USA > Missouri > Cass County > History of Cass County, Missouri > Part 32
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
Mr. Edelen was united in marriage December 11, 1889, at Pleasant Hill, Missouri, with Miss Anna I. Brown, a native of Boyle County, born January 30, 1865. She is a daughter of Stephen E. and Margaret (Meyer) Brown, natives of Kentucky, the former of Washington County, and the latter of Boyle County. The father was born October 9, 1833, and died August 19, 1915, and the mother was born April 25, 1841, and died Febru- ary 10, 1910. Her maternal grandfather, David Ansel Meyer, was a
381
HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY
native of North Carolina and came to Kentucky when nineteen years old, settling in Boyle County, where he spent the remainder of his life. Mrs. Edelen came to Cass County with her parents, reaching Pleasant Hill, December 24, 1879, and the parents spent the remainder of their lives in that locality. They had five children, as follows: Anna I., the wife of H. B. Edelen, the subject of this sketch; Mrs. Ardie Smith, Nespelum, Washington; Edward Ansel, banker, Crawford, Colorado; Mrs. Eleanor Schieser, Greenville, California ; and William Cecil, Denver, Colorado.
To H. B. Edelen and wife have been born the following children: Brown Y., married Eugenia Youmans, and resides in Peculiar township; Margaret, married Burford Harris, Harrisonville, Missouri; Ansel C., deceased, and Mary Evelyn, a student.
Mr. Edelen is a Democrat and has always taken a commendable interest in politics and has held local offices of trust and responsibility, and has been solicited to become a candidate for county office, but so far has declined. He is a stockholder and director of the Farmers National Bank of Pleasant Hill and was one of the organizers of that well known and substantial financial institution, and has served on the board of directors since its organization. He is a member of the time honored Masonic lodge and also holds membership in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He and Mrs. Edelen are members of the Presbyterian church. The members of the Edelen family rank among the representa- tive people of Cass County, and Mr. Edelen is one of our most substantial citizens.
William Dolan, a veteran merchant of Freeman, and a member of one of Cass County's distinguished pioneer families, is a native of Mis- souri. He was born near Holden, Johnson County, September 16, 1836, a son of James and Harriet (Anderson) Dolan, the former a native of Virginia and the latter of Tennessee. The father followed boating on the Mississippi River in early life, and settled in Johnson County, Mis- souri, at an early day. In 1839 he removed to what was then Van Buren County, in the vicinity of what later became Dolan township, Cass County. Dolan township was named in his honor and that town- ship was later divided into Dolan and West Dolan. James Dolan located about a mile west of where Freeman now stands, and made his home there after coming here, except during the period when Order No. 11 was in force. During that time he went to Calloway County, Missouri,
382
HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY
but just as soon as the Civil War was over, he returned to his Cass County home. He was a successful farmer and stock raiser, and a good citizen who commanded the respect of all who knew him. He died in 1873, and his widow survived him a number of years, and passed away in 1897. They were the parents of the following children: William, the subject of this sketch; Franklin, deceased; James Monroe, resides in Colorado; Thomas A., also resides in Colorado; John, lives in Oregon, and Mrs. Clara Rowden, deceased.
William Dolan remained at home with his parents until he was of age, and then clerked in the store of Rev. Oliver Guthrie, at old Morris- town, remaining there until the Civil War broke out. He then raised a company, which was mustered into the state service, Confederate, as Company C. Erwin's regiment. Mr. Dolan was captain of this company. Later it was mustered into the regular Confederate service as Company C. Eleventh Missouri infantry, Parsons' brigade, Price's division, and Mr. Dolan became first lieutenant. He served until the close of the war, except when in prison. He was captured at Helena, Arkansas, and was confined at Alton, Illinois for a time, and the remainder of the time at Johnson's Island, off the coast of Lake Erie, near Sandusky, Ohio. He took part in a great many engagements, his first fight being at old Mor- ristown. There were five of the Dolan brothers in the Confederate Army and served all through the war and not one of them ever received a wound. In 1873 he engaged in the mercantile business at Freeman. He first opened a grocery store and later added hardware to his stock, and finally put in a full line of general merchandise, and for a number of years conducted that business in Freeman. He was one of the first merchants to locate there when Freeman began to develop into a busi- ness center after the railroad was built. During the past few years Mr. Dolan has endeavored to gradually get out of the mercantile busi- ness, although he still maintains an interest in a drug store, which is operated by his son, Claude B., and a variety store, which is managed by his daughter Ivy.
Mr. Dolan was united in marriage October 10, 1865, with Miss Ann E. Gutherie, a native of Virginia, who came to Missouri with her parents in 1842, when she was two years of age, and located in Saline County. Her parents were Oliver and Francis (Mead) Gutherie, both natives of Virginia. The father was a preacher of the Cumberland Presbyterian denomination, and he also was a pioneer school teacher. The family settled in Cass County at quite an early day, where they
383
HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY
resided until Order No. 11 was issued, when they returned to Saline County, where the parents spent the remainder of their lives.
To Mr. and Mrs. Dolan have been born the following children: Franklin, deceased; Walter, resides at Freeman; Eugene W., traveling salesman in Iowa; Clara, deceased; Maude resides at home with her parents; Claude B., druggist, Freeman; and Ivy, engaged in the mer- cantile business at Freeman.
Mr. Dolan has been a life-long Democrat, and has always taken a commendable interest in local affairs. He has held various local offices of trust and responsibility, having been township clerk, treasurer and collector at different times. He and his wife are members of the Pres- byterian church and consistent Christians.
The early pioneers, of whom Mr. Dolan is a notable example, are passing away, and a work of this character is performing its greatest function in recording the lives and the part that these pioneers played in the development of Cass County. When Mr. Dolan came to what is now Cass County, in 1839, the country was wild and unbroken. Indians still frequented this section and he remembers of having seen deer and other primitive game in abundance. Great has been the transformation since the Dolan family settled on the frontier in what was then known as Van Buren County.
George W. Famuliner, now deceased, was one of Cass County's most successful men of affairs. At the time of his death he was one of the largest land owners in the county, having accumulated over three thous- and acres. George W. Famuliner was born in Kingston, Ohio, November 8, 1843, a son of Charles and Sarah Francis (Piper) Famuliner. About 1861 the Famuliner family left their Ohio home and located at Monticello, Illinois, where the parents spent the remainder of their lives.
In 1875 George W. Famuliner came to Missouri, locating in Camp Branch township, Cass County. Here he engaged in farming and stock raising and soon became one of the successful stockmen of the county. From time to time he invested heavily in land. He was a broad-minded, intelligent business man and naturally inclined to think of business prop- ositions in car load lots rather than in small deals.
George W. Famuliner was one of a family of ten children, the following of whom are living: Elizabeth, now Mrs. Clarke, Marion, Cole County, Missouri; John, Monticello, Illinois; Jonathan and Charles, who reside in Garden City, Missouri.
384
HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY
Mr. Famuliner was married April 8, 1875, to Miss Rebecca Alexander, a native of Elm Grove, Adams County, Illinois. Her parents were early settlers of that section. George Famuliner and wife are the parents of the following children: Katherine, Harrisonville; James B., a sketch of whom appears in this volume; Sada Frances, married Leonard Myers, Camp Branch township; Lora Etta, married Allan Bird, Harrisonville ; Perle Alice, married L. O. Kunze, a sketch of whom appears in this volume; and Carra Blanche, Harrisonville.
The mother died May 16, 1898, and in 1900 the family removed to Harrisonville. Although Mr. Famuliner had been in poor health since the death of his wife, he continued to look after his business affairs, although he did not do business with his accustomed vigor. His health gradually failed, and October 2, 1910, he died in a hospital in Kansas City. Thus ended the career of one of Cass County's substantial citizens. He was a man of quick decision, whose judgment was invariably sound, and in his death Cass County lost one of its most valued citizens. He was a life-long Republican and a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Homer Judy Clark, editor and owner of the "Cass County Democrat", was born in East Lynne, this county, May 23, 1883. He was the fourth child born of the marriage of Frank H. Clark and Mrs. Terissa Judy Jones, the two children older and between him and the eldest child, Harlie F., dying in infancy. For further family history, see sketch of Harlie F. Clark in this volume. In May, 1892, following the death of his father, on Novem- ber 14, 1891, Homer J. Clark entered the home of his sister, Mrs. Richard S. Wooldridge, in Harrisonville and there resided up to the time of his marriage to Miss Frankie Mae Volle, January 27, 1909. She is a daugh- ter of John Volle, a pioneer business man of Harrisonville, now deceased.
Mr. Clark's Cass County nativity and his continuous residence in Harrisonville since babyhood essentially label him a genuine Cass County and Harrisonville product. Few men, many years his senior, have as earnestly and lavishly contributed their support and made their efforts as effective in the upbuilding of the town and county. Entering the graded schools of Harrisonville at the age of six years, he was graduated from the Harrisonville High School at the age of seventeen years, salutatorian of the class of 1900.
In 1902 Mr. Clark began his first newspaper work in the capacity of reporter and general business solicitor in the office of the "Cass County Democrat", then owned by Edgar R. Idol. He not only showed unusual
HOMER J. CLARK, Editor and Owner of "Cass County Democrat," Harrisonville, Missouri.
385
HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY
capacity for the work, but the profession of journalism strongly appealed to him. It was a case of "love at sight", and only a few months' occupa- tion of his duties convinced him that country journalism was the career he would pursue. In the summer of 1904 he and Arthur L. Webber, then foreman of the composing room of the "Cass County Democrat", formed a partnership and purchased from Hal C. Daniel the "Cass County Leader", taking possession July 15, 1904. The following July Mr. Clark retired from the "Leader" and from his former employer, Mr. Idol, bought the "Cass County Democrat", taking possession of it September 1, 1905. From this date the "Democrat" has been under the ownership and active management of either Homer J. or Harlie F. Clark.
A strong believer in the principles and policies of the Democratic party, which he advocated before he reached his majority, Mr. Clark has been active in all the councils of the party. His interest has never flagged; his energy has never lagged. While an active and constant "party man", he has made the columns of his paper stand for clean and conscientious politics, and on public questions has struck telling blows for the moral side of the issue. In August, 1910, by a decisive majority, he was the choice of his party for the nomination for the office of clerk of the circuit court. At the November election following, he was elected by a majority that bespoke many complimentary votes from the opposing party. In January, following, he took office for a term of four years. This office he filled with all of the capability anticipated and predicted by his most enthusiastic supporters. By constant attention to duties and ceaseless, painstaking observation of routine, he established for the circuit clerk's office the reputation of one of the best managed offices in the county's history.
At the expiration of his term as circuit clerk, Mr. Clerk resumed his newspaper work, buying back the "Cass County Democrat" which he had sold to his brother four years before. By competent newspaper men the "Democrat" is accounted one of the best country newspapers in Missouri. It is a wide-awake weekly and has few, if any, equals and no superiors in the country. Whatever success it has attained has come from the indomitable efforts of Mr. Clark, whose insatiable ambition during all the years that he has owned the paper is to make each weekly edition come a bit nearer his conception of what the ideal country newspaper should be. The "Democrat" job printing department is the best printing plant in Cass County and is equipped to the minute. In attempting to satisfy this ambition Mr. Clark has spared no expense in acquiring mechanical
(25)
386
HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY
equipment and even less sparing has he been in contributing his physical and mental energies to the upbuilding of his business. Among those friends who are intimately acquainted with his business habits he is known as a man who devotes the maximum number of hours daily to his profession.
Mr. Clark is a member of Cass Lodge No. 147, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons and of Signet Royal Arch Chapter, No. 68, both Masonic bodies which are located in Harrisonville. He is also a Knights Templar and Shriner, holding membership in those bodies in Oriental Commandery No. 35, and Ararat Temple, Kansas City, Missouri. He has been a mem- ber of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks since shortly follow- ing his twenty-first birthday anniversary, still retaining his membership in Butler, Missouri, Lodge No. 958, where he received the initiation.
While not a member of any church organization, Mr. Clark is in harmony alike with the best intentions and the practices of all of them and all alike know that any appeal for assistance, either for publicity or for finance, will always receive a willing and substantial response. He is interested thoroughly all times in his town, his county and his state. Something of his public spiritedness and willingness to serve his town is evidenced in the fact that for the past ten years he has continued, in the unremunerative and thankless task, a member of the municipal board of aldermen, in which office he is now beginning his sixth consecutive term. It is through the efforts of citizens of Mr. Clark's ability and willingness in the various communities of the county, which make Cass one of the most prosperous, most progressive, and most honored counties in Missouri.
Harlie F. Clark. the present efficient postmaster of Harrisonville and a well-known newspaper man of Cass County, is a native son of this county. He was born twelve miles southeast of Harrisonville, February 12, 1878, son of Frank H. and Terissa Judy (Jones) Clark.
Frank H. Clark, the father, was born at Potsdam, St. Lawrence County, New York, of Vermont parents, January 5, 1834. He was reared to manhood in his native county and was educated at the St. Lawrence Academy, Potsdam, New York. In 1855 when he was twenty-one years of age he removed to Jersey County, Illinois, where he remained one year when he went to Sangamon county, that state. Here Mr. Clark was engaged in school teaching until the Civil war broke out when he enlisted in Company G, One Hundred Twenty-second Illinois Infantry and served in the army for one year. After his discharge he returned to Illinois and
387
HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY
settled in Green County where he was engaged in farming. In 1869 Mr. Clark came to Cass County, Missouri, and for a number of years was suc- cessfully engaged in farming and stockraising in Camp Branch township where he owned a good farm. Later he became interested in banking, becoming a heavy stockholder in the Bank of East Lynne, and was cashier of that institution for a few years. He then came to Harrisonville and was one of the organizers of the Bank of Harrisonville. He served as its cashier until his death, November 14, 1891. His wife bore the maiden name Terissa Judy and was a native of Indiana. She died in 1885. Frank H. Clark and wife were the parents of two children: Harlie F., whose name introduces this sketch; and Homer, editor of the Cass County "Democrat."
Harlie F. Clark was educated in the public schools of Harrisonville and the Kansas City High School. He was graduated from the latter institution in the class of 1898. He began his newspaper career on the Cass County "Democrat" when that paper was owned by John Marens. He was out of newspaper work until 1904 when he became local editor of the Cass County "Leader". About a year later he returned to the "Democrat", his brother Homer having acquired the ownership of that paper in the meantime. Harlie F. Clark was editor of that paper from 1910 until June, 1913, when he was appointed postmaster of Harrisonville by President Wil- son, which position he still holds. He also retains an interest in the "Democrat".
Mr. Clark was united in marriage April 19, 1900, with Miss Emily May Byram, daughter of Judge Oscar Byram of Harrisonville. Mr. and Mrs. Clark have one child, Harold F., a student in the Harrisonville High School.
Mr. Clark is a Mason, being a member of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, Cass Lodge Number 147; Signet Chapter Number 68, Royal Arch Masons; Oriental Commandery Number 35; Knights Templar, Kansas City, Missouri, and the Mystic Shrine, Ararat Temple, Kansas City, Missouri. He belongs to the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Butler Lodge No. 958. Politically, he is a Democrat.
W. H. Lundy, cashier of the Bank of Freeman, is a native son of Cass County and a descendant of one of the early pioneer families of this county. He was born two and a half miles southeast of Freeman in 1852 and is a son of Creed and Mytillar (Smith) Lundy, the former a native of Virginia and the latter of Tennessee. Creed Lundy, came to Missouri in
388
HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY
the early thirties and settled in Johnson County, where he was married to Mytillar Smith who came to that county with her parents in 1831. Creed Lundy and his wife settled in Cass County (then Van Buren) in 1842, they located two and a half miles southeast of Freeman. In 1845 the father pre-empted eighty acres of land and also pre-empted another eighty in 1846, and in 1854 bought some school land. This property has never changed hands since that day, except W. H. Lundy inherited it from his father and he still has it in his possession, the original land warrant of the first eighty issued by President James K. Polk and signed by his secretary.
The Lundys resided on the Cass County place until Order No. 11 was issued, when they removed to Boone County, where the father died in 1864, and after the war, the mother and W. H. returned to their Cass County home and the mother spent the remainder of her life there. She died in 1912 at the advanced age of ninety-four years. There were two children born to Creed and Mytillar (Smith) Lundy; W. H., the subject of this sketch and Rosa J., who married J. F. Langston; she spent her life in Boone County where she died in 1875, leaving three children; J. W., who now resides in Boone County; Nannie married a Mr. Turner and is now deceased, and Rosa married E. W. Bright, president of the Farmers Bank at Stephens, Calloway County, Missouri.
At the close of the war when W. H. Lundy and his mother returned to Cass County, he engaged in farming and for a number of years and taught school in connection with his agricultural work. Later he engaged in the mercantile business with J. M. Rowden. During Cleveland's first administration he served as postmaster at Freeman. In 1901, Mr. Lundy entered the Bank of Freeman as bookkeeper and in 1905, became cashier of that institution and has held that position to the present time.
The Bank of Freeman is the only bank in that town and is one of the substantial institutions of Cass County. Its certificate of incorpora- tion is dated June 24, 1892, and its organizers were J. W. Colburn, O. A. Carpenter and F. W. Coombs. The bank was organized with a capital of ten thousand dollars and the first officers were as follows: J. W. Colburn, president; Thomas Lynne, cashier; and O. A. Carpenter, vice-president. The bank immediately began the construction of the building which it now occupies and while the building was in the course of construction the banking business was carried on in the drug store of F. L. Dolan. This bank has had a substantial development from the day that its doors were opened to the public and it has always been under capable and conserva-
389
HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY
tive management. The official report of November 23, 1916, shows a sur- plus fund of $20,000.00; undivided profits, $18,995.81; and individual deposits of $108,474.73. The present officers are J. S. Johnson, president; W. H. Lundy, cashier and O. A. Carpenter, vice-president.
Mr. Lundy is a Democrat and has always taken a lively interest in local affairs. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Meth- odist Episcopal church, south. He has taken an active interest in Sun- day school work for years and is treasurer of the County Sunday School Association.
Dr. R. G. Keller, a well-known and successful physician and surgeon of Freeman, is a native of Cass County. He was born at Pleasant Hill, in June, 1867, and is a son of Dr. Jacob and Hattie (Williamson) Keller. Dr. Jacob Keller was a distinguished physician and surgeon of his day. He was born in St. Louis, Missouri, and left an orphan at an early age. He practically made his own way in the world, preparing himself for the study of medicine. He graduated from the St. Louis Medical College. Dr. Jacob Keller was successfully engaged in the practice of his pro- fession when the Civil War broke out, and he entered the service as an army surgeon in the Union Army. He rapidly rose until he became a surgeon of General Sherman's staff. His surgical skill was not only recognized in the army, but in private practice as well. After the war, Dr. Keller was married and engaged in the practice of his profession in Kansas City, Missouri. Hattie Williamson, his wife, and the mother of the subject of this sketch, was a native of Danville, Boyle County, Kentucky. She was a daughter of Robert C. Williamson, who came to Cass County with his family in 1852. They settled in the vicinity of Pleasant Hill, where he spent the remainder of his life.
Dr. R. G. Keller's mother died when he was three and one-half years old, leaving one child besides the subject of this review, a daughter, then seven months old, Mamie, now Mrs. H. M. Stone, of St. Louis. After the death of the mother, Dr. and Mrs. W. H. H. Cundiff took the two Keller children to rear, Mrs. Cundiff being a sister of their mother. Dr. Keller, the father, practiced medicine for a short time, after the death of his wife, at Chester, Illinois, when he, too, passed to the Great Beyond.
Dr. R. G. Keller, the subject of this review, was educated in the public schools of Pleasant Hill, where he completed the high school
390
HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY
course, and then entered Westminster College at Fulton, Missouri, and was graduated from that institution in the class of 1890. He entered the Kansas City Medical College and was graduated, in 1894, with a degree of Doctor of Medicine. After graduation he engaged in the prac- tice of his profession at Freeman, where he has since met with well merited success. Dr. Keller is a successful physician and does consider- able minor surgery, and has built up quite a large practice.
Dr. R. G. Keller was married in 1897 to Miss Susan Talbott, a native of Danville, Kentucky, and a resident of Pleasant Hill at the time of her marriage. She is the daughter of Charles P. Talbott. To Dr. and Mrs. Keller have been born five children, as follows: Mrs. Leslie Laf- foon, Kathrine, Harry, Mary, and Lucille.
Dr. Keller is a member of the Masonic lodge and he and Mrs. Keller are members of the Eastern Star. He also holds membership in the Knights of Pythias, Modern Woodmen of America, Knights and Ladies of Security, County, State, and American Medical Associations, and politically is a Republican.
Mrs. Ellen Nelson Van Meter, the capable and efficient postmaster of Freeman, Missouri, is a native of Cass County, and belongs to one of the very early pioneer families of Dolan township. She was born six miles southwest of Freeman, and is a daughter of Hector L. and Elizabeth (Peyton) Nelson, both natives of Hardin County, Kentucky, a more extensive history of the Nelson family and their settlement in Cass County, appears elsewhere 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.