USA > Missouri > Jackson County > Kansas City > A memorial and biographical record of Kansas City and Jackson County Mo. > Part 36
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Society of Friends, and the father was act- ive in church work.
John Scott, the father of Thomas and grandfather of our subject, was likewise of English birth. His father was a Scotchman. John was one of a family of eleven brothers who scattered to widely different parts of the earth. He died in Michigan in 1865, at the age of eighty-six years.
J. M. Scott was born in Albany, New York, July 29, 1829, and was reared and educated in Michigan, his educational ad- vantages being limited to the common schools. In Michigan he learned the car- penter's trade, under his father's instructions, and worked at that trade until he was crippled in his right arm and left leg. After this he learned the business of photography, to which his attention was given for a period of sixteen years in Ann Arbor. In the spring of 1865 he came to Missouri and set- tled on his present farm in Jackson county, it being then all wild land. Here he has labored earnestly and persistently and his efforts have been rewarded with success. His farm is now under a high state of culti- vation, is nicely improved, and is one of the desirable places of the locality.
Mr. Scott was married in 1853 to Miss Louisa Collier, a native of New York city, born in 1833, daughter of Orin Collier, de- ceased. Mr. and Mrs. Scott have five sons and one daughter, viz .: George A., who married Miss Sallie Robertson and lives at Hickman Mills, this township, is the father of three daughters; Walter L., who married Miss Emma Price and has a son and daugh- ter, lives in Vernon county, Missouri; Charles C., at home; William and his wife, formerly Miss Mary Faulkner, have one daughter; their home being in Washington township; Delia, at home; and Henry A.,
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who married Miss Lillie R. Shaw and lives in this township.
For a period of forty-four years Mr. Scott has been a member of the Baptist church, but Mrs. Scott has united with the Christain church at Hickman Mills. Of his political views, we would state that he has ever harmonized with the republican party, and to this party he has given his earnest support. For fifteen years he has been school director of his district.
A BRAHAM CHRISMAN, a leading and influential farmer of Perry town- ship, residing on section 14, owns and operates 180 acres of valuable land, all of which is under a high state of cultivation and well improved. His home is a fine residence, which he erected in 1884. In 1879 he built a good barn; and these stand in the midst of well tilled fields. There is also a good bearing orchard upon the place. The principal crops which he raises are hay and grain; and in addition he is engaged to some extent in raising stock. He is recognized as one of the wide-wake and progressive agriculturists of the commu- nity, and certainly deserves great credit for his success, which has all been achieved through his own efforts.
Mr. Chrisman is a representative of one of the pioneer families of Jackson county. His father, Abraham Chrisman, was born in `Lee county, Virginia, and having arrived at years of maturity, wedded Susanna Pendle-, ton, a native of the same state. From the Old Dominion they emigrated to Missouri, and for a time were residents of Independ- ence, then located in Prairie township, near Rocky Ford, on the east side of the Little
Blue. It was all wild land; but the father at once began to clear and improve it, and continued its cultivation until 1849, when, attracted by the discovery of gold in Califor- nia, he crossed the plains to the Pacific slope in company with Esquire John O. Boggs, of Lees Summit. He died shortly after reaching his destination and was buried near Sacramento. Mrs. Chrisman spent her remaining days on the home farm, and was laid to rest within its boundaries. In the family were nine children, five sons and four daughters, of whom four are now living, namely: John P., a resident of California; Edward P., who is living in Prairie town- ship; Abraham, of this review; and Mrs. Martha Flanary, of Greenwood, Missouri.
After the death of the mother the father of our subject married Mrs. Phœbe Harris, a widow, who died in Texas. One child was born of this union, who yet survives, - Lee, a resident of Tarrant county, Texas. The parents were both members of the Bap- tist church, and were early pioneers of Jack- son county. Our subject had one brother, George W., who entered the Confederate army during the civil war, and died while in the service, in Indian Territory.
The gentleman whose name introduces this sketch was born on the old family homestead in Prairie township, October 30, 1837, and was reared to manhood under the parental roof, while in the district schools of the neighborhood he acquired his educa- tion. He located upon his present farm in 1861, but spent a part of the time during the civil war in Kansas City, where he en- gaged in teaming. He then returned to his land and has continuously engaged in its cultivation since 1867. He follows the most progressive methods in his farming opera- tions, and his well tilled fields give not only
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Residence of Q. L. Thompson.
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indications of good harvests but also indi- cate the thrift and enterprise of the owner.
In 1885 was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Chrisman and Miss Florence Simpson. The lady is a native of Indiana, spent her girlhood days in that state and acquired a good education. In his political views, Mr. Chrisman is a democrat, but has never sought or desired public office, preferring to give his time and attention to his business interests, in which he is meeting with suc- cess. He has long been a resident of Jack- son county, -in fact has known no other home. He has therefore witnessed the greater part of its upbuilding, has seen its wild lands transformed into beautiful homes and farms, has noted the growth of the cities, and in all the work of improvement has ever borne his part.
a ALVIN THOMPSON, deceased. - On a farm in section 36, one and one-half miles west of Independ- ence, Blue township, Jackson coun- ty, Missouri, once dwelt the late Calvin Thompson of this place.
He was born in Campbell county, Vir- ginia, August 20, 1818. Mr. Thompson received his education at the New London (Campbell county) Academy. On finishing school, he worked as a clerk in a store for five years, by which he had become thor- oughly acquainted with every department of mercantile business. Later he removed to Lynchburg, Virginia, where he carried on a store by himself for some time. The work, however, was very confining and try- ing to his health. Anxious to try his hand at a new venture, he disposed of his store and in 1848 removed to Carroll county, near Miles' Point, Missouri, where he en-
gaged in the stock trade with great success until 1866, when he again opened a grocery store in Independence and continued tlius for eleven years, after which he again sold out and bought a farm of 150 acres one and one-half miles east of Independence. He was a natural farmer, and under his per- sonal supervision the place soon gave token of superior management and yielded enor- mous crops. When the land boom struck the place about 1886 he sold the farm for $175 per acre. It was at once divided up into building lots and given the name of East Independence. The boom was ephem- eral, however, and the place never grew to any size. Our subject then built a resi- dence in Independence, where he passed the rest of his days.
Mr. Thompson was married in 1846 to Miss Catharine L. Gwatkin, of Campbell county, Virginia. Four children were born to them, the two eldest of whom died in infancy. Charles A., the third child, is now a prosperous farmer in Jackson county, Mis- souri, and David L., the youngest, now resides on his farm three miles from Blue Springs. Mrs. Thompson died in 1883, and our subject in 1894, at the age of seventy- six years.
Mr. Thompson was a very peaceable man and had a great antipathy to going to law. If he could not settle a matter mostly 'by arbitration he would make concessions greatly to his disadvantage rather than take it into the courts. During his life-time he amassed a handsome property, mostly in land, which is now in the possession of his two surviving sons.
David Leslie Thompson, youngest son of Calvin Thompson, was born April 17, 1849, at Miles' Point, Carroll county, Mis- souri. When still a young lad his parents
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removed to Independence, Missouri, where he attended school. At what is now Wood- land College, his preceptor was Professor George S. Bryant.
March 22, 1877, Mr. Thompson was married, in Independence, to Miss Mary Alice Hymes, daughter of George and Mar- tha (Badgley) Hymnes, both natives of Ful- ton county, Pennsylvania. Mr. Hymes was a farmer there, and in 1869 came to Inde- pendence, Missouri. He died February 10, 1891, aged seventy-nine years. He served eighteen months in the rebellion, belonging to company G, one hundred and eighty-sixth volunteer infantry, of Pennsylvania. Mrs. Thompson was the only daughter and was also born in Pennsylvania.
After his marriage Mr. Thompson re- moved to his present farm, which his father had purchased the year previous. It is located three miles northwest of Blue Springs, near Independence, and contains 100 acres of improved land in a high state of cultivation. His residence, of brick, is an ideal country house and is surrounded by spacious, well kept grounds, which add greatly to the beauty of the place. (A view of this resi- dence is given in this work.) His out-build- ings are all in good condition, denoting thrift and careful management. In 1895 he erected a tenant house on the place, which greatly lightens his expenses as well as adds to the convenience and comfort of his farm labor.
Mr. and Mrs. Thompson have had four children: Calvin Leslie, who died when seventeen months old; Virgie M. C. Thomp- son, now a young miss of sixteen years, is at school; Archibald Arthur, a bright lad of twelve years; and Davie Crockett, the pet of the household, who has just reached his seventh year.
Charles A. Thompson, brother of our subject, married Kate Deardorff, a daughter of D. J. and Elizabeth Deardorff, of Sniabar township, Jackson county. They have had four children, one of whom died in infancy. The living are Pearl, Calvin and Frank.
O H. GENTRY is the efficient super- intendent of the Poor Farm and Insane Asylum, of Jackson county, and no more capable official could be found for the position. Fidelity to duty is one of his chief characteristics, and he has labored for the best interests of the in- stitution which he controls with scrupulous care. Respected by all with whom he has been brought in contact, we feel assured that the record of his life will prove of in- terest to many of our readers, and gladly give it a place in this volume.
Mr. Gentry is a native of Lincoln county, Kentucky, born June 16, 1836. His par- ents were Joseph and Elizabeth (Tribble) Gentry. The grandfather was one of the heroes of the Revolution, and six of his sons participated in the second war with En- gland as defenders of their native land. The parents of our subject died in Kentucky. They had a large family of ten children, but only two are now living, namely: O. H., of this review; and William, who resides in Kentucky.
The former was reared and educated in . the county of his nativity and in 1851 came to Missouri, taking up his residence in Inde- pendence, where he learned and followed the carpenter's trade. In 1858 he was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Hen- ley, by whom he has one daughter, Eliza- beth. After the war he engaged in building towns along the line of the Union Pacific
,
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Railroad in Kansas, and selling goods in vil- lages thus established.
On the 11th of January, 1895, Mr. Gen- try took charge of the Poor Farm and In- sane Asylum. This institution was estab- lished thirty-seven years ago and is located on sections 13 and 19, Prairie township. In the fall of 1890 the large brick asylum was erected, at a cost of $45,000. This is divided into five buildings. In the insane department there are 135 inmates, and in the pauper department sixty inmates, in- cluding thirty-five colored persons. The farm contains 312 acres. At least seventy per cent of the inmates are foreigners, over half of them being Irish. The remaining thirty per cent are Americans, including negroes. There are fifteen persons on the pay roll, including the superintendent, three stewards, one physician, one engineer, a farmer, two cooks, a libraxian, a night watch- man, three matrons and one laundryman. The pay roll amounts to $482. 50 per month. The farm is all under cultivation and is supplied with the necessary machinery. They keep thirteen fine milk cows, nine head of work mules, two hundred sixty good hogs and have an orchard and vineyard con- taining some excellent varieties of fruits. The officers of the institution are superin- tendent, O. H. Gentry; head of the house, Mrs. O. H. Gentry; stewards, John John- son, C. M. Crandall and Robert Foree; physician, Dr. Z. Smith, and superintend- ent of the farm, Henry Shrank. For the eight months ending September 1, 1895, the per capita cost, including all expenses, was twenty-three cents per day. The buildings are furnished with hot and cold water and heated by steam, and there are five miles of steam pipes and four miles of water pipes. Mr. Gentry has made a special effort to keep
down expenses, and while supplying every need of the institution has been able to re- duce the cost by his careful and systematic management. He oversees all departments of the institution, is familiar with its needs and wants, considers no detail too unim- portant to be overlooked and is discharging his duties in a most satisfactory manner.
Mr. Gentry was nominated on an inde- pendent ticket for the office of county judge in the fall of 1894. At this election he made a good run, reducing the democratic majority from 2,500 to 300. He believes in America for Americans, and is a pro- nounced A. P. A. man, being the first to advocate the principles of this organization from the platform in Independence. His wife and his daughter are members of the Christian church.
REDERICK RIPPERDAN FIELDS, has been a witness of much of the history of this repub- lic, having lived through every presidential administration since the fourth executive of the nation occupied the capital in Washington. He is now an honored and worthy citizen of Sniabar township, Jackson county, where for many years he has carried on agricultural pursuits. He was born in Bogle county, Kentucky, No- vember 27, 1812, and was reared to man- hood on a farm. His father, James Fields, was also a native of Kentucky, and was a son of William Fields, who was born on the Emerald Isle and came to the United States when a boy. He was one of the pioneers of Bogle county, Kentucky. James Fields served as a soldier in the war of 1812 under General Harrison. He married Sarah Rip- perdan, and they had eight children, but
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our subject is now the only survivor. One brother, William Fields, came to Jackson county, Missouri, at an early day and lo- cated near Independence, where he carried on farming until his death, which occurred in 1862. He was the father of Christopher Fields, of Sniabar.
The gentleman whose name introduces this review spent the first thirty years of his life on the old homestead and managed the business interests of his father, who was an extensive farmer and slave owner. He afterward learned the carpenter's trade, in which, however, he was self-instructed, and in 1846 he came to Jackson county, where his brother already lived. For thirteen years he was engaged in contracting and building, and erected a number of country churches, stores and residences. In 1865 he settled upon his present farm. He has 3II acres of land, all but sixty acres in the home farm, and his land is under a high state of cultivation. He engages in the raising of corn and wheat. He is also ex- tensively engaged in the raising of hogs and has a good farm, well improved with mod- ern machinery and equipments. He owes his success entirely to his own efforts, and is a self-made man, who, overcoming the obstacles and difficulties in his path, has climbed steadily upward step by step to a position of affluence.
On the 31st day of May, 1859, in War- rensburg, Johnson county, Mr. Fields was united in marriage with Miss Mary Duncan, a native of Bogle county, Kentucky, who came to Missouri in 1857. She has been a member of the Baptist church since her girlhood days and is a most estimable lady. Mr. Fields gives his political support to the democracy, but cast his first presidential vote for Henry Clay. His life has been a
busy and useful one, and his genuine worth has won for him the esteem of many friends. He has witnessed the entire growth and up- building of this locality for the past half a century, and has taken an important part in the work of public improvement.
J ESSE COLE .- The farming industry of Jackson county, Missouri, is well represented by this gentleman, whose broad acres and comfortable home are located on section 25 of Brooking town- ship. He has resided here from his youth up, and is as much respected as he is well known.
Mr. Cole's parents, Alfred and Harriet (Blevins) Cole, were both natives of Carter county, East Tennessee, the birth of each occurring in the year 1814. Grandfather Jesse Cole was a captain in the war of 1812, lived for many years in Tennessee and died there. William Blevins, the maternal grandfather of our subject, also died in Tennessee. The parents were reared and married in east Tennessee and made that place their home until the fall of 1842, when the spirit of emigration led them over into Missouri. Here they first settled in Gasconade county, a year later came to Jackson county, and, after one year spent where Raytown now is, came to the place now occupied by their son Jesse. It was then all wild land and covered with timber, there were few settlers here, and the face of the red man had not yet disappered from this section of the country. Here Alfred Cole built a home and settled down to the work of clearing and improving his land, and in this frontier undertaking was aided and encouraged by his noble wife. He died
Esslinger.
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here in 1854. She survived him some years and passed away about 1875. For many years she was a member of the Baptist church. In their family were seven chil- dren, five of whom attained maturity, name- ly : Jackson, deceased; Jesse, the subject of this article; Elizabeth, wife of Rev. Mar- tin White, Seattle, Washington; Celia, wife of A. P. Cole, Johnson county, Kansas; and Alfred H., Brooking township, Jackson county, Missouri.
Jesse Cole is the eldest of the family now living. He was born in Carter county, east Tennessee, March 5, 1840, and was two years old at the time of the removal of the family from Tennessee to Missouri. On his father's farm he was reared and in the district schools he received his educa- tion. After the death of his father and elder brother the farming operations and the care of the family devolved upon him. This duty he nobly assumed and faithfully discharged until the death of his mother, and in time came into possession of the home place. He now owns 400 acres of land, all nicely im- proved, the residence and all the other buildings now on the place having been put here by him, and here his whole life has been devoted to general farming.
Mr. Cole was married in 1886 to Mrs. Emma Samson, nce Basey, a native of Jack- son county, Missouri, and a daughter of James D. Basey, who at an early day re- moved from Shelby county, Kentucky, to western Missouri and settled on a farm ad- joining the one owned by the Cole family. She was born here in June, 1855, and was educated here and in the schools of Indepen- dence, and for some time was engaged in teaching. By her first husband, Mr. Sam- son, she had two children, and by Mr. Cole she has one child, Silas. Mrs. Cole is a
member of the Christian church and an act- ive worker in the same.
Politically Mr. Cole has always affiliated with the democratic party, has taken an in- terest in affairs locally, but has never sought official position for himself. He has, how- ever, been chosen to fill various positions, and has ever discharged his duty in a manner creditable alike to himself and those he served. He has been delegate to conven- tions, served as road overseer, and for twelve years has been a member of the school board of his district. Fraternally, he is identified with the Masonic order at Ray- town.
REDERICK ESSLINGER .- Among the men of Jackson county who have achieved success in their respective callings and thus attract- ed the attention of the general public are to be found representatives of nearly all the na- tionalities of the civilized world. This country has been the Eldorado of many who have felt that they had but meager oppor- tunities in their own lands, and so crossing the Atlantic to America have adapted them- selves to the ways and customs of the New World and secured success as the reward of diligent labor and persistent effort. To this class belongs Mr. Esslinger. He was born in the Black Forest of Wurtemberg, Ger- many, April 13, 1818, and came to the United States on a sailing vessel in 1850.
When a young man he had learned the trade of watchmaking, which he followed until eighteen years of age, when he took up the manufacture of musical instruments, especially the "orchestrion," an organ that is run with music on a cylinder. For twelve years he carried on business in this line and
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A MEMORIAL RECORD OF KANSAS CITY
had succeeded in building up a good trade at the time of the outbreak of the revolution there. This, however, largely interfered with his business, and in 1850 he resolved to try his fortune in America. Landing at New York he came at once to St. Louis, where he engaged in repairing organs, especially the large organs used in churches. During this time he rebuilt the one in the cathedral. He is a lover of music and had made a thorough study of the piano, manu- facturing those instruments in Germany as large as church organs. After several months thus passed in St. Louis, he took up watchmaking and in June, 1851, came to Kansas City, where he began watchmaking and watch-repairing, and followed that vo- cation while there was work to do. Kansas City, however, was at that time small, and his business after a time fell off. This led him in September, 1851, to come to West- port, where he opened a shop and in connec- tion with watchmaking dealt in jewelry. He was meeting with fair success in his undertak- ings, had secured a home and a good store; but about the time of the outbreak of the civil war Jennison's bushwhackers made a raid on the town and attempted to break into his store. In the excitement two or three peo- ple were killed. On account of these troubles, Mr. Esslinger returned to Kansas City, where he worked at his trade until the close of the war.
Peace having been again restored our subject resumed his residence in Westport and purchased his present property. He is now the owner of fine vineyards and is en- gaged in the raising of grapes and the inan- ufacture of wine, having about three acres planted to the purple fruit. He has erected in Westport a commodious house, under which are fine wine cellars, and he also has
an improved wine garden. Just across the street from his home he also owns another three acres of land. His business has proved profitable, and his careful management, close application and diligence have brought to him prosperity.
Mr. Esslinger was married in Westport to Christina, daughter of William Metrie, of this place. She lived only two years, her death being occasioned by cholera in 1855. One daughter survives her, Mollie, now the wife of Boley Vogle, of Westport. In Cin- cinnati, Ohio, Mr. Esslinger married Louise Houck, also now deceased. By that union were born five children, namely: Louisa, wife of George H. Michaelis, a hatter of Kan- sas City; William, who died at the age of about thirty years; Gustave, a jeweler of Lexington, Illinois; Edward, at home; and Albert, deceased. For his third wife, Mr. Esslinger chose Miss Theresa André, a na- tive of Germany, with whom he is now liv- ing. She is a cultured and highly esteemed lady.
During the time of the civil war, Mr. Esslinger served as a member of the home guards, carrying a musket, and assisted in building the entrenchments to keep out the rebels. He is a Royal Arch Mason and an Odd Fellow, and is a member of the Lu- theran church. He is a wide-awake, pro- gressive man, and it was a fortunate day for him when he determined to seek a home in America.
0 N. GRINTER. - One does not have to pursue his investigations far into the history of Jackson county before he finds that this gentleman has been prominently connected with pioneer life in this locality. Since the
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