USA > Missouri > Jackson County > Kansas City > A memorial and biographical record of Kansas City and Jackson County Mo. > Part 37
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
369
AND JACKSON COUNTY, MISSOURI.
days when its forests were uncut and its bottom lands uncultivated save by the Indians, he located within its borders and for forty-six years has been numbered among its valued residents, taking an active and commendable interest in all that pertained to its upbuilding, its welfare and its ad- vancement. Such is his known honesty and uprightness in all the walks of life that he has the unqualified confidence and respect of friends, neighbors and business associates. Certainly in the history of his adopted coun- ty he well deserves representation, and it is with pleasure that we present to our readers the following record of his career.
In early colonial days the Grinter family was founded in America. At the time when the attempt was made to throw off the yoke of British thraldom, the grandfather of our subject, John Grinter, joined the Colonial . forces and served in the Revolutionary war for six years and seven months. He was on board a vessel which was captured by the English and the crew made prisoners. At the battle of Brandywine he was severely wounded and left for dead on the field. A spear was thrust into his body, but he killed the man who wounded him and kept the spear as a relic of the encounter throughout his life. A native of Virginia, he removed in an early day to Kentucky, locating in Logan county, where his son John H. had previously secured a location for the family.
This son was the father of our subject. He too was born in the Old Dominion, but became one of the honored pioneers of Ken- tucky. He married Nancy Crewdson, a native of Virginia, as was her father, Will- iam Crewdson, who removed to Kentucky, where he spent his remaining days. The parents of our subject were married in Logan county and always lived in that
locality upon a farm. The father served in the war of 1812 under General Harrison and gave his political support to the whig party. Both parents were members of the Cumber- land Presbyterian church. Their family numbered ten children,-seven sons and three daughters,'of whom five sons and two daughters are now living, namely: Mrs. Minerva Lasley, Mrs. Nancy Wood, Samuel A., P. N., John J., George W. and James. Thomas and James were both soldiers of the Union army during the civil war. The former, now deceased, was a member of a Kansas militia regiment. Thus in the three important wars of the nation the Grinter family was represented, and also as loyal and patriotic defenders of their country.
Mr. Grinter of this review was born on the old family homestead in Logan county, Kentucky, December 20, 1820, and was reared on the farm, spending his time at work in the fields and in attendance at the public schools of the neighborhood. In 1849 he bade adieu to the scenes of his boy- hood and came to his present home in Jackson county, Missouri. The county was then but sparsely settled. There were no improvements upon his place but he built a log cabin and at once began clearing and planting his land. On the 10th of January, 1850, was celebrated the marriage which secured to him as a companion and helpmeet on life's journey Miss Sarah D. Moore, a native of Jackson county, and a daughter of Traverse G. Moore, a pioneer of this local- ity who died prior to the war. Mrs. Grin- ter was born June 2, 1832, and has always lived in Jackson county. By their mar- riage they became the parents of two chil- dren, but John Tacitus died March 5, 1877. Persifer Herschel, the honored mayor of In- dependence, is the surviving son. He
370
A MEMORIAL RECORD OF KANSAS CITY
wedded Mary L. Jones, and has five chil- dren.
Mr. Grinter has always carried on agri- cultural pursuits. During the war he was obliged to leave his farm and remove to Independence in obedience to Order No. I I. He belonged to the enrolled militia in Jack- son county, in the Union service, and was sergeant of his company. For forty-three consecutive years he has made his home upon his farm and all the improvements there have been secured through his efforts. He to-day has 300 acres of land, all im- proved, and the richly cultivated tract yields to him a handsome return for his labor.
In early life Mr. Grinter gave his politi- cal support to the whig party, but since the organization of the republican party has been one of its stalwart advocates. He cast the only vote for Abraham Lincoln in Independence in 1860, and has always stood loyally by his party. Even when party spirit ran high and he was surrounded by those who favored secession, his upright, manly course commanded their respect, and there is no more highly esteemed citizen in this locality than Mr. Grinter. He lias served as a member of the School Board, but has never been an office-secker, and he and his wife hold membership in the Cum- berland Presbyterian church.
ENRY N. ESS, one of the promi- nent lawyers of Kansas City and a native of Audrain county, Missouri, was born March 23, 1840. He is a son of Henry and Katherine (Fall) Ess, the former a native of Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, the latter of Virginia. Mr. Ess, Sr., emigrated to America about 1829, or '30, unaccompanied by friends or relatives,
and was a number of weeks in making the voyage. He landed at New Orleans and continued his journey into the western coun- try. In 1839 he located in Audrain county, Missouri, in the western part of which he purchased a farm and entered other lands, in all about six hundred acres. This sec- tion of Missouri at that time was almost in primeval condition, but little improvement having been made. Here he made a per- manent home and improved his land. His death occurred in February, 1855. Mrs. Ess departed from this life in 1858.
Their only child, Henry N., was reared on the farm. He attended the common schools when a lad, and when old enough assisted his father in the work of the farm till the latter's death. He then attended Middle Grove Academy in Monroe county, Missouri, for two years. Subsequently he taught school at Milton, Missouri, for two years. In 1859 he entered the State Uni- versity, and graduated in the academic course in August, 1863. He then became tutor in mathematics for two years at the same institution, and during this time read law under the direction of Bagle Gordin, Esquire.
In 1865 he came to Kansas City and entered into a partnership with J. V. C. Karnes, Esq., the firm name being Karnes & Ess. This partnership proved an advan- tageous one in every way, and continued for twenty-one years, when Mr. Ess withdrew. In 1888 he received the nomination for cir- cuit judge at the hands of the republican convention, but was defeated with the re- mainder of the ticket. In the practice of his profession and in his business undertak- ings he has been successful. As a lawyer he is the equal of any at the Jackson county bar.
FRANKLING- FING ERS
Ilf Barrett,
378
AND JACKSON COUNTY, MISSOURI.
He has been twice married-first to Miss Fannie C. Skinner, in December, 1872, who died in September, 1873. His second mar- riage was consummated with Miss Phœbe Routt, in June, 1875, who has borne him one son and two daughters: Fannie L., Marion P. and Henry N., Jr. Mr. Ess and his es- timable wife are members of the Unitarian church.
p ROF. STEPHEN M. BARRETT, county school superintendent of Jackson county, Missouri, is a young man who has for some years given his whole time and attention to educa- tional work, and was elected to his present position in the spring of 1895.
He was born in Nebraska City, Nebras- ka, March 3, 1865, and a year later his parents returned to Jackson county, Mis- souri, where they had formerly resided. His father, the late Robert W. Barrett, was one of the respected farmers of this county; was a native of Tennessee and came when a boy to this state, locating near Independ- ence, where he grew up and married Miss Julia Perry, a native of Franklin county, Missouri, who survives him. He died at his home near Independence, June 11, 1880. They were the parents of twelve children, - nine sons and three daughters, Stephen M. being their sixth born and one of the six who are living, the others having died in infancy. Two of the sons are ministers of the gospel.
Stephen M. Barrett was reared on his father's farm. He received his early educa- tion in the common schools and later was a student in the Normal School at Valparaiso, Indiana. Of a studious nature, his time even when not in school has been given chiefly
to his books. In 1885 he began teaching, and since 1888 taught continuously up to the time he was elected superintendent of schools of Jackson county, in April, 1895. As a teacher he gave the best of satisfaction, and to his new position he brings the same untiring energy and zeal for the advancement of educational interests that characterized his labors elsewhere. Believing in keeping abreast with the times and the progress made in other parts of the country, he has already pushed out in lines of work new to the schools of this county. To him are the schools of Jackson county indebted for their first regular course of study, and in his earnest efforts to bring the common schools up to a higher standard of excellency, he has to a great extent the co-operation of the teach- ers throughout the county.
December 24, 1889, Professor Barrett was united in marriage with Miss Dolly S. Cassell, daughter of George W. Cassell, of Brooking township, this county. They have two children, Edith and Bertha.
Fraternally Mr. Barrett is identified with the Knights of Pythias. Religiously he is a Baptist, and both in church and Sabbath- school work he takes a deep interest, at this writing being superintendent of the Sabbath- school.
RANK H. DEXTER, of the firm of Dexter & Grider, attorneys at law, Kansas City, is a native of Owego, New York, born June 29, 1866, and was reared in the city, and in the pub- lic schools obtained a rudimentary English education. He then attended the Notre Dame College in Indiana, where he obtained a degree in science and letters. His predi- lection was for the law, and to that end he
374
A MEMORIAL RECORD OF KANSAS CITY
entered the State University at Columbia, Missouri, graduating in the law department of that institution in March, 1887. Imine- diately thercafter he became associated with Messrs. Johnson & Lucas in the practice of law at Kansas City. In 1888 he was ap- pointed assistant prosecuting attorney, under Henry M. Withers, which position he re- signed the following year.
In 1890 he was appointed assistant city counselor under R. S. Yeager, creditably filling the position four years, and during the time assisted materially in drafting the amendments, which were subsequently in- corporated in the city charter, radically changing the manner of collecting special taxes. He has made a special study of mu- nicipal law.
ALPH E. SCOFIELD, one of the younger, but also one of the promi- nent, members of the bar of Kan- sas City, became connected with the professian here in 1888, and almost from the beginning has occupied a foremost place in legal ranks. He is rich in the special qualities that insure success, -qualities that money cannot command and that influence cannot gain, but that labor and energy may largely acquire. Endowed by nature with a well-balanced mind, he has added to this a thorough and scholarly knowledge, enter- prise and resolute purpose, and is undoubt- edly destined to achieve still further suc- cesses in his chosen calling.
Mr. Scofield was born in Carthage, Illi- nois, November 5, 1866, and is a son of Bryant T. and Sarah (Collins) Scofield, natives of New York. The father was a lawyer of high prominence in Carthage, having for many years the largest practice
in Hancock county. He removed to that place at an carly day and practiced there until his death, which occurred in 1881, when he had reached the age of fifty-seven years. He served as a member of the Illi- nois senate and was one of the leading citi- zens of his locality. His widow is now living in Fairfield, Iowa, a member of the Episcopal church. In their family were six children, five of whom are now living, namely: Glenn W .; Hattie, wife of Rev. J. M. Cromer; Julia, wife of J. S. McKemy; Edward B. and Ralph E.
The last named spent his boyhood days in his native city, and completed his literary course by his graduation at Carthage College in 1885. He entered this college at the age of twelve years, after going through the public-school course. While in college he decided to study law, and during vacation and in his leisure times he studied law in the office of Harvey Schofield, and was admitted to the bar on examination before the supreme court of Illinois. He then be- gan practice in Carthage, but in a few months came to Kansas City, where he has since made his home.
On the 27th of June, 1889, he was united in marriage with Miss Ellen Ferris, daughter of Hiram G. and Julia E. (Holden) Ferris. They now have two children, - Miriam and Harriet. The parents are members of the First English Lutheran church, and at 1010 Belfontaine avenue they have a pleasant home.
In his social relations, Mr. Scofield is a Mason, and in his political views is a demo- crat. He comes of a family of lawyers. His father, as before stated, was a promi- nent legal practitioner, and several other representatives of the name have attained eminence in the calling. He is also a
375
AND JACKSON COUNTY, MISSOURI.
cousin of Judge Charles J. Scofield, of Car- thage, a celebrated lawyer, also a minister of high degree in the Christian church. Few men have as spotless a reputation, and he was at one time the youngest circuit judge in the United States. A character- istic of the family is uprightness in all deal- ings, and early learning such lessons in youth Mr. Scofield, of this review, has modeled his own life after those teachings. He has excellent ability as a lawyer, and his genial disposition and affable manners have won for him the confidence, friendship and high esteem of a large acquaintance.
J OHN TEVIS HARWOOD, the senior member of the firm of Harwood & Meredith, is one of the younger repre- sentatives of the bar of Kansas City. His youthfulness, however, seems to have been no detriment to him in reaching the prominent position that he now occupies- a position which has been won by superior merit, energy, and resolute purpose. He is widely recognized as one of the leading members of the legal fraternity of Kansas City, and his identification therewith has been most honorable.
Mr. Harwood is a native of Kentucky, born April 9, 1862, being a son of Charles and Lavina (Winchester) Harwood, and is related to many well-known families of that old commonwealth, such as the Hardins, McHenrys, Wickliffes, etc. His father was born in Nashville, Tennessee, and when a child removed with his parents to Kentucky, where he was reared to manhood, took up the study of law and became one of the most eminent members of the bar of that state. He was also a leader in political affairs,
supported the democratic party, and on its ticket was elected to the state legislature, where he served with distinguished honor. His death occurred in 1882, at the age of forty-seven years, and the community lost one of its most prominent and valued citi- zens. He was married in 1859 to Lavina Winchester and they became parents of eight children, seven of whom are now liv- ing.
In this family John Tevis Harwood was the second born. His preliminary literary education was obtained in private and high schools, and at the age of seventeen he matriculated in the University of Virginia, where he continued his studies for three years. The death of his father then com- pelled his return home, and for some time thereafter he was engaged in settling up the estate. In 1883 he once more entered the university, where he pursued a partial course in the law department, and successfully passed the B. L. examination. Immed- iately afterward he returned home and was admitted to the bar.
To decide which is cause and which is effect in many cases is as much a matter of serious difficulty as to discern the boundary between what is hereditary and what is sug- gested to us from circumstances of our carly life. Many a man has no doubt taken up a course of life from mere outside sugges- tions received during the years of his youth, while others have naturally gravitated to- ward a certain course from the mere force of inherited tastes and mental tendencies. Sometimes, no doubt, these two combine to influence certain careers, and it would be difficult to decide whether to credit it to one or the other, or both. Such seems to have been the case in the life of the well-known member of the Kansas City bar whose name
376
A MEMORIAL RECORD OF KANSAS CITY
heads this article. He may have inherited from his father a love for his chosen call- ing, but his fitness for it has certainly been demonstrated in the excellent success which has crowed his efforts.
He began practice in his native state, and in 1885 came to Kansas City, where he soon entered into partnership with the late John S. Harbison, under the firm name of Harbison & Harwood; but after two months the connection was terminated by the death of the senior partner. Mr. Harwood was then alone in practice, and thus, without the aid of one already established in busi- ness or the assistance of influential friends, he entered upon his work. His strong men- tality, his keen perceptive powers, his clear analysis of a case and his careful choice of those points which will bear most strongly on his case were soon manifest in the handling of the business which was placed in his charge, and brought to him an in- creased patronage. In 1888 he entered into partnership with John C. Meredith, and under the firm style of Harwood & Meredith these gentlemen have since con- ducted a large legal business, which ranks them among the foremost legal practitioners in the city. Their specialty is real-estate law, which department occupies the greater part of their time, and they are now coun- sel for a number of loan companies and for- eign investors in Kansas City and western securities. In connection with his other interests Mr. Harwood is the vice president and treasurer of the South Joplin Lead & Zinc Mining Company.
On the 21st of November, 1888, was consummated the marriage of Mr. Har- wood and Miss Charlotte, daughter of Will- iam B. Grimes, first president of the Kan- sas City Board of Trade. They have one
child, Bradford, who is now five years of age.
The political support of our subject is given the democracy, but the pressing cares of his extensive legal business leave no time for political work, even though he.cared to engage in such. Socially he is connected with the Kansas City club and the Missouri chapter, Sons of the Revolution. In social and legal circles he is very popular, his magnetic nature and his many excellent characteristics winning him a host of warm personal friends.
3 AMES G. STREAN is the cashier of the Metropolitan National Bank of Kansas City and a young man of superior business ability. He was born in Washington, Pennsylvania, October 13, 1859, and is a son of Robert and Maria (Greenleaf) Strean, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Massa- chusetts. The Strean family is of Scotch- Irish origin, and the paternal grandfather of our subject was James G. Strean, a native of Virginia. Throughout life he carried on agricultural pursuits and stock-raising, and took the prize for the finest wool exhibited at the world's fair held in London. He was very enterprising and progressive, and kept abreast with the times, -in fact was one of the leaders in improvement in his community. In personal appearance he was a man of five feet ten inches, fine-look- ing, of rather commanding disposition, yet possessed of generous and sterling qualities. He had passed the eightieth milestone on life's journey when death ended his labors. He married Miss Lavenia Johnston, who descended from a prominent family that was
Robert Menyder
379
AND JACKSON COUNTY, MISSOURI.
founded in Pennsylvania at a very early day, and whose brothers fought in the Revolution.
-
The father of our subject was reared in the state of his nativity, and a graduate of Harvard, and after he had arrived at years of maturity he wedded Miss Greenleaf, daughter of John Greenleaf, and a native of Boston, descended from English ancestry. He was a lawyer by profession, and lived and died in Cambridge, Massachusetts. His religious faith was that of the Baptist church, of which he was a strict adherent. Robert Strean engaged in merchandising, as a dealer in hardware, in both Washington and Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. He now makes his home in the former city, but his wife died in 1867. . Both were members of the Presbyterian church, and he served in the state militia at an early day. In their family were five children, two sons and three daughters, of whom four are now living, namely: James G .; Helen, wife of E. A. Shepherd, of Boston; Lizzie, wife of H. D. Dunlap, of Kansas City; Maria; and Her- bert, deceased.
Our subject spent his boyhood days in Washington, Pennsylvania, and was edu- cated in the Washington and Jefferson Col- lege, at which institution he was graduated in the class of 1881. He then assumed the management of his grandfather's stock farm, and carried on that business for about two years, when he became engaged in the banking business as clerk. He continued that for about four years, during the greater part of this time in the banking house of Samuel Hazlett. Mr. Strean has been a resident of Kansas City since October, 1886, at which time he became bookkeeper in the Citizens' National Bank, but held that position little less than a year, resigning to accept the position of teller in the German 18
National Bank, but in less than a year was chosen assistant cashier and in nine months became cashier of the bank. He was in the last named institution as cashier until the organization of the Metropolitan National Bank, in November, 1890, when he became the assistant cashier. Of the latter he was most instrumental in organiz- ing. In that capacity he served until Janu- ary, 1892, when he was made cashier. He is a very popular cashier and very reliable, his business and executive ability being of a high order, and is regarded as a very con- servative and able banker.
On the 13th of October, 1891, Mr. Strean was united in marriage with Miss Margaret Thomas, of Pittsburg, Pa., daugh- ter of J. D. Thomas, one of the oldest fam- ilies of Pittsburg. They became the parents of two children, Marguerite and Catherine. but the latter died at the age of eleven months. Our subject and his wife are mem- bers of the Presbyterian church, and their pleasant home at Harrison street and Com- monwealth avenue is the abode of hospi- tality and a favorite resort for their many friends. In politics Mr. Strean is a stanch supporter of the republican party and its principles.
OBERT M. SNYDER, president of the Mechanics' Bank of Kansas City, and also of the Missouri Gas Company, has a reputation in bus- iness circles that might well be envied. His nanie is a synonym for honorable dealing, and his career is all the more creditable from the fact that his success has been achieved through his own efforts. Kansas City numbers him among its progressive and enterprising residents who in the midst
380
A MEMORIAL RECORD OF KANSAS CITY
of his own pressing business cares has ever found time to devote to the public welfare.
.
Mr. Snyder was born in Columbus, In- diana, March 10, 1852, and is a son of John and Sarah (Pence) Snyder, the former a na- tive of Kentucky and the latter of Tennes- see. The paternal grandfather, John Sny- der, was a Virginian, and by occupation a miller. He met his death by accident in the mill when in the prime of life. His family numbered eight children. The ma- ternal grandfather, Jacob Pence, was also born in the Old Dominion, and was a manu- facturer of fine cutlery and guns. In per- sonal appearance he was a man of com- manding presence, six feet in height and well proportioned; in manner. was a genial, quiet and unpretentious man. He was well informed on all of the issues and questions of the day, became a great student in his latter years and could speak fluently several languages. He had reached the advanced age of four-score years when called to his final rest. The father of our subject be- came a prominent merchant of Louisville, Kentucky, where he died, in 1875, at the age of forty-eight years. His wife still survives him and is living in Independence, Missouri. They were members of the Christian church and Mr. Snyder served as deacon for some years. In their family were eight children, namely: Robert M .; John J., George P .; William D., Ella, wife of William E. Gar- rett; Lillian, wife of A. L. McBride; Mattie K .; and Lulu, wife of Edward Kirchmaier.
Mr. Snyder, whose name initiates this biographical review, was reared and edu- cated in Louisville, Kentucky, and remained with his father until he had attained his ma- jority. He was fortunate in his home sur- roundings and influences and the sterling lessons which he learned in boyhood have
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.