USA > Missouri > Pettis County > History of Pettis County, Missouri > Part 31
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Harry A. Dow."
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in the ranks of his chosen profession has been rapid, and Mr. Dow has a reputation for energetic and close application to the cases intrusted to his care.
His political career has been such as reflect honor and credit upon the name he bears. In 1906 he was elected to the office of prosecuting attorney of Pettis County, on the Republican ticket, and was again elected in 1908, and made a creditable and an excellent record as a diligent, active and conscientious prosecutor. In 1910, Mr. Dow was elected as repre- sentative from Pettis County to the State Legislature, and served during the session of the Forty-sixth General Assembly.
On October 23, 1918, he received notice of his election to the Central Officers' Training School at Camp Pike, Arkansas, for service with the American army in the World War. He was accepted, and was inducted into the service on November 9, 1918. Mr. Dow was later discharged from the service and returned to Sedalia to again resume the practice of law.
Mr. Dow is interested in farming and stock raising, and has a farm of 120 acres in Cedar township. Since he first began the study of law, in the office of Charles E. Yeater, now vice-Governor of the Philippines, later becoming Mr. Yeater's assistant in his office at Sedalia. Mr. Dow has taken a leading part in Pettis County affairs, and been prominently identified with the legal profession in this county. He has always been an advocate of good roads, and in all matters affecting the public welfare Mr. Dow has been active and influential, and has been much interested in charitable matters. Personally, he is an agreeable, sociable individual whose methods are direct and give evidence of pronounced ability and energy, and his friends are legion. Mr. Dow is a member of the Sedalia Library Board, Country Club, Benevolent Protective Order of Elks No. 125, Improved Order of Red Men, Knights and Ladies of Security, Masonic Orders, Consistory and Shrine, and is a member of the Legal Advisory Board, to render service in such capacity in war work for soldiers and soldiers' dependents and relatives.
C. C. Kelly, a prominent attorney of Sedalia, is one of the widely known members of the Missouri bar. Mr. Kelly was born at Knob Noster, Missouri, July 20, 1873, and is a son of Samuel G. and Belle (Dodds) Kelly. The father was born at Parkers Landing, Pennsylvania, and came to Mis- souri shortly after the Civil War. He settled at Knob Noster, Johnson County, and was one of the early attorneys of that section. He practiced law for a number of years at Knob Noster. He was an able lawyer and
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took an active interest in politics. He was a Republican and served three terms in the Missouri State Legislature, 1885-87-89. He was offered the nomination for Congress of this district several times but always declined to accept, and at one time he was urged to accept the nomination for Gov- ernor of Missouri on the Republican ticket but refused to run. He died in April, 1908. Belle (Dodds) Kelly, was born in Mason, Ohio. She departed this life, March 24, 1918, aged seventy years.
To Samuel G. and Belle (Dodds) Kelly) were born six children, four of whom are living as follows : Charles M. was engaged in the drug business at Knob Noster and died in 1900, aged twenty-nine years; C. C., the sub- ject of this sketch; George H., an attorney and member of the firm of Brewster, Kelly, Brewster & Buchholz, Kansas City, Missouri; Dr. Samuel G. was a prominent physician in Sedalia and died at the age of thirty-five years ; Jessie L. married Dr. W. E. Harral of St. Louis, Missouri; and Ada Marie, a teacher of French in the Sedalia High School.
C. C. Kelly was reared in Knob Noster and attended the pblic schools and later entered the State Normal School at Warrensburg where he was graduated in the "C" class of 1890. He then taught school in Johnson County for one year, after which he attended the Depauw University, at Greencastle, Indiana. He then entered the University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, Michigan, where he was graduated in the law class of 1896. Mr. Kelly then came to Sedalia and after being admitted to the bar of Missouri, began the practice of his profession at Sedalia, December 15, 1896. He established his first offices at the same place that he occupies today, in the Sedalia Trust Company building on the corner of Ohio and Fourth Streets. Mr. Kelly has built up an extensive practice and is one of the leading lawyers of Pettis county. He numbers among his clients many of the leading business men and institutions of Pettis County.
On March 1, 1905, Mr. Kelly was united in marriage with Miss Flor- ence Scott, a native of Pettis County and a daughter of H. B. Scott, who was a prominent farmer of Pettis county but is now deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Kelly have been born three children: William D., who died at the age of six weeks ; Robert C., aged ten; and Jane Scott, aged five.
Mr. Kelly is a Repblican and takes an active interest in political affairs. He was elected city attorney of Sedalia in 1898 and re-elected to that office in 1900. In 1902 he was elected prosecuting attorney and re-elected to that office in 1904. As a public officer Mr. Kelly has always done his duty fear- lessly. He has many political friends in Pettis County in the Democratic as well as in the Republican party. He is a member of the Benevolent and
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Protective Order of Elks, Modern Woodmen of America, Woodmen of the World, Knights and Ladies of Security, and Calvary Episcopal Church.
William Bennett Malone-The career of William Bennett Malone, pres- ident of the Sedalia Chamber of Commerce has been a successful one from the standpoint, of not only personal achievement, but in advancing the inter- ests of his home city in every possible manner as well. Occupying the im- portant position of president of the Chamber of Commerce, his opportuni- ties are great for assisting the progress and growth of the thriving city of Sedalia. His work in behalf of the city since taking up his residence here, has been such as to commend him to the large body of citizens. As man- ager of the New Business Department of the City Light and Traction Com- pany, his position in the commercial life of Sedalia is a leading and influ- ential one; his activities in behalf of his home city have been unselfish and devoted to its progress along the better lines of development.
W. B. Malone was born in Beloit, Wisconsin, July 2, 1886. He is the son of Judge Booth M. Malone, a prominent jurist of Denver, Colorado. Judge Malone is a native of Mississippi and in his younger days cast his lot with the Western metropolis and has risen to a high position in the legal fraternity of the West. He has served both as district attorney and as district judge in Denver and has filled the positions with ability and dis- tinction. His wife was Alma Bennett, prior to her marriage. She was a native of Beloit, Wisconsin, and departed this life in May, 1918. To Judge Booth M. and Alma Bennett Malone were born children as follows: Mrs. E. E. Lochridge, Springfield, Massachusetts; Mrs. E. G. Gaylord, Chicopee, Massachusetts ; Mrs. Paul R. Jones, New York City, and William Bennett, subject of this review.
When W. B. Malone was six years of age his parents removed from Beloit, Wisconsin, to Denver, Colorado. He received his early education in the public and high schools of Denver and studied for two years in Beloit College at Beloit, Wisconsin. He then entered Yale University where he pursued a scientific course, graduating therefrom in 1909. He returned to Denver, after his graduation and for the ensuing three years was in the employ of the Knight-Campbell Music Company as manager of the collection and credit departments. Resigning this position in 1912, he located in Montgomery, Alabama, with the Montgomery Light and Water Power Company, owned by the Doherty interests. In January, 1914, he was transferred to Sedalia in charge of the New Business Department of the Doherty Company in this city.
On June 22, 1916, Mr. Malone was united in marriage with Miss Ada
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Goldsmith, of Wheaton, Illinois, a daughter of Alfred G. and Ada Rowell Goldsmith, well-known residents of Wheaton, Illinois. One son has been born of this marriage, Booth Goldsmith Malone, born February 23, 1918.
Mr. Malone is a member of the Broadway Presbyterian Church. He is also an active Mason being eminent commander at St. Omar Commandary No. 11 of Sedalia for the year 1919. Mr. Malone is a Shriner also, having been made a Noble of Ararat Temple, Kansas City, in May. 1915. October 1, 1917, Mr. Malone was elected president of the Sedalia Chamber of Com- merce, an aggressive body of Sedalia business and professional men. He was very successful in directing the organization during that year and greatly developed and broadened its activity and influence. In October, 1918, he was re-elected to serve a second term as president of the organiza- tion.
In all war activities during 1917 and 1918 Mr. Malone took an active and prominent part. He was chairman of the Sub-Regional District, com- prising the nine adjacent counties under the Federal War Resources Com- mittee. As County Director of Publicity of practically every campaign, or drive, he helped to make the fine record established by Pettis County by the fullness of its response to every call of the Government in the prosecu- tion of the war.
John D. Bohling, member of the widely known law firm of Lamm, Bohling & Lamm, Sedalia, Missouri, is a native son of Missouri. He was born on a farm in Morgan County, Missouri, September 30, 1857, and is a son of Cord and Anna (Benke) Bohling, both of whom were natives of Germany. Cord Bohling was born in Germany in 1823, reared in his native country and there married. He immigrated to America in 1848, and settled in Morgan County, where he became a well-to-do tiller of the soil. He showed his love for his adopted country by enlisting in the Union army during the Civil War, and the severity of the exposure and the privations which he was compelled to undergo in the service were such that he was invalided home and died September 20, 1862. His wife sur- vived him many years and reared the family, dying in 1896, at the age of seventy-one years. The remains of Mr. and Mrs. Bohling are interred in the Henkin Cemetery, in Morgan County. There were six children born to Cord and Anna Bohling, as follow: Sophia, died in infancy ; Dr. Henry Bohling, died at the age of thirty-four years, near Stover, Missouri; Her- man Bohling, farmer, Stover, Missouri; John D., subject of this review; Louis Bohling, a retired farmer, Stover, Missouri; Dr. Cord Bohling. Sedalia, Missouri.
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John D. Bohling received his education in the district schools of Morgan County, and the Versailles public schools. He studied for three years in the University of Missouri at Columbia and was admitted to the practice of law on April 1, 1882. He began practice in Versailles. and, remained in that city as a successful lawyer until September 22, 1897, when he removed to Sedalia. While practicing his profession in his native county, he was in partnership with Col. A. W. Anthony, and afterwards was with William Forman. Upon coming to Sedalia, he formed a partner- ship with A. L. Ross, and this partnership was continued until the latter's election as president of the Bank of Versailles, when the partnership was terminated. Mr. Bohling then practiced alone until January 1, 1905, when he formed a partnership with P. H. Sangree. This arrangement con- tinued until the death of Mr. Sangree, on August 4, 1914. On January 1, 1916, he joined forces with Judge Henry Lamm, and the present firm of Lamm, Bohling & Lamm was organized, consisting of Henry Lamm, John D. Bohling and Capt. Don Sangree Lamm, the latter now being in France with the American Expeditionary Forces, having enlisted May 1, 1917, and subsequently trained for the service across the seas at Fort Riley, Kansas.
Mr. Bohling was married on March 4, 1884, to Miss Annie Helmig, a daughter of William S. and Catherine (Meyer) Helmig, both of whom are deceased, having resided at one time in Sedalia and later removing to a farm near Stover, Missouri.
To John D. and Annie Bohling have been born one son, Walter Henry Bohling, a graduate of the Sedalia High School and the Missouri State University, admitted to the bar in December, 1912, and is now filling the post of reporter of opinions for the State public service commission. Wal- ter Henry Bohling married Miss Lillie Earhart, of Jefferson City, and is the father of two children-Walter Henry and Marie Vivian. The Bohling family residence is situated at 1510 South Kentucky avenue.
M. Chasnoff .- The phenominal success and the rapid rise of M. Chas- noff from a humble beginning to a position of affluence in the business world should be sufficient evidence to convince the most skeptical that the opportunities of today in this land of ours are as good, if not better, than they ever were for the young man without capital, who possesses the proper elements of honesty, industry and integrity. Mr. Chasnoff is not only one of the leading merchants of Sedalia, but also has retail stores in Warrensburg and Boonville, Missouri, where he ranks as the leading merchant in both of these cities. He was born in Smolensk state,
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Russia, October 15, 1862. He is the son of Misha B. Chasnoff, who died in Russia in 1911, and Mr. Chasnoff's mother died when he was about thirteen years of age.
Mr. Chasnoff is one of the following children born to his parents: Dora R., is married to H. Davidoff and lives in Russia; David, died in Russia and his widow and children reside in Sedalia; Mrs. Rachael Safern, died in St. Joseph, Missouri, a few years ago; M. Chasnoff, the subject of this sketch; Mrs. Anna S. Rosenthal, residing in Sedalia; Rowena, married H. E. Milton, a prominent business man of Sedalia, a sketch of whom appears in this volume; Sarah, married William Hanlon, of Sedalia, and Louis, a well-known real estate dealer, of Sedalia.
Mr. Chasnoff was reared and educated in his native land, and in 1882, when he was twenty years of age, he came to America. He was a poor emigrant boy, and ambitious to succeed, and was ready and willing to do any kind of honest labor that presented itself. His first job was in New York City, where he was employed as a dock laborer, helping to load and unload ships. After working there a few months he went to South Dakota and took up a homestead. Life on the barren plains of the North- west in those early days was anything but pleasant or profitable. How- ever, Mr. Chasnoff proved up on his claim and, while following farming on a small scale, had the misfortune to break his shoulder in an accident, which unfitted him for hard work on the farm and other lines of manual labor which he had been following while struggling for an existence and "a start." He endured many hardships in those days. He worked on the section for $1.25 a day, and dug wells for neighbors-in fact, did anything to earn a dollar.
After remaining four years in South Dakota, without making much material progress, Mr. Chasnoff disposed of his claim there and went to Lincoln, Nebraska. Here he drove a team and worked at other odd jobs. Finally, he bought a popcorn stand, which was his first business venture, and this proved to be quite profitable. He later engaged in business at Grand Island, Nebraska, where he remained in the mercantile business for five years. He then went to Sioux City, Iowa, where he engaged in the jewelry business. When it began to look as though fortune was smiling upon him, the great panic of 1893 came on and ruined his business prospects in Sioux City. He then returned to Lincoln and became inter- ested in a clothing business. From Lincoln he went to Pittsburg, Kansas, where he was engaged in the mercantile business until 1895.
In 1895 Mr. Chasnoff came to Sedalia. This was the year that the
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contest was on for the location of the capital of Missouri, and Mr. Chas- noff thought that conditions looked favorable for Sedalia, which was one of the reasons why he selected this city for a location. Here he engaged in the jewelry and clothing business on East Second street. About a year later he removed to Main street and conducted business there for four years. In 1900 he went to St. Joseph, Missouri, where he opened a depart- ment store, which he conducted for four years. In 1904 he returned to Sedalia and purchased a general store on the north side of Second street, where his clothing store is now located. Later his business was extended to the department store on Ohio street, between Main and Second, which he now occupies, and where he carries a complete line of ladies' apparel, dry goods and millinery. This is one of the leading mercantile establish- ments of Sedalia, and bears the very appropriate name of "Sedalia's Great- est Store."
In 1915 he saw fine possibilities for establishing a women's ready-to- wear and dry goods store at Boonville, Missouri. A store was opened up and was a success from the start. He has built up a business in Boon- ville far beyond his most optimistic expectations. Mr. Chasnoff also con- ducts a women's apparel and millinery store at Warrensburg, Missouri, where he has built up a very satisfactory trade. This store was estab- lished in 1916.
Mr. Chasnoff was united in marriage in his native land in 1882, with Miss Mary T. Agrant, and their voyage to America was their honeymoon trip. To Mr. and Mrs. Chasnoff have been born the following children: Jacob, a graduate of the Sedalia High School, the Missouri State Uni- veristy-where he took both the Bachelor and Master of Arts degrees- and Harvard University, where he graduated with highest honors. He is now a prominent attorney, a member of the firm of Taylor, Chasnoff & Wilson, St. Louis, Missouri; Fannie, married Morris Phillip, an attorney, who is now engaged in the mercantile business at Mexico, Missouri; Harry, died at the age of one year; Joseph E., who met a tragic death in the burning of the Athletic Club building, in St. Louis, March 9, 1914, and was one of the most brilliant young newspaper men of the country, a sketch of whom appears in this volume. David H., the youngest son, who is associated with his father in business, was educated in the Sedalia High School and the University of Missouri. He resides in Sedalia.
Mr. Chasnoff is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, Wood- men of the World, Bnai Brith and the Knights and Ladies of America. He also holds membership in the Humane Society, the Sedalia Chamber of
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Commerce, of which he is a director and was one of the organizers. He is a life member of the Humanitarian Society of New York City, and also a member of the International Peace Congress, of which ex-President Taft is president. He is one of the national directors of the Mark Naton Jewish Orphans' Home, Chicago, Illinois, and the Jewish Consumptives' Relief Society, of Denver, Colorado. He is one of the founders of the American Jewish Relief Committee (Sedalia branch), the Educational Alliance, a non-sectarian night school, and the Jewish Educational Society (Sunday School).
During the World War Mr. Chasnoff was active in the performance of his patriotic duty in the promotion of all war measure enterprises. He was one of the organizers of the Pettis County Council of Defense before the State officially took up this movement; he was treasurer of the Council of Defense throughout the war, and rarely missed a meeting. He is a life member of the American Red Cross Society, was one of its most active members throughout the war, and had an auxiliary branch of the Red Cross in his Sedalia store. He has been active in Liberty Loan work and other fund-raising campaigns for war work. Mr. Chasnoff was one of the captains who raised $50,000.00 for the Young Men's Christian Asso- ciation in Sedalia. He is one of Sedalia's most progressive, public-spirited and enterprising business men. He stands ever ready to support any patriotic or worthy enterprise, and has never been kown to refuse an appeal for a charitable purpose.
The Chasnoff home is one of the finest residences in Sedalia, and is located on West Fourth street.
Joseph E. Chasnoff .- The late Joseph Chasnoff, a former Sedalia citizen who lost his life four years ago under tragic circumstances, was a young man who had made a name and place for himself in the news- paper and business world-a recognized genius who possessed an individ- uality of his own which enabled him to forge rapidly to the front ranks of his profession. Joseph E. Chasnoff was born August 8, 1889, at Grand Island, Nebraska. He was the son of Moses and Mary (Agrant) Chasnoff, of Sedalia, the former of whom is proprietor and founder of "Sedalia's Greatest Store."
Mr. Chasnoff received his elementary education in the public and high schools of his home city, and graduated from the Sedalia High School in 1907. He then entered the Missouri State University at Colum- bia, and there pursued the classical and scientific courses, graduating
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from the University in 1911 with the degrees of A. B. and B. Sc. After his graduation he decided upon journalism as a life profession, and com- pleted that course under the instruction of Dean Walter Williams. In this particular and difficult field of study Mr. Chasnoff found himself, and discovered that he was naturally endowed with decided journalistic ability. In fact, he came into his own while studying journalism in its different phases, and especially excelled in the study of advertising. After his graduation from the School of Journalism, Dean Williams said of him, "'he is a genius in the journalistic field."
For a year after his graduation Mr. Chasnoff remained at the Uni- versity and assumed the duties of the university editor and publisher, alumni secretary, and was the first instructor in advertising in the School of Journalism. He was the founder of the University Ad Club, and held memberships in the Q. E. B. H., and the Dana Press Club. Later, after he had taken up his work in St. Louis, he served as secretary of the St. Louis Alumni Association.
His first position was his connection with the publicity department of the "Chicago Tribune," where he further distinguished himself, and his work was a pronounced success. During his period of employment on the staff of the "Chicago Tribune," he wrote and successfully published a book, entitled "Selling Newspaper Space," and prepared in manuscript form another book, entitled "Advertising Essentials."
He was called from his work on the "Tribune" to take the position as manager of the publicity department of the "St. Louis Republic" in 1912, when but twenty-three years of age. Success again crowned his efforts for a year and a half, until his lamentable death in the fire which destroyed the Missouri Athletic Club building, St. Louis, early in the morning of March 9, 1914. Mr. Chasnoff was occupying a room on the sixth floor of this building, in company with Ernest R. Evans. His solici- tude for the safety of this young man, in all probability, cost him his life. Being the first to awake and become cognizant of the alarm, he aroused Evans, and the two discussed means of escape. After seeing that his room-mate was fully dressed and ready to leave the room, he stepped out into the smoke-filled corridor, walked toward a fire escape, and was seen no more. His remains were, however, recovered and burial was made in the Jewish Cemetery at Sedalia, March 17, 1914. Thus closed his brief but brilliant career.
Space forbids mention of the many resolutions of respect which were
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passed by the different societies and institutions in which Mr. Chasnoff held membership, because they are too numerous. It is also impossible to quote the many press dispatches and editorials which were published upon his untimely death. They all, however, speak of his life as well spent, and mourn his loss. An editorial from the "St. Louis Republic" follows, because it is peculiarly fitting and gives a proper estimate of Mr. Chasnoff as a citizen and as a man:
"Among those who lost their lives in the burning of the Missouri Athletic Club was Joseph E. Chasnoff, of the advertising promotion depart- ment of the 'Republic.' The story of his life, with its brief though full record of its activity and brilliant promise is told elsewhere; this is but the tribute of a word from those who knew him as only those men know a man who works with him from day to day. Joseph Chasnoff was an idealist, yet one of the most practical of men. He was a man of high enthusiasm, and naturally sympathetic with progress, commercial and intellectual. He was generous in sympathy, quick in expedients, warm in the appreciation of the work of others, and a gentleman by instinct. He was a writer of grace and charm. He had a genius for friendship. Scholar and business men were alike attracted to him. His success on the 'Republic' was followed with deep satisfaction by his former associates at the State University, and he commended himself to the leaders of the business community. We who worked with him loved him. The world is the poorer to us for his going forth."
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