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 99

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 99
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 99

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.

who did a good part by him in his early training. He received an excellent education, having attended school at Camden Point, Leb- banon, and Lancaster, Pa., prosecuting such branches of study as he rightly believed to be of the most practical benefit to him in later years. Early displaying the genius for the science of medicine and having a fixed resolution to ultimately devote himself to the medical profession, he studied under Dr. Rixey, and after two years of study at the Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia, he was graduated in 1869. After this he located on his farm, and since that time has been occupied in conducting it in addition to practicing his profession. He owns 480 acres of land, nearly all in cultivation, though it was almost a wilderness when he located on it. The improvements upon it are the result of his own energy and industry. Two hundred acres of this tract were entered by his grandfather Hughes, and a deed has never been made of that part of the farm, it being entailed. Dr. Hammond is now in his thirty-ninth year, having been born at Bee Creek Mills, May 22, 1846. February 14, 1869, he was married in Philadelphia to Miss Ella Upham, daughter of Abijah and Frances Upham, of that city, where Mrs. H. was born and reared and edu- cated. They have six children : Samuel R., Richard H.,. A. E., Mary, Lilian and an infant daughter. They have lost two children, one three years old and the other in infancy. Mrs. Hammond is a mem- ber of the Missionary Baptist Church. Dr. Hammond's name is well known in Carroll township, and throughout the surrounding country as that of a conscientious and successful physician and highly es- teemed citizen.

CAPT. R. N. HARRINGTON (Platte City) . ..

Comparison of ages among those to those to the " manor born " dis- closes Capt. R. N. Harrington, of Platte City, the " first born " in the county after it was thrown open for settlement, the event occurring at a " pre-emption cabin " on the premises now belonging to E. J. Mil- ler, Esq., on the 24th of July, 1837. His life has been spen there with the exception of short intervals. He attended the schools of the neighborhood, and the academy at Camden Point, completing his education at Sugar Tree Grove Academy, in Clay county, Mo. He studied and practiced law from 1857 to 1861 with good success. His excellent qualifications secured for him the offices of city attorney of Platte City and school commissioner of the county within this period.

Starting out loyal to the old flag, and failing to realize the promises of the government in waging a war for the integrity of the Union, upon Gen. Fremont freeing the negroes in Missouri upon one stroke of his pen, he joined his Southern brethren in their noble cause of self-defense, rising to the captaincy of a company and commanding it at the hard struggle of Pea Ridge with skill and daring. His health failing from the hardships of climate and military life, he returned, leaving a brother and step-brother as a sacrifice of the family's con-

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HISTORY OF PLATTE COUNTY.

tribution, William Harrington being killed at Port Gibson and Capt. J. B. Clark at Baker's Creek, in May, 1862.

In 1864 he was married to Miss Laura, a daughter of Capt. Andrew Johnson. Mr. H. was for a time engaged in the milling business, but owing to inexperience in this avocation the result was very unsatisfactory, and he lost a fine property. When disaster came they did not shelter themselves under the " rights " of the wife, but let all go for the satisfaction of creditors.

The last two years he has lived at the county seat that his two sons might have better school facilities, and he engages in literary pursuits.

JAMES HODGES

(Farmer and Stock-raiser, Secton 12, Post-office, Platte City) .

Mr. Hodges was a young man 26 years of age when he came to Missouri with his parents, in 1851, having grown to manhood in Ful- ton county, Ky., where he was born on the 7th of October, 1825. His father, Samuel Hodges, a Virginian by birth, went to Kentucky in an early day, where he married Nancy Roberts of that State. He was a characteristic pioneer settler of that then territory, and served with distinguished bravery and valor in the War of 1812. In the spring of 1851 he moved his family to Missouri and located in Platte county, where he bought land and improved a farm and resided upon it until his death in 1875. His wife died in January, 1883. James Hodges, a worthy son of this family, remained on the home place un- til his marriage, when, November 24, 1853, Miss Melissa Magill, a daughter of David Magill, originally from Tennessee, and one of the early settlers of Clay county, became his wife. Mrs. Hodges was born in Clay county, but was reared in Platte. After his marriage Mr. Hodges bought land and located on the farm, which he has since occupied, about eight miles southeast of Platte City. Here he has 200 acres partly cultivated and the balance in pasture and timbered land, and upon his home farm is a good residence and other necessary buildings. He has one child, Nannie E., wife of John B. Moore, who is on the place with his father-in-law. Mr. and Mrs. Hodges are members of the Presbyterian Church. He was formerly a Mason, but is now too aged to attend lodge. He is, in truth, one of the highly respected and honored citizens of this county.

COLLINS B. HODGES (Farmer, Post-office, Linkville).

Mr. Hodges' farm, containing 175 acres, while not as large as many within the limits of Platte county, is well improved, and in a manner which indicates the successful agriculturist. He has ever been most thorough in all his farming operations, and these, combined with en- ergy and perseverance, have placed him in a prominent position among the tillers of the soil here. Mr. H. was born of the marriage of Sam- uel and Nancy (Cane) Hodges, which occurred in 1820, his parents

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HISTORY OF PLATTE COUNTY.

both being natives of Norfolk county, Va. There were nine children in the family besides Collins : Charles B., Jessie, James J., Katie, Arena, Nancy, Letitia, Rufus T. and Finis E. Samuel Hodges was a participant in the War of 1812, and at his death, which occurred in 1875, had reached a good old age, having been born in 1798. His widow died in 1882. Politically he was a Democrat, and he and his wife were both members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Collins B. Hodges was born in Fulton county, Ky., June 22, 1842. He made that State his home until 1851, when he came to Platte county, Mo., purchasing the farm which he now occupies, and where he commenced farming and stock-raising. He remained on the home farm until the death of his father, but in the meantime, in 1873, had married, in Obion county, Tenn., Sarah P. Harpole, daughter of Wil- son P. and Millie B. Harpole, nee Fowler, the former born May 4, 1822, and the latter in 1831. Mrs. H. was the eldest of six children, the others being Andrew J., Finis E., John A., Emma E. and Maggie L. To Mr. and Mrs. Hodges have been born a family of four chil- dren, viz. : Millie V., born March 29, 1876 ; James S., born December 6, 1878 ; Nancy, born July 31, 1871, and Wilson, an interesting little fellow, the date of whose birth is August 12, 1884. Mr. Hodges is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and he and his wife belong to the Cumberland Church, as do also the parents of his wife. He is well respected in the community where he has so long made his home.

STEPHEN JOHNSTON

(Of Johnston Brothers, Dealers in Dry Goods, Etc., Platte City).

Mr. Johnston may be said to have been reared to the business in which he is now engaged. His father before him, Stephen Johnston, Sr., was an old and successful merchant of Platte City, one of the first to engage in business here, and he continued merchandising at this place until about the close of the late war, when his mercantile career was closed on account of failing health. He died soon after- wards, in the fall of 1865. He was strictly a business man and 'allowed nothing to divert him from his business affairs, neither politics nor any of the other interests which often draw men off from their regular pursuits. He was twice married. His first wife was a Miss Malinda D. Clark, a daughter of the late Judge Clark, of Boonville. His second wife, whose maiden name was George Anna Boyd, was a daughter of Judge J. R. Boyd, of Tennessee. By his first wife there were three children. Four children were the fruits of his second marriage. Stephen Johnston, the subject of the present sketch, was the youngest child in the first family, and was born in this county, near Platte City, June 6, 1851. Reared in Platte City, he was prin- cipally educated at Prof. Gaylord's Seminary. Coming up an assist- ant in his father's store, he learned the business of merchandising thoroughly, and on the 25th of July, 1878, was married to Miss Ida M. Clay, daughter of Thomas H. Clay, of Platte county. After his marriage Mr. Johnston located at Edgerton and engaged in merchan-

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HISTORY OF PLATTE COUNTY.

dising on his own account. He continued there until the spring of 1884, when he sold out and bought an interest in the present store with his brother Charles, a son of their father by his second marriage. The Messrs. Johnston Brothers carry a large stock of dry goods and other goods of kindred lines usually found in a first-class country dry goods store, and are doing an excellent business. Mr. Johnston is a member of the Odd Fellows' Order, and he and brother are members of the Christian Church. On the 31st of November, 1881, he had the misfortune to lose his excellent and devoted wife. She left him two children at her death, Mittie M. and Thomas H. C.

JAMES H. JONES

(Farmer and Stock-raiser, Post-office, Platte City).

James H. Jones was born in Montgomery county, Ky., January 26, 1837. His father, David Jones, was numbered among the early settlers of Bath county, Ky., from Virginia. David Jones was born and reared in Kentucky and made his permanent home in Montgom- ery county, where he resided until his death in 1861. He was a farmer by occupation and was fairly successful. His wife was a Miss Mary Jamison before her marriage. James H. Jones was reared in Mont- gomery county, and in 1861 enlisted in the Southern service under Col. Duke, of Morgan's command. He was with Morgan in all the latter's raids, including the one in Ohio and Indiana. He was in a number of deadly engagements. After coming from Ohio, he was taken prisoner in Bath county, Ky., and held a prisoner in Louisville for 16 months, being afterwards confined at Camp Chase for four months, or until the close of the war. Returning then to Kentucky, he made his home there until the fall of 1869, when he removed to Missouri with his family and settled where he now resides, five miles southeast of Platte City. Mr. Jones has a fine place of 560 acres, all under fence and either in cultivation or pasturage. This includes a fine tract of 200 acres of blue grass pasture. October 9, 1860, Mr. Jones was married to Miss Fannie Reagan, of Montgomery county, Ky., a daughter of William Reagan, formerly of Virginia. Mr. and Mrs. Jones have had but one child, a son, William Z., who is now grown and married, and is engaged in farming with his father on his homestead. His wife's maiden name was Miss Fannie Oldham. She was a daughter of F. M. Oldham, of this county, and before her mar- riage was a successful and popular teacher in Platte county.

FRED KRAUSE

(Proprietor of the Platte City Meat Market, Farmer and Stock-feeder.)

Mr. K. is a native of Germany, born in the town of Langensalza, March 22, 1837, in the empire of Prussia. He was the fourth son of Gottlieb and Augusta Krause, of that town, where he received a com- mon school education. His father, being a veteran of the war be- tween France and Russia, under Napoleon Bonaparte, was one of the

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HISTORY OF PLATTE COUNTY.

few survivors who escaped from Moscow. Returning to Germany after the war, he married the mother of Mr. Krause, Augusta Hesse ( born March 18, 1800), in Langensalza, in 1822, they raising a large family of five boys and three girls. The father of the family came to America in 1839 to seek a new home for his family. He located in St. Charles county, Mo. In 1847 he sold out to go back to Ger- many after his family by the way of Baltimore. He was robbed of his trunk and contents and left penniless, was taken sick and died in Baltimore in 1849. The mother of Mr. Krause, a woman of great industry and perseverance, then sold out her possessions in Germany and emigrated with the rest of her family to America, and located in Baltimore in the fall of 1852. Mr. Krause, after serving his appren- ticeship at the butcher business, came West in 1855 and worked in St. Louis until 1857. Then he went to New Orleans on the steamer Planet as a deck hand. Finding the climate too warm he went north again and stopped at Memphis, Tenn., where he obtained a situation as butcher with the firm of Duvall, Alger & Co., to supply the steam- boats with meat that carried the cotton from that place to New Orleans. In the spring of 1860, while the political heavens in the South were beginning to become warm, Mr. Krause, by the advice of some rela- tives living in Leavenworth, Kan., came west to that place with the intention of starting into business ; but as the outlook at that time was very gloomy in Leavenworth, he crossed the Missouri river and settled in Platte City and started a meat market. In the winter of 1861-62, under the preaching of Moses E. Lard, he joined the Chris- tian Church and has been a constant member of that church since. May 10, 1863, he was married to Elizabeth Christy, daughter of James M. Christy, a prominent farmer near Platte City. His wife died in August, 1864, from that dreadful disease, flux, which at that time claimed a great many victims in this neighborhood. September 26, 1866, he was married again to Miss Nannie A. Duncan, daughter of George B. Duncan, of Clinton county, Mo. In the spring of 1873 he re- ceived a commission from Gov. Silas Woodson, of the State of Missouri, as one of the Commissioners to the World's Exposition, then held at Vienna, in Austria. He left his home May 10, 1873, and was absent for about four months. Upon returning he resumed his usual occu- pation. Mr. Krause has a family of seven children, six girls and one boy, who are all well provided for ; he has, by his industry, con- stancy, sobriety and energy, secured for himself and family a nice home in the city and a good farm of 250 acres of the choicest land in Platte county, well improved, three miles east of Platte City, and anincome which, by good management, will keep him above want.

DAVID J. LINK

(Farmer and Stock-raiser, Section 24, Township 52, Range 34, Post-office, Linkville).

In 1850 Mr. Link was drawn into that tide of Western emigrants bound for the gold fields of California, and, in company with John C. Berry, Israel Cook, M. Spicer and others, was 110 days on the road.

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HISTORY OF PLATTE COUNTY.

After spending about twelve months in the mines in seeking for the deep hidden treasures of the earth he returned by the Nicaraugua route on the steamship that went that way, going around of course by New York city. Returning to this county he settled on the place which he had occupied before going to California, and now lives in the house which he built in 1847. He has added to his original structure until his residence is one of the neatest and most substan- tial in the township, his farm, which embraces 160 acres, having upon it the necessary outbuildings. Besides this he has 110 acres in two other places. Mr. Link was actively and successfully en- gaged in farming until the outbreak of the war, when he enlisted under Jackson's call in 1861, and subsequently became a member of a regular Confederate regiment, serving until the close of the war. Part of the time he was in both the infantry and cavalry, during the latter part of the war being occupied on detached duty in the quartermaster's department. He participated in many engage- ments, hotly and bitterly contested, among which were those of Lex- ington, Sugar Creek and Little Rock. After the close of the war he returned to his home. Mr. Link was originally from Bourbon county, Ky., born February 28, 1827. He was a son of Israel Link, of the same county, whose father, a Virginian by birth, had settled in Ken- tucky in 1800, among the primitive days of the State.

Israel Link, who was born March 4, 1803, married Miss Elizabeth C. Hufford, of Scott county, Ky. In 1840 the family removed to Missouri, locating at first in Clay county, but in about two years set- tled in Platte county, on the present site of Linkville, where he en- tered land and improved a farm, residing here until his death, February 25, 1879. David J. was 13 years old when his parents came to this State, but was reared here and received a good common school education. In 1850, as above stated, he went to California. Before this, however, November 23, 1847, he was married to Miss Matilda E. Lampton, daughter of Benjamin L. Lampton, formerly from Clark county, Ky. She died here August 4, 1876, leaving four children : Elizabeth, wife of George Jameson, of California ; Benjamin, mar- ried, and in this county ; Lottie E., wife of John Hartley, of Platte county, and Eli Lampton, 19 years of age. December 14, 1884, Mr. Link was married near Parkville to Mrs. Emma Richardson, formerly the wife of Dr. Alonzo M. Richardson, and daughter of Jesse Sum- mers. She was born and reared in Fleming county, Ky., and had one daughter by her former marriage: Elizabeth, wife of Willard Baldwin. He and his wife are members of the Christian Church. Mr. Link belongs to the Masonic fraternity, being a member of Lodge, No. 504, A. F. and A. M., at Platte City, Mo.

JAMES M. LITTLEJOHN

(Farmer, Contractor and Builder, Section 1, Post-office, Platte City).

Mr. Littlejohn, a veteran of two wars, and not without prominence in the community in which he resides, was born in Mason county,

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HISTORY OF PLATTE COUNTY.

Ky., July 19, 1830. His father, Daniel Littlejohn, a Virginian by birth, was the son of Aaron Littlejohn, of the same State, who, while serving in the War of 1812, received a wound from the effects of which he died at Alexandria, Va. Daniel, when a child, accompanied his mother to Springville, Ky., and was married in that vicinity to Miss Cynthia Thompson, of that State, but of Scotch descent. The senior Littlejohn was a tanner by trade, and after working at that business for many years, moved to Southern Illinois and settled on a farm. His widow still resides in that State, in Pulaski county. James M. grew to manhood in Mason county, where he had the ad- vantages of the common schools in which to acquire an education, and at the age of fourteen he apprenticed himself to learn the contractor's and builder's trade, working in that manner for three years. In 1847 he enlisted under Capt. Leonidas Metcalf, in Co. E, Third Ken- tucky Volunteer infantry, for the Mexican War, and as a brave soldier participated in the siege of Pueblo. He was in the service for one year, and when the treaty was made and peace declared he was at the City of Mexico. Returning home, Mr. Littlejohn was engaged in carpentering until the winter of 1850, when he came to Missouri, and for three years followed his trade at St. Joseph. In 1853 he commenced his chosen calling at Camden Point, this county, which he followed until the breaking out of the Civil War.

In 1861 he became a member of Capt. W. B. Chiles' company of Col. John Winston's regiment, and was soon placed in the quartermaster's department, receiving his discharge upon the disorganization of Jack- son's men. Entering the regular Confederate service, he was now appointed recruiting officer by Col. John T. Hughes, and shortly after was taken prisoner in Southern Missouri, being paroled in a few days. He now came home, but in 1863 became engaged in freighting across the plains to Colorado, Salt Lake and New Mexico. After the close of the war Mr. Littlejohn returned to Platte county, and has since been occupied in contracting and building in connection with farming. About 1870 he moved npon his present farm, a good place of 145 acres, well improved. March 4, 1856, he was married to Miss Bettie J. Pullins, daughter of William Pullins, formerly from Madison county, Ky. Mrs. L., born there, was partly educated at Richmond, and is a lady of superior intellectual worth. She is related to three prominent families of Kentucky - the Walkers, Watts and Turners - and is a cousin of Col. Elijah Gates, of Missouri. Mr. and Mrs. Littlejohn have four children : Dora, James M., Cynthia A. and Liz- zie W. Mr. L. is an Ancient Odd Fellow. His wife is a member of the Christian Church.

STEPHEN McCOMAS

(Farmer and Stock-raiser, Section 26, Post-office, Platte City).

Mr. McComas, a man of no small acquaintance and of deserved influence in the material affairs of the vicinity in which he makes his home, is a brother to Sanders McComas, mention of whom is made

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HISTORY OF PLATTE COUNTY.

elsewhere, and was born January 4, 1835, in Cabell county, W. Va., a son of Burke and Nancy (Heath ) McComas, both also Virginians by birth. In December, 1840, the family having decided to come on westward, located in Missouri, taking up their permanent residence in Platte county, and upon the place where they now reside, in 1848. Burke McComas first settled in the Platte and Missouri river bottoms, but losing a great deal of property by the flood of 1844, he moved to Preston township, two and a half miles southwest of Ridgely. He is now 74 years of age, a well preserved, hearty old gentleman, who bids fair to see many more years. His worthy wife died in July, 1871. Like most of the youths at that time, Stephen McComas passed his younger days in tending the home farm, and receiving the rudiments of an elementary education. Subsequently, on March 20, 1855, when in his twenty-first year, he was married to Miss Virginia Bird, daughter of William and Mary Bird, née Shafer, her parents having been among the early settlers of this county. She was born in Clay county, though brought up in Platte. In 1857 Mr. McComas went to Kansas and while there pre-empted land in Jackson county, where he made his home for 18 months, then selling out and returning home. In 1860 he fell a victim to that most natural disease - gold fever - and went to Pike's Peak, but one season satisfied him of his desire to accumulate property in that manner. From 1874 for three years he resided in Leavenworth, Kan., and in 1877 once more came back to the county in which his youth and early manhood had been spent. He owns 160 acres of land, well improved with all necessary appurtenances. One of the interests to which he has devoted much attention is that pertaining to machinery, for in addition to carrying on his usual farming operations he conducts a thrashing machine, and has done so for nearly 20 years. Besides this he runs most suc- cessfully a saw mill with a portable engine, cutting on an average about 300,000 feet of lumber annually. His thrashing will amount to from 25,000 to 30,000 bushels of grain each season. Mr. and Mrs. Mc- Comas have reared seven children : William, married, and in this county ; Katie, wife of T. B. Flannery, also of this county ; Jefferson D., married ; Melvina, now Mrs. Charles Chinn ; Thomas J., mar- ried ; John B. and James at home. The oldest child, Mary F., died in 1874, while the wife of William Daugherty ; Emily died in her eleventh year, and Charlie died when 11 months old.

SANDERS W. McCOMAS

(Farmer and Stock-raiser and Dealer, Section 24, Post-office, Platte City).

As mentioned in the sketch of Stephen McComas, which precedes this, there came to Missouri about the year 1840, Burke McComas and his wife Nancy, nee Heath, both originally from Cabell county, Va. The former has been a farmer by occupation during his life, and though somewhat retired at the present time, he takes much interest in agricultural affairs. Sanders W. McComas was one of the family of children born of the marriage of Burke McComas and Nancy Heath ;

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HISTORY OF PLATTE COUNTY.

his birth occurred on the 2d of January, 1841, and he is a native of Platte county. Having grown up within its boundaries, he has very naturally become prominently and closely identified with its material progress. In youth he was denied the privileges of more than a limited education, but by self application and close examination of the means afforded, as well as by great reading in later years, it is but the truth to say that he has become one of the foremost men in educational matters in the State. He is well posted on the current events of the day also. In December, 1861, Mr. McComas enlisted under Col. Hall in the cavalry service of the Missouri State militia, and was mus- tered out at St. Louis, February 14, 1865, as second sergeant. He participated in the fight at Newton, Mo., and in several skirmishes, among others those at Jefferson City and Springfield, besides pur- suing Price and Joe Shelby on their raids through the State. Upon returning home he was married in Howard county, February 18, 1868, to Miss Lucy Heath, daughter of Judge Wm. R. Heath, of Howard county, where Mrs. McComas was born and reared. Previous to this, however, Mr. McComas had purchased a farm to which he now re- moved, the one which he now occupies. This contains a quarter sec- tion of excellent land, and upon it are good improvements, residence, barns, etc. For some time he has been interested in buying and shipping stock, his shipments amounting to about 100 car loads annu- ally. In his political preferences he is Republican, though his broth- ers are all followers of the Democratic party. To himself and wife have been given four children : Luella, William R., Lizzie and Dol- lie. Mr. and Mrs. McComas are Methodist in their church tendencies. The former is an Ancient Odd Fellow.

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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