USA > Missouri > Jackson County > Kansas City > A memorial and biographical record of Kansas City and Jackson County Mo. > Part 48
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Much more, indeed, might be said of this man of sterling worth who has so recently passed away and whose departure is so uni- versally felt throughout the city where more than half his life has been spent; but the above succinct review will serve as an index to his character. Long will his memory be revered by the people of Kansas City.
3 OHN R. BLACKWELL .- Early in American history there came to this country from England two brothers of the name of Blackwell, one of whom settled in New York, the other in Vir- ginia, and Blackwell's Island is named in honor of the family. It is from the Vir- ginia branch that our subject has descended. The paternal grandfather of our subject,
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Armstead Blackwell, was a native of Vir- ginia, and removed to Kentucky in its pio- neer days. His son, Randolph, who was born in Madison county, Kentucky, in 1781, became the father of our subject. He was married in his native state to Miss Frances Jett, and always resided in Madison county. He was a farmer by occupation and also a great trader. His death occurred in Georgia in 1851, and his wife passed away in 1852. They were the parents of twelve children, of whom three sons grew to manhood. Thomas was a soldier under Governor Houston, and took part in the battle of San Jacinto. His death occurred in Texas. Armstead also has passed away. The daughters of the family who reached womanhood were Mrs. Polly McMahan, Mrs. Julia Ann Yeldel, Sallie, Malvera, wife of Dr. Adkins, and Elizabeth, wife of Dr. Winn.
Our subject is the only survivor of the family. He was born in Madison county, Kentucky, January 20, 1824, and spent his boyhood days on his father's farm, while his education was acquired in Richland, Ken- tucky. In 1850 he was united in marriage with Miss Matilda Chetnault, a native of Madison county, and a daughter of Harvey Chetnault, who was born in Kentucky. The grandfather was the Rev. David Chetnault, a Baptist minister, of French Huguenot an- cestry.
At the time of his marriage, Mr. Black- well located upon his father's farm, where he resided until 1869. He then came to Missouri, locating in Prairie township upon a farm which had previously been improved but which had been sacked during the war. Energetically he began its development and made it one of the valuable places in Jack- son county. To this he added from time to time until he became the owner of extensive
landed possessions, aggregating 2,700 acres. A portion of this, however, he has since deeded to his sons. The farm has all been planted to blue-grass, and Mr. Blackwell made a specialty of raising cattle, fitting them for the market. In 1890 he removed to Lees Summit, where he has since lived retired, resting in the enjoyment of the fruits of his former labors.
In March, 1884, Mr. Blackwell was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife. Two of their five children have also passed away. Those still living are Thomas, who married Sallie Blackwell, and has two chil- dren; and John R., who married Miss Kreger. A daughter, Annie, died in San Antonio, Texas, March 11, 1886. Mr. Blackwell now makes his home with his sons, and largely leaves the care of his prop- erty interests to them, while he is enjoying the rest which he has truly earned and richly deserves. He is a capable business man, energetic and progressive, and his force of character and honorable dealing have won him high standing in business circles. His political support is given the democracy.
a HARLES M. FERREE. - For more than a quarter of a century this gentleman, Colonel Ferree, as he is called, has resided in Kansas City and has been closely and prominently connected with its history. A detailed ac- count of his life, embracing as it does an honorable war record and a long business career attended with signal success in many lines of venture, would of itself fill a vol- ume; even the most succinct review would be too long for a work of this character, where space is limited.
Charles M. Ferree was born in Clermont
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county, Ohio, March 26, 1836. His father, Moses Ferrree, was an influential farmer who removed to Indiana in 1838 and made permanent settlement in Rush county. As indicated by the name, the family are of French descent. They were Huguenots, and came with that exiled people to Amer- ica in the year 1688. The family still re- tain many of the characteristics of this re-' markable people, who suffered so much in the old country and accomplished so much in the new. They have the Huguenot self- reliance, tenacity of purpose and opinion, and are peaceful in times of peace, but al- ways in the field in times of war.
The boyhood days of young Ferree were passed on his father's farm and in attending school. He completed his education at As- bury University, Greencastle, Indiana, not, however, becoming a graduate of that insti- tution. The late war came at that period in his life when, like many another ambi- tious young man, he welcomed eagerly the opportunity it offered for a wider and more active field of operation. He recruited a company in Rush county and with it joined the fifty-second Indiana volunteer regimnent at Indianapolis, under Colonel E. H. Wolf, and entered the service in 1861 as a lieu- tenant. Within ten days after leaving his state, in the memorable battle of Fort Donelson, Lieutenant Ferree led his com- pany over the breastworks in a charge made on the right of the enemy's works, and re- ceived many commendations for his gallant conduct. He afterward participated in many of the great battles, and took part in numerous minor engagements. After the battle of Shiloh he was in the sixteenth army corps and under General A. J. Smith. He served three years, fulfilling most of the time the duties of aide-de-camp on the
staff of the division commander of the six- teenth army corps, and assistant inspector general. Just before the close of the war he returned home wounded and broken down in health, but with many honors, and brought with him from Columbus, Kentucky, as mementoes of the war two leaden bullets of the enemy, which passed through his left lung, and he still carries in his body.
Soon after the close of the war Mr. Ferree settled in Memphis, Tennessee, where he engaged in the wholesale grocery busi- ness during the years 1865 and 1866, under the firm name of Ferree & Andrews. In the year 1867 he removed to Kansas City, Mis- souri, where he has since figured promi- nently in business circles.
Cool in his calculations and far-seeing, his excellent judgment is much prized and sought after by his business associates. His uniform courtesy and his dignity at once stamp him as a gentleman, he has the happy faculty of ingratiating himself with all with whom he comes in contact, and by his faithfulness he binds to him his many friends. Ener- getic, enterprising and public-spirited, he has ever stood ready to promote the inter- ests of Kansas city and has exerted a won- derful influence along the line of progress. Few men in the city are more often sought in counsel by young men than he, and his power to inspire them is indeed remarkable. He has been and is still connected with nu- merous business operations and projects of magnitude, and in all of them his judgment has been deferred to and his influence deeply felt. For years he has been largely interested in real-estate deals, in which he has been mar- velously successful. He was for a time secretary of the Kansas City Mutual Loan & Building Association, which was estab-
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lished in 1884, and which was recently wound up. At this writing and for some years past he has been secretary of the Mutual Home and Savings Association of Kansas City, with office in the Sheidley building, the authorized capital of this association being $2,000,000. It is purely a local con- cern, and to the untiring efforts and good judgment of its secretary is due largely the signal prosperity it has enjoyed. Colonel Ferree has large interests in both Kansas City, Missouri, and Kansas City, Kansas. He laid out Ferree Place in the heart of the latter city, and there, in company with W. N. Bunker, of Kansas City, Missouri, and Simpson & Son, of Kansas City, Kan- sas, erected the Chamber of Commerce, a magnificent building, 100 feet square, with four stories above and two below ground, the cost being nearly $100,000. He was the orginal projector of the Kansas City & Memphis Railroad, was a director and stock- holder in the Kansas City, Galveston & Lake Superior Railroad, and thus as early the 60's did his part in turning the tide of traffic to this now favored commercial cen- ter.
Still another enterprise with which he is connected, and one of more magnitude, is that of the Harrison International Tele- phone Company, organized in opposition to the Bell Telephone Company, with head- quarters in Chicago, and now having plants in no less than one hundred and fifty cities of the United States. Colonel Ferree was elected its first president, was succeeded by Stephen B. Elkins, and has been promi- nently identified with the corporation ever since, now being its first vice president.
Soon after leaving the army, the subject of our sketch was united in marriage with the accomplished daughter of Judge W. D.
Bowdon, whom he met while stationed at Fort Pillow, during the war; and lie often avers tliat this was the only good fortune the war brought him. Judge Bowdon was a union man, and was a inember of the Ala- bama senate at the time of secession. He bitterly opposed that act and by so doing incurred the ill favor of his associates, who made things so uncomfortable for him there that he was compelled to seek more con- genial quarters, and accordingly took up his residence in Tennessee, where he died of consumption before the close of the war. Having no children of their own, Mr. and Mrs. Ferree have out of the kindness of their hearts given a home and supplied the place of parents to a number of other chil- dren. They now have with them three children, relatives of Mrs. Ferree, in the rearing and educating of whom they take both pride and pleasure. Mr. Ferree is their guardian. Mrs. Ferree is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, a lady of rare culture and refinement, and is popular with a large circle of friends.
Of Colonel Ferree as a politician, be it recorded that he has ever harmonized with the republican party, has been one of its active and enthusiastic workers, and has fig- ured in nearly all the Missouri state conven- tions of his party. For himself, however, he has never sought official preferment, nor would he ever allow his name to be used as a candidate, although repeatedly urged to do so.
Personally, he is a man of striking ap- pearance, has white hair and beard and a remarkably young face. Although not class- ically educated, he is one of the most scholarly and cultured men in the city. For years he has given much time and study to the investigation of scientific questions. His
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home, his family and his books are the chief source of his pleasures. He wears the rosette of the military order of the Loyal Legion, an honor he fairly won, and he served as vice commander of Missouri one year.
EORGE W. PREWITT follows farming two miles south of Blue Springs, in Sniabar township. The family has been connected with the history of Jackson county for more than half a century. The grandfather, Adam Fisher, was the owner of a homestead four miles east of Independence. The father of our subject, Benjamin Wesley Prewitt, was a native of Kentucky, and came to Missouri about 1833, and engaged in merchandising at Liberty, Clay county, for about three years. He was married in 1835 to Miss Mary Ann, the youngest daughter of Adam Fisher. Her father was also a native of Kentucky, and his death occurred in Jack- son county. His wife died in St. Charles county, Missouri, after which he came to Jackson county, and was married in West- port to Mrs. Lewis, a widow. He then located four miles east of Independence, where he was extensively engaged in farm- ing until his death, which occurred in 1860. His son, G. W. Fisher, died in Independ- ence in April, 1895. A daughter, Sarah E., widow of James H. Thomas, is now the only survivor of the family, and makes her home in Kansas City.
Upon his marriage Benjamin M. Prewitt settled a mile east of the present home of our subject, and there continued his resi- dence until going to California. He became the owner of 600 acres of land, much of which he had entered from the government,
and of which 480 acres was located on the prairie. In 1849 he started for California, attracted by the discovery of gold in that state, and died while crossing the plains, leaving his widow with two sons, George W. and Fisher. In 1854 Mrs. Prewitt became the wife of R. S. Duke, of Jackson county, and resided on the old family homestead until 1863, when, on account of war order No. II, she removed to Clay county, where she made her home until her death, which occurred in 1876. Mr. Duke afterward went to California, where his last days were spent. The brother of our subject went to live with his maternal grandfather, Adam Fisher, with whom he continued until the latter's death. He is now residing in Hol- den, Johnson county.
After his father's death our subject lived with his uncle, George Fisher, until 1855. He then returned to the old homestead, where P. K. Corder now resides. He had 2II acres of land, and engaged in farming until 1861. In that year he entered the state service for six months, and took part in the battle of Lexington under Colonel Raines. The company disbanded at Osce- ola in the winter of 1861-62. He then re- turned to the farm, where he remained until April, 1863, when he went to Colorado, and continued in the west until November, 1865. During the two years he was in Colorado and Mexico, in company with Solomon Young, of Jackson county, engaged in the cattle business. Mr. Young was govern- ment contractor, furnishing beef cattle to various forts. In November, 1865, Mr. Prewitt took up his residence in Clay county, Missouri, and in the spring of 1866 again came to Jackson county, where he found his farm in a deplorable condition, the fences having all been torn down, and ruin and
R. a. Stellen
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desolation on all sides. He was enabled to save some money in his business ventures in Colorado, so at once began the work of im- proving his place, and in 1871 erected his present residence. The other improvements of a model farm have been added, and he now has a valuable and attractive place. Of this 171 acres is prairie land, whereon he raises the various crops, adapted to this climate.
Mr. Prewitt was married on the 20th of April, 1871, to Miss Fannie E. Lobb, the only daughter of Manson Lobb. She died in 1878, leaving one daughter, Mary Eliza- beth, now nineteen years of age, who is keeping house for her father. She is a young lady of intelligence and culture, and a pupil of Woodland College, of Independ- ence.
In politics Mr. Prewitt is a democrat, and frequently attends the county conven- tions of his party. Socially he belongs to Blue Springs lodge, No. 163, K. of P. He is very fond of hunting, and has taken a number of hunting trips in southern Mis- souri and Indian Territory. He is a man of genial, social disposition, and has the high regard of all with whom he has been brought in contact.
R ICHARD O. STEELE, capitalist, now living retired in Kansas City, Missouri, is numbered among the native sons of Kentucky, his birth having occurred in Bath county on the 23d of February, 1832. When a child of four years he was brought to Jackson county, Missouri, by his parents, Larkin and Cas- sandra (Owings) Steele. They located at Independence, where for a year the father followed farming, and then took his family,
in 1837, to the western portion of the county, the old homestead being located on the main road between Independence and Westport. The Ashland school building now stands near that place. There the father spent his remaining days, his death occurring in 1882, at the age of seventy- eight years. He had cleared 150 acres of land of the timber with which it was originally covered and had transformed it into a valua- ble farm, rich and well improved. At his death he was one of the oldest pioneers of Jackson county, and a man whom to know was to honor. His wife passed away some years previously. In their family were the following named children: George; Ann, who became the wife of Wallace Smith, and lost her husband about eight years ago, but she still resides on the place adjoining that of our subject. Richard O. is the next younger. Marie is the wife of Isaac Jack- son and, is living on a part of the old home- stead; while Prudence C. married Thomas Owings, a first cousin, and resides in Fay- ette, Howard county, Missouri.
Amid the wild scenes of frontier life our subject was reared to manhood, and early became familiar with the duties of trans- forming wild lands into richly cultivated fields. He remained under the parental roof until his marriage, which was celebrated December 13, 1866, the lady of his choice being Miss Elizabeth Johnson, daughter of Thomas L. Johnson, who resided near Sibley, Missouri. He had previously served in the army, having at the time of Price's raid in Missouri enlisted in company B of Colonel Martin's regiment of cavalry, which was raised at Independence, and joined Price at Lexington, Missouri. He served for six months, and took part in the famous Mulligan siege and the battle of Pea Ridge. The troops
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then retreated to White river, and after serving for three months he was transferred to a battery. Duty called him east of the Mississippi, and there he participated in the siege and battle of Corinth. He afterward participated in the siege of Vicksburg, where, closely pressed, the men had to abandon their battery, including four rifle guns. They then went up the Yazoo river for new guns and were stationed on the northeast of the Jackson road behind the entrenchments, where they were actively engaged throughout the siege. There the battery, which numbered 125 men, suffered a very heavy loss, being under constant fire from the 16th of May until the 4th of July, when the city surrendered. The troops were paroled and sent to the parole camp in Demopolis, Alabama, and were exchanged in September, following. The battery to which our subject belonged was then con- solidated with another, and attached to the army of General Bragg. They afterward did duty at Mobile, Alabama, and at Meridian, Mississippi, and were stationed there at the time of General Lee's surrender.
After four years of hard and faithful ser- vice, true to the principles amid which he was reared and in which he believed, Mr. Steele returned to Jackson county, and in 1867 located at his present home. He at one time owned sixty-five acres of land and successfully carried on farming. With the rapid growth of the city and the consequent rise in real-estate values, Mr. Steele has become the possessor of considerable wealth, and is now enjoying the fruits of his former toil. He has sold a portion of his farm and has platted the remaining portion, dividing it into city lots. In 1887 he erected his fine residence, which is one of the beautiful homes of the city. Mr. and Mrs. Steele
have four children: Thomas L., Claude, Richard O. and Myrtle. Mrs. Steele and the children are members of the Prospect church. Few men have longer resided in Jackson county than our subject, who is numbered among the honored pioneers and who in all the years that have passed since his arrival has taken an active and com- mendable interest in everything pertaining to the advancement of the public welfare and the upbuilding of his adopted county.
IMROD P. WOOD, M. D., is one of the skilled physicians of Jack- son county. If we would name the salient characteristic which has brought to him his enviable eminence in his profession we would say that it is unfal- tering perseverance in the pursuit of a lauda- ble purpose. He is one of Jackson county's favorite as well as native sons, a man whom to know is to respect.
He was born in Jackson county, Mis- souri, near Lees Summit, January 6, 1857, and is a son of James R. Wood, a native of Virginia, who came to Missouri in 1831, at the age of ten years. His father, Jere- miah Wood, brought the family to Jackson county and located on the present site of Blue Springs, one of the first families in the county. There on the old homestead the grandfather spent his remaining days, pass- ing away in 1855, at the age of sixty years.
The Doctor's father was reared on the frontier, experiencing the difficulties and hardships of pioneer life, and having arrived at years of maturity he was joined in wed- lock with Mary Chrisman, who survived their marriage only two years. He after- ward wedded Nancy Chrisman, a cousin of his first wife, and a daughter of Nimrod
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Chrisman, of Lee county, Virginia, who came to Missouri in 1836. She was born in the Old Dominion, and died June 6, 1890, while the Doctor's father, who was born October 8, 1821, passed away February 26, 1892. He always made his home on the farm, two miles northeast of Lees Summit, with the exception of four years during the war. In January, 1862, his family removed to Texas. He, however, remained to serve in the state militia for a time, but afterward joined his family in the Lone Star state, returning with them, however, when peace was restored, his property being situated in the district which was contested for by both armies. His fences had all been destroyed and the hand of devastation seemed to have been laid heavily upon the place. The farm comprised 400 acres of valuable land, which Mr. Wood placed under a very high state of cultivation, making it a very valuable prop- erty. He was a slave-owner and stock- raiser, and was one of the leading and in- fluential citizens of the community. His death occurred at the Doctor's home in Blue Springs, but his wife passed away at their home in Lees Summit. In politics he was a stalwart democrat. For half a century he was a faithful and devout member of the Baptist church, is one of the earliest mem- bers of the church at Blue Springs, and a charter member of the organization at Lees Summit. He served as deacon for forty years, and was an untiring worker in the interest of the cause, attending the various associations and state meetings and serving on committees. Of his means he made liberal donations and his Christianity was often manifest by charity and substantial assistance to those in need.
By his first marriage, Mr. Wood had one son, Jerry Abram, who now resides at Lees
Summit. The children of the second mar- riage are Elizabeth, wife of William M. Bisher, of Lees Summit; Nimrod P .; Peace, wife of V. B. Snead, of Independence, Mis- souri; Luvenia, wife of A. W. Williams, of San Jose, California; and James Daniel, who is living in Oak Grove, Missouri.
The Doctor was reared on the old home farın and acquired his education at Green- wood, in the commercial college at St. Joseph, Missouri, and took a complete busi- ness course in Bryant & Stratton's Business College, at which he was graduated. He afterward read inedicine under the precep- torship of Dr. C. C. Frick, now of Blue Springs, and attended three courses of lectures in the St. Louis Medical College, at which institution he was graduated with the class of 1881. He has since taken a post-graduate course and also several special courses, for he is a progressive physician and desires to perfect himself as far as possible in his chosen calling, that his efforts may be beneficial and successful. He began practice in Blue Springs in 1881, and for five years was in partnership with Dr. Frick, since which time he has been alone in busi- ness. He is a general practitioner, and stands high in professional circles. In addition to his practice he also owns a farm of 160 acres, six miles from Blue Springs, which is now rented.
In 1882 the Doctor was united in mar- riage with Miss Katie Frick, a daughter of Dr. William Frick, of Oak Grove, and a cousin of C. C. Frick. She died the fol- lowing March, and their happy married life was thus soon terminated. On the 18th of October, 1887, the Doctor was again mar- ried, his union being with Fannie L. Jack- son, of Blue Springs, daughter of Rev. J. B. Jackson, a Baptist minister, now retired.
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He is a native of North Carolina, and for some years was a professor in Wakefield College, of that state. For over half a century he has devoted his life to ministerial labors, and for twenty-five years was a well known preacher of Missouri. Mrs. Wood was born in North Carolina, August 1I, 1864, and is a graduate of Independence Female College. By her marriage she has one son, Noel Vance, born December 16, 1891. Both the Doctor and his wife have been members of the Baptist church since the age of thirteen years, and are prominent in church and social circles. In politics the Doctor is a democrat. He belongs to the Kansas City District and Missouri State Medical Associations, and was president of the former in 1889. He is frequently so- licited to write papers for these various medical organizations, also journals, and has contributed some valuable articles to medical literature. In the line of recreation his greatest pleasure is found with his gun, and he is a worthy follower of the old huntsman whose name he bears.
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