USA > Missouri > Jackson County > History of Jackson County, Missouri > Part 36
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William E. McBride, his father, was formerly one of the best known of the early contractors in Jackson County. He was born at Harrods- burg, Ky., and died in Independence, in 1906. Mrs. Minerva (Dresser) McBride was born in Portage County, Ohio, in 1826, and died in 1899. Their children were as follow: Charles H., born 1849, died at the age of 45 years; Clara, wife of T. J. Beale, Kansas City ; Kittie, wife of James A. Stayton, living south of Independence, a sketch of whom appears in this volume; Robert L., of this sketch; Bettie, deceased; Oliver L., in the em- plow of the Doherty Corporation, and located at the Doherty Electric and Power Company's plant, Lake Taneycomo, Mo. William E. McBride estab- lished the first nursery in west Missouri, at Norwood, Mo., in the early for- ties, which he operated for some years, and then began his career as a con- tractor and builder in Independence and Jackson County. He and James Carpenter erected the old Noland Hotel in 1846, and in 1907 Robert L. McBride, remodeled the building, which is now known as the Clinton Block.
Robert L. McBride attended the Rock Creek district school in his boy- hood days. Yetter and McBride built a new school house for the Rock Creek district to take the place of the old school in which Mr. McBride had obtained his primary education. Mr. McBride also studied at Woodland College, Independence. He learned the trade of carpenter and builder under his father's tutelage, and when 18 years of age he began his own career as a carpenter. In 1899 he began contracting on his own account,
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and the first residence which he built was for James McCormick, at the corner of River boulevard and College street. He erected the Mize-Peters drug store, the Farmers Bank at Buckner, the Home Deposit Trust Com pany building, and has built over 100 residences in Independence. He also erected the Benton school house, and drew the plans and superintended the building of the city hall. Mr. McBride erected the Bryant and McCoy school buildings, the first school house at Sugar Creek, and the Grain Val- ley High School. This firm is at present rebuilding the Christian Church.
Robert L. McBride was married in July, 1897, to Miss Maud Stella Anderson, a daughter of Thomas and Kate (Kimsey) Anderson, the latter a daughter of Samuel Kimsey, who was a pioneer settler in Fort Osage township. Five children have been born to this marriage: Robert, Bessie, Martha, Helen and Dudley.
Robert McBride served as corporal with Battery C, 129th Artillery regiment, commanded by Major E. M. Stayton, on the Mexican border. He died while in the service, death resulting from an operation for appendicitis. July 14, 1916, and his remains were interred in Woodlawn cemetery.
Miss Bessie McBride is a teacher in the Bryant school. Martha, Helen and Dudley are at home. The mother of the foregoing children died in 1907. Mr. McBride was again married, in 1909, to Miss Brittie Haines, a daughter of Amos and Pallee (Douglas) Haines, of Buckner, Mo. The children born of this union are as follow: Georgia, Corinne and Virginia.
Edward T. Douglas, grandfather of Mrs. Brittie McBride, was a pio- neer in Fort Osage township, coming to Jackson County from Kentucky. The McBride family residence is situated at 901 White Oak street.
Mr. McBride is a Democrat. He is a member of the Knights of Py- thias, Independence Lodge No. 3.
Shannon K. Knox, late well known and highly respected resident of Independence, was born in Westmoreland County, Pa., in 1847, and died Aug. 16, 1900. He was a son of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Knox, of Westmore- land County, where he was reared and educated. When he was a very young man, he learned telegraphy, and followed that work for some years. During the Civil War he was telegraph operator at Sumner, Ill.
Mr. Knox came to Missouri in 1868, and settled on a farm three miles south of Independence, on the place now known as the Frazier farm. He followed farming and stock raising for five years, and then removed to Independence for the purpose of affording his children the educational advantages to be found in this city. Soon after locating in Independence, he became interested in mining, in partnership with Adam and John Long,
SHANNON K. KNOX.
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who later founded the wholesale grocery firm of that name in Kansas City. He owned mines in Colorado and Montana, and was successful in the mining business, which he followed until his death, in 1900. Mr. Knox erected one of the fine residences of Independence, a large structure of 16 rooms, situated on the southeast corner of Lexington and Pleasant streets.
Mr. Knox was married in 1861 to Miss Jane E. Christy, a daughter of William Y. and Margaret (Lanterman) Christy, of Sumner, Ill. Mr. Christy died at Sumner, and his wife died when Mrs. Jane E. (Christy) Knox was but three years of age. Mrs. Knox has a brother, F. M. Christy, who resides on the Van Horn road, with his son, Gregg Christy. A sister, Mrs. Harriet Sheridan, lives in Los Angeles, Calif. Six children were born to Shannon K. and Jane E. Knox, as follow: Mrs. Anna Child, In- dependence, Mo .; Charles C. Knox, Berkeley, Calif .; Mrs. Paul Alexander, now living with Mrs. Knox; Roger C. Knox, Soulsbyville, Calif .; Dr. A. C. Knox, Kansas City, Mo .; Edgar C. Knox, in the real estate and insurance business, Independence.
Mr. Knox was a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, and was prominent in Masonic circles in Illinois prior to locating in Jack- son County. He was a member of the Presbyterian church, and was uni- versally regarded as an exemplary, honorable and public spirited citizen.
W. S. Collier, proprietor of the Collier Painting and Decorating Store, 209 West Lexington street, Independence, Mo., has been engaged in his present business since April, 1919, and has made a pronounced success.
Mr. Collier was born at Marblehead, Ohio, Aug. 26, 1888, and is a son of Harry May and Mary E. Collier, the latter of whom died in Denver, Colo. W. S. Collier attended the public schools of Denver and Golden, Colo., and learned his trade under his father, who has been a skilled painter and decorator for many years. He has followed his trade during his entire matured life. and is one of the most skilled men in his line in this section of Missouri. His knowledge of the business is thorough, and he has been engaged in the work for over 14 years. Since 1913 he has been in business for himself at Denver, Salt Lake City, Pueblo, Albuquerque, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Spokane. He has also followed the business at Alli- ance, Neb., Topeka, Kan., and Kansas City, Mo. One of Mr. Collier's recent jobs was the painting and decorating of the Watkins Building, and the new Lewis Theater and the J. Allen Prewitt Building. He has done the finest work in the city. He employs from three to 11 men throughout the year.
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Many fine residences, including the Thomas H. Swope country residence, present good evidence of his skill.
Mr. Collier was married in 1912 to Miss Mary Guthrie, of Westport, Mo., a daughter of Charles and Mary (Peterson) Guthrie, the latter of whom is deceased, and the former resides at 5856 Perry street, Kansas City, Mo. Mr. and Mrs. Collier have three children: Melvin, Lucile and Charles. They reside at 209 West Lexington street.
Much knowledge and little capital is better than much money and little knowledge, is an old maxim, and the truth of this logic is being proven by men like Mr. Collier, who possessed of a thorough working knowledge of his business, has in less than a year, worked his way to the front rank among the business and industrial concerns of Independence.
Daniel I. Gessley, proprietor of a flourishing grocery business, located at the corner of Seventeenth and Sterling streets, one block north of the Independence and Kansas City Electric Line, Englewood, is a native of Pennsylvania. Mr. Gessley was born at Owingsburg, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, Nov. 14, 1854. His parents were Daniel and Mariah (Yeager) Gessley, who came from their native State to Missouri in 1869, and settled at Boonville.
The Gessley family made the trip from St. Louis to Boonville on the river steamboat, "Walter B. Dance." Upon his arrival in Boonville, Daniel Gessley was engaged in carriage manufacturing for five years. In 1874 he moved to Howard County, and followed the same business at Boones- boro until 1897, when he came to Jackson County, residing here until his death, in 1910. Mrs. Gessley died in 1892. The remains of both parents were taken back to Howard County and interred in the cemetery at Boonesboro.
Daniel I. Gessley learned the trade of carriage maker under his father, and upon coming to this county, in 1881, he established himself in the business at the corner of Ninth and Woodland streets, where he continued in business for 18 years. He came to Englewood in 1899, and established his grocery business at his present location. In addition to his regular business, Mr. Gessley has had the foresight and acumen to establish a can- nery in connection, using the "cold pack" process of preserving fruits and vegetables for the trade. This innovation of Mr. Gessley's is proving to be a successful venture. During the past season he has preserved and put up over 2,000 cans of fruit and vegetables by this method, "the cold pack" system, recommended by the United States Government. Tomatoes have been the principal product canned up to this time, but it is Mr. Gessley's
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intention to broaden his field of operations during the next season. He also has the agency for the Burpee hand can sealer, the most successful can sealer made.
Mr. Gessley was married Oct. 26, 1884, to Miss Mollie E. (Kivett), of Howard County, Missouri. She is a daughter of John S. and Lizzie (Mc- Cart) Kivett, the former of whom died in 1915, and the latter is residing at Boonesboro. To this marriage have been born four children: Elsie, wife of B. L. Harter, Englewood; Clara, wife of Samuel Petrie, Pratt, Kan. : Hilton H., and Royal N. Gessley. Mr. and Mrs. Harter have two children, Claude and Frances.
Hilton H. Gessley served in the United States Navy from June to De- cember, of 1918. He married Stella Hunter, of Englewood, and is the father of a son, Irving H. Gessley.
Royal N. Gessley served in the Signal Corps of the United States Army, was first stationed at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., and then at Camp Meade, Md., from which point he received his honorable discharge from the service, in February, 1919, and is now in the employ of the Bell Tele- phone Company, of Topeka, Kan.
The Gessley family residence is located at the corner of Seventeenth and Sterling avenue, Englewood.
Jack McCart, grandfather of Mrs. Gessley, was a pioneer set- tler in Howard County, and was one of the original "Forty-niners" who crossed the plains and mountains to California in search of gold on the Pacific Slope. He operated a stage coach from Boonville to Westport, Mo., in the days of long ago, when there were no railroads in this section of Missouri.
James L. Crawford, veteran of the World War, barber on East Lex- ington street, Independence, Mo., was born June 24, 1894, on a farm in Texas County, Missouri, and is a son of E. V. and Callie (Sutton) Craw- ford, both of whom are deceased. He was educated in the public schools and Houston, Mo., High School, and was then in the employ of an oil re- finery at Casper, Wyo.
Mr. Crawford was among the first to be inducted into the army when the call came for soldiers to serve in the World War. He was sent to Tulsa, Okla., where his brother, George Crawford, had also enlisted. Both men were members of Company B, 357th Infantry of the United States Army. They were in training at Camp Travis, Texas, and at Camp Mills, N. J., from which point they were sent overseas to France, via Liverpool and Southampton, with the 90th Division. They were nine months on the fir-
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ing line in France, and were in the hardest of the fighting. George Craw- ford was gassed while taking part in the St. Mihiel drive, and is now in Spokane, Wash. James L. Crawford was in active service on the Western Front for four months, and took part in the hottest fighting in the St. Mihiel sector. Out of 165 men in the company of which he was a mem- ber, only 20 men came out alive, and these were all wounded.
He received a bayonet wound while fighting with a German soldier in a dugout, and his life was saved by Private James Howard, who killed the German by striking him a blow on the head with the butt of his rifle while the Hun was bayonetting Crawford. Later, while he and Howard lay in a shell hole watching an airplane battle, a burst of shrapnel struck them, killing Howard and mangling Private Crawford's leg horribly. This was on Sept. 12, 1918, just after both men had "gone over the top" in the great drive. He was taken to Base Hospital No. 12, 18 miles south of Metz; later, and after recovering sufficiently, he was brought to the United States, March 29, 1919. The government has furnished Mr. Crawford with an artificial limb, is paying him a vocational allowance of $75 per month, and a pension of $15 per month while he is preparing himself to follow the barber's trade. He came to Independence, Oct. 1, 1919, and is following his trade at 105 East Lexington street.
Mr. Crawford was married on Feb. 7, 1912, to Jessie Hutchenson, of Dykes, Mo. They have two children: Lena, and Chester. Mr. and Mrs. Crawford reside at 116 South Liberty street.
Mr. Crawford was awarded a medal which he won for his skill in sharp shooting while in the trenches, and for extraordinary bravery shown in battle.
J. William Martin, member of the firm, Martin-Welch Hardware Com- pany, Independence, Mo., has resided in this city for the past 39 years, and is one of the best known and most successful merchants of the city. He was born in Fayette County, Ohio, April 3, 1860. His father, J. V. B. Martin, was born at Harpers Ferry, Va., June 21, 1837. His mother was Caroline (Straley) Martin, and was born in Fayette County, Ohio, Jan. 8, 1842. They were married Nov. 26, 1857. J. V. B. Martin made a trip to Missouri in 1849, and located in Ray County, where he remained about two years; then in company with Polk Rhodes, a slave, he drove through to Virginia with ox teams. His father and mother returned to the Vir- ginia home by boat. Mr. Martin and the slave were three months making the journey home in a prairie schooner, which carried much of the mov- able possessions of the family. The prairie schooners of the old days were
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capacious affairs, which had three times the capacity of the present-day road wagons. Later, J. V. B. Martin moved to Ohio, and was there mar- ried to Caroline Straley, of Fayette County, in 1857. He enlisted in the Union Army upon the outbreak of the Civil War, with his brother, C. D. Martin, and was captured by Gen. John Morgan's men at Cynthiana, Ky. Being exchanged, he was sent back to Ohio, and when Morgan made his famous raid through Ohio, he was a member of the band of Union men who captured Morgan and his men, near Lisbon, Ohio. His first work in Missouri after he came here, on September 17, 1868, was the hauling of whiskey from the Straley and Timmerman distillery to the Independence government warehoue, which was located near the public spring. He died from heart disease, Jan. 24, 1909, while riding in his son's automobile in Kansas City. His wife died in Los Angeles, Calif., May 9, 1914. The children born to J. V. B. and Caroline Martin are as follow: Emma Vir- ginia, born March 29, 1859; John William, of this review, born April 3, 1860; James R., born June 5, 1861; George S., born May 13, 1863; Lucy E. born July 6, 1865; Armienis, born Sept. 29, 1866; Ollie May, born June 29, 1869; Lillie A., born March 29, 1872; Leona, born April 27, 1873; Jesse L., born Aug. 17, 1875; Rufus E., born March 29, 1879; Lula I., born Jan. 21, 1880; Warner, born Jan. 19, 1887.
J. William Martin was educated in the public schools of Kansas City, and attended Spalding's Commercial College. He then spent four years on a farm near Buckner, Mo., and moved to Independence in 1881. He embarked in business in this city, and was thus engaged until January, 1918. Although retired from active business pursuits, Mr. Martin re- tains his interest in the Martin-Welch Hardware Company.
Mr. Martin was married April 20, 1884, to Miss Maggie Axtell, of Independence, who died Nov. 23, 1913, leaving four children : Mrs. May Sheppard, Independence; Margaret A. Martin, at home with her father: Mrs. Madge Rogers, Independence ; William V. B. Martin, connected with the Martin-Welch Hardware Company. William V. B. Martin enlisted in the United States Navy in April, 1917, and served on the Battleship New Jersey, in the transport service, crossing the Atlantic several times during the war. He was honorably discharged from the service and returned home in August, 1919. Prior to the World War he had studied at the Kemper Military Academy, of Boonville, in 1914.
Mr. Martin's second marriage was with Mrs. Hattie M. James, of Kansas City, Mo., born in 1872, a daughter of Jeremiah and Helen M. (Wolfe) Smith. Jeremiah Smith died in 1874, and his widow married
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William J. Hannon, in 1866. Mr. Hannon died in 1870. Mrs. Hannon lives on a farm near Blue Springs. The Martin family reside at 502 North Liberty street, in what is considered to be the finest residence in the city. This dwelling was erected in 1917, and is built of native Bethany Falls cut stone, quarried at Sugar Creek Quarry, and hauled a distance of four miles. It consists of two stories, 11 rooms, and is modern throughout.
Mr. Martin has served four years as city councilman, and was twice his party's candidate for mayor, missing the election by but seven votes. He is affiliated with the Masons, the Eastern Star, and the Knights of Pythias and Fraternal Order of Eagles, and holds a life membership in the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. Mr. Martin is an ardent out of doors sportsman, and has hunted game in all parts of the country, from the northern lake region to California, and has been on hunting ex- peditions in old Mexico. Nearly every year he takes a hunting trip to some wild region and remains in the wilds for three months or more. For the past ten years he has been raising wild mallard ducks on his farm east of Blue Springs, where he has a small lake. He started his duck farm with a setting of nine wild duck eggs, and he is able to raise from two to three broods of mallards each year. The ducks are so tame that they come at daylight for their food, which is given to them regularly.
George L. Compton, retired farmer, old time plains freighter, and old settler of Jackson County, was born in Gerard County, Kentucky, in 1831. His parents were Burris and Anna (Dismukes) Compton, who came from Kentucky to Jackson County in 1854 and settled on a farm near Adams Station. The family came by way of the railroad to Louisville, Ky., and thence up the Ohio, Mississippi and Missouri rivers, landing at Wayne City. The children of the family were: Mrs. Jane Isom, died in Ken- tucky ; Mrs. Sallie Hamilton and Mrs. Catherine Peach, died in Kentucky ; Elizabeth Compton, deceased; Mrs. Anna Winters, deceased; Mrs. Emily Pomeroy, deceased; Mrs. Mary Tracy and James, died in Kentucky ; Varda- man, died in Jackson County in 1901; George L., of this review; and Zachariah, who died in infancy.
For two years after coming to Jackson County, Mr. Compton worked for Mr. Waldo at Adams Station. He then became a freighter and his first trip was made over the Santa Fe trail to New Mexico, driving eight mules and carrying the government mail. During the winter of 1855-1856 the snow was two feet deep and travel was slow and difficult, it being neces- sary to shovel the snow from the trail where it was badly drifted. Mr. Compton received $40 a month and supplies but had to cook his own
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meals enroute. A pine log was carried underneath the wagon bed to serve for kindling. A hole was dug in the ground and by means of pine slivers and buffalo chips the driver cooked his meal. Up an hour before day- break, breakfast was cooked and over, a start made and another 40 mile lap would be accomplished by nine o'clock at night. For a distance of 600 miles from Council Grove, Kan., to Fort Union, N. M. there were no habitations of civilized man; buffaloes covered the plains in thousands. Mr. Compton made two trips to New Mexico and the trials of the trips were so wearing that he was becoming addicted to profanity and decided that he had better quit. He afterward carried the mail from Independence, Mo. to Council Grove, Kan.
After his freighting experience, Mr. Compton engaged in farming near Adams Station, at first renting land, and then buying 110 acres. For his first farm he paid $15.15 an acre and sold it later for $40 an acre. He bought an adjoining farm and resided upon it for ten years; he then bought another tract of 180 acres which he later sold for $150 an acre. His last purchase was for a farm of 153 acres at $95 an acre, ten miles southwest of Independence, near Raytown, land which is now worth $500 an acre.
Mr. Compton was married March 28, 1856, to Miss Iza Poteet, a daugh- ter of Edmund and Jane Poteet, both of whom died on their farm near Adams Station. Mrs. Iza Compton died in 1901 at Eldorado Springs, Mo., and her remains were laid to rest in Woodlawn cemetery. The children born of this marriage are: Mrs. Anna Jane Lowe, Blue Springs; James V., Independence; William Edward, deceased; Mary E., at home with her father; George H., Independence, Mo .; Prince A., California; Emmet Lee, Baker, Mont .; Shannon, at home; Crawford, deceased; Mrs. Pitta Estella Stayton, Independence.
When Order No. 11 compelled the evacuation of Jackson County by the people, in 1863, Mr. Compton moved to Ray County, Mo. He was accompanied by his four children, his wife, her father and his daughter- in-law and two children, all loaded in one wagon. During the following winter, the Hedges and Compton families with nine children all lived in one room of a log cabin. Upon the death of Mrs. Compton, he retired to a home in Independence at 525 West Maple street. When he came to this county over 65 years ago, Independence had but 1,200 population. There were but 32 voters in Kansas City at that time, only that many votes being cast at a city election held in 1853. Mr. Compton was well acquainted with John P. St. John of Kansas and many others of the well
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known characters of the old days. For years, he bought and sold hogs, sometimes making money and sometimes losing, according to the market conditions. In 1866 he bought a carload of hogs in Clay County, paying $9.00 and $9.25 per cwt. and immediately afterward the St. Louis market dropped to $8.00 per cwt. He saved his investment, however, by butcher- ing the hogs and selling the dressed pork for $12.50 per cwt.
Joseph Wayne Mercer .- This history of Jackson County would be incomplete did it not contain an account of the Mercer and Greene fami- lies, who for more than a half century have been identified with the up- building and development of Kansas City and Independence. The late Joseph Mercer, banker, veteran of the Civil War, former State treasurer, was for many years one of the leaders in the financial and commercial life of the city and county. He was born in Platte County, Mo., in 1845, and departed this life at his home in Independence, March 13, 1906.
Joseph Wayne Mercer was attending school at Chapel Hill when the Civil War broke out. He at once enlisted with the army of Gen. Sterling Price, and for four years took an active part in the campaigns of General Price's army. He was three times wounded, and suffered the loss of an arm, yet with this handicap, after the war was over, he achieved a suc- cess in whatever undertaking he entered. He was wounded at the battle of Pea Ridge, Ark., and was also wounded in the battle of Lexington. At Pine Bluff, Ark., he lost an arm, and was thus incapacitated for active duty in the field. He was placed in the commissary department of the army, and was serving in this capacity at Mckinney, Texas, when the war closed.
Manual labor of the usual sort being thus barred to him, he set about to prepare himself to earn his living in other lines. Upon his return home from Texas, he accordingly went to St. Louis, and prepared himself for business, attending the St. Louis Commercial College. After the com- pletion of his course he came to Independence and taught a district school three miles from Independence, walking to and from school night and morning. Besides teaching the school he conducted a commercial class of local students at night. Later he engaged in the real estate and loan business, and about 1876 he engaged in the banking business, with other partners, operating under the name of Brown, Hughes and Company. This bank was located on the present site of the First National Bank. Prior to this venture, however, Mr. Mercer had been connected with a bank at Pleasant Hill, Mo. For four years he was in the wholesale grocery busi- ness with the firm of Beckham, Mercer & Company, which was succeeded
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