USA > Missouri > Clay County > History of Clay County, Missouri > Part 43
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Mr. Griffin is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and is a Democrat. Mrs. Griffin is a member of the Methodist Church. Mr. Griffin is one of the substantial men of affairs of Clay County and has a wide acquaintance and many friends in this county.
The Bank of Paradise, one of the substantial banking institutions of Clay County, was established October 6, 1910. The principal promoter of this bank was E. P. Griffin, who is now cashier, a position which he has held since its organization. The officers of the bank are: President, George Neth, Sr .; vice-president, W. R. Senell, who succeeded Robert H. Dale, deceased ; cashier, E. P. Griffin. The directors are George Neth, Sr., W. R. Senell, O. H. Weber, John T. Taul, B. M. McDaniel, C. W. Eberts, Henry Moog, who succeeded Robert H. Dale, deceased, R. H. Erminger, and Berry Wade.
The official report of the bank under date of July 28, 1920, is as fol-
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lows: Loans, $110,566.00; furniture and fixtures, $1,175.00; cash and sight exchange, $17,443.68; United States bonds, $4,450.00; United States Thrift Stamps, $64.75; liabilities, capital stock, $10,000.00; surplus, $10,000.00; net profits,
$1,889.95; deposits, $111,810.35. Total, $133,700.30.
J. T. Stewart, an extensive landowner and a successful farmer and stockman of Platte township, is a native of the township where he now resides, and is a descendant of early pioneers of Clay County. . J. T. Stewart was born on the farm which he now owns, November 19, 1880. He is a son of Annanias and Lucy A (Benton) Stewart.
Annanias Stewart was born in Kentucky, February 17, 1847, and came to Missouri with his parents, Henry and Maria (Hall) Stewart. Henry Stewart was born in Kentucky, March 8, 1820, and died on his farm in Clay County, June 24, 1891. His wife. Maria (Hall) Stewart, was born in Kentucky, May 15, 1818. She died April 28, 1900, and she and her husband are buried in the cemetery at Paradise, Missouri. They were the parents of three children: Sam, deceased; Annanias; and one who died in infancy. Henry Stewart and his son, Samuel Stewart, served in the Confederate Army.
Annanias Stewart was a farmer and owned 150 acres of land in Platte township. He died April 20, 1887, when he was about forty years old. He was married to Miss Lucy A. Benton in Platte township, on the place where she now resides, December 21, 1876. She was born in Kearney township, Clay County, August 6, 1854, and is a daughter of Byrd and Amanda (Ross) Benton. Byrd Benton was born in Estill County, Ken- tucky, November 26, 1818. He came to Missouri in 1833, and settled in Clay County. He was married to Amanda Ross, November 20, 1844, and died September 16, 1899. He was a progressive citizen and a man of high character. He united with the Christian Church in 1866. To Byrd and Amanda (Ross) Benton were born the following children: Elisha, born December 9. 1845, and died August 14, 1381; William F., born January 14, 1848, died January 13, 1889; James T., born November 23. 1849, died August 21, 1912; Lucy, married Annanias Stewart, and now resides in Platte township; Henderson, borne March 25, 1861, died January 26, 1900. To Annanias and Lucy A. (Benton) Stewart were born two children: J. T., the subject of this sketch, and Amanda, who resides on the home place in Platte township.
J. T. STEWART
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
J. T. Stewart's father died when J. T. was six years old. After the death of his father, his mother, sister and himself went to live with his grandfather, Byrd Benton, who resided on the place where the Stewart family now lives. After the death of the grandfather, the Stewart chil- dren and their mother remained with her brothers, J. T. and H. Q. Benton, both of whom are now deceased. J. T. Stewart inherited 400 acres of land from his uncle, J. T. Benton. This is one of the valuable farms of Clay County, and is well improved and specially adapted to the stock busi- ness. Mr. Stewart carries on general farming and also raises stock. He is a successful breeder of Poland China hogs, and is an extensive feeder. He carries on farming, on a large scale, and uses modern machinery and equipment. He owns his own threshing machine. He has a number of interesting farming implements in the form of a sort of private museum. He still has in his possession the old single shovel-plow used by his grand- father, and also an old grain cradle. He and his mother and sister live together, and the Stewart family is well known and highly respected in Platte township and Clay County. The mother is a member of the Chris- tian Church.
Mr. Stewart is a Democrat and one of the public spirited citizens of Clay County.
Alanzo W. Benson, an enterprising and successful merchant, who conducts a general store at Paradise, Missouri, is one of the progressive business men of Clay County. He was born at Muncie, Indiana, August 17, 1866, a son of John and Katherine (Lewis) Benson.
John Benson was a native of Ohio and in early life removed to Indi- ana, where he was engaged in farming. In 1870, he came to Missouri and settled in Platte township, Clay County. He bought 120 acres of land and engaged in general farming and stock raising and was thus engaged at the time of his death, August 24, 1916. His widow who was a native of Indiana, now resides on the old home place in Platte township. two miles south of Paradise.
John and Katherine (Lewis) Benson were the parents of the follow- ing children: The two eldest were twins and died in infancy ; James, deceased; Elizabeth, deceased; Alanzo W., the subject of this sketch ; Addison W., St. Clair, Missouri; May, married Ed Francis, Clay County, Missouri; Preston O., lives on the home place: John, Liberty, Missouri ; and Luther S., lives on the home place
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Alanzo W. Benson was about four years old when the family came to Missouri and settled in Platte township. He received his education in the district school and remained on the home place until he was thirty-five years old. In early life, he operated rented land in the vicinity of his home and in 1895 he engaged in the hardware business at Paradise, Mis- souri. About five years later he added a general line of merchandise and for the past twenty years he has conducted a general store at Paradise. He has built up a large trade and carries a very complete stock of gen- eral merchandise. He owns his own building which has a frontage of twenty-eight feet and is fifty feet deep.
Mr. Benson was married January 22, 1890, to Miss Lucy D. Duncan, a daughter of William and Sallie (Morris) Duncan, a sketch of whom ap- pears in this volume. To Mr. and Mrs. Benson have been born four chil- dren: Sussie M., deceased; Alta M., married Curtis Hibberd and they live in Clay County ; Walter, lives at Colorado Springs, Colorado ; and Lorena B., lives at home.
Mr. Benson is a Democrat and Mrs Benson is a member of the Meth- odist Church, South. Mr. Benson has an extensive acquaintance in Clay County and stands high in the community.
Charles M. Killgore, of the firm of Jones and Killgore, extensive farmers and stockmen who own and operate a large tract of land in Platte township, is a native of Missouri. He was born in Clinton County, November 10, 1875. and is a son of John B. and Amanda (Jones) Killgore.
On September 6, 1899, Charles M. Killgore was married to Miss Helen Land, a daughter of E. B. and Ida (Wilson) Land, the former a native of Virginia and the latter of Clay County. Missouri. To Mr. and Mrs. Kill- gore have been born five children, as follows: Edwin A., Charles A., John B., Helen L., and Mary F., all of whom reside at home with their parents.
Martin A. Scott, a progressive and enterprising farmer and stock- man of Platte township, who is operating 210 acres of land, was born in Clay County, February 20, 1875. He is a son of James R. and Rosa (Aker) Scott. A more extensive history of the Scott family appears in this volume in connection with the biography of James R. Scott.
Martin A. Scott was reared on the home farm and received a good
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
public school education. He remained at home until he was twenty- eight years old, when he was married and went to Caldwell County, Mis- souri, where he operated rented land for three years. He then went to Clinton County and was engaged in farming for five years. In 1913, he returned to Clay County and rented the place which he now operates.
In 1914, his father bought the place which Martin A. Scott has con- tinued to operate until the present time. He carries on general farm- ing and stock raising and has met with success.
Mr. Scott was married at Plattsburg, Missouri, in 1904, to Miss Cecil Holmes. She is a daughter of William and Eliza (Shephard) Holmes, both natives of Ohio. William Holmes served in the Union army during the Civil War. To Mr. and Mrs. Scott have been born three children: Martin A., Jr., born August 17, 1912; Letta May, born November 15, 1915; and Margarie Winifred, born August 8, 1920, all of whom reside at home with their parents.
Mr. Scott is a Democrat and takes an active interest in local affairs. He has served as a member of the school board in Mitchell district and has been president of that organization for six years. Mrs. Scott is a member of the Royal Neighbors and the Methodist Church. He has an extensive acquaintance and stands high in Clay County.
Lee R. Aker, a well known and successful farmer and stock raiser of Platte township is a descendant of one of the early pioneer families of western Clay County. He was born on the place where he now lives, October 1, 1852, and is a son of Martin J. and Ann (Rollins) Aker.
Martin J. Aker was born near Paris, Kentucky, in 1814. He came to Missouri with his parents in 1828. They settled in Clay County and entered government land in what is now Platte township. Martin J. Aker entered government land here and at one time owned three hundred twenty acres, a part of which is now owned by Lee R. Aker. Here Mar- tin J. Aker was engaged in farming during his active career. In later life he retired and removed to Edgerton, Missouri, where he died August 5, 1893. His wife was also a native of Kentucky, born near Paris, in January, 1822. She died at Smithville. Missouri, in 1895 and her remains are buried by the side of her husband in Goss cemetery. They were the parents of twelve children as follows: James, deceased; Virginia, de- ceased; John, deceased; Mary S., deceased; Juliette, deceased; William Doniphan, deceased ; Rosanna, married James R. Scott, Clay County, Mis-
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
souri ; Lee R., the subject of this sketch ; Jacob, deceased; Emma L., Glas- gow, Missouri; Anna, married Henry Woods, Clay County ; and Preston T., Kansas City, Missouri.
Lee R. Aker was reared on the home farm in Platte township and received a good common school education in the district school. He remained at home with his parents until he was twenty-two years old and then engaged in farming rented land for five years. He then bought a farm of 160 acres in Platte County, Missouri, and for fourteen years he was successfully engaged in farming there He then came to Clay County and bought the old home place from his father. This farm contained 240 acres. He has made extensive improvements on the place and is suc- cessfully carrying on general farming and stock raising. He feeds cattle and hogs extensively and is recognized as one of the successful farmers of Platte township.
Mr. Aker was married December 24, 1874, to Miss Annie Benard and three children have been born to them: Erdly, who lives in Clay County; Carl R., Liberty, Missouri; and Eldon, lives in Iowa.
Mr. Aker is a Royal Arch Mason and has been a member of the Masonic Lodge at Smithville, Missouri, for twenty years. He is a Demo- crat and one of the dependable citizens of Platte township.
William C. Rice, a prominent farmer and stockman and a member of a pioneer family of this section of the state is a native son of Clay County. He was born on the place where he now resides in Platte township, May 25, 1878. He is a son of Melvin M. and Helen (Buster) Rice. Melvin Rice was a son of John C. Rice who was an early pioneer settler of this county.
William C. Rice was one of a family of six children, born to his par- ents, as follows: William C., the subject of this sketch; Anna, married Eardley Aker, Wichita, Kansas; Lee, deceased; Cannie, married Eldon Aker and they live in Iowa ; one child died in infancy ; and Goldie, married Trice Dedman and they live in Clinton County, Missouri.
Mr. Rice was educated in the Rocky Point district school and the Smithville High School. He was reared on the home farm and in early life acquired a thorough knowledge of the practical side of farming and stock raising. He remained at home until he was twenty years old when he engaged in farming on rented land and thus began his independent career; one year later, in 1899, he bought a farm of 101 acres in Platte
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County. After farming that place for one year, he sold it and bought a farm of 100 acres adjoining the old home place. He owned and operated this place for six years when he sold it and bought the old home place from his father. His grandfather, John C. Rice, bought this place in 1876, and at that time paid two dollars and twenty-five cents an acre for it and Mr. Rice has refused $300.00 an acre for this place. He has made a number of substantial and valuable improvements on the place and has one of the valuable and highly improved places of Platte township. In 1895, he built a large seven room, modern house which is equipped with a Delco lighting system, hot and cold running water and steam heat and he has erected two stock barns and other farm buildings. He has a complete water system on his place, the power being furnished by a gas engine. Altogether, his place is well located and well arranged for gen- eral farming and stock raising. He has raised cattle and hogs for the past twenty years and met with very satisfactory success. Mr. Rice has also devoted himself to horticulture to a successful degree. He has a twenty acre apple orchard which is one of the large orchards of the county
Mr. Rice was married at Edgerton, Missouri, August 2, 1911, to Miss Nellie Williams, They have no children.
Mr. Rice is a Knights Templar Mason and a member of the Shrine; he and Mrs. Rice are members of the Order of the Eastern Star. They are members of the Christian Church and he is a Democrat. He has always taken a keen interest in political matter and has served as delegate to a number of county conventions in both Platte and Clay counties. He is one of the successful men of affairs in Clay County.
Robert C. Taul, a well known citizen of Platte township, who is engaged in general farming and stock raising, belongs to a pioneer family of this part of Missouri. He was born in Bourbon County, Kentucky. October 30, 1866, a son of Benjamin I. and Patsy A. (Spencer) Taul.
Benjamin I. Taul was a native of Kentucky and came to Missouri a number of years before the Civil War He drove through from Ken- tucky with a team and wagon and brought three cows with him. After remaining in Platte County a short time, he settled permanently in Clay County. He was the owner of a large farm. During the Civil War he returned to Kentucky, but came back to Clay County after peace was declared and was engaged in farming here until the time of his death in
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
1888. His wife was also a native of Kentucky and now lives at Liberty, Missouri. They were the parents of the following children: Sallie B., married S. H. Lewis, who is now deceased, and she lives at Smithville, Missouri; James E., Clay County, Missouri; Mrs. Molly Neff, Liberty, Missouri; W. K., Clay County, Missouri; Maggie, deceased; John T., Platte township; Robert C., subject of this sketch; Maxie, married Hay- den Settle, Kearney, Missouri; Benjamin, St. Joseph, Missouri; Clarence, deceased; and Soper J., Liberty, Missouri.
Robert C. Taul was reared on a farm in Platte township and attended the public school in the Benson school district He remained at home until 1888, when he began operating rented land. One year later he moved to a farm which his wife owned in Platte township. After remain- ing there a year, he went to Oklahoma and bought 160 acres of land. Three years later he returned to Clay County and operated his mother's farm for three years. He then conducted a hotel at Paradise, Missouri, for eighteen months. After disposing of the hotel he was engaged in farming east of Paradise for three years, when he bought his present place of 155 acres. He has made numerous improvements and carries on general farming and stock raising and is also engaged in the hardware business at Paradise.
Robert C. Taul was married in Platte township, December 12, 1888, to Miss Julia W. Anderson, a daughter of Amos and Fannie (West) Anderson, both of whom are now deceased. To Mrs. and Mr. Taul have been born three children: Molly L., married J. K. Quinn, Smithville, Missouri; Burton, who lives in Platte township; and Allen N., who is engaged in the hardware business at Paradise.
Mr. Taul has been a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows for twelve years and he and Mrs Taul are members of the Christian Church. He is a Democrat and an enterprising and progressive citizen.
H. H. C. Snail, now deceased, was for many years prominently identi- fied with the business interests, growth and development of Smithville and vicinity. He was a native of Kentucky, born in Mercer County, Octo- ber 3, 1840. He was a son of William M. and Eliza (Brassfield) Snail.
William M. Snail was born in Virginia, August 7, 1798, and came to Missouri in 1849 and spent the latter part of his life in Smithville, where he died in 1855. Eliza (Brassfield) Snail was born in Kentucky, May 20,
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
1802, and was married to William M. Snail in that state. She died in Clay County, October 12, 1858.
H. H. C. Snail came to Missouri with his parents in 1849, when he was about nine years old. He was reared to manhood in the vicinity of Smithville and in early life engaged in farming and stock raising He first bought 155 acres of land and prospered and later bought more land and at the time of his death was the owner of 275 acres. He was a pro- gressive business man and possessed the ability and foresight which leads to success. He organized the Bank of Smithville in 1887 and was the first president of that institution and served in that capacity for twenty- five years. He died April 27, 1912, and his remains are buried in the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows cemetery at Smithville. He was public spirited and progressive and a successful business man. He was a mem- ber of the Masonic Lodge.
H. H. C. Snail was twice married, his first wife being Miss Abbie Brooks. She was a native of Clay County, born August 18, 1840. She attended school at the Prof. Love's College for Women at Liberty, Mis- souri. They were married at Plattsburg, January 24, 1861. She died March 13, 1886, and her remains are buried in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows cemetery at Smithville. To H. H. C. and Abbie (Brooks) Snail were born three children: Willie A, died in infancy; Mattie E., was educated at Christian College and is a director in the Bank of Smith- ville, resides in Smithville; and Imogene, married B. W. Thatcher and they live in Clay County.
October 2, 1888, H. H. C. Snail was united in marriage with Miss Catharine Collins, who was reared and educated in Platte City, Missouri. She is a daughter of P. H. and Joan (Miller) Collins, the former a native of Ohio and the latter of Mississippi. P. H. Collins lived to the advanced age of ninety-one years.
The Snail family is an old American family and dates back in this country to colonial times. Christopher Snail, grandfather of H. H. C. Snail, was a Revolutionary soldier and served under Washington.
Mrs Snail resides at Smithville and is one of the estimable women of Clay County. She was educated at Daughters College, Plattsburg, Missouri, and graduated from that institution in 1888. Mrs. Snail is a member of the Christian Church of Smithville, Missouri. She is county president of Christian Woman's Missionary Society.
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
Dr. Charles H. Suddarth, a prominent physician and surgeon of Ex- celsior Springs, is a native of Clay County and belongs to a family of Missouri pioneers. He was born at Randolph, Missouri, June 18, 1869, a son of J. C. and Morning (Thorp) Suddarth, who were the parents of eight children, all of whom are living.
J. C. Suddarth was born in Cooper County, Missouri, near Boonville, May 12, 1844, and died March 1, 1908. He was a son of Lewis and Martha (McDonald) Suddarth, natives of Albemarle County, Virginia. They drove through from Virginia to Missouri with an ox team. In 1844, they settled in Clay County. J. C. Suddarth was engaged in the grocery and meat business at Smithville for a time. During the Civil War he served in Company F, Shank's Regiment, General Joe Shelby's Brigade. He was in the service three years and eight months, and was with his com- mand when it surrendered at Shreveport, Louisiana. He then took a river steamer as far as St. Louis, and walked from there to his home in Clay County.
Morning (Thorp) Suddarth, Dr. Suddarth's mother, was born near Parkville. Platte County, and died February 17, 1896, aged fifty-six years. She was a daughter of Zachariah and Emmeline (Ellis) Thorp, natives of Kentucky, who came to Platte County. Missouri, in 1834; and Mr. Thorp entered land seven miles west of Liberty. Mrs. Suddarth was active in works of mercy during the Civil War days. She cared for and nursed a great many who were wounded at the time the Redlegs from Kansas invaded this territory. The work that she carried on was similar to that of the Red Cross, although she had little assistance.
Dr. Suddarth was reared on a farm and attended the district school. and later attended the Kansas City High School. He was a traveling salesman for five years when he entered the College of Physicians of Kansas City, Kansas. He was graduated in 1898, with the degree of Doc- tor of Medicine, and practiced at Waldron, Missouri, until 1902. He was then engaged in practice at Smithville until 1917, when he came to Ex- celsior Springs, and has engaged in the practice of his profession here since that time. He is an able physician and a close student of the science of medicine. He has been successful in his professional work and has built up a large practice and is one of the leading physicians of Clay County.
December 24, 1891. Dr. Suddarth was married to Miss Hazel Agnes Harbaugh, a native of Noblesville. Indiana.
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DR. C. H. SUDDARTH
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
Dr. Suddarth is a Democrat and for ten years has been a member of the Democratic Central Committee of Clay County and was County Chairman for two years. He is a Scottish Rite Mason and a member of the Mystic Shrine. He belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen of America. The Doctor and Mrs. Suddarth are members of the Christian Church and Mrs. Suddarth is a member of the Eastern Star and the Rebekahs.
R. H. Irminger, a prosperous farmer and stockman of Platte town- ship, is a native of Clay County and belongs to a pioneer family of this section of the state. He was born in Clay County, February 13, 1865, a son of John and Catherine (Hammel) Irminger.
John Irminger was born in Switzerland in 1831 and came to America with his father, Rudolph Irminger, who was a very early settler in Clay County and entered government land liere. He owned a farm near Lib- erty and at the time of his death his land holdings there consisted of 250 acres. John Irminger served in the Union army during the Civil War and after the war engaged in farming and stock raising and was a suc- cessful and influential man. He died north of Liberty, in November, 1904. Catherine (Hammel) Irminger was born in Germany in 1831. She died on the home farm near Liberty, in 1894, and she and her hus- band are buried in Mount Zoar Church cemetery. They were the par- ents of seven children: John, deceased; one died in infancy; William, lives at Liberty, Missouri; Francis, deceased; Carrie, a widow, who now resides at Iola, Kansas; R. H., the subject of this sketch; and Lewis, who lives in Clay County, Missouri.
R H. Irminger was reared on the home place in Clay County and attended school in the Nebo school district. He remained at home with his parents until he was twenty-five years old, when he bought forty- seven acres of his present farm. He has added to his original purchase from time to time until he is now the owner of 409 acres of well improved and productive farm land. He built a large modern residence of twelve rooms in 1909 and he has two large stock barns on the place and his arrangements for feeding and caring for cattle and hogs on an extensive scale are very complete.
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