USA > Missouri > Clay County > History of Clay County, Missouri > Part 38
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521
HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
The Stark family have in their possession many historic heirlooms which give mute testimony to many events associated with the history of the Stark family. A diary which was written by Fountain Waller, a brother-in-law of William J. Stark, contains much interesting data con- cerning the writer's trip from Fauquier County, Virginia, to Missouri, in 1831. It gives a description of the entire route followed by the writer, and was written as a sort of a guide book for others who were making the same journey, the principal points along the way being described, after the style of a modern automobile tourist's guide. The Stark family also have in their possession a feed trough for horses, which was used on Mr. Stark's trip to Missouri in 1849. Mrs. Westbrook has in her possession a cannon ball which was fired at a building in which her hus- band was stationed at the battle of Ossawatomie, during the battle with John Brown's men.
The Stark family is one of the prominent pioneer families of Clay County and its members are highly respected and representative of the best citizenship of Clay County.
C. G. Shaw. coal operator, banker, and merchant of Missouri City, is a prominent factor in the commercial and industrial affairs of Clay County. He was born at Huntsville, Randolph County, Missouri, and is a son of D. A. and Eliza (Frazier) Shaw, pioneer settlers of Randolph County,
C. G. Shaw was reared and educated in Randolph County, and early in life became interested in the operation of coal mines in the vicinity of Huntsville. He operated a mine at Kimberly, between Huntsville and Moberly, in partnership with others, for eight years. In 1903, he became interested in the Missouri City Coal Company, of which he is now secre- tary-treasurer. He is also the senior member of the firm of Shaw and Donovan, leading merchants in Missouri City, and he is president of the Missouri City Bank, at that place.
The Missouri City Coal Company of Missouri City, Missouri, is the only coal mine in Clay County. This company was organized and began business in 1893 with a capital stock of $2000.00 by local men. The capital stock was increased in 1895, to $10,000.00. The following were the officers at the time of the incorporation: Willias M. Simmons, presi- dent; Charles W. Norton, secretary; Luther A. Bell, J. M. Grubbs, and Josiah Lingenfelter, directors. There were about twenty stockholders.
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
In 1900, W. H. Jones and George C. Gray bought all the stock of the com- pany, and in 1903, C. G. Shaw bought Mr. Jones' stock and since that time has been secretary-treasurer and general manager of the company.
For the past seventeen years the Missouri City Coal Company has done an extensive business. However, the largest output of the com- pany was in the year of 1909, during which year they mined 50,000 tons of coal, giving employment to about 150 men. From 1903 to 1911, this company supplied the Wabash railroad with coal here for their trains. In 1911, the chutes, tipple, and machinery were destroyed by fire, but the entire equipment was rebuilt and ready for operations within thirty days.
This mine is being operated by the latest mining machinery, known to the mining industry. They operate two electrical mining machines, and more are being installed. It requires four men to operate one of these machines, and each machine, mines about seventy-five tons of coal a day. There are now employed in and about the mine sixty men, and the present wage scale is from $7.50 to $8.00 a day. The shaft, leading to the mine, is 170 feet deep. The coal vein is about twenty inches thick and is of an excellent quality of coal.
Mr. Shaw is also interested in the Jacksonville Coal Company, and for the past three years he has been general manager for that company, which employs 125 men and has a daily output of about 400 tons of coal.
Philip E. Hamel, Jr., an enterprising and capable farmer and stock- man of Fishing River township, is a native son of Clay County. He was born in the township where he now resides September 21, 1883, a son of Philip, Sr., and Maggie (Martin) Hamel.
Philip Hamel, Sr., was born in Germany in 1844, and at the age of nine years came to America with his widowed mother who first settled in Cincinnati, Ohio. Shortly afterwards the family came to Clay County, Missouri, settling in Fishing River township, and Philip Hamel, Sr., has since made his home in this township where he has followed farming and stock raising all his life. He is a veteran of the Civil War, having served in the Union Army throughout that conflict, and during the course of his active military career he was wounded three times. His wife was born in Maryland, a daughter of Henry and Maggie Martin who were early settlers in Kansas City, Missouri.
The following children were born to Philip Hamel, Sr., and wife:
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
Eddie and Henry, twins, both deceased; Lizzie, deceased; Emma, mar- ried Gus Haney, Turon, Kansas; Philip E., Jr., the subject of this sketch ; Anna, deceased; Anna, married Logan Foster, Fishing River township; Fred, who was in the United States Army during the World war; William resides at home with his parents; and one son died in infancy.
Philip E. Hamel, Jr., was reared in Fishing River township and educated in the district school. He has always followed farming, hav- ing been familiar with farm life since early boybood. For the past six years he has operated a farm of 214 acres, the property of T. M. and William Raney of Kansas City, Missouri. This is one of the productive farms of Clay County, being all Missouri River bottom land. Mr. Hamel devotes himself chiefly to raising grain, and during the past season he raised 125 acres of corn, ninety acres of wheat and eighteen acres of alfalfa. His alfalfa averages about five cuttings a season.
September 22, 1919, Philip E. Hamel, Jr., was married to Miss Ger- trude Mitchell, who was the only child of J. F. and Mary Mitchell of Kansas City, Missouri.
W. M. Thomas, a well known farmer and stockman of Liberty town- ship, who is now operating the Robert Withers farm, five miles south- east of Liberty, is a native son of Clay County. He was born in Fish- ing River township in 1879, a son of George and Barbara (Greenwood) Thomas. The Thomas family came from Kentucky, in which State both parents were born, and came to Missouri at a very early date, making the trip up the Missouri River by steamboat. George Thomas was a son of Fred Thomas, a Kentuckian, who settled in Platte County, near Barry. George Thomas died in 1908, and his wife departed this life in 1898. Their remains are buried in Nebo Cemetery.
To George and Barbara (Greenwood) Thomas were born the fol- lowing children: Anna, married Ed. Whitton, and is deceased: Ed. Thomas, deceased; John Thomas, resides on the old Thomas homestead; George, deceased; Samuel, deceased; W. M., the subject of this sketch; and Claudie, deceased.
W. M. Thomas was reared in Clay County and educated in the public schools. He has followed farming since early manhood and has always made his home in Clay County.
Mr. Thomas was married July 27, 1909, to Miss Lula Evans of Lib- erty township. She is a daughter of James and Alice (Cathcart) Evans.
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
James Evans was a native of Jackson County, Missouri, and was acci- dentally killed by a Wabash train. His widow afterwards married A. J. Stevens and now lives seven miles north of Liberty. To Mr. and Mrs. Thomas have been born six children as follows: William, George, Robert, Dora Alice, Roy, and Ralph.
Mr. Thomas is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and a progressive and enterprising citizen.
Hugh H. Preston, manager of the Gashland Lumber Company, is one of the enterprising business men of Clay County. He was born one and one-half miles east of Barry, Missouri, September 19, 1896, and is a son of J. C. and Melvina (Williams) Preston.
J. C. Preston was born at Twelvemile, Indiana, May 29, 1854. He died January 27, 1920. He was reared in Indiana and came to Missouri when he was about eighteen years old. He was a druggist and engaged in that line of business in early life. Later he entered the employ of the Sewall Paint and Glass Company as their traveling representative in southern Missouri and Arkansas and for twenty-seven years, prior to his death, he was in the employ of that company in that capacity. He founded the Gashland Lumber Company in 1910 and his son, Hugh H. Preston, has managed this business since its organization. They carry a complete line of lumber and building material and have one of the well equipped lumber yards of the country.
J. C. Preston was married in 1882 to Miss Melvina Williams, of Gash- land, Missouri. She was born and reared in Gallatin township and now resides in Kansas City. To J. C. and Melvina (Williams) Preston were born two sons: Paul R., of Independence, Missouri, married Miss Ina Newell of Butler, Missouri, succeeded his father as traveling representative for the Sewall Paint and Glass Company, and now holds that position; and Hugh H., the subject of this sketch.
Hugh H. Preston received his education in the school of Kansas City, Missouri, and attended Spalding's Commercial College. He was with the Arma Lumber Company at Arma, Kansas, for three years, and when the Gashland Lumber Company was organized in 1910 he came here as man- ager of that enterprise and has since served in that capacity, and has, therefore, had much to do with the progress and development of this successful enterprise.
April 30, 1912, Hugh H. Preston was married to Miss Margaret
CASHLAND LUMBER 05
GASHLAND LUMBER COMPANY'S YARD
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
Thomas, a daughter of J. L. Thomas. Mrs. Preston was born at Osceola, Missouri, and her mother now resides in Kansas City, Missouri. To Mr. and Mrs. Preston have been born two children: Vena Charlene and Hugh Herbert, Jr.
Mr. Preston is a member of the Masonic Lodge at Barry, Missouri, and is one of the substantial and enterprising business men of Clay County.
William Isenhour, a successful farmer and stockman of Liberty town- ship, is a native of Clay County. He was born in Fishing River town- ship, October 4, 1876, and is a son of William H. and Lydia (Burway) Isenhour, both natives of Indiana.
William H. Isenhour was reared to manhood in his native State and when the Civil War broke out, enlisted in an Indiana regiment and served in the Union Army for three years. After the close of the war he returned to Indiana and 1872 came to Missouri and settled on a farm on the Missouri bottoms in Clay County. He followed farming in Clay and Clinton counties for a number of years and now resides at Leaven- worth, Kansas. His wife died about 1881, and her remains are buried in the Nebo Cemetery. They were the parents of the following chil- dren: Frankie, deceased; George, lives in Liberty township; Alice, mar- ried Jesse Crawford and is now deceased: and William, the subject of this sketch.
William Isenhour was reared in Clay County and educated in the district schools, attending school in the Sharp school district. He began working by the month for farmers in the vicinity of his home when he was still a youth. He worked for Charles Story for four years, for fifteen dollars a month and for a time was employed by George W. Petty. After he had saved a sufficient amount of his earnings, he bought a team and some farming implements and worked rented land for three years. He then bought eighty acres of land, forty acres of which were river bottom land, which he still owns. About six years later, he bought thirty-six acres more. In March 1918. he bought ninety-two acres, and has recently purchased 120 acres more. He is now the owner of 328 acres of well improved and productive land. He raises wheat, corn, oats and alfalfa and is quite extensively engaged in stock raising. He raises cattle, hogs, and horses.
Mr. Isenhour was married October 1, 1893. to Miss Frankie Yates. She is a daughter of Nathan and Catherine Yates of the Nebo district.
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
To Mr. and Mrs. Isenhour have been born the following children: Roy, Luther, Victor, Gladys, Lela. Agnes, and Annabelle, all of whom reside at home with their parents. The following children died in infancy : Clara, Lemer, and Pearl.
Mr. Isenhour is an industrious and enterprising citizen, and what progress he has made has been due to honest hard work and self sacrifice.
James P. Carson, a successful farmer of Fishing River township, is a native of Kentucky. He was born in Jessamine County, January 10, 1853, a son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Morain) Carson, who came to Clay County in 1857, and settled on the place where James P. Carson now lives, the following year.
Joseph Carson was a gunsmith and a skilled workman. He was able to manufacture a gun from the raw material to the complete finished product, in all its details. He died in Carroll County, Missouri, in his ninetieth year and his wife died on the home place in Fishing River township, at the age of eighty-two years, and their remains are buried at Missouri City.
James P. Carson was reared in Fishing River township and at- tended the district school. He engaged in farming in early life, and is the owner of one of the rich and productive farms of Clay County. He raises corn and potatoes extensively and gives special attention to raising Reed's Yellow Dent corn for seed purposes and is one of the successful seed corn growers in this section of the county. He has exhibited his seed corn at Excelsior Springs Fair at two different times, with success. He is the owner of 120 acres which through his management is kept in a high state of cultivation.
Mr. Carson was married October 1, 1883, to Miss Fannie Poe, of Fishing River township. She is a daughter of Anderson and Nancy Poe. Her father is now deceased and her mother resides at Missouri City. To Mr. and Mrs. Carson have been born the following children: Lonnie N., on the home place with his father; Jessie and Bessie, twins, the former married Harmon D. Miller, Jr., of Colins, Missouri, and Bessie, married John Temple of Missouri City; and Fred, who is also engaged in the operation of the home farm in partnership with his father. He is a veteran of the World war, having entered the United States Army July 25, 1918, and was sent to Camp Funston for training and was mus- tered out of service and honorably discharged January 2, 1919.
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
Mr. Carson and his two sons are progressive and enterprising, and rank among the leading citizens of Clay County.
G. W. Long, superintendent of the Frank H. Sweet stock farm of Liberty township, Clay County, is one of the capable and practical farm- ers and stockmen of this county. He was born in Caroline County, Vir- ginia, August 22, 1866, and is a son of G. M. and Sarah Long, both now deceased. G. W. Long was reared and educated at Fredericksburg, Vir- ginia. He came to Clay County when a young man and for a number of years was engaged in farming and stock raising in Fishing River township, where he now owns a farm of eighty acres.
Mr. Long was married April 18, 1886, to Miss Sarah Catherine Minter, a daughter of F. M. and Sarah (Bohart) Minter. Mrs. Long was born in Clay County, August 12, 1869. To Mr. and Mrs. Long have been born two children: J. R., who is operating his father's farm in Fish- ing River township; and Sarah, married J. J. Williams, a farmer in Fish- ing River township. There are two grandchildren in the Long family: G. W. Long and Beverly Williams.
Mr. Long is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, Camp No. 2002, Kansas City, Missouri.
The Frank Sweet stock farm, of which G. W. Long is superintend- ent, is one of the important agricultural enterprises of Clay County. This place contains about 300 acres and is principally devoted to raising horses and mules, and at this writing there are about 300 head of each on the place and from three to four hundred head of cattle on the place. Mules are bought and fed and cared for on this place, when they are shipped to markets in the southern states and as far east as Boston. The farm is practically all under grass. Mr. Long has four assistants on the place to care for the stock. Mr. Sweet bought this place in March, 1920, and prior to that time he owned a stock farm near Belton, Missouri, where Mr. Long was superintendent for six years before taking charge of the Clay County farm. He is thoroughly experienced in handling farming and stock raising on a large scale.
Arthur and Lank Carlyle, enterprising young farmers and stockmen who are operating the "Land" farm of 200 acres, in Gallatin and Liberty townships, are both natives of Clay County, born in Liberty township. Arthur was born November 22, 1889, and Lank was born March 18, 1891. They are sons of John and Mattie (James) Carlyle.
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
John Carlyle was born and reared in Virginia, and when a young man came to Clay County, Missouri, and was engaged in farming and stock raising here until his death, at the age of fifty-nine years, and his remains are buried in Little Shoal Church cemetery. Mattie (James) Carlyle was born in Liberty township, Clay County, a daughter of John James, and now resides with her sons, Arthur and Lank Carlyle. The other children born to John and Mattie (James) Carlyle are: William, who is employed by the Bell Telephone Company, of Liberty; James, lives in Oklahoma; Loretta, married Howard Jahn, Liberty, Missouri; and Mabel, married Fillmore Kaphart, Liberty, Missouri.
Arthur and Lank Carlyle were educated in the public schools of Liberty, Missouri, and followed woodwork contracting for some time. In 1919, they engaged in farming and stock raising and operated the Chand- ler farm on the Missouri river bottoms for one year, and in March, 1920, they took possession of the J. T. Land farm, in Gallatin township, which consists of 200 acres. They raised eighty-five acres of corn the past season and have ninety-five acres under wheat. They raise Duroc Jersey hogs and Shorthorn cattle, all of which are eligible to registra- tion. In addition to their farming and stock raising operations, they also buy and sell mules. At this writing they have on hand a herd of about 400 hogs, and 140 on feed for the market.
The Carlyle family was well represented in the ranks of the United States Army in the World War. Lank Carlyle entered the United States Army October 3, 1917, and served until the close of the war with the 356th Infantry, 89th Division. He was mustered out of service and honorably discharged March 23, 1919.
Arthur Carlyle entered the United States Army in June, 1918, and was sent to Camp Funston, Kansas, where he became a member of the 350th Headquarters Company and was honorably discharged and mus- tered out of service in February, 1919.
James Carlyle, another brother, entered the United States Army in May, 1918, and was sent to Camp Dodge, Iowa, for training and from there to France with the Supply Department and was with the 88th Division and saw much service on the battle front in France. He was on the battle line four different times and after the armistice was signed he was kept in France a few months, when he was returned to the United States and honorably discharged, after having been in the ser- vice for eighteen months.
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
James L. A. Cates, proprietor of "Cates' Oak Ridge Farm," is one of the successful and enterprising farmers and stockmen of Clay County. He was born near Kearney, Missouri, June 12, 1860, and is a son of George W. and Nancy J. (Ferril) Cates.
George W. Cates was born in Missouri, and prior to the Civil War, was engaged in farming near Kearney. When the Civil War broke out he enlisted in the Confederate Army and died at Springfield, Missouri, in 1862, while in the service. Nancy J. Ferril was born and reared on the old Ferril homestead, near Kearney. After the death of her first hus- band she was to married to B. W. Reames in 1868. She died in Butler County, Kansas. James L. A. Cates and a sister, George Ann, were the only children born to his mother's first marriage. George Ann died in infancy. To her marriage with B. W. Reames were born the following children: Mrs. Cordia Huff, Horton, Kansas; H. F. Reames, St. Joseph, Missouri; Walter Reames, Kearney, Missouri; and Mrs. Mary L. Barnes, Springfield, Missouri.
James L. A. Cates was educated in the public schools of Kearney township and in the schools of Cowley County, Kansas. In 1879, he returned to Clay County and engaged in farming and stock raising. For the past nineteen years he has owned his present farm in Liberty township. He purchased this place from the Captain Grooms estate. This place consists of 250 acres of valuable and improved land. It is a good grain farm and is especially well adapted to stock raising. There is an ample supply of water, good shade and every natural condition, con- tributing to an ideal stock farm. Mr. Cates raises high grade cattle, sheep and hogs.
James L. A. Cates was married in 1887 to Miss Sallie McMahan who was born in Wise County, Texas, and reared in Clay County, Missouri. She is the daughter of John and Frances (Meanes) McMahan, both of whom are now deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Cates have been born the following children : Georgia, married John Best, Liberty, Missouri; Harry D., married Beulah Wright and is a farmer and stock raiser near Liberty, Missouri; Mrs. Nannie Black, Liberty, Missouri; Gertrude, mar- ried Cal Massey of Liberty and Frank, resides at home with his parents.
Mr. Cates is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen of America. He is a Democrat and a mem- ber of the Presbyterian church and an elder. He is progressive and enterprising and a substantial citizen.
532
HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
George W. Reynolds, a well known farmer and stockman, of Liberty township, is a native son of Clay County. He was born on the David Creek farm in Liberty township, May 7, 1866, a son of Jonas and Jane (Creek) Reynolds.
Jonas Reynolds was an early settler in Clay County, and owned and operated a farm about six miles north of Liberty. He died at the age of sixty-five years. Jane (Creek) Reynolds was born in Clay County and was a daughter of Kill Creek who was a very early pioneer of this section. Mrs. Reynolds died in 1869, and is buried by the side of her husband in Providence cemetery. To Jonas and Jane (Creek) Reyn- olds were born the following children: Emma, married Charles Creek and lives at Oak Creek, Colorado; John E., L. J., and K. A., all farmers and stockmen of Liberty township; and George W., the subject of this sketch.
George W. Reynolds was reared in Liberty township and attended school in the Providence and Bell districts. In early life he spent two years in Colorado and Kansas and then returned to Clay County with has since been his home. He first bought a farm of thirty acres which he later sold and bought 115 acres. He afterwards sold seventy-four acres of that place and bought eighty acres additional. He now owns 128 acres which is one of the well improved and valuable farms of Clay County. In 1918, he built a modern two story residence of nine rooms, and the other buildings about the place are of a high standing. He car- ries on general farming and stock raising and keeps a good grade of cattle.
Mr. Reynolds was married in 1892, to Miss Martha Warren, a daugh- ter of Thomas and Lucy (Hudelmeyer) Warren. Mrs. Reynolds' par- ents are both deceased. They were very early settlers in Liberty town- ship, and Mrs. Reynolds was born in this township. To Mr. and Mrs. Reynolds have been born the following children: Wallace A., died at the age of one year; Ruth, married D. V. Britton; Grace M., married Kirk Burke; Blanch M., married James D. White, and Clara, Lucy, Frank N., and George W., residing at home with their parents. The following are the grandchildren of the Reynolds family: Evelyn Jean, Georgeann, and Fay Ruth Britton, Lucile. John Reynolds, Wallace Wil- son Burke, and Martha Reed White.
Mr. Reynolds is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and belongs to the Rebeccas. Mr. Reynolds is the original good roads
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
promoter of his district. He made the first road drag and operated it on the Range Line road. This pioneer road drag was made of two slabs, one of walnut and the other of white oak, and Mr. Reynolds had this crude device in operation in his district over twenty years ago. He is progressive, public spirited, and a Clay County citizen of real worth.
James T. Martin, a well known citizen of Liberty township, is a native of Clay County and a descendant of pioneer parents, who settled in this county at an early day. James T. Martin was born about a mile and one- half south of Linden, December 7, 1848, and is a son of Thomas and Jane (Sutton) Martin, the former a native of Jessamine County, Kentucky, and the latter of Woodford County, Kentucky.
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