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 47

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 47
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 47

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

(Physician and Surgeon, Gosneyville, Me.).

In the medical profession in this county are to be found a number of physicians - men who have risen to success and local prominence

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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY.

in their profession, and solely by their own industry and perseverance as students and practitioners ; and taking the secret of their success as a criterion by which to judge the future of the younger members of the profession, it is not difficult to point out those who are to occupy the places of these old and prominent physicians when they have passed off the stage of action. Prominent among this class of young men in Clay county is, without question, the subject of the present sketch. Dr. John J. Rice is a son of Richard C. Rice, a na- tive of Woodford county, Ky., and now a leading agriculturist and stock man, residing in Liberty. His mother was formerly Lucinda . Ferguson, of Marion county, Ky., where they were married. - John J. Rice was the second of eight children, and passed his early life in attending to farm duties. His educational opportunities were above the average, he having received a classical course at Harmonia Col- lege, Perryville, Ky. After leaving this institution he engaged in the occupation of school teaching, which he continued for two years at Sorghotown, Daviess county, Ky. Having decided to make the practice of medicine his calling for life, he pursued a regular prepara- tory course of study for that purpose, under Dr. T. E. Lamping, of Owenboro, Ky. He took several courses of lectures in the Cincin- nati College of Medicine and 'Surgery, and graduated from that institution on the 4th of March, 1881. The same year he came to Gosneyville, Clay county, Mo., and began the practice of his chosen calling at this place, where he has made gratifying progress in his profession as a practitioner. Studious and progressive in his ideas, and faithful and attentive to his practice, he is rapidly winning the confidence of the community in his skill and ability as a physician. He is a member of the Clay County Medical Society, also of the County Board of Health. On the 24th of May, 1882, Dr. Rice was married to Miss Emma Rollins, a daughter of John K. and Ella Rol- lins, of this county. She was born and reared here, her education being received at the Stewartsville Female Seminary, Stewartsville, Mo. They have one child, DeWitt T., born February 4, 1884. Dr. Rice's church preference is the Missionary Baptist. He is a member of the A. F. and A. M. His wife belongs to the M. E. Church South. His father, as should have been mentioned before, was a soldier in the Mexican War. He came to Clay county in 1872. He and his wife are now members of the Missionary Baptist Church, and Mr. Rice is also connected with the A. F. and A. M.

ANDREW B. ROSS

(Farmer and Proprietor of Ross' Mill, Post-office, Paradise).

Every old citizen in this section of the county very well remembers Mr. Ross' father, William Ross, for he lived in the county for nearly 35 years, and was one of its worthy, good citizens. His wife, Nancy Ross, was a Miss Hawkins before her marriage, and a native of Ten- nessee. They came to Clay county, Mo., in 1841. William Ross for a time was a substantial farmer, but in about two years after his

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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY.

settlement here built a water-mill on the site of the present structure which was subsequently burned. In 1856 he built a saw and grist mill, which he continued to operate until his death, October 22, 1875. This mill is the one now conducted by his son, the subject of this sketch. It is a two-story building, fitted with two runs of buhrs, and has a capacity of 15 barrels of flour per day, sawing also 3,000 feet of lumber. Andrew B. Ross, like many of the better citizens of this county, is a Kentuckian by birth, having been born in Madison county, April 28, 1839, being the fourth in a family of nine children. He accompanied his parents to Clay county, Mo., while in infancy, and has here continued to make his home. While growing up he very naturally followed his father's example and early became interested in the milling business, devoting much time to that occupation. He has always followed it, and having had such excellent opportunities to learn the trade in Missouri, in subsequent years he has risen to consid- erable prominence in the milling circles, where he is esteemed not less as a business man than as a private citizen. During the war Mr. Ross served in the army of the Potomac for four years, enlisting first under Gen. Bee, who was killed at the battle of Bull Run, and afterward under Gens. Whiting and Archer, respectively. About two years after the close of the war, on August 11, 1867, he was united in marriage with Miss Martha A. Gentry, a daughter of David and Louisa Gentry. She was born, reared and educated in this county, but died March 24, 1883, leaving five children : Nannie L., Mary E., John W., Andrew B., and Laura B., the second daughter, who died November 14, 1873. Mrs. Ross was a member of the M. E. Church South, as her husband now is. He is also connected with the I. O. O. F. Mr. Ross, in connection with his milling interest, carries on farm- ing to some extent, having 40 acres of land under fence and in culti- vation. His mother died here November 29, 1871.

WILLIAM H. SHANNON

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

The father of Lewis S. Shannon, who was also the grandfather of the subject of the present sketch, was one of the pioneer settlers in the State of Kentucky, having lived there in a period when settlers were very few, the country being populated mainly by the original and perhaps rightful owners of the then wilderness - the aborigines. Game was plenty, and, in fact, the early days in that country were only examples of the pioneer days in this vicinity in subsequent years. Lewis S. Shannon was a native of Woodford county, Ky., and married Elizabeth Ellison, of Henderson county, this State. To them were born ten children, the eldest of whom was William H. Shannon, who was born in Frankfort, Ky., July 28, 1821. After the marriage of his parents, they came to Missouri in 1857, locating in Clinton county, where they lived until their death, the father having been occupied with agricultural pursuits. He died in 1859 and his wife in 1866. Both were consistent and prominent members of the Mission-

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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY.

ary Baptist Church. William H. was reared in the State of his birth, but his educational opportunities were necessarily limited, the primi- tive schools being much inferior to those of the present day. How- ever, by self-application, he secured a sufficient knowledge of business for the ordinary affairs of life, and also learned the carpenter's trade. In 1840 he took up his residence at Richmond, in Ray county. Two years afterwards, October 11, 1842, he was married, Miss Amanda White becoming his wife. One child was born to them, which died in infancy. Mrs. Shannon also died in September, 1847. She had been a member of the Christian Church. After this Mr. S. returned to Kentucky, where he remained 10 years, and while there he was justice of the peace in his township. He was also married, January 22, 1852, in Anderson county, to Miss Mary C. Thompson, a daughter of Anthony Thompson, of Woodford county, Ky. Her birthplace was in Ohio county, Ky., but she was reared and educated in Franklin county, Ky. They have had five children : Thompson J. married Miss Bettie Willis, and is a carpenter in Smithville, Mo .; William E. married Miss Mary J. Youtsey, and is engaged in farming in this county ; Laura May and Oliver E. are still at home. James H. died at the age of eight years. In 1857 Mr. Shannon returned to Missouri and settled in Clay county on the farm where he is now living. This embraces 110 acres either in cultivation or blue grass pasture. He and his wife are members of the Christian Church, in which he has been an elder for 20 years. He is also connected with the A. F. and A. M. They are among the most highly esteemed residents of the township.

JOHN SWARTZ

(Dealer in and Manufacturer of Boots, Shoes, Etc., and Lehrer der Deutschen Schule, Smithville).

Mr. Swartz is a Teuto-Frenchman by descent and nativity and was born in Abberbach, France, January 9, 1838. His father was Casper Swartz, also a native of France and mayor of Abberbach, in the parish of Seltz. The mother was a Miss Mary Mustar of Alsace. In their family were ten children, seven of whom are living. John Swartz, the subject of this sketch, was the second in their family and was reared at Abberbach up to the age of 18 years, when he came to Amer- ica, landing at New Orleans. He had previously served two years of an apprenticeship at the blacksmith's trade. In the summer of 1855 he went to Keokuk, Iowa, and began at the shoe maker's trade. Thence he went to Hannibal, and later along to Palmyra, where he worked a time, then at Macon City, then Glasgow, then Kansas City and finally to Clay county, stopping a while at Barry, and locating permanently at Smithville in 1859. Early in the war he enlisted in the State Guard under Gov. Jackson's first call and was out about six months. At the fight of Lexington the captain of his company was killed and after that the men were scattered, some entering other companies and others returning home. After Mr. Swartz's return he remained at Smithville for a short time and then went to Leavenworth where he

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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY.

resumed his occupation. In about three weeks, however, he returned home again and was shortly taken prisoner. After this he enlisted in the regular United States service, becoming a member of the Ohio infantry, in which he served until the close of the war. After the war he came back to Smithville and resumed his trade, that of making boots and shoes, and also soon brought on a stock of goods in that line. He has been in the business at this place ever since. He has an excellent reputation as a workman and commands a liberal patron- age. He also has a good trade for his business as a boot and shoe dealer. In 1861 Mr. Swartz was married to Miss Susan Reeves, for- merly of Kentucky. They have one child, John R. During the war, on account of some differences which it is not necessary to discuss here, a separation took place between Mr. Swartz and his first wife and a divorce was the result. Each have remarried, Mr. Swartz's present wife having been a Miss Mary Johnson, with whom his married life has been one of great satisfaction and pleasure. She was a daughter of William Johnson, from Tennessee to this county, in about 1857. There are three children by this union : Lewis, Pauline and French. John R., his eldest son by his first wife, is now engaged in the grocery and confectionery business at Smithville. He is also an Odd Fellow and conductor of his lodge. His mother is now the wife of A. D. Simpson, of Buchanan county. Mr. Swartz and his present wife are members of the Christian Church. Mr. Swartz is also treasurer of the Odd Fellows Order at this place. Mr. Swartz has a good Ger- man education, and in 1884 established a German school at this place which he still carries on. His school has proved a success and is liberally patronized by the people of the community, particularly by those of German nativity or descent.

ELEVEN L. THATCHER

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

Eleven Thatcher, Sr., was one of the early settlers of Clay county . He came here from Kentucky and became a well-to-do farmer and highly respected citizen. His death occurred some 10 or 12 years ago. By all old residents of the county he is well remembered as a man of large heart, strong intelligence, courage and industry, and as one of the best of neighbors and friends. His good wife preceded him to the grave some five or six years. She was a Miss Sabina Hornback, of Kentucky, before her marriage. They reared a family of five children, most of whom are living, and are among the better class of citizens of their respective communities. Eleven L. Thatcher, their fifth son, was born on the family homestead in this county, November 24, 1840. He was reared to the occupation of farming and stock-raising, and acquired a good common school education as he grew up. At the age of 27, on the 16th of December, 1867, he was married to Miss Rosa D. Wood, a daughter of Col. Lewis J. Wood, formerly of Kentucky. Already Mr. Thatcher, Jr., had en- gaged in farming on his own account, and in this he afterwards con-

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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY.

tinued. He is now comfortably situated. His farm contains 480 acres, and he is quite extensively engaged in dealing in stock. He is also largely interested in breeding and raising fine stock. His thor- oughbred short horns are all of registered stock, and he also has a herd of high grade cattle. His hogs are of fine breeds, and the Clydesdale horses are his favorite stock in the equine line. He has several representatives of the pure Clydesdale breed. Mr. Thatcher is one of the most enterprising and progressive farmers and stock- raisers of the county. Mr. and Mrs. Thatcher have two children : Lewis J. and James W. He and wife are members of the Christian Church, and he is a member of the A. F. and A. M.

WILLIAM P. THATCHER

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

Mr. Thatcher is a worthy representative of that old and highly respected family of Clay county whose name he bears. Reference to his father has already been made in the sketch of E. L. Thatcher. William P. was born in this county in 1834. On reaching young man- hood he started out for himself with little or nothing to begin on. But he had been reared to hard work and to regular, economical habits, and being a young man of good intelligence, fair common-school edu- cation, and with an honest purpose to rise in the world only by in- dustry, he went to work without hesitation or discouragement, and in a short time had the satisfaction of seeing the legitimate fruits of honest toil accumulating around him. But in a few years the war came on. That was a great backset to him, as it was to most honest men in this part of the country. He went into the Southern army and took part in numerous engagements, including those at Lexington, Pea Ridge and Blue Ridge. At the latter fight he was fired on by a whole platoon of Federal soldiers, but either he was protected by the shield of the Lord, or the soldiers did bad shooting ; anyhow, he came out unharmed. Resuming farming, he did the best he could under the circumstances, and after affairs became settled went at it again in dead earnest. Since then he has had a very successful experience. He now owns a fine farm of 440 acres, well improved, including an excellent class of buildings, and he is quite largely engaged in breed- ing and raising fine stock, and in fattening and dealing in marketable stock. His short horns are thoroughbreds and of registered stock, and he is breeding and raising fine calves for sale. In 1857 he was married to Miss Louisa Lampton. They have two children : William B. and Addie L. Mrs. Thatcher is a member of the Christian Church, and he is a member of the A. F. and A. M. and the Smithville Tem- perance Lodge No. 423,964.

EDWARD C. TILLMAN

(Farmer, Post-office, Smithville).

Mr. Tillman is a native of North Carolina, born in Chatham county, July 18, 1807. His father was John Tillman, also of that State, and

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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY.

his mother's maiden name, Susan Fields. The Tillman family has been quite prominent in politics in North Carolina and Tennessee for generations. Mr. Tillman was reared in Chatham county, and was one of a family of 12 children, eleven of whom lived to reach mature years. They and their descendants are now distributed in several States. After growing up Mr. T. traveled quite extensively for about ten years and then located in 1833 in Todd county, Ky., He came to Clay county in 1842, and entered the land on which he now resides. He has ever since been engaged in farming. He was married in Todd county, Ky., December 6, 1838, to Miss Keziah Thompson. They have three children living : Susan, the wife of M. H. Masterson, of this county ; Mary A., the wife of Henry Humes, a stock trader of the county, and John W., who married Margaret Wilkerson and is farming on the home place. His wife died August 9, 1874.

JAMES WILLIAMS

(Farmer and Stock-dealer, Post-office, Smithville).

Bourbon county, Ky., and the 3d of March, 1826, were the place and date of Mr. Williams' birth, and his parents were James and Elizabeth (Wright ) Williams, both of old and respected Kentucky families. Mr. W.'s father, a house carpenter by trade and who had served with credit in the War of 1812, died in 1863. The mother is still living, at the age of 86, having been born in 1798. There were eight children in the family, all yet living. James, the subject of this sketch, was reared to the occupation of farming and house carpenter- ing and came to Missouri in 1851, settling in Clay county after a residence of two years in Platte county. He has resided in this county ever since, and for many years followed his trade, during the latter part of his life in connection with farming. In 1851 he was married in Montgomery county, Ky., to Miss Docia C. Judson, who survived her marriage 12 years, leaving five children living of the six born to them, namely : John T., of Oregon ; Daniel, of this county ; Susan E., wife of Perry Bazoo, of this county ; Mary, wife of Samuel J. Bradley, of Clay county ; James N. and Julia, deceased. Mrs. W. was a member of the church. Mr. Williams has a comfortable home- stead near Smithville.

KEMP M. WOODS, JR.

(Real Estate Agent, Notary Public, Railway Director, President of the Town Board, and also Member of the School Board, Smithville).

Mr. Woods, though still this side of the fourth decade of life, has already had an active business career, and one that has placed him in a position of some prominence in affairs. He was born and reared in Clay county, and received an advanced general and classical education as he grew up, completing a regular collegiate course. From his grandfather, Phineas Skinner, he inherited a large landed estate, some 900 acres, located in different counties, but principally in Jack- son, Mercer and Grundy counties. Since then he has dealt to a con-

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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY.

siderable extent in real estate, buying, selling, exchanging, etc., and has also had much to do with lands as agent for other parties. He now owns in his own right about 1,000 acres, which, however, includes little or none of the original tracts received by inheritance. His in- terests, besides real estate, have been identified with farming mainly, and railway contracting. He has also been somewhat interested in the State business, and still is to some extent. Like most young men of life and energy, he has not neglected to avail himself of the information which only traveling affords, but has taken the time and means to see something of the world, particularly the Western part of the country. Mr. Woods was one of the organizers of the St. Joseph and Southeastern Railway Company and one of its charter members, being now also a member of the board of directors of the company. This company contemplate building a line of railway from St. Joseph in a southeastern direction through Buchanan, Platte, and into Clay county to Smithville. The road, as has been intimated, is already chartered, and work has been commenced. In 1876 Mr. Woods was married to Miss Lillie M. Wiglesworth, a daughter of Wm. T. and Mary F. Wiglesworth, of Woodford county, Ky. Mr. Woods has been located at Smithville since the fall of 1881, and is now presi- dent of the town board at Smithville, and also a member of the school board. He is doing an excellent real estate business, and is one of the leading, progressive citizens of the place. He was born in this county in 1847, and is the youngest of the family of Kemp M., Sr., and Sarah (Skinner) Woods, early settlers here from Kentucky. His father, Kemp M. Woods, Sr., has given to his four sons, including Kemp M., Jr., 400 acres of land each, located in Platte and Clay counties.

CHAPTER XVI. KEARNEY TOWNSHIP.

Boundaries, General Surface, etc. - Early Settlements - Tragedies of the Civil War-County Churches - Town of Kearney - Centreville - Location of Kearney and for Whom Named -Incorporation - Kearney's Churches - Holt - Location of this Village - Church and Lodge Records - Biographical.

BOUNDARIES, GENERAL SURFACE, ETC.

Kearney township was organized June 4, 1872, with the following boundaries : Beginning on the line between Clinton and Clay counties, at the northeast corner of section 36, township 54, range 31, thence along the county line to the half section line running north and south through section 35, township 54, range 32; thence due south to the township line dividing townships 52 and 53; thence east one mile and a half to the southeast corner of section 36, township 53, range 32; thence south one mile, thence east one mile, thence south one mile, thence east to the range line between ranges 30 and 31 ; thence north along the range line to the beginning.

Anthony Harsell was appointed by the county court the first justice of the peace pro tem. The township was named for the town of Kearney.

The general surface of the township partakes of the character of that of the county, and is rolling and broken, but some of the most valuable farms of the county are situated herein. The northern por- tion of the township - at least the northeastern - is heavily tim- bered, and much of it is unimproved. This is true of much of the eastern portion, along Clear creek, and new farms are being opened, clearings made, and land reclaimed from the wilderness in pretty much the same fashion as 50 years ago.

Settlements were made in this township at a very early day. In the northwestern part of the township, two miles south of Camp branch (east half section 23, township 53, range 32), Anthony Harsell settled in the fall of 1827, and here he is yet living. A mile and a half north- east of Harsell, William Livingston had come in 1825 ; James McCown settled one mile north of Harsell in 1826 ; Hezekiah Riley and James Marsh settled east of Harsell in 1827, the latter in the spring and the

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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY.

former in the fall. In the spring of the same year Edward Clark located one mile south.

For some years after the township was first settled bears and panthers were unpleasantly numerous. As late as the winter of 1836 a large bear was killed on Camp branch, two miles north of Harsell's spring.

Over on Camp creek, on one occasion, John McCown, Jr., killed a large panther which his dog had attacked and was being worsted in the encounter.

Among the tragedies of the Civil War, not especially mentioned elsewhere, may be mentioned the murder of two citizens of this town- ship, Esq. David L. Ferrill and Dr. John Norris. They were Con- federate sympathizers, and their murder was accomplished by some of Col. Catherwood's regiment, the Sixth Missouri State militia. Esq. Ferrill was an old and well respected citizen of the township. His sons were in the Confederate army, and his grandson, Red. Munkers, was a bushwhacker, but Esq. Ferrill himself was an old man about 70 years of age, and had never been guilty of overt acts against the Federal authority. One day in September, 1864, a squad of militia, led by Lieut. James N. Stoffel, of Co. A, Catherwood's regiment, took out the old man and hung him to a tree near his residence.

John Norris had served six months under Price, but for some time he had been living peaceably at home. One night, a short time after Esq. Ferrill was hung, a squad of Catherwood's men took him from his home and shot him.

Richard Sloan was a member of the party that hung Ferrill. He was a citizen of this township, and in September, 1866, he was way- laid and shot and his body left lying in the road.

CHURCHES.

Mount Gilead Christian Church. - This church is an outgrowth of what was originally a Calvinistic Baptist Church, as it was first organized. In March, 1844, there was a division in the congrega- tion, some of the members still adhering to the Baptist denomination, while others, among whom were some of the old and most prominent Baptists, constituted themselves into a body of Christians. The church building first put up was erected in 1844, but becoming defect- ive and unsafe from the ravages of time, it was torn down and in its place a handsome brick edifice was built in 1873, costing $2,569.95. It stands on section 29, northwest quarter, township 53, range 31. The first members were Elders Mason Summers, Timothy R. Dale and wife, Alfred M. Riley and wife, Hezekiah Riley, Robert Officer and wife, Weekly Dale and wife, James Riley and wife, George Dallis,

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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY.

Alexander Mooney and wife, A. H. F. Payne and wife, and John Dykes and wife. The deacons were Hezekiah Riley, Robert Officer and Weekly Dale. Following Augustus H. F. Payne, who was the organizer, the pastors have been Revs. Williamson, A. B. Jones, J. T. Tate, J. W. Perkins, and the present pastor, J. W. Trader, who has in his membership 130 persons. As now constituted, the elders of the church are A. J. Porter, P. T. Soper and George Smith ; the deacons, T. M. Gosney, Albert Lincoln, Benjamin Soper, A. J. Phelps and Samuel Smith ; clerk, Locke Riley. The first Sunday- school connected with this church was organized on the last Lord's day of May, 1868. The superintendent was O. G. Harris, assisted by E. G. Gill ; the secretary was P. T. Soper. The school now has an attendance of 70 scholars. The superintendent is Abner Porter.

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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