USA > Missouri > Cass County > History of Cass County, Missouri > Part 70
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
761
HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY
being the only great-grandchild. His noble wife and Judge George may justly be proud of their intelligent family. The children were all well reared and given every advantage possible and all are now well-to-do and prominent in their respective communities. They are all church mem- bers.
In 1866 F. M. George came to Cass County. He purchased two hun- dred eighty acres of land and engaged in general farming and stockrais- ing. Every winter he has fed cattle and engaged extensively in the cat- tle and engaged extensively in the cattle business, always realizing very good profits. At one time Judge George was owner of four hundred fifty acres of land. At the present time his holdings consist of two hundred four acres, one hundred of which are in clover and blue grass.
When Judge George came to Cass County the country was in a very primitive condition. Of the early day school teachers, he remembers well Taylor Dorsett and Eldridge Longwell. Rev. Lacy and Rev. Evans were two pioneer preachers, to whom he often listened in the days long gone by. The early settlers were very hospitable and sociable, and though life at its best was but a round of trials and privations, there were many bright moments when cares were forgotten and much real happiness was found. People congregated from miles around at social gatherings of various kinds to enjoy the simple amusements of wholesome pioneer life.
In 1881 F. M. George was elected Judge of Cass County and he served faithfully and well two terms. His administration was an admirable one in every respect. During his incumbency he had the honor of serving a sentence in jail for contending for what he believed to be right in set- tling the bonded indebtedness of the county. In political affiliations Judge George has always been a Democrat.
Judge George and Mrs. George are devout members of the Metho- dist church. The story of Judge George's life is a relation of wonderful business foresight, unflinching integrity, and substantial rewards and his name has become a tower of credit in this community.
R. A. Barnard, a prominent farmer and stockman of Everett town- ship, is a descendent of one of Cass County's early pioneer families. Mr. Barnard was born in this county, near Archie, in 1856, and is a son of James and Martha Barnard. His grandfather settled in this county at a very early day and entered government land near the present site of Austin, on the west, and spent the remainder of his life there. James
762
HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY
Barnard, father of R. A., grew to manhood in this county and was a successful farmer and stockman prior to the Civil War. When that great conflict broke he cast his lot with the South and enlisted in the Con- federate Army, and died while in the service. His wife died in 1885. They were the parents of four children, as follows: John W., deceased; R. A., the subject of this sketch; George W., resides at Archie, Missouri; and James, deceased.
R. A. Barnard was reared in Cass County and received his education in the public schools. On account of the early death of his father and his mother having died before R. A. reached his majority, the trait of self-reliance was developed within him at an early age. When a mere boy he began life for himself, and engaged in farming and stock raising. He was successful in his undertakings and it was not long until he was quite an extensive stock raiser, and he has been particularly successful in handling cattle and hogs. In recent years he has ranked among the successful breeders of Poland China hogs and Whitefaced and Durham cattle. He owns a valuable farm of two hundred eighty acres which is well adapted to stock raising. Two hundred acres of his farm are de- voted to grass. His place is well improved with a modern eight-room residence and large barn, including a concrete silo.
Mr. Barnard was married in 1878 to Miss Belle McCoy, a daughter of Brice and Julia McCoy, and the following children were born to this union: Mrs. Daisy Stevens, Earl, Bert, Ralph, Mrs. Rena Barrett, Wil- bur, Jessie, Verlie, deceased; and Julia. The wife and mother died in 1900.
Mr. Barnard is one of the substantial and progressive citizens of Cass County, and is a supporter of every worthy enterprise which has for its object the betterment of his county or state.
A. G. Endicott, an honored pioneer of Cass County, was born in Clay County, Missouri, in 1837. He is the son of Clayton W. and Mary Endi- cott. The Endicott family traces its lineage back to Gov. John Endicott, one of the first Puritan governors in Massachusetts. The Endicotts are of English descent.
Mr. Endicott enlisted in the Confederate Army under Capt. Amos Bradley and served faithfully and well throughout the entire war. He took an active part in the engagements at Morristown, Pea Ridge, Prairie Grove, Jenkins Prairie, and Pleasant Hill. The last two battles were in
763
HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY
Louisiana. At Prairie Grove he was slightly wounded. A. G. Endicott has in his possession the Southern Cross of Honor, presented to him by the V. C. V. for bravery in action. The medal was made from cannon captures taken from the enemy. When the war had ended, Mr. Endicott returned to Ray County, Missouri, and then journeyed across the plains with six yoke of oxen to Colorado. Upon his return to Ray County he purchased one hundred thirty-three acres of land in Cass County and engaged in general farming.
March 7, 1866, A. G. Endicott and Sarah A. Payton were united in marriage. This union was blessed with seven children, three of whom are now living: Mrs. Frank F. Taylor, Freeman, Missouri; Walter, who resides in Oklahoma; and Pearl, resides at her home. January 30, 1901, Mrs. Endicott was called home. Mr. Endicott remarried, his second wife being Flora E. Powell of Virginia. To A. G. and Flora E. (Powell) Endi- cott was born a son, Troy Wise, who resides with his uncle in Bates County, Missouri. Flora E. (Powell) Endicott departed this life in 1915, and Mr. Endicott now makes his home with his daughter, Mrs. Frank F. Taylor.
After the Civil War A. G. Endicott came to Cass County from Ray County. He bravely endured his full share of hardships and nobly did his part in the development of the county. He remembers with pleasure the delightful social gatherings which relieved the loneliness and monot- ony of those early days. Among the pioneer preachers whom he knew, were: Rev. Ament, who was founder of the Flinn Chapel; Rev. Lacy, who was one of the first ministers he heard preach in Cass County ; Rev. Schaler, founder of the Schaler's Chapel; and Rev. Dean, who was here at the beginning of the Civil War.
A. G. Endicott is one of the grand old men of Cass County, who cheerfully sacrificed so much that others might reap the benefits. He will never be forgotten in the county, for the upbuilding of which he devoted his life, but will always be remembered as worthy of the highest praise. His has been a long life of unselfish service. He is a Baptist in faith, a Democrat in politics, and a member of the Masonic fraternity.
Charles R. Hall, of Harrisonville, is a native of Cass County. He was born in 1874 and is a son of Capt. D. K. Hall, a sketch of whom ap- pears in this volume. Charles R. Hall was educated in the public schools of Harrisonville, and after graduating from the high school took the law
764
HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY
course at the Missouri University. After completing his course at the University he returned to Harrisonville and assisted in looking after his father's affairs. He has devoted himself chiefly to farming and stock raising, and now owns two hundred twenty-five acres of valuable land near Harrisonville. He has a fine residence just east of Harrisonville, and his farm property is well improved. He raises live stock quite ex- tensively.
Mr. Hall was united in marriage in 1897 to Miss Mary Maxwell, daughter of T. T. Maxwell, a former county clerk of Cass County. To Mr. and Mrs. Hall have been born six children, as follows: Noel M., Mar- garet, Mary, Joe, Oliver, and Stella D. Noel is quite extensively inter- ested in raising Brown Leghorn chickens, and is regarded as authority in that line. He has served as secretary of the National Brown Leghorn Club, and at the present time is secretary of the Southwestern Asso- ciation.
Mr. Hall is a Democrat and a member of the Baptist church.
George A. Harger, of Austin township, is a well-known and success- ful farmer and stockman, and is a Cass County pioneer. He was born in Lee County, Iowa, in 1857, and is a son of A. E. and S. J. (Love) Harger, the former a native of Ohio, and the latter of Virginia. She was the daughter of David and Kittie Love. The Harger family came to Missouri in 1866, and settled at Pleasant Hill, and three years later the father purchased the farm on which he died in 1875, and the mother departed this life in 1892. They were the parents of the following children: J. C. Wallace, Belton, Missouri; George A. Harger, the subject of this sketch; A. E. Harger, Lone Tree, Missouri; Mrs. Lizzie Myers, Norcatur, Kansas; and C. W. Harger, Pocatello, Idaho; J. S. Harger, late of Hume, Missouri; W. D. Harger, late of Decatur County, Kansas; and Mary Van- Deventer, deceased.
George A. Harger was educated in the public schools of Pleasant Hill and has made farming and stock raising his life's occupation. He has met with success as a breeder of stock and is recognized as a leader in that field. He has some of the finest Missouri jacks to be found, and his Percheron horses are second to none. Mr. Harger has a valuable farm of two hundred thirty acres, in Austin township, highly improved, well watered and well adapted to stock raising and general farming. Mr. Harger was united in marriage in 1880 to Miss Nannie Gorham, daugh-
765
HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY
ter of Joshea and Mary (Downard) Gorham, of Texas. To this union have been born six children, viz: W. J. Harger, A. E. Harger, and Mrs. C. Gwinn, all of Pocatello, Idaho, and O. D. Harger, Mrs. Bessie Gilker- son and Carrie C. Harger, all of Harrisonville, Missouri.
When the Harger family arrived at Pleasant Hill, more than fifty years ago, the county was still in its pioneer state. Mr. Harger recalls that the first school he attended was held in a roughly constructed box school house, located in a brush thicket. The boys attending this school cleared off the brush for a play ground, doing the work during recesses. Mr. Harger tells an interesting story that when the railroad was built from Holden west to Harrisonville the settlers would come to town for long distances to see the trains go by. For a number of years Pleasant Hill was the only railroad town in the county. Mr. Harger has seen many changes in Cass County during the time of his residence here. He is one of the substantial citizens and has contributed much in energy and of his means to the betterment and development of this county.
John Morrow, a prominent pioneer settler of Cass County, and a suc- cessful farmer and stockman of Everett township, departed this life September 22, 1915. He was a native of Washington County, Pennsyl- vania, born May 15, 1856, and was the youngest of a family of nine children born to his parents, James and Eleanor Morrow. Only two sis- ters and a brother of John Morrow survive. They are: Mrs. Isabelle Good, Mrs. Nannie Gill and James Morrow. The Morrow family is of Irish descent, and was founded in America about two hundred years ago, the first member coming to this country settled in Pennsylvania.
James Morrow and his family came to Missouri in 1869, when John the subject of this sketch, was twelve years old. The family first set- tled in Johnson County, and in 1875 removed to Cass County and settled near the village of Brosely, now extinct. Here the father engaged in farming and stock raising and spent the remainder of his life. He died in 1889 and his wife passed away in 1912. James Morrow was a success- ful farmer and stock raiser, and at the time of his death owned a valu- able farm of two hundred eighty acres. After the death of his father, John Morrow took charge of the old homestead, which he operated until 1897, when he traded it for one hundred eighty acres of land, one-half mile north of Main City. Like his father before him, John Morrow was a successful farmer and stockman, and in that line of industry was per-
766
HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY
haps best known as a breeder of Chester White hogs and Shorthorn cat- tle. He also took an active interest in local public affairs and served as assessor of Coldwater township for some years and was also clerk of that township.
Mr. Morrow was a member of the Methodist Church, South, having been a member of that denomination since he moved near Main City. Prior to that he belonged to the Methodist church. He lived a faithful and consistent Christian life. He was superintendent of the Sunday School at Lisle for many years, and after removing to Main City he taught the Bible class there for years, and was chosen teacher of the Young Men's Bible Class, which numbered twenty-six at one time. When this class was merged with the Young Ladies' Bible Class and the or- ganization was named the "Gleaners", Mr. Morrow was chosen to teach this organization, which was the pride of his heart. He was a plain, home-spun man. His honesty of thought and action impressed all who met him. He never had an unkind thought nor spoke ill of any one. He always insisted that the good predominated in every one, and such thought made his mind a fountain of pure love for his fellow creatures.
John Morrow was united in marriage with Miss Maggie Virden, De- cember 20, 1886. Mrs. Morrow is a native of Kentucky, as was also her parents, John F. and Mary E. (Finell) Virden. The father was of French descent and the mother of Irish lineage. The Virden family came to Cass County in 1871, and purchased a farm near Brosley. The mother died there in 1874, and the father passed away in 1890. He was a tailor in early life, but after coming to Cass County followed farming, and during his early years in Cass County met with many discouraging con- ditions, common to the lot of the early settler. Later, however, he suc- ceeded to a very satisfactory degree. To John Morrow and wife were born two children: Mrs. Verna Eleanor Phillips, and Mary Hazel Mor- row. They also raised Henry F. Hall, the orphaned nephew of Mrs. Morrow, who received the same care and love as did their two daughters.
Mrs. Morrow is an interesting representative of the true pioneer woman. She relates many interesting incidents of early life in Cass County and possesses the faculty of relating them in an entertaining way. She tells of the old-time methods of amusements, such as singing schools, sociables and the like, which now and then broke the monotony of the hardships and inconveniences of early day life. She recalls a pioneer physician by the name of McIntosh, who usually visited his pa-
767
HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY
tients barefooted, which seemed to attract no particular attention in those days. When Mrs. Morrow was a girl this section of the country was a vast unfenced plain. She has lived to see all this changed, and like many other pioneer men and women of Cass County, as a companion to her husband contributed her part to the great progress that has taken place in Cass County within less than half a century.
W. M. Deweese, of Coldwater township, is an early settler in that section, and one of Cass County's substantial farmers and stockmen. He was born at Chesterfield, Ohio, in 1837, and is a son of D. B. and Rachel (Weece) Deweese. D. B. Deweese was a son of Samuel Deweese, who was a French soldier and came to America with LaFayette, serving in the American Revolution under that great French general. D. B. De- weese died in Indiana, and his wife passed away in Ohio.
W. M. Deweese came to Missouri in 1866, and at first settled near Everett, Cass County. Later he bought a farm in that vicinity and in 1885 he purchased one hundred sixty acres in Coldwater township, where he has since been engaged in farming and stock raising. He has bought and sold stock, principally mules, quite extensively, and has met with considerable success in that line, as well as being a successful farmer. He traveled over an extensive territory in both western Missouri and eastern Kansas, and bought hundreds of mules and his vest experience in that particular line has qualified him as one of the best judges of these animals in the state. Frequently he has been called upon to act in the capacity of judge at various fairs and prize contests. He also specializes in raising Duroc-Jersey hogs.
Mr. Deweese was married in 1861 to Miss Julia Hadley, a daughter of Lott M. Hadley, and the following children were born to this union: Lott M., deceased; Mrs. Laura Cable, Butler, Missouri; Mrs. Lucendia Stair, Harrisonville; and Mrs. Audry Lyons, deceased. The mother of these children died in 1909.
Mr. Deweese is one of the interesting pioneers of Cass County, who has seen many changes in this section during his residence here of more than fifty years. When he first came here game of all kinds was plenti- ful, and the section where he located was sparcely settled and practically unimproved. He is one of the Cass County pioneers who has made good, and he is still an active factor in the community, and today is about as busy as ever directing the various details of his farming operations. He is a public spirited citizen and a man of high personal character.
768
HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY
Boone Ingels, a progressive young farmer of Big Creek township, is a native of Cass County. He was born at Pleasant Hill, in 1889, and is a son of George and Rosa (Russell) Ingels, both natives of Kentucky. They came to Cass County and located at Pleasant Hill about 1884. The father died in 1900. The mother was a daughter of John Russell, who was a prosperous farmer in Pleasant Hill township, where he owned two thousand acres of land at the time of his death. Mrs. Ingels now lives in Columbia, Missouri.
George Ingels and wife were the parents of the following children: Callie, married Louis Knudson, Ithaca, New York; Russell, died at the age of nineteen; Boone, the subject of this sketch; and Giltner, a mem- ber of Company F, Fourth Regiment, Missouri National Guard.
Boone Ingels was educated in the public schools of Pleasant Hill and afterwards attended the Missouri State Agricultural College at Co- lumbia, Missouri, during the years 1912-14, and since that time has been engaged in farming in Big Creek township. The Ingels farm consists of two hundred acres of valuable land and has on it a lake covering eighteen acres. This is an artificial body of water, thirty feet deep, which was built by the Rock Island Railroad in 1904.
Mr. Ingels has had an unusual agricultural training and he proceeds with his work along scientific lines. He has made many improvements on the home farm since he took charge of it, and the soil is already re- sponding to his scientific methods.
James G. Smith, a prosperous farmer and stockman of Big Creek township, was born on the Lynn farm in that township, in 1856, and is a descendant of one of the pioneer families of Cass County. He is a son of Isaac T. and Emily Jane (Lynn) Smith. Isaac T. Smith was born in Cooper County, Missouri, in 1831, and was a son of James Smith, a native of Maryland, and a pioneer of Cooper County, Missouri. He im- ported and operated the first sawmill in that county. He was a wealthy man and a large slave owner. He paid a security debt of $40,000 at one time. His wife was a native of Kentucky. Isaac T. Smith had five cous- ins and five uncles in the Southern army. Emily Jane (Lynn) Smith was born in Montgomery County, Missouri. She was a daughter of James Lynn, and her mother bore the maiden name of Leach, a native of Vir- ginia, two uncles of whom served in the Revolutionary War under Gen- eral Washington. James Lynn was a very early settler of Big Creek
769
HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY
township, coming here from Montgomery County in 1846. He was a North Carolinian by birth, and served in the War of 1812, participating in the battle of New Orleans. A doctor, who at one time owed him five hundred dollars, paid him in Texas land at twenty-five cents per acre, and, after going to Texas to investigate, he found that the land was in a hostile Indian country and abandoned it. He lived in Texas three years.
James G. Smith was educated in the district school in Big Creek township and when twenty-three years of age began life for himself on his present farm of one hundred fifteen acres. He inherited a part of this land from his father and bought the balance at twenty-seven dol- lars per acre. He is an extensive stock raiser and has also made a suc- cess of raising hogs, making a specialty of the Chester White breed.
Mr. Smith was married in 1879 to Miss Alice Greenlee, a daughter of T. P. Greenlee, of Peculiar township, Cass County, and the following children were born to this union: Roger Q. Mills, resides at home; Lynn Lamar, Washington, D. C .; Mrs. Bessie Campbell, Carlton, Oregon; and Mrs. Maude Garrison, Pleasant Hill, Missouri.
Mr. Smith is a Democrat and takes a keen interest in political af- fairs and is active in local politics. He has held township office for twen- ty-eight years, and at the present time is chairman of the township board. He has been Democratic township committeeman for ten years.
Mr. Smith has spent his life in Big Creek township with the excep- tion of when Order No. 11 was in force during the Civil War. In 1863 he went to Cooper County, where he remained until the close of the war.
The old Lynn residence was at one time occupied by Governor Bogg, an early day fur trader, and John T. Crisp was born in a cabin on this place. Mr. Lynn was a strong advocate of good schools in early days, long before the introduction of the present system of public schools, and gave the use of one of the rooms in his home for school purposes. There are many historic recollections connected with this old place.
Paul Eugene Schindorff, a successful farmer and stockman of Polk township, is a native son of Cass County and was born in the township where he now resides, in 1872. He is a son of Paul Apolos and Cornelia (Deal) Schindorff, the former a native of France and the latter of Vir- ginia. Paul Apolos Schindorff came to Missouri and settled in Saline County in the fifties. During the Civil War he served in the Confederate Army for three and one-half years with a Missouri regiment. In 1866 (49)
770
HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY
he started to go to California, and on his way stopped in Cass County to visit an old acquaintance named William Hodge, and Mr. Hodge insisted that Mr. Schindorff abandon his contemplated trip to California and set- tle in Cass County, and in order to convince him that Cass County was the best country in the world, he showed him over Polk township and finally found an eighty-acre farm which suited Mr. Schindorff and he bought it. Later he sold that and bought other land. He engaged in farming and stock raising and met with success. He raised Percheron horses, mules, jacks, cattle and hogs, and made money. He added more acreage to his farm and at the time of his death owned four hundred acres, which he divided among his children. He was a successful stock feeder and business man, and he possessed rare capability, keen foresight and good judgment. He died February 1, 1917, at the age of ninety- five years, and his widow now resides on the home place in Pleasant Hill vicinity. They were the parents of the following children: Mrs. Minnie Moore, Polk township; Mrs. May Warner, Polk township; Paul Eugene, the subject of this sketch; Julius, Polk township; William, Camp Branch township; Mrs. Lillian Hassler, Polk township; Herman, Camp Branch township; and Clay, resides on the home farm in Polk township with his mother.
Paul Eugene Schindorff was reared on the farm in Polk township, and received his education in the public schools. He has made farming the chief occupation of his life and has met with a very satisfactory de- gree of success as a farmer and stock raiser and has one of the well-im- proved farms of Polk township.
Mr. Schindorff was married in 1900 to Miss Bessie Garvey, a native of Pennsylvania, who came to Cass County to live with an uncle and aunt, R. McBride and his wife, when Mrs. Schindorff was about twelve years old. To Mr. and Mrs. Schindorff have been born two children, Viola May and Mildred Frances. The Schindorff family are well known in northeastern Cass County, and are representative descendants of Cass County pioneers.
Alice V. (Powers) Randell, widow of the late Nathaniel Randell, was born in New Hampshire in 1846. Her father, Larned Powers, was a native of New Hampshire, born in 1808. He passed away at the age of eighty-six years. Her mother, who bore the maiden name of Ruby Barton, was also a native of New Hampshire, born in 1808 and died in
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.