USA > Missouri > Jackson County > Kansas City > A memorial and biographical record of Kansas City and Jackson County Mo. > Part 58
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sion are dear to us all, and we are deeply concerned in whatever tends to elevate or debase them. Perhaps the chief value of this association is to be found in its power . to stimulate the individual member to reso- lutions of high integrity and fidelity to duty; for, after all, these are the foundation stones upon which every lasting professional repu- tation must be builded, and on which the honor and dignity of the profession stand."
Mr. McCune is a member of the Com- mercial Club, one of the popular organiza- tions of the city. His political views are those advocated by the republican party, and while he has never been an active worker in political fields he has always been heartily in accord with the · doctrines of his party. Mr. McCune is a member of the Congregational church. On the 6th day of September, 1888, he was married to Miss Helen A. McCrary, daughter of the Hon. George W. McCrary, formerly United States circuit judge for the eighth circuit. Mr. and Mrs. McCune have one son, Joseph M.
J OHN M. MUSE to-day ranks among the esteemed and progressive farm- ers of Jackson county. The pre- dominant traits of his character have ever been noted as fidelity to principle, faithful discharge of duties and loyalty to every trust cominitted to his care. In busi- ness he has prospered and is now the pos- sessor of one of the rich and valuable farms of Prairie township, all owing to his own well-directed efforts.
He descended from Revolutionary an- cestry and one of the old families of Vir- ginia. His grandfather, Richard Muse, was born in that state during colonial days, and when the colonies attempted to throw off
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A MEMORIAL RECORD OF KANSAS CITY
the yoke of British tyranny he patriotically joined the army. The father of our subject, Thomas Muse, was born in Bedford county, Virginia, and married Elizabeth Day, a na- tive of the Old Dominion, belonging to one of the prominent families of that locality. The father was Frank Day, and at an early period in Kentucky history he removed to Rock Castle county; Day's Hill was named in his honor. The Muse family also went to Kentucky about the same period, and the parents of our subject were married in that state. They located in Lincoln county, near Stanford, and subsequently went to Pulaski county, where Mr. Muse died, in 1849. His wife is still living, at an advanced age, and is a faithful member of the Meth- odist church. In the family were eleven children, nine of whom reached years of maturity, while seven are yet living.
Our subject was born in Pulaski county, in September, 1841, and was reared on the old homestead there, while his education was acquired in the common schools. In 1855 he came to Independence, Missouri, and remained in that place and in Blue Springs until after the breaking out of the civil war. True to the principles in which he believed and to the institutions amid which he was reared, he at once manifested his loyalty to his belief by joining Captain Wood's company of Colonel Rosser's regi- inent of the Confederate service. He par- ticipated in the engagements at Rock Creek, Pea Ridge and the siege of Lexington, Mis- souri, and then went with General Price east of the Mississippi, where he took part in the battles of Corinth, Mississippi, and Selma, Alabama. He then purchased a lot of mules for use by the army of General Joseph E. Johnston. After the fall of Vicksburg he was transferred to Morgan's
command, which he joined at Decatur, Georgia, going thence to Virginia, where he participated in the battles of Wytheville and Saltville. Afterward he went to Kentucky, where he met the enemy in battle at Mt. Sterling, Lexington, Georgetown and Cyn- thiana. At the last named he was captured with Colonel John Boll's battalion of three hundred men and sent to the prison at Rock Island, Illinois, where he remained for ten months, when he was transferred to the parole camp at Abingdon, Virginia. On the way he stopped at Lynchburg, and was there at the time General Lee surrendered at Appomattox Court House. Mr. Muse then went to Kentucky, where he remained for eighteen months, after which he re- turned to Jackson county. While in Mor- gan's command he served with the rank of captain. He received a slight flesh wound in the right leg at Wytheville, but otherwise escaped uninjured and went through all the experiences and hardships incident to war- fare. Never, however, did he falter in the ' faithful service of a loyal soldier who stands manfully by the cause in which he believes as long as there is a hope of success. He was ever a brave soldier.
Upon his return to Jackson county, Mr. Muse rented a forty-acre farm in Prairie township, and afterward rented the Stone- street farm for seven years; also rented the Reid farm for two years. He then leased three hundred and twenty acres owned by Mr. Daniels, of Paris, Kentucky, fenced and broke the land, and raised a crop. He next purchased two hundred and forty acres of Thomas Mercer, and after a time sold that property, and in 1879 purchased his pres- ent farm, then comprising one hundred and sixty acres of partially improved land. Its boundaries he has since extended until it
Charles De Joux
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AND JACKSON COUNTY, MISSOURI.
now comprises three hundred acres, all under a high state of cultivation; and the green fields of early spring are replaced by the golden harvests of autumn, and his labors are therefore recompensed by a good income. He has completely remodeled his home, built a good barn and added many other substantial improvements, and in addition to general farming has also carried on stock-raising.
In 1874 Mr. Muse was united in mar- riage with Anna Brownfield, a native of Adams county, Ohio, and a daughter of William Brownfield, deceased. She had two brothers, who served in the union army. Mr. and Mrs. Muse are the parents of two children, -Franklin J. and Carrie May, --- and they have a hospitable home. They are members of the Baptist church, and Mr. Muse is connected with the Masonic fraternity at Lees Summit. In politics he takes quite an active interest, supporting the democratic party, and has frequently been a delegate to its conventions. He has served as a memn- ber of the school board, but has never sought or desired political office, preferring to devote his time and energies to his busi- ness interests.
HARLES C. YOST, city assessor of Kansas City and one of the lead- ing and influential residents of Jackson county, is a native of Rochester, Indiana, born December 29, 1860, descending from German ancestry.
His great-grandfather, John H. Yost, was a Hessian who served under General Washington in the war which brought to America her independence. After that war he took up his residence on a farm that is
now the site of Fairmount Park in the west- ern part of Philadelphia. On that site the grandfather (Yost) of our subject was born, and lived for several years. In 1816 the family emigrated to the wilds of Indiana, locating on the Ohio river at Madison, Jef- ferson county, a small town where at the time were built all the ferry and merchant steamboats that plied on the Ohio river. When twenty-five years of age Mr. Yost married Miss Sarah Staton, a member of the noted Staton family of Kentucky. They had six children, three of whom died in in- fancy. Three sons grew to manhood, the eldest being J. H. T., the father of our sub- ject. Charles, another son, while tearing down the old historic depot at Madison, un- der contract, was killed by the falling of a portion of the structure. His wife had died previously. At that time (1891) he was about fifty-five years of age. He was the father of five children, -two sons and three daughters, -- William, Harry, Stella, Mamie and Anna, whom he left orphans. The youngest son, Dr. Joseph T. W. Yost, died at the age of fifty-six years, in 1895; his wife had died previously. They had one son, Harry Eugene, now a prominent phy- sician at Louisville, Kentucky. Dr. J. T. W. Yost was a very highly esteemed gen- tleman and a valued member of the Ma- sonic fraternity, having taken the thirty- third degree. He was also one of the most popular railroad surgeons in the United States. He served as pension examiner during both the adıninistrations of President Cleveland, being the incumbent of that of- fice at the time of his death. He was the only democrat that was ever known in the Yost family; was the candidate of his party for congress, but was defeated, although he gained a large popular vote.
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A MEMORIAL RECORD OF KANSAS CITY
In 1848 the grandfather Yost began to have a desire to try his fortune in California, attracted by the discovery of gold there, and in 1849 started for the Pacific slope, with his family, making the journey in a covered wagon drawn by an old ox team, and being six months on the journey. They passed within a few miles of Kansas City. They experienced many hardships and trials on the trip and were in constant danger of being attacked by the hostile Indian tribes infesting the plains. At length they arrived at Hangtown, now Placerville, and immedi- ately began the search for wealth. For four years the father and sons worked hard, and at last fortune favored them at Dry- town, where they found a good supply of gold. At length the father's health failed and he returned with his family to Madison, Indiana, purchasing a farm at Bryantsburg, about ten iniles east of Madison, where he spent his remaining days.
John H. T. Yost, the father of our sub- ject, was born at Madison, Jefferson county, Indiana, and accompanied his parents on their emigration to California. He was mar- ried in Bryantsburg, Indiana, in 1858, to Miss Roxana Selleck, daughter of John M. and Mary G. Selleck. Her father was of Scotch and English descent, and in 1830 located at Bryantsburg, where he was en- gaged in business in connection with the post-office department until his death, which occurred May 27, 1894, when he had reached the advanced age of ninety years. His wife is still living. They had three sons and two daughters, all of whom are yet living. On the day upon which they entered life they (John H. T. Yost and wife) they also started out in Christian life together, being baptized into the Baptist church, the im- mersion taking place in a small creek near
Bryantsburg called Indian Kentuck. For a year after their marriage they lived in Bran- don, Mississippi, then returned to Madison, Indiana, and two years later removed to Rochester, same state, but within another year returned to Bryantsburg.
At the first call for troops Mr. Yost bade adieu to his family and entered the sixth Indiana regiment and served for three years. In July, 1865, Minnie, the eldest daughter, was born, and the parents re- moved immediately afterward to Indianapo- lis, where they resided for several years, the father becoming a prominent contractor there and laying the foundation for the great water-works plant which is still in use. Afterward he was called to construct sim- ilar works in other large cities, including Des Moines, Iowa.
Being pleased with the west, he re- moved with his family to Fort Scott, Kan- sas, in 1871, and in December, 1872, took up his abode in Kansas City, where he and his wife are still living. He is ranked among the foremost contractors here. On all sides are seen evidences of his handiwork in the great stone walls of many buildings. He is a gentlenian of sterling worth and strictest integrity, whose honor in business transactions is above question. He has now reached the age of sixty-two years, while his estimable wife is fifty-six years of age. They had twelve children, but ten died in infancy. The daughter Minnie married M. D. De Vasher in 1885, and they have one bright little daughter, Ethel D. The two children living-Mrs. De Vasher and the subject of this skesch-have never lived apart, and at this time live within a few blocks of each other.
James Selleck, the maternal great-grand- father of Mr. Yost, was of English and
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Scotch descent, was a merchant on the high seas during the French war with Amer- ica, and all his vessels were destroyed by the French. During the present century the claims to two of these vessels have been proven to the satisfaction of the United States government, and the heirs of the present generation expect to receive nice fortunes for their share of the wreckage claims.
John M. Selleck, son of the above and grandfather of our subject, had six children, five of whom are living, as follows:
Mrs. Roxana Yost, mother of the subject of this sketch, was born at Bryantsburg, be- fore-mentioned, October 5, 1839.
Sanford C. Selleck was born at Bryants- burg, January 10, 1845, enlisted in the union army in 1861, when but sixteen years of age, served throughout the period of the war, married a Miss Cleveland in 1867, and had four children, of whom three are living. Harley, the eldest son, died. Lulu, the eldest daughter, is a prominent school- teacher. Eva, the youngest daughter, is also a teacher; and Herbert is the youngest son.
Jerusha Ann Nichols, second daughter of John M. Selleck, was born at Bryants- burg, about 1847, married John Nichols in 1869, and now lives at North Madison, In- diana. Of their three children two are living. Charles E., their eldest son, now lives at Denver, Colorado. Mary Blanche married J. Brisban in 1893, and lives at North Madison, and has a little daughter, named Edith.
John B. Selleck, born at Bryantsburg in 1853, married Miss Mary Lorying in 1871; of their six children five are living, namely: Mable, George (deceased), Bertha, Dora, Frank and Stella.
Charles Fremont Selleck, also born at Bryantsburg, in 1856, married Miss Anna Smith in 1889, and has one child living, named Ethel, and one deceased, named Roy.
Charles C. Yost, whose name introduces this sketch, and who is the only surving son in his father's family, was ten years of age when his parents came to Kansas City, and since that time he has been identified with its interests. He acquired good Eng- lish education, graduating at the high school when only sixteen years of age. He then entered a grocery store, where he was em- ployed as a clerk for two and a half years, after which he entered into partnership with L. M. Berkley, carrying on a retail and wholesale grocery. For ten years they did a large and profitable business. During the real-estate "boom" of 1888-9 the firm invested heavily in property, and being unable to realize on their investments, with scores of others they went down when the collapse came, necessitating an assignment. Subsequently Mr. Yost organized the Yost Grocery Company, and as its manager suc- cessfully conducted business for four years, when he sold out, in November, 1894. Immediately thereafter he established a novelty market, known as Yost's market, conducted on a unique and ingenious plan of his own, which proved a great success. However, he sold his store, when, in the spring of 1895, he was elected city assessor. He was also one of the projectors and organizers of the Commercial Bank, which was subsequently merged into the Metro- politan Bank.
In 1883 was consummated the marriage of Mr. Yost and Miss Hattie M. Beedle, of Johnson county, Kansas, a representative of one of the early families of the state. Her
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A MEMORIAL RECORD OF KANSAS CITY
paternal grandfather, William Beedle, was a Virginian by birth and in early life learned the trade of bricklaying. He was married, in the Old Dominion, to Harriet M. Madden, a northern lady, and removed to Mount Vernon, Ohio, where his death occurred in 1855, while his wife died in 1856. They had six children, four living and two now deceased. Mabry, aged sixty-four, served through the civil war and is now engaged in blacksmithing in Marshalltown, Iowa. Will- iam B., father of Mrs. Yost, died on his farm near Olathe, in 1885, at the age of fifty-three. Samuel B. died in Albuquerque, New Mexico, aged fifty years. Mrs. Sarah E. Chaffant is living in Kansas City, at the age of sixty. Mrs. Margaret C. Barcus resides in Denver, Colorado, aged fifty- eight; Mrs. Carrett M. Smith lives in Kan- sas City, aged fifty-six years.
William B. Beedle, father of Mrs. Yost, was born in Mount Washington, Virginia, in 1832, and at the age of eighteen went with his parents to Delaware, Ohio, where he was married, in 1856, to Ester R. Brey- fogle. Her grandparents were both of Ger- inan descent and were born and spent their entire lives in Berks county, Pennsylvania. Her father, Reuben Breyfogle, was born in that county in 1811, and was married in Reading, Pennsylvania, in 1829, to Rebecca Osman, a refined lady of Scotch descent, who was born in New Jersey in 1812. For several years after his marriage he followed the tailoring business, and in 1834 removed to a farın in Delaware county, Ohio, where he and his wife lived until death. He passed away in 1886 and his wife in 1876. Of their nine children, seven are living, namely: Mrs. Beedle, who is living with her daughter, Mrs. Yost, at the age of sixty- one years; William O., a contractor of San
Jose, Cailfornia, aged sixty years: he was in Kansas City in 1858, engaged in building the Brick Powder Magazine, an old land- mark on the Westport road; Henry S., aged fifty-six, now presiding judge of Dela- ware county, Ohio; Mrs. Mary Ann Levan, of Columbus, Ohio, aged fifty-five; Mrs. Amelia Freshwater, aged fifty-three, now living in West Berlin, Delaware county, Ohio; Frank B., also of Delaware county, aged fifty-eight years; and Forest B., who is a inaster machinist in the state peniten- tiary in Columbus, Ohio: he is forty-seven years of age.
In 1858 William B. Beedle and his wife, with four other families, started for Kansas City, traveling by wagon, and on reaching their destination moved into a house owned by Dr. Ridge. In 1861 they went to Jolin- son county, Kansas, settling on the Allen farm near Indian creek, and in the spring of 1863 they removed to the McCoy farm. The following fall they returned to Ohio on account of the father's health, and also on account of the trouble occasioned by the bushwhackers. During the Quantrell raid he was captured and barely escaped being killed. He was blindfolded and left in the midst of a dense forest, and had it not been for the fact that he was lame from rheuma- tism so that he could hardly walk he would have been killed. In the years 1862 and 1863 he was twice robbed of all that he possessed.
Returning to Kansas City in 1864 he located at the corner of Twelfth street and Grand avenue. While he was living there the Union soldiers threw up barracks in the yard and moved the family from the house, and Mr. Beedle helped haul the dead from the battle-ground near Westport. In1 1868 he bought a farm between Tomahawk and
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Indian creek, about seven miles east of Olathe, where he spent his remaining days.
In the family of Mr. and Mrs. Beedle were five children. William E., the eldest, was born in Delaware, Ohio, in 1857, and in 1879 married Miss Fanny Michael, by whom he had one son, Frankie. The wife died in 1883, the husband died in Dodge City, Kansas, from blood-poisoning, in 1884, and their son passed away the year follow- ing. Charles A., who was born on the old homestead in 1861, married Mrs. Emma J. Herring, in 1884, at Olathe, Kansas. They reside on the old farmstead and have three children, -Leota L., Freddie U. and Ar- thur W. The next of the family is Mrs. Yost, and the others are Joe S., who was born in 1870 on the home farm, and lives in Kansas City; and Sarah E., who was born on the old homestead in 1875, and is also a resident of Kansas City.
Mrs. Yost was born in 1864, while her parents were living at the corner of Twelfth street and Grand avenue, in Kansas City. She remained under the parental roof until her marriage, which occurred in 1883. Five children grace this union, -LeRoy, Charles V., Joseph, Pearl R. and Jeanette G.
Mr. Yost adheres to the party which his family has supported since its organization and which his mature judgment sanctions as the one best calculated to advance the na- tion's interests. He is now chairman of the assessment committee of Jackson county ; a member of the county committee, city com- mittee, executive committee and committees on judges, clerks, speakers and finance; and was treasurer of the republican committee from 1886 to 1892. The chairmanship of the republican county committee was ten- dered him, but he declined to accept it. He is a charter member of the Republican Lin-
coln Club, the Masonic fraternity, the Knights of Pythias society and the Junior Order of American Mechanics.
Though he is young in years the life of Mr. Yost has been fraught with many changes, some of which, to natures less san- guine and courageous than his, would have been exceedingly discouraging. His is a strong nature, not easily disturbed by ad- versity, which has often seemed to act as an impetus for renewed effort on his part, and thus using his difficulties as stepping- stones to something higher he has climbed steadily upward. He has the regard of all who know him, and in the discharge of his official duties has displayed a marked fitness and fidelity to the trust reposed in him.
ON. WILLIAM CHRISMAN is not alone a man of prominence in Jackson county, but is also num- bered among the leading citizens of the state; and while his interests have been more largely connected with Kansas City and Independence, he has yet been an important factor in the affairs of the com- monwealth, and his influence in commercial circles has been of material benefit to many.
Mr. Chrisman traces his ancestry back to an old Virginian family of Gerinan lineage. The paternal grandfather, Abram Chrisman, was a native of the Old Dominion and emi- grating westward became one of the pioneers of Fayette county, Kentucky. He was a farmer of note in that locality and acquired considerable wealth. The father of our subject, Joseph Chrisman, was born in October, 1800, in Rockingham county, Virginia, and during his early boyhood removed with his father to Fayette county, Kentucky. Having attained to years of
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A MEMORIAL RECORD OF KANSAS CITY
maturity, he married Eleanor Soper, a native of Maryland and a representative of one of the old families of that state. In an early day her father removed to Kentucky, where was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Chrisman's parents. They lived in Fayette county for some years and then removed to Missouri, locating near Liberty, Clay county, where their remaining days were passed, the father carrying on agricultural pursuits. Both were members of the Baptist church. In their family were four children, namely: William; John, who died in Kansas City; Joseph, who died in Stewartsville, DeKalb county, Missouri; and Amanda, wife of Dr. Ben Mitchell, of Clay county.
William Chrisman, of this review, was born in Fayette county, Kentucky, Novem- ber 23, 1822, and spent the days of his boyhood and youth in his parents' home, being fortunate in having the refining in- fluences of a Christian home. He was edu- cated in private schools, in Georgetown Col- lege, Kentucky, and in Center College, at Danville, that state, at which institution he was graduated with the class of 1846. He won the degree of A. B., and later that of A. M., after which he took up the study of law in Danville, and was admitted to the bar in 1847. The following year he came to Missouri, and has since made his home in Jackson county.
On the day he started for Missouri- May 10, 1848-was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Chrisman and Miss Lucie A. Lee, the youngest daughter of George Lee, of Dan- ville, Kentucky. She was born in that state in 1828 and was a descendant of the distinguished Lee family of Virginia. The wedding journey of the young couple con- sisted of their trip to Missouri. Mr. Chris- man had been admitted to the bar in Ken-
tucky, and on locating in Independence was admitted to practice in the courts of Mis- souri. He was a young man who must gain fame, if at all, through his own merits, and earnestly and persistently he began his work as a member of the legal profession and steadily rose step by step until he was recog- nized as one of its most eminent members in the state. He first effected a partner- ship with Hon. Abram Comingo and has been associated in practice with Hon. Sam- uel H. Woodson, Russel Hicks and Samuel L. Sawyer, all of whom have served on the circuit bench. He possesses a keen, ana- lytical mind and clear reasoning powers, and the success which comes as a reward of merit and of labor was assured to him from the start.
. Into other branches of business activity, however, Mr. Chrisman turned his energies and became equally prominent and pros- perous in banking circles. In 1857 he aided in the organization of the Independence Savings Institution, and has been connected with this concern through its various changes up to the present. After a time it was merged into the banking house of Stone, McCoy & Company, later became Stone, Sawyer & Company, was subsequently Chris- man, Sawyer & Company, and at length the Chrisman-Sawyer Banking Company was incorporated, and still exists under that name, with Mr. Chrisman as president, a position he has held from the beginning. He was also one of the organizers and a director and stockholder in the old First National Bank of Independence, which is now out of existence. That bank was or- ganized July 10, 1865. He is a stockholder in the National Bank of Commerce and the Midland National Bank, of Kansas City. Few, indeed, have been the interests or
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