Charles Sumner Crysler was born 21 August 1856 in Marcellus, New York to Cornell and Nancy (Dunlap) Crysler. His father, Cornell, graduated from Albany Law School, then married Miss Nancy Dunlap and started a family with three children, Fanny, Charles, and Cornell. The elder Cornell began practicing law in Marcellus and eventually moved the family to Syracuse where he built a lucrative practice.

When the Civil War began, Cornell put his business aside and answered Lincoln’s call raising volunteer Company D 122nd New York Infantry serving as its captain. Capt. Crysler participated in every campaign up through the battle of Antietam. He then rode with Gen. Sheridan to Winchester.

Following the war, Cornell’s poor health forced him to search for a better climate than New York could offer him. In 1868, he moved his family to Independence, Missouri. He kept his residence in Independence for 20 years becoming mayor in his last year as a resident of the town. By the end of his term, he had moved to Eldorado Springs, Colorado.

The younger Cornell Crysler died unexpectedly at the age of 16 making it impossible for Charles to stray away from his parents. At an earlier age, both boys were promised scholarships to attend Cornell University to study law. Now, Charles decided to remain in Missouri and he began to study law with Corning and Slover in Independence in 1875. The Kansas City Bar admitted him on 1 June 1879.

On 1 October 1879, Charles married Harriet E. Child, daughter of John Adams and Sarah (Drake) Child. Sarah was a descendant of William Brewster, a Mayflower passenger.

Charles Crysler is best known as a prominent and successful attorney of the law firm of Harkless, Crysler & Histed of Kansas City, Missouri which was organized in 1890 and made its office in the Grand Avenue Temple.

In 1884, Mr. Crysler became a Charter Member and, subsequently, the first Division of Missouri Commander for the Sons of Veterans of the United States of America, a term he held for two years.

Charles Crysler died 8 February 1915 at his home, 1001 Askew in Kansas City, Missouri at the age of 58 years, 5 months, 18 days. He was interred in the Crysler family lot #697 of the Kansas City Heritage Gardens section in Mt. Washington Cemetery next to his father.

A Memorial Record of Kansas City and Jackson County, Missouri.  1896.

Alkire, Arthur N.  Men of Affairs in Greater Kansas City, 1912.  Kansas City:   Press Club, 1912.

“Charles S. Crysler Dead.”  The Kansas City Times.  1915, 78:  2.

Gage, Erica.  “Missouri State Archives - Death Records Certificates.”   Missouri Secretary of State.  State of Missouri Government.  20 Jun 2006   <http://www.sos.mo.gov/archives/resources/deathcertificates/>.

Notable Lawyers of the West.  1902.