USA > Missouri > Clay County > History of Clay County, Missouri > Part 26
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Isaiah Sissom was a native of Tennessee and his wife was born in Ross County, Ohio. He died in 1887, and his wife departed this life in 1912. Isaiah Sissom cade to Clay County at a very early day and for a number of years, during the days of extensive steamboating on the Mis- souri River, he conducted a woodyard at what was known as Sissom's Landing, and supplied various steamboats then plying the river with wood. Among the early steamboats which Sheriff Sissom recalls were the "Fannie Lewis", "Kate Kinney", "Joe Kinney", "Gold Dust", "David R. Powell", "E. H. Durfee", "The Dakota", "The Montana", "Jim Wat- son", and many others, most of which were owned by the Missouri River Packet Company.
To Isaiah and Dorkey Ann (Shanks) Sissom were born the following children: Lonzo P., the subject of this sketch; Frank and Catherine, the latter of whom died in infancy, and Frank is a farmer and now resides at Birmingham, Missouri; Mrs. Susan J. Wentworth, Kansas City, Missouri ; Mrs. Dulcina Ricketts, lives in the state of California; Mark, resides near Randolph, Missouri; Mrs. Anna B. Glasscock, Moscow, Missouri, and George M., Kansas City, Missouri.
Lonzo P. Sissom attended the early day subscription schools and later the public schools. He engaged in farming in early life and was engaged in farming and stock raising in 1916, when he was elected sheriff of Clay County and has served in that capacity to the present time. Dur-
HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
ing the course of his official career, Sheriff Sissom has faithfully carried out the mandates of his office without fear or favor and has made a record of which he may be justly proud. He had a number of years experience as an officer before being de tel sheriff, having served as constable of Gallatin township for eighteen years.
Mr. Sissom owns a valuable farm in Gallatin township which is located about three-fourths of a mile from the place where he was born. His father owned about three hundred aeres of Missouri River bottom land which was practically all washed away by the current of the river during the flood of 1903.
Lonzo P. Sissom was married April 8. 1880, to Miss Lucy V. Arnold, a daughter of Merritts and Lucy (Holbert) Arnold, pioneer settlers of Gallatin township, and both now deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Sissom have been born the following children: Myrta M., married Clarence Reeke, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma: Merritt Ray. Birmingham, Missouri, married Anna E. Dickison and they have the following children: Muriel Mildred, Thelma Maxine, Merritt Ray, Jr., and Margery.
Merritt Ray Sissom is a prominent farmer and stockman of Gallatin township and also owns a farm of 296 acres of valuable river bottom land in Lafayette County, near Camden, Missouri.
Sheriff Sissom has an extensive acquaintance and stands high in Clay County.
John Hummel, a well known and highly respected business man of Liberty, Missouri, is a member of the old reliable and well established firm of Laipple and Hummel, leading groceries of Liberty.
John Hummel was born in Germany, January 25, 1852. a son of Fert and Margaret (Schmidt) Hummel, both natives of Germany and who spent their lives there. John Hummel was about twenty-eight years old when he came to America and settled at Florence, Morgan County, Mis- souri. He worked at the potter's trade there for ten years when he came to Liberty and engaged in the grocery business in partnership with John Laipple. Since that time this firm has continued to do business in Liberty where they are well known and have an extensive trade which eovers a large scope of surrounding territory, as well as Liberty.
John Hummel was married to Pauline Laipple of Florence, Missouri. in 1884. and to this union have been born the following children: Oscar. who was accidentally killed while playing baseball while attending school,
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when eleven year . old; Walter died when two months old; Robert, enlisted in the United States army during the World War in Montana and served in a laundry unit as first sergeant and is now engaged in the laundry business in San Francisco, California; and Emma resides at home with her parents.
Mr. Hummel is a member of the Masonic Lodge at Liberty and he also holds membership in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is a substantial business man and is widely and favorably known in Liberty and Clay County.
Charles Henry Coppinger, a well known lawyer of Liberty, Missouri, and senior member of the law firm of Coppinger and Coppinger, was born in Jefferson County, Kansas, December 21, 1868. He is a son of Claude and Mary Lilles (Brundridge) Coppinger.
Claude Coppinger was a native of Kentucky, born July 1, 1843. He was a son of William H. Coppinger who was born in Tennesse, January 1, 1808. Ile went from Tennessee to Kentucky, and in 1857 came to Missouri and settled in Platte County near what is now the town of Wes- ton. Later, he bought four thousand acres of land in Jefferson County, Kansas, and gave each of his eight children 160 acres. He died at Win- chester, Kansas.
Claude Coppinger, the father of Charles H. Coppinger, served in the Confederate army under General Price, during the last two years of the Civil War. He followed farming throughout his life and died at Win- chester, Kansas, January 18, 1880. Mary Lilles (Brundridge) Coppinger was born in Sangamon County, Illinois, and died at Excelsior Springs, Missouri. She was a daughter of Elder J. A. Brundridge, a primitive Baptist minister, who was one of the pioneer preachers of Jefferson County, Kansas. He began the ministry in 1859 and came to Clay County in 1880 settling at Excelsior Springs.
Charles H. Coppinger has a brother, James C., who is engaged in the automobile business at Cleveland, Ohio. Charles H. Coppinger was educated in the public school: at Winchester, Kansas, and was graduated from the high school there. He then took a course in the business col- lege at Lawrence, Kansas, and afterward entered the Kansas City School of Law where he was graduated in 1898, when he engaged in the practice of law at Liberty, to which he has since devoted himself and has built up a large clientage and is recognized as one of the able lawyers of Clay
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County. Mr. Coppinger has had a varied experience in industrial affairs, in addition to his practice of law. Before being admitted to the bar he was auditor for the Excelsior Springs and Northern Railroad Company from 1894 to 1898, resigning to engage in the practice of law. He built the first telephone system of which the present system there is the out- growth, and in 1901, he built the Maples Hotel at Excelsior Springs.
On April 21, 1891, Charles H. Coppinger was united in marriage with Miss Reba J. Prather, of Excelsior Springs. She was born at Mos- cow, Clay County, Missouri, and is a daughter of John S. and Lulu (Roberts) Prather, the former a native of Kentucky and the latter of Clay County, and both now deceased. John S. Prather was an early settler in Clay County and a pioneer school teacher in the vicinity of Moscow. To Mr. and Mrs. Coppinger have been born one son, John Claude, prosecuting attorney of Clay County, and the junior member of the firm of Coppinger and Coppinger.
Mr. Coppinger is secretary and treasurer of the Liberty Abstract and Title Company which was organized by Coppinger and Coppinger in 1917 and incorporated with a capital stock of $10,000.00 and is one of the prosperous institutions of Clay County.
John Laipple, of the old established and well known retail grocery company of Laipple and Hummel, who are located on the north side of the public square at Liberty, Missouri, is a native of Ohio.
Mr. Laipple was born in Hancock County, Ohio, February 24, 1867, a son of Paul and Catherine (Staley) Laipple. The Laipple family came to Missouri and settled in Morgan County in 1870, where Paul Laipple, the father, died in 1876. The mother survived her husband for a num- ber of years and also died in Morgan County.
In 1887, John Laipple came to Liberty, where he was engaged as clerk for about three years, in the employ of an uncle, Fred Fischer, and E. B. Maltby. In 1890, he engaged in the retail grocery business in part- nership with John Hummel, and for thirty years this firm has continued in business at Liberty. They have an extensive business and by their reliable methods and high quality of goods have won a large patronage.
John Laipple has been twice married. His first wife was Miss Vina M. Schondelmier, of Houston, Missouri. After they were married about seventeen years, Mrs. Laipple died and in March, 1915, Mr. Laipple was married to Mary Ramsey Rife, of Clay County, Missouri.
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Mr. Laipple is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias and for the past eight years he has been superintendent of Sunday School at the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows IIome at Liberty. IIe is public spirited and progressive and a busi- ness man of high standing.
Walter Manley, the present county assessor of Clay County, is one of the widely known and popular county officials of this county. He was born near Seymour, Indiana, September 2, 1873, a son of James and Martha Manley, the former a native of North Carolina, and the latter of Tennessee.
James Manley was reared in North Carolina, and when the Civil War broke out he enlisted in the Confederate army, becoming a member of Company H, 13th North Carolina Infantry. He served in General Robert E. Lee's army under General Rhodes, until he lost an arm at the battle of Antietam which disqualified him for further military service. Shortly after the Civil War was over he came to Clay County and remained here about a year. He then lived for a time in Indiana and Tennessee, but later returned to North Carolina.
To James and Martha Manley were born the following children: John, Sawtell, California; William, died at the age of twelve years; Maggie, died at the age of ten years; Walter, the subject of this sketch; Harvey, who is engaged in railroad work at Columbus, Ohio; Archie, a superintendent for a hide and leather company at Indianapolis, Indiana.
Walter Manley was educated in the public schools of Indiana, and was graduated from the high school at Columbus, Indiana. In 1892, he came to Missouri and followed farming in Ray County about a year when he came to Clay County and engaged in farming and for six years he was rural mail carrier on Route No. 5. In 1912 he was elected county assessor and was reelected for that office in 1916 and is still serving in that capacity. His present term expires June 21, 1921.
Mr. Manley was married January 31, 1895 to Mrs. Clara Mitchell, a daughter of William and Sarah Simms of Clay County, Missouri, who are both now deceased. William Simms was a very early pioneer settler of Missouri. He was a Kentuckian and came to this state in 1834 when he was twelve years of age. He came by boat from Kentucky and first settled in Boone County. He drove the first two-horse wagon into Boone County, making the trip from Hannibal. This vehicle was used as a
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hearse by the pioneer settlers of that locality for a time. Mr. Simms was prominent in the affairs of Boone County and during his active career he served as marshal of Columbia, Missouri. He held that office at the same time that George Vest, who later became United States Senator for Missouri, was city attorney of Columbia. Mr. Simms died August 13, 1908, at the age of eighty-six years and his remains were buried at Missouri City. His wife died in September, 1913, at the age of eighty-three years. Mrs. Manley was the only child born to them. By her first marriage Mrs. Manley had two children: Maud, who died at . the age of fifteen years, and Dean, who resides at Liberty, Missouri.
Mr. Manley is a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Modern Woodman of America. He is also a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows of which he is Past Grand.
Trigg L. Nutter, proprietor of the Liberty Cafe, which is located at the southwest corner of the Public Square, Liberty, Missouri, is a native of Clay County and is a descendant of pioneers of this county. He was born five miles northwest of Liberty, September 5, 1872, and is a son of Lunsford and Nannie (Williams) Nutter, both natives of Kentucky.
Lunsford Nutter was born near Georgetown, Kentucky, and his wife was born at Maysville, Nicholas County, Kentucky. They came to Clay County with their respective parents who were very early settlers in this vicinity. Lunsford Nutter was a son of James Nutter and Nannie Williams was a daughter of Jarrott Williams. Lunsford Nutter elerked in a drug store in early life and later owned a farm northwest of Liberty, which he operated until he retired, when he returned to Liberty and spent the remainder of his life.
Lunsford Nutter lived here during the Civil War and one night dur- ing that time, he and W. H. Woodson, the editor of this work, were the only occupants of the old Arthur Hotel at Liberty, when a raid by the Federal troops was expected. The previous night Platt City had been taken by the Federals and, as a precaution against an expected attack, the guests of the hotel were ordered to the Public Square and Nutter and Woodson were overlooked.
Trigg L. Nutter is the only living child born to his parents; one daughter died in infancy. Trigg L. Nutter was educated in the public schools and William Jewell College. He was engaged in the furniture
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and undertaking business for a few years and then was in the real estate business at Liberty. On September 13, 1919, he engaged in the restau- rant business and became proprietor of the Liberty Cafe. He conducts a first class restaurant and has a soda fountain in connection and carries a complete line of cigars. The Liberty Cafe is a leading restaurant and refreshment place in town and has won a well merited popularity.
Mr. Nutter was married October 18, 1893, to Miss Clara M. Barnes, a native of Gallatin township, Clay County, and a daughter of Francis and Henrietta (Noll) Barnes, who were early settlers in Clay County and are both now deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Nutter have been born six children as follows: Lunsford B., in the employ of the Wichita Horse and Mule Company, at Wichita, Kansas; Frank L., a druggist in the Barnes drug store at Liberty, Missouri; Kathleen, a teacher in the Ruth Ewing School; O'Fallen D., who is assisting his father in the cafe; Paul and Pauline, twins, are attending school.
Mr. Nutter is a member of the Knights of Pythias and belongs to the Liberty Commercial Club. He is a progressive and enterprising citizen and the Nutter family stand high in Liberty and Clay County.
Edward D. Moore, of the E. D. Moore Agency of Liberty, Missouri, has been identified with the interests of Liberty and Clay County for a number of years and is recognized as one of the substantial and enter- prising business men of this section of the state.
The E. D. Moore Agency is an extensive real estate, general insur- ance, loan and investment company and was established in 1898 by E. D. Moore. This company represents twenty-two fire insurance companies, three accident and casualty companies, the S. W. Straus and Company, investment bonds, the New England Mutual Life Insurance Company and also does a general brokerage business. They represent the Federal Land Bank Bonds, making loans through the Liberty National Farm Loan Association, of which E. D. Moore is secretary and treasurer.
Edward D. Moore was born at Concord, Kentucky, April 24, 1866 and is a son of P. I. and Anna Eliza (Vance) Moore. P. L. Moore was a native of Lewis County, Kentucky, and came to Missouri in 1875 and for a time lived east of Warrensburg in Johnson County. However, he came to Liberty the same year and was engaged in farming and stock raising in Liberty township during his entire active career. He was the pioneer good roads booster of Clay County and built two and one-half miles of the
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first good road in this county, which extended from his farm to Liberty. He was road overseer for a number of years and always advocated better roads. He died at Liberty in 1903. His wife was a native of Ohio and a daughter of Judge David C. Vance, who was prominent in Ohio.
Anna Eliza Vance Moore died at Liberty, Missouri, in 1890, at the age of about thirty-six years.
Edward D. Moore was the only son born to his parents. There was one daughter, Anna B., who married D. J. M. Adkins and is now deceased. She was born in Kentucky and died at Liberty, Missouri, at the age of twenty-two years, leaving one daughter who is now Mrs. Hazel Kirkland of Liberty, Missouri.
Edward D. Moore was educated in William Jewell College and West- minister College at Fulton, Missouri. He was engaged in the hotel busi- ness at Liberty and Kansas City for twelve years. He conducted the Grand and later the Savoy Hotel at Kansas City. For the past twenty- three years has been in the insurance business, and twenty-two years ago he organized his present company. In 1915, he organized the North Kansas City Loan and Investment Company and still has an interest in that company. He has built up an extensive business and by adhering strictly to honest methods he has won and retained the confidence of the public.
Mr. Moore is a thirty-second degree Mason and a member of the Knights of Pythias.
Miss Laura A. Campbell, the popular and capable county treasurer of Clay County, was born at Liberty, Missouri, October 8, 1892, and is a daughter of Brack and Lura (Frame) Campbell.
Brack Campbell was born at Owington, Owen County, Ken- tucky, and came to Clay County from that state when a young man. He was a painter and decorator and worked at his trade in Liberty where he died in April, 1899, and his remains are buried in Fairview cemetery. Lura (Frame) Campbell is a native of Illinois and she and Mr. Campbell were married at Liberty. The following children were born to them: Elizabeth M., married Frank Bullock, and he is now deceased, and she resides at Liberty, Missouri; Laura A., the subject of this sketch; Ruth D. and Edna, who reside at the family home in Liberty.
Laura A. Campbell was reared in Liberty and attended the public schools and was graduated from the Liberty High School in the class of
LAURA A. CAMPBELL
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1913. She then completed the course at Huff's Business School at Kansas City, Missouri. During the World War she was appointed chief clerk of the local draft board, and in 1918 she was appointed deputy county clerk of Clay County under the administration of Edgar Archer and served in that capacity until January 1, 1920. She was then appointed deputy county treasurer under Mrs. Fannie Roberts. In 1920 she was elected county treasurer, being the first woman elected to that office in Clay County and is now serving in that capacity.
Miss Campbell is an efficient public official who stands the test of re- sponsibility and measures up to a high standard. She is a Democrat and is a member of the Presbyterian Church.
Claude N. Donovan, vice-president of the First National Bank of Liberty, has had a vast experience in the important field of banking and is well known in banking circles of western Missouri. He is a native of Clay County and a descendant of an honored pioneer family of this sec- tion of Missouri. Mr. Donovan was born at Missouri City, July 30, 1875, and is a son of Asbury K. and Ann Elizabeth (Marsh) Donovan.
Asbury K. Donovan was born at Maysville, Mason County, Kentucky and was a son of James M. Donovan. James M. Donovan came to Mis- souri and settled in Clay County at Missouri City in 1854, when Asbury K. Donovan was twelve years old. He was a carpenter and worked at his trade after locating at Missouri City where he and his wife spent the remainder of their lives. Asbury K. Donovan was a live stock dealer and was one of the pioneers of that business in Clay County. He bought and shipped stock in the days before there were any railroads in this part of the-country, shipping by the boats which were then plying on the river. He also conducted a general store at Missouri City and was one of the pioneer merchants there.
Ann Elizabeth (Marsh) Donovan, mother of Claude M. Donovan, now lives at Missouri City and is sixty-five years of age. She is a daughter of Charles Marsh and is a native of Missouri. Her father was a native of Kentucky and one of the earliest settlers of Missouri, having lived at different places in the state. He died at the age of eighty-nine years and his remains are buried at Drexel, Missouri.
To Asbury K. and Ann Elizabeth (Marsh) Donovan were born the following children: Elmer A., a druggist, at Bronson, Missouri; Claude M., the subject of this sketch; Park O., was agent for the Wabash rail-
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road at Carrolton, Missouri, and died at the age of twenty-four years ; Maggie, died at the age of fourteen years; Luke E., a merchant, Mis- souri City. Missouri; and Frances, a music teacher at Missouri City, Missouri.
Claude M. Donovan was educated in the public schools at Missouri City, and in early life became a clerk in a grocery store of Owens and Nowlin at Missouri City. Two years later he became bookkeeper for the Norton Brothers Banking Company of Missouri City. This company was later incorporated into a state bank, and Mr. Donovan became cashier. He resigned that position in 1907 to accept the cashiership of the Citizens Exchange Bank at Orrick, Missouri, and remained with that institution until April, 1919, when he resigned and became vice-president of the First National Bank of Liberty. Missouri, and since that time he has been actively associated with that institution.
June 3, 1902, Claude M. Donovan was married to Miss Edna S. Ralph, a daughter of Dr. A. D. Ralph and Ella (Hardwick) Ralph of Mis- souri City. The Ralph family were early settlers at Missouri City, locat- ing there prior to the Civil War. Mrs. Donovan's parents are deceased and she has one sister, Lois, who is now the wife of E. L. Hunt, of Liberty, Missouri. To Mr. and Mrs. Donovan have been born two children: Ellen, who is a student in the Liberty High School; and Margaret.
Mr. Donovan is a member of the Methodist Church South and is a Democrat. He is a close student of the intricate problems of finance and is well informed on the important subject of banking.
Peter C. Pixlee, now deceased, was one of the pioneer settlers of Clay County and came here with his father. Peter Pixlee, from Kentucky, who brought his family to Clay County and entered government land in Fishing River township. Peter C. Pixlee was born in Kentucky, April 26, 1824, and died in Clay County, June 15, 1872. He was a soldier in the Mexican War and when the Civil War broke out. he entered the Con- federate service and served as captain. After the war he returned to Clay County where he spent the remainder of his life and was success- ful in his affairs, and was one of the prominent and well-to-do men of his time.
Peter C. Pixlee was married. December 23, 1847, to Achsah Ann Waller, a native of Kentucky, who came to Missouri with her parents
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when she was a girl and they settled in Clay County. She now resides with her daughter, Mrs. Elisha E. Petty. She is ninety-three years old and still retains her mental and physical vigor to a remarkable degree. To Peter C. and Achsah Ann (Waller) Pixlee were born the following children: Margaret E., married William H. Bohart; Lillian, married Walter Robinson; Edwin C., married Flora Harrington; William T., mar- ried Eva M. Mosby; John W., married Elizabeth Levy; Peter C., married Frances J. Johnston; Benjamin F., married Flora Pixlee; Allen C., mar- ried Corilla H. Johnston ; Carrie M., married John T. Petty ; Annie, mar- ried Elisha E. Petty.
The Pixlee family is of English origin and is one of the old Amer- ican Colonial families. The founder of the family in this country came from Herefordshire, England, prior to 1665. He had three sons, the eldest of whom was married and reared a family of daughters and hav- ing no sons. the family name of his descendants became extinct. The second son settled at Great Barrington, Massachusetts, and still has descendants in that vicinity. The third son, David, is the direct lineal ancestor of Peter C. Pixlee, whose name introduces this sketch. David settled at Old Mill, near Bridgeport, Connecticut, about 1665. David Pixlee had two sons, William, who was killed at Rocky Hill, in a battle with the Indians in 1712, and Peter, who was born in 1702 and died August 2, 1788. He married Mary Nicholas, a daughter of John Nich- olas, of Booth Hill, Connecticut. Peter Pixlee was a large landholder and a prominent Whig during the Revolutionary War. The Nicholas family were Tories. Peter's oldest son, William, married Betty Judson and she died September 27, 1776; he then married a Miss Lewis. He built and operated the Berkshire Mills and kept a public house during the Revolution. He died May 8, 1800. He had two sisters, Eunice, who married a Mr. Willis, of Putney, Connecticut, and Hulda.
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