USA > Missouri > Clay County > History of Clay County, Missouri > Part 54
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Mr. Porter is a member of the Masonic Lodge, having been made a Mason in Hall County, Georgia, and is now a member of the Masonic Lodge at Liberty, Missouri.
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
Hugh R. Loughrey, of Gallatin township, who is engaged in farming and stock raising, is a native son of Clay County and a descendant of very early pioneer settlers of Clay County and Missouri. He was born on the place where he now resides, about three and one-half miles north- east of North Kansas City, May 2, 1867, a son of Andy and Mary (Hard- wick) Loughrey.
Andy Loughrey was born in Indiana and in 1859 went to Kansas where he remained about a year, when he came to Clay County Ile worked by the month near Liberty for a time and later worked for the Hardwick family. He later engaged in farming and stock raising in Gallatin township and spent the remainder of his life here. He improved the place where Hugh R. Loughrey now lives, having built the residence in 1886. A number of fine maple trees which now shade the Loughrey home were set out by him.
Mary (Hardwick) Loughrey was a daughter of Philip and Margaret Hardwick. Philip Hardwick was one of the very early pioneer settlers of Clay County, settling on the place which is now owned by Hugh R. Loughrey, in 1826. Hugh R. Loughrey now owns ninety acres of the original Hardwick place, which consisted of about 300 acres. Philip Hardwick went to California during the gold excitement of 1849, making the westward trip overland. He was returning by way of the Isthmus of Panama when he died on board ship and was buried at sea. His widow conducted the home place for a number of years and died about 1893 and is buried at Liberty, Missouri. Andy Loughrey died in October, 1916. and his wife departed this life in March, 1919, and their remains are buried at Mt. Memorial, the old cemetery at Liberty, Missouri.
Hugh R. Loughrey was reared on the home place and educated at Pleasant Hill district school and later took a course at Spalding's Com- mercial College in Kansas City, Missouri. He was then employed as foreman for the Armour Packing Company for twenty-three years. In 1915 he returned to the home farm where he has since been engaged in farming and stock raising.
Mr. Loughrey was married December 10, 1896, to Miss Mineaola Fugitt, a daughter of Matt and Minerva (Lee) Fugitt, both now de- ceased. The Fugitts were very early settlers in Clay County. Matt Fugitt was born in Gallatin township in 1836. He was a son of Hiram Fugitt who entered Government land near Linden, Missouri. Early mem- bers of the Fugitt family came to Missouri with Daniel Boone in the
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early part of the last century and were among the earliest settlers of the State One of the Fugitt brothers disappeared in the early days and was supposed to have been killed by Indians but he was located in Illi- nois about twenty-seven years ago. Minerva (Lee) Fugitt was a daugh- ter of Stephen Elgiva Lee, who were also pioneer settlers of Clay County. Elgiva Lee was a daughter of Rev. Knight, a Baptist minister. Matt Fugitt died at the home of his daughter in Kansas City in 1918, and his wife died in 1890.
To Hugh R. Loughrey and wife have been born the following chil- dren: Andrew C., was married August 3, 1920, to Colina Wade of Kansas City, Missouri; Layton, at home; and Hugh, at home with his parents.
Hugh R. Loughrey is a progressive citizen and the Loughrey family is one of the substantial pioneer families of Clay County.
James Oscar Davidson of Gallatin township is a native of Clay County, and a descendant of early pioneers of this county. He was born five miles west of Liberty, January 18, 1845. He is a son of John K. and Lucy (Tillery) Davidson.
John K. Davidson was born in Woodford County, Kentucky, in 1815. Lucy Tillery Davidson, daughter of Wm. and Nancy Tillery. was born in the same county in 1820. They came to Clay County with their re- spective parents and were married here. John K. Davidson died in 1847 at the age of thirty-two years, and his wife died in 1876 at the age of fifty-six years, and their remains are buried on the A. C. Davidson farm, three and one-half miles southwest of Liberty.
To John and Lucy Davidson were born the following children: Sam- uel Alexander, L. A., James Oscar, and Mary Ann. Samuel Alexander was a soldier in the Confederate army and died from pneumonia shortly after the battle of Pea Ridge. Florendia died January 8, 1858, at the age of fourteen years. Mary Ann, married Henry Haynes, and died two years after her marriage, December 30, 1869.
James Oscar Davidson was reared in Clay County and attended school in the Faubion school district. In early life he and his brother L. A. Davidson, bought the home farm which they operated in partner- ship for several years. Later they bought the Tillery Farm. and L. A. Davidson took that and James Oscar retained the home place. He after- wards bought the Stephen Lee place which he improved, and lived on it for eight years. He sold the home place in 1910, and the Lee Farm
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in 1917, and since then has lived with his sons, William Campbell and Ernest E.
James Oscar Davidson was married in 1878, to Miss Ella Campbell, daughter of William C. and Amanda Evans Campbell, one of the early Clay County families. She died in January, 1882, leaving two sons, Wil- liam Campbell, born December 2, 1879, and Ernest E., born February 27, 1881.
W. C. and Ernest E. Davidson were educated in the public schools of Clay County and the Kansas City High School, graduating from high school in 1899. Ernest E. graduated from the Law Department of Mis- souri University in 1901. He practiced law in Kansas City for a time. He and his brother, W. C., now live in Gallatin township where they are doing general farming and stock raising. They are breeding purebred Shorthorn cattle and Hampshire hogs. Both are Thirty-second Degree Scottish Rite Masons and members of Ararat Temple A. A. O. N. M. S.
William Campbell Davidson was married to Miss Nell Tabb of Kan- sas City, April 30, 1910. They have one son, William Campbell, Jr., born October 17, 1914.
Ernest E. Davidson was married September 6, 1911, to Miss Etta Beeman of Kansas City, Missouri. They have two children, James, born September 2, 1913; Ella, born June 23, 1915.
J. McGee Evans, a well known and substantial citizen of Gallatin township, is a native of Clay County and was born on the place where he now resides, March 31, 1882, and is a descendant of one of the very early pioneer families of Missouri. He is a son of James C. and Elizabeth (Campbell) Evans.
James C. Evans was the first male white child born in what is now Kansas City. He was born April 25, 1833, and was a son of William B. Evans and Amelia (McGee) Evans.
William B. Evans was born in Kentucky and was twelve years old when his parents came from Kentucky to Howard County, Missouri. From there he went to Clay County and in 1829 to Clinton County. In 1830 he went to Jackson County and was there married to Amelia McGee, a daughter of James H. and Elinor McGee. That was in 1830. James H. McGee gave his daughter eighty acres of land at the time of her mar- riage to William B. Evans and as late as 1885 that place was known as the Dundee place. William B. Evans and his wife lived on the place for a number of years.
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
William B. Evans, above mentioned, was a son of John Evans who was one of the first five householders to settle in Clay County. He was from Madison County, Kentucky, and came to Missouri and settled in Howard County in 1818. In 1820 he came to Clay County with his family and settled here. He remained in this county until 1829 when he went to Clinton County and was one of the first permanent settlers in that county. He died in 1840.
James C. Evans, father of J. McGee Evans, was reared in Jackson County and was given the advantages of a good common school educa- tion. He was engaged in farming throughout his active career and also gave much attention to horticulture. He was successful in his undertak- ings and became the owner of 250 acres of land which has been divided among his children. He had a well improved place and in 1882 erected a large three-story residence, one of the finest homes in the county, which is now the residence of James McGee Evans.
James C. Evans was prominent in the affairs of Clay County and took an active part in the Grange organization. He was president of the State Horticulture Association for eighteen years.
James C. Evans was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Camp- bell in Clay County, November 15, 1860. She was a daughter of Samuel W. and Mary (Todd) Campbell, the latter a sister of Zatchen Todd, one of the very early pioneer settlers of Gallatin township. James C. Evans died July 10, 1909, and his wife departed this life April 11, 1882.
To James C. and Elizabeth (Campbell) Evans were born the follow- ing children: Mrs. Mary Stowers, who lives on a part of the old Evans homestead in Gallatin township; Paul, was director of the State Fruit Experiment Station at Mountain Grove, Missouri, until April, 1919, and is now engaged in the fruit business at West Plains, Missouri, where he is conducting a 10,000-acre ranch; Amelia, deceased; Mrs. Amanda Garth, Kansas City, Missouri; John Campbell Evans, who is engaged in the oil business at West Plains, Missouri; Mrs. Ivy Soper, Gainesville, Florida ; Mrs. Emma McGee, Kansas City, Missouri; and J. McGee Evans, the sub- ject of this sketch.
J. McGee Evans was reared on the home farm in Clay County and attended the district schools and afterwards the public schools of Kansas City, Missouri, including a course in Central High School. He then re- turned to the home farm in Clay County where he has since been engaged in farming and stock raising. He has recently specialized in raising pure bred Duroc Jersey hogs.
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August 14, 1896, J. McGee Evans was married to Miss May Luther, a daughter of E. F. and Mary (Pryor) Luther, and to this union has been born one son, Julian McGee Evans.
Mrs. J. McGee Evans is one of the following children born to her parents: Mrs. Annie Rickets, Holden, Missouri; Mrs. Grace Stone, Kan- sas City, Missouri; Mrs. Birdie Park, Kansas City, Missouri, Mrs. J. Mc- Gee Evans, of this review; Emmett F. Luther, Harlem, Missouri; Victor B. Luther, Chicago, Illinois, Samuel R. Luther, Kansas City, Missouri; and Clarence, Paul, and Ford D., deceased.
The Evans family is one of the substantial pioneer families of Clay County and J. McGee Evans is a worthy representative of this prominent pioneer family.
Harry Nave, a progressive farmer and stockman of Linden, Mis- souri, and also one of the leading horticulturists of Clay County who is making substantial progress in the fruit industry, was born in Hanover, Germany, April 5, 1872. He is a son of Henry and Caroline Nave, both of whom are now deceased, having spent their lives in their native land.
Harry Nave came to America when he was about twenty years old and settled at Linden where his sister, Mrs. Ernest Koenneker, had re- sided for a number of years. Mr. Nave engaged in farming shortly after coming here and rented land for a time, at first renting a farm from Charles Dunlap. He then rented a farm which he now owns, and pur- chased it in 1901. His place contains eighty acres and is one of the well improved and productive farms in Gallatin township. Mr. Nave has made practically all the improvements on the place, much of which was covered with a growth of timber when he bought it about twenty years ago.
While Mr. Nave carries on general farming and stock raising in which he has been very successful, he also gives considerable attention to fruit raising with equal success. He has two and one-half acres de- voted to berries which is very profitable and an orchard of three and one-half acres devoted to cherries, peaches, pears and apples. The Cham- pion and Elberta peaches are favorites with Mr. Nave and he says that his peach orchard is the most profitable part of his farm. He is keenly interested in the production of fruit and a close student of horticulture, and believes that fruit production properly carried on will be one of the profitable fields of the future.
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Mr. Nave raises Shropshire sheep and Shorthorn and Brown Swiss cattle. Much of his farm is devoted to alfalfa and blue grass. Mr. Nave has recently built a garage on his place which he rents to Vern Williams who is building up an excellent trade. The garage is located on the Jefferson Highway, which is one of the popular cross country high- ways and Mr. Nave has done much to arouse interest in the betterment, improvement, and popularizing the Jefferson Highway in this part of the state.
Mr. Nave was one of the organizers of the Bank of Linden and has been a member of the board of directors since the bank was organized. He also organized the Linden Threshing Company which has been suc- cessfully operating for the past three years. There are four members of this organization, besides Mr. Nave, as follows: Jerry Ryan, William Smith, Lee Williams, and John M. Blevins.
Mr. Nave makes his home with his sister, Mrs. Ernest, Koenneker and her husband who have been residents of Linden for the past thirty years. Mr. Nave is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Linden and is a public spirited and enterprising citizen.
W. P. Barnes, a well-to-do farmer and stockman and a member of an old pioneer family of this section of the state, was born about one mile west of Barry, in Platte County, March 13, 1853. He is a son of A. D. and Margaret (Matthews) Barnes.
A. D. Barnes and his wife were both natives of Fleming County, Kentucky. They were married in that state and in 1851 came to Missouri and settled near Barry where they spent the remainder of their lives. He died in 1910 at the age of eighty-one years and his wife died when she was fifty-six years old, in 1890, and their remains are buried at Barry Missouri.
A. D. and Margaret (Matthews) Barnes were the parents of the fol- lowing children: Mrs. Laura N. Martin, deceased; J. M., Leavenworth, Kansas; Basil, was a soldier in the Missouri Militia during the Civil War and died at the close of the war from the effect of a wound received at Parkville while in the service; J. L., died in November, 1919. at the age of seventy-two years; L. P., died at Barry, Missouri, in 1900, at the age of fifty years; Mary, died about 1890; W. P., the subject of this sketch; Margaret, married George Houston and died about 1880; Ben L., Seattle, Washington.
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
W. P. Barnes was reared in the vicinity of Barry and educated in the public schools. He has been a resident of Clay County since he was twenty years old and for the past twenty-six years has lived on his pres- ent place in Gallatin township. Ile owns 210 acres of productive land which was formerly owned by Thomas Martin. The place is well in- proved with good buildings and it is located on the Jefferson Highway. Mr. Barnes carries on general farming and stock raising and during the course of his career he has met with uniform success.
March 20, 1896, F. P. Barnes was married to Miss Emma Martin, a daughter of Thomas Martin and Jane (Sutton) Martin, the former born in Kentucky in 1815, and the latter in 1817 They came to Missouri and settled on the farm where Mr. Barnes now resides in 1844. Thomas Martin died on this place in 1890 and his wife died here in 1897 and their remains are buried at Barry. They were the parents of the following children: John, who died in California in 1885; Anna, married W. L. Judson and died in Chicago, Illinois; J. T., lives in Liberty, Missouri; Maggie, married James Moreland, Dennison, Texas; Mrs. Emma Barnes of this sketch; and W. P. Martin who died in Kansas City in 1918.
Mrs. Emma Barnes was born on the farm where she now resides. She was reared here and attended school in the Frazier school district and recalls that Thomas B. Ricketts was her first teacher. He died in Liberty in 1918.
Mr. and Mrs. Barnes have no children but by a former marriage Mr. Martin had one daughter, Dora Blanche, who married M. E. Berry. She died leaving one son, William E. Berry, who was born February 16, 1903. He has been reared and educated by Mr. and Mrs. Barnes and makes his home with them.
Willis Simmons and Sons, a well known mercantile institution of Missouri City, Missouri, is perhaps the oldest business house in Clay County. They carry a general line of merchandise and are widely known in southern Clay County. This business was established by Willis Sim- mons in 1870, over fifty years ago.
Willis Simmons was born in Richmond, Madison County. Kentucky, September 13, 1835, and when he was twenty-one years old he came to Missouri and located near Kearney where he was in the employ of the Claybrook Flour Mill until 1865. He then settled at Missouri City, Mis- souri, and was with the Deatherage Milling Company for five years. In
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
the spring of 1870 he engaged in the dry goods and grocery business and has followed that business to the present time in Missouri City. He is now past eighty-five years old and the active business of the store is being carried on by his two sons, W. L. and S. J. Simmons.
Willis Simmons was married March 22, 1860, to Miss Eliza N. Bras- field, a daughter of Leonard Brasfield, a pioneer of Fishing River town- ship. She died December 8, 1914. To Willis Simmons and wife were born the following children: George W., born in 1861 and died in 1906; W. L. and S. J., both members of the firm of Willis Simmons and Sons.
W. L. Simmons was born October 14, 1863 He married Miss Flora Samples May 24, 1887, and two children have been born to them, as fol- lows: Ray Simmons and James W. Simmons.
James W. Simmons, son of W. L. Simmons, served in the World War. He was born in Missouri City, Missouri, and was educated in the public schools of that place and William Jewell College at Liberty, Missouri. He enlisted in the United States Army June 14, 1918, and was sent to Columbia, Missouri, for training. From there he was sent to Jackson- ville, Florida, and then to Camp Merritt, New York. He was then sent to France where he served a year. He returned to the United States, August 30, 1919, ando was honorably discharged from the service Sep- tember 10, 1919. He was promoted to corporal at Jacksonville, Florida, and made a sergeant at Longres, France, and was serving with that rank at the time of his discharge. He died January 18, 1920, and his remains are buried at Missouri City.
S. J. Simmons is married and has two children, as follows: Bonnie May, who is the wife of Carl Robb of San Antonio, Texas; and Stella S., who is the wife of Jacob F. Storz of Toledo, Ohio.
S. J. Simmons is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and W. L. Simmons belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America.
The Simmons family is one of the pioneer families of Clay County and are recognized as substantial citizens and progressive and enterpris- ing business men.
John H. Wubbenhorst, a well known and successful contractor of Liberty, Missouri, is a native of Clay County. He was born in Liberty township about one mile north of Liberty January 16, 1886, and is a son of John G. and Teena (Lienemann) Wubbenhorst.
John G. Wubbenhorst came to America at the age of thirty-five
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years in 1883 and settled in Liberty township. He was a brick layer and also was engaged in horticulture and is now living in Liberty, Mis- souri. His wife died in 1901 and her remains are buried in Fairview cemetery. The following children were born to John G. and Teena (Lienemann) Wubbenhorst; John B., the subject of this sketch; Mrs. Ada Black of St. Joseph, Missouri; Hiram L., a sketch of whom appears in this volume; Fred, a machinist.
John H. Wubbenhorst was educated in the public schools of Liberty, as were also his brothers and sisters. When he was eighteen years old he began to work at brick laying and concrete work and has followed these branches of industry to the present time. For the past four years he has been engaged in contracting and makes a specialty of concrete work, employing about seven men, generally. Prior to engaging in business for himself he served in the capacity of foreman and directed paving work in Liberty, Cameron, Richmond and Stanberry. As a contractor he does all kinds of foundation work and brick and tile work.
September 23, 1912, John H. Wubbenhorst was married to Miss Paul- ine Ferguson, a daughter of N. H. and Rebecca E. (Norzley) Ferguson, who reside at Orrick, Missouri. Mrs. Wubbenhorst is one of the follow- ing children born to her parents: Mrs. Alice Clark, Liberty : William J., Baltimore, Maryland; Pauline, Mrs. John H. Wubbenhorst; Clarence, Or- rick, Missouri; and Edward Glenn, Orrick, Missouri. To Mr. and Mrs. Wubbenhorst have been born three children: John F., Loretta and Eve- lyn.
Mr. Wubbenhorst is a progressive and enterprising citizen and has won a wide reputation for the honesty and excellency of his work.
John A. Montgomery, a well known contractor and a member of the firm of Balkey and Montgomery, of Avondale, Missouri, is a native of this state. He was born at St. Louis, March 17, 1875, and is a son of John E. and Emily M. (Mull) Montgomery.
John E Montgomery was accidentally killed on the Watash railroad at the age of forty-five years while returning from Clay County to St. Louis, where he lived at the time. For many years he was an employee of the Prellis Foundry of St. Louis. After his death his widow and her four sons came to Clay County and settled at Moscow. Frank Gardner. an uncle of John E. Montgomery, operated the old Capital Mills at Moscow at that time. This was a widely known flour mill of its time and flour
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
from here was shipped to various parts of the country. Later a distillery occupied the site of the old mill and the walls are still standing.
John A. Montgomery was one of the following children born to his parents : Raymond, has been an employee of the Metropolitan Railway Company for the past twenty-five years, Kansas City, Missouri; Harry W., Randolph, Missouri ; John A., the subject of this sketch; Frank, who owns a farm at Moscow but is now in the employ of Balkey & Montgom- ery. Mrs. Montgomery, the mother, died at Moscow, Missouri, about 1905.
John A. Montgomery was educated in the Pleasant Hill school and was engaged in farming and stock raising until 1910. He was quite extensively engaged in the live stock business. He bought and sold cattle as well as raised cattle. He had a large barn at Moscow and kept a number of horses through the winter seasons for residents of Kansas City. In 1910 Mr. Montgomery began to do contract work. He has done a great deal of concrete, bridge and other work, as well as grading and dyke work. He constructed the dams at Winnwood, Missouri, and has also done building wrecking, as well as construction. He built the foun- dation for the Hoover and Allison Twine Factory at North Kansas City, Missouri, and built the railroad loop at North Kansas City. He con- structed one of the main ditches which is designed to take care of the overflow of the river at North Kansas City. The firm of Balkey and Montgomery has the contract at present for grading some of the streets of North Kansas City. They do a general contracting business and this firm is recognized as one of the leading concerns of its kind in this section.
John A. Montgomery was married in 1901 to Miss Minnie May Macken of Northern Heights, Clay County. To Mr. and Mrs. Mont- gomery has been born one daughter, Alberta Jane, who is now a stu- dent in the Liberty High School.
Mr. Montgomery is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America of Randolph, Missouri, and is a charter member of that lodge.
George H. Mereness, a successful farmer who owns a productive farm of 110 acres on the Missouri river bottoms in Fishing River township, was born in the township in which he now resides on a farm two miles east of Missouri City, January 17, 1881. He is a son of James H. and Anna (Pigg) Mereness.
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
James H. Mereness was born at Marion, Ohio, and came to Missouri with his parents who settled at Missouri City, when he was six years old. James H. Mereness was born January 1, 1852, and now resides at Excel- sior Springs. His wife died in July, 1884, and her remains are buried at Missouri City. They were the parents of the following children: L. G., married Miss Ethel Grubbs, he died at the age of thirty-seven years and his widow now lives at Liberty, Missouri; W. R., Los Animos, Colorado; and George H., the subject of this sketch.
George H. Mereness was reared at Missouri City and attended the public schools there. He then entered William Jewell College and was graduated in the class of 1902. Later he took the agricultural short course in the University of Missouri at Columbia, Missou ::. He then bought the home place, northwest of Missouri City, which he operated until 1918, when he sold it and bought his present place. He owns 110 acres which is well improved with a good modern residence and a number of good substantial buildings about the place. He raises potatoes exten- sively, his land being particularly productive of an excellent quality of potatoes. During the season of 1920 he raised sixty-five acre of potatoes which produced 9,500 bushels for which he received $25,000.00. He also raised twenty acres of wheat which produced 400 bushels, and also fifteen acres of corn.
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