USA > Missouri > Cass County > History of Cass County, Missouri > Part 40
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Mr. Thuro was united in marriage at Van Wert, Iowa, September 9, 1891, to Miss Della Brown, a native of Clark County, Iowa, and a daugh- ter of Billa F. and Almira (Holt) Brown. The father was born in Can- ada, while his parents were natives of New York and the mother is a native of Ohio. The Brown family went to Iowa in April, 1861 and set- tled near Van Wert, which was then a wild and unbroken plain. They were among the early settlers of that section and the parents now reside in that state. The father is eighty-two years old and the mother is seventy-six.
Mrs. Thuro is an unusual woman and has seen much of the frontier life on the plains of the west. Reared amidst the frontier surroundings of the early day in Iowa, she acquired an ambition to see more of fron- tier life and to experience life on the plains of the great west in its primitive conditions. She received a good education and began teaching school in Iowa when seventeen years old. In 1887 she went to Colorado and preempted a quarter section of land in the northeastern part of the state and later bought a quarter section. When she located on her
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claim in Colorado, her nearest postoffice was Sterling, forty miles away. In the early days she had a variety of experience on her claim and else- where in Colorado. She lived in a dugout alone, although another young lady had taken a claim near by and they were considerable company for each other. Coyotes, antelope and a variety of other animals were plenti- ful in the vicinity of her claim and she has frequently shot at coyotes. She followed various occupations in the West, from cooking in a railroad camp to teaching school in Greely, Colorado, where she was one of the pioneer teachers. Mrs. Thuro still owns her land in Colorado, which has increased considerably in value since she left it. Her experience has been unusual and few women would have the courage to undertake or the fortitude to endure roughing it in the west as she did.
To Mr. and Mrs. Thuro has been born one child, Homer, who lives on one of his fathers places north of Harrisonville. He married Miss Jennie Sheilds of Platte County, Missouri, and they have one child, Ralph Flint.
G. W. Thuro and his wife are members of the Baptist church and he is a Republican and while he resided in Colorado took an active part in politics and held various local offices of trust. Mr. and Mrs. Thuro have both had unusual experiences in frontier life for this day and age and have contributed their part towards subduing the wild and unbroken west and "making two blades of grass grow, where but one grew before."
Ernest Lloyd Harrison, of Harrisonville, has been prominently identified with educational work in this state for a number of years. He was born near Warrensburg, Johnson County, December 27, 1879, and is a son of Harvey M. and Katie I. (Moore) Harrison. The father is a native of Johnson County, Missouri, and now resides near Blairstown.
The Harrison famliy were early settlers in northern Alabama, and were prominently identified with that section. The great-great-grand- father of Ernest L. Harrison, owned a large estate in that state at an early day. His name was Thomas Crage. He was the father of Harvey Crage who came to Missouri, in 1832, and settled where Warrensburg is now located, and was one of the founders of that town, spending the remainder of his life there. His son, William Harrison, was the grand- father of the subject of this sketch. He spent his life in Johnson County. The Harrison family is of Scotch descent, the founders of the American branch of that family coming from the Highlands of Scotland and settled in North Carolina in Colonial times.
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Katie R. Moore, mother of Ernest L. Harrison, was born in Kentucky near the West Virginia line and came to Missouri with her mother in 1855, her father having died before she was born.
Ernest Lloyd Harrison is one of a family of eight children as fol- lows: Walter Scott, Englewood, Kansas; Mrs. Laura Shelton, Blairs- town, Missouri; Ernest L., the subject of this sketch; Roy William, Lib- eral, Kansas; Annice, deceased; Mrs. Marie Belle Collins, Kansas City, Missouri; Emil B., Liberal, Kansas; and Forrest A., Warrensburg, Missouri.
Mr. Harrison was educated in the public schools and the State Nor- mal School at Warrensburg, where he was graduated in the class of 1907, with a degree of Pd. B., and later took post-graduate work at that institu- tion. Afterwards he attended the Missouri University at Columbia, Mis- souri. Mr. Harrison was a teacher for a number of years before he graduated from the Normal school, and in all was engaged in teaching for twelve years, during which time he taught in Johnson, Cass, Lafay- ette, and Jackson Counties. During the course of his career he was principal of the Columbia School at Independence, Missouri; superintend- ent of the schools at Golden City for two years, superintendent of the Belton schools two years, superintendent of the Odessa school one year, and principal of the Harrisonville school one year. In 1914, at the close of his first year of the Harrisonville schools he gave up school work on account of failing health, and since that time has devoted himself to farming and stock raising on an extensive scale, giving special attention to raising pure-bred Shorthorn cattle, of which he has a very fine herd. He also raises pure-blood Chester White hogs.
Mr. Harrison was united in marriage June 5, 1912, with Miss Georgia Esthel Williams, daughter of Thomas C. Williams, a sketch of whom appears in this volume. Mrs. Harrison is a member of the Baptist church, and is a member of the Civic Improvement Association. Mr. Harrison is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. He is a Republican and was his party's candidate for county treasurer in 1916, but owing to the normal overwhelmingly Democratic majority in Cass County, he met with the common fate of other candidates on the Republican ticket.
J. H. Phillips, a prominent farmer and stockman of Peculiar town- ship, is a native son of Cass County. He was born in Grand River town- ship, March 18, 1851, and is a son of James H. and Mary (Bealer) Phillips.
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The father was a native of North Carolina and when a boy went from his native state to Indiana. He was the son of Morticia Phillips. The Phillips family came from Indiana to Missouri and located in Cass County about 1840. They first settled northeast of Pleasant Hill.
James H. Phillips was one of a family of nine children all of whom are now deceased. During the Mexican War he enlisted for service in the United States. He also served in the home guards during the Civil War. He was a successful farmer and stockman in Grand River town- ship and was known throughout this section of the state as a horseman. He made a specialty of raising coach and draft horses and was very suc- cessful in that enterprise. He died in 1908, aged eighty-four years, and his wife departed this life about a year later. They were the parents of nine children, six boys and three girls, all of whom are now living.
J. H. Phillips received his education in the public schools of Cass. County, and began life for himself at the age of twenty-two, although he remained at home with his parents until he was about thirty years of age. In 1895 he purchased his present farm of one hundred and seven- teen acres, where he has since been successfully engaged in farming and stock raising. He specializes in Shorthorn cattle and also carries on dairying quite extensively.
Mr. Phillips was united in marriage in 1881 with Miss Minnie Laugh- lin, a native of Indiana, who came to Cass County with her mother when about a year old, her father having died when she was about nine months old. Mrs. Phillips' mother, Mrs. Moffett, is a daughter of Lomsan and Martha (Teague) Ground, natives of near Martinsville, Indiana. They came to Cass County in 1844 and Mrs. Moffett owns a part of the land which was pre-empted by her father. There were Indians here when they came and Mrs. Moffett remembers of having seen them. She also remem- bers of having seen deer from their old log house, also wild turkeys. They returned to Indiana before Order No. 11 was issued and in 1865 returned and they both died in Cass County, father in Harrisonville and mother in Camp Branch township. She was married in 1865, in Indiana, to Harvey Laughlin, a native of Indiana, and Mrs. Phillips is the only child born to that union. He died when she was eleven months old. She later married James Moffet, a native of Cass County, of pioneer parents. They were Kentuckians and had three children: Gus, Kansas City; Mrs. Mamie Hancock, Uniontown, Kansas, and Will, Grand River township. Mrs. Moffett is one of the grand old pioneer women of Cass County. To Mr. and Mrs. Phillips have been born two children as follows: Vernie, a
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graduate of the Harrisonville High School, class of 1914, and now a student in the Warrensburg Normal School, and Velma, a student in the Harrison- ville High School.
Mr. Phillips has always been a Democrat and supported the policies and principals of that party. He is a member of the Masonic lodge and the Modern Woodmen of America, and the Phillips family are members of the Christian church.
James McDonnell, an honored and successful citizen and a former county judge of Cass County, was born in Canada in 1849, son of Hamil- ton and Biddy (Blaney) McDonnell. Hamilton McDonnell was the son of John McDonnell, a distinguished officer in the British army. Biddy (Blaney) McDonnell was the daughter of James Blaney, a native of Ire- land. In 1853 Hamilton McDonnell emigrated with his family from Can- ada to Ohio and in 1865 from Ohio to Illinois. When James McDonnell was a youth seventeen years of age, his parents came to Cass County, Missouri, in 1866 and settled upon a farm in Austin township. Hamilton McDonnell purchased two hundred acres of land in Austin township and engaged extensively in stockraising and general farming. In 1875 Mrs. McDonnell departed this life. She was a faithful, devoted wife and an ideal mother. Hamilton McDonnell spent his life upon the farm in Austin township. For nine years previous to his death in 1907 he was an invalid and was tenderly cared for by his son, James.
February 12, 1870, James McDonnell and Victoria J. McFerrin, daugh- ter of Benton and Elizabeth McFerrin, were united in marriage. Victoria J. McFerrin was born in Cass County, Missouri, January 14, 1853. Of her five brothers and sisters only two brothers are now living, S. B., Butler, Missouri, and J. B., Okmulgee, Oklahoma. Benton McFerrin was the son of John McFerrin, who emigrated from Tennessee to Missouri about 1832, and was one of the early pioneers of western Missouri. Benton McFerrin and B. Y. Brown were killed on the McFerrin place during the Civil War. Elizabeth McFerrin, mother of Mrs. McDonnell, was a courageous woman of marvelous ingenuity. When Order No. 11 was issued she went horse- back to St. Clair County, secured a yoke of cattle, returned to Cass County and loaded their farm wagon with the household goods and four children and escaped to St. Clair County. S. B. McFerrin, brother of Mrs. McDon- nell, was forced into the army by Captain Price, when S. B. was but a mere boy of sixteen years. John B. McFerrin, an itinerant pioneer Meth-
JUDGE JAMES McDONNELL, WIFE AND FAMILY.
Left to right, standing, Mrs. Daisy Wallery, Mrs. Effie Houston. Sitting, James McDon- nell, J. K. McDonnell, Mrs. James McDonnell.
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odist minister, was an uncle of Mrs. McDonnell. Her maternal grand- father, Rev. Samuel G. Porter, came to Missouri from Tennessee about the same time the McFerrins came. He entered the land known as the Reid farm, south of Daugherty on which Reid Cemetery is now located.
James and Victoria J. (McFerrin) McDonnell were blessed with six children, three of whom died in infancy. The surviving children are: Mrs. Effie Houston, Archie, Missouri; Mrs. Daisy Woolery, Garden City, Missouri; and J. K., who is associated with his father in farming and stockraising upon the McDonnell farm near Archie, Missouri. January 1, 1910, J. K. McDonnell and Mary B. Vanzandt, daughter of Cassius L. and Millie Vanzandt were united in marriage and to this union have been born two children, Cecil and Georgia Zora. September 24, 1916, the beautiful soul of Victoria J. (McFerrin) McDonnell passed on to the Soul from whence it came. When she was thirteen years of age she united with the Methodist church of which she was long a loved and faithful member. Her life was one of saintly purity, an inspiration to all with whom she came in contact. Beside her loved ones who had crossed the bar she was laid to rest in Reid Cemetery.
In 1902 James McDonnell purchased the old home place from his father and has since been engaged in stockraising. He is one of the most successful stockmen in this part of the state. Recently he has given his attention almost exclusively to the raising of white face cattle and he and his son, J. K., are planning a large herd. They are also well-known breed- ers of Duroc Jersey hogs. Judge McDonnell's farm comprises three hun- dred twenty acres, which he is fencing into twenty and forty acre lots. The farm is well improved. Judge McDonnell also owns his residence in Archie, Missouri.
James McDonnell was elected county judge of the south district Cass County in 1913 and he served four years, his term expiring January 1, 1917. The following is an extract from an article which appeared in the Cass County "Democrat" relative to his retirement from office:
"The voters of the South District realized the mental caliber and sterling worth of Jim McDonnell, and elected him as a member of the county court. He took his office on January 1, 1913.
"He was faithful to the trust reposed in him. He sunk self into nothingness and sought only for the welfare of the people. By vote and voice he guarded their interests and fought for their good. His home township, Austin, was heavily bonded. He directed all of his tireless energies in extinguishing the debt to the last degree possible, and, aided
(30)
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by the other members of the court, who were convinced of the soundness of the judgment of the one from the South District, Austin township's bonded debt was decreased $18,000. If an adherence is kept to his line of procedure, the township's entire bonded debt will be extinguished in 1922. One of the happiest moments of Judge McDonnell's life was when he assisted in burning some paid railroad bonds about two years ago.
"As an official, Judge McDonnell believed in progress, but by caution. His canny Scotch mind scouted any scheme of the 'get-rich-quick' kind, and his keen insight, expressed in droll sarcasm, sent the schemers scurry- ing. Such qualities steadied the finances of old Cass county through a period of crop failures.
"He was called the 'Judge of Peace'. When all of Harrisonville were at loggerheads and ready to crucify one another, financially and otherwise, over the hitch rack controversy, when neither side would yield, Judge McDonnell brought order out of chaos and reconciled all of the contenders by his plan of peace. Notwithstanding the excessive rainfall of the past two springs, Judge McDonnell greatly assisted in much valuable road work being done, and substantial bridges being built, without reaching out for future county funds.
"At the insistence of numerous petitioners and with a heartfelt desire to continue in the service of freeing his old home township from debt, Judge McDonnell made the race for his third term. His wife's frail health prohibited him from making any active campaign. Although she oftimes urged him to leave her side and canvass his district, he would not do so, preferring defeat, rather than retreat from his vigil, from his deathless, doglike devotion to the sick wife, whom he had promised to protect in sickness and distress. He did not campaign and this and the sentiment against the third term defeated him. But he went down with colors fly- ing, victorious in defeat, and fell into the ranks of the privates of the Democratic party as proudly and patiently as when he had left to become a leader. All honor to grand, glorious Judge James McDonnell; the pages of the history of Cass County will always glow with his name."
Thomas C. Williams, now deceased, was prominently identified with the agricultural interests of Cass County during his life time and was one of the successful stockmen of this section. He was a descendant of pioneer parents and was born in Peculiar township, Cass County, April 9, 1853. His parents were John R. and Thursa Matilda (Carter) Williams, natives of North Carolina. In early life the father removed from his
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native state to Virginia and after a brief period returned to North Caro- lina. In 1849 he and his wife came from North Carolina to Cass County, Missouri, driving the entire distance with a team and covered wagon. He pre-empted land in Union township where he engaged in farming and stock raising, and became very well-to-do. He owned a number of slaves but when the Civil War broke out he took them to Texas and after the outcome of that great struggle he resumed farming and stock raising in Union township, but his slaves never returned.
John R. Williams spent the remainder of his life on his home place in Union township. He was a man of strong character and firm in his convictions, a capable business man and known for his honesty and integrity and it may be truly said of him that his word was as good as his bond. He was a staunch supporter of the policies and principles of the Democratic party and both he and his wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal church, south. His wife who survived him for a number of years died in Harrisonville at the home of Thomas C. Will- iams, the subject of this sketch, May 26, 1900. They were the parents of the following children: Manwell, deceased; Henry D., Cleveland, Mis- souri ; Mrs. Amanda J. Bailey, Belton Missouri; and Thomas C., the sub- ject of this sketch.
Thomas C. Williams was reared in Cass County and was educated in the district schools and the Harrisonville High School. He began life as a farmer and a stock raiser and became a very extensive stockman. He fed cattle for the market and bought and sold cattle on an extensive scale, and became one of the prosperous men of Cass County. He inherited one hundred and sixty acres of land from his father to which he added from time to time and at the time of his death he owned seven hundred and twenty acres of well improved and valuable land in Cass County.
Mr. Williams was united in marriage December 8, 1881, with Miss Fannie R. Van Kirk. She was born in Union township, Cass County, and is a daughter of C. P. and Cassandra (Barrow) Van Kirk, both natives of Zanesville, Coshocton County, Ohio, the former of Holland descent and the latter of old Virginia stock. The Van Kirk family came to Missouri in 1857 and settled in Union township, Cass County. When the Civil War came on and Order No. 11 was issued they removed to Lawrence, Kansas. Later they returned to Cass County, where the father was engaged in farming and stock raising. He died at Belton, August 11, 1912, aged eighty-eight years. His wife preceded him in death a little over a year, having passed away May 11, 1911, at Belton. Their married
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life was unusual in that it extended over a period of sixty-seven years. They were the parents of the following children: Mrs. Mary L. Craw- ford, Stafford, Kansas; Mrs. Elizabeth Ryan, Los Angeles, California; Fannie R., the wife of Thomas C. Williams, the subject of this sketch; Mrs. Alena Powell, Belton, Missouri, and Mrs. Viola Jones, Belton, Mis- souri (twins) ; Charles resides near Louisburg, Kansas, and T. J., Wood- son County, Kansas. To Mr. and Mrs. Williams was born one child, Georgia Esthel. She was educated in the Harrisonville High School and Stephens College, specializing in vocal music. On June 5, 1912, she was united in marriage with Ernest Lloyd Harrison, a sketch of whom appears in this volume.
Thomas C. Williams, practically retired from the stock business in the fall of 1899 and moved with his family to Harrisonville in order that his daughter might have better educational advantages. Here he died the following spring, departing this life May 27, 1900. His mother who made her home with him died the preceding day. Mr. Williams possessed many of his fathers characteristics. He was a successful business man and a valued member of the community, and during his business career won the confidence and respect of the business world for his honesty and integrity. Mrs. Williams resides in one of the most beautiful homes in Cass County, on the Kansas City road a short distance north of Harrison- ville.
T. D. Blevins, better known as "Dug" Blevins, is one of Cass County's most successful farmers and stockmen. He is a native of Illinois, and was born in Macoupin County, March 16, 1856, a son of J. W. and Mary J. (Kinder) Blevins, both natives of Illinois, and descendants of pioneer settlers of that state.
The Blevins family came to Missouri in 1870, when T. D., the sub- ject of this sketch, was fourteen years old. They settled on a farm southwest of Freeman, where the parents spent the remainder of their lives. The father died in 1907, and the mother died in 1916. There were three children born to J. W. and Mary J. Blevins: Lewis N., deceased ; T. D., the subject of this sketch; and Mrs. John Duvall, of Grand River township.
"Dug" Blevins was educated in the public schools of Illinois and Missouri, and has made farming the chief occupation of his life and ranks among the successful farmers and stockmen of Cass County. He has a fine farm of four hundred and eighty acres, located seven miles south-
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west of Freeman, where he carries on general farming and raises grade cattle and mules quite extensively. Mr. Blevins employs a man to operate the place while he directs or personally supervises it himself, and resides in Freeman, where he has a splendid modern home.
Mr. Blevins was united in marriage in 1881 to Miss Fannie Harrison, of Dolan township, and a native of Missouri. They have no children.
Mr. Blevins is a member of the Masonic lodge, and a number of other fraternal societies. Politically, he has always been affiliated with the Democratic party. He is a man of genial disposition and is kindly and sympathetically disposed. He and his wife are well known in Cass County and have many friends. He is public spirited and any movement for the betterment of his town or the county receives a ready response from him and meets with his hearty co-operation.
George W. Wyatt, a prominent farmer and stockman of Dolan town- ship, is a native of Missouri. He was born near Grandview, Jackson County, in 1881, and is a son of Wyley and Sarah (Maxwell) Wyatt, the former a native of North Carolina, and the latter of Illinois. Wyley Wyatt came to Missouri with his parents in 1852 when he was twelve years old. The family located near old Santa Fe, near the line of Mis- souri and Kansas, and made their home there until the Civil War, and the grandfather of George W. Wyatt died a few years after the war closed.
Wyley Wyatt served in the Confederate Army during the Civil War. He was a brave soldier and saw much hard service, participating in many hard-fought battles. After the close of the war he settled in Jackson County, one and a half miles south of Grandview, where he was success- fully engaged in farming and stock raising until the time of his death, in 1915, at the age of seventy-five. His widow now resides on the home place, near Grandview. They were the parents of eleven children, eight of whom are living, as follows: W. J., Lawrence, Kansas; Mrs. S. D. Slaughter, Waldo, Missouri; Mrs. A. M. Harrison, Lees Summit, Missouri; Mrs. C. A. Bryant, Kansas City, Missouri; Lettie, resides with her mother on the home place; Joseph, also resides on the home place; George W., the subject of this sketch, and Mrs. Charles Creiger, Crook, Colorado.
George W. Wyatt was reared on his father's farm in Jackson County, and received his education in the public schools and Spalding's Commer- cial College, Kansas City. When he was eighteen years old he became associated with his father in raising pure-blood cattle. Three years later
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he engaged in business for himself, which he continued for four or five years in Jackson County. He then came to Cass County, engaging in the same business here, at the same time retaining his interest with his father in Jackson County. Later he became interested in raising mules, which he found to be very profitable in connection with the cattle business. In 1912 he bought his present place of four hundred and eighty-one acres, in Dolan township, one mile south of Freeman. Since coming here he has devoted himself principally to raising mules and pure- blood Shorthorn cattle. He disposes of his saleable stock once each year by public sale, which he has found to be the most satisfactory method of marketing his stock. In addition to his other stock, he keeps about forty head of cows. The Wyatt place is well improved and well watered, being particularly adapted to stock raising.
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