USA > Missouri > Jackson County > Kansas City > A memorial and biographical record of Kansas City and Jackson County Mo. > Part 59
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AND JACKSON COUNTY, MISSOURI.
enterprises established in Independence that have not received aid and encouragement at his hand. He has been the promoter of almost numberless concerns that have added to the material prosperity of the community, and the upbuilding of the city is therefore largely due to him. He was the leading organizer of the Kansas City Ladies' College, at Independence, furnished most of the capital used in the construction of the build- ings, and from its organization has served as one of its directors. He was one of the most influential business men that Inde- pendence has ever had until 1888, when a stroke of paralysis caused him to lay aside all business cares, and he is now enjoying the rest which is certainly the fitting reward of his useful life. From time to time he has made judicious investments in real estate and is now one of the largest land- owners in the county.
In February, 1889, Mr. Chrisman was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who passed to the home beyond. He says that she entered very largely into all his suc- cesses in business, and that her counsel and moral support was the bulwark of his strength in commercial circles. Their home life was an ideal one, and their union was blessed with three children. George Lce, the eldest, married Miss Lottie S. Duke, who died October 8, 1892. James died while a student in Fulton College. Maggie is now the wife of Logan O. Swope, of In- dependence, by whom she has six children.
Mr. Chrisman's fine residence in Inde- pendence was destroyed by fire in Novem- ber, 1887, but he continued to make his home there until July, 1888, since which time he has lived with his son George, in Prairie township. The home farm of George Lee Chrisman contains two thousand acres
of well cultivated land, and is adorned with the finest country residence in Jackson county. Large and commodious, it is pala- tial in proportions and is adorned with all the conveniences that wealth can secure and refined taste suggest. An extensive and ele- gantly appointed conservatory with its beau- tiful exoties is under the care of an experi- enced florist. The barns and outbuildings are models of convenience, and contain two hundred head of finely bred horses, prin- cipally of the Wilkes blood, under the care of a special trainer. Fine droves of cattle, sheep and hogs may be seen on the pasture lands and in the pens, and the large farm is dotted here and there with tenant houses and barns.
Mr. Chrisman and his family are mem- bers of the First Presbyterian church of In- dependence, in which he is a ruling elder. While a resident of Kentucky he was a mem- ber of the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows. In politics he was a whig, but for many years has been a democrat. He has specially avoided politics, and although fre- quently urged to accept the nomination for state or national office, has steadily refused to do so. He was, however, a member of the constitutional convention which met in 1875 and framed the present constitution of Missouri, and he was selected to write an address to be published explaining to the voters of Missouri the contents of the con- stitution. This position was given him entirely without solicitation on his part.
Of a most generous disposition Mr. Chrisman has been liberal with his gifts to public and private enterprises and the poor and needy find in him a true friend. Many a time has he extended a helping hand to those who were finding it difficult to make their way up the hill of success. He is en-
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A MEMORIAL RECORD OF KANSAS CITY
tirely free from ostentation in his charity, and this has won him a place in the affec- tions of his hosts of friends that none other could occupy.
It is in tracing the history of such a life as has been that of our subject that biog- raphy exercises its legitmate and inost im- portant function, and the lesson and incen- tive of such a career finds an enforcement as stated in words that offer but an outline of what has been accomplished, -- calling attention to difficulties surmounted and not- ing the various steps which mark the line of progress from youthful obscurity to a posi- tion of prominence, honor and usefulness. In the life of the subject of this review comes forward in particular a point that demands appreciation, namely, that here has ambition directed its course along the lines which determine the true essence of manhood, as taken aside from injustice and a determination to succeed in a personal sense, regardless of the rights of others and at a sacrifice of all sentiment save that which can serve selfish ends. He has ever been broad in his mentality and in his human sympathies, and whatever he has accomplished in life has not been gained by methods that infringed in the slighest partic- ular the rights of others.
He has now rounded the Psalmist's span of threescore years and ten, and to-day rests from labor in the enjoyment of all that is best and noblest in life, surrounded by warm friends and honored by all.
0 ANIEL STULL HARDIN is suc- cessfully engaged in agricultural pursuits in Jackson county, Mis- souri. Upon no class of citizens does the general welfare of the city more
largely depend than upon the farmers. The faithful performance of their duties always greatly promotes the material prosperity of the cities. All his life our subject has given his energies to this business and has ever been found true and faithful to his work and to the responsibilities of life. His many excellencies of character commend him to the confidence and high regard of all, and it is with pleasure that we present to our readers this record of his career.
Mr. Hardin was born in Bourbon county, Kentucky, August 1, 1824, and was reared in the usual manner of farmer lads, spend- ing his summer months at work in the fields, while in the winter season he pursued his studies in the common schools. He con- tinued to inake his home in the county of his nativity until the fall of 1853, when he came to Missouri on a prospecting tour. In the early fall of 1854 he took up his resi- dence in La Fayette county, and purchased a farın in Greenton valley, continuing its improvement until the war broke out, when on account of the troubles which then existed he left his farm, but maintained his residence in that county until 1864. He then removed to Bloomington, Illinois, but after a year returned to La Fayette county, and lived in Napoleon for a few months. In the meantime he sold his farm and purchased another in the same county, where he made his home until coming to Jackson county, in 1871.
In that year Mr. Hardin rented a small place in the vicinity of Independence, where he lived for two years, and during that time purchased 140 acres of land in Blue town- ship, where, since 1873, he has continuously made his home. In his farming he has fol- lowed progressive methods and has kept fully abreast with the improvement of the
T
Respectfully Yours U.S. Woods
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AND JACKSON COUNTY, MISSOURI.
times. His fields have been well tilled and the neat and thrifty appearance of the place indicates his careful supervision. He actively engaged in farming until 1891, since which time he has largely laid aside busi- ness cares and is now practically living a retired life, enjoying the fruits of his former toil. He and wife now own five hundred acres of valuable land, which he rents, and the income from his property supplies him with all the necessaries and some of the luxuries of life.
While living in La Fayette county, Mr. Hardin met and married Miss Sallie Ann Buckner, a native of Bourbon county, Ken- tucky. Their marriage, celebrated in 1854, was blessed with five children, of whom four reached mature years, namely: Joel Henry, a farmer of Blue township; Charles Buck- ner, a practicing physician of Kansas City; Mary Louise, wife of James Hopkins, of Blue township; and Lena Gateward, wife of Mentor T. Bouldin, of Pettis county, Mis- souri. The mother of this family died in La Fayette county in the fall of 1870, and in 1872, in Independence, Mr. Hardin was again married, his second union being with Mrs. Armilda F. (Singleton) Hughes, widow of William S. Hughes, and a native of Jes- samine county, Kentucky.
In his political views Mr. Hardin was in early life a whig, and an admirer of Henry Clay, but later became identified with the democratic party, and is now independent of party affiliations, preferring to support by his ballot the man whom he regards as best qualified for office without reference to his party associations. He has been a member of the Christian church since attaining his majority, and has led an honorable, upright life that has won him the confidence and es- teem of all. Through his own well directed 28
efforts he has secured a comfortable prop- erty, and the rest which he is now enjoying is richly deserved, as it crowns many years of earnest labor.
0 R. WILLIAM STONE WOODS is the president of the National Bank of Commerce of Kansas City, Missouri, and one of the most prominent business men of the state. Long- fellow wrote: " We judge ourselves by what we feel capable of doing, while others judge us by what we have already done." If this golden sentence of the New England poet were universally applied, many a man who is now looking down with haughty stare upon the noble toilers on land and sea, sneering at the cut of his neighbor's coat or the humbleness of his dwelling, would be voluntarily doing penance in sackcloth and ashes, at the end of which he would handle a spade, or, with pen in hand burn the mid- night oil in his study in the endeavor to widen the bounds of liberty or to accelerate the material or spiritual progress of the race. A bright example of one of the world's workers is the man whose name introduces this review. He has been a leader in the fields of industry, and as a result he stands to-day as one of the most prominent bankers of the west, a man whom success has been crowned with that prosperity which is ever the merited reward of earnest, conscientious effort. In the great competitive struggle of life, where each must enter the field and fight his way to the front or else be over- taken by disaster of circumstances or place, there is ever particular interest attaching to the life of one who has turned the tide of suc- cess, has surmounted obstacles, and has shown his ability to cope with others in their
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A MEMORIAL RECORD OF KANSAS CITY
rush for the coveted goal. Dr. Woods is such an one.
Born in Columbia, Missouri, November 1, 1840, our subject was a son of James Harris Woods, a native of Madison county, Kentucky, who became a leading merchant of Columbia and died there in 1845. The Doctor was educated in his native town, graduated with the class of 1861 in the State University, afterward took up the study of medicine and attended a course of lec- tures in the St. Louis Medical College and the Jefferson Medical College, of Philadel- phia, Pennsylvania, being graduated at the latter institution in March, 1864. For four or five years he practiced medicine at Middle Grove, Monroe county, Missouri, and then removed to Paris, where he resided for a year. At the expiration of that period he joined his brother in business at the termi- nus of the Union Pacific Railroad, which was then being constructed from Omaha westward. £ They engaged in the grocery trade, moving their store as the road was extended until it reached Ogden, Utah. This proved a profitable venture. Soon thereafter Dr. Woods moved to Rocheport, Boone county, Missouri, where he estab- lished the Rocheport Savings Bank, which he successfully conducted from January, 1869, until January, 1880. His residence in Kansas City dates from January, 1880, when he entered into business as a member of the firm of Grimes, Woods, LaForce & Company, wholesale dry-goods merchants, doing the largest business of the kind in the city. The establishment is still carried on, under the name of the Swofford Brothers Dry Goods Company, and Dr. Woods yet retains an interest in the business.
It is probably in the line of banking, however, that the Doctor has become most
widely known to the business public. Six months after his arrival in Kansas City he purchased an interest in the Kansas City Savings Association, and succeeded Mr. Powell as president, assuming the active management in his official capacity in 1882. This bank was organized in 1865, under a special charter, and had an authorized capi- tal of $100,000, but only $10,000 was paid in. When Dr. Woods became president the business of the bank was at once in- creased and the capital stock, raised to two hundred thousand dollars, was all paid up. The name was changed to Bank of Com- merce, under which operations were con- ducted for five years, when in 1887 this bank was liquidated and merged into the National Bank of Commerce, the old stockholders receiving three dollars for every dollar in- vested, together with large regular semi-an- nual dividends that have been declared. The National Bank of Commerce was organ- ized in 1887, with a capital of one million dollars, and from the beginning Dr. Woods has served as its president. His close and careful attention and able management have given it an enviable standing among the banking institutions of the west, and the building in which it is located is now the property of the company. The National Bank of Commerce ranks first among the monetary institutions of the city, and its president occupies an equally high position in business circles.
Though the Doctor devotes the greater part of his attention to banking interests, he is a man of broad capabilities and has inter- ested himself in other enterprises, compre- hensive in their scope. In connection with his brother, James M., he embarked in the cattle business in Dakota, investing largely in this enterprise, of which his brother, a
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AND JACKSON COUNTY, MISSOURI.
practical stockman, had the management. They took government contracts to supply beef to the forts and Indian agencies for about eight years and prospered in this un- dertaking, Dr. Woods continuing the part- nership until 1894, when he disposed of his interest to his brother. He is now an ex- tensive stockholder in the Kansas City, Pittsburg & Gulf Railroad, which was first perfected simply as an outlet for a tract of coal lands owned by him, E. L. Martin and others; but there seemed to be a de- mand for railroad facilities in other direc- tions and the road was extended until it has assumed extensive proportions. The Doc- tor has also been extensively interested in real estate and is to-day the owner of con- siderable valuable property, including some fine business buildings in Kansas City.
Through his own efforts Dr. Woods has achieved a success which numbers him among the successful business men of Mis- souri. Steadily has he worked his way up- ward, and with a resolute spirit has pressed forward to the goal. It is not, however, the wealth that the man achieves but the use he makes of it which tells of his char- acter. The race can mention no greater bene- factors than those who have aided others less fortunate then themselves to enter actively into business life and become self-reliant, self-respecting and honorable citizens. Some one has said, " The commander who leads his men forth to battle deserves the thanks of his race, but far more is gratitude due to the man who pays over his own counters at the end of each week one hundred work- men, thus providing sustenance for one hun- dred families. " This Dr. Woods has done; and, more than that, he has educated and established in business a number of young men who to-day are prominent in commer-
cial circles, and given liberally of his means to charity and for the education of those not able to educate themselves.
On the 10th of July, 1866, the Doctor was united in marriage, at Paris, Missouri, with Miss Bina McBride, daughter of Judge Ebenezer McBride, a successful and highly respected citizen of Monroe county, Mis- souri. They have one daughter, Julia, edu- cated at a.college for ladies in Baltimore, Maryland, and now the wife of Arthur Gris- som, of Kansas City, Missouri, who devotes his life to literary work and is a contributor to many leading magazines.
In his political views the Doctor is con- servative; he is a member of the First Chris- tian church of Kansas City, Missouri; also belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He takes great delight in fishing and spends a part of each summer in the enjoyment of that sport, being a true fol- lower of Izaak Walton. In manner, he is a genial gentleman of charming cordiality and kindly presence, yet his alertness in thought and action at once indicate the ca- pable and progressive business man.
a C. MAXWELL .- Occupying one of the fine farms in Washington township, Jackson county, Mis- souri, and surrounded by all the comforts of life in this favored locality, is found a gentleman whose career has in many respects been a remarkable one. An orphan at an early age, self-made and self-educated, a sufferer of untold wrongs during the late war, and a man who knows by experience what it is to meet with financial reverses, but who has never known what is to give up to discouragements-such has been the life of E. C. Maxwell.
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A MEMORIAL RECORD OF KANSAS CITY
Mr. Maxwell was born in Ashe county, now Alleghany, North Carolina, April 17, 1827, the youngest of the family of eight chil- dren of Col. James and Margaret (McMillan) Maxwell, the former a native of North Car- olina and the latter of Scotland. Both par- ents died in Ashe county, and of their large family of children only two are now living, - the subject of this sketch and his sister, Caroline, wife of Solomon Wyatt, of Wash- ington township; and W. D. Maxwell, a half brother, who resides on the old Maxwell homestead in North Carolina. Mr. and Mrs. Wyatt have three sons and two daughters.
The death of his parents left our subject an orphan at an early age, and when only fourteen he was thrown upon his own re- sources. He remained in his native county until twenty-five years of age, occupying his time with farm work and receiving for his services twenty-five cents per day, out of which meager sum he paid for his schooling, the tuition being two dollars for three months' instruction. He worked in this way and attended school up to the time of his marriage, which important event in his life occurred December 13, 1846, the lady he wedded being Miss Mary A. Wyatt. She was born and reared in Ashe county, the day of her birth being July 15, 1830.
After his marriage Mr. Maxwell settled on a small tract of new ground in the midst of the timber in Ashe county, devoting his time to its clearing and cultivation, making his home at the place until the fall of 1851. On the 13th of October of that year he started to Missouri, reaching Jackson county in that state on the 7th of December, fol- lowing. He first settled in Cass county, now a part of Bates county, where he purchased eighty acres of land, twenty-five of which had been broken and a little log cabin built.
The purchase price was two hundred and fifty dollars. He lived there for a year, then returned to North Carolina, but in 1853 again came to Missouri, locating in Jackson county on a tract of wild land on section 15, Washington township. By hard work and good management he made himself a com- fortable home and got his land well under cultivation.
Then the war with all its horrors came on. His place was attacked by Federal sol- diers, and when they began shooting at him he ran, but was overtaken, the shooting being kept up at a lively rate, and he was also close pressed by three cavalrymen: he therefore surrendered. As he approached and while a prisoner his captor shot him. One ball struck him on the nose, passed through and came out just back of his right ear. Another entered near his right-shoul- der blade, passed through sixteen inches of his body and subsequently was cut out of his right arm, the operation being performed without his taking chloroform or anything to deaden the pain! Another ball cut his coat on the left shoulder. After this he turned to fight. He clinched his opponent and the latter hammered him with the muz- zle of his pistol and cut his scalp in several places, but Mr. Maxwell finally succeeded in securing the weapon and his antagonist fled, lying down on the side of his horse, ex- pecting to get a "dose of his own medicine." Looking back he saw his house in flames. His good wife, trying to save some of their household effects, was carrying out articles of furniture, but no sooner was this done than the Federals, bent on destruction, took them from her and thrust them back into the fire! Wounded and bleeding, his home in ashes, his family scattered, himself hiding in J the woods, the feelings of Mr. Maxwell can
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AND JACKSON COUNTY, MISSOURI.
better be imagined than described. Soon, however, his wife found him and within a few hours secured the help of an Irishman, who in a rock cart moved him to the home of his brother-in-law, Burgess Wyatt, where for nineteen days he was unable to be mnoved. Then he mounted a horse and five days later reached Pleasant Hill, where he joined a detachment of Price's arıny, with which he remained until they reached Elkhorn. From there he went to Texas, where he recovered his health, remaining in that state from De- cember, 1861, until the winter of 1863. After this he rejoined the army under Gen- eral Price, Shelby's brigade, and was in several fights. Later he was detailed to have charge of a blacksmith shop, and was thus occupied one year, or until the close of Price's raid in Missouri. His last service was as commissary in Colonel Hunter's regi- ment.
Returning to what had been his home, in August, 1865, he found not only the property completely devastated, but also his wife and eldest daughter dead. It is worthy of note that after Mr. Maxwell went to the army, his wife and four daughters were arrested by Federal authority and put in jail at Olathe, Kansas, and afterward in prison in Kansas City, where the daughter contracted a fever, of which she died, while the other members of the family were af- flicted by small-pox, which terminated the mother's life. About the time of his return Mr. Maxwell was taken ill, and six months passed before he recovered his health, but notwithstanding all these discouragements he went to work to re-establish his home.
For a year he lived on the farm, and in the fall of 1866 sold that property. The next year he rented the Kirby farm, but believing he could better his condition in
Kansas, he removed to that state in the spring of 1868, and purchased thirty acres of land covered with brush. He worked hard to get another start, and continued his residence there until 1874, when he came back to Missouri and bought a farm in Washington township, Jackson county. Five years later he purchased his present farm on sections 27 and 28, comprising four hundred and forty acres of land, now all improved. He also has fifty-two and a half acres near Belton, also well improved. At his home in Washington township Mr. Maxwell has devoted his energies exclusively to farming and stock-raising, making a specialty of cattle. In addition to his valuable property he has a snug bank account. Long may he live to enjoy the prosperity which he has so justly earned!
By his first marriage Mr. Maxwell had four children, three of whom are living, namely: Susan, wife of Calvin Wyatt, of Kansas City, by whom she has one child; Nancy, wife of Jack Lempke, of Armour- dale, Kansas, by whom she has one child, while by her first marriage she also had one child; and Sarah, wife of Ed Gabriel, a resident of the state of Washington. On the 7th of January, 1868, Mr. Maxwell mar- ried Miss Martha L. Hackler, and of their six children five are now living, as follows: James, Kate, Eli, Myrtle and John.
Mr. Maxwell and his family are mem- bers of the Methodist church, south. Fraternally he is identified with the Masonic order, having a membership in Belton lodge, No. 450; and politically, he is an intelli- gent and straightforward free-silver demo- crat, having for years taken an active inter- est in party affairs. Frequently he has represented his constituency as delegate to conventions. Ever interested in the ad-
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A MEMORIAL RECORD OF KANSAS CITY
vancement of education, he was for twenty- three years a school director, and has taken a just pride in affording his children good educational advantages, and at the same time teaching them that industry and in- tegrity go hand in hand with knowledge wherever there is any true success.
a APTAIN FRANCIS NAPOLEON DAVIS .- A man's reputation is the property of the world. The laws of nature have forbidden iso-
lation. Every human being submits to the controlling influences of others, or as a master spirit wields a power either for good or evil on the masses of mankind. There can be no impropriety in justly scanning the acts of any man as they effect his public and business relations. If he is honest and eminent in his chosen field of labor, inves- tigation will brighten his fame and point the path that others may follow with like success. From among the ranks of quiet, persevering, yet prominent citizens, -prom- inent on account of what he has done in military, agricultural and commercial cir- cles, -- there is no one more deserving of mention in a volume of this character than the gentleman whose name introduces this review.
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