USA > Missouri > Clay County > History of Clay County, Missouri > Part 27
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The children born to William Pixlee and Betty Judson were Phoebe, born June 29, 1757 and married a Mr. Summers and their children were David, who lived in Bridgeport, Connecticut, and Eunice, who moved to Troy, New York; Mary, who was born in March, 1760, married a Mr. Wells and their children were Agur Elisha, Hezekiah, Cornelia, Betsy, Catherine and Mary; David, born March 5, 1762, married Miss Whiting and removed to Oneida County, New York and their children were Wil- liam, Eliza, Isaac, Aresteen, David and Charles; and Peter, the youngest son of William Pixlee and Betty Judson, who was the direct ancestor of
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
the subject of this sketch, was born May 29, 1764, and died May 6, 1836. He married Elizabeth Curtiss, May 18, 1785 and the following children were born to that union; Hulda, born August 7, 1787, married David Lewis, February 1, 1881, and lived at Utica, New York, where she died May 31, 1855, leaving the following children: William P., Elizabeth Ann, who married Philemon Lyon and after his death married Nathan Thompson; Betsy, born July 23, 1788, married David Curtiss, of Putney, Connecticut, and their children were Mary Elizabeth, Shelton, Margaret, Owen, Charles, Peter and Elizabeth; William, born in January, 1790, married Margaret Owen in Henry County, Kentucky, and came to Lib- erty, Clay County and reared the following children, Betsy, Catherine, William, Julia, Margaret, Peter, Caroline and Benjamin; Peter of this family being the father of Peter C., the subject of this sketch. The other children born to Peter Pixlee and Elizabeth Curtiss were Mary Julia, born November 20, 1793, married Fredric Olmstead, of Stratford, Connecticut, and lived at Bridgeport, Connecticut and reared the follow- ing children, Francis, Fredric, Caroline, John, Susan and James, Fredric being the head of the California branch of the family; Peter C., born September 7, 1793, married Mary Lewis of Startford, Connecticut; Agnes, born July 12, 1801, married Helen Whitney, of Stratford, Connecticut, and their children were Charles, William and Eliza; and Elizabeth Jane, born September 8, 1808, married George Ray of Utica, New York, in 1833 and their children were George P., born at Binghampton, New York, in 1835 and Francis Burrows, born in 1838, at Black River, Ohio, and now living in Kansas City, Missouri.
To Peter Pixlee, son of William Pixlee and Margaret (Owens) Pix- lee, and wife, Mary Lewis, were born the following children: Elizabeth Curtiss (Pixlee) Watts, born June 5, 1815, and died in 1878; Catherine Jessie (Pixlee) Bird, born February 8, 1817; Mary Julia (Pixlee) Gill, born September 17, 1818; William Franklin Pixlee, born March 17, 1822, and died August 24, 1887; Peter Chilton Pixlee, the subject of this sketch, born April 26, 1824, and died June 15, 1872; Margaret Owens (Pixlee) Hughes, born December 12, 1826; Hulda Lucinda Pixlee, born August 11, 1828, and died in infancy; Caroline Judson (Pixlee) Watson, born December 18, 1830; and Benjamin Thomas Pixlee, born August 13, 1834, and died July 14, 1863.
The Pixlee family is not only prominent in this country, but the branch which remained in England is prominent and of the English
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nobility, and members of the family still reside on the Pixlee baronial estate in England. The family coat of arms may be described as a cross standing between the points of two extended wings, mounted on a ped- estal with the motto "per vias rectas" inscribed across the base of the pedestal. This motto freely translated means "by the right road".
The Pixlee family is a numerous one in this country and there are prominent members of it in various sections of the country.
Benjamin F. Pixlee, an extensive land owner and prominent farmer and stockman, now residing at Liberty, Missouri, is a native of Clay County and a member of one of the prominent pioneer families of this section. He was born in Fishing River township, September 23, 1863, a son of Peter C. and Achsia Ann (Waller) Pixlee, the former now de- ceased, and the latter resides in Clay County with her daughter, Mrs. Elisha Petty, at the age of ninety-three years. An extensive history of Peter C. Pixlee and the Pixlee family appear elsewhere in this volume.
Benjamin F. Pixlee was reared on his father's farm in Clay County and attended the Woodland district school, and recalls that James M. Bohart was his first teacher. He later attended school at Kingstown, Caldwell County, Missouri. Mr. Pixlee engaged in farming and stock raising in early life and has met with success from the start, and today is one of the extensive stockmen and men of affairs of Clay County. He raises and feeds for the market a great many cattle, and at this writing he is feeding about 300 head on his farm in Fishing River township. He and his two sons own over 2,000 acres of land all in one body with the exception of forty acres. This farm is located on the Liberty-Excelsior Springs Rock Road and most of it is located south of the electric railway line. Mr. Pixlee is also extensively engaged in raising and feeding hogs for the market. He carries on general farming, utilizing for that pur- pose as many as 400 acres some seasons; however, the greater portion of his land is devoted to pasture.
Mr. Pixlee was first married January 1, 1885, to Mrs. Flora (Harring- ton) Pixlee, widow of Edwin P. Pixlee and to that union was born one son, Edwin C. Pixlee. By her former marriage Mrs. Pixlee had one son, Hugh Pixlee. Mrs. Pixlee died September 5, 1890. Benjamin F. Pixlee was married, the second time, to Rachael Petty, a daughter of Beverly and Martha Ann (Estes) Petty. She died September 26, 1917, leaving the following children: Franklin B. Pixlee and Ethel E. Pixlee. Ethel
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E. Pixlee was educated at Stephens College at Columbia, Missouri, and the Colonial School at Washington, D. C. Franklin B. Pixlee was edu -. cated in the Liberty High School and University of Missouri. During the World War, he enlisted in the United States navy and was sent to the Great Lakes Training Camp and from there to Newport, Rhode Island, and was just ready to begin his career as a torpedo gunner when the armistice was signed. He was released from active duty in February, 1919, and is now a member of the Naval Reserve Corps. He is a Knights Templar Mason and a member of the Shrine
Benjamin F. Pixlee was one of the organizers of the First National Bank of Liberty and has served as a member of the board of directors since the organization of that bank. The Pixlee home is one of the splen- did modern residences of Liberty. It was built in 1905-6 and is a two story structure with a large circular stone porch, adorning the front of the house, which adds greatly to its artistic beauty as well as to comfort.
W. P. Ligon, the capable and efficient city marshal and collector of Liberty, is a native of Clay County. He was born in Gallatin township May 30, 1863, and is a son of D. S. and Betty (Wilkerson) Ligon, the former a native of Virginia and the latter of Kentucky. They were early settlers in Clay County and both died at Liberty, the former at the age of seventy-six years and the mother at the age of sixty-eight. Their remains are buried in Fairview cemetery.
To D. S. and Betty (Wilkerson) Ligon were born the following chil- dren: W. P., the subject of this sketch; Joseph L., lives in California ; Carrie, married D. G. Capps, who is now deceased, and she lives at Wells- ville, Kansas; James D., Waverly, Kansas; H. E., who is engaged in farm- ing in Gallatin township, Clay County.
W. P. Ligon was reared in Gallatin township and educated in the public schools. He was engaged in farming and stock raising in Gallatin township until April, 1919, when he removed to Liberty which has since been his home. He was elected city marshal of Liberty in April, 1916, and at the expiration of his term he was reelected in April, 1920, and is now serving his second term.
Mr. Ligon was married in 1901 to Miss Gertie DeMoss, of LaCygne, Kansas. She is a daughter of James and Jane DeMoss, both of whom are now deceased.
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Mr. Ligon is a fair and fearless officer and has always done his duty as he sees it, without fear or favor. He stands high in the community.
J. W. Thomason, a member of the well known real estate and insur- ance firm of Holt and Thomason, of Liberty, Missouri, is a native of Clay County. The firm of Holt and Thomason began business October 1, 1919. and the partnership consists of A. C. Holt and J. W. Thomason. They deal in both city property and farm lands and do an extensive business in Clay County and also adjoining counties.
J. W. Thomason was born near Smithville, Missouri, April 11, 1862, a son of William Anderson and Fannie E. (Moore) Thomason. William Anderson Thomason was a native of Kentucky and settled in Clay County Missouri, at a very early date. He located on a farm ten miles northwest of Liberty, near Smithville. Here he bought a farm of 160 acres, twelve acres of which were cleared, at ten dollars an acre. He cleared the bal- ance of his farm and made improvements and spent the remainder of his life there, engaged in farming and stock raising. He died June 1, 1898 and his remains are buried in Mt. Olivet cemetery. He was a son of Nelson Thomason, a Kentuckian, who was born near Georgetown, in Scott County, Kentucky, in 1812, and died there in 1849.
Fannie E. (Moore) Thomason is a native of Kentucky and a daughter of J. M. Moore and her mother bore the maiden name of Wills. J. M. Moore and family came to Missouri from Kentucky about 1854, and set- tled on a farm northwest of Liberty. Here the parents spent the re- mainder of their lives and are buried in the family cemetery in the locality of their old home. Mrs. Thomason is now eighty-five years old and lives on the old home place with her son. S. N. Thomason, the present owner.
To William Anderson and Fannie E. (Moore) Thomason were born the following children: Mrs. Sallie Moore, who died in Montana, about 1915; Lucy, died at about nineteen years of age; Kate, married Merritt Connell, of Spokane, Washington; J. W., the subject of this sketch; Robert E., deceased; S. N., who resides on the old homestead in Clay County ; Mrs. Evelena McDowell, deceased; and Mrs. Matilda Crow, de- ceased.
J. W. Thomason was reared on the home farm in Clay County and attended the Gordon district school. In early life he engaged in general farming and stock raising and also stock buying. About 1907. Mr.
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Thomason went to Jackson County and for twelve years lived at Lees Summit where he still owns a valuable farm. September 1, 1919, he came to Liberty and engaged in the real estate business as above stated.
Mr. Thomason was married in 1884 to Miss Bell Thomason of Kear- ney, Missouri. She died in 1895, leaving two children: Kate E., who married Charles Wiegley; and Earl Ray, who resides at Kearney, Mis- souri. In 1887, Mr. Thomason was married to Emma Goodrich of Mosby, Missouri. She was born and reared in Wisconsin and is a daughter of A. D. and Josephine (VanWie) Goodrich. The mother now resides in Dubuque, Iowa, and the father is deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Thomason have been born two children: Vivian and Clarence H., both of whom are students in William Jewell College.
Oliver P. Gentry, the capable postmaster of Liberty, Missouri, is not only well known in Clay County but is widely and favorably known over the state. He was born near Centralia May 2, 1862, a son of Richard H. Gentry, and is a member of one of the prominent early pioneer families of Missouri, many members of which have attained distinction in the various walks of life in this state.
Richrd H. Gentry moved to Columbia, Missouri, when Oliver P. Gentry of this review was about two years of age. He engaged in the mercantile business there, continuing in that line until his death in 1871.
Oliver P., or "Oll," as he is familiarly known to his friends, was one of a family of two brothers and five sisters, all of whom were educated at the University of Missouri. The sisters all became teachers of note, and the brother, Richard Gentry, was a prominent business man and finan- cier in Kansas City, Missouri, up to the time of his death.
After leaving the State University at Columbia. O. P. Gentry entered the drug store of Ford and Arnold in Kansas City, Missouri, where he learned the drug business. He was examined by the State Board of Pharmacy and received his diploma in July, 1894. That same month he located at Smithville, Missouri, and became associated with Dr. S. A. Riley in the drug business under the firm name of Gentry and Riley. Soon afterwards Mr. Gentry bought his partner's interest and for several years owned and conducted the business in his own name. Mr. Gentry was also a partner of W. H. Patterson in the milling, grain and lumber business at Smithville for several years. This business was conducted under the firm name of Patterson and Gentry, and the products of their mill were well known all over Missouri.
O. P. GENTRY
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
While living at Smithville Mr. Gentry took an active part in securing a railroad for the town He helped secure the right of way and assisted in raising bonuses, in order that the road should be completed to the town of Smithville. This proved to be a good move for when the road was completed to Smithville the company went into the hands of a receiver. and Smithville became the terminus of the railroad for several years. Mr. Gentry spent two winters in Washington, D. C., in the interest of legisla- tion which was necessary before the new railroad could be of much bene- fit to the farming and commercial interests of Smithville and vicinity.
When the Bell Telephone Company was running the first telephone line from Kansas City to Saint Joseph they required a guarantee of fifteen dollars per month before they would install an instrument at Smithville. and Mr. Gentry was one of three who gave the company a written guaran- tee to that effect. Smithville got a telephone instrument, and the business from Smithville never fell below the minimum from the beginning and the guarantee was never called upon. In contrast to that time Smithville now has an extensive telephone system with hundreds of instruments and a force of employees.
Mr. Gentry has always taken an active interest in politics. In 1888 he espoused the cause of David R. Francis who was then a young man from St. Louis and a candidate for governor. Mr. Gentry was elected a Francis delegate from Clay County to the State convention, and since that time he has been active and influential in the political affairs of the County, State and Nation. He was always a strong supporter of A. M. Dockery while he was Congressman from the Third District of Missouri, and when Mr. Dockery was candidate for governor of the State he had no truer friend than Mr. Gentry. When Mr. Dockery was elected governor Mr. Gentry was offered the position of his private secretary. He accepted and moved to Jefferson City and served as private secretary to the governor for four years.
At the expiration of his service at the State Capitol, January 15, 1905, Mr. Gentry returned to Clay County and located at Liberty when he again entered the drug business.
In 1912 Mr. Gentry was electedl a delegate from the Third District of Missouri to the Democratic National Convention at Baltimore, Mary- land, when Woodrow Wilson was nominated for president of the United States. When a vacancy in the postmastership of Liberty occurred Mr. Gentry was recommended for the position by Congressman J. W. Alex-
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
ander, and was appointed to that office by President Wilson. At the expiration of his four year term of office Mr. Gentry was re-appointed June 5, 1920, for a term of four years, and is at present serving in that capacity.
Mr. Gentry's public life at the capitol and the active part he has taken in politics, both State and National, for over thirty years, has given him a large acquaintance over the State, and he probably knows some one personally in every county in the State of Missouri and many promi- nent men nationally.
Mr. Gentry was married November 30, 1886, to Miss Almyra K. Mar- tin, of Smithville, Missouri, and to that union two sons were born: Wil- liam H. Gentry, of Kansas City, Missouri, and Elston Gentry, of Liberty, Missouri.
Mr. Gentry is a member of the Christian Church, having become a member at Smithville in 1885. He has been a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows since 1887 and has been prominent in that order ever since. He has been a member of the Board of Trustees of the Odd Fellows Home at Liberty for twenty-one years. He also holds membership in the Masonic Lodge, Knights of Pythias, Modern Woodmen of America and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He is public spirited and patriotic, and one of Clay County's foremost citizens.
Claude Hardwicke, a well known and successful lawyer of Clay County who is engaged in the practice af Liberty, is a member of one of the prominent pioneer families of Clay County and Missouri. He was born at Liberty and is a son of Samuel and Ada (Hall) Hardwicke, the former now deceased and the latter resides on the old home place in Lib- erty township.
Samuel Hardwicke was born in Gallatin township. Clay County in 1833. He studied law under Judge Elijah Norton of Platt City, Missouri, and engaged in the practice of law at Liberty in 1855. He was one of the prominent early day lawyers of Clay County and was engaged in the practice of his profession until the time of his death. in 1895. He was a Democrat and took an active part in politics althoughi he never held political office. He was a son of Philip Allen Hardwicke who was a prominent Whig and went to California, making the trip across the plains and over the mountains in 1850. He started to return from California by water but died during the trip.
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Josiah Gregg, an uncle of Samuel Hardwicke, was a prominent man of letters and his writings are familiar to many. He wrote the "Com- merce of the Prairies", which is considered one of the best histories of the Santa Fe trail and other pioneer highways and trade on the plains, ever written. His diary. is now in the possession of Claude Hardwicke. Ile taught the first school in Clay County which was a private institution. During the Mexican War he was a correspondent for the Louisville Jour- nal and was at the battle of Buena Vista, and after the battle he took charge of the Mexican wounded. After the Mexican War, he went to California and died on the Trinity River in that state, in 1848. He left his diary with a friend at San Francisco and started on a trip into the wilds of the interior and never returned.
Ada (Hall) Hardwicke, mother of Claude Hardwicke, was born in Clay County, a daughter of John D. Hall, a very early pioneer of Clay County, who came here from Tennessee, probably about 1820.
To Samuel and Ada (Hall) Hardwicke were born the following chil- dren: Maude, married Dr. John H. Rothwell, of Liberty, Missouri; Claude, the subject of this sketch; Philip, who lives on the home farm in Liberty township; Norton, married Ethel Braley, of Clay County, and lives on the home farm in Liberty township.
Claude Hardwicke was educated in the public schools and William Jewell College at Liberty, and after spending four years in the West for the benefit of his health, he returned to Liberty and read law under the preceptorship of his father who was not only an able lawyer but regarded as one of the best instructors on the subject of law in the state. Claude Hardwicke was admitted to the bar in 1888 and immediately engaged in the practice of his profession to which he has since successfully devoted himself. His offices are located in the Commercial Bank Building at Liberty.
Tom Wornall, Jr., is a native of this county and a descendant of Clay County pioneer ancestors. He was born in Fishing River township, July 29, 1889, and is a son of former State Senator T. J. Wornall and Emma (Petty) Wornall, of Liberty. T. J. Wornall was born on a farm in Jack- son County which is now included in Kansas City. He is a son of John B. Wornall, who was a pioncer of Jackson County, Missouri, and also served as state senator. Emma (Petty) Wornall is a daughter of Lind- say J. Petty and was born in Clay County in Fishing River township, and
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died in 1910. Her father Lindsay T. Petty settled in Clay County in 1854. To Senator T. J. Wornall, Sr., and Emma (Petty) Wornall were born two children: Tom J. Wornall, Jr., the subject of this sketch; and R. B. Wornall, of Liberty, Missouri.
Tom Wornall, Jr., was educated in the public schools and William Jewell College, and was graduated from that institution. After complet- ing his education, he engaged in farming and stock raising on the home farm in Fishing River township of which he is now the proprietor. The place is known as "Grassland Stock Farm" and contains 505 acres. Here . he carried on farming and gave special attention to breeding pure blood Shorthorn cattle. His father began breeding Shorthorn cattle on this place in 1896, and some of the finest cattle in the country have been bred and raised on this place. They have been exhibited at various state fairs and stock shows in various parts of the middle west and won a number of prizes and premiums.
During the World War, Tom Wornall, Jr., rented his farm and entered the officers training camp at Camp Pike, Arkansas. He was a member of the Second Battalion of Infantry, Central Officers Training School, and after the armistice was signed, he was discharged in Decem- ber, 1918.
Mr. Wornall was married October 30, 1911, to Miss Floy Crews, a daughter of W. A. Crews, of Liberty, Missouri and a daughter, Sue, has been born to this union.
Mr. Wornall is a thirty-second degree Knights Templar Mason.
E. B. Black, the present city recorder of Liberty, Missouri, is a native of Jackson County and a descendant of Missouri pioneers. He was born August 9, 1862 and is a son of Rev. G. L. and Sue S. (Chiles) Black.
Rev. G. L. Black was a pioneer Baptist minister of western Mis- souri. He was born in Boone County, Missouri, November 23, 1833, and died at Liberty, July 30, 1914. He preached during the Civil War and later was engaged in farming in Jackson and Carroll Counties. He was educated in William Jewell College. In 1879, he settled at Liberty, where he remained until the time of his death. Sue S. (Chiles) Black was born in Jackson County, Missouri, in 1840, and was a member of a prominent pioneer family of that county. She was reared in Jackson County and clied June 30, 1914.
To Rev. G. L. and Sue S. (Chiles) Black were born the following chil-
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
dren: E. B., the subject of this sketch; J. H., died at Liberty at the age of twenty-five years; Sue, married Dr. Walter Lane who is now deceased and she resides at Maryville, Missouri; David Hickman, lives in Los Angeles, California ; Clara, married H. O. Perkins, Liberty, Missouri; and Nellie Irwin, married C. C. Graves, of Maryville, Missouri.
E. B. Black was educated in the public schools of Boone County, Missouri, and William Jewell College. He taught school for some time and was later engaged in the grocery business for three years. He then followed farming in Platt and Clay Counties for twenty years, and spent one year on a ranch in Montana. In 1914, he moved to Liberty in order that his children might have the advantage of the schools here. For the past three years Mr. Black has served as city recorder and he is also clerk of the Board of Public Works.
Mr. Black was married October 5, 1887, to Miss Sue Clarke, of Platt County, Missouri, and a daughter of David M. and Sue Clarke. To Mr. and Mrs. Black have been born five children: Clarke, served in the World War, having been trained at Ames, Iowa, and Camp Jackson, South Caro- lina, and Camp Wadsworth, and on August 20, 1918, was sent to France with Company D, 3rd Corps Artillery Park and served in the battle of the Argonne Forest with the Eighty-ninth Division and in other im- portant engagements with his command and was honorably discharged at Camp Taylor, Kentucky, July 15, 1919; Mary Virginia, resides at home with her parents; Sue Jane, a stenographer and bookkeeper in the office of the mayor of Liberty ; Ruth Elizabeth, a teacher; and Bassie, a student in the Liberty High School.
Mr. Black is a member of the Kappa Alpha College fraternity, hav- ing become a member while he was a student at William Jewell College. He is a substantial citizen and the members of the Black family are well known and highly respected in the community.
E. L. Black, superintendent of the public schools of Clay County, is a well known and successful educator whose administration at the head of the schools of Clay County has been notable for its progress and the betterment of the public schools of this county. Mr. Black is a native of Missouri, born at Wellsville, Montgomery County, January 20, 1885. He is a son of John H. and Ella L. (Wise) Black.
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