USA > Missouri > Clay County > History of Clay County, Missouri > Part 42
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Mr. Brooks was married November 8, 1882, in Clay County, to Miss Alice Fleming, a daughter of Robert and Harriet (Rollins) Fleming, the former a native of Virginia and the latter of Kentucky, and both now deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Brooks have been born four children as fol- lows: Harry Lee and Vanda Ada, twins, born January 2, 1884, the former dying in infancy and the latter is now Mrs. Homer Hamilton, of Kansas City, Missouri ; Charles A., born May 31, 1886, now engaged in farming and stock raising on his father's farm in Platte township, and Wiley, born September 5, 1890, also on the home farm.
Mr. Brooks has been a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows Lodge for twenty-five years and is also a member of the Modern Woodman of America. He is a Democrat and he and Mrs. Brooks are members of the Christian Church and she belongs to the Rebeccas. Mr. Brooks is a progressive citizen and the Brooks family stand high in the community.
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
Charles N. Deaton, editor and publisher of the Democrat-Herald of Smithville, Missouri, is a newspaper man and practical printer of broad experience, having been engaged in this line of work since his youth. He is a native of Missouri, born at Kirksville, August 12, 1875, and is a son of William B. and Elizabeth (McClahann) Deaton.
William B. Deaton was also a native of Mississippi; for a number of years was engaged in farming and stock raising in Adair County. He retired to Kirksville about sixteen years prior to his death, which occurred in 1897. He spent the greater part of his life in Adair County, Missouri, coming to this state when a young man. His wife was a native of Adair County, Missouri, and is now deceased. They were the parents of the fol- lowing children: Ella, married M. L. Stephens and they live in St. Louis, Missouri; George M., lives in California ; Walter B., lives at Arcadia, Mis- souri; Edward D., deceased; Charles N., the subject of this sketch; and Portia, married Cecil Shockey, Seattle, Washington.
Charles N. Deaton was educated in the public schools of Kirksville, Missouri. In 1888, he entered the office of the Kirksville Journal and served an apprenticeship of three years at the printers trade. After work- ing at the trade in Kirksville until 1892, he came to Smithville and worked on the Smithville Herald for seven years. He then published the Herald for two years when he sold out and went to Colorado. He was employed on the Advocate, a newspaper published at Sterling, Colorado, for one year. He then became manager of the Logan County Art Printery at Sterling, serving in that capacity for three years. In 1913, he returned to Smith- ville, Missouri, as foreman of the Democrat-Herald and in 1918, he became the editor and publisher of the paper and since that time it has been under his management. The Democrat-Herald is a live weekly newspaper and has a good circulation and is for every worthy movement that is for the betterment and upbuilding of Smithville and Clay County and their institu- tions.
Mr. Deaton was married December 23, 1896, to Miss Stella May Jen- kins, a daughter of J. H. and Julia (Powell) Jenkins, Sr., both natives of Missouri and now living at Smithville. To Mr. and Mrs. Deaton have been born two children: Paul Howard, born in Smithville, Missouri, July 6, 1900 and Charles Joseph, born in Smithville, June 21, 1903, and both live in Smithville.
Mr. Deaton is a member of the Masonic Lodge and is a Democrat. Mr. and Mrs. Deaton and their two sons are members of the Christian Church.
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L. M. Morgan, who conducts a meat market and grocery store at Smithville, Missouri, is one of the well known and substantial business men of Clay County. He was born near indianapolis, Indiana, April 17, 1851, a son of John C. and Martha C. (Musser) Morgan.
John C. Morgan was a native of Tennessee. He went to Indiana early in life and settled on a farm near Indianapolis where he lived for some years. Later he went to Iowa where he was engaged in farming for two years. He then came to Missouri and settled on a farm in Buchanan County. He owned 160 acres of land there and made his home on that place until the time of his death. December 3, 1917, at the advanced age of ninety years, two months and twelve days. He took a prominent part in the affairs of his neighborhood after settling in Buchanan County and served as justice of the peace at Rushville for a number of years. During the Civil War he served in the Union army.
Martha C (Musser) Morgan was born in Ohio, February 9, 1827, and was married to Mr. Morgan, near Indianapolis, Indiana; she died July 25, 1911, at Rushville, Missouri, and she and her husband are buried in Sugar Creek cemetery in Buchanan County. They were the parents of the fol- lowing children: L. M., the subject of this sketch ; Elias, deceased; Joseph E., deceased ; James E., lives in Colorado; Alice, a widow, who lives in Cald- well County, Missouri ; Mattie, married Alex Pollard; William A., deceased ; Emma, married George Pollard; Peter E., Rushville, Missouri; Ida, de- ceased ; and John, deceased. Joseph E. and James E. were twins, as were also William A. and Emma.
L. M. Morgan remained at home with his parents until he was twenty- four years old. In 1875, he went to California and for six years was engaged in farming in that state. In 1881, he returned to Missouri and settled in Clay County, where he bought a farm of 102 acres and followed farming and stock raising until 1912. He then sold his farm and came to Smithville, September 1, 1912. Here he engaged in the grocery and meat business which he has since followed. He has met with success and has a large trade.
Mr. Morgan was married Septen ber 19, 1878, in California, to Miss Sue Ella Cain. She died January 11, 1912. The following children were born to their union: Myrtle L., born in Colusa County, California, August 26, 1879, married Frank Fry, a farmer of Platte County, Missouri : John A., born in California, February 18, 1881, lives at Smithville, Missouri; W. C., born in Clay County, Missouri, June 23, 1883, lives in Seattle, Washington ;
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Anna E., born in Platte County, Missouri, August 14, 1889, married A. L. Miller, Kansas City, Missouri; Lewis L., born in Platte County, July 4, 1891, lives in Kansas City, Missouri ; H. C., born in Platte County, June 29, 1894, lives in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and Fannie N., born in Platte County, October 4, 1896, married Gilbert Vossler, Kansas City, Missouri. Mr. Morgan was married the second time at Kansas City, Missouri, June 22, 1915, to Mrs. L. B. Yates.
Mr. Morgan is a Democrat, a member of the Masonic Lodge, the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows and he and Mrs. Morgan are members of the Christian Church. She is a member of the Rebeccas. Mr. Morgan is a progressive business man and a public spirited citizen.
Jefferson N. Hulse, a well-known and highly respected citizen of Platte township, is a member of a Clay County pioneer family. He was born in Platte township near his present home, May 1, 1854, a son of Richardson and Catherine (Rollins) Hulse.
Richardson Hulse was borne in Greene County, Kentucky, in 1832, and was brought to Missouri by his parents in 1834. The family settled in Clay County, where Richardson Hulse grew to manhood. He learned the blacksmith trade in early life and for a number of years conducted a shop at Paradise, Missouri. He also followed farming, both in Clay and Clinton Counties, and died at Excelsior Springs, in April, 1908. His wife was also a native of Clay County, and died in 1912. They were the parents of twelve children, as follows: Jefferson N., the subject of this sketch ; Susie, deceased ; Galen. deceased; Eugene, lives in the state of Washington; Clara, deceased; Julia, lives in Kansas City, Missouri; Lee. Paradise, Missouri; Cordie, married Benjamin Fry, and they live in Clin- ton County, Missouri; Richard C., lives in Clay County; May, married Benjamin McDaniel, and they live in Clay County ; Clare, lives in Kansas City, Missouri ; and Georgia, died in infancy.
Jefferson N. Hulse was reared in Platte township and educated in the public schools and William Jewell College, at Liberty, Missouri. Mr. Hulse studied medicine about three years and on account of defective hear- ing had to give it up. He studied under Dr. C. W. Watts. He taught school for three years, in early life, and then bought eighty acres of land and engaged in farming, remaining on that place for eleven years. This was in Clinton County. He then returned to Clay County, and bought a farm of seventy-four acres where he now resides. He has made substan-
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tial improvements on this place, having erected neat and commodious farm buildings, and for a number of years he has successfully carried on general farming and stock raising.
Mr. Hulse was married August 17, 1876, to Miss Sallie T. Barnard, who died on February 10, 1920, and her remains are buried in the Smith- ville cemetery. To Mr. and Mrs. Hulse were born the following children: Aurora, married Andy Collins, and they live in Clay County; Landy R., lives in Clay County; Georgia, married Walter Brooks, Smithville, Mis- souri; Mabel, married Floyd Rule, and they live near Liberty, Missouri ; and Leta, resides at home with her father.
Mr. Hulse is a member of a Methodist Church, and belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is a substantial citizen and widely known in Clay County.
John K. Boyd, Jr., of the firm of Boyd and Dalby, general merchants at Smithville, Missouri, has been engaged in the mercantile business at that place for the past fourteen years. He was born in Callaway County, Missouri, April 13, 1864, a son of John K. and Elizabeth C. (Martin) Boyd.
John K. Boyd, Sr., was a native of Callaway County, Missouri, and a descendant of very early settlers in this state. He was born August 12, 1830, and in early life was engaged in farming pursuits. Later he engaged in the mercantile business in Callaway County at a place called Boydville which received its name from his store there. He conducted a business there for a number of years, when he established a mercantile business at Millersburg and two years later he disposed of his business there and removed to Centralia, Missouri, and there engaged in the real estate and insurance business. While a resident of Millersburg he served as justice of the peace and was elected police judge at Centralia after he located there. He made the trip overland to California during the gold excitement of 1849 and after returning to Missouri, he taught writing school at Platte City. He was a man of considerably more than the average ability and took quite a prominent part in political affairs. He was a Democrat, a Mason, and a member of the Methodist Church South. He died suddenly on election day in November, 1905.
Elizabeth (Martin) Boyd was born near Millersburg, Callaway County. Missouri, in 1839. She was married to Mr. Boyd in 1858 and is now living in Centralia, Missouri, at the advanced age of eighty-one years. John K. and Elizabeth C. (Martin) Boyd were the parents of the following children :
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
Robert, deceased; Mollie, married John Willitt and they live near Fulton, Missouri ; Joseph T., deceased; John K., Jr., the subject of this sketch ; one died in infancy ; Sallie, deceased; Noah, an instructor in music at West- minister College, Fulton, Missouri; Annie P., deceased; and Dorah, died in infancy.
John K. Boyd, Jr., was reared in Callaway County and educated in the district school. When a young man he engaged in partnership with his father in the real estate and insurance business at Centralia. Missouri, under the firm of Boyd and Son. He was engaged in that business for a time and also worked as clerk in various stores. He had charge of the clothing department for J. R. Dalby for eight years. Then he and Mr. Dalby purchased a general mercantile store at Smithville. This was in 1906 and they have been engaged in business there since that time. They carry a complete line of general merchandise and have built up a large trade and are among the well known and reliable merchants of Smithville and Clay County.
Mr. Boyd was married at Centralia, Missouri, May 12, 1896, to Miss Anna Tidyings and they have one child, Harold T., who was born at Bramer, Missouri, July 6, 1900, and resides at home with his parents.
Mr. Boyd is a Democrat and a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias. Mrs. Boyd is a member of the Christian Church and the Rebeccas.
O. P. Yates, an enterprising and successful merchant of Smithville, Missouri, is a native of this state and was born in Platte County, Decem- ber 16, 1920. He is a son of William and Getie (Laffoon) Yates, both mem- bers of pioneer families of Clay County, whose respective parents settled here at an early day.
William Yates was born at old Haynesville, Clay County, in 1836, and was reared to manhood in this county. After his marriage he bought a farm in Platte County and was engaged in farming and stock raising there during the remainder of his life. He was the owner of 400 acres of land and was a well-to-do man. He died in 1912 and his remains are buried in Ridgeley cemetery. Getie (Laffoon) Yates is also a native of Clay County. born near old Haynesville, of pioneer parents and she now lives at Smith- ville, Missouri.
To William and Getie (Laffoon) Yates were born sixteen children as follows: James, deceased; Richard, deceased ; Mollie, married S. B. Wal-
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ler, Smithville; Alice, resides with her mother at Smithville; twins, died in infancy ; Laurena, deceased; Cora, married John Griffith, Ridgeley, Mis- souri; Myrtle, married Burke McComas, Smithville: Cappie, deceased ; Jacob, deceased; Beulah, Dearborn, Missouri; O. P., the subject of this sketch; Clay, Platte City, Missouri; Getie, married William Drais, St. Joseph, Missouri ; and William, Jr., occupies the old home place in Platte County.
O. P. Yates was educated in the Franklin district school in Platte County and remained on the home farm until he was twenty-five years old. He then came to Smithville and engaged in the men's furnishing goods and shoe business and for twenty years he has been engaged in this line of business at Smithville. His place of business is located on East Main street. He carries a very complete line of high class men's furnishings and shoes and has a large trade and is recognized as one of the reliable merchants of Smithville and Clay County.
Mr. Yates was married August 28, 1904, at Trimble, Missouri, to Miss Estelle Halstead, and one child has been born to this union: Hortense, born at Smithville, Missouri, October 9, 1907.
Mr. Yates is a member of the board of directors of the Farmers Bank of Smithville. He is a Democrat and a member of the Masonic Lodge, and Mrs. Yates is a member of the Order of the Eastern Star and the Christian Church.
Judge Joe B. Waller, a prominent farmer and stockman of Platte town- ship and a former judge of the county court of Clay County, is a native of South Carolina, although he has spent practically all his life in Clay County. He was born in Charlestown, South Carolina, February 16, 1858, a son of Rev. Greenup B. and Julia (Higgenbottom) Waller.
Rev. Greenup B. Waller was born in Carroll County, Kentucky, August 26, 1816. He dealt extensively in mules in the South with headquarters at Augusta, Georgia. He first came to Clay County, Missouri, in 1854 and for a few years spent the summer months in this county, returning to South Carolina during the winter. In 1859, he brought his family to Clay County which was their permanent home thereafter. He first bought 340 acres of land south of Smithville. He owned a great deal of land and in 1873 he sold his place and settled in Smithville where he devoted the re- mainder of his life to preaching the gospel. He had been a minister of the Christian Church since early manhood. He died at Smithville, Octo-
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ber 18, 1896. His wife was a native of South Carolina and they were mar- ried in that state. She died on the Waller home place in Platte township.
Rev. Greenup B. and Julia (Higgenbottom) Waller were the parents of eight children as follows: Marion S., died April 26, 1920: James, de- ceased; Joe B., the subject of this sketch; Lizzie, now a widow living at Kearney, Missouri; Mary, a widow living in Kansas City : Julia, deceased ; Nellie, married Will Majors of Kearney, Missouri; and Sallie, a widow, liv- ing in Kansas City, Missouri.
Judge Waller was educated in the public schools of Smithville, and received a good common school education. He remained at home until he was twenty years of age and then worked out by the month for some years. He was overseer of the place which he now owns and for some time was a partner in its operation. He first bought 137 acres of land which he later sold and bought eighty acres. Later he sold that and in 1917 purchased his present place. He carries on general farming and stock raising and raises a good grade of hogs.
Judge Waller is a Democrat and has always taken an active interest in local politics and a commendable interest in public affairs. He was elected county judge of the western district of Clay County in 1912 and served in that office for four years and during that time gave the public affairs the same conscientious and careful attention which he had been in the habit of devoting to his own private affairs.
On October 18, 1904, Judge Waller was married in Kansas City, Mis- souri, to Miss Lizzie Zumault. No children have been born to this union.
Judge Waller is a member of the Masonic Lodge and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and he and Mrs. Waller are members of the Chris- tian Church.
Allen M. Thompson, one of the well known breeders of pure bred Galloway cattle in the county, who owns and operates a large farm of six hundred acres near Nashua in Platte township has been a prominent figure in the affairs of Clay County for a number of years. He was born on the place where he now resides July 27, 1869, and is a son of Isaac B. and Charlotte J. (Lampton) Thompson.
Isaac B. Thompson was prominent in the affairs of Clay County dur- ing his life time and was one of the pioneer breeders of pure bred Galloway cattle in the country. He was born near Nicholsville, Jessamine County, Kentucky, in 1828, and came to Clay County, Missouri, with his brother,
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John A. Thompson, in 1856. They bought a farm in Platte township, first purchasing 200 acres, which is now owned by Allen M. Thompson. At the time of his death, Isaac B. Thompson was the owner of 475 acres of land. When the Civil War broke out Isaac B. Thompson entered the Confederate army and served for a time as captain of a company in Gen- eral Price's division. Later, he was promoted to colonel and served until the close of the war in that capacity. He took part in a number of battles and skirmishes. At the battle of Lexington, he commanded the company which took the court house. He was also at the battle of Pea Ridge.
After the close of the Civil War, Isaac B. Thompson returned to Clay County and engaged in general farming and stock raising and he and his son, Allen M. Thompson, were engaged in business together. In 1881, he founded a herd of pure bred Galloway cattle which was the first to be imported from Scotland to this section of the country, and for a number of years they held the record for having more pure bred Galloway cattle than any other breeders in the United States. They raised Gallo- way cattle and placed them in twenty-six different states. In addition to his extensive private business, Isaac B. Thompson also took a prominent part in public affairs and was active in politics. He served as county judge of Clay County two terms and was a member of the State Legis- lature from Clay County for two terms. He died on his home place in Platte township, March 23, 1904. His wife was a native of Clay County and was a member of a pioneer family of this section. She was born on the farm which her father had entered from the government, October 25, 1839. She died on the home place September 29, 1919. To Isaac B. and Charlotte (Lampton) Thompson were born five children as follows: Wilkerson B., lives in Platte County, Missouri; John B., deceased; Allen M., the subject of this sketch; Lottie V., deceased; and Addie R., married W. C. Wood, of Kansas City, Missouri.
Allen M. Thompson was educated in the district school and William Jewell College at Liberty, Missouri. Early in life, he engaged in farm- ing and stock raising with his father and for a number of years they were in partnership in breeding pure bred Galloway cattle and were recog- nized as the leading breeders of the country. Their cattle were exhibited at the leading fairs and stock shows and met the strongest competition with uniform success. Mr. Thompson owns 600 acres which is one of the valuable stock farms of Clay County. His place is well improved and specially arranged for stock breeding and feeding. He has four stock
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barns capable of accommodating over 250 head of cattle. The farm residence is a modern structure with water, heat and modern conveniences.
For a number of years, Mr. Thompson has been prominent in the American Galloway Breeders' Association and has been a member of the board of directors of that organization for twenty years, and during that time he has served as secretary and president of the association and has held every office in that organization at one time or another. He has served on the State Board of Agriculture for six years, having been ap- pointed by Governor Folk and reappointed by Governor Major. He has served two years as president of the State Fair Board and resigned from that to accept the position of secretary and general manager of The American Royal Live Stock Show at Kansas City and held that office for seven years. He was the first president of that organization after its incorporation.
Mr. Thompson is interested in banking in addition to his other vari- ous enterprises. He is president of the Bank of Nausha, Missouri, and was the principal organizer of that institution. He is vice-president of the National Bank of North Kansas City and a member of the board of directors of The Farmers Bank of Smithville, Missouri. In short, he is one of the most extensive men of affairs in Clay County. He is public spirited and enterprising and a strong supporter of any movement which has for its object the legitimate upbuilding and betterment of Clay County. He is a strong advocate and an ardent supporter of the good roads movement.
Mr. Thompson was married June 12, 1908, to Miss Froncie Woods, a daughter of Kemp M. and Lillie (Wiggleworth) Woods and to this union have been born two children: Francis, born July 17, 1909; and Louise, born August 12, 1911.
Mr. Thompson is a Democrat and one of the substantial citizens of this county.
E. P. Griffin, cashier of the Bank of Paradise, is one of the well known and successful bankers of Clay County and for many years has been identified with the commercial interests of Platte township and vicinity. He is a native of Maryland, born in Prince George County, January 28, 1858, a son of Walter P. and Eleanor A. (Bryan) Griffin.
Walter P. Griffin was born in Maryland and was successfully engaged in farming in Prince George County, where he was the owner of a valu-
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able farm of 240 acres of land within ten miles of the city limits of Wash- ington, D. C. He died on his farm there in 1912. His wife who was also a native of Maryland, having been born in Prince George County, died in that county in 1905. They were the parents of the following children: Ida, deceased; E. P., the subject of this sketch; Cora, de- ceased; Walter was killed in the Boer War; Nellie, deceased; Fannie, now the wife of C. A. Fenner, of Springfield, Massachusetts; Robert, Wash- ington, D. C .; and Richard, died in infancy.
E. P. Griffin was educated at St. John's College, Annapolis, Mary- land, and remained at home with his parents until he was twenty-one years old. He then came to Missouri, reaching this state in 1881. He remained in St. Louis for a short time and later taught school in Jackson and Clay Counties and in Kansas. He was engaged in teaching about six years in all, when he bought a drug store at Paradise, Missouri, and engaged in the drug business. Later he engaged in the general mercan- tile business, at the same time retaining his drug store. He was one of the organizers of the Bank of Paradise and is serving as cashier of that institution and also continues in the general mercantile business and the drug business.
Mr. Griffin was married in Clay County, May 15, 1891, to Miss Mal- vina W. Dryden, a daughter of William and Lucy A. (Trimble) Dryden and two children have been born to this union: Walter, died in 1912 and Francis A., born July 19, 1902, is assistant cashier of the Bank of Paradise.
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