USA > Missouri > Clay County > History of Clay County, Missouri > Part 41
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Mr. Kindred was married November 25, 1889, to Miss Josephine Hornecker, a daughter of Charles and Katherine (Winkle) Hornecker.
Charles Hornecker was born in Freiburg, Germany, in 1842. He came, to the United States with his parents in 1849 and they settled on a farm in Illinois, near Quincy. Here Charles Hornecker grew to manhood and was married to Katherine (Winkle) at Quincy, Illinois. In 1866, he and his wife came to Missouri and first settled in Chariton County. In 1870, they went to Platte County and in 1871 settled on a farm in Clay County, where Charles Hornecker spent the remainder of his life. He was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows for more than twenty-five years, being a charter member of the Smithville Lodge. He was a member of the Lutheran church. He died July 19, 1907, and his remains are buried in the I. O. O. F. cemetery at Smithville.
Katherine (Winkle) Hornecker was born of German and French par- entage in the southern part of France, December 15, 1842. She came to America with her parents and brother in 1849; the voyage across the Atlantic required forty-eight days. After coming to this country, they settled near Quincy, Illinois, and there the brother of Katharine Winkle died at the age of twenty years and later the father returned to Europe,
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his wife having died when Katherine Winkle was twelve years old. Kath- erine (Winkle) Hornecker was an exceedingly well educated woman, hav- ing had the advantages of a high school and college education. She was a member of the Lutheran church for over fifty years. She died at Smith- ville, Missouri, in 1903, and her remains are buried in the I. O. O. F. cemetery there.
The children born to Charles and Katherine (Winkle) Hornecker are as follows: Mrs. Hugh Swainey, of Smithville, Missouri; Mrs. Charles W. Kindred, of this review, born in Adams County, Illinois, August 29, 1869; Charles Hornecker, Frederick, Oklahoma; Henry Hornecker, Tulsa, Oklahoma; Mrs. Katherine Ligon, Denver, Colorado; and Emma. the youngest of the family, died at the age of two months.
To Mr. and Mrs. Charles W. Kindred have been born three children, as follows: Collins, born in Platte County, October 11, 1891, is post- master of Smithville; Joshua, born in Platte County, March 20, 1894, is assistant cashier of the Bank of Smithville; and Forest, born in Clay County, September 26, 1901, is at home with his parents. There are two grandchildren in the family: Charles Adam Kindred, son of Collins Kin- dred, and Marjorie, daughter of Joshua Kindred.
Mr. Kindred is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, having been identified with that lodge for eighteen years, and he has been a member of the Modern Woodmen of America for twenty years. His son, Collins, is a member of the Masonic Lodge, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen of America. Charles W. Kin- dred and his wife are members of the Christian church and she holds membership in the order of the Eastern Star and the Rebeccas. He is a Democrat and one of the successful men of affairs of Clay County.
Frank P. Rollins, a well known and successful merchant who con- ducts a delicatessen store at Smithville, Missouri, is a native of Missouri. He was born in Bates County, December 9, 1871, and is a son of William Penn Rollins, a biographical sketch of whom appears in this volume.
Frank P. Rollins attended the district schools in Clay and Osage counties and also received a high school education. He remained with his father until he was nineteen years old when he engaged in clerking in a store at Smithville. After being employed there for two years he went to Cripple Creek, Colorado, where he was engaged in the mercantile and mining business from 1893 to 1903. He then returned to Clay County
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and engaged in the delicatessen business at Smithville, to which he has since devoted himself. He has built up a good business and is one of the substantial and enterprising merchants of the town.
Mr. Rollins was married in Pueblo, Colorado, in 1896, to Miss Leona Wood and to this union have been born four children as follows: Loys, born at Cripple Creek, Colorado, July 25, 1898, married C. D. Johnson and they reside in St. Louis, Missouri; Franklin P., Jr., born at Cripple Creek, Colorado, August 26, 1902, resides at home with his parents; Genevieve, born at Smithville, June 5, 1906; and Florence, born at Smithville, May 31, 1908.
Mr. Rollins is a thirty-second degree Scottish Rite Mason and a mem- ber of the Mystic Shrine. He also belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Order of the Eastern Star. Mrs. Rollins is a men- ber of the Order of the Eastern Star and Past Matron of the local chap- ter at Smithville. She is also a member of the White Shrine at Kansas City, Missouri, and holds membership in the Christian church. Mr. Rol- lins is a Democrat.
Alfred O. Lowman, assistant cashier of the Farmers Bank of Smith- ville, is a native son of Clay County and was born in Platte township, March 4, 1876. His parents were Ephriam and Ahdean (Aker) Lowman.
Ephriam Lowman was a native of Ohio, born in Fairfield County, May 14, 1838, and came to Missouri with his parents in 1850. They set- tled on a farm northwest of Smithville and there Ephraim Lowman grew to manhood and attended the pioneer schools in that locality. After he was married, he settled on a farm of one hundred acres west of Smithville. He remained on that farm until 1880, when he moved to a farm one-half mile west and there spent the remainder of his life. He died May 27. 1907. He served in the Union army during the Civil War and after the war he engaged in farming and stock raising, which has been the prin- cipal occupation of his life. However, he served as postmaster of Smith- ville, Missouri, during President Mckinley's administration.
Ahdean (Aker) Lowman, wife of Ephriam Lowman, was born in Clay County about two miles north of Smithville, February 20, 1850, and now lives on the old home place in Platte township. To Ephraim Lowman and wife were born eleven children as follows: Georgia Ella, married W. E. Bernard; one child died in infancy ; Willis, at home with his mother; Charles, died December 25, 1885; Claudia, married A. M. Odor and they
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live at Holt. Clay County ; Alfred O., the subject of this sketch ; Ephriam, lives south of Smithville, Missouri; Lulu, married Nelse Olson and they live northeast of Smithville: Samuel, lives at home with his mother; Aker, also lives at home with his mother: and Martha, married Arch Rule, and they live near Nashua, Missouri.
Alfred O. Lowman was reared on the home farm in Platte town- ship and was educated in the district school and the public schools of Smithville. Ile remained on the home place until he was twenty-one years old and in October, 1897, he accepted a position in the postoffice at Smithville under his father who was postmaster there. He remained in that capacity until 1902 when he was appointed postmaster of Smithville and was reappointed to that office twice, serving twelve years in all. On July 1, 1914, he was appointed assistant cashier of the Farmers Bank of Smithville and has held that position to the present time.
Mr. Lowman was married at Liberty, Missouri. November 5, 1901, to Miss Lula Berry, a daughter of G. B. and Nancy (Hall) Berry, both natives of Kentucky and now deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Lowman have been born two children: Fern Elizabeth, born November 23, 1904, and Ralph, born September 21, 1906, both residing at home with their parents.
Mr. Lowman is a member of the Masonic Lodge and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He and Mrs. Lowman are members of the Chris- tian Church and she holds membership in the Order of the Eastern Star and the Rebecca Lodges. Mr. Lowman is a Republican and is widely and favorably known in western Clay County.
William Penn Rollins, now living practically retired at Smithville, Missouri, is a veteran of the Civil War, has had an extensive experience and has seen much of the development of the country in which he has played an interested part. He was born near Smithville, October 22, 1841, a son of Lee and Susan (Penn) Rollins.
Lee Rollins was born in Bourbon County, Kentucky, February 12, 1801, and came to Missouri with his family in 1830. He settled in the northwest of Clay County, where he bought eighty acres of land and entered 500 acres from the government. He followed farming and stock raising throughout his life and died here July 19, 1854. His wife was born in Bourbon County, Kentucky, September 14, 1805, and they were 'married in that county. She died on the old home farm in Platte town- ship. They were the parents of fourteen children as follows: Ann, de-
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ceased; Jane, deceased; John K., who served in Colonel Doniphan's regi- ment in the Mexican War and is deceased; Harriet, deceased; Charlotte, deceased. The above mentioned were born in Bourbon County, Kentucky, and the following in Clay County, Missouri: Benjamin F., deceased; Julia, deceased ; Katherine, deceased; Thomas J., deceased; Mary, de- ceased; William Penn, the subject of this sketch; Sophia, deceased ; America, deceased; and Joseph E., lives in Little Rock, Arkansas.
William Penn Rollins attended the subscription schools of the early days and later the district school. He taught a term of school in early life and also attended William Jewell College for a time. When the Civil War broke out, he enlisted at Springfield, Missouri, in Company G, Second Regiment, Fifth Brigade, Missouri State Guards. He was in the battle of Pea Ridge and after that battle was detailed to provost guard duty at Decars, Arkansas. In May, 1862, he and comrade named Hixon, rode on horseback from Little Rock, Arkansas, to Blue Mill, where they were cap- tured by a squad of calvary and confined in the Liberty jail over night and the next morning after taking the oath of allegiance, they were released. Mr. Rollins then entered William Jewell College, but on account of the Civil War, he was forced to give up his course. He then crossed the plains with a drove of cattle. After spending a winter in the silver mines of Nevada, he went to Oregon, where he herded cattle one season. He then went to British Columbia and after spending some time in Montana and Oregon, he took a river steamboat at Fort Benton and came down the Missouri River, landing at St. Joseph in 1867. He then bought a farm and was engaged in farming for twelve years and in 1880 went to Osage County, Kansas, where he was engaged in the mercantile business until 1890. He then moved his stock of goods to Smithville, Missouri, and was engaged in business there for three years. In the fall of 1894, he went to Cripple Creek, Colorado, where he was employed in connection with the mines about seven and a half years. He then returned to Smith- ville and is now living retired.
Mr. Rollins was married September 5, 1867, to Rose Aker. She died July 10, 1906. The following children were born to them: Charles R., born at Bates County, Missouri, February 28, 1869, died April 9, 1896; Martha, born in Bates County, November 21, 1870, married John Morton, Smithville; Franklin P., born in Bates County, September 9, 1871, Smith- ville, Missouri; Nicholas A., born in Clay County, August 20, 1873, died October 1, 1918; Lily S .. born in Clay County, April 15, 1875, married J.
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Hall and they live in Florida; William P., Jr., born in Clay County, April 3, 1878, Pueblo, Colorado: two died in infancy : Rolis C., born in Kansas, June 9, 1882, Bartlesville, Oklahoma, and the two youngest died in infancy.
Mr. Rollins is a member of the Masonic Lodge, the Christian church and is a Democrat.
M. S. Ford, a successful farmer and stockman of Platte township, is a native of Ohio. He was born in Ashland County, Ohio, February 8, 1847, a son of Amos and Margaret (Bastress) Ford. Amos Ford was born in England, and upon first coming to this county, settled in Pennsylvania. Later he removed to Ohio, where he bought a farm, and there spent the remainder of his life. When a young man, he learned the trade of silver- smith, although he devoted the latter part of his life to farming. Mar- garet (Bastress) Ford was a native of Holland, and came from that coun- try to Pennsylvania when a girl. She died in Wood County, Ohio, and is buried there by the side of her husband.
M. S. Ford was one of a family of thirteen children, born to his par- ents. He was reared in Ohio and received his education in the public schools. He remained on the home farm with his parents until after the Civil War broke out. when he enlisted in the First Ohio Independent Bat- tery. During the course of his miltary career he participated in fourteen engagements, including the battles of South Mountain and Antietam. He served under Generals Sheridan and Crook. He was discharged and mus- tered out of service at Columbus, Ohio, June 26, 1865.
After returning from the army. Mr. Ford worked as a farm laborer in Wood County, Ohio, until he was twenty-five years of age. He then bought forty acres of land in Wood County. Later he sold that and re- moved to Iowa, where he bought a farm of one hundred and thirty acres, and there lived for eleven years. He then went to Red Willow County, Nebraska, where he bought one hundred and sixty acres of land and re- mained there two years. He then went to Logan County, Oklahoma, where he bought five hundred acres of land and remained there ten years. From there he came to Clay County. Missouri, and bought one hundred and sixty acres. In 1919, he bought his present place of one hundred and thirty acres which is located one mile north of Smithville, in Platte town- ship. He carries on general farming and stock raising and has raised and fed hogs extensively. He also keeps Shropshire sheep. His place is well improved. with a good seven-room residence and other farm buildings.
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M. S. FORD AND GRANDSON
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
Mr. Ford is also a successful horticulturist He has a fine apple orchard of thirty acres and produces a variety of apples, and has been very suc- cessful in this line of endeavor.
Mr. Ford was married in Wood County, Ohio, in 1868, to Miss Emily Oldes, and to this union have been born the following children: George, resides at home with his parents; William, resides at home with his par- ents; Ollie, married Frank Daniels, and they live in Oklahoma; Alvey, lives in Henry County, Missouri ; Rosetta, married Harry Burton, and they live in Nebraska; Maud, married Tom Kessinger, Rosedale Kansas; Frank- lin, Oklahoma; John, lives in Clay County, Missouri; Cora, married Her- bert All, Clay County; and Etta, married Howard Esler, Independence, Missouri.
Mr. Ford is a Republican, and one of the progressive and enterprising citizens of Platte township. Mrs. Ford is a member of the United Breth- ren Church.
Mr. and Mrs. Ford have thirty-six grandchildren.
James W. Young, now living retired at Smithville, Missouri, is a native of Clay County, born in Platte township, July 14, 1850. He is a son of Stephen G. and Lucy Francis (Jesse) Young, both members of early pioneer families of this part of Missouri.
Stephen Young was born in Bourbon County, Kentucky. May 30, 1827. He came to Clay County, Missouri, with his parents in 1836. They settled on 160 acres of land which they entered from the government. Stephen G. Young was a son of Thomas and Abigal (Strode) Young, both natives of Kentucky. Stephen G. Young followed farming and stock raising in Platte County all his life. He bought 160 acres of land in 1853 and later added eighty acres and at the time of his death he was the owner of 240 acres of well improved land where he had been successfully engaged in farming and stock raising for a number of years. He retired from active business some years prior to his death and spent the latter part of his life in Smithville, where he died July 8, 1911. During the Civil War he served as captain in the Home Guard, of Platte County.
Lucy Francis (Jesse) Young was born in Clay County, June 27, 1829. She was married to Stephen G. Young in Clay County in 1849, and died in Platte County, March 27, 1889, and she and her husband are buried in Second Creek church cemetery. They were the parents of eleven chil- dren as follows: James W., the subject of this sketch; Mary A., died in
-
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infancy ; Lunira V., deceased; John T., Smithville, Missouri; one died in infancy ; Woodford F., Portland, Oregon; Anna A .. married James Hayes and they live in Oregon; Patsy M., died in infancy; Andromacha, mar- ried Lewis Jesse, of Platte County; Willis V., Portland, Oregon; Stephen G., Jr., Platte County, Missouri.
James W. Young received his education in the subscription schools of Platte County, Missouri, and remained on the home farm with his par- ents until he attained the age of twenty-seven years. He then began his independent career as a farmer and stockman and for thirteen years he was engaged in farming and stock raising in Platte County. He then came to Smithville, where he remained until 1913, when he bought a small farm near town and made his home there for six years. In 1919, he re- turned to Smithville where he has since resided.
Mr. Young was married in Platte County, April 25, 1877, to Mrs. Angeline Downey, a widow. She died August 29, 1880. Two children were born to that union: Stephen Leo, born February 28, 1878, Neosho, Missouri ; and Myrtle, born November 27, 1879, and died December 8, 1880, Mr. Young was married the second time at Plattsburg, Missouri. Septem- ber 7, 1882, to Lucy Mitchell and four children have been born to this union : William M., born August 14, 1883, lives at Plattsburg, Missouri ; Hebe, born September 24, 1886, died August 3, 1918; Geneva, born March 5, 1888, Smithville, Missouri : and Charles E., born October 16, 1895, lives in St. Joseph, Missouri.
Mr. Young is a Democrat and one of the substantial and highly respected citizens of Clay County.
Willis L. Vance, a prominent grain dealer of Smithville, Missouri, who is also engaged in the coal and feed business, is a native of Missouri and a member of an early pioneer family. He was born in Clinton County, November 18, 1865, a son of Judge Handal and Ruth (Scott) Vance.
Handal Vance was born in Clay County and was reared in this county ; he was engaged in farming about nine miles northwest of Lib- erty. In 1865 he settled in Clinton County, where he remained for three years. He then returned to Clay County and bought a farm of two hun- dred acres where he was successfully engaged in farming and stock rais- ing for a number of years. After he retired from active farming pur- suits he lived at Liberty for a few years, but spent his last days in Smith- ville with his son Willis L. Vance. During the Civil War he served in
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the Confederate army under General Lee. After the war he took a prom- inent part in politics and was elected judge of the county court of Clay County, serving two terms.
Ruth (Scott) Vance was also a native of Clay County and was here married to Mr. Vance. She died in Clinton County, in 1867. Handal and Ruth (Scott) Vance were the parents of two children: Willis L., the sub- ject of this sketch, and one child died in infancy. After the death of his first wife, Judge Vance was married to Lizzie J. Anderson and seven chil- dren were born to that union, two of whom are now living: Lou Ann, who married Ed Ross and they live on the old Vance home place and Horace A., Orville, California.
Willis L. Vance was reared in Clay County and educated in the dis- trict schools. He remained at home with his father until he was twenty- one years old when he engaged in the grocery business at Liberty, Mis- souri. After three years he returned to the farm and operated rented land for three years and then bought the home place from his grand- father, Willis L. Vance. This place contained 160 acres and he was engaged in farming there until 1904. He then moved to Smithville and engaged in the grain business. However, he continued to operate his farm for two years. He sold it in 1906, although he still owns and operates the place of forty-two acres near Smithville. Mr. Vance has been successfully engaged in the grain business and handling coal, flour and feed for the past sixteen years and is recognized as one of the leaders in that line of business in Clay County. His son, Willis H. Vance is a partner in the business.
Willis L. Vance was first married at Butler, Missouri, March 3, 1887, to Miss Vivia Clardy and two children were born to that union. Willis H .. born January 30, 1888, is a partner of his father at Smithville, Missouri; and one child died in infancy. After the death of his first wife Mr. Vance was married to Madeline Clardy, August 21, 1890, and the following chil- dren were born to that union: Edith, married Clyde Edwards and they live in Platte township and two children died in infancy. The mother died January 11, 1911. October 15, 1914, Mr. Vance was married at Excelsior Springs to Cora Asher and two children have been born to them: Emma Lee, born February 8, 1918 ; and Lila Bell, born February 22, 1920.
Mr. Vance is a Democrat and a member of the Masonic Lodge. He and Mrs. Vance are members of the Christian church and she belongs to the Eastern Star and the Rebeccas.
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Daniel W. Williams, a prominent farmer and stockman of Platte town- ship, who is also engaged in the grain and coal business at Smithville, is a native of Clay County. He was born on a farm near Smithville, February 1, 1857, a son of James X. and Docia C. (Judy) Williams.
James X. Williams was a native of Kentucky, born in Bourbon County, March 26, 1826. He was reared to manhood in his native state and after being married drove through in a wagon to Clay County, in 1849. He first bought 120 acres of land in Platte township and later added eighty acres to that. He retired a few years prior to his death and removed to Lib- erty, where he died in 1901. His remains are buried in Mt. Olive cemetery. His wife was born in Nicholas County, Kentucky, in 1884. She died in Clay County, in 1866. They were the parents of six children as follows : John T. Smithville, Missouri; Julia A., deceased; Daniel W., the subject of this sketch; Elizabeth, deceased; Mary Ann, married Samuel Brooks, Kearney, Missouri; James X., Jr., deceased.
Daniel W. Williams was reared on the home farm and educated in the district schools of Clay County. He remained at home and assisted his father until he was twenty years old. He then went to Dickenson County, Kansas, where he was engaged in farming for two years. He then returned to Clay County and bought 100 acres of land which he operated for ten years. After disposing of that farm, he bought 240 acres in the same locality, Mitchell School district, in Platte township. He added 160 acres more to his holdings in 1901 and is now the owner of 400 acres of valuable farm land in Platte township. There are three dwelling houses on his place and three barns. His place is well improved and is well adapted to either general farming or stock raising. He has been a very extensive cattle and hog feeder and for a period of twenty years he has, perhaps, raised and fed more hogs for the market than any other man in Platte township. In addition to the management of his farm, Mr. Williams has been engaged in the grain, coal and feed business in Smithville since 1904. He operates in partnership with Mr. Eugene T. Brooks and they do an extensive business.
Mr. Williams was married in Platte township, Clay County, March 17, 1881, to Miss Isabell Brooks, daughter of Samuel and Jane (Smith) Brooks. Mr. and Mrs. Williams were the last couple to be married in Clay County before the law went into effect, requiring a marriage license. To Mr. and Mrs. Williams have been born four children as follows: Thomas, lives on the home place on Platte township; Jennie D., Kansas City, Missouri ;
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Willie, married Roy Phillips, Smithville, Missouri; and Floyd, also lives on the home farm, married Kate McLarry.
Mr. Williams had been a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows Lodge for twenty-six years and has been a member of the Christian Church for thirty-two years. He is a Democrat. Mrs. Williams is also a member of the Christian Church and belongs to the Rebeccas.
Eugene A. Brooks, who is successfully engaged in the grain, feed and coal business at Smithville, Missouri, in partnership with D. W. Williams, is a native of Clay County. He was born in Platte township, March 13, 1860, and is a son of Samuel J. and Lucinda Jane (Smith) Brooks, a more extensive sketch of the Brooks family appears in this volume in connection with the biographical sketch of Van W. Brooks, a brother of Eugene A. Brooks.
Eugene A. Brooks was reared on his father's farm in Platte township and attended the district school. He remained at home until he was about twenty years old when his father gave him 1131% acres of the home place. Here he engaged in farming and stock raising and met with success. He bought more land and is now the owner of 2131/2 acres. He has made many improvements on his place which is one of the valuable farms of Platte township. He was successfully engaged in farming and stock raising until 1918, when he engaged in the grain, feed and coal business at Smithville, in partnership with D. W. Williams. They have built up a large trade and are doing an extensive business.
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