A history of northwest Missouri, Volume III, Part 70

Author: Williams, Walter, 1864-1935 editor
Publication date: 1915
Publisher: Chicago, The Lewis publishing company
Number of Pages: 912

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very well improved and has two sets of farm buildings, Mr. Stout occupying one and his son Everett the other.

Mr. Stout was married in 1886 to Miss Addie Henderson, who was born in Andrew County, May 28, 1866, and is a daughter of Thomas and Mary Jane (Cooper) Henderson. Both parents of Mrs. Stout were born in Ohio, he in 1820 and she in 1829, and after their mar- riage in that state they came to Missouri, settling in Nodaway County prior to the Civil war. In 1865 Mr. Henderson came to Andrew County and settled on a farm near Savannah, where he died Decem- ber 15, 1909, his wife having died August 22, 1888. Mr. and Mrs. Stout have had five children: Chester A., who was born December 15, 1886, died October 18, 1895; Everett and Elmer, twins, who were born June 4, 1890, the latter dying September 16, 1890; Irvin, who was born September 27, 1895, died August 22, 1897; and Mildred Elsie, who was born August 29, 1906. The second son, Everett, assists his father in the management of this farm. He married Blanche Nuckols and they have one son, Kenneth Meryl.

Mr. Stout and family belong to the Long Branch Christian Church. In politics he has always been a republican, as was his father after the defeat of Stephen A. Douglas for the presidency.

COL. CLYDE K. STOUT. Combining farming, stock raising and auctioneering, Col. Clyde K. Stout, a leading citizen of Rochester Township, Andrew County, finds little time hanging heavily on his hands. He was born on his present home farm, which is situated 41/2 miles south of Savannah, lying in section 18, township 59, range 34, Rochester, on October 24, 1876. His parents were William and Affie (Lewis) Stout.

The Stout family was established in Andrew County by the grand- father, Thomas Stout, in 1837. He was born in Tennessee and in Indiana married Elizabeth Walter, who was born in Kentucky. When they came to Missouri he bought a farm just on the edge of the Vil- lage of Savannah, and there they lived until 1847, when he purchased the present home farm in Rochester Township, on which he continued to live until his death, in 1885, at the age of eighty-five years, his wife dying here in her eighty-third year. They reared eleven chil- dren, six sons and five daughters.

William Stout was born in Andrew County, Missouri, January 17, 1844, and remained with his parents and later bought the inter- ests of the other heirs in the home farm and for many years continued large agricultural operations here, making a specialty of the buying and shipping of stock. He sold the farm to his son, Clyde K., in 1910, and he and wife then retired to St. Joseph, where they are passing the evening of life in the midst of comfort. He married Affie Lewis, who was born in Henry County, Indiana, March 3, 1838, and came to Andrew County with her widowed mother in 1870. They have four children: C. G., who is a resident of Paonia, Colorado; May, who is the wife of Ben Snowden, of Mount Pleasant, Washington; Clyde K .; and Carl L., who is a resident of Los Angeles, California. During the Civil war Mr. Stout served four years as a member of the Fifth Mis- souri Infantry. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic post at St. Joseph. In politics he has always been a republican, and both he and wife are members of the Christian Church. They are highly respected people and wherever they have lived have been sin- cerely esteemed for their estimable traits of character.

Clyde K. Stout spent his boyhood happily on the home farm, attend- ing the neighborhood schools and under the wise direction of his

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father learning those practical details of an agricultural life that have helped in making his own career successful. Deferring to his father's judgment regarding cattle and stock, in his early working years, he thereby gained valuable first-hand information that many another young man entering the stock business has to learn through experience. Following his marriage, Mr. Stout bought and settled on a farm near Bethany, which he operated for two years, when he sold to advantage and returned then to the homestead, which he bought in 1910. He has over 118 acres, a well situated tract, one that has been creditable as to location, to the discriminating judgment of his grandfather. He finds the raising of shorthorn cattle a very profitable industry. En- dowed with a pleasing personality, of genial disposition and possessed of a ready wit, Mr. Stout has become popular, during the past eight years, as an auctioneer, confining himself mainly to farm sales, in which line his work is without an equal in the county.

Mr. Stout has been twice married. He was first united with Miss Alice Misner, February 27, 1902, who died without issue on February 27, 1909. Mr. Stout's second marriage was celebrated November 15, 1911, to Miss Lucy Munkres. Mr. Stout is not particularly active in politics, but he recognizes every demand of good citizenship and his affiliation is with the republican party. He has accepted no political favors. For many years he has been a member of the Long Branch Christian Church, in which he is one of the elders. Not only is he a worthy representative of one of the stable old families of Andrew County, but he is a steadying citizen of the present day, busily con- cerned in reputable activities and lending his influence to the higher things of life.

WILLIAM N. CLAYTOR, who is favorably and prominently known as a farmer and stockman of the community of Shady Grove Church, and on Rural Free Delivery Route No. 2, out of Bethany, has his home in the vicinity in which his father settled when William N. was a child. He is a son of Samuel A. Claytor, who came to Harrison County in 1861 and settled on land in Bethany Township, which is now the property of Will Rogers, and here Mr. Claytor did the substantial work of his life as a farmer and successful and extensive stockman, also acquiring a large acreage and bringing a great deal of it under cultivation. He erected one of the best residences of that day, built barns for the accommodation of his livestock and remained on the farm until old age overtook him, when he retired with his wife and they passed their declining years in the homes of their children.

Samuel A. Claytor was a son of William Claytor, a Virginian by birth and a man of some education, having taught school in Harrison County, Missouri, for several years, to which locality he had preceded his son and being the means of inducing the latter to come here. In later life William Claytor returned to the Old Dominion State, and there died in advanced years. His first wife, whose name is not remem- bered, was the mother of Samuel A. Claytor and died early in life, her other children being: Milton ; Harvey ; Mary, who married George Thompson; Fannie, who married Edward Smith; Martha, who married Mr. Young and died in Texas; Adaline, who married John Smith; and Edward, who was the youngest. All the above children came to Mis- souri, and from here the family scattered to various points, Harvey going to Denver, Colorado, and Milton and Edward going to Texas, where they died, while the remainder spent their lives in Missouri.

Samuel A. Claytor came to Missouri in a wagon from Tazewell County, Virginia, where he was born about the year 1813. IIe

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passed through life with only a fair education, but showed rather extraordinary business acumen and splendid judgment, and through the possession of these faculties was able to achieve marked success. During the period of the Civil war Mr. Claytor was a member of the militia of the Confederacy, but saw little military service, and made only one trip to Saint Joseph. In political matters he was a dem- ocrat, but did not take any active part in political life, never held a public office, nor made a public speech, and seemed to care to be only what he was, a good and reliable citizen. In religious belief a Methodist, he took an active part in the work of the Shady Grove Church, which he assisted to build with his means and of which he was a member of the board of trustees at the time of his death, about 1897.

Mr. Claytor married Miss Margaret Sicks, a daughter of William Sicks, a Virginia planter. Mrs. Claytor, like her husband, acquired a common school education; she survived him some years, passing away in 1909, at the age of seventy-six years. Their children were as follows: Nancy, who married Marcus Smith and died near Spring- field, Missouri; William N. and James W., twins, the latter a resident of Bethany; Edward, who also resides at Bethany; Mary, who mar- ried Will McCoy, a farmer of White Oak Township; and I. Samuel, the youngest, who occupies the old home-the Needles farm.

William N. Claytor, of this review, was born December 19, 1853, and was eight years old when the family came overland to Missouri, the migrating caravan comprising four wagons, all Claytors but Rob- ert Rogers, who is now a resident of Bethany. The journey occupied several weeks and a portion of the trip was made by river, the party disembarking at St. Louis and continuing their journey by land. William N. Claytor received his education principally at home, for he was enabled to go to the district school very little. He continued as one of his father's able assistants on the home place until the time of his marriage, when he settled on his present property, building first a small shanty, which has been succeeded by the present splendid country home, located on an eminence in section 2, township 63, range 29, where he started life with 120 acres. He broke the sod, produced grain crops on it for some years, and has grown what cattle, hogs and sheep his grass would raise. Unlike his father, he has never been a feeder, but has succeeded from year to year, increasing the size of his farm as his means have allowed, and is now the owner of 240 acres in section 2. He is an adherent of and firm believer in modern methods, has at all times been ready to experiment with new inven- tions and discoveries, and is known as one of the most progressive of his community's agriculturists.

As a citizen Mr. Claytor has aided materially in the erection of the New Hampton Christian Church, the Shady Grove Church and the Union Chapel, comprising the union of three denominations. He helped build his home schoolhouse, and has served faithfully and efficiently as a member of the district board for many years. His religious affiliation is with the Christian Church, of which his wife is a member. Mr. Claytor is not connected with any fraternal organ- ization, but has no objection to secret orders, merely preferring his home to outside entertainments or affiliations. Politically a democrat, he is without experience as a holder of public office, having not even been a delegate to conventions.

On May 28, 1876, Mr. Claytor was united in marriage with Miss Alice Stockwell, a daughter of Shelton M. Stockwell and a sister of S. Bob Stockwell, one of Harrison County's well-known agriculturists,

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a review of whose life will be found in this work. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Claytor: Ash, who is engaged in farming near his father's home, married Fay Mears and has a daugh- ter, Mildred; Eva, who married John Cuddy, has one daughter, Alice Jean, and lives at Bethany; and Manley, who still resides with his parents and is assisting his father.

DAVID G. CALDWELL. With the exception of three years, during which time he was serving as a soldier in the Union army, at the time of the Civil war, David G. Caldwell has been- a resident of Andrew County since 1851. His life has been devoted to the pursuits of agri- culture, and his labors have been so well directed, that now, in his declining years, he is living retired from activity, enjoying that peace and comfort which only comes to the laborer who knows that his work has been well and faithfully done.

Mr. Caldwell was born March 7, 1847, in Noble County, Indiana, and is a son of John and Margaret (Clouser) Caldwell. His father was born in Ohio, September 14, 1810, and as a young man engaged in farming, a vocation in which he continued to be engaged through- out the remainder of his life. He was married in Ohio to Miss Mar- garet Clouser, who was born in Pennsylvania, October 24, 1816, and not long thereafter they moved to Noble County, Indiana, where they made their home on a farm until 1848. In that year they removed to Schuyler County, Illinois, but after about three years in the prairie state again turned their faces to the West and finally took up their residence in Andrew County, Missouri, one-half mile south of Roch- ester. In addition to being a practical and energetic farmer, Mr. Cald- well was a millwright by trade, and for a number of years, in partner- ship with his brother William, conducted the Rochester Mills at that place. He was an industrious workman, directed his labors in an intel- ligent manner and lived to see the modest holdings of his younger years grow and develop into a substantial property, and to see his children reared to sturdy man and womanhood, ready to take their places among the world's workers. John Caldwell died December 27, 1857, while Mrs. Caldwell survived him for some years, passing away April 4, 1893. They were the parents of six children, as fol- lows: Simon C., who is deceased; Joseph H., a well-to-do retired farmer of Rochester, who served three years in the Missouri Light Artillery during the Civil war, and a sketch of whose career will be found elsewhere in this work; David G., of this review; John, who is deceased; Eliza, who died at the age of twelve years; and Henry C., who resides with his brother, David G.

David G. Caldwell was a child of one year when taken by his par- ents to Illinois, and but four years of age when the family made the overland journey to Andrew County, Missouri. Here he grew to sturdy young manhood as a farmer boy, and received his education in the district schools, which he attended during the winter months. On August 8, 1863, he enlisted in Company C, Twelfth Regiment, Missouri Volunteer Cavalry, with which organization he served three years, participating in engagements in Tennessee, Mississippi and Ala- bama, and being mustered out of the service at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, April 9, 1866. He proved a good and faithful soldier, and when his military career was ended returned to the home farm, ready to prove himself just as good and capable citizen in times of peace. In the years that followed, Mr. Caldwell carried on extensive farming operations, winning success through his industry and intelligent appli- cation of practical methods to his work, and when advancing years

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came on disposed of his land and removed to Rochester, where he has since lived in quiet retirement. A republican in his political views, at various times he has been called upon to serve in public office, having acted at various times as constable, deputy sheriff and deputy revenue collector, in each of which capacities he has given evidence of the possession of executive ability and a conscientious wish to serve the best interests of his community. In 1890 he took the census in the west half of Monroe Township, Andrew County, Mis- souri.

Mr. Caldwell was married November 4, 1866, to Miss Josephine Surles, who was born at Rochester, Missouri, May 17, 1848, a daugh- ter of John and Sarah (Yingst) Surles, the former a native of Ken- tucky and the latter of Ohio. Mr. Surles came to Missouri with his parents as early as 1832, securing land of the United States Govern- ment, three miles north of Rochester, where his wife's people located the same year. In 1852 Mr. Surles crossed the plains to California, and while in that state succumbed to sickness, while Mrs. Surles died in Missouri. Eight children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Caldwell, namely: Judge Charles E., a sketch of whose career appears on another page of this work; Magdalena, who died at the age of two years; Claude O., a resident of Cosby, Andrew County; Ella, who is the wife of O. K. Barton, of Flag Spring, Missouri; Grace, deceased, who was the wife of Earl Dungan, of Rochester; May Bell, who is the wife of Clyde Belton, of Helena, Missouri; Lovina, who is the widow of Carl Kimerlin, and resides with her father; and Jesse, who resides near Cosby, Missouri.

HON. THOMAS J. KELLY. Among the old and honored families of Andrew County, none is held in higher esteem than that bearing the name Kelly, which has been located in Monroe Township since 1837, and a worthy representative of which is found in the person of Judge Thomas J. Kelly, whose many years of agricultural operations have given him a substantial position in a community which does not want for capable men.

The entire career of Judge Kelly has been passed within the borders of Monroe Township, and the greater part of this has been spent on the farm which he now occupies. Here he was born, February 9, 1849, in the old double-log home, which boasted a fireplace in each end. The family was founded in Missouri by Edward Kelly, the paternal grand- father of Judge Kelly, a native of North Carolina, who, in 1837, came to Andrew County with his wife and eleven children, the latter being as follows: Isaac, who went to Texas in 1856; John, who met his death in a runaway accident in Andrew County; Edward, the father of Thomas J. ; Nehemiah; Andrew ; Henry ; Thompson ; George ; Mrs. Sally Black; Mrs. Celia Hoblett; and Mrs. Lamb. All the children are now deceased.

Edward Kelly, the father of Judge Kelly, was born in North Car- olina in 1811, and was twenty-six years of age when he accompanied his parents to Missouri. He was twice married, and by his first union had one son : Nathan, now deceased, who served with the Missouri State Militia during the Civil war. Later Mr. Kelly was married to Mrs. Hepsibah (Deakin) Eslinger, the widow of Daniel Eslinger, by whom she had one daughter: Rachel, who is now the wife of William Parker, of Monroe Township. Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Kelly; Thomas J., of this review; A. J., a resident of Monroe Township; B. F., of Walla Walla, Washington; Lizzie, deceased, who was the wife of Willis McKowen; Lucinda, who is the wife of Daniel Isenhouer, of

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Monroe Township, and one son who died in childhood. After their marriage, although Mr. Kelly had a farm of his own, Mr. and Mrs. Kelly settled on the farm in section 8, Monroe Township, which had been entered in 1837 by Mrs. Kelly's first husband, and there they con- tinued to live and carry on agricultural operations during the remainder of their lives, the father dying in 1885. During the Civil war he was a stanch Union man, and in his community was known as a sterling cit- izen and a strictly honorable man of business.

Thomas J. Kelly was reared on the farm on which he now lives, and on which he has spent his entire life with the exception of six years on an adjoining property and sixteen years in the mercantile business at Avenue City, two miles west of this homestead, which is very appro- priately known as the Homestead Farm. Mr. Kelly, during his long residence here, was successful in the accumulation of 224 acres, but sold twenty-four acres of the land, still retaining 200 acres. In addition to carrying on general farming, for many years he was engaged in the manufacture of butter for his customers at Saint Joseph, but of recent years has given up the latter business. He has always been a citizen ready to assist his community in any way, and at various times has been called upon by his fellow-townsmen to hold public offices of responsi- bility and importance. For sixteen years he served in the capacity of notary public, and in the fall of 1896 was elected judge of Andrew County, and served as such two terms, or four years. It is a curious and interesting coincidence that Judge Kelly was acting in the capacity of county judge when the present courthouse was built, while his mater- mal grandfather, Judge William Deakin, was county judge when the first courthouse was built in Andrew County. Judge Kelly has always been a stanch supporter of republican candidates, principles and policies. He is a devout member of the Baptist Church at High Prairie, and at present is acting as deacon and treasurer.

On April 4, 1874, Judge Kelly was married to Miss Sarah L. Gordon, who was born in North Carolina in 1852 and was six years of age when brought to the farm adjoining that of Judge Kelly by her parents, Eli and Elizabeth Gordon, both of whom passed away here, the father shortly after arrival. Six children have been born to Judge and Mrs. Kelly : Bessie M., the wife of Irvin Hartman, of Rochester Township, who has seven children, Lee, Allen and Alfred, twins, Lottie, Dorothy, Helen and an infant son; Will E., who resides at home and assists his father in the operation of the homestead; Addie, the wife of W. J. McBean, of Union Star, who has three children, W. K., J. II. and Agnes; J. Ed, engaged in merchandising in this township, who has one son, Jewell; Lottie, who makes her home with her parents; and Rachel, the wife of B. B. McGill, of Monroe Township, has two children, Ralph B. and Clarence James.

WILLIAM PARKER. Of the old pioneer families of Andrew County, none have stood higher as good and worthy people than the Parkers, a well-known representative being William Parker, one of the substantial farmers and stockmen of Monroe Township, who has been a continuous resident of this county since brought here by his parents in 1841. Wil- liam Parker was born in Bartholomew County, Indiana, March 12, 1836. His parents were Daniel K. and Sarah (Davis) Parker, the. former of whom was born in Brown County, Indiana, in 1813, and the latter in Bartholomew County in 1817. Late in the '30s they came to Missouri, locating first near Weston, in Platte County, and from there, in 1841, came to Andrew County, the family home from then until the present. Daniel K. Parker preempted 160 acres of land situated two miles north of Avenue City and on this place he died in 1889, having survived his

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wife for one year. They had but two children: William and Eliz- abeth, the latter being the widow of Jesse F. Wright, of Rochester Township, Andrew County.

William Parker had such school advantages as the neighborhood afforded in his boyhood, but his life has been devoted to farming since early youth, and long experience has taught him methods that bring about the best results in this section of the country. His farm contains 210 acres, 160 of which came to his wife from her father's estate. When Mr. Parker came here this property was all open fields, but he has greatly improved it and now has substantial and adequate buildings for his grain and stock and a comfortable farm residence.

Mr. Parker was married May 1, 1862, to Miss Rachel H. Esslinger, who was born on a part of this farm, September 20, 1843. Her parents were Daniel and Hepsibeth (Deakins) Esslinger, and her maternal grandfather was Hon. William Deakins, who was one of the first judges of Andrew County. Mr. and Mrs. Parker have had six children, all of whom survive: Sarah E., who is the wife of Edward Feichter, resides at Atchison, Kansas; Francis A., who is a resident of Colorado Springs, Colorado; Mrs. Jennie Tebbs, who lives with her parents; Daniel E., who is in business at Boise, Idaho; May, who is the wife of E. E. Zim- merman, of Boise, Idaho; and Stella, who is the wife of Dr. C. I .. Allen, of Cosby, Missouri.

Mr. Parker has witnessed many changes take place in Andrew County during the past seventy years and has always done his part in bringing about those of which his judgment approved. In politics he is a repub- lican, but has never accepted any public office except that of town- ship assessor, in which he served for three years. He is one of the best known men of this part of the county and has reared a creditable family.

CHARLES C. SIGRIST. One of the substantial men of Andrew County, who has practically spent his entire life in Rochester Township, where he owns an exceptionally fine farm, is Charles C. Sigrist, a member of well-known old families of this section. He was born at Rochester, Feb- ruary 7, 1864, and is a son of Philip and Mary L. (Walter) Sigrist. His father was born in France, February 27, 1834, and died at Denver, Colorado, in 1893, having been a resident of the United States from infancy, and for forty-five years of Missouri. In 1856 he was married in Andrew County to Mary L. Walter, who was born in Ohio in 1836, and died at Rochester when aged sixty-three years. Her parents were David and Mary (Sherr) Walter, the birthplace of both having been Strasburg, Germany. After emigrating to the United States they set- tled in Ohio and early in the '50s came to Andrew County, Missouri, entering land near Rochester. Grandfather Walter was a baker by trade, and he also engaged in farming and was one of the early money lenders, his German thrift enabling him to accumulate the means which after- ward preserved his neighbors from distress on many occasions. He and wife were interred in the cemetery at Rochester. They reared a family of six sons and seven daughters.

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A history of northwest Missouri, Volume III, Part 70

Author: Williams, Walter, 1864-1935 editor Publication date: 1915 Publisher: Chicago, The Lewis publishing company Number of Pages: 912

Author: Williams, Walter, 1864-1935 editor
Publication date: 1915
Publisher: Chicago, The Lewis publishing company
Number of Pages: 912