USA > Missouri > Jackson County > History of Jackson County, Missouri > Part 44
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J. H. Cummings, of this review, made his home on a farm after his marriage in 1867, followed farming and also carried on contracting and building operations throughout the county. The old Cummings farm, which Judge Cummings owned, and where he made his home, is now owned by J. S. Campbell. In the yard of this home is an immense Cotton- wood tree, planted by Judge Cummings many years ago. This tree has grown to large proportions. The trunk itself is 11 feet in circumference, and the spread of branches by actual measurement will exceed 90 feet from one side of the tree to the other. In 1877 Mr. Cummings made his first trip to Arizona, where his wife died. In 1880 he returned to Blue Springs, and remained in Jackson County until 1896, when he again went to Arizona, and has since made his home at Tempe. He followed build- ing and contracting until his retirement, in 1916. In that year he was. elected justice of the peace and police judge of Tempe, a position which he is now filling with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of the people of the city. -
Judge Cummings has been twice married. His first marriage oc- curred Oct. 18, 1867, with Miss Mattie E. St. Clair, a native of Jackson County, who died in July, 1878, leaving three children: David Capelle, deceased; George B., a farmer in Jackson County ; and William, deceased. His second marriage took place in 1882, with Eliza Casey, who was born in Kentucky, and who was reared in Jackson County. Seven children were born to this marriage: William, Bizbee, Ariz .; Mrs. Mary E. Thorns- bury, Tucson, Ariz .; Mrs. Sallie E. Goorich, a widow, in the employ of the Federal employment office; Mrs. Maude B. Ritter, died in 1916; Lucy M., a teacher in the grammar school at Phoenix, Ariz., for the past years ; Hugh C., Tempe, Ariz .; June, a clerk in the Tempe postoffice.
Mr. Cummings is a stanch Democrat. He is a member of the Presby- terian church, and is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias.
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Moses T. Rowe .- In recording the biographies of Jackson County men whose works stand out prominently on the pages of history, the his- torian can rightly lay stress upon the deeds and accomplishments of the late Moses T. Rowe, of Sniabar township. In several things Mr. Rowe was a pioneer in this county. He planted and cared for one of the first com- mercial orchards in the county, and was the pioneer bee man of the east- ern part of the county. He was an active and influential citizen in many ways. Mr. Rowe was born near Washington C. H., Fayette County, Ohio, June 3, 1841, and departed this life May 13, 1914. He was a son of Jesse Rowe, of Ohio, who married a Miss Morris. She was descended from the Revolutionary family of Morrises, of whom Robert Morris, who financed the Colonies in the struggle for independence, at a most critical time, was a member.
. Jesse Rowe, father of Moses T. Rowe, came to Missouri at the close of the Civil War, and purchased a section of land, which was eventually divided among his children. He had a family of 11 children, nearly all of whom came to Jackson County, and settled in the vicinity of the old Rowe homestead, northwest of Grain Valley. Four sons of Jesse Rowe served in Ohio regiments during the Civil War.
Moses T. and William E. Rowe, his brother, enlisted as members of a military band in Company C, 73rd Ohio regiment, in 1861. When his time expired, in 1863, he re-enlisted and served until the close of the war. His command served in the second battle of Bull Run, the great Battle of Gettysburg, the Battle of Lookout Mountain, and was with Sherman on his March to the Sea. From Raleigh, N. C., they went to Washington, and participated in the Grand Review. At Washington his band won the prize for playing before the President's residence.
In 1868 Mr. Rowe came to Missouri, and settled upon his farm of 170 acres, which he developed and improved with one of the best resi- dences in the county. He set out a pear and apple orchard, and was fond of caring for fruits. The Rowe pear orchard consists of seven acres. He established the first apiary in his neighborhood, and was known as the "Bee Man" of eastern Jackson County. He earned quite an income by selling stained honey for eight and one-third and comb honey at 121/2 cents a pound.
Mr. Rowe was married March 3, 1873, to Miss Caroline Woodruff, who was born Jan. 21, 1839, at Dimmock, Susquehanna County, Pennsyl- vania, and was educated in the Wyoming Seminary of Pennsylvania, grad- uating in 1861. In 1868 she went to Nebraska, where she remained one
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year, then went to Kansas, engaged in teaching in both states prior to coming to Independence, Mo., where she was employed as teacher in the Ott High School. She is a daughter of Lewis Harlow and Alameda (Hutchinson) Woodruff, both of whom were members of old New Eng- land families. Lewis Woodruff was a merchant and a prominent busi- ness man. Mrs. Rowe is a cousin of former Governor Woodruff of Con- necticut.
The children born to Moses T. and Caroline Rowe are: George Clar- ence, Moses Trueman and Dora May.
George Clarence Rowe was born in July, 1877. He graduated from Manual Training High School in Kansas City, in 1898, and soon after- ward enlisted in the United States Army for service in the Spanish Amer- ican War, and served in Cuba. Mr. Rowe is an electrical engineer, and is now located in Havana, Cuba. He married Anna Uller, and has two chil- dren, Carlos and Herman.
Moses Trueman was born in December, 1878, and was graduated from Manual Training High School in 1899, after which he studied at Missouri University, and was connected with the Sweeney Electrical Com- pany, of Kansas City. He married Elizabeth Stevenson, of Liberty, Mo., and has three children, Cuba Elizabeth, Frank Trueman, Jr., and Jewel May. He is now in the automobile business at Hot Springs, Ark. He spent a number of years in Cuba.
Mrs. Dora (Rowe) Pratt graduated from the Manual Training High School in 1900, and studied in the East, where she graduated from the Emerson College of Oratory at Boston, Mass. For some years she was a teacher of elocution and oratory, serving as dean of the department of oratory at Highland Park Seminary. She was married in Jackson County in 1913 to William J. Pratt, a former business man of Mackinac, Mich. Mr. Pratt is now in charge of the Rowe farm, and is making a success. He purchased and placed in use one of the first farm tractors in his neighborhood. Prior to locating in Jackson County, Mr. Pratt was a merchant on Mackinac Island for 15 years.
Mrs. Rowe has always been prominent in educational work, and still takes a keen interest in every day affairs, despite her age. Her home is the social gathering place of the neighborhood, and the people of the countryside respect and admire her for her many excellent qualities. The late Mr. Rowe was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and was active and influential in all civic matters which were intended to advance the interests of his home community. He was kind and neigh-
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borly, and was always ready to lend a helping hand to assist a friend or neighbor. He always greeted a caller with, "What can I do for you?" and not thinking of what the other might do for him. He will always be kindly remembered as a gentleman of the old school, a good citizen, one of the builders of Jackson County, and a man worth while.
For a number of years Mr. and Mrs. Rowe conducted "Singing School" in their neighborhood, in the days when "Singing Schools" were popular in the country. Both were accomplished vocal music teachers. Many people of middle age in Jackson County recall the popularity of the "Singing Schools" taught by Mr. and Mrs. Rowe. Each taught prior to their marriage, and afterwards united their schools.
Andrew Jackson Powell who died at his country home on the Spring Branch road in Blue township April 1, 1909, was a man of industry and enterprise who stood high in the communityy where he had resided over 44 years and built up a splendid farm. He was born July 3, 1836 in Franklin County, Ohio, a son of Jacob Powell, a native of Pennsylvania. During the Civil War he served in the Home Guards of his native state and resided in Franklin County until 1865 when he removed to Jackson County, Mo. Mr. Powell invested his capital in land which had been al- iowed to grow up in brush during the Civil War and was run down as to improvements, fencing, etc. He had practically to improve his farm from a wilderness. Mr. and Mrs. Powell's first home was a small frame house which was built upon 200 acres of land which Mr. Powell and his father purchased in common. Through the years that have passed the Powell homestead has been improved and is now one of the pretty places along the road. The farm embraces 107 acres of valuable farm land, 15 acres of which is devoted to orchards which were planted by Mr. Powell.
Feb. 12, 1861, Andrew J. Powell was united in marriage with Miss Phoebe L. Johnson, who was born Feb. 11, 1839, in Delaware, Ohio, and is a daughter of Zachariah and Minerva (Hill) Powell, natives of Pennsyl- vania, the latter of whom was partly reared in Canada and New Jersey. Zachariah Powell was a shoemaker and merchant who plied his trade in a day when shoes were made by hand. Mrs. Powell was reared to woman- hood in Delaware. Five children were born to this marriage, four of whom are living: Clement Johnson, lives just across the road, married Mary Latimer and has four children, Wilson, Russell L., Vanetta and Mary Virginia; Charles Wilson lives in Los Angeles, Cal., married Josephine Virginia Lyons; Cora Belle is the wife of Joseph M. Barber, wholesale druggist of Kansas City, Mo .; Samuel C., lives in Beaumont, Texas, mar-
ANDREW J. POWELL.
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ried Carrie Hoffner; Frank Evans died at the age of 27 years, leaving a widow and two children, Cora Belle and Frankie.
The Methodist Episcopal Church, South is the house of worship of the Powell family. Mr. Powell, during his whole life, was a prohibitionist.
Luther J. Slaughter .- The past 25 years have demonstrated the fact that Jackson County is adapted to fruit growing-especially the growing of apples and pears. The orchard owned and operated by L. J. Slaughter of Sniabar township is one of the finest in this section of Missouri and consists of 90 acres, 40 acres of which were planted 24 years ago, and 50 acres of which is now 14 years old. The apple crop this year (1919) will exceed ten thousand bushels. Mr. Slaughter has sold this immense crop on the trees for $7,500. This is ample evidence that Jackson County land is not too valuable to devote to orchards. The average price received from the crop per acre will exceed $850. Mr. Slaughter is owner of 166 acres of land and carries on general farming in addition to caring for his large orchard.
Luther Josiah Slaughter was born April 21, 1870, in a log cabin on the farm which he now owns. He is a son of John Slaughter, who was born in Jackson County in 1830 and died in 1875. John Slaughter was a son of Josiah Slaughter, a Virginian, who was among the first of the pioneers to clear a farm from the wilderness of Jackson County in the days of long ago.
John Slaughter was reared to young manhood on the place which his father had entered and settled. When a young man he was filled with the spirit of adventure and crossed the great plains to the Pacific coast, where he remained for several years and engaged in cattle raising. After the close of the Civil War, he returned to Jackson County and purchased his farm from his father. He married Mary Jane Bowman, a member of a Jackson County pioneer family, who was born in 1840, and died in 1907. The children born to this union are: Luther J., of this review, the only living child of his parents; James and Agnes, deceased.
Luther J. Slaughter was educated in Round Grove School and Odessa College. He set out every tree in his fine orchard and has cared for it through the years in which the trees attained maturity and commenced bearing fruit. He still keeps up the routine of spraying and looking after the trees so that the maximum crop will be produced each year. He was married in 1894 to Miss Sallie Anderson Kirby, who was born in Jackson County, a daughter of William R. and Susan (Capelle) Kirby, both de- ceased. The late Mrs. Kirby was a sister of John O. Capelle, former
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county treasurer, a sketch of whom appears in this volume. The chil- dren born to Luther J. and Sallie A. Slaughter as as follow: Nellie G., Alma Marie and Hazel Grace.
Nellie G. Slaughter attended Round Grove School, Blue Springs public school, graduated from the Independence High School, studied in the Lex- ington Young Ladies Seminary, and is a graduate of the State University. at Columbia, Mo.
Alma Marie Slaughter studied at Independence High School and graduated from Grain Valley High School.
Hazel Grace Slaughter is in first year high school at Grain Valley.
The Democratic party has always had the support of Mr. Slaughter. He was reared in the faith of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, but attends the Methodist Episcopal Church of which Mrs. Slaughter is a member. Mr. Slaughter is one of the wide-awake, progressive and enter- prising citizens of the present advanced era and has done much to assist in bringing Jackson County to the front as a great agricultural and fruit growing center.
William E. Luttrell, president and manager of the Blue Springs Lum- ber and Milling Company, established in 1917, is a native of Jackson County. The Blue Springs Lumber and Milling Company is the suc- cessor of one of the old established business concerns of Blue Springs, and was founded by the late Judge S. L. Luttrell. The concern was incorporated in 1917, with W. E. Luttrell, president; W. I. Thomason, treasurer, and Guy Quinn, secretary. The mills have a capacity of 50 barrels of flour per day, the output being sold under the widely known name of "Model Flour". The lumber yards are among the most complete and best stocked in Jackson County, furnishing lumber, builders supplies of all kinds, and coal.
W. E. Luttrell was born Jan. 22, 1870, on a farm, one and a half miles south of Blue Springs. He is a son of Willis Luttrell, who was born in 1822 and died March 2, 1893. His parents, Willis and Sarah Luttrell, were natives of Virginia and settled south of Independence, Mo., in the early thirties. Willis Luttrell was reared to young manhood in Jackson County and was married to Martha Jesse, who was born in Virginia in 1827 and died in March, 1895. She was a daughter of John and Polly (Gost) Jesse, natives of Germany. Willis Luttrell engaged in farming and improved a splendid farm of 160 acres near Blue Springs, becoming owner, also, of two other tracts. He reared the following children: Samuel L., former judge of the county court, deceased; John G., deceased; Charles W., de-
.
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ceased; one child died in infancy; W. E., of this review; Sarah, wife of C. J. Dillingham, Blue Springs; and Annie B., of Blue Springs.
Willis Luttrell served in the Mexican War under Colonel Doniphan and during his earlier life was a freighter and plainsman who made sev- eral trips across the plains. He was one of the best known of the pioneer citizens of Jackson County, and was universally respected and highly regarded by all who knew him.
W. E. Luttrell followed farming until 1900, when he engaged in the lumber business. He is owner of two, 80-acre farms, one of which is located one and a half miles south of Blue Springs and the other, two miles southwest of the town. He was married in 1899 to Annie E. Jennings, of Jackson County, a daughter of W. B. and Sina Jennings. Two children have been born to this union: Ruth and Marie, now in high school.
Mr. Luttrell is a Democrat. He is a member of the Baptist church and is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias and the Modern Woodmen of America.
Almae C. Hall, cashier of the Bank of Blue Springs and one of the capable and rising young business men of Jackson County, was born in Miami County, Kan., Jan. 8, 1890. He is a son of W. L. Hall, editor and publisher of. the Sniabar Voice, of Blue Springs. A sketch of W. L. Hall appears in this volume.
Mr. Hall attended the public schools of Franklin County, Kan. and accompanied his parents to Jackson County, Mo., in 1891, the family settling on a farm three miles east of Independence. In 1893 they re- turned to Franklin County, Kan. and, from 1894 to 1907, W. L. Hall, the father, was engaged in farming in that county. After completing the common school course in the Ottawa, Kan. public schools, Almae C. Hall attended the Ottawa University, pursuing a business course. After com- pleting the course, he entered the employ of a wholesale grocery company with whom he remained for one year and one week. He came to Jack- son County in 1906 and was in the employ of D. C. Herrington in the office of the Voice for two and a half years. He and his father then purchased the Voice and he remained with the paper until July 1, 1914, at which time he was appointed postmaster of Blue Springs. He held this posi- tion for four and a half years and resigned January 1, 1919 to accept the position of cashier of the Bank of Blue Springs. Mr. Hall is filling the position with decided ability and is popular with the patrons of the bank and the citizens of Blue Springs and vicinity.
Almae Hall was married August 11, 1909 to Ruth Hamilton, of Blue
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Springs, daughter of Robert E. and Mattie Hamilton, both deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Hall have one child, Raymond C., born June 11, 1912.
Mr. Hall is a Democrat of the stanch and true variety. He is prom- inent in lodge circles and has passed through the chairs of the Odd Fel- lows twice. He is also a member of the Yeomen.
Nicholas Cunningham Hodges, orchardist, living on the Spring Branch road in Sniabar township, was born April 10, 1849, in Sarah Coun- ty, N. C. He is a son of William C. and Mary E. (Gentry) Hodges, both of whom were natives of North Carolina, and descended from old South- ern stock. They came to Jackson County in 1859, and settled near Lone Jack. William C. Hodges enlisted with the Confederate forces and served under Gen. Jo Shelby and General Price, participated in the Battle of Lone Jack, as his initial engagement, and met death in battle in 1865. Three children were left fatherless: William, born in 1859, in Jackson County ; Susan Matilda, is deceased; and N. C., subject of this review.
N. C. Hodges was reared to young manhood in Jackson County, and was forced to make his own way in the world. When he and his estimable wife were united in marriage, in 1876, they rented land until 1878, and then began with one acre of ground, upon which they erected a log cabin. This one room log cabin still forms part of the pretty residence of the Hodges, and is one of the attractive features of the home. As the years passed they accumulated more land, and now the home place consists of 60 acres, the Hodges holdings embracing 87 acres in all. Twenty acres of the land is in fruit, which brings the family a comfortable income each year. As age has come upon him, Mr. Hodges has relinquished the active work of the farms to his sturdy sons, but he operates a fruit and cider stand on the lawn of the home during the summer and autumn months. Passing travelers and tourists patronize this liberally, and many dollars flow into the Hodges coffers in this manner.
In 1876 N. C. Hodges was married to Mollie E. Roselle, who was born near Fayette, Howard County, Missouri, in 1860. This marriage has been blessed with the following children: Nicholas Napoleon, married Ella Reed, died in June, 1918; Mary Elizabeth, married Ernest Gardner, lives on a farm three miles east of the Hodges home; Joel B., a farmer, married Aline Tucker, and has one child, Dorothy, aged five years; Claude Gen- try, living on the Nelson farm at Grain Valley, married Mary Lotsford, and has one child, Jocely. Claude G. Hodges served in the United States Navy during the World War. He enlisted in August, 1917, was trained at the Great Lakes Naval Training Station, saw active duty at Panama,
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and was married while home on a furlough. He returned home in March, 1919.
The mother of these children was brought to Jackson County by her parents in 1863, and was reared here. Her father was Elijah H. Roselle, a native of Kentucky. Her mother was Mary E. Allphin, born and reared in Kentucky, where she was married. The Roselles came to Howard County in 1858. During the Civil War Mr. Roselle was made prisoner by the Federals, and taken to St. Louis. Upon his release he took his family to Kentucky, where the wife and mother died.
Three children were born to Elijah and Mary E. Roselle: James W., died in 1907; Mrs. Minnie Mccullough, Buckner, Mo .; and Mrs. N. C. Hodges, of this review. The family returned to Jackson County in 1863, where the father lived until his removal to Barton County, where he died in 1913. He was three times married. His second wife was Sallie Ann Pinkerd, who bore him three children: Albert B. and Luther, who died in California, and Mrs. Ollie Westbrook, living near Lamar, Barton Coun- ty, Missouri. His third wife was Miss Lizzie Kabrick, of Jackson County, who died in 1915.
Mr. Hodges has the distinction of having been one of the youngest soldiers to enlist and serve in the Confederate Army. He enlisted when but 16 years of age, and served under Gen. Dave Pool. He was so small in stature that it was necessary for him to lead his horse to a tree stump before he could mount the animal. His martial experience came to an end, however, at Lexington, where he surrendered in 1865. He is a stanch Democrat, and one of the sturdy, dependable citizens of this county.
Judge Thomas M. Vermillion .- For over 42 years, Thomas M. Ver- million has served as justice of the peace at Oak Grove, Mo. and in all probability, he holds the record for continuous service in office in the state of Missouri. Judge Vermillion was born in Lebanon, Va., April 14, 1847, and is a son of Isaac and Martha A. (Boyd) Vermillion, who spent all of their lives in Virginia.
T. M. Vermillion enlisted in October, 1863, in the 16th Virginia Cavalry and served with his command until the close of the Civil War, with the Confederate army. His command participated in many great battles and campaigns throughout the war. He was educated in Lebanon and Abingdon Academies of his native state and began teaching school at an early age. After his marriage in 1866, he taught school in his native state and after coming to Jackson County Oct. 15, 1868, he resumed teach- ing and had charge of district schools in the neighborhood of Oak Grove
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in 1885, teaching in one school for ten years. He followed farming during the summer seasons. In 1885 he was appointed postmaster under Presi- dent Cleveland and served for four years. When Cleveland was re-elected in 1892 he was reappointed and served for another term as postmaster of Oak Grove.
Mr. Vermillion was first elected justice of the peace in 1877 and has been reelected to the office continuously. He received his first appoint- ment as notary under Gov. Marmaduke in 1877. In addition to his duties as justice and notary during this time he has carried on a successful in- surance business and has come to be one of the landmarks of Oak Grove. It is computed that Squire Vermillion has married more couples than any other one official in Jackson County.
Squire Vermillion was married in August, 1866, to Mary A. Aston, who was born March 15, 1850 in Virginia and was a school mate of the subject of this review. She was born and reared in Lebanon and is a daughter of Samuel W. and Louisa (Alderson) Aston. Eight children have been born to this marriage: Samuel A., Higginsville, Mo., for over 30 years agent of the Chicago and Alton Railroad Company at that place ; Jacob F., a railroad man at Rusk, Texas; Lutie M. was the wife of Rev. Keys, a Methodist minister, died at the age of 26 years; Hal M. engaged in the wholesale butter business, Dallas, Texas; Robert C., a railroad man, now at home with his parents; Mrs. Dollie C. Shotwell, Odessa, Mo .; Ben- nett C., a railroad man, Kansas City, Mo. and Mrs. Rector B. (Fowler) died at the age of 26 years.
Mr. Vermillion is a Democrat and a member of the Christian church and his wife is a Methodist. He is probably the oldest Mason, in point of years of membership, in eastern Jackson County, having been a mem- ber of the order for over 40 years.
Dr. Z. Smith, who for the past 31 years has practiced his profession in Blue Springs and vicinity, and who has achieved one of the notable business successes in Jackson County, is a member of one of the oldest pioneer families of this section of Missouri. He was born Dec. 22, 1866, in Howard County, Mo., where his parents had removed in consequence of Order No. 11. issued by Gen. Ewing during the Civil War.
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