USA > Missouri > Jackson County > Kansas City > A memorial and biographical record of Kansas City and Jackson County Mo. > Part 39
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A MEMORIAL RECORD OF KANSAS CITY
he has always discharged his duties with a promptness and fidelity that won him the highest commendation. His health being badly impaired by army life, the climate of his native state proved too severe. In 1868 he moved with his family to Independence, Missouri, where he resided over twenty years, and was mayor of the town when he left it for his present home at El Dorado Springs.
Charles Crysler finished his school days in Missouri, for the sudden death of his brother made it impossible for him to leave his parents to carry out the plan of spend- ing four years at Cornell University. He began to read law in 1875, and was admit- ted to the bar June 1, 1879.
In October of the same year he married Miss Harriet E. Child, daughter of John Adams and Sarah (Drake) Child, of Wey- bridge, Vermont. Mrs. Crysler traces her Puritan ancestry back to William Brewster, of the Mayflower. She has some taste in literary and artistic directions.
Mr. Crysler has been a stanch repub- lican from childhood, but has not sought political office for himself.
Personally he is a man of distinguished appearance. Affable in manner and buoy- ant in temperament. Although of a social disposition, he is especially fond of reading, and spends most of his leisure moments among his books. When a boy he liked to hunt, and his unerring shot stopped the flight of many a quail and duck. In late years fly-fishing has been his favorite sport. Numerous shining pike and bass from north- ern and New England lakes could bear wit- ness to his skill. Mr. Crysler has an unusual fund of energy, perseverance and reserve force. With him hard work, dis- couragements and great fatigue count for
nothing, and this enables him to surmount obstacles that would appall most men.
The measure of success he has attained is largely due to a natural aptitude for his profession and to ceaseless labor for his clients. His opinions are carefully formed, but maintained with confidence and firm- ness. Each case receives thorough prepar- ation, so that he meets his opponent amply fortified with authorities and precedents. He is a good counselor, and as an advocate clear and earnest. He is now in partner- ship with Messrs. James H. Harkless and John O'Grady, -a firin whose popularity brings liberal patronage.
C ALVIN V. LOWE, who for many years was prominently connected with the agricultural interests of Jackson county, now practically living retired, is a representative of one of the honored pioneer families of this locality. For half a'century he has lived in this com- munity, has witnessed the greater part of its growth and development, has seen its wild lands transformed into beautiful homes and farms, and has ever borne his part in the work of advancement.
He was born in Monroe county, Virginia, near Richmond, on the 5th of December, 1832, and descends from one of the Revo- lutionary heroes. His parents were John and Margaret (Summers) Lowe, also natives of Monroe county, whence in 1844 they came to Missouri by way of the Ohio, Mis- sissippi and Missouri rivers, leaving the boat at Blue Mill Landing, near Independence. The father had previously come to the west, selected the site of his future home, and purchased 120 acres of land on what is now section 14, Sniabar township, three miles
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north of Blue Springs. There he spent liis remaining days and devoted the greater part of his time and attention to the development and cultivation of his farm. He also ex- tended its boundaries until he became the owner of 250 acres, and owned a number of slaves up to the time of the war. During the war he had to remove from Jackson county under order No. 11, and spent two years in Pike county, then returned to find his farm in a very dilapidated condition, it having been crossed and recrossed by both armies, for it lay in a contested section. Mr. Lowe was a progressive, enterprising and industrious inan, and accumulated a handsome competence as a reward for his labors. He died in June, 1881, at the age of eighty years, and his wife passed away soon after the close of the war. They had a family of eleven children, five of whom are now living. Mr. Lowe lived to see all of his children reach mature years, and as- sisted most of them in getting a start in life. At the last family reunion which he attended there were forty-two of his descendants present.
The family has long been connected with the Cumberland Presbyterian church, the parents aided in organizing the society of that denomination at Little Blue, and con- tributed liberally to the building of the house of worship, while in religious work they took an active part. All his life the father was a Jackson democrat, but took no active part in political affairs. In early life he ac- cumulated considerable money by raising heinp, but after the war gave his attention solely to the raising of grain and cattle, and was known as a leading farmer of Jackson county. He now rests in the family ceme- tery at Little Blue, and all of his surviving children are residents of Jackson county.
Calvin V. Lowe, whose name begins this sketch, spent his boyhood days on the old home farm, where he remained until twenty-one years of age, when he started out in life for himself. He and his brother, A. W. Lowe, purchased a tract of land near the farmstead and together continued its operation for two years, when our subject bought another piece in the same vicinity. For twenty-eight years he resided on his second property, which comprised 300 acres of valuable land. A part of this, however, he afterward sold until he owned only 148 acres. He engaged in the raising of wheat and hogs and had a large and very fine or- chard upon his place, containing both the small and the large fruit plants. Ten years ago he sold that farm and came to his pres- ent home, a half mile west of Blue Springs, where he has ninety-one acres. This is a beautiful and pleasant country home, where he has mainly lived retired. Other interests have to a degree engrossed his attention and he is at present one of the incorporators of the Blue Springs Bank, and a director and stockholder. He also owns considerable stock in Blue Springs Mill, and is treasurer of the company.
On the 20th of March, 1856, Mr. Lowe was united in marriage with Miss Mary E. Moore, a daughter of John Moore, of Blue township, Jackson county. She was born in Bourbon county, Kentucky, and came to Missouri with her parents, her father dying in this state soon after the war. Mr. and Mrs. Lowe have the following children: Sarah, the eldest, became the wife of Joshua Dudley Dillingham, of Sniabar, and died in September, 1886, leaving three children, two girls and one boy. One daughter, Lucy, the eldest, is now a young lady of eighteen, and is living with her grandfather,
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her father having gone to Virgil, Kansas. John Lewis is a farmer of Sniabar township; William Andrew carries on agricultural pur- suits near the old homestead. Calvin Davis operates the home farm. Richard J. is connected with the Union store of Blue Springs. Maggie died September 20, 1892, at the age of twenty years. Edward died at the age of six years. Samuel Lee is at- tending school. The parents are both prominent and faithful members of the Cum- berland Presbyterian church, with which Mr. Lowe has been connected since 1848, having for twenty years served as deacon. In his political views he is a democrat.
J OHN F. SHANNON, city comptrol- ler, Kansas City, is a native of this city, born April 1, 1858, son of John and Felicite ( Padron) Shannon, the former a native of Ireland and the latter of New Orleans, of French parentage. Mr. Shannon, Sr., left his native land and came to this country when a young man, and was for some years connected with a retail dry- goods house in New York city. Subse- quently he went to New Orleans, where he became acquainted with and wedded his wife. He came to Kansas City before the outbreak of the late civil war. His business capacity was great, and led by a commend- able ambition his aspirations were for suc- cess in mercantile transactions.
Immediately upon arriving here, in com- pany with his brother, Mr. P. Shannon, a large retail and wholesale dry-goods house was opened up, under the firm name of J. & P. Shannon. The venture proved a fortu- nate one in a financial way, the trade of the house during the war period being of im- mense proportions, notably larger than any
other house in the southwest at that time. His prospects were indeed bright for a pros- perous future, and all was too soon cut off by his premature death, which occurred in the city of New York, in 1865, while there purchasing goods. His remains lie buried in Kansas City. Mrs. Shannon, the mother and widow, is living, her residence being at Banner Springs, Kansas. This worthy couple had four children: Felicite, wife of George E. Kinser; Mary E., wife of Williani Sutherland, of Denver, Colorado; John F. and Ferdinand.
Our subject was brought up in Kansas City, receiving his education in the Chris- tian Brother's School, at St. Louis, which he attended five years, graduating in 1870. At his father's death, the financial situation of the family was easy, as the estate was quite large, but it was gradually absorbed by litigation. This threw our subject on his own resources. He was equal to the emergency, however, and secured a clerk- ship under Nathaniel Grant in the city comp- troller's office, which he retained seven years. Since his entrance into this office, he has been absent from it only two years. In April, 1893, he was appointed to the city comptrollership, of which important place he is the present incumbent. He has never been an aspirant for political honors, pre- ferring to pursue the even tenor of a life as nearly devoid of changes as possible.
In the transaction of his official business he hews to the line of duty, his definite ac- curacy and deferential manners having won for him a deserving popularity in the city. He has been the builder of his own fortune, the achitect of his own career. Although reared in luxury the reverses of fortune a few years later caused no feeling of discour- agement to his stout heart. A willingness
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to work and work well has been rewarded by the people, who have implicit confidence in his unassailable integrity.
He was united in marriage in February, 1882, with Miss Sallie Streett, of St. Louis, who has borne him three children: Marie, Joseph S .. and John F., Jr. Mr. Shannon is a zealous member of the Catholic church.
R OBERT J. INGRAHAM .- It is especially noticeable in this latter part of the nineteenth century that one seldom wins prominence or success along more than one line of en- deavor. It is the tendency of the age to devote one's entire energies to a certain work, continually concentrating his efforts in a certain direction and toward a certain end; yet in the case of the gentleman whose name commences this record it is demon- strated that not only a leading position but also prosperity may be gained in more than a single line of action. Mr. Ingraham is an eminent lawyer and is no less successful or no less widely known as a stock dealer, and while his extensive law practice in Kansas City attests his professional abilities, his fine stock and fruit farm also indicates a most able management on the part of its owner.
A native of Coshocton, Ohio, Mr. Ingra- ham was born on the 24th of January, 1864, and is a son of James B. and Sarah Eliza- beth (Guthrie) Ingraham, the former a native of Harrison county, Virginia, and the latter of Georgetown, District of Columbia. The Ingraham family is of English origin, and was founded in America many years ago by ancestors who settled in Virginia. The father of our subject was a physician by profession and a graduate of the Starling
Medical College, of Columbus, Ohio. His death occurred in 1887, at the age of sixty- seven years.
Robert J. Ingraham is the youngest of a family of nine children. His elementary education, afforded by the common schools, was supplemented by a high-school course, which was completed by his graduation in 1879. He afterward engaged in teaching school for four years and then came to Kansas City, here entering the office of C. O. Tichnor, a prominent and very able attor- ney, under whose direction he began and prosecuted the study of law until his thorough preparation had fitted him for admission to the bar. Successfully passing an examina- tion, he was admitted in 1886, but remained in his preceptor's office until 1889, when he entered into partnership with Messrs. Teas- dale and Cowherd, under the firm style of Teasdale, Ingraham & Cowherd. This has become one of the foremost law firms of Kan- sas City, and is now in the enjoyment of a large general practice. Theirs is a dis- tinctive clientage and their business inter- ests they capably handle.
Our subject possesses the essential quali- fications of a successful lawyer, and his devotion to his clients' interests, his keen perceptive powers and analytical turn of mind have been the means of bringing to him prosperity in his professional career. As before stated, however, his efforts have not been confined alone to the law. He has a valuable and extensive ranch of six thousand acres in southern Missouri, where he raises fine Jersey cows, standard-bred trotting horses and blooded hogs. His place is known as the Wallace Pratt Stock and Fruit Ranch. He owns some very fine horses, including Jerome Enbank, sired by Manbrino Chief, with a record of 2:30;
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Combine, sired by Combination, record 2:163 ; Rob Racine, by Old Wagner; also a very fine registered saddle stallion. His hogs are of the Jersey-Duroc and the Poland- China breeds. He has also four standard- bred jacks. The appointments of the farm, its barns and other buildings for the care of his stock are models of convenience, and the equipment is all that could be desired.
Mr. Ingraham has been twice married. He first wedded Elizabeth Wallace Powers, who died in 1889. In 1891 he was joined in wedlock with Miss Margaret Nelon, and they have one child, a daughter. Their pleasant home, which is noted for its hos- pitality, is located in Westport, and of that beautiful and enterprising suburban town Mr. Ingraham is the present efficient and honored mayor. In his political proclivities he is an active democrat.
R OBERT ROSS JAMISON, the sub- ject of this sketch, was born in Westmoreland county, Pennsyl- vania, on the 10th day of May, 1 866. In 1869 he came westward with his parents and settled in Jackson county, Mis- souri. Here he attended the public schools until he was fourteen years of age. He then entered Lincoln College at Greenwood, Missouri, where he pursued a course of study for several years, preparing himself for the study of his chosen profession. Shortly after leaving college, he entered the law office of the Hon. O. L. Houts, of Warrens- burg, Missouri, where he remained for some time. Foreseeing, however, that a broad and comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the theory and principles of the law was necessary for a successful manipulation of the machinery of its practice,
he resolved to take a professional course at the University of Michigan. This he did, graduating with distinguished honor in the law class of 1892. After enjoying a few months of well earned rest, Mr. Jamison located in Kansas City, in February, 1893, entering the office of the Hon. R. H. Field, with whom he has since been associated.
Marked ability is always sure of an early recognition, and although yet a young man Mr. Jamison is already enjoying the benefits of a lucrative and steadily increasing practice. He is especially able as a trial lawyer. Tested as a master of the points in his cause, in quick perception and close discrimination in examination of witnesses, and the gift of exposition to the court and jury of the law and facts involved, he is pre-eminent. In argument, he is given more to the ponder- ous, the logical and the convincing than to the ornate and the elaborate. His style is simple and direct, his vocabulary copious and Anglo-Saxon, his argument inductive, and thought clear; and back of this is the discrimination and taste of a trained literary mind.
While possessing a splendid education, Mr. Jamison is of the broad and generous mold, attaching less importance to the technicalities of exact scholarship than to the great system of education which makes man the study and the world the college. His positions and reasonings are always based not upon the rippling ideas of the surface but upon the strong current of principle underneath. This method makes the study of the law an inspiration and pleasure; pursued otherwise, it is dry, pre- cise, and pre-eminently unpoetic.
It has been said that the spirit of prophecy dwells no more with men; but if the past is a criterion by which we may
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judge the future, we may safely predict for Mr. Jamison a career which will realize the promise and expand the reputation already won.
YLEY WYATT .- A member of a large family, thrust upon his own resources early in life, a sufferer of untold hardships during the Civil war, in which he was a participant, a man who has risen above adversities, and one who ranks to-day both in wealth and influence with the leading citizens of his community, -this is Wyley Wyatt. The above outline affords ample material for the biographer to enlarge upon, and if space were no consideration he might go on indefi- nitely. In a work of this character, how- ever, only the most succinct review can be presented.
Wyley Wyatt was born in Alleghany county, North Carolina, October 12, 1839, youngest son and child of William and Mary (Landreth) Wyatt, both natives of Ashe county, North Carolina, the former born in 1782 and the latter in 1792. His parents were married in their native county, now known as Alleghany county, February 1 I, 1808, and made it their home until 1851, when they emigrated to Missouri, their journey hither being made by wagon. Ar- rived in Jackson county, Missouri, they set- tled on a rented farm on section II, Wash- ington township, and the next year removed to section 26 of the same township. In this county the closing years of their lives were passed and here they died, his death occurring August 25, 1856, and hers Feb- ruary 21, 1861. They were the parents of fifteen children, and besides rearing their own family they brought up two grand-
children. The names of their children are as follows: Solomon, Zebedee, Burgess, Louis, John L., Nathaniel, William, Jona- than, Calvin, Jane Williams, Catharine Williams, Mary Maxwell, Nancy O'Brien, Eveline and Wyley. All are deceased ex- cept the eldest and the youngest! The former, Solomon, was born June 1, 1809, and is a resident of Washington township, Jackson county, and the latter is the sub- ject of this article.
At the time of the removal of the Wyatt family to this state Wyley was a youth of twelve years. Jackson county was then inhabited chiefly by Indians and wild ani- mals, wolves being in abundance here, and life on the frontier had many attractions for him. But the family were poor, and the children as soon as they were old enough had to scatter and do for them- selves. Wyley, being the youngest, re- mained with his mother after his father's death and took care of her as long as she lived.
He was married December 21, 1859, to Miss Sarah Maxwell, a native of Clay coun- ty, Illinois, and a daughter of Alexander and Susannah (Tolliver) Maxwell. Her father was a brother of E. C. Maxwell, a well- known citizen of this county. Her parents were married in Lawrence county, Indiana, and from there moved to Illinois on horse- back. Her father died in the latter state August 18, 1853, and her mother survived him until February 27, 1893. They had four children that grew to maturity, viz. : Mrs. Wyatt, born October 11, 1842; Will- iam, born February 21, 1847, is a resident of Clay county, Illinois; Rebecca Ann, born November 17, 1848, is deceased; and James R., born March 10, 1850, is deceased. A record of the children born to Mr. and Mrs.
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Wyatt is as follows: Mary Susan, born November 11, 1860, is the widow of M. T. Sharp and has three children: William G., born January 3, 1863, married Miss Jessie McPherson, and has three children; Sarah Elizabeth, born December 9, 1864, died June 19, 1889; Robert E., born August 30, 1866, married Miss Jennie Shelton, and has one child; Anna M., born August 17, 1870; Lorena E., born December 22, 1872, is the wife of Dr. A. M. Harrison; Ada M., born July 4, 1876; Lettie C., born February 21, 1879; George W., born May 5, 1881; Joseph C., born November 9, 1883; and Stella J., born November 27, 1886.
After his marriage Mr. Wyatt settled in Johnson county, Kansas, where he bought eighty acres of wild land on time, and on it made his home until 1861, when he had to leave because of war. During the civil war his family were without a home and lived about from place to place where they could find convenient shelter. He was among the first to enter the Confederate ranks. In- deen, necessity almost compelled him to take this course, and valiantly did he fight for the southern cause. He joined the command of Colonel Upton Hayes in Gen- eral Shelby's army. The first engagement in which he participated was a skirmish on his brother's farm in this township. Then followed numerous other engagements, prominent among which were the following: Springfield, Missouri; Cross Hollows, Ar- kansas; Pea Ridge, White Oak, Rock Ford, Lone Jack, Hickory Grove, the three bat- tles of Newtonia, the three of Cane Hill, Prairie Grove and others. In the spring of 1864 he returned from Arkansas to Missouri, and was a participant in the battle of Spring- field. After this he was one of a scouting party that started out on a ninety-days re-
connoitering expedition, and with only a peck of parched corn as rations for each man. He took part in the Marshfield en- gagement, after which he returned to his family and kept himself in hiding.
When "Order No. II" was issued his wife secreted him in a wagon-box and drove to Clay county. From there they went to Caldwell county, where they remained two years. During that time he rented what was known as the Solomon Young farm. People in general, and Mr. Wyatt in par- ticular, saw some pretty hard times then, - times that can better be imagined than de- scribed. At the end of the two years, knowing that a move could not make his condition any worse than it was, and hoping to better himself, he went back to Johnson county, Kansas, where he built a little shan- ty, 12 x 14 feet, and where he continued to abide until 1879. That year he came to his present location on section 22, Washington township, Jackson county, Missouri, and here he has since resided. His persistent efforts and good management, together with the dawn of better days, have brought about a marvelous change in his financial condi- tion. Now he is the owner of 351 acres of choice land, 300 of which are under a high state of cultivation. He has a comfortable residence, good barn and other improve- ments, and the stock in his broad pastures and his well tilled fields all give evidence of prosperity. He has given his children good educational advantages, has both a piano and organ for his daughters, and has a home and a family in which he has every reason to take a just pride. He and his family are identified with the Methodist church, south, at Martin City, he being a trustee and stew- ard in the same. Politically, his influence and vote have ever gone to the support of
J. 2. He alford. 310,
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the democratic party, and in all public issues, and especially those of a local nature, he takes a laudable interest. Thus in finan- cial, political and religious circles he occu . pies a prominent place, and he stands high in the estimation of his neighbors and many friends.
0 R. THOMAS D. BEDFORD, county coroner and a prominent physician, regular, is a native of Georgetown, Kentucky, born Au- gust 9, 1856. He is a son of Greene and Caroline (Chinn) Bedford, Kentuckians by birth and education. Their family com- prised five sons and three daughters, seven of whom are now living: Marcus A .; John A., wife of A. L. Bedford; Rachel S., wife of James A. Chinn; Coleman, Higgins, Thomas D., and Carrie, who died in early childhood.
Mr. Bedford was a farmer by occupation, residing in Kentucky until 1867, when he removed to Missouri, settling in LaFayette county, near Napoleon, where he and his wife now reside. Both are members of the Christian church, he having been an elder in the same for more than thirty years. The paternal grandfather of our subject, Archibald Bedford, was a Kentuckian by birth, a farmer by occupation, and helped to form the early history of the county. He had fourteen children and died in Bourbon county, at an advanced age. The Doctor's maternal grandfather, John Chinn, was a Kentuckian and took a leading part in the carly history of the state. He was a gentle- man of a high order of intelligence and was widely known for his unassailable integrity and great force of character. He was a planter and held the office of county sur- | 19
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