USA > Missouri > Cass County > History of Cass County, Missouri > Part 43
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The old settlers will too soon be gone. We feel particularly fortunate in finding such a gentleman as the subject of this sketch still among us to aid in commemorating the experiences of our forefathers who laid so well the foundations of the county's prosperity.
Mr. Yankee is a genial man, honorable and fair in all his dealings and is one of the highly esteemed citizens of the township where he has made his home for so many years. Mr. and Mrs. Yankee will long be remem- bered for their many excellencies.
Nettie Shuttleworth Preston, of Pleasant Hill, widow of the late Wm. B. Preston, is one of the pioneer women of Cass County. She was born at Campbellsville, Kentucky, in 1841 and is a daughter of James Allen and Mary Ann (Lewis) Shuttleworth, natives of Kentucky. They were the parents of five children, two of whom are living, as follows: Nettie, the subject of this sketch; and James A., who resides in Louisville, Ken- tucky, and is well known in Pleasant Hill through his generous contri- bution toward the building of a new Baptist church there. When the building of the church at Pleasant Hill was contemplated in 1895, Mr. Shuttleworth made the proposition that he would contribute one thousand five hundred dollars toward the erection of the church edifice provided the congregation at Pleasant Hill would raise a like amount. The money was raised and Mr. Shuttleworth contributed his share. The result is that the Baptist congregation at Pleasant Hill has a new church.
Mrs. Preston was educated in the public schools of Campbellsville, Kentucky, and in the Marion County Catholic Seminary. January 10, 1871 she was united in marriage with William B. Preston in the Baptist church at Pleasant Hill, Missouri. Mr. Preston was a native of Mays- ville, Kentucky, where he was reared and educated. He was a son of Benjamin and Ann Preston. William B. Preston came to Cass County with his father in 1869. The father settled in Pleasant Hill township where he followed farming. He and his wife are now deceased. His wife died in Kentucky before Mr. Preston came west. The remains of Benja-
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min Preston are buried in Pleasant Hill cemetery. William B. Preston died in 1874.
Mrs. Preston united with the Baptist church in Lebanon, Kentucky, when she was a girl. She has always taken an active interest in further- ing the teachings of that denomination. She is a refined woman of unusual intellectual qualifications, well posted, and an interesting conver- sationalist. She is active in church work and takes a special pride in devoting her best energy to carrying out the various needs of the church. Mrs. Preston invariably attends the conferences and other important meetings of the church and although now seventy-six years of age she is still as active as the average person of fifty. She has a handsome home on Randolph street between Cedar and Oak streets in Pleasant Hill. Mrs. Preston has an extensive acquaintance and many loyal friends.
William L. Schmoll, a well-known young agriculturist of Pleasant Hill township, is one of Cass County's native sons. He was born in Polk township in 1887, son of Tobias and Johanna (Schilling) Schmoll. Tobias Schmoll, a native of Germany, born in 1841, immigrated to America in 1866. In 1872 he came to Cass County, settling near Gunn City, and in 1880 he moved to Pleasant Hill township, on the place now owned by William L. Schmoll. On March 28, 1915, Tobias Schmoll died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Conrad Heid, in Pleasant Hill township. His wife had preceded him nearly twenty years, her death occurring November 26, 1896. She was at that time aged fifty-three years, ten months and twenty-nine days. Both parents are interred at Staley Mound.
Tobias and Johanna (Bracher) Schmoll were the parents of eight children: One child died in infancy; Henry died at the age of sixteen; John, of Polk township; Katie, wife of Charles Kircher, of Pleasant Hill township; George, of Pleasant Hill township; Jacob, of Pleasant Hill township; Minnie, wife of Conrad Heid, of Pleasant Hill township, and William L., subject of this review.
William L. Schmoll was reared on the home place, where he laid the foundations for a robust manhood and learned many lessons which are helping to mould his career. He received his education in the German- town school in Camp Branch township.
In 1910 William L. Schmoll and Mildred Austin, daughter of R. W. and Hester (Peak) Austin, of Camp Branch township, were united in marriage. Mrs. Schmoll's grandfather, Preston Peak, came to Cass County in an early day from Ohio, and her grandfather Austin was killed
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in the war. Mr. and Mrs. Schmoll have one child, a daughter, Ona Ruth, four years of age.
In 1916 Mr. Schmoll purchased the home place of one hundred sixty acres, the place upon which his father had settled thirty-six years before. This place is an excellent stock farm, well supplied with water. Mr. Schmoll follows stock raising on an extensive scale, raising cattle, hogs and mules. The land slopes to the south and Willow branch runs through the center of the farm. The place is well improved. The comfortable residence was erected in 1887, and is one of the pleasant rural homes in Cass County. A commodious barn was built in 1903. Mr. Schmoll's farm, buildings and general improvements are among the best and show his energy and taste as an up-to-date farmer and stockman. His splendid business qualifications as well as sterling qualities of head and heart, qualities that win, he has inherited from good, sturdy German ancestors. In the years to come William L. Schmoll will unquestionably be one of the most conspicuous figures connected with the business interests of Cass County.
W. H. Peck, a leading man of Cass County, was born in Bath County, Kentucky, in 1856, a son of Daniel and Mary Jane (Ledford) Peck. Daniel Peck was a native of Kentucky, who came to Cass County in 1869 and located in Big Creek township on the old John Hon farm. For several years he lived near East Lynne. In 1902, at the time of his death, Daniel Peck was residing on the farm now owned by his son, W. H. Peck. He is buried in Reed cemetery. Mary Jane (Ledford) Peck has also passed into the Great Beyond, preceding her husband fourteen years. She died in 1888 and is buried in Reed cemetery. Daniel and Mary Jane (Led- ford) Peck were the parents of two children: D. A. Peck, Pleasant Hill, Missouri, and W. H., subject of this review.
As W. H. Peck grew to manhood, he assisted his father in the work of the farm, forming industrious habits which have proven such an asset in later life. He received his education in the schools of Cass County and began life for himself at the age of twenty-three years. W. H. Peck early manifested the remarkable business ability, foresight and judgment that has characterized his later career.
In 1880 W. H. Peck and Lucinda Foster, daughter of T. J. and Har- riet (Utz) Foster of Big Creek township, were united in marriage. The parents of Mrs. W. H. Peck owned one hundred sixty acres in Big Creek
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township. The mother departed this life in 1879, and the father died in 1901 at Pleasant Hill. To W. H. and Lucinda (Foster) Peck have been born five children: George L., Kansas City, Missouri, who has been with the Taylor Dry Goods Company for the past fifteen years; Ina Frances, married Charles Collins, Strasburg, Missouri; James, died at the age of two years; Harvey Clay, died at the age of two years; and Leonard, at home with his parents.
W. H. Peck began his career with a span of mules, six hundred fifty dollars in money and a genius for the successful promotion of his purpose. In 1882 he bought one hundred acres from Amanda Cease, who was the first owner, for which he paid one thousand two hundred fifty dollars. Later he purchased eighty acres at five dollars per acre, one hundred acres from Charles Carey at twenty dollars per acre, eighty acres from Alex Atkinson at twenty-three dollars per acre, ten acres from Moss and Benja- min Hume, paying Moss twenty dollars per acre and Benjamin twenty-five dollars. John Furnoy sold him twelve and a half acres at twenty-five dol- lars an acre, Eliza Cook and Mattie Crayton, fifteen acres at twenty dol- lars an acre and recently Mr. Peck purchased from Millard Hobbs twenty acres in 1912 for ninety-six dollars. Thus he has increased his holdings until at the present time he owns four hundred twenty-five acres of well improved and valuable land comprising the "Valley Stock Farm". Mr. Peck has two hundred acres in blue grass, which has never been plowed. From the beginning Mr. Peck has wisely bought mostly steers, bought at home and fed out. He has fed as many as two hundred eighty head of cattle at one time, feeding twenty-one thousand bushels of corn. It will be readily seen that Mr. Peck has been engaged in the stock business on no small scale.
All the splendid improvements upon his place W. H. Peck himself has added. His handsome residence is a house of ten rooms, modern in every respect, composed of two stories and a basement This was erected in 1914. The barns and other farm buildings alike bespeak the progressive- ness and thrift of the owner. He erected in 1900 a fine stock barn 48 x 60 feet and a horse barn in 1907, 48 x 60 feet. Both barns are supplied with water and are lighted by electricity. Concrete walks from barn to barn are an unusual feature of the barnyard.
W. H. Peck has made a success not only as a stockman and agricul- turist but as a business man as well. He was one of the organizers of the Farmers Bank at Strasburg and for fourteen years has been its presi- dent. The success of this bank has attracted the attention of many
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financiers over the state. Its prosperity and increasing business is the highest testimonial to the abilities and virtues of its president. In 1901 the bank was organized with Mr. Peck, president; T. J. McConnell, vice- president ; Harley Dallas, cashier: Sam Yankee and Collins Noland, directors; and with a capital stock of ten thousand dollars. The bank now has a surplus of thirty thousand dollars.
This brief review of a career packed to the brim with multiplied activities and interests gives but a hint of a most interesting life story. W. H. Peck has won an enviable reputation for ability, honesty, and a comprehensive grasp of affairs. In this county of self-made men, where titles are unknown and where a man is judged solely upon his merits, we venture the opinion that the loftiest ideal is the man who surmounts all difficulties, who stands true and unshaken by the storms of life is able to lift up both himself and those about him. Such a man is W. HI. Peck.
Thomas Roupe, a well-known and highly respected farmer of Polk township, is a representative of the pioneer element that is passing away. Mr. Roupe belongs to that class of men who naturally became pioneers. He was born in Blount County, Tennessee, in December, 1835, a son of John and Isabell (Davis) Roupe. The father was a native of South Caro- lina. John and Isabell (Davis) Roupe were the parents of twelve children, ten of whom are now living: Thomas, subject of this review; Mrs. Sarah Page, Slater, Missouri; Martin, Polk township; Mrs. Mary Aldridge, Polk township; Mrs. Elizabeth Hastings; Mrs. Jane Landers, died in Kansas in 1910; Mrs. Emily Allen, Pleasant Hill, Missouri; Henry, lives near Ray- more, Missouri; William, died in Bates County, about 1884; James, Polk township; Mrs. Julia Morgan, Bonner Springs, Kansas ; Mrs. Anna Steele, Polk township.
Seventy-three years ago Thomas Roupe came with his parents to Cass County. This was in the fall of 1844, and at this time the country was in its natural state. Shortly after the family located here John Roupe pre-empted eighty acres in Polk township. He later bought one hundred twenty acres in Jackson County and there made the home. As a youth Thomas Roupe aided in the work of the farm. Upon reaching manhood he followed for a time the trade of blacksmithing, working for travelers. He moved to Little Rock, Arkansas, where he remained but a short time. When he moved again it was to Van Buren township, Jack- son County. For four years Thomas Roupe served in the enrolled militia of Missouri. In 1863 he worked for the government as "bull whacker" on
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the plains, serving for seven months. Following this he went to Salt Lake City, Utah.
In 1865 Thomas Roupe purchased his present home of one hundred sixty acres. He added to that twenty acres adjoining his place and eighty acres on Big Creek in Polk township.
At Pleasant Hill, Missouri, in 1879, the most important event in Thomas Roupe's life occurred. Here he and Mary Susan Martin, daugh- ter of John and Jemima Martin, were married. To this union were born three children: John G., who is living at home with his father; Mrs. Flora Shindorff, of Polk township; and E. E. Roupe, married Julia Lunnam and they live at home with the father. Mr. and Mrs. Roupe have one daughter, Beatrice.
The greatest affliction that has ever befallen Mr. Roupe was the death of his faithful wife, who had shared with him the vicissitudes of life for nearly forty years. Mrs. Roupe died November 24, 1910, and is buried in Strasburg cemetery.
By industry and good management Thomas Roupe has been very suc- cessful in life and is now owner of two hundred sixty acres of good farm land, well improved. All the improvements upon his place he himself has put there. The first residence was destroyed by fire about 1889 and his present home was built soon after. This home is well located, four and one-half miles southeast of Lonejack. Mr. Roupe deals largely in stock and grain.
During Mr. Roupe's long residence in the county he has always borne a reputation for integrity and unimpeachable honor. A pioneer, he has by untiring, well-directed efforts risen, step by step, to his present pros- perous condition. He has lived a good life and will leave a name of which his descendants may well be proud.
John J. Warner, a well-known citizen of Strasburg, Missouri, was born in Bath County, Kentucky, February 29, 1836. He therefore has seen only one-fourth as many birthdays as the average person of his age. He is a son of William and Mary (Triplett) Warner, natives of Kentucky, who were the parents of twelve children, of whom John J. is the only survivor.
John J. Warner was reared and educated in his native county in Kentucky, and was engaged in farming and stock raising in that state until 1881, when he came to Cass County, Missouri. Here he bought one hundred thirty acres of land and has been successfully engaged in
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farming and stock raising. He increased his acreage from time to time as the opportunity presented itself, and now owns a valuable, well-im- proved farm of three hundred seventeen acres. In 1899 he rented his place and removed to Holden, where he remained two years. In May, 1901, he returned to Strasburg, when he purchased the Carbaugh prop- erty, where he has since resided.
Mr. Warner was united in marriage September 11, 1866, to Miss Alice G. Scott, a native of Harrison County, Kentucky, who was born December 14, 1847. She was a daughter of Robert and Hannah (Van Hook) Scott, both natives of the same place. The mother died when Mrs. Warner was eleven years old. October, 1866, the father came to Cass County, locating in Polk township, where he purchased three hun- dred twenty acres of land, two and one-half miles southwest of Stras- burg. Here he was successfully engaged in farming and stock raising for a number of years, but during the latter part of his life spent a part of his time in Pleasant Hill, with one of his daughters, Mrs. Irene Bailey. He was a successful man of affairs, a kind father, and a valuable citizen. He died in February, 1897, and his remains were buried in the Pleasant Hill Cemetery. Mrs. Warner departed this life February 8, 1917, at her home in Strasburg, and her remains are buried in the Strasburg Cemetery.
To Mr. and Mrs. Warner have been born three children, as follows: Robert, a successful farmer and stockman, residing near Wingate, Mis- souri, and he has eight children: Hazel Irene, John Paul, Minnie Lorene, William Eugene, Alice Frances, Hattie May, Lillian and Lolita; Hattie V., now the wife of Dr. H. A. Brierly, of Peculiar, Missouri, and one child has been born to this union, Lucie Ailine; Irene M., who married E. M. Southern, and resides near Kingsville, Missouri, and they have four chil- dren: Mary Alice, Elizabeth Scott, Ella Edwin, and Louise.
Mr. Warner is one of Cass County's substantial citizens. The War- ners are one of the representative families of Cass County.
O. A. Carpenter, now residing at Freeman, has for a number of years been sucessfully engaged in farming and stockraising in Dolan township. Mr. Carpenter is a native Missourian, having been born in Independence, Jackson County, August 15, 1844. His parents were J. C. and Ann (Over- ton) Carpenter. The father was a native of Providence, Rhode Island, and came to Jackson County, Missouri, in 1839. He was a carpenter and contractor and for a number of years conducted business at Independence
O. A. CARPENTER AND FAMILY.
Left to right, sitting: James W. Carpenter, Mrs. O. A. Carpenter, O. A. Carpenter. Standing: Mrs. Elizabeth Kimsey, Mrs. Anna Gillispie, Mrs. Pearl Beaver.
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and was the largest contractor in that locality. At that time Independence was a thriving business town and did an extensive business in supplying the wagon trains as they started out on their trip across the plains over the old Santa Fe trail. Ann Overton, mother of O. A. Carpenter, was born in Independence, Missouri, in 1827. She was a daughter of Aaron and Rachel (Cameron) Overton, and of Scotch descent. Aaron Overton was a very early settler in the vicinity of where Sibley, Missouri, now stands. At an early day Fort Osage was located at that point and Mr. Overton settled within the six mile limits of the fort at a time when very few white settlers were in that section of the State. The Overton family later removed to Dallas, Texas, and Mr. Overton acquired a section of land on the present site of Oak Cliff, a suburb of Dallas, and here spent the remainder of his life.
O. A. Carpenter was reared in Jackson County and during the Civil War served in the Confederate army. When a young man he learned the brick layer's trade and worked at it for five years in the vicinity of Kansas City and Independence, Missouri. In 1872 he came to Dolan township, Cass County, and leased a farm from the estate of his uncle, E. H. Burke, who had entered this land from the government, in 1840. Mr. Carpenter later bought this farm and still owns it. He carried on general farming and stock raising and met with success and has built up a reputation of being one of the progressive agriculturists of Dolan township. In 1916, he rented his farm and moved to Freeman, where he has a comfortable home and is taking life easy.
Mr. Carpenter was united in marriage in 1872 with Miss Sarah Ellen Chiles. She was born in Napa Valley, California, a daughter of James and Jane (Kinsley) Chiles, natives of Kentucky. Mrs. Carpenter's par- ents were married in Jackson County, Missouri, in the spring of 1853, and shortly afterwards went to California, driving the entire distance across the plains and over the mountains. After a residence of about seventeen years in California the mother died and shortly afterwards the father with the other members of the family returned to Missouri. Mrs. Carpenter was about sixteen years of age when she came to Missouri.
To Mr. and Mrs. Carpenter have been born four children as follows: Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Kimsey, Buckner, Missouri; J. W., Pueblo, Colorado; Mrs. Anna Gillispie, Dolan township; and Mrs. Pearl Beaver, Colby, Kansas.
Mr. Carpenter was one of the first to recognize the necessity of a bank at Freeman and was active in the organization of the Bank of Free- man of which he was one of the incorporators. He became secretary of (32)
1
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that institution at its organization and held that position for a number of years and at present is serving in the capacity of vice-president. He is a Democrat and both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Epis- copal Church, South.
J. A. Lyon, a successful and prominent agriculturist of Polk town- ship, is one of Cass County's most promising young men. He was born in Polk township in 1881, son of William T. and Mary (Paxton) Lyon. William T. Lyon was born in Virginia in 1843. He entered the Con- federate army in Virginia when very young, perhaps eighteen years of age and courageously fought for the principles upheld by his native state. Mr. Lyon was a man of firm purpose, strong in his convictions of right and wrong, fair and honorable in all his dealings, a true Southerner. He came west in 1866. He died in Bates County, December 28, 1906 and is buried in Ottawa, Kansas. Mary (Paxton) Lyon, mother of the subject of this review, is living in Saline County, Missouri, with her sister, Mrs. Davis. William T. and Mary (Paxton) Lyon were the parents of three children: William H., Ottawa, Kansas; J. A., subject of this review; and Charles M., farmer of Polk township.
William T. Lyon, father of the subject of this review, located near Pleasant Hill on the Duncan Branch, on a part of the L. C. Smith farm, when he came west in 1866. A few years later he purchased eighty acres two and one-fourth miles northeast of Strasburg. He constantly increased his holdings until, at the time of his death, he was owner of nine hundred forty acres, three hundred twenty acres of which were in Texas, eighty in Kansas and the balance in Bates and Cass Counties. Mr. Lyon fol- lowed the vocation of stock raising on an extensive scale, feeding all the grain and hay he raised to the cattle. Besides attending to the manifold duties of his large farm he took an active interest in the welfare of his township and county and for many years served faithfully and well as school director.
William H., brother of the subject of this review, resides in Ottawa, Kansas. He is the father of eight children: Ruby Brown, Jesse a son, Vera, Hazel, Acie a son, Letha, Ula and Edna. The younger brother of J. A. Lyon is following the vocation of farming in Polk township and is the father of three children: Grace A., Ralph E., and Gertrude Bess.
J. A. Lyon began farming for himself at the age of twenty years. He inherited one hundred sixty acres from his father's estate in Polk
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township and a legacy in Texas land, besides a good share of his father's stock of brains and force of character. Mr. Lyon, as his father before him, follows general stock farming, feeding the grain and hay he raises. He has seventy-five acres of rich bottom land. He usually keeps from six- teen to twenty cows and hogs.
In 1906 J. A. Lyon and Mildred Clawson, daughter of R. M. and Mary Lee (Hunt) Clawson of Polk township, were united in marriage. R. M. Clarwson, father of Mrs. J. A. Lyon, came to Cass County in 1902 and still lives on the home place. His wife, mother of Mrs. Lyon, departed this life October 18, 1906. To Mr. and Mrs. Lyon has been born one son, Robert Rochelle, who was born April 29, 1908.
Mr. Lyon has added all the improvements on his place and his farm is now considered one of the best in the county. His home, a beautiful cottage of six rooms, was built in 1911. Since locating upon the place he has built two barns, one built in 1906, the other in 1914. These barns are 32 x 30 feet and 40 x 44 feet respectively, and are very substantial and up-to-date in character, among the best in the township. Everything about the farm bespeaks the care and thrift of the owner.
Mr. Lyon has always taken a deep and keen interest in everything which concerns the best interests of the community and all worthy enter- prises have his encouragement and support. He was one of the boosters for the consolidated school at Strasburg and was a member of the school board at the time election was won. This school is now one of the best small town schools in the county. He has the advantages of a good edu- cation, attending school in Strasburg, is among friends for he has always lived in Polk township and has back of him a good ancestry. His career, though brief, has been a successful and useful one and it is easy to predict that he will be one of the county's leading men of tomorrow.
Nicholas Amos, one of the best known farmers in the vicinity of Pleasant Hill, Missouri, is a native of Kentucky, that grand, old common- wealth, the home of so many noble pioneers. He was born in 1838 in Bourbon County, the son of Abram and Julia A. (Metheny) Amos, who were the parents of three children: Granville, who died in Boone County, Missouri, in 1855; Nicholas, the subject of this sketch; and Sarah, who married Washington Kennedy, of Polk township.
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