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 53
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 53
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY.
is well improved, including a fine brick residence, one of the best barns in the county and other betterments to correspond. Mr. and Mrs. Stroeter have seven children: Edward, Amelie (wife of George Mueller ), Ida, Henry, George, Emma and William. Mr. and Mrs. S. are members of the Evangelical Church.
T. G. TEANEY
(Farmer, Post-office, Kearney).
October 1, 1825, was the date of Mr. Teaney's advent into this life, and the place of his birth was in Montgomery county, Va. His parents were Samuel Teaney and Johannah (Dobbins ) Teaney, who were both born and reared in the Old Dominion, and were married there in 1821. The father was a wagon maker by trade, and by de- scent of German stock. In 1837 they started to Missouri, but stopped two years on the way in Tennessee and six years in Kentucky, finally locating in Henry county, this State, in 1843. There the father died the following September, and the mother in the fall of the next year. The father had been a soldier in the Mexican war. They left a family of eight children, six of whom are living. T. G. Teaney started out for himself before reaching his majority and came to Platte county, where he worked as a farm hand for about two years. He was then married in 1847 to Miss Nancy, a daughter of Samuel and Phœbe Ann Wiley, formerly of Madison county, Kentucky. After his mar- riage Mr. Teaney located on a farm in Buchanan county, where he continued six years. He then removed to the vicinity of Weston, in Platte county. For fourteen years Mr. Teaney resided near Weston. From there he came to Clay county in 1867. Mr. Teaney has a good farm in this county of 130 acres. His first wife died here in 1873. She had borne him ten children, all of whom are living, namely : Samuel T., Jason O., Phoebe A., wife of Abraham Shaver; Annette, wife of Marshall Baker, John A., Margaret, James M., Mary F., Charles D. and William H. In 1879 Mr. Teaney was married to his present wife, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Cave, a daughter of Urial and Susan Cave. She had been married to D. T. Duncan, who died in 1873. Both her parents are also deceased. She had five children by her first marriage : Lizzie, wife of Dr. W. L. Porterfield ; Sarah, wife of Charles Middaugh; Rose, wife of Madison Eaton, Susie and Urial, the latter of whom died three years ago, in his twen- ty-seventh year. Mr. and Mrs. Teaney are members of the Baptist. Church. Mr. T. served in the Mexican War.
THOMAS WAGY
(Farmer, Stock-raiser and Feeder, Post-office, Kearney).
Mr. Wagy became a citizen of Clay county, Mo., in 1869, when he removed here from Adams county, Ill., which had been his home for many years. He has since lived in this county and has become thor- oughly identified with its interests, ever lending his aid and influence
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY.
in promoting its prosperity and advancement. A warm friend of the public school system, he has ably and staunchly advocated and sup- ported such measures as would tend to the betterment and promulga- tion of school facilities in this State, and especially in the community in which he lives. His parents were Henry W. Wagy, a farmer by occupation and Virginian by birth, and Eleanor (Stone) Wagy, originally of Ohio. They were married in the latter State, and in 1830, leaving there, settled in Adams county, Ill., which continued to be their home during life. The father died June 4, 1879, and his widow January 13, 1881. There were eight children in the parental fam- ily, of whom Thomas was the third. He was born in Licking county, Ohio, February 22, 1830, and was very young when taken to Adams county, Ill., where he spent his youth and early manhood, receiving such education as could be obtained from the limited common schools. Farming occupied his time and attention (and in which he was very successful ) until his marriage October 24, 1850, in Pike county, Ill., when Miss Martha Decker became his wife. She was a daughter of Moses and Malinda Decker, née Boren, of Pike county, where she herself was born, reared and educated. The fruits of this union were six children : Jasper, Ellen, wife of John G. Hassel, a farmer in this county ; Mary, wife of E. J. Shouldis; Park, married Miss Minnie Robinson and is proprietor of a livery and feed stable at Law- son, Ray county, Mo. ; Nevada and Albert Jasper, those unmarried being still at home with their parents. His present homestead con- tains 200 acres of improved land, upon which is a neat residence, be- sides other substantial buildings, and here he is actively engaged in agricultural pursuits. He is a member of the A. F. and A. M. Mrs. Wagy is a member of the M. E. Church.
PLEASANT WILHOIT
(Of Wilhoit Bros. & Garrett, Dealers in General Merchandise, Kearney).
Mr. Wilhoit began merchandising in April, 1882, at Holt, and has continued in that line of business ever since. The present firm have been quite successful at merchandising, considering the time in which they have been engaged in it, and their house now takes rank among the leading establishments in their line at Kearney. Their customers include many of the best and most substantial citizens of the vicinity, and their trade is almost altogether for cash. They have quite a large custom, and are doing an excellent business. All the members of the firm are gentlemen of recognized standing for business integrity and enterprise, and they have the entire confidence of the public. Prior to engaging in merchandising Mr. Wilhoit taught school for a number of years and then followed farming. He was educated at Plattsburg and in Greenville, at which places, together, he attended school after taking the usual common-school course, for about three years. He followed teaching continuously for about eight years, except for one year, during which he was in the Southern army. In 1864 he was un- der Capt. Cundiff, of Shanks' brigade, and served until the close of
.
496
HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY.
the war. In 1869 Mr. Wilhoit located on a farm in Clay county, which he owned, and was afterwards engaged in farming for about thirteen years, or until he began merchandising. Mr. Wilhoit was born in this county, November 6, 1835, and was a son of Andrew Wilhoit, referred to in a sketch of David Wilhoit, which follows this. Pleasant Wilhoit was reared on the farm and was brought up to active industry in farm-work, learning fully all the details of agri- cultural life. He attended the neighborhood schools, and at the age of 20 began his high school course. In 1873 he was married to Miss M. E. Snody, an adopted daughter of Uncle Dick Clark, her father having died when she was infancy. " Uncle " Dick Clark was an uncle of her mother's. Mr. and Mrs. Wilhoit have three children : Luther Elmer, Walton Hugh and Minnie Emma. Two are deceased: Lella and Maude S. Both parents are members of the M. E. Church, Mr. W. having been a member ever since he was 16 years of age ; he now holds the office of deacon in the church. He is also a member of the Masonic Order.
DAVID L. WILHOIT
(Of Wilhoit & Bro., General Merchants, Holt).
Back during the latter part of the last century, three brothers by the name of Wilhoit came to this country from Germany and settled in North Carolina. From those, it is believed, all in this country of that name have sprung. Mr. Wilhoit's grandfather, James Wilhoit, married and removed to Tennessee, where he reared a large family of children. Of his children, Andrew Wilhoit, the father of Mr. W., was born in the latter State in 1812. He grew up and removed to Missouri, where he met and was married to Miss Jane Gentry. They settled in Clay county, and here the father, a farmer by occupation, died in about 1859. Mrs. Wilhoit survived until 1877. Both were members of the M. E. Church, and the father was a class leader and deacon in the church. They had a family of 13 children, including the subject of the present sketch. David L. Wilhoit was born in Clay county in 1841, and was reared to a farm life. In early man- hood he engaged in farming for himself, and in a few years in raising stock. Mr. Wilhoit continued on the farm until 1883, when he and his brother, Preston, formed a partnership, and established a general store at Holt. Their venture proved a success, and they are doing a good business. Mr. W. still owns his farm, which he has rented out. In 1864 he was married to Miss Eliza Yates, daughter of William Yates, of Clay county. They have two children, Cordelia B. and Ocie.
WILLIAM WRIGHT
(Farmer and Fine Stock Raiser, Post-office, Kearney) .
Mr. Wright is a native of Ireland, and came to this country when a young man about 19 years of age, in 1863. He was born in the county Antrim, in May, 1844, and was an only child of William and Elizabeth ( Hill) Wright. The father is still living, and a resident of
497
HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY.
that county. Young Wright's youth, up to the age of 14, was prin- cipally spent at school. He was then employed to attend fine stock, and as a gardener in his native county, being soon afterwards made foreman on the place. Working in these employments for some five years, he learned them thoroughly, and became a skillful and well qualified handler of fine stock, becoming also an excellent judge of stock. After coming to the United States he continued work as a fine stock man, obtaining employment in New Jersey. Five years later he came as far West as Kentucky, where he worked at the same busi- ness, and in 1883 he removed to Missouri, and bought the Emerson Green place, in Clay county, a fine farm of 200 acres. Here he is engaged in general farming and in raising and handling stock. In 1869 Mr. Wright was married to Miss Jane Gilberth, daughter of Joseph and Mary Gilberth, who came from Ireland in 1869. Mrs. Wright was born in the county Derry, Ireland, in March, 1846. Mr. and Mrs. Wright have six children : Mary E., William H., Joseph, John, Henry and Edward. He and wife are members of the Presby- terian Church.
ARTHUR YATES
(Farmer and Stock-dealer, Post-office, Holt).
Mr Yates, although hardly yet more than entered upon the middle of life, has already established himself as one of the leading agricul- turists and stock men of the northern part of the county. His farm contains 180 acres, which is well improved and well stocked, and besides this he has four other farms, altogether aggregating over 860 acres. His farms are all well fenced and otherwise substantially im- proved, and are run principally in grass for stock purposes, although he also raises enough grain and other produce for general farm uses. Now, only in his forty-third year, he started out for himself when a young man without any means, and has accumulated all he possesses by his own industry, energy and good management. Mr. Yates is also an extensive dealer in stock and buys and ships to the wholesale markets on a large scale. In this he has been very successful, and is reputed one of the best stock men in his part of the county. Mr. Yates was born on his father's farm in Kearney township, April 16, 1842, and was the sixth in a family of eight children of William L. and Elizabeth (Gow) Yates, from Mason county, Ky. They came here in 1831, and the father died September 24, 1869, at the age of sixty-six years. Mrs. Yates died in 1844. Both were members of the Baptist Church. Mr. Yates, Sr., was subsequently married twice, his second wife surviving her marriage only a short time, and leaving one daughter, Nannie. His third wife is still living. She was a Miss Rebecca Watkins. Mr. Yates, Jr., the subject of this sketch, was reared on the farm and on the 27th of November, 1862, was mar- ried to Miss Agnes Shackelford, daughter of James and Mary Schack- elford, formerly of Kentucky. Her father is deceased, but her mother is still living. Mr. Yates and wife have six children : Shelby, William, Arthur, Roy, Mabel and Jesse. Two others are deceased : Archie and Ruby. Mr. and Mrs. Y. are members of the Christian Church.
CHAPTER XVII. WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP.
Location and Physical Features - Hamlets of Greenville and Claysville - Early His- tory - Organization - Mount Vernon Missionary Baptist Church - Biographical.
LOCATION AND PHYSCAL FEATURES.
Washington township forms the northeastern portion of Clay county, and is composed of all of congressional township 53 and the lower tier of sections of township 54, in range 30. Much of the terri- tory is very broken, rough, and rocky and worthless for agricultural purposes. Many small streams, all of which ultimately run into Fish- ing river and its forks, head in the township. In many places pictur- esque bluffs are found along these streams, and the scenery is beautiful to look upon, but hardly appreciated by those owning the land.
The township contains but two small hamlets, Greenville and Clays- ville. The St. Joe branch of the Wabash Railroad runs through the northeastern corner of the township, a distance of about two miles, and Lawson, in Ray county, is the nearest station and general ship- ping point. Kearney and Holt, on the Hannibal road, give the peo- ple something of competition in the matter of railroad facilities.
Greenville (Claytonville P. O.) is located in the southern part of the township, on Williams creek, 16 miles northeast of Liberty and about six east of Kearney. It contains a school-house, two churches (Methodist and Christian ), and about 75 inhabitants. It is one of the oldest villages in the county.
Claysville (Prospect Hill P. O.) is about two miles northeast of Greenville, within half a mile of the Ray county line, and four miles south of Lawson, the nearest railroad station. It contains perhaps 50 inhabitants, or less.
EARLY HISTORY.
As early as 1824 Travis Finley settled on section 26 in this township, two miles southeast of Greenville. Archibald McIlvaine, Stephen Bax- ter and others were also early settlers. Ryland Shackelford located northwest of Greenville soon after Finley came, and Mr. Shackelford often declared that when he made his location, and for a year after- wards, there was not a white settler between him and the North Pole.
(498)
499
HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY.
At the May term of the county court, 1830, Washington was created as a municipal township out of Platte and Fishing river. The boun- daries were originally the same, practically, as at present, the two western tiers of sections being taken off in 1872 when Kearney was formed. The boundaries as ordered by the county court when the township was organized were as follows : -
Beginning at the point on the county line between Ray and Clay counties where the line between townships 52 and 53 strikes the same, thence due west along said township line for eight miles to the section corner on said township line between sections 34 and 35, in range 31 ; thence due north along said section line between sections 34 and 35, in range 31, to the northern boundary line of the county.
Singularly enough the court omitted to describe the northern and eastern boundaries of this township. They will be understood, how- ever, to have been the northern boundary of the State, and the line between Ray and Clay extended to that boundary.
It was certified to the Secretary of State that there were at least 95 taxable inhabitants in the township upon its creation. John P. Smith and Harlow Hinkston were the first justices of the peace, John Wright the first constable, and Stephen Baxter, Archibald McIlvain, and Richard Clark the first election judges. The first election was held at the house of Stephen Baxter.
MOUNT VERNON MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH,
located on section 15, township 53, range 30, was organized in 1857 by Rev. William Barrett. The names of the original members were Waltus L. Watkins, Mary N. Watkins, Kate Watkins, Spencer Anderson, Kitty Anderson, Mary Anderson, Rev. William C. Barrett, Jackson Garrett, L. B. Garrett, Samuel Hollingsworth, T. W. Bar- rett, Louisa Barrett, Olivia Barrett and Nancy K. Barrett. The pre- sent membership is 64. The names of those who have served as pas- tors are Revs. William Barrett, who filled the pulpit for three years, Thomas Montgomery, Asa N. Bird, J. W. Luke, G. L. Black and J. J. Fetts, who is the present pastor. This brick edifice was erected in 1871 at a cost of $5,000, more than one-half of which was contributed by Waltus L. Watkins.
A
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
CHESTER BETHEL
(Farmer and Stock-raiser, Post-office, Lawson).
Notwithstanding the great hurrah and hubbub raised in this State over the James boys and Clay county as an awful robber-infested region by a few unscrupulous journals for political effect, and more interested in partisan success and capturing the offices than in the welfare and good name of the State, intelligent Northern men, both Republicans and Democrats, are constantly pouring into Missouri and making their homes upon its rich and favored lands. Clay county is no exception in this respect to the other counties of the State. Large numbers of Northern men have settled in this county since the war, and within the last four, six and twelve years. Among the many others that might be referred to is the subject of the present sketch. Mr. Bethel came to this county in the winter of 1871-72, and is one of the substantial farmers of the county. He has a finely improved place situated near Lawson. Besides farming in a general way, he is also engaged in raising stock. He was born in Jersey county, Ill., June 17, 1847, and was a son of Bluford Bethel and wife, née Nancy Seymour, the father originally from Tennessee, but reared in Illinois, and the mother born and reared in that State. His father was a sub- stantial farmer of Macoupin county, and died there in August, 1875. His mother died July 28, 1858. She was a member of the Mission- ary Baptist Church. The father was a member of the A. F. and A. M. Mr. Bethel was reared in Jersey county, and was the fourth in his parents' family of eight children, five of whom are living. He was educated in Macoupin county, and after coming to Missouri in 1871, was married to Miss Emma Witt, December 4, 1874, a daughter of Pryor and Eliza J. (Tunnel ) Witt, of Greene county, Ill. Mr. and Mrs. Bethel have two children : Nancy Alice and Mary Effie. Mr. B. belongs to the Order of the A. F. and A. M.
ROBERT A. FORD
(Farmer and Fine Stock Raiser, Post-office, Lawson).
Mr. Ford is one of the self-made men of Clay county. When he was in infancy, his father died, leaving his mother with a large family 'of children, and no means to speak of to go upon. The children, after they had struggled along through their earlier years, and come up old enough to work, had not only to look out for themselves, but to assist toward providing for the family. But the mother was a true and noble woman, and kept her family together during her life- time. She died in 1857, when the subject of this sketch was about
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY.
17 years of age. There were nine other children, and nine of the ten are still living. When the family came to Clay county, in 1851, Mr. F. was a lad about eleven years of age. He was here in 1861, when the war broke out, and entered the Confederate army or State Guard, under Gen. Price. After serving out his term of enlistment for six months, he returned to the county, and in 1863 went to Colo- rado. Three years later he came back, and has been a resident of the county ever since. He learned the occupation of farming as he grew up, and handling stock, and has made these his permanent pursuits. Starting out without anything but his industry, energy and intelli- gence, he has, nevertheless, become one of the substantial farmers and successful fine stock raisers of the county. He has a herd of 60 head of high grade cattle, and nine head of regular registered short horns. His farm is nearly all in blue grass, and is finely improved, his handsome brick residence alone costing $17,000. His place con- tains 220 acres of as fine land as there is in the county. Mr. Ford was born in Fauquier county, Virginia, March 13, 1840. His parents, Austin and Jane ( Allison ) Ford, were both born and reared in that county, and after their marriage came to Missouri, in 1840, locating in Clark county, where the father died the following year. He had been a soldier in the War of 1812, and was a farmer by occupation. The mother, with her family of children, removed to Clay county in 1851, where she died in 1857, as stated above. October 6, 1867, Mr. Ford, the subject of this sketch, was married to Miss Mary E. Story, a daughter of Thomas and Lucy A. (Baldwin) Story, of this county . Mr. and Mrs. F. have seven children living, Oscar N., John T., Jesse J., Ella T., Walter N., Maggie L. and Robert A. Three others, Flora Belle, James . T. and Arthur F:, died at tender ages. The oldest, Oscar N., an exceptionally bright youth, 14 years of age, is al- ready an unusually accomplished penman. His work in general pen- manship, card writing, etc., equals that of many professional penmen.
RUFUS M. MAJORS
(Farmer and Stock-raiser, Post-office, Lawson).
Rufus M. Majors was born in Clay county, September 7, 1841. His father was Elisha Majors, formerly of Burke county, North Car- olina, and his mother's maiden name Catherine Huffaker, of Wayne county, Ky. Mr. Majors' grandfather, John Majors, a native of Maryland, was a soldier in the Revolutionary War. Mr. Majors' pa- rents were married in Wayne county, Ky., and remained there until. 1837, when he removed with his family to Clay county, Mo. He made his home in this county until his death, which occurred October 24, 1878. He was a successful farmer and worthy citizen of the county. His wife died here April 27, 1876. But three of their family of eight children are living, Michael, a farmer of Vernon county, and Eliza- beth, the wife of B. F. Elston, a farmer of Clinton county, being the other two, besides the subject of this sketch. Rufus Marion Majors was the seventh in the family of children, and was reared on the farm
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY.
in this county. He received a district school education, and on the 22d of August, 1880, was married to Miss Sarah M. Wilhoit, a daughter of Thomas and Mourning ( Benton) Wilhoit, of this county. Mr. and Mrs. Majors are members of the Missionary Baptist Church. Mr. M. has a good farm of 270 acres, all under fence andin an excel- lent state of improvement.
JUDGE ROBERT W. MIMMS (Farmer, Post-office, Holt).
The Mimms family is one of pioneer ancestry in the history of the country, and one not altogether without note. One of the repre- sentatives of the family rendered distinguished services in the Rev- olution in the South Atlantic States, and a remembrancer of his career stands to this day in the shape of the ruins of Old Ft. Mimms in Georgia. Another member of the family was a gallant officer in the Northwestern campaign under Gen. Harrison, and Ft. Mimms, in Michigan, was named in honor of his services. The family is be- lieved to have come to this country at about the time of the first settlement of Jamestown or with some of the colonial immigrants to Virginia soon afterwards. From Virginia branches of the family dispersed themselves throughout most of the Southern and Western States. Judge Mimms comes of the Kentucky branch of the family. He was born in Logan county, Ky., March 20, 1830, and was a son of John W. Mimms, whose father was one of the pioneer settlers of that State. The Judge's mother was a Miss Mary James before her marriage, originally of Goochland county, Va. The Judge's parents continued to reside in Kentucky until 1856, when they came to Mis- souri and his father established Mimms' Hotel, at Kansas City, well known in the days of the border troubles as the stopping place of thousands who passed that way going to or coming from " Bleeding Kansas." Mimms' hotel building, if it could talk, would be able to tell many a stirring and thrilling incident of those trying and terrible times. There, under the same roof, the Red-leg and the Border- ruffian, the Jawhawker and the Slave-driver, the emigrant sent out by the New England Aid Society, with nothing but his black carpet-sack, his Bible and his rifle, to colonize Kansas, and the adventurous, rest- less, fearless Down-Souther, with his long hair, piercing eyes, navy revolvers and double-barrel shotgun, who came out to see that Kansas was not permitted to fall into the hands of " the sniveling, negro- loving Yankee," as he always termed his New England brother, met and refreshed themselves at the same board. Not unfrequently hot words of scorn and hatred were hissed at each other across the table, but Mr. Mimms was a man of peace and without fear, and under his roof the hospitality of his house was made the protection of every guest, from wheresoever he came, North, South, East or West. The truth of history, however, compels the statement that many insulting words quietly spoken between partisans of the opposing factions who stopped at-Mimms' Hotel were afterwards avenged by the rifle or
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