Jacob Sheafe Casey

As printed in 1898

CAPTAIN JACOB SHEAFE CASEY, known to all his friends as Sheafe Casey, is one of St. Joseph's enterprising young business men, being interested with his brother George F. Casey in the agency for The Fountain Bath Brush, which they have for the entire Southwest. Their main office is No. 47 Ballinger Building, for services in these wars. His father, the Hon. Samuel L. Casey, was born at Morganfield, Ky,, the county seat of Union County, February 18, 1821; While a very young man he became interested in the development of the natural resources of the country; he discovered the Tradewater Coal Field, and was associated with Col. John with sub-agencies in the principal towns in this territory. He resides at No. 823 Charles street. He was born at Bradford, Pa., and comes of good old American stock. His father's ancestors were Scotch-Irish, who settled in Virginia at an early date. They took a prominent part in the Indian and Revolutionary wars and later settled in what is now Union County, Ky., founding the town of Caseyville, upon land taken up on warrants issued

Bell of Tennessee and President Tyler in their development. He made trips to Virginia and Pennsylvania on horseback to study the methods of mining coal. He erected the first engine for hoisting coal from the mines that was used west of the Allegheny mountains. He also took the first fleet of coal barges down the Ohio and Mississippi rivers that was taken down with a steamboat. He also represented the First Kentucky Congressional District in the Thirty-seventh Congress, during the stormy times of 1862-63. Since then he has been identified with mining and railroad enterprises and now resides with his sons in St. Joseph. The Captain's mother was Miss Mary Quincy Sheafe of Portsmouth, N. H. The Sheafe family came to this country from Sheffield, England, settling in Boston in 1638. The captain represents the 9th generation in this country. Captain Casey's early life was spent with his parents in Kentucky. At the age of fifteen he commenced to attend the public schools of Pottsville, Pa. ' Although prior to this he had received only such instructions as could be given at home, yet at the end of two and one-half years he was within one year of graduation from the High School. He then entered Antioch College at Yellow Springs, O., remaining there two years. From there he went to the Ohio State University at Columbus, O., which he attended for about two and one-half years, though not continuously, pursuing engineering studies and supporting himself almost entirely the meanwik. He was finally forced by ill health, brought on by overwork, and by lack of means, to abandon school life altogether. After this he was engaged for a number of years in mechanical engineering. He first came to St. Joseph in the year 1889 and was employed in the installation of the electric railways. He was then employed for a short time in ihe county surveyor's office, which he left to accept a position under the government on the survey of the Missouri River. On the completion of this work he became interested in mining enterprises in the Joplin district for several years, after which he returned to St. Joseph. Captain Casey's military services commenced in May, 1891, when he enlisted in Company G, Second Regiment, National Guard of Missouri. He was an energetic and enthusiastic member of the National Guard, participating in and bearing his share of its troubles. It was mainly due to his untiring efforts that the company was kept from disbanding on several occasions. He gradually rose until he resigned a first lieutenant's commission in 1896. A short time before the breaking out of hostilities between the United States and Spain, forseeing that war was inevitable, he began to raise a company in St. Joseph. He was mustered into the state service, as captain, with his company, April 27, 1898, which then became Company G. Fourth Regiment, N. G. M. He served through the Spanish-American war with his regiment as captain of this company with credit to himself and his regiment, and by his discipline and soldierly qualities contributed his share toward bringing the regiment to that high state of perfection which made it famous throughout the army.

As printed in The Daily news' history of Buchanan County and St. Joseph, Mo. From the time of the Platte purchase to the end of the year 1898. Preceded by a short history of Missouri. Supplemented by biographical s (1898). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.