USA > Missouri > Clay County > History of Clay County, Missouri > Part 39
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Thomas Martin came to Clay County, from Kentucky, in 1844, and bought 100 acres of land for which he paid ten dollars an acre; later he bought 240 acres for which he paid thirty-three dollars and one-third an acre. The old homestead is now owned by his daughter, Emma Barnes, and she is now living there. The first place which he bought here was covered with a heavy growth of blackberry brush and pawpaws. He cleared the land, made improvements and spent the remainder of his life here, and he and his wife are buried in Barry cemetery. Thomas Martin was one of the adventurers who made the hazardous trin to California during the gold excitement in 1849. He remained there about a year, engaged in gold mining and succeeded in finding some gold, but not in paying quantities.
James T. Martin was reared to manhood on the home farm in Clay County and received his education in the Davis district school. In early life he went to Texas and after spending about three years in Texas and the Choctaw Nation, which was then Indian Territory, he returned to Clay County and engaged in farming and stock raising in the vicinity of Linden. He owned a farm in Gallatin township, and also one in Platte township which he later sold. In February, 1911, he moved to his present place, one mile south of Liberty, where he owns seventeen acres of val- uable land which is worth at least $800.00 per acre. He has a comfort- able home here and is engaged in raising small fruit.
Mr. Martin was married in 1878 to Miss Lizzie Crouse, a daughter of C. M. and Nancy (Dickey) Crouse, of Harlem, Missouri. C. M. Crouse was a native of Germany, born March 23, 1838, and came to Missouri when a young man. He was justice of the peace and notary public for
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many years. He died in 1912. His wife was born in Bates County, Mis- souri, February 6, 1842, and died in 1915. Mrs. Martin was born in Jackson County, Missouri, in 1861, and was reared and educated in that county and came to Clay County with her parents in 1876. To Mr. and Mrs. Martin was born one son, Thomas, who was killed by lightning May 1, 1895, at the age of thirteen years.
James T. Martin is well known and highly respected in Clay County where he and Mrs. Martin have many friends and acquaintances. They are worthy representatives of the best pioneer element of this county. .
Henry A. Woods, a successful farmer and stockman and large land owner of Platte township, is a native of Clay County and a member of one of the prominent pioneer families of this county. He was born in Platte township July 1, 1858, a son of Capt. Kemp M. and Sarah Jane (Hamilton) Woods.
Capt. Kemp M. Woods was a prominent pioneer settler of Clay County. He was born in Woodford County, Kentucky, in 1815, and came to Clay County with his mother in 1835. They settled in Platte township, where they bought 400 acres of land which is now known as the John Ecton farm. They lived on that place for three years when they traded it for the home place where Lillie M., widow of Kemp M. Woods, Jr., now lives, which at that time contained 1,200 acres.
When the Civil War broke out Kemp M. Woods' sympathy was with the South. His place was devastated by Federal soldiers and his stock driven away, except two calves which were later broke and served him as an ox team for several years after the war. Mr. Woods was arrested by Federal soldiers and taken to Weston, but was released upon arriving there. He then went to Little Rock, Arkansas, and from there returned to his old home in Kentucky where he organized a company for service in the Confederate Army and he was commissioned captain of that organization. About the time that his company was ready for service General Lee sur- rendered and the war was at an end. In 1866 Captain Woods returned to his place in Clay County and again started farming and stock raising. He was a successful man and spent the remainder of his life in Platte township, where he died in March, 1897.
Capt. Kemp M. Woods married Sarah Jane Hamilton, who was born in Woodford County, Kentucky, in 1822, and came to Missouri with her parents who settled in Jackson County in 1825. Her maiden name was
MR AND MRS HENRY A WOODS
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Chiles and she was the widow of John Hamilton, by whom she had two children : Annie, who married J. W. Woods, and is deceased, and one child died in infancy. Capt. Kemp M. Woods was first married to Miss Sarah Skinner, who died in 1847. To that union were born three children: Phineas, deceased; Kemp M., Jr., died in 1912; and Mary, died in infancy. To Capt. Kemp M. and Sarah Jane (Hamilton) Woods were born the fol- lowing children: One died in infancy ; John B., who lives in Clay County, and a sketch of whom appears in this volume; Henry A., the subject of this sketch; and Cornelius H., who died in 1900.
Henry A. Woods was reared on the home farm in Platte township and educated in the district school and William Jewell College, at Liberty, Missouri. He assisted his father on the home place until he was twenty- four years old, when he married, and at that time his father gave him 240 acres of land. Here he engaged in his independent career as a farmer and stockman. He met with success and bought more land from time to time until he became the owner of 800 acres. He made numerous and substantial improvements, including a good modern residence which he built in 1890 and two large barns. He has been engaged in general farm- ing and stock raising and has also been one of the leading breeders of Shorthorn cattle in Clay County for the past thirty years. He also has been an extensive mule raiser and has raised more mules than any other man in Platte township, and he has also raised a great many horses. He has given two of his sons 200 acres of land each for a start and they are progressive young men and are making good.
Mr. Woods is not only a success in the industry of farming and stock raising but has been an active factor in other fields of local enterprise. He has been identified with the Farmers Bank of Smithville for a number of years and is a member of the board of directors of that institution. He was one of the organizers of the Bank of Nashua, Missouri, and has been a director of that bank since its organization, about fifteen years ago.
On June 1, 1884, Mr. Woods was married to Miss Annie Aker, of Smith- ville, Missouri. She is a daughter of Martin and Ann Aker, both natives of Kentucky and now deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Woods have been born five children, as follows: Lee A., born July 24, 1885, lives in Clay County ; John D., born April 10, 1889, lives on the home place: Calvin C., born April 17, 1893, and died March 20, 1902; Ralph H., born February 19, 1899, and died March 3, 1893; and Fred, born December 26, 1900, lives at home with his parents.
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Mr. Woods has been a life long Democrat and has always taken an active interest in political matters, although he has never aspired to hold office. He has always taken a deep interest in the progress and welfare of the public schools, and for the past thirty-five years he has served as president of the local school board. He is a member of the Masonic Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen of America. Mrs. Woods is a member of the Order of the Eastern Star and the Christian Church. Mr. Woods is a substantial citizen and one of the dependable men of Clay County.
William Hey, owner of "White Oak Grove Farm," near Gashland, Clay County, is a progressive and enterprising farmer, who by industry and constant application, has won for himself a place among the leading cit- izens of Clay County. He was born in Gallatin township, about one and one-fourth miles north of North Kansas City, March 16. 1862, and is a son of Christian and Mary (Chandler) Hey.
Christian Hey was a native of Germany and when eighteen years of age came to America, and settled in New York City where he worked for a time. He then came to Jackson County, Missouri, where he worked in a blacksmith shop with a brother, Fred Hey. About 1858, he came to Clay County, Missouri, where he was married and spent the remainder of his life here. He died in 1886, at the age of forty-nine years. Mary (Chandler) Hey was married in 1904, to Henry Jennings and they reside on the old home place in Gallatin township. She was born in Gallatin township, on the Chandler place, about one mile east of her present home. Her father, William Chandler, was among the very earliest pioneer settlers of Gallatin township. He died here and his remains are buried on the old Chandler home farm.
To Christian and Mary (Chandler) Hey were born the following children : Rosa, married William Chandler, and now lives in Oregon; William, the subject of this sketch; F. B., Drexel, Missouri; James F., died on the home place at the age of forty-seven years; Susie Elizabeth, married Fred Hanson, and is now deceased: and Anna B. married Walter Suggett, of North Kansas City, Missouri.
William Hey was reared in Gallatin township and educated in the Glenwood school. He was reared on a farm and in early life engaged in farming and stock raising, for himself. He bought his present farm in 1894, from Thomas Broadhurst. The place at that time was practically
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unimproved and much of it was covered with the thick growth of brush. Mr. Hey began clearing away the place and making improvements, and for the first three years he was unmarried and lived alone on the place. He has improved his place, erected good buildings, and today has one of the productive and well kept farms of Clay County. The place has an ample supply of water, furnished by numerous springs and Shoal Creek courses its way across the southwest corner of the place. There are twenty acres of bottom land and the balance is upland, and all is rich, productive soil. Mr. Hey has given special attention to breeding high- grade cattle, mules, horses, and hogs. He has some of the finest stock in the country, including three valuable registered jacks, and a number of jennets and pure bred Percheron horses. He has about one hundred and twenty-five Big Type Poland China hogs, thirty head of Shorthorn cattle, and one hundred Shropshire sheep. He is one of the progressive stock- men and breeders of Clay County, and perhaps and has done as much as any other may, to raise the general standard of livestock in this county. He has kept registered stock for the past fourteen years.
Mr. Hey was married January 15, 1896, to Miss Eliza Johnson, of Gallatin township. She is a daughter of William Nelson and Nancy Jane (Thomas) Johnson. Her mother is now deceased and her father lives near Barry, Missouri.
Mr. and Mrs. Hey have a good comfortable home and a fine farm which they have accumulated through their own efforts. They are in- dustrious and enterprising, and rank among the leading citizens of Clay County.
George S. Ritchey, cashier of the First National Bank of Liberty, is one of the widely known bankers of western Missouri, and has been con- nected with the First National Bank for thirty-three years, and twenty- five years of that time he has been cashier. Mr. Ritchey is a native of Clay County, born at Liberty, June 9, 1862. He is a son of Dr. Stephen and Nannie (Stone) Ritchey.
Dr. Stephen Ritchey was a pioneer physician of Clay County. He was born in Woodford County, Kentucky, in 1824, and came to Clay County from his-native state about 1849, and was engaged in the prac- tice of medicine at Liberty and vicinity until the time of his death. March 6, 1888. Nannie (Stone) Ritchey was also a native of Kentucky. She survived her husband a number of years, and died June 1, 1917.
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Dr. Stephen and Nannie (Stone) Ritchey were the parents of the following children: Irwin, a traveling salesman, Kansas City, Missouri ; Cora, married J. E. Bradley, Long Beach, California; Martha, married D. T. Haines, Muncie, Indiana; and George S., the subject of this sketch.
George S. Ritchie was educated in the Liberty High School, and Wil- liam Jewell College. He was then employed by the William Blumes Dry Goods Company, of Kansas City, for six years. In 1888, he returned to Liberty and entered the employ of the Kemp M. Woods and Company Bank, and remained with that institution until April 1, 1889. He then entered the employ of the First National Bank, and for the past twenty- five years has been cashier of that institution. The First National Bank has had a marvelous growth and development during the quarter of a century that Mr. Ritchey has been cashier. A history of the bank ap- pears elsewhere in this volume.
Dr. Hiram McElroy Dagg, a prominent physician of North Kansas City, is a native of Pennsylvania. He was born at Washington, that State, July 26, 1850, a son of James T. and Anna (Means) Dagg, both natives of Washington County, Pennsylvania, who spent their lives there. Dr. Dagg has one sister living, Mrs. Jennie Elliott, of Revenna, Ohio.
Dr. Hiram M. Dagg was educated in the public schools of West Vir- ginia and read medicine in early manhood, and began the practice of his profession in West Virginia, in 1875. Later he attended Medical Col- lege at Cleveland, Ohio, where he was graduated, in 1880. He continued the practice in West Virginia until 1887, when he came to Missouri, locat- ing at Harlem City, Clay County. He was the first physician to locate at North Kansas City and has practiced here with uniform success for thirty-three years.
Dr. Dagg was married, October 22, 1873, to Miss Josephine Kimmins. of Dallas, West Virginia, a daughter of Abner and Elizabeth (McDonald) Kimmins. Mrs. Dagg died November 7, 1900. To Dr. and Mrs. Dagg have been born six children, three of whom are deceased. Those living are Mrs. W. E. Macken, a sketch of whom appears in this volume; Dr. G. R. Dagg, a physician and surgeon of North Kansas City; and Burdella, married R. H. Wade, a prominent attorney, of Yonkers, New York.
Dr. G. R. Dagg received his preliminary education in the public schools and the Kansas City High School. He then entered the University of Oklahoma and after a course there entered the Kansas City Medical
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College, where he was graduated with the degree of Doctor of Medicine, in 1907. He was engaged in the practice of his profession until the United States entered the World War. In the spring of 1917, he volunteered for service in the Medical Department of the United States Army and in July, 1917, he was ordered to Allentown, Pennsylvania, and during that month he was sent to France. At first he was assigned to the British Army, serving with the 15th Division, Scottish Black Watch, from August until November, 1917. He was then transferred to the French Army, serving with the Third Chaussuers from November 17, 1917, until January 12, 1918. He was then assigned to the First Division, American Expeditioncry Forces, and was relieved from duty March 19, 1919.
Dr. Dagg entered the service with the rank of first lieutenant and while in France was promoted to captain and at the close of his service ranked as major. He was cited for distinguished conduct in action while with the First Division, south of Soissons, July 18-22, 1918, for displaying exceptional courage and efficiency in the personal supervision of the exacu- ation of the wounded, and for frequently subjecting himself to great dan- ger in directing the removal of damaged ambulances from areas which were under heavy fire of the enemy.
Since returning home. Dr. Dagg has been engaged in the practice of his profession in North Kansas City.
Dr. Dagg was married to Miss Maud McGee, of Kansas City, Missouri, and they have three children: Ruth, Frances and Henry M.
Robert L. Harbaugh, a well known farmer and stockman of Liberty township, is a native son of Clay County and was born on the place where he now resides, five miles north of Liberty, November 14, 1870. He is a son of Washington E. and Frances (Wolfenberger) Harbaugh.
Washington Harbaugh was married in Pennsylvania and removed from that state to Ohio, and in 1866 came to Missouri and settled in Clay County on the place where Robert L. Harbaugh now resides. He was a successful farmer and a prominent member of the Grange, back in the nineties. He was one of the charter members of Clay Grange No. 196. of Liberty township. He served as master of the State Grange and also held the office of gate keeper of the National Grange. He attended a meeting of the National Grange at Syracuse, New York, and one held in California in 1889. He died in Clay County in 1904, at the age of seventy- three years. His first wife, the mother of Robert L. Harbaugh, died in
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1871, and he was afterwards married to Mrs. Margaret Harbaugh, but there were no children born to the second marriage.
To Washington and Frances (Wolfenberger) Harbaugh were born four children: Charles Edward, deceased; Y. E .; Clara, married Daniel Crockett; and Robert L., the subject of this sketch.
Robert L. Harbaugh was reared on the home farm, where he now re- sides and attended the Walnut Grove district school. At that time Mrs. Caldwell who now resides at Excelsior Springs was principal. Mr. Har- baugh has always followed farming and stock raising and has met with success. His place is well improved and he has recently built a modern bungalow which adds greatly to the appearance of the place as well as to the general comfort of the owners.
September 10, 1896, Robert L. Harbaugh was married to Miss Fannie DeGolia. She is a daughter of Joseph and Sarah (Haines) DeGolia. Joseph DeGolia was born in Steuben County, New York. He went to California during the gold excitement of 1849 and was in that state twelve years later, when the Civil War broke out. He enlisted in the Union army and served until the close of the war. He died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Harbaugh, in 1918, at the advanced age of ninety years. His wife was born in Indiana and died near Gilman City, Mis- souri, in 1912, at the age of seventy years. They were the parents of the following children: Judson, died at Altamont, Missouri; Dora, died in infancy; Georgiann, married Stephen Forson, Humphreys, Missouri; and Mrs. Fannie Harbaugh, of this sketch.
To Mr. and Mrs. Harbaugh have been born three children: Juanita, married Carl E. Munkers, Liberty, Missouri; D. N. and Earl, both resid- ing at home.
Mr. Harbaugh was for many years a prominent member of the Grange and served as secretary of the State Grange from 1898 to 1900. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and a substan- tial citizen.
Alan F. Wherritt, a capable young attorney of Liberty, Missouri, is a native of this State and a descendant of a family of very early pioneers here. He was born at Pleasant Hill, Missouri, June 15, 1895, a son of Alonzo C. and Cora I. (Francisco) Wherritt and was the only child born to them.
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Alonzo C. Wherritt was also born at Pleasant Hill, a son of Peter and Mary (Peacock) Wherritt, natives of Virginia, who settled in Cass County, Missouri, prior to the Civil War. Peter Wherritt was an extensive land owner and owned the land in Jackson County where Fairmount Park is now located. He traded this land for land in Cass County and was engaged in farming there until his death, in 1876, at the age of sixty years. He reared a family of fourteen children, of whom Alonzo was the youngest.
Alonzo C. Wherritt was reared at Pleasant Hill, Missouri, and when a young man engaged in the drug business there. Later he became a traveling salesman for the Burrough Manufacturing Company, a whole- sale drug house of Baltimore, Maryland, and at the present time he is traveling representative for the Norwich Pharmaceutical Company, of Norwich, New York, and resides at Liberty, Missouri. Cora I. (Francisco) Wherritt was born at Warren, Illinois, and died in 1915.
Alan F. Wherritt was educated in the public schools and graduated from the Independence High School, at Independence, Missouri, in 1912. He then entered William Jewell College where he took a three years course. In June, 1916, he entered the University of Chicago where he was grad- uated in 1917, with the degree of Ph.B. Shortly afterwards he enlisted in the Medical Corps of the regular army and was later assigned to the United States Ambulance Service. He first ranked as sergeant and later, first lieutenant, and was commissioned captain May 1, 1918. In June, 1918, he sailed for overseas, and after eleven months' service in Italy and Austria he was returned to the United States and discharged at Camp Dix, New Jersey, May 9, 1919. He then returned to Liberty, Missouri, and shortly afterwards returned to the University of Chicago where he was graduated in June, 1920, with the degree of Doctor of Jurisprudence. He then engaged in the practice of his profession at Liberty.
Mr. Wherritt was married June 9, 1919, to Miss Alberta L. Oldham, of Independence, Missouri. She is a daughter of Joseph E. and Cora (Newby) Oldham, both natives of Independence. The father is now de- ceased and the mother resides in Independence.
Mr. Wherritt is a Democrat and a member of the Presbyterian church. He is a Thirty-second Degree Mason, and a member of the Mystic Shrine.
As a mark of distinction while in the service, during the World War, he was decorated, receiving the Italian War Cross for meritorious service ..
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Judge J. W. Scott, a Civil War veteran who for many years was en- gaged in farming and stock raising, is now living retired at Smithville, Missouri. He was born in Bourbon County, Kentucky, July 26, 1838, a son of Washington and Ruth Ann (Duncan) Scott.
Washington Scott was born in Bourbon County, Kentucky, December 18, 1812, a son of William and Elizabeth (Smith) Scott, natives of Bourbon County, Kentucky, also. Washington Scott came to Missouri and settled in Platte township, Clay County, in the fall of 1839, and here he bought 400 acres of land which he later lost on account of defective title. He then bought 200 acres where he engaged in farming and spent the re- mainder of his life. This land is still owned by members of the Scott family. When he came here from Kentucky he drove through with a four-horse team and brought his wife, two children, one of whom is the subject of this sketch. He also brought a negro slave. William Scott built a log cabin on his claim, which was completed March 1, 1843. He followed farming and stock raising all his life, and died February 28, 1857. His wife was also a native of Bourbon County, Kentucky, and they were married April 23, 1835. She died in this county September 20, 1864, and her remains are buried in Second Creek cemetery, in Platte County. They were the parents of the following children: May E., de- ceased; John W., the subject of this sketch; Jeremiah, died in infancy ; Israel L., deceased; Washington W., deceased; Ruth Ann, deceased; James R., lives on the old Scott homestead, in Clay County ; Sarah J., deceased ; Nancy F., deceased; and Ida J., deceased.
J. W. Scott was reared on a farm and educated in the district schools. He remained at home with his parents until after the Civil War broke out. In 1862 he enlisted in the Confederate Army under General Price. He took part in a number of skirmishes and engagements and was taken prisoner by the Federals at Jefferson City, Missouri. From there he was sent to Gratiot Street prison at St. Louis, Missouri, and later transferred to the Federal military prison at Alton, Illinois. He was taken sick there and sent to a hospital. After he recovered he went to work on a farm in Illinois and later taught school there, and remained in that state two years. After returning to Missouri he was engaged in freighting, with ox teams, from Fort Leavenworth to Denver. Shortly after that he engaged in farming and stock raising in Clay County, where he prospered and became the owner of 400 acres of land. He was engaged in farming until 1904 when he sold his place and removed to Smithville, where he has since lived retired.
JUDGE J. W. SCOTT
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J. W. Scott was married. March 10, 1868, near Platte City, Missouri, to Miss Mary Elizabeth Cain, daughter of John B. and Martha Jane (Bevins) Cain. John B. Cain was born in Shelby County, Kentucky, and came to Missouri with his parents and settled in Platte County at an early day. Here he grew to manhood and was engaged in farming until 1870 when he went to California and died there. His wife was a native of Clay County and died at Pine City, Washington. Mrs. Scott was one of fourteen children born to her parents, three of whom are now living, the other two being Margaret, who married N. Price, and they live in Platte County, and William, of Woodland, California. To Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Scott have been born the following children: John P., Lathrop, Missouri; Doctor Alexander B., Topeka, Kansas; Wade W., Clinton County, Missouri; Arthur, Kansas City, Missouri ; Geneva, married Richard Bruce; Arthur and Ada, twins. the latter being deceased, and Arthur lives in Kansas City, Missouri.
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