USA > Missouri > Clay County > History of Clay County, Missouri > Part 52
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The parents of J. E. and S. W. McDavid were John Fleming and Amerilla (Condiff) McDavid, the former, a native of Virginia and the latter, of Missouri. John Fleming McDavid was born in Virginia in 1838 and was of Scotch descent. He left home to make his own way in the world when he was twelve years old and drove a stage coach over the Allegheny Mountains for a time. The old trail over which he drove in the early days is now one of the highly improved roads of the country and is a part of the Ocean-to-Ocean Highway. S. W. McDavid recently made a trip over that section of it where his father formerly drove stage. Later in life, John Fleming McDavid became a railroad contractor in the East and operated as such on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. He died in 1893 and his wife died in November, 1919, at the age of seventy-five years.
John Fleming and Amerilla (Condiff) McDavid were the parents of the following children: Eliza, married L. C. Rose, Beggs, Oklahoma : Belle, lives in Carroll County, Missouri; Julia, married C. L. Benson, Carroll County, Missouri; Jennie; John E., a member of the firm, Mc- David Brothers, was born in Carroll County in 1875, married Flora Ellis, and they have one son, Earl; S. Walter, of McDavid Brothers, was born in Carroll County, October 30, 1877, married Flora Henry; Nettie, mar- ried William Gaston of Bosworth, Missouri; Marvin and Arch, both now live at Brookfield, Missouri.
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Sylvanus B. Waller, a well known and successful merchant of Smith- ville, Missouri, who is engaged in the hardware and implement business in partnership with John C. Williams, was born in Carroll township, Platte County, November 25, 1855. He is a son of Absalom H. and Mariam (Nash) Waller.
Absalom Waller was an early pioneer settler of Platte County. He was born in Virginia in 1821 and in early life came to Missouri alone and settled in Platte County, where he bought 136 acres of land. He was engaged in farming and stock raising all his life and met with success. At the time of his death in 1884, he was the owner of 256 acres of land in Platte County. His wife was born in Woodford County, Kentucky, in 1822. They were married in Platte County, Missouri. She died in 1890 on the Waller home place in Platte County. They were the parents of eight children, three of whom died in infancy and the others were as follows: Virginia, deceased; Solon C., died in December, 1888; Mattie, married Rowlight Rice, and they live in Platte County ; Sylvanus B., the subject of this sketch; and Catherine S., married Jeff Silvy, Chanute, Kansas.
Sylvanus B. Waller was reared to manhood in Platte County and received his education in the district school. He remained on the home farm with his parents until he was twenty-one years old. He then learned the harness maker's trade at Smithville, Missouri, with James F. Adams and followed that business for years. He then engaged in the hardware and implement business at Smithville and has devoted his attention to that line of business to the present time. He and his partner have built up an extensive trade and are recognized to be one of the leading firms in western Clay County. They have a large patronage covering a large scope of territory in both Clay and Platte Counties.
Mr. Waller was married January 26, 1886, to Miss Mollie B. Yates, a daughter of William and Getia (Miller) Yates, both natives of Missouri. William Yates is now deceased and his widow lives at Smithville. They were the parents of sixteen children of whom Mrs. Waller was the second in order of birth. To Mr. and Mrs. Waller have been born four children, as follows: Eva D., was born in Smithville, Missouri, in 1889 and died in 1905; Naomi, was born in Clay County in 1892 and died in infancy ; James B., was born in Clay County in 1897 and is now conected with his father's business at Smithville and Mary B., born at Smithville in 1904, resides at home with her parents.
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Mr. Waller is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows Lodge and is a Democrat. He and Mrs. Waller are members of the Christian Church and she belongs to the Eastern Star. Mr. Waller is a well known business man of Clay County and is widely and favorably known.
Ella Jean Flanders conducts one of the leading department stores of Excelsior Springs and is also the proprietor of the Clay Hotel. She was born in Caldwell County, Missouri, a daughter of Solomon and Miriam (Pettit) Musser, the former, a native of Ohio and the latter, of Ken- tucky. Solomon Musser was engaged in farming and stock raising in early life but later devoted himself to looking after his investments. He was a pioneer settler of Caldwell County but spent the latter part of his life in Clinton County.
Mrs. Flanders was educated in the St. Joseph Female College which was conducted by Dr. Elijah Dulin, one of the foremost educators of the State. Mrs. Flanders is also a Chautauqua White Seal graduate. She was married in 1887, to Clyde Eastman Flanders, a native of Brown County. Illinois. He was a train dispatcher in early life and later conducted a shoe store in Cameron, Missouri. He came to Excelsior Springs in 1903 and the following year engaged in the general mercantile business. Mrs. Flanders practically conducted the business from the beginning and Mr. Flanders continued on the road, representing a wholesale shoe house. He died in October, 1918, at the age of fifty-one years. He was a capable business man. He was vice-president of the Bank of Excelsior Springs, having been one of the organizers of that institution. He was a Mason and a Democrat.
To Mr. and Mrs. Flanders were born two children: Clyde Elaine, married Judge Harris Roinson of Kansas City, Missouri; and Jean Lor- raine, who resides at home with her mother.
Mrs. Flanders is one of the successful business women of Clay County, and in addition to the management of her extensive business, she finds time to devote to many matters and movements of public in- terest. She is a member of the Eastern Star and Past Grand Matron of the order of the Eastern Star in the State of Missouri and is president of the advisory board of the Masonic Home at St. Louis. She is a member of the State Federation of Women's Clubs and chairman of Conservation for this District. She is also chairman of the Third Congressional Dis- trict of the Good Roads Association of Missouri.
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Mrs. Flanders is a Democrat and takes an active part in political affairs. She is an able public speaker and her services are in great demand during important political campaigns.
E. F. Camron, now living retired at Excelsior Springs, has been identified with this part of Missouri for many years. He is a member of one of the pioneer families of the State. The name, Camron, was spelled Cameron by Mr. Camron's parents and the other members of the Cameron family ; however, the subject of this sketch drops the "e" from his name. He was born in Andrew County, Missouri, April 12, 1841, a son of Calvin S. and Ann (Writsman) Cameron.
Calvin S. Cameron was born in Tennessee, April 8, 1815. and when he was three years old he was brought to Missouri by his parents, Elisha and Sarah (VanWrinkle) Cameron, who settled in Fishing River town- ship. Elisha Cameron entered Government land in Fishing River town- ship and at the time of his death was the owner of 500 acres in Fishing River township. Elisha Cameron was born in 1783 and was a soldier in the War of 1812. He was the first county judge of Clay County. The town of Cameron, Missouri, was named after him. His second oldest daughter, Melinda, married a Mr. McCorkle who owned a thousand acres of land where the town of Cameron now stands.
Calvin S. Cameron entered Government land in Andrew County, Missouri, and was the owner of 200 acres of fine land there before the Civil War, but bushwhackers became so numerous in that vicinity during the war that he sold his place and bought a farm in Fishing River town- ship, Clay County, where he died in 1893. Ann (Writsman) Cameron was born in Tennessee in 1816 and died in 1883.
E. F. Camron was the oldest of six children born to his parents, two of whom are living besides E. F., as follows: Perry, who lives in Liberty, Missouri; and Frances, widow of J. B. Goodwin, of Liberty, Missouri. E. F. Camron has followed farming all his life. In 1870, ho moved to Vernon County, Missouri, where he improved a farm and re- mained until 1903, when he disposed of his property there and returned to Clay County.
Mr. Camron has been twice married. In 1867, he was married to Elizabeth Sullards, a native of Buchanan County, Missouri, born in 1839. She died in 1879, leaving five children: Cora, married W. A. Cann, who is now deceased and she is Matron of a College at Port Arthur, Texas, and
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has three children, Garnett, Frank, and Kathryn; Olive, married R. E. Davis, who is now deceased and she has one son, Wendell Lee; Bruce C., St. Louis, Missouri; Elma, married Frank McGulkin, of New York; and E. F., Jr., of El Paso, Texas. In 1884, E. F. Camron was married to Maria E. Howell of West Virginia.
Mr. Camron has seen much of the development of this section of the country. In the early days he was engaged in freighting across the plains.
William Duncan, a successful farmer and stockman of Platte town- ship and a veteran of the Civil War, is a native of Clay County. He was born in Platte township, November 2, 1841, a son of Jehohida and Eliza (Crow) Duncan.
Jehohida Duncan was born in Bourbon County, Kentucky, and came to Missouri with his parents at a very early day. He was a son of James Duncan who settled in Clay County and entered three thousand acres of government land here. Jehohida Duncan remained in this county until the discovery of gold in California, and in 1849 he crossed the plains to the Pacific coast. He died in California in 1857. Eliza (Crow) Duncan was born in Jasamine County, Kentucky, and was married to Mr. Duncan in Missouri. She died in 1910.
William Duncan was one of five children born to his parents. as fol- lows: James, died in infancy; William, the subject of this sketch; Thomas J., deceased; Mary S., married John Screwberry, of Clinton County ; and Elizabeth, deceased.
William Duncan was reared on the home farm in Platte township and received his education in the early day subscription schools. He assisted his mother on the home place and at the early age of twelve years began working out by the month to help support his mother and sisters. In 1858 he engaged in farming the home place where he remained until 1861, when the Civil War broke out. He then enlisted at Smithville in Colonel Duncan's company, which was attached to General Price's command. It was known as Company G. First Missouri Regiment, under command of Colonel Cockrell. Mr. Duncan was with his command in a number of the important engagements of the Civil War. He was at the battles of Lex- ington, Pea Ridge, Wilson Creek, Shiloh, Siege of Vicksburg and the battle of Chickamauga, and a number of other battles and skirmishes. For ninety-seven days he was with the Confederate army which opposed Gen- eral Sherman on his raid through Georgia. He was severely wounded at
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the battle of Franklin, Tennessee, which was one of the hard fought battles of the Civil War. Here he was taken prisoner, after being wounded and sent to the Federal military prison at Camp Chase, Ohio. Three months later he was taken to Virginia and exchanged, being placed on a boat on the James River and sent to Richmond. After the close of the Civil War he was discharged in April, 1865, at Jackson, Mississippi. He was wounded three times during the course of his military service.
After the war, Mr. Duncan returned to Missouri and while at St. Joseph he hired out to make the trip across the plains with a wagon train to Idaho. After making that trip he returned to Nebraska City and made another trip across the plans to Denver Junction and back to Ne- braska City. He then returned to St. Joseph and shortly afterwards came back home to Clay County. In the fall of 1865 he settled on the old home place where his mother lived in Platte township and later he bought this place which he still owns. This property was entered from the govern- ment by his grandfather. Mr. Duncan has made many improvements on the place and has a good set of farm buildings, including a good comfort- able residence and two barns. He has a good orchard and carries on gen- eral farming and stock raising and is recognized as one of the successful citizens of Platte township.
Mr. Duncan was married in Clay County, October 4, 1866, to Miss Sarah E. Morris, a daughter of Gilbert and Sussie E. (Commins) Morris. Gilbert Morris was a native of Illinois, born in 1813. He was a farmer all his life and died in Hamilton County, Tennessee, in 1861. Sussie E. (Com- mins) Morris was born in Hamilton County, Tennessee, in 1820, and was married to Gilbert Morris in 1836. She died in 1863. To Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert Morris were born the following children: Calvis, died in infancy ; Monroe, lives in New Mexico ; Albert, died in infancy : Mary E., deceased ; Thomas, Canyon. Texas ; Sarah E., married William Duncan of this sketch; William, Douglass, Arizona; John C., deceased; Christine, a widow. who lives at Gainesville, Texas.
Mr. Duncan is a Democrat and he and Mrs. Duncan are members of the Methodist Church, South. Mr. Duncan is one of the dependable citizens of Clay County, whose career and experiences have been unusual. He has lived in a generation which has been the connecting link between what seems to be the remote pioneer past and the present. During the course of his observations he has seen many changes and developments and has played his part through it all.
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James H. Mereness, now living retired at Excelsior Springs, was for many years extensively engaged in farming and stock raising and met with success. He was born at Springfield, Ohio. January 1, 1852, a son of A. M. and Ann M. (Rouse) Mereness.
A. M. Mereness was a native of Ohio and in early manhood went to Louisiana where after remaining about five years, he returned to Ohio. Three years later, in 1854, he came to Missouri and after farming a short time in Clay County he engaged in the mercantile business at Missouri City. Before the Civil War he was in partnership with Darius Sessions. They carried on a general mercantile business and bought and shipped hides and wool and did an extensive business. When the Civil War broke out Mr. Sessions was captain of the Home Guards and was killed at Missouri City. During that time Colonel Renick ordered all firearms in the county to be brought to Liberty, and in compliance with that order, A. M. Mereness sent his gun to Liberty by a negro woman. The Colonel construed this action as an insult and sent a detail of soldiers to raid Mr. Mereness' store. They destroyed nearly everything he had, after which he abandoned the store and engaged in farming, a pursuit which he followed the remainder of his life. He died in 1869. His wife was a native of Louisiana and they were married in that state. She died at the home of one of her sons, five miles east of Liberty. The following children were born to A. M. and Ann M. (Rouse) Mereness: Mortha J., deceased; Milton David. deceased; Margaret Ann, deceased; James H .. subject of this sketch; and Stephen Douglas, Excelsior Springs.
James H. Mereness received his education in the early day subscrip- tion school and the district school. He remained on the home place until after the death of his father, when he engaged in farming for him- self. He and one of his brothers bought 280 acres of river bottom land where they engaged in farming for some years, when the current of the river changed and swept their farm away. He then bought 270 acres five miles east of Liberty, at a safe distance from the river. This was in 1880, and here he was successfully engaged in farming and stock rais- ing until 1910. In 1916. he came to Excelsior Springs, where he has since resided.
Mr. Mereress was first married in 1878 to Miss Olive Ann Pigg. After her death he married Mattie King, who died in 1914. June 10, 1915, he was married to Alice Stoner, widow of W. J. Stoner. She is a daughter of Edward and Elizabeth (Reed) Smith, who were early settlers in De-
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kalb County, Missouri. The following children were born to Mr. Mere- ness' first marriage: L. G., died in 1916; W. R., lives in Colorado; and George H., lives near Missouri City.
Mr. Mereness is a member of the Baptist Church and is a Democrat. Mrs. Mereness is a member of the Methodist Church and is a very active worker in this church, being a teacher of the Gamma Bata Bata,, con- sisting of twenty-five young ladies. To her marriage to W. J. Stoner, one child was born, Pauline Elizabeth, born July 11, 1904, now living with her mother. At the time of Mrs. Mereness' last marriage, she was super- intendent at the Odd Fellows' Home at Liberty, Missouri, and has the distinction of being past president of the Rebekahs State Assembly of Missouri.
Marcellus S. Thomason. a progressive citizen of Kearney township who is well known as a successful farmer and breeder, is a native son of Clay County. He was born three miles south of his present place, January 1, 1872, a son of Marcellus and Belvidere (Estes) Thomason.
Marcellus Thomason, the father, was born in Kentucky, in 1832, and came to Missouri with his parents in 1810. The family settled in Clay County. Marcellus Thomason was engaged in farming and was the owner of 230 acres of land. He was also engaged in stock raising and kept a good grade of cattle. In 1849, when gold was discovered in California, he made the trip there overland with his father. They drove ox teams and took with them a herd of cattle. They returned to Missouri in 1851. Marcellus Thomason died in 1909 and at the time of his death he was the owner of the Berry Estes place. Belvidere (Estes) Thomason was born in Clay County in 1836 and died in 1876.
To Marcellus and Belvidere (Estes) Thomason were born the follow- ing children: George, lives in Clay County ; Louis, died in infancy ; Belvi- dere, deceased ; Manlius, lives in California; William, lives in Texas; Eu- genia, married Sam Wilson, Clay County, Missouri; Ella, married John D. Mathew, Clay County; Pearl, married Benjamin Kelley, California; Mar- cellus S., the subject of this sketch; and Asa, lives on the old home place in Clay County.
Marcellus S. Thomason was reared on the farm and attended school in the Stony Point district and the Kearnry High School. Later he took a course in the Chillicothe Business College. He remained at home until he was twenty-one years old and after that operated land which he rented
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from his father until he was thirty-five years old. He then bought his present place which consists of a valuable farm of 200 acres. He carries on general farming and raises tobacco quite extensively. He began breeding pure bred Poland China hogs in 1912 and has one of the best strains of Poland Chinas to be found anywhere in the county. He dis- poses of his pure bred Poland China hogs at public sales and has always received good prices for his hogs. He raises and feeds cattle on an exten- sive scale also.
Mr. Thomason was married at Kansas City, December 23, 1908, to Miss Louie Newby. She is a daughter of George S. and Elizabeth (Moore) Newby. George S. Newby was born in Clinton County, Missouri, July 9, 1849, and died August 16, 1902. He was married to Elizabeth Moore, October 24. 1872. She died October 3, 1879. They were the parents of five children.
Mr. Thomason is a Democrat and one of the substantial citizens of Kearney township.
Landie R. Hulse, a successful farmer and stockman of Platte town- ship, is a native of Missouri. He was born at Grayson, Clinton County, July 8, 1881 and is a son of Jefferson and Sally (Barnard) Hulse. Jeffer- son Hulse was born in Clay County, near Paradise, May 1, 1854. He was reared in this county and received a good education. Early in life he became an ordained minister in the Methodist church and has been a min- ister of the gospel all his life. He now resides on his farm near Paradise. His wife was born near Lexington, Kentucky, June 30, 1854, and they were married near Smithville, Missouri, in 1876. She died in 1920 and her remains are buried in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows cemetery at Smithville. To Reverend Jefferson and Sally (Barnard) Hulse were born the following children: Auror, married Andy Collins, Platte town- ship, Clay County ; Landie, the subject of this sketch; Georgia, married Walter Brooks, Smithville, Missouri; Mabel, married Floyd Rule, Clay County, Missouri; and Leta, who resides at home with her father.
Landie Hulse was reared in Platte township and attended the Paradise public schools and later was a student at Prof. Aell's Academy at Smith- ville, Missouri. He remained at home with his parents until he was eighteen years old. He then went West and was employed in the mining camp at Cripple Creek, Colorado. He worked at the Elkton Mine for one and one-half years and at the El Paso for one year. He was working
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Golden Cycle Mine when labor trouble arose and he went to Oregon. He was employed in a woolen mill at Pendleton for six months and then was employed on a ranch near Pendleton. He returned to Clay County in 1904 and after remaining with his parents about eighteen months he rented a farm near Hoover in Platte County. In 1909 he returned to Clay County and bought 110 acres of land in Platte township which he still owns and which is his present home. His place is well improved with a good residence and barn. He carries on general farming and stock rais- ing and has achieved more than ordinary success as a breeder of Yellow Dent seed corn.
Mr. Hulse was married near Hoover, in Platte County, October 24, 1906, to Miss Carrie J. Clemments and to this union have been born five children as follows: Elizabeth, Lena M., Luella, Addie, and Landie, all residing at home with their parents.
Mr. Hulse is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and is a Democrat. He and Mrs. Hulse are members of the Christian Church.
Lewis E. Dresslaer, now living at Excelsior Springs, has had a suc- cessful career as a farmer and stockman. He was born five miles west of Liberty on the old Dresslaer homestead. November 18, 1860, and is a son of Anderson and Matilda (Holt) Dresslaer.
Anderson Dresslaer was a native of Virginia, born August 28, 1836, and came to Missouri with his parents when he was sixteen years old. He was a son of Michael Dresslaer who entered 160 acres of government land upon coming to this county. Anderson Dresslaer entered government land in Clay County and was the owner of 240 acres which was heavily timbered when he bought it. He followed farming and stock raising all his life. During the Civil War, he served in the Confederate army. He died May 10, 1914, and his remains are buried in Big Shoal Church ceme- tery.
Matilda (Holt) Dresslaer was born in Tennessee, January 14, 1837, and was married to Anderson Dresslaer in Clay County, November 4, 1858. She died on the home place in this county, July 10, 1902. To Anderson and Matilda (Holt) Dresslaer were born four children, as fol- lows: Llewelyn A., born August 26, 1859, owns the home place near Liberty ; Lewis E., the subject of this sketch; William N., born in 1871, and died in 1877; Edgar E., born June 8, 1876, a traveling salesman, St. Joseph, Missouri.
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Lewis E. Dresslaer was reared on the home farm and attended the district school in the Faubian school district. When he was eighteen years old he began his independent career as a farmer and stock raiser on rented land. In 1880, he bought a farm of forty acres. He operated that place until 1890 when he bought 160 acres which he now owns. He made substantial improvements on this place, including a good farm resi- dence and two stock barns. He has carried on general farming and stock raising, having been especially successful in raising mules.
Mr. Dresslaer was married November 5, 1884, to Miss Sallie G. Hymer, a daughter of William S. and Elizabeth (Searcey) Hymer. William S. Hymer was born in Kentucky, October 11, 1821. He was a son of Jacob P. Hymer, a Kentuckian who was prominent in the early day affairs of Clay County. The Hymer family settled in Clay County in 1831 and entered 220 acres of land and here William S. Hymer spent his life. He was a suc- cessful farmer and stockman and was an old school Baptist. He was afflicted with blindness for twenty-two years prior to his death, October 30, 1897. Elizabeth (Searcey) Hymer was born March 23, 1827, and married in 1848. She died July 7, 1873.
To William S. and Elizabeth (Searcey) Hymer were born the follow- ing children: Jacob H., born December 24, 1849, lives in Kansas City, Missouri; Dettie, born June 21, 1852, married Andrew J. Pence, Raytown, Missouri; Dulcina N., born June 20, 1853, and died September 19, 1896; Irvin W., born June 16, 1855, deceased; Eugene, born September 8, 1860, died July 1, 1916; Sallie G., married Lewis E. Dresslaer, was born Decem- ber 16, 1862; and Howell L., born May 20, 1865, lives at Excelsior Springs. Mr. and Mrs. Dresslaer have no children.
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