USA > Missouri > Jackson County > Kansas City > A memorial and biographical record of Kansas City and Jackson County Mo. > Part 69
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69
In his political views, Mr. Boone was formerly a democrat, but is now independ- ent in politics. He has served as road
supervisor and has been a school official for sixteen years. The cause of education has found in him a stalwart friend, and he has provided excellent school privileges for his children.
3 AMES H. DOUGLASS, who owns and occupies one of the fine farins of Fort Osage township, Jackson county, Missouri, and who ranks with the representative citizens of the town- ship, is deserving of some personal mention in this connection. Briefly, a sketch of his life is as follows:
James H. Douglass is a native of Madi- son county, Kentucky, born near the town of Richmond, June 5, 1829. In the fall of 1835, when he was six years of age, he ac- companied his parents on their emigration to Missouri, their location being in Fort Osage township, Jackson county, where he grew to manhood. Thomas Douglass, his father, spent the rest of his life and died in this township, his death occurring when he was about sixty-four years of age. He was an invalid for some years prior to his death. In his family were fourteen children, James H. being the seventh in order of birth.
About the time he attained his majority James H. Douglass was a victim of the gold "fever " which swept over this country from California, and 1850 found him on the way to that far-away land, where for three years he was engaged in mining and where he met with fair success. In 1853 he returned to his old home in Jackson county, and, with the exception of time spent in the war, he has ever since resided in Fort Osage town- ship. His war service covered a period of three years, under Generals Shelby and Marmaduke. While near West Plains in
666
A MEMORIAL RECORD OF KANSAS CITY
Howell county, Missouri, in January, 1863, he was captured, and was held a prisoner until July of the same year. While serving in General Johnston's army in June, 1864, he was a participant in the battle of Kene- saw mountain and was wounded, receiving a shot in the right eye. That disabled him and ended his army life.
In the spring of 1865 Mr. Douglass re- sumed farining, which he has since fol- lowed and in which he has been very suc- cessful. He is now the owner of two hun- dred and forty-seven acres of land in Fort Osage township, most of which is improved and under cultivation.
Mr. Douglass was married in this town- ship, September 4, 1859, to Miss Henrietta Dickson, a daughter of the late Ebenezer Dickson, one of the carly settlers of Jack- son county. He died in Fort Osage town- ship at an advanced age. Mrs. Douglass departed this life September 13, 1879, leav- ing a family of eight children, as follows: Walter; May, wife of Charles Marsh; Thomas; Hattie, wife of H. Truitt; Myra, Ebenezer, Myrtle, and Jane.
In matters of public interest Mr. Doug- lass has always shown himself to be abreast with the times and willing to give his sup- port to any worthy cause. For several years he has been an active and zealous member of the Church of Christ. In poli- tics he is democratic, and he has fraternal relations with the F. & A. M., his member- ship being in Buckner lodge, No. 501.
J ABEZ SMITH, deceased, was one of the honored pioneers of Jackson county, Missouri, a representative of that class of substantial southern gentlemen who have given stability to the
communities with which they have been connected and who have been advocates and promoters of that progress which pro- duces reliable improvement. He was widely known, having the respect of all who knew him, and among the best citizens of the county in an early day he well deserves mention.
Mr. Smith was born in Pittsylvania county, Virginia, on the 2d of March, 1787, and was reared in that locality. When he entered upon his business career he gave his attention to merchandising and conducted a country store, in which he prospered. As his financial resources increased he became interested in speculation and in this under- taking also met with good success. Thus he accumulated considerable capital and continued to carry on merchandising and speculating until his removal to Jackson county.
On the Ist of November, 1827, Mr. Smith was united in marriage to Miss Susan Royster, a native of Pittsylvania county, Virginia. They became the parents of three children, namely: Henry C., who died in Jackson county, Missouri, of cholera, in 1849; Thomas T., who died in Jackson county, Missouri, on the 25th of July, 1879; and John T., the only surviving member of the family, now a resident of Independence, Missouri. The mother died in the Old Dominion, July 29, 1844, and Mr. Smith was again married, his second union being with Ann Eliza Kean. Their wedding was celebrated on the 25th of May, 1851.
It was in the year 1843 that Mr. Smith came to Jackson county and purchased several tracts of land. He located first about seven miles northeast of Independence, where he remained a short time, and then settled about a mile northeast of the town,
667
AND JACKSON COUNTY, MISSOURI.
where he continued to live until his death, which occurred on the 8th of November, 1855. He brought with him to his state between three hundred and forty and four hundred slaves from Virginia, who were used in the improvement of his plantation. He was an honored planter of the old school, reliable in business, straightforward in all dealing.
J OHN BRYANT, JR., M. D., who re- sides in Independence, is one of the capable physicians of Jackson coun- ty and also a successful, enterprising business man, connected with the improve- ment of real estate. He has been a resi- dent of the county for forty-six years, having come here in 1850, when a child of seven summers. He was born in Jessamine county, Kentucky, March 19, 1843, and with his parents removed to Independence, where he has since made his home. He was educated in private schools here, and in 1861 began the study of medicine with his father, at the same time serving as a salesman in his father's drug store. After two years of preparatory study he entered the St. Louis Medical College, where he was graduated in the spring of 1865. He then went to Philadelphia and was graduated at the Jefferson Medical College of that city in the spring of 1866. Returning home he continued practice with his father until the fall of 1866, when he established an office in Kansas City. From that time until 1890 he devoted his energies entirely to the prosecution of his chosen profession, but has since given a portion of his time to realty interests, owning and improving property in Kansas City. He now owns a
number of buildings there, which he rents, and the income places him in comfortable circumstances.
The Doctor is a member of the Kansas City Medical Society, the Independence Medical Society, and was president of the Kansas City District Medical Society. He has taken an active part in church work, having been a consistent member of the Christian church since the age of sixteen years, and his support is given to all meas- ures which tend to uplift humanity and advance the best interests of the community.
The Doctor was married in Kansas City on the IIth of October, 1866, the lady of his choice being Miss Harriet M. Smart, a daughter of the late Judge Thomas A. Smart, an eminent attorney, who served as county judge of Jackson county. He died in Kan- sas City. Mrs. Bryant is a native of that city and has many warm friends among its residents,-friends who have known her since her early girlhood days. To the Doc- tor and Mrs. Bryant have been born five children, who are yet living, namely: Arthie M., wife of Charles E. Knox, of Inde- pendence; Martha E., wife of Harry G. Sherwood, of St. Louis, a son of Judge Thomas A. Sherwood, of the supreme bench of Missouri; Carolyn B., Madge E. and Carl H. They also lost one son, Thomas H.
ON. PERSIFOR H. GRINTER, niayor of Independence, was born in this county, November 19, 1850. His father, Perry N. Grinter, was a native of Logan county, Kentucky, who in 1849 came to this county and entered a tract of government land about eight miles south of Independence, where he settled
668
A MEMORIAL RECORD OF KANSAS CITY
and has since continued to reside. The mother of the subject of this sketch, whose name before marriage was Sarah D. Moore, was a daughter of the late Travis Moore, who was an early settler in this county and died in 1852. Mr. Perry N. Grinter and wife had two children. A brother of the subject of this sketch, John T., died in March, 1877.
Mr. Grinter, whose name heads this sketch, was reared upon his father's farm, receiving a little schooling, but in respect to education he can be said to be truly self- made. He continued at the parental home until 1884, when he was elected county sur- veyor and road and bridge commissioner, and held these offices four years, giving great satisfaction to the people of the coun- ty. On the expiration of this period he was elected city engineer of Independence and served three years, during which time he was also deputy assessor. He has been engaged in civil engineering from 1872 to the present time, and is skilled in his art, as well as faithful in office. He was elected mayor of Independence in the spring of 1894, on the republican ticket, and he has also held other offices than those above mentioned. He is inclined to be conservative in his views, and is a republican. His father was the only man in Independence who voted for Lincoln for president in 1860. Mr. Grinter is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian church, in which he has been elder for several years, at Wood's Chapel.
He was married in this county, in June, 1872, to Miss Mary L. Jones, a daughter of the late Martin O. Jones, of this county, and she also is a native of Jackson county. Mr. and Mrs. Grinter have five children,- Ora V., Emory F., John H., Martin N. and Lee.
ADISON GREEN WOOD, cash- ier of the bank of Independence and one of the leading business men of the city, was born in La Fayette county, Missouri, December 26, 1847, was reared there on a farm and continued his residence at his parents' home until 1873. He acquired a good English education in the common schools and also attended pri- vate schools. In 1872 he went to Chapel Hill, where he was employed in a drug store for two years, after which he returned to the farm. A year later, however, he was - obliged to abandon agricultural pursuits on account of ill health, and went to Colorado with the hope of being benefited thereby. He worked on a cattle ranch and the out- door exercise proved the needed panacea. From 1876 until 1880 he remained in Colo- rado and then returned to Missouri, em- barked in the grocery business, which he continued for three years, when he sold his interests in the store and accepted a position as cashier in the Bank of Odessa, thus serv- ing until February, 1891, during which time the institution was transformed into a na- tional bank. In 1891 he resigned and ac- cepted the position of cashier of the Bank of Independence, in which capacity he is now serving. He is a most capable official and his popularity and trustworthiness have made him not only a favorite with the officers of the bank but with its inany pa- trons as well.
Mr. Wood was married at Chapel Hill, Missouri, on the 3d of April, 1873, to Miss Nannie Moore, of that place, a daughter of the late Jesse Moore, a prominent farmer of La Fayette county. They have four chil- dren,-Frances, Ernest H., Mary and John Franklin.
Mr. Wood takes an active part in local
669
AND JACKSON COUNTY, MISSOURI.
affairs and is a leader in the support of all improvements of a good substantial nature. Socially he is connected with McDonald lodge, No. 324, A. F. & A. M., of Inde- pendence Chapter, No. 10, R. A. M., and Palestine Commandery, No. 17, K. T. He takes an active interest in church work, be- longs to the Cumberland Presbyterian de- nomination, and is an elder of his church.
J OEL WELLS, who figures as one of the prosperous and prominent farm- ers of Oxford township, Johnson county, Kansas, was born and reared in Jackson county, Missouri, and is a repre- sentative of one of the leading pioneer fam- ilies of western Missouri.
Mr. Wells is a son of John M. and Cath- arine Jane (Rippeto) Wells. The former was born in Madison county, Kentucky, August 12, 1826, and when quite young was brought by his parents to Missouri, their settlement being in La Fayette county, where both died when he was only about five years old. The little orphan then fell into the hands of strangers, their kindness prompting them to care for him, for he had no means with which to pay for his keep- ing. For three years his home was with a Mr. Larrimore, of La Fayette county. Then he came to Jackson county. Between the ages of fourteen and eighteen he lived with Joseph Lipscomb.
About this time freighting across the plains was looked upon as a profitable busi- ness and one offering sufficient inducement in the way of novelty and adventure to attract even the most daring. It had its fascinations for young Wells, and before he had emerged from his 'teens we find him driving a team in a freight train to Mexico.
His next trip was to California, and on this expedition he was captain of the train. Sub- sequently he freighted for the government. He became the owner of a large train, and operated between Independence and Cali- fornia and also made trips to Mexico. For fifteen years he carried on an extensive business in this line, his freighting career being stopped by the outbreak of civil war. He carried an arsenal of thirty-five rifles, but only on one occasion did he ever have to line up his men on the plains; and he never fired a shot at an Indian. He was a member of the " Tadpole Militia."
As early as 1854 he settled on a farm on section S, Washington township, and for a few years made his home in a log house. Here he improved nine hundred and sixty - four acres of land. About 1860 or '61 he erected the residence which still stands, and which cost no less than $7, 500, all the lum- ber used in its construction being hand- dressed.
He was married, in 1854, to Catharine Jane Rippeto, a native of Tennessee, and a daughter of Thomas B. Rippeto, a pioneer of Jackson county, having settled here as early as 1838. Mrs. Wells was born April 24, 1830, and died at the Wells homestead June 28, 1887. Mr. Wells died December 9, 1893. He was in many respects a re- markable man. As already stated, he started out in life without any means what- ever, and he worked his way unaided to a position of prominence and wealth. During the war he was robbed and raided time after time. Many shots were fired at him, but he always escaped uninjured. He was a democrat all his life, and for nearly forty years he was a leading member of the Christian church, for a number of years being the owner of the Christian church
670
A MEMORIAL RECORD OF KANSAS CITY
edifice here. His education was gained, like his wealth, through his own efforts, and few men possessed a broader range of use- ful information than did he. He was never happier than when rendering assistance to those less fortunate than himself, and, in- deed, he was generous to a fault. . Eight children were born to him and his good wife, six of whom attained adult age, and of that number five are now living. Joel, whose name heads this review, is the eldest. Perry O., Jackson county, Missouri, married Miss Annie W. Palmer, and has two chil- dren. Ann Eliza, wife of Dr. J. W. Spruill, of Belton, Missouri, has two chil- dren. William Henry has been twice mar- ried and has one child by each wife, the maiden name of his present companion being Lizzie McPherson. Mary C. is an accomplished young lady and a graduate of Bryant's Business College, Independence. Henrietta is deceased.
Joel Wells was born on his father's farm in Jackson county, Missouri, January 15, 1855, and there spent the first twenty-eight years of his life. After his marriage, which important event occurred in 1882, he moved to his present location in Johnson county, Kansas. Here he owns one hundred and twenty acres in his home place and has another tract of forty acres.
December 13, 1882, was consummated the marriage of Mr. Joel Wells and Miss Kate Poteet. Mrs. Wells is a daughter of Samuel and Rebecca L. (Majors) Poteet, and was born January 24, 1860, at the Poteet homestead in Westport township, Jackson county, Missouri, her people, like those of her husband, having been promi- nently identified with Jackson county for many years.
Samuel Poteet was born February 22,
1822, in Lauderdale county, Alabama, son of William and Ruth (Bird) Poteet. His father was a soldier in the war of 1812, under General Jackson, and his grandfathers, Ned Poteet and Thomas Bird, were partici- pants in the Revolution. Ned Poteet was a native of North Carolina, whence he emi- grated at an early day to Alabama. Samuel was the third born in a large family, eight of whom are still living. In 1844 he came with a colony to Missouri, most of them settling where Springfield now stands, and in 1848 he came from there to Jackson county, where he engaged in farm work. Here, in 1852, he was married to Miss Re- becca L. Majors, daughter of Alexander and Katie (Statcup) Majors, the former a native of Kentucky and the latter of Tennessee. Alexander Majors was a son of Benjamin Majors, and came with his father to Mis- souri in 1819, locating in LaFayette county, where he was reared. In the spring of 1848 he began freighting, which business he con- tinued for fifteen years, and which he con- ducted on a vast scale. He went to Wash- ington, District of Columbia, and contracted with the government to carry freight to the western forts, and often did a business which amounted to half a million dollars. This business was conducted under the firm name of Majors, Russell & Waddell. For a number of years they employed as many as 4,000 men, and the mules and oxen in their trains numbered 10,000. Civil war put a stop to their operations, as it did to that of many others. After the war Mr. Majors prospected for gold and silver in the west. He is now a resident of California. Mrs. Poteet, the eldest of his large family of children, was the first white child born where Independence, Missouri, now stands, the date of her birth being August 12, 1836.
-
671
AND JACKSON COUNTY, MISSOURI.
After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Poteet located in what was known as the Boone settlement, in Jackson county. In 1855 they settled on his present farm in Westport township, where he has since resided. He was with the freighting firm above referred to from the first, and continued in the busi- ness a year after it dissolved. He and his wife are the parents of nine children, viz. : William, who married Mary Marta and has five children, lives at the old home place; John, who married Miss Susan Berkeley and has two sons, resides near Paola, Kansas; Charles, who married Miss Nellie Wright and has two sons and a daughter, lives in British Columbia; Ambrose, Paola, Kansas, married Miss Laura Marta; Katie, wife of Joel Wells; Bettie, Grace, Benjamin and Eva.
Mr. and Mrs. Joel Wells are the parents of six children, as follows: John Mercer, born December 12, 1883; Joel Alexander, November 14, 1885; Eugene Clayton, July 6, 1887; Mary Catharine, December 15, 1888; Turner Glenn, January 16, 1890; and Guy Clifton, January 28, 1893. Turner Glenn died in infancy, August 9, 1890. Mrs. Wells was reared a Presbyterian, her parents being members of that church, but she is now identified with the Christian church, of which Mr. Wells is a prominent member and a deacon. Both are teachers in the Sunday-school and active and efficient church workers.
Politically Mr. Wells is a democrat, and in all local issues takes an active interest. For ten years he has been clerk of the school board in his district.
what சம்பந்தது
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.