USA > Missouri > Clay County > History of Clay County, Missouri > Part 28
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John H. Black was born in Wellsville, Missouri, in 1856 and was suc- cessfully engaged in farming and stock raising in that vicinity all his life.
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He was a son of John H. Black, who came from Canada in 1855 and set- tled at Wellsville, Missouri. Ella L. (Wise) Black, mother of E. L. Black, was born at Johnstown, Ohio, and now resides at Montgomery, Missouri. The following children were born to John H. and Ella L. (Wise) Black : E. L., the subject of this sketch; Harvey C., an attorney for the Standard Oil Company at Independence, Kansas; Eila E., a teacher at Montgomery City, Missouri; and Maybelle, married Bernard T. Taylor, of Montgomery City, Missouri.
E. L. Black was reared at Wellsville, Missouri, and attended the pub- lic schools, including the high school there and later took a course at the Kirksville State Normal School. He taught his first school at Martins- burg, Missouri. He was then employed in the Wellsville Bank for three years, after which he served as principal of the Wellsville schools for two years. He then served in a similar capacity at Lawson, Ray County, Missouri, for two years. He then became superintendent of the public schools at Smithville and was serving in that capacity when he was ap- pointed superintendent of public schools of Clay County in 1915, to fill out an unexpired term and in 1919 at the expiration of that term he was elected to succeed himself and is now serving in that capacity.
There are fifty-nine school districts in Clay County, eight high schools, and one consolidated district at Linden which includes five original districts. There are 7,766 pupils of the school age in the county which shows a gain of 170 over 1918. The eight high schools of the county are credited schools; five are first class, two second class and one third class. The first class high schools are at Liberty, Excelsior Springs, Smithville, Kearney and Holt; the second class high schools are at Linden and North Kansas City; the third class school is at Missouri City. The average salary paid to teachers is over $75.00 a month.
E. L. Black was married August 18, 1909, to Miss Arline Barker, a daughter of J. L. Barker, of Wellsville, Missouri. J. L. Barker is a prom- inent attorney of Wellsville. He was born in St. Charles County, Mis- souri, and his wife, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Douglass is a native of Kentucky. Mrs. Black is a graduate of Hardin College at Mexico, Missouri, and is an accomplished musician, having studied ex- tensively along that line. To Mr. and Mrs. Black have been born one child, Dorothy Guerne.
Mr. Black is a member of the Masonic Lodge at Liberty and is an educator of recognized ability.
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W. L. Trimble, of Liberty, Missouri, is one of the veteran merchants of Clay County and of this section of Missouri. He has been engaged in the mercantile business for thirty-eight years, thirty-six years of which have been spent in Liberty. He was in business at Plattsburg, Missouri, for two years before coming to Liberty.
W. L. Trimble was born in Clark County, Kentucky, April 19, 1857. a son of James W. and Esther J. (Morris) Trimble, the former a native of Clark County, Kentucky, and the latter of Fayette County, Kentucky. His parents both died at about forty-five years of age and their remains are buried at Plattsburg, Missouri.
James W. Trimble came to Missouri with his family at an early day. He drove through with a team and wagon from Kentucky and first set- tled in Clinton County and bought a farm there. Later he removed to Plattsburg where he was engaged in the mercantile business at different times during his career. There were two sons born to James W. Trimble and wife, who are now living: M. J. Trimble, of Plattsburg, and W. L., the subject of this sketch : one daughter who married E. S. Fray, is now deceased.
W. L. Trimble was educated in the public schools of Plattsburg, Mis- souri, and when sixteen years of age he began clerking in a store at Plattsburg. Later he engaged in the hardware business there in 1882, in partnership with W. D. Hockaday. Two years later he sold his interest in the hardware business at Plattsburg to his partner and came to Lib- erty. Here he purchased the John Messick stock of hardware which was located in the same building which is now occupied by Mr. Trimble's hardware store. For the past thirty-six years. Mr. Trimble has con- ducted a successful hardware business here and has been in business longer than any other merchant in Liberty. During his long career as a merchant, Mr. Trimble has built up a reputation for honesty and in- tegrity of which he may be justly proud.
Mr. Trimble was married in 1887 to Miss Mary M. Mitchell of Platt County, Missouri. She is a daughter of Warren and Betty Mitchell, both natives of Mt. Sterling, Kentucky, and early pioneer settlers of Lincoln County, Missouri. Later they moved to Platte County, Missouri, where they spent the remainder of their lives. To Mr. and Mrs. Trimble have been born one son, George Dawson Trimble, who was born at Liberty, Missouri, in 1890. He was educated in the public schools at Liberty and then entered William Jewell College where he was graduated in the class
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of 1913 and is now a member of the firm of Trimble and Trimble, of Lib- erty. George Dawson Trimble was united in marriage with Miss Frances Meservey, a daughter of Edward Meservey, a prominent attorney of Kansas City, Missouri. To Mr. and Mrs. George Dawson Trimble have been born one son, George Dawson, Jr., age two years.
W. L. Trimble is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and one of the honored pioneer business men of Clay County. George Dawson Trimble is a member of the Masonic Lodge and one of the well known and progressive merchants of Clay County.
William Irminger, of Liberty, Missouri, has been for many years iden- tified with the development of Clay County, and is one of the successful farmers and stockmen of the county. He is a native of Clay County, born on a farm six miles southeast of Liberty, September 20, 1856, and is a son of John and Catherine (Hammel) Irminger, both natives of Ger- many.
John Irminger and his wife were early pioneer settlers of Clay County. They came here in 1844 and settled in Liberty township where they both spent the remainder of their lives. He died in 1912 and his wife pre- ceded him in death a number of years. They were the parents of the following children: William, the subject of this sketch ; Rudolph, lives in Platte County, Missouri; Louis H., lives in Fishing River township, near Missouri City ; Carrie, married James McKarnin, Iola, Kansas; and Mrs. Fannie Boetje, deceased.
William Irminger was reared in Clay County and educated in the public schools. He engaged in farming and stock raising in early life, and has prospered. He is the owner of four farms in Fishing River and Lib- erty townships and is one of the well-to-do men of Clay County. On De- cember 9. 1918, he moved to Liberty and resides on South Leonard street. Here he has a nice modern residence. It is a modern brick bungalow and is located on a two-acre lot.
William Irminger was married April 23, 1877, to Maria Smail, a native of Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, and a daughter of Daniel and Kath- arine (Helery) Smail. Daniel Smail served in the Union Army during the Civil War and died shortly after returning home from the war from exposure and disease contracted in the army. Mrs. Irminger has one brother living, James Smail, who lives in Pennsylvania, and her sister, Lucy Bruner, died in Pennsylvania, leaving a family of seven children,
JAMES PHILIP IRMINGER
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one of whom, Samuel Bruner, was a soldier in the World War and was killed in France while serving in the United States Army.
To William Irminger and wife have been born the following children: Edgar, a farmer of Liberty, Missouri, married Berda Lilly; Samuel, a farmer of Liberty, married Ella Lilly: Henry, a farmer of Liberty, mar- ried Mable Hollyfield; Emma, a teacher at American Falls, Idaho, where she took up a Government claim in 1914 and proved up on it, and during the World War she was a Red Cross nurse stationed at Camp Lewis, Wash- ington; and James Philip, who was killed in the World War.
James Philip Irminger was born February 24, 1891. He was educated in the public schools at Liberty and then entered the University of Mis- souri, at Columbia, where he was graduated from the agriculture depart- ment in 1917. On December 12, 1917, he enlisted in the Marine Corps, becoming a member of 134th Company Second Replacement Battalion, United States Marine Corps, and was later transferred to the 16th Com- pany, 5th Regiment, 3rd Battalion United States Marine Corps. He was trained at Paris Island and was a sharp-shooter, ranking high in marks- manship, and was one of sixteen men out of his company of 250 who re- ceived medals for marksmanship. He was killed in Bellau Wood, June 23, 1918. He was the first' of the Liberty, Missouri, boys to die on the battle field during the World War. His remains are buried in France. He was a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Baptist Church, and a young man of exceptional ability and high character.
Mr. and Mrs. Irminger have ten grandchildren, as follows: Paul, Ralph, Frances, Albert, Roy, Willard, Charles, John, William, Lester and Miller Irminger.
Mr. Irminger is a substantial Clay County citizen and the Irminger family is well known and stands high in the community.
S. F. Word, leading merchant of Liberty, who is engaged in the grocery business, is a native of Kentucky. He was born in Lincoln County, near Crab Orchard, August 31, 1855, a son of Nelson and Mar- garet (Birch) Word.
Nelson Word was born in Tennessee and his wife was a native of Kentucky. They settled in Dekalb County, Missouri, at a very early day and spent the remainder of their lives there. He died at the age of seventy-five years and she was seventy-four years old at the time of her death. They were the parents of the following children: John M., died
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at the age of twenty-five years; James T., died at the age of twenty-five years; William S., died at the age of seventy years; Charles T., died at the age of sixty-three years; China, married John Shackleford and died at the age of sixty-five years; Ellen, married Augustus Tuttle and died at the age of seventy years; Robert. Amoret, Missouri; Margaret Ann, married Henry Pope and died at the age of fifty-eight years; Sanders died at the age of forty-nine years; S. F., the subject of this sketch; and Charity married John Swearingen, Maysville, Missouri.
S. F. Word was educated in the public schools of Dekalb County, Missouri, and Stewartsville College at Stewartsville, Missouri. When he was twenty-two years of age he began tarming in Dekalb County and was thus engaged until 1897. He then conducted a meat market at Stewartsville and also one at Maysville. Later he was engaged in farm- ing until September, 1914, when he came to Liberty and bought the grocery stock of Joe Carel and since that time has conducted the grocery business at his present location. He has met with success here and has built up an extensive trade. He carries a complete stock of high class goods.
Mr. Word was married in 1882, to Florence Smith, who died in 1891, On May 11, 1892, he was married to Mrs. Grace Church Everette, of Clinton County, Missouri. She was born in that county, a daughter of William and Cassie (Hawkins) Church. William Church died in Colo- rado, November 27, 1901 and his wife died April 13, 1920, at Liberty, Missouri, aged eighty-four years. To S. F. and Grace (Church) Word have been born two children: China, who assists in the store; and Alma, who married H. H. Schwamb, of Liberty, Missouri.
Mr. Word is a member of the Masonic Lodge and is a progressive and public spirited citizen and one of the reliable merchants of Clay County.
E. P. Hall, senior member of the firm of Hall and Son, who conducts a first class meat market on the east side of the public square in Liberty, Missouri, is a native son of Clay County and a descendant of very early pioneers of this county. He was born in Kearney township, March 4, 1862 and is a son of George W. and Rebecca A. (Courtney) Hall. both natives of Kentucky and early settlers of Clay County.
George W. Hall was a son of John R. Hall, who settled about three miles east of Liberty, and Rebecca (Courtney) Hall was a daughter of E. T. Courtney, of Madison County, Kentucky. George W. Hall and his
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wife both died at Kearney, Missouri, and their remains are buried in the cemetery there. They were the parents of the following children: James A., died at Kearney in January, 1917; Thomas G., Hunter, Okla- home; William H., died in October, 1918; Betty F., dicd at Kearney, in 1900; Joseph C., lives at Kearney; E. P., the subject of this sketch; D. M., Kearney, Missouri; and Cal. H., died in 1898.
E. P. Hall was educated in the public schools and in early life learned the painter's trade, and for twenty-one years followed that vocation. He was then engaged in farming for ten years when he engaged in the mer- cantile business at Kearney, remaining there until 1918, when he came to Liberty and since that time he has been engaged in the meat business.
E. P. Hall was married in 1887 to Mary B. Hughes, of Smithville, Missouri. She is a daughter of Gabriel and Ann (Shaver) Hughes, the latter of whom was born in Clay County, Missouri and died at the age of forty-four years. To Mr. and Mrs. Hall have been born one son, George G., who is engaged in business at Liberty with his father.
George G. Hall was educated at Colorado Springs, Colorado, the pub- lic schools of Clay County, including a course in the Kearncy High School. He married Miss Helen Anderson of Kearney and two children have been born to this union: Lucille and Jack.
Hall and Son conducts a modern sanitary meat market and handle first class products which together with their method of doing business is appreciated by the public, as is indicated by their large patronage. They are assisted in their meat market by John Warren who is recog- nized as a first class man in that line.
William F. Norton, president of the Citizens Bank of Liberty, Mis- souri, has been engaged in the banking business for thirty-five years and is one of the well known bankers of western Missouri. Mr. Norton was born in Platte City, Missouri, February 20, 1860 and is a son of Elija H. and Melinda C. (Wilson) Norton.
Elija H. Norton was one of the prominent lawyers and jurists of Missouri during his career. He was born at Platte City, Missouri. He read law in early life and engaged in the practice of his profession at Platte City and soon attained distinction as an able lawyer and in early life became a prominent attorney. He was a Democrat and took a prom- inent part in politics. In 1858 he was elected to Congress from what is now the Fourth Congressional District and served one term. He was
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elected a member of the Missouri Supreme Court and served for twelve years with distinction. He died in 1914 at the advanced age of ninety- three years, having been retired for a number of years prior to his death. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Malenda C. Wilson, was born at Booneville, Missouri, and died in 1872.
To Elijah H. and Malinda C. (Wilson) Norton were born the follow- ing children: Presley M., a farmer and stockman, Platte City, Missouri; Margaret C., married Benjamin J. Woodson, a prominent attorney of St. Joseph, Missouri; John W., an attorney and extensive ranch owner of , Arizona, who is now a candidate on the Democratic ticket for United States Senator from that state; William F .. the subject of this sketch; George E., was a railroad clerk in the employ of the Missouri Pacific Rail- road Company and is now deceased ; Charles W., a partner of his brother; John W., in Arizona; and Anna, married Eckstein Huiskamp, a shoe manufacturer of Keokuk, Iowa.
William F. Norton was educated at William Jewell College and in 1885 engaged in the banking business at Platte City, Missouri. He and his brother, Charles W., engaged in the banking business at Missouri City, under the firm name of the Norton Brothers, in 1885 and conducted a banking business there for twenty-five years, and in 1910 sold their interest there to the present owners, Charles G. Shaw and Elmer L. Pigg. In 1910, Mr. Norton became connected with the Citizens Bank of Liberty and since that time he has been president of this well known and sub- stantial banking institution, and his son Elija H. Norton has been cashier of this bank for the past year.
William F. Norton was united in marriage in 1887 to Miss Maud F. Force, a daughter of D. M. Force, of St. Joseph, Missouri. D. M. Force and his wife are now deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Norton have been born four children as follows: Elija H., a graduate of William Jewell College, married Miss Nell Harrison of Liberty, Missouri, and is the present cashier of the Citizens Bank of Liberty; Nell F., a graduate of Monti- cello College at Monticello, Illinois, married Spurgeon B. Campbell, of Liberty, Missouri, who is engaged in the life and accident insurance business in Kansas City, Missouri; Jessie B., who is at the head of the Savings Department of the Citizens Bank of Liberty. is a graduate of the Northwestern University of Chicago in the class of 1919, resides at home with her parents; and Margaret W., who is also a graduate of the Northwestern University of Chicago.
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Mr. Norton is a member of the Masonic Lodge and also belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He has been a member of the Baptist church since 1873. His career has been a successful one and he is recognized as one of the substantial men of affairs of western Missouri.
The Norton residence is one of the beautiful homes of Liberty. Its location is ideal and everything about the place is strictly modern and embraces the rare combination of beauty and convenience. Mr. Norton built the place in 1911.
Prof. Ward Edwards, librarian and associate professor of English of William Jewell College at Liberty, Missouri, has been identified with this well known institution since he entered college here as a student in 1896, and for the past seventeen years he has been instructor in English. He is a student and thinker and by close application to his chosen field of endeavor has won a prominent place among the leading educators of the state.
Professor Edwards was born in Boonville, Missouri, December 29, 1878 and is a son of O. D. and Sophia (Ebert) Edwards. O. D. Edwards was a native of England, born in Sussex, in 1836, and came to America in 1858, settling at Boonville. He was engaged in photography there dur- ing his active career and died in 1911. Sophia (Ebert) Edwards was born in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1843, and departed this life in February, 1919, and her remains rest by the side of those of her husband in the cemetery at Boonville, Missouri. They were the parents of the following children: Louis S. Edwards, Boonville, Missouri; Ward, the subject of this sketch ; and Mrs. H. Roger Morton, Kansas City, Missouri.
Prof. Ward Edwards was reared in Boonville, Missouri, and was gradu- ated from the Boonville High School in the class of 1896. He entered William Jewell College the following fall and was graduated from that institution in 1903. The following year he became instructor in English and has held that position to the present time. He is also college librarian and in that capacity has charge of over 30,000 volumes which is one of the valuable collections of books in this country. Further mention of the William Jewell College Library is made elsewhere in this volume.
In addition to his other duties which are numerous, Professor Ed- wards has charge of the college print shop, a department which was organized January 1, 1917, and has met with marked success. The equip- ment of this department is now valued at $6,000.00 and over $5,500.00
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has been paid to students for their work here. Real art printing is done here and the students are fortunate for this opportunity to familiarize themselves with high class printing.
Professor Edwards is an ordained minister of the Baptist church and for the past thirteen years has been pastor of the Providence Baptist Church which is located six miles northwest of Liberty, and for eight years he has been pastor of the Baptist church at Holt, Missouri. He holds two meetings a month at each place.
January 5, 1898, Mr. Edwards was married to Miss Mamie B. Lucas, of Kansas City, Missouri, and to this union have been born three sons: Ward Addison, O. D. and Rider Clark.
Professor Edwards served as president of the Missouri Library Association in 1917, and is now president of the Missouri Library Com- mission, an organization with headquarters at Jefferson City. His private library consists of a valuable collection of 3,500 volumes among which is the best collection of Walt Whitman's works, west of New York.
Henry Haynes, a well known citizen of Liberty, Missouri, is a native of this state and a representative of one of the early pioneer families of western Missouri. He was born at Liberty township, March 29, 1844, and is a son of Millner and Susan (Skillman) Haynes.
Millner Haynes was born in Bedford County, Virginia. in 1799, and his wife was born near Georgetown, Kentucky, about 1804. They were married in Kentucky and at a very early day came to Clay County, Mis- souri, driving here from Kentucky with a team and wagon. They bought a farm in Liberty township where they spent the remainder of their lives. Millner Haynes died, May 21, 1866, and his wife departed this life in October, 1879. The old Haynes homestead in Liberty township consists of 440 acres of land and is now owned by William Williams.
Henry Haynes is the only one of the family of children born to his parents who is now living. The names of the others are as follows: Nancy, married Thomas A. Dale; Mary, married Lloyd Leach; John, died at Parkville, Missouri; Eliza, married Leonard Ligon; Charles W., died at Roswell, New Mexico.
Henry Haynes received his education principally in the private schools, but the Civil War came on when he was a youth and after that, he had very little opportunity to attend school. He was reared on the home farm in Liberty township and remained with his parents as long
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as they lived. He then bought out the interests of the other heirs and after a time sold the place anl removed to Vernon County, Missouri, where he remained about four years. In 1883, he returned to Liberty, purchased a home and has since resided here, his present residence being located at 429 North Leonard street.
Henry Haynes was united in marriage, January 26, 1874, with Miss Anna Tillman, a daughter of Edward C. and Keziah (Thompson) Tillman, and a cousin of Senator Ben Tillman of South Carolina.
Edward C. Tillman was born in North Carolina and was married in Todd County, Kentucky. He came to Clay County, Missouri, driving through from Kentucky, at a very early date in the history of this county. He entered land in Platte township and here spent the remainder of his life. He died in 1885, at the age of eighty years; his wife died in 1874. Mrs. Haynes has one brother, John William Tillman, of Liberty, Missouri ; and there was one other sister in the family, Mrs. Susan Masterson, who is now deceased.
To Mr. and Mrs. Henry Haynes have been born three children, as follows: Susie, married Louie Miller and they reside at Little Rock, Arkansas; Minnie, resides at home with her parents; and Birdie, who died April 25, 1916. She was educated in private schools and the Liberty Ladies College and later took a business course and at the time of her death was a bookkeeper in the Commercial Bank of Liberty.
E. A. Squires, of Chandler, Missouri, is a native of Illinois. He was born in Madison County, Illinois, October 13, 1871, and is a son of Mar- tin V. and Sarah E. (Dolbow) Anderson Squires.
Martin V. Squires came from Illinois to Clay County in 1880, and bought the farm upon which the village of Chandler is now located. He was the pioneer merchant at that place, starting the first store there in 1884. He was engaged in business there at that time for five or six years when he sold out to Parks and Tapp. Later they were succeeded by W. W. Squires who in turn was succeeded by Marion Squires. The store was owned successively by Abe Cresswell, Quisenbury. Cooper and Vines, Hayes, Fred Carroll, and Mr. Stevenson. the present proprietor. When the railroad was built the station at this point was known as Rob- inson, but later when the postoffice was established the name was changed to Chandler.
The following children were born to Martin V. and Sarah (Dolbow)
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