USA > Missouri > Jackson County > Kansas City > A memorial and biographical record of Kansas City and Jackson County Mo. > Part 3
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The second time his life was saved through Masonry was by the intervention of a man of probably more humble origin than the other, a colored barber,-Louis Hender- son, -who was a native of Ohio and had never been a slave. For five years previous he had followed his calling in Kansas City. One day two men entered his shop to get shaved and there discussed a plot to kill a certain doctor. The barber was a Mason and recognized hiscustomer as such. There- fore, before shaving him, he asked, "Who is this doctor you are going to kill?" The man replied, "It is Dr. Ridge. He can't live here any longer." In answer Hender- son responded, "Colonel , I can't shave you till you take back all you have said about Dr. Ridge; for he is a better Mason than you or I or any one else in this country, and has done more for the order than any man; and until you take back what you have said I can't shave you, sir." Quite a protracted discussion followed, and at length the colonel gave his word of honor not to molest Dr. Ridge or to allow any of
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A MEMORIAL RECORD OF KANSAS CITY
his company to do so; and from that time forward the colonel and his men were always friendly to the Doctor.
Dr. Ridge once served as councilman of Kansas City, and for several years was city physician, but has been in no way a politi- cian. He retired from active practice about 1875 to give his attention to numerous other interests, and now, surrounded by all the comforts of life, he is spending his declining years in the enjoyment of a well earned rest. He has rounded the Psalmist's span of three- score years and ten, but such a man can never grow old. His hair may whiten, and his frame weaken, but his generosity, his kindliness, his many noble qualities remain unchanged as the years pass. He has ever been a man of broad and liberal views, be- lieving that honesty and uprightness is the indication of true Christianity, regardless of church creeds.
S AMUEL C. JAMES, M. D .- Among those who are engaged in the practice of medicine and sur- gery in Kansas City and who have gained for themselves a prominent place in the ranks of the fraternity, is this gentleman, whose reputation extends throughout the state. He was born in Franklin county, Virginia, June 16, 1854, and is one of the eight children of Dr. Pyrant T. and Emma R. (Woods) James, also natives of Virginia. His paternal grandfather, Catlett James, was a native of the Old Dominion and of English descent. He cultivated a large plantation and died at an advanced age. The maternal grandfather, Samuel H. Woods, was also born in Virginia and was of English lineage. A well known planter, by: his capable management, enterprise and
business ability he became wealthy. He also was a devout Christian and died at the age of seventy-six years.
The father of our subject was a phy- sician, and on leaving the state of his na- tivity in 1855 removed to Versailles, Mis- souri, where he engaged in the practice of medicine until 1861. He also served as a surgeon in the Confederate army from 1861 to 1864. In the year of 1864 he removed to Litchfield, Illinois, where he engaged in the practice of medicine until 1888, when he located in Holden, Missouri, his death oc- curring there in 1892, when he was aged sixty-two years. His wife still survives him, and now spends her winters in Florida, and the summer months at hier home in Ver- sailles, Missouri. Both were members of the Methodist church. Of their family of five sons and three daughters six are yet living, namely: Percy C .; Samuel C .; May, wife of Green Lilly; Lena, wife of Lewis Farquhar, of Litchfield, Illinois; Sterling Price and Robert L. Ida, the third of the family, and the wife of Frank Hayden, is now deceased; also Willie, who was the youngest.
Dr. Samuel C. James was brought to Missouri during his infancy, and at the age of ten years accompanied his parents on their removal to Litchfield, Illinois, where he pursued his early education. He took up the study of medicine under the direction of his father and Dr. P. G. Woods, and sub- sequently entered the Missouri Medical Col- lege, of St. Louis. Later he was a student in the Rush Medical College, of Chicago, at which he was graduated in the class of 1882. Previous to that time, however, he had en- gaged in practice for several years. On leaving Chicago he returned to Versailles, Missouri, where he made his home for a few
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AND JACKSON COUNTY, MISSOURI.
months, and then removed to Holden, Mis- souri, where he practiced until 1888. In that year he visited several of the hospitals of New York city, pursuing his investiga- tions therein, and also took a course of lectures in the New York Polyclinic. In 1889 he opened an office in the Times building on Main street, Kansas City, where he has practiced continuously since.
On the 2d of October, 1883, was cele- - brated the marriage of Dr. James and Miss Lula Doran, daughter of B. F. Doran, of Cooper county, Missouri. Her mother bore the maiden name of Lucy Daniels. One child has been born of this union, -a son, Percy. They have a beautiful home at No. 400 Wabash, which is the abode of hospi- tality and a favorite resort with their many friends. The Doctor is a consistent mem- ber of the Methodist church, in which he has served as steward for ten years. In politics he is a democrat. A valued mem- ber of the Masonic fraternity, he belongs to Royal Arch chapter, No. 28; Kansas City commandery, No. 10, K. T., and also Ararat Teniple of the Mystic Shrine. He has received all the degrees in the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias, and held the office of coroner of Johnson county, but resigning in 1888, before removing to Kansas City.
The Doctor is a Fellow of the Academy of Medicine, a member of the county and the state medical societies, and is professor of theory and practice in the University Medical College, of Kansas City. . He is also professor of general medicine in Scar- ritt Bible and Training School, is on the medical staff of the Scarritt Hospital and All Saints Hospital, and of the University Medical Dispensary Clinic, and is consult- ing physician for the Fort Scott & Memphis
Railroad. The public and the profession both accorded him high rank as a physician. He has treated successfully some of the most difficult cases known to the profession, with most excellent results, and his reputa- tion has been won solely through ability and merit. He wears his honors with graceful and becoming modesty, and is not given to boasting of his accomplishments. He is genial and pleasant in manner, of amiable disposition, broadminded and true, and al- together worthy of the high regard in which he is universally held.
(The writer of the above article has known Dr. James from boyhood, and it is with great pleasure that he gives the above facts to the public. )
J UDGE LUTHER T. COLLIER .- There are few men who have at- tained the age of three-score years and ten who can claim the honor of being a native son of Missouri, but our sub- ject was born in old Franklin, Howard county, December 16, 1825. Through a long and useful career he has aided in the development and upbuilding of his native state, and to-day he is numbered among the most honored residents of Kansas City.
The Collier family originated in France, whence several of its members removed to England and their descendants later came to the United States, locating in Virginia. From the Old Dominion there removed to Kentucky John Collier, who became one of the pioneers of the "dark and bloody ground." The paternal grandfather of our subject, James Collier, was a native of Ken- tucky, and died when Lewis Collier, father of the Judge, was only about eight years of Later the son was apprenticed to a
age.
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A MEMORIAL RECORD OF KANSAS CITY
tanner at Richmond, Kentucky. Subse- quently he went to Missouri, and afterward engaged in lead-mining at Galena, Illinois, selling his ore in St. Louis. Prior to that time, however, he made several trips across the plains to New Mexico with several wagon-loads of goods. After working in the lead mines for a tinie, Mr. Collier re- moved to Randolph county, Missouri, in 1829, carrying on a tan-yard there and making considerable money. As opportu- nity offered he made judicious investments in land, until he became the owner of several large farms which he operated with slave labor, raising tobacco, which he shipped to the city markets. He was a man of robust constitution and of a very energetic and in- dustrious nature. In 1852 he purchased a large tract of land in Livingston county, seven miles east of Chillicothe, where he erected an extensive saw and grist mill, carrying on business there up to the time of his death, which occurred March 12, 1881, in the seventy-ninth year of his age. The mother of our subject, who was a faithful member of the Baptist church, died October 15, 1865, in her sixty-fourth year. The father afterward married Esther Wheeler, who is now living in Wheeler, Missouri.
On the maternal side the Judge is also descended from an old Kentucky family. His maternal grandfather, Abner Cornelius, was a native of North Carolina, and at an early day went to Madison county, Kentucky. He married a Miss Richardson, and there spent his remaining days, his death occur- ring at the age of seventy years. One of his children still survives-Mrs. Mary Basket --- who in her ninety-sixth year is now living in Callao, Missouri.
Judge Collier, of this review, was reared in Randolph county, Missouri, acquired his
early education in the common schools, and worked as a farm hand, also aided in the labors of the tannery. Subsequently he at- tended the State university at Columbia, Missouri. He pursued a four-years' course and was graduated in the summer of 1846, being the valedictorian of his class. While in college he won the friendship and respect of both teachers and pupils, and was a favorite of all with whom he came in social contact.
Having determined to devote his ener- gies to the practice of law, Judge Collier was found as a law student in the office of Judge William T. Wood, of Lexington, Missouri. Late in the fall of 1847 he went to St. Louis, Missouri, and entered the office of Gamble & Bates, a law firm composed of Hamilton R. Gamble, war governor of Mis- souri, and Ed. Bates, attorney general dur- ing the first term of President Lincoln's ad- ministration. After thorough preparation he was admitted to the bar, in St. Louis, in 1851. Judge Collier began practice in St. Louis, but his health failed there and he re- turned to his old home in Huntsville, Ran- dolph county, where he practiced for a year. He then removed to Chillicothe, Missouri, where he remained until coming to Kansas City, on the Ist of October, 1887. Here he has since made his home and is an hon- ored citizen of the community.
On the 13th of June, 1856, Judge Col- lier was united in marriage with Miss Eliz- abeth Fuqua, daughter of Captain Samuel Fuqua, of Logan county, Kentucky. Her death occurred in October, 1884. She was a most estimable lady, highly esteemed for her many excellencies of character, and her circle of friends was extensive. The Judge holds membership in the Cumberland Pres- byterian church, of Westport. In early life
Findase FierCe
7 M. Black
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AND JACKSON COUNTY, MISSOURI.
he was a whig in politics, but is now a sup- porter of the democracy. He was a mem- ber of the school board of Chillicothe, serv- ing one term, and was a member of the board of curators of the State University, to which position he was appointed by Gov- ernor Hardin, and the appointment was con- firmed by the senate before Mr. Collier had any knowledge of it. In the fall of 1882 he was elected a member of the legislature of Missouri from Livingston county and served in the thirty-second general assembly.
While the Judge was a boy at school and at college he was always a close student and thorough in his work, and the same char- acteristic has marked his public and profes- sional career. He has lived in Missouri all his life, and has seen it developed from a wilderness to its present glorious civilization and wonderful magnitude, beauty and power. He is a kindhearted and social gentleman, belonging to the old school, where men were measured by their real worth and manly character rather than the length of their purse. He now has a competency, which supplies him with the comforts of life and is very vigorous and active for one of his years. His disposition is a cheerful and happy one and his soul is full of sunshine.
ON. FRANCIS MARION BLACK, who for ten years sat upon the supreme bench of Missouri, stands conspicuously high among the most able members of the bar of the state. No citizen in the commonwealth has retired from office with a cleaner record or higher respect than Judge Black. His splendid success has been achieved entirely through his own efforts. He wears his honors mod- estly. The salient characteristics by which 2
he is recognized is his unswerving fidelity to duty.
He was born on a farm in Champaign county, Ohio, July 24, 1836, the son of Peter and Maria (Hilliard) Black, the former a native of Pennsylvania, the latter of Ver- mont. At an early day his parents emi- grated westward, locating in Champaign county, Ohio, where the father purchased and developed a tract of land. In their family were four sons and three daughters, and of this number three are now living, namely: Lydia, wife of Thomas Archer, who resides in Ohio; Elias, who owns and manages the old Ohio homestead, and Francis M., of this sketch.
The future Judge began his education in the district schools near his home, the school-house being a rude structure built of ยท logs and furnished with primitive equip- ments. There he pursued his studies until eighteen years of age. Vacations were spent in work on the farm. Two sons of the family died in infancy, and as the re- maining brother was in ill health the greater part of the time, much of the labor and re- sponsibility of the farm devolved upon Francis. His taste, however, was not for agricultural pursuits. He possessed a strong desire to secure further educational privileges and gladly pursued a one year's course in a high school of Urbana, Ohio. After attain- ing his majority he entered Farmers' College, of College Hill, Ohio, where he remained three years, pursuing a full course in mathe- matics, natural science, mental and moral philosophy, and a limited course in Latin. He paid his tuition and other expenses at this institution from the sale of wheat raised on ten acres of ground donated by his father for this purpose, planting and harvesting the wheat himself during his vacations, and thus
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A MEMORIAL RECORD OF KANSAS CITY
made his college education possible. During his college course the president called upon him to take charge of a class in Olmsted's philosopy. The study was completed with credit to the instructor and with credit to the college.
It was the intention of Judge Black's father, when his son finished his college course that he should become a farmer, and offered to assist him in the purchase of a farm. Francis, however, had fully deter- mined to enter upon the study of law. His father became very much enraged at this opposition to his own plans and predicted Francis would make a failure in the law. The result, assuredly, has proved otherwise. Nature evidently intended Francis Black for the legal profession. It was a wise choice he made when he entered upon the prepara- tion for this calling. He began the study of law under the direction of General John H. Young, of Urbana, Ohio, and was ad- mitted to the bar by the supreme court of that state in 1864. Believing the west would prove a better field for his labors he removed to Kansas City, Missouri, in the same year, -a young man full of energy and with a laudable ambition and courageous spirit. Since that time his fortunes have been identified with this city. The build- ing up of a practice by a young lawyer is generally slow, but merit and hard work were rewarded, and, in the course of a few years, he became recognized as one of the most able members of the bar of Missouri.
While in full practice he was called to the circuit judgeship in 1880, and was con- fessedly one of the ablest circuit judges in the state. In 1884, before the end of his term, he was elected to the supreme bench for a ten-years term, and during 1893-4 was chief justice of Missouri. He was re-
nominated for the same position, without solicitation and without a competitor for the place, -the first instance of the kind in the history of this state. No higher testimonial of his ability could be given, or of the appre- ciation of the public for his services. ' His decisions are models of judicial soundness and will rank among the best ever delivered in any state. It may be justly said without disparagement to others, that in mental en- dowment and in legal equipment he has rarely had a equal. Some of the most difficult cases ever before a supreme court for decision were brought to trial during his term upon the bench. These included the famous land cases in the city of St. Louis, one of which had been pending in the courts for a period of forty years, and had been three times reversed by the supreme court. The titles involved in these cases extended back into the Spanish and French times and involved the ownership of a large amount of property now embraced within the most popular residence district in St. Louis. The title on one side was Spanish and French concessions, and on the other New Madrid earthquake certificates.
Judge Black's practice at the bar covered a wide range, embracing commercial, cor- poration and land law and all the depart- ments of equity, in all of which he ranked among the first lawyers in the state. His characteristics as a lawyer are thorough and exhaustive learning, acute and wide-reach- ing perception, sound and accurate judgment and absolute integrity of purpose and con- duct in life. His intellectual powers are of the highest order, allied with a practical judgment and the soundest of common sense, -a manhood that is ideal in the independ- ence of its character and the courageousness of its convictions. As a judge he earned
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AND JACKSON COUNTY, MISSOURI.
the appellation which was given to Aristides, which with his other qualifications make his official career a model for his successors. Take him in combination, he has hardly had his equal in the state, either as a lawyer or judge, and as a man his character has always been above reproach. In public trusts and in private station alike he has always had the respect, confidence and reverence of all whose opinions are of value.
Judge Black was married in 1867, to Miss Susan Barges Geiger, the accomplished and cultured daughter of Dr. Albertus Gei- ger, formerly a well known physician of Dayton, Ohio. In social life Judge Black lays aside the dignity of the bench, the cere- monious formality of the court-room, and becomes a courteous, genial gentleman, with the faculty of placing at their ease those who approach him.
J UDGE S. P. TWISS .- The book of life which registers every occurrence in the career of Judge Stephen Prince Twiss, is replete with the his- tory of nearly seventy years of honorable usefulness. The opening pages state that he was born in Charlton, Massachusetts, May 2, 1827, his parents being James J. and Elsie (Prince) Twiss, of Worcester county, Massachusetts. One brother, Amos Freeman, died December 25, 1895, at Wor- cester, Massachusetts; and one sister, Ab- bie Davis, now Mrs. George H. Brewer, of Ashton, Illinois, completed, with himself, the family circle.
James Twiss, the paternal grandfather of our subject, was of English parentage, but was born in the Bay state. He fol- lowed agricultural pursuits throughout his life and died at his old home, at the ad-
vanced age of eighty years. He had five children, one of whom was our subject's father. On the maternal side of the house the grandfather was Stephen Prince, an active, energetic farmer and a great student of the Bible. He took much interest in the public affairs of the town of Oxford, Wor- cester county, where he lived over half a century. He too was almost eighty years of age at the time of his demise.
Reared on a farm and surrounded by deeply religious influences the Judge passed his childhood. At fifteen years of age he began to work for neighboring farmers ill the summer and attended school in the winter. At eighteen years of age he learned the carpenter's trade, and by following this occupation through the summer he was enabled to spend five terms in study at the Leicester Academy. At twenty-one years of age he secured a position in a produce commission store in Boston, which belonged to his uncle, Stephen Prince, and during the winters of 1848, 1849 and 1850 he taught in a country school. While still a lad a pro- phetic shadow of his future greatness cast itself before his friends' visions and awakened to activity a longing to reach out and grasp the honors which he felt some day would be granted him. The law seemed a great at- traction to him, and as he grew older he became convinced that in that direction lay his best chances for working out his career. From the time that this decision was inade he lost no opportunity to read of legal mat- ters and kept his eyes open for any informa- tion which might be dropped in his presence. In May, 1850, he entered the Dane Law school, of Harvard University, and in March, 1853, was duly admitted to practice. In Worcester he began the practice of his chosen profession, remaining there until
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A MEMORIAL RECORD OF KANSAS CITY
November, 1865 His ability was recog- nized at once, and in December, 1862, he was elected to the city council. This posi- tion he resigned in January, on being elected city solicitor, the law being such that he could not hold both offices at once. For- tune favored him, and a number of most important cases for the city were disposed of, to the people's entire satisfaction. He was re-elected to this office, and, it is need- less to say, discharged his duties with marked fidelity. In November, 1856, Mr. Twiss had been elected to the legislature of Massachusetts, serving in the session of 1857, when he embraced the opportunity to vote for Charles Sumner, who was at that time re-elected to the United States senate.
In the fall of 1861 John A. Andrew, governor of Massachusetts, offered Mr. Twiss the command of a company to go to the war, which offer he accepted; but before arrangements were completed for raising the regiment the order was changed, as no more soldiers were then needed. He subsequently accepted a similar offer from the city gov- ernment and was proceeding to raise his company when the adjutant general of the state informed the mayor of Worcester that there had been some mistake as to the num- ber of men already raised by the city, and that it had already furnished eight more men than its allotted portion; and upon the re- ceipt of this information no further efforts were made. Later on, when Jackson's threatened invasion of Washington was causing considerable fear in the north, Judge Twiss was one of the three hundred men raised in two days in Worcester, Massachu- setts. They started to Washington and had proceeded as far as Boston when the news reached them that their services were not necessary, for the alarm of the threatened
invasion was passed and the men were sent home. Although never going to the front, our subject had fully demonstrated his loy- alty to the government and his willingness to serve his country.
Believing the west would be the most favorable quarter for rapid advancement in his profession, Mr. Twiss removed to Kansas City in November, 1865, and has since been identified with its interests. Young men with more than ordinary cleverness and efficiency were here held at a premium, and Mr. Twiss was not long in proving his abil- ity. In November, 1872, he was elected to the lower house of the state legislature of Missouri, and so creditably did he perform his duties that he was twice re-elected, serving six years in all. In the spring of 1878 George M. Shelly was elected mayor of Kansas City, with a democratic council, Mr. Shelly being a democrat. Neverthe- less, although Mr. Twiss is a republican, he was appointed by the mayor as city coun- selor and the appointment was confirmed by the council. During the time he held that office a large number of damage cases against the city were tried and only two verdicts were rendered against him Some of these cases involved many thousands of dollars, and those he lost altogether cost the city only about $900.
During the presidential campaign of 1880 Mr. Twiss was appointed associate justice of the supreme court of the territory of Utah, his term beginning January 1, 1881. He held the office for a little more than four years. After President Cleveland was elected, in 1884, and before he took office, the democratic territorial committee of Utah told our subject that if he would accept the re-appointment to the same office he was holding they would use their influence to
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