USA > Missouri > Jackson County > Kansas City > A memorial and biographical record of Kansas City and Jackson County Mo. > Part 21
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69
Edward Kinley was a lawyer by profes- sion. Following the early tide of emigra- tion to Iowa, he settled in Salem in 1846, where he successfully practiced his profes- sion till 1859; then forming a copartnership for the practice of law with Frank Semple, he moved to Dover, Lee county, same state, where he remained till 1867. He then went to Savannah, Missouri, entering into practice with his son, Joseph M., with whom he was associated till 1870, when he went to Brunswick, Missouri, soon after re- tiring from practice. He was a gentleman of fine social and legal attainments and at- tained a high legal degree of prominence at the bar. While living at Dover he was assessor of internal revenue under the ad- ministration of President Lincoln. To him and his estimable wife were born three chil- dren: Isaac H .; Mrs. Amanda E. Bailey, of Tacoma, Washington; and Joseph M., a prominent lawyer of Los Angeles, Califor- nia. Mr. Kinley was accidentally killed by a moving train near Tacoma, Washing- ton, July 17, 1893.
The early life of Isaac H. Kinley was principally passed in Iowa. His early edu- cational discipline was secured in the public schools and the Howe Academy at Mount Pleasant, Iowa, growing to man's estate under the sturdy and vigorous influences of a new country, and gaining a due regard for the dignity of honest toil and an apprecia-
tion of the potentialities of personal en- deavor. Subsequently he took a finishing course under a private tutor, and at the age of eighteen he began reading law in his father's office and two years later was ad- mitted to the bar.
At about that time the war-cloud broke which had so long been hanging above our national horizon, engulfing the country in a red wave of war, he immediately enlisted and was assigned to duty in company B, third Iowa cavalry. His participation was of the most active kind, taking a part in all the battles in which his regiment was en- gaged, principally in the trans-Mississippi part of the field. At the expiration of his term of enlistment he received honorable discharge, June, 1864.
Upon his return to civil life, he at once resumed reading law, and the following September he went to Albany, New York, where he took the law course in the Albany Law School, graduating in May, 1865. Opening an office in Brunswick, Missouri, in 1865, he soon acquired a clientage, and in 1872 was elected prosecuting attorney and efficiently filled the position for one term, besides holding numerous other local positions of honor and trust. In 1880 he was a member of the state democratic cen- tral committee of the tenth congressional district. In 1889 he came to Kansas City to get into a field more commensurate with his abilities and one involving a more diver- sified practice. From 1875 Mr. Kinley was for fourteen years associated with Captain James C. Wallace, of Keytesville, a prom- inent lawyer, and from 1880 to 1889, they jointly owned and conducted the Weekly Brunswicker, Mr. Kinley being the business manager and editor. From an eight-column folio it was increased to a six-column
206
A MEMORIAL RECORD OF KANSAS CITY
quarto, adding all modern improvements,- steam presses, folders, etc. From 1887 to 1888 he was president of the Missouri Press Association. Socially he is a prominent member of the Ancient Order of Free and Accepted Masons and of Oriental chapter at Kansas City.
As a lawyer his legal acumen and ability are fortified and embellished by a wide and thorough general knowledge. He possesses rare physical energy, a commanding and conspicuous presence and a magnanimous nature. Keenly sensible of the ethics of his profession, no man loves the ardor of hon- orable controversy better than he, and no practitioner at the bar of Jackson county excels him in unselfish and incorruptible de- votion to duty and the cause of his client.
His marriage to Miss Sarah F. Davis was consummated July 30, 1865. They have three children: Will H., a prominent young lawyer, Sadie and Louie.
ILLIAM HARVEY occupies the responsible position of freight agent of the Pennsylvania Rail- road, his office being in Kansas City. Steadily has he worked his way up- ward, and by close application, persistent and commendable effort has achieved a suc- cess of which he is well worthy. He was born in Albany, New York, January 27, 1833, and is a son of Francis and Linda (Higgins) Harvey, natives of the Empire state. The father was engaged in the manu- facture of stoves in Albany; he died several years ago.
Our subject spent his boyhood days in his native city, and acquired his education in the public schools and at a university there. At the age of seventeen he left home to en-
ter a drug store in New York city, and for about three years was engaged in that line of business. During that time he saved some capital, and with it embarked in the manufacture of paints and followed paint- ing, -- this, however, being under the care of foremen. He had little to invest, but prospered in the undertaking and success- fully carried it on until failing health com- pelled him to retire. He then returned to Albany, securing a clerkship with the Al- bany Northern Railroad. Here his ability and enterprise won recognition by frequent promotions, and he was made agent, cashier and general freight agent in the general office at Albany. In that capacity he con- tinued to serve until 1860, when, desiring to identify his interests with those of the west, he made his way to Quincy, Illinois, and was given charge of the outside freight business of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad. There was no bridge across the river at that time, and his business was very extensive, he sometimes having the man- agement of as many as two hundred work- men.
There he served until 1865, when he was made general agent of the Wabash road at Quincy. In October, 1868, he was ap- pointed agent of the Empire Transportation Company, later owned by the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, and continued his head- quarters at Quincy, having charge of the territory tributary to that city. He was also manager of the business which concentrated at Burlington and Keokuk, Iowa, and at Hannibal, Missouri, having sub-agents at those places. In 1883 he removed his office to Kansas City, and now has charge of all the southwestern territory. The control of the extensive business which is conducted in the freight department requires a master
1
AND JACKSON COUNTY, MISSOURI.
207
mind, a strong guiding power and sound judgment, -qualities which our subject pos- sesses.
Mr. Harvey was married in New York city, when about twenty-one years of age, to Miss Amanda M. Carman, of that place. She died in Quincy, in 1872, leaving five children, namely: William, a railroad man of Chicago; Henry DeWitt, who is also con- nected with railroad interests in Chicago; George F., who died at the age of thirty- one, in Kansas City, where he was employed in the freight auditing department of Kansas City, Fort Scott & Memphis railroad; R. L., a railroad man of Kansas City; and Leo- nora C., wife of Charles A. Baughman, a railroad employee in Denver, Colorado. Mr. Harvey was again married, in Quincy, in 1875, his second union being with Miss Julia A. Weber of that city. They have one son, Frank C., who is now in the high school in Kansas City.
Mr. Harvey gives his political support to the republican party, but has had neither time nor inclination for office. He is a member of the Episcopal church, and served as precentor of the Quincy diocese. For twenty-one years he had charge of the music, and had in training a choir of fifty men and boys in the Quincy church. He has always been very fond of music, finding one of his greatest sources of pleasure in this art. He has been an interested and active member of various musical societies in Kansas City and was especially promi- nent in the Philharmonic society.
The name of Mr. Harvey is well known in fraternal circles, he being an Odd Fellow, Knight of Pythias and Druid, but he is best known in the Masonic fraternity, where he has risen to high rank. He was made a Mason in Albany, New York, became wor-
shipful master of the lodge in Quincy, served as worshipful master for four years, and was a delegate to the grand lodge. In 1866 he was raised to the third degree, began work in the Scottish rite in June, 1890, and be- came a member of Adoniram lodge of Per- fection. He rose to the thirty-third degree and was coronated at St. Louis, October 19, 1893, as inspector general honorary, at the only time when the supreme council met elsewhere than in Washington. He is at present venerable master of Adoniram lodge of Perfection, No. 2, also venerable master of the Kadosh of the consistory of western Missouri. He is one of the most promi- nent and popular Masons in Kansas City, and is a member of Orient chapter Royal Arch Masons, and a member of Oriental commandery, Knights Templar,-both of Kansas City.
UGENE G. E. JACCARD .-- The name which this gentleman bears has been prominently connected with the mercantile interests of Missouri for many years, and the Mermod & Jaccard Jewelry Company, of St. Louis, is one of the best known houses in the country in its line of business, and our sub- ject has added new luster to the high repu- tation of the name by his successful and honorable business career as a jeweler of Kansas City.
Mr. Jaccard was born in St. Louis, Sep- tember 28, 1861, and is a son of D. C. and Eugenie (Chipron) Jaccard, the former a native of St. Croix, Switzerland, the latter of Paris, France. The paternal grandfather lived and died in Switzerland, and was one of the expert watchmakers in that country, noted for its fine workmanship in that line.
.
208
A MEMORIAL RECORD OF KANSAS CITY
The maternal grandfather, J. G. Chipron, was a native of Paris, who crossed the Atlantic to America and died in Highland, Illinois, at the age of seventy-seven years. He was a man of fine personal appearance, tall and well formed, and reared a large family. The father of our subject learned the trade of watchmaking in his native land and has always been connected with the jewelry business. Determining to try his fortune in the new world, he came to the United States in 1845 and located in St. Louis, where he now makes his home. He has built up a very extensive trade, and the house of which he is vice-president ranks among the foremost in the jewelry trade in this country. His wife died in 1865. They were both members of the Presbyterian church. In their family were four children, of whom three are now living, namely: Eugenie, wife of Alfred Perillard, of Lau- sanne, Switzerland; Anna and Eugene.
Mr. Jaccard, of this review, was reared in his native city save for the time which he spent abroad in study. He attended the public schools of St. Louis until ten years of age, and then went to Switzerland, attend- ing school at Yverdon for two and a half years. He afterward went to Ludwigsburg and Stuttgart, Germany, where he remained until 1874. In that year he returned to St. Louis, and in 1877 was graduated at the Kemper's Family School, of Booneville, Missouri. Mr. Jaccard then again crossed the water, going to Locle, Switzerland, where he learned the trade of watchmaking under one of the expert watchmakers of that country. In September, 1880, he again arrived in his native land, and entered the employ of the Mermod & Jaccard Jewelry Company as office boy. He had to do his part in the routine work of the store as any
other employee, and he thus gained a thor- ough business training. He afterward served for a time as entry clerk and as salesman, and as he was thorough in his work and made a close study of the business in all particulars, it well fitted him for his present business efforts.
In September, 1888, Mr. Jaccard arrived in Kansas City and established the Jaccard Watch & Jewelry Company, of which he was president until February, 1895. The house was destroyed by fire in January, 1893, the company suffering a severe loss, but they soon resumed business, and they now carry a large and elegant stock of watches, clocks and jewelry. November 1, 1895, the subject of this sketch severed his active connection with the jewelry firm, re- taining his interest therein, however, and formed a co-partnership with W. B. John- son, under the firm name of W. B. Johnson, Jaccard & Company, in the fire, casualty and tornado insurance business.
On the 18th of June, 1884, was consum- mated the marriage of Mr. Jaccard and Miss Lena, daughter of Frederick Dings. Four children have been born to them: Frederick Constant, Eugenie, Gilbert Eugene and Walter Bird. The parents are members of the Presbyterian church, and he is a promi- nent Mason of the thirty-second degree. He belongs to Kansas City commandery, No. IO, K. T., and to Ararat Temple of the Mystic Shrine. He is also chancellor of Benton council, No. 22, of the Legion of Honor, of Missouri, and is president of the Kansas City Karnival Krewe. This organi- zation came into existence for the purpose of adding to the fall festivities and to help in attracting additional visitors to the city, and of creating amusements to keep them longer in the community. Thousands of
209
AND JACKSON COUNTY, MISSOURI.
visitors from distant points are attracted every year to this great festival, and the railroads reported a much larger number in 1895 than in any previous year.
In politics Mr. Jaccard is a stalwart re- publican. He is pre-eminently a public- spirited citizen, devoted to the best interests of the community and its upbuilding, with- holding his support and co-operation from no enterprise that he believes will benefit the community. Mr. Jaccard is a young man of fine personal appearance, genial dis- position and deservedly popular for his affa- ble manners and his kindly bearing, both in business and social circles. Withal he is modest and retiring, and his friends admire him for his many good qualities of head and heart.
0 C. JACCARD. - Commensurate with the progress and development of the west has been the growth of the immense business with which this gentleman is connected. He now occu- pies the position of vice-president of the Mermod & Jaccard Company, which con- trols to a great extent the jewelry trade of the Mississippi valley as well as a liberal share of the business of Paris.
Mr. Jaccard of this review was born in St. Croix, Switzerland, August 22, 1826, and descended from French Huguenot an- cestry, who fled to Switzerland after the rev- ocation of the Edict of Nantes, and settled in St. Croix on the very first ground after crossing the frontier. Other members of the family remained in Picardy, France, and continued the original spelling of the name, which is Jacquard; but those who located in Switzerland adopted the spelling which is used by our subject,
Mr. Jaccard received the usual instruc- tion of the public schools, and when eleven years of age was apprenticed to a jeweler and put to work on the construction of music-boxes. He was afterward taught the business of making watches, and his time was divided between this work and his studies. In 1845 he left the parental home, entering the normal school at Lausanne, where he pursued a three-years course and was graduated with the honors of a class of thirty-five. In order to defray the expenses of his own education, he taught for two hours each day and during the months of vacation followed his trade. He followed school-teaching for a year after completing his own course, and then the political differ- ences in France and Switzerland in 1847-8 induced him to accept an invitation from his cousins, Louis and Eugene Jaccard, to ac- company them to St. Louis. Together they left St. Croix, on the 24th of April, 1848, and reached their destination July 15, 1848. Mr. Jaccard at once began work in connection with his cousins at the business he learned in his youth, and to this vocation in its various departments he has since devoted his ener- gies, while in the honest pursuit of a persist- ent purpose, combined with excellent manag- ing powers and undaunted enterprise, he has risen to a proud position among the mer- chants of the New World. He was first an employee in the house of Louis Jaccard & Company, which on the 3Ist of December, 1848, passed out of existence, the senior partner selling a half interestto his nephew, Eugene, who carried on the business alone until 1852, when he admitted A. S. Mer- inod into a partnership. In 1855 our sub- ject became a third partner and the firm of E. Jaccard & Company was established and continued business until May 1, 1864. In
210
A MEMORIAL RECORD OF KANSAS CITY
the previous year, however, the senior mem- ber had formed a partnership with Captains La Barge and Harkness, under the name of La Barge, Harkness & Company, for the purpose of trading and steamboating on the river. This being outside of the regular jewelry business it caused a disagreement among the members of the firm of E. Jac- card & Company, and Mr. Mermod and D. C. Jaccard, being apprehensive that their in- terests would suffer, sold out to Eugene Jaccard on that date, May 1, 1864.
Immediately afterward these two gen- tlemen purchased a jewelry establishment, and, taking as a partner C. F. Mathey, founded the firm of D. C. Jaccard & Com- pany. They were soon at the head of a good trade and throughout the subsequent period the progress of the firm has been steady and uninterrupted. Even during the period of general commercial depression,- from 1873 until 1879,-the development of its business was unchecked. The business and facilities have been greatly increased until the establishment is now the rival in appointments, equipments and stock of the prominent jewelry houses of the country. In 1873 the firm style was changed to Mer- mod, Jaccard & Company, in order to pre- vent mistakes arising from the similarity of the two firm names. The policy of the house is one of the most commendable and has been adhered to, to the letter. Un- doubtedly the success is largely due to this. When the new firm was formed the partners signed a written agreement that they would never speculate in anything, that they would never buy more goods than they could pay cash for, that they would not sign any notes or have any drafts drawn on them, and that at the end of every month they would carefully examine the condition of their affairs in
order to act intelligently in the purchase of goods. The faithfulness with which they adhered to these regulations was soon dis- covered by manufacturers, all of whom be- came anxious to deal with such a house, and consequently the very best offers have always been at their disposal. The firm has its own manufactory for watches, the greater number of ladies' watches being made in St. Croix, Switzerland, by a house of which Mr. Jaccard's brother, Justin, is at the head. His cousins are also manufacturers of music-boxes there.
Mermod, Jaccard & Company also own a house in Paris, where V. Versepuy, a most expert connoisseur, watches the diamond market for them and selects all of their clocks and objets d'art. Two of the mem- bers also visit Europe regularly twice a year for the purchase of new articles in their line. The house has also representatives in Vienna, Bohemia, London, Birmingham, Sheffield and other European cities, and is so well known throughout that country that it can buy whatever it needs quite as well as in New York, such is its standing among manufacturers and those who supply it with its goods. This high reputation, it is need- less to say, it enjoys as well in the United States and Mexico as in more distant lands.
Mr. Jaccard is of a quiet, retiring dispo- sition, yet his name is connected with many works of charity, while many more of his benevolent acts have never reached the pub- lic notice, owing to his freedom from osten- tation. As treasurer of the Societe du Sou par Semaine, he distributed during the war, in connection with the Sanitary Commission, over $20,000 to relieve the wants of per- sons on both sides. In 1868 he was ap- pointed vice consul to Switzerland at St. Louis, and acted alone as consul for two
Hrough oh Me Estoy
-
AND JACKSON COUNTY, MISSOURI.
213
years. In politics hc is independent and an earnest advocate of civil-service reform, bc- lieving that candidates should be chosen with regard to the ability of the man and not to his party affiliations. In religion he is a Presbyterian, and was formerly an elder in Dr. Brooks' church. In 1855 he was united in marriage with the daughter of J. G. Chipron, brother-in-law of Rev. Dr. Grandpierre, of Paris, France, where Mrs. Jaccard was born. Hcr parents became residents of Highland, Illinois.
UGH L. MCELROY .- The execu- tive and financial ability of Young America is most aptly illustrated in the successful career of Mr. Hugh L. McElroy, whose cxperience in mercantile, real-estate and banking life stamps him as a man of varied resources.
He was born in Springfield, Washington county, Kentucky, in 1832. At an early age he evinced a decided preference for the mercantilc business over the confinement of the school-room, and, during vacations, manifested his peculiar aptness in this line by making more successful sales in his father's store than older salcsmen.
In 1846, when only fourteen ycars old, he left school, and in connection with an older brother and a Mr. Rinchart, bought out the interests of his father and unclc. For ten years the new firm did the most flourishing business in Springfield. In 1856 Mr. McElroy sold his interest in the store and engaged in the brokerage business, but after eighteen months returned to inercan- tile life and continued in it until 1866. He then came west to Leavenworth and investcd in cattle. This venture, like all his other enterprises, proved successful. In 1868 he
located in Kansas City, then a town of about 5,000 inhabitants and still suffering from the effects of the war. Mr. McElroy soon comprehended the possibilities of the location, and quickly turned his attention to spcculating in real estate. Possessing a thorough knowledge of the national bank- ing system, having formerly been vice-pres- ident of the First National Bank of Spring- field, Kentucky, his native town, he became one of the organizers and directors of the Kansas City National Bank, -the second one organized in Kansas City. Since then he has officiated in this capacity in many others, viz .: the Commercial National, organized in 1869, with L. K. Thatcher as president, the National Exchange, the Aetna National, the German American National, and is at present a director in the Metropolitan Na- tional. Although offered more prominent positions in a number of these banks, he has persistently declincd, giving his atten- tion to his own private business.
In his various transactions Mr. McElroy has cver displayed that integrity of charac- ter and purpose which has always com- incnded him to the confidence of business inen, and a judgment and knowledge which insures success. By nature he is modest and retiring, tender-hearted and refined, always shunning notoriety or ostentation. He was never a club man or fond of miscel- laneous or fashionable society, but loves to entertain his friends in the old-fashioned, in- formal way.
In matters of charity he adhcres to the Scriptural injunction of, "Let not your left hand know what your right hand doeth," and very many could testify to his quiet gen- erosity and kindness. Mr. McElroy is of Scotch-Irish Presbyterian descent. In pol- itics he affiliates with the democratic party,
214
A MEMORIAL RECORD OF KANSAS CITY
but takes no active interest in political mat- ters. He was married October 10, 1872, to Miss Mary Hardy, daughter of Major John G. Hardy, a prominent and wealthy citizen of Mercer county, Kentucky. They now reside in a beautiful home at 1512 E. Eighth street, where they dispense hospital- ity in true southern style.
LIJAH F. SLAUGHTER. Brooking township, Jackson coun- ty, Missouri, has no better repre- sentative of the intelligent farmer than is found in the subject of this sketch, . Elijah F. Slaughter. Before proceeding to a review of liis life we would refer briefly to his progenitors; for the biography of no man is complete without some reference to the source from which he sprang.
The Slaughters are of Englishı origin. Gabriel Slaughter, the first representative of the family in America, emigrated hither from England at an early day and settled near Norfolk, Virginia, where he had a large landed estate and where he passed the rest of his life and died. His son William, a native of Norfolk, born about 1735, emi- grated from Virginia to Tennessee about the year 1800 and settled in Washington county, where he died at a good old age. He was a veteran of the revolutionary war. In Rich- mond, Virginia, August 21, 1781, to him and his wife, Sarah, was born a son, whom they named William, and who became the father of Elijah F. Slaughter. This son, the younger William Slaughter, was edu- cated in Washington College, Washington county, Tennessee, and chose for his pro- fession the ministry. He was first in the Presbyterian church and subsequently
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.