USA > Missouri > Caldwell County > History of Clinton and Caldwell Counties, Missouri > Part 74
USA > Missouri > Clinton County > History of Clinton and Caldwell Counties, Missouri > Part 74
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On Nov. 27, 1862, Mr. Word married Mary Snodgrass, a daughter of John and Lucinda (Henderson) Snodgrass. To William and Mary (Snod- grass) Word children were born as follows: Nancy Ellen, living on the home place; Alexander, deceased; Lelia Elizabeth, living on the
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home place; Loretta, the wife of Frank Browning; Lewis Franklin, mar- ried Marie Shepherd, deceased; Lucy, died Jan. 6, 1919; and John M.
John M. Word was graduated from William Jewell College in June, 1898. He then taught school for two years, after which he went to Louisiana and entered the newspaper business. For the past 22 years Mr. Word has managed a newspaper in Louisiana, Pike County, Missouri. This paper has a substantial circulation in Illinois and Missouri, and is issued twice each week. John M. Word married Ethel Yates, a daughter of J. T. and Jane (Richardson) Yates, and to this union two children have been born: John M., and Mary Jane. Mr. Word served as coroner of Pike County for four years.
Nancy E. and Lelia E. Word now operate the Word farm, and are well known throughout the county. They raise Jersey cattle and White Leghorn poultry. The present residence on the Word farm was built in 1910. As breeders of Jersey cattle, the Word sisters have become widely known throughout Missouri and adjoining states.
William Peter Brown, now living retired in Lathrop, is a well-known and highly respected citizen of Clinton County, where he has spent his entire life. He was born four miles south of Lathrop, in. 1838, the son of Jesse and Permelia (Irvin) Brown.
Jesse Brown was a native of Virginia, born in 1805. He came to Missouri during the very early days with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Josiah Brown, natives of Scotland. They settled on a farm near Lathrop, where Jesse Brown spent his life. He died in 1882, and his wife is also deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Brown were the parents of 10 children, of whom only two are now living: William Peter, the subject of this sketch; and Mrs. J. D. L. Parks, living in Lathrop.
William Peter Brown was reared on his father's farm and received his education in the district schools. He followed farming and stock raising for many years in Clinton County, and was among the successful stockmen of the township. He is now living retired in Lathrop. Mr. Brown's father, Jesse Brown, built the first log cabin in the vicinity of Lathrop, which served as the homestead for many years.
On Nov. 10, 1864, William Peter Brown married Miss Terrillia Clark, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Clark, natives of Ohio and early settlers of Clinton County. To William Peter and Terrillia (Clark) Brown the following children were born: Frank P., farmer, Clinton County, operating the home place; Lorah E., deceased; Jesse, deceased; and Eulia
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May. In 1896 Terrillia (Clark) Brown died, and four years later Mr. Brown married Miss Belle Gow, a daughter of Arthur and Susan (Mackey) Gow, natives of Mason County, Kentucky, and pioneer settlers of Clay County, coming to Missouri in 1829. Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Gow were the parents of the following children: Marcus D., living in Kearney, and 90 years of age; James, deceased ; William, deceased ; Arthur, deceased; Nan- nie, deceased · Alfred, deceased; Mrs. Brown; Addie, living in Clay County ; ' and Caroline. Arthur Gow died Oct. 26, 1891, and his wife died March 10, 1888. Mr. and Mrs. William Peter Brown have no children.
William Peter Brown is a member of the Christian Church, as also is his wife. He has many friends in this county and is one of the most honored and respected citizens.
I. Delbert Fagin, a prominent farmer and stockman of Clinton County, was born May 15, 1843, in Hamilton County, Ohio, the son of Dominicus A. and Jane (Kyle) Fagin.
Dominicus A. Fagin was born Feb. 20, 1816, in Hamilton County, Ohio, the son of Aaron and Elizabeth (Kelley) Fagin. Aaron Fagin was born in January, 1786, and died in June, 1876. He was the son of Patrick Fagin, who came to the United States from Ireland in the eighteenth cen- tury, settling in New Jersey. Several years later Patrick Fagin came west and settled in Ohio, near Cincinnati. His son, Aaron Fagin, settled near the east line of Hamilton County, Ohio, about 15 miles from Cincin- nati. Aaron and Elizabeth (Kelley) Fagin were the parents of the follow- ing children: Joseph, Dominicus Abbott, Cordelia, George, Susan Ann, and Samuel. Dominicus A. and Jane (Kyle) Fagin were the parents of three children, as follows: Joseph Kyle, born Oct. 31, 1839; I. Delbert, the subject of this sketch; Sarah Jane, born April 12, 1846. Jane (Kyle) Fagin died May 4, 1846.
Dominicus A. Fagin was married the second time to Sarah Kyle, a cousin of Jane Kyle, and to this union two children were born, as follows: Mary Elizabeth, who died at the age of two years; and D. A., Jr., lives in Pike County, Illinois. Dominicus A. Fagin died Oct. 1, 1907, at the home of his son, I. Delbert Fagin, at the age of 91 years.
I. Delbert Fagin was reared on his father's farm in Illinois, where his parents had moved in 1854. He attended the district schools. On Oct. 25, 1866, I. Delbert Fagin married Miss Hannah J. Ferguson, a daughter of John P. and Margaret (Bennett) Ferguson. Mr. and Mrs. Ferguson were natives of Pennsylvania and were the parents of the following
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children: Mrs. Fagin; Mary Agnes, the wife of Lucian Cover; Ann Matilda, keeps house for her brother, David; Sarah Elizabeth, deceased, was the wife of Mr. Gleckler; David J., lives in Griggsville, Ill. Both Mr. and Mrs. Ferguson are deceased. To I. Delbert and Hannah J. (Ferguson) Fagin four children were born, as follows:" Grase K., druggist, married D. Joy Maret, Lathrop; Albert C., lives in Lathrop, married Dorsey Douglas; Mary Alice, the wife of Robert Ross Chenoweth; and Elizabeth Pearl, the wife of Charles H. Holland, Walla Walla, Wash.'
Mr. Fagin lived in Perry, Ill., for a short time after his marriage, and engaged in the lumber business there. He later purchased an interest in a woolen mill, which he operated for several years, after which he located on a farm near his father, where he remained until 1876. He then purchased a farm of 40 acres, where he lived until 1881. Mr. Fagin then moved near Lathrop, and purchased a farm two miles north of town, remaining there until Dec. 1, 1896, when he moved to his present home in Lathrop. Mr. Fagin is an energetic man and prominent in the affairs of his township, and his family stand high in the community.
John H. Gall, now living retired in Lathrop, was a prominent farmer and stockman of Clinton County for many years. He was born in Hesse Castle, Germany, in 1834.
When he was 23 years of age, Mr. Gall came to the United States and settled in Clay County, Mo., where he remained for four years. In 1861, he purchased a farm in Lathrop Township, Clinton County, where he lived until the fall of 1897, then moving to Lathrop, where he now lives retired. He has been successful in the raising of high grade stock, and is widely known.
John H. Gall married three times. His first wife was Miss Margaret Walker, who died one year after her marriage. To this union one child was born, who died in infancy. Mr. Gall later married Miss Anna Tip- ton and to this union 11 children were born, seven of whom are now liv- ing, as follows: Samuel L., farmer, lives near King City; Frank F., far- mer, lives near Lathrop; Albert G., farmer and stock feeder, lives near Turney ; Fred, farmer, Lathrop Township; Jesse L., farmer, Lathrop Town- ship; Alfred W., lives on the home place eight miles northeast of Lathrop; and Lillie, the wife of Floyd Riddle, farmer, lives near Turney. Fred and Lillie are twins. Some time after the death of his second wife, Mr. John H. Gall married Mrs. Julia Vennekohl, and to this union two children were born, as follows: Julia F., the wife of R. V. Nicholas, lives in St.
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Joseph; and Vida, living with her father in Lathrop. Julia (Vennekohl) Gall is deceased.
John H. Gall has been a director and stockholder of the Lathrop Bank for 20 years. He is a Democrat and a member of the Methodist Church, South. During the Civil War, Mr. Gall served with the Missouri State Militia for several weeks. He is 88 years of age, and is one of the oldest settlers of Clinton County now living. The lives of such men as Mr. Gall mean much in the growth of the county. By their adherence to high standards of citizenship, by their indomitable perseverance in the face of difficulties, and by their appreciation of the needs of the community, they have made possible the highly organized civic body that makes the county today.
William Houghton, retired, is one of the well known and substantial citizens of Kingston Township, and a pioneer of Caldwell County. He is a member of one of the honored pioneer families of northern Missouri. Mr. Houghton was born Aug. 15, 1835, in Courtland County, N. Y., the son of John S. and Lucy K. (Alvord) Houghton.
John S. Houghton was born in New Jersey, a son of William Hough- ton, a native of New Jersey, and a veteran of the Revolutionary War. John S. Houghton came to Missouri in 1844, and settled on a farm west of Kingston. Both Mr. and Mrs. Houghton are deceased. They were the parents of six children, three of whom are living, as follows: William, the subject of this sketch; Joab, living in Kingston Township; and George, living in Mirabile Township, Caldwell County.
William Houghton was educated in the public schools of New York and Missouri and Homer Academy, Homer, N. Y. He has been a resident of Caldwell County since 1844, and has lived on the same farm since 1859. Mr. Houghton's farm is located two and three-quarters miles west of Kingston. His son, Albert, now owns the home place of 120 acres. Since the death of his wife, Mr. Houghton has made his home with his son. For many years, Mr. Houghton was a leading farmer and stockman of Cald- well County.
On Oct. 16, 1856, Mr. Houghton married Jane F. Brown, deceased. She was born Feb. 18, 1836. Mr. and Mrs. Houghton were the parents of nine children, as follows: Theodosia, born July 28, 1857, the wife of Wil- liam Tattershall, Hamilton Township; John L., born July 12, 1860, died Nov. 22, 1863; Lucy E., born Nov. 2, 1862, the wife of James Antrobus; Charles W., born April 24, 1865, died Jan. 5, 1890; John S., born June 16,
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1867, died Oct. 3, 1869; Mary A., born June 11, 1870, the wife of John S. Marquis; Albert, born Sept. 10, 1874, married Lennie Stone; Hugh W., born Aug. 1, 1879, died Oct. 23, 1880; Janie B., born Nov. 21, 1882, died Aug. 16, 1885.
Mr. Houghton served with the Home Guards during the Civil War. He has an unusual memory for historical dates and events, and his recol- lections of his own contacts with history in the making are most inter- esting.
Grase K. Fagin is an enterprising and well known druggist of Lath- rop. He was born July 21, 1867, in Perry, Ill., the son of I. Delbert and Hannah J. (Ferguson) Fagin.
I. Delbert Fagin, a retired farmer and stockman of Clinton County, is a native of Hamilton County, Ohio, born May 15, 1843, and the son of Dominicus A. and Jane (Kyle) Fagin. The Fagin family came from Ireland to the United States during the eighteenth century and settled in New Jersey. Later they moved to Ohio and settled near Cincinnati. To I. Delbert and Hannah J. (Ferguson) Fagin the following children were born: Grase K., the subject of this sketch; Albert C., living in Lathrop, married Dorsey Douglas; Mary Alice, the wife of Robert Ross Chenoweth, also of Lathrop; and Elizabeth Pearl, the wife of Charles H. Holland, Walla Walla, Wash.
Grase K. Fagin lived in Illinois until he was 14 years of age, when he came to Missouri with his parents. He received his education in the pub- lic schools of Lathrop and was graduated from the Kansas City School of Pharmacy in 1888. He passed the State Board of Pharmacy the following year, and remained in Kansas City, Mo., for one year. Mr. Fagin then came to Lathrop and engaged in the drug business with his father, who remained in business with him until 1911. During his many years of business in Lathrop, Mr. Fagin has become known as one of the leading and progressive business men of the community.
On Jan. 11, 1893, Grase K. Fagin married Miss Dannie Joy Maret, a native of Clay County, born Oct. 28, 1872, and the daughter of D. H. and Normanda Jane (Benton) Maret. D. H. Maret was born in Madison County, Ky., Sept. 12, 1831, came to Missouri from Kentucky on horse- back at age of 15, and died in Lathrop, Nov. 21, 1906. He was the son of Alvah and Permelia (Hubbard) Maret. Alvah Maret was born Jan. 8, 1804, and died July 24, 1880. His wife was born Aug. 13, 1808, and died Jan. 17, 1861. The Maret family originally came from France with Lafay-
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ette and settled in North Carolina. Daniel H. Maret, Mrs. Fagin's father, was a member of the State Militia during the Civil War and was a member of the Masonic Lodge for over 50 years. He was a farmer and a dealer in horses and mules. He was married first to Miss Bettie Kennedy and to this union two children were born, as follows: W. K. Maret, Thermopolis, Wyoming; Alva Maret, lives in Kearney. W. K. Maret had four sons who took part in the World War. In April, 1865 Daniel H. Maret married Miss Normanda Jane Benton, of Irving, Ky., a relative of the illustrious Thomas H. Benton. Of this union the following children lived to be grown: Ben- ton Maret, Sacramento, Calif .; Margaret, the wife of Frank Henderson, deceased, Lawrence, Kan .; Mrs. Fagin; and Virginia, who died April 10, 1920, the wife of Autin Greason, who lives in Converse.
Mrs. Grase K. Fagin came to Lathrop from Clay County in 1875 with her parents. She was graduated from Lathrop High School in 1891. She is a charter member of the P. E. O. Chapter of Lathrop, and has served as local president several years. She is a member of the Jinglers, and also belonged to the Rebekas and Pythian Sisters when they were active in Lathrop. To Grase K. and Dannie Joy (Maret) Fagin three children have been born, as follows: Cecil Delbert, born in 1894, deceased; Benton M., born in 1896, died in infancy; and Kyle, born Nov: 6, 1910, attending the Lathrop schools. After the death of her mother, Mrs. Fagin's father married Miss Gertrude Nicholson, a daughter of William Nicholson, a native of Cooper County. Mrs. Maret is now living in St. Louis.
Grase K. Fagin is a director of the Lathrop Bank as well as the Lath- rop Electric Light Company. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and is a substantial citizen of Clin- ton County.
0. O. McIntyre .- "Who's Who in America" says of Mr. McIntyre:
"McIntyre, Oscar Odd, newspaper writer, born in Plattsburg, Mo., Feb. 18, 1844; son of Henry Bell and Fanny Young McIntyre; educated at academy and Bartlett's College, Cincinnati; married Maybelle Hope Small, of Galliopolis, O., Feb. 18, 1908. Reporter Galliopolis, O., Journal, 1902; feature writer East Liverpool, O., Tribune, 1904-5; political writer, later managing editor at age of 22 of Dayton, O., Herald, 1906; telegraph editor, city editor and assistant managing editor Cincinnati, O., Post, 1907-11; associate editor Hampton's Magazine, 1912; news editor New York Evening Mail, 1913; writing daily article "New York Day by Day"
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UPB
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since 1912, now syndicated in 80 newspapers. Home, Hotel Ritz Carlton, N. Y."
In September, 1921, he began a series of 12 articles called "Vingettes of New York" in the Cosmopolitan Magazines. These articles are the most expensively illustrated that have ever appeared in any magazine -two of the paintings representing an expense of $2,800 each. Recently he signed a three-year contract with a newspaper syndicate which handles his stuff at the highest price ever paid the writer of a written syndicated article up to date. There are many cartoonists, however, who get much larger pay-Briggs, Bud Fisher, McManus and a few others. Under the new arrangement he spends six weeks each year in London and Paris.
O. O. McIntyre is a son of H. C. McIntyre, a sketch of whom appears in this volume and while he was born in Plattsburg and spent his summers there the most of his boyhood was spent in an Ohio river town-Galliopo- lis-with his grandmother. It was there he first entered newspaper work. His education has been acquired in the newspaper offices as he was never a student-just a great reader. Concerning his own career Mr. McIntyre says: "My measure of success is due entirely to the encouragement of my wife-who starved with me for three years when others said I could not write. Editors who now seek my stuff told me the same thing. She believed that I could and helped me through those cruel years. One year I made exactly $18 from my writings and I owed everyone who would trust me. It was at the end of that year that I broke down physically and my hair turned gray in three months. This is all rather personal- and perhaps extraneous-yet it is the only interesting feature of what- ever success I have achieved. In other words I like for young men to know that if they will persevere and keep everlastingly at it they will in the end achieve some measure of success. Please don't get the idea that I have any exaggerated opinion of myself-I am just one of many who have their heads above water and am not to be classed with our lit- erary great."
The following article was written by Mr. McIntyre on the occasion of his visit to his home town at Christmas, 1922.
It was Will Irwin who wrote the deathless epic to San Francisco torn and ravaged by fire. He called it "The City That Was."
I write of "The City That Is-and Always Shall Be." It is my home town, Plattsburg, Mo., nestling among the fertile acres of Clinton county. Christmas morning I drove from Kansas City to the peaceful community where I was born. It has been many years since I saw it last.
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Since that time the world has been wet with blood and tears. Na- tions have tottered, kings have been dethroned, and the map of the world has been remade.
But Plattsburg-like Tennyson's brook-goes on forever.
It remains the staid, hospitable little city-ever ready to help the neighbor; charitable to the fault, and free of back-fence gossip.
Plattsburg is always proud of its sons and daughters. And wherever they roam, they know that back home there is a welcome hand and the kindly word.
There are very few changes since I saw it last. Where the village smithy stood, Chot Young has erected his big brick garage. Doctor Chas- tain and Editor McWilliams have built new homes, and the vacant lot next to Mark Riley's drug store now is graced by a two-story bank. A new Laclede hotel rises from the ashes of the picturesque old hostelry. The rest seems to me to be unchanged.
The old swimmin' hole beyond Perkins' pasture still has the over- hanging tree. George Winn, I believe, smokes the same old pipe. At least, it smells the same.
From the time I arrived until I left in the evening to fulfill a Kansas City dinner engagement, there was a constant stream of callers to see "Henry's boy."
Horace Riley, the banker, who insisted that I should run over to see Anna Pack and the three kiddies. Doctor Ray, who was in a poetical mood, Doctor Stoeckman, Emmett Scearce, Dick Musser, Tom Swann, Charlie Thompson-and scores of others.
All busy with their Christmas dinners and entertainments-yet tak- ing time to extend welcome to the prodigal.
It was the kind of reception that warms the heart. Old memories were revived-memories of the living and the dead. Just a few weeks ago Mark Riley passed on. He was a beloved son-and deservedly so- and in the midst of the Christmas happiness no one I met forgot to men- tion him with moistened eyes. Plattsburg never forgets.
Plattsburg has no flappers nor cake-eaters. The girls are corn-fed, robust and maidenly. The boys are mostly young farmer lads-it is a farming community. They work hard, raise fine families, and live to ripe old age in health, peace and plenty.
After dinner we went down to see Aunt Betty Smarr. There was a cold glass of cream waiting for me. Aunt Betty does not forget.
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And Cousin Sennett, next door, was playing cribbage with his new son-in-law.
He is president of the Plattsburg Pitch club, a group consisting of my father, John Lincoln and Bob Frost. Every night for years they have played in the hotel office. There is gentle cussing, recriminations and sometimes they end up on non-speaking terms. But the next night finds them back.
You couldn't keep one of them away with a court order.
One incident marred my visit. Old Roe did not come to call. Roe is a darkey character who travels with circuses, but, paradoxically, never has been out of the county. He will tell you of having played the Rocky Moun- tains last night, and of just arriving home in an airplane.
There was an evening many years ago when Roe was entertaining a group of loungers at the curb of the hotel. The group finally tired, turned to other subjects and left Roe a little in the background. He was silent for nearly an hour. Then he stood up, yawned and said: "Well, gem'mn, I'm goin' up and turn a flip off the courthouse and go on home."
Old Roe, to me, is much more interesting than our Pittsburgh Phils and Diamond Jims of New York's Broadway.
Plattsburg has its dinner at noon. At that hour the streets are deserted. Dinner is the hour of family communion-wholesome and joy- ous. Afterward the men drift back to their work-but not with a rush and hurry. They have time to stop in to see the sick and comfort the sorrowing.
There are no slums in Plattsburg, and the poor "we have with us always" are strangely missing. Beggars are unknown. One must be self-respecting there to have the respect of his neighbor. Otherwise he finds it a cheerless town.
As the sun was going to rest, I stood, hatless, at the mounds of my mother and baby sister at the peaceful little cemetery on the fringe of the main street.
Tiny puffs of smoke were floating from Plattsburg homes-the sup- per hour signal. Young lads were driving the cows back to pasture. Dogs were returning from their rabbit chases. Far off the vesperal bells were tolling.
The first street light sputtered on Main street. At such a mo- ment the clamor of my adopted city-New York-seemed cheap and tawdry. I felt as if I did not want to see it ever again.
Date Due
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