USA > Missouri > Cass County > History of Cass County, Missouri > Part 45
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James A. Roush received a good education in the common schools of Cass County, and upon attaining manhood, attended the State Normal at Warrensburg from 1883 until 1885. Mr. Roush was reared on a farm and has always followed the vocation of farming, becoming a thorough, practical agriculturist. Early in life he developed a fondness for study and has ever been a diligent student and almost constant reader.
December 5, 1888, James A. Roush and Rachel Ada West were united in marriage in Strasburg. This union has been blessed with five children: H. H., motorman, with the Metropolitan Railway of Kansas City, Missouri ; Mrs. Jessie Henley, a daughter, Nevada ; H. M., conductor,
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with the Metropolitan Railway, Kansas City, Missouri; Ward, who is farming on the home place; and B. A., who is also farming the home place. All four sons are not only fine types of physical manhood, but capa- ble, alert, young men of great promise. All have received exceptional edu- cational advantages, each having attended the Warrensburg State Normal, of which institution Mrs. Jessie Henley is also a graduate. At college the boys took active parts in all student affairs and manifested a great interest in all forms of athletics. They were all members of football teams, of the orchestra, and of the college band. Warrensburg has never forgotten that Polk township, Cass County, has produced some real "live wires".
By industry and good management Mr. Roush has been very suc- cessful in life, and is now owner of one hundred sixty acres of good land in Cass County, the home farm, which he purchased from Dr. Buckner, in 1880. Mr. Roush has lived upon this place practically all his life. Mrs. Roush has kept abreast of the times in every way and has been unusually successful in the poultry business. About 1906 she began raising exclusively pure-bred poultry, starting with Brown Leghorns and changing gradually to Single Comb White Leghorns. At the time of this writing she has about five hundred cockerels and hens. For the past five years Mrs. Roush has been showing exhibits of her fine stock at the vari- ous county shows, showing at Warrensburg, 1912, 1913, 1914, and 1915; Lamar. 1914; Lees Summit, 1914; Columbia, 1915, 1916; Harrison- ville, 1915, 1916; Windsor, 1916; Odessa, 1915; Concordia, 1916; Nevada, Missouri, 1916; and Butler, 1916. Her fowls have taken many first prizes. In 1916, at Concordia, she received twenty-four out of the twenty-six ribbons offered, an unusual record, and she has yet to lose the blue ribbon on eggs. She has equipped herself with good, scientific train- ing, taking a course in poultry breeding. Mrs. Roush holds a diploma from the American School of Poultry Husbandry of Moutain Grove, Missouri. This school is now located in Leavenworth, Kansas. From this it will be observed that Mrs. Roush is not an iota behind her hus- band and sons in energy, ability and progressiveness, and Mr. Roush feels a just pride in his wife's attainments.
James Roush and sons have but recently commenced raising regis- tered, big bone, spotted Poland China hogs. They have just received the first two sows from E. J. Yoder. Although a new undertaking, there is no reason why, apparently, that it should not be a successful one. If it
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can be made so the Roush family will do it, and add another venture to their already long list of successes.
Mrs. Roush has in her possession a most interesting heirloom, a work of art of more than a century ago. It is a nine-pound bedspread, hand- woven in blue and white, with embroidered Masonic emblems. Mrs. Roush inherited this priceless relic of the long ago, the careful work of a grandmother in days long past, from her mother.
William H. West, father of Mrs. Roush, makes his home with his daughter. He was born in Steubenville, Jefferson County, Ohio, Sep- tember 24, 1839, son of Samuel and Rachel (Crawford) West. Samuel West, a native of Jefferson County, Ohio, was born in 1808. Rachel (Crawford) West was a native of Pennsylvania.
In the fall of '61 Mr. West enlisted in Ohio, Company G, Forty-third Infantry, and re-enlisted in the fall of '63. He was mustered out at Columbus, Ohio. Mr. West took an active part in the battles of Pitts- burg Landing, Shiloh, and Corinth, and was with General Sherman at Vicksburg and on his famous march to the sea. Three times he, Mr. West, was wounded in battle-in Tennessee, in a skirmish in South Car- olina, and at Corinth, Mississippi. Twice in battle was his canteen shot off. As a soldier, William West acted his part nobly and well, and aided mightily in upholding the cause of the government.
Mr. West first came to Missouri in the spring of 1862, but it was not until after the close of the war, in 1868, that he came to Cass County to make his home. Just after the war he had married Amanda Reynolds, in 1866. Mr. West purchased eighty acres of prairie land, two miles northeast of Strasburg, paying ten dollars per acre, later adding twenty acres more. This was the West home until 1894. In 1896 his faithful wife and the loving mother of all his children, was called away. To William H. and Amanda (Reynolds) West were born eleven children: one babe died in infancy ; Elizabeth, died at the age of two years ; Mollie, died in 1915; Ora, died in December, 1914; Mrs. Rachel R. Roush, wife of the subject of this review; Samuel, of Polk township; Mrs. Rose Croke, of Polk township; James, Los Angeles, California; Mrs. Ella Kennedy, Kansas City, Missouri; Ben, Pasadena, California; and Mrs. Jennie Croke, of Strasburg, Missouri. Amanda (Reynolds) West is at rest in Stras- burg Cemetery. In February, 1898, William H. West and Mrs. Eliza Cook, a widow, were united in marriage. Mrs. West departed this life in August, 1915.
Having been a resident of the county so many years, Mr. West has
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observed the many changes connected with its growth. He recalls that for many years prior to the war a post office by the name of Crawford Forks was in the house now owned by James A. Roush, with Mr. Craw- ford as postmaster. This was prior to the establishment of the Lucas post office, now Strasburg. The Roush home was built in 1836, the frame work from trees which grew on the place. It originally had two fireplaces, but has recently been remodeled. During the Civil War a trench was made by the soldiers across one corner of the yard, traces of which can still be seen. The first building upon the place was erected in 1834, 16x16 feet in dimensions. It is still standing and is used as a cornerib. The frame and siding are of walnut and oak. Twenty years ago the clapboard roof was removed and shingles put on.
Mr. and Mrs. Roush have always taken an active interest in the advancement of Cass County, and any enterprise having that objec' in view has their heartiest support. They have reared their children to honorable and respectable stations in life, and their sons are worthy young men. Mrs. Roush is a lady of fine intellect and great energy, and never fails in anything she undertakes. Her splendid family is ample proof of her success as a homemaker. No family is held in higher esteem in Cass County than the Roush family.
A. J. Sharp, owner and proprietor of the A. J. Sharp & Company's foundry and machine shop, is one of the progressive and enterprising busi- ness men of Harrisonville. He conducts a well equipped general foundry and machine shop which is one of the important industrial institutions of the city. This business was established in 1883 under the firm name of A. J. Sharp & Bro., and various members of the Sharp family have been interested in the business since its organization and A. J. has been identified with it from the beginning and since 1911 has been the sole owner and proprietor.
A. J. Sharp was born in McLean County, Illinois, in 1853 and is a son of David and Susanna (Joder) Sharp, natives of Pennsylvania and of Ger- man descent. In 1867 the Sharp family came to Cass County, Missouri, and settled on a farm southwest of East Lynne. The father was engaged in farming most of his life. He died April 15, 1916, age ninety years and six months. His wife died in 1894. They were the parents of the follow- ing children: I. M. Sharp; A. J., the subject of this sketch; Emma Ger- trude; and Iddo.
Mr. Sharp attended the public schools of Illinois and Missouri and after receiving a good common school education entered the University of
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A. J. SHARP AND FAMILY.
Left to right: Mary M. Sharp, A. J. Sharp, A. Morris Sharp, Elizabeth J. Sharp.
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Illinois at Champaign, Illinois, where he took the civil and mechanical engineering course and was graduated in the class of 1882. He then entered the employ of the Memphis Railroad Company at Kansas City as draftsman. One year later he resigned from that position to become a member of the firm of A. J. Sharp & Bro. at Harrisonville as above stated.
On October 4, 1888, Mr. Sharp was united in marriage with Miss Maggie Jane Wright, a native of Ohio, who came from that state to Cass County, Missouri, with her parents and located in Index township. She died in 1892. In 1905 Mr. Sharp was married to Miss Sarah Elizabeth Wright, a sister of his first wife, and three children were born to this union as follows: A. Morris graduated from the Harrisonville High School in the class of 1914, now resides in Kansas City, Missouri; Eliza- beth Josephine and Mary, students in the Harrisonville High School, the former a member of the junior and the latter of the sophomore class.
Mr. Sharp is a republican and since attaining his majority he has taken a keen interest in political affairs. He is a member of the Masonic Lodge and belongs to the Christian Church. He is an enterprising and public spirited citizen and also stands ready and willing to support any worthy enterprise which has for its object the betterment of the com- munity.
T. A. Washington, the well-known pharmacist of the Garden City Drug Company, comes of Revolutionary stock. He was born in 1856 in Virginia, the oldest state in the Union, the home of so many of our presi- dents, and has inherited all the patriotic pride of that splendid common- wealth. He is the son of Daniel B. and Lucy Anna Washington, both natives of Virginia. Daniel B. Washington was born in 1816 and died in January, 1887. Lucy Anna Washington was born in 1813 and died in 1883. Both parents were residents of Index, at the time of their death and are there buried. Daniel B. and Lucy Anna Washington were the parents of the following children, who are living: Thornton A., subject of this review; Kate T., Garden City, Missouri; Marian W., Garden City, Missouri; and Mrs. Betty W. Craig, of Buffalo, West Virginia.
T. A. Washington came to Missouri in 1858 with his father who set- tled in Johnson County. In 1874 Daniel B. Washington, father of the subject of this review, moved to Cass County, locating near Index. At this time T. A. Washington was eighteen years of age. Since 1874 he has made his home either near or in Garden City. For several years Mr. Washington operated a general store with a drug department at Index.
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By strict integrity in all business transactions and kind, genial manners, the young druggist favorably impressed the community and his mercan- tile venture was a marked success. For five years Mr. Washington was the efficient postmaster of Index. In 1903 he left Index to take charge of a drug store in Garden City for Doctor Ellis. In 1914 he worked as clerk for J. F. Suffecool and Doctor Ellis. Mr. Suffecool later purchased Doctor Ellis' interest and was in turn bought out by Mr. Macrae. Since 1880, T. A. Washington has been engaged in the drug business and for thirty-four years has been a registered pharmacist. In 1883 he was first examined by the State Pharmacy Board, of Kansas City, Missouri. In 1914 Mr. Washington again went before the board, the examination being made necessary by a change in the law.
No one in the state of Missouri can boast of better antecedents than Thornton A. Washington. He is a direct descendant of Samuel Washing- ton, an own brother of the celebrated General George Washington. The genealogy of the family is as follows: Thornton was the first son of Samuel; John T. A., the first son of Thornton; Daniel B., the first son of John T. A .; and Thornton A., the first son of Daniel B. Had George Washington been crowned king, Thornton A. would have been in line for a crown. But George Washington wasn't crowned king-such is the irony of fate. However, we doubt very much if the noted general him- self could have made as splendid a pharmacist as Thornton A. Washing- ton. There is none better in the state.
George A. Dunn, of the firm of Dunn and Bailey, leading grocers of Harrisonville, is a former county clerk of Cass County. He belongs to a pioneer family of this section. Mr. Dunn was born in Brown County, Illinois, where his parents were residing after having left Cass County when Order No. 11 was issued. He is a son of Absalom and Nannie (Powell) Dunn, both natives of Madison County, Kentucky. The father was born in 1828 and came to Cass County in 1856, settling near Pleasant Hill. In 1869 the family located in Index township about a mile from Gunn City. He was a juror at the coroner's inquest when members of the county court were killed at that place. He died in 1904 in Index township at the home of his son, John A. Dunn.
George A. Dunn is one of a family of five children born to his par- ents as follows: Mrs. Mary Keys, deceased; James L., Higgins, Texas; John A., farmer, near Harrisonville; Mrs. Nannie B. McDonald, Liscomb, Texas; and George A., the subject of this sketch. George A. Dunn was
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reared in Cass County and educated in the public schools. He was engaged in farming in Index township until he was elected county clerk in 1898. January 1, 1899 he moved to Harrisonville and assumed the duties of that office. He was re-elected in 1902, serving eight years in all. At the expiration of his term of service he engaged in the grocery business in partnership with Perry Bailey, under the firm name of Dunn & Bailey. Since that time they have conducted a first class grocery store in Har- risonville.
Mr. Dunn was married September 2, 1889, to Miss Mattie V. Hunter, a daughter of H. A. Hunter, formerly of Gunn City and now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Dunn have no children. Mr. Dunn is a member of the Masonic Lodge, The Modern Woodmen of America and Woodmen of the World, and one of Cass County's representative business men. Mr. and Mrs. Dunn are members of the M. E. Church, South, of Harrisonville, Missouri.
George Wildeboor, who has been prominently identified with the development and upbuilding of Cass County for over half a century, is a native of the Netherlands. He was born in 1835, a son of Klaas and Rickelty Wildeboor, both natives of the Netherlands. They were the parents of the following children: Klaas, who resides at Pueblo, Colo- rado, where he has been prominent in a political way for several years, having served as mayor of that city and sheriff of the county, and has also been a member of the Colorado Legislature; George, the subject of this sketch; Marinus, who died at Garden City; Jacob, who also died at Garden City; Ellen, who married Peter Vyn, and died at the age of twenty-four, two daughters, who died in Michigan; and Mary, who mar- ried Frederick Erdman, and is now deceased. The father died in his native land, and the mother came to America with her family of chil- dren when George, the subject of this sketch, was seven years old. They located in Michigan, where George Wildeboor received his education. When seventeen years old he began teaching school. From Michigan he went to Illinois, where he was when the Civil War broke out. In 1862 he enlisted in Company I, Seventieth Illinois Infantry, and was mustered into the United States service at Springfield, Illinois. He served as first . lieutenant of his company and frequently commanded the company dur- ing his military career. At the close of his term of service he was mus- tered out at Alton, Illinois.
In 1866 Mr. Wildeboor came to Missouri and first located at Pleasant
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Hill. In 1867 he was admitted to the bar and is the oldest member of the Cass County bar. Mr. Wildeboor was engaged in contracting and building in Harrisonville for a number of years, when he went to East Lynne and engaged in the lumber business. Later he sold out his East Lynne business and returned to Harrisonville, where he again engaged in contracting and building. During the course of his career he erected some of the most important buildings of Harrisonville, among which are the Hotel Harrisonville, the Kunze building, Deacon Brothers' building, Schnell building, Bank of Harrisonville building, Wooldridge building, and a great many of the best residences in Harrisonville. He also super- intended the construction of the new County Home.
Mr. Wildeboor owns two valuable farms in Index township and con- siderable property in Garden City. He has done considerable building at that place. Mr. Wildeboor is one of Cass County's most substantial citizens. By his industry, honesty, and integrity he has won a place among the best citizens of Cass County, and for these virtues will long be remembered.
Charles S. Stevens, cashier of the Farmers Bank of Garden City, is a native of Ohio. He was born at Solon in 1867, son of Alfred and Amelia C. (Smith) Stevens, the former a native of New Hampshire, and the latter of New York.
Alfred Stevens came with his family to Cass County in 1872. He had purchased one hundred sixty acres of land two years before bringing his family here. He engaged in farming and stock raising and for a number of years was extensively engaged in the manufacture of sor- ghum. Mr. Stevens has had a very successful career and still resides on his old place in Dayton township at the advanced age of ninety-one years. His wife died in 1913. They were the parents of six children, three of whom are living, as follows: W. A., farmer and stockman, near Garden City; A. M., a merchant at Clinton, Missouri, and an extensive land owner in Cass County ; and Charles S., the subject of this sketch.
Charles S. Stevens was educated in the public schools of Cass County and spent his boyhood days on the home farm. He followed farming as his occupation until he was twenty-seven years old, when he became man- ager of the Garden City Creamery. Later he engaged in farming again, which vocation he followed until May 1902, when he accepted the cash- iership of the Farmers Bank of Garden City, a position which he has
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since held. This bank is one of the substantial banking institutions of Cass County and has done business for a quarter of a century. It was organized in June 1892, with a capital stock of fifteen thousand dollars, and its first officers were: Alfred Stevens, president; George W. Main, vice president; J. C. Flook, cashier ; D. T. Clements, assistant cashier ; R. O'Bannon, secretary ; and the first board of directors were: D. T. Clem- ents, E. Decker, J. H. McCulloh, R. O'Bannon, George W. Main, Alfred Stevens, and J. C. Flook. The present capital stock of the bank remains the same and they now have a certified surplus of fifteen thousand dol- lars and carry deposits of about eighty thousand dollars.
The present officers are A. W. Wilhite, president; W. A. Stevens, vice president; Charles S. Stevens, cashier; George S. Breed, assistant cashier; T. G. Wilhite, secretary; and in addition to the above named officers, D. L. Clark and Jesse Elliott are members of the board of di- rectors.
Mr. Stevens was married in 1892 to Miss Jessie C. Logue, of Adrian, Missouri. She is a daughter of Joseph and Safronia (Kincaid) Logue, who now reside in Garden City. To Mr. and Mrs. Stevens have been born two children: Earl A., Kansas City, Missouri, in the employ of the New England National Bank, married Mildred McDonough, of that city; Charles Ernest, married Gladys Ellis, of Garden City, and is in the employ of Swift and Company at Kansas City.
Mr. Stevens has had an extensive experience in the intricate field of finance, and is considered one of the best business men in Cass County on the subject of banking. He is conservative enough to safe-guard the various interests for which he is responsible, and at the same time pro- gressive enough to keep pace with the rapidly-developing commercial world.
George N. Powell, a prominent farmer of Polk township, is a native of Illinois. He was born about sixteen miles north of Galesburg. He is a son of Warner T. and Annie A. (Wightman) Powell, the former a native of Virginia, and the latter of Canada. The Powell family came to Mis- souri in 1866, locating in Vernon County, near Moundville, where the parents still reside. The father is eighty-seven years old and the mother is eighty-three. George N. Powell's grandmother, Annie Wightman, died in Carroll County at the age of one hundred two years.
George N. Powell was one of a family of five children, as follows:
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Josephine F., who married Henry F. Jones, and died at Hartshorn, Okla- homa, December 24, 1915; George N., whose name introduces this sketch ; Charles W., Hartshorn, Oklahoma; Henry H., Kansas City, Missouri; and Ora E., married Dr. Bolten, Kansas City, Missouri.
Mr. Powell was reared to manhood and educated in Moundville, Mis- souri. He remained at home with his parents until he was twenty-five years old, when he began farming in Vernon County, and two years later, or in 1883, came to Cass County, reaching here January 20th. He bought eighty acres of land, three-fourths of a mile south of Strasburg, which were unimproved, paying twenty-five dollars an acre. He has added to his original purchase as opportunities have presented them- selves, and now owns a fine farm of two hundred forty acres. His place is well improved, with a splendid residence and two conveniently-ar- ranged and substantially-built barns. His place presents an attractive and well-kept appearance, which furnishes mute testimony of the thrift and enterprise of Mr. Powell.
April 13, 1881, Mr. Powell was united in marriage with Miss Carrie Roush, of Strasburg. She is a daughter of H. M. and M. E. Roush, of Strasburg. The Roush family came to Strasburg in 1880 from Vernon County, Missouri. The father died in 1900 and the mother now resides in Strasburg. Mrs. Powell was one of the family of three children born to her parents, the other two being as follows: Charles W., who lives near Wingate, Missouri; and J. A., who occupies the old Roush home- stead in Polk township. To Mr. and Mrs. Powell have been born four children, as follows. A. W., who married Lydia Hurt, and lives one mile south of Strasburg; Mabel, who married Dr. Beckman, Strasburg; Mamie, who married Samuel Thompson, Kansas City, Missouri, who was accidentally killed by a falling scaffold at that place, February 6, 1917, leaving his widow and one son and daughter, Frances Powell Thompson and Marion Yankee Thompson; and Lela, who married Charles Gibson, Kingsville. Missouri.
The Powell family were very early settlers in Vernon County. That section of the state was sparsely settled at that time. There were only three houses in the vicinity of Nevada, Missouri. Colonel Pitcher con- ducted a small store there. Most of the settlements in Vernon County were along the streams, keeping close to the timber, as was the custom in the early days for many good and sufficient reasons. The settlers in that locality hauled most of their supplies from Pleasant Hill, and a trip there and back usually required about five days. Flour was fifteen dol-
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lars per hundred and other necessities in proportion, but in a short time a mill was built at Ft. Scott, Kansas, which was more accessible to the early settlers of Vernon County.
Mr. Powell is not only a successful farmer, but is also interested in the Farmers National Bank of Pleasant Hill. He is a member of the board of directors of that institution. He takes a commendable interest in local affairs, and in 1891 was elected assessor of Polk township. After having served one year, Mr. Powell resigned that office. He is one of Cass County's representative citizens.
F. J. Brooker, manager of the Farmers Lumber and Supply Company of Garden City, is one of Cass County's most efficient business men. He was born in Iowa in 1854, son of Jacob F. Brooker, a native of Germany. When Jacob F. Brooker was four years of age he immigrated with his father Jacob F. Brooker, Sr., to America. The Brookers located tempor- arily in Ohio. In 1846 they moved to Iowa.
In 1877, when F. J. Brooker was twenty-three years of age, he and his parents migrated from Iowa to Butler county, Kansas. In Butler county F. J. Brooker and Miss N. F. Brooks of Leon, Kansas, were mar- ried. Mr. and Mrs. Brooker are the parents of five children: two babes died in infancy; Marvin, at home; Blanche, at home; and John, clerk in the Claude Smith store of Dayton.
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