USA > Missouri > Cass County > History of Cass County, Missouri > Part 53
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blessed with one daughter, Pearl, who is the wife of Wm. H. Waymire, of Henry County, Missouri.
Mr. Forsyth recalls the cyclone, the destroyer of June 15, 1912, which caused so much destruction to property and great loss of life in this vicin- ity. Shade trees and fruit trees around the Forsyth home were uprooted and the home demolished. It was in this cyclone Mrs. Lee Parker was killed, her husband's limb broken, and a child of Cleveland Stevens killed. The Forsyths were fortunately spared by the kind hand of Providence, who works in "a mysterious way His wonders to perform."
Mr. and Mrs. Forsyth have bravely toiled together in Cass County for nearly a half century and they have nobly done their part in bettering conditions. A large amount of credit, praise which cannot be expressed in words, and high honor are due men and women like Mr. and Mrs. Forsyth, without whom Cass County could never have been what it is today.
A. W. Kohler, owner and proprietor of the Harrisonville Transfer Line and East Side Garage, is a native of Cass County. He was born April 4, 1874, and is a son of John Kohler, a sketch of whom appears in this volume.
Mr. Kohler was reared on his father's farm and educated in the pub- lic schools, including a course in the Harrisonville High School. He fol- lowed farming and stock raising in Grand River township until February 1, 1914, when he purchased his present business and removed to Harrison- ville. He still owns his farm in Grand River township, which is well improved and is a valuable piece of land. Mr. Kohler is the only transfer man in Harrisonville, and has a large business in this line of work. He uses both horses and automobiles in his transfer work and also does an extensive auto livery business. He was the agency of the Studebaker automobile, and during the past season has sold a number of these cars in Harrisonville and vicinity.
Mr. Kohler was married in 1897 to Miss Myrtle E. Karg, a native of Ohio and a daughter of Henry Karg, who resides in Cass County four miles east of Pleasant Hill. To Mr. and Mrs. Kohler have been born five children, as follows: Berneta Bertha, Alfred Earl, Henrietta May, Mary Marie and Okena Beatrice.
Mr. Kohler is a Democrat and has taken a prominent part in politics. He has served as assessor of Grand River township four years. He is a
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member of the Knights of Pythias, Modern Woodmen of America, Mystic Workers of the World, Central Protective Association, and belongs to the Christian Church. He is an enterprising and progressive business man whose genial manner and liberal ideas have made many friends.
John Kohler, of Harrisonville, one of the large land-owners of Cass County, was an early settler here and for a number of years a successful farmer and stock raiser. He is now living retired.
Mr. Kohler is a natvie of Germany. He was born at Wuremberg, January 24, 1840, a son of John and Marber Barber (Marhoff) Kohler. The Kohler family came to America in 1852. They landed in New York and went from there to Ashland County, Ohio, where they remained a short time when they removed to Champaign County, Ohio, and five or six years later to Shelby County, Ohio, where the parents spent the remainder of their lives.
John Kohler came to Missouri and located in Cass County, October 23, 1866. He engaged in farming and stock raising, which he followed successfully until 1898, when he removed to Harrisonville. He won the reputation of being one of the best farmers in Cass County and accumu- lated considerable land. He now owns six hundred acres of some of the best land in the county.
Mr. Kohler was married August 23, 1866, in Shelby County, Ohio, to Miss Margaret M. Watkins, who was born near Johnstown, Pennsyl- vania. Mr. and Mrs. Kohler celebrated their golden wedding on the fiftieth anniversary of their marriage at their home in Harrisonville, and it was one of the enjoyable events of the season, and the occasion will long be remembered by the members of the family and the many friends of Mr. and Mrs. Kohler, who were privileged to be present.
To John Kohler and wife have been born the following children: John L., farmer, Cass County ; Maggs, the wife of W. F. Wolf, Creighton, Missouri; David, Coffeyville, Kansas; Edward, Olathe, Kansas; A. W., a sketch of whom appears in this volume; and I. M., farmer, Cass County.
Mr. Kohler is a Republican and belongs to the Christian church. He is one of Cass County's most substantial citizens. He has had an unusu- ally successful career and as one of Cass County's pioneers has done his part. He has never been known to shirk a duty nor responsibility. Dur- ing the Civil War he served in the Union army with an Ohio regiment and has a war record without a blemish.
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Mrs. Missouri Glass, of Freeman, is a native of Grand River town- ship and belongs to a Cass County pioneer family. She bore the maiden name of Cummings, and is a daughter of Benjamin and Mary J. (Adams) Cummings. Benjamin Cummings was born at Elizabeth, Kentucky, February 22, 1821, and was a son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Lowe) Cum- mings, both natives of Kentucky. The Cummings family were among the very early settlers of Cass County. Thomas Cummings and his family settled in Grand River township in the early thirties. Upon settling here Thomas Cummings pre-empted land southwest of Harrisonville and spent the remainder of his life on that place. He died before the Civil War, and his widow survived him for a number of years.
Benjamin Cummings, father of Mrs. Glass, spent the remainder of his life in Grand River township, after coming here, becoming a well-to- do farmer and stockman. He bought and sold cattle quite extensively dur- ing his career. He died March 28, 1876. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Mary J. Adams, was a native of Jackson County, Missouri, and a daughter of Sidney and Nancy (DeWitt) Adams, natives of Kentucky, and very early settlers in Jackson County. They came to Cass County in the early thirties and settled in the eastern part of what is now Dolan township where the father preempted government land. He was the pioneer nurseryman of Cass County. He raised apple trees from the seeds and the early settlers came to his place from a radius of several miles to obtain fruit trees, and much of the fruit of the early days in Cass County was due to his enterprise in that industry. He died in 1883, aged seventy-three years, and his wife died several years later. Mrs. Glass' mother died in 1913, aged seventy-eight years.
Benjamin and Mary J. (Adams) Cummings were the parents of the following children: Virginia, married Ben Stevens, and is now deceased; Josephine, married T. F. Prettyman, Grand River township; Missouri, the subject of this sketch; Kentucky, married Francis Allen, Kansas City ; Sterling Price, lived in Idaho and is now deceased ; Robert Lee, Oklahoma ; Mrs. America Hodges, Ottawa, Kansas; Mrs. Cora Dutro, Grand River township; Frank, lives in Colorado; and Benjamin, Jr., occupies the old home place in Grand River township.
Mrs. Glass spent her girlhood days in Grand River township, and on February 28, 1878, she was united in marriage with T. D. Ryan, a native of Kentucky, who came to Cass County with his parents and settled in Grand River township at a very early day. He was a successful farmer
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MR. AND MRS. T. D. RYAN.
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and stockman and for a number of years was president of the Bank of Freeman, having spent his active business career in that vicinity. He died December 30, 1908. On June 4, 1911, Mrs. Ryan and Alexander Glass were united in marriage. He was a native of Tennessee, born March 16, 1851, and died December 9, 1914. Mrs. Glass now resides in her splendid residence, surrounded by all comforts and conveniences, at Freeman. She is an interesting woman and relates many incidents of pioneer days. She is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.
D. R. Griffith, M. D., a prominent physician of Cass County, is a member of one of the best pioneer families of Missouri. He was born in 1854 in Independence, Missouri, son of Alexander B. and Margaret (Drake) Griffith.
Alexander B. Griffith, a native of Virginia, was born in 1819. He came to Cass County, Missouri, in 1839 and located on a farm near Day- ton. At that time Lexington, Missouri, was the nearest milling and trad- ing point, and Alexander Griffith would drive his team of oxen there with a load of bacon, which he sold for one dollar per hundred pounds. In 1849, at the time of the wide-spread excitement over the discovery of shining particles of gold in Captain Sutter's mill-race, near San Fran- cisco, and when people rushed to the gold fields, Alexander Griffith went to California. Thousands of the immigrants died on the way and the routes to California were strewn with bones, but Mr. Griffith was far more forunate than the average. He returned after four years, and with gold. Alexander Griffith was a veteran of the Mexican and Civil wars, serving under General Price. He was quarter-master under General Price in the Civil War. Mr. Griffith entered one thousand acres of land five miles north of Clinton, Henry County, Missouri. He purchased from four hundred to five hundred acres in Bates and Cass Counties. Alex- ander Griffith was the one who laid off the town of Dayton, and until the beginning of the Civil War was the leading merchant there and one of the best in the county. The year preceding the war he drove six hun- dred head of cattle to Tipton, Missouri, and from there shipped them to St. Louis, Missouri. His life passed out at Clinton, Missouri, in 1903. He was eighty-four years of age. Margaret (Drake) Griffith was the daugh- ter of Judge David Drake of Henry County, and of Howard County prior to the date of his election in Henry County. Mrs. Griffith died in 1910 in
(38)
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Oklahoma and is interred near her husband at Drake's Chapel. Alex- ander B. and Margaret (Drake) Griffith were the parents of the following children: Dr. D. R., subject of this review; Mrs. Jemimah Bates, de- ceased, whose husband is at present clerk of Lafayette County, Missouri ; Dr. Ed, Gallatin, Missouri; Mrs. Sallie Davidson, deceased; Dr. Joseph K., Tishimingo, Oklahoma; and Mrs. Maggie Berry, wife of George Berry, ex-police judge of Clinton, Missouri, residing in Odessa, Missouri.
Dr. D. R. Griffith attended the Warrensburg State Normal School and the Kansas City Medical College, graduating from the latter institu- tion with the class of 1882. Immediately upon graduation he began the practice of his chosen profession in Dayton, where he remained two years. For two years Dr. Griffith resided upon a farm east of Creighton and for eight years practiced medicine in Clinton. From Clinton he moved to Arkansas, and after two years there came back to Creighton, where he has since been engaged in practicing medicine and in the drug business. Dr. Griffith has always been in the drug business and he and his son, Edgar M., have the only drug store in Creighton.
In 1883 Dr. D. R. Griffith and Virginia Eureka Bates, daughter of Colonel Theodore and Nancy (Ellis) Bates, were united in marriage. Colonel Bates was a native of Saxony, Germany. In his day he was one of the largest breeders of Shorthorns in Missouri. He owned thirty-two hundred acres of land before he shared with his children. His death occurred about 1890. Nancy (Ellis) Bates, a native of Tennessee, was a member of a prominent pioneer family who came to Warren County, Mis- souri in the early days. To Dr. and Mrs. Griffith have been born seven children: Dr. E. M., who is associated with his father, Creighton, Mis- souri; Bates, section foreman with the Kansas City, Springfield and Clinton Railroad, Creighton, Missouri; Paul, dry goods man, with Peck's Dry Goods Company, Kansas City, Missouri; Joseph, section foreman with the Kansas City, Springfield and Clinton Railroad, Harrisonville, Missouri; Ruth, wife of Fred Lummery, Creighton, Missouri; George, graduate of the Clinton High School in 1915, now a student at the age of eighteen in the State University, Columbia, Missouri, pursuing the medi- cal course; and Leslie, age fifteen years, student in the University High School of Columbia. Dr. E. M. Griffith, the eldest son, who is following in the footsteps of his father and associated with him, is a graduate of the University Medical College of Kansas City, Missouri, with the class of 1911. In the same year he and Georgie Cowan, a teacher in Manilla,
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Arkansas, were married. In 1915 he was president of the Cass County Medical Society. Although Dr. E. M. Griffith is still a very young man, he has an excellent practice and has been deservedly successful. He is in partnership with his father in the drug store and they carry a fine, clean, attractive line of goods.
Dr. and Mrs. D. R. Griffith have made their home in Creighton ever since the town was laid out, in 1885. Dr. Griffith, in political affiliations, like his father before him, is a democrat. In countless ways he is one of Cass County's most indispensable citizens.
E. P. Goodrum, a highly esteemed citizen of Sherman township, was born in Suffolk County, England, in 1864, son of Robert Goodrum, a native of England. Robert Goodrum immigrated to America in 1874, and lo- cated in Sherman township, one mile south of Creighton. The Goodrum family lived in a little log cabin and the family was a large one. E. P. Goodrum was reared upon this farm and in this log cabin and vividly recalls those old days of the trundle bed. Robert Goodrum died in Sher- man township in 1897, and is buried in Grant Cemetery. His wife died in 1895. E. P. Goodrum is one of seven living children, born to Robert Goodrum and wife, who are as follows: Mrs. Ellen Elizabeth Ballard, St. Clair County, Missouri; Japther, Henry County, Missouri; Robert, Rich Hill, Missouri; E. P., subject of this review; James, Sherman town- ship, Missouri; Mrs. Florence Dockins, Glasgow, Missouri; and Mrs. Min- nie Page, Urich, Bates County, Missouri.
E. P. Goodrum received his education in the common schools in Sherman township. He began life for himself at the age of twenty, and for five years worked out by the month. At the end of this period he and his brother, Robert, rented land in partnership for two years, after which E. P. Goodrum returned home and for three years remained with his parents.
November 13, 1892, E. P. Goodrum and Jennie Oneal, daughter of John and Eliza (Sloan) Oneal, of Dayton, were united in marriage. Mr. Sloan, grandfather of Mrs. Goodrum, was one of the pioneers of Wash- ington County, Missouri. John Oneal was a union soldier. He died while in service. Eliza (Sloan) Oneal died in Sherman township in 1902 and is buried at Maysburg, Bates County.
Mr. Goodrum is engaged in general farming and stock raising. He purchased his present home place in 1897, for twelve hundred dollars.
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This place comprises thirty-nine and a half acres of valuable land, which was originally the old town site of Grant. At one time Grant was a flourishing little village with two general stores, drug store, marble shop, harness shop, blacksmith shop and a millinery store, but when Creighton came into existence the town of Grant literally moved away. The Grant Methodist Church is the only structure left of the abandoned town. Mr. Goodrum has added all the improvements upon his place with the ex- ception of the barn, which was well constructed and is still in good con- dition.
Mr. and Mrs. Goodrum are well known and respected residents of Cass County. Genial and kind, possessing pleasant manners and good personal address, they have, in their quiet and unassuming way, made scores of friends and have done and are doing their part in the better- ment and upbuilding of their county and township.
James A. McCoy, one of the honored pioneers of Missouri, was born in Lafayette County, Missouri, April 30, 1840, son of John and Letitia (Dalton) McCoy. John McCoy was born in 1818 in Greenbrier County, West Virginia, son of Lewis McCoy, a native Virginian, who brought his family to Lafayette. County, Missouri, in 1838. He died in Lafayette County at the age of ninety-four years. John McCoy came from Lafay- ette County to Henry County in 1854, and thence to Cass County in 1866, locating on the future townsite of Grant. John McCoy sold the forty acres upon which the town of Grant was later located. He purchased this land from William Morrison and Lotspiech, who had entered it. Franklin Pierce signed the deed in 1856. Letitia (Dalton) McCoy was also a native of Virginia, and she and John McCoy were married in their native state. To John and Letitia (Dalton) McCoy were born the following children: Mrs. Mary Jane Rader, deceased; M. L., died April 15, 1917, aged eighty- eight years, two months and seven days, buried at Urich, Missouri; Ren- nick, who died in infancy; William Rennick, who died in Creighton, Mis- souri; Mrs. Elizabeth Haskell, who died in California; A. F., who died in Greenwood County, Kansas; Nancy Sabina and John F., twins, died at Urich, Missouri; and James A. The mother died in 1862 and is interred in McCord Cemetery in Henry County, Missouri, and the father died in 1869, just three years after coming to Cass County. He is at rest beside his wife in McCord Cemetery.
James A. McCoy received his early education in private schools in
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Lafayette and Henry Counties. When James McCoy was a lad the edu- cational facilities were very meager and most of the youth's time neces- sarily had to be spent assisting his father with the various duties of the farm. But he was naturally a student and with an inherent love of knowledge has in a great measure become his own educator, with keen judgment matured by observation and reflection and refined tastes de- veloped by the best associations. When he was twenty-two years old his country called him and he enlisted March 10, 1862, with the Union Army at Georgetown, Pettis County, Missouri. He belonged to the southwest- ern division and was in active service in Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas, and Texas. Mr. McCoy was on the Price and Shelby raids, the former lasting thirty days. He took a prominent part in the battles of Little Blue, Big Blue and many other engagements. September 1, 1864, in a skirmish near Strasburg his shoulder was dislocated and his ankle mashed. He was mustered out at Benton Barracks, St. Louis, Missouri, April 20, 1865. For three years he had given his best to the republic, and aided mightily in upholding the hands of the government. As we look back over the broad expanse of years and view that bitter struggle with an ever widen- ing perspective, we can not but appreciate the courage of the men of that time.
After the war had ended James McCoy returned home to Henry County, Missouri. The same year, 1865, his father sold his place in Henry County, and moved to Sherman township, Cass County, in 1866, as has been previously mentioned. He purchased five hundred eighty- five acres of land, three hundred twenty acres from William Morrison, and the balance from Nathan Gregg.
December 27, 1866, James A. McCoy and Mary E. Miller, daughter of Jonathan and Sarah (Gump) Miller, of Henry County, were united in marriage. Jonathan Miller died in Henry County about 1892, and Mrs. Miller makes her home with her son, Henry F., in Urich, Missouri. She is ninety-five years of age and in fairly good health. She can still read with ease and is quite active for one of her advanced years. Mrs. McCoy is one of nine children born to Jonathan and Sarah (Gump) Miller, who are: Henry F., Urich, Missouri; Mary E., wife of the subject of this sketch; John Jacob, Urich, Missouri; Mrs. Susan Coolidge, Leeds, North Dakota; George W., Lamar, Missouri; William, Urich, Missouri; Mrs. Rebecca Wells, Urich, Missouri; R. F., Urich, Missouri; and Mrs. Emma Powers, Kansas City, Missouri. Mr. and Mrs. McCoy are the parents
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of six children, all of whom are living: Henry, Urich, Missouri; Mrs. Emma Forsyth, Creighton, Missouri; John, Creighton, Missouri; Mrs. Mildred Adams, Warrensburg, Missouri; Alfred, at home; and Frank, Howe, Nebraska. Mr. and Mrs. McCoy are further blessed with twelve splendid grandchildren. December 27, 1916, they celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of their wedding and all the children and grandchildren were present.
The McCoy place is located three miles north and one mile west of Creighton. Mr. McCoy has been the owner since 1866, and has lived there for fifty-one years. The farm was raw prairie when he came to it and he has added all the improvements. He is engaged in general farm- ing and stock raising. A large maple tree which shades the lawn on the east side of the home was planted by Mr. McCoy forty-five years ago, and is one of the most beautiful trees of the township.
James A. McCoy is a man of courtly manners and kindly deeds, and during his long residence of more than sixty years in this vicinity, he has gained the respect and esteem of all. He and Mrs. McCoy have made countless friends. Mr. McCoy has ever been a hard worker. He began life with no resources but those of a healthy body and mind and an in- domitable will. He has made his way to success as the Scriptures com- mand, "By the sweat of his brow". Missouri has produced few men whose life history has been more honorable, more full of suggestion and encouragement to the youth of today.
William V. Blayney, of Sherman township, is of Irish lineage, and possesses many of the characteristics for which his race is noted. He was born November 15, 1855, in Washington County, Pennsylvania, son of Vincent Miller and Mary (Donahey) Blayney. Vincent Miller Blayney was born in West Virginia in 1814, son of Charles Blayney, who had im- migrated to America from Ireland. Mary (Donahey) Blayney was born in Pennsylvania, daughter of Samuel Donahey, who immigrated to Amer- ica from Ireland. To Vincent Miller and Mary (Donahey) Blayney were born the following children: Mrs. Anna Jane Eagleson, deceased ; Charles P., Marshall, Missouri; Samuel D., Crothers, Pennsylvania; William V., subject of this review; and Joseph C., Buffalo, Pennsylvania.
William V. Blayney received his education in the schools of Wash- ington County, Pennsylvania. Until he was twenty-six years of age he remained at home with his parents assisting with the work of the farm.
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He then came to Cass County, Missouri, and located upon the place which has been his home ever since. His father had purchased the place from Captain Stahl prior to William V.'s coming.
December 23, 1884, William V. Blayney and Mary E. Sliffe, daughter of Benjamin and Drucilla (Maxwell) Sliffe, were united in marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Sliffe came to Austin township, Cass County, in 1880. Benjamin Sliffe was a son of Henry Sliffe, one of the pioneers of Tuscarawas County, Ohio, locating there in 1803. The father of Henry Sliffe immigrated from Germany and settled in Pennsylvania in the early days. Benjamin Sliffe died in Austin in 1901, and his widow still lives on the home place, near Austin. She is now seventy-four years of age. Mrs. Blayney is one of six children born to Benjamin and Drucilla (Maxwell) Sliffe, who are as follows: Charles, Marshall, Missouri; Mary E., wife of the subject of this review; E. G., Bates County, Missouri; Mrs. Laura A. Baker, Archie, Missouri; J. Benjamin, Kansas City, Missouri; and Herbert N., who makes his home with his mother on the home place. To William V. and Mary E. (Sliffe) Blayney have been born three children: Homer Uel, Garden City, Missouri; Grace Carsona, at home; and William Earl, at home.
The Blayney place is well improved and all the improvements Mr. Blayney himself has added since his coming to the farm. In 1912 a well constructed and commodious barn was erected, which is 34x40 feet, with a granatoid foundation all around, and hallway is also granatoid, and it is a rat-proof barn. Mr. Blayney is engaged in general farming and stock raising.
In addition to the manifold duties of the farm, William V. Blayney shoulders the responsibile position of chorister in the Creighton Presby- terian Church. Mr. Blayney taught vocal music schools for many years, both in this county and in Bates County, commencing the winter of 1881. He was an excellent teacher and did much in the way of encourag- ing work along the lines of vocal music and in fostering a love for the best in this art. His work as chorister is invaluable, for the choir de- pends entirely upon him to arrange the music for special occasions, but the value of his work in stimulating a desire for good music in the home, church, and school, can not be estimated. "Music hath charms to soothe the savage breast", the poet wisely spoke, and with a deep devotion to his art, Mr. Blayney forged ahead, the torch bearer in music work in this locality. His work has been and always will be greatly appreciated. He is one of the County's most valuable citizens.
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