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 46
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 46
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M. BYRD
(Of Byrd & Co., Dealers in General Merchandise, Smithville).
Mr. Byrd was born in the valley of the Shenandoah, in Shenandoah county, Va., in 1828, and was the second child in a family of nine children of William and Mary S. (Shafer) Byrd, both of old Virginia families. The father was a millwright by trade, and removed to Missouri with his family in 1832. He first located in Clay county, but six years afterwards settled in Platte county, where he followed farm- ing in connection with his trade for many years. He finally gave his entire attention to farming. He was also justice of the peace for a number of years. Mr. Byrd, senior, survived to the advanced age of 89, dying in 1882. His wife lived to be 76 years of age, preceding him to the grave by one year. He left a good farm in Platte county, which has fallen to his children. Young Bird, the subject of this sketch, was reared in that county, and at the age of 17 went to work
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY.
at the carpenter's trade, which he followed for over ten years, in con- nection, however, most of the time, with farming. In 1856 he engaged in the drug business at Smithville, and about three years later in the dry goods and grocery line. In 1862 he quit merchandising and bought a mill, which he ran for about three years, and then went to Idaho. Returning from the West in 1879, where he had been engaged in raising stock and carpentering to some extent, as well as in hotel keeping at Boyce City, he shortly afterwards resumed merchandising at Smithville in a general store line, which he has ever since followed. In 1852 he was married to Miss Phoebe Silvey, a daughter of James H. and Lucy Silvey, formerly of Kentucky. Mr. and Mrs B. have reared but one child, a son, Alfred O., who is his father's partner in business. He was married in 1882 to Miss Alma, a daughter of Dr. J. L. Hezner, of Smithville. They have a little daughter, Sallie G.
GILES C. CLARDY
(Of Clardy, Owen & Co., Dealers in Hardware, Agricultural Implements, Etc., Smith- · ville ).
Mr. Clardy is an uncle to Hon. Martin Linn Clardy, member, of Congress from the Farmington district, in this State, and was born at Bowling Green, in Warren county, Ky., June 10, 1813. The family was originally from Virginia, and his father, Norman S. Clardy, came from that State to Kentucky in about 1800. Mr. C.'s mother was also from Virginia, a Miss Rachel Johnson before her marriage. They came to Missouri in about 1836, and, after a short residence in Carroll county, settled in Platte county, where they made their permanent home. The father lived to reach the age of nearly 100 years, having been born in 1778 and dying in 1876. The mother lived to be 85 years of age. Both died in Ste. Genevieve county, where the father's brother, J. B. Clardy, the father of Hon. M. L. Clardy, settled in a very early day. Giles C. Clardy, the subject of this sketch, was reared in Kentucky, and became a successful and popular school teacher. He came to Missouri in 1837, and afterwards taught some years in Clinton and Platte counties. In 1840, however, he engaged in farming in Platte county and followed it for nearly 30 years. But selling out in that county in 1868, he subsequently resided for awhile in Clay. and then Bates counties, and in 1874 came back to Clay county and engaged in his present line of business at Smithville. His son, Giles W. Clardy, is one of his partners in business. Mr. Clardy, the subject of this sketch, was married in 1835 to Miss Araminta Adams, a daughter of James and Sarah A. (Bernard) Adams, formerly of Tennessee. Mr. and Mrs. Clardy have three living children : Garland C., Martha A., wife of E. B. Thatcher, and Giles W. Four others are deceased, two in infancy and two in later years. Mr. C. is a member of the Primitive Baptist Church, and also of the A. F. and A. M. His father, referred to above, Norman S. Clardy, was, in his day, one of the leading farmers and slaveholders of Platte county. In his lifetime he amassed a com- fortable fortune.
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY.
ALEXANDER B. CRAWFORD
(Farmer and Stock-raiser, Post-office, Smithville).
Mr. Crawford, like many of the staunch citizens of Clay county is a native of Kentucky, having been born in March, 1824, in Nicholas county. He was reared on a farm there, receiving instruction in the common schools, being trained also in that school of hardships and adventures which gave its pupils great strength of character and greater fortitude, and made them more courageous and better fitted for the hard struggles of life than does the atmosphere in our college walls. His parents, Alexander B. and Charlotte (Riggs ) Crawford, were originally from Maryland, but were reared and married in Ken- tucky, which continued to be their home until their death. The father, a brave and patriotic citizen of that State (then territory ), upon the call for volunteers to defend the young colonies in their efforts for independence, bravely enlisted as a soldier and served during the War of 1812. The sterling characteristics which prompted him to enlist in that struggle remained with him during life, and ever afterwards characterized his years of labor. He died in April, 1876, his wife having preceded him in September, 1866. They had both been members of the M. E. Church. Alexander B. Crawford, the subject of this sketch, adhered to the calling which he had followed in early life, and for a time was also occupied in driving stock, continuing it until he came to Clay county, Mo., in 1859. Having a desire to enter into mercantile life, he embarked in the drug business in Smithville in 1861, following it for three years. In 1864 he took up his location at Bainbridge, Clinton county, and for two years operated quite success- fully a saw and grist mill at that place. On April 1, 1867, returning to Smithville, he opened a store of general merchandise. This he carried on until 1870. At that time his desire to re-engage in farm- ing caused him to dispose of his mercantile interests, and he has since been occupied with agricultural pursuits. He has a large farm, embracing nearly 400 acres of improved and cultivated land, admi- rably adapted for farming purposes. Mr. Crawford was married on April 4, 1871, to Miss Mary E. Barnard, in Clay county. She was a daughter of Landa Barnard, of this county, but died in 1872. She was a member of the M. E. Church South. Mr. Crawford is a mem- ber of the I. O. O. F. He takes a deep interest in all questions of public welfare and advancement, whether local, State or National.
STEPHEN C. DUNCAN
(Farmer and Breeder and Shipper of Thoroughbred Short Horn Cattle, Post-office, Smithville).
Mr. Duncan has a large stock farm of 1,263 acres, nearly all in blue grass, and one of the finest stock farms in Platte township. He makes a specialty of raising and handling thoroughbred short horn cattle, producing no grain whatever except for feeding purposes on the farm.
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY.
A clear-headed, practical business man, he does everything of a pecu- niary nature from a common sense, business point, believing that it pays best to feed what grain and grass he may raise to stock, putting them on the market in the shape of cattle, hogs, sheep and other farm animals. Mr. Duncan has led a very active life, and one not devoid of substantial results. He was seven years of age when his parents came to this county in 1840, having been born in Henry county, Ky., December 15, 1833. He was the son of Stephen and Lucy (Brown- ing) Duncan, both natives of Bourbon county, Ky., the former of whom was born October 17, 1797. After their marriage, in the county of their birth, they removed to Saline county, Mo., in -1838, and to Clay county in 1840, thence settling in Clinton county, Mo. There the father died April 6, 1877, but his wife had departed this life in Saline county in 1838. He was a farmer by occupation, and he be- longed to the A. F. and A. M. Both were members of the Christian Church. Stephen C. Duncan, the sixth of seven children, was reared in this county, and here received an ordinary common-school educa- tion. He accompanied his father on his various moves above men- tioned, and in April, 1855, in partnership with him, engaged in the purchase of short horn cattle in Clinton county, being one of the pioneers in that branch of industry. He continued to be thus occu- pied with his father until 1863, and has followed it alone since that time, buying, feeding and shipping cattle during that period. After leaving Clinton county he returned to this county, locating on the farm which he now occupies, mentioned above. His herd of short horns number 170 head - as fine animals as are to be found within the limits of this or any other county. These facts show that Mr. Duncan has been quite successful as a farmer and stock-raiser. He has been twice married. March 5, 1863, Miss Mary E. Davenport became his wife. She died September 10, 1869, having been a member of the Christian Church. He was married a second time November 10, 1870, in Clin- ton county, Mo., to Miss Maria Winn, a daughter of James and Ma- linda Winn, nee Hutsell, originally of Bourbon county, Ky., who came to Clay county in 1825. Mrs. Duncan was born and reared in Clinton county, and was educated at Camden Point High School in Platte county. They have three children : Lucy, the eldest, a most attractive young lady just blooming into young womanhood ; Mattie and Mabel. Mr. Duncan has been a member of the Christian Church since 1854, and is one of its present elders. His wife is connected with the same church, and he is a member in high standing of the A. F. and A. M. Politically he is a Democrat. He is popularly known, but none the less respected, as " Duff" Duncan.
JONATHAN A. FUNK
(Farmer and Stock-raiser, Post-office, Barry).
Mr. Funk is well known as one of the prominent farmers of Platte township. His farm contains 690 acres and it is largely devoted to stock-raising, being well improved for that purpose. Much of it is
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY.
devoted to pasturage, though enough is reserved for grain for all necessary purposes. Mr. Funk came to Clay county in 1857 from Cass county, this State, but was originally from Kentucky. He was born in Jessamine county, Ky., February 12, 1830, and was a son of John and Nancy (Rice) Funk, his father originally from Maryland, but his mother born and reared in Jessamine county, Ky. The father died in that county March 3, 1861, at the age of 65. She died in 1866 at the age of 66. They had a family of nine children, six of whom are living. Jonathan A. Funk was reared in Jessamine county, Ky., and early learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed there for about six years. He then turned his attention to farming and stock-raising, and in 1852 came to Missouri, locating in Howard county. Three years later he removed to Cass county, and finally to this county in 1858. August 31, 1858, he was married to Miss Sallie Jartin, a daughter of Andrew and Jane Jartin, formerly of Kentucky. Mr. and Mrs. Funk have had seven children, five of them now living : Mattie M., Harry C., Pinkie R., Lutie M. and John A. Two are deceased, Arthur and an infant. Mr. and Mrs. Funk are members of the Presbyterian Church.
SAMUEL G. T. GREENFIELD (Farmer, Post-office, Smithville).
Mr. Greenfield has a comfortable homestead near Smithville, and is one of the energetic farmers of Platte township. He was born in Todd county, Ky., October 4, 1822, and came to Clay county, Mo., at the age of 20, in 1842. He was married the first time to Miss Mary Brooks, daughter of Abijah and Harriet Brooks, of Clay county, Mo., on the 5th day of April, 1845. Subsequently he married here February 15, 1851, Miss Nancy Motherhead, a daughter of Nathaniel and Lucinda Motherhead, formerly of Kentucky. Mr. Greenfield has followed farming as his permanent calling, and is a thorough, practical farmer. He was a son of Samuel and Mary (Thompson) Greenfield, his father a native of Kentucky, but his mother originally from North Carolina. His father, a blacksmith by trade, died in Kentucky, Octo- ber 4, 1823. He had served in the War of 1812. The mother sur- vived until 1867, and was a life long member of the Methodist Church. There were five children in the family, three of whom are living.
MOSES KING
(Farmer and Stock-raiser, Post-office, Liberty).
When the war broke out in 1861 Mr. King was a youth in his eigh- teenth year. He was reared in this State and came of Southern pa- rentage. Very naturally, therefore, in the enthusiasm of youth, he entered the Southern army. For three years he served in the ranks with unfaltering courage and fidelity. A part of the time he was un- der Gen. Marmaduke, and was under the command of the present Governor of the State at the battle of Helena, Ark., in 1863. The
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY.
rest of the time he was under Gen. Joe Shelby, the irrepressible cavalry leader of Missouri, the gallant cavalier of the war, who made it a rule to ride rough shod over everything in his front with his com- mand, infantry, artillery, or what not. After the war Mr. King came home and engaged in farming. He has a good place of about 140 (rented ) acres, eight miles northwest of Liberty, and is also engaged in raising and trading in stock. In 1873 he was married to Miss E. A. Divine, a daughter of Matthew Divine, originally of Ireland. She, however, was born in New York, where her parents resided a number of years. Mr. and Mrs. King have two children : Edna M. and Ed- ward L. Mrs. King is a member of the Catholic Church. He was born in Chariton county, Mo., October 20, 1843, and was a son of Morgan King, of Missouri.
ALWORTHY F. LEACH
(Farmer, Stock-raiser and Breeder of Clydesdale Horses, Post-office, Kearney).
Among the most prominent men in Platte township, one of its worthy, well informed and highly respected citizens and a man well and favorably known, is Mr. A. F. Leach, the subject of this sketch. On his parental side he is of Irish descent, his father, Cotton M. Leach, having been born in New Hampshire September 14, 1780, of Irish parentage. He married Miss Fannie Hayes, a native of Concord, Mass., who was born October 27, 1785. She was related to Cotton Mather, the renowned American metaphysician, and was a niece of Judge Joseph Story, a justly celebrated writer on the United States Constitution ; her ancestors came over in the Mayflower and she was related distantly to Hon. Wilbur F. Story, late editor of the Chicago Times. Cotton M. Leach having grown up in New Hampshire, re- ceived an academic education there ; his wife was reared in New York where she had the benefit of a college course. After their marriage in New York they removed to Ohio and settled in Twins- burg, in Portage county, in 1817, from which place they removed to Ft. Madison, Ia., where the mother died October 9, 1846. The father, who was a trader and speculator in lands, stock, etc., then went to Illinois to live with his son, the subject of this sketch. He died there (in Adams county ) January 15, 1852. Until his removal to Iowa he had been a member of the M. E. Church, but there being no organization of that denonination there he became a Congregation- alist, as his wife had also been. He was also a member of the A. F. and A. M. Alworthy F. Leach, the sixth in the family of nine chil- dren, six sons and three daughters, was born in Twinsburg, Portage county, O., June 23, 1818. He was reared there, the limited education which he received at the common schools being supplemented by instruction from his mother. At the age of 15 years he commenced to learn the carpenter's and joiner's trade, which he followed until his marriage. After that event he took up the study of medicine in Adams county, Ill., but never engaged in the practice. He also studied law, and in 1850 was admitted to the Quincy bar, several years
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY.
thereafter being passed in the practice of his profession. On the 13th of July, 1840, Mr. Leach was married in Adams county, Ill., whither he had removed in 1838, to Miss Rebecca Enlow, a daughter of Thomas and Sarah ( McCrorey ) Enlow, originally from Pennsylvania, but of Irish ancestry. Mrs. Leach was born, brought up and received her education in Washington county, Pa. They have five children: Frances has been twice married, first to Joel James, who died, and then to James Brooks, a farmer in Pike county ; Albert married Miss Belle McAtee, and is a prominent agriculturist in Adams county, Ill. ; Walter married Miss Alice Hamlin; Byron married Miss Lina Fields, and both he and his brother Walter are occupied in farming in this county ; Almira is the wife of Dr. William H. Leach of Knappy City, Cal. He is a prominent physician there and is a graduate of both the Cincinnati and Philadelphia Medical Schools. In 1874, Mr. Leach became a citizen of Clay county, Mo. He and sons now have a farm here of 450 acres, all under fence and in a high state of cultivation, upon which he is engaged in the stock business quite extensively, principally in the raising and breeding of Clydesdale horses. His farm is one of the finest for stock purposes in this township and he is one of the most progressive farmers in the vicinity.
J. A. MITCHELL
(Dealer in Furniture, Undertaker's Goods, Hardware, Etc., Smithville).
Mr. Mitchell was a youth of about 16 years of age when his parents came to this county and settled on a farm, which his father bought near Smithville. He remained on the farm with them until he was about 24 years old, when, in 1879, he came to town and opened a restuarant and also ran a butcher shop. In addition to these he, in a short time, carried on teaming between Smithville and Kansas City. Disposing of his other interests, in 1881 he bought a furniture and undertaker's establishment at Smithville, and has been conducting these lines of business ever since. In the spring of 1884 he added a stock of shelf and heavy hardware, and altogether is doing a good business. In 1878 he was married to Miss Annie, a daughter of Stephen and Amelia Duncan, of Clay county. They have one child, Edmond, and have lost one, who died in infancy. Mr. Mitchell's parents are Merrimon B. and Annie M. Mitchell, from Woodford county, Ky. His father has a good farm of 250 acres near Smith- ville.
WM. H. PATTERSON
(Proprietor of the Eagle Flouring, Grist and Saw Mills, Smithville, Mo.).
Mr. Patterson is not only a thorough miller, but one of the best millwrights in the western part of the State, if experience and employ- ment in construction of first-class mills counts for anything. The ground and mill site upon which the Eagle mills now stand, he bought from Capt. Kemp M. Woods, in 1867, going in debt for the same. Building the mills soon afterwards, he took special pains to use
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY.
nothing but the very best of material and leaving no part of his work half finished. Mr. Patterson has recently added to his mills all the latest and most improved machinery, including every modern improve- ment- recommended by the milling fraternity. The result is that his mills are unsurpassed either in Clay or Platte county. They have a capacity of 60 bbls. of flour and 10,000 feet lumber per diem. His flour Royal Eagle and Silver Drop has an enviable reputa- tion, and is generally preferred to all other brands wherever intro- duced. It may not be generally known, but it is a fact neverthe- less, that there is a vast difference in the quality of sawing done by different mills, even among those where the saw runs true, making lumber of accurate angles, dimensions and surfaces. Lumber from the same class of timber, or from same stock for that matter, sawed at different mills differs widely in market value. From one the surface may be rough, so that it costs twice as much to have it planned as it would the same class of lumber with a smoother surface from another saw. All good saw-mill men understand this, and those who take a pride in their business or care for their reputation see to it that this saw is kept perfectly sharp and in good order, and that it runs at the proper speed - and is regularly fed by the stock carriage so that a smooth surface is left on the board. Mr. Patterson takes a special pride in this feature of the lumber produced at his mills, and hence among lumbermen and carpenters it has obtained a wide and enviable reputation. Mr. Patterson was born on Barnhart's Island, St. Law- rence county, New York, in 1838, and was the second of six children of W. H. and Minerva Patterson (née Barnhart ) who were both born and reared in the State of New York. W. H. Patterson, Sr., who was of French descent, moved to Canada, and was an extensive grain and lumber dealer there at the time of his death. At the age of 18 years the subject of the present sketch came West to grow up with the country, first stopping at Chicago and working there for a little over one year, and then coming on to Western Missouri to the home of his uncle, Robert Barnhart, then a merchant of Weston, Platte county, Mo. Afterwards he procured employment with Wilson & Estes, engine builders, at Leavenworth City, now known as the Great Western Manufacturing Company, and remained in their employ some three or four years, learning the millwright trade. In 1862 he went to St. Louis, Mo., and worked at his trade building mills and putting up machinery. in the employ of A. K. Halteman & Co. About two years after he returned to his former home in Platte county, Mo., and in 1864 at Weston, Mo., he enlisted in Capt. Wash Wood's Company, Eighty-seventh regiment M. S. M., and served until about the close of the war, receiving an honorable discharge. He then took up his occupation of millwrighting, following the same until 1867, when he came to Smithville, Mo., and has ever since, for the last eighteen years, been engaged in the milling business. Mr. Patterson was married in 1872 to Johana Martin, a daughter of Wesley Martin, an ex-soldier of the Mexican War and a resident of this county, now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Patterson have two children, Robert Lee and
23
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY.
Minerva. Two are deceased, Charlie and Mattie. He and wife are both members of the Christian Church. Mr. Patterson is indeed one of the reliable and substantial men of the county. He is highly respected among his numerous friends, and we may safely say hasn't a known enemy.
S. A. RILEY, M. D.
(Physician and Surgeon, and of Gentry & Riley, Druggists, Smithville).
Dr. Riley has been a resident of Smithville less than a year, but being a young physician of thorough education and a gentleman of good address and irreproachable character, he has made a very favor- able impression on the community, and has every prospect of a suc- cessful and highly creditable career here both in his profession and as a citizen in business and private life. He is a native Missourian, born in DeKalb county, May 2, 1860. When he was a lad, about four years of age, his parents removed to Jackson county, where young Riley was reared on his father's farm near Independence. After taking a course in the primary and preparatory schools he entered Woodland College at Independence, and from there, in due time, matriculated at the State University. After concluding his university course he began the study of medicine under Dr. J. C. Rodgers, of Kansas City, and in the fall of 1880 entered the St. Louis Medical College. Dr. Riley took a regular course of two terms at St. Louis, and graduated in medicine with marked credit in the class of '83. He then at once located in Cass county and engaged in the practice of his profession, but not liking the location and having friends at Smithville, he was induced to remove to this place. Already he is receiving much encouragement in his practice, not only by the number, but particularly by the class of patrons who call upon him for medical attention. It is believed that he will shortly be in posses- sion of, a very satisfactory and increasing practice. He is also a part- ner with Mr. Gentry in the drug business. Mr. Gentry is a young man of good business qualifications, full of energy and thoroughly reliable, and has every requisite for a popular and successful druggist. These young gentlemen are both full of life and vim, and have started out in the world to accomplish something worthy of themselves as citizens of intelligence and character. Their drug house commands a good cus- tom, and has already been placed upon a profitable footing. They keep good and pure drugs which they dispense at reasonable and fair prices, so that they could hardly fail of being a popular house in the drug line. Dr. Riley's father, J. G. Riley, is one of the substantial citi- zens of Jackson county. He also has a stock ranch in Colorado, and is a man of high standing and much business enterprise. The Doc- tor's mother, who was a Miss Elizabeth Buckingham, died September 14, 1884.
JOHN J. RICE, M. D.
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