USA > Missouri > Clay County > History of Clay County, Missouri > Part 44
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Mr. Irminger was married in Kearney township, October 17, 1889, to Miss Christina Fisher and to this union seven children have been born: Lillie, who resides at home with her parents; Eva, married Hugh Dunn,
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of Liberty, Missouri; Grace, resides at home; Marvin, a farmer and stock- man in Clay County ; Lawrence, resides at home; Stella, at home; and William, at home.
Mr. Irminger is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and is a Republican. He belongs to the Methodist Church and Mrs. Irm- inger also holds membership in that church. Mr. Irminger is a stock- holder in the Bank of Paradise and is a progressive and public spirited citizen.
Bernard S. Borgmier, a well known farmer and stockman of Platte township, is a native of Missouri. He was born near Holt, in Clinton County, April 15, 1889, a son of B. S. and Laura (Moore) Borgmier.
B. S. Borgmier was born in Kentucky, near Louisville, in 1852, and came to Missouri with his parents in 1866. The family settled near Lawson and B. S. Borgmier grew to manhood in that vicinity and was engaged in farming in this county throughout his active career. He owned land in Kansas, although he never lived there. He died July 6, 1920, and his remains are buried in Mount Olivet cemetery. Laura (Moore) Borgmier was born in Clay County, January 12, 1856. She was reared and married here and now lives in Kansas.
To B. S. and Laura (Moore) Borgmier were born seven children, as follows: Carrie, married Oliver Maddox and they live in Kansas ; Willie, deceased; Grover, lives in Clay County : Alta, married W. B. Wilkerson, Clay County ; Bernard S., the subject of this sketch; Clyde, Clay County ; and Francis, lives in Kansas.
Bernard S. Borgmier was reared in Clay County and attended school in the Gordon school district. He remained on the home farm until he was twenty-four years old when he was married and began farming on rented land. Two years later he bought his present farm which consists of seventy-eight acres. He has a well improved place with good build- ings. He carries on general farming and stock raising and is meeting with success.
November 4, 1912, Bernard S. Borgmier was married to Miss Elma Thomason and to this union has been born one child, Marvin Wilson.
Mr. and Mrs. Borgmier belong to the Christian Church and he is a Democrat and holds membership in the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows. He is an enterprising and substantial citizen and has met with success.
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
D. P. Bainbridge, a well known and successful farmer and stockman of Platte township, is a native of Missouri and a member of one of the pioneer families of this state. He was born in Clinton County, February 4, 1862, and is a son of Darius and Mary (Aker) Bainbridge.
Darius Bainbridge was born in Wisconsin in 1830 and came to Mis- souri with his parents several years before the Civil War. The family had started from their home in Wisconsin to California, but settled in Clay County where Darius Bainbridge's father bought a farm of 240 acres. D. P. Bainbridge now owns 160 acres of the land where his grand- father settled.
Darius Bainbridge remained in Clay County until he was married when he removed to Clinton County. He built a mill there which was one of the pioneer grist mills and was known as the Bainbridge mill. He was living in Clinton County when the Civil War broke out and at the time of that conflict he joined the Confederate army. He became captain of a company in General Price's division and took part in a number of engagements. He was wounded at the battle of Wilson Creek and died from the effect of his wound and was buried in Springfield, Missouri. Mary (Aker) Bainbridge was born in Clay County, Missouri, in 1832 and died September 12, 1900, and her remains are buried in Goss cemetery, in Clay County. Darius and Mary (Aker) Bainbridge were the parents of five children as follows: Bell, married Miles Snell and lives in Colorado ; William, lives in California; Mollie, married Douglass Barnard, and they live in Colorado; Albert, lives in Lafayette County, Missouri; and D. P., the subject of this sketch.
D. P. Bainbridge was reared in Clay County and attended the Rocky Point district school in Platte township. He remained at home and assisted his mother until he was eighteen years old. He then operated land which he rented from his mother for a time until he purchased a forty acre farm in 1883. Later he sold that and bought 100 acres of land which is a part of his present farm. He bought more land from time to time and is now the owner of 2221/2 acres. He has made several im- provements of a substantial character, including a large eleven room resi- dence, a good stock barn and other buildings. He carries on general farming and stock raising and has met with uniform success in his under- takings.
On October 14, 1896, D. P. Bainbridge was married, at Liberty, Mis- souri, to Miss Ella Walker. Four children have been born to them, as
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follows: Ethel, married John D. Lutes, of Platte County, Missouri; Nova, Vista and Virgil, all of whom reside at home, except Ethel.
Mr. Bainbridge is a Democrat and he and Mrs. Bainbridge are mem- bers of the Christian Church. Mr. Bainbridge is a progressive and enter- prising citizen and the Bainbridge family are well known and stand high in the community.
E. P. Heathman, who is successfully engaged in farming and stock raising in Platte township, Clay County, is a native of this county. He was born in Platte township, June 1, 1869, and is a son of Joseph M. and Sophia R. (Rollins) Heathman.
Joseph M. Heathman was born in Bourbon County, Kentucky, May 30, 1840. He was a son of Elias and Patsy (Riggs) Heathman, the former a native of Bourbon County, Kentucky, born in 1809, and the lat- ter a native of Nicholas, Kentucky, and a daughter of Eranus and Elea- nore (Willcox) Riggs.
Joseph M. Heathman came to Missouri with his parents in 1846. For a number of years in early manhood he taught school and also clerked in a store. In 1853, he crossed the plains to Colorado. He returned to Missouri about the time the Civil War broke out and entered the Con- federate army. He served in General Price's division and was in a num- ber of engagements with Price's army, including the battle of Pea Ridge, Arkansas. After the war closed, he settled in Monroe County where he remained a few years when he came to Clay County. Here he bought a farm of 105 acres and was successfully engaged in farming and stock raising during his active career. He is now living retired at Smithville, Missouri, and is eighty years old. He is one of the honored pioneer set- tlers of Clay County.
Sophia R. (Rollins) Heathman was born in Platte township, Clay County, November 18, 1844, and died at Smithville, July 3, 1911, and her remains are buried in the Odd Fellows cemetery at Smithville. To Joseph and Sophia R. (Rollins) Heathman were born the following children: Lillian, married John T. Brooks, Lexington, Missouri; Lula, married G. R. Breckenridge, Smithville, Missouri; E. P., the subject of this sketch; Annie, married John R. Purdy and they live in Clay County; America, married L. C. Sherry, Riverside County, California ; M. J., Dearborn, Mis- souri ; and Charles F., Smithville, Missouri.
E. P. Heathman was reared on the home farm in Platte township
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and received his education in the Paradise district school. He remained at home with his parents until he was twenty years old. He then en- gaged in farming rented land in Platte township until 1900. At that time he went to Colorado where he was engaged in gold mining at the Elkton mine for seven years. In August, 1907, he returned to Clay County and was again engaged in farming rented land for three years. He then bought eighty acres north of Paradise, where he remained for five years when he sold it and bought his present place of 105 acres. Here he carried on general farming and stock raising and is recognized as one of the substantial men of his neighborhood.
On July 25, 1891, E. P. Heathman and Arabella King were married. She is a daughter of Samuel and Caroline (McGee) King. Samuel King was born in Summer County, Tennessee, December 2, 1835. He was mar- ried January 21, 1861 and came to Clay County where he was engaged in farming and stock raising. He died here March 17, 1910, and his remains are buried in Pleasant Hill cemetery, in Clinton County. Caroline (McGee) King was born in Clay County, Missouri, January 2, 1842, and died July 15, 1913. To Samuel and Caroline (McGee) King were born three children as follows: Sarah, married W. D. John and they live in Oregon; Arabella, married E. P. Heathman, the subject of this sketch ; and Mary E., married H. A. McCollugh, Caldwell, Idaho.
To Mr. and Mrs. E. P. Heathman were born four children as follows : Clifton M., born December 30, 1892, and now lives at Arkansas City, Kansas; Crawford S., born May 2, 1895, and died August 18, 1897; Ruby Agnes, born July 4, 1897, resides at home with her parents; and Annie B., born July 13, 1899, married Edgar Wright and they live in Clay County.
Mr. Heathman is a Democrat and a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He and Mrs. Heathman belong to the Methodist Church. They have an extensive acquaintance and stand high in Platte township and Clay County.
David M. Bevins, a successful farmer of Kearney township, is a native of Clay County and was born in the township where he now re- sides, September 30, 1887. He is a son of Riley E. and Mary (Major) Bevins.
Riley E. Bevins was also a native of Clay County, having been born on the old Bevins home place in Kearney township, in 1857. He was a
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son of David M. and Hulda Bevins. Riley E. Bevins was a successful business man and for twelve years was engaged in the milling business. He was a stockholder in the First National Bank of Liberty, and at the time of his death was the owner of 805 acres of land in Kearney town- ship. He died on that place May 8, 1909, and his remains are buried at Liberty, Missouri.
Mary (Major) Bevins was born in Kearney township in 1858 and was a member of a pioneer family of that section. She died in 1901 and her remains are buried at Liberty, Missouri. Riley E. and Mary (Major) Bevins were the parents of the following children: Ruby Bethune re- sides in Kearney township; David M., the subject of this sketch; and Riley S., of Liberty, Missouri.
David M. Bevins was reared in Kearney township and attended the Liberty public schools. Later he attended William Jewel College. In 1907, he engaged in farming on the home place in Kearney township. This is one of the valuable farms of Clay County. It contains 805 acres of productive land and Mr. Bevins has made extensive and substantial improvements, including a large modern residence and since coming to the place he has made other improvements, including the erection of a barn. He carries on general farming and stock raising and is recognized as one of the successful men of affairs of Clay County.
Mr. Bevins was married December 18, 1906, to Miss Omma Blanche Ditmars. Mr. Bevins is a Democrat and one of the substantial men of Clay County.
Fred Hessel. a prominent citizen of Kearney township, who is a leading farmer and stockman of that section, is a native of Clay County. He was born on the farm where he now resides, April 29, 1856, a son of Conrad and Gottleiben (Heintz) Hessel.
Conrad Hessel was born in Germany, February 7, 1821. He first settled in Ohio, after coming to the United States, and later came to Mis- souri and settled in Clay County and entered government land in Kearney township. In 1849, during the gold excitement in California, he made the trip overland with ox teams and after reaching California, he sold his oxen for more than he paid for them in Missouri. After spending a few years in California, he returned to Clay County and redeemed his land in Kearney township and paid for it. He followed farming and stock rais- ing throughout his life and met with success. He died in Kearney town-
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ship, October 27, 1897. His wife was born in Wittenburg, Germany, April 11, 1830. She came to this country when a young woman with some friends and she and Mr. Hessel were married at Weston, in Platte County. She died on the home place in Kearney township, June 15, 1900. Conrad Hessel took a prominent part in local affairs and for a number of years was one of the trustees of Arley Church. At the time of his death, he owned 600 acres of land. During the Civil War, he served in the state militia.
To Conrad Hessel and wife were born the following children: Fred, the subject of this sketch; Katherine, deceased; Mary, deceased; Eliza- beth, married Otto Weber and lives in Clay County ; Barbara, lives in Cali- fornia; Louis, lives on the home place in Kearney township; Conrad, lives in Clay County ; Christina, married Philip Weber, Edwardsville, Illinois ; and Lydia, deceased.
Fred Hessel was reared in Kearney township and educated in the district schools. He remained at home with his parents until he was twenty-one years old. He then rented a part of the home farm and farmed for four years. At first, he bought twenty-four acres of the home place and later bought more land from the other heirs until he is now the owner of 320 acres. At one time he owned 1,250 acres which he profitably sold from time to time. He has one of the well improved farms of Clay County. He has a good nine room modern residence and a splendid three story barn, 32 x 40 feet. The improvements about his place are of a substantial and high class character. He carries on general farming and stock raising and is an extensive feeder. He also buys and ships a great deal of stock.
Mr. Hessel was married at Liberty, Missouri, September 30, 1880, to Miss Katherine Weber. She is a daughter of Samuel and Anna (Irm- inger) Weber, both natives of Switzerland. Samuel Weber was born July 20, 1825, and his wife August 25, 1829. Samuel Weber came to the United States in 1841. He settled in Liberty township where he was engaged in farming. When the Civil War broke out, he enlisted in the Union army and served until the close of the war. He died January 4, 1915. Samuel and Anna (Irminger) Weber were the parents of the fol- lowing children: Susan, married Henry Miller, Andrew County. Mis- souri; Lewis, Kansas City, Missouri; Mattie, married John Lindau, Lib- erty, Missouri; Elizabeth, deceased; Katherine, wife of Fred Hessel, of this review; Elizabeth, married Conrad Hessel; Matilda, married Joseph
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Ray, Andrew County, Missouri; Rudolph, Kansas City, Missouri; Jose- phine, married Jewell Kampeyer, Manhattan, Kansas; Bertha, deceased; Christina, died in infancy.
To Mr. and Mrs. Fred Hessel have been born the following children: Emeline, born August 18, 1881, married Edward Nolting, Kearney town- ship; Lulu S., born June 11, 1883, married Ben Neudeck, Kearney town- ship; Albert L., born April 4, 1885, lives at Liberty; Milton S., born February 25, 1887, lives in Clay County ; Olin J., born January 11, 1889, lives in California ; William Rudolph, born August 4, 1891, Boston, Massa- chusetts; Elmer W., born May 22, 1894, and died November 3, 1895; Estelle, born June 22, 1897, and died July 27, 1901.
Mr. Hessel is a Republican and he and his wife are members of the Methodist Church. He was one of the organizers of the Kearney Com- mercial Bank and is vice-president of that institution. He is a public spirited man and one of the substantial citizens of Clay County.
Andy W. Collins, a widely known and successful farmer and stockman of Platte township, belongs to a family of Clay County pioneers. He was born in Platte township, on the place where he now resides, March 9, 1878, and is a son of Fine and Nanny (Brooks) Collins.
Fine Collins was born west of Liberty, Clay County, in 1834. He was a farmer all his life, and died at Smithville in 1911. His wife was also a native of Clay County and was born on the place where Andy W. Collins now lives, in 1837, and died in 1887. She and her husband are buried in Little Shoal cemetery. They were the parents of the following children: William, deceased; Maggie, married G. C. Royse, Omaha, Ne- braska; Alice, deceased ; Abijah, deceased; Lutie, deceased; Sim, lives at Mosby, Missouri; Andy W., the subject of this sketch; Anna, married Rube Sprague and they live in Colorado; John, Gashland, Missouri; and Charlie, deceased.
Andy W. Collins was reared in Platte township, and attended school at the Gordon school house. He was nine years of age when his mother died, and at that time he went to live with his grandmother, Mrs. Mar- garet Brooks, who then owned the place where he now resides. He grew to manhood on this farm, and in his boyhood days, assisted in its opera- tions. When his grandmother died, she willed the place to him. It orig- inally contained one hundred acres, and he bought forty acres more in 1902. He has made many improvements on the place, including a modern
RESIDENCE OF ANDY COLLINS
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
eight-room residence which he built in 1912, and he has also two stock barns. He raises pure bred Poland China hogs, and is also engaged in cattle feeding as well as general farming.
Mr. Collins was married at Paradise, Missouri, August 7, 1901, to Miss Aurora Hulse, and three children have been born to this union: Margaret, born June 10, 1902; Georgia, born August 13, 1903; and Martha F., born December 25, 1908. All of the daughters reside at home with their parents.
Mr. Collins is a Democrat and a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He and Mrs. Col- lins are members of the Methodist Church and she holds membership in the Royal Neighbors.
Louis Hessel, a progressive and well-to-do farmer and stockman of Kearney township, is a native of Clay County and a member of one of the early pioneer families of this section. He was born on the place where he now resides May 31, 1864, and is a son of Conrad and Gottleaben (Heinz) Hessel. A complete history of the Hessel family appears in connection with biographical sketch of Fred Hessel, a brother of Louis Hessel which appears in this volume.
Louis Hessel was reared on his father's farm in Kearney township, and was educated in the district school in that neighborhood. He re- mained at home with his father and worked on the home place until he was twenty-one years old. His father then gave him eighty acres of land which was a part of the old home place and he and his father con- tinued to carry on farming and stock raising in partnership until the death of the father. Louis Hessel then bought the remainder of the home place which consists of 256 acres and is one of the valuable farms of Kearney township. The place is well improved with a good residence which was built in 1907, which is a complete modern structure and a large barn was built in 1910. The place is well adapted to both general farming and stock raising. An ample supply of water is pumped by wind- mill and the improvements are conveniently arranged. Mr. Hessel carries on general farming and stock raising and is a very successful feeder of cattle and hogs.
On June 6, 1898, Louis Hessel was united in marriage with Miss Laura Matilda Smith at Hoisington, Kansas. She is a daughter of Henry and Anna (Gehrs) Smith. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs.
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Hessel as follows: Anna, born August 30, 1899, and Elmer, born July 13, 1902, both of whom reside at home with their parents.
Mr. Hessel is a member of the board of directors of the Kearney Bank and has served in that capacity since 1907; he has served a num- ber of years as a member of the school board of the Orley school district. He is a Republican and he and Mrs. Hessel are members of the Methodist Church. He is progressive and public spirited and one of the substan- .
tial men of affairs of Clay County.
Joseph L. Evans, well known farmer and stockman of Kearney town- ship, is a native of Clay County. He was born at Liberty, September 16, 1862, a son of Joseph L. and Sarah (Rice) Evans.
Joseph L. Evans, the father, was born in Jefferson County, Virginia, in 1826. He was reared to manhood in his native state and in 1850 he came to Missouri and located at Liberty. He was a carriage maker and conducted a shop at Liberty until 1866. He then went to Kansas City, Missouri, where he remained until 1872, when he returned to Clay County and died at Kearney, February 11, 1886. During the Civil War he served as marshall of Liberty and was also a member of the state militia.
Sarah (Rice) Evans was born in Woodford County, Kentucky, July 20, 1833. She died at Kearney, Missouri, January 20, 1916, and she and her husband are buried in the cemetery at Kearney. They were the par- ents of the following children: William, deceased; D. W., lives in Louisi- ana ; Mary, married Robert Anderson, and is deceased; Joseph L., the sub- ject of this sketch; Charles, lives in Arkansas; Nannie, married W. H. Coates, Kearney, Missouri; Jennie, married H. B. Greer, Woodford, Okla- homa; Maude, lives in Oklahoma; and Sidney, died in infancy.
Joseph L. Evans attended the district schools of Clay County and the public schools of Kansas City, Missouri. After the death of his father he remained with his mother until he was thirty years old. He was then in the livery business at Kearney for a year when he went to Brookfield, Missouri, and after remaining there a year, he returned to the farm in Kearney township, where he remained four years. In 1898, he bought a farm of eighty acres in Kearney township and later bought sixty acres more. He has made substantial improvements; in 1912. he built a six room residence and has two good stock barns. He carries on general farming and stock raising and has met with uniform success.
On November 16, 1893, Joseph L. Evans was married to Miss Mary
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Messick, a daughter of Emanuel and Emily (Laffoon) Messick, both natives of Kentucky. Emanuel Messick was born January 10, 1835. He followed farming and stock raising all his life and died at Kearney in 1900. His wife was born in Kentucky in 1841. They were married September 5, 1858, and she died at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Evans in Kearney township, in 1906. Mrs. Evans was one of the following chil- dren born to her parents, all of whom are deceased except Francis and Mrs. Evans ; Samuel; Allen B .; Ryland; Francis, married W. T. Courtney, Excelsior Springs, Missouri; Edward : Mary, married Joseph L. Evans of this review; Annie and Jessie.
To Mr. and Mrs. Evans have been born the following children: Cecil D., Liberty, Missouri; Fred, resides at home; Ralph, Liberty, Mis- souri ; Nannie F., died in 1901, at the age of one year: Dorothy, at home; and Allen B., at home.
Mr. Evans has been a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows for ten years. He is a Democrat and he and Mrs. Evans are members of the Baptist Church.
Thomas H. Henderson, who conducts a flour mill and grain elevator at Kearney, is a successful business man and one of the progressive citizens of Kearney. He was born in Clinton County, Missouri, August 28, 1862, and is a son of James D. and Susan L. (O'Donnell) Henderson.
James D. Henderson was also a native of Clinton County, Missouri, born in February, 1838. He was a farmer and stock raiser for a number of years in Clinton County and later moved to Dekalb County, where he also followed farming for many years. He died in 1883. His wife was also a native of Clinton County, born August 28, 1841, and now lives in Kearney. They were the parents of the following children: Thomas H., the subject of this sketch; Minnie C., married John Eby, Excelsior Springs, Missouri ; James D., Kearney, Missouri ; Gertrude, married James Weakley, Kearney, Missouri; Lynn C., Liberty, Missouri ; Lillie, deceased ; and one died in infancy.
Thomas H. Henderson was reared in Clinton County and attended the district schools. He remained at home until he was twenty-one years old and then rented land from his grandfather O'Donnell. Later he bought 100 acres of land in Clinton County, near Cameron, where he followed farming five years. In 1885, he went to Holt and built a flour mill which he operated and conducted a grain business there until 1897.
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He then came to Kearney and built a mill which he has since operated. This mill is equipped with all modern milling machinery and has a daily capacity of sixty barrels of flour. In 1913, he built a complete modern elevator which has a capacity of 14,000 bushels of grain and is well equipped for handling large quantities of grain conveniently and economically.
Mr. Henderson was married March 4, 1876, to Miss Elizabeth Gabriel. She died in 1906. To that union were born three children: Lorena, de- ceased ; Dean, died in infancy ; and Bessie, deceased. On August 12, 1908, Mr. Henderson was married to Miss Lula Jennett.
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