USA > Missouri > Clay County > History of Clay County, Missouri > Part 31
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To James G. and Ruth M. (Darby) Pryor were born two sons: John Walter Pryor, the subject of this sketch and Eugene. a live stock com- missioner of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He married Miss Lizzie Groom, a daughter of Porter Groom of Liberty township, Clay County.
John Walter Pryor was reared on the home farm in Liberty town- ship and attended the school of Ruth Ewing school district and the public schools of Liberty, Missouri. He began farming and stock raising in
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early life and has met with success in this field of endeavor. He owns the old home farm in Liberty township, having purchased his brothers' interest in the estate. The place consists of 160 acres of well improved and valuable land and is located two and one-half miles southeast of Liberty. It is an excellent stock and grain farm and has an ample sup- ply of water. This place was purchased by James G. Pryor in 1878, for twenty dollars per acre.
October 19, 1893, John Walter Pryor was married to Miss Artie E. Groom, a daughter of M. A. and Emma (Adkins) Groom. The father is a native of Clay County and now resides at Liberty. He is a member of one of the pioneer families of Clay County which have been conspicuous in the history of the county. John S. Groom, an uncle of Mrs. Pryor, served in Colonel Doniphan's regiment and his picture appears elsewhere in this volume. J. J. Moore, another Mexican War veteran, whose pic- ture appears in this volume, was related to the Pryor family.
Mr. Pryor is well known in Clay County and is one of the progressive and enterprising citizens of Liberty township.
William Williams, a successful and enterprising farmer and stockman who owns and operates a farm of 244 acres, in Liberty township, is a native of Kentucky, although he has spent practically all his life in Clay County. He was born in Nicholas County, Kentucky, April 6, 1853, and is a son of Jarrott and Lucinda (Sims) Williams, natives of Kentucky.
Jarrott Williams was born in Bourbon County, Kentucky, in 1826, and died in Clay County in 1899. Lucinda (Sims) Williams was born in Nicholas County. Kentucky, near Carlisle, in 1834, and died in Clay County in 1888; their remains are buried in Little Shoal cemetery. Jar- rott and Lucinda (Sinis) Williams were the parents of the following chil- dren: William, the subject of this sketch; Nannie, married Linsford Nutter and is now deceased; Charles, resides in Kansas City, Missouri; James, died at Garden City, Kansas ; Margaret, married John M. Grayson, Clinton County, Missouri; Edward, deceased; Lizzie, Liberty, Missouri ; George, a farmer, Liberty township; Frances, married John Brost, Liberty township; and Robert, Liberty, Missouri.
Jarrott Williams spent his early life in Kentucky and in 1854 came to Clay County with his wife and family. The same year he bought a farm in Liberty township from Joseph Stout, for which he paid seventeen dol- lars an acre. This was an early day in this section. The only part of Kansas City then in existence was Westport Landing. Jarrott Williams
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engaged in raising hemp and tobacco and farmed generally, and also traded in mules. Liberty Landing was the shipping point and the hemp was bailed there and loaded on boats and shipped down the river. Jarrott Williams enlisted for service in the Mexican war, before coming to Clay County. However, the war closed before he was called into service.
William Williams was reared in Liberty township and attended the first school that was held at Little Shoal school house, and a Mr. Stephens was his first teacher. Mr. Williams grew up familiar with farm life, and . engaged in that pursuit for himself in early life. He bought his present place, of 244 acres, in 1888. It is well improved and a valuable farm with a good farm residence and other buildings, including a tobacco barn 36x96 feet. Mr. Williams has raised tobacco several years and has car- ried on general farming and stock raising on an extensive scale. He is the owner of "Mack the Second," one of the most valuable jacks in the country.
March 6, 1914, Mr. Williams was married to Miss Mattie J. Elliott of Clay County. By a former marriage Mr. Williams has three children: William G., a civil engineer, of Dallas, Texas; Elizabeth, married Bennie B. Gragg, of Gallatin township; and James Jarrott, a farmer and stock- man, of Liberty township.
Mr. Williams is enterprising and progressive, and one of Clay County's most substantial citizens.
Melvin M. Gabbert, a well known farmer and stockman of Gallatin township, is a native of Buchanan County, Missouri, and was born October 1, 1856. He is a son of James and Levinia (Ellison) Gabbert, both now deceased.
James Gabbert and his wife were both natives of Rush County, Indi- ana. He was born April 18, 1830, and was a son of George W. and Gazella Gabbert. George W. Gabbert was born in Madison County, Indiana, January 28, 1812, and spent the latter part of his life in Buchanan County, Missouri, where he and his wife died. James Gabbert came to Missouri in 1845 and settled in Buchanan County. In 1849, during the gold rush to California, he made the trip overland to the Pacific coast. He went as far as Salt Lake City with ox teams and when that city was reached, the oxen were sold and the balance of the trip to the coast was made by pack mules. After remaining in California about two years, he returned East by the Isthmus of Panama and landed at New York. He then returned to
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Buchanan County, and 1857 removed to Leavenworth County, Kansas. He remained there until 1874, when he returned to Buchanan County and bought a farm adjoining the first land which he owned in that county. He died February 3, 1906. His wife was born July 8, 1836 and died February 2, 1911.
The children born to James and Levinia (Ellison) Gabbert are as fol- lows: Elizabeth, married Charles Gallagher and died in 1916, in Oak- land, California; Melvin M., the subject of this sketch; Rosell, Dekalb, Missouri; Ella, married Burton Gardner, Kansas City, Kansas; Belle, married Henry Dittamore and they live in Buchanan County, Missouri; Mollie, maried J. W. Dittamore, of Buchanan County, Missouri; Charles, Buchanan County, Missouri; and Eva, married Ison Wood, Buchanan County.
Melvin M. Gabbert was reared in Leavenworth County, Kansas, and educated in the public schools. In 1874, he removed to Buchanan County with his parents. In 1896 he came to Clay County and since that time he has been engaged in farming in Platte and Gallatin townships. He bought his present farm in Gallatin township, of J. S. Hooper, in 1920. He owns 140 acres, six miles northwest of Liberty. The place is well improved, with a good substantial residence and other farm buildings. There is an ample supply of water for stock and the place is generally well adapted to both grain farming and stock raising.
Melvin M. Gabbert was united in marriage February 1, 1882, with Miss Laura V. Gabbert at St. Joseph, Missouri. She was born in Leaven- worth County, Kansas, a daughter of William and Levina Gabbert, both natives of Indiana and both now deceased. Mrs. Gabbert is one of nine children born to her parents. the others being as follows: Bettie, mar- ried David Divorce; Fielding, Ray County, Missouri; America, married James Chappell, Troy, Kansas; Theodosia, married Isaac Wisler, Troy, Kansas; E. S., Billings, Montana; J. R., Lyons County, Kansas; W. E., Platte township, Clay County ; and A. D., Palisade, Colorado.
To Melvin M. Gabbert and wife have been born nine children as fol- lows: Charles, Winnetonka, Missouri; Levina, married Clay Schoolfield, Kansas City, Missouri; John S., Kansas City, Kansas; William, Nashua, Missouri; Hugh, Liberty, Missouri; and Ray, Bryan, Chester, and Miller, residing at home with their parents.
Mr. Gabbert is a member of the Knights of Pythias, of Liberty, and is a Democrat.
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John C. Frazier, the present postmaster of North Kansas City, has held this position since the post office was established here in 1913, and he also has the distinction of being the pioneer merchant of North Kansas City. Mr. Frazier is a native of Clay County and a descendant of early pioneers here. He was born one mile south of Linden July 9, 1867, a son of B. G. and Elizabeth (White) Frazier, natives of Kentucky.
B. G. Frazier came to Missouri in 1837 and first settled in Ray County. Later he removed to Platte County and went from there to Kansas when that state was a territory. In 1861 he traded his farm in Leavenworth County, Kansas, for a farm near Linden, Clay County. Here he spent the remainder of his life, and died in 1891: and his wife died at Liberty. Missouri. Their remains are buried at Barry.
To B. G. and Elizabeth (White) Frazier were born the following children : Belle, died at the age of fifteen years; William L., a real estate dealer, at El Campo, Texas; Dora. married Charles Dunlap; May, a twin sister of Dora, married R. Patrick; Elizabeth Lee, married Dr. A. C. Majors, who is now deceased, and she resides at Excelsior Springs ; John C., the subject of this sketch; and Frank J., who is engaged in the live stock commission business at Seattle, Washington. By a former marriage the following children were born to B. G. Frazier: Thomas H., died at Liberty, Missouri; Jennie, married M. W. Gardner; and they are both deceased; and Anderson M., lives at Adrian, Missouri. Elizabeth (White) Frazier was first married to James Dean and three children were born to that union : Jerry S., deceased; Sarah, married William H. Hudson and is deceased; and Mary J., married R. T. Murray and is deceased. Horace S. White, a nephew of Mrs. Frazier, was reared in the Frazier family and is now in the furnishing goods business in Kansas City, Missouri.
John C. Frazier was reared in Clay County and educated in the public schools. He engaged in the mercantile business at Harlem, Missouri, in 1890, and continued in business there until 1912, when he located at North Kansas City and engaged in the mercantile business here. His was the first store to locate here, and the following year. through his efforts, he secured the establishment of the post office here. He was suc- cessfully engaged in business until June. 1918. when he sold out, and since that time he has been postmaster.
Mr. Frazier was married, June 6, 1893, to Miss Alletta N. Vance, a daughter of John T. and Mariah A. (Taylor) Vance. John T. Vance was a native of Kentucky. He came to Clay County when a young man and
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MRS JOHN C. FRAZIER
JOHN C. FRAZIER
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settled here and here spent the remainder of his life. He died in 1892, at the age of sixty-two years. His wife was a daughter of George Taylor, a Clay County pioneer, who settled near Smithville. He was killed during the Civil War while serving in the Confederate Army. Mariah A. (Tay- lor) Vance was born near Smithville in 1839, and died in 1907. Mrs. Frazier is one of five children born to her parents, the others being as follows: Palmetto May, married W. A. Williams, of Kansas City, Missouri; Minnie P., married John H. Hartman, and they reside in Canada; William R. Vance and W. H. Vance, live in Kansas City. To Mr. and Mrs. Frazier have been born one son, Robert W., and a daughter, Geraldine May, born November 6, 1907, and died February 1, 1910.
Robert W. Frazier was born at Harlem, Missouri, April 5, 1894. During the World War he enlisted on July 16, 1918, at Liberty, Missouri. He was sent to Waco, Texas, for training, and later was made a sergeant. He afterwards went to the Officers Training School at Waco, Texas, where he was discharged November 14, 1918. He was married December 8, 1918, to Miss Ruth L. Anderson, of Kansas City, Missouri. He is now city salesman for the Klein Wholesale Grocery Company of Kansas City, Missouri.
John C. Frazier is one of the well known and highly respected citizens of Clay County.
Oscar M. Wren, a successful and enterprising farmer and stockman of Gallatin township, is a native of Clay County and a descendant of a pioneer family of this section of Missouri. He was born June 6, 1889, a son of Thomas and Lucy S. (Powell) Wren.
Thomas Wren was born in Platte County, Missouri, of Kentucky par- ents, who were very early pioneer settlers in Missouri. Thomas Wren died May 12, 1919, and his remains are buried in Little Shoal Church cemetery. Lucy S. (Powell) Wren was born near Smithville, Clay County, in 1854. She is a daughter of Lawson Powell who was an early settler in Platte township, Clay County. She now resides in Gallatin township with her son, Oscar M. Wren, whose name introduces this sketch.
To Thomas and Lucy S. (Powell) Wren were born the following chil- dren: Hattie Gertrude. married L. R. McComas, who died September 1. 1909; Benjamin C., died in 1900, at the age of nineteen years; Rosella.
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died at the age of twelve years; Viola, died in infancy; Iva P., married John Kern, of Gallatin township; and Oscar M., the subject of this sketch.
Oscar M. Wren was reared on a farm and attended school in the Bell school district. He engaged in farming and stock raising in early life and has met with success. He owns the forty-acre farm where he was born, which was the home of his parents, and also eighty acres where his present residence is located. His farm is well improved with good build- ings, and Mr. Wren is a progressive and up-to-date farmer. He is equipped with all farming implements and machinery, including a tractor which he purchased in 1919. He carries on general farming and stock raising.
November 24, 1909, Mr. Wren was married to Miss Sallie Lucile Sparks, a daughter of John I. and Mollie Bell (Scobee) Sparks, of Liberty, Missouri. Mrs. Wren was born near Avondale, Missouri, and her parents now reside at Gashland. To Mr. and Mrs. Wren have been born three children: Oscar Thomas, Jr., born December 3, 1911; Lloyd Woodrow, born November 8, 1913; and Dorothy Bess, born June 27, 1918.
Mr. Wren is a substantial citizen and stands high in the community where he is best known.
Webster Withers, owner and proprietor of "Blue Eagle Stock Farms" in Liberty township, is one of the well known and successful breeders of pure bred Duroc Jersey hogs of Clay County. Mr. Withers was born in Liberty township, August 8, 1878, and is a son of Conn and Ella (Mc- Kown) Withers, further mention of whom is made in connection with sketch of R. S. Withers, in this volume.
Webster Withers attended the public schools and then took a four year course in William Jewell College, at Liberty. He then entered the employ of the Long Bell Lumber Company at Kansas City, Missouri, and was with that company from 1900 until 1906. From 1906 until 1915 he was engaged in the lumber business in partnership with C. A. White. In 1915, they sold their business to H. R. Banks, and since that time Mr. Withers has been engaged in stock raising and breeding. He is one of the extensive breeders of pure bred Duroc Jersey hogs in the country, and at the present time has nearly 1,000 head of these hogs on hand. His herd is headed by "Supreme Orion's Sensation," which is one of the valuable male hogs of the country. "Eagle Stock Farms" consists of four farms
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in Liberty township and the places are well arranged for breeding pur- poses and is one of the valuable farm plants of Clay County.
Mr. Witchers' home, "Yamada," is one of the most attractive places in Clay County. It is located just at the city limits of Liberty, twenty- nine acres of the place being within the city limits. The architecture of the house, which is a brick structure, is of a unique character and very attractive. It, in a way, conforms to the Japanese style of architecture, seldom seen in this country. It presents a cozy appearance, with a large concrete porch extending around three sides. The gate entrance to the residence is an unusual and attractive arrangement and immediately arrests the attention of the observer. The residence stands on a com- manding eminence, overlooking the city of Liberty on the West, and a clear view can be had of Independence, across the river, under favorable atmospheric conditions. Altogether, this is one of the attractive show places of Clay County.
Mr. Withers was married October 17, 1914, to Miss Louise Gremmel of Kansas City, Missouri, and a native of Muscatine, Iowa. She died July 21, 1920, and her remains are buried in Fairview Cemetery.
Cyrus D. Wilson, proprietor of "Ideal Stock Farm." is one of the sub- stantial and enterprising farmers and stockmen of Clay County. He was born in McLean County, Illinois, January 22, 1860. His parents were Hugh and Sarah (Dill) Wilson, both natives of Ohio, the father, of Holmes County, and the mother, of Hardin County. The Wilson family removed from Ohio to McLean County, Illinois, in 1856, and the mother died in Illinois. In 1894 Hugh Wilson came to Missouri and settled near Park- ville, Platte County, where he spent the remainder of his days. Hugh Wilson was a grandson of Colonel James Wilson, a distinguished soldier who served in Washington's Army in the Revolutionary War.
The following children were born to Hugh and Sarah (Dill) Wilson : John H., Parkville, Missouri; William, Parkville; Mrs. Saralı J. Glass, Parkville; Charles. Baltimore. Ohio; and Cyrus D., the subject of this sketch.
Cyrus D. Wilson was reared and educated in McLean County, Illinois. and has been a practical farmer and stockman all his life. He came to Missouri in 1894, and settled in Platte County. He was engaged in farm- ing and stockraising there until 1909, when he came to Clay County and
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bought his present place, near Nashua, in Gallatin township. This farm contains 240 acres of well improved, productive and valuable land, and is appropriately named "The Ideal Stock Farm". The place is located on the Jefferson Highway, and the residence with its ample number of shade trees, presents a comfortable and attractive appearance, and the "Ideal Stock Farm" is one of the prettiest places in Clay County. Mr. Wilson carries on general farming and stockraising. He raises cattle, hogs, and mules.
October 1, 1887, Cyrus D. Wilson was married to Miss Mary John- son, a daughter of William and Hannah (Barnhart) Johnson, both of whom are now deceased. William Johnson was born in Piqua County, Ohio, September 27, 1822, and died February 21, 1900; his wife was born June 1, 1832, and died June 15, 1897, and their remains are buried in the cemetery at Parkville, Missouri. They came from Colorado in 1896 and settled at Parkville. Mrs. Wison was born in Tippecanoe County, Indiana, October 1, 1858. She is one of the following children born to her parents: J. B. lives in Colorado; C. E., deceased; Mrs. Anna E. Allen, deceased ; Mrs. Cyrus D. Wilson, of this review; Mrs. Martha H. Reed, lives in Nebraska; John H., Hiattville, Kansas; Frank L., Denver, Colorado; W. C., Topeka, Kansas; Lucius O., Parkville, Missouri; Mrs. Fannie Anders, Fresno, California; and Mrs. Etna Sayres, Seattle, Washington.
To Mr. and Mrs. Wilson have been born the following children: Mabel, married J. M. Anders, Parkville, Missouri; William H., Nashua, Missouri, married Miss Beryl Clardy, of Nashua; Frank O., married Pearl Pratt, Nashua, Missouri; and Ethel, resides at home with her parents. There are five grandchildren in the Wilson family, as follows: Inez, William Frank, and Wilbur Wilson Anders; and Virginia Kathryn and DeForest Leon Wilson.
William Newton Winn, now deceased, was an early settler in Clay County and a member of one of the early pioneer families of this part of the state. He was born in Mercer County, Kentucky, in 1832 and died December 2, 1902. He was a son of Willis H. and Elizabeth Shipp (Bras- field) Winn.
Willis H. Winn was born in Kentucky in 1796. He came to Missouri and entered government land in Howard County, in 1827, and the govern -. ment land patent, signed by President J. Q. Adams, is still in the posses-
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sion of the Winn family. In 1850, Willis H. Winn came to Clay County with his family and settled in Gallatin township, where he bought a section of land which had been formerly owned by the Youngers. Cole Younger's wife, Eleanor Younger, and her child are buried on this place. Willis H. Winn was engaged in farming here until the time of his death in 1869. His wife died here March 1, 1875.
Willis H. Winn and his first wife were the parents of one child, Wal- ler, born January 18, 1818, and died at the age of eighty-six years. The following children were born to the second union: William Newton, the subject of this sketch; George W., married Annie E. Nall; James B., died at the age of twenty-seven years; Willis W .; Bettie Roy, who married W. D. Oldham, died in 1871; and Mildred Alice, married James D. Wason and died in 1890.
William Newton Winn came to Clay County, Missouri, from Cali- fornia, in 1856, and at his father's death inherited a part of the Winn homestead In 1850, he crossed the plains and went to California, where he remained until 1856. In 1874, he went to Carroll County, but returned to the old homestead eleven years later and remained here, engaged in farming and stock raising until his death.
On October 9, 1872, William Newton Winn was married to Geraldine Compton. She was the fourth of nine children born to James H. and Mary A. Compton. The Compton family is of English descent and Mrs. Winn's mother was of Scotch ancestry.
To William Newton Winn and wife were born three children: Frank D., Mary Elizabeth, and James C., all residing on the home place.
The Winns have been interested in stock raising for twenty-five years. In 1896, William Newton Winn and his son, Frank D., began breeding registered Poland China hogs and this partnership continued until the father's death. In 1901, Frank D. Winn formed a partnership with Thomas H. Mastin, of Mastin, Kansas. Mr. Mastin died in 1905 and since that time, Mr. Winn has been in business alone, although at intervals of a few years at a time he has not been engaged in the breeding business.
Winnwood Beach, the well known outing resort which is located between Kansas City and Liberty, is on the Winn farm and is one of the favorite bathing, boating and fishing resorts within close proximity to Kansas City. This is an ideal place for bathing, fishing and general recreation. There are several lakes on the place which aggregate about
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thirty-five acres of water. The lakes are surrounded by natural growths of timber which furnish an abundance of shade and natural forest. The lakes are fed by flowing springs of water. Winnwood Beach is located on the Kansas City, Clay County and St. Joseph Electric Railway and its easy access and natural beauty has contributed to its ever increasing popularity as a resort of rest and recreation.
Frank D. Winn was married April 28, 1914, to Miss Janet Osborne, of Bates City, Missouri. She is a daughter of George W. and Rosa L. Osborne. To Mr. and Mrs. Winn has been born one daughter. Mary Jane.
Henry Kimbrell, a Civil War veteran, now residing at Belleview Station, Clay County, has been a resident of Missouri since 1874. He was born in Estill County, Kentucky, March 18, 1844, and is a son of Wiley and Lavinia (Bragg) Kimbrell, the former a native of North Carolina, and the latter of Kentucky. They both spent their lives in Kentucky and are buried in Powell County.
Henry Kimbrell was still a youth when the Civil War broke out, and in August, 1861, he enlisted in the Union army in Powell County, Ken- tucky. He became a member of Company E, Fourth Kentucky Infantry, which was attached to the Second Brigade, Third Division, Fourteenth Army Corps, Department of Cumberland, under command of Gen. George H. Thomas. Mr. Kimbrell was first sent to Camp Robinson, Kentucky. He took part in a number of important engagements and many skirmishes. including Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge which were fought on November 24-25, 1863. He was in the battle of Mill .Springs, Kentucky, Stone River, Tennessee, Chickamauga, Georgia, and Shiloh. He was cap- tured at East Point Georgia, in 1864, and sent to Andersonville prison where he was kept from July 21st until September 16th. He was then transferred to Camp Lowden prison, and from there to Charleston, South Carolina; then to Florence, South Carolina, and from there to Goldsberg, North Carolina, where he was paroled. He was mustered out of service at Macon, Georgia, August 17. 1865 and received his discharge at Louis- ville, Kentucky.
After the close of the war, Mr. Kimbrell returned to Kentucky, and was engaged in farming in Montgomery County until 1874. He then came to Missouri, and first located in Macon County. Eighteen months later, he went to Audrain County and afterwards lived in Chariton, Car-
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roll, and Platte Counties. In 1887, he came to Clay County where he lived until 1913, making his home near Smithville. He then removed to Liberty township and since that time has lived with his son, Otis Kimbrell.
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