made evident by a circulation which, by reason of its size and class,
makes the Chronicle one of the best advertising mediums in Platte
County.

First and foremost, Mr. Bless has been for Weston. He has encour-
aged its progressive civic movements, opening the columns of his paper
to discussions of the best ways and means of securing better legislation,
and giving freely of his own time, ability and influence in supporting
beneficial enterprises. In business circles he has played no inconspicuous
part, and at the present time is half -owner, with Julius Rumpel, of the
R. & B. Grain Elevator, which was opened for business in July, 1914,
and has already become one of Weston's leading enterprises. This is
a modern business in every way, the elevator having a capacity of 24,000



HISTORY OF NORTHWEST MISSOURI 2069

bushels, while the business includes the buying and shipping of wheat,
corn, oats and hay, and the retailing of hard and soft coal. Mr. Bless
is also the owner of a valuable farm in Southern Missouri, one-half sec-
tion of land in Michigan's famous fruit belt and various real estate
properties in the Town of Weston, and is the heaviest taxpayer in
Weston.

On October 4, 1886, Mr. Bless was united in marriage with Miss
Lizzie How, who was born in Platte County, Missouri, and to this union
there was born one son, B. J. Bless, Jr.. who is associated with his father
in business as junior editor of the Chronicle, a capacity in which he has
also charge of the job printing department. Mr. Bless is a capable and
energetic young business man and very popular among the people of
Weston. He married Miss Bertha Iseman, and they have one child,
C. A., a bright and interesting lad now in his third year.

B. W. Spry. One of the well known attorneys of Caldwell County,
B. W. Spry, has practiced at Braymer since 1908. He is a widely
experienced lawyer, and for a number of years was identified with the
law and with educational work before coming to Braymer. It was
through the avenue of school teaching that he finally acquired the means
to prepare himself for his profession and to enter upon his active prac-
tice, and since his admission to the bar he has enjoyed many of the
successes of the able lawyer.

B. W. Spry was born September 4, 1871. His father, Samuel Spry,
a farmer and stockman, was born near Zanesville, in Muskingum County,
Ohio. Two of Samuel's brothers saw service as soldiers during the Civil
war. The paternal grandfather was William Spry. Samuel Spry was
educated in Ohio, and married Miss C. Lamb, who was born and reared
in Ohio.

B. W. Spry was reared on a farm, acquired a country school educa-
tion, also enjoyed the advantages of the Methodist College at Mount
Pleasant, Iowa, and of the State University at Columbia, Missouri. He
studied law under Judge William E. Ellison, and since locating at Bray-
mer has built up a good practice and a reputation as a successful lawyer.
Mr. Spry was married in 1901 and has a fine family of children. He
is a progressive in politics, and in every community where he has lived
has identified himself with the more progressive element, and has been
a factor in the community upbuilding and progress. He is a thorough
student and devotes all his time and attention to his profession.

James P. Gore. Now one of the ablest and most successful members
of the Rockport bar, Mr. Gore may be said to have begun his practical
career in Atchison County as a hard-working student and teacher. He
was not sent to college as'the son of a prosperous farmer, but his educa-
tion, like everything "else he has attained, was the result of his deter-
mined purpose and industrious labor. Mr. Gore has gained distinction
both at the bar and in public affairs, and it is only natural that such a
man should interest himself in the political questions^ and he is one
of the recognized leaders in the democratic party of Atchison County.

James F. Gore was born in Fremont County, Iowa, November 15,
1873, and is the oldest in a family of six children born to William T.
and Mary E. Gore. The other children in the family were : Ada, who
married N. E. Showalter; Eva M., who married George W. Showalter;
Retta, who married C. M. Kemerling; Bessie, wife of R. J. Hampson;
and Eunice, who married Lloyd Rankin. The paternal grandfather,
William Gore, was a southern man, settled among the pioneers in Iowa,
but during the war took sides with the Southland and consequently



2070 HISTORY OF NORTHWEST MISSOURI

left that state and finally located on a farm in Atchison County, Mis-
souri.

James F. Gore remained at home with his father on the farm until
1891, and in the meantime had received an education in the country
schools. In 1891 he began a course in Tarkio College, as an academic
student, and paid part of his tuition by teaching in country schools for
one year. He remained in Tarkio College until 1897, and during the last
two years of his course there was an instructor. After graduating in
Tarkio he accepted the principalship of the Westboro public schools, and
held that position one year. In 1898 Mr. Gore was elected circuit clerk
of Atchison County for a term of four years, and was re-elected to that
office in 1902. He was first elected on the fusion ticket, as the repre-
sentative of both the people's party and the democrats, and the second
time was elected as a straight democrat. During his second term as
circuit clerk, in January, 1905, at the regular term of Circuit Court,
Mr. Gore was admitted to the bar, the Hon. W. C. Ellison being on the
bench at the time. Mr. Gore began the active practice of law at Rock-
port in 1907, after the expiration of his second term as circuit clerk,
and has since enjoyed a large share of the legal business in this county.

Mr. Gore is the type of man who believes that his talents and abilities
should be exerted to the full capacity, not only for the interests of him-
self, but also in whatever way he can best serve the community in which
he lives. Outside of his profession and public affairs he has been par-
ticularly occupied with religious work. He is active in the Baptist
Church at Rockport, has served as superintendent of the Sunday school
since 1900, as secretary and treasurer of the Sunday School Association
of Atchison County since 1905, and since 1903 has been secretary of the
Rockport Lecture and Chautauqua Association. In politics he is a
sterling democrat, but during the '90s, while the people's party was at
the climax of its strength, he worked with that organization. In 1900
he was treasurer of the fusion committee representing both the people's
party and democratic party. Regardless of party affiliations he has
the complete confidence and respect of all the people of Atchison County.

Mr. Gore was married May 1, 1900, to Miss Flora B. Hughes, a
daughter of George L. and Mary A. Hughes. She was born in Atchison
County, October 8, 1874, was a student in the Rockport High School
and also in Tarkio College, and was a teacher for several years in the
Atchison County schools and for several years was connected with the
Westboro public schools, where her husband was principal. Mr. and
Mrs. Gore have four children, all of whom were born at Rockport:
Genevieve, the oldest, who was born February 27, 1904; James F., Jr.;
Clark; and George William.

Charles P. Breen. One of Parkville's best citizens is Charles P.
Breen, who has spent his life in Platte County in a progressive rise from
stonemason's apprentice when a boy to independent contractor and
builder, and finally to executive control of one of the county's leading
banks. No small amount of his business service has gone in practical
helpfulness to the community. Such men as Charles P. Breen typify the
best in any locality.

Born at Weston, Missouri, June 29, 1858, he was the second child
of James and Mary (Collins) Breen, who were early settlers of Platte
County. His father was born at Wexford, Ireland, and died at Weston
in 1891, aged sixty-two, while his mother was born in County Limerick,
Ireland, and died at the age of sixty-five in 1907. All their nine chil-
dren are still living. James Breen was twenty-two when he came to
the United States, and was married at Maysville, Kentucky, his wife



HISTORY OF NORTHWEST MISSOURI 2071

having come over at the age of eighteen. In Ireland he had served
apprenticeship as a stonemason, and that was the trade he followed
in Maysville until 1858. He then brought his family to Weston, Mis-
souri, traveling by boat, and here continued his chosen work the rest of
his active years.

Charles P. Breen took up the responsibilities of life at an early age.
His schooling ended at fourteen, and he helped pay his way at home
and also learned a useful trade by assisting his father. With skill and
experience as a stonemason, he was not long in starting independently
as contractor. His removal to Parkville in 1886 was in order to take
charge of all construction work for Park College, and he has erected all
the substantial buildings on the campus of that institution, structures
of brick and stone that for many years to come will be monuments to the
man who fabricated them.

In the course of years his business interests have expanded, while
others have been laid by. In 1905 he was elected president of Park
Bank, which had his services in that capacity four years. In 1909
Mr. Breen retired from mason contracting as a regular business, and
his only resumption of activities was during 1912, when he took the
contract and built the Weston Catholic Church. He donated his own
services, only taking pay for the actual wages of his workmen. In 1911
he organized the Farmers Exchange Bank at Parkville, of which he is
the owner and president, and now gives all his time to the management
of that institution. His interest in home affairs has prompted him to
give twenty years' service as member of the city council and school
board. All his life he has affiliated with the democratic party, and he
and his wife are Catholics.

In 1887 Mr. Breen married Miss Mary Nail, who was born at Weston,
Missouri. October 5, 1861. Her parents were Mathias and Grace Nail,
both natives of Germany, her father having come to Weston in 1848 and
for many years following his trade as wagonmaker. Mr. and Mrs. Breen
have a family of five children : Edward N. is vice president of the bank
at Parkville and an employe of the new National Reserve Bank at Kansas
City ; Everett J. is cashier of the Farmers Exchange Bank at Parkville ;
Howard M. has also begun a banking career and is now connected with
one of the banks of Kansas City ; Charles and Grace, the younger chil-
dren, are both in school.

Hon. Charles M. Daily. Honored in public life, eminently suc-
cessful in business and deeply beloved not only by his kindred but by
everyone who knew him, the late Charles M. Daily was a citizen of
Andrew County, whose loss will long be deplored. The natural capacities
and the sterling traits which made him an admirable judge, were com-
bined with personal qualities which endeared him, in every phase of life,
to those with whom he was brought into contact. Just and impartial in
public office, in private life he was warm-hearted, genial, charitable and
hospitable, and exemplified in his everyday life the best that is in man-
hood those things which are worthy, useful, helpful and lasting.

Charles M. Daily was born near Greensburg, Decatur County, In-
diana. September 1,1837. and died on his home farm in Andrew County,
Missouri. February 16. 1911. His parents were Samuel and Julia
(Morgan) Daily. They also were natives of Indiana and came to Mis-
souri when Charles M. was in early manhood and here spent the rest
of their lives, passing away when aged about seventy years. Their
family contained nine children, Charles M. being the first born, the
others, but three of whom survive, being : Mrs. Martha Allison, who is
deceased; Mrs. Fannie Abbott, who is deceased: Mrs. Malissa Bennett,



2072 HISTORY OF NORTHWEST MISSOURI

who is a resident of St. Joseph ; Mrs. Cora Holt, who is deceased ; William,
who is a resident of Greensburg, Indiana ; Samuel and Abraham, both of
whom are deceased ; and Wilson, who is a resident of Benton, Kansas.

Charles M. Daily had attended school in Indiana and when he accom-
panied his parents to Andrew County was ready to go into business. He
owned 1,500 acres of land and the raising of stock was his object in
holding so much. He became connected with the stock yards at St.
Joseph, operating there a long time before the present commission
system was established, and drove stock in the early days, before railroads
were built, all over the country. He bought and sold and raised the
finest horses, mules and hogs in the country, carrying on all his agricul-
tural operations on a vast scale. Judge Daily continued in the commis-
sion business with the St. Joseph yards for many years, one of his sons,
Benjamin Daily, now of St. Joseph, succeeding him in that relation.

Judge Daily came to what continued his home place in sections 1
and 5, Rochester Township, in 1860. The original owner of the place,
now known as Cherry Grove Farm, was the father of his second wife,
Benjamin Holt, who entered the land from the Government and built
the commodious, old-fashioned brick house still standing. The bricks
used in its construction were made by Joseph Selecman. Here Judge
Daily spent his most enjoyable years. While his business interests were
large he became very prominent in public affairs in Andrew County
and served three terms as county judge. It was during his administra-
tion that the county courthouse was built, a fine structure creditable to
its builders and the county alike, and the name of Judge Daily, with
two other county judges, is inscribed on the building, they composing
the construction committee. Within the building also is hung a portrait
of Judge Daily.

The first marriage of Judge Daily took place September 23, 1858, to
Miss Nancy R. Murphey, who came to Andrew County a short time
previously with her parents. Three children were born to this union:
Gates, who is a resident of St. Joseph, Missouri ; John Frank, who lives
at Moncraft, Wyoming; and Julia, who died at the age of three years.
Judge Daily's second marriage took place November 28, 1861, to Miss
Mary Ann Holt, and the six children of this marriage were : Benjamin,
who is a resident of St. Joseph and prominent in the meat packing
business; Julia, who is the wife of Jacob Carson, of Kodiak, Missouri;
Charles M., who is a farmer in Andrew County; Robert, who is also a
farmer in this county; and Abraham and Florence, both of whom are
deceased, the former dying at the age of five years and the latter at
three years. On September 27, 1881, Judge Daily was married to Miss
Mary E. Selecman, who was born two miles north of the present home-
stead, October 23, 1856, and has resided in Andrew County all her life.
There were four children born to the above marriage : George William,
who divides his time, living partly with his mother and partly at St.
Joseph, where he is in the cattle commission business ; Henry Redman,
who resides at home; Sally, who is the wife of John Easley, residing
near Savannah ; and Mollie, who died when aged fourteen months. The
large estate left by Judge Daily, including the home place of 700 acres,
has not yet been completely settled, the heirs being the widow and nine
children. Judge Daily owned the above farm for over forty years.

In politics Judge Daily was a democrat but during the Civil war he
was in sympathy with the Union cause. He never was swayed by politics
in public life and was always so busily concerned in other directions that
he did little seeking for public office, serving faithfully, however, when
elected. He was known all over the state and at his hospitable table
many distinguished men were frequently entertained. It was his cus-



HISTORY OF NORTHWEST MISSOURI 2073

torn to make a feast for all who cared to come, on the day his birthday
was celebrated, when, with other special dainties, a young pig was roasted
in true southern style. He was affectionately called "uncle Charley"
by those who had known him long and appreciated his generosity and
open-hearted kindness. There are many in Andrew County and else-
where who can recall his words of encouragement and also his practical
help when lack of money seemed to mean also lack of friends. He was
identified with the Masonic fraternity and for many years was a member
of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.

John L. Zeidler. A man of prominence and recognized ability, John
L. Zeidler, of St. Joseph, has ever taken an active and intelligent interest
in local affairs, and his influence for good has been felt in nearly all of
the progressive movements for the betterment of city and county. A
son of John Zeidler, he was born in Scranton, Pennsylvania, of German
ancestry.

John Zeidler was born in the Town of Selb, Bavaria, Germany, where
his parents were life-long residents. Three of his brothers immigrated
to America, Christian settling first in Poughkeepsie, New York, but later
settling in Scranton, Pennsylvania, as did the other two brothers, Oswald
and Loreny. John Zeidler was reared and educated in the Fatherland,
and there served an apprenticeship at the baker's trade. Embarking
on a sailing vessel he landed in New York after a long and tedious voyage
of 103 days. He first found work on the Erie Canal, and later was
engaged in lumbering in the forests of New York. In 1853 he went to
Scranton, Pennsylvania, then a small city, and was there for a time
employed in a sawmill. Establishing himself then in the bakery busi-
ness he was very successful, and after a few years opened a hotel in a
brick building in Scranton. He subsequently conducted both a hotel
and the bakery, continuing in active business until his death.

The maiden name of the wife of John Zeidler was Maria Bechtold.
She was born in Zweibrucken, Hesse Darmstadt, Germany. Her father,
John Bechtold, was born in the same locality. In 1800 he came to
America as a young man, and for a time was employed on the Erie
Canal. Going then to Pittston, Pennsylvania, he found work in the
Butler mine, which was the first mine to ship anthracite coal, and was
foreman in the mine for upwards of forty years. He lived to the
remarkable age of 105 years, retaining his mental faculties and good
health until the last, passing away after an illness of three days. He
was three times married, and reared three families. John Zeidler and
his wife reared five children, as follows : Maria, Wilhelmina, John L.,
Margaret, and Emma.

Receiving his preliminary education in private schools, John L.
Zeidler was fitted for college at Hoboken Academy, and later entered
Mihlenberg College, in Allentown, Pennsylvania, but as he had decided
not to engage in any profession he did not complete the course of study
at that institution. Instead of being graduated, Mr. Zeidler left college
and a good home and in 1878 started westward in search of fame and
fortune. At Kansas City he hired out to go South with a herd of
cattle, and in that capacity made several drives over the trail to Dodge
City. Kansas, where the cattle were shipped West. A year later he came
to St. Joseph, where he was variously employed for awhile, first at the
Atlantic House, then one of the leading hotels, and later at the Colorado
House. In 1885 Mr. Zeidler embarked in the real estate business, and
having added a line of insurance in 1887 soon built up an extensive
business in that line, and now represents several of the strongest insur-
ance companies in the country.



2074 HISTORY OF NORTHWEST MISSOURI

Since taking up his residence in St. Joseph, Mr. Zeidler has been
actively interested in the welfare of his adopted city. In 1888 he visited
his old home in Scranton, and there first saw street cars operated by
electricity. On his return he called the attention of the president of
the St. Joseph Street Railway Company to it, with the result that the
system of this city was changed from horses to electricity. At that time
the trolley wheel ran on top of the rail, each car carrying a detached
pole with which to shift the wheel whenever necessary to do so. It was
in the car barns at St. Joseph that the wheel under the wire was devised.

Mr. Zeidler was one of the first to talk of interurbans, and to interest
parties willing to build if a franchise could be obtained. He labored hard
to secure the franchise, and the promoters then went to Indianapolis,
where they established one of the greatest interurban systems of the
world. For years Mr. Zeidler has talked and worked for good roads in
Missouri, and was a member of the driving club that built the boulevard.
He is a member of the Interstate Trail Association, of the Hannibal and
St. Joseph Cross State Highway Association, and represents Buchanan
County as a member of the executive committee of the Hannibal and
St. Joseph Highway Association.

Mr. Zeidler married, in 1885, Josephine Wagner, who was born in
Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. On coming to America her parents settled
in Pennsylvania, where the death of Mr. Wagner occurred, Mrs. Wag-
ner, who survived him, passing away in Missouri. Fraternally Mr.
Zeidler is a member of the Scranton Lodge, No. 345, Ancient Free and
Accepted Order of Masons; of St. Joseph Lodge, No. 40, Benevolent
and Protective Order of Elks ; and of St. Joseph Aerie, No. 49, Fraternal
Order of Eagles.

' John Kurth. For nearly forty years John Kurth has been an
estimable citizen of Andrew County, has spent most of his active career
in farming, and is' now living retired at Cosby. As a young man he
served during the closing months of the Civil war with a Union regi-
ment, and his record as a citizen has been in keeping with the loyal qual-
ities he displayed while fighting for his adopted country.

John Kurth is a native of Switzerland, born in Canton Berne, Novem-
ber 12, 1840, a son of John and Elizabeth (Lontz) Kurth. His father
was born in 1810 and his mother in 1812. In 1850, when the son John
was ten years of age, the family left Switzerland, embarked on a sailing
vessel at Havre, France, and after a long and tedious voyage of forty-
three days arrived at New Orleans. From there they came up the Missis-
sippi River to St. Louis, and then found a home with a colony of Swiss
people at the old Town of Highland thirty miles east of St. Louis, in
Madison County, Illinois. Highland was established by Swiss people,
and has always retained its characteristic as a Swiss and German town.
At Highland the father worked at his trade as a gunsmith for about
twenty years, and then spent the rest of his career as a farmer. He
died at the age of eighty-three, and his wife passed away at seventy-five.
They were the parents of a large family of children, twelve in number,
named as follows: Elizabeth, deceased, who married Rev. Jacob Tanner;
John ; Jacob, of Portland, Oregon ; Barbara, who died at Effingham, Illi-
nois, was first the wife of Jacob Kooch and later married Mr. Barthold ;
Andrew, who died at the age of eighteen ; Caroline, deceased, who married
a Mr. Joice ; Godfried, who died in infancy ; Eddie ; Godf ried, who lives
as a farmer in Chase County, Kansas; Emilia, widow of Jonas Tontz
of Portland, Oregon; William, of Highland, Illinois; and Mary, wife of
Jacob Hollinger, of Grand Fork, Illinois.



HISTORY OF NORTHWEST MISSOURI 2075

Mr. John Kurth was ten years of age when the family located at
Highland, and had only one year of schooling after that, since it was
necessary for him to go to work and help his father support the large
family of children. He was employed on a farm, and was an industrious
worker at home until 1864, when he enlisted in Company B of the Fif-
teenth Missouri Infantry at St. Louis. He served in the Army of the
Cumberland, went South to Texas in the latter months of his service,
and was mustered out in that state, and discharged at St. Louis in Feb-
ruary, 1866, with the rank of sergeant.

After the war Mr. Kurth continued farming in Illinois until 1876,
and in October of that year arrived in Bates County, Missouri. He
rented a farm there one year, then ran a mail route, and on September
1, 1878, arrived in St. Joseph and worked as a teamster until the follow-
ing spring. Mr. Kurth then bought a small place of forty-five acres north
of Cosby, and some time later bought an improved farm of ninety acres
in Rochester Township. For many years he continued the cultivation and
operation of this farm, but after retiring from active life went to Cosby