A history of northwest Missouri, Volume III, Part 78

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

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On November 24, 1872, Paris C. D. Stepp was united in marriage with Mary Elizabeth Fleming, with whom he became acquainted while teaching school in Andrew County, Missouri, which was her birthplace. Her father, Elijah Franklin Fleming, was born in Flemingsburg, Ken- tucky, June 12, 1811, and died in Andrew County, Missouri, April 5, 1892. He was reared in Kentucky, and as a young man went to Indiana, where, in 1844, he married Sarah Jane Francis. In 1853, Mr. Fleming came with his family to Andrew County and bought land lying two miles west of the courthouse in Savannah. Subsequently disposing of that land, he bought another tract twelve miles north of Savannah, and was there engaged in farming and stock raising until his death. Mrs. Mary E. (Fleming) Stepp, mother of Major Stepp, died October 2, 1901, and his father, Paris C. D. Stepp, married for his second wife, Carrie Evans, a daughter of J. B. Evans, of Princeton, Missouri.

Acquiring his rudimentary education in the Trenton public schools, William Dale Stepp continued his studies at the Gem City Business Col- lege, in Quincy, Illinois, and at the University of Missouri, in Columbia. Admitted to the bar in 1895, Mr. Stepp began the practice of his profes- sion in Trenton, being in company with his father until 1907, when the father removed to Wyoming. He is now senior member of the firm of Stepp, Warden & Company, which has an extensive business, and also carries on a large and lucrative real-estate, loan and insurance business, having a complete set of abstracts of Grundy County lands.

Major Stepp married September 24, 1902, Mabel H. Rockwell, who was born in Trenton, a daughter of Orson J. and Isabelle Rockwell. The Major and Mrs. Stepp have two children, Mary Isabelle and Rebecca Louise. Religiously the Major was reared in the Christian Church and Mrs. Stepp in the Presbyterian.

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Upon the organization of Company D, Fourth Regiment, Missouri National Guard, on May 2, 1902, Mr. Stepp was elected first lieutenant of the company, and commissioned by Governor Dockery, the commission bearing date of May 23, 1902. In December of the same year, the cap- tain of the company having resigned, he was elected to fill the vacancy, receiving his commission as captain from Governor Dockery on Decem- ber 12, 1902. On July 24, 1909, he was elected a major in the Fourth Regiment and received his major's commission August 21, 1909, rank- ing from July 24, 1909, and still holds that rank in his regiment, having been continuously and actively connected with the guard since May 2, 1902.

HENRY NEWTON KENNEDY. One of the valuable and attractive farm- ing properties of Northwest Missouri is Merrievale Farm, a tract of 320 acres lying in Platte Township, section 5, which is devoted to the raising of grain and the breeding of thoroughbred cattle and mules by its owner, Henry Newton Kennedy. Mr. Kennedy is one of the progres- sive and substantial agriculturists of this locality, and has contributed greatly to the development of the community's farming interests, while as a citizen he has taken a full share in advancing the welfare of Platte Township and Andrew County.

Henry N. Kennedy was born in Polk Township, Nodaway County, Missouri, November 25, 1855, and is a son of the late Judge Samuel T. and Lucretia (Smith) Kennedy. Judge Kennedy was born on a farm in Fayette County, Indiana, September 29, 1830. His father, John Kennedy, by occupation a farmer, was a native of North Carolina, and his mother, whose maiden name was Charity McMichael, was also born in the Old North State. When Judge Kennedy was fourteen years of age the family came to Missouri, and settled in Platte County at a time when Indians were almost the sole inhabitants. In 1850 Judge Kennedy removed to Nodaway County, Missouri, and settled on a farm near Mary- ville. At that time there were ho settlers between his property and Maryville, and only four families and one store in that town, while his parents and a nephew located on a property that subsequently became the county poor farm. The nearest supply point was St. Joseph and four days were necessary in which to make the trip. In 1897 Judge Kennedy moved to Maryville, and from that time resided with his daughter, Mrs. J. H. Booth, until his death, Saturday, September 4, 1909, at the age of seventy-eight years eleven months four days, death being caused by cancer, an illness with which he was afflicted for several months. The funeral services were held at the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and were in charge of the Masons and White Cloud Lodge No. 92, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of which Mr. Kennedy had been a member, also attended the services in a body. Burial took place at Miriam Cemetery. Judge Kennedy was a member of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church, the Odd Fellows and Maryville Lodge No. 165, Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons, of which he had been master for eight years, and district deputy grand master in 1873 and 1874. A democrat in politics, in 1873 Judge Kennedy was elected chairman of the County Court, filling the position for five years and six months in a most satisfying manner.

Judge Kennedy was married July 14, 1850, at the home of William V. Smith, brother of Mrs. Kennedy, who resided near Skidmore, to Miss Lucretia Smith, who was born in Clinton County, Missouri, in 1833, and moved to Kickapoo, Kansas, in 1834, where she lived three years, her father, John P. Smith, being employed by the United States Government at that time. She came to Platte County, Missouri, in 1837, and 1847

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to Nodaway County, and at this time makes her home with her daugh- ter at Maryville. On July 14, 1900, Judge and Mrs. Kennedy celebrated their golden wedding anniversary at the home of B. A. Willhoyte, their son-in-law, who resides west of town, and there attended their children, sixteen of their twenty-three grandchildren, and their four great-grand- children. Judge and Mrs. Kennedy were the parents of ten children, of whom seven still survive : Mrs. M. J. Willhoyte, northwest of Maryville; John W., a resident of Parnell, Missouri; Henry N., of this review ; Mrs. Ward Miller, of St. Petersburg, Florida ; Mrs. F. M. Taylor, of Des Moines, Iowa; Mrs. B. H. Lingenfelter, of Seattle, Washington; and Mrs. J. H. Booth, of West Sixth Street, Maryville. The deceased chil- dren were: Austin S., Andrew W. and Archibald S. Judge Kennedy was appointed coal inspector by Governor Dockery and also held the same position under appointment by Governor Folk.

Henry Newton Kennedy received a country school education and grew up amid rural surroundings, early adopting the vocation of farmer as his life work. Until his marriage he resided with his father, and at that time established a home of his own, having 120 acres 11/2 miles south of Wilcox. On January 18, 1901, he came to Andrew County, locating on his present property of 320 acres, in section 5, Platte Township, and this is now under a high state of cultivation, yielding large crops of grain and furnishing excellent pasturage for Mr. Kennedy's livestock. Mer- rievale Farm has been improved by the erection of a handsome set of buildings, including a modern residence, substantial barn, a large silo, and various outbuildings, in addition to which Mr. Kennedy has the most up-to-date machinery and equipment. For a number of years he raised about fifty mules annually for the market, and still breeds many jacks, although for the past several years he has devoted more attention to breeding thoroughbred white faced cattle. He has lent encourage- ment to the farming interests here, and is an active member of the Whites- ville Interstate Corn and Poultry Association. Politically Mr. Kennedy is a democrat, and his fraternal affiliation is with the Masonic Lodge at Bolckow. Among those who have had business dealings with him, Mr. Kennedy bears the reputation of being a man of integrity, and is justly accounted one of the representative men of his community.

Mr. Kennedy was married September 23, 1876, to Sarah Nettie Ford, who was born in Nodaway County, Missouri, November 25, 1855, the same day as Mr. Kennedy was born. She died April 15, 1886, having been the mother of four children: Ida May, who is the wife of C. J. Duncan, and resides west of Wilcox; Lucy W., who married Frank Car- ter, and resides in Putnam County, Missouri; Harlan E., a resident of Andrew County ; and Wallace, who lives near Parnell, Missouri.

On November 23,. 1887, Mr. Kennedy was married to Mary Bell ("Minnie") Lindsay, who was born near Rainsboro, Highland County, Ohio, April 1, 1860, and came to Missouri with her parents in 1870, they being Jacob J. and Amanda M. (Hiatt) Lindsay. Jacob J. Lindsay was born July 24, 1823, in Pike County, Ohio, and there grew to manhood and was married to Amanda M. Hiatt, September 21. 1848. In 1870 they moved to a farm east of Bolckow. Missouri, where they resided until 1892, when they removed to Maryville, there living until the death of Mrs. Lindsay, January 24, 1900, having lived together for over fifty years. From the time of his wife's death until his own Mr. Lindsay made his home alternately with his daughters, Mrs. J. R. Carson, of Ber- lin, Missouri: Mrs. C. W. Talbot, of Haven, Kansas, and Mrs. H. N. Kennedy, of Bolckow. Mr. Lindsay was chosen captain of a company of volunteers in the Mexican war in 1846, when but twenty-three years of age, and was also a soldier during the Civil war, being lieutenant of a

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company in the Sixtieth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and par- ticipating in several battles. After four days of fighting at Harper's Ferry, he was captured by General Jackson's men. One sister survives him. Mr. Lindsay was converted and joined the Christian Union Church, of which he remained a faithful member. He died of pneumonia April 5, 1906. Amanda M. Hiatt was born at Leesburg, Ohio, June 11, 1830, and died January 24, 1900, at Maryville, Missouri. She was married at Cynthiana, Ohio, to J. J. Lindsay, and to this union there were born seven children. One, the youngest, died in infancy. The three oldest, Sarah Redkey, Dr. J. O. and J. H., all preceded their mother in death. Three daughters survive: Mr. J. R. Carson, of Berlin, Missouri; Mrs. C. W. Talbot, of Haven, Kansas; and Mrs. Kennedy. At the time of her demise Mrs. Lindsay had twenty-eight grandchildren and six great- grandchildren. Mrs. Lindsay was converted and joined the Methodist Episcopal Church in the year 1849, but after coming to Missouri united with the Baptist Church, and was always a faithful member, but on ac- count of ill health was unable to attend during the last several years of her life. Mrs. Lindsay left a brother, J. J. Hiatt, of Carmel, Ohio, and one sister, Mrs. Eliza Warntz, of Rainsboro, Ohio. The funeral services were held at the Baptist Church, conducted by Dr. G. L. Black, the pastor, after which burial took place at Miriam Cemetery. Four chil- dren have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Kennedy: Wray L., who died at the age of thirteen years; Verna Marie, a graduate of Maryville Busi- ness College, who lives at home with her parents; and Eva C. and Martha, who are attending the home school.

Mrs. Kennedy is a lady of culture and education, having been grad- uated from Stanberry State Normal School, class of 1885, following which she was for about twenty years a teacher in the public schools of Andrew and Nodaway counties. Mr. and Mrs. Kennedy are Christian people, but have not been identified with any church since they moved from the old home place in Nodaway County. Mr. Kennedy has met with vicissitudes in his career, but has always overcome all obstacles and discouragements. On July 13, 1883, a windstorm visited his farm in Nodaway County, and stripped it completely of buildings and trees. Most of the members of the family had taken refuge in their cyclone cel- lar, but Mr. Kennedy and his daughter Lucy remained in the house, which was demolished, although they received no serious injury. Mr. Kennedy did not have one cent of insurance and his possessions were all taken from him, but he still retained his credit in the community, and with this as a basis started all over again, and eventually regained his lost fortunes.

WILLIAM CALVIN TOWNSEND. A farm that represents some of the best improvements and values in Northwest Missouri is the East Lawn Farm, located on the One Hundred and Two River, in section 16, Ben- ton Township, Andrew County. It is a stock and grain farm, and its genial proprietor, William Calvin Townsend, knows farming as a busi- ness, and conducts it on the same principles that a manufacturer would run his factory or a merchant his store. Stock and grain are his staple products, and he has prospered both through the intelligent management of his place year after year, each successive twelve months period adding a little more to his enterprise, and also through the great increase in farm values, which are the result of the aggregate labors of many farmers in this section. Mr. Townsend some thirty years ago bought his first 200 acres of land at $20 an acre, and each succeeding purchase required more money per acre, and a general average of value on his land now would be about $150 an acre.

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William Calvin Townsend was born four miles north of Savannah, in Andrew County, March 16, 1853, and is the fifth in a family of ten children, whose parents were William Calvin and Mary Ann (Judd) Townsend. The Townsends are numerously represented in Andrew County, have been identified with this section of Northwest Missouri since pioneer times, and more complete data concerning the family in general, and this immediate branch, will be found on other pages of this work.

William Calvin Townsend has spent all his life in Andrew County, except eighteen months, during which period his parents lived in Iowa in order to avoid the local troubles incident to the Civil war. Reared on a farm, he was educated in district schools and, like many other men, has found in agriculture the freest and most independent vocation open to man. He lived at home with his parents for the first twenty-nine years, and then was married and started for himself in 1880. On March 1, 1881, he came to the nucleus of his present place, which is situated three miles southwest of Bolckow. At the present time Mr. Townsend owns 345 acres, and has several sets of improvements, and most of the land in cultivation on the intensive plan. As a stock man he features the Hereford cattle, and all his stock are of good grades.

Besides his success as a farmer, Mr. Townsend has interested himself in local affairs in keeping with the ideals of good citizenship. He is a republican in politics, has served as school and road officer, and is always ready to give his support to enterprises which mean a better community, socially and otherwise. Mr. Townsend has served as a trustee in the Bap- tist Church at Bolckow.

While successful in a material way, he can perhaps take even more pride in the fine family which he has brought into the world and for whom he has provided home and means of training for useful citizenship. On April 28, 1880, Mr. Townsend married Amanda Elizabeth Neely. She was born in Andrew County, southeast of Bolckow, in 1861, a daugh- ter of Franklin and Nancy (Wilds) Neely, who were among the pioneers of Andrew County. The family circle of children comprised fourteen in number, several of whom are now at the heads of their own homes, while several others are deceased. By name they are mentioned as fol- lows: Charles Royal is a resident of Bolckow and married Cora White; Byron Franklin, of Benton Township, married Dora Hartman, and their three children are named Marvin, Loyd and Charles Royal; William Perry died at the age of twenty-three; Calvin, Jr., who lives on a part of his father's farm, married Eva Violet, and their five children are Calvin, Hallie, Phyllis, Helen and Vernie Alice; Russell, who lives at home; Logan, of Benton Township, married Emma Violet. and their three sons are Virgil Paul, Floyd Logan and William Harrison : Jessie, the only daughter, died in infancy; David, who married May Rowland ; and Emery, Arlie and George, still under the family rooftree ; Freemont, the twelfth child, died at the age of five years; and the two youngest are Timothy and Daniel.

LE ROY CROCKETT. On section 14 of Platte Township, Andrew County, is the home of Le Roy Crockett, known among farmers and stock men in this section of Northwest Missouri as the Prairie View Stock Farm. Four or five hundred acres of some of the finest land to be found in Andrew County are the basis of Mr. Crockett's industry as a farmer and stock man, and by his success he stands in the very front rank of producers of agricultural crops. His judgment in farming matters is regarded as almost infallible, and everything about his place attests the progressive and prosperous business man. The Prairie View Farm can be recognized by its commodious dwelling house, barns and silos, and the

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condition of the fields and the fences is one of the features which at once commend this farm to the casual observer. The Crockett family has been identified with Andrew County since early times, and the success of the earlier generation has been greatly increased by Mr. Le Roy Crockett.

The founders of this branch of the family in Andrew County were twin brothers, Milton and Nelson Crockett, of whom the former was the father of Le Roy Crockett. Milton Crockett was born near Tiffin, Sen- eca County, Ohio, January 11, 1825, a son of Asa and Miriam (Keating) Crockett. His father was born in Thomaston, Lincoln County, Maine, in 1790, and was of Scotch-English descent. He was a sailor in early life, but at the age of twenty-six settled in Ohio and engaged in business as a farmer. His wife was born at Ashpoint, Maine, in 1800, and had eight sons and four daughters. Milton Crockett was reared on a farm, had a common school education, and as a young man taught school sev- eral terms in the winter while employed on a farm in the summer. This was his vocation for about twelve years. His twin brother Nelson had a similar training, and in 1857 they both left Ohio and came out to Andrew County, Missouri, where Milton Crockett secured the land which is now a part of the estate of the Prairie View Stock Farm. During the Civil war both brothers returned to Ohio and enlisted in the Union army, Nelson enlisting September 28, 1861, in Company A, of the Fifty-fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, in which he was commissioned second lieuten- ant, and served until a wound in the second battle of Bull Run caused him to resign, while Milton enlisted August 2, 1862, in the same company and regiment, and continued in service until mustered out and given an honorable discharge on June 30, 1865. He fought at the battles of Chan- cellorsville, Gettysburg, Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge, Nashville, Tennessee, and for nearly three years was one of the faithful soldiers who upheld the integrity of the Union. Milton Crockett was married March 22, 1849, to Sarah E. West, a daughter of Ezra and Prudence (Culver) West. She was born near Arlington, Vermont, April 27, 1830. Milton Crockett and wife became the parents of five sons and one daugh- ter : Wallace A., Ezra, Homer, Emeily M., Nathan N. and Le Roy. Milton Crockett was a man of prominence and influence in Andrew County, and in 1870 was elected as the liberal candidate for county representative, and served in the Legislature one term.

Le Roy Crockett was born on the farm that he now occupies, in Platte Township, June 24, 1869, and has never known any other perma- nent home. His education came from the local schools, and at the age of twenty-one he accepted an offer to become a partner with his father in conducting the farm, and from that time forward took the complete man- agement of it. His father for a number of years had been very successful as a dairyman, running from fifty to seventy cows. It will be appropriate to recall an event which is well remembered by the older settlers in Andrew County and gave a new direction to the Crockett farm activities. On Sunday afternoon, May 13, 1883, a cyclone struck over this section of Missouri and almost completely destroyed all the improvements on the Crockett farm, blowing down nearly every tree and all the buildings and fences. The house was also crushed down, but the six members of the family in it were not seriously injured. As a result of this disaster Mil- ton Crockett closed out his dairy business, and since that time the farm has been conducted on general lines, with general agricultural crops and stock raising.

Before his father's death Le Roy Crockett bought a part of the home- stead, and has since acquired adjoining land until the Prairie View Farm now comprises 430 acres in one body. His father's first land comprised a quarter section, and he added to that until he owned a half section at

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one time. Mr. Crockett has had his farm registered under the name of the Prairie View Stock Farm, thus giving it a title by which it is becom- ing increasingly known, with a special reputation for its horses and mules. Mr. Crockett for a number of years has made a feature of the raising and shipping of this stock, and each year sells about twenty mules from his barn. He also keeps cattle and horses, and feeds every bushel of the grain raised in his fields, and buys large quantities for his stock besides. Since he acquired possession Mr. Crockett has. remodeled the home, and has built new barns and silos, and has introduced such improvements as to make the Crockett home one measuring up to the best standards of comforts and conveniences found in the larger cities. Among other things he has introduced a water system, heating plant, and lights the house with an acetylene gas plant. It is a splendidly situated home, with well- kept grounds, and is really one of the model rural places of Andrew County.

Mr. Crockett is a republican in politics and with his family wor- ships in the Methodist Church at Empire Prairie. On October 15, 1890, he married Kate Bradford, who was born at Whitesville, in Andrew County, August 21, 1869, a daughter of Duffield and Caroline (Worth) Bradford. The Bradford family in this branch is one of the oldest in American history. Duffield Bradford was born in Ohio, August 9, 1819, and his wife in Wilkesbarre, Pennsylvania, and at the age of twelve years went out to Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Bradford were married at Mount Pleas- ant, Iowa, in 1864, and in 1865 located in Andrew County, where Mr. Bradford died at Whitesville in 1871, and his widow survived until April 24, 1909, at the age of seventy-five. Mrs. Crockett's family lineage is one that would do credit to any printed page. The Bradfords are not only among the oldest and most numerous in America, but have furnished many illustrious men to the nation, and have done their share in the up- building of the country as soldiers, patriots, business men and citizens. The family originated in Austerfield, England, where the first ancestry concerning whom information is available was William Bradford, and also his son William Bradford, both of whom lived in England during the sixteenth century. The second William Bradford was burned at the stake by order of Queen Mary. The third in line was Governor William Bradford, whose name is familiar to every reader of United States his- tory. He was born at Austerfield, England, in 1588, at the age of nine- teen was arrested and imprisoned on account of his religious beliefs, emi- grated with many other non-conformists to Holland, was married there, and in 1620 made the famous voyage with other pilgrims in the May- flower. For many years he was governor of Plymouth Colony, and his grave can now be seen in the old churchyard at Plymouth, Massachusetts. In his declining years his son, Maj. William Bradford, served as lieuten- ant governor and bore the chief responsibilities of the office. Maj. Wil- liam Bradford was born at Plymouth, June 17, 1624. His son, Maj. John Bradford, was born February 20, 1653, and lived at Kingston, Massa- chusetts. Major John had several sons and daughters, and two of the sons, Joshua and Elijah, moved to the State of Maine. It is not accu- rately known whether Joshua or Elijah was the father of Joseph Brad- ford, who continues the line of descent. Joseph Bradford was the father of Moses Bradford, who was born in Maine in 1776, and in 1800 moved out to Ohio, which was then the Northwest Territory. Moses married Anna Ward, and was the father of several sons and daughters, including Joseph, Ward, Duffield, Moses and William. In this list of children is Duffield Bradford, father of Mrs. Crockett. In Revolutionary annals sev- eral of the Bradfords appear as soldiers, and it is said that one woman of the family dressed in men's attire, marched as a soldier all during the

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A history of northwest Missouri, Volume III, Part 78

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