USA > Missouri > Jackson County > Kansas City > A memorial and biographical record of Kansas City and Jackson County Mo. > Part 50
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A MEMORIAL RECORD OF KANSAS CITY
in speculation, but through the legitimate channels of trade has won a marvelous and well merited prosperity. He has witnessed much of the development of Kansas City and the surrounding country, and for many years has traveled extensively through Kan- sas and Missouri, where he has a most ex- tensive circle of friends and acquaintances.
HOMAS C. PEMBERTON, SR., of Fort Osage township, was born in central Georgia, near Augusta, August 12, 1827, and is a son of Russell and Hulda (Carner) Pemberton. When our subject was about six years of age, his parents removed to Kenton county, Kentucky, where he made his home until he had attained his majority. At the age of seventeen he removed to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he learned the brick-mason's trade, serving a two-years apprenticeship. On the expiration of that period he went south and followed that business and other occu- pations, mostly in Indiana, through the sum- mer months. In the winter he engaged in steamboating on the Mississippi for several years. Subsequently he made his home in Covington and Newport, Kentucky, where he followed his trade for three years, and in 1 850 he started from Kentucky to California, accompanied by his wife and one child.
On account of sickness, however, Mr. Pemberton proceeded only as far as Inde- pendence, Missouri. He there made a loca- tion, but after a short time came to Sibley, in Fort Osage township, and embarked in the manufacture of brick. He carried on that business in Sibley, Lexington, Welling- ton and other towns in this section of the state until the war broke out, when he went to Arkansas. After a few months, however,
he returned to his home in Fort Osage, but soon went to Leavenworth, Kansas, where he followed his trade for two years.
When the war was over, he returned to his home in Fort Osage township, where he has since resided and has carried on busi- ness both as a brick-maker and farmer. Since 1877 he has given his attention ex- clusively to farming and stock-raising, and now owns 300 acres of valuable land, the greater part of which is under a high state of cultivation. He also raises a good grade of stock, and these two departments of his business yield to him a good income.
Mr. Pemberton was married in Cincin- nati, Ohio, about 1848, to Miss Louise St. Liear, a native of Baltimore, Maryland, and to them were born two children: Thomas A., who died at the age of three years; and Louise, wife of Robert Hughes; she died in Wyandotte county, Kansas, when about twenty-four years of age, leaving two chil- dren, Olivia and Emma. Mrs. Pemberton died in Sibley, in the fall of 1853, and Mr. Pemberton was again married, in Fort Osage township, December 10, 1856, his second union being with Miss Armilda Thompson, a daughter of John K. and Jerusha Thompson, both of whom were natives of Kentucky. They had a family of six children, -two sons and four daughters, -- of whom Mrs. Pemberton is the youngest. She was born in Jackson county, December 10, 1837, and by her marriage has become the mother of four children: Thomas C .; Anna M., who died at the age of twenty-two years; Cora Belle, and Elwyn S.
Socially Mr. Pemberton is connected with the order of Knights of Pythias. He has never taken an active part in political affairs, content to devote his time and en- ergies to his business interests, in which he
L.G. Juin.
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has met with signal success. Starting out in life empty-handed, he has steadily and persistently worked his way upward, mak- ing the most of his privileges and taking advantage of every opportunity offered. His honorable dealing, his steadfast determina- tion and his perseverance have won him a handsome competence.
E. IRWIN .- Nature endows her children with talents which would probably lie dormant were it not for the awakening influences of hardships, calling forth the latent energies that exercise develops, that resolute pur- pose strengthens and undaunted persever- ance solidifies. Some of the strongest char- acters in the union have come from the ranks of the self-made men, and this class has largely been recruited from the rural districts or the small towns. From such communities young men have found their way into cities to become important factors in commercial, official and social circles. Such a man is Mr. Irwin, now the efficient and reliable chief of police of Kansas City. A place of metropolitan proportions is largely dependent upon its police service. The protection of property secured in this way is an impetus to all lines of business, and the man who stands at the head of an ef- ficient police department must possess sound judgment and keen discrimination, and inust be both cool and collected in times of dan- ger, intelligent, active, energetic and fear- less. All these qualities Chief Irwin pos- sesses in a marked degree.
He is numbered among Missouri's native sons, for his birth occurred in Shelbyville, on the IIth of May, 1844. His parents were Hon. Joseph M. and Harriet (Rust)
Irwin, both natives of Virginia. In 1836 the father took up his residence in Shelby county, where he died in 1878, at the age of fifty-eight. He was a gentleman of con- siderable local prominence and of exalted character, and was one of the unconditional- union members of the Missouri state con- vention in 1861, and throughout the strug- gle which followed he stood loyally and steadfastly by his country and its flag. He also represented his district in the state sen- ate from 1857 until 1861.
Mr. Irwin of this review acquired his education in the public schools and at an academy in his native town, but before com- pleting his academical course the civil war broke out, and though a boy in years he was a man in impulse, determination and loy- alty. To his country he offered his services at the early age of seventeen, and as a pri- vate joined the federal military service which became known as the second regiment of Missouri cavalry. A few months later he was promoted to the rank of second lieuten- ant of company M, at which time he was the youngest commissioned officer in the army. His regiment was armed, uniformed and paid by the United States government. It performed a great deal of valuable serv- ice in breaking up and clearing the country of Confederate raiders, guerrillas and bush- whacking bands. Lieutenant Irwin partici- pated in the battle of Cape Girardeau and in numerous bush fights and scouting expe- ditions, and through this irregular but ar- duous warfare won an honorable record as a brave soldier. In February, 1865, he joined the fourteenth Missouri cavalry vol- unteers, and was commissioned first lieuten- ant and adjutant. He was first assigned to duty at Benton Barracks, but in the spring of 1865 he was sent with his regiment,
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which formed a portion of General San- born's expedition, to western Kansas and Colorado to fight Indians.
The regiment was engaged in constant and arduous service on the plains until No- vember, 1865, when it was mustered out. Upon his return home Mr. Irwin joined his father in merchandising in Shelbyville. Subsequently he removed to Clarence, Shelby county, where he established a store and built up a good trade, but he desired a broader field of labor, and in 1881 came to Kansas City, where he entered into partner- ship with John F. Eaton, under the firm style of Irwin & Eaton, wholesale dealers in crockery and glassware. In 1883 the Irwin- Eaton Crockery Company was formed, and Mr. Irwin was for some time its president.
His connection with the prominent asso- ciations and the commercial and other insti- tutions of the city is extensive and conspic- uous. He was a member of the directory of the Board of Trade, is president of the Benefit Building and Loan Association, and was the first vice-president and afterward president of the Commercial Club, which was organized largely by his efforts and in- fluence. Mr. Irwin was one of the chief originators of the Priests of Pallas and Parade Association, of which important and successful enterprise he was the first presi- dent and chief priest. In November, 1887, Mr. Irwin was selected to conduct the dele- gation of the Commercial Club of Kansas City to the city of Mexico, the mission of the club being the promotion of the business and commercial relations of the two cities. The incident attracted widespread attention and the excursion was a complete success. The delegates were received as the guests of the government and were treated with distinguished attention and consideration.
Magnificent banquets and costly fetes were given in their honor by the Mexican author- ities and they received such welcome and entertainment as had never been accorded to any other delegation of similar character. It was conceded that the success of the mis- sion was mainly due to the conduct of the chairman of the delegation, Mr. Irwin, and the club gave him a vote of thanks for the very efficient manner in which he discharged his various duties-labors requiring rare tact, discernment and comprehension.
In 1893 he was made colonel of the third regiment of Missouri national guards, which position he held for two years, when he resigned to accept the position of inspector- general on the staff of Governor Stone, the present governor of Missouri, in which capacity he is now serving. He was made chief the Metropolitan Police Force of Kan- sas City, May 4. 1895.
He is a man of known reliability and trustworthiness, devoted to the welfare of his nation and his community, and discharg- ing his duties with the same loyalty and fidelity that marked his career when during the civil war he distinguished himself as a defender of the union.
ENRY WOLLMAN .- It is no easy thing to gain fame as a member of the legal profession, yet this gen- tleman is numbered among the ablest representatives of the bar of the west, which embraces some of the finest minds of the Mississippi valley. In this profession, where success depends entirely upon merit, he has worked his way steadily upward, exercising the abilities with which nature has endowed him and those he has acquired
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through earnest, persistent effort. In social life he is alike esteemed, for he is ever honorable, and his genuine worth and courteous, pleasant manner have gained him many friends.
Mr. Wollman was born in Leavenworth, Kansas, in August, 1858, and is a son of Jonas and Bettie (Kohn) Wollman, the former a native of Germany and the latter of Austria. They were married in St. Louis. Mr. Jonas Wollman was one of the original free-state men of Leavenworth, Kansas, advocating his policy when it was almost at the risk of one's life to say anything in opposition to slavery. He followed mer- chandising for a number of years, and won a competence that now enables him to live retired, his home being in Kansas City. The seven children of the family were all born in Leavenworth and are still living. They are: Rosa, wife of A. Hess, president of the wholesale grocery house of Wichita, Kansas; Henry; Morton, a wholesale mer- chant of Kansas City; William J., a stock and bond broker of Chicago; Mrs. Bienen- stock, of St. Louis; B. F., who is a graduate of the University of Ann Arbor, Michigan; and Miss Katie, who is living with her par- ents in Kansas City.
Henry Wollman spent the days of his boyhood and youth in the city of his birth, attended its public schools and was graduated at the high school at the head of his class, when seventeen years of age. After pursuing a course in Latin and Greek under private tutors, he entered the law department of the University of Michigan, and graduated with honor in the class of 1878. His grad- uating thesis on the subject of "The Writer's Property in Letters " attracted considerable attention at that time, and occasioned much favorable comment. Mr.
Wollman at once returned to Leavenworth, Kansas, and although he had not yet attained his majority he served as acting city counselor for nearly a year. In 1881 he came to Kansas City and niet with extra- ordinary success from the beginning of his professional career here.
Mr. Wollman was soon appointed by the United States court to the position of United States commissioner for Missouri, and is still serving in that position, but other pro- fessional duties absorb most of his time. During his residence here he has often tem- porarily served as judge of the circuit court of Kansas City, and upon the bench his course has been marked with a strict fairness and superior merit that has won recognition from the bench and bar throughout this section of the state. In spite of the fact that he has not yet reached his prime, his client- age is one of the most extensive enjoyed by any member of the profession in Kansas City. Although he has won signal success as a general practitioner, he has made a specialty of corporation litigation, and is es- pecially well versed in this branch, being one of the regular lecturers on the subject in Spaulding's Commercial College. He is also special lecturer before the new Kansas City School of Law, and has frequently de- livered addresses before the Universities of Missouri, Kansas and Nebraska on different subjects, principally, however, on corpora- tion reform. He is a lecturer whose elo- quence and oratory are widely recognized and highly appreciated. His thoughts flow freely and easily and his positions follow one another with convincing force. Heis a ver- satile writer, and his ready command of language combined with an earnest purpose makes both his written articles and his ad- dresses carry with them weight and influence.
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In a lecture before the Kansas City Bar Association he suggested certain measures for the inspection of banks, which have since been adopted by the state legislature and are now a part of the law of the state of Missouri. He has written a great deal on the subject of corporation laws, and his articles have been copied extensively throughout the country in leading news- papers and periodicals. It was Mr. Wollman that had the law of Missouri confining legal advertisements outside of court notices to one newspaper declared unconstitutional; also had the supreme court hold that the theater was private property, thus enabling its owner or manager to refuse admission to any person or class of persons he saw fit. He filed one of the first bills in chancery to have a preferential deed of trust of an in- solvent person declared an assignment. The case was that of Martin versus Hausman, and was probably the most cited case ever in Missouri. Mr. Wollman won his case, but the doctrine laid down then has been overruled by the United States supreme court, and has been an important feature in the legislature of the state. He also suc- ceeded in getting the United States court to hold that an insolvent corporation could not give a preference. He won this case also, but in a subsequent case (with which he had nothing to do) the United States supreme court overruled the decision and created quite a sensation among the lawyers and corporation people of the country. His articles in the North American Review, on "The Bane of Friendly Receiverships " and "The Danger of Federal Judiciary," at- tracted great attention. An eastern news- paper spoke of the first article as "epoch- making," and many of his suggestions on the subject have been embodied in a bill
which was pending in congress at the time of the last adjournment.
Mr. Wollman has been for several years president of the Southwestern Alumni Asso- ciation of the University of Michigan, which numbers among its members many of the leading men of the west. He has never sought office, but has devoted his time and energies strictly to his professional duties and to-day ranks among those at the head of the bar in the state of Missouri. His superior ability is recognized by the frater- nity as well as the public; and although he is one of the youngest he is one of the most honored of Missouri's lawyers. Mr. Woll- man has traveled extensively through Europe and other foreign countries, visiting its historical scenes and places of note and interest, and has delivered many able lec- tures on Europe and other subjects. He is a member of the Phi Delta Phi, a college Greek society, and also belongs to the Kan- sas City Club and the Progress Club. He is deeply interested in all that pertains to the social, educational, moral and material welfare of the city, and is a genial, courteous gentleman, easy of approach, of kindly dis- position, and throughout the country he has many warm friends and many hearty ad- mirers.
City.
W. GERMAN, attorney and coun- selor at law, of the firm of Meservey, Pierce & German, is one of the rising members of the bar in Kansas He is a native of the Dominion of Canada, born at Elora, Ontario, July 10, 1867, a son of John W. and Sarah J. ( Purdy) German, also natives of Ontario.
The earlier ancestors of Mr. German in this country were not in sympathy with
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those principles which lay at the root of the war of the Revolution, and therefore re- moved to Canada, settling near Kingston. John W. German is a ininister of the Meth- odist Episcopal church, and still resides in Ontario. His wife died in 1886, the mother of six children: William H., a physician in Morgan Park, Chicago; Emma M., the wife of H. A. Allen, of Tustin, Orange county, California; Edgar R., a resident of Tustin, California; F. G., of Duluth, Min- nesota; Charles W., the subject of this sketch; and Mabel.
C. W. German received a thorough ed- ucation in the common and high schools of the country of his birth. In 1886 he made a trip to California, being absent about one year, and in March, 1887, he went to Da- kota, where he resided twelve months. At the end of that time he went to Chicago, and there entered the law department of the Northwestern University, at which he was graduated in 1889. In June of that year he came to Kansas City and entered the office of Lathrop, Morrow, Fox & Moore, with whom he continued until October I, 1891. At this time he formed a partnership with the members of the present firm. They are among the most successful and en- terprising legal advisers in this city, and bid fair to take their place with the oldest mem- bers of the bar.
J OHN R. MOORE .- Washington township, Jackson county, Missouri, has no better representative of the intelligent agriculturist and the gen- erous and progressive citizens than is found in the subject of this article, John R. Moore.
Mr. Moore is from Revolutionary stock. His grandfather, Wm. Moore, spent seven 24
of the best years of his life as a soldier under General Washington, fighting for in- dependence, and he was also a participant in the war of 1812. Indeed, he carried a rifle so constantly that one shoulder was from that cause made lower than the other. For many years he was a resident of Ken- tucky, late in life removed to Missouri, and near Lees Summit in Jackson county made settlement, he being among the earliest pio- neers of this place. Here he passed his closing years. His son, John A. Moore, the father of our subject, was born in Ken- tucky and was reared and married there, the lady he wedded being Catharine Bar- low, likewise a native of that state. They continued to reside there until 1839, when they removed to Missouri, journeying hither by wagon and making settlement at a place two and one-half miles northwest of Lees Summit. The land on which they made permanent settlement was partially im- proved at that time, these improvements consisting of twenty-five acres under culti- vation and a small log house. In this fron- tier home they lived and prospered. They were worthy and consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal church and were known far and near for their genial hospitality and their many other estimable qualities. When well advanced in years the father divided his land among his children and made his home with them, the mother's death having preceded his. In their family were eight children, seven of whom grew to maturity, namely: Mrs. Martha Marks, Oregon; Mrs. Frances Porter, who died in Oregon; Mrs. Adaline Yokum, deceased; William, who died in this county; Thomas, who died in this county; John R., whose name graces this review; and Cornelius Alexis, a resident of Greenwood, Missouri. Mrs.
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Yokum left a son, Thomas Yokum, who was reared by his grandfather Moore, and who was killed in the battle of Shiloh.
John R. Moore was born in Washington county, Kentucky, February 10, 1830, and in his native county passed the first nine years of liis life. Then came their emigra- tion to Missouri. On his father's farm in Jackson county he resided until he was twenty-seven. His education was received in subscription schools held in private houses, and later in log houses built for school purposes. At the time of his mar- riage, in 1857, he owned a farm in Prairie township, but after that event he settled on the old Whitsett farm in Washington town- ship, where he lived until 1863. That year he moved to Colorado. In Colorado he irri- gated a farm and raised two crops upon it. Believing, however, that Missouri was for him a more desirable location, he came again to this state, and to Jackson county in the spring of 1866. He exchanged his land in Prairie township for a part of his present farm, and in the fall of 1867 built his pres- ent residence. Now he owns 420 acres in one body, 400 acres of which are under cul- tivation, and besides his home place he owns the 160-acre farm upon which his son re- sides, it also being in Washington township. During his long experience as a farmer Mr. Moore has never failed to raise a crop.
Mr. Moore was married December 31, 1857, to Miss Mary Whitsett, daughter of John Rankin Whitsett, deceased. She died September 7, 1877, leaving two children, - Amelia Catharine and Thomas Travis. The former is now Mrs. Hopkins, and has three children,-James Simeon, Thomas Travis and Mary Sue. The son married Miss Betty Watson and has three children, -Maggie, Robert Linn and Roy. He is engaged in
merchandising at Hickman Mills. For his second wife Mr. Moore married Mrs. Susan Catharine Harvey, nee Ammerman. She was born in Lewis county, Missouri, is a lady of education and culture, and presides with becoming grace over their delightful home. Her father, Coleman Ammerman, was one of the early settlers of Lewis county and still resides there.
Mr. and Mrs. Moore are members of the Christian church. He has been a deacon in the church for twenty-five years; for a number of years she has served as Sabbath- school teacher, and both are earnest and efficient in their work for the Master. His political affiliations have always been with the democratic party. For years he has been active in advancing educational inter- ests, has long served as a director in his dis- trict, and has helped to build all the school- houses in this township that have been erected since the war. He gave his son and daughter good educational advantages. The former he sent to college at Canton, Mis- souri, two years.
ON. JAMES. M. ADAMS .- When Jackson county was a frontier set- tlement, when much of its land was still in its primitive condition, and the Indians were still frequent visitors to the neighborhood, in one of the pioneer homes in this region our subject was born, the date of the event being November 13, 1833. His father, Lynchburg Adams, was born near Lynchburg, Virginia, February 22, 1804, and married Elizabeth Drake, who was born in Howard county, Missouri, December 7, 1808. He came to Jackson county, March 20, 1819, and located near Sibley in Fort Osage township, where his
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marriage occurred November 1, 1827. He entered land in the Blue Bottoms in Blue township, where he continued to live until his death, which occurred December 6, 1873. His wife died January 24, 1859. They had five children, four sons and a daughter, and James was the fourth in order of birth.
Our subject was reared on the old home farm and gave his father the benefit of his services until after he had attained his ma- jority. He acquired his preliminary educa- tion in the common schools, and later was for two years a student in Chapel Hill Col- lege, in Jackson county. He also spent one year in the University of Missouri, and was graduated at Jones' Mercantile College, of St. Louis, thus acquiring a good education to fit him for life's practical duties.
Mr. Adams then returned home and on the 5th of April, 1859, was united in mar- riage with Miss Annie E. Nottingham, daughter of Jacob and Margaret (Fickle) Nottingham, both natives of Virginia. Mrs. Adams was born in La Fayette county, Missouri, but was reared in Fort Osage township, Jackson county. They have be- come the parents of eleven children: Lynch- burg; John W .; Cozzette, now the wife of James A. Hensley; Bessie, wife of Edmund Biggerstaff; Fannie; James M .; Arthur N. ; Avonia B., wife of Charles Adams; Emmett M., Otis and Carl.
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