USA > Missouri > Clay County > History of Clay County, Missouri > Part 50
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September 18, 1888, Dr. Isley was married to Miss Mamie Bailey of Kansas City, Missouri, and seven children have been born to this union, two of whom are now living, Hazel and Iona.
Dr. Isley is a Democrat and has served three years as coroner of Clay County. He also served as councilman of Excelsior Springs. He is a member of the Masonic Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Fra- ternal Order of Eagles, and Modern Woodmen of America. He is a pro- gressive citizen and stands high in the medical profession.
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R. W. Pack, who is engaged in the furniture and house furnishings business at Excelsior Springs, is a Civil War veteran and a former sheriff of Platte County. Mr. Pack was born in Platte County, Missouri, Sep- tember 24, 1842, a son of Orville and Sarah (Price) Pack, natives of Scott and Harrison counties, Kentucky.
Orville Pack came to Clay County in 1837 and settled five miles north of Kansas City. The same year he pre-empted 160 acres of government land near Edgerton in Platte County. He died of cholera in 1852, at the age of forty-five years. Sarah (Price) Pack died in 1884 at the age of seventy-three years. They were the parents of eight children, three of whom are now living: William, who is eighty-four years old and lives at Gardner, Kansas; R. W., the subject of this sketch; and Henry N., re- sides at Edgerton, Missouri, at the age of seventy-one years.
R. W. Pack was reared on his father's farm and shortly after the Civil War broke out he enlisted in the Confederate Army, when he was about nineteen years old. He served under Captain Crisman and was with the army operating in southern Missouri, Arkansas, and Texas. He was taken prisoner in 1862 and later was paroled. After the close of the war he was engaged as teamster in freighting across the plains. On a trip to Fort Halleck, when about 300 miles out, he was taken sick and not expected to live. The owners of the outfit transferred him to another outfit belonging to Cameron Brothers which was coming east. He re- covered in a few days and was employed by this freighting outfit as night herder on the return trip. He was then engaged as a driver and drove ox teams to Julesburg, Colorado.
In 1875, Mr. Pack engaged in the meat business at Parkville, Mis- souri, and later added groceries to his stock and later ran a hotel and bought and shipped hogs. In 1884, he was elected sheriff and served in that office four years and made a record as an able and fearless officer and one of the best sheriffs that Platte County ever had. While he held the office of sheriff he had the distinction of acting as one of the body guards of President Cleveland during his visit to Kansas City in the fall of 1885. Tom Spears, chief of police of Kansas City, met Mr. Pack there and asked him if he would assist as a guard to the President and Mr. Pack consented, and went to Waldron, Missouri, to meet the President's train and escorted him to the city. remaining with the President until he arrived here. While Mr. Pack was sheriff he served a summons on perhaps the oldest man who was ever sued in the state of Missouri. The defendant in this case was over 100 years old.
R W. PACK
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After the expiration of his term of office Mr. Pack engaged in the mercantile business at Platte City and later was in the livery business. In 1900, he came to Excelsior Springs where he continued the livery busi- ness until 1908. He then engaged in the furniture and house furnishings business in which he has since been engaged. His store is located at the corner of Main and Excelsior streets. He has built up an extensive trade and has a prosperous business.
Mr. Pack was married January 5, 1871, to Miss Susan V. Dale, a native of Clay County, born December 31, 1852. She is a daughter of Thomas D. and Nancy (Haynes) Dale, the former, a native of Kentucky and the latter of Clay County. To Mr. and Mrs. Pack have been born the following children: Orvilla, deceased; Byron, assisting his father in his store; Anna, married Clarence McKenney, Excelsior Springs : Harry, Ex- celsior Springs ; and William, deceased.
Mr. Pack is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and is a prominent Mason. He has an extensive acquaintance and is one of the highly respected citizens of Excelsior Springs and Clay County.
O. A. Jackson, a well known and extensive dealer in horses and mules, at Liberty, Missouri, is a native of this state. He was born at Graham. Missouri, in 1885, a son of A. A. and Frances Bell (Woodward) Jackson, now residents of Liberty, Missouri.
A. A. Jackson was born in Buchanan County, Missouri, in 1857 and in early life learned the blacksmith trade, which has been his life's occu- pation. He is a son of William Jackson, who served in the Confederate army, during the war. Frances Bell (Woodward) Jackson was born in 1861, and she and her husband now live at Liberty. They are the parents of four children, as follows: O. A., the subject of this sketcli; Jessie, who resides at home with her parents, at Liberty ; and Earl who is em- ployed by the Trimble Hardware Company of Liberty, Missouri; and Earnest Leo Jackson, employed by the Corbin Milling Company, of Lib- erty, Missouri.
O. A. Jackson's parents removed to Dearborn, Missouri, when he was four years old and there he was reared and educated, and was gradu- ated from the high school in the class of 1904. Shortly after leaving school, he engaged in buying and shipping cattle and hogs, at Dearborn, Missouri, and continued operations there until 1911. He then came to Liberty and after working one year at the blacksmith trade, he engaged
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in buying and shipping horses and mules. During the four years of the World War he did an enormous business, buying and shipping, perhaps, twenty thousand head of horses and mules.
Mr. Jackson was married December 25, 1906, to Miss Anna Dean, a daughter of James and Maggie (Anderson) Dean, of Dearborn, Missouri. Mr. Dean is deceased and his widow resides at Dearborn, Missouri. To Mr. and Mrs. Jackson have been born two children: Carl and Irene.
Mr. Jackson is a progressive business man and a highly respected citizen of Clay County.
George W. Petty, a well known farmer and stockman of Liberty, Missouri, who is also interested in the commission business in Kansas City, is a native of Clay County and a descendant of very early pioneer families of this county. He was born near Kearney, Missouri, June 21, 1859, and is a son of Beverly and Martha Ann (Estes) Petty.
Beverly Petty was born in Spottsylvania County, near Fredericks- burg, Virginia, and when twenty-one years old, in 1854, he drove through from Virginia to Clay County, on horse-back, later he returned to Vir- ginia and brought his mother, who was a widow, and the other children to Clay County, his father, Jessie Petty, having died in Virginia, when Beverly Petty was a child. Beverly Petty made the second trip from Virginia to Clay County by wagon. After reaching Clay County, they settled three miles south of Kearney, and here the mother spent the remainder of her life, living to an advanced age, and her remains are buried in the old Liberty Church burying ground.
Beverly Petty was married to Martha Estes in 1855, and was suc- cessfully engaged in farming and stock raising in Clay County until the time of his death, in 1910. His wife died in 1917, and their remains are buried in the Fairview cemetery.
Martha Ann (Estes) Petty was a daughter of Elisha Estes who was one of the very early pioneer settlers of Clay County, and settled near the present site of Kearney. He took up government land there and at the time, that he made his selection of land, the undergrowth of timber was so thick, that in order to form an idea as to the lay of the land, he climbed one of the tallest trees and in that way picked out his location. At that time, bears, deer and wild turkeys were plentiful and furnished the pioneers with an abundance of meat. However, the task of getting flour and other necessities was not such an easy matter for the pioneers.
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Elisha Estes often drove, for miles, on horseback, with his little sack of corn, to the nearest gristmill. There were no roads and he had to pick his trail through the dense forest and across the unstaked plains.
Beverly and Martha Ann (Estes) Petty were the parents of the following children: George W., the subject of this sketch; John, a farmer and stockman near Kearney, Missouri; Elisha, a farmer and stockman, four miles northeast of Liberty; Beverly, also a farmer and stockman, northeast of Liberty; Benjamin, who owns the old home place; Rachel, married Ben Pixler, who lives near Kearney, and she is now deceased; and Mattie, married Jesse McConnel, a merchant at Kearney, Missouri.
George W. Petty was educated in the early day subscription school, and the public schools at Kearney, Missouri. When he was twenty- one years old he engaged in the stock business, in partnership with his uncle, Lindsay Petty, and a few years later bought a farm of 266 acres. He now owns a valuable place of 216 acres which is devoted exclusively to stock raising, and is located one-half mile north of Liberty. Mr. Petty is one of the widely known and thoroughly experienced stockmen of this section of the state, and for the past seventeen years he has been con- nected with the Dixon Commission Company of Kansas City, Missouri, and during that time has maintained his residence at Liberty and has served as mayor of that city three terms.
George W. Petty was married, December 27, 1887, to Miss Lutie W. Story, a daughter of John and Minerva (Mosby) Story. John Story was a native of Kentucky, and came to Clay County with his parents when he was four months old. They were among the first settlers here, and entered government land, about five miles east of Liberty. This land is now owned by Walter Pixlee. John Story served in the Mexican war in Doniphan's regiment. He died in 1917, at the age of eighty-nine years, and his wife died in 1907, and their remains are buried in Fairview cemetery. The children born to John and Minerva (Mosby) Story are as follows: Lutie W., married George W. Petty of this review; Mrs. Thomas Keller, Chicago, Illinois; Lee Story, of Liberty, Missouri; Mrs. Anna Michell, Pasadena, California; William Story, a traveling salesman ; and Mrs. Roxey Soper.
To Mr. and Mrs. George W. Petty have been born two children: Minnie Lee, married James Ray Clarke, a prominent farmer and stock- man of Platte City, Missouri; and Eugene Orvile who is conducting a hotel at Columbus, Ohio. He is a veteran of the World War, having
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served in the Eighty Ninth Division. He saw service with that famous fighting division, and participated in all its engagements in France, including the Argonne Forest and others, and was with the Army of Occu- pation in Germany, spending altogether about two years in Europe. He served with the rank of sergeant. Mr. and Mrs. George W. Petty have one grandson, George Beverly Clarke.
George W. Petty is one of the substantial citizens of Clay County. He is progressive and enterprising, and the Petty family stand high in the community.
John King, a former sheriff of Clay County, for two terms, who has been prominently identified with this section for many years, is a native of Missouri, and a descendant of early pioneers of this state. He was born in Macon County, Missouri, February 19, 1850, and is a son of Morgan and Mary A. (Titus) King.
Morgan King was born in Macon County and was a son of Joel King, a native of Kentucky, who settled in Macon County, at a very early date. He served in the Confederate army and died in Iowa in 1865, shortly after the close of the war. Mary A. (Titus) King was born in Howard County, Missouri, and was a daughter of John Titus, a Virginian, who was a pioneer settler in Howard County.
To Morgan and Mary A. (Titus) King were born the following chil- dren: Moses, a Confederate veteran who served in General Shelby's brigade, Price's Army, and now resides at Liberty, and is engaged in fruit raising; Dorothy, died at the age of sixteen years, near Excelsior Springs ; Mrs. M. H. Wall, Liberty, Missouri; John, the subject of this sketch ; Joel. Holt, Missouri; Andrew, died at Excelsior Springs, in 1911; Morgan, Clin- ton, Missouri ; and James D., Clinton, Missouri.
John King was educated in the common schools and attended high school in Iowa He came to Clay County with his mother who settled on a farm near Missouri City, in 1865, and remained at home until he was twenty-six years old. During the course of his career, Mr. King has owned a number of farms in Clay County. In 1920, he sold his last place which was located seven miles northwest of Liberty, and moved to Liberty. where he has a pleasant home in Petty's Addition.
Mr. King was married January 25, 1876, to Mary J. Devine, a daughter of Matthew Devine, who was an early settler at Missouri City, and a native of Ireland. He and his wife are now deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. King
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have been born one son, Willard P. King, who is engaged in the building and loan business at Fort Worth, Texas. For eight years he served as chief clerk in the state auditor's office at Jefferson City, under State Auditor John P. Gordon, and for two years he was connected with the administration department of the state prison at Jefferson City, a position from which he resigned.
John King is a Democrat and has always taken an active part in politics. He was elected constable of Fishing River township in 1886, and again in 1888. He was elected sheriff of Clay County in 1898 and re- elected to that office in 1900 and made a good record as a capable and efficient officer. In 1907 he was elected superintendent of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows Home at Liberty, Missouri, and served in that capacity for eight years. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, having joined that lodge at Excelsior Springs in 1892. He is a public spirited and progressive citizen and is widely and favorably known in Clay County.
G. K. Williams, superintendent and chief engineer for the Alpine Ice Company, of North Kansas City, has been engaged in the ice manufacture and cold storage business for the past twenty-seven years and has had a vast experience in the practical side of this important field of industry. He began with the Armour Packing Company, in Kansas City, Kansas, and for the past three and one-half years has been with the Alpine Ice Company in his present capacity.
Mr. Williams is a native of Kansas. He was born in Topeka, March 30, 1869, a son of Harry and Myra (Rowell) Williams. Harry Williams was a native of New Orleans, Louisiana, and was a railroad contractor. Myra (Rowell) Williams was born in Bangor, Maine, and reared in Boston, Massachusetts. She is now eighty-six years old and resides in Kansas City. Missouri. Harry and Myra (Rowell) Williams were the parents of two children: G. K., the subject of this sketch and Mrs. Jessie O'Rourke, of Kansas City, Missouri.
G. K. Williams was married January 7, 1891, to Miss Elizabeth Johns, of Cincinnati, Ohio. She is a daughter of J. H. and Mary (Porter) Johns. To Mr. and Mrs. Williams has been born one daughter, Vivian.
Mr. Williams is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and the Yeomen.
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
The Alpine Ice Company, which operates an extensive ice and cold storage plant at North Kansas City, is one of the important industrial institutions of this section. This ice plant has a capacity of sixty-five tons of ice and a storage capacity of 10,000 tons. Much of their product is marketed in Kansas City, although they ship ice to various places in the country, including Ft. Madison, Iowa; Sioux City, Iowa ; Omaha and Neb- raska City, Nebraska ; and Pueblo, Colorado.
Since the World War, the cold storage rooms of the plant have been used for the storage of meats and they have had in cold storage here as much as seven and one-half million pounds of meat at one time. The gov- ernments of Russia, France, England, as well as the United States, have had meat stored here at different times, through the Cudahy Packing Com- pany.
The ice which is manufactured here is what is known "raw water ice" and is made from water which is pumped direct from a well, one hun- dred and twenty-five feet deep, after first being settled and filtered. The ice machine is operated by a Diesel oil engine, such as is used in sub- marines. R. M. McCandish, vice-president and general manager of the Alpine Ice Company, was the designing engineer and superintendent of construction of this plant. He is a native of Nebraska and is one of the capable ice and cold storage engineers and designers of the country. He designed the Franklin Ice Cream Company's plant of Kansas City and also the plants for the Meriden Creamery Company, The Car-Hacker Fish and Oyster Company, of Kansas City, and other important plants in various sections of the country.
The main office of the Alpine Ice Company is located at Wichita, Kan- sas, and the officers are: C. M. Blachy. president; R. M. McCandish, vice- president and general manager; John Olinger, secretary; E. B. Musser. treasurer. The North Kansas City plant is located at 12th and Charlotte Streets and was established in 1914.
John E. Jones, owner and proprietor of "Belleview Dairy Farm". which is located about two miles from Liberty, is one of the leading dairy- men in this section of the state. He is a native of Pennsylvania, born in Bedford County, July 3, 1880, and is a son of Thomas A. and Ruth (Jenkins) Jones. Thomas Jones was a coal operator in Bedford County. Pennsylvania, during his active career. He died in 1917 and his widow now resides in Kansas City, Missouri. They were the parents of the fol-
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lowing children: Mayme, married Garland S. Kinser, of Fairmount, West Virginia; John E., the subject of this sketch; Marshall T., Shreveport, Louisiana, where he is engaged in the oil business; Alberta, married Hen- derson Garnett, who is engaged in the real estate business at Newton. Oklahoma.
John E. Jones was educated in the public schools of Everett, Pennsyl- vania, and the Mercersburg Academy, graduating from that institution in 1896. He then attended Dickinson College and after two years there, entered the law department of the University of Pennsylvania, at Phila- delphia, where he was graduated in the class of 1901. He then entered th law office of J. C. Work at Uniontown, Pennsylvania, and at the same time looked after the coal mining interests of his father and grandfather. In 1905, he went to Oklahoma and was engaged in the oil and gas business and was the owner of the Delaware and Nowata natural gas plants.
In 1915, Mr. Jones came to Clay County and engaged in the dairy business, having been interested in that line of industry for a number of years and especially in the breeding of Jersey cattle. Belleview Dairy occupies a farm of 300 acres and the dairy herd consists of about seventy- five pure bred, registered cows. The herd is headed by "Financial Countess Lad", whose dam was the world's champion butter producer in competition of all breeds of cows. "Financial Countess Lad" sold for $5,000.00 when two years old. He is the sire of "Financial Sensation" which was sold to A. P. Sharples of Westchester, Pennsylvania, for $60,000.00. Other prize animals in the Belleview Dairy Herd, one of which might be mentioned is "Gold Marjoram", the world's champion but- ter cow, having produced 15,530 pounds of milk and 1,064 pounds of but- ter, beating the "Missouri's Chief Josephine". the celebrated Holstein, by 125 pounds of butter. The Belleview Dairy is one of the complete dairy farms of the country. The entire output of the dairy is sold to one con- cern in Kansas City.
John E. Jones was married in April, 1904, to Miss Nellie G. Gump, of Everett, Pennsylvania. She is a daughter of H. Frank and Elizabeth (Barndollar) Gump. Mrs. Jones was born at Everett, Pennsylvania, and is a graduate of Goucher College, at Baltimore, Maryland. To Mr. and Mrs. Jones have been born one son who was born September 4. 1906 and is at home with his parents.
Mr. Jones is a progressive and an enterprising citizen and one of the leading dairymen of the country.
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
Walter Snyder, who conducts an extensive plumbing and steam fitting business at Excelsior Springs, Missouri, is a native of this state. He was born at Clinton, Henry County, Missouri, October 3, 1872, a son of Ernest William and Mary G. (DeLaVergne) Snyder, who were the par. ents of two daughters and five sons.
Ernest William Snyder was born in Dresden, Germany, and came to the United States, settling in Pennsylvania when he was about twelve years old. Later he went to Ohio and from there to Kentucky. He then came to Henry County, Missouri, where he was engaged in the real estate and loan business. While a resident of Clinton he took a prominent part in local affairs and was a member of the school board for a number of years and also served as justice of the peace. He died in 1898 at the age of sixty years. Mary G. (DeLaVergne) Snyder was a native of Ohio and a descendant of New England ancestors. She died in 1877, when Walter Snyder of this review was about five years old.
Walter Snyder was reared in Clinton, Missouri, and was graduated from the Clinton High School. In 1902, he went to Kansas City and worked at plumbing and steam fitting with the Kirtley Brothers for four years. He then went to Cripple Creek, Colorado, where he worked at his trade for a time, when he returned to Kansas City the same year. He then came to Excelsior Springs and engaged in plumbing and steam fitting here, opening a shop of his own. His business has developed until he has become the most extensive contractor in his line in this section. He installs steam and hot water heating, gas stoves, Arco Vacuum Cleaners, and does all kinds of sanitary plumbing and gas fitting. He did the plumbing work in the Hotel Snapp, the Ideal Hotel, and the Clay County State building, as well as many other important jobs in Excelsior Springs.
Mr. Snyder was married May 6, 1912, to Miss Gertrude Mary Merrill. of Hartshorn, Oklahoma, and to this union three children have been born: William M., Walter, Jr., and Louis Edward.
Mr. Snyder is independent in politics and belongs to the Presbyterian Church. He is a member of the Masonic Lodge, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He is one of the progressive and substantial business men of Excelsior Springs.
Zack M. Best, a well known and successful farmer and stockman of Liberty township, is a native Missourian and a descendant of a pioneer family. He was born in Jackson County, Missouri, November 8, 1858, and is a son of John and Ann (Hutchins) Best, natives of Kentucky, and early settlers in Jackson County, Missouri.
WALTER SNYDER
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
John Best resided in the southwestern part of Jackson County, in the vicinity of where the Long View Farm is now located. He settled there prior to the Civil War and when Order No. 11 was issued, the Best family drove to Clinton County with an ox team, crossing the river on the ice at Blue Mills. This was in the winter of 1362-63. John Best served in the Confederate army for a time during the Civil War and during the lat- ter part of the war made the trip across the plains.
In the spring of 1866, John Best came to Clay County with his family and settled in the northwest corner of Liberty township. Four years later he moved to the place which is now owned by Zack M. Best and here he and his wife spent the remainder of their lives. He died at the age of eighty-two years and his wife was nearly eighty-four at the time of her death. Their remains are buried in Providence cemetery. They were the parents of the following children: Mrs. Elizabeth Adkins, deceased; George W., of Liberty, Missouri; Mrs. America Jane Flannery, deceased ; M. D., Liberty, Missouri; Garnett, deceased; Mrs. Mary Peters, deceased; and Zack, the subject of this sketch.
Zack M. Best was reared in Clay County and educated in the district schools and has lived on the place where he now resides for over fifty years. He began farming and stock raising in early life and has been suc- cessfully engaged in this pursuit to the present time. He owns the old homestead of 160 acres which is one of the productive and valuable farms of Clay County. The place is well improved and kept in excellent condi- tion. Unfortunately, the farm residence was destroyed by fire June 1, 1920, and since that time Mr. Best and his family have made their abode in his tenant house.
Mr. Best was married, January 1, 1882, to Miss Eliza Jane Wills, a daughter of Kemp Scott and Margaret Jane Wills, of Clay County. Mrs. Best's parents were both born and reared in Clay County and are now de- ceased and are buried in Old Providence cemetery. To Mr. and Mrs. Best have been born the following children: Bessie, who died at the age of seven years; Anna Jane, married Thomas F. Arnold, of Liberty township; John, a farmer in Liberty township, married Georgia Cotes; Mabel M., married George Lewis Baldwin, of Liberty township: Grace B., resides at home with her parents; and Lorenzo Hugh, at home. The following are the grandchildren: Everett Rothwell and Bessie Mildred Best, Lucille Estell Baldwin and Marion Foster Arnold.
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