Robert Thompson Van Horn 1824-1916

Robert Thompson Van Horn was born in East Mahoning, Indiana County, PA on May 19, 1824. He became a printer through the apprentice process. In 1844 he moved to Pomeroy, Ohio. He then studied law and was admitted to the Ohio Bar in 1850. He began his law practice in Pomeroy, OH.

In 1855, he moved to Kansas, City, MO, and became a Member of the Board of Aldermen in 1857. He served as Postmaster of Kansas City from 1857 to 1861. During that time he also established and edited the Kansas City Journal. He continued to be involved with the Journal until 1897, when he gave up his editorship.

In 1861 he was elected Mayor of Kansas City and was reelected in 1864. During the Civil War he enlisted in the Union Army and served as a lieutenant colonel in the 25^th Regiment, Missouri Volunteer Infantry.

He served as a Member of the Missouri State Senate from 1862 to 1864. He was elected as a Republican to the 25^th, 26^th and 27^th U.S. Congresses and served from March 1865 to 1871. He did not run for the 18^th U.S. Congress.

He served as Chairman of the Missouri State Republican Central Committee from 1874 to 1876. He then became the Collector of Revenue for the Sixth District of Missouri from 1875 to 1881. He also served as a delegate to the Republican National Conventions in 1864, 1868, 1872, 1872, 1876, 1880 and 1884. He was also a Member of the Republican National Committee in 1872 and 1884.

He was elected to the 47^th U.S. Congress in 1880 and served from March 1881 to March 1883. More than a decade later he successfully contested the election of John C. Tarsney to the 54^th U.S. Congress and served from February 1896 to March 1897. He was unsuccessful in his attempt to be reelected.

Robert Thompson Van Horn, after a long, active and productive life passed away at his “Honeywood” Estate, in Evanston Station near Kansas City, MO on January 3, 1916 at the age of 91. He lived a long and productive life. He was interred in Mount Washington Cemetery, Kansas City, MO.