USA > Missouri > Jackson County > Kansas City > A memorial and biographical record of Kansas City and Jackson County Mo. > Part 29
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HOMAS JEFFERSON FORD, a retired farmer living in Blue Springs, Missouri, was born near Versailles, in Woodford county, Kentucky, March 26, 1824. He was reared in Shelby county. His father, John Ford, was a native of Virginia, and during his boy- hood days removed to Kentucky, becoming one of the pioneer settlers of that locality. He married Miss Sarah Berry, and of their twelve children nine are yet living.
While still under the parental roof our subject, the seventh born, learned the car- penter's trade, being uninstructed, however, in this work, yet possessing natural talent for it. In 1848 he came to Missouri, and in 1850 made a permanent location in Kan- sas City, where for some years he followed the carpenter's trade. He was for six years in the employ of Lewis A. Ford. He then
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engaged in farming on the Blue, four miles southeast of the center of Kansas City, where he had an extensive farm, which now, however, lies within the corporation limits. He owned 107 acres and continued the cul- tivation and improvement of this property until eight years ago. He sold this farm during the boom, but as the purchaser was unable to pay for it it reverted to him. He afterward purchased 240 acres, two and a half miles south of Blue Springs, and also has thirty acres one mile further east. He has, however, now laid aside business cares and is living retired in Blue Springs, enjoy- ing the fruits of his former toil. He has led an industrious life, is energetic and perse- vering, and his well-directed efforts have brought to him a comfortable competence. He has rented his Kansas City farm and taken up his abode at his pleasant suburban residence situated near the limits of the city.
Mr. Ford was married in Kansas City, in 1850, to Miss Elizabeth Taylor, of this place. She died in 1857. Four children were born of that marriage: John Willis, a farmer residing near Independence; Thomas Lewis, at home; Sarah Lucy,. now the wife of Wallace Campbell, who is living on the farm near Kansas City; and T. J., who died in infancy. Mr. Ford was again married on the 28th of June, 1860, his second union being with Miss Cumilah F. Bradley, of Kansas City, daughter of Isham Bradley. Her father was a native of Virginia, but at an early day emigrated to Missouri, becom- ing one of the pioneer settlers of Jackson county in 1837. He resided on the West- port road, on a farm which now lies within the city limits, and died on the old home place October 18, 1867, at the age of sixty- six years. His wife bore the maiden name of Catherine Hudgins. They were married
in Virginia, and became the parents of eight children, five of whom are yet living.
To Mr. and Mrs. Ford have been born the following named: Archie B., who is now on the farm; Mary Cumilah, wife of J. Sam- uel Bridges, a farmer living in Blue Springs; Vyra Lee, wife of John W. Corder, of Kan- sas City; Charles W., Ernest W., Bessie, Jeffie and Delma.
In his political views, Mr. Ford is a democrat. He served as a member of the home guards during the civil war, and with the exception of a part of one summer re- mained on the farm during those troublous times. The invading armies took all his horses but one, also a considerable amount of cattle, and his crops were destroyed by the trampling hosts. Both Mr. and Mrs. Ford hold a membership in the Baptist church, with which they have been con- nected since early youth. Their membership is now with the organization at Blue Springs, and Mr. Ford has served as deacon. He was made a Mason at Westport, and is a valued member of that fraternity. His long residence in Jackson county has made him widely known, and his well-spent life has gained for him the confidence and good will of all with whom he has been brought in contact.
J OHN PUNTON, M. D., is engaged in the practice of regular medicine, being one of the most able and skilled physicians of Kansas City. He was born in London, England, July 12, 1854, and is a son of William and Emily (Gum- brall) Punton, who also were natives of the same country. The grandfather, William Punton, was a solicitor or barrister at law in London, and died in the prime of life.
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His family numbered two sons and a daugh- ter, including the father of our subject, who was an upholsterer and paper-hanger. His entire life was spent in his native city, where he died in 1890, at the age of sixty-three years. His wife also passed away at the same age. Both were members of the church of England, and were highly re- spected people. They had eight children- three sons and five daughters-of whom seven are now living, namely: Louisa, wife of George Monk; Marianne, wife of Alfred Clark, a detective of London; William, who is principal of a school in Reigate, England, a position he has filled for twenty-seven years ; John; Minnie, wife of Thomas Stafford, of London; Julia E., wife of Alfred Smith, who has been principal of a school in Lon- don for many years; and Alfred, a dentist of Mount Pleasant, Iowa. A daughter passed away named Louisa. The maternal grand- father of our subject, Thomas Gumbrall, was a farmer of England, and there spent his entire life, dying at an advanced age.
Dr. Punton spent his boyhood days in his native land and obtained his literary education in the public schools, which he attended until sixteen years of age. During the succeeding three years he was the travel- ing companion for a wealthy gentleman in all parts of Europe. No better educational training could have been given him than this, for " by running to and fro in the earth shall knowledge be increased;" and one gains through looking upon different scenes and watching the various nationalities a knowledge that could never be obtained from text-books. It was in this way he gained a desire to come to America. He is to-day a man of broad general information, having been made so through experience, observation and extensive reading.
The Doctor was a young man of eighteen years when he crossed the Atlantic to Amer- ica, taking up his residence in Jacksonville, Illinois, where he secured a position as at- tendant in the insane asylum located there. In the meantime he studied pharmacy, and became the apothecary of the Central Illi- nois Hospital for the Insane,-a position which he creditably filled for ten years, during which time, at the suggestion of the medical faculty of this institution, he studied medicine until he graduated. He, how- ever, sought a broader field of labor, and resolved to enter the general medical pro- fession, which calls for great sacrifices and more arduous labors than almost any other calling. In the winter of 1878-9 he was a student in the University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, after which he returned to the asylum to re-enter his position as druggist for the institution. It was by this means that he acquired the capital necessary to complete his education, and going to Cin- cinnati he entered the Miami Medical Col- lege, at which he was graduated in the class of 1883.
Immediately afterward Dr. Punton re- moved to Lawrence, Kansas, where he en- gaged in practice for a year and a half, during which time he served as city physi- cian. The State Insane Asylum at Topeka, Kansas, had been greatly enlarged, and the Doctor was then offered, by the president of the state board of charities, the position of superintendent of one of the new, large, detached buildings, containing 300 patients; there he remained for three years. Of a nature that would never content itself with mediocrity or partial success, he went, at the expiration of that period, to Chicago, in or- der to carry his resources and investigations still farther, and gained further proficiency
Pauline Emerson Garfield M.P.
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in his chosen calling. He therefore took a special course in the Northwestern Medical College, and, seeking a broader field of labor, came to Kansas City, in March, 1888. For four years he engaged in general practice, and then went to New York, where he took a course in the post-graduate college, also in the clinical department, making a specialty of nervous diseases, under the direction of Drs. Dana and Landon Carter Gray. Sub- sequently he spent six months in Europe, attending the special clinics devoted to nervous diseases. On returning to Kansas City he became a specialist in this line, and remarkable success has attended his efforts. In 1895 he made another trip to London for special study, and also took a special course under the same instructors in New York. The science of medicine has yielded up many of its secrets to him, and entering the lists against disease and death he has many, many times come off conqueror in the strife.
On the 17th of July, 1884, Dr. Punton was united in marriage with Miss Frances Evelyn Spruill, daughter of W. F. T. and Mary B. (Babbitt) Spruill. Her father is a Methodist minister belonging to the Illinois Conference. Mrs. Punton is a native of Kentucky, and a most cultured and refined lady, a graduate of the Illinois Female Col- lege, of Jacksonville, Illinois, in the literary as well as the fine art department. Three sons have been born to this marriage,- Frank Gibson, John Morse and William Bruce. The parents are members of the Grand Avenue Methodist Episcopal church, and also belong to the order of the Eastern Star, of the Masonic fraternity, while the Doctor is a member of Albert Pike lodge, A. F. & A. M., as well as of the Scottish rite and Oriental commandery. He also 14
holds a membership in various medical so- cieties and is now president of the Kansas City Academy of Medicine. He belongs to the Jackson County, the Kansas City District, the Missouri State and the Tri- State Medical Societies. He is an honorary member of numerous other medical organ- izations in Missouri and Kansas, as well as the Kansas State Medical Society. He is now professor of nervous and mental diseases in the University Medical College, also holds the same chair in the Woman's Med- ical and the Western Dental Colleges, and is special lecturer to the Scarritt Training School, and consulting neurologist to All Saints Hospital, the Kansas City, the Fort Scott & Memphis, the Pittsburg & Gulf and the Missouri & Pacific Railroad Hospitals. His prominent connection with these various institutions is a sufficient guarantee of his ability, and indicates better than commen- datory words would do the high position he occupies among his professional brethren. He is one of the most promising of the ris- ing generation of physicians of Kansas City, and we predict for him unbounded success.
AULINE EMERSON CANFIELD, M. D .- The history of the Emer- son family in England can be traced back to the early part of the thir- teenth century, and the Doctor has in her possession the authentic lineage from 1300 down to Thomas Emerson, who came to America in 1638. He was proprietor of the manors of Bradbury and Hilton, in Eng- land, and after coming to the New World figured prominently in the history of the American branch of the family, being its founder in this country.
More than two hundred and fifty years
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ago, when the citizens of this country had penetrated into the interior only a few miles, the greater number located along the At- lantic coast. Weighing anchor in an Eng- lish port the westward-bound sailing vessel, Elizabeth Ann, among the passengers on board that little ship was Thomas Emerson, a representative of the Emerson family of the Wear valley, in the county of Durham. At length the long voyage of three thousand miles was ended, and since that year, 1638, the Emerson family and its representatives have been prominent in American annals. No people have been more honored than those who have worn this name. The family has been distinguished by its devo- tion to those works, enterprises and busi- ness interests which are designed for the aid and uplifting of humanity. Among the members of the family are Ralph Waldo Emerson, the noted essayist; Wendell Phil- lips, the apostle of freedom and the friend of the oppressed; Bishop Phillips Brooks, of the Episcopal church, and Bishop W. F. Mallalieu, of the Methodist Episcopal church, both prominent in ministerial work; Pro- fessor C. Wesley Emerson, the founder and president of the Boston School of Oratory; Professor H. P. Emerson, of Buffalo, New York; Professor B. K. Emerson, of Amherst College; Dr. H. P. Emerson, of London, England, an author of works on natural history, and many others who are eminent in church and educational circles.
Thomas Emerson, who was born in the county of Durham, England, took up his residence in Ipswich, Massachusetts, on emigrating to America. He received a large grant of land from King James I., October 19, 1619, which was to be in the possession of the family for a thousand years. A coat- of-arms was also granted to the family by
King Henry VIII., and this has been used by Ralph Waldo Emerson and other repre- sentatives of the family in this country for book plates. Thomas Emerson inherited the manors of Bradbury and Hilton, and thus another coat-of-arms was brought into the family. They had five children, includ- ing Rev. John Emerson, from whom were descended Wendell Phillips and Phillips Brooks. Thomas Emerson died May I, 1666, and we have the following record con- cerning the disposition of his property:
" His will was dated May 31, 1663. He died May 1, 1666, and the inventory of his estate is recorded November 3, 1666, in which record hc is styled ' Goodman Emer- son, Senior.' He left a wife, Elizabeth, and sons, -Joseph, John, James and Nathaniel, -and a daughter, Elizabeth, wife of John Fuller. 'He bequeathes to his wife the yearly rent of his farm with six head of cattle, also the house, etc., during the time she doth remain my widow. To his sonne Joseph the sum of eighty pounds of current pay of New England. To his sonne James the some of forty pounds to be paid unto him if he shall come over into this or send by a certain cer- tificate of his being living within two years after the deccase of me and my wife. In case my sonne dye before then, my will is that my sonne Joseph, his son Joseph, shall have ten pounds and my daughter Fuller and her four sonnes twenty pounds, and my sonne Nathaniel 10 pounds. To Nathaniel, my house wherein I now dwell, with all my upland and meadow and the marsh yt bought of my sonne Joseph wh some tinie Mr. Woodman's. To his daughter, Elizabeth Fuller, best coverlet and the bedstead to enjoy for use until her daughter Susan atayned the age of 20 or the day of her mar- riage, if it should happen sooner; then she
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to enjoy them also; the great carved chest with what is in it, the carved box and the little trunk and small covered chest with all [that] is in it.'
" In a codicil dated January 4, 1660, he mentioned having given unto his son John his ' portion fill in ye considerations of yt agreement between us about my farm,' etc. He bequeathed legacies to his daughter Ful- ler's two daughters, Suana and Elizabeth, to be paid to them at the age of 20 or at ye day of marriage (see John Fuller). He ap- points his ' living wife Elizabeth Emerson sole Executrix and doe desire my much hon- ored and faithful friends Mr. Samuel Sy- monds and Maj. Gen'l Denison to be overseers to see yt this will be fulfilled.' The will was proved May, 1666."
Rev. Joseph Emerson, son of Thomas, the American ancestor, was born in Eng- land in 1620, and was installed the first minister in Mendon, Massachusetts, Decem- ber 1, 1669. His death occurred November 3, 1679. He married Elizabeth Woodman- sey, and after her death Elizabeth Buckley. They had seven children, one of whom was the ancestor of Ralph Waldo Emerson, America's famed realist.
James Emerson was the next in the line of direct descent. He was a landholder, was born about 1655, had four children, and died in 1718.
His son, John Emerson, also a land- holder, was born June 9, 1694, married Mary Rice, and had nine children, and died in 1780. His will, which was allowed, June 5, 1780, read as follows: " In the name of God, Amen. The twelfth day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hun- dred and sixty-eight, I, John Emerson, of Uxbridge, in the county of Worcester and province of the Massachusetts, in New Eng-
land, yeoman, being under some bodily in- disposition but of perfect mind and memory (thanks be to God therefor !), calling to mind the mortality of my body, and know- ing that it is appointed for man once to die, do make and ordain this my last will and testament; that is to say, principally, and first of all, I give and recommend my soul into the hands of God, who gave it, hoping, thro' the meritts, death and passion of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, to have a full and free pardon and remission of all my sins and to inherit everlasting life; and my body I commit to the earth to be decently buried at the discretion of my executors (thereafter named), nothing doubting but at the general resurrection I shall receive the same again, by the mighty power of God. And as touch- ing such worldly estate, wherewith it has pleased God to bless me in this life, I give and dispose of the same in the following manner and form, that is to say:
"First. I will and order that all those debts and duties that I do owe in right or conscience to any person or persons what- soever, shall well and truly be contented or paid or ordained to be paid, in convenient time after my decease, by my executors hereafter named.
"Item. I give to my eldest son John ten shillings lawful money, to be paid by my executors in seven years after my decease; one-fourth part of my wearing apparell, as also one-fourth part of my shop tools, and no more. He have [having] already had such part of my estate which with this I look upon to be his full porportion of my estate.
"Item. I give to my son Thomas ten shillings lawful money, to be paid by my executors in ye term of seven years after my decease, one-fourth part of my wearing ap-
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parel, as also one-fourth part of my shop tools and no more, thinking this, with what I have already given him, to be his full por- portion of my estate.
"Item. I give unto my son James ten shillings lawful money to be paid in seven years after my decease by my executors, one-fourth part of my wearing apparel, as also one-fourth part of my shop tools, the which, with what he has already had, I look upon to be his full porportion of my estate.
"Item. I give and bequeath to my son Luke (he paying the several legacies to my sons above-named; and to my son Ezekiel and daughters, Mary, Sarah and Hannah, as after mentioned; and excepting the im- provement of a part of my house to my daughter Mary, with a necessary part of the garden and yard room, as aftermentioned) the whole of my homested, that I am now in possession of; lands, buildings and tene- ment of every sort; as also the whole of my stock of cattle, sheep, horses, hoggs, and of every sort; the whole of my utensils for husbandry; one-fourth part of my shop tools, as also one-fourth part of my wearing apparel.
"Item. I give to my son Ezekiel ten shillings lawful money, to be paid him by my executors in seven years after my de- cease, the which, with his education at col- lege, I account to be his full porportion of my estate.
"Item. I give to my eldest daughter, Mary, twenty-six pounds, thirteen shillings and four pence lawful money, to be paid her by my executors on her marriage or in four years after my decease, as also comfortable and convenient rooms in the north end of my house, a necessary part of my cellar and well, such a part of the garden, at the south end of the house as may be necessary for
her own use; convenient yard room, with the privilege of going and coming so long as she shall live unmarried; and also one-third part of my household goods.
" Item. I give to my daughter Sarah eleven pounds, ten shillings, to be paid her by my executors in six years after my de- cease, with one-third part of my household goods and three pence, which with what she has already received is her full porportion of my estate.
"Item. I give to my daughter Hannah eight pounds, nine shillings and five pence lawful money, to be paid her by my execu- tors in seven years after my decease, with one-third part of my household goods, which with what she has already received is her full porportion of my estate. The above named legacies to be paid to the above named legatees by my son Luke or by my executors out of his part of my estate.
"Item. I give my pew in the publick meeting house to my sons and daughters to be improved by them as they shall have occasion, or to be equally divided among them. I do hereby constitute, make and ordain my well beloved sons, John Emerson and Luke Emerson, my executors of this my last will and testament; and I do hereby utterly disallow, revoke and disannull all and every other former testaments, wills, legacies, bequests and Exectss by me in any ways before this time named, willed and bequeathed, ratifying and confirming this, and no other, to be my last will and testa- ment.
" In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal, the day and year above written.
"JOHN EMERSON. (Seal.)
" Signed, sealed, published, pronounced and declnred by the said John Emerson as
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his last will and testament in presence of us, the subscribers.
" JOSEPH TYLER,
" MATTAN WEBB,
" ELIZABETH WEBB.
"N. B. The words interlined page 2d, between the 6th and 7th and between the 7th and Sth lines from the bottom, was before the signing, sealing and delivery of these presents.
CODICIL TO YE WITHIN WILL.
"Be it known to all men by these pres- ents, that whereas, I, John Emerson, of Uxbridge, have made and declared my last will and testament in writing bearing date the twelfth day of July, one thousand seven hundred and sixty eight, I, the said John Emerson, by this present codicil, do ratify and confirm my said last will and testament; but it has pleased God in his most holy providence to take away my within named son Luke Emerson by death, the fourth day of November, 1774; therefore I give and bequeath to the said Luke Emerson's two sons, my grandsons (viz.), John Emerson and Thomas Emerson, and to their heirs and assigns forever, all and singular my lands, buildings and tenements of every sort as is named in the within will, which I bequeathed to their father, sd Luke Emer- son, deceased; and further I think it is not necessary to give the five daughters of ye sd Luke (my granddaughters) anything (viz.) Ruth Emerson, Susannah Emerson and Louis Emerson, Rhoda Emerson and Sally Emerson; and my will and meaning is that this codicil or schedule be, and be ad- judged to be, part and parcel of my said last will and testament, and that all things herein mentioned and contained be faithfully and truly performed, and as fully and amply in every respect as if the same were
so declared and set down within my last will and testament. Witness my hand this third day of December, 1774.
"JOHN EMERSON. (Seal. )
"N. B. My meaning is that ye above named John and Thomas have all my house forever.
"DAVID READ, Junr. " JOHNATHAN EMERSON. " PAUL WHEELOCK."
Luke Emerson, who was so frequently mentioned in the above quoted will, and who was the next in the line of direct descent to Dr. Canfield, of this review, was born Oc- tober 14, 1733, and died November 4, 1744. He was the possessor of considerable prop- erty. He was married April 30, 1755, to Ruth Emerson, who was born March 12, 1737. They had ten children. His will, which was allowed December 2, 1774, was as follows:
" In the name of God, Amen! The twen- tieth day of October, 1774.
"I, Luke Emerson, of Uxbridge, in the county of Worcester, in the province of Massachusetts Bay, in New England, yeo- man, being in a very low state of bodily health but of perfect mind and memory,- thanks to be given unto God! therefore, calling unto mind the mortality of my body and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die, do make and ordain this my last will and testament, -that is to say, prin- cipally and first of all, I give and recom- mend my soul into the hands of God that gave it; and my body I recommend to the earth to be buried in decent Christian bur- ial, at the discretion of niy executors, noth- ing doubting that at the general resurrection I shall receive the same by the mighty power of God.
"And as touching such wordly estate,
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wherewith it has pleased God to bless me in this life, I give, demise and dispose of the same in the following manner and form:
"Imprimise. I give and bequeath to Ruth, my dearly beloved wife, all and singular my land and tenements, with all my live stock, together with all my movable estate what- soever for her my said wife to sell and dis- pose of when and as she pleaseth, with the proviso that she pays all my just debts and the several legacies to my heirs hereafter named.
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