USA > Missouri > Clay County > History of Clay County, Missouri > Part 34
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Lena (Partenheimer) Steenstry, mother of Frank W. Steenstry, came to this country with her parents when she was a young girl. She was a daughter of Frederick Partenheimer who settled in Chariton County, Missouri, and entered land there in 1842. He spent the remainder of his life in Chariton County, where he died in 1883. F. W. Steenstry was the only child born to his parents but some time after the death of his father, his mother married Henry Gabb and to that union were born the follow- ing children: Martin G. of Slater, Missouri; Fred H., Gilliam, Missouri ; Mrs. Lena Sleyster, Gilliam, Missouri; and Robert, deceased.
Shortly after the death of his father, Frank W. Steenstry went to Saline County, Missouri, with his mother. He grew to manhood there and was engaged in farming for some time. He then went to McPherson County, Kansas, remaining there about twelve years. In 1912, he came to Clay County and for the past three years has been engaged in the general mercantile business at Avondale. The postoffice is located in his store and he has served as postmaster here since 1914. The Avondale postoffice was established in 1913 and Robert Patterson was the first postmaster. He was succeeded the following year by Mr. Steenstry.
Frank W. Steenstry was married in 1884 to Miss Anna Slavine, of
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Marshall, Missouri, and six children have been born to them: Anna May. died in infancy; Viola, married Gus Weber of Avondale, Missouri ; Frances, married D. S. Skinner, who is in business with Mr. Steenstry in his store; John, married Vesie Jackson, of Slater, Missouri, and they reside at Avondale: William and Emory at home with their father.
John J. Kirschner, cashier of the National Bank of North Kansas City, is a native of Missouri. He was born at St. Joseph, December 28,, 1891, and is a son of Dr. P. J. and Martha M. Kirschner. Dr. P. J. Kirschner was born in St. Joseph, Missouri, and was successfully engaged in the practice of medicine for many years. He died in September, 1904. and his widow now resides in California.
John J. Kirschner was reared in St. Joseph and attended the public school and later he attended the Missouri Military Academy at Mexico, Missouri, and the Lake Forest Academy at Lake Forest, Illinois. He then entered the general freight offices of the St. Joseph and Grand Island Railroad Company at St. Joseph. He served in that capacity for three years when he entered the Bank of Buchanan County at St. Joseph as teller. He was associated with that bank in the capacity of teller for four years and in 1916 he became cashier of the National Bank of North Kan- sas City and has since served in that capacity.
Mr. Kirschner was married October 16, 1912 to Miss Margaret Chap- man of St. Joseph, Missouri. She is a daughter of H. A. and Martha Chapman, of St. Joseph.
Mr. Kirschner is a capable and experienced banker and is a close student of the intricate problems of finance. He is conservative enough to be safe, and progressive enough to recognize the investor's oppor- tunities. He has an extensive acquaintance among financiers and is a prominent factor in the development of North Kansas City as an indus- trial center.
William E. Macken, an enterprising merchant of North Kansas City, who is serving his fourth term as mayor of this progressive town, is a native of Clay County. He was born at Randolph Heights in Gallatin township, August 30, 1871, and is a son of Albert and Elizabeth J. (Curry) Macken. Albert Macken was the pioneer merchant of Randolph Heights, conducting a store there as early as 1864.
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William E. Macken was reared in Clay County and educated in the public schools. He engaged in farming in early life and followed that vocation until 1906. He then bought a store at Harlem, Missouri, which he has since conducted. In 1913, he and his brother, A. E. Macken, engaged in the mercantile business at North Kansas City. Their busi- ness is located in the Pioneer Building and occupies a store room with a frontage of twenty-six feet and fifty feet deep. They have built up an extensive business and have a large patronage.
William E. Macken was elected mayor of North Kansas City, in 1916, and has been re-elected to that office three times and is now serv- ing his fourth consecutive term. He is a capable executive officer and has contributed in no small way to the progress and development of North Kansas City since he has been mayor. He is president of the North Kansas City Loan and Investment Company which is one of the thriving business enterprises of the town. John Davis is secretary of this company.
Mr. Macken was married in 1910 to Miss Nora E. Dagg, a daughter of Dr. H. M. Dagg, of North Kansas City and to this union have been born two children: Romaine and Virginia.
Mr. Macken is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. He is progressive and euter- prising and a live factor in the development of North Kansas City.
Frank Prewitt, of the firm of Prewitt and Mace, North Kansas City, Missouri, is a native Missourian. He was born in Linn County, Septem- ber 10, 1881, a son of Joseph and Julia Ann (Clemmons) Prewitt.
Joseph Prewitt was born in Danville, Kentucky, November 8, 1837 and died at Harlem, March 25, 1911, and his remains are buried at Orrick, Missouri. He spent the early part of his life in Linn County, Missouri, and during the Civil War, served as a member of the home guards in Linn County. Julia Ann (Clemmons) Prewitt was born in Linn County, Missouri, September 15, 1848, and now resides with her sons in North Kansas City, Missouri.
To Joseph and Julia Ann (Clemmons) Prewitt were born the fol- lowing children: Mrs. Ona Olson, died at Pueblo, Colorado, January 23, 1893; James, North Kansas City, Missouri; John J., Centralia, Missouri ; Mrs. Ida Windsor, Orrick, Missouri; Frank, the subject of this sketch; Clem C., Olathe, Kansas; Mrs. Amy Elliott, Quenemo, Kansas; Mrs. Fred
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Roberts, Bonita, Kansas; Peter, who volunteered for service in the United States navy during the World War and served on the destroyer "Con- nors", which was engaged in convoying troop transports through the submarine danger zone; and Joseph A., died at the age of forty-three years in 1915.
Frank Prewitt was reared in Clay County and educated in the public schools of Liberty including a high school course. For the past ten years he has been employed as bookkeeper until January, 1920, when he entered into partnership with John Mace in conducting a tobacco and cigar store and billiard parlor in North Kansas City.
Mr. Prewitt is a member of the Knights of Pythias at Liberty, Missouri.
The National Bank of North Kansas City is one of the substantial institutions of Clay County. This bank was organized in April, 1913, with a paid up capital of $25,000.00. The present capital stock is the same with a surplus of $20,000.00 and deposit of $300,000.00 and undi- vided profits.
ยท The first officers of the National Bank of North Kansas City were: F. W. Fratt, president; C. H. Hodge, vice-president; S. J. Ashby, cashier; and the board of directors were F. W. Fratt, C. H. Hodge, I. H. Rich, J. W. Murray and C. M. Carter.
The present officers of this bank are: W. Clay Woods, president; A. M. Thompson, vice-president ; J. J. Kirschner, cashier; and the direc- tors are as follows: W. Clay Woods, A. M. Thompson, W. S. Woods, J. S. Simrall and J. C. Frazier.
This bank has had a substantial growth and extension of business since its organization and the men who constitute its officers and board of directors are recognized as all being dependable and enterprising citizens.
Herbert M. Cooley, a widely known and highly respected citizen of Gallatin township, who lives in the vicinity of Avondale, has been a resi- dent of Clay County for fifty years. He was born in Athens County, Ohio, in 1848, and is a son of Milton and Martha (Vinal) Cooley.
Milton Cooley was engaged in steamboating during his active career;
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his wife died while accompanying him on a trip on the Ohio River. He died in Athens County, Ohio. Milton Cooley was a son of Caleb and Matilda (Buckingham) Cooley of Cooperstown. New York. The Bucking- hams are of English descent and descendants from an old English family of Buckinghamshire, England. Thomas Buckingham was the founder of the Buckingham family of America. He was a member of the firm of Eaton and Hopkins, London merchants, who came to Boston June 26, 1637. He was a minister and settled in the town of Milford, Connecticut.
Herbert M. Cooley was one of the following children born to Milton and Martha (Vinal) Cooley: Edwin, Santiago, California; Harvey V., Athens County, Ohio ; Kate F. Cooley, Independence, Missouri; Herbert M., the subject of this sketch ; and Charles Roland, who was killed while serv- ing in the United States army. He was a member of the Second Colorado Cavalry and was killed by Indians.
Herbert M. Cooley was educated in the public schools of Ohio and grew to manhood in that state. In 1870, he came to Missouri and after a short stay in Boone County, he came to Clay County in August of that year. He has lived on his present place in Gallatin township since 1874. At first he owned 132 acres but owing to the development of this section and the demand of residence property within the last few years, he has sold a number of lots and now owns about eighty acres. He has been quite extensively engaged in the dairy business and has also been successful in fruit raising, as well as general farming and stock raising.
Mr. Cooley was married December 31, 1874, to Miss Ella F. Ragan, a daughter of Elias and Louisa Ellen (Thomas) Ragan. Elias Ragan died in 1887, at the age of seventy-one years and his wife departed this life in 1876, and their remains are buried in the Crowley cemetery. They were the parents of the following children: W. O., Randolph, Missouri; Mary, married Ernest Weideman, Santiago, California; Albert, deceased ; Elizabeth, widow of Robert Searcy, Seattle, Washington; John, Seattle, Washington; Dora, married George Whitehouse, Portland, Oregon; Mrs. Cooley of this sketch; and Evan, of Kansas City, Missouri.
To Mr. and Mrs. Herbert M. Cooley have been born the following chil- dren: Frederick Earl, a sketch of whom appears in this volume; Wilburt J., married Maude Dickson and lives in Gallatin township; Kate F., mar- ried Frank Gorsuch, Kansas City, Missouri; and Martha E., married Charles Bigham and they live in Gallatin township. The following are the
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grandchildren in the Cooley family: Herbert, Dick, Ketura, Robert, Margarite and Mildred Cooley.
Mr. Cooley is well known in Clay County and the Cooley family stand high in the community.
John Hudelmeyer, a well known and successful farmer and stockman of Liberty township, is a native of this county and a son of pioneer parents. He was born on the farm which he now owns, in Liberty township, January 30, 1846. a son of John and Rosann (Glassley) Hudelmeyer, natives of Germany. They came to America in early life and were afterwards mar- ried in Ohio. They were early settlers in Clay County and upon coming here John Hudelmeyer entered 160 acres of Government land which is now owned by John Hudelmeyer, the subject of this sketch, the title having remained in the family since the land was entered from the Gov- ernment.
John Hudelmeyer was one of those venturesome men who joined the great rush to California during the days of the gold excitement, in 1849, and never returned. Shortly after reaching the coast he died there and his widow remained on the old place in Clay County where she died about 1900. They were the parents of the following children: George, Mrs. Lucy Warren, Mrs. Betty Leach, John, the subject of this sketch; Mrs. Rosann Stevenson ; and William, deceased. John Hudelmeyer is the only member of the family now living.
John Hudelmeyer, whose name introduces this sketch, was reared on the home place in Liberty township and was educated at Little Shoal School. He has followed farming and stock raising all his life. Early owned and operated the old home farm and still owns the original 160 in life he bought the interests of the other heirs and since that time has acres.
John Hudelmeyer was married January 22, 1871, to Mary E. Rippy, daughter of J. E. and Elizabeth (Searcey) Rippy, the former a native of North Carolina and the latter of Ray County, Missouri. Mrs. Hudelmeyer's mother died when Mrs. Hudelmeyer was a child. Her father was married four times and the following children were born to him: Benjamin, St. Joseph, Missouri; John, Atchinson, Kansas; William, Colorado; Thomas, Colorado; Jerry, deceased; Ed. St. Joseph, Missouri; Jesse, St. Joseph. Missouri; Mrs. Daisy Bell Lewis, Atckinson, Kansas; Mrs. Martha Mix, deceased ; Pearl, St. Joseph, Missouri; Laura Lucas, St. Joseph, Missouri.
MR. AND MRS. JOHN HUDELMEYER AND GRANDSON
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To John Hudelmeyer and wife have been born the following children : Maggie, married Peter Stevenson, Liberty township; James Thomas, Nashua, Missouri; John H., Liberty township; Mary Frances, died in in- fancy ; George William, Liberty township; Rosana, married William Greer, Liberty township; Ella, married Frank Gabbert, Liberty township; Lucy, married Nevil Fowler, Liberty township; Stella, married Oscar Hash, Lib- erty township; and Laura Silvy, married Thomas Liggett, Liberty town- ship.
Mr. and Mrs. Hudelmeyer have the following grandchildren: Asa, Jesse, John, Bessie, Mary, Pearl Stevenson; Willie, Edith, J. T., John Henry, Mary, Mary Alice, Robert D., Rothwell, William Franklin, Logan, Grace Agnes, Roxie Esther, Mable Louise Hudelmeyer; John J., and Wil- liam Henry Greer; Ruth, Frances and Aleta May Hash; Everett, Charles Wilson, and Nevil Goodson Fowler; John Fielding; Susie Emarine, Mattie Elsie and Essie Gladys Gabbert; Ella May, Anna Frances, Casey Everett, Irvin Roy, and John Lee Hudelmeyer. The great-grandchildren are as follows: Claud Arthur, Bonnie Leola Stevenson; W. T. and Dora Lee Dally, and Mattie Lucille Dally. The Hudelmeyer family consists of ten children, thirty-six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren, all of whom reside in the vicinity of the old Hudelmeyer homestead.
Mr. Hudelmeyer has always taken a commendable interest in local affairs, especially in education, and has served on the school board for a number of terms. He is a substantial citizen and the Hudelmeyer family are highly respected in Clay County.
John H. Mace, of the firm of Prewitt and Mace of North Kansas City, Missouri, is a veteran of the World War and bears the distinction of being the only Clay County soldier who was honored by being awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. John H. Mace was born at Liberty, Missouri, November 18, 1890, and is a son of James and Nancy (Gil- waters) Mace, the former a native of Illinois and the latter of Virginia, both now deceased and their remains are buried in Fairview cemetery at Liberty.
James and Nancy (Gilwaters) Mace were the parents of the follow- ing children: Bertie, married Theodore Asbury, of Liberty, Missouri; William, Liberty, Missouri; John H. and Jesse, twins, the former the subject of this sketch and the latter resides at Liberty, Missouri; Irvin, Liberty, Missouri; and Mrs. Maude DeLong, deceased.
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John H. Mace spent his boyhood days in Liberty and attended the public schools. Before the United States entered the World War he was in the employ of the James Costello Lumber Company of Liberty. On May 29, 1915, Mr. Mace enlisted in the Missouri National Guard and was sent to the Mexican border during the trouble there. When the United States entered the World War, he went to Ft. Sill, Oklahoma, with the Missouri troops and from there to France in May, 1918. He was a mem- ber of Company H, 140th Infantry, 35th Division, and participated in the many hard fought battles of the war in which the famous 35th Division . was engaged, including the battles of Somme, St. Mihiel and the Argonne Forest. During the battle of the Argonne Forest, he captured a German machine gun nest which necessitated the killing of the entire machine gun crew. This he accomplished single handed and alone and for this act of gallantry he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. During the course of his military career he was wounded at different times and was in a hospital for three months. He was honorably discharged from the service May 13, 1919, with a military record to his credit equalled by few and excelled by none in the annals of American wars.
Mr. Mace was married September 29, 1916, to Miss Callie Fiene, a daughter of Mrs. Beatrice Fiene. To Mr. and Mrs. Mace have been born one daughter, Margaruite.
Mr. Mace is a charter member of Robert H. Baker Post No. 95, Amer- ican Legion.
Frederick Earl Cooley, a well known farmer and stockman of Gallatin township, is a native of Clay County. He was born near Avondale, February 6, 1876, a son of Herbert M. and Ella F. (Ragan) Cooley, a sketch of whom appears in this volume.
Frederick E. Cooley was reared on the home farm in Gallatin town- ship and attended school at Pleasant Hill school district and later took a course in Spalding's Commercial College at Kansas City, Missouri. Since early life. he has been engaged in farming and stock raising and for a number of years was quite extensively engaged in the dairy business. At the present time, however, he has on hand only about six cows and gives more attention to general farming. He built his present residence, which is a six-room modern bungalow, in 1912. His place is well kept and pre- sents a neat and prosperous appearance.
Mr. Cooley was married October 25, 1911, to Miss Matilda Park, a
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daughter of John and Sallie E. (Jacobs) Park. Mrs. Cooley was born in Clay County, about two miles north of Liberty. John Park enlisted in the Confederate army from Platte County, during the Civil War and served under Gen. Sterling Price. He was captured by the Federals and confined in a military prison at St. Louis for a time. He died in 1901 and is buried at Liberty, Missouri. Sallie E. (Jacobs) Park was born in Irvington, Ken- tucky and now resides at Liberty, Missouri.
To Mr. and Mrs. Cooley have been born two children: Sarah Mar- garet and Mildred.
Mr. Cooley is a vice-president and director of the Security Bank of Avondale and is a well known and progressive citizen.
A. B. Glasscock, a well known and leading citizen of Gallatin town- ship, is a native of Missouri and a member of one of the early pioneer families of this state. He was born in Lafayette County, Missouri, in 1860, and is a son of C. B. and Rose E. (Smith) Glasscock.
C. B. Glasscock was born in Virginia in 1830. He is a son of A. A. Glasscock, who died in Pettis County, Missouri, in 1878, and is buried near Sedalia. C. B. Glasscock was brought from Virginia to Missouri by his parents, who located in Pettis County in 1832, when he was about two years old. He was reared in Pettis County and when the Civil War broke out he enlisted in the Confederate army and served for four years until the war closed. He served under General Price and was at the battle of Lone Jack and a number of other engagements in which General Price's army participated. He has lived in Kansas City, Missouri, for the past thirty-two years. Although now in his ninetieth year, he is still as active in body and mind as the average man many years his junior. His wife is eighty-four years old and also remarkably active for one of her years.
C. B. and Rose E. (Smith) Glasscock were the parents of the fol- lowing children: L. V., lives in California; C. L., Lexington, Missouri ; Erna A., married J. W. McClure, Pettis County, Missouri; F. D., Cali- fornia; A. B., the subject of this sketch; W. L., Lafayette County, Mis- souri; R. L., Kansas City, Missouri; Emma, married C. A. Welch, Kan- sas City, Missouri; Rose, married Charles Decker, Kansas City, Missouri ; and Shirley, Kansas City, Missouri.
A. B. Glasscock was reared and educated in Pettis County, and began farming and stock raising there in early life. In 1888, he came to Clay
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County and for a few years farmed rented land. He operated the John Rickets farm near Avondale, for six years. In 1900, he bought a place to which he since added additional land and is now the owner of a very valuable, although not a large farm. His place is well improved. In 1914, he built a modern residence and the same year he built a good sub- stantial barn and has since erected a silo. He carries on a dairying busi- ness, keeping from twelve to fourteen cows and his milk is shipped to Kansas City, Missouri. He also raises fruit, including plums, cherries and other small fruits in profitable quantities.
Mr. Glasscock was married to Miss Annie Sissom, a daughter of Isaiah Sissom, a prominent early settler of Gallatin township, further mention of whom is made in connection with the sketch of Alonzo Sissom. To Mr. and Mrs. Glasscock have been born two children: Pansy Belle, mar- ried Homer Devling, of Avondale; and Cecil, married Mida Musgrove. The following are the grandchildren of the Glasscock family: Robert B., Nadine, Lucile, Marjorie and Edna Devling; and Lorine Glasscock.
Mr. Glasscock is a Democrat and takes a commendable interest in general events and local affairs. He has been a member of the local school board in District No. 71 for the past fifteen years.
George T. Hall, of the George T. Hall Livestock Commission Com- pany, of Kansas City, Missouri, whose residence is "White Hall" on the "Clover Hill Farm", is the owner of one of the most attractive places in Clay County. Mr. Hall has been engaged in business in Kansas City for a number of years and for the last few years has made his home in this county. He was born in Henry County, Kentucky, December 22, 1850, and is a son of Thomas and Edna (Fallis) Hall, both natives of Kentucky.
The Hall family came to Missouri in 1857, and settled in Buchanan County and the father was engaged in farming and stock raising there for twenty years, when he removed to Gower, Clinton County, Missouri, and he and his wife spent the remainder of their lives there. They were the parents of the following children: John, deceased; D. S., deceased; George T., the subject of this sketch; Erasmus C., a prominent attorney, of Kansas City, Missouri.
George T. Hall was reared and educated in Buchanan County and in early life engaged in the mercantile business at Gower, Missouri. He was the pioneer merchant of that town and was engaged in business there for fourteen years. He then went to St. Joseph, Missouri, where he was
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engaged in the livestock commission business. He then became a mem- ber of the firm of Scruggs, Hall and Company, and engaged in the live- stock commission business at Kansas City, Missouri, and later organized The George T. Hall Livestock Commission Company, of Kansas City, Mis- souri. This is one of the extensive livestock commission concerns of Kansas City and Mr. Hall is regarded as one of the most successful men in his line. He has had years of experience in the livestock business and has availed himself of every opportunity to study the details of the busi- ness from its various angles.
May 30, 1881, George T. Hall was united in marriage with Miss Inez C. Shields, a daughter of Zadok and Penelope (Asbury) Shields, both of whom died in Virginia. To Mr. and Mrs. Hall have been born the follow- ing children: Thomas, of the Hall-Leeper Hardware Company of Den- nison. Texas; Howard Shields, married Hannah A. Jobes, of Kansas City, Missouri; and Helen, married Henry A. Bundschu, of Independence, Mis- souri.
Mr. Hall is the owner of 800 acres in Liberty township, which is known as the "Clover Hill Farm" and his home, "White Hall", is best described by the architect, Mr. Edgar P. Madorie, who designed it, as fol- lows: "On a tract of seventy acres on the Excelsior. Springs electric line, one-half mile south of Liberty, Missouri, George T. Hall, of the George T. Hall Live Stock Commission Company, of Kansas City, Mis- souri, erected a large country home of colonial architecture.
The house has many features of the old New England style, such as was built in the colonial days. The structure consists of two floors with basement and attic and has a frontage of 110 feet by thirty-one feet in depth. It is built entirely of lumber, the exterior walls faced with wide boards and painted white; and is roofed with wood shingles of natural weathered color. The first story floor is but one step above the yard grade, as was the old Abbott farm house, built in Massachusetts during the year of 1685. The shed roofed porches are typical of the Webb house erected in Long Island in 1790.
The front and rear entrance with their two story covered porticoes, long spindle columns, and Dutch doors with side lights and iron balconies suspended from above, form a very interesting picture of those old colonial days.
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