Charles C. Crow

Narrative:

     Charles C. Crow was born about 1868 in Missouri.^6,7,8 He appeared on the 1880 Federal Census of St. Joseph, Buchanan Co., Missouri, in the household of his parents, William A. Crow and Nora [surname unknown].⁴
     By 1882, at the age of 14, he was a messenger for Kahn & Co., a wholesale clothing company. By 1888 he was a clerk at the same firm. The next year he held a similar position at Jones Brothers, and a year later at T. R. Bretz, firms also in the clothing business.¹¹
     By 1893 he was a lawyer, in general practice, with offices in the Hughs building. He was briefly associated with James P. Thomas in 1894, using the firm name of Thomas & Crow, then returned to a solo practice.^3,12
     Charles married Ida S. Imel, daughter of Thomas Imel and Violetta Riegel, on 1 Apr 1894 in St. Joseph, Buchanan Co., Missouri, with Rev. M. M. Goode officiating.^9,10
     Charles and Ida moved to unit 9 of the Virginia Flats, a new up-scale complex of flats on 10th St. in St. Joseph by 1898. The complex was entered on the National Register of Historic Places in 1992 because of its architectural significance. They lived there until about 1902, but apparently escaped being included in the 1900 U.S. Census.^13,14,15 They moved to 1118 N 12th, a stand-alone home, about 1902¹⁶, then to 1118 Henry about 1905.¹⁷

Establishing Himself in Law --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---

     About 1896 Charles briefly formed a partnership with his brother-in-law, John F. Imel, under the name of Imel & Crow. They listed themselves as attorneys and also as counselors for Snow-Church Collection Co. That partnership was short-lived; by 1898 they had gone their separate ways.¹⁸ He then established a partnership with Lucian J. Easton, under the name of Crow & Eastin, with offices in the National Bank Building.¹⁹
     He returned to solo practice by 1901, and continued for many years, except for a a brief partnership in 1907, when he joined James W. Mytton, John G. Parkinson, under the firm name of Mytton, Parkson & Crow.²⁰ In 1913 he joined in a partnership with John S. Boyer, under the name of Crow & Bower, with offices in the Corby-Forsee Building. Boyer continued his practice there after Charles moved to Kansas City.²¹
     Charles and Ida moved to 2723 Seneca about 1908, and continued to live there until they moved to Kansas City.²² They appeared on the 1910 Federal Census of St. Joseph, Buchanan Co., Missouri, at 2723 Seneca St., enumerated 16 Apr 1910, reporting that the family owned its home, free of mortgage. Their children Nora and Charles were listed as living with them, as was his father, William A. Crow.³
     Charles established a residence in Kansas City, Missouri, at 202 55th St. Terrace, about 1913, but he maintained his residence in both cities for a time. Ida and the family did not move to Kansas City until about Jan 1914, six months before her death.^23,24,25,26

A Controversial Legal Case --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---

     About the time of his move Charles became involved with a court case that attracted national attention. It began as a divorce case, in which the wife, having filed for divorce, reconciled and wanted to withdraw her suit. But her attorneys insisted that they should be paid first, and the judge agreed. The local newspaper printed the story, with a headline "The Lawyers must Collect First, Judge Guthie Decides." The judge found the editor in contempt, sentenced him to jail time, and the editor appealed to the state Supreme Court. The appeals court appointed Charles as commissioner to hear the evidence presented by the parties and report to the court. His report, on 10 Apr 1913, found that the article was substantially true and not contemptuous and recommended the charge be dismissed. His recommendation was widely reported, including a report by the New York Times the next day with the headline "Editor Nelson is Exonerated." The court considered his report the next day and disagreed, in a decision that ran eight double-column pages of small print, finding that the article not substantially true and was "highly contemptuous." However, the court found that the judge had decided on the contempt charge before the editor's hearing was held and had even written his decision the night before, thus depriving the editor of a fair hearing. The charges were overturned for that reason.^27,28
     In Kansas City Charles joined with Elbridge J. Broaddus to form the firm of Broaddus & Crow, with offices in the Commerce Bldg, practicing from 1914 until 1916. In 1917 Charles returned to solo practice, with offices in the New York Life building. In 1921 he moved his offices to the Gloyd bulding.^29,30
     His wife died on 8 Jul 1914 in Kansas City, Jackson Co., Missouri.^31,32
     About 1916, shortly after the death of his wife, Charles and his two child, who were then young adults, moved to 308 W 39th. In 1918 they were listed as living at 3945 Main, and then he and his son moved to 112 W 34th about 1920.³³ Charles appeared on the 1920 Federal Census of Kansas City, Jackson Co., Missouri, at 112 West 34th St., enumerated 16 Jan 1920, lodging along with a man describing himself as a capitalist, in the home of Mary McDonaeld and her sister Catherine.³⁴
     Charles lived in 917 Oak at the Snyderhoff Hotel from 1922 until 1924, then at 917 Oak in 1925 and 1926.³⁵
     He formed a partnership with John H. Newman about 1925, under the firm name of Crow & Newman. The firm was listed in 1926, but by 1927 Newman was listed as a solo practice, and no further record of Charles has been found.³⁶