USA > Missouri > Clay County > History of Clay County, Missouri > Part 53
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Mr. Dresslaer is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and has been a member of the Knights of Pythias for twenty-five years and is a Democrat. He and Mrs. Dresslaer are members of the Rebekahs and she holds membership in the Baptist Church.
Beverly B. Petty, of Liberty, Missouri, is one of the large land owners of Clay County and a descendant of a prominent pioneer family of this section of Missouri. He was born in Clay County and is a son of Beverly and Martha Ann (Estes) Petty. A more extensive history of the Petty family appears in this volume in connection with a sketch of George W. Petty, a brother of Beverly B. Petty whose name introduces this review.
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Beverly B. Petty was reared in the vicinity of Kearney and attended school in the Estes district and later the Kearney High School. He then attended William Jewell College at Liberty. In early life he engaged in farming and stock raising and carried on business on an extensive scale and today is one of the well-to-do and successful men of affairs in Clay County. His farm is located in Fishing River township, four and one- half miles west of Excelsior Springs. Here he owns and operates 800 acres of well improved and valuable land, a part of which is known as the Yankee Brown Farm. In 1909 Mr. Petty purchased the A. B. Cranford home at 804 South Leonard Street, Liberty, Missouri, where he has since resided. This is one of the fine homes of Liberty.
On February 11, 1900, Beverly B. Petty was united in marriage with Miss Fannie Pettigrew, a daughter of Joseph T. and Fannie (Rust) Petti- grew. Joseph T. Pettigrew was a native of North Carolina and a son of William and Margaret Pettigrew who settled in Clay County when Joseph T. Pettigrew was three years old. They located on a farm, four and one-half miles west of Excelsior Springs, in Fishing River township, and spent the remainder of their lives in Clay County and their remains are buried at Kearney. Joseph T. Pettigrew died at Excelsior Springs at the age of fifty-six years and his wife died in 1876. Joseph T. Pettigrew was a prominent stockman of Clay County and widely known as a successful man. He was a Democrat and took an active part in political affairs. He was one of the original stockholders of the Kearney Commercial Bank and served as a member of the board of directors of that institution for a number of years. Mrs. Petty was the only child born to her parents. She was educated in the Cameron district school, the Kearney High School and the Ladies College at Liberty, Missouri.
Mr. Petty is a director of the Kearney Commercial Bank and is one of Clay County's substantial and highly respected citizens.
Robert D. Vest, the veteran thresher of Clay County, who has oper- ated threshing machines for the past forty years, is a native of Missouri and a member of one of the prominent pioneer families of this state. He is a nephew of the late Senator Vest who representeed Missouri in the United States Senate for a number of years and was one of the ablest lawyers of his time.
Robert D. Vest was born at Ft. Sibley, Jackson County, Missouri, July 6, 1859. He is a son of William B. and Bettie (Williams) Vest.
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
Robert D. Vest was the only son born to his parents, his r. other dying when he was nine days old. July 15, 1859. Her remains are buried at Ft. Sibley. The father afterwards married Amanda Rainey and three children were born to that union, only one of whom is now living, Charles Vest, of Los Angeles, California.
Robert D. Vest was reared in Jackson County and educated in the public schools. In early life he began operating threshing machines and saw mills and for forty years he has been engaged in that business, with the exception of the year of 1886. His operations have extended pretty much over western Missouri and parts of Kansas. When he began the threshing business the old type of primitive machines were used and lie has operated all kinds, from the ox tread power to his present sixteen- horse power Reeves engine and Aultman-Taylor separator with its auto- matic banding. cutting and weighing devices and all other modern thresh- ing machine equipment.
Mr. Vest was first married in 1883 to Miss Mollie Licklider, of Pleasant Green, Missouri. She died in 1901, leaving the following children: Wil- liam, Stockton, California; Edgar, employed by the Nichols-Sheperd Threshing Machine Company, Kansas City, Missouri; Grover, in the garage business at Marshall, Missouri; Robert, was in the employ of the J. I. Case Threshing Machine Company of Kansas City, Missouri, and died in November, 1918; Mary, married C. W. Hunting, of Stockton, California; and Della, married Laure Allawag, Stockton, California. Mr. Vest's second marriage took place in March, 1903, to Mrs. Rachel A. Kimmerman. of Malta Bend. Missouri.
J. W. Harlin, who is engaged in the hardware business at Liberty, Missouri, is one of the veteran merchants at Clay County and for the past forty-seven years has been engaged in business at Liberty. He was born at Indianapolis, Indiana, August 12. 1840, a son of George W. and Susana (Miller) Harlin. George W. Harlin was a native of Bargetown, Kentucky, and his wife was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They were married in Indianapolis and both spent their lives there.
J. W. Harlin is the only survivor of eight children born to his parents. He was reared and educated in the city of Indianapolis, attending the public schools and also a local seminary. When the Civil War broke out he enlisted in the Union Army in the First Indiana Cavalry, under Captain Brackens. During the course of his military career, Mr. Harlin served
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with the Union Army in Virginia, West Virginia, Tennessee, Alabama and Louisiana, and was at Mobile, Alabama, when the war closed. He partici- pated in a number of important engagements and at the battle of Gettys- burg he was struck by a piece of shell on the right leg which nearly dis- abled him, and at the time he thought his leg was shot off. However. when he recovered from the shock he found that his injury was not of a permanent nature. A piece from the same shell also knocked his horse down which also recovered. At that time Mr. Hardin was orderly for the Second Brigade, Second Division, Eighteenth Corps. He was honorably discharged and mustered out of service in November, 1865, and returned to Indianapolis.
In 1866 Mr. Harlin came to Missouri and located at Independence, where he was engaged in the work of tinsmith. He remained there for seven years, and in 1873 came to Liberty and engaged in the hardware business to which he has since devoted his attention. His hardware store is located on South Main Street, where he enjoys a good trade which has. been built up by square dealing and honest methods through all these years.
Mr. Harlin was married at Independence, Missouri, September 27, 1871, to Miss Britti Dunn, who was born in Independence March 3, 1853. To Mr. and Mrs. Harlin have been born the following children: George W., who is associated with his father in the hardware business at Liberty ; Sarah Josephine, married Robert Willis, of Kansas City, Missouri; and John Joseph, a cattle buyer at the stock yards in Kansas City.
During his long career in Liberty and Clay County Mr. Harlin has made many friends. He has taken an active interest in the welfare and progress of the town and county and has served on the council of Liberty for six years. Although he is now passed his eightieth year he is still active in business.
J. J. Cockrell, proprietor of the Day and Night Garage which is located just outside the city limits of Liberty, Missouri, is a native son of Clay County and a member of one of the most prominent pioneer families of Missouri. He was born in Liberty township February 11, 1893, and is a son of James F. and Kathleene (Cunningham) Cockrell who reside in Liberty township on their farm adjoining the city limits.
James F. Cockrell was born in Clay County on the farm where he now resides and was a son of pioneer parents of this county, and is related
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to the late Senator Cockrell who represented Missouri in the United States Senate for thirty years. James F. Cockrell has been engaged in farming throughout his career and is the owner of a valuable farm of fifty-one and one-half acres. Kathleene (Cunningham) Cockrell is a native of Ver- mont, born at East Dorsett. To James F. and Kathleene (Cunningham) Cockrell have been born the following children: G. F., Kansas City, Missouri; T. L., Kansas City, Missouri; Miss Hattie Cockrell, Roxbury, Vermont; F. M., Kansas City, Missouri; Kathleene, at home with her parents; John J., the subject of this sketch; Grace, married Ellie House, of Akron, Ohio; and Charlie, at home with his parents.
John J. Cockrell was educated in the public schools of Liberty and after leaving school worked in a garage at Kansas City, where he was employed for two years and became familiar with that line of work. He then returned home and after working on the farm for a time he entered the employ of the Central Paper Box Factory at Kansas City for three years. On July 20, 1918, he entered the United States army and was assigned to Company Division Headquarters at Camp Funston, and after serving in the army until February 14, 1919, he received his honorable discharge. He then returned to Kansas City and entered the employ of the Central Paper Box Factory again where he remained until July, 1919. in November, 1919, he engaged in his present business and is meeting with marked success. He is a capable automobile mechanic and has two assist- ants in his garage where he does all kinds of automobile repair work.
November 20, 1919, John J. Cockrell was united in marriage with Miss Esther Hess, a daughter of J. R. Hess, of Kansas City, Missouri.
Mr. Cockrell is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and is one of the progressive and enterprising young men of Clay County who is making good.
Joseph M. Patterson, Jr., owner and proprietor of "Pattersondale Farm," has won a well merited reputation as a leading breeder of pure bred Shorthorn cattle, and stands in the front rank in that industry in Clay County.
Mr. Patterson was born at Augusta, Bracken County, Kentucky, Sep- tember 2, 1888, and is a son of J. M. and Blanche (Bowman) Patterson. The parents are both natives of Kentucky, the former of Harrison County and the latter of Bracken County, and they now reside in Kansas City, Missouri.
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Joseph M. Patterson, Jr., was the only child born to his parents. He was educated in the public schools, Blees Military Academy at Macon, Missouri, and the University of Kansas at Lawrence, Kansas. In 1907 he entered the employ of the Bank of Commerce of Kansas City, Missouri, and was thus engaged for four years. He then came to Clay County and purchased 140 acres of land, two miles south of Liberty, which is now known as "The Pattersondale Farm". It was formerly the Joseph Pryor place.
Mr. Patterson has made extensive improvements, including a two story modern residence, equipped with a lighting and water system. He has also erected a neat and substantial barn, 48x52 feet and other farm buildings with a special view of their adaptability for the care of stock. He specializes in breeding pure bred Shorthorn cattle and at this writing has twenty-five head of pure bred cows and the herd is headed by "Pre- mier Victor", one of the valuable herd leaders of Clay County. Mr. Patter- son has a constand demand for his stock which is a very fine strain of pure breed Whiteface cattle.
"Pattersondale Farm" was one of the early settled places of Clay County and until Mr. Patterson purchased and improved it, it bore some of the historic earmarks of primitive pioneer days. An old log house which was probably built prior to 1840 occupied the site of the present splendid farm residence, and other changes about the place are no less noticeable than the contrast between the former and present residence.
Mr. Patterson was married August 5, 1908, to Miss Mabel Coyne, a daughter of Harry and Sarah (Culver) Coyne of Kansas City, Missouri, and one daughter has been born to this union, Barbara Blanche Patterson.
Mr. Patterson is a progressive and enterprising citizen and occupies a prominent position among the successful men of the county.
Marcus Lee Lightburne, a well known and successful farmer and stockman of Liberty township, is a descendant of a prominent Clay County family. He was born on a farm three miles south of Liberty, in Liberty township, June 30, 1863, and is a son of John S. and Ann (Todd) Light- burne.
John S. Lightburne was born in Scott County, Kentucky, April 11, 1811, and died in Clay County, June 22, 1890. His wife was born near Barry in Clay County, February 16, 1834, and died April 5 1908, and their remains are buried at Liberty, Missouri. John S. Lightburne came
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to Missouri by steamboat in 1832 and settled in Platte County. In 1861 he removed to Liberty and worked at his trade of carpenter. However, at about the close of the Civil War he bought a farm and engaged in farming and stock raising. The old home place is now owned by his son A. W. Lightburne. He improved this place and spent the remainder of his life there. He built a log house upon the place which is still standing and is one of the oldest houses in Clay County. It is built of walnut and white oak logs.
Major Alvan Lightburne, an uncle of Marens Lee Lightburne, was prominent in the early day affairs of Liberty and Clay County. He was a prominent factor in getting William Jewell College located here. lle secured subscriptions amounting to $24,767.00 and when he turned this over to the committee it raised the subscription amount to about $40,- 000.00. When the committee on location left Liberty, after Major Light- burne handed the members the subscription papers, he said: "Gentlemen. go and get the college. If you find upon your arrival at Booneville that this amount is not sufficient, add $3,000.00 or $5,000.00 more but get the college." The additional pledge, however, was not necessary
The following children were born to John S. and Ant (Todd) Light- burne: Dora, married Robert Thompson, deceased ; Fannie, married Edgar Thomason, deceased : Temperance E., married Eugene Thomason, Liberty. Missouri: Marcus Lee, the subject of this sketch; Minnie V., married Samuel R. Walker, who is now deceased, and she lives at Liberty, Missouri : and Alvin W., who lives on the old home place in Liberty township.
Marcus Lee Lightburne was reared in Liberty township and attended school in the Ruth Ewing school district. He has been engaged in farm- ing and stock raising in Liberty township since early manhood. He owns 216 acres of land one and three-fourths miles south of Liberty. He bought his home place from the Artman Brothers in 1898 and later boughit a part of the Cathecart farm His place is well improved with a good farm residence and other buildings. This is one of the ideal stock farms of Clay County. The place is abundantly supplied by water from about a dozen flowing springs. In addition to his general farming and stock raising. Mr. Lightburne is also engaged in dairying. He keeps sixteen good grade dairy cows and ships his cream to market a: St. Joseph. Missouri.
Mr. Lightburne was married December 27, 1887, to Miss Rose Kuch- enthal, a daughter of Albert and Frances (Todd) Kuchenthal, of Leaven
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worth, Kansas. Mrs. Lightburne's mother was born in Clay Count, and her father was an early settiler in thi part of Missouri. They were mar ried at Platte City about 1845 and are both now deceased and are buried in Platte County. Mrs. Lightburne is one of nine children born to her parents as follows: Mary, married Richard Mullens, of Simonton, Texas; Henrietta, married Robert Southard, of Tonganoxie, Kansas; Jennie, mar- ried George Broadshaw, DeSoto, Kansas; Julia, married Ed Rahe, Loring. Kansas; William, Bonner Springs; George, Loring, Kansas; Anna, married I. R. Paul, Clements, Kansas; John, Pendleton, Oregon; and Mr ... Light- burne, of this sketch. To Marcus Lee Lightburne and wife have been born the following children: Frances, married Harry Donald son, Liberty, Missouri, and they have two children, Virginia Lee and John Lightburne Donaldson; and John Albert Lightburne.
John Albert Lightburne was born May 21, 1893, and is associated with his father in operating the home farm. He was married July 19, 1919, to Miss Gwendolyn L. Hendricks, a daughter of Archibald and Inez Hend ricks. Her father is deceased and her mother resides at Excelsior Springs, Missouri.
John Albert Lightburne enlisted in the Aviation Department of the United States Army at Kansas City December 15, 1917. He was sent to the training camp at Urbana, Illinois, and was discharged there April 18, 1918. He immediately re-enhsted and on May 25, 1918, was sent to Camp Carter at Battle Creek, Michigan. He served there as Regimental Instrument and Scout Sergeant. He was retained at Camp Carter in con- nection with the officers School of Fire and was engaged in training re- cruits until the armistice was signed. He was honorably discharged from the service February 7, 1919.
Robert Lee Minter, a well known citizen of Liberty, Missouri, is a native of Clay County and a descendant, of Clay County pioneers. He was born near Kearney, Missouri, on the old Yankee Brown farm and is a son of Captain Robert and Martha (Bright) Minter.
Captain Robert Minter served in the Confederate Army throughout the Civil War under Gen. Sterling Price, and shortly after the war he was engaged in the mercantile business at Liberty with Fox Stone and they were succeeded in business by the Hughes Dry Goods Company. From Liberty Captain Minter moved to Kearney and from there to Cass County, Missouri, In 1868 he returned to Clay County and settled in Gal-
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latin township and bought a place near Randolph. He sold that place in 1874 and went to Texas where he remained eighteen months. He then returned to Clay County again and settled at Excelsior Springs. He died at Gallatin township in 1877 and he and his first wife are buried in Fair- view cemetery. His second wife bore the maiden name of Sallie Young and she is now living at the Independent Order of Odd Fellows' Home, near Liberty.
The following children were born to Robert and Martha (Bright) Minter: Mary Jane, married Loten Merritt and is deceased: Kate, mar- ried K. P. Withers, of Excelsior Springs, and died in 1920; Albert, died at Santa Ana, California ; George, lives in Los Angeles, California ; Jennie. married Cass Peake. Sulphur, Oklahoma; J. S., Los Angeles. California ; Robert L., the subject of this sketch; S. P., Sheffield, Missouri; Hattie. married H. P. Lindamen, Sheffield, Missouri.
Robert Lee Minter was educated in the public schools, attending school at the Woodland school house near Mosby, and also the Cass County schools. He has been engaged in farming and stock raising practically all his life and bought his present farm which is located near Birmingham in 1893. It was formerly the A. J. Stephens farm and was first settled by a colony of Mormons. There are twelve acres in the home place and forty acres just a little way west, and Mr. Minter operates in addition to his own land several acres on the river bottoms, which he rents.
Robert Lee Minter was married December 1, 1886, to Miss Mary King. She is a daughter of M. A. and Margaret (Sutton) King, both of whom are deceased and their remains are buried in the Prowlee cemetery. Mrs. Minter was born in Clay County. To Mr. and Mrs. Minter have been born the following children: Lauren King, married Lillian Chism of Kansas City, Missouri. and they have one daughter, Elfa Lela: Grace Ellen, a student in the Liberty High School; Blanche May, also a student in the Liberty High School; and Robert, Jr.
Mr. Minter is well known in Clay County and the Minter family stand high in the community.
James M. Stepp, who is successfully engaged in farming near Bir- mingham, Gallatin township, is a native of Clay County. He was born at Minneville, January 4, 1881, a son of James M. and Sarah (Burns) Stepp.
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James M. Stepp, Sr., the father of James M. Stepp of this review. was a native of Virginia and a son of James M. Stepp, who was a mill- wright in the early days in Virginia. His wife was descendant of Cap- tain John Smith and Pocahontas. James M. Stepp, Sr., was reared in Virginia and when the Civil War broke out he enlisted in the Confederate Army and served under Major Fitzhugh of Virginia. He enlisted at the age of sixteen years and participated in a number of important battles of the war, including Lookout Mountain, the Siege of Vicksburg, Five Forks, and was at Appomattox at the finish. He was slightly wounded three times. After the war he came to Clay County, Missouri, with a brother, Dock Stepp. He was engaged in farming here for a number of years and was accidentally killed by a train at Randolph, Missouri, in 1906. His brother, Dock Stepp, was also killed by a train at Minneville, Missouri. One other brother, Robert Stepp, now lives in New Mexico. Sarah (Burns) Stepp was a native of Clay County and her parents were eight years and her remains are buried at Minneville.
To James M. and Sarah (Burns) Stepp were born the following chil- dren: William R., Chillicothe, Missouri; John H., Norfolk, Virginia; Cor- delia, married Thomas C. Dudley of Kansas City, Kansas; James M., the subject of this sketch; Joseph N., a farmer in Gallatin township; and Bessie E., married Lester Capps of Minneville.
James M. Stepp was reared and educated in Minneville and in early life engaged in truck gardening, a line in which he has been engaged to the present time and in which he has met with success.
Mr. Stepp was married September 11, 1911, to Miss Jessie Blanken- . ship, a daughter of Thomas and Minnie (Swearingen) Blankenship of Birmingham, Missouri. Mrs. Stepp is one of three children born to her parents, the others being as follows: Lawrence, Minneville, Missouri, and Thomas, Birmingham, Missouri. To Mr. and Mrs. Stepp have been born three children: Sarah Vivan, Thomas Glenn, and Vera Elizabeth
Mr. Stepp is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, the Royal Highlanders, and Central Protective Association.
George Raymond Porter, a substantial and well known farmer and stockman of Gallatin township who has been identified with Clay County and its interests for the past thirty years, is a native of Georgia. He was born in Hall County, Georgia, July 21, 1860, a son of John and Nancy (Johnson) Porter, both natives of Georgia, and of Hall County.
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John Porter was born in Hall County, Georgia, in 1831. When the Civil War broke out he enlisted in the Confederate Army and served throughout the four long years of that conflict under General Longstreet. After the war he returned to his Georgia home and was engaged in farm- ing throughout the remainder of his active career. He died in 1918 at the advanced age of eighty-seven years. His wife died in 1890 at the age of fifty-seven years and their remains are buried in Sardis cemetery in Hall County, Georgia. Six of their children are living. as follows: George Raymond, the subject of this sketch; C. C. Porter, a farmer and collector in Lumpkin County, Georgia; Lucinda, married Joe Martin; Bunie, married J. W. Martin; Avy, married Lloyd Martin; and Florid, married James F. Jay. All of the daughters reside in Hall County, Georgia.
George Raymond Porter was reared to manhood and educated in Hall County, Georgia. He was engaged in farming there until 1890 when he came to Missouri and settled in Platte County, near Barry. He bought his present farm in Gallatin township, Clay County, from Charles Ligon in 1910. This was formerly the old Leonard Ligon homestead. The farm consists of 289 acres and since locating here Mr. Porter has made many substantial improvements. He has remodeled the residence and other buildings and has one of the well improved and valuable farms of Gallatin township. The place has an ample supply of water and is well adapted to general farming and stock raising.
December 10, 1881, George Raymond Porter was married to Miss Tyrene Robinson, a daughter of Bose and Eliza (Elrod) Robinson, both members of an old Southern pioneer family of Hall County, Georgia. Mrs Porter is one of six children born to her parents, the others being as follows: Minnie married W. R. Robertson; Jolly Robinson; William Robinson ; Thomas Robinson; and Emma, who married Brown Smith.
To Mr. and Mrs. George Raymond Porter have been born the fol- lowing children: Guy, a farmer, Liberty, Missouri; Jay, Big Sandy, Mon- tana ; Chester, married Owen Moore, Liberty, Missouri; George F., on the home farm; Lizzie, married Kelly Wagner; Frederick at home with his parents ; and Sidney, at home.
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