
the  firm  of  Doan.  King  &  Company,  a  large  dry 
goods  house  that  was  one  of  importance  prior  to 
tlie  Civil  War.  In  1862  he  came  to  St.  Joseph 
and  embarked  in  the  wholesale  and  retail  grocery 
trade,  as  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Koch,  Chew  & 
Company,  Mr.  Borngesser  being  the  company. 
Subsequently  Mr.  Borngesser  engaged  in  a 
grocery  business  of  his  own  for  some  years  and 
later  became  a  bookkeeper  for  the  well-known 
house  of  John  Emory,  later  for  Townsend  & 
Wyatt. 

On  January  10,  1854,  he  was  married  to  Maria 
T.  Courteney,  and  to  them  were  born  two  chil- 
dren :  Albert  E.  and  Lena.  The  latter  is  one  of 
the  leading  teachers  of  music  in  this  city,  a  lady 
of  many  accomplishments.  She  resides  with  her 
mother  in  a  beautiful  home  at  No.  918  Felix 
street. 

The  late  Mr.  Borngesser  was  a  member  of  the 
Catholic  Church,  and  his  remains  lie  at  rest  in 
Calvary  Cemetery.  He  left  behind  him  the  rec- 
ords of  a  good  Hfe  and  was  sincerely  mourned 
by  a  large  circle  of  personal  friends.  His  kind 
h.eart  and  ready  charity  were  known  to  those  who 
benefited  by  his  generosity,  the  extent  of  which 
he  never  published  to  the  world.  He  loved  his 
home  and  family  and  was  happy  that  he  had  been 
enabled  to  provide  so  well  for  their  welfare. 


APT.  GEORGE  LYON,  who  has  been 
one  of  the  representative  business  men 
as  well  as  public-spirited  citizens  of 
St.  Joseph  ever  since  locating  here,  in 
i860,  was  born  at  Ogdensburg,  St. 
Lawrence  County,  New  York,  May  23,  1823. 

George  Lyon  attended  the  schools  of  his  na- 
tive place  until  he -was  12  years  of  age  and  subse- 
quently lived  at  Albany,  New  York,  and  at 
Brooklyn,  Long  Island.  He  was  reared  to  mer- 
cantile pursuits  and  continued  to  follow  the  same 
until  1854,  when  he  removed  to  the  West,  locat- 
ing in  Chicago,  in  the  lumber  business.  He  went 
to  California  in  the  early  "fifties"  and  engaged  in 
mining  for  a  year,  but  was  not  very  successful. 
His  claim  afterward  ])roved  to  be  very  rich.  In 
i860  he  came  to  Missouri.  At  the  opening  of  the 
Civil  War,  he  enlisted  as  a  private  in  Company 
G.  25th  Reg.,  ]Missouri  Vol.  Inf.,  and  was  com- 
missioned captain. 

On  March  10,  1843,  Captain  Lyon  was  united 


\ 


JAMES  W.   HARTIGAN 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


^^77 


in  marriage  with  Jane  C.  Judson,  who  was  bom 
September  29,  1822,  in  St.  Lawrence  Coimty. 
New  York.  They  have  had  10  children,  viz : 
John  F. ;  Judson ;  George ;  David  and  Jennie 
(twins)  ;  Frederick  W.,  of  Council  Bluffs,  Iowa; 
Horace;  Arthur;  and  Grace  and  ]\lary  (twins). 
David  Lyon  is  deceased  and  his  widow  resides 
with  our  subject,  as  does  also  Jennie,  who  is  the 
widow  of  Joseph  Morris,  formerly  of  California. 
]\Irs.  David  Lyon  is  a  daughter  of  the  late  well- 
known  Col.  John  H.  Bliss,  and  is  a  talented  mu- 
sician and  teacher  in  this  city.  Mary,  who  died 
in  September,  1904,  was  a  highly  valued  school 
teacher  of  St.  Joseph. 

Captain  Lyon  resides  in  a  comfortable  and  at- 
tractive home  at  No.  602  North  Eighth  street, 
where  he' is  passing  the  evening  of  life  surrounded 
with  all  its  comforts  and  in  the  enjoyment  of  the 
esteem  of  a  wide  circle  of  friends.  From  his 
first  settlement  in  Buchanan  County,  he  took  an 
active  part  in  its  develo]:»ment.  In  1862  he  was 
elected  treasurer  of  the  county  and  served  as  such 
for  eight  years  and  has  also  been  city  treasurer. 
He  was  president  of  the  first  notable  agricultural 
exposition  in  the  county  and  has  held  many  offices 
of  trust  and  responsibility.  During  recent  years 
he  has  held  the  office  of  justice  of  the  peace. 


♦ » » 


\AIES  W.  HARTIGAN,  for  a  number  of 
years  one  of  the  leading  business  citizens 
of  St.  Joseph,  who  has  retired  from  act- 
ive participation  in  the  city's  commer- 
cial life,  was  born  in  County  Limerick, 
Ireland,  Feliruary  6,  1844,  and  is  a  son  of  James 
and  Ann  (Ward)  Hartigan.  The  parents  of 
Mr.  Hartigan  were  of  Irish  birth  and  extraction. 
The  father  was  a  farmer  both  prior  to  immigrat- 
ing to  America,  in  1848.  and  after  he  settled  in 
Caldwell  County,  Missouri.  He  came  here  as  one 
of  the  pioneers,  one  of  a  colony  of  21  individuals, 
all  kindred  and  all  induced  to  settle  in  Missouri 
by  Father  Ward,  a  Catholic  priest,  located  at  St. 
Louis,  who  was  our  subject's  maternal  uncle.  In 
1878  James  Hartigan  retired  from  active  life  and 
removed  to  Cameron,  Missouri,  where  the  re- 
mainder of  his  life  was  spent,  his  death  occurring 
July  14,  1899.  O"  February  6,  1842,  he  married 
Ann  Ward,  who  was  a  daughter  of  James  Ward, 
and  they  had  these  children:  Marv,  deceased; 
James  W.,  of  this  sketch  ;  Thomas  F. :  Johanna, 
wife  of  Michael  Degnan,  of  Easton.  Buclianan 
County;  Jeremiah  J.,  of  New  York  City;  Annie, 


wife  of  John  McAnaw,  of  Cameron,  Missouri ; 
Michael  E.,  of  Caldwell  County,  Missouri;  Eliza- 
beth, wife  of  Patrick  Rooney,  of  DeKalb  County, 
Missouri ;  Ellen,  wife  of  Patrick  Kinney,  of  Cam- 
eron, Missouri,  and  one  who  died  in  infancy. 
James  Hartigan  was  the  \oungest  son  of  James 
Hartigan.  who  died  when  James  the  second  was 
qtiitc  young.  The  name  of  James  has  been  pre- 
served in  the  family  until  the  present  time, 
through  three  preceding  generations. 

Previous  to  the  outlireak  of  the  Civil  War, 
our  subject  assisted  on  the  home  farm  and  at- 
tended the  local  schools.  He  entered  the  army  as 
a  member  of  the  Sixth  Regiment  Missouri  Yol. 
Cav.,  and  during  two  years  of  service  participated 
in  the  battle  of  Lone  Jack  and  innumerable  skir- 
mishes. In  1864  he  came  to  St.  Joseph  and  joined 
Captain  ^Maxwell's  Home  Guards.  In  looking 
about  for  employment,  he  found  a  butcher  who 
needed  an  assistant  and  this  position  Mr.  Harti- 
gan filled  for  a  year  and  was  then  taken  into  part- 
nership, the  firm  name  appearing  as  Bush  &  Har- 
tigan. After  one  year  another  partnership  was 
formed  with  James  Cumpton  and  the  firm  st}le 
became  Cimipton  &  Hartigan.  and  this  associa- 
tion also  continued  through  one  year.  In  the  fall 
of  1868,  Mr.  Hartigan  entered  into  business  for 
himself  and  for  40  years  was  identified  with  the 
butchering  trade  of  St.  Joseph,  doing  his  part  to- 
ward building  up  this  gigantic  industry. 

Mr.  Hartigan  began  business  in  a  small  way 
with  many  hindrances,  obliged  to  contest  his  way 
at  first  with  a  rough  lot  of  butchers  and  cattle 
men  and  under  conditions  which  would  now  not 
be  tolerated  b}'  any  community  nor  recognized 
by  any  member  of  the  trade.  As  the  oldest  but- 
cher in  the  city,  the  records  of  the  business  within 
his  memory  go  a  long  distance  back.  At  times 
stock  was  very  scarce  and  frequently  Mr.  Harti- 
gan was  obliged  to  ride  fullv  10  miles  before  he 
could  buy  enough  cattle  to  supply  the  demands  of 
his  customers.  These  cattle  were  then  driven 
along  the  highway,  across  ditches  and  over  fences, 
to  the  slaughtering  place  in  the  town,  where  they 
were  immediately  killed  and  their  carcasses  were 
on  sale  the  following  morning  in  the  markets, 
which  closed  at  1 1  o'clock  in  the  morning.  The 
negligent  housekeeper  went  without  meat  if  her 
memory  happened  to  be  poor. 

Mr.  Hartigan  recalls  when  the  first  Stock 
Yards  were  established,  the  very  beginning  of  the 
great  industrial  plants  of  the  trade  at  St.  Joseph 
at  present,  and  it  was  considered  a  matter  of  tlie 
greatest  convenience  to  be  able  to  buy  enough 


678 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY  AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


cattle  in  one  day  to  last  a  week.  The  shipping  of 
the  wild  Texas  cattle  came  later  and  Mr.  Harti- 
gan  tells  many  interesting  incidents  as  to  their 
management,  as  they  were  so  wild  that  frequently 
they  had  to  be  shot  in  the  yards  as  they  could  not 
be  induced  to  go  into  the  pens.  As  time  went  on, 
changes  came  in  the  meat  business  and  Mr.  Har- 
tigan  was  a  prominent  promoter  of  some  of  the 
city's  most  progressive  movements  in  this  line, 
wholesaling  meat  from  1871  until  the  Stock 
Yards  were  built.  Recognizing  ^that  his  product 
was  one  of  the  necessities  of  life,  he  possessed  the 
clear  business  judgment  to  enable  him  to  make 
the  business  profitable,  and  as  a  result  of  his  en- 
terprise and  business  faculty  not  only  is  St.  Jo- 
seph one  of  the  great  meat  markets  of  the  world, 
but  he  has  individually  prospered  to  such  an  ex- 
tent that  he  is  one  of  the  capitalists  of  North- 
western iMissouri.  He  is  one  of  the  heavy  own- 
ers of  real  estate,  scattered  in  various  portions  of 
St.  Joseph,  and  pays  one  of  the  largest  tax  as- 
sessments of  any  man  in  the  county.  He  has 
always  been  prominent  in  the  upbuilding  of  the 
city  and  has  been  identified  with  many  of  her  lead- 
ing enterprises.  His  money  and  influence  assisted 
in  the  establishing  of  the  Union  street  car  line  and 
he  was  one  of  the  directors  of  the  company  for 
two  years,  was  treasurer  of  the  Irish-American 
Investment  Compau}-  for  seven  years  and  was  one 
of  the  promoters  of  the  Irish-American  Building. 

In  1868  yir.  Hartigan  was  married  to  Mary 
Reardon,  who  was  born  in  Ireland  and  is  a  daugh- 
ter of  John  Reardon,  who  died  in  County  Lim- 
erick, Ireland,  in  1848.  They  have  reared  a  family 
of  eight  children,  viz :  Annie,  wife  of  Austin 
Ready,  of  St.  Joseph ;  ]\Iary  B. ;  Alice ;  Helen ; 
Agnes ;  Grace ;  Elizabeth  and  James  R.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Hartigan  have  one  grand  child,  James  Har- 
tigan Ready. 

No  one  has  been  more  intimately  connected 
with  the  commercial  development  of  St.  Joseph 
than  has  Mr.  Hartigan,  and  his  energies  have 
been  given  more  to  business  than  public  aflfairs. 
Politically,  he  is  an  independent  Democrat,  but  he 
has  not  sought  political  rewards.  He  is  known 
as^  a  man  of  charitable  inclinations  and  the  Cath- 
olic Church  has  been  the  recipient  of  his  bene- 
ficence on  many  occasions.  The  business  which 
he  so  successfully  built  up  from  small  beginnings 
testifies  more  than  words  can  to  his  abilit\-.  fore- 
sight, undaunted  resolution  and  unflagging  in- 
dustry. These  very  incomplete  records  bv  no 
means  do  justice  to  all  that  Mr.  Hartigan  has 
accomplished  and  but  feebly  place  in  the  city's 


annals  a  true  estimate  of  one  who  for  40  years 
occupied  so  prominent  a  position  in  the  city's 
busy  life.  Personally,  Mr.  Hartigan  has  many 
warm  friends,  possessing  as  he  does  the  genial 
nature  of  his  countrymen  and  the  kindness  of 
heart  which  is  but  a  suitable  accompaniment  of 
his  stalwart  frame  and  cordial  manner.  His  por- 
trait accompanies  this  sketch. 


^  * » 


S     I 


AVID  ^I.  KINNAIRD,  one  of  the  well- 
known  farmers  and  substantial  citizens 
of  Platte  township,  who  resides  on  the. 
old  home  where  he  was  born,  October 
3,  1844,  owns  140  acres  in  section  13, 
township  55.  range  34.  and  belongs  to  one  of  the 
old  pioneer  families  of  the  locality.  He  is  a  son  of 
Charles  and  Malinda  (]\IcNeely)  Kinnaird. 

The  Kinnaird  family  originated  in  Scotland 
and  from  that  land  came  the  founder  of  the  fam- 
ily, William  Kinnaird,  who  settled  with  his  Irish 
bride  in  Mrginia.  They  had  five  children : 
George,  Lottie  (Mrs.  Bryant),  Betsey  (Mrs. 
Smitii),  Jane  (Mrs.  Garrett)  and  David. 

George  Kinnaird,  grandfather  of  our  subject, 
was  born  in  \^irginia,  took  part  in  the  War  of 
1812,  followed  an  agricultural  life  in  Kentucky 
for  many  years  and  died  there  in  1823,  at  the  age 
of  52  years. 

Charles  Kinnaird,  father  of  David  M.,  was 
born  in  Culpeper  County,  Virginia,  August  16, 
1805,  and  was  taken  when  a  babe  of  nine  months 
to  Adair  County,  Kentucky,  where  he  was  reared 
on  a  farm  and  lived  until  1841,  when  he  came  with 
his  wife  and  three  children  to  Buchanan  County, 
^Missouri.  Two  covered  wagons  carried  the 
household  belongings  and  the  family  landed  in 
Platte  township  on  October  26,  1841.  Mr.  Kin- 
naird entered  a  tract  of  160  acres  in  the  wilder- 
ness and  soon  had  built  a  log  cabin,  14  by  16 
feet  in  dimensions,  laying  a  plank  instead  of  a 
j)uncheon  floor,  and  this  made  a  cosy  and  com- 
fortable home,  fully  up  to  the  requirements  of  the 
times.  Here  the  children  were  born  and  for 
years  knew  no  other  accommodations.  Charles 
Kinnaird  worked  hard  and  cleared  off  his  land 
and  probably  the  paralysis,  with  which  he  was 
afflicted  in  later  life,  was  occasioned  by  his  endur- 
ance of  hardships  during  the  early  years  of  his 
settlement.  The  death  of  this  old  pioneer  oc- 
curred in  1880.  Although  a  man  of  limited  edu- 
cation, he  was  naturally  intelligent  and  during  his 
years  of  enforced  quiet  enjoyed  reading,  although 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


679 


he  had  not  learned  the  art  until  he  was  a  grown 
man.  During  his  activity  he  was  a  close  attend- 
ant on  divine  services  in  the  Baptist  Church,  of 
which  he  was  a  valued  member  and  to  which  he 
gave  liberal  support.  In  politics  he  took  much  in- 
terest, being  a  Whig  until  the  formation  of  the 
Republican  party,  when  he  joined  the  new  organi- 
zation. 

He  married  Malinda  McNeely,  who  was  born 
in  1 8 10  in  Cumberland  County,  Kentucky,  and 
died  in  Platte  township,  r>uchanan  County,  Feb- 
ruary 28,  1872.  They  had  these  children:  Mary, 
widow  of  David  Workman,  who  died  a  member 
of  Company  D,  nth  Reg.,  Missouri  Vol.  Cav..  in 
the  Civil  War.  in  1864,  at  Raleigh,  Missouri, — 
]\lrs.  Workman  draws  a  pension;  Mrs.  Esther 
Rodman,  of  Buchanan  County;  Mrs.  Elizabeth 
McCray,  of  Atchison  County ;  Mrs.  Eliza  Deak- 
ins ;  David  M.,  of  this  sketch;  Joseph,  who  died 
in  1875  and  William,  of  Shawnee  County, 
Kansas. 

David  M.  Kinnaird  has  always  resided  on  his 
present  farm,  which  originally  consisted  of  160 
acres.  Ox}  the  occasion  of  the  marriage  of  his 
sister  Elizabeth,  his  father  gave  her  20  acres.  The 
property  is  very  valuable  on  account  of  its  ex- 
cellent improvements  and  the  high  state  of  culti- 
vation to  which  it  has  been  brought. 

Mr.  Kinnaird  is  a  Republican,  but  takes  only 
a  citizen's  interest  in  political  matters.  He  is 
highly  respected  by  his  fellow  citizens,  who  have 
known  him  from  childhood. 


♦  * » 


ON.  CHARLES  M.  THOMPSON,  de- 
ceased, for  many  years  was  a  well- 
known    and    influential    citizen    of    St. 

Joseph,  whose  long  connection  with  the 

Circuit  Court  as  deputy  clerk  and  his 
identification  with  the  city's  earlier  newspapers 
brought  him  into  a  wide  acquaintance  all  over  the 
county.  Air.  Thompson  was  born  at  Harper's 
Ferr\-.  X'irginia,  October  12,  1830.  and  died  in 
Califf)rnia,  in  July.  1902.  He  was  a  son  of  Mer- 
iwether and  Martha   (Gladdis)  Thompson. 

Mr.  Thompson  came  to  St.  Joseph  in  1849 
having  com])lcted  his  19th  year,  joining  his  two 
elder  brothers  who  were  establishcfl  in  business 
here.  As  he  had  already  completed  his  apprentice- 
ship to  the  printing  trade,  he  soon  secured  employ- 
ment on  the  St.  Joseph  Gazette,  which  had  been 
established  here  by  James  Ridenbaugb.  Tbis  con- 
nection lasted  for  15  years,  Mr.  Thompson  climb- 


ing from  the  case  to  be  foreman  and  subsequently 
sole  proprietor,  the  ownership  having  passed 
through  many  hands  in  the  interim.  Born  in  the 
South,  his  sympathies  continued  to  be  with  that 
section  and  her  institutions  and  he  was  so  out- 
spoken in  his  convictions  a1)out  the  time  of  the 
outbreak  of  the  Civil  War  and  later,  that  his 
paper  came  under  the  ban  of  the  Federal  au- 
thorities and  was  seized  by  Iowa  troops  under 
Colonel  Curtis,  and  its  circulation  was  prevented. 

Mr.  Thompson  then  became  foreman  of  the 
Herald,  and  assisted  in  getting  out  its  first  issue, 
and  he  remained  wUh  this  newspaper  until  the 
close  of  the  war.  In  1864,  in  association  with 
Col.  Jacob  Childs,  he  established  the  E-cening 
Ne-cvs,  purchasing  the  presses  and  machinery  of 
the  old  Gazette.  This  was  a  campaign  sheet  and 
was  discontinued  at  tlie  close  of  the  political  agi- 
ation  of  that  year.  During  the  two  following 
years  Mr.  Thompson  engaged  in  a  real  estate 
business  and  was  then  elected  to  two  city  offices, 
— recorder  and  police  judge.  He  served  effi- 
ciently through  three  terms  and  then  removed  to 
Hastings,  Nebraska,  where  he  opened  up  a  hotel. 
This  enterprise  promised  to  be  a  very  successful 
or.e.  but  a  disastrous  fire  destroyed  his  property 
a  year  later  and  ruined  his  business  prospects  in 
that  city.  He  returned  to  his  old  friends  in  St. 
Joseph,  finding  a  ready  welcome  and  very  soon 
afterward  was  appointed  deputy  in  the  office  of 
the  circuit  clerk.  It  is  not  necessary  to  recall 
bis  efficiency  in  this  office,  his  long  years  of  con- 
tinuous service  in  the  position  being  sufficient 
proof  of  the  value  in  which  he  was  held. 

On  May  8,  1852,  ]\Ir.  Thompson  was  married 
to  Jane  Lyon,  a  resident  of  St.  Joseph,  but  a  na- 
tive of  Kentucky.  She  was  a  daughter  of  the 
late  A.  B.  Lyon,  a  prominent  merchant  and 
justice  of  the  peace.  Nine  children  were  born  to 
this  union,  of  whom  the  four  daughters  and  two 
sons  still  siu'viving  are  as  follows:  Sallie  (form- 
erly the  widow  of  the  famous  astronomer,  Rich- 
ard A.  Proctor),  who  is"  the  wife  of  Dr.  Smyth, 
of  Belfast.  Ireland ;  Annie,  who  married  Louis 
De  (]ottrau,  a  native  of  Freiburg,  Switzerland, 
and  resides  in  Florida :  Bettie,  who  is  the  wife  of 
J.  R.  Lyle,  of  Buckley,  Washington  ;  Mary  (Mrs. 
Edward  Hammond),  who  resides  at  Encinitas, 
California  ;  John  H.,  who  is  a  resident  of  Cali- 
fornia ;  and  Charles  M.,  Jr.,  who  is  bookkeeper  for 
the  Roberts-Parker  Mercantile  Company  of  St. 
Joseph. 

Mr.  Thompson  was  a  true  type  of  the  genial, 
warm-hearted,  hospitable  gentleman,  a  man  who 


68o 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY  AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


had  strong  convictions  and  was  not  afraid  to  make 
them  known.  Intense  in  his  disHkes,  he  was 
equally  firm  in  his  friendsliips  and  it  has  been 
said  of  him  that  no  personal  advancement  could 
ever  shake  his  fidelity  to  his  friends  or  party. 


AMES  BUCHANAN  CROY,  assessor  of 
Buchanan  County,  Missouri,  with  of- 
fice in  the  Court  House  at  St.  Joseph, 
has  been  a' resident  of  Marion  township 
for  many  years  and  a  prosperous  agri- 
culturist. He  was  born  in  Marion  Countv,  Iowa, 
May  28,  1856. 

Mr.  Croy  was  the  fourth  of  five  children  born 
to  Zcbulon  and  Sarah  (Gorrell)  Croy,  the  others 
being  Jacob,  of  Kansas  City ;  William  H.,  de- 
ceased;  Saniantha,  who  resides  with  our  subject 
in  Marion  township ;  and  Sarah,  who  also  resides 
in  Marion  township.  The  parents  of  these  chil- 
dren were  born  in  Virginia,  but  removed  to  Iowa 
at  an  early  date.  Mrs.  Croy  died  in  1864,  and 
three  years  later  Mr.  Croy  moved  with  his  family 
to  Missouri,  locating  in  Buchanan  County.  He 
thereafter  engaged  in  farming  in  Marion  town- 
ship until  his  death  in  1872. 

James  B.  Croy  accompanied  his  father  when  he 
removed  to' Buchanan  County,  and  was  reared  on 
a  farm  in  IMarion  township.  He  attended  the 
common  schools  of  the  neighborhood  and  also 
the  St.  Joseph  schools.  After  his  father's  death, 
he  was  the  ward  of  Jacob  Weddel,  with  whom  he 
continued  during  the  remainder  of  his  boyhood 
days,  still  pursuing  his  studies.  Upon  complet- 
ing his  schooling,  he  returned  from  St.  Joseph 
to  Clarion  township,  where  he  purchased  a  farm 
and  has  resided  ever  since.  He  is  a  practical  man 
and  has  farmed  in  a  most  apj^roved  manner,  be- 
coming one  of  the  successful  and  influential  men 
of  tlie  community.  On  March  7,  1898,  he  was  ap- 
pointed to  fill  the  unexpired  term  of  his  brother. 
William  H.  McCroy.  deceased,  as  county  assessor, 
and  in  the  fall  of  the  same  year  was  elected  to 
succeed  himself.  He  has  since  filled  this  office 
in  a  most  acceptable  manner,  gaining  the  com- 
mendation of  his  fellow  citizens.  I'^or  a  period  of 
15  years  he  served  on  the  School  Board  in  Marion 
township,  and  did  much  toward  raising  the  stand- 
ard of  the  schools. 

In  1876,  ]Mr.  Croy  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Elizabeth  Kennedy,  a  native  of  Buchanan 
County.  Missouri,  and  a  daughter  of  Alfred  and 
Rebecca  (Froggc)  Kennedy,  by  whom  he  has  the 


following  children,  all  born  on  the  home  farm  : 
Mabel,  who  married  M.  L.  L.  Bartlett,  of  Buch- 
anan County,  and  has  three  children, — Edna,  and 
Leda  and  Lela  (twins)  ;  Zebulon  ;  Georgia,  who 
married  Isaac  Hall,  of  Buchanan  County,  and 
has  a  son, — Elder ;  Sarah ;  and  Effic.  In  poli- 
tics, our  subject  is  a  Democrat  and  has  always 
worked  hard  for  party  success.  He  belongs  to 
the  following  fraternal  organizations  :  Lodge  No. 
278,  A.  F.  &  A.  M. ;  Invincible  Lodge,  No.  470,  I. 
O.  O.F. ;  Golden  Cross  Lodge,  No.  143,  K.  of  P. ; 
Arapahoe  Tribe,  No.  26,  I.  O.  R.  M. ;  Pride  of 
the  West  Lodge,  No.  42,  A.  O.  U.  W. ;  Missouri 
Camp,  No.  1893,  M.  W.  A. ;  and  the  Eagles. 


♦ » » 


OHN  MILLER,  one  of  the  old  and  prom- 
inent agriculturists  of  Washington 
township,  Buchanan  County,  who  owns 
16  acres  of  very  valuable  land  in  sec- 
tion 32,  just  north  of  the  city  limits  on 
th.e  Savannah  road,  was  born  in  Wurtemburg, 
Germany,  August  9.  1827,  and  is  a  son  of  Fred- 
erick Miller. 

Our  esteemed  subject  grew  up  on  his  father's 
farm  and  from  his  parent  learned  many  practical 
lessons  in  the  tilling  of  the  soil.  In  1852  he  de- 
cided to  come  to  America  in  search  of  better  op- 
portunities. He  took  passage  on  a  sailing  vessel 
and  after  eight  weeks  of  tossing  on  the  ocean, 
landed  at  the  port  of  New  Orleans  and  went  from 
there  to  Louisville,  Kentucky,  where  he  engaged 
in  farming  and  gardening  for  others  for  a  few 
years.  Then  he  decided  to  come  to  St.  Joseph 
and  made  the  trip  by  boat  from  St.  Louis,  reach- 
ing here  in  1858  and  settling  on  a  farm  two  miles 
south  of  town.  A  few  years  later,  he  moved  to 
a  farm  east  of  St.  Joseph,  where  he  remained  un- 
til 1865,  when  he  located  on  his  present  farm, 
which  he  has  occupied  ever  since.  He  devotes 
his  land  to  gardening  and,  both  on  account  of  its 
high  state  of  cultivation  and  its  proximity  to  the 
city,  it  is  of  great  value.  For  some  time  he  has 
lived  retired,  his  farm  being  managed  by  two  of 
his  sons. 

At  Louisville,  Kentucky,  Mr.  IMiller  was  mar- 
ried to  Elizabeth  Buedel,  who  was  also  born  in 
Germany  and  came  to  the  United  States  in  1856. 
They  have  had  10  children,  namely:  John,  de- 
ceased ;  William,  deceased  ;  Frederick,  a  farmer  of 
Buchanan  County ;  Edward,  of  St.  Joseph  ;  Lena 
(Walter)  ;  Frank  and  George,  living  on  the  home 
place ;  Mrs.  Bertha  Zimmer ;  and  Henry  and 
Charles,  at  home. 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


68 1 


In  politics,  Mr.  Miller  votes  with  the  Repub- 
lican party,  iioth  he  and  his  wife  are  very  active 
in  spite  of  their  advancing  years.  They  have 
many  warm  friends  in  their  neighborhood,  their 
many  estimable  qualities  of  mind  and  heart  bring- 
ing them  the  respect  and  esteem  of  all  who  know 
them.  Mr.  Miller  has  been  a  hard  worker  all 
his  life  and  now  deserves  the  comfort  and  ease 
which  he  enjoys. 


ON.  WALLER  YOUNG.  Among  the 
prominent  members  of  the  ^Missouri 
bar  for  many  years  was  the  late  Waller 
Young,  who  was,  also,  one  of  the  vig- 
orous politicians  of  Northwestern  Mis- 
souri. Waller  Young  was  born  in  Bath  County. 
Kentucky,  in  1841,  and  was  a  son  of  Willis  and 
Fetnah  Ann  (Miller)  Young,  members  of  old 
and  honorable  Kentucky  families. 

In  1851  Mr.  Young  accompanied  his  parents 
to  Buchanan  County,  Missouri,  settling  in  the  vi- 
cinity of  Easton.  During  the  Civil  War,  he  served 
as  a  faithful  soldier  of  the  Confederacy,  and  after 
the  close  of  the  struggle  went  to  Louisville,  Ken- 
tucky, where  he  was  graduated  in  law  in  1870. 
He  was  a  man  of  brilliant  parts  and  after  serving 
with  the  greatest  efficiency  as  ])rivate  sccretarv  to 
Governor  Woodson,  he  was  nominated  and  elected 
to  the  State  Senate.  About  1875  he  became  a 
resident  of  St.  Josei)h,  and  subsec[uently  was 
elected  a  member  of  the  State  Legislature.  He 
continued  to  practice  his  profession  until  he  was 
appointed  to  the  office  of  county  clerk,  by  Gov- 
ernor Stone,  to  serve  out  the  unexpired  term  of 
T.  Ed.  Campbell,  who  died  May  3,  1893;  he  re- 
sumed his  practice  upon  the  expiration  of  the  term 
in  January,  1895.  ^^^  was  connected  with  much 
of  the  important  litigation  of  his  time,  and  even 
when  not  personally  interested  in  legal  contro- 
versies as  to  civic  improvements,  gave  his  advice 
freely  and  assisted  in  the  establishing  of  many  of 
the  present  institutif)ns  which  reflect  credit  ujKm 
St.  Joseph.  He  was  a  member  of  the  board  of 
managers  of  the  State  Hosjjital  for  Insane,  No.  2, 
and  was  president  of  the  Board  of  Education  of 
.St.  Joseph.  To  his  interests  and  energy  are  due 
many  of  the  facilities  now  enjoyed  both  by  the 
asylum  and  the  public  schools.  His  death,  on 
Novcml)er  17,  i8(/),  removed  a  valued  and  useful 
citizen. 

On  June  17,  1870.  Waller  Young  was  mar- 
ried to  Kate  Howard,  w  bo  was  a  daughter  of  Wil- 


liam G.  Howard  and  a  member  of  a  prominent 
Kentucky  family.  They  were  survived  by  three 
children,  as  follows  :  Kate  H.,  wife  of  Dr.  Perry 
Fulkerson,  of  St.  Joseph;  Waller,  his  father's 
namesake,  a  prominent  young  business  man  of 
St.  Joseph,  who  is  bookkeeper  for  the  Republic 
Oil  Company ;  and  Fay,  who  lives  wath  her  sister. 
Mr.  Young  was  a  member  of  the  Protestant  Epis- 
copal Church. 

Dr.  Perry  l-'ulkerson,  son-in-law  of  our  sub- 
ject, is  one  of  the  leading  oculists  and  aurists  of 
St.  Joseph,  wdth  office  at  No.  5183/^  Francis 
street.  He  is  a  graduate  of  the  Bellevue  Hospital 
Medical  College  of  New  York  City,  of  the  New 
York  Eye  and  Ear  College  and  of  the  Ensworth 
Medical  College  of  St.  Joseph.  His  father  was 
one  of  the  first  physicians  of  Andrew  County, 
Missouri.  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Fulkerson  reside  at  No. 
324  North  Seventh  street. 


^ » » 


I  FORD  ADAMS,  district  manager  at 
St.  Joseph  of  District  No.  2,  Missouri 
&  Kansas  Telephone  Company,  and  one 
of  tlie  city's  well-known  citizens,  was 
born  in  1876  in  Carroll  County,  Mis- 
souri, and  is  a.  son  of  William  H.  and  Martha 
(Sands)    Adams. 

William  H.  Adams  was  born  in  AJaryland  and 
his  wife  in  Indiana.  After  completing  his  educa- 
tion he  taught  school  in  Maryland  for  a  time  and 
then  learned  the  cabinetmaking  trade,  which  he 
followed  for  10  years  in  Indiana.  Deciding  to 
turn  his  attention  to  farming,  he  purchased  a  farm 
in  Lafayette  County,  Missouri,  which  he  operated 
a  few  years  and  then  removed  to  Ray  County  and 
from  there  to  Carroll  County  following  farming 
until  [884,  when  he  settled  at  Carrollton,  where 
he  now  resides.'  He  married  Martha  Sands,  of 
near  Frankfort,  Indiana,  and  they  had  nine  chil- 
dren, of  whom  five  survive,  namelx" :  Maggie,  who 
is  the  wife  of  J.  H.  Spurlock ;  Effie,  who  is  the 
wife  of  L.  L.  Campbell :  Dell  M.,  who  married 
Nodia  Millstead  ;  Cajrie,  who  is  the  wife  of  Dr. 
Amos  Lovell ;  and  Buford,  our  subject,  who  mar- 
ried Elma  Burrows. 

Mr.  Adams  enjoyed  only  the  educational  ad- 
vantages ofifered  by  the  public  schools  and  as  soon 
as  he  had  comj)leted  the  course  he  secured  em- 
])loyment  with  tlie  Pacific  Express  Company.  He 
continued  in  the  express  business  for  some  time, 
but  close  attention  and  constant  confinement  of 
this  character  told  on  his  health,  and,  after  a  ser- 


682 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


ious  illness  at  St.  Louis,  he  took  his  physician's 
advice  and  sought  outside  employment,  severing 
his  pleasant  connection  of  five  years  with  the  ex- 
press companies.  In  a  short  time  he  was  offered 
and  accepted  a  position  of  manager  of  the  ^Us- 
souri  &  Kansas  Telephone  Company,  with  offices 
at  CarroUton,  IMissouri,  where  he  remained  two 
vears  and  was  then  transferred  to  Joplin  and  was 
placed  in  charge  as  manager  of  the  Joplin  and 
Carthage  (Missouri)  exchange,  where  he  con- 
tinued until  April  i,  1901,  when  he  became  man- 
ager at  St.  Joseph.  On  October  i,  1904,  he  was 
made  district  manager  of  District  No.  2,  com- 
posed of  18  counties. 

]\Ir.  Adams'  long  service  with  this  company 
is  sufficient  evidence  of  his  ability  and  fidelity  to 
duty.  Under  his  intelligent  management  the  com- 
pan}-  has  prospered  and  the  public  has  been  ac- 
commodated. In  political  sentiment  he  is  a  Dem- 
ocrat. Fraternally,  he  is  a  Knight  of  Pythias, 
having  his  membership  in  a  local  lodge  at  St. 
Joseph,  and  is  a  member  of  the  Commercial,  Ben- 
ton and  Lotus  clubs. 


♦ » » 


OHN  A.  WHITEFORD.  superintendent 
of  the  city  schools  of  St.  Joseph,  is  one 
of  ^lissouri's  scholarly  men  and  exper- 
ienced educators.  He  was  born  at 
x\urora,  Indiana,  August  12,  1865,  and 
is  a  son  of  \\'illiam  J.  and  Rachel  (Stewart) 
Whiteford. 

William  J.  Whiteford  was  born  in  Belfast, 
Ireland,  and  removed  to  the  State  of  Indiana  a 
lad  of  14  years.  He  moved  to  Northwestern  ?^Iis- 
souri  in  1864  and  became  a  prosperous  farmer  and 
large  stock  dealer.  He  married  Rachel  Stewart 
and  they  reared  a  family  of  eight  children. 

John  A.  Whiteford  spent  his  boyhood  on  his 
father's  farm  and  was  educated  in  the  country 
schools,  later  receiving  better  advantages  in  the 
schools  at  Barnard,  where  he  was  graduated  from 
the  High  School  at  the  age  of  18  years.  Subse- 
quently he  took  a  graduate  and  post-graduate 
course  in  the  State  Normal  School  and  then  began 
the  study  of  the  law  under  Judge  Andrew  Elli- 
son, of  Kirksville,  Missouri,  with  whom  he  read 
for  an  extended  period.  He  first  engaged  in 
teaching  in  Andrew  County,  remaining  one  year 
at  Whitesville.  and  then  was  superintendent  and 
principal  of  the  schools  of  ^lilan,  Missouri,  for 
four  years.  From  there  he  went  to  Moberly, 
where  he  was  principal  of  the  High  School  one 


year  and  subsequently  became  superintendent  of 
schools,  filling  that  position  for  period  of  nine 
years,  meeting  every  requirement  and  bringing 
the  schools  up  to  a  very  high  standard.  At  Mob- 
erly he  installed  work  in  manual  training  and 
gymnasium  work,  these  being  marked  featvires  of 
the  system.  His  appointment  as  superintendent 
of  the  city  schools  of  St.  Joseph  being  in  the  light 
of  an  advancement  and  promising  a  larger  field  of 
work.  Professor  W'hiteford  felt  called  upon  to 
resign  his  position  at  Moberly.  When  he  came  to 
.St.  Joseph  on  July  i.  1904,  he  left  many  sincere 
friends  and  admirers  at  ^loberly.  He  was  a 
member  of  a  committee  of  five  at  ^loberly  ap- 
pointed to  plan  and  install  the  educational  exhibit 
at  the  Louisiana  Purchase  Exposition. 

In  January,  1892,  Professor  Wliiteford  was 
married  to  ]\Iary  Keely,  who  is  a  daughter  of  Pat- 
rick Keely.  and  they  have  two  children  :  Elizabeth 
B.  and  Dorothy  E.  They  reside  at  No.  701  .South 
13th  street. 

Politically,  our  subject  is  a  Democrat  but  not 
very  active  in  party  work  on  account  of  his  ab- 
sorbing professional  duties.  He  has  been  honored 
on  various  occasions  by  educational  bodies,  in 
1902  receiving  the  election  to  the  office  of  presi- 
dent of  the  ^lissouri  State  Teachers'  Association, 
of  which  he  had  been  secretary  for  one  year.  *  He 
is  a  member  of  the  State  Library  Board  of  Mis- 
souri. He  has  been  an  active  member  for  the  past 
eight  years  of  the  National  Teachers'  Association 
and  is  well  known  in  educational  circles  all  over 
the  country.  In  respect  to  his  church  connection, 
he  is  a  Presbyterian.  St.  Joseph  is  to  be  congrat- 
ulated on  acquiring  so  competent  and  experienced 
an  educator  to  take  charge  of  her  educational  in- 
terests, one  who  combines  unusual  executive  abil- 
ity with  breadth  of  culture  and  who  possesses  the 
zeal  to  push  onward  to  higher  and  higher  ideals. 

Social  by  nature,  he  is  an  active  and  valued 
member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  the  Odd 
Fellows. 


♦ » » 


HE  ST.  JOSEPH  GAS  CO^IPANY, 
which  provides  the  city  of  St.  Joseph, 
[Missouri,  with  light  and  fuel,  was  or- 
ganized in  1897  and  has  since  exper- 
ienced uninterrupted  success.  The  evo- 
lution of  the  various  companies,  organized  in  the 
past  to  supply  the  city  with  gas,  into  the  present 
company  is  one  of  interest. 

On  May  17,  1854,  the  City  Council  of  St.  Jo- 
seph  granted   to   \\'illiam    Herrick   and   his    as- 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


68^ 


sociates  the  right  to  operate  and  use  the  streets  of 
the  ciiy  for  Hghting  purposes  and  the  sale  of  gas, 
but  later  rescinded  this  right.  In  1857,  the  St. 
Joseph  Gas  Light  &  Coke  Company  was  incor- 
porated by  the  General  Assembly  of  Missouri,  it 
being  the  first  gas  company  of  the  city.  Its  cap- 
ital stock  was  placed  at  $50,000,  and  its  incorpora- 
tors were  \\'illiam  Herrick,  Julius  B.  Raney  and 
Charles  H.  Herrick.  This  company  continued 
tu-!til  June  25.  1864,  when  the  entire  plant  was 
sold  to  Thomas  B.  Weakley,  who  operated  it  un- 
til July  21,  1 87 1,  when  he  sold  it  to  James  Clem- 
ents and  others.  The  Citizens'  Gas  Light  &  Coke 
Company  was  then  organized  with  a  20-year 
charter,  and  was  incorporated  by  David  Henning, 
James  Clements,  Ebenezer  Wells,  Silas  H.  Doug- 
las, Philip  Back,  Thomas  J\I.  Cooley,  of  Ann 
Arbor,  Michigan ;  and  Thomas  B.  Weakley, 
Elisha  Foote,  Jr.,  and  James  Horigan,  of  St.  Jo- 
seph. The  capital  stock  was  $100,000,  with  shares 
at  $100  each.  The  price  was  then  $4.50  per 
thousand  cubic  feet.  In  1878, — February  20, — 
the  3ilutual  Gas  Light  Company  was  incorporated, 
to  compete  with  the  old  company,  by  the  follow- 
ing citizens :  Allen  H.  \'oorhies,  Thomas  Spring- 
er, Charles  H.  Nash,  Kerr  M.  Mitchell  and  Alex- 
ander Ogilvie.  The  capital  stock  was  $100,000 
at  $100  per  share.  The  new  company  placed  the 
])rice  of  gas  at  $2.50  per  thousand  cubic  feet, 
while  the  old  was  selling  at  $4.50.  In  1878,  Au- 
gust 7th.  the  new  company  purchased  the  old  one 
and  conducted  the  business  under  the  name  of  the 
Mutual  Gas  Light  Company.  On  August  5, 
1885.  articles  of  incorporation  were  taken  out  and 
the  name  changed  to  the  St.  Joseph  Gas  &  Man- 
ufacturing Company,  with  the  following  board 
of  directors :  Jolin  W.  Turner,  S.  T.  Newman, 
George  A.  Madill,  Kerr  M.  Mitchell  and  A.  F. 
Nash. 

In  1890,  the  St.  Joseph  Light  &  Fuel  Com- 
pany was  incorporated  with  a  capital  of  $500,000 
in  5,000  shares,  with  the  intention  of  "bucking" 
the  existing  company.  The  board  of  directors 
was  Charles  McGuire,  Oliver  M.  Spencer,  J.  W. 
Heddcns,  George  C.  Black.  John  Donovan,  Jr., 
D.  D.  Burnes  and  J.  G.  Schneider.-  It  was  their 
purpose  to  operate  and  manufacture  gas  under 
the  Fahnehjclm  system,  and  did  so  for  two  years, 
then  changed  the  plant's  mode  of  manufacturing 
gas,  producing  what  is  called  an  illuminating 
water  gas  during  the  next  five  years.  Emerson 
McMillin,  a  ca])italist  of  New  York,  then  ])ur- 
chased  both  companies,  the  St.  Joseph  Light  & 


Fuel  and  the  St.  Joseph  Gas  &  IManufacturing 
companies,  and  on  May  27,  1897,  the  St.  Joseph 
Gas  Company  was  organized.  Its  capital  stock  is 
$1,000,000,  and  the  price  of  gas  to  the  consumer  is 
placed  at  $1.00  per  thousand  cubic  feet.  Its  board 
of  directors  includes :  Thomas  T.  Chew,  Ir., 
Charles  A.  Pfeififer,  Milton  Tootle," Jr.,  W.  A."  P. 
^IcDonald,  Stephen  C.  Woodson,  Huston  Wyeth, 
Kerr  ]M.  Mitchell ;  V.  C.  Turner  of  St.  Joseph, 
and  Walstein  F.  Douthirt,  of  New  York.  The  of- 
ficers are  as  follows.  Emerson  McMillin,  of  New 
York,  president ;  W.  P.  McDonald,  vice-presi- 
dent;  Kerr  ^I.  ]\Iichell,  general  manager;  and  F. 
Labrunerie,  secretary  and  treasurer. 


♦  » » 


ON.  OLIVER  P.  SMITH,  one  of  the 
representative  agriculturists  of  Rush 
township,  Buchanan  County,  and  the 
owner  of  a  well-improved  farm  of  153 
acres,  situated  in  section  i,  was  born 
April  14.  1857,  and  belongs  to  an  old  and  honored 
pioneer  family  of  Rush  township.  His  parents 
were  Absalom  R.  and  Hester  O.  (Alderson) 
Smith. 

The  Smith  family,  from  which  our  subject  is 
descended,  claims  Scotch  and  French  ancestry. 
Barrett  Smith,  the  paternal  grandfather,  was  born 
in  Hamblen  County,  Tennessee,  where  he  fol- 
lowed the  peaceful  pursuits  of  agriculture  all  his 
life.  He  was  a  worthy  Christian  man,  a  class 
leader  in  the  Methodist  Church  and  an  esteemed 
member  of  his  community.  His  children  w'ere : 
Absalom  R.,  Polly,  William  M.,  Rhoda,  Mary  and 
Benjamin  McF.  Their  descendants  still  live  in 
Tennessee. 

Absalom  R.  Smith,  father  of  our  subject,  was 
born  and  reared  in  Tennessee,  where  he  taught 
school  in  young  manhood  and  then  engaged  in 
farming.  His  removal  to  Missouri  took  place  in 
the  fall  of  1854  and  on  November  29th  of  that 
year  he  settled  in  Rush  towmship,  Buchanan 
county.  Here  all  his  active  years  were  spent  in 
conducting  his  farm.  His  death  took  ])lace  De- 
cember 9,  1889.  He  married  Hester  O.  Aider- 
son,  who  died  December  i,  1900.  '  She  was  a 
daughter  of  Isaac  Alderson,  a  farmer  of  Jefifer- 
son  County,  Tennessee.  Both  Wv.  Smith  and 
wife  were  consistent  members  of  the  Christian 
Church.  They  had  ten  children  :  Cyrus  A.,  de- 
ceased ;  Oliver  P.,  of  this  sketch  ;  Nancv  Susan, 
deceased;  Martha  J,  wife  of  James  M.  Campbell, 


684 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN    COUNTY  AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


of  Holt  County.  ]\lissouri;  James  J.,  Benjamin 
C.  and  William  F.,  all  farmers  in  Rush  township ; 
M.  Lucy,  wife  o^  A.  J.  Jones,  a  farmer  of  Rush 
township ;  Orlando  L.,  also  a  farmer  of  Rush 
township  ;  and  Rufus  L.,  deceased. 

Oliver  P.  Smith  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  of  Rush  township  and  also  enjoyed  a 
commercial  course  at  Bryant's  Business  College, 
St.  Joseph,  completing  the  latter  in  1883.  Since 
then  he  has  followed  general  farming,  stock-rais- 
ing and  fruit-growing  in  Rush  townshi]x  His 
fine  farm  in  section  i  is  almost  all  under  cultiva- 
tion and  ranks  with  the  valuable  properties  of  the 
locality. 

Mr.  Smith  has  always  been  identified  with  the 
Democratic  party  and  has  been  honored  by  it  on 
numerous  occasions,  in  1895  being  elected  as  rep- 
resentative to  the  State  Legislature.  His  public 
service  only  tended  to  make  him  more  highly 
respected  and  to  increase  the  esteem  which  led 
his  party  and  friends  to  place  him  in  so  responsi- 
ble a  position.  He  is  regarded  in  his  community 
as  man  of  sound  business  judgment  as  well  as 
of  unquestioned  integrity  and  reliability.  While 
he  is  a  good  farmer,  his  interests  cover  other 
activities  and  he  keeps  thoroughly  abreast  of  the 
times. 


-♦-•-♦- 


RS.  JESSIE  L.  GAYNOR,  founder 
and  projirietor  of  the  Gaynor  Studio, 
the  leading  musical  conservatory  of 
St.  Joseph,  is  a  lady  whose  musical 
talents  and  poetic  gifts  have  made  her 
name  a  household  word  over  a  wide  extent  of 
country  where  her  genius  is  known  and  appre- 
ciated. Mrs.  Gaynor  was  born  in  1863  at  St. 
Louis,  Missouri,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Capt. 
Henry  W.  and  Susie  F.  (Taylor)  Smith. 

Captain  Smith  was  born  in  Connecticut,  of 
an  old  colonial  family,  and  his  wife  in  Philadel- 
phia, Pennsylvania,  where  the  Taylors  rank  with 
the  lliddles.  the  Townsends  and  the  Janneys.  Caj)- 
tain  Smith  came  West  and  was  one  of  the  pioneer 
Mississippi  River  couunanders,  operating  steam- 
ers on  this  mighty  stream  until  his  death  at  St. 
Louis,  in  1870.  The  mother  of  Mrs.  Gaynor  died 
at  Iowa  City,  Iowa,  in  1887.  ^^  their  nine  chil- 
dren. Mrs.  Gaynor  is  the  youngest. 

Mrs.  Gaynor  was  reared  in  a  home  where  her 
great  talents  and  unusual  musical  gifts  were 
recognized  and  she  was  afforded  every  educa- 
tional advantage  she  craved.     Until  the  aoe  of  12 


years  she  attended  school  in  St.  Louis  and  then 
became  a  student  at  Pritchett  Institute,  at  Glas- 
gow, Missouri.  L'pon  her  return  to  St.  Louis, 
she  became  in  turn  a  pupil  of  a  number  of  cele- 
brated musicians,  both  in  her  native  city  and  in 
Boston,  Massachusetts,  including  A.  J.  Good- 
rich, Frederick  Grant  Gleason  and  that  noted 
composer.  Dr.  Louis  Maas.  Instructed  and  en- 
couraged by  these  great  musicians,  she  became  a_ 
teacher  herself,  at  Iowa  City,  Iowa ;  at  Newton, 
Kansas ;  at  Chicago,  Illinois,  where  she  had  a 
studio  in  the  Auditorium  Building ;  and,  since 
1901,  at  St.  Joseph,  Missouri. 

The  Gaynor  Studio  which  Mrs.  Gaynor 
opened  in  this  city  has  met  with  the  success 
which  the  thorough  instruction  given  there 
merits  and  it  is  with  pardonable  pride  that  this 
accomplished  teacher  points  to  her  students  and 
graduates.  In  art  and  music  St.  Joseph  is  as 
critical  as  any  Eastern  center  and  that  Mrs.  Gay- 
nor has  won  the  enthusiastic  approval  of  the  city's 
cultivated  people,  both  as  an  artist  and  as  a  lady, 
is  self-evident.  Mrs.  Gaynor  has  won  the  right 
to  be  classed  with  successful  music  composers, 
not  only  of  simple  music  but  of  operas  and  more 
ambitious  works  as  well.  While  there  seems  to 
be  scarcely  any  limit  to  her  versatility,  she  has 
been  so  very  successful  in  her  composition  of 
juvenile  productions  that  her  admirers  have  de- 
cided her  best  talent  in  composing  lies  in  this 
direction.  Recently,  in  association  with  Fred- 
erick F.  Beale,  she  produced  the  opera.  "The 
First  Lieutenant,"  which  was  performed  with 
eclat  on  .September  6.  1904,  at  the  St.  Jose]:)h 
(!)pera  House,  with  a  chorus  of  100  voices.  Other 
operas  she  has  composed  are :  "The  House  That 
Jack  Built"  and  "The  Toy  Shop"  and  the  follow- 
ing songs  :  "And  I ;"  "The  Night  Has  a  Thousand 
Eyes;"  "If  I  W^ere  a  Bee;"  "Cradle  Song;" 
"Flowers  Cradle  Song;"  "The  Discontented 
Duckling;"  "The  Sugar  Dolly;"  "My  Dear  Je- 
rushy ;"  "Molly;"  "Serenade;"  "Sleep  My  Be- 
loved ;"  "Come  Down  to  the  River  To-Night, 
Love;"  "If  Love  Be  Won;"  "The  Sunbeam's 
Kiss;"  "Spring  Songs;"  "The  Riddle;"  "The 
Star  of  Bethlehem,"  a  Christmas  song ;  "The 
Birth  and  the  Resurrection,"  an  Easter  song; 
"The  Gingerbread  Man  ;"  "The  Jap  Doll ;"  "The 
Slumber  Boat;"  "Hush-A-Bye ;"  "Close  Yo" 
Eve  ;"  "Contentment ;"  "Lest  Winter  Come  ;"  "A 
Valentine;"  "Maureen;"  "Only  a  Rose;"  "A 
Question ;"  "The  Dew  Drop  and  the  Star ;"  "I 
Love  Thee ;"  and  these  nmsical  albums :  "Rose 


JOHN   A.   FRENCH,   M.  D. 


St.  Joseph  School  and  Hospital  for 
Training  Nurses 


i  raining  JSiurses     ,»— ri.j— -^ 


The  Site  of  Dr.  French's  Sanitarium  for 
Nervous  Diseases 


RESIDENCE    OF    JOHN    A.    FRENCH,    M.  D. 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


689 


Songs  ;"  "Seven  Songs  ;"  "Songs  to  Little  Folks," 
"Songs  of  the  Child  World,"  No.  i  and  No.  2,  and 
"Songs  and  Scissors."  These  songs  and  other 
compositions  have  justly  placed  Mrs.  Gaynor  in 
a  very  prominent  rank  in  the  musical  world. 

In  1885  Mrs.  Gaynor  was  married,  at  Iowa 
City,  Iowa,  to  Thomas  Wellington  Gaynor.  and 
they  have  two  children  :  Rose  Fenimore,  who  was 
born  at  Newton,  Kansas,  and  Dorothy  Eyre,  who 
was  born  at  St.  Joseph,  Missouri. 

Mrs.  Gaynor  was  the  organizer  and  the  first 
president  of  the  Fortnightly  Musical  Club  of  St. 
Joseph  which  started  with  four  members  and  now 
has  a  membership  of  56.  She  is  a  lady  who  is 
held  in  the  highest  esteem  here,  not  only  for  her 
musical  talents  but  also  for  a  particularlv  charm- 
ing personality. 


♦ « » 


OHN    ANDREW    FRENCH,    M.    D., 

formerly  a  member  of  the  faculty  of  the 
Northwestern  Medical  College  at  St. 
Joseph,  Missouri,  and  the  founder  and 
present  ovvner  of  the  St.  Joseph  School 
and  Hospital  for  Training  Nurses,  is  one  of  Mis- 
souri's eminent  and  successful  medical  practition- 
ers. Dr.  French  was  born  November  8,  1853,  in 
Gentryville,  Gentry  County.  Missouri,  and  is  a 
son  of  William  L.  and  Sophia  O.  (Reed)  French. 

The  French  family  is  an  old  one  in  the  "Blue 
Grass"  State  and  both  parents  of  Dr.  French  were 
born  there.  Soon  after  marriage  they  removed  to 
Missouri  and  settled  in  Gentry  Coimty.  but  re- 
moved to  Randolph  County  at  a  later  date.  The 
father  entered  the  Confederate  Army  and  died  in 
the  service.  The  mother  survived  until  1903, 
making  her  home  with  our  subject  at  St.  Joseph. 

Dr.  French  was  educated  primarily  in  the 
public  schools  of  his  locality  and  was  18  years 
of  age  when  he  entered  a  drug  store,  at  Moberly. 
There  he  became  deeply  interested  in  medicine 
and  entered  u])on  its  study,  under  the  direction  of 
Dr.  John  T.  Cox,  learning  in  the  meantime  the 
practical  use  of  drugs  in  his  daily  vocation.  In 
the  winter  of  1878-79  he  entered  the  Keokuk 
Medical  College,  at  Keokuk,  Iowa,  and  in  the 
following  spring  went  to  St.  Louis,  pursuing  his 
medical  studies  in  the  Missouri  Medical  College, 
and  was  graduated  in  the  class  of  1880  from  the 
St.  Joseph  Hospital  Medical  College.  Entering 
immediately  into  practice,  the  young  physician 
met  with  immediate  success  and  now  controls 
probably  the  largest  private  practice  in  this  city 
34 


of  more  than  100,000  inhabitants.  Dr.  French 
took  post-graduate  courses  in  the  New  York 
Polyclinic  College  and  Hospital  and  has  been 
identified  with  advanced  medical  science  for  a 
number  of  years.  He  became  a  member  of  the 
faculty  of  the  justly  celebrated  Northwestern 
Medical  College  of  St.  Joseph  and  was  a  member 
of  its  directing  board.  The  fine  college  building 
on  the  corner  of  Eighth  and  Sylvanie  streets,  St. 
Joseph,  was  erected  by  him,  the  sum  of  $30,000 
being  expended  on  this  noble  structure,  an  orna- 
ment to  the  city.  Fie  was  its  secretary  and  lec- 
turer on  diseases  of  women  and  clinical  surgery. 
He  has  been  prominent  in  city  afifairs,  where  they 
have  been  connected  with  anything  pertaining  to 
the  public  health,  and  has  served  two  terms  as 
city  health  officer. 

Perhaps  Dr.  French  is  as  well  known  as  a 
lecturer  and  in  the  newspaper  field  as  any  other, 
his  versatile  talents  enabling  him  to  make  a  suc- 
cess of  almost  everything  he  undertakes.  In  the 
lecture  field  he  has  been  for  years  in  great  de- 
mand and  in  this  connection  is  widely  known  all 
over  the  State.  He  is  both  editor  and  proprietor 
of  the  Sf.  Joseph  Medical  Journal,  a  paper  local 
only  in  name  and  widely  circulated.  Formerly 
he  was  one  of  the  editors  of  the  Western  Medical 
and  Surgical  Reporter,  of  this  city,  and  holds  an 
important  place  in  the  ranks  of  medical  writers. 
Dr.  French  is  a  valued  member  of  the  Buchanan 
County  Medical  Association,  of  the  District  Med- 
ical Association  of  Northwestern  Missouri,  of  the 
State  Medical  Association  and  of  the  Missouri 
Valley  Medical  Association.  In  1893,  at  Mo- 
berly, Missouri,  he  was  elected  chairman  of  the 
North  Alissouri  Medical  Association.  Dr.  French 
isi  assistant  surgeon,  with  the  rank  of  captain,  on 
the  staff  of  Col.  Joseph  Hansen,  ?\Iissouri  Na- 
tional Guard,  his  commission  being  dated  July  12, 
1882,  and  signed  by  Governor  Thomas  C.  Crit- 
tenden. 

In  addition  to  the  above-named  just  claims  to 
professional  prominence.  Dr.  French  is  still 
further  interested  in  medical  science  and  educa- 
tional work.  Perhaps  no  one  except  the  trained 
physician  can  even  feebly  imderstand  how  the 
medical  man's  best  eft'orts  are  handicapped  and, 
indeed,  often  entirely  thwarted  by  the  ignorant 
care  given  a  patient  after  his  work  is  well  done, 
and  the  crying  need,  wherever  there  is  illness,  for 
the  com])etent  nurse.  In  his  large  practice,  Dr. 
French  felt  this  need  so  keenly  that  it  became  one 
of  his  cherished  desires  to  found  an  institution 
where  nurses  could  be  thoroughlv  trained.     He 


690 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN    COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


recognized  that,  while  this  training  would  offer  a 
profession  to  those  who  took  advantage  of  it,  it 
s  must  come  within  the  financial  resources  of  the 
class  which  would  most  likely  become  students. 
After  much  consideration,  his  plans  were  laid 
and  became  a  fact  by  the  erection,  in  1888,  of  the 
imposing  four-and-five  story  building  at  Nos. 
402-406  South  Eighth  street,  St.  Joseph.  This 
handsome,  modern  building  contains  yj  rooms 
and  was  designed  for  hospital  and  college  pur- 
poses and  bears  the  name  of  the  St.  Joseph  School 
and  Hospital  for  Training  Nurses,  and  he  is  now 
erecting  a  new  building  20  blocks  north  of  the 
present  terminus  of  the  street  car  system,  on  an 
80-acre  tract,  on  which  there  are  already  two 
buildings.  This  new  structure  is  .to  be  used  as  a 
sanitarium  for  nervous  diseases. 

Dr.  French  has  surrounded  himself  with  a 
faculty  that  is  comprised  of  the  leading  physicians 
and  surgeons  of  the  West.  The  class  of  1902-03 
consisted  of  four  graduates  and  the  current  class 
will  be  much  larger.  The  course  of  instruction 
includes  a  liberal  medical  education,  lectures  be- 
ing given  upon  the  duties  of  a  nurse  in  cases  of 
fevers,  contagious  diseases,  general  surgery,  ob- 
stetrics, diseases  of  women  and  children,  diseases 
of  the  eye  and  ear  and  hygiene.  Practical  ex- 
perience in  obstetrical  cases,  general  cases  and 
outdoor  practice  will  be  included,  while  other  lec- 
tures on  anatomy,  physiology  and  the  manage- 
ment of  the  insane  will  follow.  A  directory  of 
nurses,  for  graduates,  is  kept  and  application  at 
the  institution  will  bring  swiftly  to  the  sick  bed  a 
careful,  thoroughly  competent  helper.  Some  of 
the  graduates  of  this  school  are  now  filling  posi- 
tions of  great  responsibility  in  distant  parts  of  the 
country.  Dr.  French  has  every  reason  to  look- 
back upon  what  he  has  accomplished  with  no  little 
pride. 

On  February  12,  1884,  Dr.  French  was  mar- 
ried in  Andrew  County,  ]\lissouri,  to  Kate  V. 
Lewis,  who  is  a  daughter  of  Hugh  Lewis  a  large 
farmer  of  that  section.  They  have  two. sons  and 
one  daughter,  viz :  Louis  Andrew,  Valiant  D.  D. 
IMclvin  and  Kate  ]\Iarie.  Both  he  and  his  ac- 
complished wife  are  members  of  the  Christian 
Church,  of  St.  Joseph,  in  which  connection  they 
are  valued  very  highly.  Dr.  French  is  a  Demo- 
crat politically,  stanchly  supporting  the  party's 
principles  and  candidates.  His  fraternal  asso- 
ciations include  the  Masons,  Odd  Fellows, 
Knights  and  Ladies  of  Security,  Woodmen  of  the 
World,  the  Red  Men  and  Court  of  Honor,  and  has 
been   medical   examiner   for   all   these   insurance 


organizations,  carrying  a  personal  insurance  him- 
self of  $13,000. 

With  all  these  varied  interests  claiming  his 
attention.  Dr.  French  finds  some  time  for  social 
enjoyment  and  his  friends  know  him  to  be  a 
genial,  hospitable  host.  He  is  honored  and  re- 
spected in  a  degree  beyond  that  of  the  ordinary 
physician  because  he  possesses  those  qualities  of 
mind  and  character  which  attract  men  and  inspire 
their  confidence.  Duty  has  been  one  of  his 
watchwords  and  he  has  followed  its  path  from 
boyhood  when,  uncomplainingly,  he  took  upon 
his  shoulders  a  large  part  of  the  rearing  of  his 
father's  family.  He  is  truly  an  honored  citizen 
of  St.  Joseph. 

On  near-by  pages,  in  connection  with  the 
foregoing  sketch,  are  shown  a  portrait  of  Dr. 
French  and  views  of  his  residence,  of  the  St. 
Joseph  School  and  Hospital  for  Training  Nurses 
and  the  site  of  his  sanitarium  for  nervous 
diseases. 


■♦  • » 


ESSE  H.  HARTMAN,  secretary  of  the 
Hartman  Furniture  &  Carpet  Company, 
at  St.  Joseph,  was  born  at  Baltimore, 
Maryland,  October  15,  1878,  and  is  a 
son  of  Henry  and  Mary  (Straus) 
Hartman. 

Henry  Hartman  was  born  in  Bavaria,  Ger- 
many, in  1829,  and  died  in  1891,  aged  62  years. 
He  came  to  seek  his  fortune  in  America,  when  a 
lad  of  16  years,  and  through  sterling  traits  of 
character  amassed  a  fortune.  He  worked  at 
various  occupations  for  a  time  in  the  city  of  New 
York,  and  then  went  to  Baltimore,  where  he 
finally  embarked  in  the  wholesale  meat  business, 
on  his  own  account,  in  which  he  continued  active 
for  some  10  years.  He  then  entered  into  a  whole- 
sale cloth  business,  with  a  number  of  capitalists 
and  they  controlled  the  largest  business  in  that 
line,  south  of  New  York,  for  some  years.  He  re- 
tired-from  active  interests  five  years  prior  to  his 
death.  He  'married  Mary  Straus,  a  daughter  of 
Martin  L.  Straus,  of  Baltimore.  They  had  nine 
children,  namely:  Leon,  who  is  president  of  the 
Hartman  Furniture  &  Carpet  Company,  of  Chi- 
cago, which  owns  22  stores,  operating  in  the  prin- 
cipal cities  of  the  United  vStates ;  Rena,  who  is 
the  wife  of  Dr.  Harry  S.  Greenbaum.  of  the 
Johns  Hopkins  Hospital,  at  Baltimore;  Milton 
L.,  who  is  vice-president  of  the  Hartman  Furni- 
ture &  Carpet  Company,  of  Chicago ;  Florence,  a 
resident  of  Baltimore;  Blanche,  who  is  the  wife 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


691 


of  Moses  Hecht,  of  New  York  City,  who  is  one 
of  the  proprietors  of  the  Hecht  syndicate,  which 
operates  10  furniture  stores ;  Jesse  H.,  of  this 
sketch ;  Stanley,  who  is  the  assistant  manager  of 
the  Hartman  interests  in  MinneapoHs ;  and  Helen 
and  Irving,  of  Baltimore. 

The  name  of  Hartman  has  heen  identified 
with  the  furniture  interests  of  the  country  for 
many  years.  On  the  maternal  side,  the  grand- 
father was  the  originator  of  the  installment  fea- 
ture in  the  furniture  business.  He  was  born  in 
Germany  and  came  early  to  the  United  States.  At 
the  close  of  the  Civil  War  he  was  the  largest  retail 
furniture  dealer  in  business  south  of  New  York 
City. 

Our  subject  was  liberally  educated  in  his  na- 
tive city,  passing  from  private  schools  into  Johns 
Hopkins  University,  where  he  was  graduated 
with  the  degree  of  A.  B.  His  first  business  con- 
nection was  with  the  Baltimore  Herald,  aftec 
which  he  went  to  Chicago  and  became  connected 
with  one  of  the  company's  stores.  In  April, 
1902,  he  came  to  St.  Joseph,  where  he  opened 
up  his  present  store  and  easily  controls  the  bulk 
of  the  furniture  business  in  this  city.  The  Hart- 
man corporation  is  the  largest  in  this  line  in  the 
world.  The  members  are  all  recognized  as  able 
business  men.  Their  transactions  amount  to  im- 
mense sums  and  cover  a  wide  territory,  but  it  re- 
mains a  matter  of  pride  with  them  to  continue 
the  honorable  methods  used  at  the  founding  of 
the  business.  The  house  at  St.  Joseph  presents 
the  same  attractions  to  the  citizens  here  as  do 
others  of  the  name,  in  other  localities, — good 
goods,  honest  prices  and  fair  treatment. 


•*  •*- 


N.  MILLER,  M.  D.,  a  prominent  physician 
and  surgeon  of  St.  Joseph,  and  one  of 
the  organizers  of  the  St.  Joseph  Medical 
and  Surgical  Institute,  was  born  near 
Greenfield,  Hancock  County,  Indiana, 
September  t8,  1857,  and  is  a  son  of  Benjamin  and 
Angeline  (Taylor)  Miller. 

Dr.  Miller's  father  was  born  in  Michigan. 
Later  he  became  one  of  the  early  settlers  in  Han- 
cock County,  Indiana.  He  was  a  veteran  of  both 
the  ^Mexican  and  the  Civil  War,  and  at  the  close 
of  the  latter  struggle  located  in  Nodaway  County, 
Missouri,  where  he  died  in  1869.  In  political 
sentiment  he  was  a  stanch  Republican.  He  mar- 
ried Angeline  Taylor,  who  was  born  in  Ohio  and 
belonged  to  the  same  Taylor  family  as  did  Presi- 


dent Zachary  Taylor.  Her  death  occurred  in 
1876,  at  the  age  of  y^  years. 

Dr.  Miller  was  the  only  child  of  this  union 
and  he  was  nine  years  of  age  when  his  parents 
removed  to  Nodaway  County,  Missouri.  His 
best  educational  opportunities  were  far  from 
being  those  afi:'orde(l  the  youth  of  the  present 
day.  The  death  of  his  mother  severed  his  home 
ties  entirely  and  he  then  went  to  Mound  City, 
Missouri,  where  he  accepted  a  position  in  a  drug 
store.  Studious  and  investigating,  he  soon  be- 
came interested  in  drugs  and  their  compounding 
and  an  ambition  was  aroused  to  learn  more  con- 
cerning them  and  to  intelligently  make  use  of 
them  for  the  benefit  of  others.  Thus  he  almost 
insensibly  drifted  into  the  study  of  medicine, 
which  he  subsequently  pursued  under  Dr.  Ross 
and  Dr.  J.  P.  Jackson  and  by  them  was  prepared 
for  entrance  to  Keokuk  Medical  College,  in  1879. 
In  1882  he  was  graduated  from  this  institution, 
having  earned  the  money  for  his  tuition  by  clerk- 
ing and  assisting  the  college  professors. 

Dr.  Aliller  settled  at  Alound  City,  Missouri, 
where  he  continued  to  practice  for  eight  years  and 
then  came  to  St.  Joseph.  In  1893,  in  association 
with  Drs.  J.  H.  Walker  and  J.  K.  Egbert,  also 
eminent  physicians,  he  organized  the  St.  Joseph 
Medical  and  Surgical  Institute,  incorporated.  Dr. 
jMiller  commands  a  large  private  practice,  in 
which  he  makes  use  of  a  number  of  remedies  of 
his  own  compounding,  the  result  of  his  own 
scientific  investigation.  These  include  a  line  ot 
suppositories  for  the  treatment  of  diseases  of 
both  sexes.  He  is  the  inventor  of  the  interuterine 
suppository  which  has  come  into  general  use,  not 
only  in  the  practice  of  home  physicians  but  all 
over  the  country.  These  remedies  are  in  no 
sense  patent  medicines,  merely  the  preparations  of 
a  skilled  pharmacist  and  a  scientific  physician. 
They  are  most  successfully  nsed  for  female 
weaknesses  and  for  piles,  being  much  superior 
to  any  thing  that  has  previously  been  placed  on 
the  market  in  this  line.  Owing  to  the  increasing 
demand  for  the  above  mentioned  specialties.  Dr. 
Miller,  the  originator  of  the  same,  has  retired 
from  active  practice  to  devote  his  attention  to  the 
manufacture  of  the  "Anchor"  suppository. 

In  1877  Dr.  Miller  was  married,  at  Mound 
City,  Missouri,  to  Ella  Hyatt,  who  was  born  in 
Illinois  and  is  a  daughter  of  W.  T.  Hyatt,  who 
operates  a  hotel  at  Mound  City.  The  three  chil- 
dren of  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Miller  are:  Ralph  M., 
Myrtle  J.  and  Carrie  A.  On  August  19,  1896, 
Dr.  Miller  was  married  to  his  present  wife,  whose 


692 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY  AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


M 

1 

maiden  name  was  Caroline  E.  Collins.  She  was 
born  at  Oregon,  Missouri,  and  is  a  granddaughter 
of  Roland  Burnett,  and  a  daughter  of  John  Col- 
lins, both  early  settlers  of  Northwestern  j\lis- 
souri.  The  Burnett  and  Collins  families  were 
among  the  leading  families  in  all  progressive 
movements  in  the  country  where  they  resided.  Dr. 
Miller's  private  office  is  situated  in  his  pleasant 
home  at  No.  611  North  Ninth  street.  The  family 
belong  to  the  Presbyterian  Church. 

Politically,  our  subject  is  a  stanch  supporter 
of  the  Republican  party.  He  has  long  been  con- 
nected with  a  number  of  the  leading  medical  so- 
cieties, and  in  1877  he  was  a  delegate  to  tlie 
American  Medical  Association  in  its  convention 
at  Chicago.  For  several  years  he  was  secretary 
of  the  United  States  examining  board  of  pensions 
of  Holt  County.  He  enjoys  an  enviable  profes- 
sional  status  and   is   held   equally   in  esteem   in 

private  life. 

^—~*- 

ILLIA^^l  G.  FAIRLEIGH,  who  is 
now  retired  from  business  activity, 
is  widely  known  throughout  North- 
western ^Missouri,  as  merchant, 
banker  and  capitalist.  Since  the 
early  days  of  St.  Joseph's  history,  no  one  has 
borne  a  more  important  part  or  taken  greater  in- 
terest in  her  rapid  growth  than  has  he.  His  his- 
tory is  that  of  a  man  who  has  risen  from  the  low- 
est rounds  of  the  financial,  ladder  to  a  truly  en- 
viable position  as  an  influential  and  respected 
citizen. 

Mr.  Fairleigh  is  a  native  of  Elizabethtown, 
Hardin  County,  Kentucky,  where  his  birth  oc- 
curred February  9,  1830.  In  the  fall  of  1843, 
with  his  parents,  he  went  by  the  way  of  the  Ohio 
River  to  St.  Louis,  proceeding  from  that  point  to 
Western  Missouri.  The  first  mone}'  he  made 
after  his  arrival  in  Weston,  ^lissouri,  was  by 
selling  apples  on  the  street  and  at  the  boat  land- 
ings. His  father,  Andrew  Fairleigh,  went  to 
Savannah,  Missouri,  in  1845.  ^^'^^^  the  following 
year  came  to  St.  Joseph.  He  followed  the  trade 
of  a  silversmith  until  1849,  when  he  went  to  Cali- 
fornia, working  at  his  trade  in  Sacramento  and 
later  working  in  the  mines.  His  death  occurred 
three  months  after  his  arrival  in  that  Western 
country.  He  sent  to  our  subject  several  hundred 
dollars  he  had  made,  and  the  following'  spring 
his  widow  and  two  daughters  went  to  Sacra- 
mento, here  they  conducted  a  hotel  for  several 
■years   but   were    unfortunate,   as   the   hotel   was 


burned  three  times.  Mrs.  Fairleigh  died  July 
20,  1 90 1  ;  one  daughter,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Free,  died 
in  California  in  1904  and  the  other,  Mrs.  Louisa 
O'Brien,  resides  in  Minneapolis.  Minnesota. 

For  two  or  three  years,  William  G.  Fairleigh 
turned  his  hand  at  whatever  he  could  find  to  do, 
for  a  time  acting  as  errand  boy  and  cleaning  out 
the  store  of  Smith  &  Donnell,  the  largest  house 
of  the  kind  in  the  city.  Milton  Tootle  was  then 
in  business  in  Savannah,  and  in  1847  succeeded  to 
Robert  M.  Donnell's  interest  in  the  firm,  the  lat- 
ter entering  into  partnership  with  Albe  M.  Sax- 
ton,  who  conducted  a  nearby  store.  An  incident 
which  the  people  of  this  day  and  age  would  con- 
sider very  amusin.g  occurred  about  this  time.  Dur- 
ing religious  services  a  genuine  backwoodsman 
appeared  at  the  door  of  the  church,  motioned  the 
pastor  to  silence  and  asked  in  a  loud  tone  if  Bob 
Donnell  was  there,  for  he  had  a  barrel  of  honey 
to  sell  him.  The  firm  name  of  Smith  &  Donnell 
was  changed  to  Smith,  Bedford  &  Tootle  and 
continued  until  the  death  of  Mr.  Smith  in  August, 
1849.  During  the  latter's  sickness,  young  Fair- 
leigh rode  as  far  as  Platte  County  for  the  well- 
known  and  skilled  physician.  Dr.  Mcx\dow.  Mr. 
Tootle  bought  the  interest  in  the  firm  formerly 
owned  by  Mr.  Smith  and  the  other  partner  retir- 
ing, Mr.  Fairleigh  was  taken  in  as  a  partner  only 
19  years  of  age  and  having  only  $600  to  invest, 
the  firm  name  becoming  Tootle  &  Fairleigh.  Soon 
after,  Joseph  and  Thomas  E.  Tootle  were  ad- 
mitted to  the  firm  and  continued  with  it  until 
i860,  when  Joseph  Tootle  died  and  Thomas  E. 
Tootle  retired,  taking  a  share  of  the  goods.  In 
the  spring  of  1861,  Milton  Tootle,  senior  member 
of  the  firm,  went  East,  and  bought  $60,000  worth 
of  goods  ;  but  on  account  of  the  growing  uneasi- 
ness in  regard  to  the  war  it  was  deemed  dan- 
gerous to  have  the  goods  brought  to  the  city.  Mr. 
Fairleigh  went  to  Quincy,  Illinois,  to  have  them 
stopped  and  returned  to  the  sellers  at  Philadel- 
phia, New  York  and  Boston,  but  on  his  return 
it  was  found  that  the  step  was  a  mistake,  as  prices 
were  rapidly  going  up  and  the  demand  for  goods 
increasing.  The  goods  which  had  proceeded  as 
as  far  as  Pittsburg  and  /\.ll:)any  were  then 
brought  West,  and  prints  which  had  been  pur- 
chased at  eight  cents  and  sheetings  at  seven  cents 
jK^r  vard  were  worth  30  cents  by  the  time  the  first 
installment  of  goods  reached  the  city.  This  was 
the  only  house  to  continue  a  jobbing  business  for 
several  years.  The  firm  of  Powell,  Levy  & 
Lemon  closed  out  and  Mr.  Tootle  furnished  capi- 
tal to  start  the  firm  of  Lemon  &  Hosea  in  business 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


693 


about  1863,  the  latter  firm  being  very  successful. 
In  1856,  a  large  brick  store  between  Felix  and 
Francis  streets,  on  Second  street,  was  erected  by 
Tootle  &  Fairleigh,  where  they  continued  in  bus- 
iness until  1873,  when  Mr.  Fairleigh  retired  on 
account  of  failing  health.  When  our  subject  be- 
came a  member  of  this  firm  in  1849,  there  was 
$20,000  invested  in  the  business,  and  the  amount 
of  business  was  about  $75,000  per  annum.  When 
he  retired  in  1873.  the  capital  was  $100,000  and 
the  amount  of  business  $600,000  per  annum.  In 
1857,  they  retired  from  the  retail  trade  entirely, 
becoming  wholesale  dealers  in  dry  goods,  boots 
and  shoes  and  queensware.  From  1861  on,  Mr. 
Fairleigh  was  the  manager  and  buyer.  In  1873, 
he  spent  considerable  time  in  recuperating,  visit- 
ing the  Thousand  Islands  in  the  St.  Lawrence 
River,  and  in  June,  1878,  went  to  Europe  where 
he  remained  until  tlie  following  January.  Going 
into  partnership  with  J.  W.  Bailey  and  after- 
ward taking  in  Isaac  \\'eil,  the  firm  of  Bailey, 
F"airleigh  &  \Yc\\  w^as  founded;  Mr.  Fairleisfh  re- 
mained  in  the  business  for  about  two  years,  and 
sold  out  in  1881.  In  1857,  with  his  brother,  Tal- 
bot Fairleigh.  as  manager,  the  firm  of  Fairleigh 
&  Company  was  established  in  the  hardware 
trade,  and  was  continued  with  much  success  until 
1873,  when  the  business  was  purchased  bv  Will- 
iam M.  Wyeth.  In  1881,  Mr.  Fairleigh  and'Milton 
Tootle  became  half  owners  in  the  Buell  Manu- 
facturing Company,  soon  afterward  building  the 
woolen  mill,  which  has  since  become  a  fine  busi- 
ness. The  former  also  loaned  $15,000  on  a  mill 
at  Blue  Rapids,  Nebraska.  In  the  spring  of  1880, 
he  became  interested  with  Joseph  Knight  at 
Cheyenne,  Wyoming,  putting  up  $40,000  to  buy 
cattle  near  Salt  Lake  City,  which  after  holding 
for  two  years  they  sold  at  a  large  profit.  The 
same  year  he  purchased  2,000  head  of  cattle  in 
Texas  for  $25,550,  selling  later  at  a  profit  of  about 
$30,000.  Though  his  success  was  great,  he  has 
not  since  invested  in  cattle,  preferring  to  place  his ' 
money  with  commercial  and  manufacturing  con- 
cerns. As  the  St.  Joseph  Valley  Packing  Com- 
pany had  done  a  big  business  for  some  time,  in 
1873  Mr.  Fairleigh  invested  $10,000  with  it,  but 
it  proved  a  bad  investment,  in  which  he  lost 
$40,000.  Joseph  Knight  was  also  a  member  of 
the  company.  One  year  when  their  stock  could 
have  been  sold  for  $60,000  profit,  it  was  consid- 
ered best  to  hold  it  and  by  so  doing  they  finally 
lost  $120,000. 

In  1846,  for  $250,  our  subject's  father  pur- 


chased the  corner  lot  on  the  southeast  corner  of 
Third  and  Felix  streets,  which  is  now  in  the 
very  heart  of  the  business  section  of  the  city. 
(Jur  subject  purchased  the  property  from  his 
mother  and  the  heirs  and  in  1856  erected  upon  it 
a  substantial  two-story  brick  building,  which  in 
1867  li^  replaced  with  a  bank  building,  the  Col- 
houn  banking  house  being  started  on  that  corner 
in  1869.  Until  1876.  Mr.  Fairleigh's  home  was 
near  the  Court  House  on  Fifth  street ;  for  it  he 
had  paid  $1,500  in  gold  when  gold  was  worth 
$2.50.  In  1856,  in  partnership  with  Mr.  Tootle 
and  others,  he  ])urchased  800  acres  of  land  at 
Forest  City,  three  miles  from  Oregon,  where  he 
laid  out  a  town,  started  a  store  and  induced  sev- 
eral good  firms  to  locate.  The  town  prospered, 
being  on  the  ^Missouri  River,  and  proved  a  fair 
investment.  Fie  still  owns  lots  at  that  place. 
Long  before  this,  when  Nebraska  was  still  a  Ter- 
ritory, he  went  West  with  a  party  to  lay  out 
town-sites,  one  of  which  was  Laramie  City,  al- 
though he  did  not  make  anything  on  this  deal. 
Several  times  he  has  visited  California  but  has 
never  invested  in  pro])erty  there.  He  was  a  di- 
rector of  Schuster-Hax  National  Bank  and  a 
stockholder  in  the  .Saxton  National  Bank  at  St. 
Joseph. 

In  October,  T867,  occurred  the  ma'rriage  of 
?\lr.  Fairleigh  and  Alice  O'Neil,  whose  sister 
Kate  married  Milton  Tootle.  Mrs.  Fairleigh  was 
born  at  Shelbyvillc,  Kentucky.  Her  father, 
James  L.  O'Neil,  who  had  been  a  banker  at  that 
place,  was  identified  with  banking  interests  in 
St.  Joseph,  in  company  with  his  son-in-law.  Mr. 
Tootle,  who  founded  the  Western  Bank  about 
1856.  To  Mr.  Fairleigh  and  wife  have  been  bom 
four  children :  James  O'Neil,  president  of  the 
Buell  Manufacturing  Company;  Jennie,  wife  of 
Charles  Enright,  vice-president  of  the  Missouri 
\'alley  Trust  Comjiany.  deceased  October  28, 
1900;  May  L..  who  married  Randolph  M.  Davis; 
and  William  G.,  paying  teller  of  the  Missouri 
\'alley  Trust  Company.  The  two  daughters  were 
married  January  25,  1892,  the  double  wedding 
being  a  notable  event  in  St.  Joseph  society  circles, 
all  of  the  contracting  ])arties  being  well  known 
and  very  popular.  Tvir.  Fairleigh  and  his  family 
are  members  of  and  active  workers  in  the  First 
Presbyterian  Chiu'ch  of  St.  Joseph.  He  has  never 
l)een  a  politician,  although  he  takes  some  interest 
in  political  afl^airs.  He  was  a  Democrat  for  some 
years  l)ut  is  now  a  Republican.  Mr.  Fairleigh's 
residence  is  situated  upon  beautiful  grounds  com- 


694 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY  AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


prising  29>4  acres  on  Frederick  avenue  and  26th 
street.  He  has  expended  from  $10,000  to  $15,000 
on  his  residence,  a  beautiful  and  modern  home, 
where  he  is  now  Hving  a  retired  Ufe. 


-♦-•-♦- 


NTOX  KLOS,  who  now  hves  somewhat 
retired,  has  long  been  identified  with 
St.  Joseph,  ]\Iissouri,  of  which  city  he 
is  one  of  the  large  capitalists  and  most 
highly  esteemed  citizens.  He  was  born 
November  30,  1829,  at  Prombach,  Hessen- 
Darmstadt,   Germany. 

j\lr.  Klos  remained  in  his  native  land  until  15 
years  of  age,  obtaining  his  education  in  the  local 
schools.  He  then  determined  to  come  to  Amer- 
ica, where  he  believed  he  could  find  better  busi- 
ness chances,  and  in  1844  left  the  fatherland  and 
in  the  same  year  reached  New  Orleans.  Soon 
after  he  removed  to  St.  Louis  and  there  found  a 
chance  to  learn  the  trade  of  cigarmaking,  at  which 
he  Viorked  for  five  years.  He  then  came  to  St. 
Joseph,  embarking  here  in  a  cigar  and  tobacco 
business,  which  he  continued  for  14  years.  In 
1864  li^  commenced,  as  a  wholesale  leaf  tobacco 
dealer,  buying  and  shipping  tobacco  which  was 
raised  within  a  radius  of  50  miles  of  St.  Joseph. 
He  was  one  of  the  pioneers  in  this  business  and  it 
brought  him  large  returns.  In  1877  he  turned 
his  attention  to  real  estate  dealing  and,  firm  in 
his  faith  as  to  the  future  of  the  city,  invested  a 
large  amount  of  capital  in  city  property.  This  he 
has  improved  and  still  owns  a  great  deal  of  busi- 
ness and  residence  realty,  occupying  his  time  for 
some  years  in  looking  after  these  interests.  He  is 
one  of  the  largest  taxpayers  in  the  county,  but 
has  not  been  actively  engaged  in  business  since 
1876. 

On  October  25,  1864,  Mr.  Klos  was  married 
to  Elsie  Deppen,  who  died  November  17,  1869, 
survived  by  two  children :  Harvey  and  Edward 
W.  The  former  was  born  May  13,  1865.  and  is  a 
painter  contractor,  having  establishments  in  St. 
Joseph  and  in  Kansas  City  and  giving  employ- 
ment to  a  large  body  of  men.  He  married  Maggie 
Bradford  of  St.  Joseph,  and  they  have  six  chil- 
dren living, — Edward,  Annie  D.,  Frederick,  An- 
drew, Victor  and  Nellie, — and  two  deceased. 
Edward  W.  Klos  was  born  December  23,  1867 
and  is  engaged  in  the  tent  and  awning  business  in 
St.  Joseph,  under  the  firm  name  of  E.  W.  Klos  & 
Company,  and  is  a  very  successful  man  of  busi- 
ness. He  married  Mary  Sikes  and  they  have  one 
son. — George. 


During  the  Civil  War,  Mr.  Klos  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  State  Militia  under  Capt.  John  Dolman, 
of-  St.  Joseph.  His  property  at  No.  612  Syl- 
vanie  street  has  been  his  home  since  1864,  his 
present  fine  residence  having  been  erected  in 
1887.  Mr.  Klos  is  highly  esteemed  by  the  citi- 
zens of  St.  Joseph  and  bears  a  reputation  for  bus- 
iness integrity,  good  citizenship  and  admirable 
social  qualities. 


^ » » 


HARLES  F.  HEWITT,  general  super- 
intendent of  the  St.  Joseph  Railway, 
Light,  Heat  &  Power  Company,  was 
born  at  Baltimore,  Maryland,  February 
II,  1869,  and  is  a  son  of  Rev.  John  and 
Margaret  J.   (Pearson)  Hewitt. 

Rev.  Horatio  Hewitt,  the  paternal  grand- 
father, was  born,  reared  and  married,  in  York- 
shire, England.  He  was  the  second  son  of  his 
father's  family,  in  which,  for  300  years  the  first 
son  had  been  given  to  the  army  and  the  second  to 
the  church.  In  1847  ^^^  came  to  the  United 
States  with  his  wife  and  three-year-old  son,  and 
took  charge  of  a  church  near  Asheville,  North 
Carolina.  Rev.  John  Hewitt,  the  above-named 
son,  was  born  April  10,  1844,  in  Sheffield,  Eng- 
land. His  first  intellectual  training  was  for  the 
bar,  but  later  he  studied  theology,  and  was  grad- 
uated at  St.  James  Collegiate  Seminary  at  Ha- 
gerstown,  Maryland.  He  entered  upon  his  min- 
isterial duties  immediately  and  has  atttained  to 
eminence  in  the  church,  at  present  being  the  rec- 
tor of  St.  Paul's  Church,  at  Columbus,  Ohio,  one 
of  the  largest  Episcopal  churches  in  that  city. 
Dr.  Hewitt  is  very  prominent  in  Masonry,  having 
taken  the  32d  degree  and  has  served  in  the  order 
as  grand  prelate  of  the  State  of  Pennsylvania. 
He  married  Margaret  J.  Pearson,  who  is  a 
daughter  of  James  Pearson,  one  of  the  oldest 
Scotch  settlers  in  Maryland,  living  near  Balti- 
more. Of  their  six  children,  the  two  survivors 
are :  Charles  F.  and  .Strafford  Reaves,  the  latter 
of  Columbus,  Ohio. 

Our  subject  enjoyed  exceptional  educational 
advantages  in  his  boyhood  and  youth.  He  was 
the  second  son  of  the  family,  but  did  not  sub- 
scribe to  family  tradition,  choosing  an  entirely 
different  career.  From  the  old  academical  school 
at  Bellefontc,  Pennsylvania,  he  entered  the  Uni- 
versity of  Nebraska,  where  he  completed  the  elec- 
trical, mechanical  and  engineering  course,  fitting 
himself  for  practical  work  in  this  line.     He  soon 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


695 


after  entered  the  employ  of  the  Western  En- 
gineering- Company  and  continued  a  year  with 
this  corporation,  instalHng  electric  light  and 
power  plants,  and  then  took  charge  of  the  Lin- 
coln (Nebraska)  electric  light  plant.  In  the  fall 
of  1889  he  engaged  \yith  the  Thomson-Houston 
Electric  Company,  at  Lynn,  Massachusetts,  and 
one  year  later  went  into  their  Boston  office  as 
constructing  engineer,  remaining  there  imtil 
1895,  in  which  year  he  left  the  company's  em- 
ploy in  order  to  accept  the  responsibile  one  of 
superintendent  of  the  Elmira  (New  York) 
Water,  Light  &  Railway  Company,  this  includ- 
ing the  street  railway  and  city  lighting  plant. 
Mr.  Hewitt  remained  at  Elmira  for  six  years 
and  then  went  to  Elkhart,  Indiana,  as  manager  of 
the  St.  Joseph  &  Elkhart  Power  Company,  which 
controlled  the  South  Bend  and  Elkhart  Electric 
companies  and  the  local  street  railway  in  Elk- 
hart. Since  1904  he  has  occupied  his  present 
position, — that  of  general  superintendent  of  the 
St.  Joseph  Railway,  Light,  Heat  &  Power 
Company.  L[is  rise  from  one  important  position 
to  another  has  been  continuous  and  tells  its  own 
tale  of  faithfulness  and  capacity. 

Mr.  Hewitt  has  a  very  pleasant  home  in  St. 
Joseph.  He  married  Edith  Barnes,  a  daughter  of 
Lucien  Barnes,  of  Albany.  New  York,  and  they 
have  two  children  :  John  Kenneth  and  Ada  Mon- 
tague. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hewitt  are  members  of  the 
Protestant  Episcopal  Church.  Mr.  Hewitt  belongs 
to  a  number  of  fraternal  organizations  and  also  to 
the  Benton  and  Lotus  chibs. 


■♦« » 


lAMES  S.  BURRIS,  who  has  been  a  resi- 
dent of  Buchanan  County  throughout 
his  entire  life,  was  for  many  years  en- 
gaged in  farming  in  Center  township, 
but  for  the  past  five  years  has  rented  his 
farm  and  lived  at  the  Buchanan  County  Poor 
Farm,  of  which  he  is  superintendent.  In  this 
capacity  he  has  proved  a  most  efficient  officer, 
and  has  gain.ed  the  confidence  and  high  esteem  of 
his  fellow  citizens. 

The  Buchanan  County  Poor  Farm  is  located 
about  four  miles  northeast  of  St.  Joseph  and  com- 
prises 229  acres  of  land.  This  property  was  pur- 
chased by  the  county  some  35  years  ago  for  the 
paltry  sum  of  $T,ioo,  and  is  now  valued  at  $200 
per  acre.  The  first  building  was  erected  by  its 
former  owner  Mr.  Todd,  who  occupied  it  until 
the  Civil  War.    In  1884,  the  main  building  of  the 


institution,  a  four-story  brick  with  basement,  was 
erected,  and  in  1896  was  remodeled.  It  has  ac- 
commodations for  120  inmates,  with  separate 
wards  for  males  and  females.  The  superinten- 
dent's residence  was  completed  in  1903,  and  is  a 
modern  two-story  brick  of  10  rooms,  with  all 
modern  conveniences,  such  as  bath,  electric  lights 
and  furnace.  The  barns,  sheds,  wash  house  and 
implement  house  are  substantial  structures  and  in 
keeping  with  the  main  buildings.  There  are  some 
80  inmates  at  the  institution  at  the  present  time 
(1904),  consisting  of  49  white  men,  20  white 
women,  six  colored  men  and  five  colored  women. 
The  farm  is  devoted  to  gardening  and  the  raising 
of  grain  and  hay,  and  under  excellent  manage- 
ment has  been  productive  of  good  results.  This 
institution,  which  is  of  so  great  importance  to 
the  county,  could  not  have  been  placed  in  more 
capable  hands  than  in  l\lr.  Burris'.  Dr.  J.  K. 
Graham  is  at  the  present  time  the  county  physician 
and  has  general  oversight  of  the  health  of  the 
inmates.  The  first  county  superintendent  of  whom 
we  have  a  record  was  a  Mr.  Alley,  although  there 
were  two  before  him.  He  died  in  offi.cc,  and  was 
succeeded  in  turn  by  the  following  in  the  order 
named,  the  duration  of  their  ten.ure  also  appear- 
ing :  Mr.  Carson,  8  years^;  ^lichael  Gleason,  23^ 
years ;  John  B.  Carbett,  5vJ^  years ;  P.  Mosely,  2 
years ;  Spencer  Barnes,  i  year ;  Thomas  Chivers, 
4  years ;  and  James  S.  Burris,  5  years. 

Mr.  Burris  was  born  in  Center  township,  Bu- 
chanan County, '  Missouri,  December  27,  1863, 
and  is  a  son  of  Elijah  and  Cynthia  (Gilmore) 
Burris.  His  father  was  born  in  Missouri  in 
1829,  and  became  a  very  prominent  farmer  of  Bu- 
chanan County.  He  was  joined  in  marriage  with 
Cynthia  Gilmore,  who  was  born  in  Buchanan 
County  and  is  a  daughter  of  Joseph  Gilmore,  who 
entered  the  farm  where  our  subject  was  born,  and 
of  which  he  now  owns  a  part.  This  union  was 
blessed  with  the  following  children :  Lizzie ; 
Sally  (Critchficld)  ;  Amanda  (Vincent)  ;  and 
James  S. 

James  S.  Burris  was  reared  and  educated  in 
Center  township,  and  thereafter  engaged  in  farm- 
ing on  the  old  homestead  until  he  was  appointed 
to  his  present  position.  He  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Hallie  Brown,  who  was  born  in  Bu- 
chanan County  and  is  a  daughter  of  Charles  F. 
Brown,  and  they  have  four  children,  as  follows : 
Effie ;  Aleen ;  Myrl  and  Exia.  Politically,  Mr. 
Burris  is  a  Democrat  and  has  always  been  an 
active  worker  in  the  party's  ranks.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Masonic  order  and  belongs  to  St.  Jo- 


696 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY  AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


seph  Chapter,  No.  14,  R.  A.  M.  He  is  also  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America.  Re- 
ligiously, he  and  his  family  are  members  of  the 
Christian  Church. 


■♦♦» 


HARLES  NOLD.  one  of  the  leading 
contractors  and  builders  of  St.  Joseph, 
\\-as  born  in  the  little  town  of  Hoff- 
heim.  by  the  Rhine,  in  Prussia,  Ger- 
many, March  29,  1842,  and  is  a  son  of 
Adam  and  Katherine  (IMenger)  Nold. 

The  father  of  Mr.  Nold  was  born  in  the  same 
locality  as  himself,  and  there  followed  the  occu- 
pation of  farming.  He  died  in  1873.  aged  72 
years.  His  six  children  were:  ^Margaret,  de- 
ceased, the  wife  of  Robert  Schwartz,  of  St.  Jo- 
seph ;  John,  deceased:  Casper,  of  St.  Joseph; 
Charles,  of  this  sketch  ;  Peter,  of  Savannah.  An- 
drew County:  and  Mary  (Mrs.  Lesher).  The 
parents  were  worthy  members  of  the  Evangelical 
Lutheran  Church. 

Charles  Nold  attended  the  schools  of  his  na- 
tive land  and  there  learned  the  trade  of  carpenter 
and  builder  and  was  thus  equipped  when  he  came 
to  the  United  States  at  the  age  of  18  years.  He 
located  at  Nashville.  Illinois,  where  his  father's 
sister  lived,  and  then  found  farm  work,  at  which 
he  continued  for  six  years.  In  1865  Mr.  Nold 
came  to  St.  Joseph,  where  he  commenced  to  work 
at  his  trade,  becoming  a  foreman  carpenter.  For 
seven  years  he  continued  to  work  for  one  con- 
tractor and  builder,  George  Herbst,  but  in  1872 
he  started  out  for  himself  in  this  line.  It  would 
require  much  space  to  designate  all  the  buildings 
now  standing  in  St.  Joseph  which  ]\Ir.  Nold  has 
erected,  but  among  the  most  notable  are  the  sub- 
stantial structures  occupied  by  The  Louis  Hax 
Furniture  Company,  the  Nathan  Stone  P)Uilding 
at  the  corner  of  Sixth  and  Felix  streets  and  the 
building  occupied  by  the  Crystal  Theatre.  Mr. 
Nold's  work  has  stood  the  test  of  time  on  ac- 
count of  its  substantial  character  and  honest  con- 
struction. Much  of  it  will  stand  long  after  the 
builder  has  passed  away,  a  monument  to  the  in- 
dustry and  ability  of  a  thoroughgoing,  practical 
man. 

On  September  25,  1840,  Mr.  Nold  was  mar- 
ried to  Sarah  Kieffer,  who  was  a  daughter  of 
George  Kiefifer,  of  Pittsburg,  Pennsylvania.  Mrs. 
Nold  died  January  i,  1900,  at  the  age  of  52 
years.  She  was  a  most  estimable  woman,  beloved 
by  family  and  friends  and  a  consistent  member  of 
the  ^Methodist  Church.    The  children  of  this  mar- 


riage were :  John  W.,-  of  St.  Joseph  :  Caroline  R., 
the  wife  of  George  E.  Welty,  of  St.  Joseph ; 
Charles  H.,  the  largest  dealer  in  general  building 
material  in  St.  Joseph,  a  prominent  and  success- 
ful man;  and  Harry  H.,  Emma  O.  and  Lulu  D., 
all  of  St.  Joseph. 

Mr.  Nold  is  identified  with  the  Republican 
party,  but  his  life  has  been  one  of  too  much 
business  activity  to  permit  of  his  accepting  office. 
His  fraternal  connections  include  Humboldt 
Lodge.  No.  130.  I.  O.  O.  F. ;  Minnehaha  Tribe, 
No.  18,  I.  O.  R.  M.,  in  which  he  fills  the  office 
of  past  sachem. 

Mr.  Nold  has  been  honorably  associated  with 
the  business  interests  of  this  city  for  many  years 
and  has  upheld  the  reputation  of  a  man  of  the 
highest  integrity.  In  every  relation  of  life  he  is 
held  in  respect  and  may  be  justly  counted  one  of 
the  representative  citizens  as  well  as  substantial 
men  of  St.  Joseph. 


♦  * » 


EINHOLD  MEIERHOFFER,  one  of 
the  well-known  and  highly  respected 
citizens  of  St.  Joseph,  who  has  been  a 
resident  of  this  city  since  1884,  was 
born  at  Boonville,  Missouri,  February 
7.  1862,  and  is  a  son  of  Jacob  and  Elizabeth 
(Lantz)  Meierhoffer. 

The  parents  of  Mr.  Meierhoffer  were  of  Swiss 
extraction.  The  father  died  October  30,  1898, 
and  the  mother  passed  away  April  27,  1904.  Of 
their  five  children,  four  still  survive. 

Reinhold  IMeierhoffer  attended  the  public 
schools  of  Boonville  until  the  age  of  17  years, 
growing  up  to  young  manliood  with  qualities 
which  inspired  confidence.  He  was  scarcely  older 
when  he  was  appointed  station  agent  at  Pilot 
Grove  for  the  Missouri,  Kansas  &  Texas  Rail- 
way Compau}'.  In  1884  he  severed  his  connection 
with  the  road  and  came  to  St.  Joseph,  where  he 
first  engaged  in  a  cooperage  business  until  1894, 
and  then  went  into  partnership  with  R.  A. 
Pegan,  in  an  undertaking  business.  Later  he  pur- 
chased his  partner's  interest  and  has  continued 
alone!  Mr.  Meierhofifer  has  convenient  and  well- 
appointed  undertaking  rooms  at  Nos.  818-820 
Felix  street,  where  three  male  and  one  female  at- 
tendants are  employed.  It  was  Mr.  Meierhoffer's 
own  idea  to  engage  a  lady  attendant  and  this 
thoughtfulness  on  his  part  has  met  with  much 
approbation. 

In  August,  1883,  Mr.  Meierhofifer  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Emma  Smith,  who  is  a  daughter 


CHARLES   GEORGE   GEIGER,   M.   D. 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


699 


of  John  L.  Smith,  of  Virginia.     They  have  had 
five  children,  four  of  whom  still  survive. 

Politically.  Mr.  ^leierhoffer  is  a  Republican. 
He  is  prominent  in  many  fraternal  orders,  be- 
longing to  the  iNIasons,  Odd  Fellows,  Red  Men, 
]\Iodern  Woodmen  of  America.  Woodmen  of  the 
A\'orld.  Modern  Brotherhood  of  America,  For- 
esters and  others.  He  is  a  reliable,  honorable 
business  man  and  is  held  in  high  esteem  in  St. 
Joseph's  commercial  circles. 


■♦  ♦» 


HARLES  GEORGE  GEIGER,  M.  D., 
a  highly  esteemed  physician  of  St.  Jo- 
seph and  one  of  the  most  skillful  sur- 
geons in  this  section  of  Missouri,  whose 
portrait  accompanies  this  sketch,  was 
born  in  1865  at  Plomer,  Champaign  County,  Illi- 
nois,   and    is    a    son    of    Clemence    and    Rosa 
(Mueller)  Geiger. 

The  Geiger  family  originated  in  Obernau, 
Wurtemberg,  Germany.  The  earliest  progenitor 
of  the  family  known  to  tradition  was  named  Jo- 
seph Geiger.  He  was  a  miller  by  occupation  and 
owned  along  the  river  Necker  a  large  number  of 
windmills  for  grinding  grain  into  flour.  He  was 
prosperous  to  a  large  degree  and  became  pos- 
sessed of  an  entire  province.  This  was  in  the 
1 6th  century.  His  property  was  later  confis- 
cated by  the  king.  The  family  continued  to  en- 
gage in  the  milling  business  during  many  suc- 
ceeding generations  and  had  acquired  consider- 
able property  up  to  the  time  of  our  subject's 
grandfather.  Antoine  Geiger.  He  failed  in  busi- 
ness during  the  bo\hood  of  his  son  Clemence. 

The  failure  of  business  of  his  father  inter- 
rui)ted  the  education  of  Clemence  Geiger,  our 
sulDJect's  father,  who  was  studying  for  the  priest- 
hood. At  about  the  age  of  18  years  he  came  to 
America  and  worked  at  first  on  railroads  in 
Pennsylvania.  Later  he  farmed  in  Minnesota 
about  a  year,  and  then  removed  to  Homer,  Illi- 
nois, where  he  met  Rosa  Mueller,  who  became  his 
wife  in  1858.  After  six  )ears  spent  at  Homer, 
Illinois,  he  came  to  St.  Joseph,  Missouri,  and  here 
v»orked  for  two  years  and  then  removed  to  Ever- 
est, Pjrown  County,  Kansas,  where  he  still  resides 
with  his  wife,  engaged  in  the  occupation  of  farm- 
ing. Our  subject's  father  and  mother  are  both 
in  vigorous  health,  and  are  aged  69  and  67  years 
respectively.  I-'our  brothers  of  our  subject,  who 
are  A-ariously  engaged  in  farming  and  in  the  drug 
business,  and  five  sisters,  four  of  whom  are  mar- 


ried, are  all  residents  of  Brown  County,  Kansas. 
His  unmarried  sister  lives  at  home  with  her  fa- 
ther and  mother. 

Charles  G.  Geiger  spent  the  first  19  years  of 
his  life  in  Kansas  and  was  an  attendant  of  the 
public  schools.  Then,  desiring  to  become  a  phv- 
sician,  he  came  to  St.  Joseph.  Missouri,  and  en- 
tered the  St.  Joseph  JMedical  College,  from  which 
he  was  graduated  with  the  class  of  1888.  Con- 
tinuing his  studies,  he  went  to  Philadelphia,  and, 
that  no  time  might  be  lost,  took  up  studies  in 
both  a  da}-  and  night  school — Jefferson  Medical 
College  and  the  Pennsylvania  School  of  Anatomy 
and  Surgery — graduating  in  1889.  Returning 
to  St.  Joseph,  he  at  once  began  the  practice  of  his 
profession  and,  entirely  on  his  own  merits,  built 
up  a  very  creditable  practice  as  it  was  not  long 
before  the  public  and  the  members  of  the  proTes- 
sion  were  ready  to  admit  that  Dr.  Geiger  was 
wonderfully  successful  in  his  methods.  At  the 
expiration  of  seven  years,  wishing  to  still  further 
extend  his  researches  and  familiarize  himself  with 
the  most  approved  modern  methods  in  his  chosen 
work,  he  visited  Europe  and  spent  six  months  in 
study  at  Vienna,  where  he  took  a  post-graduate 
course  in  surgery,  private  diseases  and  the  dis- 
eases of  women.  Returning,  he  once  more  took 
up  his  practice  in  St.  Joseph  and,  while  he  is  suc- 
cessful along  all  lines  of  medicine,  he  is  especially 
so  in  his  treatment  of  female  diseases  and  is  re- 
garded as  an  undoubted  authority  in  surgical 
cases,  in  which  his  opinion  is  frequently  asked 
by  his  brother  practitioners  and  he  is  called  on  to 
perform  most  of  the  more  delicate  and  difficult 
operations.  The  extent  of  his  office  practice  is 
attested  by  the  large  crowd  constantly  seen  in 
waiting  at  his  rooms  in  the  Geiger  Block  and  the 
general  consensus  of  opinion  is  that  he  is  one  of 
the  busiest  and  most  successful  practitioners  of 
St.  Joseph. 

Dr.  Geiger  is  unmarried,  having  devoted  his 
attention  entirely  to  his" work.  He  is  a  strong  Re- 
publican but  gives  little  time  to  politics.  He  is 
prominent  in  local.  State  and  national  medical  so- 
cieties and  since  1889  has  occupied  the  chairs  of 
genito-urinary  diseases  and  surgery  in  Ens- 
worth  Medical  College.  He  is  examiner  for  the 
Equitable;  Aetna,  Travelers  and  the  Illinois  life 
insurance  companies.  He  is  an  active  member  of 
the  English  Lutheran  Church  and  has  been  an 
officer  in  that  organization  for  several  years.  He 
is  a  Scottish  Rite  Mason  of  the  T4th  degree  and 
holds  membership  in  Charit\-  Lodge.  No.  331, 
A.  F.  &  A.  M. ;  Mitchell  Chapter,  No.  89,  R.  A. 


700 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


M. ;  and  St.  Joseph  Commandery,  No.  4,  K.  T. 
He  is  also  a  member  of  Moila  Temple,  A.  A.  O. 
N.  M.  S.,  in  which  for  the  past  six  years  he  has 
acted  as  second  ceremonial  master.  He  is  also  a 
member  of  St.  Joseph  Lodge,  No.  40,  B.  P.  O.  E. 


■♦*» 


OHN  DONOVAN,  vice-president  and 
general  manager  of  the  St.  Joseph  Stock 
Yards  Company,  and  a  n^an  to  whom  is 
given  a  great  share  of  the  credit  for  the 
prosperity  of  the  new  and  greater  St. 
Joseph,  was  horn  July  28,  1854,  at  Easton,  Talbot 
County,  Maryland,  and  is  a  son  of  John  and 
Evelina  M.  (Robinson)  Donovan.  The  family 
genealogy  is  given  in  the  biographical  sketch  of 
the  father,  John  Donovan,  which  appears  else- 
where in  this  work. 

Our  subject  was  educated  in  the  common 
schools  of  the  Maryland  town  where  he  spent  his 
boyhood  days,  and  in  the  grammar  schools  of 
Baltimore.  He  entered  upon  his  active  business 
career  in  the  winter  of  1868,  when  he  secured  em- 
ployment as  errand  boy  in  the  shoe  store  of  W.  'i. 
Stone,  of  St.  Joseph,  Missouri,  his  parents  hav- 
ing removed  to  this  city.  Later  he  worked  for 
the  Hannibal  &  St.  Joseph  Railroad  Company  as 
clerk  and  then  entered  the  employ  of  the  contract- 
ing firm  of  Hastings  &  Saxton,  buying  ties  and 
equipment  for  the  St.  Joseph  &  Denver  City 
Railroad,  now  known  as  the  St.  Joseph  &  Grand 
Island  Railway.  His  next  position  was  with 
the  Northern  Kansas  Land  &  Town  Company,  his 
duties  being  such  as  arose  in  the  company's  work 
of  laying  out  towns  along  the  route  of  the  present 
St.  Joseph  &  Grand  Island  Railway.  In  the  spring 
of  1871,  Mr.  Donovan  began  buying  cattle  in 
Northwestern  Missouri,  and  drove  the  animals  to 
Maryville  and  vicinity,  where  they  were  sold  to 
the  farmers.  On  May  17th  of  that  year,  after 
having  had  a  varied  experience  for  one  of  his 
years  and  having  profited  by  the  practical  tests 
through  which  he  had  passed,  he  laid  the  founda- 
tion for  the  more  substantial  and  lasting  part  of 
his  business  career  by  entering  the  State  National 
Bank  of  St.  Joseph,  in  the  capacity  of  messenger. 
He  remained  in  that  bank  exactly  10  years.  When 
he  left  it  in  May,  188 1,  he  had  attained  a  position 
of  responsibility  and  had  won  the  esteem  of  his 
associates,  his  superiors  and  of  all  who  had  deal- 
ings witli  that  institution.  He  gave  up  his  posi- 
tion in  the  bank  to  take  the  management  of  the 
Hemphill  County  Cattle  Company,  an  enterprise 


in  Hemphill  County,  Texas,  projected  by  prom- 
inent .St.  Joseph  capitalists.  The  company  sold 
out  in  1881  and  Mr.  Donovan  then  purchased  the 
land  on  which  the  St.  Joseph  Stock  Yards  now 
stand.  The  ground  was  then  flat  and  wet  and  the 
new  owner  inaugurated  the  necessary  work  of 
ditching,  draining  and  reclaiming  the  land  from 
its  useless  swampy  condition.  The  history  of  the 
St.  Joseph  Stock  Yards  is  one  familiar  to  every 
person  who  lives  in  the  rich  territory  tributary  to 
St.  Joseph.  The  debt  of  gratitude  which  the 
people  of  the  city  owe  to  Mr.  Donovan,  and  which 
they  are  free  to  recognize  in  every  possible  way, 
is  best  known  when  it  is  said  that  through  the 
efforts  of  this  man  the  kings  of  the  packing 
world  were  induced  to  erect  immense  plants  at 
South  St.  Joseph  and  that  on  the  land  which  Mr. 
Donovan  reclaimed  there  now  stand  the  most 
modern  packin.g  houses  and  the  handsomest  Live 
Stock  Exchange  building  in  the  world  as  well  as 
acres  of  sheds  for  the  shelter  of  thousands  of 
heads  of  cattle,  hogs  and  sheep,  shipped  from  the 
broad  grazing  fields  of  the  Western  States.  Mr. 
Donovan  was  the  founder  of  the  German-Ameri- 
can Bank  of  St.  Joseph,  one  of  the  soundest  finan- 
cial institutions  of  the  city,  and  was  its  first  pres- 
ident, serving  from  its  inception  until  Julv  i, 
1893.  Prior  to  that  time,  Mr.  Donovan  had  l3een 
connected  with  the  Stock  Yards  as  a  director  in 
the  company  at  the  head  of  the  St.  Joseph  live 
stock  market,  the  organization  having  begun  its 
existence  in  1884.  On  July  i,  1893,  he  took  ac- 
tive charge  of  the  afifairs  of  the  Stock  Yards  Com- 
pany and  is  now  vice-president  and  general 
manager. 

Mr.  Donovan's  military  experience  had  its  be- 
ginning when  he  assisted  in  the  organization  of 
tlie  "Saxton  Rifles"  of  St.  Joseph,  being  elected 
1st  lieutenant.  Afterward  a  battalion  was  formed 
under  the  same  name  and  he  was  elected  captain 
of  Company  A,  and  afterward  promoted  to  the 
rank  of  major,  commanding  the  battalion,  but  re- 
signed his  commission  when  he  went  to  Texas. 
He  was  one  of  the  first  members  of  the  Board  of 
Police  Commissioners  of  St.  Joseph,  under  ap- 
pointment by  Governor  INlarmaduke,  when  the 
metropolitan  police  system  was  established  in  this 
city,  and  served  five  and  a  half  years.  He  was 
one  of  the  organizers  of  the  force  under  the  new 
system  and  performed  good  service  in  establish- 
ing a  force  that  for  efiiciency  and  thoroughness  of 
work  is  unexcelled.  He  has  held  to  the  Demo- 
cratic faith  since  he  arrived  at  the  age  of 
majoritv. 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


701 


On  October  5.  1875,  ^^^-  Donovan  was  united 
in  wedlock  with  Emma  C.  Patee,  of  St.  Joseph, 
and  they  have  one  daughter, — Emma.  The  fam- 
ily are  members  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal 
Church,  at  St.  Joseph. 


■♦  * » 


OSEPH  H.  TULLAR,  president  of  the 
Board  of  Police  Commissioners  and 
owner  of  the  leading  livery  business  of 
St.  Joseph,  was  born  in  Fayette,  Howard 
County,  Missouri,  in  October,  1843,  '^"^^l 
is  a  son  of  Valencourt  and  Sarah  W.  (Jones) 
Tullar. 

Valencourt  Tullar  was  born  in  the  State  of 
New  York  but  went  to  Virginia  when  quite  a 
young  man  and  there  met  and  married  Sarah  W. 
Jones,  a  native  of  Culpeper  County.  They  lived 
in  Mason  County,  Virginia,  for  a  short  time  and 
in  1842,  with  their  one  child,  came  to  Missouri, 
locating  in  Fayette  County.  The  following  year 
they  moved  to  St.  Joseph,  where  Mr.  Tullar  be- 
came a  leading  citizen.  He  was  the  first  tax  col- 
lector of  the  city  and  a  man  whose  enterprising 
spirit  was  soon  felt  in  the  betterment  and  growth 
of  the  community  in  which  he  had  cast  his  lot.  He 
built  the  first  scales,  which  he  afterward  sold  to 
the  city,  and  also  built  the  first  levee  at  the  foot  of 
Charles  street.  He  gave  his  attention  to  buying 
and  selling  stock  and  land  and  was  one  of  the 
most  successful  of  men.  He  was  in  the  prime  of 
life  when  his  career  was  ended  by  death  in  i860. 
He  was  the  father  of  four  sons,  namely:  W.  B., 
who  was  elected  for  a  term  of  two  years  as  mar- 
shal of  St.  Joseph  the  year  before  the  charter  was 
changed  making  it  a  city  of  the  second  class,  so 
that  the  first  year  he  acted  under  the  title  of  mar- 
shal and  the  second  year  was  known  as  chief  of 
police ;  Joseph  H. ;  Frank,  who  is  in  partnership 
with  our  subject  in  the  livery  business;  and 
Loren  M.,  a  merchant  broker  of  New  York 
City.  The  oldest  and  youngest  of  the  sons  were 
born  in  Virginia;  the  others  in  Missouri.  Mrs. 
Tullar  married  a  Mr.  Skiles,  who  lived  but  a  few 
years  and  by  whom  she  had  one  child,  a  daughter, 
now  a  resident  of  New  York  City.  She  died  in 
1902  at  the  advanced  age  of  84  years,  loved  and 
regretted  by  all  who  had  known  her.  She  was  an 
earnest  Christian  and  a  devoted  member  of  the 
Baptist  Church. 

Joseph  PI.  Tullar  has  been  a  lifelong  resident 
of  St.  Joseph  with  the  exception  of  three  years. 


He  was  educated  in  a  private  school  and  began 
to  do  for  himself  at  an  early  age.  He  learned  the 
trade  of  a  tinner,  followed  that  occupation  for 
several  years  And  conducted  a  shop  on  Frederick 
avenue.  This  business  he  sold  to  his  partner,  IMr. 
Steward,  in  1870  and  went  to  IMontana  where  he 
accepted  a  position  with  a  hardware  firm,  with 
which  he  remained  three  years.  He  returned  to 
St.  Joseph  to  take  the  position  of  foreman  of  the 
tin  factory  of  Shultz  &  Hosea  and  he  remained 
with  them  until  he  engaged  in  the  livery  business 
about  27  years  ago.  The  building  in  which  he  is 
located  is  one  of  the  landmarks  of  the  city  and 
has  been  in  use  as  a  livery  barn  for  the  past  40 
years.  It  was  owned  by  our  subject's  mother  who 
had  leased  it  to  a  liveryman  for  12  years  before  its 
occupancy  by  Tullar  Brothers.  Mr.  Tullar  is 
now  the  oldest  livery  man  in  the  city  and  conducts 
a  first-class  business  in  every  respect.  He  is  a 
Democrat  in  politics  and  received  his  appointment 
as  police  commissioner  for  a  three-year  term 
from  Governor  Dockery  in  May,  1903.  He  is  a 
prominent  Odd  Fellow  and  a  man  whose  genial 
disposition  has  made  him  a  general  favorite.  Mr. 
Tullar  is  unmarried. 

♦-•-♦ 


RED  DEMSKE,  one  of  the  well-known 
and  prosperous  farmers  of  Washing- 
ton township,  Buchanan  County,  owning 
a  fine  farm  of  30  acres  in  section  28, 
township  58,  range  35,  within  a  half 
mile  of  St.  Joseph,  was  born  in  Prussia,  Ger- 
many, September  9.  1839. 

In  1871.  Mr.  Demske  resolved  to  come  to 
America.  He  had  learned  the  brick-making  trade 
in  his  youth  and  had  followed  that  as  a  means  of 
livelihood,  but  after  his  children  began  to  grow 
around  him,  he  left  that  a  farm  would  be  the 
best  and  most  healthful  place  on  which  to  rear 
them.  For  the  past  20  years  he  has  lived  on  his 
present  farm  in  Buchanan  County.  It  is  a  fertile 
tract,  well  adapted  to  truck  and  fruit  raising,  and 
he  devotes  two  acres  to  grapes.  His  vines  have 
produced  abundantly  and  have  rewarded  him  for 
his  excellent  care.  Being  so  near  the  city  of  St. 
Joseph,  Mr.  Demske  has  done  a  large  business 
also  in  raising  early  vegetables  and  he  has  many 
old  patrons  in  St.  Joseph.  He  has  built  a  very 
attractive,  comfortable  home  here  and  the  whole 
place  shows  thrift  and  good  management. 

Mr.  Demske  was  married  in  Germany  to  Julia 


-02 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


Daitschman  and  they  have  four  children  :  Sehna, 
Anna.  Robert  and  William.  Both  he  and  his 
estimable  wife  are  consistent  members  of  the 
Lutheran  Church,  to  which  they  have  given  a 
liberal  support  for  many  years.  In  politics,  Mr. 
Demske  is  a  sound  Republican. 

'Ihe  spirit  of  energy  and  industry  which  was 
characteristics  of  our  subject  and  wife  in  their 
younger  days  is  still  evident.  They  are  very 
highly  esteemed  and  are  enjoying  together  the 
competency  gained  by  earlier  effort.  They  are 
good  and  useful  citizens  and  have  many  friends 
among  those  with  whom  thev  have  spent  20  vears 
of  life. 


■♦ « » 


HRISTIAN  F.  RUEGSEGGER,  a  very 
prominent  market-gardener  and  wine- 
grower of  Buchanan  County,  who  owns 
a  very  prolific  fruit  farm  of  26  acres  in 
sections  28  and  ^3^  township  58.  range 
35,  in  Washington  township,  just  three  miles 
north  of  ]y[arket  square.  St.  Joseph,  was  born 
December  18.  1872,  in  Steffisburg,  Switzerland, 
and  is  a  son  of  Fritz  and  Anna  (Farhni)  Rueg- 
segger.   ^ 

The  parents  of  our  subject  were  also  natives 
of  Switzerland,  a  country  which  has  contrib- 
uted many  valued  citizens  to  the  United  States. 
In  1883  the  father  brought  his  family  from  their 
native  land  and  located  in  Buchanan  County,  Mis- 
souri, residing  at  St.  Joseph  until  the  following 
year,  when  he  purchased  the  farm  now  owned 
by  our  subject.  In  his  own  country  he  had  been 
a  hotelkeeper,  but  he  farmed  in  Missouri  until 
•his  death,  on  July  17,  1894.  His  three  children 
were:  Christian  F. ;  Freda,  wife  of  Ernst  Mueller, 
of  Washington  township  ;  and  Mrs.  Bertha  Kerr, 
wlio  lives  in  St.  Joseph. 

j\Ir.  Ruegsegger  was  12  years  old  when  the 
family  came  to  America. .  He  continued  his  in- 
terrupted education  at  the  New  Elm  School  and 
since  completing  it  has  devoted  his  entire  atten- 
tion to  the  raising  of  fruit,  mainly  grapes.  He 
devotes  the  entire  extent  of  his  valuable  farm  to 
this  industry.  His  father  cultivated  125  varie- 
ties of  grapes,  but  Mr.  Ruegsegger  confines  his 
attention  to  but  100.  and  they  are  of  such  size, 
and  flavor  and  possess,  such  superior  keeping 
qualities  and  are  such  w^onderfully  prolific  bear- 
ers, that  he  has  frequently  been  awarded  prizes 
at  the  county  fairs.  He  devotes  five  acres  to 
grapes  and  makes  from  40  to  50  barrels  of  fine 
wine  each  season.    He  also  has  one  acre  in  straw- 


berries, one  acre  in  raspberries,  and  one  acre  in 
blackberries,  harvesting  great  crops.  He  has  200 
bearing  pear  trees,  80  plum  strees,  40  apple  trees 
and  75  cherry  trees,  giving  attention  only  to  the 
choicest  varieties  of  each  kind. 

Mr.  Ruegsegger  married  Rosa  Ogie,  a  most 
estimable  young  lady,  who  was  born  in  Switzer- 
land and  is  a  daughter  of  Christian  Ogie,  who 
came  to  the  United  States  and  to  Missouri,  in 
1885.  He  is  now  a  farmer  near  Amazonia,  Mis- 
souri. Mr.  Ruegsegger  and  wife  have  three  chil- 
dren :  Leona.  Fritz  and  Lloyd  G.,  bright  chil- 
dren, all  being  prepared  for  intelligent,  American 
citizenship. 

Politically,  our  subject  is  a  Democrat.  He 
belongs  to  the  Ancient  Order  of  United  Work- 
men. Both  he  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the 
German  Lutheran  Church.  He  has  always  been 
a  very  industrious  man  and  through  his  energy 
and  excellent  management  has  become  one  of  the 
leading  fruit-growers  in  this  part  of  the  State. 


■♦♦♦■ 


NTHONY  HALTER,  one  of  the  sub- 
stantial farmers  of  Center  township, 
Buchanan  County,  where  he  operates  a 
farm  of  no  acres  situated  in  section 
II,  township  56,  range  35,  was  born  at 
St.  Joseph,  Missouri.  January  17,  1858,  and  is  a 
son  of  Anthony  and  Caroline  (Hafner)  Halter. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  born  in  a  prov- 
ince of  France  which  has  since  become  a  part  of 
Germany,  on  May  10,  1826",  was  brought  to  the 
L^nited  States  in  1829  and  was  reared  in  Stark 
County,  Ohio.  In  1857,  Mr.  Halter  came  to  Bu- 
chanan Coimty,  Missouri,  buying  the  present 
farm  of  his  son  in  1861.  and  died  here  July  10, 
1890.  Prior  to  coming  West,  he  had  learned  the 
brick-making  trade  and  worked  four  years  at  it 
in  Ohio  and  four  more  years  at  St.  Joseph.  Dur- 
ing the  Civil  War,  he  was  a  member  of  the  State 
Guards  under  Captain  Claggett,  of  St.  Joseph. 
Politically,  he  was  a  Democrat.  He  was  a  con- 
sistent member  of  the  Catholic  Church.  Anthony 
Halter  married  Caroline  Hafner,  who  was  born  in 
Switzerland.  April  24,  1837.  She  was  brought 
to  the  L'nitcd  States  by  her  parents  in  1848,  was 
married  in  Ohio  and  in  1857  accompanied  her 
family  to  Missouri,  where  she  died  March  3, 
1896.  Of  tlie  nine  children  of  this  marriage,  An- 
thony of  this  sketch  is  the  oldest.  The  others  are : 
Kate,  the  wife  of  Peter  Draut,  of  Agency  town- 
ship ;  John,  of  Center  township ;  Louis,  who  died 


\ 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


703 


unmarried,  aged  t,^  years  ;  Andrew  J.,  of  Agency 
township ;  Joseph,  of  Agency  township  ;  Sophia, 
wife  of  George  Hunter,  of  Washington  township  ; 
TilHe,  wife  of  Fred  Stock,  of  Agency  township ; 
and  Theresa,  who  died  aged  16  years. 

Our  subject  was  three  years  old  when  his 
parents  located  on  the  present  farm,  which  has 
been  in  the  family  since  1861.  !Mr.  Halter  and 
his  father  put  all  the  improvements  here,  which 
consist  of  a  handsome  residence  and  two  great 
barns,  one  built  by  our  subject  and  the  other  by 
his  father.  The  land  is  devoted  to  the  growing  of 
grain  and  stock  and  to  the  production  of  fruit, 
for  there  is  an  orchard  of  350  trees  on  the  place. 
When  his  father  settled  here,  the  land  was  still 
wild  and  from  boyhood  up  our  subject  worked  to 
clear  and  improve  it.  It  is  one  of  the  most  valu- 
able properties  in  Center  township  and  would 
bring  a  high  price  if  !Mr.  Halter  felt  disposed  to 
part  with  it.  It  is  favorably  situated  and  keeps 
in  touch  with  St.  Joseph  and  the  outside  world  by 
means  of  the  rural  free  delivery  mail  route,  No. 
5,  and  other  modern  convenient  methods,  un- 
thought  of  in  1861. 

In  1882,  Mr.  Halter  was  married  to  Theresa 
Fisher,  who  was  born  April  14,  1858,  and  is  a 
daughter  of  Michael  and  Ragina  (A'aeth)  Fisher, 
natives  of  France  and  Baden.  Germany,  respec- 
tively. They  have  had  10  children,  viz:  P"eter  A., 
Caroline.  Mary,  Louis,  Joseph,  William,  Theresa. 
Anthony,  Frederick  and  James. 

Mr.  Halter  has  always  supported  the  Demo- 
cratic party,  but  has  never  accepted  any  of  the 
local  offices,  his  agricultural  pursuits  absorbing 
his  time.  He  is  a  consistent  member  of  the  Cath- 
olic Church. 


♦ » » 


Mr. 


(  )HX  DONO\'AN,  deceased,  lawyer  and 
real  estate  broker  for  many  years,  was 
one  of  the  men  who  helped  to  transform 
greater  St.  Joseph  from  a  cherished 
dream  to  a  substantial  reality. 
Donovan  was  born  in  February  1828,  at 
Cambridge,  Dorchester  County,  [Maryland,  and 
died  August  7,  1897,  at  his  home  in  St.  Jose])h, 
Missouri.  His  parents  were  John  and  Sarah 
Ellen  (Pattison)  Donovan,  members  of  old  and 
prominent  Maryland  fnmilies.  The  grandfather 
and  great-grandfather  on  the  Donovan  side  were 
l)orn  in  Maryland,  and  their  predecessors  came 
from  Virginia  at  an  early  day.  The  ancestors 
were  patici])ants  in  Revolutionary  affairs,  and  the 
lineage  is  clearly  tracerd)le  back  to  the  time  when 


the  Colonies  were  struggling  for  independence 
and  such  noble  patriots  as  these  sacrificed  their 
homes  and  their  lives  on  the  altar  of  freedom. 

John  Donovan  received  his  education  at  Cam- 
bridge and  Easton,  Maryland,  finishing  an  aca- 
demic course.  After  leaving  school  he  served  as 
clerk  in  the  office  of  the  register  of  wills  of  Tal- 
bot County,  Maryland,  and  was  later  elected  to 
that  office  for  several  terms.  At  the  expiration  of 
his  last  term,  he  went  upon  a  plantation  in  Tal- 
bot County,  which  he  owned,  and  there  resided 
until  the  breaking  out  of  the  Civil  War.  He 
moved  to  Oxford  in  the  same  county  and  en- 
gaged in  the  canning  business,  putting  up 
oysters,  fruits,  vegetabies,  etc.  He  was  a  pio- 
neer in  this  industry,  which  was  then  in  its 
infancy  and  which  has  grown  to  be  one  of  the 
most  important  in  the  country.  His  name  was 
familiar  in  the  business  world  and  the  business 
was  in  flourishing  condition,  when,  in  1865,  the 
entire  plant  was  wiped  out  by  fire,  and  financial 
ruin  stared  the  owner  in  the  face.  ]\Ir.  Donovan 
then  removed  to  Baltimore,  Maryland,  where  he 
was  deputy  collector  of  the  port,  until  earlv  in  the 
spring  of  1868.  In  that  year  he  came  to  Missouri 
and  settled  in  St.  Joseph,  his  family  arriving  in 
June  of  the  same  year.  He  was  a  lawyer  by  pro- 
fession, but  engaged  in  the  practice  but  little, 
confining  his  work  along  this  line  to  the  problems 
of  a  legal  character  which  affected  his  own  busi- 
ness affairs  or  those  of  his  friends.  He  enfrasred 
m  the  real  estate  business  with  Albe  M.  Saxton, 
the  firm  name  being  Donovan  &  Saxton,  and 
after  the  death  of  Saxton  the  firm  became  Dono- 
van &  Company.  It  continued  as  such  until  the 
death  of  our  subject  in  1897,  the  firm  doing  a  very 
extensive  real  estate  business  throughout  Bu- 
chanan County. 

During  the  War  of  the  Rebellion  and  for 
some  time  before  the  strife,  Mr.  Donovan  was 
captain  of  a  troop  of  Maryland  Cavalry.  He  also 
served  in  the  State  Guard  of  ^laryland  during 
the  progress  of  hostilities,  but  did  not  participate 
in  active  field  service.  He  was  a  lifelong  Demo- 
crat, and  a  devoted  Episcopalian  and  vestryman 
in  Christ  Protestant  Episcopal  Church,  St.  Jo- 
seph, always  taking  an  active  part  in  and  liberallv 
contributing  to  every  wholesome  cause  and 
philanthropic  movement  that  appealed  to  him  as 
meriting  support.  He  was  a  Mason  of  high 
standing. 

Mr.  Donoyan  was  married  December  i,  1850, 
to  Evelina  M.  Robinson,  of  Talbot  Countv.  Marv- 
land,  coming  of  English  descent.    Her  father  was 


"04 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


an  agriculturist  in  jMaryland  and  was  very  suc- 
cessful. Their  son,  John  Donovan,  is  one  of  the 
leading  men  of  St.  Joseph.  Mrs.  Donovan's 
death  occurred  ^larch  31,  1895,  about  two  years 
before  the  demise  of  John  Donovan,  whose  noble 
life  had  proved  an  inspiration  to  the  young  and  a 
blessing  to  his  associates. 


-♦-•-*- 


(JARN  RANDALL,  a  prominent  and 
prosperous  business  man  of  St.  Joseph, 
a  member  of  the  firm  of  Feuquay  & 
Randall,  located  at  No.  2409  South 
Sixth  street,  extensive  dealers  in  fuel 
and  feed,  was  born  in  Providence,  Rhode  Island, 
in  i8q^  and  is  a  son  of  Zebina  Randall.  The  fam- 
ilv  moved  to  Illinois  the  following  year  and  made 
their  home  in  Bureau  County.  In  1886  the  father 
came  to  St.  Joseph  and  lived  with  our  subject 
until  his  death  in  1892  at  the  age  of  68  years. 
There  were  eight  children,  viz :  Loarn ;  Suket,  a 
farmer  living  near  Lincoln,  Nebraska;  Frank,  a 
resident  of  Bureau  County.  Illinois ;  Edward,  a 
railroad  man  living  at ,  Princeton,  Nebraska ; 
Royal,  of  Henry,  Illinois ;  Mrs.  Haynes,  a  widow, 
also  residing  in  Henry,  Illinois ;  Mrs.  Decker,  re- 
siding near  Lincoln,  Nebraska  :  and  Mrs.  Butler 
who  lives  in  Bureau,  Illinois.  The  sisters  are  all 
widows  and  their  husbands  were  all  soldiers  in 
the  Civil  War. 

Mr.  Randall  was  16  years  of  age  when  his 
mother  died,  and.  being  the  eldest  of  the  family 
much  of  the  responsibility  of  caring  for  his  broth- 
ers and  sisters  fell  upon  him.  Owing  to  this,  his 
education  was  curtailed  and  only  his  keen  obser- 
vation, retentive  mind  and  judicious  reading  have 
enabled  him  to  accjuire  the  fund  of  useful  knowl- 
edge which  has  placed  him  among  the  leading 
business  men  of  St.  Joseph.  He  is  truly  called  a 
self-made  man,  his  success  having  been  gained 
through  hard  and  persistent  efit'ort  and  entirely 
upon  his  merits.  His  first  employment  was  in 
the  round  house  of  the  Rock  Island  Railroad  at 
Bureau  Junction,  Illinois ;  from  this  position  he 
was  advanced  to  be  fireman.  He  then  turned 
his  attention  to  husbandry,  cultivating  a  farm  in 
lUireau  County  for  a  time  and  later  one  near 
Hamilton,  Missouri.  This  not  being  satisfactory, 
he  again  turned  to  railroading  and  for  four  years 
Avas  fireman  on  the  old  Kansas  City  &  Council 
Bluffs  (now  the  Burlington)  road  and  he  was 
then  given  a  position  as  engineer.  He  continued 
there  another  four  Axars  and  then  determined  to 


\  establish  a  business  of  his  own.  This  he  did  in 
a  small  way  in  July,  1888,  when  he  opened  his 
small  store  for  the  sale  of  feed  and  fuel.  He  has 
built  up  a  trade  which  to-day  is  second  to  none  in 
the  city.  Twelve  Aears  ago,  in  1892,  he  formed 
his  present  partnership  with  A.  L.  Feuc|ua}-  and 
the  business,  which  at  the  start  was  easily  handled 
by  one  man  and  a  team,  now  requires  the  constant 
attention  of  both  members  of  the  firm  and  eight 
teams  to  keep  up  with  the  orders. 

Mr.  Randall  was  married  in  Illinois  to  Anna 
Watson,  a  native  of  that  State,  and  is  the  father 
of  seven  children:  Minnie:  Ida:  Harvey;  Ollie ; 
Andrew  ;  Onia,  and  Adolph.  They  are  pleasantly 
located  at  No.  241 1  South  Third  street,  where 
they  are  always  ready  to  greet  their  friends  with 
cordial  hospitality.  Air.  Randall  is  a  strong  Re- 
publican and  is  serving  as  a  member  of  the  city 
council  from  the  Seventh  Ward.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Knights  and  Ladies  of  Security ; 
Knights  of  the  ^Maccabees,  Court  of  Honor,  and 
Brotherhood  of  Locomotive  Engineers. 


■♦  ♦» 


ARL  L.  THRASHER,  one  of  the  well- 
known  and  highly  respected  citizens  of 
Wayne  township,  Buchanan  County, 
now  engaged  in  farming  in  section  22, 
and  attending  to  the  duties  of  the  office 
of  justice  of  the  peace,  was  born  INIay  25,  1872.  at 
Atlanta,  Georgia,  and  is  a  son  of  A\'illiam  F.  and 
Fanny  (Hotchkiss)  Thrasher. 

William  F.  Thrasher  was  born  in  Georgia  and 
is  a  son  of  Earl  Thrasher.  He  was  liberally  edu- 
cated and.  after  leaving  school,  chose  railroading 
as  his  occupation  and  continued  in  that  line  until 
1874,  wdien  he  removed  to  Washington  County, 
Kansas,  where  he  engaged  in  farming  until  1876, 
when  he  settled  at  St.  Joseph,  Missouri,  and  fol- 
lowed the  roofing  business  for  some  years.  He 
then  engaged  in  farming  in  Washington  County, 
Kansas,  for  some  10  years,  after  which  he  re- 
moved to  Rooks  County,  Kansas.  There  he  spent 
12  years  in  agricultural  pursuits,  and  upon  retir- 
ing from  active  life  settled  in  a  pleasant  home  at 
Joseph.  He  has  always  been  a  consistent  Demo- 
crat, and  has  served  officially  on  numerous  occa- 
sions, being  justice  of  the  peace  and  for  a  num- 
ber of  years  was  postmaster  at  Ballards  Falls, 
Kansas. 

William  F.  Thrasher  married  Fanny  Hotch- 
kiss, who  is  a  daughter  of  Nathan  Palmer  Hotch- 
kiss,  a  native   of   Florida.    Seven   children  were 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


705 


born  to  them,  namely :  Earl  L. ;  Birdie,  who  re- 
sides in  St.  Joseph ;  Belle,  who  is  the  wife  of  Gar- 
rett \Miitlock,  a  resident  of  St.  Joseph ;  Fanny, 
who  resides  at  home ;  a  babe  who  died  in  infancy ; 
and  Nathan  and  Eric,  both  living  at  home. 

Our  subject  was  educated  in  Rooks  County, 
Kansas,  and  completed  the  high-school  course  at 
Stockton  at  the  age  of  17  years.  He  then  re- 
moved to  St.  Joseph  and  was  employed  as  a 
fireman  with  the  Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy 
Railroad  for  seven  years.  Since  then  he  has  been 
interested  in  farming  in  Wayne  township.  Like 
his  father,  he  has  always  been  a  loyal  Democrat 
and  was  elected  by  his  party  to  the  ofifice  of  jus- 
tice of  the  peace  in  Wayne  township.  He  has  per- 
formed the  duties  of  this  office  with  satisfaction 
to  all  concerned  for  the  past  two  years,  having 
yet  two  years  to  serve. 

On  December  26,  1899.  Mr.  Thrasher  married 
Betty  Ann  Banker,  who  is  a  daughter  of  Fred 
Banker,  Sr.,  a  large  farmer  of  Wayne  township. 
He  resides  on  his  father-in-law's  farm  and  as- 
sists in  its  operation.  The  two  children  of  INIr. 
and  JNIrs.  Thrasher  are  bright,  attractive  little 
ones,  bearing  the  names  of  Gladys  and  Birdie. 


^  ♦ » 


TX)YD  HENRY  SPENCER,  M.  D.,  has 
attained  a  high  degree  of  success  as  a 
practitioner  of  medicine  at  St.  Joseph, 
although  he  has  been  located  here  but  a 
few  years.  His  preparation  for  the 
profession  was  most  thorough,  and  his  skill  has 
frequently  been  tested  in  complicated  cases,  which 
have  redounded  to  his  credit. 

Dr.  Spencer  was  born  in  Graham,  Missouri, 
in  1879,  ^^^  is  '^  so*^  of  Jacob  and  Emma  J. 
(Brink)  Spencer.  His  father  conducted  the  first 
newspaper  in  ]** found  City, — The  Jcffcrsonian, — 
and  later  established  the  St.  Joseph  Nezvs,  now 
called  the  News  and  Press,  also  being  identified 
with  the  Record  of  this  city.  He  is  now  con- 
nected with  the  Goss  Printing  Press  Company  of 
Chicago  as  salesman  and  travels  all  over  the 
world  selling  presses.  He  married  Emma  J. 
Brink,  a  native  of  Ohio,  and  they  have  two  living 
children :  Floyd  Henry ;  and  Zula  Romola,  who 
w^as  born  in  St.  Joseph  and  is  unmarried. 

Floyd  H.  Spencer  first  attended  the  public 
schools,  and  later  Gould's  private  school  in  St. 
Joseph  for  a  period  of  four  years.  He  attended 
the  Guthrie  (Oklahoma)  High  School  and  later 
the  Central  ^Medical  College  of  St.  Joseph.  He 
was  graduated  from  the  latter  institution  in  1900, 


having  in  the  meantime  read  medicine  under  the 
preceptorship  of  Dr.  O.  B.  Campbell,  of-  St. 
Joseph.  Immediately  after  his  graduation,  he 
embarked  in  practice  and  has  continued  in  this 
city  ever  since  with  the  exception  of  the  time 
spent  in  Chicago  in  1903,  completing  a  post- 
graduate course  in  the  Chicago  ^ledical  College. 
He  is  treasurer  of  the  St.  Joseph  Medical  and 
Surgical  Society,  a  member  of  the  Buchanan 
County  Medical  Society  and  also  of  the  Missouri 
State  ^ledical  Society.  He  has  been  an  instructor 
in  the  Central  Medical  College  ever  since  his 
graduation,  and  has  met  with  success  as  a  lecturer. 
Dr.  Spencer  is  a  member  of  the  Knights  of 
Pythias  and  numerous  insurance  orders.  He  is 
examining  physician  and  surgeon  for  the  Brother- 
hood of  Locomotive  Firemen ;  the  Theatrical 
Mechanics'  Association ;  the  Endowment  Rank, 
Knights  of  Pythias ;  and  is  a  special  examining 
surgeon  for  the  Protective  Home  Circle,  of  Penn- 
sylvania. Politically,  he  is  a  firm  supporter  of 
Democratic  principles. 


■♦« » 


TLLIAM  X.  DONOVAN,  one  of  the 
prominent  business  men  of  St. 
Joseph,  secretary  and  treasurer  of 
the  McCord  Rubber  Company,  and 
the  McCord-Harlow  Shoe  Company, 
was  born  at  Marshall,  Michigan,  December  2, 
1873,  and  is  a  sou  of  James  A.  and  Anna  (Blake) 
Donovan. 

The  father  of  Mr.  Donovan  was  born  at 
Detroit.  ^Michigan,  in  1834,  and  died  at  Marshall, 
Michigan,  in  1874.  He  was  engaged  in  a  mer- 
cantile business  at  the  latter  point  until  the  time 
of  his  death.  The  mother  of  our  subject  died 
in  1884,  aged  55  years.  The  four  survivors  of 
their  family  are  :  James  A.,  of  Chicago,  who  is 
manager  of  the  ^Missouri  River  Railway  Car 
Company ;  Anna,  who  is  the  wife  of  John  (Tleary, 
of  Chicago :  Honor,  who  is  now  Sister  Bernadette, 
of  the  Immaculate  Conception  Convent,  at  ]\ fount 
Clemens,  Michigan ;  and  William  X.,  of  this 
sketch. 

Our  subject  was  educated  in  St.  Patrick's 
Academy,  at  Chicago,  prior  to  coming  to  St. 
Joseph  in  1885.  He  entered  the  office  of  W.  P. 
Robinson,  general  manager  of  the  St.  Joseph  & 
Grand  Island  Railway  Company,  where  he  contin- 
tied  about  five  years  and  then  became  secretary 
and  treasurer  of  the  St.  Joseph  Grain  Company. 
In  1894,  when  the  ^IcCord  Rubber  Company  was 
incorporated,  ]*ilr.  Donovan  was  selected  as  sec- 


7o6 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY  AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


retary  and  treasurer,  a  position  he  has  efficiently 
filled  ever  since.  'Hiis  is  the  first  exclusive  rub- 
ber house  in  St.  Joseph  and  is  one  of  the  largest 
west  of  the  jMississippi  River.  In  1898  when  the 
McCord-Harlow  Shoe  Company  came  into  ex- 
istence, Mr.  Donovan  was  invited  to  become  its 
secretary  and  treasurer.  This  company  also  occu- 
pies a  leading  position  in  the  great  industries  of 
this  city,  being  the  first  factory  to  manufacture 
exclusively  a  special  line  of  men's  welts.  In 
addition  to  these  responsibilities  he  is  on  the 
directing  board  of  the  Emerald  Isle  Oil  Company, 
which  is  operating  oil  leases  near  Humboldt, 
Kansas.  His  business  career  has  been  one  of 
unusual  success,  and  his  rise  from  the  position  of 
office  boy  to  his  present  status  has  been  accom- 
plished in  a  very  short  time. 

Personally,  Mr.  Donovan  is  very  popular  in 
St.  Joseph.  He  belongs  to  the  Benton,  Commer- 
cial and  Lotus  clubs,  the  Knights  of  Columbus 
and  the  United  Commercial  Travelers'  Associa- 
tion. 


■♦»♦■ 


HARLES  S.  IRWIN.  The  death  of 
Charles  S.  Irwin,  in  1901,  at  his  home 
in  St.  Joseph,  removed  a  citizen  who 
was  held  in  high  esteem  and  a  man  of 
brilliant  intellect  and  inventive  genius. 
The  late  Mr.  Irwin  was  born  in  Belfast,  Ire- 
land, in  1841  and  came  to  America  in  bo\hood. 
His  earlier  years  were  passed  at  Pittsburg,  Penn- 
sylvania, where  he  became  interested  in  and  made 
a  study  of  chemistry.  His  advent  in  St.  Joseph 
was  when  he  came  here  with  his  brother,  with 
the  intention  of  opening  up  a  large  manufacturing 
industry.  His  studies  had  resulted  in  the  dis- 
covery of  an  unchemical  starch,  and  after  secur- 
ing a  patent,  he  wished  to  begin  the  manu- 
facture on  a  large  scale.  After  invest- 
ing $150,000  here  he  discovered  that  he  would 
not  be  able  to  secure  sufficient  water  power,  hence 
the  venture  was  a  failure.  This  resulted  in  his 
removal  to  Leavenworth,  Kansas,  where  he  em- 
barked in  the  glucose  business.  Upon  his  retire- 
ment from  business,  he  returned  to  St.  Joseph  and 
made  this  city  his  home  until  his  death,  at  the  age 
of  60  years. 

Mr.  Irwin  is  survived  b\-  a  widow  and  three 
children.  He  was  united  in  marriage  with  Annie 
C.  Menzies.  who  is  a  daughter  of  the  late  Dr. 
Samuel  D.  Menzies.  The  latter  was  born  in  Ken- 
tucky and  graduated  at  Lexington  College  and 
during  the  Civil  War  served  as  surgeon  of  the 


First  Kentuck}'  Regiment  and  when  he  retired 
was  surgeon  of  Thomas'  division  of  the  Army 
of  the  Tennessee.  The  children  of  this  union 
were  :  Sarah  M.,  who  married  Louis  W.  Hax,  Jr., 
and  has  threee  children, — Louis  W.,  Esther  M. 
and  Louise  M.;  Grace,  who  is  the  wife  of  Henry 
R.  Bass  ;  Gustavus  M.,  who  is  a  commercial  trav- 
eler for  a  wholesale  millinery  house  of  St.  Joseph  ; 
and  Stewart  B.,  who  is  deceased.  Mrs.  Bass  is 
an  artist  of  local  fame,  a  graduate  of  the  art 
schools  of  Chicago.  Cincinnati  and  New  York. 
Her  specialty  is  painting  on  china  and  ivory 
minatures.  Her  work  has  been  much  admired 
and  has  been  favorably  compared  with  that  of 
some  very  celebrated  artists. 

.Mrs.  Irwin  resides  at  No.  717  Robidoux 
street,  St.  Joseph.  The  family  is  very  prominent 
sociallv. 


JOHN  BLACK,  a  prominent  farmer  re- 
siding in  section  18,  Bloomington  town- 
ship, Buchanan  county,  was  born  in 
Kentucky,  in  1841.  He  is  a  son  of 
James  and  Sally  (Martin)  Black; 
grandson  of  William  and  Polly  (Guess)  Black, 
and  great-grandson  of  James  Black.  The 
family  for  generations  has  devoted  its  energy  to 
agricultural  pursuits. 

James  Black,  father  of  our  subject,  was  born 
in  Kentucky,  December  28,  1798,  and  lived  there 
until  after  his  marriage.  In  1847  'i^  came  to 
Buchanan  County,  Missouri,  and  purchased  a 
claim  in  section  18,  Bloomington  township,  from 
Daniel  Murphy,  25  or  30  acres  of  the  property 
being  fenced  and  under  cultivation.  Farming  was 
carried  on  in  the  primitive  style,  harvesting  being 
done  with  a  reaping  hook,  which  in  turn  gave 
way  to  the  cradle  and  dropper,  after  which  came 
the  binder.  Weston  was  the  nearest  trading 
point,  and  a  trip  to  market  meant  two  or  three 
days  away  from  home.  He  married  Sally  Martin, 
who  was  born  in  April,  1807,  and  they  became 
parents  of  the  following  children :  William  G., 
of  Clay  County,  who  married  Mary  Rnssell ;  Mrs. 
Elizabeth  Black,  deceased  ;  Robert,  who  married 
Simeon  ?\lartin.  of  Rush  township;  ^Irs.  Mary 
LToward,  \\'ho  lives  in  Oklahoma  Territory ; 
Armilda,  wife  of  David  Hart,  who  lives  in  Okla- 
homa Territory ;  David,  who  died  in  infancy ; 
James,  who  married  Annie  Thomas ;  John ; 
Thomas,  deceased ;  Hudson  Montgomery;  Mrs. 
Sally  Moore,  who  lives  in  Oklahoma  Territory ; 
and  Cleveland,  who  is  engaged  in  farming  with 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


707 


our  subject,  and  is  the  only  child  of  the  family 
born  in  Missouri.  The  father  died  August  9, 
1867,  at  the  age  of  69  years,  and  was  survived 
many  years  by  his  widow,  who  passed  awa)'  on 
August  II,  1899,  aged  92  years.  She  lived  to  see 
the  great  changes  wrought  in  this  country  during 
the  last  half  century.  When  she  first  came  to 
Buchanan  county,  cooking  was  done  in  the  fire- 
place and  light  was  furnished  by  a  twisted  wick 
in  a  grease  cup. 

John  Black  and  his  brother  Cleveland  were 
raised  on  the  old  homestead  and  attended  the  old 
subscription  school  in  the  district,  which  was  con- 
ducted in  a  primitive  log  school  house,  slabs 
being  used  for  benches  and  desks.  Later  they 
attended  Sleepy  Hollow  School  which  is  now 
located  on  O.  C.  Steele's  farm.  With  the  ex- 
ception of  a  few  years  spent  in  mining  in  the 
mountains,  John  Black  has  always  followed  farm- 
ing, and  with  his  brother  has  one  of  the  most  jjro«- 
ductive  farms  in  Bloomington  township.  He  has 
165  acres  of  rich  land,  all  well-improved  and  well- 
fenced,  and  they  live  in  the  house  erected  by  their 
father  in  1859. 

Cleveland  Black  was  born  in  the  old  log  cabin 
on  his  father's  place  November  19,  1848.  He 
was  married  June  28,  1885.  to  Penelope  Conner, 
a  daughter  of  David  and  Margaret  (Brown) 
Conner,  her  mother  beinng  a  sister  of  A.  J. 
Brown,  of  Bloomington  township.  To  them  were 
born  three  sons:  Thomas  Monroe.  John  Martin 
and  David  Cleveland.  ReHgiously,  thcv  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Sugar  Creek  Christian  Church. 

John  Black  served  for  nine  months  in  State 
Guards  of  the  Confederate  Army  under  Capt. 
John  Hart,  who  afterward  became  major.  He  is 
a  Democrat  in  politics,  as  is  his  brother,  and  for 
many  years  served  as  overseer  of  the  roads.  He 
is  a  man  of  great  strength  of  character  and  stands 
high  in  the  esteem  of  his  fellow  citizens. 


♦ » » 


IPLEY  ROBINSON  CALKINS,  one  of 
the  pioneer  business  men  of  St.  Joseph, 
who  enjoyed  the  distinction  of  being 
one  of  the  most  highly  educated  men 
of  the  city  and  one  of  the  best  mathe- 
maticians in  a  wide  extent  of  country,  passed  out 
of  life  on  August  3.  1900,  after  an  illness  of  sev- 
eral months.  He  was  born  at  Howard,  Steuben 
County.  New  York.  December  20,  1826,  and  was 
a  son  of  Ri})ley  Calkins.  He  was  a  descendant  of 
Hugh  Calkins,  who  came  to  the  new  world  from 
35 


England  in  the  17th  century  and  settled  in  Massa- 
chusetts. The  family  has  always  been  a  strong 
one  intellectually  and  has  given  to  the  country 
men  who  became  prominent  in  every  walk  of  life 
as  governors,  judges,  ministers,  teachers,  etc. 

Ripley  Calkins  died  when  our  subject  was  12 
years  of  age.  He  was  a  devout  Christian,  and,  as 
his  son  showed  a  natural  aptitude  for  mental 
work,  he  purchased  before  his  death  a  scholar- 
ship in  the  Genesee  Wesleyan  Seminary,  at  Lima, 
New  York,  with  a  view  to  our  subject  studying 
for  the  ministry.  Before  he  was  16  years  old, 
Ripley  R.  Calkins  was  examined  and  certified  as 
a  teacher  for  the  district  school  at  Avoca.  After 
he  had  spent  two  years  at  the  seminary,  he  re- 
ceived the  following  certificate : 

This  certifies  tliat  ^\r.  R.  R.  Calkins  has  been  a 
meml>er  of  the  Genesee  Wesleyan  Seminary  four  terms. 
During  this  time  he  has  pursued  the  following  studies, 
viz. :  Latin  Lessons,  Grammar  and  Reader,  Virgil  and 
Caesar,  Natural,  Mental  and  Moral  Philosophy,  Logic, 
Composition  and  Rhetoric,  Chemistry,  Agricultural 
Chemistry,  Phys-iology,  Geology,  History  of  V.  S., 
Bookkeeping. 

He  has  maintained  a  good  standing  as  a  scholar, 
been  punctual  in  the  discharge  of  his  duties,  and  we 
cheerful!}'  recommend  him  to  the  confidence  of  the 
public. 

George  Loomis, 

Lima,  23,  1847.  Principal. 

Attending  the  seminary  four  years  more,  he 
was  then  graduated,  and  subsequently  entered 
Rensselaer  Polytechnic  Institute,  at  Troy,  New- 
York,  where  he  spent  a  year  in  -the  study  of 
chemistry,  mathematics  and  the  higher  sciences. 
He  then  became  principal  of  a  seminary  at  Lock- 
port,  New  York,  where  he  also  delivered  a  popu- 
lar course  of  lectures  on  astronom}-  and  chemistry.. 

Early  in  life  he  became  filled  with  the  ambi- 
tion to  devote  his  energies  to  scientific  research. 
The  success  of  some  of  the  gold-seekers  in  Cali- 
fornia prompted  him  to  visit  that  State  in  the 
hope  that  through  his  efiforts  tliere  he  might  ac- 
quire a  fortune  that  would  enable  him  to  gratify 
his  ambition.  After  living  in  California  for  10 
years,  from  1850  to  i860,  he  returned  to  his  old 
home  in  New  York.  Shortly  after  his  marriage 
in  1866,  he  came  to  St.  Joseph  and  resumed 
teaching.  Lie  was  soon  ofi^ered  better  financial 
inducements  in  the  insurance  business,  so  he  gave 
up  educational  work  and  devoted  all  his  energies 
to  the  insurance  line,  becoming  one  of  the  most 


7o8 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY  AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


prominent  agents  in  the  State.  Although  his 
career  as  a  teacher  had  been  abandoned,  he  never 
lost  his  interest  in  educational  work  and,  until 
the  infirmities  of  age  curtailed  his  activities,  was 
always  ready  to  lend  his  help  to  the  training  of 
}-oung  and  ambitious  students.  He  continued  to 
he  interested  in  literature  along  the  line  of  scien- 
tific research  during  the  remainder  of  his  Hfe. 
During  the  three  years  in  which  he  was  principal 
of  the  Washington  School  in  St.  Joseph,  his  suc- 
cess as  an  educator  was  marked.  He  was  most 
highly  esteemed  in  all  the  places  where  his  life 
Avas  spent,  for  his  intellectual  ability  and  his 
character. 

When  he  first  established  himself  in  St.  Jo- 
seph, his  gifts  as  an  orator  were  recognized,  and 
he  was  frequently  called  upon  to  speak  or  lecture 
on  public  occasions.  An  address  delivered  by 
him  at  Kansas  City,  before  a  State  convention  of 
the  public  school  teachers  of  Missouri,  won  for 
him  the  degree  of  Master  of  Arts  from  the 
State  University  of  Missouri  at  Columbia. 

On  September  7,  1871,  Mr.  Calkins  estab- 
lished the  St.  Joseph  Weekly  Standard  which 
proved  cpiite  a  popular  venture  and  which  he 
continued  for  three  years.  However,  the  unset- 
tled financial  condition  of  the  country  at  that  time, 
incident  to  the  crop  failures  in  1873  and  the 
ravages  made  by  the  grasshoppers  in  the  West, 
induced  him  to  abandon  what  had  been  a  very 
dear  project  and  one  for  which  he  was  emi- 
nently fitted. 

Mv.  Calkins  was  a  lover  of  books  and  thor- 
oughly believed  in  the  value  of  good  books  as  an 
important  factor  of  public  education.  He  was  the 
first  to  propose  a  free  circulating  library  in  St. 
Joseph,  gave  freely  of  his  means  and  time  to  its 
promotion  and  served  as  librarian  of  the  first 
institution  of  this  kind  in  the  city  without  remun- 
eration, his  pay  being  contained  in  the  pleasure  it 
gave  him  of  seeing  the  institution  in  successful 
operation.  The  fame  of  his  success  in  founding 
the  library  of  St.  Joseph  was  spread  abroad  and 
he  was  invited  to  deliver  lectures  in  various  other 
sections  of  the  State  to  aid  in  promoting  local 
libraries. 

On  March  27,  1866,  Mr.  Calkins  was  married 
to  Elizabeth  Martin,  who  still  survives,  with  four 
children :  Calhoun ;  Mrs.  C.  A.  Battreall ;  Ray- 
mond, cashier  of  the  German  American  Bank ; 
and  Benton,  who  is  with  the  Hundley-Smith  Dry 
Goods  Company.  Our  subject  was  preeminently 
a  home  man  and  exhibited  all  the  characteristics 
of  a  devoted  husband  and  loving  father. 


For  some  years  previous  to  his  decease,  Mr. 
Calkins  had  been  in  delicate  health,  but  was  able 
to  attend  to  his  business  until  a  few  months  prior 
to  his  death,  which  took  place  at  his  beautiful 
home  at  No.  516  North  7th  street.  His  remains 
were  laid  to  rest  in  Mount  Mora  Cemetery.  He 
was  a  man  of  noble  character,  of  strictest  integrity 
and  of  acknowledged  intellectual  superiority.  He 
possessed  also  the  genial  qualities  which  attract 
friends.  His  loss  was  felt  in  the  business  world, 
social  circles  and  in  the  home  where  he  had  been 
not  only  the  mentor  but  also  the  beloved  husband 
and  honored  father. 


■♦•  »■ 


ILLIA^r  ^I.  NEENAN,  M.  D.,  a  well- 
known  member  of  the  medical  pro- 
fession, in  active  practice  at  St. 
Joseph,  was  born  in  this  city,  Novem- 
ber 14,  1869,  and  is  a  son  of  Michael 
and  Elizabeth  (Gleeson)  Neenan. 

The  late  Michael  Neenan  was  a  well-known 
citizen  of  St.  Joseph,  where  he  was  identified  for 
a  long  period  of  years  with  many  of  the  works  of 
public  improvement.  He  was  a  native  of  Ireland, 
born  at  Six-Mile  Bridge,  County  Clare,  and  his 
death  took  place  in  St.  Joseph,  March  29.  1885, 
aged  60  years.  Prior  to  coming  to  America,  he 
was  considered  a  young  man  of  enough  reliability 
to  be  placed  in  charge  of  a  large  estate  as  man- 
ager. By  trade  he  was  a  stone-mason  and  his 
first  work  in  the  United  States  was  undertaken  at 
Fort  Sdward,  New  York.  At  a  later  date  he 
worked  at  Aurora,  Illinois.  His  business  had 
grown  by  this  time  and  he  had  become  a  rec- 
ognized contractor  and  builder  and  he  made  his 
home  at  the  various  points  where  his  work  was 
in  progress. 

In  1850,  Mr.  Neenan  came  to  St.  Joseph  and 
soon  pushed  to  the  front  as  a  contractor.  To  his 
skill  and  honest  work  of  construction.  St.  Joseph 
is  indebted  for  many  of  her  best  macadamized 
streets.  He  died  of  an  acute  attack  of  erysipelas. 
His  political  affiliation  was  with  the  Democratic 
party. 

On  February  13,  1861,  Michael  Neenan  and 
Elizabeth  A.  Gleeson  were  united  in  marriage 
at  St.  Joseph.  Mrs.  Neenan  was  born  in  1841 
in  County  Tipperary,  Ireland,  near  the  town  of 
.Silver  Mines.  Her  mother  died  while  she  was 
but  a  child,  and  in  1850  her  father,  William 
Gleeson,  came  to  the  United  States  and  settled 
at  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  where  he  died  in  1854.    Mrs. 


AND    REPRESEXTATR'E    CITIZENS. 


709 


Xeenan  was  11  years  old  when  she  came  to 
America  to  join  her  father,  and  after  his  death 
she  went  to  hve  with  her  atmt,  ^Irs.  James 
^lurphy,  at  Indianapohs.  Indiana.  She  came  to 
St.  Joseph.  August  i,  i860,  and  as  stated  above 
was  married  in  the  following-  year.  A  family  of 
10  children  was  born  to  this  union,  but  only 
three  survived  to  maturit}".  viz :  John  F.  Xeenan, 
S.  J.,  born  April  4.  1862.  now  pastor  of  the 
Church  of  the  Holy  Family  (Jesuit),  of  Chicago; 
William  ^I.  Xeenan.  of  this  sketch  :  and  ^largaret 
^I.  Xeenan,  who  lives  at  home.  The  family  are 
Catholics  in  religion. 

William  M.  Xeenan  was  educated  at  the 
Chirstian  Brothers'  College.  St.  Joseph,  and  then 
spent  two  vears  at  the  Ensworth  Medical  College 
in  this  city,  completing  his  medical  education  with 
three  years  at  Rush  ^ledical  College,  Chicago, 
graduating  in  1891.  In  1893  he  took  a  post- 
graduate course  in  the  same  institution.  Since 
his  graduation  in  1891  he  has  been  located  in  his 
native  city,  in  the  practice  of  medicine  and  sur- 
gery, meeting  with  abundant  success.  He  belongs 
to  the  leading  medical  organizations  of  the 
country  and  pursues  the  advanced  methods  in 
his  practice,  which  modern  science  has  approved. 
He  is  favorably  located  with  well-appointed 
offices  and  commands  the  confidence  of  the  pub- 
lic and  his  brother  practitioners.  His  fraternal 
connection  is  with  the  Catholic  Order  of  For- 
esters. Like  his  late  father  he  is  a  stanch 
Democrat. 


^* » 


EX.  BEX  JAM  IX  F.  LOAX'.  deceased, 
was  one  of  the  earliest  residents  of  St. 
Joseph,  where  he  opened  a  law  office  in 
October,  1843,  ^^^  in  this,  his  home 
for  many  years,  he  attained  distinction 
of  a  high  degree.  As  lawyer,  statesman,  patriot 
and  soldier,  he  was  in  the  front  rank,  and  the  ac- 
complishments of  his  active  life  are  indelibly 
written  in  the  history  of  St.  Joseph.  He  was 
clerk  of  the  first  board  of  trustees  of  St.  Joseph, 
Joseph  Robidoux.  the  founder,  being  president. 
In  those  pioneer  days,  the  young  attorney's  office 
was  for  years,  as  the  records  of  St.  Joseph  show, 
a  sort  of  town  hall  where  were  held  most  of  the 
assemblies  having  for  their  object  the  progress 
and  welfare  of  the  town  and  surrounding  coun- 
try. In  forwarding  every  scheme  for  improve- 
ment he  was  always  among  the  most  zealous  and 
active. 

General    Loan    was    born    in    Hardinsburg, 


Breckinridge  County.  Kentucky.  October  4,  18 19, 
and  acquired  a  fair  education  in  his  native  State. 
Soon  after   leaving   school   he   was   sent  by   his 
father  to  Hancock  County.  Illinois,  to  assist  in 
disposing  of  some  business  interests  which  had 
been  intrusted  to  other  parties,  his  father  being 
unable  to  leave  his  afi'airs  at  home.     The  settle- 
ment of  this  business  required  a  residence  of  two 
years  in  Illinois,  and  then  he  removed  to  Jack- 
son County.  Missouri,  to  which  place  his  father 
;  and   family  had  preceded   him.      Soon   after   he 
j  joined  them,  they  located  in  Plattte  County.  ^lis- 
souri.    near    Platte    City,    where    the    old    Loan 
homestead  is  still  occupied  by  a  member  of  the 
'   family.    After  two  years  study  of  the  law,  he  ob- 
'   tained  his  license  to  practice  and  established  him- 
self in  the  young  town  of  St.  Joseph.     From  the 
beginning  he  was  successful.     He  was  simple  in 
:   his    tastes    and    habits,    never   extravagant,    and 
always  scrupulous  regarding  the  payment  of  debts 
and  the  fulfillment  of  every  obligation.  Xumbered 
among  his  clients  were  many  of  the  citizens  of 
St.  Joseph  who  were  at  the  time,  or  afterward 
became  the  wealthiest  and  most  prominent  busi- 
ness men  of  the  city  and  Xorthwestern  Missouri. 
They  remained  his  friends  while  he  and  they  lived 
and  were  his  colaborers  in  all  plans  for  the  im- 
provement of  the  country. 

A  railroad  to  connect  St.  Joseph  with  some 
points  on  the  Mississippi  River  was  among  the 
first  projects  of  a  public  nature  to  engage  his  at- 
tention, and  during  the  summer  of  1846  he  gave 
much  of  his  time  to  the  work  of  interesting  the 
citizens  of  Xorthwestern  Missouri  in  this  under- 
taking. He  made  speeches  in  many  places  and 
i  enlisted  the  eflforts  of  the  most  enterprising  citi- 
zens. The  farmers,  as  well  as  the  townspeople, 
at  length  became  interested,  the  result  being  a  call 
for  a  railroad  convention  to  be  held  at  Chilli- 
cothe.  ]\Iissouri.  and  this  convention  was  largely- 
attended  by  delegates  from  the  northern  part  of 
the  State.  Benjamin  F.  Loan  and  Lawrence 
Archer,  who  later  became  prominent  in  Cali- 
fornia, were  the  delegates  from  Buchanan 
County.  Judge  A.  A.  King,  afterward  Governor 
of  ^Missouri,  presided  over  the  convention  and 
much  was  accomplished  in  furtherance  of  the 
project.  The  untiring  exertion  of  the  promoters 
of  this  great  work  was  at  length  rewarded. 

The  first  and  much  needed  Market  House 
built  in  St.  Joseph  and  the  first  permanent  bridge 
over  the  unruly  stream  that  flowed  through  a 
part  of  the  town  owed  their  early  construction  to 
his  untiring  efiforts.     He  served  one  term  in  the 


7IO 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


Council  for  the  avowed  purpose  of  bringing  about 
these  much  needed  improvements ;  he  succeeded, 
but  as  the  expenditure  of  pubhc  funds  was  not 
more  popular  then,  than  now,  he  predicted  that 
he  would  not  be  wanted  in  the  Council  again  for 
some  time. 

With  like  energy  and  determination,  he  made 
the  first  successful  move  in  the  work  of  staying 
the  ravages  of  the  Missouri  River,  which  threat- 
ened at  one  time  to  tear  away  all  the  lower  ])or- 
tion  of  the  city.  Every  effort  to  secure  the  wharf 
at  the  foot  of  Jules  street  had  failed,  the  turbulent 
stream  dashed  with  all  its  force  against  the  west- 
ern ends  of  Jules  and  Francis  sreets,  and  then 
turning  southward  washed  away  street  after 
street  of  the  city.  He  believed  that  a  permanent 
obstruction  placed  some  distance  from  the  bank- 
would  form  a  sand  bar.  which  would  deflect  the 
current  of  the  river  from  the  bank  and  so  pro- 
tect the  piling  and  filling  at  the  wharf.  As  the 
city  engineer  did  not  originate  this  scheme,  he 
covertly  opposed  it,  but  a  number  of  the  leading 
citizens  supported  Mr.  Loan  and  favored  carry- 
ing out  his  plans.  Together  they  raised  the  neces- 
sary funds,  a  large  log  crib  was  built  on  the-  ice 
at  a  selected  spot,  and  was  filled  with  rocks  and 
bags  of  sand.  The  ice  was  then  cut  out  and  the 
crib  sunk  in  the  stream.  It  did  all  it  was  ex- 
]3ected  to  do, — a  sand  bar  formed  around  it,  the 
force  of  the  current  against  the  bank  was  so 
diminished  that  a  permanent  wharf  was  secured 
and  further  cutting  arrested.  That  sand  bar  has 
maintained  itself  to  this  day, — a  monument  to 
his  good  judgment,  and  to  his  pluck  and  deter- 
mination. 

In  politics.  General  Loan  was  a  Whig.  He  re- 
mained steadfast  to  the  principles  of  that  party 
when  the  party  no  longer  existed,  was  always  an 
advocate  of  a  protective  tariff,  a  L^nited  States 
Bank  imder  proper  restrictions,  and  internal  im- 
provements by  State  and  Federal  governments, 
propositions  not  so  startling  now  as  then,  when 
Free  Trade  Democracy  was  in  the  ascendency. 
The  Democratic  party  had  an  overwhelming  ma- 
jority in  Missouri,  and  no  W'hig  could  have  a 
voice  in  the  State's  councils,  much  less  a  share  in 
any  of  the  honors  of  office.  As  far  as  his  political 
prospects  were  concerned,  matters  were  not  im- 
proved when  the  Missouri  Compromise  was  re- 
pealed. Whigism  was  dead,  but  Calhounism  was 
very  much  alive  and  very  aggressive  in  Missouri. 
He  was  opposed  to  the  repeal,  and  indignant  and 
outspoken  against  the  high-handed  wrongs  in- 
flicted upon  the  settlers  of  Kansas  as  a  conse- 


quence of  that   repeal.      He  made  many   bittter 
enemies  among  the  pro-slavery  citizens  of  St.  Jo- 
seph and  Northwestern  Missouri  by  his  opposi- 
tion to  the  course  they  were  pursuing  in  the  at- 
tempt to  force  slavery  upon  the  new  State.    This 
was  but  the  outcropping  of  the  rebellious  feeling 
which  was  being  nursed  and  made  ready  for  the 
first  pretext  which  could  be  used  to  rouse  and 
madden  the  Southern  people.     The  pretext  came 
from   the  election  of  Mr.   Lincoln  to  the  presi- 
dency.    When  Fort  Sumter  was  fired  upon,  Mr. 
Loan  promptly  took  his  stand  on  the  side  of  the 
Union  and  from  that  time  to  the  end  of  the  war 
gave   it   his   most    active    support.      During   the 
spring  and  summer  of  i86i  he  contributed,  almost 
daily,  political  articles  for  the  Union,  a  paper  sup- 
]:»orted   by   Unionists   and   under   control   of   the 
patriot,  ex-Governor  Robert  ]\I.  Stewart,  of  Mis- 
souri.    This  paper  was  the  most  radical  of  any 
in   the   State,   and   was   of  more   service   to   the 
Union  cause  than  any  other  in  Missouri  outside 
of  St.  Louis.     All  through  the  summer  and  fall 
of  1 86 1  he  was  most  active  in  assisting  to  raise 
and  organize  troops  for  the  Union  Army,  corre- 
sponding daily  with  the  leading  Unionists  of  the 
northern  part  of  the  State,  and  encouraging,  as- 
sisting and  promoting  enlistments  by  all  means 
at  his  command.    In  December,  1861,  he  was  ap- 
pointed brigadier-general  of  the  Missouri   State 
Militia,   and   was   assigned   to    command   of  the 
Northwest  District  of  Missouri  with   headquar- 
ters at  St.  Joseph.     At  the  time  of  his  assuming 
command  here,  the  Confederates  were  in  strong 
force  in  every  county  in  the  district,  and  military 
had  superceded  civil  authorities.     By  midsummer 
of  the  following  year  the  measures  put  in  force 
and  carried  out  by  General  Loan  were  so  effec- 
tual that  life  and  property  were  secure  and  order 
prevailed.     Numbers  of  those  who  had  identified 
themselves  with  the  Southern  cause  fled  and  those 
who   remained    were    subject    to    control.      This 
satisfactory  state  of  affairs  did  not 'exist  in  any 
other  part  of  the  State.     The  Confederates  held 
full  sway  in  the  central  part  of  the  State  on  the 
north  side  of  the  river,  and,  with  the  exception  of 
St.  Louis  and  a  few  military  posts,  they  also  held 
the  south  half  of  the  State.    About  this  time  was 
discovered  a  plot  to  seize  the  railroad  and  tele- 
graph lines  of  communication  between  the  east- 
ern and  western  borders  of  the  State.     Foindex- 
ter,  a  Confederate  officer,  with    1,600  men  was 
operating  within  striking  distance  of  the  Hannibal 
&  St.  Joseph  Railroad  and  was  closing  in  on  that 
road.    General  Loan  was  ordered  to  take  as  manv 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


'II 


of  his  force  as  could  be  spared  and  move  with  all 
speed  possible  to  intercept  and  break  up  the  force. 
In  less  than  48  hours  after  receiving-  this  order, 
evervthnig  that  could  be  drawn  on  the  railroad 
was  loaded  with  men,  who  had  been  called  in 
from  all  quarters,  with  horses,  equipments  and 
supplies,  and  in  a  few  hours  were  landed,  it  so 
happened,  a  few  miles  beyond  the  point  where 
the  main  body  of  the  enemy  were  camped.  The 
cavalry  was  mounted  and  turned  back  on  the 
track.  Though  evcr\thing  had  been  conducted 
with  the  greatest  caution,  the  enemy  had  become 
aware  that  a  body  of  troops  was  in  motion  in  their 
midst  and  knew  not  which  way  to  turn.  Their 
force  was  cut  in  two,  and  they  did  not  know  who 
nor  how  many  were  upon  them,  and  so  fled  in 
all  directions  and  were  pursued  by  the  enthusiastic 
militia.  Many  of  the  Confederates  abandoned 
their  horses,  .threw  away  their  guns  and  took  to 
places  of  concealment.  Random  firing  was  heard 
over  several  counties  during  the  day,  and  the 
number  of  refugees  slain  will  never  be  known,  but 
T^oindexter's  band  was  never  heard  of  again. 
Some  fled  Northward  into  Iowa,  and  those  who 
succeeded  in  escaping  Southward,  it  is  supposed 
found  tJie  forces  of  some  of  the  Confederate 
leaders  in  Southern  Missouri.  The  complete 
success  of  this  expedition  elated  the  loyal  people 
of  the  Northwest  District,  but  their  joy  was  short 
lived  ;  it  was  the  end  of  General  Loan's  rule  in 
the  district.  The  Federal  commander  at  St.  Louis, 
after -congratulating  him  on  his  perfect  success, 
ordered  him  to  take  command  of  the  Central  Dis- 
trict of  Missouri,  paying  the  compliment  of  add- 
ing "that  afYairs  of  the  Northwest  District  were 
in  such  good  condition  that  some  one  else  could  be 
found  to  take  charge  of  it."  General  Loan  en- 
tered the  new  field  of  duty  cheerfully  and  com- 
menced anew  the  arduous  work  of  reconstructing 
the  disafl:'ected  element  and  sul)jugating  the  de- 
fiant. Here  also  he  brought  order  out  of  con- 
fusion and  succeeded  where  all  his  predecessors 
had  failed.  He  was  commissioned  during  this 
year  to  a  seat  on  the  .Supreme  bench  of  the  State. 
which  honor  he  declined,  but  while  at  the  head  of 
his  troops  he  was  elected  by  the  Republicans  of 
his  district  to  the  38th  Congress  by  about  2,200 
majority.  He  was  unanimously  nominated  and 
elected  to  the  39th  Congress  and  also  to  the  40th, 
at  each  of  which  his  majorities  were  about  8,000. 
General  Loan  entered  Congress  without  hav- 
ing to  encounter  many  of  the  difficulties  that 
beset  the  new  member,  especially  one  from  the 
West.     The  leading  Republican  in  both  houses 


had  noted  and  approved  his  course  in  Missouri, 
and  at  once  gave  him  kind  reception  and  a  place 
among  themselves.  In  the  38th  Congress  he  was 
promoted  from  the  committee  on  military  afifairs 
to  the  joint  committee  on  the  conduct  of  the  war, 
with  Wade,  Chandler  and  Julian.  The  report  on 
the  conduct  of  the  war  will  show  the  very  credit- 
able part  he  took  in  the  proceedings  of  that  com- 
mittee. He  was  on  the  best  of  terms  with  the 
Republican  leaders  in  both  houses  and  seldom 
failed  to  exercise  the  influence  required  to  secure 
the  passage  of  a  measure  in  which  he  took  a  deep 
interest.  This  influence  was  clearly  manifested 
in  a  matter  which  came  before  the  39th  Congress. 
Senator  Trumbull,  of  Illinois,  ofl:'ered  in  the  Sen- 
ate a  joint  resolution  mocUfying  the  test  oath  in 
I  order  that  Patterson,  President  Johnson's  son-in- 
law,  elected  to  the  Senate  from  Tennessee,  might 
take  the  oath  without  perjuring  himself.  The 
resolution  passed  the  Senate  with  but  two  dis- 
senting votes,  those  of  Senators  Wade  and 
Chandler.  The  Radical  Republicans  of  the  House 
were  hopeless  of  defeating  it  and  proposed  to  let 
it  pass  without  opposition,  but  General  Loan 
would  not  agree  with  this  and  in  time  brought 
his  fellow  members  to  his  view,  the  resolutiion 
being  defeated.  In  the  38th  Congress,  Mr.  Blow 
of  Missouri  had  charge  of  the  bill  granting 
$5,000,000  to  idemnify  Missouri  for  the  war  debt, 
but  the  measure  was  lost.  In  the  next  Congress, 
General  Loan  presented  the  bill  in  the  House,  the 
sum  having  been  increased  to  $7,500,000,  and  it 
was  passed.  After  the  war  he  was  offered  the 
missions  to  Venezuela  and  to  Brazil,  the  governor- 
ship of  New  Mexico  and  the  judgeships  in  the 
Territories,  all  of  which  he  declined,  preferring 
his  home  life  and  the  practice  of  his  profession. 
In  1869,  General  Loan  was  appointed  by  Presi- 
dent Grant  one  of  the  board  of  visitors  to  the 
L'nited  States  Military  Academy  at  West  Point. 
In  1876,  as  Republican  delegate-at-large  from 
Missouri,  he  attended  the  presidential  convention 
at  Cincinnati,  Ohio. 

After  his  retirement  from  public  life,  he  re- 
sumed the  practice  of  the  law.  The  old  clients 
and  friends  returned  to  him  regardless  of  differ- 
ences in  politics  or  o])inions  and  at  the  time  of 
his  death  few  men  had  happier  surroundings  or 
more  thoroughly  enjoyed  life.  In  his  honor  has 
been  named  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic  post 
at  Kingston,  Missouri,  and  the  camp  of  the  Sons 
of  Veterans  at  Savannah,  Missouri. 

On  December  5,  1848,  General  Loan  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Emeline  Eleanor  Fowler, 


712 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY  AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


a  daughter  of  William  Fowler,  who  was  one  of 
the  earliest  settlers  in  the  Platte  Purchase.  Our 
subject  was  a  man  of  the  purest  character,  a  lover 
of  home  and  family  and  his  diomestic  life  was  one 
of  uninterrupted  happiness. 


■♦•» 


ILLIA^l  C.  FREDERICKS,  general 
inspector  for  the  Board  of  Public 
Works  of  all  street  and  sewer  con- 
struction of  the  city  of  St.  Joseph, 
has  been  identified  with  the  material 
growth  of  this  city  for  the  past  48  years  and  is 
one  of  the  representative  men  of  the  place.  He 
was  born  at  Westminster,  Carroll  County,  Mary- 
land, and  is  a  son  of  George  and  Martha  (Fissel) 
Fredericks. 

Mr.  Fredericks  has  Spanish  blood  in  his  veins, 
his  father  being  of  that  nationality.  The  latter  re- 
sided many  years  in  Maryland,  where  he  died  in 
1893,  aged  86  years.  The  mother  of  Mr.  Fred- 
ericks died  at  York,  Pennsylvania,  in  1895,  sur- 
vived by  one  son, — William  C, — and  two 
daughters. 

Mr.  Fredericks  is  a  practical  workman,  having 
learned  the  bricklayer's  trade  52  years  ago,  and  he 
has  laid  brick  in  22  States  and  five  Territories. 
In  the  interests  of  his  business,  he  has  traveled 
in  South  America  and  through  all  the  States  of 
the  Union,  being  identified  with  the  construction 
of  public  works,  bank  and  corporation  buildings, 
business  blocks  and  private  residences,  all  over 
the  land.  He  reached  St.  Joseph,  Missouri,  June 
10,  1856,  and  immediately  began  work  at  his 
trade.  All  his  work  has  been  of  a  most  important 
character  and  he  has  probably  done  more  in  this 
line  than  any  other  contractor  in  the  city  has  done 
individually.  The  greater  number  of  the  hand- 
some brick  structures  which  are  notable  features 
of  the  streets  of  St.  Joseph  are  his  work,  while 
the  residences  in  some  sections  were  almost  en- 
tirely built  by  him.  He  assisted  in  building  the 
old  Union  Block,  on  the  site  of  the  present  Na- 
tional Bank  of  St.  Joseph  ;  built  the  old  Union 
Station  which  was  destroyed  by  fire  in  1895  ;  the 
building  for  the  Tootle,  Wheeler  &  MotterMer- 
cantile  Company :  Center  Block,  which  was 
burned  in  1894;  the  Hughes  Building;  the  Ter- 
minal freight  house  and  ofifices,  on  South  Fourth 
street ;  the  Terminal  shops  and  roundhouse  on 
South  Sixth  street;  the  St.  Joseph  Gas  Com- 
pany's plant ;  the  Commercial  Block,  a  fine  build- 
ing for  that   day.   burned    in    1894:   tlie   United 


States  Post  Ofiice  and  Custom  House  at  Salina, 
Kansas,  and,  as  mentioned,  hundreds  of  private 
residences  and  other  buildings.  In  the  erection 
of  some  of  these  large  structures,  Mr.  Fredericks 
was  in  partnership  with  Charles  Nowland,  this 
being  the  case  in  the  building  of  the  Terminal 
shops  and  roundhouse  on  South  Sixth  street,  this 
being  the  largest  single  contract  he  ever  filled, 
amounting  to  about  $100,000.  His  work  has 
stood  the  test  of  time.  On  September  i,  1902,  he 
was  appointed  building  inspector  of  this  city,  and 
served  until  xA.pril  15.  1904,  when  he  was  ap- 
pointed to  his  present  position.  A  more  com- 
petent man  could  not  have  been  found  for  these 
positions.     His  office  is  in  the  City  Hall. 

After  the  great  fire  in  Denver.  Colorado,  in 
1863,  Mr.  Fredericks  and  William  Morrison,  who 
was  at  that  time  his  partner,  rebuilt  a  great  many 
of  the  buildings,  using  brick  as  material.  Later 
by  himself  he  built  a  church,  school  house  and 
store  with  a  Masonic  hall  in  the  second  story, 
which  were  the  first  three  brick  buildings  erected 
at  Golden  City,  Colorado. 

Mr.  Fredericks  was  married  at  St.  Joseph,  to 
Charlotte  Niven  of  Brooklyn,  New  York,  of 
Scotch  parentage.  They  have  a  beautiful  home  at 
No.  1322  North  Fourth  street. 

Politically.  Mr.  Fredericks  is  a  Republican. 
He  is  a  Mason  and  Knight  Templar  and  is  well 
known  in  the  organization  all  over  the  country. 


■♦  * » 


KRDE  V.  HARDCASTLE,  attorney-at- 
law,  St.  Joseph,  was  born  in  Franklin 
County,  Arkansas,  July  17,   1872,  and 
is  a  son  of  Benjamin  F.  and  Adelphe 
(Kalveni)  Hardcastle,    being    of    En- 
glish-Greek extraction. 

On  the  paternal  side,  Yorkshire,  England,  was 
the  ancestral  home  and  there,  near  Hardcastle 
Garth,  was  born  the  founder  of  the  family  in 
America,  who  migrated  to  South  Carolina  prior  to 
the  American  Revolution.  William  Hardcastle,  our- 
subject's  great-grandfather,  was  born  in  Soiith 
Carolina  and  served  under  Gen.  Francis  Marion 
in  the  Revolution.  Thomas  Hardcastle,  his  son, 
and  the  grandfather  of  our  subject,  was  born  in 
1799,  within  12  miles  of  Nashville,  Tennessee, 
and  was  only  13  years  of  age  when  he  accom- 
panied his  father's  regiment,  as  a  fifer,  in  the 
War  of  18 1 2,  and  was  with  Gen.  Andrew  Jack- 
son's command  at  the  battle  of  New  Orleans.  In 
the    fall   of    1 8 19,    Thomas    Hardcastle    married 


AND    REPRESEXTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


713 


Mary  Bates,  of  a  distinguished  Tennessee  family, 
which  has  given  one  Governor  to  tlie  State,  and 
in  1820.  with  his  bride.  Mr.  Hardcastle  started 
across  the  mountains  to  search  out  a  new  home 
across  the  border.  He  was  one  of  the  eariiest 
settlers  in  Cooper  County.  Missouri,  where  the 
father  of  our  subject  was  born  in  1841. 

Benjamin  F.  Hardcastle  remained  on  his 
father's  estate  in  Cooper  County,  until  the  out- 
break of  the  Civil  War,  when  he  enlisted  in  Com- 
pany K.  Second  Reg..  Arkansas  \  ol.  Cav.,  and 
served  through  three  years,  mainly  on  scout  dut}-, 
under  the  command  of  General  Grant.  After  the 
close  of  the  war,  he  remained  two  years  in  the 
regular  anuy,  but  later  settled  at  Little  Rock. 
.Arkansas,  where  he  soon  married.  Shortly  after- 
ward he  removed  to  Franklin  Coimty,  Arkansas, 
where  he  was  engaed  for  a  few  years  in  agricul- 
tural purusits.  and  then  to  Montgomery  County, 
Missouri,  where  he  again  settled  on  a  farm.  Some 
years  later,  he  removed  to  Denison,  Texas,  and 
in  1879.  to  Savannah,  Missouri,  engaging  in  a 
livery  business  at  both  points,  and  in  1889.  to 
Chandler.  Oklahoma  Territory,  where  he  still 
resides. 

At  Little  Rock.  Arkansas.  Mr.  Hardcastle 
was  married  to  Adelphe  Kalveni.  an  accomplished 
lady  and  a  teacher,  who  was  a  daughter  of  Prof. 
Rego  Kalveni,  who  occupied  the  chair  of  lan- 
guages at  Marietta  College  ( Ohjo)  and  was  a 
native  of  Greece.  Two  children  were  bom  to  this 
marriage:  \erde  \'..  our  subject  and  a  sister. 
Adelphe  Kalveni.  who  is  the  wife  of  William 
Lumley,  of  Washita  Count\-,  Oklahoma.  The 
mother  died  in  1874.  aged  24  years.  She  was  a 
member  of  the  Methodist  Church. 

\'erde  \'.  Hardcastle  was  educated  mainly 
during  boyhood  at  Savannah :  later,  he  entered 
Ha}"\vard's  Business  College  in  St.  Louis.  From 
there  he  entered  the  law  department  of  Washing- 
ton L'niversity.  from  which  institution  he  gradu- 
ated in  1896,  with  the  degree  of  LL.  B.  He  had 
previously  studied  law  for  some  five  years  with 
the  law  firm  of  Collins  &  Jamison,  of  St.  Louis, 
and  had  been  admitted  to  the  bar  as  early  as  1893. 
In  1895  he  opened  an  office  of  his  own  in  St. 
Louis,  where  he  continued  until  1899.  when  he 
removed  to  Oklahoma  City.  Oklahoma  Territor\-. 
and  practiced  there  until  October,  1902.  L'ntil 
the  fall  of  1903.  he  spent  some  time  in  Texas  and 
in  travel  through  the  Xonh.  and  then  came  to 
St.  Joseph,  opening  his  present  office  and  actively 
entering  into  political  life  here.  He  has  always 
been  prominently  identified  with  the  Democratic 


party  and,  wherever  his  home  has  been,  has  been 
a  leader  in  political  organizations.  He  was  a 
charter  member  of  the  Jefferson  Club  of  St.  Louis, 
01  which  he  was  treasurer  two  tenus  and  vice- 
president  one  term.  Six  montlis  after  reaching 
Oklahoma  City,  he  was  elected  chairman  of  the 
Democratic  City  Committee  and  at  the  first  elec- 
tion was  elected  State  Committeeman.  L'pon 
the  meeting  of  the  committee,  he  was 
elected  its  secretary-,  an  office  he  held  as  long 
as  he  remained  in  the  Territory".  When  he  came 
to  St.  Joseph,  he  immediately  identified  himself 
with  the  Monroe  Club  and  has  taken  an  active 
part  in  all  political  affairs.  He  is  recognized  as 
a  shrewd,  able,  tactful  leader  and  the  time  is  not 
far  distant  when  he  will  be  found  a  masterful 
force  in  State  politics.  He  has  every  qualifica- 
tion and  has  hosts  of  friends  all  over  the  country. 

Mr.  Hardcastle  married  Mary  Louise  Phil- 
lippe.  who  is  a  daughter  of  Hiram  Phillippe,  of 
Graham.  ^Missouri,  and  they  have  one  son, — \'alle. 

Mr.  Hardcastle  is  a  lecturer  on  commercial 
law  in  the  St.  Joseph  Business  L'niversity.  and  as 
a  speaker  is  much  in  demand  all  over  the  country. 
He  belongs  to  Charity  Lodge,  Xo.  220.  Knights 
of  Pythias,  of  which  he  is  past  chancellor,  and  is 
filling  the  office  of  roval  vizier  of  Marhaba  Tem- 
ple. Xo.  85.  D.  O.  K.'  K. 


range 


oc- 


YRL'S    SAXTOX    is   one   of    the   best 

known   of  the   representative   farmers 

of    Washington    township,    Buchanan 

County,  and  has  a   valuable  fanu  of 

240  acres  in  section  2^.  township  57, 

He   was   bom    in   Cleveland,    Ohio. 

Februar}-  6,  1834.  and  is  a  son  of  James  J.  and 

Rosetta   ( Shellhouse)   Saxton. 

James  J.  Saxton  was  born  in  \'ermont,  April 
8.  1786,  and  was  a  soldier  in  the  War  of  18 12. 
He  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business  in  his 
I  native  State,  until  181 1.  when  he  moved  to 
I  Elyria,  Loraine  County.  Ohio,  where  he  con- 
ducted a  large  brick-yard  and  engaged  in  fann- 
ing. He  was  sheriff  of  that  county  for  some 
years,  held  other  offices  and  was  one  of  its  lead- 
ing citizens.  In  1834,  he  went  to  Cleveland,  Ohio, 
and  bought  a  fami  where  that  city  now  stands, 
remaining  there  until  1840.  He  then  removed 
to  Rochester,  Racine  County.  Wisconsin,  and 
entered  government  land,  on  which  he  lived  until 
his  death  in  1856.  He  was  married  in  Vermont 
in  1807  to  Rosetta  Shellhouse,  who  was  bom  in 


714 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY  AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


\"eniiont,  October  12,  1792;  her  parents  were 
from  Holland.  She  died  at  the  home  of  her  son 
Cyrus  in  1894,  having  attained  the  remarkable 
age  of  102  years  and  three  days.  Religiously, 
she  was  a  Seventh  Day  Adventist.  James  J. 
Saxton  was  an  Old-Line  Whig  and  later  a  Repub- 
lican. Their  union  was  productive  of  the  follow- 
ing issue:  Cyrus  Piatt,  who  died  in  Vermont; 
Delia,  deceased ;  Rosetta,  deceased ;  Hiram,  de- 
ceased ;  James,  deceased ;  Albe  AP,  deceased,  a 
pioneer  banker  of  St.  Joseph,  Missouri ;  Aurilla. 
wife  of  John  Andrew  of  Andrew  County,  Mis- 
souri ;  Myra,  deceased ;  Mary,  wife  of  Thomas 
Kirby,  of  St.  Joseph ;  and  Cyrps. 

Cyrus  Saxton  attended  the  old  log  school 
house  of  the  pioneer  days,  and  lived  at  home  until 
his  father's  death.  He  was  married  shortly  after 
and  engaged  in  farming  until  1876,  when  he 
moved  West  to  E)oniphan  County,  Kansas.  The 
same  year  he  came  to  Buchanan  County.  Mis- 
souri, and  purchased  240  acres  in  Washington 
township,  where  he  has  resided  continuously 
since.  A  part  of  this  land  was  cleared,  but  a 
greater  part  has  been  improved  by  Mr.  Saxton 
who  is  a  very  progressive  farmer.  He  set  out 
a  fine  orchard  and  made  extensive  improvements 
which  have  added  much  to  the  value  of  the  farm. 
He  raises  grain  of  all  kinds,  hay  and  considerable 
stock,  including  horses,  cattle  and  hogs.  He  is 
one  of  the  best  known  men  of  the  community  and 
has  many  friends. 

On  October  12,  1856,  Mr.  Saxton  was  joined 
in  marriage  with  Mahala  C.  Fisher,  who  was  born 
in  Chautauqua  County,  New  York,  March  20, 
1834.  Her  father  was  born  in  \"ermont,  where 
he  followed  his  trade  as  a  carpenter,  until 
1854,  and  then  moved  to  Wisconsin ;  there 
he  followed  his  trade  until  his  death  in  1881.  He 
married  Caroline  Clark,  a  native  of  Massa- 
chusetts, by  whom  he  had  three  children :  Caro- 
line, Emily  and  Mahala  C.  Mrs.  Fisher  died  in 
1839,  and  he  formed  a  second  niarital  union  with 
Emily  Williams,  of  Philadelphia,  who  died  in 
1886,  having  given  birth  to  five  children  :  Marv, 
Henry,  Ella,  Jennie  and  George.  Mr.  Fisher  was 
a  Seventh  Day  Adventist.  He  served  as  county 
superintendent  of  schools  and  as  township  clerk 
and  officiated  as  justice  of  the  peace  many  vears. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Saxton  have  one  son,  Elw'in  P., 
who  was  born  on  the  home  place,  March  i,  1866. 
He  was  married  in  1894  to  Jennie  L.  Lollin,  of 
Wisconsin  and  thev  have  four  children :  Cvrus 
D.,  Alma  M..  Millie  E.  and  Melvin.  Cyrus  Sax- 
ton is  a  Republican  in  politics,  and  takes  a  deep 


interest  in  the  success  of  his  party.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Seventh  Day  Advent  Church,  as  is  his 
wife  and  son.  He  is  a  man  of  high  principles 
and  character,  and  those  who  know  him  appre- 
ciate him  at  his  true  worth. 


^  * » 


PXRY  LYNXE  WALKER,  ^I.  D.,  as- 
sistant county  health  officer  of  Bu- 
chanan Count}',  Missouri,  has  met  with 
imusual  success  in  that  office  and  in 
the  general  practice  of  the  medical  pro- 
fession. Although  young  in  }ears,  he  has  had 
the  experience  of  a  man  many  years  older,  and 
stands  high  in  the  esteem  of  his  fellow  practition- 
ers and  the  general  public. 

Dr.  Walker  was  born  in  Salem,  Nebraska,  in 
1876,  and  is  a  son  of  William  Joseph  and  Eme- 
line  (Bringer)  Walker.  His  father  was  born  in 
Holt  County,  Missouri,  and  has  made  his  home  in 
St.  Joseph  for  some  }ears  past.  In  early  life  he 
engaged  in  farming  in  Nebraska,  and  during  the 
Civil  War  served  in  Colonel  Slayback's  regiment, 
enlisting  from  Mound  City,  Missouri.  He  was 
joined  in  marriage  with  Emeline  Bringer,  a  na- 
tive of  Nebraska,  who  died  October  17,  1886.  Of 
eight  children  born  to  them,  two  are  now  living, 
namely :  Henry  Lynne  and  Minnie  C,  wife  of 
C.  C.  Crone,  of  St.  Joseph. 

Our  subject  received  his  early  education  in 
Salem,  Nebraska,  where  he  was  graduated  from 
the  High  School  in  1891.  He  commenced  study- 
ing pharmacy  in  the  Chicago  Institute  of  Phar- 
macy and  continued  until  his  graduation  in  1896. 
In  1898  he  enlisted  from  St.  Joseph  for  service 
in  the  Spanish-American  War  in  the  Fourth  Reg- 
iment, Missouri  Infantry,  U.  S.  Volunteers,  as  a 
private  in  Company  I,  and  was  later  transferred 
to  the  Hospital  Corps  of  the  regular  army.  He 
served  for  about  15  months  and  was  hospital 
steward  at  the  time  he  received  his  discharge  at 
Atlanta,  Georgia,  in  1899.  In  1901,  he  gradu- 
ated from  Ensworth  Medical  College  at  St.  Jo- 
seph, Missouri,  and  for  six  months  served  as  as- 
sistant city  physician.  Prior  to  his  graduation 
from  Ensworth,  he  was  appointed  assistant  county 
health  officer  and  jail  physician,  in  which  ca- 
pacity he  has  served  for  four  years  and  is  now 
serving.  During  this  time  he  has  taken  care  of 
more  than  2,000  cases  of  Smallpox,  1.700  of  which 
he  sent  to  the  pest  house.  His  army  experience  in 
the  handling  of  smallpox  and  yellow  fever  cases 
stands   him  in  good  stead,  and  in   fact  had   its 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


715 


weig-ht  in  his  being  selected  for  the  office.  He  is 
examiner  for  the  Independent  Order  of  Foresters, 
Modern  Brotherhood  of  America,  Royal  Neigh- 
bors, Knights  and  Ladies  of  Security  and  Mod- 
ern Woodmen  of  America.  He  is  lieutenant  and 
assistant  surgeon  of  the  Fourth  Regiment,  Mis- 
souri National  Guard,  and  a  member  of  Troop  43, 
D.  D.  Burnes'  Hussars.  In  addition  to  belonging 
to  the  above  named  orders,  he  is  a  member  of  the 
^Masonic  fraternity,  the  Odd  Fellows,  Red  Men, 
and  Knights  of  Pythias,  belonging  to  13  organi- 
zations in  all. 

On  July  19,  1900,  Dr.  Walker  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Wilda  C.  Miller,  of  St.  Joseph, 
Missouri.  Politically,  he  is  affiliated  with  the 
Democratic  party,  in  whose  success  he  is  always 
deeply  interested.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Mon- 
roe Club,  the  Spanish-American  War  \'eterans, 
and  the  Sons  of  the  Confederacy. 


♦ « » 


iJTCHAEL  WALSH,  one  of  the  highly 
esteemed  citizens  and  successful 
farmers  and  stock-raisers  of  Wash- 
ington township,  Buchanan  County, 
is  the  owner  of  a  fine  farm  of  120 
acres,  situated  in  section  13.  range  57.  township 
35  which  is  known  as  the  "Locust  Grove  Dairy 
Farm."  Mr.  Walsh  was  born  April  7,  1834.  in 
Kilkenny,  Ireland,  and  is  a  son  of  James  and 
Anastasia  (Norris)  Walsh. 

James  Walsh  and  wife  spent  their  whole  lives 
on  their  little  farm  in  Ireland.  They  were  worthy, 
honest  and  respected  people.  They  had  a  family 
of  nine  children,  almost  all  of  whom  subseqtiently 
found  homes  in  the  L'nited  States,  our  subject, 
the  youngest  of  the  family,  being  the  only  one  to 
settle  in  Buchanan  County.  The  other  eight 
were:  Robert  and  Rachel,  both  deceased;  Mary, 
who  died  in  St.  Louis ;  John,  who  died  in  St. 
Louis  :  Alice  and  Margaret,  who  died  in  Daven- 
port, Iowa,  where  Ellen  still  resides  ;  and  William, 
who  died  in  St.  Louis. 

Our  subject  was  17  years  of  age  when  he 
came  to  America.  He  had  little  cai)ital  except 
health  and  energy,  but  soon  found  farm  work  at 
Salem,  Massachusetts,  where  he  remained  for  two 
years  and  then  went  to  Iowa,  locating  in  the  vi- 
cinity of  Davenport,  where  he  followed  farming 
until  1871,  in  which  year  he  came  to  Buchanan 
Comity  where  he  has  resided  ever  since. 

Mr.  Walsh  was  married  in  Buchanan  County, 
in  1875,  to  Mrs.  Catherine  Cleary,  who  was  the 


widow  of  Edward  Cleary,  a  native  of  County  Tip- 
perary.  Ireland,  ho  died  in  1870.  leaving  three- 
children,  namely:  Mollie,  who  married  James 
Guynan,  of  Davenport,  Iowa,  and  has  two  chil- 
dren.— Edward  and  Regina  ;  Agnes,  who  married 
Edward  Kelley,  of  Horton,  Kansas,  and  has  two 
children, — Maria  and  Edward ;  and  Kate,  who 
married  Samuel  Wright,  of  Washington  town- 
ship, and  has  three  children. — Earl,  Joseph  and 
Jack.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Walsh  have  three  sons, 
James  P.,  John  J.  and  William  J. 

Mrs.  W^alsh  is  a  daughter  of  the  late  Patrick 
and  Mary  Carey,  both  of  whom  were  born  in  Ire- 
land. The  mother  died  in  St.  Louis,  Missouri, 
and  the  father  passed  his  last  days  with  Mrs. 
Walsh.  They  were  worthy  mcmljcrs  of  the  Cath- 
olic Church. 

Mr.  Walsh  and  his  sons  carr}-  on  general 
farming  and  stock-raising,  and  the  sons  operate 
a  large  dairv  business.  This  farm  in  cultivation 
and  improvements  ranks  with  the  best  in  its 
section  of  the  county.  Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Walsh 
are  well  known  and  highly  esteemed.  Their  hos- 
pitality is  noted  and  their  friends  are  always  sure 
of  a  warm  welcome  under  their  roof.  Time  has 
touched  them  very  lightly  and  they  enjoy  the 
health  and  vigor  of  younger  days.  The  family 
belong  to  the  Catholic  Church. 


^  ♦ » 


ARTIN  L.  KULLMANN,  M.  D..  is 
prominently  engaged  in  the  practice 
of  medicine  in  St.  Joseph,  where  he 
has  resided  since  1896.  He  was  born 
in  Wisconsin  in  1865.  and  is  a  son 
of  August  J.  and  Mary  (Kurney)  Kullmann. 

August  J.  Kullmann  was  a  native  of  Paris, 
France,  and  was  about  1 1  years  of  age  when  prior 
to  the  Civil  W^ar  he  settled  in  Wisconsin.  He 
learned  the  trade  of  a  shoemaker,  which  he  fol- 
lowed until  he  retired  a  few  years  prior  to  his 
death,  which  occurred  in  1896  at  the  age  of  74 
years.  He  was  joined  in  marriage  with  Mary 
Kurney,  a  native  of  Germany,  and  they  became 
parents  of  nine  childrqi,  five  of  whom  are  now 
living. 

Martin  L.  Kullmann  was  reared  in  Wisconsin 
and  there  received  his  early  education.  He  later 
attended  the  Chillicothe  Normal  School  of  Chilli- 
cothe  County.  Missouri,  from  which  he  was 
graduated  in  1892.  He  came  to  St.  Joseph  the 
following  year  and  attended  Central  Medical  Col- 
lege,  graduating   therefrom    in    1806.      He   then 


7i6 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY  AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


entered  upon  his  practice  in  this  city,  and  has 
since  continued  with  a  great  deal  of  success, 
estabHshing  a  large  and  well-paying  practice. 

In  1890,  Dr.  Kullmann  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Betty  Herrth,  a  native  of  [Missouri, 
and  they  have  one  daughter,  Clara,  who  was  born 
in  Chillicothe,  Missouri.  The  Doctor  is  a  mem- 
ber of  Enterprise  Lodge,  No.  22,  I.  O.  O.  F. ;  and 
Modoc  Tribe,  No.  29,  Improved  Order  of  Red 
Men.  In  politics,  he  has  always  been  a  supporter 
of  the  Republican  party. 


♦  ♦♦■ 


ALTER  ANGELO  POWELL,  archi- 
tect, at  St.  Joseph,  is  one  of  the  cit}'s 
most  highly  esteemed  citizens.  He 
was  born  in  Baltimore,  Maryland, 
January  7,  1828,  and  is  a  son  of 
Samuel  R.  and  Mary   (Kelley)   Powell. 

The  Powell  family  is  of  Welsh  extraction  and 
in  its  native  mountains  is  still  spelled  Paul,  the 
change  to  the  present  spelling  having  been  made 
by  our  subject's  father.  The  paternal  grand- 
father came  to  the  United  States  before  the 
Revolutionary  ^^'ar  and  settled  at  Germantown, 
Pennsylvania,  as  an  engineer  and  for  a  number  of 
years  was  a  member  of  the  business  firm  of  Paul 
&  W'ernwag,  of  that  city,  where  he  died,  aged  98 
years. 

Samuel  R.  Powell  was  born  at  Germantown 
and  was  educated  in  civil  engineering  at  the  Uni- 
versity of  Pennsylvania,  and  his  life  work  was 
confined  to  activity  in  his  native  State  and  in 
Maryland.  He  built  many  of  the  bridges  and 
coffer-dams  for  the  Baltimore  8z  Ohio  Railroad 
system  in  its  earlier  days.  His  death  was  caused 
by  heat  prostration  while  engaged  in  filling  a 
contract.  He  was  a  consistent  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  in  which  he  was  a 
class  leader.  He  married  a  daughter  of  General 
Kelley,  a  Revolutionary  officer,  of  Germantown, 
and  they  reared  six  of  their  eight  children,  viz : 
Walter  Angelo,  of  this  sketch  ;  William  A.,  an 
officer  in  the  LTnited  States  Army,  with  rank  of 
lieutenant-colonel,  who  died  at  Peoria,  Illinois ; 
George  T.  (deceased)  and  Samuel  W.,  of  Penn- 
sylvania, who  were  students  of  architecture  under 
our  subject ;  Jennie  M.  and  Laura  J. 

From  boyhood,  our  esteemed  subject  evinced 
a  love  for  the  profession  in  which  he  later  at- 
tained such  eminence.  While  still  laying  th^ 
foundations  of  his  literary  education,  he  fotmd 
more  pleasure  in  the  work  of  his  pencil,  which 


fell  naturally  to  tracing  symmetrical  lines.  As 
soon  as  released  from  the  common-school  course, 
Mr.  Powell  began  the  study  of  architecture,  with 
Minard  Le  Fevre,  of  New  York  City,  with  whom 
he  remained  about  five  years.  He  then  started 
out  to  practice  what  he  had  learned,  working  in  the 
environs  of  New  York  City  until  1846,  when  he 
returned  to  Baltimore.  At  that  time,  architec- 
ture and  civil  engineering  as  special  sciences  had 
few  devotees,  there  being  only  11  skilled  archi- 
tects in  the  whole  United  States,  and  Mr.  Powell 
had  a  personal  acquaintance  with  them  all. 

Upon  his  return  to  Baltimore,  he  formed  a 
partnership  with  Carey  Long,  under  the  firm 
name  of  Long  &  Powell,  but  the  death  of  ^Ir. 
Long,  at  New  York,  a  victim  of  cholera,  a  short 
time  after,  dissolved  the  partnership  and  disar- 
ranged the  firm's  plans.  ]\lr.  Powell  then  went  to 
Washington,  D.  C.,  where  he  soon  became  asso- 
ciated with  an  architect  named  Robert  ]\Iills,  who 
had  been  appointed  supervising  architect  for  the 
government.  The  firm  soon  had  high  hopes  o£ 
great  success,  as  the  plans  they  made  and  sub- 
mitted, for  an  extension  of  tlie  Capitol,  were 
adopted  by  both  houses  of  Congress.  At  the 
critical  moment,  political  influence  antagonistic  to 
this  firm  was  brought  to  bear,  and  the  vote  was 
reconsidered.  A  ])rize  of  $500  was  ofifered  for 
new  plans.  These  were  prepared  by  Thomas  U. 
Walters,  for  whom  Mr.  Powell  made  the  perspec- 
tive drawings.  After  this  disappointment,  he  re- 
turned to  Baltimore  and  soon  after  went  to  Cin- 
cinnati, Ohio.  There  he  soon  found  an  appre- 
ciative public  and  built  up  a  large  business,  at  one 
period  employing  as  many  as  20  draughtsmen  in 
his  ofifice. 

It  was  in  Cincinnati  that  Mr.  Powell  formed 
the  acquaintance  and  gained  the  lifelong  friend- 
ship of  Salmon  P.  Chase,  George  B.  McClellan, 
Rutherford  B.  Hayes  and  William  S.  Rosecrans, 
all  of  whom  became  of  such  great  national  im- 
portance in  the  years  following.  The  outbreak  of 
the  Civil  War  offered  IMr.  Powell  a  chance  to  put 
in  practice  his  knov^dedge  of  civil  engineering, 
which  theretofore  had  been  scarcely  utilized. 
Urged  by  his  military  friends,  who  sought  to 
benefit  the  army  by  his  skill,  he  finally  closed  up 
his  private  enterprises  and  entered  the  service  as 
an  engineer.  After  drilling  two  companies  at 
Cincinnati,  he  went  to  the  front  first  with  Gen- 
eral Rosecrans'  command,  and  subsequently  with 
General  Averill's  and  Sheridan's.  He  was  made 
engineer  of  the  Eighth  xA.rmy  Corps  and  built  one 
of  the   forts   at  W^ashington   City   and   also   the 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


1^7 


fortifications  at  Winchester.  His  service  contin- 
ued until  May  21,  1866,  when  he  was  mustered 
out. 

After  a  short  residence  at  Cincinnati,  he  ac- 
cepted engineering  work  in  Tennessee,  Georgia 
and  Alabama,  running  preliminary  lines  for  dif- 
ferent railroad  companies,  who  began  to  project 
plans  for  opening  up  the  rich  resources  of  the 
South.  His  duties  included  the  making  of  re- 
ports on  the  mineralogy  along  the  routes  and  af- 
fording details  of  all  kinds  to  his  employers. 
Upon  completing  these  enterprises  satisfactorily, 
on  September  28,  1866,  he  entered  the  crude, 
overgrown  town  of  St.  Joseph.  Since  coming 
here,  Mr.  Powell  has  wrought  many  changes 
through  the  exercise  of  his  art.  He  has  laid  out 
parks  and  cemeteries,  planned  and  remodeled  the 
Tootle  Treatre,  St.  Joseph,  and  the  leading  place 
of  amusement  at  Atchison,  and  has  furnished  de- 
signs for  hundreds  of  buildings  of  more  or  less 
im])ortance. 

Mr.  Powell  married  Cecelia  Gilmyer,  who  is 
a  daughter  of  John  Gilmyer,  of  Hagerstown, 
Maryland,  and  they  had  eight  children,  of  whom 
five  are  now  living,  namely :  Flora,  who  lives  at 
home :  William  C,  of  San  Francisco,  California ; 
Annie,  wife  of  Frederick  Bohn,  of  St.  Joseph; 
Mary,  wife  of  Walter  J.  Norris,  of  Kansas  City  ; 
E.  Gray,  an  architect,  associated  with  his  father. 
The  family  are  Catholics,  belonging  to  the  Cathe- 
dral congregation. 

The  early  enthusiasm  felt  by  Mr.  Powell  for 
his  profession  has  never  left  him.  He  still  cher- 
ishes the  idea  of  the  true  architect,  the  building 
beautifully  of  useful  structures.  He  does  not 
doubt  tlie  refining  influences  of  such  work  and 
has  always  advocated  the  construction  of  artistic 
as  well  as  utilitarian  buildings. 

■» «  » 


DMOND  J.  ECKEL,  senior  member  of 
the  firm  of  Eckel  &  Mann,  is  one  of  the 
l)cst    known    architects    in    the    West, 
throughout  which  he  has  many  public 
buildings,  school  houses,  churches,  bus- 
iness blocks,  and  residences  standing  as  evidence 
of  his  genius.     He  has  made  his  home  in  St.  Jo- 
seph, Missouri,  since  1869. 

Mr.  Eckel  is  a  son  of  Philip  Jacob  and  Caro- 
line Louise  (Schweighaeuser)  Eckel,  and  was 
born  in  .Strasburg,  yMsace.  France,  June  22,  1845, 
his  father  being  a  native  of  the  same  place.  His 
maternal    grandfather    was    a    manufacturer    at 


Strasburg,  and  his  family  was  one  of  prominence 
in  that  section.  The  Eckel  family  removed  from 
Saxony  to  Alsace  about  1630,  and  were  of  the 
Lutheran  faith.  The  father  of  Edmond  J.  Eckel 
was  a  prominent  manufacturer  in  that  country. 
The  mother  came  to  America  in  1870  and  made 
her  home  with  her  sons  until  her  death  in  1886, 
aged  "JT.  years.  Of  their  six  children,  two  are 
now  living:  Albertine  and  Edmond  J. 

Edmond  J.  Eckel  received  a  good  education 
in  his  mother  tongue  and  was  14  years  of  age 
when  he  began  the  study  of  architecture  with  a 
relative,  preparatory  to  entering  the  school  of  fine 
arts  in  Paris.  He  later  went  to  that  famous  cen- 
ter of  art  and  was  a  student  at  L'Ecole  des  Beaux 
Arts,  the  best  institution  of  its  kind  in  the  world, 
and  there  pursued  his  studies  diligently  for  four 
and  a  half  years.  Soon  after  his  graduation,  he 
concluded  to  try  his  fortune  in  America  and  in 
September,  1868,  left  Havre.  France,  on  the 
steamer  "Ville  de  Paris,"  and  landed  at  New 
York  City.  He  proceeded  West  to  Cleveland, 
Ohio,  w^here  for  eight  months  he  worked  as  a 
draughtsman,  then  went  still  farther  West,  to 
Omaha,  Nebraska.  He  started  for  Kansas  City 
on  business,  and  while  en  route,  on  July  3,  1869, 
was  obliged  to  stop  over  Sunday  in  St.  Joseph 
because  of  a  railroad  accident.  Tt  proved  one  of 
those  little  incidents  which  change  the  course  of 
one's  entire  life.  He  was  deeply  impressed  with 
the  town  and  decided  to  locate  here.  He  easily  ob- 
tained employment  in  his  profession,  becoming  a 
draughtsman  for  Stiegers  &  Boettner,  with  whom 
he  continued  for  nearly  three  years.  In  1872,  he 
was  made  a  partner  in  the  firm,  the  senior  member 
retiring,  and  the  firm  name  became  Boettner  & 
Eckel.  It  remained  as  such  until  1880,  then  be- 
came Eckel  &  Mann.  He  continued  in  partner- 
ship with  Mr.  Mann  until  the  latter  went  to  St. 
Louis,  in  1891,  to  superintend  the  construction  of 
work  there.  Our  subject  continued  in  business 
alone  until  1899,  when  he  and  Mr.  Mann  again 
became  associated.  Mr.  Eckel  has  been  the  archi- 
tect for  the  St.  Joseph  School  Board  since  1896 
and  since  the  year  t88o  he  has  drafted  and  has 
been  the  architect  for  the  principal  wholesale 
houses,  public  buildings  and  residences  at  St. 
Joseph,  among  them  being :  The  St.  Joseph  Union 
Station,  St.  Joseph  High  School  Building,  St.  Jo- 
seph Live  Stock  Exchange  Building  (South  St. 
Joseph),  First  Baptist  Church.  Elks  Club,  Free 
Public  Library.  Carnegie  l^)ranch  Library  and  the 
Commercial  Block  ;  the  buildings  for  the  Tootle. 
Wheeler  &  Motter  Mercantile  Company,  C.  D. 


7i8 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY  AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


Smith  Drug  Company,  Nave-McCord  Mercantile 
Company,  Hirsch  Brothers  Dry  Goods  Company, 
Richardson-Roberts  Dry  Goods  Company  and  R. 
L.  McDonald  &  Company ;  German- American 
Bank  Building,  the  State  Hospital  for  Insane,  No. 
2,  St.  Joseph  Gas  Company's  Building,  First  Na- 
tional Bank  of  Buchanan  County  Building.  Logan 
Block.  Tootle-Lemon  National  Bank  Building, 
Board  of  Trade  Building.  Transit  House  (South 
St.  Joseph)  and  numerous  others.  A  few  of  the 
residences  are  those  of  J.  B.  Moss.  J.  W.  I\IcAl- 
lister.  D.  L.  Bartlett.  Jr.,  H.  A.  Smith.  S.  M. 
Nave,  J.  J.  Tootle,  M.  H.  Bartlett  and  N.  P. 
Ogden. 

Messrs.  Eckel  and  Mann  were  the  architects 
for  many  public  and  private  buildings  throughout 
the  West.  Among  these  are  the  court  houses  at 
Council  Bluffs  (Iowa),  Maryville,  ^laysville, 
Rockport  and  Albany  (Missouri),  and  buildings 
at  Quincy,  Illinois ;  Fort  Worth,  Texas :  Pueblo, 
Colorado ;  Union  Station  at  Hannibal,  Missouri, 
and  the  Faxton  Hotel  at  Omaha,  Nebraska.  In 
1890  they  drew  plans  for  the  new  City  Hall  at  St. 
Louis,  winning  preference  over  some  37  competi- 
tors. At  present  they  are  preparing  plans  for  the 
new  Auditorium :  also  for  a  large  office  building 
and  a  large  hotel  building  at  Little  Rock,  Ar- 
kansas, where  the  new  Arkansas  State  Capitol, 
for  which  they  are  the  architects,  is  being  erected. 

In  1875,  Mr.  Eckel  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Minnie  L.  Schroers.  a  daughter  of  George 
D.  Schroers,  a  manufacturer  of  St.  Joseph.  Four 
ch.ildren  were  born  to  them,  as  follows :  Edmond 
G. ;  Minnie  A.,  wife  of  David  R.  Agnew,  by  whom 
she  has  a  daughter,  Marguerite  E. ;  Elvie  E. ;  and 
George  R.  Mr.  Eckel  is  a  man  of  pleasing  per- 
sonality, and  has  many  friends  wherever  known. 


■♦* » 


TIERT  T.  JONES.*  one  of  the  repre- 
sentative farmers  of  Rush  township, 
Buchanan  County,  located  on  a  well- 
cultivated  and  valuable  farm  of  81 
acres,  in  section  24,  was  born  in  this 
township.  September  27.  1847.  ^"d  is  a  son  of 
Daniel  and  Elizabeth   (Staggs)  Jones. 

Daniel  Jones,  father  of  our  subject,  was  born 
in  1803  in  Virginia,  but  was  educated  in  Ken- 
tucky, to  which  State  his  parents  had  moved 
while  he  was  young.  At  a  later  date,  Mr.  Jones 
moved  to  Rush  County,  Indiana,  and  in  1845.  ^o 
Buchanan  County.  IMissouri.  He  located  on  land 
in  Bloomington  township,  where  he  died  in  1886. 
He  married  Elizabeth  Staggs,  who  was  a  daugh- 


ter of  James  Staggs.  a  farmer  of  Fleming  County, 
Kentucky.  .They  had  these  children :  James, 
Sarah.  William.  Lovina,  Ambrose.  Fielding, 
Alarilda,  Albert  T..  Marinda  and  Alfred  B. 

The  father  was  a  lifelong  member  of  the  Dem- 
ocratic party,  but  never  sought  political  office.  He 
died  as  he  had  lived,  a  man  respected  by  all  who 
knew  him.  The  mother  of  our  subject  was  a  con- 
sistent meml)er  of  the  Baptist  Church. 

Albert  T.  Jones  obtained  his  education  in  the 
public  schools  and  has  been  interested  in  farming 
ever  since  attaining  his  majority.  His  home  farm 
is  all  under  cultivation  and  is  well-improved.  INIr. 
Jones  has  utilized  modern  machinery  and  operates 
his  land  wisely  and  sensibly.  A  practical  farmer, 
himself,  he  has  always  been  interested  in  agricul- 
tural matters  and  especially  in  agricultural  legis- 
lation in  county  and  township.  In  addition  to 
this  well-improved  tract  of  81  acres,  he  also  has 
an  interest  in  70  acres  in  another  part  of  the 
township. 

On  February  2"],  1875,  Mr.  Jones  was  mar- 
ried to  Susan  ^IcCarty,  who  is  a  daughter  of 
Moses  ]\IcCarty.  of  Leavenworth  County,  Kansas, 
and  they  have  these  children :  Edward  and 
Thomas,  both  employed  at  home ;  Gertrude,  who 
married  John  Alexander,  a  school  teacher  of 
Leavenworth  County,  and  has  one  child, — \^eta ; 
and  Clatide  and  Dollie,  both  at  home. 

Mr.  Jones  has  always  been  a  strong  sup- 
porter of  the  Democratic  party.  He  is  a  pleas- 
ant, genial  man,  one  who  commands  the  respect 
of  his  neighbors  and  one  who  bears  the  reputa- 
tion of  being  one  of  the  township's  best  farmers. 


♦ « » 


AIMETT  C.  WELLSy*  a  successful  mer- 
chant of  Rushville.  Buchanan  County, 
was  born  in  Lee  County,  Virginia.  No- 
vember II.  1836.  and  is  a  son  of  Will- 
iam S.  and  Lovina  (Jones)  Wells. 
The  Wells  family  is  of  Welsh  origin  and  was 
established  in  this  country  as  early  as  the  year 
1500.  Robert  Wells,  grandfather  of  our  subject, 
was  a  native  of  Lee  Coimty.  Virginia,  where  he 
received  his  education  and  engaged  in  his  occu- 
])ation  as  merchant  and  stock  dealer.  He  mar- 
ried a  Miss  Shepherd,  by  whom  he  had  the  fol- 
lowing issue  :  Frank  :  William  S. ;  George  W^ash- 
ington  ;  Celia  :  Rachel  and  Louisa.  In  1838.  Rob- 
ert Wells  removed  from  Virginia  to  Southwestern 
Missouri,  to  what  is  now  Howell  County,  where 
he  engaged  in  stock-raising.  There  he  and  his 
wife  died. 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


719 


William  S.  Wells,  father  of  Emmett  C,  was 
born  in  Lee  County,  \"irginia,  in  1812,  was  edu- 
cated there  and  in  his  early  days  was  employed 
as  a  school  teacher  and  afterward  engaged  in  the 
mercantile  business.  He  accompanied  his  parents 
to  Howell  County,  Missouri,  in  1838,  and  in  1843 
removed  to  Marshall,  Alabama,  where  for  eight 
years  he  engaged  in  the,  mercantile  business.  In 
185 1,  he  removed  to  Obion  County,  Tennessee, 
where  he  followed  farming  a  short  time,  then 
again  embarked  in  the  mercantile  business.     In 

1855,  he   moved   to  Jackson   County,    Missouri, 
where  he  followed  farming  and  stock-raising  until 

1856,  then  went  to  Douglas  County,  Kansas, 
where  he  farmed.  He  was  elected  to  the  State  Leg- 
islature from  that  county  in  1857,  and  was  one 
of  the  framers  of  the  Lecompton  Constitution.  In 
i860,  the  year  of  the  drought,  he  came  to  Bu- 
chanan County,  Missouri,  locating  in  Rushville. 
He  here  enlisted  in  Company  B,  Colonel  Martin's 
regiment  in  Range's  division  of  the  Confederate 
Army,  and  took  part  in  tlie  battle  of  Pea  Ridge. 
In  March,  1862,  he  was  mustered  out  at  Des  Arc, 
Arkansas,  and  returned  to  Rushville,  where  for 
a  time  he  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business.  He 
served  three  terms  as  a  member  of  the  State  Leg- 
islature,— in  1874,  1876  and  1878, — representing 
his  district  in  a  most  faithful  manner.  He  is  now 
retired  and  lives  with  his  daughter,  Mrs.  J.  W. 
Allison,  at  the  age  of  92  years.  Lie  married 
Lovina  Jones,  a  daughter  of  Zechariah  and  Eliza- 
beth Jones  of  Lee  County,  \'irginia,  and  they  had 
the  following  offspring:  James  M.,  deceased; 
Emmett  C. ;  Martha  J.,  wife  of  David  Green,  of 
Kansas  City;  Minerva  J.,  wife  of  Reese  Matney 
of  Kansas  City ;  Samuel  B.,  of  Rushville  ;  Robert, 
deceased;  Elizabeth,  wife  of  J.  W.  Allison,  a 
farmer  of  Rush  township;  Mary,  deceased;  Al- 
bert, deceased  ;  and  George  W.  of  Agency,  chair- 
man of  the  Democratic  County  Central  Commit- 
tee. William  S.  Wells  is  a  member  of  the  Bai)tist 
Church.  He  is  a  Democrat  in  politics  and  cast 
his  first  vote  for  Gen.  Andrew  Jackson  for 
president. 

Emmett  C.  Wells  accompanied  his  parents  in 
their  several  removals  to  Missouri,  Alabama  and 
Tennessee,  and  received  his  educational  training 
in  the  schools  of  these  States.  He  left  school  at 
the  age  of  20  years  and  in  October,  t86t,  left  the 
farm  to  enlist  in  Com|)any  ]>,  of  Col.  Elijah 
Gates'  regiment,  in  Range's  division.  He  later 
served  under  Colonel  Williams,  in  Shelby's  brig- 
ade, taking  part  in  the  battles  of  Pea  Ridge, 
Prairie  Grove.   Independence,   Springfield,   Lnne 


Jack  and  Crane  Creek  and  in  a  few  skirmishes. 
He  was  mustered  out  in  March,  1863,  ^^  Pine 
Bluffs,  Arkansas,  and  subsequently  returned  to 
Rushville,  where  he  remained  until  May,  1864, 
and  then  went  to  Colorado  and  engaged  in  mining 
four  years.  He  again  came  to  Rushville  in  1868 
and  has  since  been  engaged  in  the  mercantile 
business.  He  has  a  complete  stock  of  dry  goods 
and  groceries  and  enjoys  a  lucrative  trade  in  the 
community. 

In  i860,  Mr.  Wells  was  joined  in  marriage 
with  Sarah  J.  Tu}rer,  a  daughter  of  Simon 
Tuyrer,  a  farmer  of  Douglas  County,  Kansas, 
and  two  children  were  born  to  them :  Francis  S., 
deceased  at  the  age  of  31  years,  who  married 
Kitty  Carson,  a  daughter  of  Capt.  W'illiam  Car- 
son, of  Forest  Cit\ ,  Missouri, — to  them  were 
born  three  children,  Emmett,  Kate  and  Charles; 
and  Lovina,  who  died  at  the  age  of  four  years. 
Mrs.  Wells  died  April  10,  1874.  Our  subject 
formed  a  second  marriage  on  Alay  10,  1876,  with 
Nattie  A.  Dickson,  a  daughter  of  J.  H.  and 
Martha  (Pepper)  Dickson,  of  Rushville,  and  two 
children  have  blessed  this  union  :  James  E.,  who 
married  Bertha  E.  Lawrence,  a  daughter  of  Cole- 
man Lawrence,  a  farmer  and  stock-raiser  of  New 
Market,  I\lissouri,  and  has  one  son, — Lawrence; 
and  Mattie,  who  lives  at  home.  Mr.  Wells  is  a 
member  of  the  Missionary  Baptist  Church.  In 
politics,  he  has  always  been  a  stanch  Democrat 
and  has  taken  a  deep  and  active  interest  in  party 
affairs.  He  was  appointed  by  Governor  Dockery 
in  1 90 1  as  assessor  of  Buchanan  County,  and 
served  efficiently  in  that  capacity  for  two  years. 
For  a  period  of  14  years  he  served  satisfactorily 
as  justice  of  the  peace.  Fraternally,  he  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Masons  and  the  Odd  Fellows. 


♦ « ♦■ 


ILLIAM  WILEY  WHITTINGTON,* 

who  resides  in  a  fine  residence  facins: 

the  school  house  in  the  town  of  De- 

Kalb,    Buchanan    County,    was    for 

many   years   a   prominent   farmer   in 

the   county.     He  is   still   owner  of  considerable 

farm  land  and  town  property,  which  he  buys  and 

sells  when  he  can  do  so  advantageously. 

The  Whittington  family  was  established  in 
this  country  by  two  brothers,  William  and  John, 
who  left  England  at  the  time  of  the  persecution 
of  the  Protestants,  and  located  in  Baltimore, 
Maryland.  William  Whittington,  grandfather  of 
our  subject,  was  born  in  Baltimore,  and  moved 


■20 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN   COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


from  there  to  North  Carolina.  He  had  seven 
sons  and  three  dau^^hters. 

Hon.  Allan  A.  Whittington,  father  of  our  sub- 
ject, was  born  in  North  Carolina,  February  i, 
1820.  and  there  was  educated  and  reared  to  man- 
hood. He  came  West  to  Missouri  in  1841,  and 
made  the  trip  back  to  his  native  State  by  wagon 
in  1843.  In  1844  he  came  to  Buchanan  County, 
settling  one  mile  west  of  Wallace,  where  he  pre- 
empted a  claim.  At  that  date  Indians  were 
numerous  and  frequently  stopped  at  his  house, 
which  was  just  a  quarter  of  a  mile  off  the  old 
trail  between  St.  Joseph  and  Weston.  Mr.  Whit- 
tington was  a  cooper  by  trade  and  a  blacksmith, 
and  did  most  of  the  blacksmithing  for  his  neigh- 
bors. The  trading  point  at  that  time  was  Weston, 
and  he  used  to  make  trips  to  the  mill  of  Joseph 
Robidoux,  which  consumed  four  or  five  days. 
While  waiting  his  turn  at  the  mill,  he  spent  his 
leisure  time  in  fiishing  and  hunting.  At  that 
early  period  he  split  many  rails  for  the  father  of 
Judge  O.  M.  Spencer,  for  which  he  received  25 
cents  per  hundred,  and  he  also  chopped  cord  wood 
for  25  cents  a  cord.  He  engaged  in  general  farm- 
ing but  later  in  life  was  admitted  to  the  bar,  al- 
though he  did  not  practice  except  in  justice 
courts.  He  was  an  upbuilder  of  the  schools  and 
churches  in  his  district  and  was  a  consistent  mem- 
ber of  Unity  Christian  Church.  He  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Democratic  party  and  represented  his 
district  in  the  52d  General  Assembly.  Fraternally, 
he  was  a  Mason  and  belonged  to  the  Comman- 
dery.  Knights  Templar.  His  death  occcurred 
while  on  a  visit  to  his  daughter's  house  near 
A\'eston,  April  22,  1869,  and  his  wife  survived 
him  many  years,  dying  March  25,  1899.  Both  are 
buried  at  Unity  Church.  They  were  parents  of  the 
following  children :  Ellen,  widow  of  William 
Hiles ;  John  J.;  Margaret,  widow  of  Samuel 
Judah  ;  Ezekiel  S.,  who  lives  near  Girard,  Kan- 
sas ;  and  William  Wiley,  our  subject. 

William  W.  Whittington  was  born  half  a  m-'le 
west  of  Halleck,  in  Crawford  township,  Bucha^ian 
County,  Missouri,  March  7,  1847.  He  received 
his  early  education  in  the  old  log  school  house,  in 
which  slabs  were  used  for  benches.  At  the  out- 
break of  the  Civil  War  he  became  a  student  in  the 
schools  of  Platte  City.  He  later  attended  school 
at  Camden  Point.  He  remained  on  his  father's 
farm  until  he  reached  his  26th  year,  then  pur- 
chased a  tract  of  land  in  Crawford  township,  on 
which  he  resided  six  years.  At  the  end  of  that 
period,  he  bought  a  farm  adjoining  the  home- 
stead and  190  acres  close  by,  and  there  he  lived 


for  20  years.  He  then  sold  a  part  of  his  land  and 
bought  property  to  the  north  of  it,  where  he  lived 
two  years,  then  purchased  still  another  farm,  on 
which  he  also  lived  two  years.  Since  March, 
T904.  he  has  lived  at  DeKalb,  and  has  bought  and 
sold  property  with  successful  results. 

In  1875,  ^i^-  W'hittington  married  Lucinda 
Roberts,  by  whom  he  had  two  children.  He  sub- 
sequently married  Lulu  Davis,  and  they  have  two 
children :  Delia  and  Lee  Wiley.  Religiously,  he 
is  a  member  of  the  Christian  Church.  He  is  a 
man  of  public  spirit  and  enterprise  and  stands 
high  in  the  esteem  of  his  large  circle  of  acquain- 
tances throusfhout  the  county. 


^ « » 


HARLES  BURRL*  Among  the  self- 
made  men  of  St.  Joseph,  whose  lives 
offer  food  for  thought,  in  the  fact  that 
their  success  shows  so  completely  the 
certain  reward  which  awaits  industry 
and  economy,  is  Charles  Burri,  for  many  years 
one  of  the  most  prominent  business  men  of  this 
bustling  city.  His  birth  took  place  in  Canton 
Zurich,  Switzerland,  December  8,  1836,  and  he  is 
a  son  of  Jacob  and  Anna  (Weber)  Burri. 

The  parents  of  Mr.  Burri  were  both  of  Swiss 
nativity.  The  mother  died  when  our  subject,  the 
youngest  of  her  seven  children,  was  three  months 
old.  The  father  owned  a  bit  of  property  and  fol- 
lowed farming  all  his  life  in  his  own  country, 
where  he  was  looked  up  to  as  a  man  of  education 
and  exemplary  life.  He  died  there  at  the  age  of 
52  years.    Three  of  his  sons  came  to  America. 

Our  subject  remained  in  his  own  land  until 
1855,  when,  following  the  example  of  his  two 
older  brothers,  he  set  sail  for  New  York,  where 
he  arrived  on  June  ist  of  that  year.  His  objec- 
tive point  was  Madison,  New  Jersey,  where  one 
brother  had  located.  The  younger  brother  found 
a  welcome  from  the  older  one,  who  hired  him  out 
to  a  neighboring  farmer.  The  change  in  climate, 
however,  affected  the  youth's  health,  and  another 
occupation  had  to  be  found.  He  was  therefore 
fitted  out  with  a  pack  of  notions  and  sent  out 
through  the  rural  districts  to  sell  them,  returning 
every  Saturday,  and  going  to  New  York  on  Mon- 
day for  a  new  outfit.  He  followed  this  occupa- 
tion for  four  months,  in  the  meantime  becoming 
somewhat  accustomed  to  the  language  and  cus- 
toms of  the  country. 

In  October,  1855.  Mr.  Burri  joined  a  party  of 
Germans  on  their  way  to  Dubuque,  Iowa,  where 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


■21 


the  other  brother  was  serving  as  a  waiter  in  a 
boarding  house.  The  elder  brother  was  anxious 
to  return  to  Morristown,  New  Jersey,  to  complete 
his  apprenticeship  to  the  tinner's  trade,  and  gladly 
gave  the  newcomer  his  position  in  the  boarding 
house.  This  seemed  a  satisfactory  arrangement 
all  round  and  Charles  discharged  the  duties  of 
the  position  for  a  year  and  a  half,  when  he  ob- 
tained a  situation  in  a  mill  in  the  vicinity  of 
Lansing,  Iowa,  where  he  continued  at  work  for  a 
like  period.  The  winter  of  1857  he  spent  at 
Dubuque  and  then  joined  his  brother  who  had 
completed  his  trade  and  opened  a  tinning  estab- 
lishment at  Iowa  City.  There,  again,  the  younger 
brother  seemed  able  to  adjust  himself  to  circum- 
stances and  by  1859  had  mastered  the  tinning  bus- 
iness. He  then  settled  at  Richmond,  Iowa,  where 
the  brothers  conducted  a  partnership  in  the  busi- 
ness until  1 86 1. 

In  i860,  Mr.  Ilurri  went  to  Iowa  City,  Iowa, 
where  he  took  out  his  naturalization  papers  and 
on  the  day  following  started  for  New  York.  He 
again  crossed  the  Atlantic  in  order  to  receive  the 
small  patrimony  left  him  by  his  father,  and  re- 
mained in  Switzerland  until  the  following  year, 
when  he  returned  to  America,  locating  at  Rich- 
mond, Iowa.  After  looking  about  for  a  good 
place  to  locate,  he  chose  Muscatine,  Iowa,  where 
the  two  brothers  again  carried  on  a  tinning 
business  until  1863.  when  our  subject  sold  his 
interest  to  his  partner  and  came  to  St.  Joseph. 
Here  he  served  until  the  close  of  the  Civil  War 
in  the  State  Militia,  first  in  the  artillery  branch 
under  Captain  Landry  and  later  under  ]\lajor 
Hartwig. 

After  settling  permanently  at  St.  Joseph.  'Sir. 
Burri  opened  both  a  grocery  store  and  a  tinshop. 
This  was  an  excellent  lousiness  arrangement  as  he 
had  married  a  wife  who  was  a  real  helpmeet,  and 
was  perfectly  capable  of  managing  the  former 
business  while  he  attended  to  the  latter.  How- 
ever, on  account  of  the  great  growth  of  his  gro- 
cery interests,  Mr.  Burri  only  continued  his  tin- 
ning work  for  two  years,  and  then  sold  it  and 
subsequently  devoted  his  whole  attention  to  the 
grocery.  Lender  his  good  management  this  en- 
terprise developed  into  one  of  the  largest  indus- 
tries of  its  kind  in  the  city  and  brought  an  ample 
fortune  to  its  owner.  Mr.  Burri  has  had  some 
rough  discipline  in  his  life,  but  he  has  never 
lost  his  courage  or  determination  to  succeed. 

We  have  mentioned  the  admirable  lady  whom 
our  subject  chose  for  his  wife,  Josephine  Bash- 
nagcl.  whom  he  married  in  1862.     She  was  born 


in  Baden,  Germany,  and  died  at  St.  Joseph,  Mis- 
souri, May  13.  1898.  She  was  a  woman  of  cheer- 
ful, lovable  characteristics  and  in  the  rearing  of 
her  children  and  in  assisting  her  husband  has  been 
rarely  equaled  by  any  wife  or  mother.  The  seven 
children  born  to  this  union  were :  Charles,  resid- 
ing with  his  parents,  who  is  employed  in  the  St. 
Joseph  Post  Office;  Mrs.  Josephine  Hafner,  who 
conducts  a  hotel  in  Arizona ;  Anna  E.,  who  is  the 
wife  of  Frederick  Harman,  a  florist  at  El  Paso, 
Texas ;  John,  who  went  to  Alaska  some  five  }ears 
ago  and  has  been  lost  track  of  by  his  family; 
Nellie,  who  is  the  wife  of  Dr.  A.  Herney,  of  Ne- 
braska ;  Julia  E.,  ■  formerly  a  successful  teacher 
in  the  city  and  county  schools,  who  is  now  the 
wife  of  Albert  Cary,  a  lumber  merchant  of  Ne- 
l)raska ;  and  George  W.  The  last  named,  a  prom- 
ising young  man,  was  associated  with  the  Tootle- 
Lemon  National  Bank  until  recently,  when,  on 
account  of  delicate  health,  he  joined  his  brother- 
in-law  at  El  Paso,  Texas. 

Mr.  Burri  has  voted,  with  one  exception,  for 
the  candidates  of  the  Republican  party  ever  since 
obtaining  the  right.  This  exception  was  when 
Grover  Cleveland  was  elected  President  the  sec- 
ond time.  His  beautiful  home  is  located  at  No. 
808  North  24th  street.  He  frequently  seeks 
recreation  in  travel  and  enjoys  visiting  his  daugh- 
ters.   He  is  held  in  high  regard  in  St.  Joseph. 


^♦»- 


TERLING  PRICE  BROUGHTON,*  one 

of  the  leading  citizens  of  Buchanan 
County,  and  State  grain  inspector  at  St. 
Joseph,  was  born  in  New  Madrid 
County,  Missouri,  June  18,  1861,  and  is 
a  son  of  Jefiferson  Monroe  and  Louisa  (Myers) 
Broughton. 

Jefferson  Monroe  Broughton  was  born  in 
1825  at  Natchez,  Mississippi,  and  was  a  son  of 
John  and  Sarah  Broughton,  who  came  from 
England,  and  settled  first  in  Kentucky,  where 
John  Broughton  filled  judicial  positions.  Later 
he  removed  to  Mississippi  and  still  later  to  Mary- 
land and  then  to  Lexington,  Kentucky.  The 
father  of  our  subject  was  reared  on  his  father's 
farm  in  the  neighborhood  of  Lexington,  but  when 
he  reached  maturity  he  came  to  Missouri,  and  was 
one  of  the  earliest  settlers  in  the  vicinity  of  Lex- 
ington, probably  having  something  to  do  with  the 
naming  of  the  town  in  remembrance  of  his  old 
home.  For  some  years  he  continued  to  farm  in 
that   localitv   and    then   moved    to    New    Madrid 


722 


HISTORY  OF   BUCHANAN    COUNTY   AND   ST.   JOSEPH 


County,  where  he  bought  his  father-in-law's 
farm.  Mr.  Broughton  Hved  on  this  farm  until 
his  death,  in  1891,  at  the  age  of  66  years.  He 
was  a  large  general  farmer  and  stock-raiser  and 
was  a  man  of  prominence  and  stability,  frequently 
serving  as  public  administrator.  Politically,  he 
was  a  lifelong  Democrat. 

Jefferson  M.  Broughton  married  Louisa 
Myers,  a  daughter  of  Nathan  Myers,  of  New 
Madrid  County,  Missouri,  the  family  coming 
originally  from  Pennsylvania.  Of  the  seven 
children  born  to  this  marriage,  six  grew  to  ma- 
turity and  all  reside  in  New  Madrid  County,  ex- 
cept our  subject.  '  They  are:  Charles  H. ;  James 
E. ;  Emma  P..  whose  first  husband  was  Thomas 
L.  Given  and  her  second*  Edward  P.  Travis ; 
Sarah,  who  is  the  widow  of  George  T.  Price ; 
Jesse  B. :  and  Sterling  Price.  The  mother  of  this 
family  still  survives,  bearing  well  her  70  years. 
The  family  belong  to  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church. 

Sterling  P.  Broughton  enjoyed  few  educa- 
tional advantages  in  his  boyhood,  his  opportuni- 
ties being  only  those  offered  by  the  local  district 
schools,  and  he  remained  on  the  home  farm  until 
he  attained  his  majority.  He  then  secured  land 
and  farmed  for  himself  until  1883,  when  he 
moved  into  the  town  of  New  Madrid  where  he 
embarked  in  a  grocery  business,  which  he  con- 
tinued until  he  was  appointed  State  grain  inspec- 
tor, in  the  year  of  Governor  Francis'  inaugura- 
tion. He  removed  to  St.  Louis  and  lived  in  that 
city  until  1902,  when  he  came  to  St.  Joseph, 
where  his  home  has  been  ever  since. 

In  November,  1886,  Mr.  Broughton  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Christine  Harding,  who 
is  a  daughter  of  Gen.  James  and  Christine  (Cor- 
dell)  Harding,  now  of  Jefferson  City,  Missouri. 
One  son  has  been  born  to  this  marriage, — 
Eugene  H.  Mrs.  Broughton  is  a  member  of  the 
Catholic  Church. 

The  late  Gen.  James  Harding  was  a  distin- 
guished officer  in  the  Confederate  Army.  He  was 
born  at  Boston,  Massachusetts,  but  was  taken  to 
\'irginia  in  childhood,  where  he  was  reared  and 
married.  By  profession  he  was  a  civil  engineer 
and  built  a  part  of  the  Missouri  Pacific  Railway. 
During  the  Civil  War  he  served  with  gallantry 
under  Gen.  Sterling  Price,  and  after  its  close 
moved  to  Pensacola,  Florida,  where  Mrs.  Brough- 
ton was  born.  For  a  time  General  Harding  was 
engaged  there  in  a  lumber  business,  but  later  came 
to  Missouri  and  followed  railroad  building  until 
he  became  railroad  commissioner  and  later  rail- 


road and  warehouse  commissioner.  In  the  latter 
position  he  served  for  two  terms,  being  the  only 
man  who  ever  succeeded  himself,  in  this  State^ 
in  this  ofifice.  He  had  served  18  years  and  was 
secretary  of  the  board  when  he  died.  He  had  lost 
heavily  in  slaves  and  other  property,  by  the  for- 
tunes of  war,  as  had  the  father  of  Mr.  Brough- 
ton, who  had  been  a  large  slave-owner. 

Our  subject  was  reared  a  Democrat  and  has 
always  been  a  stanch  supporter  of  the  vital  prin- 
ciples of  Democracy.  He  belongs  to  several  bene- 
ficial organizations,  among  which  are  the  Royal 
Arcanum  at  St.  Louis,  and  the  Modern  Broth- 
erhood of  America,  at  St.  Joseph. 

Mr.  Broughton  is  a  man  who  has  alwa3'S  com- 
manded the  respect  of  all  with  whom  he  has  come 
in  contact,  in  public,  business  or  social  life.  The 
public  position  he  has  filled  so  efficiently  for  so 
long  is  one  of  great  importance  in  an  agricultural 
State  like  Missouri. 


♦ » » 


O.  HICKS,*  a  large  dealer  in  oils  and 
engineering  mills  supplies,  who  repre- 
sented the  First  Ward  in  the  City  Coun- 
cil for  several  years,  was  born  and 
reared  in  St.  Louis  and  is  a  son  of 
Thomas  E.  Hicks.  His  grandfather  Hicks  was  a 
Quaker  from  Hicksville,  Long  Island,  and  his 
grandmother,  Mrs.  Rosalie  (La  Tresse)  Hicks, 
was  of  French  birth,  her  family  escaping  from 
France  during  the  Reign  of  Terror. 

Thomas  E.  Hicks  has  been  a  resident  of  St. 
Louis  for  many  \  ears  and  there  learned  the  trade 
of  a  printer  in  the  old  Republican  job  office, 
working  his  way  up  to  a  position  as  editor  on  the 
staff  of  the  Post-Dispatch.  He  has  been  retired 
from  active  life  for  a  number  of  years  and  makes 
his  home  with  one  of  his  two  daughters  living  in 
St.  Louis.  He  was  a  staff  officer  during  the  Civil 
War  and  participated  in  many  battles.  He  was 
also  a  member  of  the  old  volunteer  Fire  Depart- 
ment of  St.  Louis  when  hand  engines  were  in 
common  use.  His  wife,  whose  surname  was 
Ogden,  was  of  English  origin,  her  mother  having^ 
been  born  on  shipboard  when  the  latter's  parents 
were  coming  to  this  country. 

E.  O.  Hicks  was  educated  in  the  public  schools 
of  his  native  city  and  long  before  his  graduation 
had  mastered  the  printer's  trade.  He  had  oper- 
ated a  small  press  when  a  lad,  printing  cards,  cir- 
culars, etc.,  and  spent  considerable  time  in  the 
pressroom  of  his  father's  paper.  Having  a  natural 
talent  for  mechanical  work,  he  learned  the  trade 


AND    REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


7^Z 


of  an  engineer,  receiving  an  engineer's  license  and 
holding  a  nieml)ership  in  the  National  Stationary 
Engineers'  Association.  He  then  accepted  a  posi- 
tion as  traveling  salesman  with  a  wholesale 
plnmbing  house  of  his  native  city  and  was  con- 
nected with  the  cf)nccrn  for  a  number  of  years. 
In  1890  he  came  to  St.  Joseph  and  for  eight  years 
represented  the  Horigan  Supply  Company  on  the 
road.  Tiring  of  traveling  and  thinking  to  find  a 
naore  satisfactory  employment,  he  ojjcned  his 
present  business  and  has  succeeded  beyond  his 
most  sanguine  expectations.  Mrs.  Hicks  is  a 
daughter  of  James  15.  Riney,  an  old  resident  of 
St.  Joseph  who  died  many  years  ago.  Her  mother 
took  for  her  second  husband  a  Mr.  Bush,  a  man 
of  wealth  and  position  for  whom  Bush  street  ( St. 
Joseph)  was  named.  Her  maternal  grandfather, 
T.  J.   \^anderslice.   came  from   Kentucky  to  St. 


Joseph  in  1854  and  acted  as  Indian  agent  and 
teacher  in  Kansas,  not  far  fi'om  this  city.  At  one 
time  he  owned  a  section  of  land,  some  of  which  is 
still  in  the  possession  of  his  heirs.  To  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Hicks  have  been  born  two  sons:  Roger  Lee, 
aged  eight  and  Bernie  \'ancil,  aged  five  years. 
Mrs.  Hicks  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church. 
Mr.  Hicks  is  an  Odd  Fellow  and  a  member  of 
the  Improved  Order  of  Red  Men,  Knights  and 
Ladies  of  Security,  and  the  United  Commercial 
Travelers.  He  is  a  Republican  and  his  activity 
in  political  circles  has  resulted  in  much  added 
strength  to  his  party  and  reflects  credit  upon  his 
management.  His  comfortable  residence  at  No. 
3014  Spruce  street  was  erected  in  1894  and  was 
one  of  the  first  honles  built  in  that  part  of  the 
city,  which  is  now  one  of  the  most  beautiful  sub- 
urbs of  St.  Jose])h. 


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