USA > Missouri > Jackson County > Kansas City > A memorial and biographical record of Kansas City and Jackson County Mo. > Part 64
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69
When he had attained a sufficient age, Mr. Lowe, of this review, entered the com- mon schools near his home and pursued his studies through the winter season until six- teen years of age, when he laid aside his text-books and enlisted in Colonel Giltner's
regiment, under Captain Thomas Moore, as a private in the Confederate army. His regiment was assigned to Humphrey Mar- shall's command. After a three-months service Mr. Lowe was discharged and went to Greenfield, Indiana, where he was em- ployed as teacher in the district school. At this time he decided to take up the study of law, with the prospect of making it his fu- ture profession, but being compelled to earn his own living he could devote only his mornings and evenings to study. For three or four years he taught school through the day and gave his leisure time to the reading of law under the instructions of Hon. James L. Mason, of Greenfield, Indiana. In 1864 he was appointed to the office of assistant clerk of the state senate, -the only demo- crat to receive an appointment by that body during that session. He served for two years, and at the same time continued the reading of law, being admitted to the bar in 1865. For a short time he practiced in Greenfield, but feeling that the new west- ern country afforded better opportunities in his profession, in 1868 he removed to Platts- burg, Clinton county, Missouri and em- barked in the practice of law. In 1872 he was elected prosecuting attorney, which of- fice he held for eight years, being elected for four successive terms. His duties were so ably discharged that at one election he was not only the nominee of the democratic party but was also endorsed by the repub- lican and the people's parties, running with- out opposition.
The broader field of labor afforded by Kansas City next became the scene of his endeavor in 1883. Here he opened a law office, but his real estate, which he had ac- cumulated, and other private business in- terests, compelled him to abandon practice
627
AND JACKSON COUNTY, MISSOURI.
and devote his entire time to his personal affairs. In 1889 the National Exchange Bank failed and Mr. Lowe, who was one of its stockholders at the time, was appointed by its directors and stockholders trustee for the settlement of the bank's affairs. This was done so satisfactorily that it went out of business leaving no debts, but paid its de- positors one hundred cents on the dollar and had a surplus for the stockholders. In 1894 he was appointed receiver for the North Side Land and Mortgage Company and has charge of twelve thousand acres of land in Clay county, which belongs to the company.
In 1876 was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Lowe and Miss Mary E. McWilliams, daughter of Dr. John Q. A. McMilliams, who for some time practiced medicine in Jackson county, where Mrs. Lowe was born. They have two children, a son and a daugh- ter. The family are members of the Calvary Baptist church.
For twenty years Mr. Lowe has been a Master Mason and is also a member of the Commercial Club of Kansas City. On the 25th of February, 1896, he addressed this club on the subject of " Agriculture and Commerce-Twin Sisters in the Country's Development, " and showing his broad study and comprehensive grasp of the subject, we quote from his speech :
"Agriculture is not only the basis of all individual prosperity, but is the very founda- tion stone of all commercial and national greatness. She is the hand-maiden of the arts and sciences as well, making possible the luxurious and artificial life of those engaged in other pursuits. Those idle ones-content to sail on the summer harbor of self-satisfaction and repose, who have never met the angry storms and bursting
billows which, with grim visage, attends the real current-owe all their prosperity and happy surroundings to those quiet and un- heralded heroes who breasted the waves of adverse fortune successfully, and anchored at last in the haven of peace and plenty. Let not a flippant and an ungrateful genera- tion refer contemptuously to 'old hay- seeds,' for he will but criticise his own brave ancestry.
" Back in the very dawn of civilization, where classic lore scarce lifts the veil of in- penetrable darkness, agriculture not only existed as a universal pursuit, but was the one supremely respectable and aristocratic occupation. When Thomas Jefferson was asked by an anxious father what he should make of his only boy, he replied, 'If he is a fool, make him a preacher, and no one will find it out; if he is honest but not very smart, make him a doctor; if very smart but not honest, make him a lawyer; but if he is both smart and honest, make him a farmer.'
"Egypt was the first country to export corn. The average annual shipment from Carthage to Rome was thirty million bushels. The agriculture of Egypt built her pyramids, her great works of architectural beauty, and made possible the luxurious lives of the Pharaohs, Cleopatras and Ptolemys; developed her mechanical genius and made her the wonder of the world and the mystery of the ages. The Babylonians, Romans and Israelites were all great agri- cultural nations. Agriculture dominated all other pursuits in the Roman empire, and during the period of its greatest development Rome became the 'Mistress of the World.' Then to be a Roman farmer was to be greater than to be a king. With the decay of agriculture Rome lost her liberties and her pre-eminence among nations. Spain,
628
A MEMORIAL RECORD OF KANSAS CITY
during the era of her great agricultural prosperity, dominated all Europe and planted her flag upon the shores of the new world. With its decay she sank into insignificance among the nations, and now she is in dan- ger of losing her fairest and best possession. All honor to the brave and patriotic Cubans! and when her destiny is complete and she is joined to the American republic, situated as she will be at the mouth of the great American highway of commerce, -thc Nicaragua canal,-she will blossom and bloom as one of the very brightest stars in the constellation of the states. England's greatness and power has fluctuated just in proportion as her agricultural interests have prospered or been depressed. Like her eldest daughter, she has often interfered with the natural laws of trade with her 'corn laws,' laws prohibiting the exportation of agricultural products; but she has been quick to discern that her real power did not con- sist in her great manufactories, in her magnificent cities, nor yet in her splendid and powerful navy, but in the prosperity and happiness of those of her people engaged in agricultural pursuits, both at home and in her colonies. Here stands-and forever has stood-the real bulwark of a great people.
" It would be strange, if it were not that history is again simply repeating itself, that we should be so much concerned about the things we have not, while all around us lies a vast ocean of possibilities. We have been much concerned about the mines, the factory and the loom, forgetful of the fact that all these are but incidental to a great and pros- perous agricultural country. Kansas City has even taken time in her splendid march to greatness to lie awake of nights and ponder the question of manufacturing, for- getful of the fact that manufacturing follows
population, and not population manufactur- ing. But-bless their pessimistic hearts !- let mc tell them, if they do not know it, that Kansas City is already far in the lead of all her rivals in manufacturing. She is now second, and destined in the near future to be the first, live stock market in the world. There are fifty million head of cat- tle in the United States and thirty-three and a third per cent belong to this market. Hcre at our door lie the great grain fields of the west and northwest. With transportation soon to be completed to deep water at the gulf a mighty revolution is soon to follow in the grain trade. The same law of commerce must apply to grain as to live stock, and only the finished product will leave our gates. We have here tributary to our city forty per cent of the corn, and one-third of all the cattle in the United States. These figures are taken from the reports of the agricultural departments of the states. Sur- roundcd by such realities and possibilities as these, who dare lift the veil and look with prophetic vision into the future, when every acre of all this splendid domain is cultivated to its fullest capacity, and all its products are made to realize its highest value? Other cities had more water transportation, others again certain factors which go to build great cities, but for all the forces which enter into the warp and woof of a great metropolis, no city on the world's map can show so great a number, and of such permanent character as Kansas City. Located as if destined and fashioned by the hand of the Almighty, she sits securely enthroned upon her twice seven hills, without a rival and without a peer."
Mr. Lowc was selected by the club to deliver an address before the South and West Comincrcial congress which met in Charleston, South Carolina, on the 30th
629
AND JACKSON COUNTY, MISSOURI.
day of April, 1896, on the subject of " Agri- cultural Production in the West: Its Con- sumption and Transportation Through Southern Ports," which he did in so accept- able a manner that he was tendered a vote of thanks by the convention.
He is a firm believer in the gold stand- ard of value, and has devoted much time and thought to the discussion of this ques- tion, both through the press and on the stump. While a democrat in politics, yet he is exceedingly liberal in his views both as to men and measures. Because a man or party differs with him he does not con- clude that his opponent is any the less hon- est or patriotic, but that the average citizen of all parties is sincerely and deeply con- cerned in the ultimate destiny of a great people, and only differ as to the best meth- ods to be employed.
PILLIAM HARVEY WINANTS, who is prominently connected with the banking interests of Kansas City as the vice president of the Midland National Bank, has attained a pronounced prestige in business circles by reason of his ability and resolute and inde- pendent methods. He also represents that great host of patriotic men who in response to their country's call went out to battle for the union of the states in the great civil war from 1861 to 1865.
Mr. Winants was born in Penn Yan, Yates county, New York, on the 16th of October, 1845, and is a son of Harvey Lee and Cornelia Z. ( Elmendorf) Winants. He attended the public schools of his native city until 1853, when the father removed his family to Rochester, he having become con-
nected with the Rochester Union-Advertiser in an editorial capacity. There William H. resumed his studies and continued his edu- cation until 1857, when his father went to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he was connected with the Gazette and also with the Cincin- nati Enquirer. Our subject was attending school in Cincinnati at the time the war of the rebellion was inaugurated, but he laid aside his text-books in the spring of 1861 and abandoned the play-ground for the bat- tle-field. Joining the second Ohio regiment, with his command he was immediately or- dered into duty on the line between Ohio and Virginia, in the vicinity of Parkersburg. He remained in the service in different com- mands until the close of the war in 1865, when he returned to the pursuits of civil life and entered upon his business career in Kansas City. He had demonstrated his valor and faithfulness on the field of battle; now it remained to him to demonstrate his ability in the fields of commerce, where en- ergy, industry and good judgment must enter the ranks against skilled competitors.
Mr. Winants first engaged in merchan- dising in Kansas City, but when a year had passed he secured employment in the First National Bank of this place, occupying at first a subordinate position, from which, however, he was rapidly advanced step by step until the suspension of the bank, in 1878. Mr. Winants then accepted a clerk- ship with Colonel Kersey Coates, assignee of the Mastin Bank, but after a short time became connected with Armour Brothers' Banking Company, in September, 1878. Here he was soon made cashier and re- mained continuously in that institution un- til its consolidation, in January, 1889, with the Midland National Bank, of which he was made cashier. He retained that in-
630
A MEMORIAL RECORD OF KANSAS CITY
cumbency until July, 1893, when he was elected vice president, in which capacity he is now serving. His thorough mastery of the business in all its details has contributed in no small degree to the success of the in- stitution, and he is regarded as one of the most reliable and far-sighted financiers of Kansas City.
In the spring of 1877 Mr. Winants was elected to represent the Fifth ward in the common council, and in 1878 he was elected president of the council, serving in that capacity during the year and frequently act- ing as mayor during the absence of that official. He has also been director and treasurer of the Kansas City Board of Trade since July, 1886. Socially he is connected with the Masonic fraternity, having received all the degrees up to and including those of Knight Templar and thirty-second of the Scottish rite. He is also a member of the order of Knights of Pythias and the Benev- olent and Protective Order of Elks, and
was a member of the first Grand Army post organized in the city. 'Since casting his first vote for the candidates of the Republi- can party he has given an unwavering allegiance to its principles and interests, and it was on that ticket that he was elected to the city council, where he proved a capable official, advocating all measures of progress and improvement.
On the 25th of February, 1868, Mr. Winants was united in marriage with Miss Emma A. Christie, of Kansas City.
He is particularly fond of travel, has visited nearly all points of interest in the United States, and in the summer of 1891, accompanied by his wife, he made a trip to Europe, viewing the scenes of beauty and historic interest in England, Scotland, France, Switzerland, Germany, Holland and
Belgium. In his business career he has well demonstrated his right to the proud American title of a self-made man, for he has carved out his fortune without aid, and by his resolute purpose, his steadfast per- severance, his industry and his fidelity to every trust reposed in him, he has steadily worked his way upward until he occupies a foremost place in Kansas City's business circles.
ON. MARCY K. BROWN, the subject of this sketch, was born in Iowa, at Clarinda, in Page county, one of the counties bordering on Missouri, about eighty miles north of Kansas City. At the close of the civil war, and while he was yet a small child, his parents moved to Jackson county, Missouri. Kan- sas City was then but a struggling town of a few thousand inhabitants, just emerging from the terrible throes through which it had passed in the civil war. After a resi- dence of one year in Westport, his parents moved to a farm situated between Westport and Kansas City, which is now a part of the present city limits of Kansas City.
On this farm, then just cleared for cultiva- tion, he spent his boyhood and grew to man- hood, working upon the farm in the summer and attending the public school at Westport during the winter months when farm work was over. Later he attended the Kansas City high school, pursuing his studies there as far as possible, until he had availed him- self of every opportunity which that excel- lent school afforded. In order to secure the means to obtain a higher education, as so many thousands of other young men have done before him, he taught a country school, teaching successfully his first school near
631
AND JACKSON COUNTY, MISSOURI.
New Santa Fe, in the southern part of Jackson county, before he had yet reached the age of seventeen years. Having taught several terms of school and thereby obtained sufficient means to begin a course at college, he entered the State University of Iowa, at Iowa City, then the largest and best equipped university west of the Mississippi river. He continued his studies at this university until he graduated there, in the class of 1880, with high honors, being awarded the chan- cellor's prize for the best thesis of his class. He then continued a further collegiate and law course, at the famous University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor. During his course there he took an active interest in the liter- ary society work for which that institution is noted, and was regarded as one of the ablest debaters in the university. He grad- uated in the law department of that univer- sity in the class of 1882, receiving the degree of LL. B., and was at the same time ad- mitted to the bar in the state and federal courts.
The education for which he had been for so many years struggling was now com- pleted, but his means were also exhausted, and before taking up the active practice of his chosen profession-that of law-Mr. Brown was compelled to engage again in teaching in order to obtain the means nec- essary to tide himself over that uncertain period at the beginning of every young law- yer's career, which is spent in winning clients and cases, until he reaches a lucra- tive position in his profession.
He was appointed principal of the public schools of Lathrop, Missouri, which position he filled during the winter of 1882-3. Al- though unanimously selected and urged to accept the principalship for another term, he declined, but accepted, instead, the
principalship of the public schools at West- port, Missouri, in order to be nearer his old home, the scene of his boyhood days. He had charge of the Westport schools during the winter of 1883-4, filling the position so acceptably that he was offered the same po- sition at an increased salary for the ensuing term, but declined in order to begin the practice of the profession for which he had educated himself and chosen as his life's work. He began the practice of law at Kansas City in the fall of 1884 and from the start met with the most remarkable success. By the application of that industry and ability so characteristic of the man he soon attained high rank in his profession and suc- ceeded in acquiring an extensive and lucra- tive practice.
In 1886 Mr. Brown was nominated by the democratic party as its candidate for state representative from the second legis- lative district of Jackson county, the district in which he had been reared from boyhood. He was elected by a large majority, running far ahead of his ·ticket. Although one of the youngest members of the thirty-fourth general assembly, to which he was elected, he took a commanding position in that ses- sion of the legislature from the start, and earnestly devoted himself to the accom- plishment of much-needed reforms. For many years the people of the state had been clamoring for relief from the railroad combinations, pools and extortionate high rates, which had paralyzed the commerce and agriculture of the state, and for the prevention of which no adequate laws were in existence. Rates far in excess of those in adjoining states were exacted from Missouri citizens, and far-reaching pools and combina- tions stifled competition and put the mer- chant and farmer and every business interest
632
A MEMORIAL RECORD OF KANSAS CITY
at the mercy of the extortionists and rate manipulators at the head of the gigantic railroad pools. The trade and commerce of Kansas City and its surrounding country were being outrageously discriminated against, and combinations in favor of its eastern and western rivals were throttling its commerce and robbing it of its natural advantages as a trade center. The board of trade of Kansas City and other commer- cial bodies had memorialized legislature after legislature, and had fought in court after court in vain for relief. All efforts to strike off the grasp of these gigantic and far- reaching railroad pools and combinations had met with failure and defeat in courts and legislative halls. The democratic con- vention, in its platform adopted in state convention at St. Louis in 1886, had pledged the party, in strongest language, to afford relief from these evils affecting the business interests of the state.
At the opening of the session of the leg- islature in 1887 the railroad lobby, arro- gantly aggressive, with its unscrupulous methods and unlimited corruption fund, was on hand, arrogant and confident of its ability to shape to its purposes the thirty- fourth general assembly, as it had done all · previous legislatures before it. Then began one of the most memorable struggles in the history of the state, in which Mr. Brown, the new member from Jackson county, played a leading and most conspicuous part. During the entire session he was the ablest champion and the foremost fighter to secure the needed reforms, making for himself a name and reputation throughout the state. The reform elements triumphed in capturing the organization of the house by the election of its speaker. In recognition of his ability and demonstrated leadership, Mr. Brown
was placed at the head of the committee on railroads and internal improvements as its chairman. This was the most important committee of the house, having in charge the shaping of all railroad legislation. Hundreds of bills, conflicting in their nature bearing upon remedial railroad legislation, were introduced. In order to expedite leg- islation and bring order out of chaos, joint conferences of the house and senate commit- tees on railroads were held, and Mr. Brown was selected by the joint committees to draw up a substitute for all the measures introduced. After laborious research and in- defatigable industry he compiled the now famous house bill No. 620, which was intro- duced ostensibly as a committee substitute for all other measures before the legislature,. it being introduced simultaneously in the house and senate. It was a most complete and comprehensive measure, affording ample relief for all evils then affecting the commer - cial and agricultural interests of the state from railroad rate extortions, discrimina- tions, and combinations. Around this meas- ure the fight of this most memorable session was had. Every influence known to an organized and unscrupulous lobby was brought to bear to defeat the passage of the measure.
The bill passed through the house but was tied up in the senate, where the rail- road influences succeeded at last in forcing an adjournment of the legislature with the measure yet unenacted into law. But the reform forces, led by Mr. Brown, were still undaunted, and consternation was intro- duced into the ranks- of the enemy when Governor Marmaduke was induced to issue a proclamation summoning the legislature back into an extra session, for the sole pur- pose of enacting such measures of relief as
633
AND JACKSON COUNTY, MISSOURI.
had been contained in house bill No. 620. At this extra session, lasting nearly two months, the contest was renewed and fought out with increased vigor between the railroad lobby and the reform forces. The contest was the most memorable one in the history of the state. Foremost in the fight for the people against the railroad lobby, as a fearless and tireless leader, was Marcy K. Brown, of Jackson county. The press of the entire state teemed with praise and de- served recognition of the energy and ability of Mr. Brown for his fearless and uncom- promising fight for the cause of the people. The reform forces at last triumphed, and a measure, identical in its provisions with house bill No. 620, the measure drafted by Mr. Brown, was finally enacted into law. It gave to Missouri a most complete and comprehensive law, regulating and reducing rates and prohibiting, by severest penalties, all forms of discrimination, extortion, and the formation by the railroads of Missouri of pools and combinations against the shipping, agricultural and commercial inter- ests of the state.
Besides his fight for remedial railroad legislation, Mr. Brown was mainly instru- mental in securing the passage of many other beneficent and much needed laws. From first to last he was a faithful friend of the laboring classes and an earnest advocate of every reform which tended to lighten the burdens which labor bears. No member fought more earnestly to secure the legisla- tion needed for the laboring masses or more earnestly contended against all legislation calculated to oppress them. But for his determined fight in the house against it, the infamous measure known as the " Sheldon Anti-Intimidation Bill " would have becoine a law-a measure which had passed the sen-
ate and which would have made it a felony for any workingman to even belong to a labor organization or to join in any organ- ized movement for labor's cause. Mainly through his efforts was secured the passage of a complete system of laws providing for a state mine inspector and the most rigid regulations to secure the safety and health of miners employed in mines, forbidding the employment of child labor and securing to miners important rights before unsecured.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.