USA > Missouri > Clay County > History of Clay County, Missouri > Part 49
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Dr. Musgrave was married at Kansas City. Missouri, October 3, 1914, to Miss Hope Stoner, a daughter of D. E. Stoner and Annie (Dehner) Stoner. Mr. Stoner is a well known attorney in Kansas City, Missouri.
Doctor Musgrave is a Royal Arch Mason.
Dr. James T. Rice, now deceased, was a prominent physician of Clay County, and practiced his profession here for many years. He was a native of Kentucky, born in Boyle County, February 2, 1861, a son of William Cave and Jane (Ferguson) Rice, both also natives of Kentucky.
Dr. Rice came to Missouri with his parents in 1870, and settled in Clay County, near Liberty. He attended William Jewell College and afterwards entered the Medical College of Louisville, Kentucky, and later took a course at the Medical College of Kansas City where he was gradu- ated in 1889. He first engaged in the practice of his profession at Para- dise, Missouri. After remaining there three years he went to Kearney. Missouri, and for thirteen years was engaged in practice there. In 1904. he came to Excelsior Springs where he built up a large practice and was recognized as one of the able physicians of this section. He died at Excelsior Springs, April 6, 1920.
Dr. Rice was one of nine children born to his parents, as follows: Lizzie, deceased; Almeda, deceased; John, deceased; Nathan, lives in Platte County, Missouri; William, deceased; Jennie, married Abner Porter, Kansas City, Missouri; Lulu, married C. S. Kunkle, Hartwell, Nebraska : Dr. James T., the subject of this sketch ; and one child died in infancy.
December 17, 1890, Dr. James T. Rice was married to Miss Nettie Mitchell, a daughter of Merriman and Ann M. (Nave) Mitchell, natives of Kentucky, who came to Clay County in 1870. The father died in 1915 and the mother, in 1912, and their remains are buried at Smithville, Mis- souri.
Nettie (Mitchell) Rice was born in Woodford County, Kentucky. September 12, 1865, and was one of nine children born to her parents, the others being as follows: William L., Colorado Springs, Colorado; John A., Colorado Springs, Colorado; Irene, married J. R. Shafer, Kansas City, Missouri; Sue Ella, married V. W. Brooks, Smithville, Missouri; Annie,
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married James Ramey, Smithville, Missouri; Edward, deceased; Minnie and Lillie, twins, deceased.
Dr. Rice was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen of America. He was a life long Democrat, and while living at Kearney served as coroner of Clay County. He was a very faithful member of the Baptist Church. Mrs. Rice is a member of the Baptist Church and resides at Excelsior Springs where she has a pleasant home.
Dr. John J. Gaines, a prominent physician and surgeon of Excelsior Springs, is a native of Clay County. He was born one niile south of Excelsior Springs, January 5, 1862, a son of L. B. and Margaret J. (Smart) Gaines.
L. B. Gaines was born in Jackson County, Missouri, and was reared in that county. Prior to the Civil War, came to Clay County where he was engaged in farming until his death, at the age of forty-three years, in 1881. He was a son of Daniel S. Gaines, a native of Kentucky, and an early settler in Missouri. The Gaines family are of Irish descent, and were very early settlers in Virginia. Margaret J. (Smart) Gaines was born on a river steamboat while her parents were on their way from Alabama to Missouri. She died in 1893, aged fifty years. To L. B. and Margaret J. (Smart) Gaines were born three children: Dr. John J., the subject of this sketch; Felix G., deceased, and Katie M., lives near Excel- sior Springs.
Doctor Gaines was reared on the home farm, near Excelsior Springs, and received a good public school education. He began teaching school in early life and was thus engaged for ten years. From 1886 to 1888, he was superintendent of schools at Excelsior Springs. In 1890, he entered the University Medical College at Kansas City, Missouri, and was graduated with the degree of Doctor of Medicine, ranking third in his class of twenty members. He has never ceased to be a student of his profession, and in 1916, he took a post graduate course in New York City.
Doctor Gaines was married in 1884 to Miss Minna P. Lewton, and one son has been born to this union, Dr. Grover W. Gaines, who is engaged in the practice of medicine at Knoxville, Missouri, and is the present coroner of Ray County. During the World War he was commissioned lieutenant in the Medical Corps of the United States Army and served
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at Camp Dodge, Iowa, and had just received orders for overseas duty when the armistice was signed.
Dr. John J. Gaines was married the second time, November 15, 1911, to Miss Edith H. Cheyney, of Glenwood, Iowa. She is a daughter of Robert S. and Mary Cheyney, both of whom are now deceased.
Doctor Gaines was secretary of the Medical Advisory Board of the Volunteer Medical Corps, and a member of the Clay County Council of Defense, during the World War. He is a member of the Methodist Church and has served on the board of trustees for a number of years and has been choir director for over twenty years. He is a member of the American, State, and County Medical Associations, and was one of the vice-presidents of the Missouri State Medical Association in 1919, and is secretary of the Clay County Medical Association at the present time. He is a member of the Missouri Writers' Guild.
Doctor Gaines is a writer of considerable note, and for a number of years has written the "Uncle John" letters which have appeared in many publications throughout the United States. These letters are written in a humorous vein, embodying the quaint philosophy of the author, and are popular and widely read However, these writings have not interfered with the Doctor's professional duties, nor with his contributions to the medical press.
Doctor Gaines is a stanch supporter of the Democratic policies.
Dr. Madison A. Ashley, now deceased, was widely known as an able physician, and although he died comparatively a young man, he had attained success and stood high in the medical profession. He was born in Kansas, September 19, 1866, and died at Excelsior Springs, December 30, 1911.
Dr. Madison A. Ashley was a son of J. M. and Mary Ann (Brand) Ashley. He was educated in the public schools and the State Normal School at Warrensburg, Missouri. He then entered the Louisville Medical College at Louisville, Kentucky, where he was graduated with the degree of Doctor of Medicine.
After completing his medical course, Dr. Ashley engaged in the prac- tice of his profession at Rayville, Missouri. He continued to practice until 1908 when he came to Excelsior Springs and was engaged in prac- tice here until the time of his death, in 1911. He served as city physician
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of Excelsior Springs. for one year, and commanded an extensive practice here.
Dr. Ashley was married September 18, 1898, to Miss Minnie Smart, a daughter of James A. and Martha H. (Boone) Smart, both natives of Ray County and members of pioneer families of that section of Missouri. To Dr. and Mrs. Ashley was born one child, Claude W. of Excelsior. Springs.
Dr. Ashley was a prominent Mason and a member of the Mystic Shrine, and he also held membership in the Modern Woodmen of Amer- ica, and belonged to the Methodist Episcopal Church. He was a Demo- crat and always took a commendable interest in public affairs.
Mrs. Ashley is a member of the Methodist Church and the Eastern Star.
Harry L. Silvers, a progressive business man of Excelsior Springs, who is the owner of the Day and Night Garage and also operates a large farm near Excelsior Springs, is a native of Missouri. He was born at Nevada, July 10, 1887, a son of William and Mary (Farish) Silvers.
William L. Silvers was born in Illinois and came to Missouri with his parents who settled in Chariton County. Here he was engaged in farming and stock raising for a number of years and in 1891, came to Excelsior Springs where he was engaged in the mercantile business. Later he disposed of his mercantile interests and for several years has been engaged in the real estate and insurance business. He has served as city clerk of Excelsior Springs. Mary (Farish) Silvers was a native of Virginia. She died in 1900 and her remains are buried in Crown Hill cemetery at Excelsior Springs. To William L. Silvers and his wife were born two children: Harry L., the subject of this sketch, and Gladys, who resides at Excelsior Springs with her father.
Harry L. Silvers received his education in the public schools, includ- ing the Excelsior Springs High School and the University of Missouri. He began his independent business career with the local agency for the Kansas City "Star" at Excelsior Springs. He next represented the Woolf Brothers' laundry here. After completing his course at the University he went to Pawnee County, Kansas, where he was engaged in farming and stock raising. He and his father owned a ranch of 4,160 acres in Kansas which they sold. In 1911, Harry L. Silvers returned to Excelsior Springs and opened a garage. In 1914, he bought the ground where his
P
V
DAY AND NIGHT GARAGE, EXCELSIOR SPRINGS, MO. Harry L. Silvers, Proprietor
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present garage is located and started to build in 1917. The work was interrupted on account of the war; however, the building was completed in 1919. This is one of the modern up-to-date garages to be found in the state. The building has frontage of 130 feet with a capacity of 250 cars. It is modern in every particular, the plan including all conveniences known to modern garage architecture. There are rest rooms for ladies and men and everything about the place is arranged with a view of the comfort and convenience of the patrons. Mr. Silvers conducts a complete mechanical department in connection with his garage and carries a full line of automobile accessories.
Mr. Silvers is the owner of a valuable farm of 250 acres, north of Excelsior Springs, which is operated under his own supervision and he carries on farming and stock raising.
In January, 1909, Harry Silvers was married to Miss Frances E. Pile; they have no children. Mr. Silvers is a Knights Templar and York Rite Mason, a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Modern Woodmen of America, Knights of Pythias, the Christian Church and is a Democrat. He is public spirited and enterprising. He is a good business man and has acted as administrator for a number of estates in this locality. He has served as a member of the city council of Excelsior Springs for four years.
John Emmke, proprietor of the Elms Hotel, at Excelsior Springs, Missouri, is not only one of the most successful hotel men of the entire country, but is widely known as a successful business man in various other fields of enterprise and industry.
Mr. Emmke is a native of Iowa. He was born at Dubuque, May 3. 1873, and was one of five children born to William and Anna (Lambert) Emmke. His parents were natives of Germany, and came to this country shortly after the close of the Civil War, and settled at Dubuque, Iowa. The father was a miner and followed that vocation until the time of his death in 1884, at the age of forty-five years. The mother who was a native of Coblenz, Germany, survived her husband for a number of years, and died in 1908, at the age of sixty-five years.
John Emmke has had a lifelong experience in the hotel business, and for the past thirty-three years he has been identified with this impor- tant business. Beginning as a bellboy, at the age of thirteen years, and gradually working his way along the road of experience to success,
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until he has become the head of one of the principal hotels of the country, and a conspicuous figure in the hotel world, is the brief story of his career.
Mr. Emmke received his education in the public schools of Dubuque. Iowa, where he was graduated. Later he took a course in the Chicago Business College at Chicago, Illinois. He began his hotel career in 1888. as bellboy in the Hotel Julian. at Dubuque, Iowa. Later he became manager of the Nelson House at Rockford, Illinois. After that he went to South Dakota. and in 1909. he came from Sioux Falls, South Dakota. to Excelsior Springs. Missouri, as manager of the Elms Hotel. After he had been here about fifteen months, the building was destroyed by fire. It was rebuilt shortly afterwards. and Mr. Emmke acquired a long term lease on the property. He is the owner of ninety per cent. of the stock himself. The Elms Hotel is one of the popular high class hotels to be found any place, and everything known in the way of comfort and convenience usually to be found in first class hotels, is in evidence here.
In addition to his hotel interests, Mr. Emmke is interested in various other enterprises. He is a stockholder in the Kansas City, Clay County. and St. Joseph Railway, the city ice plant. and is the owner of much valuable real estate. He is president of the Elm Tree Inn Company, and owns the largest dairy herd in the country. and is also interested in some valuable race horses. He is one of the well known dog fanciers of the country and is a breeder of pedigreed pointer and police dogs.
Mr. Emmke was married in 1912 to Anna Withers of Boonville. Missouri. She is a daughter of Horace and Jennie (Bernaugh) Withers. Mr. and Mrs. Emmke have no children, but by a former marriage Mrs. Emmke has one daughter, Mary O'Novis.
Mr. Emmke is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Orde. of Elks, and is a Republican. He is a member of the Excelsior Springs Commercial Club and is a liberal supporter of all movements which have for their object the betterment and upbuilding of Excelsior Springs.
John A. Eby. of Excelsior Springs, who is extensively interested in the telephone business and also conducts a garage and automobile busi- ness, is a native of Ray County, Missouri. He was born September 21. 1861. and is a son of Adam and Ruminta (Craven) Eby and is the third in order of birth of six children born to them.
Adam Eby was born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. in 1834, and
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died in Holt, Missouri, in 1890. He came from Pennsylvania to Missouri in 1856, and settled in Ray County and in 1868, moved to Holt. where he spent the remainder of his life. He was a son of John and Polly Eby, natives of Pennsylvania, who spent their lives in that state. John Eby was a son of Theodoricus Eby who was a Revolutionary soldier. The Ebys are of Swiss descent. Ruminta (Craven) Eby was born in Ray County, Missouri, in 1834 and died in 1911.
John A. Eby was reared on a farm and educated in the public schools at Holt, Missouri. When he was twenty-one years old, he engaged in the mercantile business at Holt and was engaged in business in different places until 1919, when he located in the automobile business at Excelsior Springs. He does an extensive business in that line and conducts one of the leading garages in that town. He is agent for the Hudson, Essex, Beggs, Chevrolet, and Oakland cars. In 1890, he engaged in the tele- phone business, and organized a company of which he is now the owner and manager. This company operates telephone exchanges at Kearney, Holt, Lilly, Missouri City, and Hubbard.
Mr. Eby was married October 25, 1888, to Miss Minnie C. Henderson, of Clinton County, Missouri, and to this union were born three children: Ailine, married Millard Cheek, who is connected with Mr. Eby in the auto- mobile business; Myrl M., married Myron L. Johnson, Chicago, Illinois; and Dale J., at home.
Mr. Eby is a Democrat and served as postmaster at Holt, Missouri, during President Cleveland's second administration. He is a Thirty-sec- ond Degree Scottish Rite Mason, a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias, and belongs to the Christian Church.
William A. Craven, a prominent attorney of Excelsior Springs, is a native of Missouri and a descendant of an early pioneer family of this section of the state. He was born in Ray County, September 19, 1869. a son of Richard T. and Eliza J. (McIver) Craven.
Richard T. Craven was born in Ray County, Missouri, and died April 13, 1912. He was engaged in farming and stock raising in Ray County during his active career, but retired eight or ten years before his death. He was prominent in the affairs of Ray County and was a lifelong Democrat. He served as county judge of Ray County and was a justice of the peace for twenty-five years, and after he retired and removed to Excelsior Springs, he served as police judge. He was a member of the
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Baptist Church, and his lodge affiliations were with the Masons, the Knights of Pythias, and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. His wife, Eliza J. (Mclver) Craven, was born in Ray County and is now deceased. She was a daughter of William A. and Lucinda (Sullinger) McIver. The McIver family is of Irish descent.
Richard T. Craven was a son of Andrew Jackson and Hulda (Whit- ton) Craven, natives of Tennessee who came to Missouri at a very early day, making the trip from their native state with ox teams. They located in Ray County, about three and a half miles east of Excelsior Springs and spent the remainder of their lives there. They were the parents of the following children: Richard T., deceased; Benjamin F., deceased ; Henry H., who lives on the old homestead, in Ray County; James B., Richmond, Missouri; George A., Kansas City, Missouri; Remond Allen, Excelsior Springs ; Sarah, widow of John N. Clevenger, Excelsior Springs ; and Mrs. Mary Sailors, a widow, Excelsior Springs.
The following children were born to Richard T. and Eliza J. (McIver) Craven: William A., the subject of this sketch; Adah B., Excelsior" Springs ; Laura B., married Allen Marsh of Omaha, Nebraska; Ellen M., Excelsior Springs; and Bertha A., married John Sickel, Excelsior Springs.
William A. Craven was reared on the home farm in Ray County and attended the public school. Later, he attended the State Normal School at Kirksville, Missouri. He was engaged in teaching for seven or eight years in early life. He then took up the study of law and after being admitted to the bar, he engaged in the practice of his profession. He has practiced law in Excelsior Springs for the past twenty-three years and is recognized as one of the able lawyers of Clay County.
Mr. Craven was married May 8. 1901, to Miss Lucile Locke, a native of Lynn County, Missouri.
John S. Lewis, a prominent merchant of Excelsior Springs, who con- ducts one of the leading dry goods and clothing stores of that place, is a progressive merchant of many years experience, having been in business for forty-three years. He was born in Ray County, Missouri. July 4. 1861, a son of Stephen and Margaret (Hamilton) Lewis. They were the parents of two children, Matilda, a daughter being deceased.
Stephen Lewis was born in Kentucky and came to Missouri with his parents when he was seven years old, in 1842. He was a son of Robert and Katherine (Victor) Lewis, Kentuckians, who first settled in Mont-
.
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gomery County, after coming to this state, and later removed to Ray County where they spent the remainder of their lives. Stephen Lewis died September 13, 1893. Margaret (Hamilton) Lewis was born in Ray County in 1837, and died in 1907. She was a daughter of Thomas Ham- ilton whose wife bore the maiden name of Crow. They were natives of Kentucky and early settlers in Ray County where they spent their lives.
John S. Lewis was reared on a farm in Ray County and attended the district school. When he was sixteen years old, he engaged in the mer- cantile business at Elkhorn, Missouri, and conducted a store there until 1885. He was then in business at Pratherville, until January 24, 1887, when he came to Excelsior Springs and engaged in the general mercantile business and has been in business here continuously until the present time, and has an extensive trade.
Mr. Lewis was married in October, 1885, to Miss Minerva E. Dale, a daughter of M. G. Dale of Ray County. He was born on the place where he now resides near Richmond, eighty-four years ago. To Mr. and Mrs. Lewis have been born the following children: Minnie, married Charles Madden, Excelsior Springs; Glenn; Charles S .; Grace; Harry ; and John, all of whom were educated in the public schools of Excelsior Springs. John, Charles S. and Harry attended the University of Mis- souri. The boys are all assisting their father in the store.
Mr. Lewis is a Democrat, and was a member of the city council for eight years, and also served on the school board and assisted in organ- izing the park board. He is a member of the Masonic Lodge
Dr. John Priest Greene of Liberty, Missouri, has won a well merited reputation as one of the leading educators of the country. For twenty- seven years he served as president of William Jewell College and is now president emeritus of that institution.
Doctor Greene is a native of Missouri, born in Scotland County in 1849. He is a son of Thomas W. and Nancy (Priest) Greene who were staunch Baptist people of sterling worth. Doctor Greene received his academic education under the private instruction of Bartlet Anderson and at the Memphis Academy. Later he attended LaGrange College and afterwards spent three years as instructor there. In 1875, he entered the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary at Greenville, South Carolina.
In 1877, Doctor Greene became pastor of the East Baptist Church at Louisville, Kentucky. In 1879, he went to Germany, and was a student
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in the University at Leipzig for fifteen months. He then traveled exten- sively in Europe. and after returning to America he resumed the pas- torate of East Baptist Church at Louisville, Kentucky. In November. 1882, he took charge of the Third Baptist Church at St. Louis, Missouri, of which he was pastor for ten years, when he became president of Wil- liam Jewell College.
Doctor Greene assumed the duties as president of William Jewell College in September. 1892. Under his administration, the number of students was greatly increased. a library with a capacity of 100,000 volumes was erected. as well as a modern dormitory, and a most excel- lent science building. Many new departments of instruction were added. The crowning glory of Doctor Greene's presidency of twenty-seven years, is that he held the college to the prime purpose of its establishment. namely, the thorough literary and scientific training of young men for Christian service. At the beginning of the year. 1920, Doctor Greene was succeeded by Dr. D. J. Evans, who has grown. so to speak. into the place. He has the cordial endorsement. co-operation and support of Doctor Greene who entertains a deep interest in the welfare of this col- lege which holds a high rank among the educational institutions of the land.
Doctor Greene is the author of a number of works. among which are "Pastoral Epistles", "The Happy Man", "The Ideal Man."
In 1888. Doctor Greene was married to Miss Lizzie Wikoff. of Ham- burg. Iowa.
Dr. Lafayette Isley, a prominent physician and surgeon of Excelsior Springs who has been prominently identified with the development of this city and its institutions, is a native of Missouri. He was born in Carroll County, July 29, 1864. a son of Jeremiah C. and Lydia (Craven) Isley, and is one of ten children born to them.
Jeremiah Isley was born at Jacksborough. Tennessee, in April, 1835, and died on his farm in Ray County, Missouri, in 1894. He was a son of John Isley, a native of Tennessee, who spent his life in that state. When Jeremiah C. Isley was fifteen years old, he borrowed $100.00 from a brother in Tennessee, and came to Ray County. Missouri. He began there by working on a farm by the month, and also bought and sold butter and eggs. After his marriage, he engaged in farming in Carroll County. When the Civil War broke out. he left there with his wife and children drove to Iowa with an ox team. On that trip his wife carried
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$5,000.00 in cash. After the war the family returned to Missouri and Mr. Isley engaged in farming in Ray County. Later he engaged in the mercantile business at Fredericksburg, in partnership with Mr. Shackle- ford.
Jeremiah C. Isley was extensively identified with the early day devel- opment of Excelsior Springs. In 1881, he bought forty acres of land where Superior Hospital now stands, for seventy-eight dollars. He re- fused another tract adjoining that which contained forty acres and which was offered for twenty-five dollars. He platted the Isley Addition which was the second subdivision of Excelsior Springs, which was laid for town purposes. He loaned Mr. Wyman seventeen dollars to send the first jug of water from Siloam Spring to St. Louis, to be analyzed. That was in 1880.
Dr. Lafayette Isley spent his early life on the farm in Ray County and attended the district school. Later he attended the University of Missouri at Columbia, and when eighteen years old he began the study of medicine under the preceptorship of Doctor Robinson at Pratherville. He was active in several local enterprises and established the second bottling works at Excelsior Springs. His capital at the beginning was only $28.50, but four years later he disposed of the business with good financial returns. He completed his medical course at the Kansas City Eclectic College of Medicine, receiving his degree in 1901. After practicing medicine at Excelsior Springs for a time, he bought a one-half interest interest in the Kansas City Eclectic College of Medicine where he had graduated and for six years was secretary of that institution, and served as its president from 1910 until 1912. He then returned to Excelsior Springs and has been engaged in the practice of his profession there with uniform success to the present time. He has seen Excelsior Springs grow up from the beginning, and remembers of having seen wheat thrashed on the ground where Siloam Bath House now stands, forty years ago.
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