USA > Missouri > Cass County > History of Cass County, Missouri > Part 64
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77
Mrs. Hogard was born in Cass County and is a granddaughter of Chesney Young, one of the very early settlers of this county. Mrs: Hogard was educated in Belton and has spent practically all her life in this vicinity. Mr. and Mrs. Hogard are well known in Cass County and have many friends.
W. A. Crone, now living retired at Belton, Missouri, has had a suc- cessful career and is one of Cass County's most substantial citizens. He was born in Fayette County, Ohio, in 1839, a son of Benjamin A. and Nancy Ann (McDonald) Crone, natives of Ohio. The mother was a daughter of Thomas McDonald, of Scotch descent. Thomas McDonald helped make the survey of Ohio. He was a grandson of Thomas McDonald who came from Scotland to America in 1772 and settled in Pennsylvania. Later he went to Kentucky with a brother, John McDonald, who was prominent in the political affairs of that state in the early days and served in the legislature.
In 1856 the Crone family removed from Ohio to Illinois, where the parents died. W. A. Crone has practically made his own way in life and whatever success has come to him is due to his own unaided efforts. He made his first money setting out onions, receiving ten cents per day and his dinner. He sold pumps at Canton, Illinois, in early life and there met
701
HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY
Mr. A. C. Moore, who was a successful breeder of Poland China hogs. He traded a pump for a pair of pigs and in this way became familiar with the hog industry. In 1868 he engaged in the restaurant business in Illinois and was in that business for twenty years.
In 1902 Mr. Crone came to Missouri and located in Cass County, where he bought one hundred thirty-six acres of land. He engaged in general farming although he specialized in breeding Poland China hogs. Mr. Crone generally had a sale every fall, where he disposed of his sale- able hogs, for which he received a very good price. He was successfully engaged in farming and stock raising for a number of years but now rents his farm and resides at Belton, where he has a comfortable home and is well-to-do.
Mr. Crone was married in 1870 to Miss Mary Wherritt, a daughter of George and Margaret Wherritt, of Virginia, of German and Welsh descent. Mr. Wherritt was a weaver and dyer. He manufactured his own dyes and had a secret of compounding colors which were of a very high stand- ard. Mrs. Crone remembers her father as a man of kindly disposition who was much devoted to his family. She recalls his greeting to her on one occasion after she had been away from home about a year. Upon her return he met her and exclaimed, "Here's Mollie, God bless her, she's the light of the household". He was an honest, conscientious man and his wife was an industrious and kind hearted woman.
To Mr. and Mrs. Crone have been born seven children, as follows: Wallace, Wichita, Kansas; William, St. Joseph, Missouri; Mrs. Grace Neiswanger, Washington, Iowa; Maggie, Belton, Missouri; Elliott, Belton, Missouri; Mrs. Josie Chapman, La Junta, Colorado; and Mrs. Clara Kraft, Henrietta, Missouri. Mr. and Mrs. Crone have ten grandchildren, namely : Earl and Vera Crone, Elma, Dorothy and Donald Neiswanger, Charles, Helen and James Chapman and Clyde and Ralph Kraft.
The Crone family is well known and highly respected and repre- sentative people of Cass County.
Horace Gray, one of the most progressive citizens of Raymore town- ship, is a native of Illinois. He was born in 1862 and is a son of Dr. L. F. and Lydia (Morey) Gray, both natives of Ohio. Dr. L. F. Gray's father was a native of New York, born in 1797. He was a soldier in the War of 1812 and lived to the advanced age of ninety-seven years, dying in 1894. Dr. L. F. Gray was a student at Sheraon College, Ohio. In early
702
HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY
life he became a teacher. Doctor Gray studied medicine under Dr. Alex- ander Hull, a noted physician of his time. He later entered Rush Med- ical College at Chicago, where he was graduated in the spring of 1857, with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. In 1869 Doctor Gray came to Missouri and located in Cass County in the vicinity of where the town of Raymore now stands. Here he engaged in the practice of his pro- fession and was a very successful physician. He built up a large practice and won the confidence of the public not only as a physician but as a friend, neighbor and fellow citizen. He built one of the first business houses in Raymore and was successful in a financial way as well as professionally.
Doctor Gray was united in marriage in 1857 with Miss Lydia Morey, a daughter of Rev. Amos Morey, of Ohio. Two children were born to this union: Horace, the subject of this sketch; and Milton A., who resides at Salina, Kansas.
Horace Gray, whose name introduces this sketch, received a good education in the public schools of Cass County. In early life he learned the trade of painter and paperhanger and has probably done more work of this kind than any man in Raymore township. Mr. Gray is interested in various other enterprises in addition to his trade. In fact, he is a hustler and is always busy no matter from what angle he is viewed. He is a very successful breeder of standard bred trotting horses and is the present owner of "Highest Ideal, No. 42329", which is one of the valuable horses of western Missouri.
Mr. Gray has a well equipped slaughter house where he kills and dresses hogs for farmers in the vicinity, at a stipulated price ranging from two to four dollars. He slaughters about five hundred hogs annually. Mr. Gray is also quite extensively engaged in fruit growing, and is one of the successful fruit men, although working on a small scale in Cass County. Chicken raising is another branch of activity in which he takes considerable interest and in which he has met with marked success. He raises barred rock chickens and has an excellent strain of this breed.
Mr. Gray was united in marriage in 1885 to Miss Addie Farley, a daughter of O. P. Farley, and Herpalice (Horridge) Farley, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of England. The Farley family came to Cass County, Missouri, in 1870. Here the father was success- fully engaged in farming until his death in 1900. His widow now resides with her daughter, Mrs. Gray. To Mr. and Mrs. Gray have been born five children as follows: Lela, Kansas City, Missouri; Lafayette, Clinton,
703
HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY
Missouri; Eleanor Jeter, Raymore, Missouri; Herpalice, Raymore, Mis- souri ; and Bessie, Raymore, Missouri.
The Gray family are well known and highly respected in Raymore township. Mr. Gray is a Republican having always supported the policies and principles of that party.
D. A. Chandler, of Mt. Pleasant township, is a Civil War veteran, who has spent over fifty years of his life in Cass County. Mr. Chandler was born in Belmont County, Ohio, in 1842, a son of Isaac and Alice Chandler. The Chandler family is of English origin and was founded in Pennsylvania in an early day. Isaac Chandler removed from Pennsyl- vania to Ohio when a young man. There he took up a farm and also worked at his trade which was that of a tailor. He often remarked that "he cleared and improved his land with the needle". The section of Ohio where he settled was quite heavily timbered with the kind of timber that required considerable chopping and burning in order to convert it into a state of cultivation. He hewed logs and built a home with his own hands and there reared a family of eleven children, besides two nephews. He was a man of high personal character. For a number of years he served as justice of the peace, but more frequently acted in the role of peacemaker rather than magistrate. He always counciled peace and much of the litigation brought to his court was amicably adjusted in his court between the would be litigants upon his suggestion and by his influence. He and his wife, who was a noble Christian woman, both spent their lives in Ohio.
D. A. Chandler grew to manhood in Ohio. After the death of his father and mother he lived with an older brother until he became of age. Like the average boy of his time he was engaged in the peaceful pursuit of farming when the Civil War broke out. In 1862 he enlisted in Com- pany B, One Hundred Twenty-sixth Ohio Infantry, and for the two years which followed his enlistment he saw much service, participating in many battles and numerous skirmishes. He served under Generals Mead and Grant and was seriously wounded in the Battle of Spottsylvania, which incapacitated him for further service. Later Mr. Chandler received his honorable discharge and returned to Ohio where he remained until 1865, when he came to Cass County and settled at Pleasant Hill. Shortly after- wards he removed to Mt. Pleasant township where he was successfully engaged in farming and dairying for a number of years. He is now retired.
704
HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY
Mr. Chandler was married in 1867 to Miss E. M. Persons, a daughter of L. C. and M. P. (Knapp) Persons, and a niece of Reverend M. D. Todd. Mrs. Chandler came to Cass County in 1866. To Mr. and Mrs. Chandler have been born two sons: Ernest K., Kansas City, Missouri; and Gene E., of. Mt. Pleasant township. -
Mr. and Mrs. Chandler are members of the Christian church. Mr. Chandler has been an officer in that church a number of years. Mrs. Chandler is a member of the C. W. B. M. and the Benevolent Association.
D. G. Shackelford, a well known real-estate man of Peculiar, belongs to a pioneer famliy of Raymore township. He was born in Fayette County, Ohio, in 1855, a son of Lewis and Elizabeth Ann Shackelford. The father was a native of Ohio and of Welsh descent. His parents came from North Carolina. In 1868 the Shackelford family came to Missouri and after three months residence near Lees Summit settled in Raymore township, Cass County, where the father bought six hundred forty acres of land and engaged in general farming and stock raising. The Shackelfords were the fifth family to settle in Raymore township. During their first few years here their postoffice was Lees Summit. Pleasant Hill was their trading point. Lewis Shackelford was a Baptist minister and one of the early day preachers in Raymore township. To Lewis and Elizabeth Ann Shackelford were born the following children: John A., Peculiar; W. W., Peculiar; Mrs. Mary F. Armstrong, Freeman; N. A., Peculiar; and D. G., the subject of this sketch.
D. G. Shackelford received a good education in the public schools and for a time taught school. In 1880 he went to Oregon, making the trip overland. About a year later he returned to Cass County and for a time clerked in a store at Harrisonville, later going to Paola, Kansas. He followed farming for a while, then engaged in the mercantile busi- ness at Peculiar. Later Mr. Shackelford disposed of his mercantile inter- ests and accepted a position as traveling salesman and was thus engaged until about 1894. He then engaged in the real-estate business at Peculiar and to the present time has devoted himself to that industry.
Mr. Shackelford has been successful in his real-estate operations, having accumulated considerable property in Peculiar. He also owns land in Kansas.
Mr. Shackelford was married in 1883 to Miss Clara Conover. One child was born to this union, Mrs. Florence Porter, who now resides in
705
HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY
Kansas City, Missouri. Mrs. Shackelford died in 1888. In 1894 Mr. Shackelford was married to Miss Lura Moore, a daughter of Andrew and Christa Moore. Her father died in 1912 and the mother now resides at Peculiar with Mrs. Shackelford. Andrew Moore was a man of high per- sonal character and lived a consistent Christian life. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. His wife is also a member of that denomination, and even at the advanced age of eighty-four did not miss a single Sunday service during the year 1916. Mr. and Mrs. Shackelford have one child, Marjorie Kate, a student in the Peculiar schools.
H. F. Britton, a successful farmer and stockman and one of the most extensive land owners of West Peculiar township, was born in Ohio in 1844. He is a son of George W. and Elizabeth Britton. The Britton family came from Virginia to Ohio in 1844. They later removed to Illi- nois, where the father, George W. Britton, was successfully engaged in farming for a number of years. He spent the latter part of his life in that state.
H. F. Britton was associated with his father, engaged in farming and stock raising until he was about thirty years of age, when he engaged in that industry on his own account. In 1901 he came to Missouri, locat- ing in the vicinity of Peculiar where he bought seven hundred twenty acres of land. He bought more land later and now owns sixteen hundred fifty acres, and has been successfully engaged in stock raising for a num- ber of years. His land is well adapted to the stock business. Four hun- dred acres of the farm are now devoted to bluegrass. Mr. Britton has rented his land for the past two years and resides in Peculiar where he has recently purchased a home.
In 1881 Mr. Britton was married to Parthina Eley, a daughter of William and Margaret Eley. The following children have been born to this union: Leslie M., Mrs. Leta May Wood, and Margaret, all of whom reside at Peculiar.
Mr. and Mrs. Britton are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, south. Mr. Britton has been a trustee and steward in that church for more than forty years. He takes a keen interest in local affairs and is an especially strong advocate of good schools. For many years Mr. Brit- ton has been a member of the local school board. He is one of the repre- sentative and substantial citizens of Cass County. The Britton family is well and favorably known in the community.
(45)
706
HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY
Henry A. Knepp, a Cass County pioneer, who has had a successful business career, came to this county in 1867. He was attracted to this section of the state by its broad prairie, most of which was then free range, and, as he expressed it, "It seemed as though this country would be a pasture forever". He earned his first money after coming here chop- ping wood and splitting rails at one dollar per day. When Mr. Knepp came here, the section where he settled was wild and unbroken and had every indication of a frontier community. He has seen in this vicinity deer and prairie chickens and other native game, most of which have long since disappeared. He has frequently fought prairie fires. Mr. Knepp experienced all the many hardships incident to pioneer life. He assisted in building a school house in Peculiar township in 1869. In 1871 the Christian church was built in Peculiar, Rev. Marion Todd being one of the first preachers. In those days the supplies for the settlers were all hauled from Pleasant Hill. Mr. Knepp has a vivid recollection of many of the events of early days, some amusing and some otherwise, but he says the early settlers had much amusement and enjoyment as well as grief. He tells of the old time parties, singing schools, and other pastimes. He relates how, on one occasion, they loaded an organ on a wagon and drove for miles around the country, serenading the settlers.
Mr. Knepp is a native of Pennsylvania. He was born in Center County, March 24, 1845. He is a son of William and Sophia (Peters) Knepp, both natives of Union County, Pennsylvania, now Snyder County. Henry A. moved to Michigan with his parents in 1863 and located in St. Joseph County. He was reared on a farm and received a good public school education. He also attended Colon Seminary, Colon, Michigan. In 1867 he came to Cass County, Missouri, locating in Peculiar township, three-fourths of a mile northeast of Peculiar. His home has been here ever since with the exception of from October, 1911, to April, 1913, when he resided in Kansas City, Missouri.
Mr. Knepp purchased his first land which consisted of seventy-five acres at eleven dollars per acre, on five years time at eight per cent inter- est. He worked at harvesting the first summer here by the day and did whatever else he could get to do in order to raise enough money to pay the interest on his indebtedness and make a living for himself. When the note came due he had the money with which to pay it, but he arranged to borrow money and invested that which he had in hogs. Shortly after- wards the hogs all died of cholera, leaving Mr. Knepp with the experience
707
HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY
and a big debt. However he went to work with determination to pay out, and he did. He lived in a frail shack, which was later replaced by a sub- stantial modern residence. In 1873 he began to deal in stock quite exten- sively, raising cattle and hogs. He was successful in his farming opera- ations and fed a great many cattle with profit. During the course of his career he bought more land as opportunity offered and now owns eleven hundred fifty acres.
In 1894 Mr. Knepp sold his stock and bought property in the town of Peculiar, where he engaged in the grocery and hardware business with a partner. Three years later he bought his partner's interest and turned the business over to his son and son-in-law. He became president of the Patrons and Farmers Mutual Fire Insurance Company of Cass County and was very active in the affairs of that organization until 1905, when he was forced to give up the duties of that office and resign on account of failing health. He then became interested in the Allen Banking Com- pany at Harrisonville, and the Cass County Bank of Peculiar and has been a director in both of these institutions ever since.
Mr. Knepp was married in this county November 6, 1867, to Miss Rachel Ann Martin, a daughter of Alfred Martin, of St. Joseph County, Michigan. To this union were born two children as follows: Mrs. Ella S. Thompson ; and William M., both of whom reside at Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. William M., is engaged in the laundry business. He owns and operates a laundry, the value of which is estimated at about one hundred thousand dollars. He is president of the Northwest Laundrymen's Asso- ciation of Canada. The mother of these children died May 11, 1877. 1
September 3, 1879, Mr. Knepp was married to Miss Lelia Conover, a daughter of Dr. R. A. and Sarah (Fisher) Conover. Doctor Conover was a prominent physician in his day. At the time of his death in 1886 he was president of the Kansas City Medical Association. Mrs. Knepp was born at Eureka, Illinois. Her grandfather Conover was one of the found- ers of the Eureka College, which is located there. Her mother now resides in old Peculiar at the advanced age of eighty-three years. The Conover family were among the early settlers in the vicinity of Peculiar and in the early days suffered the many hardships and privations incident to pioneer life. They were here during the memorable devastation of this section by the grasshoppers.
In addition to handling his own various interests Mr. Knepp had the management of the W. H. Harrelson estate. He has acted in the capacity
708
HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY
of administrator for a number of estates during his career. He takes a commendable interest in public affairs and in the promotion of the wel- fare of the community and is an enthusiastic supporter of every worthy' movement, the object of which is the betterment of Cass County. He has always been a staunch Republican. For a number of years Mr. Knepp served on the school board. He has held the offices of collector and assessor many times. Mr. and Mrs. Knepp are members of the Christian church, but generally attend the Methodist Episcopal church, there being no Christian church in Peculiar. They are both teachers in the local Sunday school. Mr. and Mrs. Knepp travel extensively. They have made about seven trips to the Pacific coast, have traveled south and east and have been to Canada twice, as well as on various other trips. Mr. Knepp is one of the substantial business men of Cass County, who has made good use of his time and opportunities. Both he and Mrs. Knepp are well known and prominent in the community.
Daniel McEowen, a successful farmer and stockman and early settler of West Peculiar township, was born in Columbia County, Pennsylvania, in 1840. He is a son of John P. and Mary (Galasby) McEowen, natives of Pennsylvania. John P. McEowen was a son of Daniel McEowen, a Pennsylvania farmer of Scotch Irish ancestry. In 1856 John P. McEowen removed from Pennsylvania to Illinois with his family. At that time Daniel, the subject of this sketch, was sixteen years old. Later they went to Kansas, where the father spent the remainder of his life.
In 1868 Daniel McEowen came to Missouri and settled in the vicinity of where Peculiar now stands. This was in the early days in the settle- ment of that locality. When Mr. McEowen first came here the settle- ments in this county were confined to the timber along the streams, but shortly afterwards the opened plains began to be settled. Yankee Hill, which the postoffice department named Peculiar was his postoffice and Pleasant Hill the principal trading point. Wild game was plentiful when Mr. McEowen settled here and he has frequently seen deer in this locality and prairie chickens and other small game were in abundance. When Mr. McEowen first settled here he bought eighty acres of land on two years time at ten dollars per acre. He paid for this by breaking prairie for his neighbors and when his note came due, at the expiration of two years time, he lacked only fifty dollars being able to pay it off, which money he succeeded in raising in a short time. He has made farming and
709
HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY
stock raising his chief occupation and has met with a very satisfactory degree of success, becoming one of the extensive land owners and stock- men of Cass County. He has added to his original purchase of land until he now owns seven hundred twenty acres of productive and valuable land, a part of which is located in Miami County, Kansas.
Mr. McEowen was united in marriage December 17, 1874, with Miss Mary J. Knepp, a member of a Cass County pioneer family. The follow- ing children were born to this union: A. W., Peculiar; Frank, Louisburg, Kansas; Lewis M., Peculiar, Missouri; Mrs. Belle Hutchison, Laredo, Mis- souri; Mrs. Mayme Cowger, Peculiar; John K., Peculiar; Mrs. Lila Ethel Masterson, Wilmore, Kansas; Bertha R .; and Zaidee, residing at home. The mother of these children died in February, 1908. By a former mar- riage to Miss Rebecca M. Bitts, Mr. McEowen has one daughter, Mrs. Nellie R. Walker of Blue Springs, Nebraska.
Mr. McEowen is a progressive citizen and an enthusiastic supporter of any movement for the improvement, advancement and betterment of Cass County. For many years he has contributed his part to the upbuild- ing of this section of the state. He has served on the local school board for a number of years. Mr. McEowen is a staunch supporter of the policies and principles of the Republican party and has been active and influential of the councils of his party. He has often been a delegate to political conventions of his party. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
A. W. McEowen is a native of Cass County and a son of Daniel McEowen, an early settler of this county, a sketch of whom appears in this volume. A W. McEowen is interested in farming and stock raising and has also been secretary and manager of the Peculiar Mutual Tele- phone Company since its organization. His official duties in connection with this public service institution practically takes all his time. This company has ninety-seven stockholders and operates about two hundred telephones. It has had a substantial growth and very satisfactory record since its organization. Mr. McEowen began life as a farmer and stock- man and devoted himself exclusively to that line of endeavor, until he became interested in the telephone business as above stated.
Mr. McEowen was married to Miss Etta Nighbert, a daughter of Hugh and Isabell Nighbert, of Tennessee. Mrs. McEowen came to Cass County in 1904, making her home with her uncle Horace Barker. Two
710
HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY
years later her widowed mother came here and spent the balance of her life with her daughter, Mrs. McEowen. She was a woman of noble Christian character and made many friends during her residence in this county.
To Mr. and Mrs. McEowen have been born two children: Wesley, an ambitious boy of studious habits, whose plan is to obtain a higher edu- cation ; and Bufford.
Mrs. McEowen is a practical woman and is successfully engaged in raising Plymouth Rock chickens. She takes an active part in the work of her church and its auxiliaries and is prominent in the community. She is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and holds member- ship in the Willing Workers. Mr. McEowen is a Republican and takes an active interest in local political affairs. He has served as township committeeman and is now clerk of the local school board. He is a man of genial disposition and is very popular, having a wide circle of friends.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.