USA > Missouri > Jackson County > Kansas City > A memorial and biographical record of Kansas City and Jackson County Mo. > Part 18
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0 UNCAN M. TAIT, who is serving as supervising grain inspector of Missouri at Kansas City, was born at Chatham, Ontario, August 29, 1868, and is a son of James and Mary (Mc- Intyre) Tait, the former a native of Scot- land and the latter of Canada. They had a family of five children, of whom four are now living,-Martin, James, Duncan M. i
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and Nan. The fatlier is a iniller of Polo, Missouri, having resided in that locality since 1869, -- the year of his arrival in Mis- souri. In religious faith he is a Presby- terian, while his wife is a member of the Baptist church.
The paternal grandfather of our subject was James Tait, a native of Scotland, who crossed the Atlantic to America and died in Canada at an advanced age. He reared a large family. The maternal grandfather, Duncan McIntyre, was also born in Scot- land, and was a farmer, and died in Canada, at the age of eighty years. His family num- bered two sons and six daughters.
During his early childhood our subject was brought by his parents to Missouri and was reared in Taitsville, while in the public schools of the neighborhood he acquired his education. His father following the milling business, he became familiar with that trade in early life, and learned much about grains. This proved an excellent preparation for his present service. In 1889, at the age of twenty-one years he removed with his parents to Polo, where his father con- tinued the milling business, while in 1893 he came to Kansas City. Soon afterward he was appointed grain inspector by the board of railroad and warehouse commis- sioners, and is now capably discharging the duties of that office.
On the 25th of October, 1892, Mr. Tait was united in marriage with Miss Mae Cow- gill, a daughter of James and Ella (Myers) Cowgill. One daughter was born to this union, Helen by name. The mother is a member of the Baptist church, and is an estimable lady who has many warm friends in the community. Socially, Mr. Tait is connected with the Knights of Pythias fra- ternity, and in politics is a stalwart demo-
crat. He is well known for his sterling worth and all who know him have for him high regard.
J UDGE CLEVELAND F. MOUL- TON, an esteemed inember of the bar of Kansas City, was born in Genesee county, New York, July 4, 1828, and is a son of Daniel J. and Eliza Charlotte (Cleveland) Moulton. His mater- nal grandfather was Moses Cleveland, to whom the land on which the city of Cleve- land, Ohio, now stands was granted by the government in consideration of military serv- ices. His mother is a cousin of President Grover Cleveland. The father of the Judge, removing from the Nutmeg state, becanie a resident of New York in 1824, and there followed the occupation of farming until his death, which occurred fifty years later. His wife survived him thirteen years, and died in 1887, leaving five children out of a family whose original number was twelve. These are Mrs. Louisa J. Warner, now living in Cleveland, Ohio; John Jay, a resident of Springfield, Illinois; George A., who makes his home in San Francisco, California; Mrs. Frank Rogers, now of Chicago; and the Judge.
In early manhood our subject, leaving the Empire state, went to Mobile, Alabama, where he engaged in reading law, and was admitted to the bar in that city in 1849. He at once entered upon the practice there and continued his labors as a member of the profession until the beginning of the war, when he entered the Confederate service as a private of Company A, Mobile Continen- tals, first Alabama regiment. February 25, 1861, he was commissioned lieutenant- colonel of the forty-eighth Alabama regi-
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ment, of which Colonel Makinstry was in command at the time; and when the latter was made judge advocate of the southern Confederacy Mr. Moulton was commissoned colonel of the regiment. He also served .on the staff of Governor Gill Shorter, of Ala- bama, and from 1864 till the close of the war he served on the staff of Governor H. Watts, of Alabama, and at this time he was still in command of the forty-eighth regi- ment and was a member of the state legisla- ture. To this position he was elected by the conservative party whose political object was to bring the war to a close. He re- mained in the legislature four terms and then returned to the service, continuing in the Confederate army until the close of the war.
When hostilities had ceased, Colonel Moulton resumed the practice of law in Mo- bile, and in 1866 was elected to the office of city attorney. He was afterward prosecu- ting attorney, and in July, 1868, was ap- pointed judge of the circuit court at Mobile, and served in that capacity for eight years, discharging his duties in a most efficient manner. In 1875 he removed to St. Louis, where he practiced law until 1882, and then retired to the farm which he had previously purchased in Bates county, Missouri. For six years he devoted his energies to the management of his agricultural interests. In 1873, while on the circuit bench of Mobile Alabama, he was elected mayor, and re- elected in 1874. In 1888 he came to Kansas City and opened an office for general prac- tice here. For a time he was associated in business with Webster Davis, and the part- nership continued one year. The Judge has since been alone and now enjoys a liberal clientage.
Judge Moulton was married in 1858 to
Miss Ruth Perkins Pomeroy, of East Hamp- ton, Massachusetts. The children of this marriage are Williston Jay, a farmer now residing near Adrian, Missouri; John Dane, a merchant of Kansas City; Reverdy Halleck, who is engaged in merchandising in Harri- sonville, Cass county, Missouri; and Cleve- land F., who is now following farming near Adrian, Bates county. The mother of this family was called to her final rest February 19, 1892, and her remains were interred in the cemetery at Adrian.
ARK EDGERTON, M. D., ex- dean and professor of materia medica in the Kansas City Home- opathic Medical College, was born on the 23d day of March, 1854, in the town of Delhi, Delaware county, New York. His father, Judge Albert Edgerton, was a native of the same state and a son of one of the Revolutionary heroes who aided the colonies in their struggle for independ- ence. The Judge was a self-made man and became quite prominent in the community in which he lived. In 1859 he removed with his family to St. Paul, Minnesota, and in that city the Doctor attended the public and high schools, after which he entered the Delaware Literary Institute at Franklin, Delaware county, New York, where he completed his literary education. In 1874 he took up the study of medicine under a preceptor in St. Paul, Minnesota, and in the centennial year went to the city of Philadelphia.
Mr. Edgerton, however, had another object than that of visiting the exposition. He entered the Hahnemann Medical Col- lege there, pursuing a three-years course in that justly celebrated institution, under the
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preceptorship of Dr. Charles Mohr, at the same time making his home with the Doc- tor, whom he found a wise counselor and faithful friend. His earnest application and thorough investigation gave him an excel- lent knowledge of his chosen calling, and he left the college to learn the more practical lessons in the school of experience. In March, 1879, he was graduated and granted a diploma.
Immediately afterward he started for the west and spent a few days in Kansas City, but continued his journey to Junction City, Kansas, where, on the 3d of May of that year, he was united in marriage with Miss Lillian Gray, whose acquaintance he had formed several years previously in St. Paul, Minnesota. After a short bridal trip the young couple located in a small town in southeastern Nebraska, where the Doc- tor opened an office and practiced for about a year and a half. Not finding country practice congenial, however, he removed to Stillwater, Minnesota, a city of about 17,- 000 inhabitants, where he entered into partnership with Dr. W. H. Canie, a friend of his boyhood days. Better success came to him in his new home, and he remained there for two years, when, on account of failing health, due to the long, severe win- ters, he decided to find a new location, where the climatic conditions were more favorable. This led to his connection with Kansas City, where he opened an office in June, 1885. In 1887 Dr. Edgerton be- came a charter member of the Kansas City Homeopathic Medical College, and was elected to the chair of physiology. After lecturing for three years on this branch he was tendered the chair of materia medica, -the most important professorship in the institution, -which he accepted and has
since creditably and satisfactorily filled. During his connection with this institution he has for five years been honored with official positions, serving for the past two years as dean of the faculty. The duties of teaching added to the cares of a very ex- tensive practice, makes his life a busy one, and did he not possess an excellent consti- tution and robust health he could not stand the arduous demands made upon his time. That he is recognized as one of the most capable members of the profession is shown by his large patronage, and his brethren of the fraternity also acknowledge his superior skill and merit.
The Doctor and Mrs. Edgerton have one child, an interesting little daughter of five years, whom they have named Ruth Gray, and who is the light of the parents' home. The Doctor is especially fond of children and young people, whom he is ever ready to aid and encourage as they seek improve- ment. Aside from his profession he is a man of broad mind, of general information and liberal culture, and since coming to Kansas City, under a competent foreign- born German professor, he has learned to read, write and speak the German language fluently. Improvement has ever been his watch word and is the keynote to his success.
a LESTER HALL, M. D .- It is much to achieve success, it is infi- nitely more to win the gratitude of the suffering and afflicted. For about twenty-eight years this gentleman has devoted his time and energies to the aid and relief of his fellow men, has worked his way upward to a foremost rank in the med- ical profession, and such has been the cor-
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dial, kindly, generous manner of this minis- tration that in the hearts of those who have received it there is a sense of grateful recog- nition that words cannot express.
Dr. Hall is a native son of Missouri, his birth having occurred at Arrow Rock, March 10, 1845. The ancestry of the family is Scotch and English. The paternal grand- father, Rev. Nathan H. Hall, was a Presby- terian minister, a native of Kentucky. For a quarter of a century he engaged in preach- ing in Lexington, Kentucky, and then spent some years in pastoral labor in St. Louis. His death occurred in Columbia, Missouri, when he had attained the age of seventy-six years. He was a man of striking personal appearance, large and well formed, and was an orator of superior ability, an earnest, logical speaker and a successful evangelist.
The Doctor's father, Matthew W. Hall, was born in Kentucky, and also followed the medical profession. In February, 1845, he removed to Missouri, locating at Arrow Rock, where he made his home for twelve years. On the expiration of that period he took up his abode on a farm near Marshall, where he spent his remaining days. He was united in marriage with Miss Agnes J. Lester, a native of Virginia, and a daughter of Bryan Lester, who was born in Char- lotte, Virginia, and was a farmer by occu- pation. He was a man of great force of character but of very amiable disposition, gentle and considerate. To many of his slaves he gave their freedom. He reared a large family and died when about sixty years of age. Dr. Matthew Hall and his wife were prominent settlers of Arrow Rock, and were numbered among Missouri's pio- neers. In the Presbyterian church they held a membership, and the Doctor served as elder, taking a very prominent part in its
work. During the civil war, he served as surgeon in the Confederate army. In the community where he lived he was a recog- nized leader, and twice represented his dis- trict in the legislature. His death occurred on the 7th of November, 1894, at the age of seventy-eight years, and his wife passed away in 1883. They were the parents of eleven children, eight of whom are now living, namely: Dr. C. Lester; William Ewing, of Kansas City, Missouri; Dr. John R., of Marshall, Missouri; Louisa F., wife of \V. W. Trigg, of Booneville, Missouri; Matthew W., of Saline county, Missouri; Florida L., wife of Judge D. W. Shackle- ton, of Booneville, Missouri; Dr. Thomas B., of Saline county; and Effie B., wife of Fred B. Glover, of Parkville, Missouri.
Dr. C. Lester Hall was reared in Saline county, this state, and acquired his early education there. He afterward attended school at Booneville until seventeen years of age, when, in 1862, he joined the army of General Price, and went to Lexington, Mis- souri. At that place he was taken sick and returned home, but in December he again joined the army. At Milford's surrender he was taken prisoner and held in captivity for three months, after which he took the oath of allegiance to the United States and re- turned home.
The Doctor began studying medicine in 1864, in Booneville, and subsequently at- tended the St. Louis Medical College through the school year of 1864-5. During the winter of 1866-7 he was a student in Jefferson Medical College, of Philadelphia, and in the spring of 1867 he graduated and joined his father in the practice of his chosen profession, this partnership continuing for six years. In 1873 Dr. Hall removed to Marshall, Missouri, where he enjoyed a large
In Davio Easter
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and lucrative practice until September, 1890, when, desiring a broader field of labor, he came to Kansas City, where he has since made his home. Although he successfully engages in general practice, he makes a spe- cialty of the diseases of women. He is a member of the American Medical Associa- tion, the Western Association of Obstetri- cians and Gynecologists, and the Jackson County Medical Society. He is now the honored president of the Missouri State Medical Society, and in 1894 was president of the Kansas City Academy of Medicine.
On the 16th of June, 1869, Dr. Hall was united in marriage with Miss Katherine Sap- pington, daughter of Hon. E. D. and Pen- elope (Breathitt) Sappington, her grand- father Breathitt being at one time governor of Kentucky. Five children were born by this marriage, -Darwin Walton, Penelope, C. Lester, Katherine May, and one who died in infancy. The Doctor and his fam- ily hold a membership in the Central Pres- byterian church, take a deep interest in its prosperity, and while living in Marshall he served as elder of the church. He is a Master Mason. The family home is located at No. 2720 Troost avenue, and is noted for its hospitality.
ILLIAM DAVIS FOSTER, M.D., one of the most eminent mem- bers of the medical profession and successful practitioners of Kansas City, was born in Van Buren coun- ty, Iowa, on the 7th of September, 1841, and is a son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Kummler) Foster.
His father was a native of Vermont, and during the war of 1812, as a member of the American army, fought in the second en- 9
counter with England. His wife was born in Perry county, Pennsylvania, and was of German lineage. They were married on the 5th of April, 1830, and in 1837 emi- grated to Iowa, which was then a territory. The father died in Birmingham, Van Buren county, that state, in November, 1855. He was a very prominent man, possessing su- perior intelligence and ability. A graduate of Yale, he was familiar with six or seven languages, and possessed broad general in- formation and ripe scholarship. For many years he was county judge of Van Buren county, Iowa, and throughout his life was a stalwart advocate of Democracy. There
were only three white families living in Van Buren county when he took up his residence there in 1837, and his nearest neighbor was six miles away. The Indians, however, were very numerous, and the wild and un- developed land was unmarked by any trace of civilization. Mr. Foster took a very prominent part in the work of upbuilding and progress, and his name is enrolled among the pioneers of the Hawkeye state. His wife long survived him, finally passing away in Marion county, Missouri, in 1886, at the age of ninety-four years. Their fam- ily numbered six sons,-Joseph, born Janu- ary 21, 1831; Hiram I., born August 2, 1832; Judah H., born July 14, 1834; Ben- jamin U., born February 8, 1837; James, who was born August 24, 1839, and died on the 24th of December, following; and Will- iam Davis, of this sketch.
The Doctor acquired his literary educa- tion in the public schools and academy of Birmingham, Iowa, and to fit himself for the practice of medicine, which he deter- mined to make his life work, he entered the office of the late Dr. David Prince, the dis- tinguished surgeon of Jacksonville, Illinois.
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He began his studies in 1857, but circum- stances prevented him following a continu- ous course. He, however, made the best of his opportunities, and in the winter of 1 860 attended medical lectures in the Uni- versity of Pennsylvania.
In the early spring of the following year, the country became involved in civil war, and with the blood of Revolutionary fore- fathers flowing in his veins, Mr. Foster with patriotic ardor entered the army, and in addition to aiding his country he made rapid progress in his studies under the able guid- ance of Elery P. Smith, surgeon of the seventh cavalry, Missouri volunteers, at the same time gaining an experience which was of incalculable benefit to him. With the opening of the campaign in 1863 he was commissioned surgeon of that regiment, thus serving until the close of the war. During the active operations of the forces in Missouri, Arkansas and Louisiana, Dr. Foster was engaged with various boards of operating surgeons, his duties being the ex- amination of applicants for discharge on surgeon's certificates, for transfer to the invalid corps, for leave of absence and for furloughs on surgeons' certificates of dis- ability. After the battle of Lone Jack, Missouri, on the 16th of August, 1862, he assisted in the organization of the hospital at Lexington, and after the battle of Prairie Grove, Arkansas, December 7, 1862, he aided in the organization of the hospitals at Fayetteville, that state. He was present at the capture of Little Rock, and during the military occupancy of that city was in the hospital service there.
The "bloodless battles " of the war were often as arduous and dangerons as those that took place on the field, and the part which the army surgeons performed in the service
was no less beneficial to the country than that of him who carried a rifle in the ranks. His labors have not as often been made the theme of story and song, but they are no less worthy the gratitude of the nation. When the war was over, Dr. Foster lo- cated in Hannibal, Missouri, where he en- tered into partnership as a practitioner with Dr. George B. Birch, now deceased. Dur- ing his residence there the question of ho- meopathy came prominently before him, he began research and investigation along that line, and becoming convinced of its supe- riority he began practice as an advocate of the new school. By reason of his active temperament, industry and aggressive course he speedily built up a large and lucrative practice, and in 1869 he was graduated at the Homeopathic Medical College of Mis- souri, in St. Louis.
In 1881 Dr. Foster became a resident of Kansas City, and soon was recognized as one of the niost skilled and prominent sur- geons of the western part of the state. He was called to the chair of surgery in the Kansas City Homeopathic Medical College in 1889, and is still filling that position, while at the annual election in April, 1894, he was elected dean of the faculty. The phenomenal growth of this institution is largely due to his energy, influence and per- severance. He keeps himself thoroughly abreast with the times, is an advocate of all advanced surgical methods and an enthusi- ast on the subject of asepsis and antisepsis. He has a large private practice and visits all parts of the west in consultation and opera- tions. Dr. Foster is a valued member of various medical organizations, and is recog- nized authority on many matters pertaining to his profession. He is a senior member of the American Institute of Homeopathy,
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belongs to the Missouri Institute of Homeo- pathy, is a member of the Kansas State Ho- meopathic Medical Society, is a member of the International Homeopathic Medical Congress at Basle, in 1886, and is chief sur- geon of the Kansas City, Osceola & South- ern Railway.
In 1878 Dr. Foster married Mrs. Christe Farwell, a native of Yonkers, New York. Socially, he is connected with the Masonic lodge of Hannibal, Missouri, belongs to the Loyal Legion, of Missouri, is a member of the National Association of Railway Sur- geons, and holds membership in various other benevolent and fraternal organizations.
His success in life is an example of the power of patient purpose, resolute working and steadfast integrity. In his character he combines the qualities of mind and heart that render him deservedly popular, and se- cure to him the warm friendship of all who enjoy his acquaintance.
EORGE C. HALE. - There is noth- ing more important to the welfare of a city or more effective, than the preservation of property as well as life, the chief institution for which purpose is a well equipped and conducted fire department; and the man who success- fully fills the position of chief must possess keen foresight, unbounded energy and an alertness and readiness to respond at every call. Of no department has Kansas City more reason to be proud than her fire de- partment, which in its proficiency, equip- ments and the skill of its members is almost without a peer. Standing at the head of this organization is George C. Hale, who has practically given to the department its prestige, -a scholarly, genial, courteous
gentleman, who places duty above every other consideration and who takes just pride in the efficiency of his men and their faith- ful performance of the tasks allotted to them. There is in Kansas City few men who are more widely known and none who is held in higher regard by his friends than George C. Hale.
This gentleman was born in Colton, St. Lawrence county, New York, October 28, 1849, and when a youth of fourteen came to the city which has since been his home. This was in 1863, and he at once obtained a situation with the firm of Lloyd & Leland. His close application, his thoroughness and his earnest endeavor to perform to the best of his ability every task intrusted to his care soon attracted the attention of his employ- ers and he was raised from the position of shop boy and put in charge of a large engine that ran the machinery of the shops. He held that position for some time and during that period lost no opportunity to master every detail connected with the business. He undoubtedly possesses natural talent as a machinist and was very quick to learn; and it was often remarked that if he saw a piece of work done he could at once duplicate it. His ability in the line of mechanics has been constantly demonstrated. In 1866 he took charge of the machinery of the great bridge that spans the Missouri river at this city, under the direction of O. H. Chanute, the engineer for the Hannibal & St. Joseph Railroad Company, and remained in that service until the completion of the bridge and the ceremonials attending its dedication July 4, 1869.
Soon afterward Mr. Hale became con- nected with the Great Western Manufactur- ing Company of Leavenworth, Kansas, where he remained until the fall of 1871,
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and then returned to Kansas City. His connection with the fire department covers a period of a quarter of a century. In that year he was appointed engineer of John .Campbell Engine, No. I, the first engine ever owned by Kansas City. Subsequently he was transferred to engine No. 2, where he served until 1877, when the intro- duction of the water-works system into the city caused the steamers to be thrown out of commission for a number of years and Mr. Hale was appointed foreman of one of the hose companies. In 1881 he was promoted to the position of assistant chief under Colonel Frank Foster, and upon the retirement of the latter in 1882 he was selected as the best man to place in charge of this responsi- ble office; and his thirteen years' administra- tion has shown the wisdom of the choice made. Colonel Foster said of him: “I have known Mr. Hale for twelve years and know him to be a fine mechanic and most practical fireman, a thorough gentleman, and one whom I can, in my judgment, rec- ommend as the most competent in our whole city to control and inanage our fire depart- ment. I assure you if Mr. Hale is appointed you will never have cause to regret it."
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