Arizona republican., 1899-08-12
HE LOVED HIS FELLOW MEN
Deaih of Col CASTOR, . Leading
CT izeH of Kansas city.

The Kansas City Star priltS the fol
| lowing account of George Castor, one
of the well-known characters of Kan
Sis City for many years, Who died Il
few days ago in Germany The editor
of the Republican knew Castor well
and enjoyed his hospitality on many
occasions. He was q good man. and
as the S;ar says, he loved his fellow
mem"
Colonel George CASTOR is dead at
Nauheim. Upper HesSe. Germany His
body viii be brought home 10 Kansas
City for burial. The following short
cablegrlm from Esther Castor. his
widow. 10 Thomas AI6Nabb of this city
received this morning gives all that is
known here of the death: Mr.. Castor
died. Re;urn steamer Barbossa-Es-
ther''
Mr., and Mrs Castor left this city
two weeks ago last Friday. intending
10 90 TO different medicinal springs in
Germany Mr.. CASTOR had been sick
for a long time with asthma and heart
tIOEi'it AptIOIt lle " tiIl dNdH. lie WAS
stricken with a severe attack while
down town. ana could hardly get
home. He was sick in bed for awhile.
and as soon as he was able to walk he
decided to go to Germany. thinking
that the sea air and the waters of Ger
many would help him His dearest
friends advised against the trip. Viii
liam Mulkey. friend of Mr.. Gaston's
for. I-R1rS GaiH
L told him not TO 90: l said TO him:
George. you are foolish to Try such
long trip; stay here
Mr.. Mulkey sat for 4 moment with
tears in his eyes and then said:
well, George was just as good a
man as ever lived or died"
That will be the judgment passed up
on George Castor by all the men who
ever knew him we'll. 10 man in Kan
sls City had more friends. and most
of them belonged 10 the ''old crowd. -
that is to say. the men whose lives
form the link between the old time
Kansas City and the Kansas City of
1899. These will grieve that their
good friend, Col. George CASTOR is
dead. His death turns down a leaf in
the annals of Kansas City. His death
will b. TmOurned sincerely too. by a
number of newspaper men and writ
els ard artists who were once in this
city. but now are scattered over all the
country. Among them are Al Lewis,
or Dan Quin." Frederic Remington.
the illustrator. and many other talent
ed men whose home was once in Kan
sas City ard who were dear friends of
George CASTOR.
From 1863 until 1896. when he closed
his place. ''GaSton's" was sort of
rendezvous campfire and meeting place
for the politicians. lawyers ald news
paper men and good fellows" of Kan
saS City. The name of CASTOR was Il
fixed synonym in Kansas City nomen-
clature for 4 place of good fellowship
and political consultations when the
present Kansas City generation wore
sWaddling clothes. 'Gaston's' was Il
landmark and Il timemark. Not only
did the Colonel know all the prominent /
men in Kansas City's history. but he |
was known himself as the bright par
ticullr example of i warm hearted fel- |
low.
The history of 'Gaston's' began with |
the returning of the boys from ;he |
war. It's first days We're the days when |
the stories of camp and field and battle |
We're new: when the dim scars Of bat |
tie that gray old fellows wear today |
were only freshly healed When the |
boys never wearied of telling how they |
Won or bravely lost.
The history of "Gastons'' began |
with Milton MCGEE and Colonel Ker-
sey Coates. those chief citizens of 4
Kansas City VINO loved the town as
the apple of their eye and who have
passed away. The remaing pioneers
Who are happily still in our midst
Colonel Van Horn and Major Warner
used TO frequent "Gaston's'' long be-
fore the young men. who viii cast their
first vote next fall We're born. Dr..
Morrison MumfOrd. the noted old time
editor of the Times. and Eugene Field
were fast friends Of Colonel castor.
Colonel GaStOnS title was a cOurte.
". which he won as brave officer Of
irtillery in he army of the Potomac.
H was Of French parentage, but was
}Orn in Bavaria. where he received q
military education. His letters Of in
PRODUCTION gave him a battery OF ar
-iIIery al once when he came TO the
var in America. James OgIebay net
Colonel CASTOR in Virginia. He says
-he Colonel was one of the spruces5
lrtill ~ officers lie ever saw. Among
he army friends of Colonel CASTOR
VAS President Mckinley.
In 1869. the Colonel came to Kansas
lily from St. Louis and opened Gas
Ou's' at the northeast corner of
Fourth and Main streets. He Went TO
Wichita fora while. returned and open
d on Main street. between Fifth and
Missouri avenue. then started a park
lear the reservoir" thence "Gaston's"
vas moved TO Fifth street. between
Iain and Delaware streets. and in
- ''Gastons" settled at number Is
Vest Missouri avenue, next TO the old
-as office.
West Missouri avenue at that time
vas the center Of Kansas City and
'Gaston's" was the original Kansas
lily club. In 1882 Col. CASTOR sold out :
O Thomas McNabb and Went 10 Ell