USA > Missouri > Caldwell County > History of Clinton and Caldwell Counties, Missouri > Part 38
USA > Missouri > Clinton County > History of Clinton and Caldwell Counties, Missouri > Part 38
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Mr. Shaver married Lina Porter, a daughter of A. K. and Nancy (Trice) Porter, natives of Kentucky and pioneer settlers of Missouri. Mr. Porter came to Missouri when he was 21 years of age, settling in Clinton County, where he taught school for 10 years, and was later superintendent of public schools in Plattsburg. Mr. Porter was also interested in farming. He died in 1902, and his wife now resides in Plattsburg, and is 83 years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Porter were the parents of four children, as follows: Eva, the wife of Thomas H. Swann; Woodson K., married Ethel Lan- caster; Newton T., married Edna Beard; and Mrs. Shaver. Mr. and Mrs. Shaver have no children.
Mr. Shaver is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and his wife belongs to the Christian Church. Mr. Shaver is known as the Santa Claus of Clinton County, as he gives $4,000.00 each year in gifts to the children of the county at Christmas. He is one of the progressive and public spirited citizens and ranks as one of the substantial men of Clinton County.
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HISTORY OF CLINTON AND CALDWELL COUNTIES
John Henry Sims was born Jan. 17, 1869, on what is known as the J. B. Biggerstaff farm, owned now by Miss Sallee Alexander. His father is Lysias ("Dutch") Sims, born at Center Point, Ky., March 13, 1837, and came here in 1857, with Wilson Biggerstaff, with an ox wagon, bringing family and negro slaves and other chattels. He married Paulina Trice, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Henry Trice, a girl of the Log Church neighborhood; they lived in Log Church neighborhood and then in Bethany neighborhood. His first wife died there and he married Miss Martha Anderson, who also died there in 1919.
John Sims was one of a large family of children: Olie, Mrs. W. M. Kellar ; Will, died at the age of 10; Almeda, Mrs. W. A. Parr, died in 1890; triplet baby boys, born and died during Civil War; John H., James C., George Longan; Maude and May, twins, both died in young womanhood, May died March 2, 1896, and Maude married George Dale and died March 12, 1908, leaving an infant daughter 10 days old, Maude Rice Dale. A pathetic incident also attaches the death of Almeda Parr; G. L., or "Lon," as he is best known, married Louisa Poague; James C., married Georgie Parr, and after her death, Josie Anderson; and Sallee, wife of James Stan- ton, is the youngest child, and she and husband own and occupy the old home south of Bethany Church.
John Sims probably comes as near knowing everybody in the county as any one in it, having traversed it many times as salesman, and in the drives necessary to Mrs. Sims' calling. He always has some quaint story of the days gone by.
The Sims home was one of the principal homes for preachers in those days who came to preach at Bethany, and John makes the extravagant assertion that he was 17 years old before he knew they ever cooked any part of a chicken but the necks and gizzards. The story was told at a home gathering at Old Log Church of how Lysias Sims found the woman who was afterwards his wife. He arrived from Kentucky, young, and never away from home before in his life. He went to Log Church, and "Doc" Jackson, a young man of the neighborhood, enlightened him as to a certain social duty he was performing for accommodation. A young belle of the countryside, Miss Paulina Trice, was very attractive to a widower, Watson by name, and she could not enjoy his attentions, so she had it understood with "Doc," the good-natured brother boy of the settle- ment, that he was to be her "company" whenever there was a likelihood of the bereaved man offering his attentions. "Doc" probably had a lean-
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ing himself about that time toward Miss Martha Dixon, so solved a situa- tion for the young Kentuckian by telling him he could "take her home from church." "But," said young Sims, "I have no horse." The benevo- lent young Missourian came back with this, "I'll loan you my horse." He did, and walked home. It was the beginning of the story of their long, useful life together. L. Sims was a brother of James Sims, prominent lawyer of Bowling Green, Ky., who defended Caleb Powers in the famous Goebel murder in 1900.
Anna Lee Sims .- Without doubt Mrs. Sims is the best known woman in Clinton County, coming in contract as she has for eight years with all the rural schools of the county, the teachers, pupils and school boards, and incidentally many of the parents, besides doing service in other public enterprises.
The eighth grade graduation exercises of rural schools is always under her supervision and is a most important event in the young school life of the county. The best music and best speakers are procured, and the whole event is made memorable in the graduates' lives, with ambi- tion stirred to newer, higher flights. She visits the 60 rural schools every winter personally.
At the close of the war a movement was set forth to bring a service flag from each county to the state capitol. It was to be done by popular subscription, and Mrs. Sims received the first suggestion. It seemed an impossible task in view of the many drives the war had made. She met H. B. McIntyre, friend of progress and brother to the patriotic of earth. He said it could be done, and together they started the subscription. It became a passion with Mrs. Sims, sacred to her, as no other public act had ever been, and she brought it through to a finish. She displayed it at specially called meetings at schoolhouses over the county, and took it to Jefferson City. It was a long, hard task getting all the names of the boys who had fallen. She procured 23, had 23 solid gold stars made, each bearing a name of our brave and beloved dead, placed upon a beautiful silken flag.
When the petition for a new state constitution was to go to the peo- ple, she secured the necessary number of signers, and was finally a county delegate to help select the district delegate to the State Constitutional Convention. She was one of the first women named as member of a com- mittee to select a delegate to a presidential nominating convention. This
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was in April, 1919, at Joplin, Mo. The entrance of women into citizenship being about accomplished.
Mrs. Sims was, before marriage, Anna Lee Binstead, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. E. E. Binstead, and was born on the Binstead farm, six miles northwest of Plattsburg. Her father and mother were both sturdy peo- ple, born in England, Mr. Binstead coming by way of New Orleans and up the rivers to Weston, and Mrs. Binstead the land way across the states, they met here for the first time and were married. The mother is de- ceased. The father still lives and is 87 years of age. There are eight children: William, Perry, Mrs. Kate (Burns) Summerfield, Mrs. Sims, George, Emma, Sam and Alvin, all living in Clinton County. George mar- ried Dora Porter; Sam married Anna Reynolds; Perry married Emma Dale; Will married Cora Johnston.
Mrs. Sims showed unusual adaptude for learning and was a hard, conscientious student. She was encouraged to go on with her studies when circumstances hardly warranted such a course. By her own efforts she attended Missouri Christian College, at Camden Point, Mo., and Platts- burg College, and getting into the ranks of teachers, she has never ceased to be a student for 30 years. She has done work at the university and teachers' colleges, and also keeps up an extension course in certain lines.
She married John H. Sims March 4, 1896, and they have two chil- dren, Martha Rice Sims, a young teacher, now a student at Missouri Uni- versity, and Stephen H. Sims, still in school. Her office is in Plattsburg, but their home is in Lathrop, and hospitality is its strongest word.
One might think Mrs. Sims' school work and studies would occupy her whole mind and time, but not so. The farm habit of her being has never been eliminated, so flowers, and garden, chickens, canning, and even soap making, give expression to that side of her life, and there is sewing and cooking. Few women ever undertake such a varied task as is hers; but unusual energy and perseverence and ambition have brought her suc- cess where others have failed in lesser fields.
She is a woman of deep convictions, unselfish principle, and strong attachments. Since childhood she has been a member of the Christian Church, and her family also belongs.
There is no foolishness, nor vanity, nor anything but plain straight- forwardness, about Mrs. Sims. She tells a story of her young girlhood. She found in some of the few papers coming her way an article about a vast English estate called Binstead. She cut it out and surreptitiously
.
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HISTORY OF CLINTON AND CALDWELL COUNTIES
pasted it in her scrapbook, and for a time felt much pride in connecting the family name with so much pomp and circumstance as the English estate must signify. But the family of healthy young American brothers and sisters found it out and taunted her with being guilty of snobbery until she really felt convicted. She laughs heartily at this event in her life.
David H. Hufft, deceased, was a prominent citizen of Clinton County for many years. He was born Oct. 12, 1854, on a farm six miles northeast of Lawson, the son of George and Elizabeth (Horton) Hufft.
George Hufft was a native of Tennessee and came to Missouri during the early years of the 19th century. His wife was born in Kentucky. Mr. and Mrs. Hufft were the parents of 12 children, of whom David H., sub- ject of this sketch, was the ninth in order of birth.
David -H. Hufft was reared on his father's farm and with the excep- tion of three years spent in Kansas, he lived in Clinton County during his entire life. He became a leading farmer and breeder of jacks and jennies, and was widely known through the county. Mr. Hufft died in Lathrop, Jan. 30, 1921.
In 1875, Mr. Hufft married Miss Emma Hamilton, oldest daughter of Dr. W. and Elizabeth (Simpson) Hamilton. Dr. W. Hamilton was born in Louisville, Ky., May 18, 1830, the son of Judge Thomas and Rachel (Crowe) Hamilton. The Hamiltons came to Missouri in 1833, locating on a farm near Elkhorn. Dr. and Mrs. Hamilton were the parents of the following children: Dr. Walter C., practicing physician in Kearney ; Wil- lis S., living near Clarksdale, Mo .; Dr. Eugene P., surgeon, Kanass City ; Mrs. C. D. Brasher, living in Orrick, Mo .; Miss Agnes, a teacher, Macon, Ga .; Mrs. Hufft; and A. P., attorney, in Richmond. Dr. W. Hamilton died in 1917, at the age of 87 years. His wife died in 1912. To David H. and Emma (Hamilton) Hufft five children were born, as follows: Mrs. Par- sons, born Nov. 27, 1877, now living on farm in Clinton County ; Lester P., deceased; George Alvin, deceased; Dr. E. E., born Feb. 9, 1885, living in Lathrop; and Gertrude B., born July, 1887, died Oct. 13, 1891.
Mr. David H. Hufft was a Democrat in politics, and was the first Demo- crat ever elected to office in Coffey County, Kan. He was a member of the Methodist Church, South, in which he had held membership for more than 40 years. In all the phases of his life, Mr. Hufft was industrious, earnest and sincere. He merited the high regard in which he was held by the community.
DAVID H. HUFFT
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HISTORY OF CLINTON AND CALDWELL COUNTIES
Edmond McWilliams, editor of the Clinton County Democrat, is a native of Clinton County and finished his education at Plattsburg College. In 1885 he was appointed deputy county clerk under George R. Riley, and held that position for 13 years, until elected county clerk. He was elected county clerk of Clinton County in 1898 for four years, and re-elected in 1902 for another term of four years.
In 1901, at a meeting of the county clerks of Missouri, in St. Louis, Mr. McWilliams was elected president of the County Clerks' Association of the state. Mr. McWilliams served as treasurer of the city of Platts- ยท burg from 1888 until 1904, and served as a member of the Plattsburg Board of Education for 15 years, and was secretary of the board for 24 years.
In 1905 Governor Folk appointed him one of the commission to select a location for the Fifth District Normal, which was located in Maryville. The Legislature has since changed the name to State Teachers' College.
At the close of his term as county clerk in 1906, Mr. McWilliams became the editor and owner of the Clinton County Democrat, the oldest established paper in Clinton County, dating from 1866.
Mr. McWilliams has taken 32 degrees in Scottish Rite Masonry, and is also affiliated with the Woodmen of the World, the Modern Woodmen of America, the Knights of Pythias, and the Order of the Eastern Star.
He was married June 21, 1893, to Miss Mary Leola Riley of Platts- burg. Mr. McWilliams is a Baptist and a Democrat.
Oscar R. Manville, a well-known business man of Breckenridge, was born Dec. 16, 1860, in Johnson County, Iowa, the son of L. B. and Mary Manville, both deceased.
Oscar R. Manville was reared in Iowa and received his education in the district schools. He came to Missouri in 1876, at the age of 16 years. His first employment was in a carriage shop at Springfield, with the Springfield Carriage Works. He learned the carriage trade thoroughly, and in 1902 started in business for himself at Lock Springs, doing general blacksmithing work. In December, 1907, the entire stock and shop was destroyed by fire, and three years later Mr. Manville located in Brecken- ridge, where he now operates a shop. He has several patents on articles manufactured in his shop, including shoveling boards of three different styles, and two styles of sickle grinders. By attaching one of the grinders to the rear wheel of a Ford automobile, a sickle may be ground in about
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10 minutes. By removing the sickle stone and attaching a flat stone, any article may be ground.
Mr. Manville manufactures wagon boxes and spring seats of much better quality than the ordinary factory work. His machinery is driven by a 10-horsepower gas engine, and his shop is 30x30 feet, two-story building, with a large amount of storage room. Mr. Manville sells his products direct to the farmers. He does a large volume of business, and is well and favorably known.
In 1881 Mr. Manville was married in Fort Scott, Kan., to Susan Mangus. They have four children, as follows: Jesse; Bennett, living in Breckenridge; Lottie, the wife of Charles Grizer, living in Kansas City; Pearl, living in Chicago; and Opal, the wife of Chris Ulrich, living in Cameron.
Mr. Manville is a member of the Masonic Lodge and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He has the esteem of the residents of Brecken- ridge, as well as those of the surrounding territory, and stands high in the community.
A. P. Fry, a substantial and highly respected farmer and stockman, and the owner of 336 acres of land in Clinton Township, is a native of Clinton County. He was born on a farm six miles from Plattsburg, May 30, 1867, the son of A. S. and Emma (Simpson) Fry. A. S. Fry was a native of Kentucky. He came to Missouri before the Civil War, settling in Clay County. During the war he served in the militia. Mr. Fry was engaged in farming during his entire life. He died in 1912, and his wife died in 1887. Mr. and Mrs. Fry were the parents of five children, as follows: Perry H., married Rebecca Mattney; Cora B., the wife of Jim Bland; Emma F., the wife of W. R. Wright; A. P., the subject of this sketch; and Mary H., married Ora Adams.
A. P. Fry was reared in Clinton County, and attended the district schools, and business college at Quincy, Ill. Mr. Fry then engaged in farming on the home farm, where he was born. He has been very suc- cessful in the breeding of high-grade stock and is widely known as a breeder and feeder of hogs. In 1919 Mr. Fry purchased his residence in Plattsburg, which is a modern, two-story stucco structure.
On Jan. 25, 1899, Mr. Fry married Bertie A. Froman, a daughter of Abram and Ellen (Fry) Froman, natives of Kentucky and pioneer settlers of Clinton County. To A. P. and Bertie A. (Froman) Fry two children have been born, as follows: Alice L., the wife of Paul Breckenridge, re-
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HISTORY OF CLINTON AND CALDWELL COUNTIES
siding near Turney; and Eleanor, the wife of Ellis Scearce, living on a farm west of Plattsburg. Mrs. Fry's father is deceased, and her mother, now 85 years old, resides in Cameron.
Mr. Fry is a thirty-second degree Mason. He is a member of the Christian Church. In politics he is a Democrat. He is a reliable citizen, and widely and favorably known throughout the county.
R. C. Cook, owner of the Dodge Brothers service station in Platts- burg, is a well-known citizen of Clinton County. He was born Feb. 15, 1872, in Clinton County, the son of A. C. and Mary Ann (Bivens) Cook.
A. C. Cook was a native of Kentucky, and an early settler of Missouri, coming here with his parents. He settled on a farm between Lathrop and Kearney. Mr. Cook became a leading citizen of Clinton County and was prominent in the business life of Plattsburg. He was a charter member of the First National Bank of Plattsburg, and also of the First National Bank of Stewartsville. For one term Mr. Cook served as state repre- sentative. During the Civil War he enlisted at Union Mills, Platte County, and took part in many important battles. He died in 1901 and is buried in Plattsburg. His wife is a native of Missouri, and was born in 1835. Her father was one of the largest land holders of Clay County, owning 1,000 acres, which was the home place. He owned 4,000 acres in Clay and Clinton Counties. Mrs. Cook is now living in Plattsburg. Mr. and Mrs. A. C. Cook were the parents of eight children, as follows: James, married Kate Stipe, Fort Collins, Colo .; David B., deceased; Drussela, the widow of William Carey ; Emmett, deceased; Emma, deceased; Pearl, de- ceased; R. C., the subject of this sketch; and Anna Lou, deceased. Anna Lou and R. C. were twins.
R. C. Cook was reared in Clinton County and received his education in the public schools of Plattsburg, and also attended Plattsburg College for four years. Mr. Cook then engaged in farming, which he followed until 1913, when he began selling acetylene arc lights. In 1916 he opened an automobile accessory shop, and also took over the agency for Dodge Brothers automobiles, which he now conducts. Mr. Cook has a large garage in Plattsburg, and does an extensive business. He started con- struction of his building in March, 1919, and had it completed on June 14, 1919. He has a fine residence just north of the city limits of Plattsburg, and 21 acres of land.
In 1893 Mr. Cook married Rebecca Kennedy, a daughter of I. J. and Susan (Munkers) Kennedy. Mrs. Kennedy is related to David Crockett.
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She is a native of Missouri. Mr. Kennedy was born in Linn County, and came to Buchanan County, and later to Clinton County, where he owned 420 acres of good farm land. When he came to Buchanan County, Mr. Kennedy had but 50 cents in the world. To R. C. and Rebecca (Kennedy) Cook four children have been born, as follows: Drussilla, the wife of Ernest Genglebach, Plattsburg; R. C., Jr., deceased; Grace, at home; and Mary Virginia, deceased.
Mr. Cook served as deputy sheriff of Clinton County for three years. He has been a director and adjuster for the Farmers Mutual Fire Insur- ance Company of Clinton County for a number of years, and a director of the First National Bank of Stewartsville for six years. Mr. Cook is a member of the Christian Church. He is one of Plattsburg's most success- ful business men, and is widely and favorably known.
F. B. Ellis, a well-known and successful attorney of Plattsburg, was born in Liberty, Mo., Aug. 20, 1854, the son of James and Susan (Bough- ton) Ellis. James Ellis was born in Kentucky and came to Missouri among the first pioneers, settling in Caldwell County. During the Civil War he served under Captain Parton. Mr. Ellis was a leading farmer and stock- man for many years, and was successful. He died in 1907. His wife, a native of Virginia, died in 1916. To James and Susan (Boughton) Ellis eight children were born, as follows: F. B., the subject of this sketch; William McDonald, deceased; Agnes, the wife of Charles Webster, Cam- eron; Nat, deceased; Sarah Bell, deceased; Virginia, Plattsburg; Fannie K., the widow of A. Munson, Cameron; and Betty E., residing in Omaha, Neb.
F. B. Ellis attended the district schools of Clinton and Caldwell Counties, and studied law with J. F. Harwood, of Cameron. He was ad- mitted to the bar in 1880 at Kingston, and practiced law first in Cameron, and later in Lathrop, Clinton County, where he remained for eight years. In 1891 Mr. Ellis moved to Plattsburg, where he has since been located. He is located where Judge Atchison, the first circuit judge of the district, had his office. Mr. Ellis is one of the prominent attorneys of the county, and has built up a splendid practice.
Mr. Ellis is unmarried, and lives in Plattsburg with a sister and niece, Susan Munson, who has made her home with Mr. Ellis since she was five years of age. Mr. Ellis and his sister own the home farm, which is now rented.
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Mr. Ellis is a thirty-second degree Mason. He is a member of the Episcopal Church. Mr. Ellis saw J. Wilks Booth, before he killed President Lincoln. Booth was traveling with a theatrical troupe through Cameron in a sleigh, and the party was snowbound for several days.
Mr. Ellis has taken part in many important law cases in the county, among them being Jackson, who was accused of poisoning O. E. Stephen, station agent. He was acquitted. Mr. Ellis also defended the saloon raiders of Lathrop, who were also acquitted in Plattsburg.
R. H. Musser is one of Clinton County's successful lawyers, having practiced for 20 years in the courts of this section.
He was born in St. Louis, Mo., Jan. 25, 1876, and in early childhood was brought to Plattsburg by his parents, and he has lived at that place ever since.
M. J. Woodward, one of the substantial citizens of Plattsburg, was born Oct. 27, 1879, in Buchanan County, near Easton, the son of Robert C. and Mary (Newman) Woodward. Robert C. Woodward was born in Clay County and has been a farmer and stockman during his entire life. He operated a broom factory in Plattsburg for several years. In 1896 Mr. Woodward was elected sheriff of the county, which office he held until 1900. He is now living on his farm in Concord Township, Clinton County. Mr. and Mrs. Woodward were the parents of six children, as follows: M. J., the subject of this sketch; Price; Mattie, deceased; Georgia, the wife of A. M. Thompson, living near Plattsburg; Katherine, the wife of Terrell Marshall, residing in Kansas; and Ruth, the wife of Thomas Moles, residing in Chillicothe, where Mr. Moles is superintendent of schools. Mrs. R. C. Woodward died in 1901.
M. J. Woodward was reared in Clinton County, where he attended the district schools. He was also graduated from Plattsburg High School. He learned the blacksmith trade under John O'Brien, serving an appren- ticeship of four years. At the end of that time Mr. Woodward went to Colorado, where he remained for two years, returning to Plattsburg. Mr. Woodward then purchased the business of John O'Brien, which he oper- ated for several years until 1913. He then engaged in the real estate and insurance business, which he now conducts.
In 1904 Mr. Woodward married Susanna Mckown, a daughter of Thomas E. and M. Mckown, both deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Woodward have no children.
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In 1912 Mr. Woodward was elected assessor, which office he held for eight years. He is a Democrat. Mr. Woodward is a member of the Masonic Lodge, and has belonged to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows for 21 years. He is a member of the Methodist Church, South. Mr. Woodward is one of the reliable and progressive citizens of the county, energetic and far sighted in his methods of business, and dependable in his dealings. In August, 1922, Mr. Woodward was the Democratic nom- inee for county clerk of Clinton County.
Dr. H. E. DesMond, deceased, was for many years a prominent and successful physician of Plattsburg. He was born in Boston, Dec. 8, 1856. When a young man he moved to St. Louis, where he remained until 1873, studying medicine. He then went to Rockport, Mo., and studied with Dr. Munsell. Later Dr. DesMond attended Ohio Medical College, in Cincin- nati, from which he was graduated in 1876, after which he located in Lancaster, Atchison County, Kansas. In 1881 Dr. DesMond moved to Atchison, where he practiced medicine for three years, later locating in Stewartsville, DeKalb County, Missouri.
Dr. DesMond was forced to give up his practice in 1890 on account of his poor health and go West. Several years later he returned to Belle- vue Hospital, New York City, where he took a post-graduate course in medicine. He then returned to Plattsburg, where he practiced until the time of his death, March 9, 1908.
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