USA > Missouri > Jackson County > Kansas City > A memorial and biographical record of Kansas City and Jackson County Mo. > Part 27
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We now take up the personal history of J. S. Davenport, and in all Jackson county there is no one who is more widely or favor- ably known. He was born July 20, - 1829, in Clark county, Kentucky, and was there- fore only four years old when he arrived in Westport township. £ He remembers dis- tinctly the important events connected with
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those early days and can relate many in- teresting incidents of frontier life here, when the Indians frequently visited at his home, when the only mode of travel was by team. when the land was in its primitive condi- tion and settlements were widely scattered. When only nine years of age he made a hand in clearing the farm. He had to work very hard, and his chances of securing an educa- tion were in consequence very meager. He remained at home assisting in the labors of the farm until nineteen years of age, when with the spirit of adventure common to young men, and a hope of gain, he left Hickman's Mills in Washington township, on the 14th of May, 1849, and started with an ox team across the plains for California, driving two thousand miles. In November he reached Sacramento city, and for three years worked in the mines on Feather river. .
It was a rough, hard experience, when law- lessness and disorder were prevalent; and Mr. Davenport, who has always believed in fair play on every occasion, was one of the twelve men to organize the vigilance committee in California in 1851, -the com- mittee which revolutionized affairs in that locality, largely transforming disorder into law and danger into safety. After three years upon the Pacific slope, in which he succeeded in acquiring a fair capital, he re- turned home, making the journey by the water route and New York. In 1854 he went to Texas, purchased cattle on the Rio Grande, and drove them to Jackson county, where he sold. He then purchased an im- proved farm of 200 acres in Washington township, and turned his attention to the more quiet pursuits of agriculture.
Now came a desire to have a home of his own, and on the 4th of May, 1856, Mr. Davenport was united in marriage with
Miss Sallie J. Thomas, a daughter of Jesse and Maria (Davenport) Thomas. In 1836 they came to Missouri, locating on a tract of raw land on section 21, Westport township. There the mother died in 1839. By their marriage they had four children: Lucinda, who became the wife of Jesse Davis and had six children, two of whom are now living. Both she and her busband are now deceased. Lurinda is the widow of Thomas C. Peers, and resides on Troost avenue, Kansas City. Elizabeth became the wife of Bristol Davis, and they had two children, but the parents are now deceased. Joel Franklin married Mrs. Eliza (Hayes) Rout, and they died leaving one child. Mrs. Davenport is the next younger. Minerva became the wife of Marcellus Collins, and died leaving three children. Joseph C., de- ceased, completed the family. Mr. Thomas was again married, his second union being with Elizabeth Bailey, by whom he had two children, but only one is now living,-Will- iam O., an attorney of Kansas City, who married Lydia Barnes and has two children. Two sons of the family served in the civil war. John C. died in the army, and Joel Franklin was a lieutenant in Colonel Hayes' regiment, of Shelby's command, and was slightly wounded. In 1845 Mr. Thomas re- moved to a tract of wild land on section 28, Westport township, and remained there until he had reared his family. He after- ward took up his residence on section 33 of the same township, and there passed away December 12, 1887. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and one of nature's noble men. In politics he was an old-line whig.
Mrs. Davenport was born June 28, 1834, in Kentucky, and during her infancy was brought to Jackson county, where her girl-
Geo. Fr. Elliott
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hood days were passed. Our subject and his wife began their domestic life upon a farın in Washington township, but in 1857 sold out and removed to Linn county, Kan- sas, where he entered from the government a tract of 160 acres, on which he lived for a year. The border troubles then began and he returned to Westport, but on the break- ing out of the civil war removed to Texas, settling on a farm in Fannin county, where he made his home until 1863. His home the succeeding two years was in Grayson county, Texas, but during that time, being a practical wagon-master, he joined General Steele's command as brigade wagon-master, with the rank of captain, operating in In- dian Territory, Arkansas and southern Mis- souri. He had charge of the wagons at the battles of Fort Gibson and Elk creek, and remained in the service until the close of the war. He then returned to Texas, and soon again came to Jackson county, Mis- souri, living on a rented farm in Washing- ton township for two years.
The succeeding three years Mr. Daven- port passed on another farm in Washington township, and then located on section 21 Westport township, where he made his home for twelve years. On the expiration of that period he sold out and purchased a farın in Brooking township, which he still owns, comprising 120 acres of valuable land, as fine as can be found in Jackson county. Wishing to retire from active business life, in October, 1890, he removed to his present home, comprising thirty acres on section 28, Westport township, a part of the Jesse Thomas estate. He has just completed thereon a very fine residence, and now has. one of the first homes in this locality. It is tastefully furnished, and now in his declin- ing years Mr. Davenport is able to secure 13
the comforts and luxuries of life as well as its necessaries, while his business career has been crowned with prosperity. He care- fully managed his interests, and possessing sound judgment and indefatigable enterprise he worked his way steadily upward to a po- sition of affluence. Both he and his wife are faithful and consistent members of the Christian church, with which they have been identified for thirty years, and its work and upbuilding have taken a very important part. For ten years he served as one of the elders of the Westport church. Socially, he is a member of the Masonic order, and in politics was for forty-three years a demo- crat, but is now a stalwart advocate of the populist party, and is deeply interested in its success. He attends its conventions, and in 1893 was its candidate for the office of county treasurer of Jackson county. His life has been well spent, and over his record there falls no shadow of wrong or suspicion of evil. He possesses a happy, sunny temperament, and for forty years he has found his wife to be an able companion and helpmeet, while her many excellencies of character and genuine worth have endeared her to all who have made her acquaintance.
EORGE N. ELLIOTT, assistant prosecuting attorney of Jackson county, is a native of Howard county, Missouri, born January 26, 1851. He is a son of Sampson W. and Amanda H. (Ridgway) Elliott, natives of Missouri. His paternal grandfather, Reuben Elliott, was a Kentuckian and a soldier in the war of 1812, having participated in the battles of New Orleans as a musician. In IS19 he settled in Missouri, when it was yet a territory. He was a farmer by occupa-
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tion. His death occurred in Boone county, Missouri. His maternal grandfather, Thomas Ridgway, was also a Kentuckian and be- came a pioneer in Howard county, Missouri, where he lived and died.
The father of our subject was also a farmer. In the spring of 1851 he removed to Linn county, Missouri, settling near where Brookfield is now located. Here he entered a tract of land, upon which he lived till his death in 1880. He was a gentleman of prominence, having held numerous posi- tions of public trust. In his early life he was a great hunter, a man of dauntless courage and untiring energy. Mrs. Elliott departed her life in 1876. To this estimable couple were born six children, five of whom are living: George N .; Mrs. Sallie Murrain, of Brookfield, Missouri; Millard F., of Los Angeles, California; Mrs. Theodosia E. Moore, of Brookfield; and Everett, a well known lawyer of Kansas City.
The early educational discipline of our subject was obtained in the country school and a private school in Brookfield, where he was fitted for college. Subsequently he entered the State University of Missouri, at which he graduated in 1873. After teach- ing a few terms of school he founded the Brookfield Chronicle, a newspaper he edited with some success for several years, but journalism not being entirely to his taste he sold out. In the meantime he had read law and was admitted to practice by Hon. G. D. Burgess, now judge of the supreme court, having had a predilection for it as a profes- sion. In 1877 he was admitted to the bar and opened an office in Brookfield, where for several years he did a large law and loan business. He was school commissioner of Linn county for three consecutive terms, city and township assessor several terms,
and was prominently identified with numer- ous enterprises. While residing in Linn county he received the nomination for rep- resentative on the Democratic ticket, which was defeated.
In June, 1887, he came to Kansas City and engaged in practice. The following September he entered into a co-partnership for the practice of law with Colonel Michael Boland, which was continued till 1890, when General Hamilton was taken into the firm, the style of which then became Boland, Hamilton & Elliott. Mr. Elliott is also in a law partnership with C. E. Burnham, under the firm name of Elliott & Burnham. He was appointed to his present position in February, 1895. As a lawyer Mr. Elliott takes high rank in the profession, being con- sidered one of the ablest at the Jackson county bar. He is a meniber of the Masonic fraternity and Knights of Pythias.
March 24, 1880, was consummated his marriage to Miss Josephine E. Pollard, of Macon City, Missouri, who has borne him four children: Madge L., Charlotte E., Willard F., and Emma J. Mr. Elliott is a deacon of the Olive Street Baptist church, and superintendent of the Sunday-school.
W. HARNISH is one of the lead- ing and influential citizens of Jackson county, occupying a prominent position in agricultural and banking circles, in political affairs and public interests. Devoted to the best inter- ests of his native land, few men have studied more closely or thoroughly into the interests and questions of the day, and to the press he has been a valuable contributor, his literary articles being of much merit. It is seldom that one can give a divided alle-
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giance to varied interests in this way and yet become widely and favorably known along all lines; but Mr. Harnish has won success in his various business ventures and has gained a well known prominence through his mastery of the political and economic questions of the day.
More than a century and a half ago there came to America from Switzerland three brothers of the name of Harnish. One set- tled in New York, another in Virginia, and the third in Pennsylvania. The family was represented in the Revolutionary war by valiant members of the colonial army. The grandfather of our subject, David Harnish, was a native of Lancaster county, Pennsyl- vania, and was a grandson of the original American ancestor who located in the Key- stone state.
The father, Michael G. Harnish, was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, in ISI0, and married Elizabeth Warfel, who was born in the same county in 1816, daugli- ter of Abraham Warfel, also a native of Lancaster county and of Swiss descent. The parents spent their entire lives in that county and the father became one of its prominent farmers. His death occurred in 1885, and his wife passed away in 1890. They were members of the New Mennonite church, and were people of the highest re- spectability. Eight children of their family still survive, namely: Benjamin, of Ne- braska; David, who is living in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania; Annie, deceased wife of Amos Mowry; Martin, deceased; Amos, who is living in Pennsylvania; Elizabeth, wife of Amos Hollinger, of Pennsylvania; M. W .; and Abraham, also of the Keystone state.
Our subject was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, June 5, 1843, and was reared there upon a farm. He acquired his
education in the State Normal School, also at Iron City College, and when seventeen years of age began teaching, which profes- sion he successfully followed for twelve years in Pennsylvania, Illinois and Missouri, being recognized as a inost capable edu- cator. In 1868 he started westward to Illi- nois and for some eight years was engaged in lecturing throughout the United States on the subject of phrenology and meta- physics. He has always been a close and earnest student, carrying his investigations and researches far and wide into the field of knowledge. He is indeed a man of broad culture, scholarly attainments and extended general information.
In 1870 Mr. Harnish was united in mar- riage with Miss Elvina Hollinger, a native of Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, and a daughter of John and Annie (Lee) Hollin- ger, both natives of the same county. The Hollinger family is an old one of the Key- stone state, but the grandfather Lee was an Englishman. The father of Mrs. Harnish was born in 1807 and died in 1850, while his wife, who was born in 1810, died in January, 1895. They had a family of six children, namely: Cyrus, deceased; Amos, of Pennsylvania; Mary, wife of Abram Frantz, of that state; Harry, of Pennsylvania; Sarah, wife of Eli Kendig, of the Keystone state; and Mrs. Harnish. The parents were mem- bers of the German Reformed church.
Mrs. Harnish was born December 10, 1849, in Lancaster county, and is a lady of education and culture, having been a stu- dent in the State Normal School, of Millers- burg, Pennsylvania. In the year of their marriage our subject and his wife came to Missouri and located on the farm which has since been their home. It comprises 160 acres, which was then but partially improved
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but the entire amount is now under a high state of cultivation. The place is conven- iently divided by well kept fences. There is a substantial home and barns which are excellently well adapted for the purposes used. There is upon the place a forty-five- acre orchard, filled with bearing trees, and Mr. Harnish makes a specialty of fruit and dairy farming. He now manufactures about forty pounds of butter per week all the year around, and the yield from his fruit- trees is to him a profitable source of income. In addition to his property in Jackson county Mr. Harnish owns 1, 500 acres of land, the other tracts being in Kansas and Arkansas. It will thus be seen that success has crowned his business efforts. He possesses excellent ability as a manager, is energetic and far- sighted, and his prosperity is certainly well merited. He is also vice-president of the Bank of Raymore, a director, chairman of its executive financial committee, and is also a director in the Lees Summit Fair Asso- ciation.
To Mr. and Mrs. Harnish have been born three children, namely: Howard E., Leo and Angelo. The children have been provided with good educational privileges and will thus be fitted for life's responsible duties. Mrs. Harnish is a consistent mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal church and a most estimable lady. Our subject is a member of the Masonic fraternity and of the Ancient Order of United Workmen. In politics he was a republican until 1873, and afterward supported the democratic party. He joined the Grange, became its lecturer and was made master of the local grange. In 1889 he was made lecturer of the local alliance, subsequently of the county alliance, and in 1890 was made congressional organ- izer of the fifth Missouri congressional dis-
trict. In 1891 he organized ninety sub- ordinate unions. He was the congres- sional organizer and congressional lec- turer, and has been very active in the work from the- beginning. He is a fluent and forcible speaker, a logical reasoner, and in his addresses is both instructive and en- tertaining. He believes in political reform and is an advocate of all movements that he thinks will bring purity into politics. For over twenty years Mr. Harnish has served as school director and has twice served as road overseer, and twice been a candidate to the legislature. From the age of fifteen years he has been a contributor to the public press, has been a correspondent for various papers, and is a prolific and versatile writer. His subjects mostly, however, are political economy and finance, and his articles show that he has given close and deep study to the subject and knows whereof he speaks.
ATHAN LIPSCOMB .- It is now our privilege to take briefly under review the life history of one who was born and reared in Jackson county, Missouri, and who has for years fig- ured prominently among the leading farmers of this county; who, when the north and south were in the throes of war, went out in the strength of his young manhood and valiantly fought for the cause he believed to be just and right; and whose history in an ancestral way touches the early pioneer days of Kentucky and goes back to South Carolina.
Nathan Lipscomb, the grandfather of this gentleman, was born in South Carolina and at an carly day emigrated to Kentucky, established his home on the frontier and did
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well his part in helping to fight the Indians. In Kentucky he passed the rest of his life and died. It was in Madison county, that state, October 21, 1813, that his son Joel, the father, of our subject, was born. Joe Lipscomb remained in Kentucky until 1839, when he came to Missouri and settled on section 6, Washington township, Jackson county. His wife, whose maiden name was Henrietta S. Harris, was a native of Ken- tucky and a daughter of John Harris. She had five sisters: Mrs. W. R. Bernard, Mrs. Seth E. Ward, Mrs. Col. C. E. Kearney, Mrs. Thomas H. Mastin and Mrs. J. J. Mastin, and one brother, John Harris. At the time the Lipscombs settled in this county
the Indians were much more plentiful here than white men. Indeed, the cabins of the latter were few and far apart. Mr. Lips- comb devoted his energies to the work of improving his land, got on peacefully with the Indians, reared his family, and thus passed the years until the great war-cloud gathered and deluged our land. He him- self served during a part of the war, as a member of the state troops, and two of his
sons were in the Confederate army. Like many other residents of this part of Mis- souri, he suffered greatly from depredations committed by the Jayhawkers, having his house burned and much of his property de- stroyed. He and his wife were the parents of ten children, seven of whom grew to ma- turity, and six of that number are still living. Brief record of them is as follows: William
S., second lieutenant of company A, sixth Missouri infantry, Confederate States of America, and was killed at the siege of Vicksburg, June 25, 1863; Nathan, whose
name introduces this article; Louisa S., widow of Dr. John E. Watson, lives in New Santa Fe, and is the mother of three chil-
dren; Frances M., wife of W. Z. Hickman, of La Fayette county, Missouri, has four children; John Harris, Kansas City; R. Bernard and James, both unmarried and residing at the old homestead. The mother of this family passed away in March, 1859; the father survived her a nuniber of years, living to a good old age, and dying Decem- ber 27, 1893. Both were members of the Christian church, he being active in the same. In politics also he took a prominent and active part, first affiliating with the whigs and in later years with the democrats.
Nathan Lipscomb, the immediate sub-
ject of this article, was born on his father's farm in this county, July 3, 1843, was reared to farm life, and was educated in the schools near his home and at Independence. When the civil war came on he joined Colonel Holloway's command, state troops, and took part in the fight at Independence. After this he returned home and at once went to Texas, taking with him the negroes and horses belonging to his father, and remained in Texas during that winter. In the spring he again joined the Confederate ranks, this time at Van Buren, Arkansas, and under Captain McKinney and Colonel Rosser. Among the engagements in which he partici- pated were those of Corinth, Iuka, Port Gibson, and the siege of Vicksburg. Sub- sequently he was under Captain Robert Adams and Colonel Shanks, and near the close of the war was detailed to smuggle goods from Arkansas. While thus occupied he was shot through the left foot at Jenkins' ferry, when Steele was retreating from Cam- den, Arkansas, which disabled him for a period of four months, and four weeks of this time he was inside the enemy's lines and hid himself in the woods. Afterward he took part in no less than a dozen fierce
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skirmishes. He continued in the ranks until the close of the conflict, surrendered at Little Rock, Arkansas, and from there went to Texas, remaining until Christmas, 1865, when he returned home.
In the spring of 1866 Mr. Lipscomb, in company with Mr. Reuben Mastin, went to Texas for cattle, and on his return he set out for Nebraska City, where he was em- ployed as wagon-master for S. E. Ward in a freighting business. In 1868 he came home, and the following year purchased the farm, of 135 acres, in section 19, Washing- ton township, where he has since lived. At the time of purchase this land was all in its primitive state. To the work of improving and cultivating his farm he has given his close attention, has added to his original holdings, and at this writing has under cul- tivation 187 acres.
Mr. Lipscomb was married April 25, 1877, to Miss Letitia Cantrell, a native of this township and a daughter of D. H. Cantrell. Mr. Cantrell came from Tennessee to Jack- son county, Missouri, in the year 1834, and made this his home until 1853, when he crossed the plains to California, and in the Golden State maintained his residence until his death, October 22, 1894. Mrs. Lips- conib's mother was by maiden name Miss Hannah Kerby. She was a native of Ten- nessee, born in 1823, daughter of Jesse Kerby, who came to Jackson county in 1832, and died here in 1853. She died in 1888. Mr. and Mrs. Cantrell were the par- ents of six children, four of whom are liv- ing, -Mrs. Lipscomb, Mrs. Sarah Spauld- ing, Mrs. Mary Oppenheim and C. H. Can- trell, -all residents of California except Mrs. Lipscomb. She was born December 5, 1844, went to the Pacific coast with her parents and was educated there. Mr. and
Mrs. Lipscomb have an only child, Darby Cantrell, born December 7, 1881.
In public and political affairs Mr. Lips- comb has ever evinced a lively and com- mendable interest, acting with the demo- cratic party. He has been school director for many years, has frequently served as delegate to conventions, and in 1892 made the race for the nomination of sheriff, being defeated, however, in this race. Mrs. Lips- comb is an active member of the Christian church.
J H. MOONEY, A. M., M. D., of Kansas City, was born in Wheeling, West Virginia, August 9, 1851, and is a son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Farnsworth) Mooney, the former a native of Virginia, and the latter of New York. The father was a millwright by trade and carried on that business in the Old Domin- ion until 1854, when he came to Clay coun- ty, Missouri, locating at Liberty, where he engaged in the milling business until 1868. He afterward turned his attention to farm- ing, and in 1885 he came to Kansas City, where he lived retired until his death, which occurred in January, 1893. His widow still survives him.
The Doctor is the eldest in a family of eight children, five of whom are yet living. He was only three years old when the fam- ily came to this state and was educated in Liberty, Missouri, and in the college at Plattsburg, Clinton county, being graduated at that institution with the class of 1871, receiving the degree of A. M. He then turned his attention to school-teaching, which he followed for ten years, when he took up the study of medicine, pursuing his researches in the Kansas City University
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Medical College, where he was graduated in 1888. While a student he conducted a grocery and drug store at Harlem, Missouri.
Immediately after his graduation Dr. Mooney began the practice of medicine in Kansas City, and has attained considerable prominence and secured a good business. He makes a specialty of the diseases of women, and is professor of clinical and operative gynecology in the College of Phy- sicians and Surgeons in Kansas City, Kansas. He was also one of the organizers and char- ter members of this school, and a trustee and stockholder. The Doctor is a member of the University Alumni Association, the Kansas City Medical and Surgical Associa- tion, and the Jackson County Medical So- ciety. One of the representative men of his calling in the city, he is exceedingly well read in his profession, and in all his opera- tions he has never lost but one patient, and that operation was performed under protest.
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