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 108

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 108
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 108

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E. B. KIRTLEY (Post-office, Camden Point).

The Kirtley family have been settled in this country since prior to the Revolutionary War. The family is of English origin, but what time its original founder came here is not definitely known. Certain it is, however, that the first settlement was made in Virginia. The founder of the family had four sons born to him - William, Frank, Elijah and Sinclair - and after his death his widow married Capt. Ben. Roberts, whose record and career in the Revolutionary War is such a well known matter of history that it is unnecessary for us to enter into any detail of his military life, save that he was sent to Kentucky to establish forts and defenses for the early settlers of that territory. The subject of this sketch is a descendant of William Kirtley who, after removing to Kentucky, died there. The father, born in Virginia, spent his life in the former State, occupied with farming, and during the War of 1812 was a captain under Gen. William H. Harrison. His wife, Miss Anna Kyle, was born in Mary- land, a cousin of Daniel Boone. Some time after their marriage the family removed to Ohio, where she died. E. B. Kirtley was born in Kentucky, April 10, 1809, but was raised in Ohio, where he received

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HISTORY OF PLATTE COUNTY.

a liberal education. After following blacksmithing for fifteen years he engaged in farming. In 1828 he returned to Kentucky, which was his home until 1854. Going to Buchanan county, Mo., he remained there for some years. During the war, in common with many others, he suffered severe loss and injury by the depredations of the unprin- cipled men of both sides, but from this he has entirely recovered. While in Buchanan county he dealt largely in fine stock and did more to improve the cattle in that county than any other man. In 1864 he made a trip to Montana, but in 1866 he came to Platte county, Mo., and began merchandising at Camden Point. After four years of mer- cantile experience he purchased his present farm of 160 acres of choice land, upon which he has built a comfortable house, and where he is now spending the evening of his life in comparative ease and retirement, resting in the assurance of having passed an active and not altogether useless life, and with the respect of all who know him. He is very courteous in his demeanor and a hospitable man. July 20, 1831, Mr. Kirtley married Miss Jane Montgomery, daughter of Adam Mont- gomery. She was spared to him until her death, April 10, 1875 ; she left a family of five children living : Anna, wife of Dr. Watson, John E., F., J., and Philip. Mr. K. has been a member of the Baptist Church for fifty years.

T. J. LAMAR (Farmer, Post-office, New Market).

Among the better class of citizens of East Tennessee who came out to Platte county in an early day of the county's history was the family of Henry Lamar, who settled here in 1843. He purchased and im- proved land near the present site of New Market, where he success- fully followed farming for many years. His wife was formerly Eliza Kennedy, and by their union they raised a family of five children. T. J. Lamar, the subject of this sketch, was born the same year of his parents' settlement in this county, October 27, 1843. Brought up in this county to the life of a farmer, he engaged in that occupation for himself upon reaching an age when it became necessary for him to start out in life for himself, and to the original tract which he pur- chased he has added from time to time until he now owns 240 acres, the improvements of which are on a par with any to be found in a large region of country. He is very attentive to the conduct of his place, and is constantly being rewarded in a material way for the time spent in his industrious farming and good management. Mr. Lamar married Miss Mary J. Doyle, of this county. Heaven has blessed this marriage with six children : Henry A., James W., Daniel C., Mary E., T. J. and F. E.

JAMES G. AND THOMAS J. LEWIS (Farmers, Post-office, New Market).

These young agriculturists are worthy sons of Isaac T. Lewis, a man who, from the first, was intimately and uninterruptedly connected

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HISTORY OF PLATTE COUNTY.

and associated with the growth and development of Platte county. He had come here from Jackson county, Mo., in 1837, and remained until 1849, when, drawn into the caravan which moved westward to the gold fields of the far off Eldorado, he went to California, but re- turned in 1851. In 1856 he was married to Miss Mary J. White, and in this county they reared their family of children. The father is now a resident of Andrew county, Mo., whither he went in 1882, and where he now has a pleasant and comfortable home. He is distantly related to the world renowned pioneer and hunter, Daniel Boone. The sons, James G. and Thomas J., now own jointly 180 acres of good land, lying adjacent to the town of New Market, which they are cultivating in a manner which can not fail to be of substantial results to them. Thomas J. Lewis has been twice married, his first wife, Fannie Lewis, a native of this county, to whom he was married Feb- ruary 24, 1880, having died November 14, 1883. On the 22d of April, 1885, Miss Agnes Belle Douglas became his second wife. James G. Lewis is also married, the maiden name of his wife having been Miss Hattie Lee Owen, a daughter of John T. Owen, whose biography is found elsewhere in this work. Their marriage was con- summated February 24, 1882. Mr. and Mrs. L. have one daughter, Eula Belle.

WILLIAM A. LOWE

(General Merchant, New Market).

William A. Lowe was born in Indiana August 26, 1843, and his life from that time to the present is one which has been passed in a manner worthy of commendation, and one in which he may feel a pardonable amount of pride when looking back over his past career. When he was an infant he was brought by his parents to this county, they settling at Weston in the year 1844. The father, Eld. S. J. Lowe, after locating permanently at Weston, was engaged in brick making for a time and also in merchandising, besides filling his regu- lar appointments as a minister. In 1851 he went to Hannibal, and was there occupied very extensively in slaughtering hogs and cattle, in addition to which he had a large interest in a mercantile house in that city, and also at Palmyra. Unfortunately, however, these nu- merous investments did not result satisfactorily in a financial point of view, and Mr. Lowe suffered almost a ruinous loss, from which he failed to recover. But in 1854 he came to New Market, and having learned by bitter experience the utter uselessness of accumulating riches on this earth, he constantly studied how he could best serve his fellow-creatures and make his life most useful. Until his death, August 1, 1861, he devoted his entire time to preaching the gospel. William A. Lowe early became acquainted with the struggles and hardships of this world. Owing to the misfortunes which befell his father, the care of the family to a considerable extent fell upon him, and at the early age of 14 he contributed quite largely to their main- tenance. The principal part of his life has been passed in the busi- ness which he now so successfully follows. He has a good store at

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HISTORY OF PLATTE COUNTY.

this place, keeps it well stocked, and is enjoying the patronage which his fair dealing and close attention to business thoroughly merit. De- cember 26, 1860, Mr. Lowe was married to Miss Sarah A. Dodson, a Kentuckian by birth. The names of their seven children now living are Caroline J., William D., John S., Joie A., Pratt A., Sadie M. and Jubal Early S. They have lost one daughter, Linnie Elizabeth. Mr. Lowe is a worthy member of Unity O. S. Baptist Church.

WILEY MOUNTJOY, A. B.

(Master of the Female Orphan School of the Christian Church, Camden Point).

Prof. Mountjoy is a native of Kentucky, born in Anderson county, May 8, 1854. His father was LeRoy J. Mountjoy, a son of Wm. Mountjoy, originally of Virginia ; and his mother was a Miss Louisiana Cardwell, daughter of John R. Cardwell, of Kentucky, who was a son of John Cardwell, from Virginia. Prof Mountjoy's father was brought out to Kentucky from Virginia by his parents when he was a mere boy. They settled in Anderson county, that State. There LeRoy J. Mountjoy grew to manhood and was married. He resided in Kentucky after his marriage until 1866, when he removed to Illinois with his family and located on a farm in Logan county. He died in that county three years afterwards. He was a farmer and stock-raiser by occupation and was fairly successful, accumulating a comfortable though not a large property. In Kentucky, before the Civil War, he was engaged in the stock trade with Southern dealers, buying and shipping quite extensively mules, horses, etc. Prof. Mountjoy was a lad about 12 years of age when the family removed to Illinois. After his father's death, being then some 15 years of age, he and his mother and several of the children of the family came to Missouri and made their home near Nevada City, in this State. Already he had taken a common school course, and now he began to prepare himself for col- lege. After taking an intermediate course in the preparatory schools he entered the Christian College at Canton, where he studied until he was graduated in 1880. In the meantime, however, he had taught school from time to time while obtaining his own education ; and while a student at Canton he taught in the Christian College at that place.

After his graduation Prof. Mountjoy went to Montana, where he en- gaged in teaching ; and having been ordained a minister of the Chris- tian Church, he also served in that office. Previously he had taken a Bible course of study at Canton. Prof. Mountjoy taught in Montana for about two years, and while there was connected with the Montana Collegiate Institute. Returning to Missouri in the fall of 1882, the following summer he was called to take charge of the institution over which he now presides. Prof. Mountjoy is a man of thorough educa- tion, conscientious in his work as a teacher, and ardently devoted to the profession of an educator. A man of energy and industry, and more than ordinarily gifted with those qualities which go to make a successful teacher, his career here at the head of the Christian Female Orphan School has been one of marked credit to himself, great bene-

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HISTORY OF PLATTE COUNTY.

fit to the institution, and the work for which it was founded, and of singular gratification to his friends and to all who have the best inter- ests of the school at heart. Elsewhere is given a history of this noble institution, founded by Christian and philanthropic men for the care and education of those whose condition appeals most forcibly to every sympathetic heart - orphans left alone in the world and friend- less but for the kindness and generosity of others ; and helpless to prepare themselves for intelligent and useful lives, but for this and similar institutions. The school is now in a prosperous condition and is doing a vast amount of good in the field of education it occupies. On the 27th of July, 1882, Prof. Mountjoy was married at Deer Lodge, M. T., to Miss Ella Irvine, daughter of E. H. Irvine, for- merly of Platte county. Mrs. Mountjoy was born in this county, but was reared and educated in Montana. She is a graduate of the Mon- tana Collegiate Institute, and is a lady of superior culture and refine- ment. Since her husband took charge of the Christian Orphan School, at Camden Point, she has been matron of the institute, and still discharges the duties of that position. Mrs. Mountjoy is a member of the Christian Church in which her husband is a minister. She has charge of several classes at the Orphan School.

JEROME MULLENDORE

(Farmer and Stock-raiser, Post-office, Dearborn).

The Mullendores are of German descent, but have long been set- tled in this country. On coming to America, originally, they located in Virginia, of which Jacob Mullendore, the father of the subject of this sketch, was a native. He removed West and married a Miss Wortze. Stopping for some years in Ohio, the family finally settled in Indiana. Jerome Mullendore was born in the latter State, and was one in a family of ten children, nine of whom lived to reach mature years. The county of his nativity in Indiana was Shelby, and there his father, who was a tanner by trade, died in 1867. The mother, a native of Ohio, and daughter of Daniel Wortze, originally of Penn- sylvania, died in 1876. Both were members of the Lutheran Church. Jerome Mullendore, the date of whose birth was December 16, 1832, was brought up at the tanner's trade, and, after reaching his majority, was in partnership with his brother in that business. In 1855, how- ever, he came further West, locating at Leavenworth, Kan. But later along Mr. Mullendore settled in Platte county, and has been a resident of this county ever since. Here he has become one of the substantial farmers of the county. His homestead contains 335 acres, and is well improved. Besides this he has another farm of 160 acres, a few miles north of his homestead. He is a large producer of wheat and corn, and also grows considerable stock, principally cattle and hogs, of each of which he fattens and markets a considerable number every year. Mr. Mullendore's farm is located about eight miles north of Platte City. In 1857 he was married to Miss Sarah May, a daughter of Samuel and Nancy May, the father a native of Kentucky,

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HISTORY OF PLATTE COUNTY. 1

but the mother originally of North Carolina. Six children are the fruits of their union : George D., a teacher by profession ; Lewis B., May A., Albert S., Samuel C. and William D. Mr. and Mrs. Mul- lendore are members of the Presbyterian Church.

JOHN T. OWENS

(County Tax Collector, Post-office, Platte City).

Mr. Owens, though a native of Henry county, Ky., born September 19, 1835, was principally reared in Platte county, Mo., his parents, John S. and Harriet B. (Moore) Owens, having removed to this county from Kentucky, when he was yet in boyhood. They came here in 1845 and settled on a farm where John T. now resides. They made this place their permanent home and the father died here in 1852, the mother dying about nine years afterwards. Five of their family of children grew to mature years, four of whom are still living, includ- ing one daughter. John T. was the eldest of the sons and was reared on the farm, receiving as he grew up a good common school educa- tion. His schooling, however, was confined to the winter months, for in the summer he always assisted to make the crops. Farming very naturally became his regular occupation, and continuing on the old family homestead with success as a farmer, he was after awhile able to buy out the interests of the other heirs, so that he became sole owner of the place. His place contains over 250 acres and is situated about seven miles north of Platte City. It is one of the choice farms. of the vicinity and is well improved. February 26, 1861, Mr. Owens was married to Miss Minerva A. Dean, daughter of John B. Dean, formerly of Kentucky. Mrs. Owens, however, was educated at Cam- den Point and at St. Joseph. Mr. and Mrs. O. have six children : Harriet L., wife of Jas. G. Lewis ; Sidney M., now at Columbia Col- lege ; Andrew B., Lizzie, Lydia E. and Frankie. Mr. and Mrs. O. are members of the Christian Church. In 1873, Mr. Owens was elected township assessor and, illustrating the great fundamental prin- ciple of civil service reform that " ye have been faithful over a few things and I will therefore make you ruler over many," he was there- after, having given thorough satisfaction as a township assessor, elected to the office of county assessor. In this office he also showed marked fidelity and a degree of ability superior to the requirements of the position, so that he was elected to the responsible office of county tax collector in 1882. In 1884 he was re-elected to the latter office and is now serving his second term. He is giving quite as good satisfaction in this position as he did in the offices of township as- sessor and county assessor. Mr. Owens is one of the directors of Camden Point College and has been for the last five years.

AYTCHMONDE L. PERRIN

(Farmer and Stock-raiser, Post-office, Camden Point).

Mr. Perrin was born in Lincoln county, Ky., April 8, 1811, and was a son of Achilles and Jane (Smith) Perrin, both originally of

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HISTORY OF PLATTE COUNTY.

Culpeper county, Va. They removed to Kentucky in an early day, and made their home in Lincoln county. There the father, who was an energetic, successful farmer, served as magistrate for a number of years, and afterwards as sheriff of the county. But in 1843 the fam- ily came to Missouri, and settled in Platte county, where the parents lived until their deaths. The father was for many years an elder in the Christian Church. Aytchmonde L. Perrin, the subject of this sketch, grew up in Lincoln county, Ky., and at the age of 21 came to Missouri, and located at Palmyra. There, some six years later, he was married to Miss Julia S. Morton, a daughter of Samuel Morton. At Palmyra Mr. Perrin was engaged in merchandising, in which he continued at that place until his removal to Platte county, in 1843. In this county he has been principally engaged in farming and stock- raising, though in 1867-68 he was cashier of the Weston Savings Bank. Mr. Perrin's farm is located about eight miles north of Platte City, and is one of the choice farms of the vicinity. He makes a specialty of raising and fattening cattle and hogs for the wholesale markets, in which he is quite successful, and also formerly raised large quantities of hemp. In a word, Mr. P. is one of the enterpris- ing, progressive farmers of his part of the county.

He is a man who takes a public-spirited interest in the cause of education, and is especially generous in assisting those whose circum- stances are not such as to enable them to secure the advantages which others, whose means are more liberal, can command. An instance of his interest in this direction is the active part he took in establishing the Orphan's School at Camden Point. Mr. Perrin is one of the orig- inal founders of the school, and has ever been one of its most liberal and useful supporters. He was the first treasurer of the board of management, and since then has been president of the board. Mr. Perrin is comfortably and pleasantly situated at home. His farm is handsomely improved, including a large brick residence and other buildings to correspond. Mr. Perrin has been married twice. His first wife died in 1849, and two years later he was married to Mrs. Jane Shy, widow of the late Jesse Shy, and daughter of William Shanks, of Lincoln county, Ky. By his first marriage there were five children, four of whom lived to reach years of maturity, namely : Susan F., now the wife of Thomas E. Campbell, of St. Joseph ; Achilles, also of St. Joseph ; Morton, of Jackson county, and Julia J., the wife of H. C. Childs, of Jackson county. There are four children by the last marriage : Mary M., wife of S. C. Woodson, of St. Joseph, Mo. A. L., Jr., with his father on the farm ; Jessie S., Nannie and John, also still at home. Mr. Perrin and family are members of the Christian Church. Mr. Perrin has been an Elder of Camden Point Church from its organization to the present time.

JOHN B. REYNOLDS, M. D. (Physician and Surgeon, Camden Point).

The career of Dr. Reynolds as a physician and surgeon thus far has been one of gratifying and more than ordinary success. A young

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HISTORY OF PLATTE COUNTY.

man full of life and energy and of superior general education when he begun the study of medicine, and having a decided preference for that calling above all others, as well as a marked natural aptitude for it, he prepared himself for his profession with zeal and thoroughness. Dr. Reynolds begun the study of medicine under Dr. Charles R. Woodson, of Buchanan county, one of the leading physicians of North- west Missouri, and after taking a due course of study under him, entered the College of Physicians and Surgeons of St. Joseph (now the St. Joseph Medical Hospital ) in the fall of 1880. The following fall he matriculated at the Missouri Medical College, and continued as a student of medicine and surgery there until his graduation in the class of 1882. After his graduation Dr. Reynolds came immediately to Camden Point, and made his permanent location here for the prac- tice of his profession. His evident ability and qualifications as a phy- sician, together with his high character and genial, popular address, so favorably recommended him to all with whom he came in contact, that in a short time he found himself in possession of an excellent practice. Dr. Reynolds' practice at Camden Point and vicinity has grown with unusual rapidity, and now, not only in points of skill and ability, but of extent and value of practice also, he is justly recog- nized as one of the leading, successful physicians of this county. Dr. Reynolds is standing physician to the Female Orphan's School of the Christian Church at Camden Point. He was reared in Buchanan county, this State, and is a son of James J. Reynolds, one of the leading agriculturists and wealthy citizens of that county. His father has a large model stock farm and is extensively engaged in raising and dealing in fine short horn cattle. Dr. Reynolds was born while his parents were residents of Kansas, near Iowa Point, in that State, in 1858. The family had removed there from Buchanan county, and his father was a member of the Lecompton Constitutional Convention of Kansas. The family returned to Buchanan county, however, in 1858, where the parents still reside. While a resident of Kansas the father was extensively engaged in driving stock to California for several years, and was quite successful. He is now well advanced in years, but is still one of the leading active farmers and stockmen of Bu- chanan county.

HON. BENJAMIN F. SHOUSE

(Judge of the Western District of Platte County, and Farmer, Post-office, New Market).

The Shouse family, or at least the branch of it of which the subject of this sketch is a representative, has long been settled in this country and for generations was resident of Kentucky. Judge Shouse's father, B. P. Shouse, was a native of Kentucky, but in 1844 came to Platte county, Mo. He had previously been married, the maiden name of his wife being Miss Margaret Farra. Benjamin F. Shouse was born in Woodford county, Ky., July 29, 1843, but being brought here when only an infant, his youth was therefore principally spent in this county. Of course everybody practically in this State at that

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HISTORY OF PLATTE COUNTY.

time followed farming, and to this almost universal occupation young Shouse was brought up. His opportunities to acquire an education were those afforded by the district and private schools in the vicinity of his father's home, in addition to which, by self-application, he be- came possessed of more than an ordinary intellectual knowledge. He early began farming for himself and continued it until the breaking out of the war, when, on the 15th of September, 1861, he enlisted in McGinnis' company of Winston's regiment, in the Confederate army, and participated in the battles of Lexington, Pea Ridge, Corinth, Iuka, Second Corinth, Helena, Mansfield, La., Pleasant Hill, Jenkins' Ferry and Monticello. After this service of four years of severe and continued fighting, he surrendered at Shreveport, La., May 9, 1865 .. He was also a member of Pindall's battalion of sharpshooters, Par- son's brigade, Missouri troops, for some time. Returning home at that time, he resumed his farming operations, in which he has since been satisfactorily successful. Having led a life of untarnished integ- rity and being a man of many popular, social and neighborly qualities, Mr. Shouse has naturally won the esteem and confidence of those around him. In November, 1884, he was elected judge of the West- ern district of Platte county, a position entirely unsought for, but a mark of honor and esteem of his acquaintances which shows the posi- tion which he occupies among those in whose midst he lives. Thus far he has discharged his official duties in a satisfactory manner. Judge S. was married November 8, 1866, to Miss Rebecca Clay, a native of this county. Seven children have blessed this union : Ida May, now at LaGrange College; Edwin Clay, Mary, Frankie, Ora Lee, William Arnold and Benjamin F.

EDWARD C. SMITH

(Farmer and Stock-raiser, Section 35, Post-office, Weston).

Edward Smith, the father of the subject of this sketch, and a man well known from the earliest settlement of the county, but none the less highly respected, came here from North Carolina in 1837, at which time he commenced to break the soil preparatory to opening a farm. Of an intellectual turn of mind, he was early persuaded to open a school here, which he did, continuing the occupation of teach- ing for many years. He served in various positions of a local nature, and was justice of the peace most of the time until his death. He had married in this county, in 1839, Miss Lucinda McLain, whose parents were formerly from Kentucky. Ed. C. Smith, the second child now living of his parents' family, is one of the native born citizens of this county, the date of his birth having been February 6, 1848. His entire life has been passed within this vicinity, save for a period of three years, during which time he made his home in Kansas ; but not being satisfied with his location there, he bought his present home in 1878. A life well spent, and especially among those who have been acquainted with him from the time of his birth, has only tended to give him the reputation of being one of the progressive and well re-

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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