USA > Missouri > Jackson County > Kansas City > A memorial and biographical record of Kansas City and Jackson County Mo. > Part 11
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doll. Jan.
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joined in wedlock with Miss Frances Will- iams, of Lucas county, Iowa, daughter of Alonzo and Rachel Williams. They are both members of the Unitarian church, and the Doctor is a Master Mason, also belongs to the Loyal Legion, and to George H. Thomas post, G. A. R. In politics he is a republican.
J JOHN M. FOX, of the popular law firm of Lathrop, Morrow, Fox & Moore, Kansas City, Missouri, is a gentleman of eastern birth and edu- cation. He was born in East Lyme, Con- necticut, September 9, 1853, son of Henry and Elizabeth (Beckwith) Fox, natives of Connecticut and representatives of families long resident in New England. Their re- mote ancestors came to this country from England, and some of them were partici- pants in the Revolutionary war. Mrs. Fox's father, the grandfather of our subject, was a veteran of the war of 1812, having served as a lieutenant in that war. Henry Fox was in early life a teacher, but later settled down to farming, and was thus occupied for a number of years. He held various local offices of prominence and trust, and was regarded as one of the most worthy citizens of his community. He died in 1884. The widowed mother is still a resident of Con- necticut. Their family was composed of three children, John M. being the second born.
John M. Fox spent his early life on his father's farm, and the first school he attended was the country school near his home. Later he was a student at the Connecticut State Normal School, where he graduated with the class of 1874. Then he entered Yale College, graduated at that noted insti-
tution in 1879, and in 1881 received a diploma from the Columbia College Law School. Yale College conferred on hin the degree of Bachelor of Arts; the Columbia College Law School, Bachelor of Laws; and the University of Kansas, Master of Arts. Immediately after his graduation at the law school in 1881, Mr. Fox came west and located in Kansas City, where he has since been successfully engaged in the practice of his profession. At first he was employed as clerk for the firm of Lathrop & Smith, prominent attorneys, and subsequently he formed a partnership with T. A. F. Jones. In the fall of 1884, by invitation of his old employers, Mr. Fox returned to them, and in January of the following year became a partner of the firm, which is now one of the best known law firms in the city. They are attorneys for a large number of corporations, railroads, banks, etc., and conduct a most extensive general practice. Mr. Fox is not only well posted in law, and an active, ener- getic business man, but he has the happy faculty of ingratiating himself with all with whom he has dealings, and thus by being able to adapt himself to all kinds and classes of people he is a valued member of the firm.
He was married in 1885 to Miss Nettie Fuller, like himself, a native of Connecticut. They have two daughters,-Anna E. and Marion L.
Mr. and Mrs. Fox are members of the First Congregational church of Kansas City, in which he is now a deacon.
D AJOR GEORGE S. HAMPTON is one of the ablest members of the bar of Missouri. Native tal- ent and acquired ability have won him eminence, and the profession and the
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public both accord him a leading place in the ranks of the legal fraternity. Thoroughly conversant with the law in all departments and familiar with its subtleties, he is a stu- dent and worker, possessing that dauntless energy without which one must fail of suc- cess in any line of endeavor.
Major Hampton was born in Columbiana county, Ohio, December 2, 1838. The family is of English lineage and was found- ed in America in colonial days. The pa- ternal grandfather, Wade Hampton, was a native of Kentucky and reared a large family, including George S. Hampton, Sr., father of our subject. He, too, was a na- tive of Kentucky, and was a lawyer by pro- fession. He first married Miss Sallie Long, of his native state, but the wife died in early life and their three children also passed away in childhood. Mr. Hampton after- ward married Mrs. Ann (Fairfax) Hepburn, a native of Virginia, who by her first mar- riage had five sons and a daughter. Colonel W. P. Hepburn is the youngest and the only surviving son. The daughter, Frances M., is living, now at the age of seventy-two years. By the marriage of the parents of our subject, six children were born, four sons and two daughters, but the only ones now living are Catherine C., wife of Will- iam Bremner, of Marshalltown, Iowa, and the Major. Mrs. Hampton was a daughter of Dr. Hanson Catlett, a successful physi- cian who served as surgeon in the war of 1812. He was a native of Virginia, was of English lineage and died at an advanced age. His wife was a sister of Matthew Lyon, a man of considerable note who served as a member of congress from three different states. He was elected the last time while in jail, having been imprisoned for resisting the alien and sedition laws.
In 1840 Major Hampton's parents re- moved with their family to Iowa, where they spent their remaining days. That was dur- ing the territorial era, and his father, George S. Hampton, Sr., took a very prominent part in the organization of the state, serving as secretary of the first constitutional con- vention of Iowa, and was clerk of the su- preme court of the state for ten years. In . the latter part of his life he was for a num- ber of years superintendent of public in- struction in Iowa. During the war, loyal to the union, he enlisted in what was known as the Gray-beard regiment and served for two years, although he had formerly been a pro-slavery democrat. His abilities and fit- ness for leadership made him a prominent and influential citizen of the state. Both he and his wife were pioneers in the work of the Baptist church in Iowa. His death oc- curred in 1874, at the age of seventy-three.
Major Hampton was reared in Iowa City, acquired his education there, was one of the first students to enter the State uni- versity, and held a certificate for gradua- tion. He spent a portion of his boyhood in his father's office and at one time acted as page in the state legislature. When his literary education was completed he studied law in Iowa City and was admitted to the bar in 1860; but after the breaking out of the civil war he could not content himself to follow a quiet business career when the existence of his country was in peril, and enlisted at the first call for three-years men. He became a member of company H, thirteenth Iowa infantry, as a private, but soon rose to the rank of lieutenant, and with his regiment took part in the battle of Shiloh. After that engagement he was made a staff officer, with the rank of captain, and for two years was on the staff of Brigadier
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General Thomas J. McKean, of Iowa. He was with him at the battle of Corinth, and took part in the invasion of Mississippi. He was in the siege of Vicksburg, and after its surrender went with the troops to Nebraska to aid in quelling the Indians in their depre- dations. In the fall of 1864 he served as assistant adjutant general on the staff of Major General James G. Blunt, and took part in the Price raid. He was in the bat- tle of Lexington, Big Blue, the defense of the fords of the Little Blue, the battle of Westport and was present at Mine creek when Generals Marmaduke and Cable were captured. With the troops he then pursued the enemy until they crossed the Arkansas river. At the close of the war he was mus- tered out, being at that time captain and assistant adjutant general. During the service he was a member of the famous " Crocker Iowa brigade."
When the south had laid down its arms and his services were no longer needed, Major Hampton returned to the practice of law and established an office in Lawrence, Kansas, where he practiced for thirteen years. In the spring of 1877 he came to Kansas City, but in the following autumn removed to Cherokee county, Kansas, where he continued a member of the bar until 1884. He was also deputy county attorney for one term. For eleven years past he has been a member of the bar of Kansas City, and has a large clientage, to which his abilities and fidelity to duty well entitle him.
On the 27th of October, 1863, Major Hampton married Maria Louisa Asay, daugh- ter of A. B. and Mary (Lewis) Asay. They have three children: Frank H., the eldest, now has charge of the drapery department of the North Furniture Company, of Kansas City, with which he has been connected for
ten years. He married Lina Eaton, and they have one child, Louisa True. His second son, Alexander A., is foreman of the steel department of the Scotford Stamp and Sta- tionery Company, of Kansas City, in whose employ he has been for nine years. His only daughter, Mary Ann, is a young lady of considerable musical talent and is at her parental home.
The parents and children are members of the Methodist church. Major Hampton is a Master Mason, a member of the Odd Fellows and Knights of Pythias societies, and of George H. Thomas post, G. A. R. In politics he is a republican, and during Har- rison's administration was deputy internal revenue collector under General Devol. He is now attorney for several insurance com- panies and the Cooper Chemical Company. His home is at 2903 Locust street, over which his wife presides with gracious hospi- tality, while to their many friends they ever extend a hearty welcome.
a HARLES J. BOWER, attorney at law of Kansas City, was born in Ross county, Ohio, April 27, 1843, and descended from German and French ancestry. His father, Robert Bower, was a native of Wurtemberg, Germany, and the grandfather, Valentine Bower, spent his entire life in his native land. He reared a large family and lived to an advanced age. The mother of our subject, who bore the maiden name of Genevieve Sheibley, was an Alsatian, and her father spent his entire life in France. While in the land of his birth Robert Bower served as a member of the old guard under Napoleon. In 1826 he crossed the Atlantic to America and located in Stark county, Ohio, where he made his
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home for a few years, then removed to Ross. county, same state, where he spent his re- maining days. His death occurred in 1864, and his wife died in 1857. They were mem- bers of the Lutheran church. In their family of eleven children were seven sons and four daughters, six of whom are now living, namely : Mary, widow of Basil Bogen; Barbara, widow of Albert Mertz; Genevieve, widow of Philip Dair; Jennie, John and Charles J.
The last namned resided in Ross county until eleven years of age, when he started out in life for himself, and whatever success he has achieved is due entirely to his own efforts. He grew to manhood in Kenton and Carroll counties, Kentucky, and at the age of sixteen he engaged in teaching school. With the money thus acquired he obtained his own education, being a student in Des Peres Institute in St. Louis county, Missouri, in 1857-8. Later he attended Wittenberg College, at Springfield, Ohio, where he con- tinued until the war broke out, when he en- listed in the southern army as a member of the fourth Kentucky cavalry, company F, and served until hostilities were over. He served under Generals Marshall, Preston, Breckinridge, Williams, Echols, Jones and John H. Morgan: he was in all the cain- paigns of that famous regiment. He was wounded in the right leg at Bull's Gap, Tennessee, but continued at the front until after the war was ended. He surrendered at Mount Sterling, Kentucky, May 1, 1865.
Returning then to Carroll county, Ken- tucky, Mr. Bower was there engaged in teaching school for a time, when, wishing to follow the legal profession, he began studying law in 1867. His thorough appli- cation and persistent efforts enabled him to graduate in the spring of 1868 at the Cincin-
nati Law college, and in September of that year he came to Kansas City, where he practiced until August, 1894. For twenty- six years he was a inember of the bar of Jackson county and had a good practice, which attested his skill and ability. He was ever a painstaking and conscientious prac- titioner, laboring earnestly for his clients' interests, a logical thinker, a clear reasoner and a forceful speaker. These qualities brought to him success and won him a place among the leading lawyers of the city, county and state. In August, 1894, lie suffered an attack of paralysis, which neces- sitated his abandonment of his profession.
On the 11th of May, 1870, Mr. Bower was united in marriage, in Kansas City, with Miss Sarah Chaplin, a daughter of Benjamin G. and Sarah (Ward) Chaplin. They have six children, -three sons and three daughters, -namely: Frank A., Mary C., Jennie W., Morrison Munford, Henry W. and Florence A. Mr. Bower and his wife attend the Central Presbyterian church, of which he is a member, and since 1871 they have made their home at the corner of Thirty-fifth street and Cleveland avenue, where they extend a warmhearted hospital- ity to their many friends. Frank A. Bower, the eldest son, graduated at Washington university, St. Louis, in 1891, and is now a promising young lawyer of the Kansas City bar.
Mr. Bower is a member of the Masonic fraternity and in politics is an unswerving adherent of the principles of the democratic party, taking a very active part in its work and doing all in his power to promote its growth and insure its success. He has been a delegate to the county and state conven- tions since 1876, and was the original Cleve- land delegate in this state. He was also the
J.l. Hayward.
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organizer of the ex-Confederate Benevolent Association, which has a large membership. A kindhearted and genial man of strict in- tegrity of character, Mr. Bower is highly esteemed by all who know him, and has a large circle of friends.
RANCIS M. HAYWARD .- The men who attain eminence, or even a fair standing, at the bar or in other professional lines in the lead- ing cities of this country, must be "brainy," progressive, up-to-date men; and this fact obtains none the less in Kansas City than in some of the more populous cities of the union. The Kansas City bar has many able representatives, and among its list of prominent lawyers is found the name of Francis M. Hayward, a biography of whom we are pleased to accord place in this volume.
Francis M. Hayward is of eastern birth. He was born in New Hampshire, February 28, 1856, son of John W. and Esther C. (Morse) Hayward, the former a native of Massachusetts and the latter of New Hamp- shire; both of English descent. Dr. Lem- uel Hayward, the great-grandfather of our subject, was a distinguished man and sur- geon in the Revolutionary war; he was an uncle of Chief Justice Shaw, of Massa- chusetts, and died in 1821. John W. Hayward, the grandfather of Francis M., was a lawyer of Boston and died in that city when comparatively a young man. His son, John W., the father of our subject, is a farmer and still resides in New Hampshire, where he is well known and highly esteemed, he having frequently been honored by offi- cial preferment; has served in numerous minor offices and also in the state legislature
of New Hampshire. To him and his wife were born three children, Francis M. being the eldest.
On his father's farm, located near Wal- pole, Mr. Hayward was reared. His early education was obtained in the common schools, and at Meriden, New Hampshire, and in 1876 he entered Dartmouth College, where he graduated in 1880. After this he spent two years in the Harvard Law School. In September, 1882, he came west and lo- cated at Topeka, Kansas, where he was soon after admitted to the bar and where he en- tered upon the practice of his profession, remaining there until 1887, when he came to Kansas City. Both by natural and ac- quired ability is he fitted for the legal pro- fession, and his ability together with his close application soon gained for him high stand- ing among the leading members of the bar in this city. In 1888 he formed a partner- ship with F. W. Griffin, under the name of Hayward & Griffin, which existed until No- vember, 1893, when it was dissolved, and since that time he has practiced alone.
Mr. Hayward was married in 1884 to Miss Kate S. Davis, of Galesburg, Illinois, and their union has been blessed in the birth of three children, -Charles D., Margaret and George M.
Mr. Hayward is Republican in his views, and, while he has always taken a laudable inerest in public affairs, he has never been an office-seeker, nor has he ever allowed his name to be used in any campaign, his whole time and attention being given to his pro- fession. He and his wife are members of the St. George's parish, Episcopal church, and he is vestryman in the same. Thus, in in brief, is outlined the life of one of Kansas City's prominent lawyers and most worthy citizens.
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J AMES L. PHELPS, deputy county clerk, Independence, Missouri, dates his birth in the neighboring state of Illinois. He was born in Ottawa, La Salle county, January 1, 1855, ninth in the family of eleven children, -five sons and six daughters,-of B. T. and Margaret (Reynolds) Phelps. B. T. Phelps was of Virginia birth, born in Bedford county in 1810, while his wife was born in Kentucky. In 1882 he came with his family to Inde- pendence, Missouri, and here passed the closing years of his life and died, his death occurring June 1, 1895. Mrs. Phelps sur- vives him and still makes her home in this city.
James L. Phelps was reared and edu- cated in Ottawa and is a graduate of the high school of that place with the class of 1874. After completing his high-school course he took up the study of law, and in 1878 was admitted to the bar. From that time until 1885 he made his home in Arkan- sas and Kansas, practicing law in Newport, Arkansas, and Atchison, Kansas, and in the last named year removed to Independence, Missouri. Here he was for a time em- ployed by different abstract and loan firms, gained a wide acquaintance and soon be- came a favorite among the people with whom he had dealings. In January, 1889, he was appointed marshal of the court of appeals in Kansas City, which position he ably filled until January, 1895, and since then has been chief deputy in the office of the county clerk at Independence.
Mr. Phelps was married in Independ- ence, August 7, 1883, to Miss Nellie Gregg, a native of Jackson county, Missouri, and a daughter of Samuel and Maria (Bryant) Gregg, now residents of Independence.
All his life Mr. Phelps has taken a deep
and enthusiastic interest in political affairs, always affiliating with the democratic party. While a resident of Atchison he was elected to the office of justice of the peace, which he filled most acceptably; and indeed all his services in the various positions which he has occupied have ever been characterized by fidelity and efficiency. He has been a mem- ber of the Christian church since 1889, and since 1892 has been a deacon in the church.
HOMAS GROTEN DRYDEN, who is now living retired in Lees Sum- mit, has long been identified with the history of Jackson county, and has taken an important part in the develop- ment and upbuilding of the locality with which he has been connected. True to all the duties of public and private life he has so lived as to command the confidence and respect of all, and now in his declining years has the high regard which should always accompany old age.
He was born on the 3d of February, 1813, in Worcester county, Maryland. His father, William Dryden, was a native of that state, born in 1783, and is a son of William and Rachel (Morgan) Dryden. The grandfather also was born in Maryland, and descended from one of four brothers who came from England at a very early day. William Dryden, the father, removed to Ohio, in 1813, taking up his residence in Adams county, where he made his home un- til his death, which occurred in 1858. He married Nancy Newton, who was born in Maryland in 1793, a daughter of Levin Newton, who was born in Maryland and was of English lineage. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Dryden also was celebrated in their native state, and the latter died in
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1886. They had six children, -Isaac N., Thomas G., Maria Louisa, Samuel, Mrs. Sarah Morgan and William H. C.
Our subject is the only surviving mem- ber of the family. During his infancy his parents removed to the Buckeye state and in Adams county he was reared and edu- cated. The wild scenes of frontier life thus early became familiar to him and he aided in the arduous task of developing a new farm. At the age of nineteen he began farming on his own account and has since been dependent upon his own resources, so that whatever success he has achieved in life is due entirely to his own efforts.
In 1839 Mr. Dryden was united in mar- riage with Elizabeth Ellis, a native of Brown county, Ohio, and a daughter of Samuel Ellis, who served in the war of 1812, and removed from Pennsylvania to Ohio during his boyhood. Mrs. Dryden died in 1860. In the family were nine children, five of whom reached maturity; Samuel, now a merchant of Lees Summit; Isaac N., who was killed at the battle of Chickamauga, when faithfully defending the union cause. He enlisted in the twenty-fourth Ohio vol- unteer infantry as a private, but his ability and meritorious service won him promotion and he rose to the rank of captain, in which capacity he was serving at the time of his death. He was then but little more than twenty-one years of age and was a brilliant young man. Maria Louisa is the wife of W. H. Pittinger. Sarah Arabella is the widow of James F. Shepherd. Thyrza A. is the wife of John Munns, of Prairie town- ship.
Mr. Dryden became a resident of Mis- souri in October, 1865, and after spending one winter in Blue township, Jackson county, removed to Prairie township, where he pur-
chased an improved farm. Shortly after- ward he sold this property and purchased a tract of unimproved land in the same town- ship, to the improvement of which he de- voted his energies. He followed farming exclusively as a life work, and placing acre after acre under the plow transformed his land into a valuable and productive farm. He is a self-made man in the best sense of that oft misused term, and energy, perse- verance and capable management have been the importaut factors in his success, securing to him a competence which now enables him to live retired.
In May, 1889, Mr. Dryden was united in marriage with Martha Elizabeth Bush, a native of Callaway county, Missouri, and a daughter of William F. and Lydia Jane (Cheatham) Powell, the former a native of Maryland and the latter of Kentucky. Mr. Powell was born in 1813, and during his boyhood days came to Missouri, where at the age of twenty-one years he was married. His first wife having died he was again mar- ried, at the age of twenty-five, to the mother of Mrs. Dryden. They always lived in Cal- laway county, Missouri, where Mr. Powell followed farming. Their family numbered four children, three of whom are now living, namely: Mrs. Dryden, Lemuel F. and Mrs. Lydia J. Thomas. The first named was born December 15, 1840, and by her first marriage had two children, -Sallie J., now the wife of Charles R. Curry, and Lemuel J. Bush.
In 1845 Mr. Dryden became a member of the Masonic fraternity, but is now dimit- ted, and in the same year united with the Christian church. In politics he has been a stanch republican since the organization of the party, is deeply interested in its growth and success, and served as delegate to its
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conventions at a time when it was a dan- gerous thing to announce one's self as an advocate of republican principles. He was also president of the vigilance committee at an early day. Fearless and outspoken in defense of what he believed to be right he has ever been the champion of the poor and friendless, the down-trodden and oppressed, and his generous, kindly nature has won recognition in the friendship of many.
OMER REED .- There is no busi- ness man in Kansas City that stands higher in the esteem of his fellow townsmen than Mr. Reed, who is now serving in the capacity of post- master. A man of strong convictions, he is positive in his character and of incorrupti- ble integrity. A useful, intelligent citizen, he justly takes rank among Missouri's lead- ing and representative men and has been an important factor in the business interests of Kansas City. His career has by no means been an uninterrupted era of prosperity. He has had many difficulties to overcome and in his early years received few advan- tages, and after his father's death was largely thrown upon his own resources.
Mr. Reed is a native of Jackson county, Michigan. He was born on the 26th of August, 1847, and is the only son of Thomas H. and Mary (Wilcox) Reed, natives of New York. The family from which he descended was early founded in the Empire state, where was established in pioneer days a colony which located what was known as the Reed's farm. James Reed was a captain in the' French and Indian war, and served as quartermaster in the revolutionary war. The father of our subject was a farmer by occupation, and in 1840 came to the west,
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