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 44

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 44
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 44

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ALBERT B. REED

(Farmer, Post-office, Kearney, Clay county, Mo.).

Mr. Reed is superintendent and has control of what is known as the H. D. Brown farm, owned by Samuel Archer, and which contains nearly 500 acres. There is a good orchard on the place, numbering about 600 trees. Mr. R. is an experienced and practical farmer and makes a good farm manager and during the war he was in the State

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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY.

militia for a time under Capt. John Younger. He was a son of James and Emerine Reed, of Shelby county, Ky., who settled in Indiana in 1838, and after living with his parents there, Albert accompanied them to Monroe county, Mo., in 1858, and remained with them for one year when, in 1860, he commenced working for John Vaughn. In 1861 he became overseer or took charge of the farm of Mrs. Jane Kipper, four miles north of Paris, Monroe county, where he remained and had full control until December, 1864, then coming to Clay county. His parents had removed here in 1862. Since 1878, Mr. Reed has been located on his present farm. He was born in Shelby county, Ky., on the 13th of January, 1834, and came to Clay county in 1864. He was married here in January, 1867, to Miss Ellen Dag- ley. The have three children : James W., Joseph A. and Marshall A. Mr. R. and wife are members of the Christian Church.

HUGH J. ROBERTSON

(Cashier of the Savings Bank, Missouri City).

The above named banking institution was founded shortly after the . war with R. J. Golmer, president, and H. J. Robertson, cashier Its capital was $50,000. Through all the years that have intervened since that time the bank has maintained a high reputation for solidity, busi- ness integrity and accommodating, obliging management. It is one of the most popular institutions of the kind, as it is one of the old- est, in the county. Much of the credit for its good management and popularity is due to the efficiency with which the subject of the pre- sent sketch has discharged his duties as cashier and to the high per- . sonal esteem in which he is held. Mr. Robertson is a native of this county, a son of Hon. Andrew Robertson, deceased, and was born on his father's homestead in the vicinity of Missouri City, November 16, 1830. His father came here in a very early day, in 1820, and repre- sented the county in the Legislature during the years 1831 and 1832. He was from Tennessee to this State. His wife was a Miss Ruth Robertson, a cousin of his. He died on his homestead in this county, at a ripe old age, in 1870. In their family were three sons and four daughters, only three of whom are living. Hugh J. Robertson was reared on the farm and educated at Chapel Hill College. September 3, 1850, he was married to Miss Elizabeth Chancellor, a daughter of James Chancellor, of this county £ After his marriage Mr. Robertson engaged in the mercantile business at Missouri City, which he followed until after the outbreak. of the war. On account of the unsettled condition of affairs during the war he suspended business, and after the restoration of peace engaged in his present banking business. Mr. and Mrs. Robertson have eight children : Andrew, now of New Mexico ; Oscar, assistant cashier of the bank; Mary R., Elizabeth, Rebecca, Dixy, Caroline and Hugh J., Jr. Mr. Robertson is one of the highly respected and popular citizens of Missouri City. He served two terms as mayor of the place and in other local positions of public trust. Under President Johnson's administration he was post- master at this place.

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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY.

A. W. ROBERTSON, M. D. (Physician and Surgeon, Prathersville).

Dr. Robertson's family, or rather his father's family, came to this State from Kentucky, and located in Platte county in 1847, where they still reside. The Doctor was born there on the 9th of May, 1847. Reared in that county, he had good school advantages in youth and acquired a good general English education. In 1867 he began the study of medicine under Drs. Wilson & Bonifant, at Weston, and in the fall of the next year matriculated at the St. Louis Medical Col- lege, where he took a full course of two terms, graduating with credit in 1871. Dr. Robertson located at Prathersville immediately after his graduation, in 1871. He has been actively engaged in the practice of his profession at this place ever since that time. He has had excellent success as a physician in the treatment of cases and has not failed to reap some of the substantial rewards of a large practice. However, he is by no means an avaricious man and studies far more the science of his profession than the means of accumulating property. He is a thoroughly capable and skillful physician, and is so regarded by all that know him who are qualified to judge of his professional attain- ments. February 3, 1873, he was married to Miss Lillian Pixley, of this county. They have three children : Fred, Edna and Curtis. The Doctor and wife are members of the Baptist Church.

WILLIS M. SIMMONS

(Of Simmons & Nowlin, Dealers in Dry Goods, Clothing, Hats, Caps, Boots and Shoes, Etc., Missouri City).

Mr. Simmons has occupied his time since he began to do for himself with two occupations, principally, namely, milling and merchandising. He was born in Madison county, Ky., September 18, 1835, and was reared in his native county. In 1857 he came to Clay county, Mo., and went to work in a mill. Three years later he bought an interest in the Claybrook flouring mills, and was engaged in running that for about five years. He then came to Missouri City and ran the mills at this place for the proprietors for some five years. In 1870 he quit the milling business and became a member of the firm of Long & Sim- mons, general merchants, at Missouri City. He has been engaged in merchandising ever since. During this time he has had several part- ners at different times, and the present partnership of Simmons & Nowlin was formed in 1882. They carry a large stock in the lines mentioned above and have an excellent trade. On the 22d of March, 1860, Mr. Simmons was married to Miss Eliza Brasfield, a daughter of Leonard Brasfield, who came to this State from Virginia by way of Kentucky. Mr. and Mrs. Simmons have four children : George, express agent at Missouri City; William L., clerk in the store of Simmons & Nowlin ; Stonewall Jackson and Robert E. Lee. Mr. and Mrs. S. are members of the M. E. Church South. He is a member of the Masonic Order. For four years following 1870 he was justice of

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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY.

the peace for Missouri City township. Mr. Simmons' parents were William H. and Mourning (Walden) Simmons, the father of an old Maryland family, but the mother of a Virginia family. They came to Clay county and settled in Washington township in 1858. The father, a farmer by occupation, died here in 1867. The mother died here also.

WILLIAM B. SMITH

(Proprietor of the Missouri City Livery, Feed and Sales Stables, and Missouri City and Excelsior Springs Stage Line).

Mr. Smith is now in the third year of his experience here in his present line of business, and has thoroughly established his business on a firm footing. He has a good establishment in this line, an excel- lent building for the purpose, which is well stocked with riding and driving horses and with carriages, buggies, etc. By close attention to business and fair dealing he has won the good opinions of the com- munity and the traveling public as a liveryman, and receives a liberal share of their patronage. Mr. Smith came to Missouri from Illinois in 1878. He at once located at Missouri City, and has been a resi- dent of this place ever since, except for one year, which he spent at Excelsior Springs. Prior to engaging in the livery business he clerked in a dry goods store for about three years, but at Excelsior Springs he was engaged in the drug and grocery business on his own account. He was born in Menard county, Ill., November 4, 1844. His father, Judge Samuel Smith, was originally from Dutchess county, N. Y., and. in his younger days was a school teacher by profession. In 1836 he came West and located in Cass county, Ill. Subsequently he lived in Menard county for a while, but returned to Cass and made that his permanent home. He was judge of the Cass county court for a num- ber of years. William B. was reared in Cass county and remained there until he came to Missouri in 1878. He has been married twice. His first wife was a Miss Mary A. Whitsell, daughter of Hiram Whit- sell, of Clinton county, Mo. She survived her marriage but five years, dying in 1879 and leaving one child, Artelia M. His second wife was a Miss Roberta A. Winfrey, daughter of W. H. Winfrey, deceased, formerly of Carroll county, Mo. Mr. Smith and his present wife have no children. She is a member of the Christian Church.

HON. CHARLES M. SWETNAM

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

In 1882 Mr. Swetnam was nominated by the Democrats of, this county at a primary election to represent the county in the State Legislature, and was elected by a very large majority. At the primary election he received more votes than the total number cast for both of the other two candidates. He made a useful representative in the Legislature, and his record was warmly approved by the people of the county. Mr. Swetnam is a man of large popularity, and very justly so, for the reason that he possesses to a marked degree many of the

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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY.

qualities which command the respect and appreciation of the public. A man of thoroughly upright character, superior general intelligence and agreeable manners, he wins the good opinion of all with whom he comes in contact. Mr. Swetnam's father, Hon. Thomas T. Swet- nam, was also a representative from Clay county in the Legislature. He was elected for two terms, at the election of 1848 and the one of 1850. Previously he had served eight years as assessor of the county. He was a substantial farmer and stock-raiser, and highly respected by the people of the county. He was from Kentucky to this county in 1835, and died in 1859. His wife, who was a Miss Caroline Young before her marriage, also of Kentucky, survived until 1878. Hon. Charles M. Swetnam was born on his father's homestead in this county July 1, 1848. He was reared on the farm, and as he grew up acquired a good education in the public and high schools of the county. After attaining his majority he and an older brother, Thomas B., en- gaged as farmers, partners, in farming on the old family homestead, which they have ever since continued. They have a good farm and are quite successful. They also raise considerable stock, which they find a profitable branch of industry. Mr. Swetnam is a member of the Masonic Order.

JOHN H. TRIMBLE

(Dealer in Dry Goods, Clothing, Notions, Hats, Caps, Boots, Shoes, Etc., Missouri City).

Mr. Trimble, a prominent merchant of the southern part of the county, is a native of Kentucky, born in Clark county, May 1, 1829. He is one in a family of children of William and Margaret (Fry) Trimble, both of early Kentucky families. The parents removed to Missouri in 1865, and located at Plattsburg, where the father died in 1872. John H. was reared in Clark county, Ky., and received a good common school education. February 4, 1850, he was married to Miss Margaret Raney, a daughter of William Raney, of Harrison county, Ky. Six years later Mr. Trimble removed to Missouri, and settled on a farm six miles north of Missouri City. He farmed there, and he also engaged in stock raising, including fine short horn cattle, and dealing in stock, until the spring of 1883, when he bought and established a store at Missouri City, and moved to this place. He carries a large stock of goods in his line, is a careful, judicious buyer, a good business man and accommodating to his customers, and has, therefore, had a successful career as a merchant. He has an excellent trade and is doing a good business. Mr. Trimble is promi- nently identified with the Democratic party in this county and takes an active interest in political matters, though he has never been him- self an aspirant for office. Mr. and Mrs. Trimble have eight children : John T., now in Colorado ; James L. and Benjamin F .. , both also in Colorado ; Annie L., wife of Jasper Clevinger, of Ray county; Sarah C., Dora E., and Maggie. Mrs. T. is a member of the Baptist Church, as is also Mr. Trimble. He is furthermore a member of the

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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY.

A. F. and A. M., including the Blue Lodge, Chapter and Command- ery in each of which he has held prominent positions.

JOSIAH J. VAUGHN (DECEASED ) (Vicinity of Blue Eagle).

Mr. Vaughn lost his life in the Southern army in 1862. He was an orderly sergeant in Reeves' regiment, and was severely wounded at the battle of Pea Ridge, and died of his wound at a hospital in Ar- kansas. Mr. Vaughn had been a resident of Clay county for some 10 years prior to the war. He came to this county from Kentucky with his family and engaged in farming. He was a man of marked intelli- gence, good general education, and a thoroughly energetic farmer. He made many friends here, and was highly esteemed by all who knew him. Mr. Vaughn was a prominent member of the Masonic Order, and took an active interest in the welfare of the Order. He assisted to organize several lodges in this vicinity of country. His widow is still living, and resides on the homestead with her two unmarried children. She was a Miss Mary T. Stewart, from Ken- tucky. They had five children : Francis J., Peterson S., Nancy E., Justin E. and Mary E. Mr. Vaughn and his wife were both born in Kentucky. Francis J., their eldest son, at whose instance this sketch is inserted, was born in the native county of his parents in Kentucky, and accompanied them to this State, and in 1861 joined the Southern army, but shortly afterward he was taken prisoner and confined at St. Louis for a time. He was then exchanged, and re-entered the Southern service. After the war he returned home and engaged in farming. He has a neat farm of 80 acres, and is comfortably sit- uated.

GEORGE H. WALLIS

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

When the Mexican War broke out, Mr. Wallis was a young man about 19 years of age, and had been reared in Clay county. Animated by the ardor of youth and the patriotic impulses which are inherent in every true son of Missouri, he promptly and gallantly offered him- self as a volunteer to assist at the risk of his life in carrying the flag of his country down in triumph to the capital of the Montezumas. He became a member of Capt. Moss' company, under Col. Doniphan, and accompanied the old Missouri hero, Doniphan, throughout all his campaigns in New Mexico and beyond the Rio Grande in the land of the Cactus Republic. Mr. Wallis received an honorable discharge with the balance of his company after the war, at New Orleans, and came thence to his home in Henry county. From the hardships and dangers of military life he now took upon himself the labors and responsibilities of farm life. He at once went to work with energy and resolution, and soon had the satisfaction of seeing the substantial evidences of prosperous industry accumulate around him. In a word,

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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY.

Mr. Wallis made gratifying progress in the direction of becoming a well-to-do and prominent farmer and stock-raiser. In August, 1848, he was married to Miss Mary H. Mosby, a daughter of Wade aud Rebecca Mosby, referred to in the sketch of their son, John H. Mosby. Seven children have blessed the married life of Mr. and Mrs. Wallis, but two of these, alas, have been taken away by the merciless hand of death. The children living are Mary H., Sarah M., Margaret J., Artimesia, John H., William D. and Robert H. The two deceased are George N. and Katie. Mrs. W. is a member of the Christian Church. Mr. W.'s farm contains 240 acres, which is well improved. His residence was erected at a cost of $5,000, and he also has comfortable and commodious outbuildings. Mr. Wallis makes a specialty of raising and feeding hogs for the market, and is quite successful. In 1854 he was elected justice of the peace of Fish- ing River township, and he served in that office for four years.

JEREMIAH WHITE,

(Farmer, Post-office, Missouri City).

The well known Baptist minister, Henry Hill, was the clergyman who officiated at the marriage of Mr. White, the subject of the pres- ent sketch, to Miss Elizabeth McQuiddy, in 1836. The ceremony took place in Clay county, Mo., in which Mr. White had located, direct from Kentucky, some two years before. He had been baptized by " Raccoon " John Smith. Since the time of first locating here he has been a continuous resident of the county (except while tempora- rily absent in California ) for a period of half a century. In personal appearance Mr. White is a man of medium build. Indeed he can not be said to be more than an ordinarily fleshy man, weighing in the vicin- ity (something past the mark ) of 160 pounds ; and although now well advanced in years, like most men in good health, he is quite good hu- mored, and jocularly remarks that he has managed to pick up only five, pounds in Clay county in 50 years. In 1850 he went to California seeking his fortune in the Pactolian sands of the Pacific Coast. Locat- ing at Sonoma, he was there employed as chain carrier under the afterwards famous Mr. Peabody, then an humble surveyor in the land beyond the Cordilleras kissed by the last rays of the setting sun. He received $5 a day under Mr. Peabody and afterwards ran a livery stable for Spriggs & Cooper at Sonoma. Subsequently, he set sail on the billowy waters of the Pacific, bound for his home in the heart of the Continent, by way of the Palm-leaf Isthmus of Panama and the Crescent City of New Orleans. Finally reaching home, he resumed farming and stock-raising, which he has continued ever since. He and his good wife have been blessed with nine children, namely : Benjamin, Martha, Mary N., Harriet S., John, Daniel T., Franklin, Jeremiah and Emma. Sarah M., the eldest, died at the age of nine years. Mr. White was born in Fayette county, Ky., September 15, 1812. He came to Clay county, Mo:, in 1834.

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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY.

THOMAS M. WILSON (Farmer, Post-office, Prathersville).

Thirty years ago Mr. Wilson came to this county from Kentucky. He was a son of William Wilson, who settled in Kentucky from Vir- ginia in an early day. Thomas Wilson was reared in the Blue Grass State, and was there married to Miss Martha Faucett. On coming to Missouri they settled in Clay county, where they made their perma- nent home. Mrs. Wilson died here in February, 1882. Mr. Wilson has a good farm which is fairly improved and is a comfortable home- stead. His wife left him one child, Mary, who is now married. Dur- ing the late war Mr. Wilson served in the State militia for a short time under Capt. William Garth.

CHAPTER XV. PLATTE TOWNSHIP.

Position and Description - Early Settlements - Organization - First Justices - First Post-office -Tragedies of the Civil War -Churches in the County - Town of Smithville - "Yankee " Smith and his Eccentric Characteristics - His Death and the Epitaph on his Tombstone - Incorporation - Churches at Smithville - Odd Fellows' Lodge - Gosneyville - Churches - Biographical.

POSITION AND DESCRIPTION.

Platte township comprises the northwestern portion of Clay, its pre- sent boundaries being as follows: Beginning at the northwestern corner of the county ; thence south along the county line between Clay and Platte to the southwest corner of section 22, in township 52, range 33, thence due east to the southeast corner of section 21, town- ship 52, range 32 ; thence north to the southeast corner of section 33, township 53, range 32; thence east to the half section line north and south through section 35, township 53, range 32 ; thence due north to the county line between Clay and Clinton ; thence west along the county line to the initial point.

The greater portion of the township is well timbered and watered, and the principal farms have been hewed and dug out of the timber. Generally the face of the country is broken, and the land rolling and elevated. The numerous branches of the Platte - Smith's fork, Camp branch, Owen's branch, Second creek, Wilkinson's creek- afford plenty of water and render the country hilly in their vicinity. The eastern part of the northern portion of the country was originally - at least many sections - prairie.

Some of the best farms in the county are in Platte township. Con- siderable labor was expended in making them, and those who per- formed this labor in most instances did not live to enjoy the full fruits thereof. It has been left for their successors to realize the good for- tune. Many large farms and wealthy farmers-albeit the latter are plain and simple in their lives - are to be found in Platte township.

EARLY SETTLEMENT.

Among the first bona fide settlers in Platte township was Humphrey Smith, the old "Yankee," mentioned elsewhere. His mill, at what

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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY.

afterwards became Smithville, was the nucleus or head of subsequent settlements. Smith came in the summer of 1822. His son, Calvin, says his nearest neighbors were eight miles off, and were Ezekiel Huff- man, Tarlton Whitlock, David Magill, Abraham Creek and James Wills.

Prior to 1824 there were in what is now Platte township Rice B. Davenport, five miles east of Smithville; Capt. James Duncan, at Elm Grove, one mile south of Davenport ; Capt. Wm. Duncan, three miles south of Smithville, and in the fall of 1824 came Eleven Thatcher, to his claim, two miles south, or about one mile north of Duncan. One account given fixes the date of the settlements of the Duncans as in the spring of 1824. In the eastern part of the town- ship (west half of section 14-53-32) a squatter named Castle White lived in 1826. The dates and locations of other settlers in the township, prior to the creation of the township, in 1827, can not now be obtained, but it is known that there were at least thirty families in what is now the township before 1828.

ORGANIZATION.

Upon the organization of the county what is now Platte township was included in Gallatin. But in time it became necessary to have a third township, this portion being then thickly settled, and needing separate organization. Accordingly at the special term of the county court, in June, 1827, Platte township was created, with the following boundaries : -

Beginning on the boundary line of the State where the sectional line dividing sections 22 and 27 strikes said boundary line, in range 33, from thence due east along said sectional line dividing 22 and 27, to the sectional line dividing sections 21 and 22, in range 32, and from thence due north along said sectional line between 21 and 22 in range 32, to the township line dividing 52 and 53, and from thence due east to the western boundary line of Fishing River township, in sect- ion 36, township 53, and from thence due north to the northern boun- dary line of the county.

The first justices of the peace of the township were Wm. Duncan and James Duncan. The first constable was Jesse Yocum. Elections were held at James Duncan's, and the judges were James Winn, Wm. Yocum and John Loyd.

The first post-office in the township was at Elm Grove, the resi- dence of Capt. James Duncan, six miles southeast of Smithville. It was established some time prior to 1835. This was the first post-

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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY.

office in this region of country, and was resorted to for years by the settlers in the Platte Purchase, and by many others.

TRAGEDIES OF THE CIVIL WAR.

During the Civil War a number of the citizens of Platte township were killed at or near their homes. The bushwhackers killed Bishop Bailey and Columbus Whitlock, and the Clay county militia killed Thos. D. Ashurst while on the way with him to Liberty, as narrated elsewhere.

John Ecton, Jr., had been in the Southern army, but had returned and was living quietly at home. A Federal detachment took him from his work of breaking hemp, carried him away and killed him.

In the first week of June, 1863, a squad of Federal State militia took prisoner Rev. A. H. F. Payne, a prominent member of the Christian Church, residing in the southern part of Clinton county, but well known and universally respected in Clay. They carried the prisoner with them on a raid through this township and halted one night at Smithville, where Mr. Payne passed his last night on earth at the residence of Col. Lewis Wood. The next day he was taken out, near his residence, and shot to death.

Near the time when Rev. Payne was killed Capt. John Reid was shot by a detachment of Federals at a point about three miles north- east of Smithville. Capt. Reid was a prisoner and was mounted on a fine swift horse. He sought to escape by the superior speed of his horse, and dashed away, but the Federal bullets were swifter than the horse, and he was shot out of his saddle. Many a prisoner was shot during the war in an alleged attempt to escape, but it is said by good Southern friends of the Captain, that he really was attempting to ob- tain his freedom when he was killed.

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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