History of Clay and Platte Counties, Missouri : written and compiled from the most authentic official and private sources, including a history of their townships, towns, and villages, together with a condensed history of Missouri; a reliable and detailed history of Clay and Platte Counties --their pioneer record, resources, biographical sketches of prominent citizens., Part 101

Author:
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: St. Louis : National Historical Co.
Number of Pages: 1156

USA > Missouri > Platte County > History of Clay and Platte Counties, Missouri : written and compiled from the most authentic official and private sources, including a history of their townships, towns, and villages, together with a condensed history of Missouri; a reliable and detailed history of Clay and Platte Counties --their pioneer record, resources, biographical sketches of prominent citizens. > Part 101
USA > Missouri > Clay County > History of Clay and Platte Counties, Missouri : written and compiled from the most authentic official and private sources, including a history of their townships, towns, and villages, together with a condensed history of Missouri; a reliable and detailed history of Clay and Platte Counties --their pioneer record, resources, biographical sketches of prominent citizens. > Part 101

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

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HISTORY OF PLATTE COUNTY.

sent to Augusta College, 1829-30; to Dr. J. A. McClung, near Maysville, Ky., 1831-32; to the Catholic school known as The Atheneum, at Cincinnati, 1833-34, and finally to Center College, Danville, Ky., 1835-38. He then entered on the study of the law, with McClung & Taylor, at Washington, Ky., and in 1839 was licensed ; in 1840 was married, and practiced law in Platte county, Mo. But, being sup- plied with money, he was tempted to invest in prairie lands, eight miles east of Platte City, and to remove upon and improve a large farm. Here he remained for nine years. In 1850 he removed to Platte City and, with Dr. H. B. Callahan, engaged in the mercantile business until 1853. They then purchased the Platte City Water Mills, and ran them until the war broke out. Mr. Paxton then pos- sessed property worth $25,000; but he found he had been too free in indorsing for friends, who had left for the South, and that these debts exceeded the value of his property. Nothing daunted, he de- termined to sell out, pay all his security debts, and start anew. In partnership with J. E. Merryman, he resumed the practice of law, and succeeded beyond his hope. At the end of the war he found himself out of debt, and a small competency in hand.

At the beginning of the war Mr. Paxton was much opposed to se- cession, and continued to sustain the Union until his voice was drowned in the clash of arms. Being too old for military service he devoted himself to his profession and held his peace. . He had only Southern blood in his veins and his sympathy was with his kindred ; but he was fully convinced from the start that theirs was a lost cause.

Mr. Paxton continued to prosecute the practice of law until 1875, when he became too deaf to continue it. Of industrious habits and restless with having nothing to do, he devoted his leisure hours to writing poetry. In 1881 his fugitive pieces were published in a vol- ume of 135 pages, entitled, "A Century Hence, and Other Poems, by W. M. Paxton." Six hundred copies were printed, and all given to his friends. Not a volume would he sell. He continued to write, and publish in the county papers, other pieces ; and at this time has enough to make a volume of four hundred pages. These he pro- poses to collect and publish another volume, as soon as he has time to do so.

In 1884 Mr. Paxton found he had gathered materials, by corre- spondence, sufficient to form a memorial of his mother's family - the Marshalls, and he determined to do so, and distribute the volume gratuitously among his relatives. To this end he started in July, 1884, on a visit to his relatives in Kentucky, Virginia, Maryland and other States. Two pleasant months were spent on this excursion, and he returned with the data and materials for the work. He expects to publish it in the fall of 1885.

Mr. Paxton still keeps an office and makes a few hundred dollars annually by his abstract of titles of Platte county lands. His children are three daughters, all residing with him.

Descent from the Paxtons. - In 1745, three brothers, of Scotch- Irish descent, came from Pennsylvania to Rockbridge county, Va.

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HISTORY OF PLATTE COUNTY.

Their names were (1) William Paxton, (2) John Paxton, (3) Thomas Paxton. (a) John Paxton = Polly Blair; 8 children, as follows : (b) 1. John Paxton = Phœbe Alexander ; 2 .. William Paxton = Elizabeth Stuart ; 7 children. 3. Joseph Paxton = M. Barclay ; 3 children. 4. James Paxton = March 23, 1786, in Rockbridge county, Va., Phoebe McClung. Their only child was: (c) 1. James Alex. Pax- ton, born September 13, 1788, died October 23, 1825, = May 2, 1811, Maria Marshall, born July 20, 1795, died February 6, 1824; 4 children. (d) 1. Mary Paxton = Ben. Harbison ; 2. Marshall Pax- ton = Sallie Bush ; 3. Phoebe A. Paxton = Col. C. A. Marshall ; 4. William Paxton = Mary Forman; 5. Isabella Paxton = Capt. Lyle ; 3 children. 6. Bettie Paxton = Maj. Samuel Houston ; 9 children. 6. Hannah Paxton = Maj. Jas. Caruthers ; 6 children ; 7. Polly Pax- ton = Mr. Conn.

Descent From the Marshalls. - John Marshall, born in Westmore- land county, Va., 1700, died 1752 = Elizabeth Markham, born 1710(?), died 1773( ?). They had nine children. The fourth was : -

(a) Col. Thomas Marshall, the hero of Brandywine, Germantown, etc., born in Westmoreland county, Va,, April 2, 1730, died in Wash- ington, Ky., June 22, 1802 = 1754, Mary Keith, born in Fauquier county, Va., April 28, 1737, died in Mason county, Ky., September 19, 1809. They had fifteen children as follows :

(b) 1. John Marshall, chief justice of the United States, born 1755 ; died 1835 = 1783, Mary Willis Ambler, born 1766, died 1831. 2. Eliza Marshall, born 1758, died 1842 ( ?) = 1785, Rawleigh Cols- ton, born 1749, died 1823. 3. Mary Marshall, born 1757, died 1827 = Senator Humphrey Marshall, born 1780, died 1841. 4. Capt. Thos. Marshall, of the Revolution, born in Fauquier county, Va., 1761, died in Washington, Ky., 1817 = 1790, Frances Kennan, born July 24, 1774, died November 19, 1837. 5. James Markham Mar- shall born in Fauquier county, Va., 1764, died 1848 = 1795, Hester, daughter of Robt. Morris, born 1794, died 1816. 6. Lucy Marshall, born in Fauquier county, Va., 1763, died 1795=John Ambler. 7. Chas. Marshall (twin), born 1767, died 1805 = Lucy Pickett, born 1767, died 1825. 8. William Marshall (twin), born 1767, died 1815 = Alice Adams. 9. Judith Marshall, born 1778 = Geo. Brooke. 10. Alex. K. Marshall, the Kentucky reporter, born in Fauquier county, Va., 1770, died in Mason county, Ky., 1824 = 1794, Mary McDowell, born 1772, died 1823. (c) Maria Marshall, born in Mason county, Ky., 1795, died in Columbus, O., 1824 = 1811, James A. Paxton. (d) William M. Paxton = Mary Forman. (b.) 11. Dr. Louis Marshall, president Transylvania, born in Fauquier county, Va., 1772, died in Woodford county, Ky., 1866 = 1800, Agatha Smith. 12. Susan Marshall, born 1774, died in Maysville, Ky., 1858= Judge Wm. McClung, born 1755, died, 1811. 13. Charlotte Marshall, born 1777, died 1817 = 1794, Dr. Basil Duke, born in Maryland, 1775, died in Washington, Ky., 1828. 14. Jane Marshall, born 1779, died 1866= 1799, Geo. K. Taylor. 15. Nancy

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HISTORY OF PLATTE COUNTY.

Marshall, born in Fauquier county, Va., 1781, died in Louisville, Ky .= Col. Joe Daviess, the hero of Tippecanoe.

Mr. William M. Paxton was a Whig in early life, and afterwards a Democrat. He has been for many years an elder in the Presbyterian Church and a superintendent of a continuous Sunday-school for 35 years.

Mr. Paxton's life has been one of unceasing activity, directed by a generous ambition to make himself useful to those around him, and to do as much good and as little harm in the world as possible, according to the talents given him. And looking back over his long and useful life, it must be admitted that his has been a career to which as little blame attaches, and in which there is as much to chal- lenge the esteem and good opinions of his fellow-men, as seldom falls to the lot of one to make. A man of the most generous and unself- ish impulses, in whose nature warm and noble humanity prevails over, perhaps, any other characteristic, as upright in thought and deed as the purest and best, his whole life has been an unbroken chain of duty faithfully and well performed, and of kind and gener- ous acts untiringly done. Through this whole section of country his name stands as a synonym for honesty and integrity, for noble and generous humanity, and for all the purer and better qualities of head and heart. In very looks he is a man to be trusted and rev- erenced, for his heart seems to be open to all who approach him, and to know William M. Paxton is to know a good, true, noble and downright honest man.

JUDGE WILLIAM H. RONEY (Clerk of the Circuit Court, Platte City, Mo.).

Though a Kentuckian by birth, Judge Roney was reared in Platte county from the age of 15 years, and this has continued to be his home from that time. His paternal grandfather was a brave participant in the campaign against the Indians under " Mad Anthony " Wayne. His son, Charles Roney, the father of the subject of this sketch, was a Kentuckian by birth and was married to Miss Mary Ann Potts, a daughter of Samuel Potts, of Perryville, Boyle county, Ky., and one of the early settlers in that State Mrs. Roney was also born there. The father died when William H. was a child, but he continued to remain in the county of his birth, enjoying only limited advantages for an education afforded at the common schools of the period. How- ever, he had to rely mainly on his own exertions and self application for an education. But having a natural thirst for knowledge, he im- proved his leisure by private study and succeeded in making excellent progress in the course of a common English instruction. As he grew up he became engaged in learning the carpenter's trade, and upon coming to Platte county, Mo., in 1851, at which time he located at Weston, he resumed work at his chosen calling. He now began to cast about for some pursuit in life congenial to his tastes and almost

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instinctively turned to the law, beginning regularly its study in 1860. He was now elected a marshal of the common pleas court at Weston, also continuing to prosecute his legal studies while holding the office. His qualifications for the position of judge of that court caused him to be selected as a proper person to fill the vacancy in that office by the county court, by which he was first appointed, and afterwards he was elected by the people, serving in all nearly four years. He was chosen as deputy county clerk under Thomas W. Park and after serv- ing as such for four years he became deputy circuit clerk, holding this position also for a like period.

In 1882 he was elected clerk, and has since continued to be this popular and efficient incumbent of that office. It requires no gift of prophecy to predict for him a long and successful career in the posi- tion. Judge Roney is a man of family, having been married at Weston, April 7, 1859, to Miss Louisa W. Woods, whose father, Jeremiah Woods, one of the earliest settlers at Weston, from Ohio, was magistrate at that place for many years. Mrs. Roney was born in Clermont county, Ohio, September 26, 1837. She died December 17, 1884, leaving two children living, Ella, the wife of David Cox, of this county, and Charles H., a bright boy of nine years. The oldest daughter, Carrie, died when two years old. Mrs. Roney was a faith- ful member of the M. E. Church South, with which denomination the Judge is also connected. He is a man of more than ordinary ability, genial, dignified and sociable, one with whom it is a pleasure and profit to meet.

JUDGE JACKSON C. SUMMERS

(Farmer and Stock-raiser, and Judge of the Circuit Court, Post-office, Platte City).

Judge Summers, an early settler of this county, is a descendant of an honored old Revolutionary soldier, and one of the pioneers of Kentucky, his grandfather Summers having been a Virgin- ian by. nativity, who enlisted under Washington in that colony. Soon after the Revolutionary War he removed to Kentucky and set- tled in what afterwards became Jessamine county, where he lived to a ripe old age and died honored and esteemed by all who knew him. Carter Summers' son (the Judge's father) was born and principally reared in Jessamine county, and was married to Miss Martha Mills, of Fleming county, that State, in which he afterwards made his per- manent home. He became a successful farmer of that county and died there at the age of sixty years. Judge Jackson C. Summers was born in Fleming county January 15, 1827, and was reared to manhood in his native county. June 19, 1850, he was married to Miss Margaret, a daughter of John Green, formerly of Jessamine county ; and the same year of his marriage Judge Summers removed to Missouri and settled in Platte county, on the land where he now resides. Since then, nearly thirty-five years ago, he has been con- tinuously and actively engaged in farming, and by industry and thorough-going business enterprise has succeeded in accumulating

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HISTORY OF PLATTE COUNTY.

a comfortable property. He has an excellent homestead, well im- proved, and is in comparatively independent circumstances. Judge Summers has become a prominent citizen of the county, respected and esteemed by all for his sterling integrity, sober, sound judgment, broad intelligence and liberal progressive ideas. As a neighbor and friend no one in the county is more valued by those around him or stands better in general esteem. He has held different official posi- tions, including the office of magistrate for a number of years, and twice he has been elected to the county bench by majorities highly complimentary to him personally. He is now serving his second term. April 11, 1881, the Judge had the misfortune to lose his good wife. She had borne him four children, two of whom are living. The two deceased were Emma, the wife of John A. Baldwin, and Lillian, who died at the age of nineteen. The Judge is a member of the Missionary Baptist Church, as was also his good wife.

OLIVER H. SWANEY

(Farmer and Stock-raiser, Section 26, Post-office, Platte City).

The father of the subject of this sketch, Hugh Swaney, was a Ken- tuckian by birth, but when quite young accompanied his parents to Ohio and afterwards to Indiana, where he grew to manhood, subse- quently marrying Miss Maria E. Scott, a native of Kentucky, but reared in Indiana. In 1842 the family removed to Missouri, and in the spring of 1843 located in Platte county; purchasing a claim on a portion of which Oliver H. now resides. The senior Swaney was a man pos- sessed of a great amount of energy and of a determined will, and before his death had become one of the well-to-do and influential citizens of this county. His landed estate embraced about a section of land, on which he had a number of slaves before the war. He was extensively and successfully occupied in the stock industry in addition to his farm- ing interests. His death occurred August 26, 1872, and his loss was keenly felt. He was a member of the Christian Church, and had mem- bership also in the Masonic Lodge, at Platte City, extending to the high- est pinnacle of the Grand Encampment. The youth and early manhood of Oliver H. were passed on the home place, but in the summer of 1860, at the time of the Pike's Peak excitement, he joined the caravan of gold seekers bound for that locality, remaining there during the sum- mer. He returned to his home the next fall, his experience having proven to his entire satisfaction that gold can be obtained in other ways than by digging for it. In 1861 he enlisted under Gov. Jackson's call, and served until the troops were disbanded, having taken part in the battle at Lexington. Taking his father's negroes Mr. Swaney now went to Kentucky and remained two years, the family in the meantime having gone to Ray county, Mo. Returning again to Platte county, in 1864, he resumed farming and also commenced the fine stock business, which has developed into no small or unimportant industry. His fine herd of seventeen thoroughbred short horn cattle are represented at the head by a dark red, 2200-pound animal, Win-

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HISTORY OF PLATTE COUNTY.

field Hancock. Mr. Swaney's farm contains 205 acres of land, with good improvements and a young bearing orchard. On the 25th of December, 1866, he was married to Miss R. A. E., daughter of Robt. Walker, formerly of North Carolina, but who settled in Ray county, Mo., at an early day, where Mrs. Swaney was born and reared. They had six children : Perry, Mary E., John T., Lewis M., Oliver H., Jr., and Addison G. Mr. and Mrs. Swaney are members of the Christian Church, and the former is connected with the Masonic fraternity, in which he is a R. A. M.

CAPT. JAMES SYNNAMON (Post-office, Platte City).

The history of few men in the county is replete with more remin- iscences, or furnish a more thrilling and exciting account of dangers and trials encountered and hardships undergone, than that of Capt. Synnamon. In the spring of 1861 he responded to the call of Gov. Jackson for troops, and remained with them until the formation of Gen. Price's Confederate division at Springfield. He then joined Capt. Joseph Carr's company at Platte City, of which he was elected first lieutenant, and going to Lexington was attached to Col. John T. Hughes' battalion ; this was afterwards merged into the Sixth Missouri, Col. Eugene Irvine commanding. The latter was a grandson of Henry Clay. At Vicksburg he was promoted to captain, and during the siege this regiment was blown up, and he with others was buried, but escaped unhurt, although several times during the conflict he had marvelous escapes. He was slightly hurt on several occasions by flying missils and fragments of shells. After being paroled at Vicksburg he was ordered to duty as provost marshal in Alabama for a short time. As a minute detail of the numerous engagements in which he and his company participated would fill a volume, of course it cannot be written fully here. He was struck in the right temple and shoulder at the battle of Oak Hill, permanently injuring the sight of his right eye, and was also wounded in the charge on Corinth, in which desper- ate battle six bullets perforated his body and uniform. His regiment was here almost annihilated, only thirty responding to roll call after the battle. Again, at Port Gilson, he was left on the field for dead, but being only stunned, he, of course, regained consciousness, and hunting up his company, fought the battle to the end. He was in all the succeeding battles of that campaign, which culminated at Vicks- burg.

At the battle of Black River Bridge, he and a part of his company not reaching the river before the bridges were fired, were compelled to swim across to escape capture. He also participated in the en- gagements incident to Hood's Tennessee campaign, and in the terrible charge of Franklin was again left on the Federal works for dead. All the company here engaged were either killed or wounded but two. The position of the command was in front of the cotton gin house, noted in that battle. The survivors were there picked up by the

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HISTORY OF PLATTE COUNTY.

enemy and placed with 290 of the worst wounded Confederate officers in College Hill hospital, Nashville, in retaliation for prisoners placed under fire at Fort Sumter. After three months of indescriba- ble suffering, 180, all that were left of the original number, were sent to Fort Delaware, where, within forty miles of where he was born, Capt. S. remained till the close of war, weighing only seventy-two pounds when discharged. Their company was afterwards captured at Blakely, Mobile Bay, and sent to Ship Island till the close of war, guarded by colored troops. During its term of service there were but six men that were not killed or severely wounded. As men- tioned elsewhere, they participated in some thirty actions and marched and fought in nearly every Confederate State. To be a comrade of such men and share with them such suffering and priva- tions as they endured, the horrors of which we are unable to find language sufficiently strong to convey its fearfulness, is a sufficient eulogy of the character of the man and soldier that Capt. Synnamon is. After returning from Fort Delaware to Missouri he began freight- ing to Denver, and the following year resumed his occupation of carpentering. In the fall of 1877 he was appointed to the position of assessor, and in the fall of 1884 was elected to that position by a large majority. March 2, 1877, he was married to Miss Jane Cooper, daughter of John Cooper, of Tennessee, one of the pioneers of Platte, in which county Mrs. S. was born and reared. They have five children. The Captain was born in Philadelphia in 1836. His parents, James and Margaret McNamara, also of Philadelphia, were of French and Scotch-Irish extraction. The father was a contractor and builder and resided in Philadelphia till his death. James worked as an apprentice for four years, becoming thoroughly qualified at his business. In April, 1857, he came to Platte and worked at carpen- tering in various parts of the county until entering the army as above noted. His career since that is too well known to necessitate repeti- tion.

JUDGE THOMAS H. TALBOT.

(Farmer and Stock-raiser and Ex-Presiding Judge of the County Court, Platte City).

The Talbot family, originally from England, settled first in this country in Maryland, prior to the Revolution, where a number of its members became prominent in the affairs of that State. Talbot county, Md., took its name from Judge Talbot, a distinguished rep- resentative of this family in an early day. Judge Thomas H. Talbot, however, came of a Virginia branch of the family. His grandfather early settled in the Old Dominion from Maryland, and the Judge's father was a native of Virginia. Thomas T. Talbot, his father, was married to Miss Jane Bell in Kentucky, whither he had gone when a lad. He made Kentucky his home until 1836, and then removed to Missouri, locating in St. Charles county ; later along, how- . ever, he settled at St. Louis, where he resided until his death. Thomas H. Talbot was born in Greenup county, Ky., June 30, 1818. When he was twelve years of age he became an apprentice to the car-

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HISTORY OF PLATTE COUNTY.

penter's trade under his brother, with whom he worked for about seven years. During this time he went to school for about twelve months altogether, but succeeded in obtaining a sufficient knowledge of books for all ordinary practical purposes. In 1837 Mr. Talbot, the subject of this sketch, came to Missouri and located at Liberty, where he followed contracting and building until 1843. He then came to Platte county and bought land in the vicinity of Weston, where he improved a farm and resided for nearly forty years, or until 1881.

The last four years Judge Talbot has resided on his farm two miles north of Platte City, where he has an excellent place and is comforta- bly situated. Judge Talbot has been married twice. In February, 1843, he was married to Miss Eleanora Pence, a daughter of E. H. Pence of Clay county, but formerly of Scott county, Ky, She sur- vived her marriage, however, only a few years. To his present wife Judge Talbot was married July 16, 1860, in Lincoln county, this State. She was a Miss Bethany Pruett, a daughter of V. A. Pruett of that county, but formerly of Scott county, Ky. By his first wife there was one child, Eleanora, now the wife of Leander Wells, of Platte county, and said to be the first white child born in the county. By the second wife there are five children : Carrie, Sudie, Birdie, Allen V. and Thomas H., Jr. Judge Talbot was elected a member of the county court as early as 1868, and served four years. He was then re-elected and during all this time of service he was presiding judge of the county court. He made a thoroughly efficient and upright judge, and always had the entire confidence of the public. The judge is a prominent Mason and has held a number of important positions in the lodge. His wife is a member of the Christian Church. .

JOHN M. THATCHER (Farmer and Stock-raiser, Post-office, Smithville).

For sixty years this respected citizen of Carroll township has been a resident continuously of this or Clay counties. He came here at a very early day in its history, and has been a personal witness to its progress and an active worker in its development from that time to the present. His father who, on account of being the eleventh child in the family, was given the name of Eleven Thatcher, was born in Bourbon county, Ky., as was also his wife, whose maiden name was Sabina Hornback. In that county our subject first saw the light, the date of his birth being August 29, 1822. In 1825 the family came to Clay county, Mo., and located near Smithville, where he purchased 80 acres of land. To this original tract he added, from time to time, as he became able, until it increased to 1,040 acres, worth no incon- siderable sum. He was a large slave owner before the war, and, in fact, was one of the most substantial citizens of the county at his death, February 14, 1871. During the days of the Whig party, he was a follower of its principles, then became numbered with the Know. Nothings, and finally was found in the ranks of the Democracy. He and his wife were members of the Baptist Church. John M. Thatcher

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HISTORY OF PLATTE COUNTY.

grew up on the home farm, receiving the benefits of a good schooling. He remained at home until his marriage, on the 22d of December, 1854, to Miss Martha J. Duncan, of Clay county. In March of the succeeding year, he moved into Platte county and commenced farming for himself, which has since occupied his attention. To him and his wife have been given five children : Joseph D., born September 9, 1856, and married Miss Tannie Hall, a daughter of Wm. Hall, of Clay county, and now in the jewelry business at Hale City, Mo .; Eleven, born March 31, 1857, died August 14, 1884 ; he was also in the jewelry business and was a member of the Christian Church; Si- bina, born April 27, 1860, and married to Edgar Spratt, of this county ; she and her husband both died in 1882. He on August 11 and his wife August 8; Bettie G., born November 1, 1862, and the wife of Leroy Garton, now residing at Cameron, Mo. ; and the young- est son, John W., born November 18, 1864. Mrs. Thatcher's father, Joseph Duncan, a native of Bourbon county, Ky., was a farmer by occupation, and married Miss Mary Brooks, of Clark county, same State. They had a family of twelve children, seven of whom are liv- ing : Betsey, Judy Ann, Thomas D., Abijah, Joseph, Nancy and Martha. Mr. Hodges had quite a little start from his father's estate when commencing for himself; but to this have been made large ad- ditions. He deals in stock to some extent. Both he and his wife are members of the Christian Church. In his political preferences he is Democratic.

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Author: Publication date: 1885 Publisher: St. Louis : National Historical Co. Number of Pages: 1156

Author:
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: St. Louis : National Historical Co.
Number of Pages: 1156