USA > Missouri > Harrison County > History of Harrison County, Missouri > Part 46
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71
582
HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY
Corps of the 10th Division. After two months at Camp Funston he was transferred to Detroit, Michigan. While there he was detailed to take cars to Holabird, Maryland. From there he went to Wabash, Indiana and took a number of trucks from there to camp Holabird. He then went to Valparaiso, Indiana, and from there transferred equipment to camp Hola- bird. He remained in the service until January 31, 1919, when he re- ceived his honorable discharge.
On April 1, 1919, Mr. Carter was elected County Superintendent of Schools of Harrison County and is now serving in that capacity. He is an able school man and the public schools of Harrison County are making notable progress under his administration. There are 196 teachers and 5,292 pupils enrolled in Harrison County and there are ten high schools within the borders of this county.
Mr. Carter is a member of the Order of Independent Odd Fellows and the American Legion. He served as Post Commander of the Legion in 1920.
Joseph B. McClure, the well known county treasurer of Harrison County, is a native of this county and is a descendant of a pioneer family of Missouri. He was born in Bethany, July 19, 1882, a son of Frank and Clementine (Osmon) McClure. Clementine Osmon was a native of Har- rison County, her parents being very early settlers here who came from Indiana at an early date. They were natives of Ohio.
Frank McClure was a son of Jacob B. McClure and was a native of Ohio. Jacob McClure was an early settler in Missouri. He came to this state with his family and first located in Grundy County and for a number of years operated a mill on Grand River in that county. From Grundy County he came to Harrison County and settled at Bethany and bought the old mill which was located here. He improved it and put in rolls and was the first man to operate a modern flour mill in this locality. He also operated a carding machine and manufactured yarn here for a num- ber of years. Jacob McClure and his three sons, Andy, Sparks and Frank, conducted the business in partnership during the lifetime of the father and after his death the three brothers continued in business together for a number of years. Two of the brothers are now deceased and the sur- vivor now resides in Daviess County, Missouri. Frank McClure died on April 11, 1892.
Joseph B. McClure is one of three children now living who were born to his parents as follows: Joseph B., the subject of this sketch; Beulah,
583
HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY
married O. T. Egerton and they live at Fairview, Oklahoma and Don V., of Bethany, Missouri.
Joseph B. McClure was reared in Bethany and received his education in the public schools. He was first employed in compiling a set of abstract books of Harrison County by I. E. Nelson. This complete set of abstract books is now the property of the Bethany Trust Company. Mr. McClure began his career as a public officer as city collector of Bethany, having been elected for a term of three years. He was appointed city clerk and served in that capacity for nine years. He then received the nomination for county treasurer in 1916 and was elected and after serving a term of four years he was re-elected to that office in the fall of 1920 and is now serving in that capacity. Mr. McClure is a Republican and since early manhood he has taken an active part in political matters. He has a wide acquaintance over Harrison County and stands high in this section of the state.
On June 10, 1914 Joseph B. McClure was united in marriage with Miss Daisy E. Bender of Bethany, Missouri. She is a daughter of Robert Bender, now deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. McClure have been born two children: Margaret and Max.
Mr. McClure is a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows and he and Mrs. McClure are members of the Methodist Church.
C. C. Ross, a well known and successful attorney of Bethany, Mis- souri, is a native of Harrison County. He was born October 24, 1881 and is a son of S. M. and Lou (Pettit) Ross, the former a native of Gentry County, Missouri, and the latter of Ohio. They now live in Harrison County, near Bethany.
To S. M. Ross and wife were born the following children: R. R., Lorimor, Iowa; Hettie; C. C., the subject of this sketch and F. F., Bethany, Missouri.
C. C. Ross received his education in the public schools and for three years was a successful teacher in Harrison County. He then began work as a jeweler and watchmaker and followed that vocation at Carrolton, and Maryville, Missouri. He then engaged in the jewelry business at Cainsville, Missouri, for himself and successfully carried on business there for about ten years. In 1917 he came to Bethany where he has since
584
HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY
owned the jewelry store known as the Gift Shop. This is one of the high class mercantile establishments of Bethany and a valuable stock of watches, jewelry, cut-glass, stationery and kindred articles are handled.
When Mr. Ross lived at Cainsville he took up the study of law and at the same time conducted his jewelry business. He applied himself to the study of law with systematic persistency, devoting four hours each day to the pursuit of his legal studies. After four years he took the bar exam- ination and was admitted before the Supreme Court of Missouri, July 3, 1916. About a year later, upon coming to Bethany, he took up the prac- tice of law and has met with marked success. He is recognized as an able lawyer and is an untiring student of his profession.
Mr. Ross was married in 1893 to Miss Atta Ragan of Ridgeway, Mis- souri. She is a daughter of O. P. Ragan, who is a well known business man of Ridgeway. To Mr. and Mrs. Ross has been born one child, Owen, who is a student in the Bethany public schools.
Mr. Ross is a Democrat and takes a commendable interest in political affairs. While a resident of Cainsville he served as mayor of that town, and during his administration the big coal strike took place there. As mayor of Cainsville, Mr. Ross took a positive stand for the law enforce- ment against the illegal sale of liquor and accomplished satisfactory re- sults along that line. He was a candidate for prosecuting attorney on the Democratic ticket and was defeated by only 116 votes. He is a mem- ber of the Masonic Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias, Modern Woodmen of America, Royal Neighbors and the Order of the Eastern Star.
Jacob Foreman, an enterprising farmer and stockman of Hamilton Township, is the owner of 200 acres of land which he has improved. He belongs to a family that settled in this county before the days of the Civil War, when it required foresight and fortitude to take up life in the sparsely settled districts. Mr. Foreman was born in Harrison County, April 22, 1860, the son of James H. and Elizabeth (Bennett) Foreman.
James H. Foreman was born in Butler County, Ohio, August 19, 1819, and was a farmer all of his life. He came from Bartholomew County, Indiana, in 1856, and located in Union Township in Harrison County. He sold his farm there in 1868, and moved to the farm now owned by his son, the subject of this sketch. Here he built a small frame house and
JAMES H. FOREMAN
585
HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY
made other improvements. 'His nearest market was St. Joseph and it required a week to make the trip there and back. Mr. Foreman was married to Elizabeth Bennett, born in Bartholomew County, Indiana, February 28, 1831. She died February 25, 1889, and her husband died on the home farm, May 15, 1899. The remains of both are buried in the Masonic Cemetery at Eagleville. To their union nine children were born, seven of whom are still living: John H., of Beaver County, Oklahoma ; Barbara, married to C. B. Little of Hamilton Township; Jacob, the subject of this review; Mary Elizabeth, now Mrs. Copeland of Chase County, Kansas; Angeline, married to Robert Seives of Cottonwood Falls, Kansas; Danie, who keeps house for her brother, Jacob; and Nancy, married to Fred Monroe of Hutchinson, Kansas.
James H. Foreman was a veteran of the Civil War. He enlisted at Eagleville in Company F, 3rd Missouri Regiment, and remained in service for three years. He was wounded while in cavalry service by a horse which fell on him. Mr. Foreman was a member of the Grand Army of the Republic Post and was an adherent of the Methodist Church. He was one of the substantial men of his community.
Jacob Foreman attended the district schools and grew up on a farm. He has operated a farm ever since he began working for himself. He bought the estate of his father and is now conducting it as a general farm. Mr. Foreman is a republican in politics. He is a reliable man who has been successful in his work.
Dr. A. H. Vandivert, a prominent physician of Bethany, Missouri, has been successfully engaged in the practice of medicine in Harrison County for over forty-one years and is a member of one of the pioneer families of this section of Missouri. Doctor Vandivert is a native of Ohio, born in Muskingum County, April 6, 1853, a son of Dr. Robert Henry and Agnes (Berry) Vandivert, both of whom were natives of Ohio, the mother being of Quaker descent.
Dr. Robert Henry Vandivert was one of the pioneer physicians of Harrison County. Upon locating in this state, he settled in Harrison County just south of Bethany, where he was engaged in the practice of his profession. He not only was widely known as a successful physician but was prominent in politics and stood high in the councils of the Repub- lican party. In 1860 he was the presiding officer at the first Republican
586
HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY
Convention held in Harrison County. An unusual coincident in this con- nection is that his brother, S. S. Vandivert, who was a Douglas Democrat, was the presiding officer at the Democratic Convention held in Harrison County the same year.
Dr. Robert Henry Vandivert was honored at various times with offices of trust and responsibility and served two terms in the Missouri State Senate and was recognized as one of the leaders of that body. Both times that he was a candidate for the State Senate he received every vote in Salem Township, a fact which speaks in unmistakable terms of what his neighbors who knew him best thought of him. He died at Bethany, in March, 1887, at the age of sixty-nine years. His wife preceeded him in death a number of years, having departed this life in 1858, at about the age of forty years.
Dr. A. H. Vandivert was one of four children born to his parents who grew to maturity as follows: J. W., who was an attorney and died at Bethany at about the age of twenty-five years; Dr. A. H., the subject of this sketch; Arthur H., who was a chemist is now deceased and Judge S. W., of Bethany, Missouri. After the death of his first wife the father was again married and to that union was born one child, Mrs. B. M. Reinick. Professor Reinick is now the head of the Department of Mathe- matics of the Kansas Agriculture College at Manhattan, Kansas.
Dr. A. H. Vandivert was educated in the public schools of Harrison County and the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, Michigan and was graduated from the Medical Department of the University of Michigan with a degree of Doctor of Medicine in 1877. He first engaged in the practice of medicine at Eagleville, and in 1880 located at Bethany. He has been engaged in the practice here continually since that time except when he served as physician at State Hospital for the Insane, No. 2, at St. Joseph, Missouri. He has always enjoyed a large practice and for a number of years has been recognized as one of the able and successful physicians and surgeons of northwestern Missouri.
Doctor Vandivert was first married in June, 1878, to Miss Rosa Tem- pleman of Bethany, Missouri. She died in February, 1880, leaving one daughter, Bessie Agnes, who is a prominent teacher in Seattle, Wash- ington, having taught Home Economics for several years and now teaches Americanization. In 1886, Doctor Vandivert was married to Emma Buckles of Madison County, Illinois, and to that union three children were born as follows: Robert H. died at the age of twenty-two years; Dr. W. W., and one who died in infancy.
587
HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY
Dr. W. W. Vandivert received his medical education at the University Medical College of Kansas City, where he was graduated in 1913 with a degree of Doctor of Medicine, and since that time has been engaged in the practice at Bethany. He has won a well merited reputation as a suc- cessful physician and surgeon and stands high in his profession and in the community.
Dr. A. H. Vandivert has always been a Republican and takes a keen interest in political matters. He holds membership in the Knights of Pythias and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is a member of the Christian Church.
Andrew Cumming, vice-president of the Harrison County Bank of Bethany, Missouri, was for many years successfully engaged in the mer- cantile business at Bethany but is now living retired. Mr. Cumming is a native of Scotland and was born in 1841 in Dalkeith, Parrish, about six miles from Edinborough. His father died in his native land when com- paratively a young man, and in 1852 the mother came to America with the family of whom Andrew, the subject of this sketch was the youngest. They settled in Pennsylvania and in 1858 Andrew Cumming and his mother removed to Illinois. In 1877, they came to Missouri and he settled at Bethany.
After coming to this county, Andrew Cumming engaged as clerk in a store for about a year. He was then in the mercantile business with Mr. Bryant about two years, when he entered a partnership with Mr. Wren, under the firm name of Wren and Cumming. They did an extensive mercantile business until 1893 when Mr. Cumming retired from the mer- cantile business and since that time has devoted his attention to his vari- ous other interests. He was one of the organizers of the Harrison County Bank and has been vice-president of that institution since its organization. He is the owner of farm land in Harrison County and is recognized as one of the successful men of affairs of this county. He was superintendent of construction at the building of the county home.
Mr. Cumming was married in Illinois in 1866 to Miss Isabelle T. Brown, a native of Pennsylvania but at the time of her marriage a resident of Illinois. To Mr. and Mrs. Cummings have been born two children, as follows: Mrs. Charles A. Sherer, of Bethany, Missouri, and Alexander S., a well known and successful attorney of Bethany, Missouri.
Mr. Cumming is one of the substantial citizens of Harrison County
588
HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY
and is highly respected in the community. Mrs. Cumming and daughter are members of the Methodist Church. He was a member of the building committee when the M. E. Church was built.
W. H. Shumard, a well known and successful produce dealer of Beth- any, Missouri is a native of Harrison County and a member of one of the pioneer families of this section of the state. He was born in Jefferson Township, March 4, 1877, a son of Henry and Amanda (Trotter) Shumard.
Henry Shumard is a son of Rev. Thomas Shumard who was a pioneer Methodist preacher of Harrison County, who came here from Cambridge, Ohio and settled in Jefferson Township in 1856 and homesteaded govern- ment land in Jefferson Township. He reared a family of fourteen chil- dren, seven boys and seven girls. He was not only prominent as a pioneer minister and well known throughout this section of the state but he also had a successful business career and accumulated large land holdings and at the time each of his sons became of age he gave each of them forty acres of land. He died in 1882 and his wife departed this life in 1876 and their remains are buried in Morris Chapel Cemetery. Three of their sons, William, John and Frank, served in the Union army during the Civil War. Henry Shumard was engaged in farming until 1901 and since that time he and his wife have lived in Bethany.
W. H. Shumard is one of a family of five children born to his par- ents, four of whom are now living, as follows: Mrs. Judge Burgen, Bethany, Missouri; W. H., the subject of this sketch; Mrs. Charles Edson, Bethany; and Mrs. R. V. McCollum, Oskaloosa, Iowa. Murtle B. died at the age of two years. W. H. Shumard was reared on the home farm in Jefferson Township and was educated in the public schools and the Stan- berry Normal School. He taught school for two years in Harrison County and then engaged in farming in Jefferson Township. He bought a farm from his father and followed farming until 1909, when he engaged in the produce business in Bethany and since that time, with the exception of two years, he has carried on business at the corner of Eighteenth and Main streets. He handles flour, feed, seeds, poultry, hides and fur and does an extensive business and has won a wide reputation and his many patrons by fair dealing and honest methods.
Mr. Shumard was first married November 21, 1897 to Miss Ethel Beeks who died February 1, 1912 leaving one son, Charles C., who gradu-
589
HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY
ated in the class of 1921 at the University of Missouri in the Civil Engineering course and is now engaged in his profession in Chicago, Illi- nois. On August 17, 1916, Mr. Shumard was married to Mrs. Guyman, widow of the late F. W. Guyman. By her former marriage Mrs. Shumard has two children, Harold and Leah Guyman.
Mr. Shumard is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows of which he is Past Grand, Past Chief Patriarch and is now District Deputy. He also holds membership in the American Yoeman and the Modern Woodman of America. He is a member of the Methodist Church and is a Republican and has served as township clerk and assessor in Jefferson Township and Bethany. He is one of the progressive and enter- prising citizens of Harrison County.
W. H. Cruzan, of Bethany, Missouri, has been a resident of Harrison County for over forty-two years and for several years has conducted a private sanitarium in Bethany where he has devoted himself to the treat- ment of cancer and is widely known throughout the country for his suc- cessful treatment of this disease. He is a son of Dr. R. Johnathan and Martha E. (Evans) Cruzan, the former a native of Kentucky and the latter of Indiana.
Dr. Johnathan Cruzan removed from his native Kentucky to Indiana with his parents when he was about eight years old. He was reared in Indiana and after receiving a good preparatory education, he entered the Cincinnati Medical College and was graduated from that institution with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. Shortly after graduating he went to Wisconsin. Soon after he removed to Fayette County, Iowa, and was a pioneer physician of that section. He built the first house in West Union, Iowa and later removed to Brush Creek and from there to Mt. Moriah. Missouri. He was a successful doctor and practicing his profession for over thirty years. For many years he specialized in the treatment of cancer in which he was eminently successful. During the course of his professional career he made exhaustive research along the line of his chosen specialty and developed a formula which has proven to be remark- ably successful in the treatment of this disease. This is the same formula which his son W. H. Cruzan has used with such success on hundreds of patients during the past few years. Dr. Johnathan Cruzan died at Har- lan, Iowa and is buried there and his wife died at Mount Moriah, Missouri
590
HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY
and her remains are buried there. They were the parents of four children, the only survivor of whom is W. H. Cruzan whose name introduces this sketch. There was one brother who was a Congregational minister and two sisters.
W. H. Cruzan is a native of Wisconsin and when he was about ten months old the family removed to Iowa and was reared and educated in that state. In 1879 he came to Harrison County, Missouri, and engaged in farming and stock raising and for a number of years was one of the most extensive stock raisers in this section. He removed to Bethany in 1900 and still continues his interest in farming although not on such an extensive scale as in former years.
Since locating in Bethany, Mr. Cruzan has been engaged in the treat- ment of cancer as above stated. He treats cases from all over the country and maintains a private sanitarium at Bethany for that purpose. Patients here are under the care of a regular practicing physician.
Mr. Cruzan was married September 8, 1867 to Miss Ellen Mary Etta Liggett, a native of Buchanon County, Iowa. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Cruzan, as follows: John Archie, a farmer in Jeffer- son Township; Mary Ellen, married Orrin Clinkinberd and they live twelve miles east of Bethany ; Albert, a teacher and osteopathic physician, Colo- rado Springs, Colorado; Evelyn, who is now engaged in teaching at Beth- any, Missouri.
Mr. Cruzan is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Christian Church. He has served two terms as mayor of Bethany, having served the unexpired term of Charles Williams and was elected to that office at the expiration of that term. The Cruzan residence is a splen- did modern structure and is located on a tract of four and one-half acres in the south part of the city.
George W. Myers, a Civil War veteran now living retired at Bethany, has been identified with Harrison County for over seventy years and is a member of one of the early pioneer families of this county. He was born in Decatur County, Indiana, October 31, 1844, a son of Abraham and Mary (Bryant) Myers, both natives of Kentucky.
Abraham Myers came to Missouri in 1850, driving through the entire distance with a team and wagon. He brought his family with him and settled in Adams Township, Harrison County, and there spent the re-
591
HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY
mainder of his life in farming and stock raising. He died July 30, 1888, aged seventy-six years, three months and three days, and his wife died September 24, 1900 at the advanced age of eighty-two years, seven months and twenty days. They were the parents of fourteen children, two of whom died in infancy and four are now living as follows: George W., the subject of this sketch; John H., who served in the Union army in the Civil War and now lives at Bentonville, Arkansas; Mary, married Charles A. Eads, Bentonville, Arkansas; and Sarah Ellen married Leon Powell, Buffalo, Oklahoma.
George W. Myers was educated in the schools at Trenton, Missouri and St. Joseph. In 1862, when he was about eighteen years old, he enlisted in Company F, 3rd Regiment, Provisional State Troops and served with his command in western Missouri. In 1864 he enlisted in Company E, 43rd Regiment, Missouri Voluntary Infantry. During an engagement at Glasgow, Missouri, against Price's Confederate forces he was wounded which resulted in the loss of an arm. He was one of six hundred soldiers who were taken prisoners by the Confederates under the command of Clark and Shelby. Shortly afterwards he was discharged from the service on account of disability, although he remained with his regiment until spring and did considerable scout duty after he had lost his arm.
After returning from the army Mr. Myers taught school for a time when he was appointed deputy county recorder. He served for several years in that capacity, during the administrations of two county recorders. In 1868 he was elected county treasurer and at the expiration of his first term he was reelected to that office. In 1876 he engaged in farming, re- maining on his farm until 1908. He then removed to Bethany where he has since resided. He has various interests in Harrison County and is a stock holder in the Bethany Trust Company.
Mr. Myers was married December 15, 1868 to Caroline Rupe, a native of Indiana who came to Harrison County with her parents at a very early date when she was a child. To Mr. and Mrs. Myers have been born ten children as follows: Warren D., a carpenter who is also engaged in farm- ing in Harrison County ; Wallace, a carpenter at Lamar, Colorado; Walter, Richmond, Kansas; William A., St. Joseph, Missouri; Wilbert W., drug- gist, Bethany ; Nona May, married George W. Wells, Bethany ; Daisy, mar- ried Albert W. McKee, Santa Ana, California; Mary, married John S. Graves, Olney, Illinois; Myrtle, married Dennis York, Cherokee, Okla- homa; and Edna, married Joe Miller, Clovis, California.
592
HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY
Wilbert W. Myers is a veteran of World War. He entered service in 1917 and was sent to Camp Funston, Kansas, a member of the 89th Division in the infantry. Was in St. Mihiel drive and was finally trans- ferred to headquarters in Paris and was there when armistice was signed. He was slightly gassed. He was taken from the front on account of sickness and then served at headquarters.
George W. Myers is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic and is a Democrat. He holds membership in the Christian Church and is one of Harrison County's most highly esteemed citizens.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.