History of Clay County, Missouri, Part 46

Author: Woodson, W. H. (William H.), 1840-
Publication date: 1920
Publisher: Topeka, [Kan.] : Historical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 780


USA > Missouri > Clay County > History of Clay County, Missouri > Part 46


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W. H. Meservey was educated in the public schools of Ft. Dodge and became identified with The First National Bank, of which he is now president.


The First National Bank of Excelsior Springs was founded in May, 1905. The organizers of the bank were Colonel Gordon, C. S. Jobes. Kansas City, Missouri, A. M. Bates and J. M. Kern. They were men of sound judgment who believed thoroughly in Excelsior Springs and its great future. In its second year, 1907. this bank withstood the financial flurry which swept over the country, always making full payment in legal tender, while thousands of banks throughout the nation were making only partial payments and that in script.


From 1907 on the growth of the bank continued steadily and its straightforward and clean business methods won its way into the hearts


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of the people. The present management acquired control of the institu- tion in 1914, continuing the work of their predecessors and with many added departments for service which modern times require. The busi- ness has been increased over $350,000.00 since 1907.


The present officers of the bank are: W. H. Meservey, president; William McKee, vice-president; B. N. Meservey, cashier; E. B. Brasher and Neal Ross, assistant cashiers.


W. H. Meservey was married at Excelsior Springs to Miss Mabel Crockett. a daughter of William and Mary J. (McGeorge) Crockett, the former of whom is now deceased, and Mrs. Crockett resides at Excelsior Springs with Mr. and Mrs. Meservey.


Mr. Meservey is a member of the Episcopal Church and is a Repub- lican.


B. M. Meservey, the well known cashier of The First National Bank, of Excelsior Springs, is one of the successful bankers of Clay County. He was born at Cherokee, Iowa, October 19, 1882, a son of A. F. and Kate H. (Hull) Meservey, the former a native of Illinois and the latter of New York.


A. F. Meservey was a prominent lawyer of Iowa during his active professional career. He practiced at . Cherokee and Ft. Dodge and was recognized as one of the leading lawyers of that section. He and his wife now reside at Long Beach, California. They were the parents of three children: Kate, married J. M. Plaister, of Ft. Dodge, Iowa; B. M., the subject of this sketch; and W. H., president of the First National Bank of Excelsior Springs.


B. M. Meservey was reared at Ft. Dodge, Iowa, and educated in the public schools. After graduating from the Ft. Dodge High School, he became superintendent of a gypsum mine at Ft. Dodge and later served in the same capacity at Eldorado, Oklahoma, and Oak Field, New York, and for eight years was employed in that line of industry. In 1912, Mr. Meservey became assistant cashier of the First National Bank of Excel- sior Springs and in 1917, he was elected cashier and has since served in that capacity.


Mr. Meseryey was married in 1909 to Miss Ann Whiting, a native of Boston, Massachusetts and they have one child, Dorothy.


Mr. Meservey is a member of the Episcopal Church and is Inde- pendent in politics.


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Alvin Dudfield. proprietor the Liberty Plumbing and Heating Com- pany. is a progressive business man. and is at the head of one of the im- portant enterprises of Liberty.


The Liberty Plumbing and Heating Company was established by Dudfield and Klepper in 1907. and is located at 116 West Kansas Street. This company does all kinds of plumbing. heating and sheet metal work. They manufacture a number of specialties. an important one of which is Dudfield's All Metal Dustless Crayon Trough, an invention of Mr. Dud- field, of which he holds the patent. Metal merchant delivery baskets are also manufactured here. They handle the best heating equipment known to the trade. including the Twentieth Century Pipe and Pipeless Furnaces and the Coloric Pipeless Furnaces. This concern does extensive plumbing and heating work and have done some of the finest work of that character in Clay County, including the work in the residence of George T. Hall and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows' home, and they also did the work in the Camden Point Consolidated School building. Mr. Dudfield in 1910 bought out Mr. Klepper's interests in this company and has since conducted the business alone.


The Liberty Plumbing and Heating Company occupies the first floor of a fire-proof building. 30x70 feet, which is owned by Mr. Dudfield and was built in 1913. The local telephone company occupies the entire second floor. Mr. Dudfield employs about ten men on an average. and does an extensive business.


Alvin Dudleld is a native of Clay County. He was born near Holt, Missouri, March 1. 1868, and is a son of William H. and Elizabeth (Marsh) Dudfield. William H. Dudfield was married three times. His first wife. Elizabeth (Marsh) Dudneld, died in 1873. and he afterwards married Mrs. Hayes, a widow, who died in 1981. He then married Mary A. Palmer. who died in 1912. William H. Dudfield died in 1909


Alvin Dudfield has one brother. William Dudfield, who is with the Townley Metal and Hardware Company. of Kansas City. Missouri. One brother. Wayman. died at the age of three years. Alvin Dudfield was educated in the public schools of Holt and Lathrop, Missouri, and in early life learned the sheet metal trade. serving an apprenticeship of four years. He learned the plumbing trade in Chicago and has always followed plumb- ing and sheet metal work. and is an expert in those lines.


Mr. Dudfield takes a commendable interest in public affairs. notwith- standing the fact that he is a busy man. He is a member of the Knights


ALVIN DUDFIELD


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of Pythias and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and holds member- ship of the American Society of Heating and Ventilating Engineers of Kansas City, Missouri.


R. T. Stephens, a well known and successful attorney of Excelsior Springs, is a native of this state. He was born in Caldwell County, October 10, 1881, a son of Edward and Eliza (Evans) Stephens.


Edward Stephens was born in Wales in 1848 and Eliza (Evans) Stephens was also born in Wales, September 2, 1849. They were married in their native land July 16, 1870, and the following October came to the United States and settled in Caldwell County, Missouri. Here the father was engaged in farming and stock raising until the time of his death in 1889. The mother died October 23, 1920, in Caldwell County.


R. T. Stephens was one of a family of nine children born to his par- ents. Ile was reared on the home farm in Caldwell County and attended the public schools. Later, he entered William Jewell College at Liberty, Missouri, where he was graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Arts, in the class of 1907. In 1911, he was granted the degree of Master of Arts by William Jewell College. In the meantime, he entered the Kan- sas City School of Law where he was graduated in June, 1910, and after being admitted to the bar, he engaged in the practice of law at Excelsior Springs where he has built up a good practice and won a reputation as an able and conscientious lawyer. June 1, 1912, Mr. Stephens was ap- pointed to fill out an unexpired term of O. T. Wyman as city attorney of Excelsior Springs. He was elected at the expiration of that term and has been re-elected to the office of city attorney since.


Mr. Stephens is a Republican and a member of the Baptist Church and holds membership in the Masonic Lodge.


E. Thomas, better known as "Non" Thomas, president of the Excel- sior Trust Company at Excelsior Springs, Missouri, is a native Missourian and a member of a pioneer family of this state. He was born in DeKalb County March 1, 1858, a son of Ennis C. and Sarah A. (Allen) Thomas, being the oldest of nine children born to them.


Ennis C. Thomas was born in Montgomery County, Kentucky. He came from Mt. Sterling, Kentucky, to Pleasant Ridge, Missouri, at an early day. He taught school for a time and was later engaged in farming


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in DeKalb County. Afterwards. in 1870, he was president of Plattsburg College at Plattsburg. Missouri. for a time. In 1872 he bought an interest in the Clinton County Register. and was engaged in newspaper work at Plattsburg for a number of years. He consolidated the "Register" with the "Lever" and later also published the "Argus" at Plattsburg, Missouri, which was edited by "Non" Thomas and William Nelson. His sons were associated with him in newspaper work most of the time. He finally sold out his newspaper interests at Plattsburg and went to Oklanoma where he was engaged in farming for a few years when he returned to Platts- burg. He then bought property in Coeur D'Alene. Idaho, where he died in 1908. at the age of eighty years. His widow now resides there and is eighty-one years old.


"Non" Thomas was educated in Plattsburg College. In early life he engaged in the newspaper business with his father. In 1886, he was elected circuit clerk of Clinton County and served eight years. In 1895 he engaged in the hardware business at Plattsburg. and two years later sold his interest in that business and engaged in the same business at Trenton. Missouri. for five years when he sold his business and engaged in the title and abstract business at Plattsburg. In 1912 he came to Clay County and bought a farm northwest of Excelsior Springs, and was engaged in general farming and breeding of registered Jersey cattle until 1918. He then lived in Carrollton about a year. and in December. 1919. became president of the Excelsior Springs Trust Company. This institution was organized June 3. 1919.


Mr. Thomas was married September 28. 1887. to Willie C. Darr. who is a daughter of Judge William Z. Darr, a prominent stockman and pioneer citizen of Carroll County. Missouri. He afterwards moved to Plattsburg. Missouri. where he was elected Probate Judge of Clinton County. Missouri. in 1902. and died before he served a year of his term.


Mr. Thomas is a Democrat and a member of the Christian Church. He is a Mason and a Shriner and belongs to Ararat Temple. Kansas City. Missouri.


W. T. McRorey, who is successfully engaged in the general insurance business at 205 Spring street. Excelsior Springs, Missouri. is a native of this county. He was born at old Greenville. Clay County, Missouri, May 22. 1866, a shn of John and Mary (Barrow) McRorey.


John McRorey was a native of Orange County. North Carolina, and


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his wife was born at Church Creek, Maryland. John McRorey came to Clay County with his parents about 1840, when he was two years old. He was a son of Thomas and Sarah (Prather) McRorey, natives of North Carolina. They drove from that state to Missouri with ox teams and wagons.


John McRorey followed farming and stock raising in Clinton County, Missouri, for many years, during the early part of his career, but spent his latter life in Clay County. He died here at the age of seventy-six years. Mary E. (Barrow) McRorey was a daughter of William C. and Ann Barrow, the former a native of Maryland, and the latter of Edinburgh, Scotland. They came to Missouri from Maryland, about 1854, and settled in Platte County. Later they removed to Kansas where they homesteaded Government land and remained there until the beginning of border war troubles, when they returned to Platte County and there spent the re- mainder of their lives.


To John and Mary E (Barrow) McRorey were born the following children: W. T., the subject of this sketch; Olen, died at the age of six years; Jessie, lives in Kansas City, Missouri; and John E., Kansas City, Missouri.


W. T. McRorey was reared on a farm until he was fifteen years old, and received his education in the public schools. He came to Excelsior Springs in 1884, and in 1889 he engaged in the banking business here. He was cashier of the Clay County Bank at Excelsior Springs from 1902 until 1905. He then engaged in the general insurance business as a member of the firm of Craven & McRorey, and has met with success in this field of endeavor and has one of the largest general insurance agencies of Clay County.


Mr. McRorey was married May 10, 1896, to Miss Marie R. Ewing, of Liberty, Missouri. She is a daughter of Chatham M. and Anna L. (Ford) Ewing, both now deceased.


Mrs. McRorey was a successful teacher prior to her marriage, having taught school for seven years. To Mr. and Mrs. McRorey have been born one child, Ruth Templeton, who resides at home with her parents.


Mr. McRorey is a Democrat and has always taken a deep interest in local affairs. He has served as mayor of Excelsior Springs and also held the office of city clerk. He was a member of the school board for nine years and was serving as a member of that body when the excellent school building of Excelsior Springs was erected. He served as supervisor


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of the census in 1920. He is a member of the Christian Church and belongs to the Knights of Pythias at Liberty and the Modern Woodmen of America at Excelsior Springs.


Dr. J. Ed Baird, a successful physician and surgeon of Excelsior Springs, was born in Ray County, Missouri, September 21, 1880. He is a son of Jesse and Rachel (Rowland) Baird and is the youngest of five children born to them. Jesse Baird was a native of Campbell County, Tennessee, and died in 1881 when Dr. Baird was a child about one year old. Jesse Baird settled in Ray County about 1869 and was engaged in farming there at the time of his death. Some years after his death his widow married Daniel Bogart, and four children were born to that union. The mother is now living and is sixty-six years old.


Dr. Baird received his preliminary education in the public schools and later attended the Northwestern College at Alva, Oklahoma, where he was graduated in the scientific course in the class of 1903. In 1904 he entered University Medical College at Kansas City, Missouri, where he was graduated with the degree of Doctor of Medicine in 1908. He then engaged in the practice of his profession at Pocasset, Oklahoma, where he remained for five years. In 1913 he located at Excelsior Springs where he has since been successfully engaged in the practice of medicine. He is an able and skillful physician and has built up a large practice.


When the United States entered the World War, Dr. Baird volunteered his service and was commissioned captain in the Medical Corps of the United States Army, and was stationed at General Hospital, No. 14, Chickamauga Park, Georgia. After the armistice was signed he was com- missioned captain in the Medical Reserve Corps of the United States Army and now holds that commission.


September 3, 1908, Dr. Baird was married to Miss Garnett Kendall, of Iowa. She is a daughter of W. J. and Rose (Elliott) Kendall, natives of Iowa. Her father was a Methodist minister. To Doctor and Mrs. Baird have been born three children: Jack, Bill, and Mary Garnett.


Dr. Baird is a Democrat and takes a commendable interest in local affairs and particularly in the progress and development of Excelsior Springs. He was elected president of the Excelsior Springs Commercial Club in 1919, and as executive officer of that organization, he has suc- ceeded in accomplishing much for the good of Excelsior Springs and its institutions.


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C. W. Fish, general manager of the Gold Hill Properties and the Gen- eral Realty and Mineral Water Company of Excelsior Springs, is a native of Ohio. He was born in. Beverly, Washington County, Ohio, April 19, 1858, a son of Henry C. and Ann E. (Sayles) Fish. He is the second eldest of three children born to his parents and the only one now living.


Henry C. Fish was prominently identified with the early progress and development of Excelsior Springs, and perhaps had more to do with making Excelsior Springs the popular high class resort, which it is today, than any other man. The result of his foresight and energy is apparent on every hand, in the town and its institutions.


Henry Fish was born in Cambridge, Ohio, in 1829, and died at Ex- celsior Springs in 1897. He came to Missouri and settled in Kansas City in 1868. In June, 1881, he came to Excelsior Springs, and in partnership with John W. Henrie, bought the old Excelsior Springs House, which had been built that year and opened in March. They also acquired the Siloam Springs and later the Regent Springs and a large acreage in this vicinity. When the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroad was com- pleted, in the winter of 1887, Henry C. Fish organized and was general manager of the old Excelsior Spring Company, which was capitalized at $500,000.00. More than $300,000.00 was expended on the Elms Hotel alone, which was opened July 4, 1888. Shortly after that the company built an annex to the Elms Hotel, and an auditorium which was the finest in the state, outside of the larger cities. It had a seating capacity of 1,350 persons. They also laid out the property west of Fishing River and constructed the first sewer system in the town, and placed electric lights from the Elms Hotel to the depot. They spent over $600,000.00 and used their best efforts to make of Excelsior Springs a national resort.


Henry C. Fish retired a few years before his death. He was a Republican, and, although a member of no church, he was liberal in his contributions to all denominations. He was married in 1854, in Beverly, Ohio, to Miss Ann E. Sayles. She was born at Pawtucket. Rhode Island. and died June 19, 1910, at the age of eighty-one years, possessed of unusual mental vigor for one of her age, up until the time of her death.


C. W. Fish was educated in the public schools of Kansas City and graduated from the high school in 1875. For seven years he was chief ticket seller at the old Kansas City Union Railway Station. In 1884 he went with the Kansas City Packing Company in charge of their office. In 1887 he came to Excelsior Springs and took charge of the realty depart-


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ment of the Excelsior Springs Company until 1910, a period of twenty- two years; during the last ten years he had full charge of its properties. He then became associated with the W. A. J. Bell interests, in charge of the Golf Hill properties, on which is located the celebrated Excelsior Springs Golf Links and comprises 600 acres.


Mr. Fish is a Republican and a member of the Commercial Club, and was chairman of the publicity committee of that organization for many . years. He is one of the active promoters of the park system on which Excelsior Springs spent over $100,000.00. He is progressive and enter- prising, and one of the public spirited citizens of Excelsior Springs.


Judge Alonzo H. Shelton, a former police judge and now justice of the peace at Excelsior Springs, is a Civil War veteran, who has been identified with Clay County practically all his life. He was born in Todd County, Kentucky, December 21, 1839, and is a son of Charles C. and Emeline (Scott) Shelton.


Charles C. Shelton was born in Pittsylvania County, Virginia, June 27, 1815, and in early life removed to Kentucky. In 1842 he came to Missouri, settling in Ray County. About four years later he removed to Clay County where he was engaged in farming, during his active career. He was a prominent citizen and took an active part in the early development of this County and its institutions. He was a liberal contributor to William Jewell College. He died in 1899.


The Shelton family dates back to Colonial days, in this country, Charles C. Shelton being a son of Beverly B. Shelton, a native, of near Norfolk, Virginia, who was a soldier in the War of 1812. Henrietta Armistead, wife of Beverly Shelton, was a daughter of a Revolutionary soldier who was also a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses and a large slave holder.


To Charles C. and Emeline (Scott) Shelton were born thirteen chil- dren, of whom Alonzo H., the subject of this sketch, was the eldest. The others who are living are: Beverly D., Overland Park, Kansas; Marguerite Ella, who resides with her brother, Beverly; Emma V., Over- land Park, Kansas; Doniphan S., Excelsior Springs, Missouri; and Stephen D., Holt, Missouri.


Judge Shelton was about two and one-half years old when he was brought to Clay County by his parents. He was reared on the farm and in his early days experienced all the primitive methods of pioneer farm-


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ing, and often drove oxen, to break the native sod. When the Civil War broke out he served in the state guard for a time under Colonel John T. Hughes and Colonel G. W. Thompson. Eight months later he enlisted in General Shelby's Brigade, serving ten months, when he was transferred to General Cockerell's Brigade. He served in the Army of Tennessee under General Joseph E. Johnson and was at Jackson, Missis- sippi, when the war closed. While in the service he received a gunshot wound in the left hand which was followed by blood poison and necessi- tated the amputation of his arm below the elbow.


After the close of the war Mr. Shelton went to Virginia where he remained about six months and was there married. He then returned to Clay County and followed various occupations and taught school for a time. He then engaged in farming in Fishing River township, near Missouri City. In 1901 he came to Excelsior Springs and was engaged in the real estate business. In 1912 he was elected police judge, serving four years in that capacity. He was then elected justice of the peace, an office which he still holds. He is the oldest justice of the peace in Clay County, both in terms of service and in years.


September 21. 1865, Judge Shelton was married to Hattie J. Wheat, a native of Bedford County, Virginia, born May 31, 1846, and died January 10, 1911. She was a daughter of Zachariah J. and Martha Ann (Hancock) Wheat, both natives of Bedford County, Virginia. To Judge Shelton and wife were born six children, as follows: Otis Eugene, supply agent for the street railway company, St. Louis, Missouri; Charles J., died in infancy; James C., real estate dealer, Excelsior Springs; John Beverly, a conductor, St. Louis; George Edward, superintendent of an oil company, Haskell, Oklahoma; and Lily, died in infancy.


Doniphan S. Shelton, a prominent merchant of Excelsior Springs, who has been engaged in the mercantile business here for the past twenty- nine years, was born in Platte County, Missouri, February 22, 1861. He is a son of Charles C. and Emmeline (Scott) Shelton, a more extensive history of the Shelton family appears in this volume in connection with the biographical sketch of Judge A. H. Shelton.


Doniphan S. Shelton was reared on a farm and educated in the public schools. He taught district school in Clay County for seven years. In 1891 he engaged in the mercantile business at Excelsior Springs, carry- ing a complete line of men's shoes and ladies' ready-to-wear garments.


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He continued this business successfully for twenty-nine years and built up an extensive trade. In January, 1921, he opened an exclusive shoe store, carrying a complete stock of shoes, and his store compares favorably with any similar establishment to be found in the larger cities.


Mr. Shelton was married March 8, 1882, to Laura F. Ferril, a native of Clay County and a danghter of Robert and Sarah M. (Means) Ferril, the former a native of Tennessee and the latter of Missouri. Robert " Ferril was a farmer and stock man and is now deceased and his widow resides with her son, Judge Ferril, of Liberty, Missouri. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Shelton: Jesse E., died at three years ; Nina, married L. J. Edmonton, of Excelsior Springs; and Robert F., of Springfield, Missouri.


Mr. Shelton is a stockholder in the bank of Excelsior Springs. He is a Democrat and has served as alderman several times and held the office of treasurer of Excelsior Springs four terms. He belongs to the Presbyterian Church, of which he is a member of the board of trustees and a deacon. He is a prominent Mason, a member of the Mystic Shrine. Mystic Workers of the World, Modern Woodmen of America and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.


J. E. Thomas, a well known farmer and stockman of Gallatin town- ship, who is also president of the Bank of Linden. is a native of Platte County and a descendant of one of the early pioneer families of western Missouri. Mr. Thomas was born in Platte County, December 20, 1873. and is a son of J. F. and Nancy S. Elliott (Hamilton) Thomas.


The Thomas family were early settlers of Clay County, J. F. Thomas being born in Gallatin township. He died in Platte County at the age of seventy-six years and his wife died there at the age of seventy-two years. He was a member of the Home Guards during the Civil War.


The following children were born to J. F. Thomas and wife: Charles, Gashland, Missouri; and J. E., the subject of this sketch. By a former marriage of J. F. Thomas to Mollie Akins, two daughters were born: Annie, married James Johnson and they live in Cedar County ; and Belle, married John Price of Liberty, Missouri.


J. E. Thomas was reared in Platte County and attended school at the Boydston school house in Platte County. He followed farming and stock raising in Platte County and bought his present place which corners on the townsite of Linden, from Sim Collins. This place is well improved and




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