USA > Missouri > Clay County > History of Clay County, Missouri > Part 29
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Anderson Squires: W. W., deceased; G. M., deceased; H. F., a telegraph operator of Kansas City, Missouri; E. M., of Liberty, Missouri; E. A., the subject of this sketch.
E. A. Squires was educated in the public schools and since early man- hood has been engaged in farming. His farm, which is located at Chand- ler, was formerly a part of his estate and here he carries on general farm- ing and stock raising.
Mr. Squires was married January 3, 1893, to Miss Rosalee Mosby, a daughter of Dewilton W. and Mattie M. (Archer) Mosby.
The Mosby family is one of the early pioneer families of Clay County. Dewilton W. Mosby was born in Fishing River township in 1825. He was a veteran of the Mexican War and died in 1889, and his picture ap- pears in a group of Mexican War Veterans in this volume. He was a son of Nicholas Mosby, a Kentuckian, who settled in Fishing River township probably about 1820 and spent the remainder of his life there. After the death of Dewilton W. Mosby, his widow married Robert H. Wallis and now resides on the old home place in Fishing River township, Clay County. Mrs. Squires was one of the following children born to her par- ents: Jesse D. Mosby, Missouri; Mrs. E. A. Squires, of the review; Emmett, Liberty, Mo .; Nicholas, recorder of deeds in Clay County ; and Bonnie M., married W. E. Brawner, of Chandler, Missouri.
To Mr. and Mrs. E. A. Squires have been born five children, as fol- lows: Jesse Lee, Albert Gallitan, Mattie Musette, Willard Alonzo, Mar- tin Dewilton.
Daily and Dugan, manufacturers of and dealers in monuments at Liberty, Missouri, is one of the substantial and progressive business con- cerns of Clay County. This company began business in 1909 and since that time their business has had a substantial growth and development, and extends to adjacent counties, and they also do an extensive business in Kansas City, Missouri.
The monument works of Daily and Dugan is located on the corner of Mill and Main streets in Liberty, where they have just completed a modern building, properly arranged and well suited for their class of work, and for storage and display purposes. The building is a brick structure, 27x70 feet in dimensions, with concrete floor. They employ five skilled mechanics, and the firm of Daily and Dugan is recognized as an important industrial acquisition to Liberty and Clay County.
DAILY & DUGAN Monument Works, Liberty, Mo.
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C. M. Daily, of the firm of Daily and Dugan, well known monument manufacturers and dealers of Liberty, Missouri, is a native of Kentucky. He was born in Mason County December 4, 1858, and is a son of Samuel J. and Belle (Johnson) Daily, natives of Kentucky.
Samuel J. Daily settled in Jackson County, Missouri, in the seventies, and after making that county his home for a time, he and his wife went to New Mexico where he died after spending about twenty-five years in that state. After his death his widow went to Georgia where she spent her last days with her daughter.
C. M. Daily came to Missouri in 1875 and settled in Jackson County, and for many years was engaged in the drug business in Kansas City, and in 1878 he came to Liberty. Here he was employed by Trigg T. Allen, J. H. Barnes and O. P. Gentry, but for the past eleven years he has been engaged in the monument business and has met with substantial and well merited success.
Mr. Daily was married in 1887 to Miss Lucy D. Land. a daughter of John T. and Elizabeth Land, both natives of Kentucky, and early settlers in Clay County, and are now deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Daily have been born two daughters: Ruth, a graduate of the Liberty Ladies' College, and for the past sixteen months has been in the employment of the War Risk Bureau at Washington, D. C., and Irene, who died in 1904, aged fourteen years.
Mr. Daily has served two terms as mayor of Liberty and has been a member of the city council several terms. He always takes a com- mendable interest in local affairs and is a progressive citizen.
Garnett M. Peters, representative of the Farmers Mutual Insurance Company of Clay County, is a progressive and enterprising man, whose methods are backed by results. Mr. Peters was born in Clinton County, near the Clay County line, in 1870. He is a son of Thomas R. and Mary E. (Best) Peters, both members of pioneer families of Missouri.
Thomas R. Peters was born in Clay County, Missouri, in 1833. He was a son of Ira Peters, a Kentuckian, who settled in Clay County, Mis- souri, at a very early day. He died on his farm, six miles north of Lib- erty in Liberty township, in 1887. Ira Peters was born in 1805 and when he came to Clay County he entered 360 aeres of land in Liberty town- ship which he improved and followed farming there during the remainder of his life. His remains are buried at Little Shoal cemetery.
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Thomas R. Peters spent most of his life in Clay County and died in 1902 and his wife, who was born in Kentucky in 1849, died in Clay County in 1905 and their remains are buried in Providence cemetery. Thomas R. Peters served in the Confederate army four years during the Civil War, in General Shelby's brigade, Price's division.
To Thomas R. and Mary E. (Best) Peters were born the following children: Garnett M., the subject of this sketch; Mrs. Anna H. Munkirs. Liberty, Missouri; Mrs. Arthusa E. Reynolds, Liberty, Missouri; George W., Kearney, Missouri; and Zack M., Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Garnett M. Peters was about one year old when his parents returned from Clinton County to Clay and settled in Liberty township. He was educated in the public schools and Spaulding's Commercial College in Kansas City, Missouri, and was engaged in general farming and cattle feeding until 1905. He served as deputy assessor of Clay County, under Assessor John T. North for seven years. On October 1, 1913, Mr. Peters accepted the appointment as representative of the Farmers Mutual Insur- ance Company and in that capacity he has advanced the interests and increased the business of this company to a very satisfactory degree. When he took his position with the company, the amount of insurance carried was $1,687,000.00, and the company now carries $3,164,375.00. which shows that the business of the company has nearly doubled during that time.
The Farmers Mutual Insurance Company of Clay County is the suc- cessor of the Patrons Home Protective Insurance Company of Clay County and the original organization was eected October 1, 1876, by the Grange organization of Clay County. The company carries no insurance on property within the corporate limits of any city or town, but confines its risks to farm property.
In March, 1918, Mr. Peters organized the Clay County Mutual Auto- mobile Insurance Company. This company insures against the loss of automobiles by fire. lightning, tornadoes and theft. The company now has $300,000.00 of insurance on its books, having had a marvelous growth from its organization.
Mr. Peters is president of the State Association of Farm Mutual In- surance Companies of Missouri. He is a Democrat and takes an active part in politics and in 1920 he was elected State Representative from Clay County. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and
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the Knights of Pythias and has served as Chancellor Commander of the Knights of Pythias, and has also been representative to the Grand Lodge several times.
E. K. Bell, proprietor of the Liberty Garage is one of the progressive business men of Clay County and conducts the leading garage and auto- mobile repair shop of Liberty. Mr. Bell is a native of Clay County and was born six miles east of Liberty in 1891. He is the son of D. E. and Alice R. (Cravens) Bell.
D. E. Bell was born in Clay County and was a son of E. D. Bell, a native of Kentucky who settled in Fishing River township about 1837. He came here with his father, Fielding Bell, who was also & Kentuckian. D. E. Bell was prominent in the affairs of Liberty and Clay County. For a number of years he was engaged in the mercantile business and con- ducted the hardware store which is now owned by Boggess and Son. He also conducted a livery barn at Liberty. He was mayor of Liberty when the water works system was installed. He clerked at the first public stock sale held at Liberty at which Colonel Neal was the auctioneer. He died at Liberty and his remains are buried there. Alice R. (Cravens) Bell was born in Clay County and is now living at Liberty. She is a daughter of E. T. Cravens who was a pioneer settler of Clay County and established his home about four miles east of Liberty. He was a veteran of the Civil War, having served in the Confederate army in General Shelby's brigade and Price's division. He spent his life in Clay County after coming here and his remains are buried at Missouri City.
E. K. Bell attended the public schools and was graduated from the Liberty High School in the class of 1908. He then entered William Jewell College and was graduated from that institution in the class of 1912. After leaving college, Mr. Bell was engaged in farming and stock raising for about five years. In June, 1917, he engaged in his present business and since that time has been proprietor of the Liberty Garage. The Liberty Garage is located on East Kansas street and has a floor space of 11,000 square feet and is capable of storing seventy cars. Mr. Bell also does automobile repair work and employs five men in that de- partment. The Liberty Garage advertises that it takes the "vice" out of service and this is accomplished by excellent service and honest work at reasonable prices.
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Mr. Bell was married in 1912 to Miss Ethel Sevier, a daughter of W. J. and Mary E. Sevier, of Liberty, Missouri. Mrs. Bell was born and reared in Liberty township and educated in the public schools and the Liberty High School. To Mr. and Mrs. Bell have been born two children: Keller, Jr .. and Ann Margaret.
William E. Hallissy, a well known and successful farmer and stock- man who owns and operates a valuable farm of 183 acres in Liberty town- ship, is a native of Clay County. He was born at Liberty, July 17, 1871 and is a son of Timothy and Mary (Ledworth) Hallissy, both natives of Ireland.
Timothy Hallissy was born in Ireland in 1830, a son of John Hallissy, and came to America with his parents in 1840, when he was ten years old. John Hallissy was a stone mason and worked at his trade in Liberty for many years. He built the first sidewalks of native quarried stone in Liberty. He died here in 1877. Timothy Hallissy was a rope manu- facturer and was thus engaged in Liberty until the raising of hemp prac- tically ceased in this locality. He owned twenty acres of land just north of Liberty and also owned the property where Costello's Lumber Yard is now located, and which was later bought by William E. Hallissy. Tim- othy Hallissy died January 16, 1888, and his wife died in 1893. They were the parents of the following children: William E., the subject of this sketch; James, Kansas City, Missouri; John, with the Corbin Milling Company, Liberty, Missouri; Amelia, married Daniel Kilty, San Bern- ardino, California; Timothy C., cashier for the Internal Revenue Office, Kansas City, Missouri. He was formerly city marshal of Liberty, serv- ing two terms.
William E. Hallissy was reared and educated in Liberty, and began his career as a clerk in the Maltby grocery store at Liberty, and remained there three years. He bought his present farm which is located three miles northeast of Liberty in 1907. However, he did not move to the place until 1912. He owns a valuable and productive farm of 183 acres and is successfully carrying on general farm and stock raising.
June 13, 1907, William E. Hallissy was married to Miss Kate Haley, of Liberty, Missouri. She is a daughter of Michael and Mary Haley who now reside near Nevada, Missouri. Mrs. Hallissy is one of a family of nine children born to her parents, six of whom are now living as follows:
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William, a locomotive engineer on the Missouri Pacific railroad, served in the United States army in the Hospital Corps for fourteen months at Camp Pike, during the World War, and now lives at Nevada, Missouri; John, a locomotive engineer on the Great Western railroad, served in the United States army and was in France for twenty-two months, during the World War, in the transportation department as a locomotive engineer; Thomas served in the United States army in France with the Thirty-fifth Division for sixteen months and was in the commissary de- partment as wagoner; Nellie, married William Kelly, bookkeeper for the Costello Lumber Company, Liberty, Missouri; and Celia, married Joseph Sheridan, a farmer and stockman of Vernon County, Missouri.
To Mr. and Mrs. Hallissy have been born one daughter, Mary Catherine.
John S. Stollings, a successful farmer and stockman, of Liberty town- ship, is a native of Clay County and a member of one of the very early pioneer families of this section of Missouri. He was born in Liberty township, December 21, 1852 and is a son of Jesse and Sarah (Benton) Stollings.
Jesse Stollings was born in Logan County, Virginia, in 1802 and died in Clay County, Missouri, in 1865. He settled in Clay County in 1822, prior to the organization of the county. He bought land in Liberty township and was quite an extensive land owner. At the time of his death, he owned a part of the place which is now owned by his son, David Y. Stollings. Sarah (Benton) Stollings was born in Kentucky in 1820, and was a daughter of Hiram Benton. The Benton family settled near Kearney, about 1834, being among the very early pioneers in that section. Mrs. Stollings died April 1, 1905, at the advanced age of eighty-four years.
To Jesse and Sarah (Benton) Stollings were born the following chil- dren: David Y., a sketch of whom appears in this volume; Griffin H., was killed near Missouri City by Kansas soldiers while he was serving in the Confederate army ; Elisha, died in Texas; Melinda Ann, died at the age of twenty-one years; John S., the subject of this sketch; Mary Jane, married William Tapp and is now deceased; Elizabeth, died at the age of six years; Maggie, married William Stollings and lives in Texas ; Jacob, died in early youth, and Jesse, died in California.
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John S. Stollings was educated in the public schools of Clay County, attending school in the Walnut Grove district. He recalls that Professor Baker was his first teacher. Mr. Stollings engaged in farming in early life and bought his present place March 1, 1883. It is a part of the old McCarty homestead and consists of 122 acres, located six miles northeast of Liberty. Mr. Stollings has placed all the improvements on his farm, including a good residence which he built in 1905, and also a large barn and other suitable farm buildings. He carries on general farming and stock raising and is one of the progressive men in that line in Clay County.
Mr. Stollings was married in 1878 to Miss Lucy F. Searcy, a daughter of Clifton and Betty (Petty) Searcy, both of whom are now deceased. Mrs. Stollings was reared in the vicinity of Kearney, Missouri. To Mr. and Mrs. Stollings have been born the following children: Griffin H., a surveyor and civil engineer, Continental, Arizona; Clara, resides at home; Jesse, a foreman for a copper mining company, San Francisco, California ; Arthur, a farmer and stockman, Liberty township; Allene, died at the age of six years ; and Ethel, married Ed Dunn, of Chandler, Missouri.
Mr. Stollings is a substantial citizen and the Stollings family stand high in Clay County.
An interesting feature of the Stollings farm is an old pear tree, standing in the yard, which has borne fruit since 1865. It was planted by Mrs. McCarty who lived here prior to the Civil War, and five genera- tions of the Stollings family have enjoyed the fruit from this tree.
William F. Paradise, a progressive business man of Liberty, who is proprietor of the Liberty Ice and Cold Storage plant, one of the im- portant institutions of the city, is a native of Illinois, although a descend- ant of pioneers of western Missouri. He was born in Fulton County, Illinois, May 1, 1869, a son of Wade Hamilton Paradise.
Wade Hamilton Paradise was born in Tennessee in 1819. In 1847. he settled in Jackson County, Missouri, about two and one-half miles east of Independence. His father, Samuel Isaac Paradise, and other members of the family came to Jackson County at the same time. Samuel Isaac Paradise bought 240 acres of land and was engaged in farming there when the Civil War broke out. He and two of his sons, Plummer and Isaac, enlisted in the Confederate army at the beginning of the war, and Wade Hamilton, another son, the father of W. F., of this review, enlisted
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in the Union army. They all served until the close of the war. Samuel Isaac Paradise returned to Jackson County after the war and spent the remainder of his life there. He died at his home in Independence. After the war, Wade Hamilton Paradise settled in Fulton County, Illinois.
William F. Paradise was one of the following children born to his parents: John, who is engaged in farming and stock raising at Barnes City, Iowa; James, Stella, Nebraska; Isaac, Chicago, Illinois; William F., the subject of this sketch; Charles, St. Joseph, Missouri; and Mrs. Mary Sarvis, Barnes City, Iowa.
William F. Paradise was educated in the public schools of Illinois and lowa and for a number of years was engaged in stationary engineering, and was connected with that line of work when he came to Liberty in 1913 and bought the Liberty ice plant which he has since successfully operated. This plant has a capacity of twelve tons of ice per day and Mr. Paradise now has improvements under way which will increase the capacity of his plant to eighteen tons a day.
Mr. Paradise was married September 19, 1897, to Miss Mable Blanche Shores, of St. Joseph, Missouri. She is a daughter of Madison and Della (Fuller) Shores, both of whom are deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Paradise have been born six children: William Earl. who is associated with his father in the ice plant; Ethel, Dorothy, Floyd, Mary Catherine and Charles Howard, all of whom are at home with their parents.
Mr. Paradise is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and the Knights of Pythias.
Richard W. Edwards, chief engineer for the Missouri Gas and Elec- tric Service Company, is a native of England. He was born in Lincoln- shire, March 25, 1858, a son of Richard and Alice (Holl) Edwards, both of whom were natives of England and spent their lives in their native land.
Richard W. Edwards was educated in England and came to America in 1881, and located at Liberty, Missouri, the same year. He was a car- penter and builder and worked at his trade in Liberty and vicinity for several years. He helped erect several residences here, including that of Richard Moore and also build a church at Nebo, Missouri. He followed farming in Clay County for some years and also was engaged in business at Liberty. At one time he owned the ice plant here. In April, 1918, he became chief engineer for the Missouri Gas and Electric Service Company
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at Liberty and has since held that position, and is recognized as a capable and efficient man.
Mr. Edwards was first married in England to Amelia E. Foster, who died at Liberty in 1881, leaving one son, Fred Edwards. Mr. Edwards' second marriage was to Mary A. McKarnin, of Clay County, a daughter of James and Ann McKarnin, both of whom are now deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Edwards have been born the following children: Anna, married Ed Burriss, Tripplett, Missouri; Roy, a stationary engineer in the em- ploy of the Santa Fe Railroad at Marceline, Missouri; Harry, a farmer; Birmingham, Missouri ; and Charlie, who is now a motor mechanic at Fort Collins, Colorado. He is a veteran of the World War, having enlisted September 18, 1917, and became corporal February 17, 1918. He was a member of Battery C, 341st Field Artillery. He did service in France and was in the Envezin sector from September 17th, to November 11, 1918, when the armistice was signed. He was mustered out of service and honorably discharged June 10, 1919, after having been in the service for twenty-one months.
Mr. and Mrs. Edwards have six grandchildren as follows: Clara May, Mary Wilmouth; and Gladys Louise Edwards; Etta Albert, Burruss and William Albert and Burton Edwards.
Mr. Edwards is a substantial citizen and the Edwards family is well known and highly respected in Liberty and Clay County.
Dr. Francis Holmes Matthews .- When Dr. Oliver Wendell Holmes was asked at what age a child's education should begin, he replied, "One hun- dred years before he is born." Another well known author has written upon the theme of "Choosing a Grandfather." So strongly is heredity emphasized in biology today that in all improved strains of animals it stands out as a primal factor, and in the biographies of men who have achieved distinction in any field of work, distinguishing traits can be traced to immediate forbears in such definite manner that individual history becomes in a large degree the fulfillment of family prophecy. For this reason a brief reference to the life and character of Dr. Matthews' father and mother is a most fitting introduction to the record which he has made.
His father, Dr. John W. Matthews, a distinguished physician of his day, was born in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1825. Brought up in a strongly southern atmosphere, he was thoroughly imbued with the belief and spirit that made chivalric defenders of those who later fought for the principles
DR. F. IL. MATTHEWS
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of the Lost Cause. He was of English parentage, and possessed the sturdy traits characteristic of English yeomen, who have always been the bone and sinew of the nation.
His early education in the best schools of his day was supplemented by medical training, and in 1847 he was admitted into the brotherhood of physicians. In 1849 failing health compelled him to set his face west- ward, and in 1855 he settled in Wellington, Missouri, which became the family home. Here he practiced his profession, gaining a position of re- spect and honor. When the war broke out Dr. John W. Matthews became a surgeon in the Confederate Army, where he served with distinction in his work. Near the close of the war, on account of the depredations of border ruffians, he was compelled to move his family to Troy, Illinois, for protection, and it was while they were thus in exile that his son Francis was born. In the early seventies Dr. Matthews returned to Missouri and continued to practice his profession in Pike County until 1899, when, retir- ing front active work, he came to Liberty, Missouri, residing with his son, Dr. F. H. Matthews, until his death in 1912.
The mother of Dr. Matthews, Miss Ella Flanders, was of French descent, her ancestors having come from what is now known as Flanders. She was a gentle woman who combined intellectual attainments and re- ligious convictions in the sweet piety of her home life. Her helpful spirit made home the choicest place, and she has remained an inspiration to her children throughout the years. Her care for them included supervision of work at home in connection with that of the schools, and embraced carefully outlined courses in reading and literature, reviewing the work done at stated periods. Mrs. Matthews' deep religious convictions made her a close student of the Bible, and one of her greatest joys was her class in the Sunday School, which she retained to the end of her life.
With the rich heritage of such parents, Dr. Francis Holmes Matthews was born, under circumstances which we have mentioned, at Troy, Illinois, June 29, 1866. Much early instruction was received at home, to which was added the ordinary course of our Missouri public schools. Home in- fluences begat within him a desire to make something worth while of his life, and to this was added a willingness to work for that end. His early manhood was given to mercantile pursuits, in which he achieved marked success, and he rendered a much needed service to the City of Liberty during the early days of his residence there by installing its public telephone system.
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Mercantile work, however, was but a stepping stone to his real life work, and resigning his position with a prominent Kansas City firm, Dr. Matthews pursued the medical course at the University Medical Col- lege in Kansas City, Missouri, from which he was graduated in the class of 1900. Dr. Matthews located immediately in Liberty, and has practiced his profession there with as much success as crowned his earlier business life. To the true physician, his profession is a real calling, not simply a means of securing a livelihood, but a field of helpful service, and this is one of the chief attractions of his work. Honors have rightly come along this pathway, but greatest of all is the consciousness of service given. Among his associates Dr. Matthews has enjoyed a position of help- ful co-operation. He has been a prominent member of the Clay County Medical Society, which he served as secretary, for a number of years and also as its president. He has been a member of the State and American Medical Associations since 1900, and of the State Board of Health from 1913-1917, of which he was president from 1914-1917, when he resigned in response to a call to other patriotic service. In July, 1917, he was appointed by President Wilson as a member of the Western Missouri Dis- trict Draft Board, whose meetings were held in Kansas City, Missouri, and he served until the board was honorably discharged in March, 1919.
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