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 36

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 36
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 36

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HON. JOHN R. KELLER (Farmer and Stock-raiser, Post-office, Liberty).

Among the old and prominent citizens of Clay county, the subject of the present sketch has long held a well recognized and enviable position. Mr. Keller is a son of Jacob Keller, reference to whom is made in the shetch of James M. Keller, elsewhere given. He was born in Jessamine county, Kentucky, December 18, 1812. Reared in that county, June 6, 1833, he was married to Miss Eliza J. Faul- coner, daughter of Nelson Faulconer, of Fayette county, Ky. After his marriage he settled down in Fayette county, where Mr. Keller followed farming for about five years. But in 1837 he came on a prospecting trip to Missouri and traveled through several counties, particularly in the Platte Purchase. While on this trip he decided to make his home in Clay county, and, accordingly, dis-

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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY.

posing of his saddle horse, having come out from Kentucky horse- back, he went back by river, and at once went to work arranging his affairs for removal. In due time he returned to Missouri and bought a place of 320 acres, near to what is known to old settlers as Gladpen Springs, for which he paid about $17 an acre. Since then he has added to his landed estate until he now has about 700 acres, but still resides on the old homestead on which he settled when he first came to the county. Mr. Keller is very comfortably situated, has, in fact, one of the best homesteads in many respects in the county. He suffered considerable loss during the war, and was compelled to leave home for a time, but returned as soon as peace was restored and has ever since, as he had always been before, been regarded as one of the useful and prominent citizens of the county. In 1874 he was elected to the State Senate and served with marked ability in that body for two years. He also served on the State Board of Equalization and has filled other positions of trust, all with entire credit to himself and to the public service. Mr. and Mrs. Keller have a family of six chil- dren : Elizabeth, wife of M. B. Brooks ; Sarah, wife of John D. Harper ; George N., Thomas J., Martha J. and Joseph F. Mr. and Mrs. Keller are members of the Christian Church, and have been for 50 years. As the above facts show, Mr. Keller has been a resident of this county for nearly half a century. But he has not been a man to confine his full time and attention to the acquisition of means or prop- erty. He has been a man who has given much study to questions of public interest and has well informed himself upon the politics of the day and the political history of the country. He has also read a great deal in general literature, history and other branches, and is well informed. Nor has he neglected the information to be derived from travel, but has visited different parts of the country, and being always a close observer, he has profited much in this way. Mr. Kel- ler is one of the intelligent, well informed representative citizens of the county.

MAJ. ALVAN LIGHTBURNE

(Retired Farmer and Business Man, Post-office, Liberty).

No name is justly entitled to a more enviable place in the history of Clay county than the one which heads this sketch. For nearly half a century Maj. Lightburne has been usefully and honorably identified with the growth and development of the county, with its advancement in every worthy particular. Abundantly successfully himself in the activities of life, his industry and business enterprise have been even of more value to the community where his fortunes were cast than to himself. Not only has he been useful in promoting the material inter- ests of the county, but his public spirit and liberality have been worthily represented in every step taken for the higher social interests of the people - the establishment of advanced educational facilities, the encouragement of mental culture and moral improvements, and support of the churches, and the building up of a healthy, religious

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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY.

sentiment - the best safeguard of society. In a word, the influence of his life upon those around him has been only for good, and of marked force and value. The family originated in England, from whence some of his ancestors went to Ireland. Mr. Lightburne is a Kentuckian by nativity, born in Scott county, December 13, 1803. His father was Richard Lightburne, a son of Lieut. Richard Light- burne, of the Virginia State navy, who served in the American navy dur- ing the War of the Revolution. There were only two children, Staf- ord and Deborah. The children of Richard Lightburne were all born and raised in Scott county, Ky. : Richard P., on the 23d of July, 1805, but died at Louisville, Ky., December 4, 1883 ; John S., born April 11, 1811, living in Clay county, Mo., and William L., born June 4, 1820, living at Stamping Ground, Scott county, Ky. Stafford Lightburne was the founder of the family in this country, whose im- migration here was something of a romance. He was an Irish lad, about 16 years of age, in his native county, when he was " kidnaped " on a British vessel, which sailed for the New World. He was left on the cost of Virginia, and afterwards he found a home in a hospitable family in Caroline county, Va., where he remained until after he at- tained his majority. Stafford Lightburne was the father of Richard Lightburne, Jr., the father of the subject of this sketch. Richard Lightburne, Jr., came out from Kentucky when a young man, in about 1790. He was subsequently married in Scott county, that State, to Miss Temperance Sutton, formerly of Caroline county, Va. They made their permanent home in Kentucky after their marriage, and reared a family of children. Richard Lightburne, Jr., an energetic farmer by occupation, died in 1820. The mother survived until 1855. They had eight children, six sons and two daughters, and of their family of children, Alvan (Maj. Lightburne) was the eldest. Maj. Lightburne received a good common school education as he grew up, which was supplemented by instruction at private school and a course in a local seminary. Of a bright, quick, active mind and of studious habits, he soon became qualified for teaching, and for any ordinary business pursuits, so far as educational attainments were concerned. At the age of 17 he was appointed deputy circuit clerk, the duties of which position he discharged with efficiency and general satisfaction. Maj. Lightburne's father died the same year that the Major was appointed deputy circuit clerk, and from that time forward he had the care of his mother's family, with the responsibility and burdens his position as the eldest sonimposed. The family was large, and had but little means to go upon, so that the chief dependency was upon him. But he proved himself worthy of his difficult position, and was at once a father to his younger brothers and sisters, a kind and affectionate son to his mother, and a competent, liberal provider for the family. He remained with them for some 14 years after his father's death, until most of the children had grown up and started out for themselves. After his close of service in the circuit clerk's office, his time was busily and profitably occupied with farming and teaching school, though principally the latter. He taught, however, for some 12 or

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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY.

14 years, during the usual school terms in his county. During the year 1831 he was a clerk on a steamboat, plying between Louisville and St. Louis. In 1832 he was elected constable of Scott county, the duties of which office were only second in importance to that of the sheriff, so that almost all his time was occupied. In 1834, having accumulated a little means, he went to Cynthiana, Ky., where he formed a partnership with Manlius V. Thompson, under the firm name of Lightburne & Thompson, for the manufacture of rope, twine and bag- ging, which they followed with success until they were burned out during the following year. His old partner, Manlius V. Thompson, was afterwards Lieutenant-Governor of Kentucky. From Cynthiana Maj. Lightburne returned to Scott county, where he established a rope factory. A year later he decided to cast his fortunes with those of the then new State beyond the Mississippi, Missouri ; and he accord- ingly came out to this new country. This was in 1836. He came out on horseback and " prospected " all through the Missouri river counties of the State. Finally Maj. Lightburne located at Lib- erty, where he established a hemp factory, and a year later, in 1833, bought the farm adjoining town, where he now resides. The Major continued in the hemp industry for a period of 22 years, and was very successful. He retired from the business, however, in 1859, and after that devoted his whole time and attention to his farming interests. He became the owner of a number of valuable farms, and managed them with marked energy and enter- prise. Though burned out twice while engaged in the manufacture of hemp, he never allowed himself to become discouraged, but went to work with redoubled energy to make up for losses, which he soon succeeded in doing. During the Mormon War he was a major of Missouri volunteers under Col. Doniphan, and was major of militia under the old militia laws of the State. He was mayor of Liberty, and from time to time has been prominently identified with enter- prises for the improvement of the place and the advancement of the interests of the community. He was one of the leading spirits in securing the location of William Jewell College at this place and in founding that institution. As early as 1847 he went to work on the . enterprise and spent the principal part of three years at work to secure the establishment of the institution and building it up, to the neglect of his own business. He made a thorough canvass of the people of the county for subscriptions, and by his and other citizens' efforts secured $24,767, which he turned over to the college committee. (About 1872 the subscription by town and county amounted to near $40,000). At the time of the committee for location, Hon. E. M. Sam- uel, Judge J. T. V. Thompson and Gen. A. W. Doniphan's departure from Liberty Landing, Maj. Lightburne arrived, handed subscription papers and said : " Gentlemen, you go to get the college ; if the amount is not sufficient on your arrival at Boonville, add $3,000 or $5,000 more - secure the college." The proffered aid was not needed. For this noble institution, a credit to the State and an honor to the com- munity in which it is located, people are under no greater obligations to any one than to Maj. Lightburne. His zeal and public spirit for

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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY.

the college are entitled to additional credit from the fact that he was not interested in it so far as his own family are concerned, for he has never been blessed with children of his own. In numerous other enterprises looking to the educational, moral and social improvement of the community, as well as in those of a material character, he has been hardly less public-spirited and liberal of his time and means than in his efforts in behalf of the college. He has also been an active and prominent worker in the Masonic Order, and has held the offices of High Priest and Eminent Commander. He has also represented his lodge in the Grand Lodge and Grand Chapter. In whatever he has interested himself he has worked with zeal, energy and ability, and has made it a success. As early as 1837 he took an active part in founding the Female Seminary at this place, and putting it on a success- ful basis, contributing liberally to its fund. On the 3d of May, 1846, Maj. Lightburne was married to Miss Ellen J. Sutton, a daughter of Capt. William Sutton, of Scott county, Ky. She and Maj. Lightburne were children together, and were reared on adjoining farms. They played together in childhood, and in the morning of life formed that attachment for each other which has continued unbroken through the lapse of years, and has bound their lives together in a union which only death can sever. Their married life has been one of singular congeniality and happiness, and from the beginning each has seemed to study and labor to make the other happy. Mrs. Lightburne, though now advanced in years, is a lady of marked grace and dignity, and makes a most favorable impression upon all by her manifest superiority of intelligence, her amiability of disposition, and her gentle, motherly bearing. Maj. Lightburne is a man whose name stands a synonym for honorable and useful citizenship, and for purity and uprightness of character. For some years past he has been retired from business activities ; and in the Indian summer of a well spent life is enjoying the comforts and pleasures which his industry has brought him and his good name and large circle of friends afford. He has a handsome residence property, a spacious and stately brick in the suburbs of town, provided with every comfort and convenience, where he is living in ease and retirement, esteemed and venerated for the nobility of his nature and the good that he has done. He and his good wife have reared several orphan children, for whom they have made ample provision, and by whom they are esteemed and loved as the best of parents. Certainly two lives, crowned as these have been and jewelled with so many noble deeds, are worthy to be commemorated in any just history of the county. Consistent men- bers of the Christian Church for many years, and having lived lives in keeping with the teachings of the Father of all, they may now look back without regret, and forward to the final end with hope and joy.

JAMES T. MARSH, M. D. (Physician and Surgeon, Liberty).

Dr. Marsh's father, James Marsh, came to Clay county with his family, from Kentucky, in 1827. Here he became a large landholder

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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY.

and leading farmer. He died here in 1840, leaving five children, four of whom are living, the Doctor, an older brother and two sisters. Dr. Marsh was born on the family homestead in this county February 18, 1833. In early youth he attended the common schools and after- wards took a course of two years at William Jewell College. He then entered Westminster College, in which he continued two years, grad- uating in 1857, with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. Immediately .following his graduation he began the study of medicine. In due time young Marsh matriculated at the St. Louis Medical College, and subsequently took a course of two terms there, graduating in the class of '60. After his graduation Dr. Marsh located at Weston, in Platte county, but a year later removed to Clinton county, where he practiced until the spring of 1863. Dr. Marsh then came to Liberty, and has been in the active practice of his profession at this place ever since. Dr. Marsh is a member of the County District Medical So- ciety and of the State and the National Medical Association. In the spring of 1860 Dr. Marsh was married to Miss Roxanna Brashear, a daughter of the late Cyrus Brashear, one of the pioneer settlers of Clay county. Dr. and Mrs. Marsh have four children, Carlton, Laura, Nellie and Morton. Mrs. Marsh is a lady of culture and refinement. She is a graduate of the Baptist Female College, at Liberty, and has long been a diligent and discriminating reader of the better class of literature. Dr. and Mrs. M. are members of the Presbyterian Church, and the Doctor is a member of the I. O. O. F.

JOSEPH F. MEFFERT, M. D. (Physician and Surgeon, Liberty, Missouri).

It is no empty compliment, but the statement of a plain fact neces- sary to be written in any truthful biography of the subject of the pres- ent sketch, that Dr. Meffert, by his unusual energy, ability and ambition, has rapidly pushed himself forward in his profession, in point both of education and practice, until now, although a young man only little past the age of 27, he occupies an enviable position among the leading physicians of the State. Graduating with honor at William Jewell College in the class of 1878, he at once thereafter began the study of medicine under Dr. Records of this place, having a decided preference, and a more than ordinary aptitude, as the result is showing, for that profession. Making extraordinary rapid progress in his studies, he shortly matriculated in the Medical Department of the University of Louisville, Ky., and there by hard study he succeeded in graduating in June, 1879. Without stopping he entered the Kentucky School of Medicine where he graduated the following fall. From there he entered upon a course in the Hospital Depart- ment of Central University, of Kentucky, which he succeeded in com- pleting the following spring. At that time the position of Hospital Surgeon and City Physician was vacant, which was to be filled by appointment, and the appointee to be selected by a competitive ex- amination as to his qualifications and medical attainments. Dr.

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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY.

Meffert and a number of other physicians applied for the place, as it was quite a lucrative and prominent position in the profession. Upon competitive examination Dr. Meffert was selected as having shown the best qualifications among all those competing for the place. He desired the position not alone for its prominence in the profession and the salary, but also because the large and varied experience he would obtain there in a few years would be worth more to him than the practice of half a lifetime. He held the position for two years, until from overwork he was completely broken down and compelled' to resign for rest and recuperation. However, he did not remain idle, but at once entered a medical institution at Buffalo, N. Y., where he spent several months, and afterwards occupied several months visiting the different hospitals of New York City and making a study of special cases. While there he received the appointment of physician to the State Lunatic Asylum of Arkansas, at Little Rock, which, however, he declined, for the reason among others that his presence was required at home, in Liberty, at that time to take charge of his father's business. On returning home at this place he shortly entered actively upon the practice of his profession and has continued in it ever since. He has a very large practice, having special cases, in fact, from other States, and, as has been said, occupies a position among the leading physicians of the State. He is administrator of his father's estate, and superintends the management of the property of the family. Dr. Meffert was a son of Frederick and Mary (Hub- bach ) Meffert, both formerly of Germany, but from Louisville, Ky., to Liberty. His father was largely engaged in the wholesale boot and shoe business in this State, first at Missouri City, Mo., then at Leavenworth, Kan., and finally he removed to Liberty in 1866, where he carried on a boot and shoe house for a number of years. He was a leading member of the Masonic Order and held a number of prominent positions in that order. During the last seven years of his life he was engaged in the drug business at Liberty. He died here August 20, 1884.

JOHN MESSICK (Liberty, Missouri).

Considering that Mr. Messick is still comparatively a young man, and that he began for himself with little or no means to start on, his career has been a more than ordinarily successful one. At the age of 43, he is now one of the substantial property holders at Liberty. His means he has accumulated by successful business enterprise. He was born in Jessamine county, Ky., November 10, 1841. His father, John Messick, Sr., has resided in Indiana since 1861. Mr. Messick, Jr., received a good general education in the common schools and academy of Nicholasville, his native place, and at the age of 23 came out further West to Alton, Illinois, where he became clerk in a hard- ware store. After two years spent at Alton he had succeeded by economy in saving some money from his salary, and he returned to

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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY.

Kentucky, where he was married, February 15, 1870, to Miss Mar- garet Sherley, a daughter of Elijah Sherley, of Jessamine county. Directly after his marriage Mr. Messick came to Missouri and located at Liberty, where he bought an interest in a hardware store already established. Five years later he bought the entire business and con- ducted it with unbroken and excellent success until February of last year, when he closed out to good advantage. He is now completing a large brick building in which to engage in the manufacture of car- riages, and to carry on blacksmithing, repairing, etc. He also has a number of valuable properties at Liberty, and already is in comfort- able circumstances. He is a man of thorough-going energy, a good business manager, and doubtless will continue his heretofore success- ful career. Mr. Messick has been married twice. His first wife died in February of the year following their marriage. In August, 1873, he returned to Kentucky and was married to Miss Nannie S. Speares, a daughter of Lee Speares, deceased, late of Fayette county, that State. By his last marriage there are four children : John, Jr., Charles, George and Miranda. Mr. Messick's mother was a Miss Jennie Hawkins, of Kentucky, but originally of Virginia. She died in 1848. His father is now married to his third wife and resides in Indiana.

THOMAS F. MESSICK

(Real Estate Dealer and Hardware Merchant, Liberty) .

Mr. Messick has been a citizen of Clay county and resident of Lib- erty for only about ten years, but such has been his enterprise and success as a business man, that for some years he has held a worthy place among the leading and useful citizens of Liberty in business and general affairs. He began life for himself when a youth as clerk in a mercantile house, and afterwards continued in that employment for a period of about nine years, learning all the details of the busi- ness thoroughly. Not only that. But those habits of constant and close attention to business were formed and that knowledge of the fact was obtained that for one to succeed he must economize in every pos- sible direction, which, together with good judgment, strict integrity and untiring industry, enabled him subsequently, when he came to engage in business on his own account, to make success an assured fact and to achieve it much sooner than would otherwise have been possible. Mr. Messick was partly reared in Indiana and came to Liberty in 1874. By this time, although he was a young man only about twenty-five years of age, he had succeeded in accumulating some means, which, on coming here, he invested in a hardware store. He, therefore, became a partner with his brother, John Messick, and the firm of Messick & Bro. continued successfully in the hardware bus- iness until last spring, when Thomas F., the subject of this sketch, sold his interest in the store. They carried a very full line of shelf and heavy hardware and also a large stock of farm machinery, wagons, etc., and did a good business. Aside from this, Mr. Messick was most of the time dealing in real estate, both town property and farms. At

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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY.

Liberty, he built some seven or eight residence properties, several of them very handsome places, and four of them he still owns. His homestead property at this place is one of the neatest and handsomest at Liberty, a picture of good taste, convenience and comfort. He also owns two good farms in the vicinity. In handling real estate, exchanging, buying, selling, etc., he has had even better success than in merchandising. Mr. Messick is now giving his entire time and atten- tion to real estate. December 22, 1870, he was married to Miss Lennie Harrison, a daughter of M. C. Harrison, deceased, of Mont- gomery county, Indiana. Mr. and Mrs. M. have four children, Harry, Emma, Mattie and Thomas. He and wife are members of the Christian Church, and Mr. M. is a prominent member of the Masonic order. He is also identified with the temperance cause and is an ardent believer in the doctrine of prohibition. He thinks that if it is right to sell whisky, sell it like hardware, dry goods, etc., are sold ; take away all restrictions. If wrong, stop it. Mr. Messick has been a member of the town council at Liberty. He was born in Jessamine county, Kentucky, September 22, 1849. His parents, John and Margaret Messick, removed to Indiana when he was about thirteen years of age, settling in Montgomery county, where he was reared. He was by his father's second marriage and was the only child of that union. After his mother's death his father was again married. By each of his father's first and last marriages there was a numerous fam- ily of children.

ROBERT HUGH MILLER

(Liberty).

Robert Hugh Miller was born in Richmond, Va., November 27, 1826. . His parents were John E. and Mary A. (Rogers) Miller. His father's family was of Scotch extraction. About the year 1832, his parents immigrated to Barren county, Ky., and, after residing there nearly six years, removed to Missouri and settled in Monroe county. Soon after he was sent to Columbia, Mo., to learn the printing busi- ness, and there entered the office of the Columbia Patriot, published by F. A. Hamilton, W. T. B. Sanford, Thomas Miller and James S. Rollins, all of whom are now dead except the latter. Before the expira- tion of his apprenticeship, the Patriot ceased to exist, and entering the office of the Missouri Statesman, also published in Columbia, he remained there some months.

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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