Joseph Edwin Herriford was born in Chillicothe, Livingston County, Missouri on January 14, 1868, the son of John and Evaline (Gudgell) Herriford. His father was a farmer and a civil war veteran, having served in Company B 60th Regiment United States Colored Troops 1863 - 1865. Joe received his elementary education in Chillicothe then moved to Centerville, Iowa where he worked as a hotel porter in the Continental Hotel. With the help of Susannah McKee, the owner of the hotel, he was able to attend Centerville High School with the class of 1885, becoming the schools first African American Graduate. After graduation Joe attended the Bible Department at Drake University in 1885 - 1886. He continued his study through the years at the Kansas City Teachers College and the University of Kansas. In 1886 Joe began a long and distinguished teaching career in Livingston County, Missouri. In 1887 he began teaching in his native city of Chillicothe, Missouri, becoming principal of the Garrison School there in 1895. He won such a place in the hearts of his fellow citizens that a street in Chillicothe was named "Herriford Street", in his honor. In 1906 he moved to Kansas City, Missouri becoming principal of the Page School. In 1907 he became principal of the Wendell Phillips School and in 1910 he became principal of the Lincoln School. In 1918, with a name change, Lincoln became the W.W. Yates School. He remained principal there until his death in 1940. Joe was active in many teachers organizations. He was one of the founders of the Missouri State Association of Negro Teachers, having served as president, executive secretary and chairman of the program committee. He served as president of the Negro Principal's Club and was considered the "father" of the Council of Negro Teachers which voted him a life member. In 1938 he was one of three educators honored by the Missouri State Association of Negro Teachers at a banquet where he was awarded a Distinguished Service Medal, for his outstanding service. For 34 years Joe devoted his life to serving the Kansas City community not only as an educator, but as a civic and social leader. He was interested in all programs and events which concerned his people. He was active in the work of the N.A.A.C.P. Besides his talents as an educator Joe was a musician. He wrote the songs, music and lyrics used in his graduation programs and wrote a series of minstrels presented by the Yates pupils, including a playlet entitled "I Want to Know." It was arranged to emphasize a lasting desire for learning. As a hobby Joe enjoyed the study of the stars. He delighted in pointing out the stars to his friends through the telescope in his home. He made the study of astronomy popular through his lectures to students. Joe died in Kansas City, Missouri on February 17, 1940. He was scheduled to retire later in the year after 55 years of teaching. At the time of his death Joe was described as an inspiration to the thousands of children who passed under his influence at the Yates school. A few weeks before his death, at mid-year graduation exercises, he said that one of the greatest satisfactions in his life came from letters that he received frequently from former students expressing appreciation to him for the influence that he had exerted upon them to be good citizens. Such letters came from as far as London and Paris.