USA > Missouri > Clay County > History of Clay County, Missouri > Part 56
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John Crowley, now deceased, was a native of Clay County and a mem- ber of one of the very early pioneer families of this county. The Crow- ley family is an old American family and its members have been identi- fied with this country since Colonial times.
John Crowley was born in Clay County, August 10, 1828. He was a son of John and Sarah (Mayo) Crowley, the former, a native of Ala- bama, born February 2, 1792, and the latter, of Tennessee, born October 10, 1797, and died September 10, 1851. John Crowley, the father of the subject of this sketch, died September 29, 1877. He was a son of James Crowley, who was a soldier in the American Army during the Revolu- tionary War and was at Yorktown when Lord Cornwallis surrendered.
James Crowley was a son of Berry Crowley, a native of England, who came to this country in Colonial times and was killed in a battle with the Indians along the Ohio River in Kentucky.
The Crowleys were very early settlers in Clay County and John Crowley, the subject of this sketch, remained in Clay County with his parents until he was twenty-six years old. On May 4, 1853, he started from St. Joseph, Missouri, with his brother, Thomas, and four hired men, to California. They drove across the plains with ox teams, reaching their destination September 16, 1853. After remaining in California two years they returned by boat, leaving San Francisco, February 14, 1855. They crossed the Isthmus of Panama and sailed from Aspinwall to Cuba and thence to New Orleans and returned to Clay County. In 1856, John Crowley settled in Ray County and remained there until his death, which occurred in August, 1907. He followed farming and stock raising, be- coming well-to-do, and at the time of his death was the owner of 900 acres of land south of Lawson. This was one of the finest farms in the State of Missouri.
John Crowley was married February 2, 1858, to Ann Fuller, who was born in Clinton County, Missouri, April 3, 1833, and to this union nine children were born. After the death of his first wife, John Crowley
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married her sister, who is now living at Lawson, Missouri. No children were born to that union.
John Crowley was a member of the Methodist Church, South, and was an active member of the Masonic Lodge, Beehive Lodge, A. F. and A. M. No. 393, at Lawson, Missouri. He was a strong character and a successful man of affairs who left his imprint on the community where he lived.
Frank T. Crowley, president of the Commercial Bank at Lawson, Missouri, has been prominently identified with the interests of Lawson for a number of years and is a member of one of the pioneer families of this section of the state. He was born at Lawson, October 9, 1869, a son of John Crowley and Ann (Fuller) Crowley, a biographical sketch of whom appears in this volume.
Frank T. Crowley was educated in the public schools and was grad- uated from the Lawson High School in 1892. He remained on the home farm until 1895, when he moved to Lawson and engaged in the real estate, loan and insurance business, and was the first to establish a business of that kind in Lawson. He has been notary public and city clerk since 1896. He became president of the Commercial Bank of Law- son, August 19, 1914, and has served in that capacity until the present time.
Mr. Crowley has been twice married. He was married February 6, 1896, to Miss Nellie Arnold, a native of Indianapolis, Indiana. She died January 18, 1903, at the age of twenty-six years, leaving one daughter, Mildred F., who resides at Lawson. On December 6, 1905, Mr. Crowley was married to Cora A. Hunter, who was born near Lawson, December 27, 1871. She is a daughter of Robert A. and Mary C. (Rippey) Hunter, the former a native of Kentucky, and the latter of Ray County, Missouri. No children have been born to this union.
Mr. Crowley is a Democrat and is at present State Committeeman from the Third District. He is a prominent Mason and a member of the Mystic Shrine and holds membership in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen of America. He is public spirited and progressive and has always the best interests of the community at heart.
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
E. W. Holloway, a progressive farmer of Washington township, is one of the substantial citizens of Clay County. He was born in Washing- ton township, December 23, 1878, a son of Clea and Martha (Dockings) Holloway, and was the youngest of ten children born to them.
Clem Holloway was born in Kentucky in 1828 and settled in Clay County before the Civil War. He was a farmer and spent the remainder of his life in Washington township after coming here. He was married in Kentucky to Miss Martha Dockings. She died in Washington township in 1888 and Mr. Holloway died here in 1896.
F. W. Holloway was reared on a farm and attended the district school. He began life for himself when he was seventeen years old and bought his first farm when he was twenty-one years old. That place was situated about two and one-half miles south of Lawson. In 1911, he bought his present place of 131 acres where he has made substantial improvements and has a good productive farm and is meeting with suc- cess.
Mr. Holloway was married December 25, 1904, to Miss Elsia Roadus, a native of Clay County, Missouri. She is a daughter of James and Man garet (Ketron) Roadus, natives of Kentucky and early pioneer settlers in Clay County, Missouri. To Mr. and Mrs. Holloway have been born three children, as follows: Kathleen, Irma Louise, and William Howard, all of whom reside at home with their parents.
Mr. Holloway is a Democrat and a member of the Baptist Church. He is public spirited and enterprising and stands high in the community.
John H. Watkins, of Washington township, is an extensive land- owner and a member of one of the prominent families of Clay County. He was born on the place where he now resides in Washington township, and is a son of Waltus and Mary A. (Holloway) Watkins.
Waltus L. Watkins was a native of Kentucky, born in Woodford County, October 30, 1806. He was a son of Benjamin W. and Jane (Min- ter) Watkins, natives of Virginia, who removed from that state to Ken- tucky shortly after their marriage and reared a family of thirteen chil- dren.
Jane (Minter) Watkins was a descendant of General Bartholomew Dupuy who at one time was an officer of high rank in the French Army, but who, on account of his Protestant faith and his refusal to foreswear
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it, was expelled from the army and driven from France. He came to this country about 1700 where he became the owner of a large tract of land and was considered a wealthy man for that time.
Waltus L. Watkins was reared in Kentucky and in early life went East and learned the machinist trade and also worked in the cotton and woolen industries. He worked as a machinist on the first locomotive that was built in the United States. In 1832, he came to Clay County and first located at Liberty Here he was engaged in the cotton and woolen industry until 1840. He then acquired over 5,000 acres of land in Washington township and afterwards made his home there. He erected on this place a three-story brick structure, 48x84 feet, which for a num- ber of years he successfully conducted as a woolen factory and flour mill. The woolen factory department was equipped with three sets of carding machines, twenty-five looms, and 900 spindles, and the grist mill depart- ment was equipped with two sets of buhrs. The cost of the mill and equipment was about $30,000.00 and it was the largest institution of its kind in the state.
Mr. Watkins also built a large imposing brick residence about one- half mile back from the main road which is now the family home and is one of the substantial residences of the county today. Mr. Watkins encountered many difficulties in the manufacture of brick, and obtaining other materials for building, for at that time transportation was difficult. He was unable to get brickmakers and he was told that the clay in that section was not the proper kind from which brick could be manufactured. However, he proceeded to manufacture brick from the clay and was suc- cessful. He molded and burned the brick in 1850 for the residence, and in 1860 built the factory and later made brick and built a church and school house. He conducted the mill until 1868 and after that time it was operated by Watkins and Son and was operated by John Watkins and Brothers from 1882 until about twenty-five years ago. Although this mill has not been operated now for a quarter of a century, it is still stand- ing and in a good state of preservation-a mute witness of the indus- trial past.
Waltus L. Watkins was a man of action and affairs. He carried on farming extensively and was one of the early breeders of Shorthorn cattle in the county. He also bred fine horses. He was a member of the Board of Trustees of William Jewell College for sixteen years and gave liberally to that institution. He was a member of the Mount Vernon Missionary Baptist Church for many years and erected a church on his
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
place in Washington township. He was a strong advocate of temperance and at a time when home-made whiskey was more common than wild honey. He was a Democrat and served as justice of the peace for many years.
Waltus L. Watkins was married March 4, 1834, to Mary A. Holloway, a native of Jessamine County, Kentucky. She was born January 5, 1817, and was a daughter of Spencer and Catherine (Reed) Holloway. She died in 1896 and Waltus L. Watkins died January 24, 1884.
To Waltus L. and Mary A. (Holloway) Watkins were born eleven children, as follows: John, died in childhood; George S., a ranchman at Jeffries, Madison County, Montana; Alfred, died in infancy ; John H., whose name introduces this review; Catherine, married Hugh Atchison, and died soon after her marriage; Martha A., married M. D. Scruggs, who is now deceased and she lives in Kansas City, Missouri; Elizabeth, married Atchison and is now deceased; W. J., a dentist, Craig, Colorado; Carrie, lives on the home place in Washington township; A. J., a sketch of whom appears in this volume; Joe B., lives on the home place in Wash- ington township.
John H. Watkins was reared on the home farm in Washington town- ship, which has always been his home. For many years, he assisted in operating the Watkins Woolen Mill and at the same time was interested in operating the large Watkins farm which he now conducts. He is the owner of 1,600 acres of land and the old Watkins homestead. Here he carries on general farming and stock raising and is engaged in breeding Shorthorn cattle and Berkshire hogs and is recognized as one of the successful farmers and stockmen of Clay County. He is a substantial and progressive citizen and the Watkins family rank among the first citizens of Clay County.
A distinctive feature about the Watkins place which is given wide publicity throughout the country is the Annual Fox Hunt which is held here by the Missouri Valley Fox Hunters' Association. For the past ten years lovers of the chase have held their annual meet here during September of each year with the exception of 1918. Mr. Watkins is not given to this particular kind of sport, although he generously permits the use of his place to those who do enjoy it. These fox hunts are largely attended and hunters and spectators assemble from all parts of the country. It has become almost a recognized legal holiday to the enthusi- astic huntsmen to whom the Watkins place is well known and greatly appreciated.
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
Rev. Allen Bailey Jones, who departed this life at his home in Lib- erty, Missouri, on December 26, 1920, was one of the widely known min- isters, educators and authors of the state. He was born on a farm near Middletown, Montgomery County, Missouri, January 5, 1832.
In the early history of America, John Jones, great great grandfather of Rev. Allen Bailey Jones, came from Wales and settled in Virginia. The eldest son, John Jones, married Elizabeth Elrod in North Carolina. Of this union four children were born. The family moved from Virginia to Kentucky and settled at a fort called Bryants Station, near Lexing- ton. Two years later they moved to Lincoln County. The eldest son of this family was John Jones. He was married in Lincoln County, Ken- tucky. to Annie E. Coleman. They were the grandparents of Allen Bai- ley Jones and were the parents of eleven children, the eldest of whom was Sandy Elrod Jones.
Sandy Elrod Jones married Sophia Cruthier of Lincoln County, Ken- tucky, in August, 1824. To this union were born four children of whom Rev. Allen Bailey Jones was the third in order of birth, and all of whom are now deceased. In 1831 Sandy Elrod Jones came to Missouri with his family and settled in Montgomery County. These were primitive times in Missouri. Surrounded by the unbroken forest which abounded with the native animals, in a hewn log house which for warmth there was the open fire-place, for light the tallow dip and for travel horseback, Allen Bailey Jones first saw the light of day in January, 1832.
Allen Bailey Jones' father and grandfather were both ministers of the gospel in the Christian Church and were active pioneer preachers among the Disciples. Allen Bailey Jones was reared in Missouri and attended the common schools and later was a student at Franklin Col- lege, Tennessee, where he was graduated in 1852 with the honors of his class. For the following two years he was engaged in teaching and in the meantime he was reading and studying for his chosen profession, the ministry. In 1854 he was ordained a minister of the gospel by Rev. Logan Williams of Houstonville, Kentucky. After spending about a year in evangelistic work in Tennessee and Kentucky, he was called to the pastorate of the old Main Street Church at Lexington, Kentucky, that being the only church of the Disciples in Lexington at the time. After one year with this church he received a call from the church at Fulton, Missouri, which he accepted, being desirous of returning to his native state.
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In 1858, he accepted a call to the church at Liberty, Missouri, begin- ning his ministry here on the first Sunday in May. He was called three times to the Liberty church and served about twelve years as its pastor. He was by formal action made pastor emeritus of the church of Liberty.
In early years he held meetings for all the churches in the county, except one which came into existence after his retirement from active ministry. He preached in the school houses and in the open air. He established the church at Excelsior Springs and Mt. Olivet and preached for them several years. He did a large amount of preaching for the Liberty church gratuitously when they were without a regular pastor.
For many years he served in the double capacity of preacher and teacher. Fifteen years of his life was spent in conducting a young ladies' seminary, four years in Platte City, Missouri, six years in Richmond, Kentucky, and five years in Liberty, Missouri. Some of the foremost women of Kentucky and Missouri received their education and training under his supervision. In 1869 he was one of the chief founders of the Female Orphan School at Camden Point, Missouri, and also one of the founders of William Woods College at Fulton, Missouri. In 1912 William Jewell College conferred upon him the degee of Doctor of Divinity. This compliment came as a great surprise and was always appreciated, coming as it did from an institution under whose shadow he had spent so large a part of his life.
For six years, at two different periods, he acted as corresponding secretary of the Missouri State Board of Missions, traveling extensively over the state, enlisting the churches in missionary work. He also served as president of the State Board of Missions for several years, and dur- ing this term of service he formulated a constitution for the State Con- vention which contemplated a more efficient co-operation of the churches in the state for organized missionary effort. This constitution was pre- sented to and adopted by the convention held at Lexington, Missouri, in 1882.
In 1870, in connection with Alexander Proctor, George W. Lorgan and Thomas P. Haley, he assisted in establishing and editing a church paper called "The Christian" which was first published in Kansas City. Missouri. It was afterwards moved to St. Louis, where it was combined with other journals and became "The Christian Evangelist." with J. H. Garrison, editor.
For many years he was a frequent and prominent writer for the
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
religious journals of the church. He published a book entitled "The Spiritual Side of Our Plea." The object of this work was to give to the Disciples a clearer conception and a broader view of Christianity. At the time of its publication, this book received many favorable notices from the press of his own denomination as well as others.
In 1887, he removed with his family to Lathrop, Missouri, to estab- lish his sons in the banking business. During his two years of residence there he served the church as pastor gratuitously for one year. The re- sult was that this church which never before had a resident pastor, has not been without one since. In 1889, he returned to Liberty and resided here continuously to the time of his death. Excepting twelve years away, he resided in Liberty sixty-two years. Though he lived away from Lib- erty for twelve years at different intervals, yet he always felt after his first pastorate here that this was his only home. His deep affection for the place and its people never left him, and he could never forget the many kindnesses to him and his during the time of his first great sorrow. His life was a strenuous one, filled with mental activity. He enjoyed the quiet of his home in his latter years in a community he loved most dearly, among people whose joys and sorrows had always been his own.
Allen Bailey Jones was first married during his pastorate at Fulton, Missouri, in 1857, to Miss Sarah B. Stewart of Winchester, Tennessee. She was a sister of Gen. Alexander P. Stewart, who distinguished him- self as a general in the Confederate army during the Civil War. Sarah B. (Stewart) Jones died at Liberty, Missouri, August 30, 1858, leaving an infant daughter, Mattie B., who now resides at Liberty, Missouri. She was educated under the careful supervision of her father, attending schools conducted by him. On May 8, 1878, Mattie B. Jones was married to William Monroe Burris. He was born at Potosi, Washington County, Missouri, September 21, 1850, a son of Luke and Catherine Elizabeth (Mitchell) Burris. Luke Burris seved as county clerk of Clay County for twenty-four years and before coming here he was sheriff of Wash- ington County, being elected to that office when he was twenty-one years old. He was also a member of the State Legislature from Clay County and was a member of the State Constitutional Convention. William Monroe Burris was educated in the schools of St. Louis, William Jewell College and Washington and Lee University of Virginia. He was ad- mitted to the bar at Liberty about 1875 and practiced for a number of years. He died November 21, 1905. and is buried near Chicago, Illinois.
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To William Monroe and Mattie B. (Jones) Burris was born one son, Allen Luke Burris, a mining man who lived at Cripple Creek, Colorado, for several years and now resides in New York City.
Rev. Allen Bailey Jones was married the second time on February 28, 1860. to Katherine M., daughter of Hon. Thomas C. Gordon of Clay County, Missouri, and the following children were born to that union: Doniphan. died in infancy; Charles P., was a prominent banker at Lath- rop, Missouri, died June 19, 1892: Gordon, was president of the United States Bank of Denver, Colorado, at the time of his death in 1917; Kate Allene, was a music teacher and resided with her parents at the time of her death, January 7, 1906; Mary D., married Clifton George and they live at San Antonio. Texas: and George Whorton, who was teacher of Speech Arts at Lexington and also taught in William Jewell College, is now a moving picture actor at Hollywood, California.
Mrs. Mattie B. (Jones) Burris resided at Liberty with her father at the time of his death. She is widely known in Liberty and is one of the highly cultured women of this section. She was instrumental in organiz- ing the Fortnightly Club here and has been a leading spirit in the work of the organization which now has a membership of 147.
Robert J. Clark. deceased, was for many years prominently identi- fied with the banking interests of Lawson and he also had a long and successful career in the mercantile business. The Clarks belong to a prominent old pioneer American family which dates back to Colonial times.
Robert J. Clark was born in Giles County, Tennessee, August 17. 1841. and died June 19, 1918. He was a son of John B. and Rachel P. (Reynolds) Clark. John B. Clark was born in Tennessee, April 26, 1818. and spent his life in that state, where he died October 4. 1842. John B. Clark was a son of Robert Clark, whose father was a native of Ireland and settled in North Carolina prior to the Revolutionary War and served in the American Army during that conflict.
Robert Clark, son of the Revolutionary soldier, was born in North Carolina. February 20. 1778. He married Lucy Farmer, about 1804. and about 1806 moved to central Tennessee and settled on what was known as Richland Creek, in Giles County. He was a pioneer of that section and fought Indians under the command of General Jackson. He was a mem- ber of the Methodist Church. as was also his wife. and the early day
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circuit riders always stopped at the Clark home. Robert Clark and his wife lived together for fifty years and reared a large family. He died October 20, 1855, and his wife died March 9, 1861.
Rachel P. (Reynolds) Clark, mother of Robert J. Clark, was born at Georgetown, Kentucky, February 1, 1807, and died at Lawson, Mis- souri, in 1875, and is buried in the Salem Cemetery. She was a daughter of Aaron Reynolds, a native of Virginia, born about 1750. He served in the Revolutionary War under General Lafayette and received a large tract of land from the Government, near Georgetown, Kentucky. He improved this place and lived there for seventeen years and in 1809, re- moved to Maury County, Tennessee. His children, however, were all born in Kentucky, as follows: Colonel Benjamin Reynolds, studied law with Richard M. Johnson, who was vice-president of the United States, and Benjamin became prominent in public affairs, was Indian Agent. and had charge of the removal of the Indians from Tennessee, Alabama. and Mississippi, to designated reservations. The other children born to Aaron Reynolds and wife were Thomas, James, Sallie, and Rachel P. When Aaron Reynolds settled in Maury County, Tennessee, he located in the vicinity where James K. Polk lived, and his children were brought up with the future president.
Rachel P. Reynolds was first married to George Farrar and to that union was born one daughter, Nancy Jane, who died at Corinth, Mis- sissippi. After the death of George Farrar, Rachel (Raynolds) Farrar married John B. Clark, January 14, 1836, and the following children were born to them: Jerome B., deceased; Martha, married Henry Turner, and they are both deceased; and Robert J. Clark, the subject of this sketch.
In 1854, Robert J. Clark came to Missouri and settled near the Clay- Ray county line. He lived in Claysville until 1859 when he crossed the plains to California with ox teams. He remained in California and Ore- gon until 1867, and during that time served three years with the Oregon Volunteers fighting hostile Indians. In 1867, he returned to Missouri and engaged in general mercantile business at Claysville. In 1870, he removed to Lawson, Missouri, where he was in the mercantile business and also served as postmaster until 1880. After spending one year at Eureka Springs, Arkansas, he went to Polo, Missouri, where he was en- gaged in the mercantile business and served as postmaster until Feb- ruary, 1886. He then returned to Lawson and engaged in the banking
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
business, serving as cashier of the Lawson Bank for twenty-five years. He retired five or six years before his death on account of failing health.
Robert J. Clark was a successful business man and also took a deep interest in the welfare and development of the community. He was a Democrat and served as public administrator of Ray County. He was a member of the local school board for a number of years. He belonged to the Methodist Church and was a Mason, being a member of Beehive Lodge No. 393, A. F. and A. M., at Lawson. He served as secretary of that lodge for a number of years. He was well-known throughout Clay and Ray counties and had many friends.
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