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 56

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 56
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 56

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).

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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY.

happy wife, a kind and faithful mother and consistent member of the church with her husband.

DAVID HORNER

(Farmer, Post-office, Acme).

Mr. Horner was born in the county Annagh, Ireland, January 11, 1829. His father was Joseph Horner and his mother's maiden name Barbara Blevins. When David was about 10 years of age the family came to America and settled in Clay county. The mother died here in 1876. There were eight children in the family, four of whom are living. Both parents were members of the M. E. Church. David. completed his adolescence in this country and learned the practical details of farm life as he grew up. In 1864 he was married to Mrs. Martha . Musser, whose maiden name was Donaldson, daughter of James and Patsey Donaldson, formerly of Kentucky. Mr. and Mrs. Horner have lost two children in infancy and have none living. Mrs. H. is a member of the Presbyterian Church. He is a Methodist Epis- copalian. Mr. Horner has a good farm and is pleasantly and com- fortably situated at his home. He made his own start in life, having commenced a poor man, and all he possesses he has accumulated by honest industry and economy. He is one of the well respected citi- zens of Gallatin township.

JAMES HUGHES

(Farmer, Post-office, Blue Eagle).

Mr. Hughes' father, Patrick Hughes, was a native of Ireland and a molder of cast iron by trade. He came over to America in early manhood and located first in Rhode Island. He was married in that State to Miss Sarah McGarth, also formerly of Ireland, and three children were born to them, two of whom are living, one being the subject of this sketch. James Hughes was born in Rhode Island, March 10, 1837, and when in infancy was brought out by his parents to Missouri, who removed to Clay county, this State, in 1837. The mother died here in 1846. James was reared in this county and brought up to the occupation of a farmer. During the war he served for about eight months in the State militia. Mr. Hughes has a neat farm of 80 acres. He has never married, and is therefore living a life of single blessedness, a staid old bachelor, upon whom the smiles and wiles of all the maids have thus far made little or no effect.

SAMUEL N. JACKSON

(Dealer in Drugs and Groceries, Arnold Station).

A Kentuckian by nativity, Mr. Jackson was born in Monroe county, November 8, 1845. His father was James A. Jackson, a blacksmith by occupation, and who removed to Missouri with his family in 1852, settling at Independence. A year later he removed to Harrisonville,

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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY.

Cass county, and in 1864 to Clay county, but seven years later to Texas, where he died January 23, 1883, aged 67 years. He was jus- tice of the peace in Cass county for some years and postmaster at Austin. Mr. Jackson's mother (Samuel N.'s) was a Miss Mary S. Slaughter, formerly of Virginia. There were six children in the family, five of whom are living, including the subject of this sketch. The mother died December 24, 1882, aged 58. Samuel N. received a common school education as he grew up and engaged in his present business at Arnold Station in 1877. His business experience has been satisfactorily successful, and he has a good trade. December 31, 1868, he was married to Miss Missouri A. Foster, a daughter of John A. Foster, of Clay county. They have four children : Carrie Wesley, Lena May, Samuel N. and James A. His wife is a member of the Christian Church.

JACOB B. JOHNSON

(Farmer and Stock-Raiser, and of Johnson & Moore, Saw-millers, Post-office, Barry).

Mr. Johnson came to Missouri from Kentucky in 1863 and located in Clay county, near Barry, where he shortly bought a farm and engaged in farming and stock-raising. He continued that exclusively up to 1883, when he formed a partnership with Mr. John Moore in the saw mill, which they now run. Since then he has been carrying on his farm and assisting in the running of the saw mill. Mr. Johnson was born in Montgomery county, Ky., July 24, 1845, and was a son of Philip and Mary (Combes ) Johnson. His mother died when he was about 13 years of age, and after that he went to live with his uncle, Thomas Johnson, of that county. His father was subsequently married twice, and removed to Fannin county, Tex., where he died in 1878, after a residence there of over twenty years. Jacob B. John- son grew up in Montgomery county, Ky., and remained with his uncle until 1861, when he enlisted in the Southern service under Gen. Marshall. Subsequently he was transferred to Gen. Morgan's com- mand and followed that doughty raider and gallant cavalry leader un- til the close of the war, or until a short time before the close. The last order received by Mr. J.'s command was a general order of sur- render from Gen. Lee, in May, 1865. He then returned home to Montgomery county, Ky., and went to work. April 16, 1868, he was married to Miss Jennie Cooley, daughter of Jabez and Rebecca Cooley. From Kentucky Mr. Johnson came to Missouri in 1868, as stated above. He and wife have six children : Charles C., Losa L., James H., John T., Mary B. and Harry. Both parents are members of the Christian Church. Mr. J.'s farm contains 200 acres.

MARTIN A. KING

(Farmer, Post-Office, Liberty).

When the war broke out in 1861, or, rather, some months after- wards, in the fall of that year, Mr. King, who was born and reared in Clay county, enlisted in the Southern service and was out until well

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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY.

along in the following spring. While under Gen. Price he partici- pated in the battles of Lexington, Pea Ridge and others. Returning home, with the view of taking no further part in the war, he soon found it would be impossible for him to remain without at least nomi- nally joining the militia (Union) service, which he accordingly en- tered. He was in the militia, doing home service, during much of the remaining part of the war. His company was commanded by Capt. Garth, of Liberty. Since then Mr. King has been engaged in farming, as he had previously been. His homestead contains 330 acres, and is well improved. In other tracts he has 540 acres, which are also improved. Mr. King has made all he possesses by his own industry and energy. At the age of 11 years he was left an orphan and without a dollar. From boyhood, therefore, he has made his own way in the world and obtained what education he has, suffi- cient for all ordinary purposes, by his own application. He was born in this county September 22, 1842. His father, Daniel King, removed to Clay county with his family in 1827, and remained here for a period of twenty-five years, or until 1852. He then started on his way, moving to Arkansas, but died en route in Jackson county, this State. He had been justice of the peace of Clay county, and was a citizen well respected and of good standing. He was married three times; first, in Lawrence county, Ohio, and then twice in Clay county. His first wife died in this county in 1843. . There were no children by either of his last two marriages. By his first wife there were five children, four of whom are living. Martin A., the subject of this sketch, was reared in this county, and about the time of the close of the war went to Kansas, but returned eighteen months afterwards. November 13, 1862, he was married to Miss Margaret R. Sutton, a daughter of James and Sarah Sutton. Mr. and Mrs. King have had ten children ; seven are living : Anna A., Mary J., Johanna, Hubert U., Maggie M., Ardena and Ardella. Sarah, and Fannie and Della, twins, all died at tender ages.

PHILIP KRAUS

(Dealer in General Merchandise, Harlem).

Mr. Kraus came to Harlem in 1866, and has been engaged in busi- ness at this place ever since. He is also postmaster. He has a good stock of general merchandise and an excellent trade. He was born in Germany April 26, 1831. He came to the United States in 1850, locating in Ohio, after which he engaged in peddling, which he followed for four years. In 1860 he engaged in merchandising at Shawneetown, Kas., and six years later he came to Harlem. He was married in Platte county in 1872 to Miss Mary K., a daughter of Peter Klaunn. They have had two children, one living, John P. The one deceased was Mary M. Mrs. Kraus is also deceased, having died in 1878. She was an exemplary member of the Lutheran Church. Mr. Kraus' parents were John and Catherine (Koemer) Kraus. They continue to make their home in Germany. There were eleven chil- dren in the family, three of whom are living.

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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY.

J. N. LINDSEY

(Farmer, Post-office, Harlem).

Mr. Lindsey was born in Henry county, Ky., January 15, 1822, and was one in a family of eight children, four still living, of Thomas and Keziah (Jones) Lindsey, the father originally from Virginia. He died in 1860, and the mother in 1870, both in Henry county, Ky. J. N. Lindsey was reared in that county, and in 1857 came to Clay county, Mo., where he has ever since resided. Before coming here he was married, February 18, 1847, in Henry county, Ky., to Miss Elizabeth A. Myles, a daughter of Henry and Margaret Myles. Mr. and Mrs. Lindsey have had ten children, eight of whom are living : Mary N., John P., Sarah M., Anna K., Jemima J., Fannie E., Emma L. and George B. Thomas H. and William P. are deceased. Their mother, Mrs. Lindsey, died in 1870. She was an earnest, consistent member of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Lindsey has a neat farm of 75 acres, where he resides.

JOHN NEAL,

(Farmer, Post-office, Blue Eagle).

Mr. Neal has a good farm of 490 acres, which is fairly improved. It is a comfortable homestead and his situation is one of compara- tively easy circumstances. His occupation throughout life has been that of a farmer, and as the foregoing facts show, he has been satis- factorily successful. He was born in Mason county, Ky., January 19, 1826, and came to Clay county, Mo., with his parents in 1837. His father died here in 1844. He was a farmer by occupation and had been a soldier in the War of 1812. The mother died in 1873. She was a Miss Sidney L. Ellis. He was born in Kentucky in 1796. Of their family of three children, the subject of this sketch is the only one living. Mr. Neal, Jr., grew up in this county, and in 1846 enlisted under Col. Doniphan for the Mexican War. He accompanied Doni- phan's command throughout its famous and romantic campaign to the West and on down the valley of the Rio Grande and across to the cathedral city of the Montezumas. After the war he returned to Clay county and resumed farming. In 1854 he was married to Miss Amanda Burnette of this county. She died in 1863, leaving one child, Edward. His second wife was Miss Virginia L. Woods, and they were married in 1868. She was a daughter of Thomas Woods of this county. They have one child, Thomas N. Mrs. Neal is a member of the Christian Church.

ROBERT REDDISH, M. D.

(Physician and Surgeon, Barry).

Dr. Reddish, born in Nelson county, Ky., April 11, 1835, was reared and educated in that county and in 1855 began the study of

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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY.

medicine at Mt. Washington, in Bullitt county, under Dr. S. M. Hobbs. After taking a course under Dr. Hobbs, he matriculated at the Kentucky School of Medicine of Louisville, Ky., in which he took a course of two terms, and graduated in the class of 1857. That fall his parents, Joseph E. and Jacyntha E. (King) Reddish, removed to Missouri but he preceded them in the spring, all locating at Barry, in Clay county. Here Dr. Reddish engaged in the practice of his pro- fession and has ever since continued it with excellent success and with- out interruption, except for about a year, during the latter part of the war, which he spent at Nebraska City. His removal to that place was caused by the unsettled and dangerous condition of affairs in this county at that time. Indeed, the immediate cause of his removal was the murder of his father by a band of Jennison's Kansas Red Legs who gave out, however, that they were a company of Colorado troops under the command of Col. Ford. Dr. Reddish's father was an inoffensive old gentlemen who had taken no part in the war, either directly or in- directly, and was as highly respected as any man in the community. He was an industrious, hard working man who attended strictly to his own affairs. He was taken out unarmed, for he had never had any use for arms, and while a prisoner and utterly defenseless was shot down in cold blood, as foul and cruel a murder of a white-haired, harmless old man as was ever perpetrated, and as inexcusable as if he had been a helpless, sleeping infant. But such was one of the many outrages committed in this part of the country during the war. God only knows what the answer shall be for them hereafter. Dr. Reddish was married in this county, September 6, 1858. . His wife was a Miss Annie E. Tillery, a daughter of Clayton and Annie Tillery, early settlers of this county. The Doctor and Mrs. R. have five children, three of whom are living : Frankie T., Anna B. and Joseph C. The deceased were William T. and Annie E. The Doctor and wife are members of the Christian Church. The Doctor has been fairly successful as a physician and has a good practice. He also has a good farm of 350 acres. He has been practicing medicine at Barry for the last 27 years.

CHRISTOPHER M. RUSSELL (Farmer, Post-office, Harlem).

It was as early as 1817 that the Russell family came to Missouri. Mr. R.'s father, Andrew Russell, came from Tennessee when a young man. He located in Saline county. Two years later he was married there, in 1819, to a Miss Martin, of Clark county, Ky. In 1822 they removed to Clay county, and the father died here February 13, 1854. He served in the War of 1812 and in the Mormon War. The mother is still living, at the age of 83 years. They had a family of 14 children, six of whom are living. Christopher M. Russell, the subject of this sketch, was born in Clay county June 21, 1841. In 1861 he entered Price's army, and was in the service 12 months. He then returned home, and, November 7, 1865, was married to Miss Mary R.

527

HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY.

Baker, a daughter of Josiah and Sarah Baker, from Kentucky to this county. Mr. and Mrs. Russell have had 10 children, all daughters, and eight of whom are living, namely : Mattie, Ella, Bettie S., Ida, Annie E., Clara, Mary and Rosia. Maggie and Emma died at tender ages. Mr. Russell has always made farming his occupation. His homestead contains 160 acres. He also has 300 acres in other tracts.

CHRISTOPHER SCHRADER (Post-office, Barry).

Mr. Christopher Schrader was born August 7, 1834, in Hasede, Hanover, Germany. His father was named Conrad Schrader, and his mother's maiden name was Elizabeth Ellechers. Both were born and reared in Hasede. They received but a common school education. At the age of 16 years Mr. Schrader's father volunteered to join the army under Napoleon the Great, and fought through the battle of Waterloo. After the defeat he served under the German empire for 15 years. The balance of his life he was strictly engaged in trading. He was known as a noble and generous man, blessed with many fond and tender friends. He died at the age of 83, in Hasede, Hanover, Germany, in 1875. His wife died in 1871. Their number of children were five: Joseph, Christopher, Daniel, Catherine and Gertrude. Catherine is deceased. Mr. Schrader's occupation was shoemaking, and, having learned his trade satisfactorily, he left his native country for America in the year of 1853, landing at New Orleans. Thence he came to Platte county, Mo. In 1855 he established a shoe shop at Barry, Mo., with the capital of $5. In the same year he was married to Miss Wilhelmine Mour, daughter of Wm. Mour, of Hanover, Germany, who died in the year 1835, leaving a wife and daughter to mourn his loss. His wife's name was Caroline Mour, who came to America in 1836, locating in St. Louis, Mo., for one year. Thence she came to Parkville, Platte county, Mo., where she married Chris- topher Diester, who became the father of seven children : Nina, Henry, Daniel, Thomas, Caroline, Magdalene and Christopher. Caroline, Christopher and Magdalene are deceased. Mrs. Schrader's mother's name was Caroline Biltamon, who was born and reared in Hanover, Germany. She was of a moral and religious family, members of the Lutheran Church. Her parents were well-to-do and highly respected by all. Mr. Schrader had a successful business for 15 years at Barry, Mo., endeavoring most earnestly to obtain an honorable position, which he has so far gained. He retired from business in 1869, engaging in farming and stock-raising, which also proved quite successful. He owns 253 acres of land and a vast herd of stock. He has one daughter married (Rosa) to a worthy young man of Kansas City, Mo., a dis- tinguished druggist, well worthy of his position. His name is J. H. Wirthman.

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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY.

SIDNEY SUMMERS

(Farmer, Post-office, Harlem).

Mr. Summers, as a farmer, has the benefit of a good education, which by no means is a small advantage. He took a course at the William Jewell College and acquired a good knowledge of the higher branches. Though a native of Kentucky, he was partly reared in this county, his parents having come here from Woodford county, that State, in 1858. He was born in Woodford county, March 14, 1842. His father, Adam H. Summers, was originally from Virginia, which he left at the age of 20 .- He was married in Woodford county to Miss Dolly Flemming. They had eight children, three of whom are living. He died here in 1865. Mr. Summers, Sr., was a farmer by occupation and a man in comfortable circumstances. He was a useful and well respected citizen. The mother is also deceased. Sidney Summers after he grew up was married in this county to Miss Bettie Russell, a daughter of Andrew Russell, whose sketch appears in this volume. They have one child, Lelia. He and wife are mem- bers of the Christian Church. Mr. Summers is a farmer by occupa- tion and has a good place of 213 acres.

LLEWELLYN TILLERY

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

Mr. Tillery was a son of Capt. Clayton Tillery, one of the early settlers and well known and highly respected citizens of Clay county. He came here when a young man away back in 1821 and made his home in this county until his death, which occurred at an honored old age, in 1868. He was a farmer by occupation and was in comfortable circumstances. For thirty years he served as magistrate for Galla- tin township and in old muster days he had command of a company of militia and was said to be a fine drill master, being a man of pre- possessing military presence and a thorough disciplinarian. He was married soon after coming to Clay county but his wife only survived her marriage a short time, leaving two children at her death. Capt. Tillery was subsequently married to Mrs. Annie M. Vaughn. Three children were the fruits of Capt. Tillery's last union, one of whom was Llewellyn, the subject of this sketch. Capt. Tillery was an earnest and exemplary member of the Primitive Church. His last wife was also a member of that denomination, as was likewise his first wife. Llewellyn Tillery was born on the old family homestead in Gallatin township, November 3, 1843, and was reared on a farm, receiving as he grew up a common school education. On the outbreak of the Civil War, in 1861, although then only about 17 years of age, he enlisted in the Southern service, becoming a member of S. P. Daugherty's company, and remaining out until the close of the war. Young Til- lery took part in thirteen principal engagements, and was twice wounded, being disabled by his wounds for a period, altogether, of

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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY.

five months. He made one of the bravest of the brave soldiers of the South and on more than one field of carnage and death attracted the attention and admiration of his comrades by his gallantry and intre- pidity. Among the numerous great battles of the war the writer recalls the following mentioned by him: Pea Ridge, Vicksburg, Corinth, Big Blue, Baker's Creek, Atlanta, Ga., and Franklin, Tenn. After the war Mr. Tillery returned home and resumed farming and stock- raising and soon showed that a brave and faithful soldier could make equally as law-abiding and useful a citizen. . Industry and good man- agement soon began to bear their usual fruits, and as the years have come and gone, he has become comfortably situated. Several years after the war, in 1868, he was married in Augusta county, Va., to Miss Lou M. Conger, daughter of John S. Conger, of that county, and he now has an interesting family of children, and is doubtless one of the happiest and most contented of pateres familias, at least he has every appearance of being so.

ZATTU TODD (Farmer, Post-office, Harlem).

Zattu Todd was born in Howard county, Mo., February 4, 1818. His father, Elisha Todd, was one of the first settlers of that county, coming there from Kentucky as early as 1809. He served in all the early Indian troubles in that part of the State. Subsequently, in 1822, he removed to Clay county. He was married in Estill county, Ky., in 1806, to Miss Sarah McMahon. She died in Clay county in 1849, and he also died here. They had five children, two of whom are living. Zattu Todd was principally reared in this county, and has made farming his life occupation. His place contains 330 acres, which is fairly improved. Mr. Todd has lived a peaceful home life, as had been his greatest desire. In 1845 he was married to Miss Margaret Rick- ets. She died 11 years afterwards, in 1856, having been the mother of five children, one of whom only, Mary E., now the widow of Roly Porter, is living. To his second wife Mr. Todd was married April 7, 1857. She was a Miss Mary A. Darby. She, too, was taken from him by death, dying August 24, 1872, without issue. Mr. Todd was married to his present wife, Miss Martha A. Morris, January 13, 1874, by Elder H. M. Richardson. She was the daughter of Darius and Maria Morris, of Mason county, Ky., and a member of the Missionary Baptist Church.

JOHN F. WHITAKER (Farmer, Post-Office, Blue Eagle).

Mr. Whitaker was one of the early New England school teachers who came West from New Hampshire, away back in the "Forties." He was educated at Kimball's Union Academy, in New Hampshire, and came out to Kentucky in 1846. He taught school in that State two years, and then came to Clay county, Mo., where he continued teaching. Altogether he taught some fifteen years. A New En-

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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY.

glander by nativity and education, he was very naturally a Union man during the war, and served in the militia of this State. Since retiring from the school-room, however, his principal occupation has been farming. He has a neat place of 80 acres, and is regarded as one of the industrious, intelligent farmers of the vicinity. Mr. Whitaker's first wife, who was a Miss Mary Chandler before her marriage, a daughter of Mack and Nancy Chandler, survived her marriage eighteen months, dying in 1850, and leaving one child : John W. His present wife was a Mrs. Dunsworth, relict of Jackson Dunsworth. They were married August 1, 1867. She was a native of Ohio, and a daughter of Elias and Ellen Reagen. She is a member of the Baptist Church. Mr. Whitaker was born in Sullivan county, N. H., May 9, 1825, and a son of Emery and Mary (Colston ) Whitaker. His father, who was a farmer, died there in 1863, and his mother, originally from Vermont, died in Kentucky in 1878. They had a family of eight children, five of whom are living.

ADDENDUM.

In the first line of the first paragraph, on page 211, in the account of the battle of Blue Mills - it is stated that the Federals were " marching gaily along," etc., when a " galling fire was suddenly opened on them from both sides of the road.". This would indicate that the Federals were marching in column along the road when fired on. Since the account was put in type, the compiler has been assured by Maj. L.M. James, of the Caldwell Home Guards, who was present, and now resides near Kingston, Caldwell county, that when fired on, the Federals were advancing in line of battle, extending from east to west on both sides of the road, the line having been so formed about five minutes, and an advance of 100 yards made before the Secession troops opened fire. Maj. James says that the locality and presence of the enemy had been discovered, but their exact position was not known, and that the Federal advance was conducted with reasonable prudence and caution.

HISTORY

PLATTE COUNTY, MO.

CHAPTER I.

· ABORIGINES.

Pre-Historic Inhabitants - The Indians - Sioux and Algonquins - The Missouris - The Osages, the Sac and Foxes, and the Iowas - Battle of the Little Platte - Pot- tawatomies - Kickapoos -The Issue House - Reminiscences.

PRE-HISTORIC INHABITANTS.

Of this country before the Indians came, and even of the Indians themselves, before the appearance of a white man, but little is known. Here and there are found evidences of the presence of a pre-historic race, prior to centuries, and perhap's chiliads gone by. But whom they were and when they came, how long they remained or what was their fate, history will probably never be able to tell.

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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