USA > Missouri > Clay County > History of Clay County, Missouri > Part 40
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Mr. Scott is a member of the Christian Church, as is also his wife. He has taught Sunday School for over fifty years. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and has been chaplain of the local lodge for the past fifteen years. He is a Democrat and has been justice of the peace for a number of years. He is one of the highly respected and sub- stantial citizens of Smithville and Clay County. He was president of the Mutual Insurance Company of Liberty, Missouri, for a number of years.
Earl Denny, county engineer of Clay County, is widely and favor- ably known in this County as a conscientious and capable public official. He is a descendant of one of the representative pioneer families of Clay County. He was born in Washington township, November 11, 1881, a son of George R. and Nancy E. (Wharton) Denny.
George R. Denny was also born in Washington township, this county. December 1, 1852, a son of Levi and Hannah (Clark) Denny, natives of North Carolina, who were married in that state and came to Missouri in the early forties, settling in Washington township, Clay County. They were the parents of one other child besides George R., Maggie, who mar- ried William Lynn, and they reside at Excelsior Springs, Missouri.
George R. Denny followed farming and stock raising during his active career and is now living retired at Kearney, Missouri. He is the owner of 510 acres of valuable land. He was married in 1879 to Miss Nancy E. Wharton, who was born in Washington township, about 1860.
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She was a daughter of Porter and Nancy Ella (Patterson) Wharton, natives of North Carolina. They came to Clay County at an early day and entered Government land here. The Whartons were good citizens and religious people. They were members of the Presbytrian church and were stanch Democrats.
To George R. and Nancy E. (Wharton) Denny were born four chil- dren: Earl, the subject of this sketch ; Omer, lives in San Francisco, Cal- ifornia ; J. P., Washington township; and L. P., San Francisco, California. The mother of these boys died in 1898, and the father was afterwards married to Mattie Taylor, a native of Clay County.
Earl Denny was reared on the home farm in Washington township and attended the public schools. He then took a course in the University of Missouri, where he was graduated in the class of 1905. He then took charge of his father's farm in Washington township, where he carried on general farming and stock raising until he assumed the office of county engineer, having been elected in the fall of 1916 and has since that time discharged the duties of that office in a very acceptable manner.
Mr. Denny was married November 25, 1905, to Miss Ruby Rust, a native of Washington township, Clay County.' She is a daughter of Charles G. and Harriet A. (Green) Rust. The mother died in 1911, and the father now lives on his farm in Washington township. Mrs. Denny is one of six children born to her parents. To Mr. and Mrs. Denny have been born two children: George Estill, and James Gilbert.
Mr. Denny is a member of the Presbyterian church and is a Demo- crat.
Elisha E. Bell, a prominent farmer and breeder of Liberty township. is a native of Clay County. He was born in Fishing River township, Sep- tember 3, 1886, and is a son of David E. and Alice R. (Cravens) Bell.
David E. Bell was born on the old Bell homestead in Liberty town- ship, and was a son of pioneer parents, who were very early settlers in Clay County. David E. Bell was an early merchant at Liberty and for twenty years conducted a hardware store there. During the last fifteen years of his life, he was engaged in farming in Liberty township, where he owned a farm of 250 acres which is still owned by the family. He died at the age of sixty-five years and his widow who is also a native of Clay County and the descendant of one of the early pioneer families, resides at Liberty.
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To David E. and Alice R. (Cravens) Bell, were born the following children: Nancy, married James A. DeArmond, who is the present mayor of Butler, Missouri, and a son of former Congressman David A. DeArmond, deceased; Anna L., Liberty, Missouri; Elisha E., the subject of this sketch; Ruby, married James S. Simrall, of Liberty, Missouri; and E. K., proprietor of a garage at Liberty, Missouri.
Elisha E. Bell was educated in the Liberty High School and William Jewell College, graduating from the latter institution in the class of 1908. He then engaged in farming and stock raising and for the past three years he has been breeding pure bred Big Type Poland China hogs and is one of the successful breeders of Clay County. He has one of the valuable pure bred male hogs at the head of his herd in Clay County and at this writing has about thirty pure bred registered sows. He raises and feeds cattle and hogs for the market on an extensive scale. He owns a valuable farm of 135 acres, and, in addition to that, he operates the home place of 210 acres, and also 140 acres of Missouri River bottom land. He operates, in all, 487 acres.
November 1, 1920, Mr. Bell bought, in partnership, with his brother, E. K. Bell, the Liberty garage which they conduct on East Kansas street, Liberty, Missouri.
Elisha E. Bell was married February 7, 1911, to Miss Lavenia Hunt, a daughter of Ed S. Hunt, of Liberty, Missouri. Mrs. Bell was born at Hardin, Missouri, and educated at the Liberty Ladies College and Lexing- ton College. To Mr. and Mrs. Bell have been born three children: Ed- ward H., David E. and Morris M.
Mr. Bell is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Liberty, Missouri, and is one of Clay County's most progressive and enter- prising citizens.
Hubert Earl King, of Birmingham, Missouri, is a native son of Clay County and belongs to a pioneer family of this section. He was born on a farm in Gallatin township. June 9, 1871, and is a son of Martin A. and Margaret (Sutton) King.
Martin A. King was born in Ohio and his wife was a native of Clay County and they were married in Clay County. They settled on the farm which is now owned by Mrs. Alice Hughes. During the Civil War, Mar- tin A. King served in the Confederate army under Gen. Sterling Price. He was at the battles of Westport, Springfield and a number of other
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engagements in which General Price's command was engaged. He was killed by lightning August 5, 1885, at the age of forty-two years and his wife died April 4, 1911.
Martin A. and Margaret (Sutton) King were the parents of the fol- lowing children: Anna Belle married Samuel Root and now lives in Cass County, Missouri; Mary, married Robert Lee Minter; Joannah May, mar- ried S. P. Minter, Kansas City, Missouri; Hubert Earl, the subject of this sketch; Maggie, married W. W. Cosby and died August 21, 1900; and Ardena Brown, married J. J. Eichinger, of Randolph, Missouri.
Hubert Earl King was educated in the public schools of Minnaville, Missouri, and at Liberty, Missouri. He engaged in farming in early life and has since successfully devoted himself to farming and stock raising.
Mr. King was married November 10, 1895, to Miss Lela Cutler, a daughter of B. B. and Dicie (Devers) Cutler. B. B. Cutler was born at Orland, Indiana, and was married to Dicie Devers, November 30, 1874, at Holt, Missouri. Her parents were George and Lutetia (Ross) Devers, natives of Kentucky: they died in Indiana. Dicie Devers was born in Gallatin County, Kentucky. B. B. Cutler died May 11, 1916, at the age of sixty-three years and his widow now makes her home with her daugh- ter, Mrs. King.
To Mr. and Mrs. King have been born four children: Cecil, was married to L. A. Blankenship, December 23, 1916, and they have one daughter, Inez Louise; Bernham Martin, Forest Leo, and Hubert Lowe, residing at home with their parents.
Mr. King is a member of the Central Protective Association. He and the other members of the King family stand high in Clay County.
John Williams, president of the Bank of Smithville, Smithville, Mis- souri, is a native of Clay County and has been prominently identified with this section of the state throughout his career. He was born near Smith- ville, August 23, 1865, a son of John and Julia (Brooks) Williams.
John Williams, the father, was born in Bourbon County, Kentucky. October 21, 1821. He came to Clay County, Missouri, and settled on government land which he entered in Platte township in 1844. He was successfully engaged in farming and stock raising here during the re- mainder of his career and became well-to-do, being the owner of 450 acres of valuable land. He died January 6, 1844, and his remains are buried in the Odd Fellows cemetery at Smithville, Missouri. His wife was born
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in Smithville, Clay County, October 3, 1831, and they were married in Platte township in 1856. She died March 15, 1915, and is also buried in the Odd Fellows cemetery at Smithville. They were the parents of two children: John, the subject of this sketch and Sidney J., cashier of the Bank of Smithville, of whom a sketch appears in this volume.
John Williams was educated in the district school of the neighbor- hood, where he was born and later attended the State Normal School at Kirksville, Missouri. He remained on the home place and assisted his father until the death of the latter which occurred in 1884. He was then married and continued to operate the home place until 1900. He then came to Smithville and engaged in the hardware and implement business which he successfully carried on until 1918, when he was succeeded by his son, J. C. Williams, who is now conducting the business. Mr. Wil- liams has had a successful business career and is one of the well-to-do men of Clay County. In addition to his banking, mercantile and other interests, he is the owner of a valuable and well improved farm of 500 acres.
December 16, 1886, John Williams was married to Miss Nannie C. Moore and to this union three children have been born, as follows: John C., Smithville, Missouri; Arthur L., deceased; and Sidney S., who is engaged in the hardware and implement business at Smithville, Missouri.
Mr. Williams has been a member of the Masonic lodge for twenty years and a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows for twenty- eight years and he has held membership in the Modern Woodmen of America for fifteen years. He is a Democrat and has always taken an active interest in political affairs. During Governor Dockery's adminis- tration, Mr. Williams served as a member of the state legislature from this county. He is a capable business man and one of the most pro- gressive citizens of Clay County.
Bank of Smithville, of Smithville, Missouri, is one of the substantial financial institutions in Clay County and has to its credit thirty-two years of uninterrupted and successful banking. This bank was established in 1888 by H. H. C. Snail, who was its first president, S. C. Duncan, the first cashier, John Williams and A. B. Crawford.
The Bank of Smithville was the first bank to be established in Smith- ville and is one of the pioneer banks of Clay County. The business of this bank has been on a substantial basis from the start and for years it
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has been recognized as one of the strong banking institutions of the state. The report of the bank at this writing shows the following figures: Deposits, $450,709.35; surplus and profits, $102,817.00; capital stock, $10,000; loans, $591,837.45 ; real estate, $4,000.00; furniture and fixtures, $1,500.00; cash due from other banks, $88,556.19.
The present officers of the bank are: John Williams, president ; S. J. Williams, cashier; the directors are as follows: J. C. Williams, Miss Mattie Snail and J. L. Phillips.
Sidney J. Williams, cashier of the Bank of Smithville, Missouri, is one of the widely known and successful bankers of Clay County and west- ern Missouri. For the past twenty-four years he has been connected with this well known banking institution. He was born in Platte township, near Smithville, April 17, 1868, a son of John and Julia (Brooks) Wil- liams, the former a native of Kentucky, and the latter of Clay County, Missouri. A more extensive and detailed history of the Williams family appears in this volume in connection with the biography of John Wil- liams, president of the Bank of Smithville, who is a brother of Sidney J. Williams of this review.
Sidney J. Williams was reared on the home farm in Platte township and educated in the district school and the State Normal School at Kirks- ville, Missouri. He remained at home with his father who was a large land owner and extensive farmer. At the death of his father, he con- tinued to operate a part of the home place which he inherited from his father, the place having been divided between the two brothers who were the only children.
Mr. Williams was engaged in farming and stock raising until 1896, when he became assistant cashier of the Bank of Smithville. He served in that capacity until 1902, when he became cashier of the bank and has capably held that responsible position to the present time. In addition to his banking interests, Mr. Williams is the owner of 430 acres of land which is one of the valuable farms of Clay County.
On February 17, 1886, Sidney J. Williams was married to Miss Betty L. Morton, a daughter of Dr. C. H. Morton, who was one of the pioneer physicians of Smithville. Mr. and Mrs. Williams have no children.
Mr. Williams is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, having joined that organization twenty years ago. He is a Democrat and he and Mrs. Williams are members of the Christian church and she be- longs to the Rebeccas.
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Owen J. Boggess, one of the well known and successful bankers of Clay County, who occupies the important position of cashier of the Farmers Bank of Smithville, is a native of this county and is a descendant of early Clay County pioneers. He was born near Smithville, in Platte township, August 31, 1881, a son of James W. and Elizabeth (Shrite) Boggess.
James W. Boggess was born in Platte township, Clay County, July 3, 1844, on the farm which his father, Dennis H. Boggess, entered from the government. Dennis H. Boggess was an early settler in Clay County, coming from Kentucky to this county. James W. Boggess was reared on the old Boggess home place which originally consisted of 240 acres. He was successfully engaged in farming and stock raising there until 1917, when he sold his farm, retired from active business and moved to Nashua, where he is now living retired.
Elizabeth (Shrite) Boggess was born in Platte County, Missouri, in 1847 and she and James W. Boggess were married in 1869. They are the parents of the following children: John D., deceased; Mary, deceased ; one died in infancy ; William A., deceased; Carrie, married Dr. W. D. Swinney, Mercedes, Texas; Emma, married Rev. W. D. Ellington, Guil- ford, Missouri; Owen J., the subject of this sketch; and Alma, married S. A. Tilman, Nashua, Missouri.
Owen J. Boggess attended the district school and later he was a student in the Smithville High School, where he was graduated. He then took a course in Spaulding's Commercial College at Kansas City, Mis- souri. When he was twenty-one years old he entered the employ of the Bank of Smithville as assistant cashier, and served in that capacity with that institution from 1903 until February 1, 1911. He then went to Mercedes, Texas, where he was in the employ of the Hidalto Bank for two years. In October, 1913, he accepted the position of cashier of the Farmers Bank of Smithville and has since capably filled that position. He has had an extensive experience in the important field of banking and has given the intricate problems of finance and banking much thoughtful consideration and study, which added to his vast experience, well equips him for the important position of trust and responsibility which he holds.
Mr. Boggess was married May 16, 1906, at Smithville, Missouri, to Miss Blanche (Harbaugh), a daughter of Eli A. Harbaugh. To Mrs. and Mr. Boggess have been born three children as follows: Maurine, born March 18, 1907; Owen, Jr., born January 5, 1912; and James W., born September 8, 1915, all of whom reside at home with their parents.
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Mr. Boggess is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Modern Woodmen of America and Royal Neighbors. He is a Democrat and he and Mrs. Boggess are members of the Christian church.
Van W. Brooks, who for many years was extensively engaged in farm- ing and stock raising and met with well merited success in his endeavors, is now living retired at Smithville, Missouri. He was born in Platte town- ship, Clay County, September 18. 1854, and is a member of one of the very early pioneer families of Clay County. He is a son of Samuel J. and Lucinda J. (Smith) Brooks.
Samuel J. Brooks was born in Clark County, Kentucky, April 11, 1822, and was brought to Missouri by his parents when he was six years old. He was a son of Abijah and Harriet Brooks, who entered Government land in Platte township when they settled in this county in 1828. Samuel J. Brooks owned a farm which contained 513 acres in Platte township. He was a successful man of affairs and retired from active business in 1886, and at that time divided his land, over 800 acres, among his chil- dren. He lived in Smithville until his death, in September, 1901. His remains are buried in the Brooks family cemetery. Lucinda J. (Smith) Brooks was born in Clay County, Missouri, March 19, 1832, and was mar- ried to Mr. Brooks in this county in 1848. She died in 1878 and is buried in the Brooks family cemetery.
Samuel J. and Lucinda J. (Smith) Brooks were the parents of eleven children, as follows: Mary E., died in infancy ; Martha A., deceased ; Van W., the subject of this sketch: Samuel J., Jr., Kearney, Missouri : James A., Smithville, Missouri; Eugene, Smithville, Missouri: George S .. died in infancy ; Isabelle, married D. W. Williams; Lydia, married George E. Wilson, and is now deceased; Henry II., Kansas City, Missouri: and Thomas, Caboll, Texas County, Missouri.
Van W. Brooks was reared in Platte township and educated in the district school. He remained at home until he was twenty-one years old and assisted his father in operating the home place. He then received 100 acres of land from his father and bought 305 acres more, and was the owner of a very valuable farm of 405 acres, which later he sold.
Mr. Brooks was married February 5. 1878, in Platte township, to Miss Suna Mitchell, a daughter of Mariam B. and Ann (Knave) Mitchell, both natives of Kentucky, and now deceased. The Mitchell family came to Clay County from Kentucky in 1870. To Mr. and Mrs. Brooks have been
VAN W. BROOKS
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born four children: Samuel A., born December 5, 1878, is engaged in farming and stock raising in Platte township; Walter M., born September 12, 1883, is also a farmer and stock man near Smithville, Missouri; Eugene O., born June 15, 1890, lives in Smithville, Missouri ; and Willie, born April 29, 1885, married Arthur R. Yates, of Smithville, Misouri.
Mr. Brooks is a Democrat and a member of the Christian Church. He is a progressive and public spirited citizen and is one of the men who has done his part well, towards the development of Clay County, and making of it one of the great counties of Missouri.
Eugene O. Brooks served in the World War, having enlisted from Kansas City, Missouri, with the Engineer Corps, Company H, 29th Divi- sion. He sailed for overseas February 15, 1917, and remained there until July 5, 1918. He was mustered out at Camp Taylor, Kentucky, and re- turned home to Smithville, where he is now living.
George T. Ecton, who is successfully engaged in the milling and grain business at Smithville, Missouri, and also the owner of a valuable farm in Platte township, is a native of Clay County. He was born in Platte town- ship August 17, 1853, a son of Abijah and Letitia (Winn) Ecton.
Abijah Ecton was born in Bourbon County, Kentucky, in 1824. He came to Missouri with his parents in 1832 and they settled in Platte town- ship, Clay County. Here he was reared to manhood and was engaged in farming and stock raising when the Civil War broke out. He enlisted in the Confederate army and served in Price's division for a while. When peace was declared, he resumed farming and met with a reasonable degree of success and was a successful general farmer and stock raiser and was widely known as a horse breeder. He died June 13, 1868. His wife was a native of Missouri and they were married in Clinton County. She died on the Ecton home place in 1857. They were the parents of three chil- dren: James, died in infancy ; John, died in 1872; and George T., the sub- ject of this sketch.
George T. Ecton was reared in Platte township and in early life at- tended the district school and later took a course in the University of Missouri at Columbia. He remained on the home farm until his father died. He then worked out by the month for two years and later farmed rented land for two years. Having saved his money, he then attended the University of Missouri. Afterwards he returned to Platte township and bought a farm of eighty acres. He added to his original purchase
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from time to time, until he acquired 270 acres of land which he still owns. He made substantial improvements and carried on general farming and stock raising and feeds a great many cattle for the market. In 1910, he bought an elevator at Smithville and engaged in buying and shipping grain and also handling coal and feed. In 1917, he installed a flour mill and in 1918 a corn mill, both of which he has had in active operation since. He also carries on an extensive grain, flour, feed and coal business.
Mr. Ecton was married in Clinton County to Miss Mollie Dorehty, a daughter of William and Martha Ann (McCorkel) Dorehty, both natives of Missouri and now deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Ecton have been born ten children: Lettie, married Harry Pence, who is now deceased, and she resides at home with her parents; Lena, married L. D. Pence, Liberty, Missouri; Bud, who is engaged in business with his father at Smithville; Mollie, married John D. Wilkerson, who is engaged in mill business ; George, Albuquerque, New Mexico ; Lutie, a trained nurse, in Kansas City, Mis- souri; Dillie, who is operating one of his father's farms in Platte town- ship; Wiley, who is now a student in Kansas City, but makes her home with her parents; Ruth, a student in vocal music in New York City, where she has been for the past three years; and Willie, deceased.
Mr. Ecton is a Democrat and has taken an active part in local political affairs, having served as mayor of Smithville from 1914 to 1916. He has been a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows for forty- six years. He is a member of the Masonic Lodge and his sons are all members of the Masonic and the Odd Fellows lodges. The youngest son, Dillie, is master of the Smithville Lodge. Mrs. Ecton and the daughters are all members of the Order of the Eastern Star and the Rebeccas. The Ecton family are all members of the Christian church. Mr. Ecton is one of the successful business men of Smithville, and the Ecton family stands high in the community.
Charles W. Kindred, a progressive merchant of Smithville, who con- ducts a grocery store and meat market, was born in Platte County, November 14, 1876. He is a son of Joshua and Eliza (Trout) Kindred.
Joshua Kindred was born in Madison County, Kentucky, in 1840, and when a young man, nineteen years old, he came to Missouri in 1859, and settled in Clinton County. He was engaged in farming there and owned forty acres of land. In 1872, he removed to Platte County where he bought 160 acres of land and he spent the remainder of his life there
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engaged in farming and stock raising. He died on his home place in 1915 V and is buried in the Odd Fellows cemetery at Smithville. He served in the Union army during the Civil War. His wife was a native of Vir- ginia, born in January, 1845, and now resides on the old home place in 1 Platte County. They were the parents of six children as follows: Bell, deceased; Jennie, married Elijah Silvey and they live in Platte County ; Charles W., the subject of this sketch; Julia, married Will Thatcher, Smithville, Missouri; Mary, married R. B. Fox and they live in Platte County ; and Lillie, who resides at home with her mother.
Charles W. Kindred was reared on a farm and received his education in the district school. After he was twenty-one years old he remained at home and operated his father's farm for eight years. He then bought eighty acres of land in Platte County. Nine years later he sold that and bought a fifty-five acre farm in Clay County and now owns forty and three-fourths acres where he carries on general farming in addition to conducting the grocery and meat business. In 1907, Mr. Kindred engaged in the produce business at Smithville and in 1912 he extended his busi- ness to include groceries and meat and since that time he has been suc- cessfully engaged in that business and has built up a large trade.
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