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 87

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 87
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 87

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 PLATTE COUNTY.

THE LANDMARK.

The Landmark was established on the 9th day of June, 1865, at Weston, by Messrs. Howard & Adams, and was mainly edited by Judge Samuel A. Gilbert. It was and is Democratic in politics and conducted with vigor and success. After its consolidation with the Reveille it was published as a thirty-six column paper at Platte City under the editorial management of Park & McCluer, who were its proprietors. This arrangement lasted about one year, when Maj. McCluer retired and was succeeded by Norton B. Anderson, Esq. Mr. Anderson removing from the State, Mr. Park became sole editor and proprietor. A few years afterwards Col. C. J. Nesbitt was ad- mitted into partnership. He was in turn succeeded by Maj. J. L. McCluer, a former partner. This arrangement continued two years, when Maj. Park, in March, 1881, sold his interet to Maj. McCluer and Rev. T. R. Valliant. Mr. Valliant is now its editor and proprietor.

After the consolidation, the Landmark began to assume con- siderable State prominence. The ability and force with which it was edited won it a leading position among country journals and made its influence felt in public affairs. It has continued ever since in the front ranks of the country journals of the State.

Mr. Valliant is a gentleman of fine scholarly attainments and a writer of studied elegance. He preserves a high moral tone in his paper and strives to make the influence of the Landmark elevating and ennobling. It is devoted to the home and family not less than to the interests of business life and to public affairs.

Politically, the Landmark continues Democratic, unwavering and unflinching, believing that the highest and best hope of the country lies in the continued success of the Democratic party ; and it is always for truth and morality, honesty and purity, in public and private life.

Mr. Valliant is also pastor of the Episcopal Church at Platte City. He is a man of eminent piety and a minister of learning and elo- quence. There is probably no better course of training to fit one for a worthy and successful discharge of the duties of a Democratic editor than a course in theology ; and certainly there is nothing, aside from religious faith and zeal and a thorough knowledge of the Scrip- tures - which, by the way, are implied from the fact that one is a Democratic editor - so helpful and encouraging to a minister as the consciousness of editorial work on a Democratic paper, well and faithfully performed, especially in Missouri. Though not inseparable,

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HISTORY OF PLATTE COUNTY.

the two callings go so well together that their union seems necessary and natural.

The Landmark is a weekly newspaper, and has a large circulation. Its editorial and local matter is well written, its clippings are selected with care and good judgment, and all its matter is well arranged. The Landmark is one of the leading papers of the county, and as an advertising medium is without a superior among its country cotem- poraries.

THE DEMOCRAT.

The Democrat was established in Platte City, in the year 1873. Its proprietor was Lycurgus Shepard, Esq. The publication of the Democrat was continued for several years. Politically it was Demo- cratic, as nearly all the papers ever published in the county were.

THE ADVOCATE.

The Advocate succeeded the Democrat. It was established and published by a Mr. Kline first, then by T. C. Thurston, and last by I. M. Cockrill. About 1880 it was consolidated with the Landmark.

THE ARGUS.

This paper, which was named for the old Platte Argus, and also for the Argus published at St. Louis in the early days of Missouri, is a new paper established at Platte City. It is a twenty-eight column paper, and is Democratic in politics. The Argus is a sprightly, newsy weekly paper, and is steadily growing in popularity and influence. Its proprietors are young men, full of life and energy and hope, and much of their own animation and high spirits are infused into the columns of their paper.

THE EDGERTON COURIER.

The Courier office was first established at the town of Edgerton, in the northwestern part of the county, more than two years ago. The Courier is now in the third year of its publication, and is being conducted by Messrs. West & Stiff. It is a twenty-eight column paper, issued monthly. A copy of the paper before us is filled with local news and notes, well selected reading matter and a liberal number of advertisements, principally of Edgerton business houses. The paper seems to have a generous home support and to deserve its popularity. To Edgerton and the northwestern part of the county it is unquestion- ably an enterprise of great value and importance. It was originally established by Col. J. C. Nesbitt, in 1883. He was succeeded in the proprietorship by the Messrs. Johnston Brothers. Its present proprie- tors, as noted above, are West & Stiff.

CHAPTER XIX.

PETTIS TOWNSHIP.

Boundary and Physical Features - Population - Early Settlers, and Names of Those First Associated with the Township - Present Condition - Hampton -Location, Etc .- Parkville, the Principal City in the Township - Reminiscences - First Mer- chants, Etc .- History of the Town - Its Outlook Now -Business in the Place - Biographical.

BOUNDARY AND PHYSICAL FEATURES.

The present township of Pettis is situated in the southern and southeastern portion of the county and lies immediately north of Jackson county, its northern boundary extending two miles above the range line dividing townships 51 and 52. It is bounded on the north by Carroll and May townships, and on the east by May township and Clay county, while on the west its principal boundary is Waldron township, though Platte River separates a small portion of it from Lee township.

It was originally timbered land, but the most of the timber has been cleared away to open up farms, and the land, generally, is of a good quality for wheat and fruits, whilst the tame grasses yield good crops. Corn is of course raised to a considerable extent, but mainly for feeding purposes, for this part of the county is well adapted to stock growing. Cattle do well, and all in this vicinity raise them to some extent, several farmers of the township being among the prom- inent cattle raisers of the county.

A considerable portion of the timbered land is quite broken, some of it, indeed, too much so for active cultivation, but will always be valuable for pasturage. Sufficient water is to be easily found, and in the extreme northwestern part of the township flows Platte river. The southern part touches upon the Missouri river, and in the bottoms formed by the Platte and Missouri rivers is to be found some of the best bottom soil for farming purposes within the county. There are also many fine springs here which afford excellent water, pure, cool and delightfully refreshing. Its population in 1880 was 2,354.

EARLY SETTLERS.

Among the early settlers in Pettis township were men who had originally left their comfortable homes in the East - perhaps more

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HISTORY OF PLATTE COUNTY.

recently from Clay county - to make for themselves a habitation in a country which they knew was as yet comparatively unopened to civilization. As remarked in another part of this work, they were drawn hither by the unexcelled richness of the soil and natural ad- vantages of the vicinity. Among those brave old pioneers, men whose descendants have lived to do honor to those whose names they bear, we might mention the following. It would be unreasonable to suppose that the names of all could be given, but we have succeeded in securing those of David and Stephen English, Mrs. A. G. Brown, the Naylors, the Nolands, Richard Babcock, John H. Bueneman, Perry Wood, Adam Wood, David Andrews, Jacob Smelser, David Johnson, David Mitchell and Miles Harrington.

There are many others, sketches of whose families we would be glad to give, and some of whom are quite as deserving of a place in this chapter as any we have noted. We have, however, presented only those names we have been fortunate enough to obtain.

The people of Pettis township hold a worthy place among the best people of the county, and as a community they are law-abiding and peaceable, while, as friends, hospitable and kind. They are industri- ous and energetic, and most of them are comfortably situated in life. We have embraced the history of this township so intimately with the general history of the county that, of course, it would be unnecessary to repeat here what has already been given. For further items we would refer our readers to that portion of our work.

HAMPTON.

In the northern portion of the township, and in section 28, town- ship 52, range 34, is located Hampton, a small village, but a town at an early day of no inconsiderable importance. It contains a number of good stores, besides which is a blacksmith shop. A post-office has long been established here. The present population of the town is about 50. It is situated in the midst of a fine agricultural commu- nity, and is well supported. This is conceded to be in the finest wheat-raising portion of the county.

The principal place in Pettis township, and a town which has been established for many years, and where the greater interest of those in the township centers, is

PARKVILLE.

Through the courtesy of the editor of the Parkville Independent, Mr. John Gharky, we have derived much valuable information from

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HISTORY OF PLATTE COUNTY.

a series of articles which recently appeared in that paper, from the pen of T. C. S. Ashby, entitled "Reminiscences of Parkville." Wehave quoted some of these items of interest quite frequently below.

In 1837 the site of Parkville was selected and settled by Stephen and David English, as an eligible location for a river town. Geo. S. Park became owner, and had it surveyed and laid off, calling it Park- ville. As a business man, Mr. P. was very energetic and full of push, and in a short time a thrifty, growing town was at Parkville.

In the early part of 1851 there was not a church in the place, though the population numbered probably 300 or 400. An old mill was op- erated by A. Goodyear and Geo. Roberts, and the mercantile business at that day was represented by four firms : Aspling & Stevens, Rem- ington & Couch, R. A. Ringo, and M. T. Summers. About this period, also, the Indian trade was a profitable source of income, and many, perhaps over a hundred, Indians at a time were often seen upon these streets.

At the date from which Mr. Ashby commences his historical remin- iscences (1851) there were two drug stores in Parkville, owned by J. W. Ringo and his partner, Dr. Young, and Dr. Love and J. H. Buen- eman. Besides these physicians, there were a number of others, the medical profession being very fully represented. Among these were Drs. Barnes, Love, Crust and possibly others.

The tin and stove business was in the hands of Wm. Dziubon, whose death occurred in 1876 or 1877.

A man who has been intimately connected with the history of Park- ville from the year 1844 is Mr. John Bueneman, who was the first tailor in the place. He also subsequently carried on a mercantile establishment, and later a drug business. He is now the post- master of the place. George Wood was also a tailor by trade, and followed his calling here.

George S. Park and Darius Silvey carried a stock of furniture in 1851, but Silvey died two years later, or in December, 1853. Mr. Park, the founder of the place, was a native of New York, and, we believe, had participated in the early struggles of Texas for independ- ence. After giving this town a good start, he commenced the erection of a building, now the Park College, which he used as a hotel.

As mentioned elsewhere, the first newspaper here was the Parkville Luminary, and in Chapter IX of this volume can be found an account of its destruction during the Kansas troubles.

In 1852 and 1853 thẻ outlook and business prospects for Parkville

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HISTORY OF PLATTE COUNTY.

were very encouraging, and in order to increase facilities for com- munication with the outer world, Mr. Park directed all his energies towards the introduction of a railroad to the town. Soon after, a charter was obtained from the Legislature for the Parkville and Grand River Railroad, and considerable grading, building of bridges, etc., was done. But the outbreak of the war put an end to all work in this direction, and the enterprise was literally killed.

In 1851 Mr. Thomas Aspling, with a man named Hat, from Cincin- nati, commenced the erection of flouring and saw mills east of the town less than half a mile ; the saw mill was completed in 1851, the grist mill in 1852, and these were operated by them until 1854. In 1854 the grist mill was sold to Louis A. Ford and T. C. S. Ashby, and the business was conducted by them to the year 1857, when Ashby sold his interest to Ford, who, in 1865, sold to William K. Faulconer and George Wheeler ; and they sold to Wheeler & McIlhern, and they. to Carmody & Bro., who after a few years abandoned it, to operate the Red Cross mills.

In 1850 or 1851 the Legislature of Missouri granted a charter making Parkville an incorporated city. In 1852 and 1853 numerous mercantile establishments were added to the business industry of the place, and subsequently, as a shipping point, it was only second to Weston. In August of the latter year, a disastrous fire occurred in the business portion of the town, but the burned buildings were soon rebuilt, and in a more substantial manner.

Of course, the mechanical trades occupied no small portion of the attention of the early settlers here. Messrs. John, Mike and Patrick Daniels were the stone masons, and many excellent contracts were fulfilled by them. The Messrs. Clouse were for a time located here, one of whom, Mr. William Clouse, was the father of Mrs. Fred. Kahm, whose husband is now in the shoe busines at Parkville. Among the brickmakers and masons were the Thompsons - Capt. Benj. Thompson and his sons, John, Frank and James, and numerous struc- tures now here attest their ability and skill as workmen. John Dykes was engaged in the same business, but afterwards conducted a hotel. Carpentering was done by David Mitchell, G. W. Patterson, John Congleton, Hat & Aspling, and a Mr. Donovan. Others came later, but of this number, only one, G. W. Patterson, a man now well ad- vanced in years, remains. The gunsmith of the town was John Howell.

There were the usual other establishments found in a growing town at an early date, among which were a bakery, John Busch, proprietor ;

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HISTORY OF PLATTE COUNTY.

he afterwards became engaged in the manufacture of candies ; and a millinery store, kept by Mrs. Mary Soper. We should have noticed before a merchandise business which Mr. Edgar conducted many years ago. His son, E. W. Edgar, now resides within five miles of Park- ville.

Lawyers were here in numbers, and members of the fraternity whose names we recall are W. H. Miller, Thomas Stearnes, William M. Clough, and Ebenezer N. O. Clough.

There was in 1851 but one public building in Parkville, a school- house situated on the top of the hill west of Main street, and on the north side of Fourth street. It was unroofed in 1860 during the only severe storm that has visited the town since 1851. Several buildings were blown down, and others damaged to some considerable extent. The school-house was made of brick, and seemed to have been built for some time. After its destruction the town had to depend on rent- ing room for their schools for several years. In 1877 or 1878 the board of education purchased the residence of Arad Goodyear, and after making some alterations in the house, used it for school pur- poses until 1880, when the present new and elegant school-house was built. It stands on the site of the old Goodyear house, on East street, and cost $2,500.

In conclusion, Mr. Ashby has written so plainly of the present condition of Parkville that we have thought it proper to repeat what was said in the Independent of May 14, 1885 : -

From the time of the war down to the present we have dragged along without any apparent improvement ; but it is a ' long lane that has no turn.' Signs of a better state of things are seen to-day. The town has made some advancement in the last year or two, which shows that an awakening after a twenty years' nap is taking place. And why should Parkville not become a town of 10,000 inhab- itants ? It is undeniably a healthy location ; it is a place where a family can live cheaply, it is a place surrounded by a country that produces everything that can be grown in the same latitude ; facilities for almost any legitimate business are excellent ; the people are moral, courteous and educated. The opportunities for education are in ad- vance of almost any small town in the State. We have a most excellent public school carried on eight or nine months of the year, and Park College, though in her infancy, is coming to the front. From a small beginning six or seven years ago, she is now educating two hundred and fifty or more young men and women. Our advantage is that in Park College a very small sum of money with a good deal of applica- tion on the part of the student insures an education. He only needs to feel that he wants an education and be willing to work and wait,

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HISTORY OF PLATTE COUNTY.

to devote his energies to the accomplishment of that end, then to suc- ceeding in getting into the college family, and he is a success.

Park College is quite a prominent educational institution, and is under the patronage of the Presbyterian denomination. Under the presidency of Prof. McAfee, the institution is in a prosperous con- dition. We regret exceedingly that Prof. McAfee's engagements were such that he could not furnish us the information we desired in reference to this college.

At this time the population of Parkville is about 700, and all branches of business are represented. The Parkville Bank is a flour- ishing financial institution, its president being W. J. Fulton, and its cashier John B. Flannery. The only railroad facilities which the town now enjoys are those afforded by the Kansas City, St. Joe and Coun- cil Bluffs Railroad, which passes through the place from the southeast towards the northwest, affording close communication with Kansas City and St. Joseph, Council Bluffs and other northern points.

BIOGRAPHICAL.

REUBEN T. ATKINS

(Farmer and Stock-raiser, Section 13, Post-office, Parkville) .

Mr. Atkins moved upon the farm on which he now lives in 1883, coming from Southern Colorado, where he had been for some time. His present place is situated four miles east of north from Parkville, and embraces 240 acres, of which 200 are fenced, and a portion of it is devoted to blue grass pasture. His building improvements are of a good class. Mr. Atkins is successfully engaged in breeding Palan- gus cattle, of which grade he has a herd of sixteen head, registered ; at the front is a three-year-old male, " Jacob," the American num- ber of which is 2078, and the Scotch number, 2853; his weight is about 1,800 pounds. Mr. A. is a native Missourian, having been born in Clay county, November 11, 1846. His father, J. Q. Atkins, originally from Virginia, went to Woodford county, Ky., when a lad of 10 years, and there grew to years of maturity, and subsequently married Miss Mary Stone. Moving to Missouri in 1830, he entered land in Clay county and bought a farm near Liberty, where he resided until his death, in September, 1866. The youth and early manhood of Reuben T. Atkins were passed within the boundaries of his native county, and the common schools of the vicinity found in him a stu- dious and appreciative pupil. In March, 1868, he went to Southern

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HISTORY OF PLATTE COUNTY.

Colorado and worked at his trade of carpentering for about three years, then engaging in ranching. He found time to devote a little attention to hunting during this period, but gave the most of his en- ergies to looking after the interests of the ranch from 1873 until 1883, when, disposing of that, he purchased his present farm, as noted above. Mr. Atkins was married in Colorado, February 9, 1877, to Mrs. Elise Carlier, a daughter of Eugene Gaussoin. Mrs. Atkins is a native of Europe, but was brought up in the United States. She has two children by a former marriage, Harry and Blanche Carlier. By the latter union three children have been born : Leah, Walter and Jerry Dean. Mrs. Atkins is a member of the Episcopal Church.

ALBERT R. BAKER

(Merchant, Tracy, Mo .; also Farmer and Stock-raiser).

For twenty-five years Mr. Baker has been a resident of this county, during the most of which time he has been occupied with agricul- tural pursuits. Since April, 1884, however, he has carried on a gen- eral store at Tracy, and in one year's business at this place he has built up a good patronage and has acquired a reputation for reliable dealing and honorable transactions in business affairs which will never be forgotten. He had not come here without some mercantile experience, having engaged in the general merchandise business at Waldron in 1879, which he carried on for nearly five years, then disposing of his interests there. In his farming operations he has been peculiarly successful, and now owns a fine tract of land near Farley, on the Platte river, of 220 acres, the greater part of which is in cultivation. His nearly new residence is a prominent feature of the place, and the other necessary outbuildings are in good condition. Mr. Baker came originally from Rappahannock county, Va., where he was born Sep- tember 17, 1828. His father, Daniel Baker, was born in Loudoun county, Va., and there was subsequently married to Miss Nancy Lawrence, a native of Fauquier county, the same State, where her death also occurred. Albert R. grew to manhood in his native county and there, on December 14, 1854, was united in marriage with Miss Julia F. Singleton, daughter of Albert R. Singleton, of that county ; she had been born in Fauquier county, but was reared in Rappahan- nock county. Previous to his marriage Mr. Baker had been occupied in clerking, and after this even he was engaged in merchandising un- til coming West in November, 1859. At this time he went to Texas and remained until the fall of 1860, when he became a citizen of Platte county, Mo., and where, as before intimated, he has since con- tinued to make his home. He has become well aud popularly known, and thoroughly merits the esteem in which he is held by his many acquaintances. For one or more terms he has held the position of magistrate, though he has never been an aspirant for political advance- ment. To himself and wife have been born two children, Frances Marion and Albert Fleming. Three sons are deceased : James Jack- son died April 1, 1884, aged 29 years ; he left a wife and two chil-

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HISTORY OF PLATTE COUNTY.

dren ; Daniel R. died February 28, 1872, aged 15 years, and William Lee died September 29, 1882. Mr. and Mrs. Baker are members of the Baptist Church, and the former belongs to the Masonic Order at Farley.

ADAM BECKLEY

(Section 28, Post-office, Parkville).

Mr. Beckley has been a resident of Pettis township, Platte county, Mo., since 1868, having come here from Jefferson county, Ohio. He has become one of the well known and enterprising agriculturists of this vicinity, and has contributed very materially to the advancement and promotion of the farming interests of the county. Mr. B.'s father was a native of Virginia, and there grew to manhood, and married Miss Mary Nicholas, of the same State. In an early day he settled in Ohio, first in Harrison county, and later in Carroll and Jefferson counties, in each of which he was occupied in farming. He had been twice married, his first wife dying about the year 1849; his death occurred in Carroll county in 1879. Adam Beckley was born in Harrison county, O., July 3, 1838, and having been brought up to labor on the home farm, very naturally chose farming as his calling in life - a choice which has proven to be a most judicious one. He attended the common schools in the neighborhood of his birth, and after reaching manhood he married, Miss Sarah J. Grim becoming his wife on September 20, 1859. She was born in Harrison county, O., and was the daughter of John Grim, of Carroll county, where her girlhood was passed. The spring following his marriage, Mr. Beckley removed to Van Buren county and farmed on rented land until the fall of 1862, when he returned to Ohio. Some six years later, as noted above, he cast his fortunes with Platte county. His estate embraces 130 acres, the most of which is in cultivation, and upon the home place are good improvements. To Mr. and Mrs. B. have been born ten children ; Laura Belle, wife of Chas. H. Staples, living on an adjoining farm; Richard M. died in the fall of 1881, in his twentieth year ; William S. died when in his eighteenth year, in 1881 ; Kittie, Ettie May, Absalom, Debie A., Charles F., John H. and an infant, Bert Leroy, three months old. Mr. Beckley and wife are members of the M. E. Church.

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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