USA > Missouri > Jackson County > History of Jackson County, Missouri > Part 34
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"Beacon McGregor," another famous trotter, owned by Mr. Graves, in one season out of seven races in which he was entered, won five firsts, among them being two $1,000.00 purses, and closed the season with a rec- ord of 2:1434. At Dallas, Texas, Mr. Graves, with "Decoration," won a $1,000.00 purse in 2:1514, in a field of 14 entries.
In 1917 Mr. Graves purchased a horse on the streets of Independence, named "Allie Ashbrook," a four-year-old, which he trained and won three $1,000.00 purses, and sold him that fall to Ed. Greer for $2,500.00 and a mare whose sire was "The Harvester," with a record of 2:01. Mr. Graves bred "Old Black Squirrel" at Independence, Mo., and "Chester Dan". and many other fine stallions who have figured in turf history of the country.
At Lawrenceburg, Ky., he showed his horses 21 times, and took 18 first and two second premiums. In 1889 Mr. Graves brought five head of Shorthorn cattle from Woodford County, Kentucky, and sold them to Ed. Graves, of Saline County, Missouri. These cattle were later exhibited and won premiums at the Lexington Fair. One of them, "Imported Down- horn," dam of "Fannie Forrester." was the most noted show animal in
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Missouri and won more blue ribbons than any other animal at that time. She was formerly owned by Gus Shropshire, of Kentucky. Mr. Graves also owned "Blackeagle," sire of "Black Squirrel." The fine strain of saddle horses owned by Lulu Long have come from the old "Black Squirrel" stock of Kentucky.
Mr. Graves came to Independence in April, 1914, and purchased his present home at 1003 Dodgin street. His residence is a modern house of nine rooms, built of brick, and having a large barn at the rear of the premises.
Although past the great age of four score years, Mr. Graves is as well preserved as many men 30 years younger. Nov. 11, 1919, he marched in the armistice day parade, walking one mile up town from his home, march- ing in the parade, and then walking back to his home, and felt no ill effects from the exertion. It is his intention to handle racing horses until he is 100 years old. He loves horses, and his interest in fine animals keeps him young and active.
George S. Martin, 111 West Lexington street, proprietor of a meat market on the south side of the court house square, was born in Fayette County, Ohio, in 1863. He is à son of John V. B. Martin. His father was a veteran of the Civil War. He enlisted in an Ohio regiment for service with the Union Army, and served for two years in the South. In 1867 he came west to Missouri, and settled at Wayne City, some years later remov- ing to Independence, where he died, Jan. 21, 1919. Mrs. Martin died in California, May. 9, 1914. The children born to John V. B. and wife are as follow: Jennie, deceased ; J. W. Martin, Independence; J. R., a butcher in Kansas City ; George S. Martin, of this review; Minnie, wife of T. V. Cor- nell, Independence, Mo .; Ollie, wife of J. W. Ramsey, Independence; Jessie L., wife of Martin Welch, Independence; Lilla, wife of Ernest Jones, Kan- sas City; Leona, wife of F. M. Booth, Independence; Josephine, wife of David Ward, Los Angeles, Calif .; Warner Martin, Los Angeles, Calif .; Ru- fus Martin died at the age of seven years.
The schooling of George S. Martin was obtained at old Gilpintown, and in Kansas City. For five years he followed farming, after attaining ma- turity, and then spent five years in Wyoming as a cowboy. After his west- ern experience he returned to Independence and in October, 1889, he em- barked in the meat market business, and has followed it for the past 31 years. During his period of service as a cowboy in Wyoming, Mr. Martin helped to drive a large herd of 1,650 cattle from Ogalalla, Neb., to north- west Wyoming.
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Besides his business in Independence Mr. Martin is owner of a farm of 80 acres situated in Johnson County, ten miles east of Warrensburg, and one mile south of Knob Noster.
Mr. Martin was married Dec. 23, 1891, to Mrs. Mary Warren, a daugh- ter of Adolph and Margaret Warren, of Schell City, Mo. Adolph Warren died in Independence. Mrs. Margaret Warren lives at Jefferson City, Mo., with her daughter, Mrs. J. L. Scott. Mr. and Mrs. Martin have two chil- dren: Clarence W., now located near Los Angeles, Calif., in the aviation service of the United States Army. He enlisted at Minneapolis, and was crippled while serving in France. The tail of his airplane was shot off when at a height of 5,000 feet, and in the fall to the ground, his driver was killed and he, himself, was badly wounded. He lay unconscious for three days, and after recovering he went to California and is employed as an electrician. Theodore Overton Martin is associated with his father in the business.
The Martins reside at 312 West College street, where they have lived for the past 15 years. Mr. Martin is a charter member of the Woodmen of the World. -
L. E. Rood, proprietor of a sheet metal and furnace shop, 115 East Lexington street, Independence, Mo., was born at Appleton City, St. Clair County, Missouri, and is a son of J. L. and Sarah C. (Troup) Rood, the former of whom was a native of Norway, and immigrated to America with his parents when three years of age, and was reared at Madison, Wis. He migrated to Missouri and settled on a farm near Appleton City, in 1865. After some years spent on the farm he removed to Appleton City, and en- gaged in the hardware business. He remained in this business until just a few years prior to his death, which occurred July 25, 1919. His widow resides in Appleton City.
Upon the outbreak of the Civil War, J. L. Rood enlisted in a Wiscon- sin regiment of Union volunteers, and served as corporal of his company. He was wounded through the right lung by a minnie ball, and did not re- turn to the service after convalescing. He was a charter member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows of Appleton City, and at the time of his death was the last surviving charter member of his lodge.
The children of J. L. and Sarah C. Rood are as follow: Mary Rood, Kansas City; Mrs. Emma Sallee, Pomona, Calif .; H. F. Rood, Hardin, Colo .; Ludema, wife of R. R. McCoy, Kansas City, Kan .; L. E. Rood, sub- ject of this sketch; Mrs. Gertie Hamilton, Kansas City, Kan .; William H. Rood, Garden City, Mo .; Albert M. Rood, died at the age of 33 years at
-
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Kansas City, Mo .; he was a citizen of Salana, N. M., at the time of his death.
After his graduation from the Appleton City High School in 1901, L. E. Rood entered his father's hardware store and assisted his father until his removal to Independence in 1904. For the next ten years he was in the employ of the Independence Hardware Company. In 1915 he em- barked in the hardware business at the corner of Thirteenth street and Quindaro boulevard, Kansas City, and was located there for four years. Nov. 1, 1919, he opened his present establishment at 115 East Lexington street. Mr. Rood has had a good business from the very start, and is building up a fine patronage. He is thorough in his work and knows the trade of sheet metal and furnace worker from the ground up.
Mr. Rood was married in 1912 to Anna B. Hills, a daughter of E. E. and Myra Elizabeth (Yale) Hills, of Independence. One daughter has been born of this union: Mildred Elizabeth. The Rood family residence is located at 133 West Sea avenue.
Mr. Rood's grandfather Troup was reared in Illinois, and was an early settler in Bates County, Missouri. He died when past 80 years of age, while on his way from Missouri to Oklahoma, and his remains are interred in the Appleton City cemetery.
Charles P. McCumber, grocery and meat market proprietor, 113 South Main street, Independence, was born in Carroll County, Missouri, Feb. 11, 1872. He is a son of George S. and Elizabeth (Henry) McCumber, both of whom are deceased.
George S. McCumber was a native of Scotland, who settled in Meigs County, Ohio, some years prior to the Civil War. He enlisted in the Union Army soon after the outbreak of the Civil War, and served as drummer boy for three years as a soldier in the Fourth West Virginia regiment, which was recruited from the towns on both sides of the Ohio River in Ohio and West Virginia. After the close of the war he came to Missouri, resided for some years in Carroll County, and later located at Junction City, Kan., where both he and his wife died. Their children were as follow: James was accidentally drowned at Carrollton, Mo., at the age of 32 years ; Mrs. Rebecca Ellsworth, Junction City, Kan .; Mrs. Kate McCorkle, Seattle, Wash .; Mrs. Mary White, Seattle, Wash .; Alonzo McCumber, Junction City, Kan .; Charles P., of this review; Anna, wife of G. B. Henry, Junction City, Kan., and George S., deceased.
After attending school in Carroll County and Junction City, Kan., Charles P. McCumber learned the trade of butcher and meat cutter at
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Junction City, Kan., and operated a shop for nine years prior to locating in Independence, Sept. 15, 1914. Mr. McCumber opened a market at the cor- ner of Lexington and Union streets, which he operated for four years, and then, in 1917, he located his business at 113 South Main street, where he has one of the largest and best patronized establishments in the city. A room, 25x80 feet, is fully stocked with a line of the best groceries and provisions, and he operates a meat market in connection. Four sales peo- ple are employed to care for the extensive trade.
Mr. McCumber was married in 1894 to Minnie Ball, of Carrollton, Mo., a daughter of Thomas A. and Elizabeth (Gentry) Ball, the former living at Carrollton, and the latter of whom is deceased. Three children have been born to this marriage: Charles T., died at the age of four months ; Harry, assisting his father in the store; May and Arthur, at home.
The MeCumber family reside at 600 South Liberty street, Independ- ence. Mr. McCumber is a member of the Loyal Order of Moose and the Modern Woodmen of America.
James W. Renick, farmer and dairyman, Blue township, was born in Jackson County, July 19, 1879, on the farm now owned by Mrs. Marie Powell, of Lees Summit. He is a son of William H. and Addie (Wilcox) Renick, both deceased, the former dying on March 22, 1918, and the lat- ter in 1890.
William H. Renick was born in Blue township in 1844, and was a son of Abraham and Melvina (Reed) Renick, the former of whom was born in Lexington, Ky., and came to Jackson County in 1842. He entered land, developed his farm, and plied his trade of gunsmith until after the close of the Civil War. He became the owner of 205 acres of land, all of which was divided among his children, who were as follow: Mrs. Sallie Rollins, of Blue township; William H .; Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Martin, de- ceased; Mrs. Louise Westmoreland, deceased.
William H. Renick became owner of 155 acres of land in Blue town- ship, 60 acres of which are now owned by J. W. Renick, of this sketch. The children born to William H. and Addie (Wilcox) Renick are: J. W. Renick, of this sketch; Mrs. Minnie Kimball, of Olathe, Kan .; Mrs. Marie Powell, of Lees Summit.
J. W. Renick attended the Pitcher District School, and Woodland Col- lege, Independence, Mo., and studied under Prof. George Bryant. He has always followed farming, and of late has engaged in dairying. The Ren- ick dairy herd consists of 20 cows.
James W. Renick was married April 19, 1902, to Miss Mary Green,
WILLIAM H. RENICK.
MRS. ADDIE (WILCOX) RENICK.
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of Blue township. She is a daughter of Gilbert Green. Mr. and Mrs. Renick have two children: Howard and James, Jr. .
Mr. Renick is a member of the Woodmen of the World and the Mod- ern Brotherhood of America. He is an industrious, capable citizen, who is modest and unassuming, and of the true Missouri type, descended from pioneer ancestors.
D. C. Halleran, proprietor of a carriage, repair and shoeing shop at 116 East Maple street, Independence, Mo., was born in St. Louis, Mo., Sept. 8, 1858, and is a son of Patrick and Nora (Halleran) Halleran, both of whom were natives of Ireland. His father died of cholera in 1866, at St. Louis, Mo., while aboard a steamboat. His mother died in 1862. The Hal- leran family, of which the subject of this sketch is a member, is the same as the Hallinan family of Canada. The ancestry is the same, the dis- crepancy in spelling being the result of lack of knowledge of the family name and origin on the part of D. C. Hallinan, who being left an orphan at a tender age, was ot aware of the exact spelling of his name in his younger days. A trip to Canada and a visit among his relatives who lived there enlightened E. J. Halleran in this regard. Patrick and Nora Halleran were the parents of two children: D. C., the subject of this review, and E. J. Halleran, who died at the age of 56 years. He married Nannia Crutch- field, who is also deceased. They left three children: Claude, Westport, Mo .; Marie, living in Texas, and Marcella, Westport, Mo.
Left an orphan in boyhood, D. C. Halleran was sent to an Irish settle- ment in Saline County, Missouri, and was placed in the home of a family named Condon. The treatment accorded him not being to his liking, he ran away at the age of 10 years, in order to get a chance to attend school. From this time on he made his own way. At Waverly, Mo., he lived with a family from Virginia for two years, and was then reared to maturity on a farm, in the home of kind people named Rollins. They regarded him as one of the family, and gave him the same advantages as were enjoyed by their own children. When 18 years old, he began to learn the black- smith trade, and worked in Landrum Brothers shop at Waverly for three years. He operated a shop at Mt. Leonard and also spent one winter at Odessa. From this place he went to Lees Summit, and worked for Rich- ard Hall, a brother-in-law of Cole Younger, and was also in the employ of Edgar Whiting of that place. From Lees Summit he went to Lone Jack and bought a shop there, and operated it for three years. He then ran a shop at Westport for six months, sold out, and for six years was a suc- cessful life insurance salesman. In July, 1889, Mr. Halleran came to Inde-
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pendence, and purchased the Russell Hardware and Carriage Shop. While here he ran for councilman, and was defeated for the office by but one vote. He traded his shop for a Kansas farm, and then traded the farm off and again went into the insurance business. He purchased his present building in 1897, and conducted the leading carriage shop in the city until 1916. Automobiles having crowded the carriage making industry into the background, he has taken up general repair work, painting and trim- ming, etc.
Mr. Halleran was married March 4, 1889, at Clinton, Mo., to Miss Gerty Gaffney, who was born in 1869, a daughter of William and Anna Gaffney. Mrs. Halleran died in 1910, leaving children as follow: . Ella, at home ; Edna May, a Red Cross nurse at Baltimore, Md .; Norman Aubrey died while in the service of his country at the Great Lakes Naval Training Station, Sept. 22, 1918, having enlisted in December, 1917, and left home Feb. 28, 1918, and died as a result of an attack of influenza, when 24 years old ; Hazel is a stenographer in Kansas City; Fern is also a stenographer employed in Kansas City ; Anna and Catherine are attending Independence High School; Dorothy is attending the public school.
Mr. Halleran is a member of the Knights of Pythias, becoming affil- iated with the order in 1895, and in 1900 filled the office of chancellor commander. He has served as chairman of the Modern Woodmen of Amer- ica, and is a charter member of the Royal Neighbors and the Pythian Sis- ters. The Halleran family residence is at 315 North Main street.
T. W. Milner, cafe and restaurant proprietor, located at 119 East Lex- ington street, who has been engaged in business in Independence since 1894, was born in Cass County, Illinois, March 17, 1859. He is a son of Richard and Hannah (Wood) Milner, both of whom are deceased. Both were natives of England, Richard Milner having been born in Lancashire, and Hannah Milner was born in Yorkshire. They were married in Morgan County, Illinois. Richard Milner was a wood worker by trade. The chil- dren born to Richard and Hannah Milner are as follow: Mrs. Rebecca Wroe, Brookfield, Mo .; T. W., subject of this review; Mary Milner, Beards- town, Ill .; Mrs. Rosa Cardwell, Beardstown, Ill .; and Mrs. Margaret Dixon, widow of Dr. Dixon, formerly a dentist.
T. W. Milner was educated in the public schools of Beardstown, Ill. For 17 years he was in the employ of the Baltimore and Ohio and the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy railroads, and was also in the employ of the Missouri Pacific and the Northwestern railroads. In 1894 he opened a restaurant on the east side of the public square in Independence. In De-
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cember, 1902, he moved to another location on West Lexington street. In 1919 Mr. Milner erected a new brick building at 119 East Lexington, where he has one of the best restaurants to be found anywhere in a city of this size. Mr. Milner makes a specialty of having good things to eat, as his hundreds of customers will testify.
Mr. Milner was married Feb. 23, 1893, to Mollie A. Worden, a daugh- ter of Thaddeus and Mary A. (Stone) Worden, the former of whom was a native of Howard County, and the latter a native of Moniteau County. Capt. William H. Worden, of the Confederate Army, was an uncle of Mrs. Milner, and his grandson, Horace Worden, was killed in France while fighting with the American forces in the World War. Thaddeus Worden died in September, 1901. Mrs. Worden died in 1911. Both are buried at Lees Summit. The children of the Worden family are: J. H., died at the age of 60 years; Mrs. Fannie C. Groh, Lees Summit, Mo .; W. S., superin- tendent of Swope Park, Kansas City ; T. J., Kansas City ; Mrs. T. W. Milner, subject of this sketch; Mrs. Nannie J. Head, Kansas City ; B. S. Worden, Ventura, Calif .; Mrs. Belle O. Chrisman, Independence.
Mr. and Mrs. Milner reside at 119 East Lexington street. Mr. Milner is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Lodge No. 1302, Independence, of which lodge he is a charter member.
Edgar L. Cook, of the grocery firm of Bridges, Gray and Cook, 119 South Main street, Independence, Mo., was born in Vernon County, Missouri, in 1888, and is a son of M. J. and Belle (Holloway) Cook.
M. J. Cook was a native of Jackson County, born on a farm where he now resides on the Blue Springs road, in 1857. Mrs. Belle Cook was born in Jackson County in 1857. After their marriage, M. J. Cook and wife removed to Galena, Kan., and resided there for ten years, then went to Vernon County, Missouri, and lived there for ten years, prior to returning to the old home in Jackson County. Enoch J. Cook, grandfather of Edgar L. Cook, was a Jackson County pioneer, whose property was destroyed by Federal troops during the Civil War. When Order No. 11 was issued in 1863, the family went to Clay County, Missouri, and remained there until the close of the war. Enoch Cook served in the Confederate Army during the war, and died in 1892. M. J. Cook and wife are the parents of eight children : J. L. Cook, a grocer in Independence, owner of Cook's Market; Edna died when three years of age; Mrs. Eva Reick, Independence, Mo .; Grover C., Independence; Edgar L., of this review; Enoch J., deceased; Izola Cook, a teacher at Tarsney, Mo .; Anna Cook, at home.
Edgar L. Cook attended the public schools at Hume, Mo., and there
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learned the trade of meat cutter, under his father and brothers. He be- came connected with the firm of Bridges, Gray and Cook, having come to Independence in 1897, and was formerly engaged in the grocery business with his father. He was married in 1913 to Miss Edna Winfrey, of Inde- pendence, a daughter of John and Harriet Winfrey, the former of whom is deceased, and the latter lives in Montana. Mr. and Mrs. Cook have a son, Marrian, aged four years. Mr. Cook is a member of the Knights of Py- thias and the Loyal Order of Moose.
The beginning of the grocery store of Bridges, Gray and Cook oc- curred in 1898, when W. D. Bullard purchased the stock of goods formerly owned by the Peoples Union Mercantile Company. Shortly afterward, W. J. Bullard, his son, became a member of the firm, which was then doing business at 114 South Main street. For five years the store was operated under the name of Bullard and Gray. In 1917 the store was moved to its present location, at 119 South Main street, and the firm of Bridges, Gray and Cook was formed, composed of Edgard L. Cook, James L. Gray and W. C. Bridges. Nine people are employed to care for the extensive trade en- joyed by this enterprising and successful firm.
Christian Yetter .- The firm of Yetter and McBride, contractors and builders, is an important one in the industrial life of Independence, and was organized in 1916. Christian Yetter, the senior member of this firm, is one of the oldest and most successful contractors in this section of Missouri. He has erected more important buildings in the city and surrounding country territory than any other individual contractor, and did his work honestly and well. Mr. Yetter was born in Wittenburg, Germany, in 1847. the son of Matthew and Anna Yetter. He immigrated to America in 1866, and located at Hermann, Mo., where he resided for nearly five years. In 1870 he located in Kansas City, and was employed at the carpenter trade under Hook and Rollard, contractors and builders, for one year. In 1871 he came to Independence and assisted in the razing of the old court house. In 1876 he began contracting on his own account, his first contract being the erection of the buildings on the Beets farm, near Atherton. In 1918 he erected another building for Mr. Beets on this same farm, the latter building being a modern brick residence, one of the finest country homes in Jackson County. Mr. Yetter has built many wooden and iron bridges in the county during his long career, many of them across the Blue, between Independence and Kansas City. He erected the bridge across the Little Blue in Sniabar township, and has built in all over 150 bridges in Jackson County during his 43 years as contractor.
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Mr. Yetter built five miles of concrete highway on the Santa Fe trail, now a part of the Lexington road. This was the first concrete road built in Jackson County, but not the first rock road, however, the first road of this class having been built by the citizens of the county from Independ- ence to Wayne City in the old steamboat days. He also graded the road from Independence to Blue Springs, preparatory to macadamizing. Yetter and McBride have the contract at present for enclosing the Independence Christian Church, which was damaged by fire Feb. 22, 1918, the walls alone being left standing. Mr. Yetter erected the old Ott school house, the Library building, the Columbia school, the present city hall, the Presby- terian Church, the Masonic building, the finest in the city, and he also built the McCune Home for Boys, the McCune school, the Jackson County Girls Home and the power plant for the Jackson County Home.
Mr. Yetter was married in 1873 to Miss Katie Helmig, of Independ- ence, a daughter of Casper and Anna Helmig, deceased, who were the par- ents of the following children: Mrs. Katie Yetter, Mrs. Louise Polmeier, Mrs. Christian Fairman and Charles Helmig. Mr. and Mrs. Yetter have three children: William, a carpenter, Independence, Mo .; Frank, a photog- rapher. Tulsa, Okla .; Russell, at home with his parents. For the past 40 years the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Yetter has been at 202 East Kansas street.
Isaac N. White, Evangelist-Patriarch in the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, was born in Lawrence County, Ohio, Dec. 27, 1841. He is a son of Almon and Mary (Birk) White, the former of whom was a native of Gallia County, Ohio, and the latter also a native of Ohio. Mr. Almon White was a son of Alfred White, a native of New York, who was a pioneer settler of Gallia County, Ohio. When Isaac N. White was a boy 14 years of age his parents moved to Daviess County, Missouri, and purchased a large farm in that county. When the Civil War began he joined the Missouri State Militia under Colonel McFarren, a com- mander of Federal troops, and was a member of Company B, serving in the Union Army under Captain Falmsbee for two years and eight months in all. He received an honorable discharge from the army on account of in- firmities brought on by exposure, was brought home, and died soon after his arrival. His remains were buried at Gallatin, Mo. Alfred White, grandfather of Isaac N. White, made the long trip overland to Oregon in 1848, founded a home there in the wilderness, assisted in the development of the State, and died there in his 76th year. Mrs. Mary (Birk) White died at Newton, Jasper County, Iowa, and her remains were interred in the
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