USA > Missouri > Harrison County > History of Harrison County, Missouri > Part 50
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F. W. Seitz, a leading farmer and stockman of Grant Township, is a native of Iowa. He was born in Davenport, October 16, 1862, a son of Frederick and Mary (Hanley) Seitz, the former a native of Germany and the latter of Vermont. Frederick Seitz, the father came to this country with his parents when he was a child. When the Civil War broke out he enlisted at Davenport, Iowa, in Company D, 11th Regiment Iowa Volun- teer Infantry and served in the army for three years. At the close of the war he returned to Davenport and shortly afterwards removed to Ogden, Boone County ; from there he removed to Sac City, Iowa, where he spent the remainder of his life. He learned the tailors trade in early life which he followed part of the time and was also a farmer. He worked at his trade in Sac City. He died at Sac City in 1895 and his wife died there somne years later and they are both buried at Sac City. They were the parents of five children as follows: Arthur, Madrid, Iowa; Mrs. Emma Kester, is a widow and lives at Sioux City, Iowa; William, Victor, Iowa; Frank, Sioux City, Iowa and F. W., the subject of this sketch. Frank and F. W. are twins.
F. W. Seitz was reared in Iowa and educated in the public schools and began life as a farmer in Boone County, Iowa. In 1903 he came to Har- rison County, Missouri and bought 160 acres of land in Grant Township which he owns. His farm is well improved and is productive land. He carries on general farming and stock raising and has also followed dairy- ing on quite an extensive scale.
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Mr. Seitz was married October 14, 1891, to Miss Rhoda Teepell, a native of DeKalb County, Illinois. She is a daughter of Charles Teepell, who was a native of Canada and came west in an early day settling in Sac County, Iowa, where he and his wife both spent the remainder of their lives. They are buried at Wall Lake, Iowa.
Mr. Seitz is a Republican and takes a commendable interest in political affairs although he has never aspired to hold political office. He is one of the dependable citizens of Harrison County and is widely and favorably known.
William Hale Casidy, proprietor of the Hotel Ridgeway at Ridge- way, Missouri, is one of the widely experienced and progressive hotel men of northern Missouri.
The Hotel Ridgeway is the best hotel in Harrison County. It is a well constructed and conveniently arranged two-story bricy structure which was erected about five years ago by a few of the progressive and enterprising business men of Ridgeway who were determined that Ridge- way should have the best hotel of any town of its size in the country. The house is steam heated and every room is supplied with hot and cold running water and an ample proportion of the rooms have baths in connection. The house is supplied with a private water and sewerage system, the water being pumped by combination gas engine and electric motor power. The basement is occupied by a barber shop, toilet rooms, sample rooms, engine and store rooms. On the first floor is the office, dining room, parlor, kitchen and some sleeping rooms and the second floor is all occupied by sleeping rooms, all of which are of ample size and all well ventilated outside rooms.
The Hotel Ridgeway is furnished throughout with all modern high class hotel furniture and the beds are the best that money can buy. Neatness, cleanliness and service are the cardinal precepts of the man- agement of this hotel and every comfort and convenience possible under the circumstances are afforded the guest of this hotel. The hotel is con- ducted on the American plan and the meals are first class and the dining room service is of the same high standard as the other departments. Traveling men have long since recognized the superiority of the Hotel Ridgeway and have made it one of the popular stopping places in north- ern Missouri and it is not an infrequent occurrence for the capacity of the hotel to be overtaxed. However, Mr. Casidy, ever watchful that
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the public receives the best accommodations obtainable, frequently finds lodging places for his guest in private residences of the town under such circumstances.
William Hale Casidy was born at Milton, Van Buren County, Iowa in 1880. He is the son of E. P. and Ann (Blanchard) Casidy, both na- tives of Iowa. The Casidy and Blanchard families were among the pioneer settlers of Van Buren County, Iowa, and both took up govern- ment land in that section at a very early date. E. P. Casidy and his wife now reside on the same place in Van Buren County where they have lived for over forty years.
William Hale Casidy is one of a family of four sons and one daughter all of whom were educated in the public schools of Van Buren County Iowa. He learned the carpenters trade early in life and for fifteen years worked at his trade throughought various parts of the country. He was always recognized as a skilled mechanic, and not one of the "common garden variety" of carpenters. Mr. Casidy has been engaged in the hotel business since 1913, and on May 11, 1917, he took charge of the Hotel Ridgeway where he has since been successfully engaged in busi- ness.
On November 26, 1905, Mr. Casidy was married to Miss Grace May Corrick a native of Van Buren County, Iowa and a daughter of Wesley L. Corrick and wife, both of whom were members of pioneer families of that section of Iowa. Mrs. Casidy's mother is now deceased, and her father lives at Milton, Iowa. Mrs. Casidy is a throughly competent hotel woman, and her activities and supervision of the affairs of the new Ridgeway Hotel is an important factor in its success.
Mr. Casidy is a member of the time honored Masonic Lodge and he has always supported the policies and principles of the Democratic party.
L. H. Bussell, president of the bank of Mount Moriah and the leading merchant of that town and also one of the largest land owners of Har- rison County, is a native of Missouri. He was born in Mercer County, March 24, 1864, a son of Elihu and Sarah Jane (Millner) Bussell, the former a native of Virginia and the latter of Indiana.
Elihu Bussell came to Missouri in 1856 and settled in Mercer County. He was an extensive farmer and stockman and for a number of years was also engaged in the mercantile business at Mount Moriah. During the
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Civil War he served in the state militia. He died in 1887 and his wife survived him for a number of years. She died in 1909. They were the parents of the following children: J. W., Osawatomie, Kansas; Mrs. Mary Mullens, Mercer County, Missouri; Mrs. Julia Johnson, Franklin, Nebraska; J. M., Osawatomie, Kansas; S. R., St. Joseph, Missouri; and L. H., the subject of this sketch.
L. H. Bussell was reared to manhood in Mercer County and received his education in the public schools. He began his business career with his father at a very early age and for nineteen years he was associated with his father in business. Since that time he has continued in the mercantile business at Mount Moriah. He is now engaged in the hard- ware furniture and undertaker business and does an extensive business. Mr. Bussell is the owner of about 2,000 acres of land in Harrison and Mercer counties and carries on farming and stock raising on an extensive scale. He has been president of the bank of Mount Moriah since 1909.
Mr. Bussell was first married March 16, 1892 to Hattie Rock, of Mer- cer County, Missouri and two children were born to that union: W. L., Graham, Missouri, and Mrs. Vivian Goffman, Mount Moriah, Missouri. Mr. Bussell married for his second wife Miss Zelpha Ross, of Trail Creek Township. She is a daughter of James and Margaret (Lloyd) Ross, the former a native of Ohio and the latter of Missouri. To Mr. and Mrs. Bussell have been born three children as follow: Ross A., James L. and Francis Lee.
Mr. Bussell is a Republican and a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and belongs to the Baptist Church. He is progressive and public spirited and one of the leading business men of Harrison County.
Jesse E. Maize, deceased, who was one of the successful and enter- prising farmers of Butler Township, and proprietor of Happy Valley Fruit Farm, was born in Daviess County, Missouri, August 12, 1875, the son of George and Cemilda (Slaughter) Maize, who live at Coffey, Mis- souri.
Jessie E. Maize was educated in the public schools and at the Chilli- cothe Normal College, and also took a short course at the University of Missouri at Columbia. He moved to the present home of his widow in 1915, and made fine and extensive improvements on this place, erecting a large barn, machine shed, and other buildings. The residence was built before Mr. Maize came here by John Cunningham. Mr. Maize directed
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special attention to horticulture, and his efforts along this line were very encouraging and fruitful. He put out a thirty acre orchard, which is still in good condition and is being operated by Mrs. Maize and her son. This farm consists of 191 acres, and another place of 262} acres, which is owned by Mrs. Maize, makes a total of 543} acres. The home place lies eight miles northeast of Pattonsburg and twelve miles southwest of Beth- any, and the residence is in the southeast corner of Butler Township. This is one of the best farms in this township.
Jesse E. Maize was married January 24, 1900 to Mollie E. Meadows, a native of Daviess County, a daughter of J. T. and Mary E. (Everly) Meadows. The father was a native of Virginia and mother was born in Missouri and her parents came from Pennsylvania .. Mr. Meadows was born in Virginia, and died, December 17, 1920, in Daviess County, at the age of eighty-three years. His widow lives on the home place in Daviess County, and is in her 81st year.
Mr. and Mrs. Maize were the parents of five children: Glenn W., who now operates the home farm with Mrs. Maize, and is a senior in the Pattonsburg High School; Mary Rhea, also a student in the Pattonsburg High School, in her junior year; Russell B., Mildred H. and Jewell C.
The Happy Valley Fruit Farm is one of the prettiest farms in the county, and a Delco light plant furinshes light for the residence, all out- buildings, poultry houses, yard, and a big light on the barn.
Jesse Maize was well known in the county and was one of the pro- gressive and energetic citizens of this township. He died February 24, 1921.
Harry C. Jones, the editor and publisher of the Ridgeway Journal and the present mayor of Ridgeway was born in Apollo, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, April 26, 1879, the son of Thomas H. and Amelia (Pamley) Jones, the former a native of Wales and the latter born in England.
Mr. and Mrs. Jones were married in England and came to the United States in 1878. They settled in Pennsylvania for a while but came west in 1882 where they settled first in Dakota Territory later moving to Iowa where they settled at Mt. Ayr in 1888. In 1890 they came to Missouri and settled at Eagleville, Harrison County, where they both died, Mrs. Jones on February 4, 1901 and Mr. Jones on December 15, 1905. Thomas H. Jones was a minister. In his early life he was identified with the Baptist Church but later became a member of the Christian Church. He preached
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at Eagleville and remained active in his work in the ministry until within a year of his death. To the union of Thomas H. and Amelia (Pamley) Jones six children were born: Ernest, living at Sioux City, Iowa; Amy, now Mrs. Richards of Morton, Washington ; Norman P., died at the age of forty in St. Joseph and buried at Eagleville; Reginald M., died July 4, 1898 at Camp Alger, West Virginia and is buried in Arlington Cemetery, was a member of Company C, 4th Missouri Infantry in the Spanish Amer- ican War; Herbert P., living at Eagleville; Tom L., died at the age of twenty-four and is buried at Eagleville; and Harry C., the subject of this review.
Harry C. Jones was educated in the school at Eagleville and started to work at the printing trade when he was fourteen years old. He worked first for the Eagleville Monitor and later on the Blythedale Review. After this he worked on the Eagleville Sentinel and then went to Walker, Iowa, where he was connected with the Walker News, later moving to Marion, Iowa, where he was on the Marion Pilot. He left Iowa and went to Ren- frow, Oklahoma, where he was on the Renfrow Tribune when the Spanish- American War began. He at once enlisted for service in the United States army and was in Company F, 17th United States Infantry and served for twenty-eight months. He was in the Philippines where he fought against the Moros under General Wood. He was discharged in the Philippines, March 5, 1902 after three years of service and returned to Eagleville. He worked at his trade in numerous places and in 1905 he came to Ridgeway. Here he worked on the Ridgeway Journal until May, 1907, when he went to Bethany and began work on the Republican there. He remained on this work for a year and then returned to his position with the Ridgeway Journal.
The Ridgeway Journal was founded more than thirty years ago by . C. M. Jaqua who steered the destiny of the sheet for fifteen years, selling out in March, 1906, to the late Frank Daugherty, who remained at the helm until October, 1907, when Ed Eaton assumed the ownership. F. M. Spragg and Son purchased the paper from Mr. Eaton in October, 1909, and retained the ownership for four years, selling in August, 1913 to the present owner, the subject of this sketch.
Harry C. Jones was married November 29, 1906 to Esther A. Ury, of Eagleville, a daughter of C. D. Ury, now living at Ridgeway. Mr. and Mrs. Jones have two children: Claudia Florence, eleven years of age and at- tending the public school; and Harriette Charline, aged four years.
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Mr. Jones is a life long Republican. He is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons lodge. He is also a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and is an adherent of the Christian Church. He has served in various official capacities in Ridgeway and has proved him- self most efficient in all of them. He was alderman for a time, was the city clerk and the city collector for a term and, in 1919, he was elected mayor to fill an unexpired term of his predecessor. In 1920 he was re- elected for a term of two years. He is a man of varied experience and wide training.
George W. Wooderson, a successful farmer and stockman of Fox Creek Township and member of a pioneer family of this section, was born in this township, January 20, 1861, the son of William and Sarah (Rubert) Wooderson. Mrs. Wooderson was a daughter of Eli and Jane Rupert and she now lives at Mt. Moriah at the age of eighty-four years. William Wooderson died August 20, 1899. He was born in Ohio, July 31, 1837 and came to Missouri with his parents about 1848 and settled in Mercer County, but later located in Harrison County where he did general farm- ing and, at one time, was trustee of Fox Creek Township. Eli and Jane Rubert, grandparents of George Wooderson, also settled in Mercer County, where they died and are buried in St. Paul Cemetery.
William Wooderson and wife were the parents of the following chil- dren: George W., the subject of this sketch; Eliza, the wife of Henry Nelson, of Mt. Moriah; Alice Wooderson, of Mt. Moriah; Albert, of Sher- man Township; Charlie, on the home place; Ed, of Spickardville, Mis- souri; Frank, of Fox Creek Township; and Jennie, the wife of Emmett Sallee, of Bethany, Missouri.
George Wooderson was educated in Fox Creek Township, and after finishing school, he improved a farm which he had purchased in Mercer County and lived there for seventeen years. He bought his present farm of 200 acres, ten miles east of Bethany, in 1907 and has made his home here ever since. The farm is well improved with residence, good barn and sheep barns, and there is an ample supply of water, good shade and every natural condition, contributing to an ideal stock farm. Mr. Wonder- son does general farming and raises cattle, hogs and Shropshire sheep.
George W. Wooderson was married April 3, 1890 to Eldora Carpenter, a daughter of Alfred Colfax and Mary K. (Chaney) Carpenter. Alfred Colfax Carpenter and wife were early settlers of Trail Creek Township,
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HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY
and Mr. Carpenter was a member of the county court at the time the townships were organized and named, and Colfax Township was named in his honor.
Mrs. Wooderson was born near Ridgeway, March 20, 1866 and died January 14, 1921 and is buried at Sharon Chapel. Mr. and Mrs. Wooder- son were the parents of one child, Chloe, the wife of Clayton Nickerson. Mr. and Mrs. Nickerson were married February 6, 1921 and they make their home with Mr. Wooderson. Mr. Nickerson is the son of George W. Nickerson, of Bethany Township.
Mr. Wooderson is progressive and enterprising and a substantial citizen. He is a Republican and is a member of the Free Methodist Church and his wife was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Judge John B. Bryant, a well known citizen of Cypress Township, and a native of this county was born in Bethany, Missouri, August 20, 1870, the son of Joseph F. and Rhoda J. (Minnis) Bryant, both deceased. Joseph Bryant was born in Indiana in 1841 and came to Bethany when nine years of age with his father, Stephen Bryant, who eventually located in Cypress Township, where he lived until his death. Joseph Bryant was at one time prosecuting attorney of this county, also judge of the county court, and was also probate judge. He was widely known in the county. He died in January, 1917 and he and his wife are buried at Bethany, Missouri.
Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Bryant were the parents of the following chil- dren: John B., the subject of this sketch; Mrs. Cora B. Neal of St. Joseph, Missouri ; S. O. of Bethany, Missouri; Mrs. Pauline Martin of Los Angeles, California; Joseph of Los Angeles, California ; Mrs. Lizzie Reed of Wash- ington; William P., of Bethany; Mrs. Elsie Endsley, George, Bertram and Howell, all of California. The first three children were by Mr. Bryant's first marriage, and the remainder were by his second marriage to Anna E. Robinson.
John B. Bryant was educated in Bethany, Missouri schools and at Woodland College at Independence, Missouri. He began farming in Cy- press Township, after his education, and later moved to Bethany and engaged in the grocery business for five years. He was elected county judge and served two terms, from 1904 to 1908, and lived on the farm while holding this office. Mr. Bryant is living on his farm of 377 acres, five miles south of Bethany on the Gallatin, county seat road. This is
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an excellent farm, with fine improvements, including two residences, five barns, etc.
Mr. Bryant was married in 1890 to Carrie E. Howell, a daughter of Judge John C. Howell former circuit judge of this district. She was born in Bethany, and received her education here.
Mr. and Mrs. Bryant have two children: Marie, the wife of Ray Webb of St. Louis, Missouri, who is in the express business; and Helen, a graduate of the Bethany High School of class 1921, and who lives with her parents.
The Bryant family are interesting and substantial citizens of Harri- son County.
Daniel Smothers, president of the Commercial State Bank of Ridge- way, is one of the prominent and well-to-do farmers and stockmen of Harrison County. He was born in Mercer County, Missouri, September 7, 1866, a son of Joseph and Louisa Dorothy (Wise) Smothers, early settlers of Mercer County, Missouri.
Joseph Smothers came to Harrison County in 1867 and settled in Trail Creek Township where he was engaged in farming and stock rais- ing for a number of years and is now deceased. He served as registrar of Harrison County for four years. His widow, who was a native of West Virginia now lives on the old home place in Trail Creek Township.
To Joseph and Louisa Dorothy (Wise) Smothers were born the fol- lowing children: Jane, who married Frank Buis and lives in Putman County, Missouri ; Emigette, married Ed. Norwood, of Trail Creek Town- ship; Mrs. Mary Leggett, Mount Moriah, Missouri; Anna, married Frank Springer and they live in Colorado; and Daniel, the subject of this sketch.
Daniel Smothers was about six months old when the family settled in Trail Creek Township. He was reared on the home place and edu- cated in the district schools. He early acquired a knowledge of farming and stock raising and began farming for himself on rented land when he was about nineteen years old. Three years later, in 1888, he bought a farm of eighty acres which is a part of his present place. He acquired more land from time to time and now owns a valuable farm of two hun- dred eighty acres. He carries on general farming and stock raising and is one of the successful farmers of the county.
Mr. Smothers was married November 24, 1885, to Miss Rosa B. Glaze, a native of Harrison County and a daughter of T. W. Glaze, an early settler
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of Trail Creek Township and now deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Smothers have been born two children, as follows: G. T., cashier of the Commercial State Bank of Ridgeway and a sketch of whom appears in this volume and Jessie Merle.
Mr. Smothers is a member of the Methodist Church and is a Repub- lican.
George W. Garton, member of an old pioneer family of Harrison County, was born January 31, 1865, on the farm where he now lives two miles west of Bethany on the South West Trails road. His farm of 100 acres is a part of the old home place of his father, David Garton, one of the intrepid settlers of the early days in the county. David Garton was born in Ohio, January 10, 1817, and came to Harrison County about 1840, before the town of Bethany was laid out. He entered land and became a progressive farmer and stockman, breeding draft horses and mules and raising Durham cattle. He owned nearly 300 acres of land, and was one of the well known men of his day. He married Neaty Tucker who was born June 8, 1823. She died July 24, 1909, her husband having died April 17, 1874. The remains of both are buried in Miriam Cemetery. Their children are: Thomas J., born April 8, 1843, and living in Ray, Colorado; James P., born March 4, 1846, and died March 14, 1914; Martha J., born July 23, 1848, married twice, first to Elda Price, and the second time to Reverend W. H. Williams, and died February 12, 1912; William 'A., born April 19, 1850, died January 24, 1870; Mary E., born October 16, 1852, now the widow of James Rhay; Alexander H., born March 26, 1855, died September 8, 1887; Sarah K., born August 8, 1858, and died in April, 1914; David F., born June 5, 1861, now a resident of Paris, Texas; George W., the subject of this review; and Andy, born April 24, 1868, and now living in Colorado.
George W. Garton was educated in the schools of Harrison County and, with the exception of four years, has always lived on his present farm. He bought the 100 acres he now owns from the David Garton heirs and has improved the farm extensively. He has a good residence and good farm buildings, and is a successful farmer of the township.
George W. Garton was married April 17, 1898, to Amanda Garton of Centerville, Iowa, a daughter of Isreal and Martha (Harris) Garton, both deceased. Isreal Garton was born in Madison County, Ohio, April 6, 1829, and died in Harrison County, Missouri, November 25, 1911. His
MR. AND MRS. GEORGE W. GARTON
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wife was born in Madison County, Ohio, February 15, 1837, and died in Harrison County, Missouri, December 14, 1914. The remains of both are buried in Miriam Cemetery. Their children are: Ada, wife of George Buchanan, Centerville, Iowa; Ida, wife of Walter Garton of Bethany; Albert, living in Rolla, Kansas; Harland, of Richland, Michigan; Amanda, wife of the subject of this sketch; Percy, a resident of Richfield, Kansas; Charlie, living in Shields, Kansas; May, wife of J. E. Whittaker of Beth- any; and Harry, living at Bethany.
To George W. Garton and Amanda (Garton) Garton these children have been born; Harold a student in the University of Missouri at Co- lumbia; and Dwight, at home.
Mr. Garton is a member of the Knights of Pythias and of the Christian Church. His wife is a member of the Daughters of the Ameri- can Revolution, being a descendant, on her mother's side of Matthew Fuller, a soldier of the Revolution. The Garton name has always been higlily esteemed in the community.
E. A. Miner, treasurer of the Miner and Frees Lumber Company, of Ridgeway, Missouri, is one of the leading young business men of Harrison County. He was born at Ridgeway, January 16, 1894, a son of W. A. Miner, now deceased, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this volume.
E. A. Miner was reared in Ridgeway and attended the public schools. He was graduated from the Ridgeway High School in the class of 1909. He then attended the Missouri Valley College at Marshall, Missouri, and later entered the University of Missouri at Columbia, Missouri, where he was graduated in the class of 1914.
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