Henry Lee Jost

Henry Lee Jost. , Henry Lee Jost was temporarily placed in the Five Points Mission by his father after the death of his mother in approximately 1879. After his family failed to pay the orphanage boarding fees, Henry became a ward of the facility and was placed out by the Children’s Aid Society in 1881 at seven years old. Henry spent time in multiple homes. The majority of his youth he lived with Judge Dale, the head of the placing out committee, and later the Lasswell Family. Although he thought highly of the Lasswells, he left at age 15 to work as a farm hand. , At 22, Henry began to study law under S.E. Brown and before attending law school was elected Justice of the Peace of Hopkins Township. He attended Kansas City Law School in 1898. He went on to work for Jackson County as the Chief Assistant Prosecuting Attorney. Henry practiced law in Kansas City for 46 years. , While most children hid their orphan train past, Jost used his background to his advantage when running for public offices. In 1912 and 1914, Jost was elected mayor of Kansas City, Missouri. During his time in office he was credited with establishing an efficient city government and dedicating Union Station among other accomplishments. In 1922, Henry ran for U.S. Representative of Missouri’s 5th District, running under the headline “The Orphan Boy Mayor.” Congressman Jost served one term before returning home to his farm and law practice. When writing of his life, Jost never mentioned his accomplishments, rather he complimented the rural life and kind people he always cherished.