USA > Missouri > Jackson County > History of Jackson County, Missouri > Part 39
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Mr. Montgomery was an extensive farmer, owning over 200 acres of land. During the last ten years of his life he resided near Blue Springs. He was a Democrat and a member of the Missionary Baptist Church. When a young man he was united in marriage with Miss Eliza C. Lowe, who was born in Jackson County, a daughter of John Lowe a pioneer in this county, further mention of whom is made in this volume. Six sons and two daughters were born to this marriage. Mrs. Montgomery died in 1890. She was born Dec. 25, 1840.
Eugene E. Montgomery was reared on his father's farm, attended the district school and finished his education in the State Normal School at Warrensburg, Mo. At the age of 14 years, he entered the private bank owned by E. B. Field as bookkeeper and cashier. In 1890, he with others, bought the Field Bank and he served as cashier of the bank until 1905. The bank was then sold and he organized the Citizens State Bank of which he is now president. In addition to his banking interests, Mr. Mont- gomery is president and principal owner of the West Side Lumber Com- pany and he is also interested in farm land.
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Mr. Montgomery was married in 1899 to Miss Berta Hallar, a daugh- ter of Edward C. Hallar, one of the early pioneer citizens of Jackson County who now makes his home in southern Missouri. The Hallar family is one of the most prominent in Jackson county. Mr. and Mrs. Montgomery have one child, Eugene E., Jr., aged 18 years, now a student in the State University at Columbia.
Mr. Montgomery is a Democrat and a member of the Christian church. He is a Thirty-second Degree Mason, a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Odd Fellows. He is public spirited, popular, obliging and progressive. Mr. Montgomery is a fine type of citizen.
The Citizens State Bank of Blue Springs was organized in 1905 by E. E. Montgomery with a capital of $25,000. The bank is housed in a substantial brick building which was erected during the first year in which the business was inaugurated. Since its first inception this bank has had a steady and prosperous growth. The total resources have now exceeded $200,000. Three per cent interest is paid on time deposits and an insur- ance department is conducted. Every facility for the convenience of cus- tomers is maintained and patrons are treated with uniform courtesy. The officers of this bank are: E. E. Montgomery, president; John B. Strode, vice-president; Truston W. Kirby, cashier. The directors are Silas V. Dillingham, John W. Litchford, E. E. Montgomery, John B. Strode and Roy Montgomery.
John Louis Lowe, farmer and stockman, owner of a fine farm of 71.75 acres of valuable land situated on the Rock road, within four miles of Blue Springs in Sniabar township, has resided on his place since 1882 and was born and reared in Jackson County, a member of one of the oldest pioneer families in this section of Missouri. A striking example of the rise in the price of farm land in Jackson County is shown by a comparison of the cost of Mr. Lowe's land 37 years ago and its value at the present time. Mr. Lowe paid $38 an acre for his farm which is now valued at $300 an acre. John Louis Lowe was born Dec. 8, 1859 and is a son of Calvin V. Lowe who was born in Virginia Dec. 5, 1832 and died in Jackson County, in 1903.
Calvin V. Lowe was a son of John Lowe who came to Jackson County, Mo., in 1844, entered government land east of Independence and there reared his family. His wife was Margaret Summers. John Lowe was born Feb. 24, 1800 and died in June, 1881. His wife, Margaret, was born Dec. 7, 1803 and died in 1867. The children born to John and Margaret Lowe are as follow: Mary Jane, Andrew Wellington, Caroline Serilda,
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DeWitt, Calvin Van, Mrs. Ollie Minerva Stayton, Margaret A., deceased wife of Gabriel Stayton, Liza Susan. deceased wife of Isaac N. Mont- gomery, John M., Agnes Virginia Key, Mrs. Ella Harrel and Louis S. Lowe. John Lowe became owner of considerable land in Jackson County. He was prominent and industrious and was highly esteemed by all who knew him. Margaret Summers, wife of John Lowe, was a daughter of Andrew and Margaret (Miller) Summers, the former of whom was a very wealthy man after whom Summers County was named.
Before the Civil War, when there were no railroads in this country, Calvin V. Lowe was a freighter and plainsman, an occupation which he followed for several years over the old Santa Fe trail. He drove freight- ing outfits over the long trail to points in New Mexico. After some years of this adventurous employment, he settled down to farming and pros- pered. He married Mary Elizabeth Moore, who was born March 5, 1840 and died March 10, 1919. She was a native of Jackson County and a daughter of John and Isabelle (Gardner) Moore, further mention of whom is made in the sketch of John W. Moore in this volume. The children born to Calvin V. and Mary Elizabeth Lowe are: Sarah Isabel, deceased, wife of Dudley Dillingham; John L., of this sketch; William A. Lowe, Independence, Mo .; C. D. Lowe, Sniabar township; Richard, living on a farm north of Blue Springs; Margaret, deceased; Edward died at the age of seven years : Samuel L., a farmer living near Blue Springs on the old homestead.
John Louis Lowe of this review, was married Feb. 25, 1885, to Mary Louisa Stewart who was born Feb. 23, 1860, in Illinois. She is a daughter of Samuel and Annie (Wardrip) Stewart who came to Jackson County in March, 1875, and settled on a farm three miles north of Blue Springs. Samuel Stewart was born in 1829 and died in 1901. His wife, Annie, was born in 1825 and died Dec. 4, 1879. Samuel Stewart died in Pleasanton, Kan. Of nine children born to Samuel and Annie Stewart, four are living, as follow: Frank, Fort Scott, Kan .; Mrs. Minda Story, Edgar, Neb .; Mrs. Ada Holloway, Butler, Mo., and Mrs. John Louis Lowe, of this review.
The children born to John Louis and Mary Louisa Lowe are: Beulah, wife of Henry White, Blue Springs, Mo .; Grace Marie Moore, Rosedale, Kan .; Louis Leroy, farmer, near Grain Valley, married Belle Newby ; Richard Frank, born July 14, 1897, enlisted in the United States navy, July 14, 1918, left for training camp, Aug. 12th and was in training at Mare Island, Calif., when the armistice was signed. He received his dis-
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charge, Jan. 16, 1919; Gladys Louise, aged 17 years, is attending high school at Blue Springs.
Mr. Lowe is a Democrat of the old school. He and Mrs. Lowe are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian church.
Mr. and Mrs. Lowe have three grandchildren: R. D. White, son of Mrs. Beulah White; Leona Marie Moore, daughter of Mrs. Grace M. Moore, and Louis Leroy, Jr., son of Louis Leroy Lowe.
Truston Wyett Kirby, cashier of the Citizens State Bank of Blue Springs, Mo., is a native son of Jackson County and a member of one of the oldest and most honorable pioneer families of this section of Missouri. He was born on a farm south of Buckner, April 13, 1888 and is a son of William Robert and Susan Rebecca (Capelle) Kirby. His mother was born and reared in the vicinity of Grain Valley on the old Capelle home- stead, which is now owned by E. E. Kirby, chief deputy clerk of Jackson County.
William Robert Kirby was born at Bowling Green, Ky., May 6, 1831 and came to Jackson County, Mo. in 1847. He crossed the plains in 1848 to the gold fields of California where, in the course of a few years, he accumulated sufficient funds with which to purchase a farm of 160 acres near Buckner upon which he settled and reared his family of three sons and a daughter. The children of the family are: Edward E., Independ- ence, Mo .; Sallie A., wife of L. J. Slaughter, a well known apple grower northwest of Grain Valley; Durward Kirby, resides four miles north of Grain Valley; Truston W., subject of this review. In October, 1904, Mr. Kirby sold his holding's and retired to a home in Blue Springs. His re- moval to town was caused by failing health and he died Jan. 8, 1908.
Susan Rebecca Kirby was born April 29, 1841 on the Capelle home- stead near Grain Valley. Mr. Kirby was a Democrat and he and his wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. His passing in 1908 marked the removal of one of the last of the famous "forty-niners". Mr. and Mrs. Kirby were widely and favorably known throughout this section.
Truston W. Kirby, of this review, attended the Long Branch and the Oakland district schools. After coming to Blue Springs with his parents, he was employed in a local drug store for three years and in 1908 he became connected with the Citizens State Bank. For the first five years he was bookkeeper in this institution. For two years he served as assistant cashier and in July, 1918, he became cashier of the bank and is also a director.
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June 3, 1908, Mr. Kirby was married to Miss Myra Bowlin, daughter of James W. and Bettie Bowlin, the latter of whom was a daughter of "Jack" Stone, famous Mexican War veteran who was widely known in Jackson County. James W. Bowlin was a farmer and stockman who re- moved from his farm to Blue Springs in 1910 and here followed the car- penter trade until his death in June, 1918. Mrs. Bettie Bowlin died in 1906. In addition to his position in the bank, Mr. Kirby has an interest in the Kirby estate consisting of 100 acres of valuable land, 55 acres of which is located south of Blue Springs and 45 acres west of Grain Valley.
Mr. Kirby is a Democrat and has filled the post of city alderman. The members of the family are influential in county affairs and are highly respected. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South and is a member of the board of trustees and treasurer, having served in this capacity for several years, and he is secretary of the Sunday school. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias.
Henry C. Chiles ("Brug" Chiles) .- Records of the lives of men who have done things worth while are in themselves valuable. History is but a recital of the deeds of mankind; and the aggregate achievements of in- dividuals in the mass go to make history as it is written. No history, therefore, is complete without accounts of individuals who have had some part in the making of the history of their locality. The late Henry C. Chiles, of Independence, had much to do with the development of Jackson County, and many things are recorded to his credit which he accomplished during a long and useful life. He was a native son of Jackson County, plainsman and freighter in the early days, extensive farmer and stock- man, and the pioneer of the modern drainage system for reclaiming wet lands in Jackson County. Mr. Chiles was born on the Chiles homestead, May 23, 1838, and died at his home in Independence, July 3, 1918. He was a son of the pioneers, Joel Franklin and Azubah (Skinner) Chiles, who came from Kentucky to Jackson County and settled here in 1831.
Henry C. Chiles was reared on his father's farm and received such education as the schools of his day afforded, after which he studied at the Masonic College, Lexington, Mo. He made his first trip to the West in 1858, in charge of a herd of government cattle, and went as far as the Black Hills region. Upon his return he conceived the idea of engaging in government freighting on his own account.
He secured a contract for supplying the government forts in the West with beef cattle, and gathered around him a number of young men for his assistants. The cattle were purchased in this section of the coun-
HENRY CLAY CHILES
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try, bunched together at Leavenworth, and then driven across the plains in great herds to the different forts. At one time Mr. Chiles drove a large herd of 1,000 head of cattle to Salt Lake City. Indians being troublesome at this time, an escort of 1,000 soldiers was necessary to guard the outfit. When gold was discovered at Pike's Peak, Colo., he was at Fort Laramie. Mr. Chiles continued the life of a plainsman until after the war closed. He hunted deer, antelope and buffalo on the plains, and had many tro- phies to his credit. His outfit of men were noted for their efficiency and sobreity, it being his adamant rule that no whiskey drinking nor card playing should be permitted en route, and that no profanity should be in- dulged in by his men. Being a temperance man himself and a man who never indulged in profanity, he would not tolerate it by his men.
After he had made his last trip across the plains he settled down to the occupation of farmer and stock raiser, and made a distinct success of the undertaking. Mr. Chiles purchased a large tract of land in the Buck- ner bottoms-land which was considered worthless because of no drain- age, and known as overflow land. People thought that it could not be cultivated, on account of the wet condition which prevailed during the planting seasons. This land in Fort Osage township is part of a large strip which is said to have been, in years past, a subsidiary or extra chan- nel of the Missouri River, and as a consequence, the soil abounded in fer- tility. Mr. Chiles had advanced ideas about drainage of wet lands-ideas which were not shared by his neighbors in Jackson County. He proceeded to put these ideas and plans for the drainage of the land into effect. He dug ditches and placed drain tile through the land, so that the water would drain off during the wet seasons, and thus reclaimed it, and was the originator of the modern drainage system in Jackson County. His system prevailed and was successful until the Lexington rock road was built, when the plans had to be changed so as to conform with the highway plan. He then began advocating the digging of the large drainage ditch, which now drains the greater part of the Buckner bottoms, known as the Fort Osage Drainage System. He started the project and lived to see it being pushed to completion. The ditch being finished, and in operation during the past season. The wisdom of the drainage project has been justified by the abundant crops produced as the result of the more ex- tensive drainage system. Mr. Chiles owned 780 acres of land, which he developed and farmed until his removal to a home in Independence, in 1898.
Mr. Chiles was married Dec. 27, 1866, to Miss Julia Perrin, who was
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born in Platte County, Mo., July 29, 1847, and died Dec. 10, 1899. She was a daughter of Aitchmonde Perrin. The children born to Henry C. and Julia (Perrin) Chiles are as follows: Miss Janie Chiles, a teacher of mathematics in the Independence High School; Franklin P. Chiles, an ex- tensive farmer and stockman, Fort Osage township; Miss Azubah Chiles, Independence; Miss Margaret Chiles, supervisor of domestic art, Inde- pendence schools; Miss Susan Chiles, living at the family home, North White Oak, Independence; Henry P. Chiles, deputy county clerk, living on the old home place; Morton P. Chiles, farmer, living near Blue Mills.
Mr. Chiles was a life long Democrat, took a very active part in every political issue, but refused to accept any public office, never seeking or desiring political preferment. His ambition in early life was to become a lawyer, but poor health caused him to abandon the idea, and upon the advice of his family doctor he took up the life of the plainsman, with the result that he regained his health, became robust from the constant out- door life, and lived to an age far beyond the average. His knowledge of law caused his neighbors and friends on many occasions to consult with him and secure his advice on legal matters and business affairs which troubled them. Mr. Chiles' general knowledge, especially of sickness and its attendant remedies, made him a valuable neighbor in those days, when medical aid was scarce, and resorting to home remedies was a necessity ; later he assisted the doctor, learning to administer an anaesthetic. He was to be relied on in any emergency.
Mr. Chiles, though a man of many friends, could never be persuaded to spend the night away from his own fireside for pleasure. He often said those long rides on horseback at night through virgin forest and over unbroken roads to reach home, made him register a vow he would at any and all times help a good roads project.
From early manhood Mr. Chiles was a member of the Christian church, and gave liberally to the support of churches. He assisted in the building of the Sibley Christian Church, and was superintendent of the Sibley Sunday School for years. Every Sunday, no matter what the con- dition of the weather, he would drive to Sibley, and take part in the services. He, with Morton Perrin, Orlando Truit, William G. Chiles, and others, organized the Buckner Christian Church, and he was one of the heaviest contributors to the building fund of the church. He was also for years superintendent of the Buckner Sunday School.
During his later years, the young folks of the neighborhood would gather around Mr. Chiles (Uncle "Brug") and he would regale them with
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tales of the frontier, and life on the great plains fifty years ago. He was a good story teller, and could relate graphically incidents which had occurred while he was engaged in driving cattle and freighting across the plains. He would tell them of the vast hordes of buffalo, deer and antelope, which had run wild on the plains, and he would tell them of bands of Indians encountered on his travels, and the young folks would listen for hours, entranced at these recitals. He was one of the best posted men in Jackson County, and it is a lasting regret to his many friends that he would never talk or write for publication.
Morton P. Chiles, farmer and stockman, operating 425 acres of the Chiles land, located in Fort Osage township, nine miles northeast of Inde- pendence, on the old Santa Fe trail road, was born in Fort Osage town- ship, April 22, 1886, and is a son of the late Henry C. Chiles, and a grandson of Joel Franklin Chiles, one of the early pioneers of Jackson County.
Mr. Chiles was reared on his father's farm, and in Independence, where he was graduated from the high school in 1906. Following his graduation he spent one year in a Texas lumber camp, and upon his re- turn to Jackson County he engaged in farming and stock raising. For seven years Mr. Chiles was engaged in the breeding of pure-bred Short- horn cattle, and sold the product of his farm in Oklahoma, Arkansas and Missouri, and other states. He disposed of his fine herd of Shorthorns in 1919, and is now engaged in general farming and stock raising. His father was also a breeder of pure-bred Shorthorn cattle for several years, and started the first Shorthorn Breeders' Association in this part of the State, about 1878.
Mr. Chiles was married June 4, 1911, to Miss Lulia Shawhan, who was born in Jackson County, March 26, 1893. She is a daughter of Daniel D. and Effie (Harris) Shawhan, of Lees Summit. Prior to his retirement, Mr. Shawhan was engaged in farming in this county.
To Morton P. and Lulia Chiles have been born three children: Mor- ton Perrin Chiles, Jr., born June 6, 1912; Daniel Duncan, born Aug. 11, 1913 ; and Mary Jane Chiles, Jr., born July 14, 1916.
Mr. Chiles is a Democrat. He and his wife are members of the Chris- tian church. He is a true representative of an old and honored pioneer family in Jackson County, whose members have been known for their in- dustry, integrity, sobreity and progressiveness for nearly a century in Missouri.
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Washington I. Thomason, president of the bank of Blue Springs, Mo., born in Saline County, Mo., Jan. 1, 1873, and is a son of Rev. J. D. Thoma- son, former minister of the Misionary Baptist church who had the dis- tinction of having performed more marriage ceremonies during his min- isterial career than any other individual in this section of Missouri. Rev. Thomason was a native of Kentucky, who settled in Saline County in 1867. He removed to Blue Springs in 1884 and engaged in the mercantile busi- ness in this city. In 1887 he was ordained a minister of the Baptist church and spent the remainder of his days in preaching the gospel and doing good christian works. He filled charges in Saline County, was pas- tor of the Blue Springs Baptist church, served as pastor of the Oak Grove Baptist church and ministered to the Baptists of Raytown and other points in Jackson and Saline counties. He was known as the "marry- ing parson" and was popular with all classes as a good, religious man who was an able expounder of the Lord's word and lived according to his own teachings. He died Feb. 17, 1911. Out of 11 children born to his mar- riage with Isabella Thomason, eight were reared. The others besides Washington I. are: Luther Thomason, truant officer of Kansas City; Claude Thomason, a railroad man of Detroit, Mich .; Mrs. E. C. Jones of Slater, Mo .; Lee Thomason, railroad agent at Higley, Mo .; Russell, a tele- graph operator in West Virginia. The mother of these children was born in 1845 and departed this life on March 29, 1901.
After attending the public schools, W. I. Thomason clerked in his father's store until he engaged in the banking business in 1894. For the past 25 years he has been connected with banking, beginning as book- keeper and advanced to the presidency of the Bank of Blue Springs. For the first few months he was employed in the bank for half days at 25 cents a day. Besides his banking interests, Mr. Thomason is financially interested in the Blue Springs Lumber and Milling Company and he is owner of city property.
June 20, 1900, Mr. Thomason was united in marriage with Gertrude, daughter of Morgan V. Dillingham, a sketch of whom appears in this volume. Mr. and Mrs. Thomason have two children: Nell, aged 15 years, and Virginia Belle, 12 years old.
Mr. Thomason is a Democrat, a member of the Baptist church and is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and the Knights of Pythias. He is an enterprising and progressive citizen of the highest type.
The Bank of Blue Springs, Mo., is an old established concern and it
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had its inception as a private bank established by E. B. Field in 1883. It was operated as a private concern until 1890, when Mr. Field sold the bank to a company of seven men. The president of the bank was Thomas W. Records who remained in this position until March, 1918, when he was succeeded by W. I. Thomason. The other officers are: M. V. Dillingham, vice-president; Almae C. Hall, cashier; Miss Frances Lockard, assistant cashier; W. I. Thomason, D. M. Dillingham, M. V. Dillingham, E. C. Ford and J. A. Howard are the directors. The bank's capital is $25,000. The surplus is $25,000 and the total resources will exceed $300,000. The busi- ness is housed in the bank's own brick building and equipped with modern banking fixtures including a safe deposit vault. Interest is paid on time deposits and an insurance and farm loan department is conducted.
William G. Gore, successful retired farmer living at Blue Springs, was born May 28, 1848, in Buchanan County, Mo., on a farm 16 miles south of St. Joseph. He has resided in Jackson County since Dec. 17, 1869.
Louis Gore, his father, was born in 1825 and died in 1909. Soon after his marriage with Hannah Nealey of Mercer County, Va., he came to Missouri in the early forties. In 1867 he came to Jackson County and located one and a half miles southeast of Blue Springs where he purchased 840 acres of land, engaged in farming and stock raising on an extensive scale and in the course of years increased his holdings to 1,300 acres. He purchased his land of William McCoy of Independence, his home place having been first settled by Judge Stitt. Mr. Gore was always a hard worker and a good financial manager who began with no assets to create a fortune. At the time of his marriage he was poor and was wont to say that he could carry all he owned in a shirt when first married. He used a tool chest for his table and tin pans for plates and owned but one horse. Mr. Gore cleared his first farm in Buchanan county from the tim- ber. He reared a family of four sons and four daughters. William G. Gore of this review is the eldest son of the family; the others are: John and Martin, deceased; Mrs. Delilah Cash, southeast of Blue Springs ; Mrs. Martha Underwood, northeast of Blue Springs; Levi, resides southeast of Blue Springs ; and Mrs. Mary E. Taylor, southeast of Blue Springs ; Sarah is deceased.
W. G. Gore came to Jackson county in 1869 and settled on his father's farm and assisted his father in farming for a time and later came into possession of a farm of his own. He is the owner of five tracts of land: five acres comprise his home place in Blue Springs and he has four others
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of 60, 40, 40, and 70 acres. His home farm was purchased Aug. 18, 1876 for $30 an acre and he sold this farm July 14, 1917 for $230 an acre.
Mr. Gore was married in 1867 to Frances E. Underwood, who died March 6, 1912, leaving children as follow: Louis L., died at the age of three years; Mrs. Emma Scott, living on a farm south of Blue Springs; Mrs. Ollie Lee Scott, died at the age of 23 years; Mrs. Mary Browley, Blue Springs, Mo. Mr. Gore has five grandchildren and three great grand- children. Mrs. Emma Scott has two sons, Ewell, who is married and has one child named Billie Scott; and Herbert Scott. Mrs. Ollie Lee Scott left two children whom Mr. Gore reared, Ina and Forrest. Forrest Scott is married and has one child, Bernard Matthew. The second marriage of Mr. Gore occurred Sept. 24, 1913 with Mrs. Mina Johnson, widow of W. A. Johnson. She was born in Jackson County in 1855, and is a daughter of Charles and Mary (Pryor) Alderman, the former of whom was killed in the Civil War in 1862 and the latter died in 1859.
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