USA > Missouri > Jackson County > Kansas City > A memorial and biographical record of Kansas City and Jackson County Mo. > Part 43
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J UDGE JAMES H. STANWOOD, who is serving as justice of the peace in Westport, comes from the distant state of Maine. He was born in the city of Brunswick, in that state, April 3, 1865, and is a son of Nathaniel and Martha Jane (Linscott) Stanwood, who were also natives of the Pine Tree state. The father was a sea captain in early life and afterward became superintendent of construction on the Maine Central Railroad, occupying that position for many years. He is now living retired, and spends the greater part of his time in Haverhill, Massachusetts. His wife died in 1891, at the age of sixty-seven years. Both were members of the Baptist church and were most highly esteemed people.
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Their family numbered nine children, two sons and seven daughters, of whom eight are now living, namely: Hannah, wife of Frank Holbrook; Albert L., M. D .; Ella, wife of William V. Stetson; Lida, wife of Frank E. Roberts; Clara, wife of Frank Withington; Annie; James H .; and Eunice, wife of George Matthews. The second child of the family, Elizabeth, now deceased, was the wife of Dr. Joseph C. Coldwell.
The paternal grandfather of our subject was also born in Maine, where the family has resided for a century and a half, having descended originally from English-Scotch ancestry. He served as a soldier in the war of 1812, reared a family of four children, and was well advanced in years at the time of his death. The maternal grandfather died when Mrs. Stanwood was only two years of age. He was a native of Maine, was of Scotch lineage, a farmer by vocation, and also served as a soldier in the war of 1812. His wife lived to be nearly ninety years of age.
The subject of this sketch was reared in the city of his nativity, and acquired the greater part of his education there. After leaving school he began clerking in a shoe store owned by his brother-in-law, and for seven years was connected with that house, being for two years upon the road as a traveling man. He was afterward with the lumber firm of Gilbert & Gilbert, of Kingfield, Maine, and subsequently located at Farm- ington, Maine, for a year and a half. He came to Westport in 1889, and worked for the Kansas City Belt Railroad with D. K. Smith, holding a clerkship, and was later with the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Trust Company for one year.
Mr. Stanwood is very popular and has many warm friends. In politics he is a stal-
wart advocate of republican principles. In 1894 he was elected justice of the peace at Westport, in which position he is now credit- ably and acceptably serving. He allows nothing to interfere with the even-handed administration of justice, and no trust re- posed in him is ever betrayed.
On the 21st of December, 1887, Mr. Stanwood was united in marriage with Miss Minnie C. Bailey, daughter of William and Berlinda (Field) Bailey. The lady is a member of the Congregational church, and is highly esteemed in social circles.
DWIN M. METCALF, a prominent lawyer of Kansas City and a mem- ber of the firm of Metcalf & Brady, was born in Waverly, Illinois, Oc- tober 29, 1866, and is a son of Edwin T. and Chattie (Burnett) Metcalf, natives of Morgan county, Illinois. The family is of English origin and some of the ancestors of our subject were companions of Daniel Boone in the exploration and settlement of Kentucky. The grandfather, John M. Met- calf, was born in that state, and by profes- sion was a physician. At an early day with two brothers he removed to Waverly, Illi- nois, where he died in middle life. His family numbered three sons and two daugh- ters. The maternal grandfather of our sub- ject was born in Illinois, and by occupation was a farmer. His death occurred at about the age of fifty years.
Dr. Edwin T. Metcalf, father of our subject, is a skilled physician, who engaged in practice in Illinois for about twenty years and in 1883 removed to Kansas, locating at Colony, Anderson county, where he is now practicing. He and his wife are consistent
Edun b. Wesewery
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and faithful members of the Christian church, in which he has served as elder for thirty years. He manifested his loyalty to the government during the late war by enlisting in an Illinois regiment and going to the front, where he valiantly aided in defense of the old flag and the cause it represented. He is now serving as state senator in Kansas, and is a man of considerable prominence. In the family of Dr. and Mrs. Metcalf were seven children, four sons and three daugh- ters, of whom six are living, namely : Ed- win M., Anna B., George O., Patti E., Ed- ward R. and John C.
The subject of this review was reared in Menard county, Illinois, and attended school until twelve years of age, after which he worked as a farm hand for two years. At the age of fourteen he entered Eureka Col- lege, where he pursued a four-years course and then completed his literary education in Garfield University, of Wichita, Kansas. He began reading law by himself and later became a student in the law office of Moore & Douglass, of Wichita, continuing his course at the university, and graduating in the law department of that institution. The same year he was admitted to the bar at Wichita, where he continued practice until January, 1891, when he came to Kansas City, Missouri. Here he entered the office of Porterfield & Adams, and continued there until 1894, when he entered into partner- ship with William Walter Brady. They now have a well appointed office at No. 510 New York Life building, and are enjoying a good patronage.
Our subject is a member of the Central Christian church; in politics is a supporter of republican principles; and socially is con- nected with the Legion of Honor and the Modern Woodmen of America.
℮ DWIN C. MESERVEY, attorney at law, is one of the popular young counselors in Kansas City. He was born at Hollowell, Maine, March 4, 1861, a son of Thomas J. and Mary H. (Brooks) Meservey, natives of the state of Maine, but his father was of French de- scent. This family were early settlers of the "Pine Tree" region, and some of the Brooks family participated in the war of the Revolution. Thomas J. Meservey was a merchant in New York city, where he was engaged in trade for several years. He died in 1876, but his wife survives him, a resident of Colorado Springs, Colorado. They were the parents of two children: Albert B., a merchant of Colorado Springs, and Edwin C.
Our subject passed his childhood and early youth surrounded by the scenes of his birth, acquiring his elementary education in the Hallowell Classical and Scientific Insti- tute. In 1877 he came west, and having settled in the state of Kansas, entered the university at Lawrence, at which he was graduated in 1882. He then engaged in railroad engineering and surveying on the Kansas City, Fort Scott & Memphis rail- road, the work being in Arkansas. After about one year he became city editor of the Lawrence Journal, but shortly afterward entered the law school in St. Louis, at which he was graduated in 1885; he had had the honor of being admitted to the bar before his graduation. He came to Kansas City in July, 1885, and began the practice of his profession with Lathrop & Smith, with whom he remained until 1890. He then formed a partnership with A. F. Pierce, under the firm name of Meservey & Pierce. Charles W. German was admitted to the firm in 1892, the style being Meservey, Pierce &
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German. This firm is well represented at the bar, not alone by energy and enterprise, but by a good degree of native talent. Mr. Meservey is a member of the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity, of the Phi Delta Phi legal fra- ternity and of the Phi Beta Kappa frater- nity.
He was married in 1891 to Miss Bessie M. Harris, of Independence, Missouri, and to them have been born two children,- Frances H. and Edwin C., Jr. Mr. Meser- vey adheres to the principles of the re- publican party, to which he gives unwaver- ing support.
EORGE SCHAEFER, one of the prominent and influential citizens of Westport, is numbered among the early settlers of Jackson county. He has lived here since Kansas City was a village, and the entire county was consid- ered a frontier locality. He has therefore witnessed the greater part of its growth and development and has also aided in its pro- gress and advancement. By the promotion of his own business interests he has added to the material welfare of the community, and his real-estate investments have been a valuable addition to the attractive appear- ance of Kansas City.
Mr. Schaefer was born on the 17th of February, 1844, in Germany, and is a son of Conrad and Sophie (Wilke) Schaefer, also natives of Germany. In 1846 they crossed the Atlantic to America, and for one year resided in New Orleans. Then locat- ing in St. Louis, they remained there until 1855, when they took up their residence in the small though thriving town of Kansas City, where the father followed the black- smith's trade until 1866, when, having ac-
quired a comfortable competence, he retired from active business life. In 1857 he es- tablished a home at the corner of Main and Twelfth streets, where the Bernheimer block now stands, and remained there until his death, which occurred January 4, 1884. The mother of our subject was twice married and by the first union (to Mr. Hale) had three children. The eldest, Catherine, is the wife of Charles Long, who resides at the corner of Fifteenth and Central streets in Kansas City, and they have seven children. Wil- helmina became the wife of Peter Schwitz- gebel, and died in 1870, leaving six children. Henry was killed by the Indians near Fort Laramie in 1864. The mother of our sub- ject died in March, 1883. By her second marriage her children were: George, our sub- ject; and John, who died in 1884. The par- ents were both members of the Sts. Paul and Peter's Evangelical Lutheran church, and the father was quite an active and prominent worker therein. He served as a member of the Paw Paw militia during 1864-5.
Mr. Schaefer of this review was reared and educated in Kansas City. In 1856 he attended a parochial school at the corner of Fifteenth and Central streets, conducted by the Rev. Mr. Thomas, who also dedicated Union cemetery. Our subject remained at home with his parents until he had attained his majority, with the exception of two years spent in the West, -from 1863 until 1865, -- his time was passed in New Mexico and Arizona. Of his father he learned the trade of blacksmith and followed that pursuit until 1869. He then embarked in the feed busi- ness at the corner of Main and Twelfth streets, and afterward conducted a meat inarket at the same locality until 1884. He then removed his store to a building on the
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opposite corner, while he erected on the old site the fine Bernheimer building, a four- story brick, 62 x 1123 feet. In 1890 he also erected the Household Fair building, and from the rental of these substantial edifices he derives a good income. He is a man of high business ability, sound judgment and sagacity, and his life demonstrates what can be accomplished through the honest pursuit of a persistent purpose. His prosperity is well merited, for it is the crown of earnest labor.
In 1870 Mr. Schaefer was united in marriage with Miss Margaret Gleim, a native of Hamilton county, Ohio, and a daughter of George Gleim. To them have been born seven children, five of whom are living, namely: Annie, Lottie, Daisy, Norton and Walter. They lost two children,-Robert James and George. The eldest daughter is the wife of Henry Pfeffer, by whom she has a daughter, Florence, and they reside on Fortieth street, between Pennsylvania and Summer streets. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Schaefer is located on Pennsyl- vania street, between Thirty-ninth and Fortieth streets, in Westport. Thither they removed in August, 1886, the elegant new residence having just been completed. It is a commodious and beautiful structure, standing in the midst of a four-acre lawn, adorned with beautiful trees and shrubs. The house is tastefully and richly furnished and supplied with many beautiful works of art, while the arrangement of the home and grounds displays a highly cultured taste on the part of the owner.
Mr. Schaefer and his family support the Sts. Peter and Paul's Evangelical Lutheran church of Kansas City. He is quite prom- inent in the Masonic fraternity, holding membership in the blue lodge, chapter and
commandery of Kansas City. In 1869 he served as junior warden of the first named, and has been standard-bearer of the last named. His political support has always been given the republican party. He is a man of pleasant, genial manner and charm- ing cordiality who has a host of warm per- sonal friends.
J UDGE W. R. BERNARD, who is now engaged in the real-estate busi- ness in Westport, Missouri, has been prominently connected with the his- tory of this state since pioneer days. He is numbered among those who opened up the northwestern section of the state to civiliza- tion, and has witnessed its development and advancement from the time when its lands were still wild and uncultivated and when many of the now thriving towns and villages had not been founded. To the work of progress he lent a willing hand, and was one of the important factors in advancing the commercial activity of this region, without which there is no upbuilding.
Judge Bernard is a native of Augusta county, Virginia, born December 8, 1823. His father, Thomas Bernard, was a native of Fluvanna county, Virginia, and in 1839 emigrated with his family to Callaway coun- ty, Missouri. He located upon a farm nine miles east of Fulton and there made his home throughout his remaining days, becom- ing one of the prominent citizens of the community. In business he was successful, and was a man of sterling worth and strict integrity, who occupied a prominent position in the development of this region at an early day. Both he and his wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal church, . and took an active part in its work. They
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became the parents of eight children who reached maturity, namely: Ann E., who became the wife of Dr. Frank Dillard, both now deceased; Cornelia, wife of James G. Hamilton, of Westport; James, of Lake- view, Oregon; Ellen M., wife of John T. Buckner, of Callaway county, Missouri; Samantha, deceased; Joab M., who died in New Mexico; W. R., of this sketch; and Fannie, wife of J. P. Harrison, who resides on the old homestead in Callaway county.
The Judge was brought to this farm when a youth of sixteen, and remained there until he had attained his majority, when he went to the Lake Superior copper regions and aided in opening the first copper mines there. For two years and a half he remained in that region as an employee of the Boston Mining Company. On his retire- ment from that position he accepted the appointment as second assistant United States geologist under Dr. Charles T. Jack- son, and remained in the Upper Peninsula for one year, after which he was transferred to California. Subsequently he resigned, and returning to Missouri became identified with the mercantile interests of Kansas City.
In the spring of 1848 Judge Bernard en- tered into partnership with Colonel A. G. Boone, deceased, under the firm name of Boone & Bernard. They engaged in trad- ing with the Indians and Mexicans, doing a large business with the well-known Mexi- cans, Jose Chavez and the Armijos and oth- ers. They then received their goods from steamers at the foot of Grand avenue in Kansas City, William Twyman having charge of the unloading and freighting of the supplies. The Mexican business rapidly de- veloped, and proved a profitable one, it be- ing continued up to the time of Colonel Boone's retirement in 1852. In 1853 Mr.
Bernard entered into business relations with Colonel Charles E. Kearney, which con- tinued until 1856, during which time their trade had assumed very extensive propor- tions. On the retirement of the Colonel the firm of J. & W. R. Bernard was established, the partner of our subject being his uncle Joab. This connection continued until 1862, and from 1856 until 1861 the average annual business amounted to from $250,000 to $275,000. For the purpose of carrying on their extensive trade they equipped and fitted up not less than two thousand large "prairie schooners," loaded with Mexican merchandise and government freight. The business of carrying goods in this way across the uninhabited plains and wilder mountain regions was a very dangerous one. The men were always organized in a mili- tary manner and frequently had to defend themselves against the attacks of the hostile savages by forts which they constructed from the wagon trains in the form of an ellipse. It was a master mind who could plan and execute this gigantic scheme of merchandising and thus carry it forward to successful completion, and the sound judg- ment, sagacity and enterprise of Judge Ber- nard accomplished this task.
After the war the Judge again engaged in overland transportation, but as the years passed also turned his attention to other business interests. In 1865 he established the Mastin Bank in Kansas City, at the cor- ner of Fourth and Main streets, under the firm style of Bernard & Mastin. In 1867 he withdrew from this concern and continued the overland business to Forts Laramie, Fetterman and Phil Kearney on the north. In 1870, under the firm name of Bernard, Irwin & Company, he took the contract for transporting military stores to all the United
OFFICE OF PROSECUTING ATTORNEY 942-3-4 New York Life Bldg. Telephone 2045.
KANSAS CITY, MO. 1891.
The Secretary of State has delivered to me formal notice of the failure of your corporation to make the reports and comply with the three laws enacted at the last session of the Legislature and found in Session Acts of Missouri of 1891, at P. 72, 75 and 186.
Unless the laws are immediately complied with it is made my duty under the law to proceed at once by action in the Criminal Court to enforce the penalties provided, which are stringent and severe. These ac- tions will be filed within ten days from this date.
But inasmuch as the laws were but recently enacted and not generally understood and their severe penalties may be unknown to you, and in consideration of the further fact that your failure to comply with them may be due to mere oversight, and not to any wilful intent to violate their provisions, I deem it but just to notify you in this manner, in order to afford you an opportunity to comply with the law before subjecting you to its penal- ties. Respectfully,
MARCY K. BROWN,
Prosecuting Attorney.
N. a. Kelly.
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States forts west of Fort Leavenworth. From 1871 until 1873, inclusive, under the firm name of Bernard & Piper, he trans- ported the Indian stores to Fort Sill, also to Camp Supply, Arapahoe agency and the Wichita agency. This ended his freighting business. Viewed in the light of our pres- ent civilization, with its superior methods of transportation, it was often an arduous. un- dertaking, but was capably managed by Mr. Bernard and proved successful from a finan- cial standpoint.
He next turned his attention tò mining, in which he embarked at Joplin, Missouri, in 1876. He was also interested in the Col- orado silver mines until 1878, in which year he embarked in the real-estate business in Kansas City, which he continued until 1893, when he removed his office to Westport. He is principally engaged in looking after his own property interests, which are very extensive. While engaged in merchandis- ing and traveling over the country, he be- came thoroughly conversant with the local- ity of valuable tracts of land, and was thus enabled to make judicious investments, many of which have brought to him hand- some returns. By his own efforts he has worked his way steadily upward from humble surroundings to a position of affluence.
In 1850 Judge Bernard was united in marriage with Miss Margaret Buckner, a daughter of Colonel Robert Buckner. Her death occurred in 1851, and in 1853 the Judge was joined in wedlock with Miss Susan Harris, daughter of John Harris, who came to Missouri in 1828. The lady was born in Westport, on the present site of the high- school building, and her death · occurred in April, 1895. Hyde Park now stands on the Harris farm, which comprised 213 acres of
land. To our subject and his wife were born two daughters, Nettie and Anna. The former is now the wife of Frank Henderson, of the firm of Warfield & Henderson, and they have one child, Frank Bernard.
The judge has long been a faithful mem- ber of the Presbyterian church, to which his wife also belonged, and for forty-five years served as elder. He aided in the organiza- tion of the first Presbyterian church of Westport, and has always taken a deep in- terest in everything calculated to advance the cause of Christianity and uplift his fel- low men. Socially, he is a valued member of the Odd Fellows society, and aided in organizing Hebron lodge, in which he has passed all the chairs. He also belonged to the encampment. In his political views he is a stalwart democrat, and on that ticket was elected mayor of Westport in 1869, serving for two years. In 1873 he was elected judge of the county court of Jackson county, and capably discharged the duties of that office for two years.
His life has been an upright and honor- able one, and of benefit to his fellow men from the active part which he has taken in the development of this section of the coun- try, and the promotion of the various in- terests which advance a community. All who know him hold him in the highest re- gard, and his circle of friends is very ex- tensive.
A. KELLY is the president of the Builders & Traders' Exchange of Kansas City and one of the most prominent contractors in this section of the state. He has al- ways shown a commendable interest in public matters, and has been ready to aid
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in the promotion of any enterprise tending to the welfare of his adopted city. He has also been long known for his prompt and honorable methods of dealing, and has both deserved and received the unbounded confi- dence of his fellow citizens. That he has been a leading factor in the upbuilding of the city is well known, and his life record well deserves a place in its annals.
Mr. Kelly · was born in Emmetsburg, Frederick county, Maryland, on the 28th of October, 1852, and is a son of Patrick and Mary J. (Black) Kelly. He traces his an- cestry back to the Emerald Isle, whence his grandfather, a native of that country, came to the United States in 1804. When the second war with England was inaugurated he joined the American army, took part in the service under Colonel Winfield Scott, who was afterward commander-in-chief of United States Army, and participated in the battle of Lundy's Lane. He made his home in Adams county, Pennsylvania, where he carried on mechanical pursuits and weaving, and at a very old age he departed this life. The father of our subject was born in the · Keystone state, learned the tailor's trade in his early days, and carried on that business in Pennsylvania and Maryland, having a tailoring establishment in Baltimore. His death occurred in Emmetsburg, Maryland, in February, 1872.
Our subject was the seventh of a family of nine children, four sons and five daugh- ters, of whom seven are now living. He lived in his native town until twelve years of age, and then went with his parents to Lock Haven, Pennsylvania, where he ac- quired his primary education. Finally re- turning to Emmetsburg he entered college there, and after pursuing his studies for one year began learning the trade of carpenter-
ing, serving a three-years apprenticeship in Emmetsburg. On the expiration of that period he went to Clearfield county, Penn- sylvania, where he worked as a journeyman in that locality for three years. In 1875 he went to Baltimore, Maryland, and worked at his trade until the winter of 1879. He dates his residence in Kansas City from February, 1880.
On his arrival at this place Mr. Kelly secured employment as a journeyman, and remained in the service of one man until the fall of 1883, his last work being to superin- tend the Gillis opera-house. Mr. Kelly now turned his attention to contracting in his own interest, and has been very suc- cessful. His wide and varied experience and thorough knowledge of the business well fitted him for the superintendence of others, and his honorable business dealing and fidelity to his part of the contract has won him an excellent business. Among the important buildings which stand as monu- ments to his thrift and enterprise are the Bank of Commerce, the warehouses of Bradley, Wheeler & Company, the Cross building, the Whitman & Barnes Manu- facturing Company's warehouses ; the Journal building; the Holmes building; the Doggett building; the Mount Cracker & Candy Com- pany's building, all of Kansas City; the Key- stone Hotel, of Joplin, Missouri, and the Smith warehouses, which are the largest in the city, have just been completed at a cost of $125,000. He has also erected a num- ber of the best and finest residences in the city. He was awarded the contract of the Kansas City $200,000 public library.
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