USA > Missouri > Jackson County > Kansas City > A memorial and biographical record of Kansas City and Jackson County Mo. > Part 10
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ocrat. His wife belongs to the Baptist church of Westport, and in social circles they occupy a most enviable position, while throughout the community their circle of friends is very extensive.
AJOR B. F. JONES .- Probably no one in Kansas City is more widely known than this gentle- man; and during one of the most trying periods of its history, when the city was divided into two factions, he has won a host of friends who hold him in the highest regard for his honorable course, his straightforward business policy and his uni- form courteousness. As secretary and gen- eral manager of the Water Works Company he has so conducted affairs that differences between the company and the city have been in a great measure obliterated, and yet without swerving in the least degree from his fidelity to the company that reposes in him the utmost confidence and respect.
Major Jones was born in Gwinett county, Georgia, on the 20th of June, 1831, and in the common schools acquired his education, after which he entered upon his business career as clerk in a country store near his home. With a young man's desire to see something of the world and seek a wider sphere of usefulness and activity, he left home at the age of twenty years and went to New York city. With most commend- atory letters he carried with him he found no difficulty in obtaining employment, secur- ing a situation in a dry-goods and carpet house on Cortlandt street. A year later he entered the service of Whitlock, Nichols & Company, a noted grocery firm, which was afterward succeeded by B. M. & E. A. Whitlock & Company. In the service of
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this house he traveled all over the south and was its representative at the time of the breaking out of the civil war.
He utilized the information and expe- rience that he had acquired through travel and business knowledge to the advantage of the newly organized Confederate government in some papers containing suggestions on the tariff, export duties, etc., which may be found among the proceedings of the first Confed- erate congress. He was a southern man by birth and training, and, true to the princi- ples and teaching in which he had always been trained, when the war was inaugurated he hastened to Rome, Georgia, and in April, 1862, joined the Cherokee artillery, a com- pany already organized, in which his brother was serving as a non-commissioned officer. This company went into the camp of in- struction, and was shortly afterward organ- ized into a battalion, of which, on account of his previous business training and special fitness for the position, he was made quar- termaster. Until the fall of 1861 this bat- talion did service in the vicinity of Rich- mond, Virginia, and Weldon, North Caro- lina. During the winter of that and the succeeding year it was engaged in Tennessee, and afterward in detachments did service between Knoxville and Bristol, its labors being to keep in order the discontented ele- ments of east Tennessee. Finally they were sent to hold the mountain pass of Cumber- land Gap. In June, 1862, Mr. Jones was promoted to the position of brigade quar- termaster, and ordered to take charge of the post at Chattanooga, where devolved upon him all the important work of that post, and in addition he had to superintend the pur- chase of horses, the manufacture of wagons and the preparation of all goods to be trans- ported for General Braxton Bragg's army.
Upon the evacuation of Chattanooga, in September, 1863, Major Jones was tempo- rarily sent to organize the post at La Grange, Georgia, and in May, 1864, was ordered by the secretary of war to report for inspection duty to General Bragg, who then occupied the position of commander-in-chief, under the president, of the armies of the Confed- erate states. He had his headquarters in Richmond, and instituted a most rigid in- vestigation into the irregularities of the va- rious departments of the government, and especially the quartermaster and commissary departments. Major Jones was selected as one of the confidential inspectors for this important work, and with characteristic en- ergy entered upon his duties, traveling as far west as the Mississippi river and exam- ining and reporting on every quartermaster and commissary along his line. In many places he found great evidences of demorali- zation, and his reports were so full and com- prehensive, and showed such perfect know- ledge of the subject matter in hand, that he was highly complimented by those in author- ity, who seldom complimented any one.
When the war was over Major Jones took up his residence in Rome, Georgia, where he engaged in merchandising, build- ing up a large and lucrative trade; but the approach of hard times, the shrinkage of values and the low price of cotton impover - ished the people and caused him, as it did a great many others, to withdraw from the business. His next undertaking was the manufacture of pig iron, which he contin- ued from 1871 until 1873, but the panic of the latter year again demoralized trade and he was forced to abandon this industry also.
About this time the Kansas City Water Works were built by a private corporation,
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which entered into a contract to furnish water for the city; but trouble ensued and the difficulty was augmented as time went on. When the works were completed and the company had to select some one to take charge of their affairs, the choice fell upon Major Jones, who accepted the position of secretary and general manager of the com- pany, removing with his family to Kansas City.
He might well be called the apostle of peace. His position was a difficult one and it required the touch of a skilled and diffi- cult hand to amicably adjust and carry on affairs. By this time a very bitter feeling existed between the company, the city gov- ernment and the citizens, and matters had been carried so far that the acceptance or rejection of the works by the city was made an issue in municipal politics to the exclu- sion of every other subject. To pour oil upon the troubled waters was a work which Major Jones undertook to perform. Largely through his efforts the bad feeling that ex- isted was allayed, obstructions to a better understanding were removed, explanations on both sides were made that cleared away difficulties, and his uniform courtesy trans- formed enemies into friends. The result of his conciliatory measures was that the city authorities and officers of the company met together in an amicable conference, the dif- ficulties were removed one by one, the basis for a compromise of conflicting interests was laid point by point, and finally an un- derstanding was reached that was satisfac- tory to all concerned, and Major Jones was the man who brought about this state of af- fairs. He knew how to handle and manage both parties, for his far-sighted dealing and extreme fairness enabled him to plan and arrange with superior skill, and both sides
recognized and appreciated his justice and honor.
Owing to his efforts the comparatively harmonious relations existed between the city and the company from 1877 until 1889; but in the latter year troubles broke out anew. The claim was made that the company had not complied with the terms of the contract in the construction of the plant; that it had also violated the contract in operating the system, and in consequence the city was absolved from all obligations io the company. This led to much corre- spondence and negotiation, in which the diplomacy in which the Major is an adept parried every blow with consummate skill. He answered question after question with the readiness and power of a lawyer, and met the opposition of the city with un- answerable logic and argument. In 1891 the city authorities undertook to ignore the contract and build an independent system of water-works. In consequence, in Decem- ber of that year, the company commenced proceedings in the United States circuit court to enjoin the city; and that litigation, in varied forms and shapes, has since been continued, and is now about reaching a con- clusion with a decree that the city must buy the works of the company at a valua- tion of $3,000,000, which was consummated September 1, 1895, and is now in possession of the city. During all this long contest every feature of the system, its construction, operation, efficiency and earnings have been under consideration, and in all these matters almost daily demands have been made upon Major Jones for information regarding these various points; and he has been constantly on guard, watching every movement of the enemy.
To no one is greater credit due for the
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splendid results obtained than to the Major. The fight has been made in the face of the most intense prejudice on the part of the people, and yet so great has been his tact that he has scarcely a personal enemy in the city, and has many friends among the oppo- sition who admire and respect him for his straightforward course. He has been un- flinching in his loyalty to the company, the officers placing in him unbounded confidence; but, with his urbanity of manner and uniform kindness to all, the people have only mani- fested an increased admiration for the man who can so conduct affairs under such try- ing circumstances.
The Major possesses in an uncommon degree that indispensable quality known as common sense. He is a man of superior and executive ability, possessing a sagacity and perseverance that are essential qualities in success. He is a man of liberal views and broad general information, very familiar with the wide field of literature, and is an accomplished conversationalist, a compan- ionable gentleman and an unswerving friend, his uniformn kindness and courtesy arising from a kindly feeling and genuine sympathy for others. He is a member of the Central Presbyterian Church, and is now serving on its board of deacons.
HILIP E. CHAPPELL, a retired banker and one of Kansas City's capitalists, has for many years been prominently connected with the business and political history of Missouri, and his name is an honored one in commer- cial and social circles. The fitting reward of every well-spent life is an honored retire- ment from business care. When an indi- vidual has devoted the best efforts of his
manhood to a chosen calling and by his honorable dealing gained the confidence of the public and a liberal competence, he should have a season of rest in which to enjoy the fruits of his former toil. The career of this gentleman has been a worthy one, and he ranks foremost among the prominent business men of his native state.
When William the Conqueror, in 1066, sailed from Normandy to England and suc- ceeded in subjugating that isle, there was numbered among his followers one Chap- elle, who became the founder of the family in that country. The name was afterward anglicized by dropping the final "e." His- tory tells of Robert Chappell, who lived in England about 1550, and his son William. The latter was a profound scholar, becoming a bishop of the church of England, and was stationed over the diocese of Cork, Ireland. William lived about 1580. Another son, Captain John Chapell, became a sailor and commanded the ship Speedwell, a trading vessel, sailing between England and the colony of Virginia. On one of his voyages he was accompanied by his son Thomas, a native of Southampton, England, then a young man of twenty-three years. The son took up his residence in Warwick county, Virginia, at the mouth of the James river, where they landed May 28, 1635. He be- came the father of three sons, -Robert, Thomas and Samuel. The last named is numbered among the direct ancestors of our subject. He became the father of Thomas Chappell, who lived in Charles City county, Virginia, from 1660 until about 1710. Then about 1690 was born his son Thomas, who, having attained his majority, removed across the river to Prince George county and set- tled in the city of Petersburg, where he was engaged in business as an Indian trader,
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from about 1720 until 1740. He married Sarah, daughter of John Jones, and they had a family of six children, three sons and three daughters. This number included John Chapell, who was born in Amelia county, Virginia, in 1722, and died in that county in March, 1775. He was an exten- sive tobacco planter and becaine a wealthy man. He married Prudence Tucker, who belonged to a renowned family.
It was their son John who was the pa- ternal grandfather of our subject. He was born in Amelia county, Virginia, in 1752, and removed to Halifax county in 1782, carrying on business there as a farmer and tobacco planter, becoming very wealthy. He was twice married and had a large family. His death occurred in 1812, when he was aged sixty years. The father of our sub- ject also bore the name of John Chapell and was a native of the Old Dominion, a farmer and planter. In 1836 he removed from Virginia to Missouri, locating in Calla- way county, where he developed a fine farm and became an extensive land owner. He was joined in wedlock with Mary F. Adams, daughter of Philip Adams, a native of Vir- ginia and a granddaughter of John Adams, who had three sons, -John, Philip and Sylvester, -who located in Fluvanna and Pittsylvania counties, Virginia, about 1740. John Adams emigrated from Wales to Amer- ica in the early part of the eighteenth century and spent his remaining days there. As before stated, his sons removed to Virginia, but John is the only one who had a family. He became the father of six sons and two daughters, -William, Richard, Sylvester, John, Philip, Benjamin, Elizabeth and Mar- tha. Their descendants are scattered throughout the south and west. The grand- father of our subject, Philip Adams, was an
extensive tobacco planter and served as a soldier in the war of 1812. His family numbered four children.
Mr. and Mrs. John Chappell had five children, -- two sons and three daughers, - namely: Sarah, wife of Dr. Lenoir, of Co- lumbia, Missouri; Philip E .; Henry, deceased; Fannie W., wife of Judge J. L. Smith, of Kansas City, Missouri; and Martha, wife of Colonel Henry W. Ewing, of Jefferson City, Missouri. The father was a man of con- siderable prominence in Virginia, serving for many years as county surveyor and also as collector of revenue. He died on his farm in Callaway county, Missouri, in 1860, at the age seventy-three years, and his wife passed away in 1869, at the age of fifty- eight. They were both members of the Methodist church, south.
Philip E. Chappell, whose name intro- duces this sketch, was born in Callaway county, Missouri, August 18, 1837, and un- der the parental roof spent his boyhood days. He acquired his education in the University of Missouri, at Columbia, and afterward engaged in steamboating on the Mississippi river until the breaking out of the civil war. About 1865 he embarked in the banking business in Jefferson City, Missouri, and for twenty years was connected with one of the leading financial institutions of that section of the state, -the National Ex- change Bank. In 1872 he was elected mayor of Jefferson City, and its interests were materially promoted during his admin- istration of the municipal affairs of that city. In ISSI he entered upon a four-years term as state treasurer, and in 1885 retired from office as he had entered it, with the good will, confidence and regard of the general public. Immediately afterward he removed to Kansas City and accepted the presidency
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of the Citizens' National bank, serving in that position until 1891, when he resigned. He now owns extensive cattle interests and much valuable property. He served as a member of the first board of public works of Kansas City, and has given an active and liberal support to the various interests that have had for their object the advancement of the community.
On the 3d of July, 1861, Mr. Chappell married Miss Teresa E. Tarlton, daughter of Colonel M. R. and Mary (Locke) Tarlton. They have had five children, -two sons and three daughters, -namely: Claudia, who be- came the wife of L. C. Krauthoff, and died leaving one son, Philip Chappell; Logan, who is engaged in farming and cattle-raising, and married Rena Corder, by whom he has two children, Teresa and Hazel; Mary, wife of Hal Gaylord, by whom she has one child, Claudia; John, deceased; and Alice, at home.
In politics Mr. Chappell is a democrat, and in his social relations is a Mason.
HOMAS GLENN HALL, presi- dent of the Bank of Buckner, was born in Jefferson county, Ohio, October 6, 1821. His father, Joseph Hall, died about 1836, and his mother, who bore the maiden name of Polly Glenn, died in 1830. They left two sons and three daughters, of whom our subject is the eldest. Upon his mother's death he went to live with his maternal grandfather, Thomas Glenn, who resided in Jefferson county, Ohio, and was a farmer by occupa- tion. He resided there until twenty-seven years of age and became familiar with farm work in all its departments. For six years he operated a threshing machine and in this
way he secured the money with which he made his first purchase of land.
While living in Ohio, Mr. Hall was united in marriage, on the 16th of January, 1849, to Miss Nancy Martin, who was born near Wellsville, Columbiana county, Ohio, October 26, 1826. On leaving Jefferson county he removed with his wife to Wyan- dot county, Ohio, where he purchased a farm, clearing the land and making his home thereon for five and a half years. He then sold and removed to Butler county, Iowa, thinking that he might secure a better home farther west. There he entered 400 acres of land, improved the property, and continued to make it his residence until July, 1866, when, selling out, he came to Jackson county. He now took up his resi- dence in Fort Osage township, and has since engaged in the cultivation of its rich lands. He is to-day the owner of a valua- ble and highly improved farm of 425 acres, and derives from this an excellent income. In the midst of well tilled fields stands a comfortable residence and good outbuildings, and the neat and thrifty appearance of the place indicates his careful supervision. In the spring of 1892 he aided in the organiza- tion of the Bank of Buckner, and was chosen its president. This bank is now in a prosperous condition and ably conducted.
Mr. and Mrs. Hall have become the parents of five children, but the only one now living is Maggie, wife of Nathaniel McCune, of Fort Osage. Mary became the wife of Charles G. Hamilton and died in Fort Osage township, at the age of twenty- six years; and Ella died at the age of ten years.
The parents are supporters of the Pres- byterian church, of which Mrs. Hall is a member. In politics he has always voted
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with the Republican party. Success has crowned his efforts, and to-day he is enjoy- ing a prosperity that is a just reward for his well directed and energetic labors.
S IMEON SEYMOUR TODD, M.D., one of the most progressive physi- cians of Kansas City, is a native of Indiana. He was born in Vevay, March 10, 1826. The west has been settled up by a class of men who came to this section of the country to secure homes and who have bent every energy to this under- taking. The entire section of the country therefore has become imbued with the spirit of enterprise and progress, producing a phe- nomenal development that could not be ac- complished by the conservative east. Amid such surroundings the Doctor was reared and ' has naturally partaken of the spirit of the times, and this has characterized his entire . professional career.
He traces his paternal ancestry in this country to John Todd, a native of Lanark- shire, Scotland, who with his parents fled to Ireland under the persecutions of the reign of Charles II, and in 1736 accompanied his son Robert and two other sons and a daugh- ter to America, making his home near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. David Todd, son of Robert, born in the county of Down, Ireland, came with the family to America, and soon afterward married Hannah Owen, of Welsh parentage. Both died at Lexing- ton, Kentucky. Their son, Owen Todd, was born in Montgomery county, Pennsyl- vania, in 1762, and in early life took up the study of law, but coming west afterward entered the employ of the government as a surveyor of bounty land reserves in Ken- tucky and southwestern Ohio. He served
as a soldier in the war of 1812, holding the rank of captain under General Wayne in the battle of "Fallen Timbers," and was the first presiding judge of the court of quarter sessions of Clermont county, Ohio. "Todd's fork," of the Little Miami river was named for him. He was reared in the Presbyte- rian faith, and died in Vevay, Indiana, at the age of fifty-five years. One of his eleven children was David Andrew Todd, father of the Doctor. He was born in Cler- mont county, Ohio, October 7, 1799, and for many years engaged in merchandising. He became a pioneer settler of Indiana, and erected one of the first brick houses in Madison, that state. His last years were spent at his home in Vernon, Indiana. He wedded Mary Ogle, born March 27, 1802, a native of Montgomery, now Carroll, county, Virginia, and a daughter of Hiram Ogle, who was born in Randolph county, North Carolina, and married Sarah Richardson, of Grayson, now Carroll county, Virginia. Later he made his home near Vevay, Indi- ana, where he carried on farming and mill- ing. He was of English descent, and died in 1845. David A. and Mary Todd became the parents of ten children, seven sons and three daughters, of whom six are now living, namely: Hiram H., Simeon S., Owen W., Elhanan P., Robert S. and Catharine M., widow of Alexander Lattimore, of Washing- ton, District of Columbia. Those who have passed away are John H., Marion D., Sarah J. and Mary B. Marion D. Todd was a prominent minister of the Christian church, preaching for some time in Chester, and in Liverpool, England, and was a warm personal friend of Spurgeon, the great Bap- tist divine. He died at Los Gatos, Califor- nia. The parents were both members of the Christian church and the father, David
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Todd, was for many years an elder in that church. In early life he served as justice of the peace for many years. His death oc- curred in 1864, when he was aged sixty- five, and his wife died in 1865, at the age of sixty-three. Both are buried at Vernon, Jennings county, Indiana.
The Doctor was reared in Madison, In- diana, and acquired his education in the common schools, studying the classics under private tutorship. He took up the study of medicine at the age of eighteen, under the direction of Dr. William Davidson, of Madi- son, Indiana, a Scotch physician of consid- erable repute, but before he had completed his course he enlisted for service as a private in the Mexican war. On his return he entered the Indiana Medical college at La Porte, Indiana, and was graduated at that institution in the class of February, 1849. Immediately afterward he began practice, opening an office in the autumn in Law- renceburg, Kentucky, where he continued until 1854. In that year he emigrated to California, practicing his profession in Plumas county, where he remained for two years. In 1857 he removed to Santa Rosa, Sonoma county, where he continued the practice of his profession till the breaking out of the civil war. In 1861 he opened an office in San Francisco, and soon after was commissioned surgeon of the fourth Califor- nia volunteer infantry, and served until after the south had laid down its arms and the preservation of the union was an assured fact.
Dr. Todd then returned to "the states" and settled in Kansas City, where he has since continuously engaged in practice. Up to 1885 he engaged in general practice, but since that time has made a specialty of the diseases of women, He was the projector
and prime mover in the establishment of the Kansas City Medical College, and for many years was dean of the faculty, and for twenty-seven years has been a teacher of the diseases of women, to which chair he was appointed on the organization of the school. He now holds the chair of emeritus professor of obstetrics and diseases of women-an honorary position-and contin- ues to deliver lectures occasionally. He belongs to the Jackson County Medical Society, the Kansas City District Medical Society, the State Medical Society, of which he has been vice-president and president, and the Missouri State Medical Association, of which he is an honorary member. He is also an honorary member of the Kansas State Medical Society, and other organiza- tions of his profession. He was the pioneer west of the Mississippi in introducing sur- gery in women's diseases, and his superior ' ·skill and ability has given him a foremost place in the ranks of the fraternity.
On the 10th of October, 1850, Doctor Todd was united in marriage with Miss Judith Ann, daughter of Jeremiah Ridgway, of La Porte, Indiana. Her mother bore the maiden name of Sarah Ann Willetts. Four children were born of this union, but two died in infancy. Rush B. and Frank S. are now residents of California, and the latter married Miss Nannie E. Mann, by whom he has four children. The mother of this fam- ily died in 1861. She was a member of the Society of Friends, and a most estimable lady. On January 21, 1867, the Doctor married Mrs. Thirza F. Dean, widow of Dr. William H. Dean, and daughter of Thomas Scott, of Ann Arbor, Michigan. She also was reared a Quaker, and was called to the home beyond this life March 14, 1888. On the 7th of November, 1889, the Doctor was
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