USA > Missouri > Cass County > History of Cass County, Missouri > Part 25
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 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77
312
HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY
archial form of government, and his keen desire to live under a republican government that prompted his immigration to the United States. He came to this country in 1855 and resided in New York City for six months when he went to St. Louis and remained there a little over a year when he went to Dubuque, Iowa. In December, 1857, he came to Harrisonville and here embarked in the watchmaking business and began to establish the jewelry business, which during the years that followed became a synonym for honesty, reliability and fair dealing.
In 1861, right at the breaking out of the Civil War, Mr. Kunze enlisted, soul and body with the "Lost Cause". Walking from Harrison- ville to Springfield, Missouri, there he was mustered into Company B Sixth Missouri Regiment of the Confederate Army. June 2, 1862, he entered Company F, then in command of the late Captain J. M. Weide- myer of Clinton, Missouri, and in command of Colonel Francis M. Cock- rell. Among his comrades were George January of Freeman, E. H. Reed of Eight Mile, and Richard White of Harrisonville and also Fielding E. Bybee and Joseph Briscoe, both of whom are now deceased. Mr. Kunze was honorably discharged from the service by the United States as a prisoners of war June 1, 1865. Some years prior to his death the Daugh- ters of the Confederacy bestowed upon him the Southern Cross of Honor. A letter from Captain Weidemyer accompanied the cross, commending him as a fine soldier in every way worthy to wear the cross of honor.
After the war Mr. Kunze returned to Harrisonville and resumed his business which meant that he had to begin anew for all that he had, had been destroyed. When he first commenced business here it was in a small room on the corner where the Kunze building now stands, and dur- ing all these years the business has been conducted at the same place.
Mr. Kunze was married in 1869 to Miss Alice Price, only daughter of Silas and Mary Ellen Price, who were natives of Virginia, coming to Missouri in 1845. The father died years ago and the mother is now living near Harrisonville. The following children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Kunze: Mrs. Opal Burch, Harrisonville; Leota and Ludwig Oswald, Jr., a sketch of whom appears in this volume.
As a man and a citizen, Mr. Kunze applied to his life and his business the philosophy of never "crying over spilled milk". He was broad, liberal and generous. He was careful and considerate, weighing carefully and well the steps he was about to take and never thereafter worrying about what had been done. He left Germany because he did not like the form
313
HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY
of government and came to the United States to become an American and an American he was, an ideal one. He was a good citizen, and a patriot in all that words define.
Ludwig Oswald Kunze, the "Trustworthy Jeweler" of Harrisonville, is a native of Cass County. He is a son of Ludwig Oswald Kunze, a sketch of whom appears in this volume, and was born in Harrisonville, August 13, 1881. The Kunze jewelry business bears the distinction of being the oldest business house in Cass County. It has been conducted under the same name and located at the same place since December 12, 1857, with the exception of the time that its founder, the senior Kunze, was in the army during the Civil War.
In addition to the jewelry business Mr. Kunze carries electrical sup- plies, musical instruments and queensware, and thus, as a mercantile institution the Kunze store is second to none in importance in Cass County. The straightforward method and honest representation has been followed in this store for two generations-sixty years-and to the people of Cass County the name Kunze has become synonymous with superiority.
L. O. Kunze grew to manhood in Harrisonville and was educated in the public schools, graduating from the Harrisonville High School in the class of 1900. He was practically brought up in the jewelry business, learning the watchmaking trade in his father's store and at the death of his father, January 16, 1914, he continued with the business.
Mr. Kunze was united in marriage October 14, 1914, with Miss Perle Famuliner, a daughter of George W. Famuliner, a sketch of whom appears in this volume. To Mr. and Mrs. Kunze has been born one child, Georgia Rebecca.
Mr. Kunze is a member of the Masonic lodge and is a democrat. He is one of Cass County's progressive young business men.
C. F. Mayer, the capable and accommodating clerk of the Circuit Court of Cass County, is a native of Missouri. He was born in Jackson County, December 3, 1887, and is a son of Charles L. and Laura (Bolin) Mayer.
At the age of two years, C. F. Mayer was left an orphan and was reared from that age to manhood by Mr. and Mrs. John H. Phillips of Cass County, who insofar as rearing, educating and parental solicitude are concerned, have always been the best of parents to him.
314
HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY
Mr. Mayer was reared on a farm and attended the public schools and the Harrisonville High School, graduating from that institution in the class of 19044. He then took a two years course in the Warrensburg Nor- may School, after which he was engaged in teaching for three years. In January, 1911, he was appointed deputy county clerk under County Clerk George P. Kimberlin. He held that position for four years and in Novem- ber, 1914, was elected clerk of the Circuit Court, taking office January 1, 1915.
Mr. Mayer was married March 1. 1911, to Miss Blanche E. Dealy, a native of Cass County.
Mr. Mayer is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Lodge No. 197, Harrisonville, and he and his wife are members of the Baptist church. He is a democrat and has supported the policies and principles of that party since casting his first vote. Mr. Mayer is an efficient and courteous public official and his frank and honest methods have justly won the confidence of the public.
Dr. W. M. Slaughter, a prominent osteopath of Harrisonville, is a native of Missouri. He was born at Hickman Mills, Jackson County, November 17, 1887, and is a son of O. V. and Elizabeth (Harvon) Slaughter, the former a native of Missouri and the latter of Indiana. O. V. Slaughter was born at Hickman Mills and his parents were pioneers of Jackson County. He is an extensive stock man and owns one of the finest farms in Jackson County. He is also president of the Farmers Bank of Grand View, Missouri.
Dr. Slaughter is one of a family of eight children, all of whom are living as follows: Capt. Homer H., a graduate of the United States Mili- tary Academy at West Point and now professor of mathematics in that institution; Dr. W. M., the subject of this sketch; John M., a graduate of the University of Missouri, resides at home; Seth, a student at Drake University; Miner, a mechanical engineering student in the University of Missouri; Ruth. a student at Drake University; Stephen, a student in Ruskin High School and Eunice, a student in the grade schools at home.
Dr. Slaughter was educated in the public schools of Jackson County and Ruskin High School. He then took a course in the Los Angeles Uni- versity, Los Angeles, California, and then entered the Central College of Osteopathy, where he was graduated in the class of 1909. He then took a postgraduate course at the Los Angeles College of Osteopathy and
315
HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY
also took a course in surgery. In 1912 he located at Harrisonville, Mis- souri, where he has built up a large practice, and has met with unusual success in his professional work. He is a member of the Missouri State Osteopathic Association and also the National Osteopathic Association. He is a democrat and a member of the Christian church. Dr. Slaughter ranks high in his profession and his genial and courteous manner has won many friends in Harrisonville and vicinity.
Elbert C. Austin, local manager for the Gwathmey Manufacturing Company at Harrisonville, Missouri, is one of the progressive and enter- prising young men of this locality, and especially well qualified for the technical mechanical work in which he is engaged. The Gwathmey Manu- facturing Company has a well equipped plant in Harrisonville, located between the Missouri Pacific and the Missouri, Kansas and Texas railway depots, on Independence Street. They are manufacturers of irrigating and high duty pumps and also special iron and brass castings. They began business in Harrisonville in 1908 and since that time have been uniformly running at about full capacity. They employ eighteen men, mostly skilled mechanics, molders and machinists. Their plant is a brick structure 150 x 40 feet and well equipped with all kinds of modern machinery adapted for their purposes. They have another plant located at Webb City, Missouri, which is the company headquarters. The plant at Harrisonville is being enlarged, so that they will employ thirty or forty men.
Elbert C. Austin was born in Shenandoah, Iowa, March 28, 1883, and is a son of U. A. and Eliza (Cameron) Austin, natives of Michigan. The mother is now deceased and the father resides at Independence, Missouri. They were the parents of seven children as follows: Lena, married W. H. Bartholomew, Independence, Missouri; Bernice, married D. H. Crick, Independence, Missouri; Gertrude, married C. W. Clowe, Independence, Missouri; C. B. Austin, Gold Leaf, Oregon, where he is engaged in the mercantile business; Elbert C., the subject of this sketch; Frederick L., an employe of the Gwathmey Manufacturing Company, Harrisonville; and Arthur H., Marshalltown, Iowa.
When nineteen years of age Elbert C. Austin began an apprentice- ship at the molders' trade in the Crick Foundry at Independence, Mis- souri, and after completing his apprenticeship, he continued as an employe in that foundry until 1908, when he came to Harrisonville as assistant
316
HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY
foreman in the Eagle Scale Company's factory here. When that com- pany was consolidated with the American Scale Company, they built a plant at Pleasant Hill and Mr. Austin was employed there for six months. He then came to Harrisonville as local manager for the Gwathmey Manu- facturing Company and has served in that capacity to the present time. He is a skilled mechanic and is gifted with the ability to manage and get results. He apparently has the cooperation of his employes and the con- fidence of both his employer and employes.
Mr. Austin was married June 1, 1912, to Miss Essie B. Aikin of Har- risonville, and they have one child, Elbert C., Jr. Mr. Austin is inde- pendent in his political views, believing in the necessity of honest and capable men in public office instead of promises of political parties. He is a member of the Latter-Day Saints church.
C. B. Newlee, the veteran merchant tailor of Harrisonville, has been in business in this city continuously under the same firm name longer than any other individual or firm in Harrisonville. Mr. Newlee is a native of Missouri and was born at Liberty, Clay County, May 27, 1850. He is a son of James and Ann Maria (Soper) Newlee. The father was born and reared in the Shenandoah Valley, Virginia, and came to Missouri, settling in Clay county when a young man. He was a brick mason and for several years was engaged in contracting and building at Liberty, and many of the buildings now standing in that town were erected by him. He also manufactured the brick which he used. His wife, Ann Maria Soper, was born in Kentucky and came to Missouri with her parents who located in Clay County when she was a child and the old Soper homestead is still intact in that county and the house is in a good state of preserva- tion. James Newlee and his wife are both deceased. Four of their chil- dren are now living, as follows: William, was in Old Mexico, when last heard from; Nannie, widow of W. B. Carson, resides in Chicago, Illinois ; C. B., the subject of this sketch; and John, Los Angeles, California.
C. B. Newlee was reared and educated at Liberty, Missouri, and when a boy served an apprenticeship in a woolen factory there. After he learned the woolen maker's trade, he learned the tailor's trade and served a three and a half years' apprenticeship at that. He then managed a tailor shop for his uncle, C. A. Newlee, for a time at Liberty when he bought the business, which he conducted for a time, when he came to Harrisonville and engaged in the tailoring business here and since that
317
HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY
time has continuously conducted a tailor shop. The first suit of clothes that he made after coming to Harrisonville was a wedding suit for Obe Harris and among his customers today, are many whose trade he has had ever since he established himself in business here, and among that number is the editor of this work.
Mr. Newlee was married to Miss Julia Turner of Clay County, Mis- souri, who died, leaving the following children: Walter Lee, Seattle, Washington; Tapp T., Jonesboro, Arkansas; Mabel, Harrisonville; Ruby, married T. H. Brous, El Dorado Springs, Missouri; and Lula, married Al Pennelton, Cleveland, Missouri. Mr. Newlee's second wife bore the maiden name of Fannie Teegarden, a native of Clay County, Missouri.
Mr. Newlee is a charter member of Lodge No. 149, Knights of Pythias, and his political affiliations have always been with the democratic party. He is a member of the Baptist Church and is one of the substantial citizens of Cass County.
Capt. Daniel Kerns Hall, soldier, lawyer and capitalist, now deceased, was for a number of years a dominant factor in the affairs of Cass County. Captain Hall was born in Dearborn County, Indiana, September 5, 1833, and was a son of Daniel and Sabra (Knox) Hall, both of whom were natives of Maine. The mother died when Captain Hall was a child and he was reared by an older sister.
Captain Hall received his education in the public schools of Indiana and Franklin College, and when a young man read law in the office of Judge Porter at Monmouth, Illinois, and during the time that he was reading law, he also taught school to defray his expenses and was admitted the bar at Taylorville, Illinois. Shortly after that the Civil War broke out and he enlisted in Company G, Forty-first Illinois Infantry and was commissioned first lieutenant of his company. Captain Long who com- manded the company was killed in action and Lieutenant Hall was pro- moted to succeed him. He was with his regiment in many hard fought engagements and was with Sherman on his memorable march. After his term of enlistment of three years had expired he re-enlisted as a veteran volunteer and served until the close of the war. He was severely wounded while leading his company at the battle of Jackson, Mississippi, and after being wounded was taken prisoner. He was so severely injured that he was incapacitated for further active field service, and after being exchanged served with the army in other capacities than the active command of his company on the field, being in the commissary department.
318
HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY
At the close of the war, Captain Hall returned to Monmouth, Illinois, where he was engaged in the practice of law, but a short time, and in 1866 came to Cass County and located at Pleasant Hill and engaged in the active practice of his profession and later came to Harrisonville. He invested extensively in land at an early day in this county and vicinity and in later years his own private business had developed to such an extent that it required most of his attention, and he was compelled to give up a large part of his law practice. At the time of his death, February 18, 1905, he was one of the largest land owners in Cass County. He was a Knights Templar Mason and in politics was a democrat. He was a member of the Baptist church and for a great many years taught a Sunday school class. Captain Hall was a big-hearted, broad-minded, liberal man who was almost as free from prejudice as is possible for man to be. When he was in the army he was a soldier, and a good one; when the war was over he was a citizen and forgot the animosities of strife. No matter under what flag Captain Hall's friend and neighbor had fought, he was still his friend and neighbor.
On March 17, 1867, Captain Hall and Miss Lucy Jane Hawley were united in marriage in Ripley County, Indiana. She was a daughter of E. S. and Eliza Porter (Stevenson) Hawley and a native of Ripley County, Indiana. Her father was a native of Connecticut and her mother of Ken- tucky. They spent their lives in Ripley County, Indiana. To Captain and Mrs. Hall were born the following children: Iza H., married A. R. Elder, Harrisonville; Charles Ripley, Harrisonville; Sabrah H. married Frank Runnenburger of Harrisonville and is now deceased; May H., mar- ried R. R. Deacon, Harrisonville and Delmar K., Jr., Harrisonville.
Mrs. Hall is an estimable woman and resides in her comfortable home at Harrisonville; like her late husband she is a member of the Baptist church.
Isaac Van Camp, a successful farmer and stockman of Grand River township, is a Cass County pioneer. He was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1855 and is a son of John T. and Elizabeth (Reed) Van Camp, both natives of New Jersey but reared in Ohio, coming to that state with their respective parents when children. John T. Van Camp followed freighting and teaming in Ohio until 1866 when he removed to Rock Island County, Illinois. When he went to Rock Island County he and his family drove through, covering the entire distance with teams and wagons. They
319
HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY
remained in Illinois until 1868 when they came to Missouri and settled on a farm in Cass County, two miles east of Harrisonville. They made the trip from Illinois to Missouri by boat, coming down the Mississippi river as far as St. Louis and up the Missouri from that point. After locating in Cass County the father followed farming and stock raising and met with a reasonable degree of success for those times and conditions. He died December 13, 1889, and his wife died February 8, 1910, and their remains are buried in East Cemetery. They were the parents of the fol- lowing children: Isaac, the subject of this sketch; John, Marion, deceased ; Miner, farmer, Grand River township; twins who died in infancy and Don, farmer and stockman, Grand River township.
Isaac Van Camp was about thirteen years old when he came to Cass County with his parents. He remained on the home farm with his father and attended the district school. The school which he attended was held in an old log school house which later became his property when he pur- chased the land upon which it stood, and it is a source of great satisfac- tion to Mr. Van Camp to own the old log school house. His teacher was Miss Carrie Stephens, now Mrs. Price who resides in Harrisonville. Mr. Van Camp has made farming and stock raising his life's occupation and has met with uniform success and is one of the well-to-do men of Cass County. His home farm consists of one hundred and forty-seven acres of well improved land with good buildings and is one of the well kept places of Grand River township.
Mr. Van Camp was married July 25, 1883, to Miss Mary Olive Whited, who was born in Indianapolis, Indiana. She is a daughter of John A. and Nancy Jane (Brady) Whited, natives of Indiana. They came to Missouri in 1868 and settled in Cass County near Harrisonville and spent the remainder of their lives in this county. The father died September 18, 1895, and the mother passed away January 17, 1886. To Mr. and Mrs. Van Camp have been born ten children, as follows: Susie, married Herb- ert Liggett, Harrisonville; John Franklin, deceased; Samuel Marion, Rosallie, Washington; Robert Verner, resides with his parents; Effie E., married Ray Perkins, Harrisonville; Jessie May, deceased; Nellie, married Leslie Easter, Rosallie, Washington; Ernest Isaac, deceased; Eloise, and Ralph.
Mr. Van Camp is a democrat and keeps well posted on political and current events. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen of the World, and he and Mrs. Van Camp belong to the Baptist church. Mr. Van Camp
320
HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY
is a substantial citizen and has been well known to the editor of this work for many years and the Van Camp family are representatives of Cass County's best people.
Nathan E. Harrelson, now deceased, was a prominent pioneer busi- ness man of Cass County. He was born in Caswell County, North Caro- lina, January 10, 1807, and was a son of Jeremiah Harrelson. The greater part of his youth was spent in Kentucky. He came to Missouri with his father in 1831, and settled in Lafayette County and thence to Jackson County. After one year he returned to Lafayette County, improved some land which he had bought and then sold it to Rev. Finis Ewing. Coming again to Jackson County, he settled near Independence, purchased a farm on Round Grove Creek, raised one crop and soon engaged in the mercan- tile business at Pleasant Hill with W. W. Wright, in 1835. They were the first dry goods merchants in that place. While so engaged Mr. Harrelson assisted in organizing Cass County (then Van Buren County) and was at the first election. Previous to this, however, in 1834 he was employed by John Slayton, of Jackson County, to peddle with an ox team over these vast prairies, exchanging goods for stock and all kinds of furs and barter.
After continuing in business at Pleasant Hill for one year, Mr. Harrel- son disposed of his interest to his partner and purchased lands in Heart's Grove, Jackson County, improved a farm and traded it in a short time to the McCoy Brothers, of Independence for merchandise. He subse- quently bought the Younger Ferry and lands on the Missouri River in Jackson County, now the site of Randolph, and started a store. He remained there until 1845, organizing the town, selling town lots and did a large business. In 1845 he came to Cass County (then Van Buren) and settled near where Belton now stands and bought a large tract of land, made good improvements, built a residence and other buildings.
In 1849 Mr. Harrelson made the trip to the Pacific coast, "the land of gold", and remained there until the spring of 1851, when he returned with his anticipation fully realized. While in that country he was engaged in supplying the miners with merchandise and met with financial success. Upon his return home in 1852-3, he bought a saw- and flouring-mill in Kan- sas City in partnership with T. H. West. In a year or so he sold his inter- est to Mr. West, and in 1854 engaged in the freighting business to New Mexico for the government. Disposing of this business in 1855 to Messrs. Bartleson & Sons, he began dealing in and raising mules and stock and
NATHAN E. HARRELSON.
321
HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY
purchased lands extensively, becoming one of the largest land owners of the county.
During the Civil war Mr. Harrelson was a positive Union man, but lost his buildings and other property, then valued at $45,000. In the spring of 1863 he went to Colorado with a large herd of cattle and located the noted Cocheco Springs, where he had a large stock ranch and obtained Governor Evans' certificate for the same. After getting his stock well fixed, he again engaged in the freighting business for the government with his son, William, continuing it until 1866, but soon after he returned to Cass County and spent the remainder of his life here. He dealt exten- sively in mules and acquired several thousand acres of land in Missouri and Kansas.
Mr. Harrelson married Miss Maleta West September 1, 1831. She was the daughter of James West of Simpson County, Kentucky. They had five children, James W., deceased; William H. resides in California, and John B., of Belton, Missouri. They lost two daughters, Martha died in infancy and Amanda M. married James Allen, Esq., and died leaving two sons, William and Walter. Mrs. Harrelson died September 28, 1880, lamented by all who knew her.
Mr. Harrelson was a Democrat and an active member of the Baptist Church. He was one of Cass County's most successful men of affairs- and while he accumulated a fortune for his time, he was not a self-cen- tered money-maker. He was a broad gauged man who was deeply inter- ested in the welfare of his fellowmen and the community, and he perhaps did as much for the early development of Cass County as any one man who ever lived within its borders.
Mrs. James W. Harrelson is a Cass County pioneer and a native of Virginia. She bore the maiden name of Shelton, being a daughter of Henry W. and Sarah (Wilson) Shelton, also natives of Virginia and descendants from Colonial ancestry, of English descent. On the paternal side, Mrs. Harrelson is related to Patrick Henry. She was married to J. W. Harrelson in 1872. He was a son of Nathan E. Harrelson, a Cass County pioneer, who was the first dry goods merchant at Pleasant Hill, Missouri. He became a very well-to-do man for those days and in the course of his business career acquired extensive land holdings. A sketch of him appears in this volume.
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.