USA > Missouri > Clay County > History of Clay County, Missouri > Part 55
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Mr. Mereness was married March 11, 1903, to Miss Bessie L. Owens, a daughter of Thomas J. and Ollie J. (Aker) Owens, both of whom were born and reared in Clay County. Thomas J. Owens died February 22, 1909, and is buried at Missouri City and his widow now resides at Liberty, Missouri. Mrs. Mereness has a brother, Fred Owens, and a sister, Helen Owens, both residing at Liberty. Mr. and Mrs. Mereness have two chil- dren: Mildred, a student in the Liberty High School, and Martha, at home with her parents.
Mr. Mereness is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Masonic Lodge at Missouri City. He is a progressive and indus- trious citizen and is meeting with well merited success.
Moses E. Boyer, who is engaged in farming in Fishing River town- ship, was born near Excelsior Springs Junction in Clay County, December 24, 1875, and is a son of N. R. Boyer, an early settler in Clay County who now resides in Fishing River township.
N. R. Boyer was born in Cooke County, Tennessee, February 13,
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1833. His parents were Isaac and Elizabeth (Simes) Boyer. Isaac Boyer was born in Virginia, in 1796, and died in Cocke County, Tennessee, in 1854, and his wife died there, May 12, 1883. Isaac Boyer was a son of Jacob Boyer and Mary (Hines) Boyer, natives of Pennsylvania. who died near Newport, Cocke County, Tennessee.
N. R. Boyer was one of the following children born to his parents: C. F. Boyer, Cocke County, Tennessee; Josiah, lived in the state of Oregon ; and the following children are deceased: Charles, William. Peter, James, David Jackson, Mrs. Polly Isenhour, Mrs. Sarah Ettinger, Mrs. Catherine Tally, Mrs. Harris Greenlee, Mrs. Martha Ellison.
N. R. Boyer came to Missouri in 1854 and first settled in Ray County where he remained six years. He then came to Clay County and settled below Missouri City, remaining there until 1904 when he located on his present place, three miles east of Liberty where he is the owner of eighty acres of land, where he is now living, retired, and the place is being oper- ated by his son, Grover Boyer.
N. R. Boyer was first married in Tennessee in 1854 to Miss Mary Ann Nees. She died in 1883. The following children were born to that union: William, Missouri City; James, deceased; Creed, Missouri City ; Jeanette, married Daniel Conley of Liberty, Missouri; Martha, married Riley Woods of Ray County ; Lee, Ray County ; John, Missouri City ; Moses E., the subject of this sketch; George, lives in Arkansas; and one died in infancy. Mr. Boyer was married the second time to Janette Bogart of Ray County, Missouri, and to that union the following children were born : Frona, married Dick Parsons; Jane, married Gerald Lovi; Ruth, at home with her parents; and Grover, at home with his parents.
Moses E. Boyer was educated in the public schools and remained on the home farm with his father until 1904. He then engaged in farming for himself on his present place which he rented and six years later he bought the place. He owns eighty acres of productive Missouri river bottom land and raises corn, wheat, and alfalfa, as well as various other crops. His place is well improved with a good residence and other buildings.
Mr. Boyer was married in 1902 to Miss Maggie O'Dell of Elkhorn, Ray County, Missouri. She was born in Ray County, a daughter of Riley and Mary O'Dell, both deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Boyer have been born two children: Cecil and Aileene.
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Mr. Boyer is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, holding membership in both lodges at Missouri City.
Elijah Portwood, a Civil War veteran and a highly respected citizen of Liberty township, is a native of Kentucky. He was born in Madison County, in March 8, 1844, and is a son of William H. and Maria (Bran- (lenburg) Portwood.
William H. Portwood was also a native of Madison County. Kentucky, and his wife was a native of Estill County. They both spent their lives in their native state and died in Woodford County. He died at the age of eighty-four years and his wife departed this life at the age of seventy- six.
Elijah Portwood was reared in Kentucky and attended such schools as the times afforded. He was about sixteen years old when the Civil War broke out and he enlisted in the Confederate Army with his father, William H. Portwood. He took part in a number of important battles, as well as a number of engagements of lesser importance. He and his father served in the artillery and during an engagement at Irvin, Ken- tucky, one of their horses was killed, and after cutting the harness from the other horse, he and his father mounted it and succeeded in escaping. He was in the service about eighteen months.
In 1881, Elijah Portwood came to Clay County and for five years farmed rented land. He then removed to Ray County where he bought a forty-acre farm which he operated about six years. He then returned to Clay County and in 1893 bought sixty acres in Liberty township which is a part of his present place. He has added 120 acres more, and now has in his home place 180 acres. He has made a number of improvements on the place, including a good farm residence, barns and other buildings. The place is located two and one-half miles east of Liberty. The place is well adapted to general farming and stock raising and has upon it one of the best natural springs in Clay County, besides two good wells. Mr. Portwood carries on general farming and stock raising and has met with uniform success.
Elijah Portwood was married in 1871 to Amanda Portwood, a native of Owsley County, Kentucky, and a daughter of Thomas and Louisa Port- wood, the former of whom died in Kentucky and the latter in Clay County, Missouri. To Elijah Portwood and wife have been born the
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following children: Frank, Liberty, Missouri; J. C., May, and Minnie, residing at home with her parents. Florence, the second enild born to Mr. and Mrs. Portwood, married Charles Stone and died in 1919, leaving two children, Christina and Lela.
Elijah Portwood is one of the men of Clay County who, by his in- dustry, has succeeded to a very satisfactory degree and has acquired a competence. He is a substantial citizen and has a wide acquaintance.
Arch A. Campbell, a well known employee of the Kansas City and Clay County Electric Railway who for the past two years has served in the capacity of section foreman, is a native of Platte County, Missouri. He was born June 21, 1859, a son of George W. and Mary Ann (Fox) Campbell.
George W. Campbell was born in Tennessee and his father was a native of Scotland. George Campbell died in Wyandotte County, Kansas, in 1885. Mary Ann (Fox) Campbell was a native of Missouri, born in Lafayette County. She was a daughter of William Fox, a very early pioneer of Lafayette County, Missouri. Mrs. Campbell died in Wyandotte County, Kansas, in 1890 and her remains are buried in that county by the side of her husband.
To George W. and Mary Ann (Fox) Campbell were born the follow- ing children: Robert, who served in the Confederate army under Gen- eral Price, now resides in Kansas City, Missouri, and is seventy-eight years old; James, lives in Kansas City, Missouri; Samuel, Kansas City, Kansas; John, Deadwood, South Dakota; Arch A., the subject of this sketch; Kate, widow of Samuel Brown, Platte County, Missouri; and Carrie, married Joe Heady, North Kansas City, Missouri.
Arch A. Campbell was reared and educated in Platte County and in early life engaged in farming which he followed until 1890. He then entered the employ of the Burlington Railroad Company and for twenty- eight years he worked for that company and for the past two years he has held his present position. Mr. Campbell is a capable railroad man of wide experience and thoroughly understands every detail of his depart- ment.
Mr. Campbell was first married in 1885 to Miss Florence Hart who died in 1888, leaving one child, Maude, who is now the wife of Isaac Clark. In 1892 Mr. Campbell was married to Lily Owens, a daughter of
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Herbert and Nancy Owens, formerly of Platte County, Missouri, and now residents of Liberty. To Mr. and Mrs. Campbell have been born three children: George, a soldier in the United States army who has been in the service for the past five years; Frank, also a soldier in the United States army and for the past six months has been stationed at Camp Pike, Arkansas; and Nora, married Rev. Carl Aberdeen, a Baptist min- ister, and they reside at Morrill, Kansas.
Mr. Campbell is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and he and Mrs. Campbell are members of the Rebecca lodge. He is a dependable citizen and has been a resident of Clay County for the past eighteen years.
Thomas William McConnell, county assessor of Clay County, is a native of Missouri and is a descendant of an honored pioneer family of Clay County. He was born in Platte County about two and one-half miles north of Parkville, September 18, 1886, a son of George Washington McConnell and Margaret J. (Stevenson) McConnell.
George Washington McConnell was a Confederate veteran of the Civil war. He enlisted at Parkville, Missouri, and served throughout the war in General Joe Shelby's Brigade, Price's army. He took the oath of allegiance June 22, 1865. He was a son of William McConnell who was a pioneer settler of Liberty township, Clay County, and died at Parkville, Missouri.
Margaret (Stevenson) McConnell is a daughter of R. T. and Eliza- beth (Wills) Stevenson. R. T. Stevenson was a very early pioneer settler in western Missouri and when the Mexican war broke out he enlisted under Colonel Doniphan at Ft. Leavnworth, Kansas, and served until the close of the war. He then returned to Clay County and settled on a farm, six miles northwest of Liberty, in Liberty township. Here he was engaged in farming and in 1861 when the Civil war broke out he enlisted in the Confederate army and served under General Sterling Price until 1864. He then returned to his Clay County home and spent the remainder of his life here. He died March 8, 1910.
To George W. and Margaret J. (Stevenson) McConnell were born the following children: Malissa F., married A. D. Gobbert and they live at Palisade, Colorado; Dora A., married W. E. Gobbert, Nashua. Missouri; Louisa J., married George D. Warren who is now deceased; Ollie May, married J. A. Hymore, Liberty, Missouri; and Thomas W., the
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subject of this sketch. George Washington McConnell died in 1888 at the age of forty-seven years and his widow who is now seventy years old resides in Clay County.
Thomas W. McConnell was educated in the Providence district school and the public schools of Kansas City, Missouri. He engaged in farming and stock raising in early life and has been successful in that line of endeavor. He owns a farm four miles northwest of Liberty. In 1920, Mr. McConnell received the Democratic nomination for the office of county assessor, winning in the August primaries by a plurality of 233 votes and was elected on November 2nd without opposition.
Mr. McConnell has always taken an active interest in politics al- though he never held office before. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows of Liberty and is one of the enterprising citizens of Clay County and a capable and conscientious public officer.
Gilbert Pence. a successful farmer and stockman of Gallatin town- ship, is a native son of Clay County and a descendant of the very early pioneer families of this county. He was born in Liberty township July 17, 1882, and is a son of William B. and Sallie (Wills) Pence, both now deceased.
William B. Pence was born in Liberty township in 1837. He fol- lowed farming and stock raising in Liberty township throughout his active career and died May 6, 1904, and his remains are buried in the Pence family cemetery. His father was one of the early settlers of Liberty township and entered government land here. W. B Pence was first married to Miss Kate Thompson who was born in 1837 and died September 19, 1879. One child of that marriage survives, Ida E., who is now the wife of Calhoun Jones of Liberty township. After the death of his first wife, W. B. Pence married Sallie Wills, who died leaving two sons: Arthur, born March 1, 1880, and died January 3, 1900, and Gilbert Pence, the subject of this sketch. Sallie Wills was born in Gallatin town- ship and was one of a family of thirteen children of Wyatt Wills who was one of the early settlers here. After the death of his second wife, W. B. Pence was married to Miss Kate Holt and one child was born to that union, Mrs. Curtis Hall.
Gilbert Pence was reared and educated in Clay County and since early life has devoted himself to farming and stock raising. He now owns and operates 216 acres of land, a part of which was owned by his
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father. This place is located five and one-half miles southwest of Liberty and is a well improved and productive farm and has an ample supply of water from natural streams. There are about 160 acres under blue grass.
May 14, 1913, Gilbert Pence was married to Miss Effie Brink, a daughter of J. T. and Jerusha (Griffith) Brink of Lansing, Kansas. To Mr. and Mrs. Pence have been born one son, William Brink Pence, born February 16, 1916.
Mr. Pence is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Liberty, Missouri, and he is well and favorably known in Clay County.
William D. Brigham, the capable manager of the Adams farm near Gashland in Gallatin township, is a native of Iowa. He was born at Lohrville, Calhoun County, a son of O. G. and Kittie M. (Pierce) Brigham, who now reside with their son, W. D. Brigham, of this sketch. They are the parents of four children, as follows: William D .. the subject of this sketch; Daisy A., and Hazel, who reside with their parents; and Bessie, a trained nurse who lives in Iowa.
When W. D. Brigham was six years old the Brigham family removed to Nebraska and from there to Kansas, settling in Coffey County. He was educated in the public schools of Kansas and attended the State Agricultural College at Manhattan, Kansas, where he was graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Science of Dairying. In January, 1915, he took charge of the Adams farm which he has since conducted.
The Adams farm is owned by E. P. Adams of Kansas City, Mis- souri, and is one of the valuable farms of Clay County. Here Mr. Brig- ham carries on dairying, stock raising, and general farming. IIe raises Duroc Jersey hogs and has on hand at this writing a herd of about seventy pure bred Duroc Jerseys. He also raises pure bred Shropshire sheep and a valuable herd of Guernsey cattle, consisting of about twenty head. ten of which are milk cows. Mr. Brigham sells stock by mai' in various parts of the country.
The Adams farm is one of the well improved places to be seen in the country. The residence is a two-story structure, built in 1911-12 of native stone, and the main barn is built of the same material. The place is admirably arranged with all conveniences for feeding and caring for stock on a large scale. The place has a very complete water system, the
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water being pumped by the windmill to a reserve tank and distributed from there to the residence, barn, pens, and feed lots.
Mr. Brigham is a thorough, practical and experienced stock and dairyman. as well as having the advantages of a scientific training in this important branch of endeavor.
Judge James W. Sullivan, police judge and justice of the peace at Excelsior Springs, is a Kentuckian. He was born at Williamsburg, Kentucky, May, 1, 1857, a son of Isaac W. and Susan (McMahan) Sullivan, who were the parents of four children of whom Judge Sullivan was the third in order of birth.
Isaac W. Sullivan and his wife were natives of Ireland and came to America and settled in Kentucky with their respective parents when children. Isaac Sullivan was a machinist and gunsmith. He died in Ken- tucky in 1862 when he was about forty-two years old. His wife died in Tennessee about 1900, at the advanced age of eighty years.
Judge Sullivan was reared in Williamsburg, Kentucky, and early in life served an apprenticeship at the blacksmith trade in Milledgeville, Kentucky. About 1875, he went to Liberty, Kentucky, and worked as a journeyman blacksmith for a time and later conducted a shop himself. In 1881, he came to Missouri and settled at Wakenda. Carroll County, where he worked at the blacksmith trade about a year when he bought a shop at Hardin, Ray County, Missouri. He gave up blacksmithing about that time on account of poor health and later engaged in carpenter con- tracting; he erected a number of buildings in Ray County. In 1888, he went on the road as a traveling salesman and in 1901, he removed to Excelsior Springs. In 1911, he resigned his position on the road. In 1916, he was elected police judge of Excelsior Springs and has been justice of the peace of Fishing River township for the past two years.
December 1, 1890, James W. Sullivan was married to Ida A. Shan- non, a native of Saline County, Missouri. She is a daughter of William and Mary E. (Petty) Shannon, natives of Missouri. William Shannon was a farmer and is now deceased and his widow resides at Excelsior Springs with her son, E. A. Shannon. One child has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Sullivan, Nola N., who married Max Bussell of Kansas City. Missouri.
Judge Sullivan is a Democrat. He is a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles and the Knights of Pythias and is a substantial citizen.
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William Thomas Pixlee, a prominent farmer and stockman of Liberty, Missouri, who is an extensive land owner, is a native of Clay County and a member of one of the prominent pioneer families of this county. He is a son of Peter C. and Achsia Ann (Waller) Pixlee, the former now de- ceased and the latter residing in Clay County at the advanced age of ninety-three years. An extensive sketch of Peter C. Pixlee and a history of the Pixlee family appear in this volume.
William Thomas Pixlee was born in Fishing River township, Clay County, September 11, 1855, and received his education in the public schools of Clay County. When he was about twenty years of age he engaged in farming and stock raising on his own account and has had a successful career. He raises cattle and hogs on a large scale and since 1917 has been an extensive cattle feeder. Mr. Pixlee owns 1,200 acres of land in Clay County and 4,000 acres in Greenwood County, Kansas.
Mr. Pixlee was united in marriage in December, 1879, with Miss Eva M. Mosby, a native of Clay County, born October 8, 1855. She is a daughter of A. G. and Amanda (Hodges) Mosby and was educated in the University of Missouri at Columbia, Missouri. To Mr. and Mrs. Pixlee have been born two children, as follows: Maude who resides at home with her parents and A. G., who died in October, 1918, in the prime of young manhood. At the time of his death he was managing his father's business and was a young man of unusual business ability.
Mr. and Mrs. Pixlee are members of the Baptist Church and Mr. Pixlee is recognized as one of the leading men of affairs of Liberty and Clay County. He is progressive and public spirited and stands ever ready to co-operate with any movement which has for its object the betterment and upbuilding of the community and county.
Edgar Laffoon, a widely known and successful farmer and stockman of Washington township, is a native of Clay County and a descendant of a family of early pioneers in this part of the state. He was born in Washington township November 7, 1871, a son of R. J. M. and Lucy J. (Woods) Laffoon.
R. J. M. Laffoon was born April 25, 1810, in Clay County and was the only son in a family of nine children born to his parents. He followed farming and stock raising all his life in Washington township and for a number of years held the office of justice of the peace. When the Civil War broke out he enlisted in the Confederate Army and served under
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General Price. He was in the Army four years and while in the service was in eighteen different states. He served twenty-one months in the Federal military prison at Ft. Delaware. During his entire military career he never was wounded nor spent a day in the hospital.
R. J. M. Laffoon was a son of William Burks and Elizabeth (Braw- ner) Laffoon, natives of Kentucky, who came to Clay County and settled in Washington township in 1834. William Burks Laffoon was born in Kentucky, December 3, 1801, and died February 3, 1880. He was a farmer all his life. He was a son of James Laffoon, whose wife bore the maiden name of Burks. James Laffoon was born in 1759 and served in General Washington's army during the Revolution. He died in Kentucky in 1851.
Lucy Jane (Woods) Laffoon was born in Ralls County, Missouri, October 14, 1844, and died May 27, 1918. She was a daughter of Samuel C. and Sarah E. (Rodes) Woods, natives of Virginia, who came to Mis- souri and settled in Ralls County, in 1838. They settled in Clay County in 1866. The father died in 1869 at Glasgow, Missouri, and the mother died August, 1882, in Clay County.
Edgar Laffoon was reared on the home farm in Washington township and attended the district school. He bought his first farm October 29, 1903, which consisted of eighty acres. He has added to his original pur- chase until he is the owner of a valuable farm of 300 acres, where he carries on general farming and stock raising. Mr. Laffoon was married August 28, 1905, to Miss Callie F. Gow, a native of Washington town- ship, Clay County, and a daughter of Marcus D. and Fannie E. (Wilson) Gow, both also natives of Washington township. Marcus D. Gow was born in 1831 and is the only living veteran of the Mexican War in Clay County. His wife was born February 26, 1841, and died September 14, 1920.
To Mr. and Mrs. Edgar Laffoon have been born three children: Mil- dred, who died in infancy; Samuel Gow; and William Burks.
Mr. Laffoon is a Democrat and a member of the Presbyterian Church. He is one of the substantial citizens of Clay County.
A. W. Gross, a substantial farmer and stockman and a large land- owner of Washington township, is a member of a pioneer family of Clay County. He was born in the township where he now resides September 11, 1849, a son of John O. and Mary (Huffaker) Gross, the former, a
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native of Tennessee, and the latter, of Kentucky. They settled on a part of the farm which A. W. Gross now owns and both spent the remainder of their lives here and died in 1855 and 1856. They were the parents of eleven children and A. W. of this review was the tenth in order of birth. One other brother, John O. Gross, is now living in Andrew County, Mis- souri.
A. W. Gross was only about six years old when his parents died. He was reared by his sister, Martha, and assisted her on the home farm which she managed for several years. She died on the home place, un- married. Early in life A. W. Gross bought the interests of the other heirs in the home place and bought more land from time to time until he now owns 400 acres. He has improved his place and now has a valuable farm where he carries on farming and stock raising extensively and has met with success. The old house in which he was born still stands on the place and he keeps it intact as a relic of bygone days, around which cluster many memories of his boyhood.
Mr. Gross was married November 7, 1872, to Miss Lucy Laffoon of Washington township. She was born in 1849 and died in 1906. To Mr. and Mrs. Gross were born four children: Dr. Samuel Gross, Denton, Kansas; Martha, resides on the home place with her father; and Jessie and Katie, twins, both deceased.
Mr. Gross is a Democrat and has always taken a commendable in- terest in local public affairs. He served as presiding judge of the county court of Clay County for eight years, having been first elected in 1898. He was elected a member of the Legislature from Clay County in 1913, and served in the Forty-seventh General Assembly. He has served on the school board, held the office of justice of the peace and been road overseer, and it may be said of him that, as a public officer, he has always given the public business the same careful consideration that he has his own private affairs. He was one of the chief organizers of the Grange in Clay County and served as Worthy Master of the local lodge for a number of years. He is a member of the Christian Church and has been an elder in the Lawson congregation for a number of years and has taken an active part in the work of that church. He has been superintendent of the Sunday School for twenty years and has been church chorister since he was nineteen years old.
Mr. Gross has other interests besides his farming and stock raising and is vice-president and a member of the board of directors of the
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Commercial Bank of Lawson, Missouri. During his time he has seen much progress and development in this country. He drove oxen when he was a boy and on his seventieth birthday in September, 1918, he rode in an airplane, which is quite a forward step in transportation. He is public spirited and progressive and a substantial citizen.
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