USA > Missouri > Henry County > History of Henry County, Missouri > Part 73
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HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY
Washington County, Kansas, and farmed until in 1903, when he came to Shawnee township, Henry County.
September 29, 1886, S. R. Benson married Mary Catherine Woods, a native of Jewell County, Kansas, and a daughter of Richard and Mary J. Woods, both deceased. Her father died in 1860 in Iowa and her mother, who married Obed Hastings after her first husband died in Jewell County, Kansas. Mr. and Mrs. Benson have two sons; R. H. and Vernon B., both serving in the United States Army in the World War.
Mr. Benson is the owner of four hundred forty acres of well im- proved land on which he has made wonderful improvements since his possession of same. A portion of his land is farmed by a tenant, who ha's a new home and buildings built for him. Mr. Benson is a Democrat and one of Henry County's foremost citizens.
E. J. Kensinger .- Among the many agriculturists of Henry County who are worthy of mention in this volume the name of E. J. Kensinger stands well in the lead of agricultural success and good citizenship, hav- ing fulfilled faithfully his obligations as a farmer and leader of progress in his community. Mr. Kensinger has two hundred seventy-four acres of well improved land in Shawnee township on which the improvements come up to the requirements and needs of the successful farmer. Mr. Kensinger lives in Fields Creek township one mile north of Clinton on fifteen acres, where he is able to give his children the advantage of a high school education at Clinton.
E. J. Kensinger was born in Miami County, Ohio, in 1858, the son of Lewis H. and Alice (Hitchins) Kensinger. Lewis Kensinger was a native of Ohio and for some years farmed in Ohio, where he met his wife, who was a native of that State. In 1877 they purchased land in Shawnee township, Henry County, but did not come to make it their home until 1881. In 1878 their son, E. J., the subject of this sketch, came to Henry County and fenced the farm, making various other improvements. Lewis Kensinger died July 7, 1893, and his wife departed this life December 10, 1916, and they are buried at the cemetery in Covington, Miami County, Ohio. The following are the children living that were born to them: Mrs. Ella Worley, born 1855, resides at Covington, Ohio; E. J., with whom this sketch deals; Mrs. Clara Folckemer, born 1861, lives in Kansas City, Mis- souri; Clifton H., born 1870, resides in Rockville, Missouri.
Mr. Kensinger was educated in Covington, Ohio, and in 1878 came to Henry County to look after his father's land. He remained with his
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HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY
parents after their arrival until 1884, when he went to Kansas, engaging in farming and stock raising in Coffey, Lyons and Greenwood Counties. In 1888 he went to Indian Territory and the year of 1889 he spent in Oklahoma and Wyoming. In 1890 he returned to Kansas City, Missouri, where he was employed for eight years. In 1898 he purchased one hun- dred twenty-four acres in Shawnee township and has added to his land holdings until he is now the owner of two hundred seventy-four acres of land in the forenamed township.
E. J. Kensinger and Clara Wade were united in marriage March 2, 1892, and are the parents of the following children: Mrs. Edna Warner of Covington, Ohio; Mrs. Alice Shiffner on the home farm in Shawnee township; Helen, Oliver and Lewis at home. The two latter children are attending the high school at Clinton, Missouri. Mrs. Clara Wade Ken- singer was the daughter of Peter and Sarah J. Wade, the former's death occurring in February, 1917. Mrs. Wade resides on their home farm in Shawnee township. Her ten children are all living and blessing the com- munities in which they live. There are forty-seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. The following are the children: Benjamin, Kansas City, Kansas; Henry, Washington; Mrs. Minnie Ragland of Tebo township; Mrs. Belle Devinny, St. Clair County, Missouri; Meredith W., of Shawnee township; Mrs. Lulu Paxton of Tebo township; Mrs. Ava Streeter, Kansas City, Kansas; Warren, Shawnee township, and William, Kansas City, Kansas.
Mr. Kensinger is conducting general farming and stock raising and is one of the progressive men of his community.
James W. Adair, a leading farmer and stockman of Shawnee town- ship, belongs to a family of Henry County pioneers. He was born on the farm where he now resides in Shawnee township, April 17, 1875. He is a son of Isaac and Nancy (Slayton) Adair. Isaac Adair was born in Henry County and spent his life here. He died in 1878 at the age of thirty-three years, and his wife departed this life in 1882, and their re- mains rest in the Carrsville Cemetery. They were the parents of the following children: Mrs. Dora E. Mashburn, who resides at Grant's Pass, Oregon ; Mrs. Maude Ross, who is now deceased, and James W., the sub- ject of this sketch.
James W. Adair was reared in Henry County and educated in the public schools. He began life as a farmer, which has been his occupation to the present time. He is a successful stockman and raises cattle, hogs
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and mules extensively. He owns two hundred eight acres of land in Shawnee township, not far from the Johnson County line. This is a valuable farm and was formerly known as the James Slayton farm. James Slayton settled here about 1839, further mention of whom is made in the sketch of W. T. Slayton. Mr. Adair's residence is a commodious eight room structure and is built on a natural elevation, which gives the place an imposing appearance and offers a splendid view to the surrounding country from the residence. It is one of the attractive places of the county.
January 3, 1905, James W. Adair was united in marriage with Miss Winnie Waugh, daughter of John and Julia Ann (Hamilton) Waugh of Big Creek township, both of whom are now deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Adair have been born four children, as follow: James, Jr., Julia Everett, Joseph Arthur and Martha Elizabeth, all residing at home. Mr. Adair is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of Clinton, Missouri. He is one of the public spirited and enterprising men of the community and one of Henry County's leading citizens.
John P. Legg .- The history of Henry County recounts what has been done during nearly a century of striving toward the development of a great county. It must tell of the individual accomplishments of the men who have lived and taken an active part in its progress. One of such men was the late John P. Legg, who was one of the early settlers of the county and honored and revered for his uprightness and honesty of life. He was born in Tebo township September 18, 1837, a son of Archi- bald and Ann (Cecil) Legg, who were homesteaders of Tebo township, filing on their land in 1830. Archibald Legg was born September 12, 1804, in Tennessee and came to the Henry County in 1830. He married Ann Cecil, who was a daughter of sturdy and brave pioneers, possessed with the conquering spirit of those early days. She was born in Virginia in 1813, and with her parents located in Henry County at an early day. She died August 9, 1903, and her husband passed away July 15, 1879. They were indeed of true American blood and left their posterity to fulfill the ideals, of which they had laid the foundation. Three children were born to them, William T., John P., and Elizabeth, who are deceased.
John P. Legg, possessed with the ideals of his ancestors and with a steady purpose to fulfill them, lived a consistent life, giving the best of his time and talent to the work before him. He was a great stockman and specialized in the Shorthorn cattle, which were exhibited at the county fairs, carrying away many of the prizes. He owned 600 acres of well- improved land, acquired through years of hard labor.
JOHN P. LEGG
MRS. MARY LEGG
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HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY
December 13, 1860, John P. Legg and Mary J. Finks were united in marriage and to them were born ten children, as follow: Etta F., de- ceased; James A., Dickens, Texas; Minnie F., deceased; Anna E., wife of L. H. Lewis, lives at Floydada, Texas; Mary, unmarried, at home with her mother; Willie C., wife of L. C. Richardson, Tebo township; Clara B., and Charles M., deceased; John H., Calhoun, Missouri; Kate, wife of W. A. Brownfield, Calhoun, Missouri. The mother of this interesting family was born June 20, 1833, in Madison County, Virginia, the daugh- ter of Mark and Eliza (Eddings) Finks, Sr., sturdy pioneers of Henry County, who have left the imprints of their good lives in the hearts of their sons and daughters who are scattered through the county. They are now deceased. Mrs. Mary Legg is a member of the Baptist Church and since disposing of her land she is enjoying the fruitage of the years spent in hard work, rearing her family under the primitive conditions. She and her daughter, Mary, are active in the social life of their com- munity and receive their friends in their well-appointed home. Mrs. Legg has twenty-one grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. She has two grandsons in the National Army, Waldo Richardson and John Lewis, both private soldiers, now in France.
John P. Legg was one of the foremost agriculturists of Henry County during his life time and he took pride in championing all the good things for the advancement of the civic, religious and industrial life of the com- munity. He was a Democrat. For many years he was a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons and an honored citizen of Calhoun, where he passed away October 21, 1908.
Andrew J. Dunaway is a leading farmer and stockman of Shawnee township and a descendant of one of the early pioneer families of western Missouri. He was born in Bogard township, Henry County, April 9, 1856, and is a son of John and Zuba (Davis) Dunaway. John Dunaway was born in Johnson County, Missouri, in 1828 and died in Henry County in 1908. He was a son of Isaac Dunaway, a native of Kentucky, born in 1800, and who was among the very early settlers of Johnson County, Mis- souri. To John and Zuba (Davis) Dunaway were born the following chil- dren: Louisa Jane, married W. M. Howerton and resides in Big Creek township; Mary, married James Harness and lives in Oklahoma ; Marshall, Chilhowee, Missouri; A. J., the subject of this sketch ; Mrs. Malissa Dixon; Hannah, now deceased; Cynthia R., married Ed Anderson, Kansas City, Missouri ; Miranda, married B. H. Gragg and is now deceased; Laura, de-
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HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY
ceased; Leonard, lives on the old homestead in Shawnee township, and Bell, married Frank S. Butcher, Lawrence, Kansas.
A. J. Dunaway was educated in the public schools of Henry County and remained with his parents until he was twenty-three years of age. He first purchased eighty acres of land and later added two hundred acres, and now owns two hundred eighty acres, which is one of the well im- proved and productive farms of Henry County. The place adjoins the Johnson County line and is about three and one-half miles southeast of Chilhowee. Mr. Dunaway erected a large modern house in 1910 and the barn and other farm buildings are up to the high standard of the resi- dence, which is one of the best in the community. Mr. Dunaway is ex- tensively interested in breeding pure bred Percheron horses, Kentucky jacks, high grade Shorthorn cattle and Poland China hogs. He is one of the successful stockmen of the community.
On February 18, 1878, A. J. Dunaway was united in marriage with Miss Ocie Ann Prewette, a daughter of Jesse E. and Frances Elizabeth (Gillette) Prewette. The father was called to his door and murdered by bushwhackers during the Civil War and the mother died on the home place in Shawnee township. After the death of her first husband the mother was married to Lewis Beaty, who served as county judge of Henry County for several years. The following children were born to this sec- ond marriage: Dr. Joseph G., Huntingdale, Missouri; James C., Dick T. and Walter L., all of whom reside in Shawnee township.
Mr. Dunaway is a member of the Masonic Lodge of Agricola and he and his wife are consistent members of the Baptist Church, and are of Shawnee township's most honored citizens.
The Dunaway family deserves to be rated among the very early pioneers of Henry County. John Dunaway, father of Andrew J., hauled corn to Jackson's old mill, which was located on the Grand River south of Clinton, and after he had his corn ground into meal he hauled the meal to Lexington with an ox team to get money to buy his first pair of boots. He worked for twenty-five cents per day, mowing with a scythe, during the harvest season. Many changes have taken place in farm economic conditions since those early days.
L. N. Dunaway, owner of the "Elmwood Valley Farm," is one of the progressive farmers and stockmen of Shawnee township. Mr. Dunaway is a native of Henry County, having been born on the place where he now resides December 22, 1866. Here he was reared and educated in the public schools and has made farming and stock raising his life's occupa-
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tion. The "Elmwood Valley Farm" consists of three hundred twenty acres of valuable land and is one of the well known stock farms of Henry County. The place is well improved with a good residence and other substantial farm buildings. Mr. Dunaway raises horses, cattle, hogs and mules. He does not run to fancy stock, although he has some Shorthorn cattle eligible to registration.
September 8, 1892, L. N. Dunaway was united in marriage with Miss Mary Beaty, a daughter of Benjamin and Lovina (Kimsey) Beaty, both now deceased. Mrs. Dunaway was born in Shawnee township and reared and educated in this county. Her mother died in 1898 in Shawnee town- ship and her father departed this life at Wilberton, Oklahoma, August 12, 1908. Mrs. Dunaway was one of five children born to her parents as follow: Samuel, lives in Florida; Joseph Y., Colorado; Mary, wife of L. N. Dunaway, the subject of this sketch; Jackson J., lives in Shawnee town- ship, and Phineas, Wilberton, Oklahoma. To Mr. and Mrs. Dunaway have been born two children, Royston A., married Mabel Anderson, daughter of Charles and Alice (Simpson) Anderson, of Huntingdale, Missouri, and they reside on the Dunaway farm, and Letha R., a graduate of the Hardin College, Mexico, Missouri, residing at home with her parents.
Mr. Dunaway belongs to the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, hold- ing membership in the Agricola Lodge No. 343. He takes a keen interest in political affairs, although he has never aspired to hold office. He is a Democrat and one of Henry County's most substantial and progressive citizens.
William T. Slayton, a descendant of a Henry County pioneer family, was born in Shawnee township May 22, 1850. He is a son of James and Susan Howerton Slayton, the former a native of Virginia and the latter of North Carolina, who came to Henry County and settled in Shawnee township about 1840. James Slayton was a son of Thomas Slayton, who came to this county in 1839 and settled in Big Creek township, and later settled in Shawnee township. He was one of the first settlers in that section.
W. T. Slayton is one of a family of three children born to his parents, the others being Fannie, who died at the age of thirteen years, and Nannie, married Isaac Adair and is now deceased.
William T. Slayton was united in marriage in 1874 to Miss Harriet Rogers, a daughter of Sterling and Kittie Ann Rogers, who came to Henry County shortly after the Civil War and are both now deceased. To Mr.
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HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY
and Mrs. Slayton have been born two children: Leonard, farmer in Big Creek township, married Emily Walker, and Mrs. Minnie Smith, on the home place with her mother.
W. T. Hastain, a progressive citizen and prosperous farmer and stock- man of Shawnee township, belongs to a pioneer family of Henry County and western Missouri. W. T. Hastain was born in Bethlehem township, Henry County, July 16, 1867, a son of Woodson A. and Sarah (Walker) Hastain. W. A. Hastain was born near Calhoun, Henry County, in 1835. He spent his life in Henry County and died in 1914. His remains are interred in Englewood Cemetery and his widow now resides at 310 East Jefferson street, Clinton, Missouri. W. A. Hastain was a son of Daniel Hastain, one of the first settlers of Henry County, who settled in the northeastern part of the county near where Calhoun is now located. He died in Warsaw, Missouri, and his remains are buried in the cemetery there.
W. T. Hastain is one of the following children born to his parents: W. T., the subject of this sketch; Addie, married Ben Holst, Los Angeles, California; Emma, married Thomas B. Wilson, Osceola, Missouri; Bertha, married Joe McCuan, Colorado Springs, Colorado; Sarepta, Boston, Massa- chusetts ; George W., Searcy, Arkansas; Sadie, married W. A. Ellett, Tulsa, Oklahoma; Marie, married L. C. Farnum, Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Maude, married E. H. Carnick, Clinton, Missouri.
W. T. Hastain was reared on a farm in Bethlehem township and attended the district schools in Bethlehem township, and later he attended high school in Clinton and Clinton Academy. He engaged in farming and stock raising in early life and has made that branch of endeavor his life's study and his life's occupation, and as a reward for his efforts he has succeeded to a very satisfactory degree and is today one of the substan- tial and prosperous men of the community. He owns a splendid farm of three hundred acres about four miles north of Huntingdale, which he purchased in 1894. The place is well improved with a good six room, two story farm residence, and the barns and other buildings on the place are up to the standard of the residence in modern appointments. Mr. Has- tain carries on general farming, although raising cattle, hogs and mules is the leading feature of the Hastain farm.
Mr. Hastain was united in marriage in 1890 to Miss Fannie Goff, daughter of Ephraim and Jane Ann (Templeton) Goff. The mother now lives in Bethlehem township, Henry County, and the father died in Feb-
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HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY
ruary, 1914. Mrs. Hastain is one of the following children born to her parents : Ed, Clinton, Missouri; Mrs. Minnie Day, Lewis Station; Fannie, the wife of W. T. Hastain, and Charles F., Rupert, Idaho. To W. T. Has- tain and wife have been born the following children: Willie Lee, now a soldier in the United States Army and trained at Camp Grant. He en- listed February 26, 1918, and is now in France with the American Ex- peditionary Force. The other children are: Alma, Pleasant N., Ina, re- siding at home, and Helen, who is the wife of Eustace Lake and resides in Shawnee township. The Hastain family are representative of the best citizenship of Henry County, and Mr. Hastain is progressive and public spirited.
Squire William Paul .- This venerable pioneer of Henry County is the oldest man living today in Henry County. He is reasonably vigorous in mind and body, notwithstanding the fact that he lacks but a little over a year of reaching the century mark. William Paul is a native of Ken- túcky. He was born in Rough Creek, west of Elizabethtown, Hardin County, Kentucky, January 5, 1820. His parents were George S. and Eliza- beth (Purcell) Paul, both natives of Hardin County, Kentucky. The mother was born in 1796 and died in Hardin County in 1869. George S. Paul was born on the Monongahela River in Pennsylvania in 1766. He was a soldier in the War of 1812 and was at the battle of New Orleans. He died in Hardin County, Kentucky, in 1837.
William Paul was reared to manhood in Hardin County, Kentucky, and in 1842 came to Missouri. He rode from Kentucky on horseback, in company with a man who was en route to Iowa. They crossed the river at St. Louis, which at that time was a small town. Mr. Paul came to what is now Shawnee township, Henry County, and settled near Hunt- ingdale. He says there is but one person now living, besides himself, who was here when he came. That is Mrs. Eliza Royston, who resides at Huntingdale, in her eighty-ninth year. In 1845 Mr. Paul bought a claim which consisted of three hundred acres. This place is still his home. He has been successfully engaged in farming and stock raising and for many years was an extensive feeder of cattle. During the last few years his sons have operated the home place, which consists of three hundred acres, while, owing to his advanced age, Mr. Paul has been prac- tically retired from business activities.
William Paul was united in marriage April 10, 1851, with Millie Ann Casey, who died about a year after her marriage to Mr. Paul. On March
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HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY
26, 1856, Mr. Paul was united in marriage with Miss Angeleta Barker. She departed this life May 1, 1873. To this union were born the follow- ing children: John, Samuel and James, all residing near Huntingdale, Missouri, and Richard, George, William, Benona and Elizabeth, all of whom are deceased. After the death of his second wife Mr. Paul mar- ried Mrs. Malissa McFarland, who died in 1917.
Mr. Paul has seen much of the early life and development of Henry County. He saw this county in almost its primitive state and has not only lived to see the marvelous improvements and advancement of con- siderably more than half a century, but has done his part towards the building up of Henry County. The result of the efforts of those noble pioneers is that the forest and prairie have been subdued and the present and future generations have been provided with a better place to live than these hardy pioneers of the thirties and forties ever dreamed of. Mr. Paul recalls many early day conditions, incidents and pioneers. He says Aaron and Samuel Cann started the first store in Huntingdale. These men began as peddlers in this section, walking from house to house, at a time when houses were few and far between. Later they started a store at Huntingdale and were merchants there for a number of years. Mr. Paul remained here during the Civil War and always gave his in- fluence to the maintenance of law and order and did much for the restora- tion of civil authority after the great conflict ended. He was justice of the peace here for fifty-two years. Mr. Paul is one of the few pioneers of the early days left to tell the story of Henry County. He has done his part nobly and well and the present and future generations of Henry County cannot do better than to indelibly white the names of these noble pioneers in the imperishible record of Henry County. Squire Paul is the oldest living Mason in Missouri, having been made a Mason in 1842- seventy-seven years ago.
James Paul, son of William Paul, was born in Shawnee township on the place where he now resides November 3, 1868. He was reared and educated in Shawnee township and has made farming and stock raising his life's occupation and is one of Henry County's most successful men in this line of endeavor.
On May 3, 1917, James Paul was united in marriage with Miss Anna R. Godwin, daughter of Rogers Godwin. He is now deceased. Mrs. Paul was born in White Oak township, Henry County.
C. W. Drake, a merchant of Huntingdale, Missouri, is one of the old pioneers of Henry County, having lived in the village of Huntingdale
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since November, 1855. Mr. Drake was born in Deer Creek township, Henry County October 22, 1848, the son of Jesse W. and Eliza (Pinnell) Drake. Jesse W. was born in Kentucky in 1823 and came to Henry County in 1840, settling in Deer Creek township. In 1849, when gold was dis- covered in California, Mr. Drake joined a party and made the trip across the country in a rude ox wagon, enduring all of the hardships of those gold seekers. He died in 1850 at Sacremento, California. Mrs. Eliza Drake was born November 15, 1827, in Virginia and when a very small child her parents, F. A. Pinnell and family, came to Henry County, arriv- ing in 1830. F. A. Pinnell was the first county clerk of Henry County, then known as Rives County: The offices of county clerk, circuit clerk and recorded were all one office and for eighteen years Mr. Pinnell faith- fully filled this office. Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Drake were the parents of two children: Mrs. Hattie Freeman, born September 3, 1846, now deceased, and C. W. Drake, the subject of this sketch.
Mrs. Eliza Drake was married a second time to Dr. E. C. Royston, who died July 10, 1898. Doctor Royston lived in Huntingdale since 1855 and was an old familiar figure in this locality. Mrs. Royston survives him several years, living to be at the age of ninety-one years, loved and revered by all that know her.
C. W. Drake was educated in the schools of Huntingdale and for a number of years followed farming. In 1880 he purchased the general merchandise store in Huntingdale from Ben Quarles, disposing of the same in 1884. In 1906 he purchased the present building and opened up a new stock of general merchandise.
The marriage of C. W. Drake and Lucy Covington was solemnized February 4, 1869. She was the daughter of John O. and Eliza Ann Cov- ington, the former born in Delaware and the latter in Kentucky. They are both deceased. Mrs. Lucy Drake passed away July 2, 1893. She was the mother of three children: Hattie E., deceased; William C. and Harvey W., deceased.
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