USA > Missouri > Cass County > History of Cass County, Missouri > Part 29
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Dr. Atkinson was united in marriage in 1905 with Miss Helen, a daughter of C. F. Bibb, of Warsaw, Missouri. To this union one son has been born, Marvin Wendell, who is ten years of age.
Dr. Atkinson is a member of the Masonic Lodge, Ancient Free and Acepted Masons, No. 480, Pleasant Hill, and the Fraternal Order of Eagles, Pleasant Hill Aerie No. 661. Dr. and Mrs. Atkinson have an ex- tensive acquaintance and many friends in Pleasant Hill and vicinity.
A. M. Burgin, a well-known contractor and builder, of Pleasant Hill, Missouri, is a native of Cass County. He was born eight miles northeast of Pleasant Hill, in 1880, on what was known as the old Ned Rowland farm. He is a son of Price and Ellen (Rowland) Burgin, both natives of Cass County. The father was an orphan boy, who was reared by Dr. Collins, of Strasburg, Missouri, a sketch of whom appears in this volume. Price and Ellen (Rowland) Burgin were the parents of the following chil- dren: Jennie, married William Chatman, Kansas City, Missouri; Ruth, married Will Beckenheimer, and lives near Pleasant Hill; Minnie, unmar- ried, resides at home; Elsie and Ella, also at home; Robert Rowland, Lone Jack, Missouri; A. M., the subject of this sketch; and two children, who died in infancy.
A. M. Burgin was educated in the public schools of Cass County and
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spent his early boyhood days on the farm. He learned the carpenters' trade and for fourteen years has been engaged in that line of work. For the past six years he has been operating as an independent contractor and builder. During his career he has built some of the best residences in the vicinity of Pleasant Hill, many of which are model creations of the builder's art, notably among which, are the homes of Earl Parker, Harry Blakes, and Charles Johnson, and also the Tucker Smith residence in Pleasant Hill. As a builder, Mr. Burgin has won a reputation for the excellency of his workmanship, a reputation which is by no means con- fined to Cass County.
Mr. Burgin was married in 1892 to Miss Mabel Young, daughter of D. W. and Nancy C. (Young) Young. D. W. Young was born in Jackson County, Missouri, December 17, 1856. He now lives at Lees Summit, Missouri. Mrs. Young was born in Clinton County, Missouri, March 1, 1861, and died July 14, 1892, at Pueblo, Colorado, and is buried in Nyburg Cemetery, Pueblo, Colorado. Two children have been born to this union, Bessie and Jessie.
Mr. Burgin is a member of the Knights and Ladies of Security. He and his wife have many friends in the community where they reside.
Thomas N. Haynes, a prominent lawyer of Harrisonville, and former prosecuting attorney of Cass County, is a native son of this county and belongs to one of its pioneer families. Mr. Haynes was born in Polk town- ship in 1857, and is son of Nathan and Elizabeth (Howard) Haynes, natives of Surrey County, North Carolina. The Haynes family was founded in North Carolina during Colonial times, their home previously having been in Pennsylvania, and the Howards went from Maryland to North Carolina at a very early day.
Nathan Haynes and Elizabeth Howard were married in North Carolina and in 1844 drove from that state to Missouri, and settled in Johnson County. After remaining there about a year they removed to Jackson County and in 1855 came to Cass County, settling in Polk township, where the father died January 9, 1858. He was born August 3, 1812. The mother died October 13, 1897. She was born September 3, 1820. They were the parents of eight children as follows: Jane, married John Croke and they are both deceased; F. J. served four years in the Confederate army under General Price and is now deceased; Evan, was killed during the Civil war while serving under General Price; Columbus, lives in Polk
THOMAS N. HAYNES.
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township; Caleb, East Lynne; Sallie, deceased; Susan, died in infancy, and Thomas N. the subject of this sketch.
Nathan Haynes, the father, was an iron-maker and worked at that trade in his native state in early life, but after coming to Missouri he fol- lowed farming. After his death the mother and the family remained on the farm in Polk township, until Order No. 11 was issued, when the family removed to Johnson County, While the older boys joined the Confederate army, the mother and the younger members of the family remained in Johnson County but a short time, however, when they returned to their home in Polk township. This was in 1864, before the close of the war, and was a very hazardous move at that time, however it seemed the only course opened to the widowed mother and family of small children, and with an abiding faith in the future, she braved the dangers and returned to her little home regardless of conditions. They found their place stripped of nearly everything of value which was the common fate of the average home in Cass County. After returning, they continued on their place unmolested, strange as it may seem until the close of the war.
Thomas N. Haynes received his early education in the district school which he attended, whenever he could be spared from work on the home farm. Usually his early schooling averaged about four months in the winter and occasionally he was able to attend school during the summer months for a few days at a time, but the principal part of his preparatory education was obtained by self study at home. Later he attended the State Normal School at Warrensburg, then conducted by Dr. Osborn, a scholarly gentleman for whom Mr. Haynes still cherishes the highest regard. He then taught a term of school in Johnson County, after which he returned to the Normal School where he was graduated. After teach- ing two terms he entered the Missouri University at Columbia, and was graduated from that institution March 26, 1885. He was then admitted to the bar and after returning to Cass County, was elected clerk of the Circuit Court and at the expiration of his term, he was re-elected to suc- ceed himself in 1890, serving until January 1, 1895.
In 1895, Mr. Haynes began the practice of law in Harrisonville, and in 1912 was elected prosecuting attorney of Cass County, in 1914 was re-elected to that office, serving until January 1, 1917, when he resumed his private practice in Harrisonville. Mr. Haynes is a capable lawyer and has had a broad experience of practice in his profession in both the State and Federal courts.
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On June 22, 1887, Mr. Haynes was united in marriage with Miss Lucy Lee Brierly, a native of Morgan County, Missouri, and a daughter of Henry A. and Lucretia Perry (Bridges) Brierly, the former a native of Ireland and the latter of Cooper County, Missouri. For a more extensive history of the Brierly family see sketch of James S. Brierly, elsewhere in this volume. To Mr. and Mrs. Haynes have been born two children: Lucretia E., married Dr. Earl Whitney, a dental surgeon of Pratt, Kansas; and Mary B., a student in the Harrisonville school.
Mr. Haynes is a Royal Arch Mason and a member of the Woodmen of the World, and a number of other fraternal insurance orders. He and Mrs. Haynes are members of the Eastern Star and hold membership in the Presbyterian church.
J. M. Hunt, manager of the Hunt Brothers' Milling Company at Pleasant Hill, Missouri, is a descendant of a family who have been millers for generations. He is a native of Jackson County, Missouri, and was born at Lonejack in 1858. His parents were Noah and Nancy (Cave) Hunt, natives of North Carolina. They were the parents of twelve chil- dren, as follows: Enoch, died in Texas at the age of forty, and his remains were buried in Lonejack; Gaylin, died in infancy; Alice, married John Hopper and died in Colorado; J. M., the subject of this sketch; J. B., who died February 26, 1917, and is buried at Lonejack; Mrs. Betty Trundle, Big Creek township, Cass County; Mrs. Lutie Rowland, Liberty, Missouri; W. W., Kansas City, Missouri; Ben B., and Robert T., members of the Hunt Brother Milling Company, Pleasant Hill, Missouri; Mrs. Ada Blackwell, Van Buren township, Jackson County, Missouri ; and Virginia, who died in infancy. The mother of these children died March 17, 1879. September 13, 1880, the father married Mrs. James R. Travis.
Noah Hunt was born in North Carolina, February 20, 1831. He was brought to Missouri by his parents when he was four years old. He was a son of Nathan Hunt, who settled with his family five miles north of Lonejack upon coming to this state, in 1835. Nathan Hunt was also a miller, and shortly after settling near Lonejack built a mill on his place there. This was one of the first gristmills to be erected in that section of the country. It was an old-fashioned treadmill and the pioneers of the early days for miles around brought their corn and wheat there to be converted into flour and meal. Nathan Hunt died about 1875. When Noah Hunt was eighteen years old, he began to operate his father's mill. Two years later he was married and settled about one-half mile
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west of Lonejack, where he bought a cardingmill from Miller Easly. He built a gristmill in connection with the carding machine, and installed the old-fashioned treadmill power. He operated the carding and grist- mill until 1870, when he moved east of Lonejack and built a new grist- mill, and also installed a carding machine. This was a steam power mill. Here he remained until his death, November 22, 1908. He was a mem- ber of the Baptist Church from 1852 until his death, and was moderator for thirty years, and served as trustee of that church for fifty-six years. His grandfather was a miller in North Carolina.
J. M. Hunt was reared and educated at Lonejack and in early life was associated with his father in the milling business. In 1906 he and his brothers, Ben B. and R. T., purchased their father's interest in the mill at Pleasant Hill, the father having moved his mill from Lonejack to Pleasant Hill in 1897. This mill has been enlarged and modern machin- ery installed, until today it is one of the modern milling enterprises of this section of the state, with a daily capacity of one hundred barrels. The Hunt brothers are live, progressive business men and important factors in the commercial and industrial life of Pleasant Hill.
In 1880 J. M. Hunt was united in marriage with Miss Bertha, a daughter of Thomas Williams, a prominent farmer of Lonejack, and to this union the following children have been born: Mrs. Alice Parker, Kansas City, Missouri; Irene, a teacher in the public schools of Pleasant Hill; Noah, employed in the mill with his father; and Helen, a student in the Pleasant Hill High School.
Mr. Hunt is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, and the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Pleasant Hill, Missouri.
C. W. Dobbins, of Pleasant Hill, who for several years has been a well-known contractor and builder, was born in Van Buren township, Jackson County, Missouri, August 23, 1866. He is a son of James H. and Mary E. (Denton) Dobbins, natives of Indiana. They were the parents of two children, Eva, married Lee Hawkins, Altamont, Kansas ; and C. W., the subject of this sketch. The parents settled in Jackson County, two and one-half miles south of Lone Jack, in 1866. The father was a contractor and also operated a stage line in the early days, about 1874 and 1875, between Pleasant Hill and Harrisonville. This was before the railroads were built or any other kind of a road existed between those points. The trail which the stage followed angled across the prairie
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regardless of section lines. There was only one bridge, and that was across Big Creek. Camp Branch and the other streams were crossed at fords. Twenty-four hundred pounds was considered a good load for a span of mules to haul over this road. The passenger rates between Pleasant Hill and Harrisonville were fifty cents to ride on a freight wagon and seventy-five cents by stage, so it will be seen that the idea of excess fare on modern de luxe trains is not altogether a new idea, as the Over- land Limited between Pleasant Hill and Harrisonville, charged twenty- five cents extra fare in the early seventies. James H. Dobbins operated as many as twelve teams on this freighting and stage route, and hauled practically all the goods that were used in Harrisonville and in that vicinity. He died in Kansas City, Missouri, in June, 1912, and his remains are buried in Kansas City, Kansas. His wife preceded him in death a number of years, and her remains rest in the Reem's Cemetery, at Lone Jack, Missouri. Her mother, aged ninety-one years, now resides with her daughter, Mrs. Sarah Elmore, at Pleasant Hill.
C. W. Dobbins was educated in the public schools of Pleasant Hill, and, as he says, much of his education was obtained "behind a team of mules". Mr. Dobbins has been extensively engaged in contracting and building, having made a specialty of road construction and concrete work. He began his career in the employ of James Lillies, on the construction of the Ninth Street cable road in Kansas City, Missouri. In connection with that work he delivered seven thousand yards of stone, which he broke into suitable size for use with a hammer. This was before the advent of the modern method of crushing rock. Mr. Dobbins has con- structed all the rock roads which have been built in Cass County up to the present date. These include the Belton Road, two and one-half miles long; the Pleasant Hill Road of four miles, and one mile at Harrisonville. He also constructed seven miles in Jackson County, six miles in Johnson County, Kansas, three and one-half miles in St. Charles County, Missouri, and one and one-half miles in Madison County, Illinois. He built several bridges in Bates, Cass, and Jackson Counties, Missouri, as well as abut- ments for many others. He has built over nine miles of concrete walk in Pleasant Hill. Mr. Dobbins also built the City Hall there and several other buildings. He constructed several miles of railroad for the Illinois Central Railroad Company between Paducah and Cairo, five miles of railroad for the Troy and Eastern Madison County Railroad, and four miles for the St. Louis, Memphis and Southeastern Railroad. He is now engaged in the land business, with headquarters at Pleasant Hill.
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Mr. Dobbins was married in 1884 to Miss Florence McMullin, who died one year later. In 1888, he was married to Miss Essie Knight, of Pleasant Hill, who died in 1892. Some years later he married Mrs. Sadie Skaggs, also of Pleasant Hill. Mr. Dobbins has one child, born to his second marriage, Mrs. William Bartholomew, who resides in Louisburg, Kansas. Mr. Dobbins takes a keen interest in the welfare of the commun- ity, and is a strong advocate of good government. He has never aspired to hold political office, owing to the fact that he has been too busy attend- ing to his own private business. He is a strong Pleasant Hill and Cass County booster.
William Clayton Rolley, owner and proprietor of Rolley's Cash Gro- cery, is one of the progressive business men of Pleasant Hill. Mr. Rolley was born in Pleasant Hill, April 14, 1875, and is a son of Charles W. and Florence Elizabeth (Lawson) Rolley. The father was born in Henry County, Illinois, August 8, 1850. When seventeen years of age he came to Missouri with an uncle, William Bowman. They came overland and located in Pleasant Hill. Charles W. Rolley was a cabinet maker and shortly after coming here entered the employ of McFarland, a pioneer merchant of that place. Later Mr. Rolley engaged in contracting and building, and built many residences in Pleasant Hill and vicinity during the course of his career. His last work was G. M. Smith's residence in Pleasant Hill township. He died April 21, 1910, and his widow now resides in Pleasant Hill. She was born in Portsmouth, Ohio, August 8, 1853, and when four years of age came to Missouri with her mother. They came by boat from Ohio to Kansas City and from there by stage to Pleasant Hill, where they located permanently.
Charles W. and Florence Elizabeth (Lawson) Rolley were the parents of the following children, all of whom were born at Pleasant Hill: Mrs. Fred Glover, Magnolia, Illinois ; Mrs. F. J. Yonkers, Pleasant Hill, Missouri ; H. T., Marion, Kansas; Mrs. J. P. Alcorn, Sedalia, Missouri; Mrs. E. A. Morrison, Lees Summit; Clark, Pleasant Hill; Frank, Pleasant Hill; Howard, Pleasant Hill; and William Clayton, the subject of this sketch.
William Clayton Rolley was reared and educated in Pleasant Hill, and in 1898 engaged in business at that place. One year later he sold out and entered the employ of the Fred Harvey Company, and for two years was in the employ of that concern in Arizona and California. In 1901 he returned to Pleasant Hill and engaged in the restaurant business
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in partnership with his brother, H. T. Rolley. They successfully con- ducted this business until August, 1915, when they sold it.
In April, 1914, William C. Rolley engaged in the cash grocery busi- ness at Pleasant Hill, which he has successfully conducted up to the present time. He is one of the live merchants of Pleasant Hill, and by honest methods and square dealing has, in a remarkably short time, won the confidence of the public and become one of the leading merchants of Pleasant Hill.
Mr. Rolley was married in 1905 to Miss Margaret May Tupes, daugh- ter of D. B. Tupes, of Raymore, Missouri. Mr. Rolley is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America.
Dr. Geo. T. Rowe, for years a prominent druggist of Pleasant Hill, Missouri, was a native of Michigan. He was born in 1852 and died Decem- ber 22, 1916 and was buried in the Pleasant Hill Cemetery. Doctor Rowe was a son of Henry W. and Susan (Jacobs) Rowe, natives of New York, both of whom were born in 1820. The family came to Cass County, Mis- souri, in 1866 and settled one mile south of Pleasant Hill on a farm of two hundred forty acres which the father bought at that time for twenty- five dollars per acre. A part of this place is still owned by his two sons, E. E. and H. C. The father followed farming there until his death in 1881. His wife died the same year. They were the parents of four children, as follows: Allen, who died in 1867; E. E., farmer, Pleasant Hill township; Geo. T., the subject of this sketch; and H. C., farmer, Pleasant Hill town- ship.
Geo. T. Rowe attended the public schools in Michigan and after com- ing to this state attended school at Pleasant Hill. He remained on the home farm until 1881 when he engaged in the grocery business, which he followed about a year. He then took up the study of pharmacy and in 1882 and 1883 attended the Homeopathic School of Medicine at St. Louis, Missouri. He practiced medicine about a year but did not like it and for the last thirty-three years conducted a drug store in Pleasant Hill, being one of the leading druggists of Cass County.
Dr. Rowe was married in 1876 to Miss Alberta Burr, daughter of Albert Burr, of Galena, Kansas. To this union was born one child, Nellie C., now the wife of L. H. Noll, Kansas City, Missouri. The wife and mother died in 1881. In 1887 Dr. Rowe married Miss Grace Kellogg, daughter of George M. Kellogg, proprietor of the far-famed Kellogg Greenhouse of Pleasant Hill. Three children were born to this union, as follows: Fred,
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New York City; Marie, married John Forsythe, Pleasant Hill, Missouri; and Mildred, a student at Drury College, Springfield, Missouri.
Mr. Rowe had been a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons at Pleasant Hill for over twenty-five years. He was well known and prominent in the community. Mrs. Rowe is one of Cass County's most highly esteemed women.
W. H. Hon, a prominent farmer of Pleasant Hill township, was born in Bath County, Kentucky, in 1849. He is a son of John C. and Elizabeth L. (Hawkins) Hon, both natives of Bath County, Kentucky. In 1855, when W. H. Hon was about six years old, the family came to Missouri and settled in Pleasant Hill township, Cass County, where the father bought one hundred and eighty-three acres of land, for which he paid eighteen dollars per acre. The old brick house is still standing on the place but has long since ceased to serve as a residence. It was built about 1842. The bricks were manufactured on the place by John Farmer. When the Hon family came to Cass County they drove through from Kentucky with "prairie schooners". The trip required about six weeks. They had two wagons and the mother drove a horse and carriage.
To John C. and Elizabeth L. (Hawkins) Hon were born the following children: Sarah J., Pleasant Hill, Missouri; Miranda Ellen, Pleasant Hill, Missouri; Julia Ann, deceased; Mary Lorenda, deceased; Minerva Alice, Kansas City, Missouri; Jerry V., Pleasant Hill; and W. H., the subject of this sketch.
W. H. Hon was educated in the public schools of Cass County and later attended Asbury College now DePauw University, Greencastle, Indi- ana, for two years. He then engaged in farming which has been his chief occupation up to the present time. He has been unusually successful in the pursuit of that industry and now owns two hundred acres of splendid land, which are a part of the old homestead, besides four hundred acres all of which, except a small portion, are located in Peculiar township.
Mr. Hon was married in 1874 to Miss Dolly Farmer. She died in 1876 leaving one child, John, who now lives at Red Rock, Noble County, Okla- homa. In 1884 W. H. Hon was united in marriage with Miss Lulu W. Jones, a native of Kentucky, and seven children have been born to this union: Etta May, married Josh Mcclintock, Peculiar township; Dolly H., married Walter Brannock, Peculiar township; Bessie, married Wendland Moore, Pleasant Hill township; Robert J., Harris H., Elmer and Howard Cecil, all residing at home.
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Mr. Hon takes a commendable interest in local affairs and has always been ready and willing to aid any worthy enterprise. He has served as justice of the peace and township trustee of Peculiar township.
Allen Boyd Brannock, assistant cashier of the Citizens Bank at Pleasant Hill, is a native of Cass County and a member of one of the pioneer families of this section of the state. He was born February 3, 1881, and is a son of Charles W. and Henrietta (Arnold) Brannock. Charles W. Brannock was born in Kentucky in 1854 and came to Cass County with his parents when he was six years of age. The family settled in Big Creek township where Charles W. grew to manhood and followed farming throughout his life. He made a specialty of raising saddle horses and was very successful in this line of endeavor. When Order No. 11 was issued, in order to escape the hardships which it imposed, the family returned to Kentucky, but after the war, came back to Cass County. Charles W. Brannock died in September, 1913. His wife, Henrietta Arnold, is a native of Cass County and a daughter of George A. Arnold, a pioneer of Big Creek township. Mrs. Brannock now resides at Pleasant Hill. To Charles W. and Henrietta (Arnold) Brannock were born seven children, as follows: Allen B., the subject of this sketch; Raymond, died at the age of four; Bessie, died at the age of twenty-four; Walker, a farmer, Pleasant Hill township; Anna May, married Ernest Bailey, Pleasant Hill, Missouri; Burneta, who resides at Pleasant Hill with her mother ; and Charles F., a merchant of Pleasant Hill.
Allen B. Brannock received his education in the district schools of Cass County, attending the Judy school, which was the same school which his mother attended in her girlhood days. He also attended the Pleasant Hill High School. After leaving school he accepted a position as book- keeper in the Pleasant Hill Bank for one year. Mr. Brannock then went to Kansas City, Missouri, where he was engaged in the transfer business for five years. Returning to Cass County he was engaged in farming for five years, until 1912, when he entered the employ of the Commercial Bank of Pleasant Hill, as assistant cashier. He was with that institution until January 1, 1916, when he accepted the assistant cashiership of the Citizens Bank of Pleasant Hill. He is still serving in that capacity.
Mr. Brannock was married February 28, 1911 to Miss Nannie, daugh- ter of William Lucas, of Monmouth, Kansas. Mr. Brannock is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, Jewell Lodge No. 480.
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Samuel Newton Gordon, of Pleasant Hill, has for many years been prominently identified with the business interests of that locality. He was born in Montgomery County, Missouri in 1868, and is a son of Philip D. and Mary Elizabeth (Schultz) Gordon, the former a native of Virginia and the latter of Pennsylvania. Philip D. Gordon came to Missouri in 1865 when about eighteen years of age. He first located in St. Louis and later went to Montgomery County, where he engaged in farming. He died in 1891 at the age of sixty-three. His widow now resides in Los Angeles, California. They were the parents of three children, all of whom are living, as follows: Samuel N., the subject of this sketch; Lela, married Rev. E. P. Ryland of Los Angeles, California; and Harry, Los Angeles, California.
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