USA > Missouri > Jackson County > History of Jackson County, Missouri > Part 45
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Thomas or "Tom" Smith, father of Dr. Z. Smith, was born in Kentucky in 1818, and came to Jackson County, Mo., in 1839. Here he married Fannie Crump, born in 1824, a daughter of Daniel Crump, who came to Jackson County from Kentucky in 1836, and was a son of David Crump. Tom Smith located on a farm in Cass County, Mo., on the county line of Cass and
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Jackson counties and resided there until his removal to Howard County. After his return to his farm, two miles south of Lone Jack, he resided there until his death in 1906. The wife and mother died in 1912, at the age of 88 years. Four sons and seven daughters were born to Tom and Fannie Smith as follow: Mrs. Lou Sebre Dixon, deceased; James, de- ceased; William, Lone Jack, Mo .; Mrs. Pauline Yankee, Lone Jack, Mo .; Mrs. Bettie Allen, near Blue Springs; Samuel, deceased; Mrs. Nannie Yankee, deceased; Lillie, Lone Jack; Georgia, wife of James Compton, deceased; Dr. Z. Smith, of this review; and Lucy, wife of Frank Compton, Independence.
Dr. Z. Smith was reared on his father's farm, attended the district school and studied in the State Normal College at Warrensburg, Mo. He then entered Washington University, St. Louis, and was graduated from this institution with the degree of Doctor of Medicine, in 1888. He im- mediately began the practice of his profession at Blue Springs and has been engaged in this city and vicinity for the past 31 years. For 16 vears, Dr. Smith conducted a drug store in connection with his practice.
Dr. Smith was married in 1892 to Miss Leonora Robertson, of Blue Springs. Two children have blessed this marriage: Frances J., who was educated in the Blue Springs High School, and the Polytechnic of Kansas City and recently appointed postmistress of Blue Springs, as a result of being the winner in a competitive examination to fill a vacancy ; Georgia graduated from the Blue Springs High School in 1919, is at home. The mother of these children is a daughter of George Robertson, who was a son of 'Jack' Robertson, one of the tallest men in Jackson County and who was a brother-in-law of Morgan Walker, one of the noted pioneers of Jackson County.
Dr. Smith is a Democrat and is a member of the Cumberland Presby- terian Church. He is owner of considerable farm land in Jackson County, owning the George Robertson farm of 170 acres, the old Smith home place of 320 acres, near Lone Jack. 160 acres south of Buckner, 80 acres of the Jack Crow place and 12 acres adjoining the town of Blue Springs, besides town and business property.
From 1895 to 1896, inclusive, Dr. Smith held the position of head physician of the county hospital and made a record as a conscientious and capable physician in charge of that institution which has never been surpassed. During his term the amount of drugs used by the inmates of the hospital was less than at any time in its history. When Dr. Smith took charge of the hospital, over 100 drug or narcotic addicts were in-
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mates. Heretofore, there had not been any serious attempt to restrict the consumption of drugs and very little effort was made to effect perma- nent cures of the drug victims. Dr. Smith set to work to win the good will of the unfortunates and in 30 days time, he succeeded and effected cures in practically all of the cases under his care.
William Scarborough, farmer and stockman and owner of 135 acres of excellent farm land in Sniabar township, has worked his way to his present position by hard work and self denial. He was born in Kentucky, near Richmond, Nov. 8, 1857, and is a son of William Henry and Nancy Ellen (Stocker) Scarborough, both natives of Kentucky. William H. Scarborough was a son of Jonathan Scarborough, a native of Virginia and an early pioneer in Kentucky. William H. was born in 1837 and now re- sides at Frankfort, Ky. His wife, Nancy Ellen, is deceased. They were the parents of four children: John Milford, lives in Kentucky; Laura Minden, deceased; Mrs. Rose Elliot Mulberry, Kentucky ; and William, of this review.
William Scarborough came to Jackson County from his native state in 1881 and has resided in this county for the past 38 years with the excep- tion of one year in Texas. He was accompanied by his wife and four children when he arrived in this county and his first employment was on the railroad at $1.50 per day. He then moved west of Independence and worked for one year at monthly wages on the farm of Captain Hickman. His next employment was on a farm at Selsa, Mo., for one year. He then began farming on his his own account and bought his first land, the Thompson farm, in 1904. For a man who landed in Jackson County with a family of five and possessed of but $25.00 and his household goods, Mr. Scarborough has done remarkably well.
Mr. Scarborough's first marriage was in 1875 with Miss Sarah Bryan of Kentucky, who died in 1890, leaving nine children: John Henry, San Francisco, Cal .; William Harrison, a farmer; George, a farmer; Mrs. Mary Ann Williams, on a farm near Blue Springs; Margaret Ellen, wife of Cowley McGuire, near Blue Springs; Leslie, Independence; Earl, a rail- way engineer, Slater, Mo .; Mrs. Laura Huber, Kansas City, Mo .; Homer. San Francisco. All of these children are married. Mr. Scarborough has 15 grandchildren. His second marriage was in 1895 with Mrs. Amanda Chapman, widow of Creed Chapman who is mother of four children by her first marriage: Mrs. Virgie Thompson, deceased; Wallace, a farmer, Blue Springs; William, Independence; Mrs. Lela Helm, living on a farm in Jackson County. Two children were born to the second marriage of Mr.
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WILLIAM SCARBOROUGH AND WIFE
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Scarborough, as follows: Orville and Howard. Orville Scarborough served in the National army during the World War. He trained at Camp McArthur and Camp Merritt, N. J. and was on board ship enroute to France when the armistice was signed. Howard had his arm shot off accidentally when 11 years of age and died four days later.
Mrs. Amanda (Chapman) Scarborough was born in April, 1860, on the old Thompson home place in Jackson County. She is a daughter of Wil- liam and Lucinda (Webb) Thompson, natives of Tennessee and Alabama, respectively. They came to Missouri in 1846 and resided in Independence for the first year before taking up their residence on a farm. The Thomp- sons drove to Jackson County with the ox-teams, the trip from the South requiring ten weeks. In 1847 they removed to the Walker farm. In 1852, Mr. Thompson purchased 80 acres and added to his possessions until he owned 135 acres which is now owned by Mr. Scarborough. William Thompson died in 1887. Mrs. Thompson died in February, 1913. They were the parents of five children. During the Civil War Mr. Thompson had many narrow escapes from death. Three times during the war he was stood up to be shot, but each time escaped. The Thompson home was burned to the ground and the live stock stolen and driven away. When the family left the county en route to Illinois in compliance with Order No. 11 all of the live stock which they possessed was one old mare and a yoke of oxen.
Mr. Scarborough is a Democrat. He is a member of the M. E. Church, South, and is affiliated with the Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen.
Larkin J. Johnson .- Jackson County was developed by the plain farmers, men who all their active lives were tillers of the soil and sons of the pioneers who came to the county when it was a partial wilderness and cleared the ground of dense timber or broke the hard, tough prairie" soil. Of this class of citizens was the late Larkin J. Johnson, the son of a Jackson County pioneer and one of a family of 16 children born to David Johnson and wife, an account of whom is given in connection with the sketch of Luther O. Johnson of Sniabar township.
Mr. Johnson was born on a pioneer farm in Jackson County, not far from Independence, June 6, 1843 and died at his home in Blue Springs, Mo. in 1910. He was reared to the life of a farmer and was married Feb. 9, 1864 to Samira Elizabeth Dillingham, near Lexington, Lafayette County, whither the Dillingham family had gone to live when Order No. 11 was issued.
Mrs. Samira Elizabeth Johnson is a daughter of Veachel Dillingham,
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also a Jackson County pioneer, an account of whom is given in connection with the sketch of Silas V. Dillingham of the Blue Springs neighborhood. For one year after their marriage Larkin Johnson and his bride lived with his people in Ray County. When the war closed they returned to Jackson County and built up one of the finest 200 acre farms in Sniabar township.
Mr. and Mrs. Johnson reared a family of six children out of nine born to them, as follow: Lucy Elizabeth, Dora Frances, Mettie E., Porter, Myrtie E. and Elmer.
Mrs. Lucy Elizabeth Webb is deceased. She was mother of three children: Orvel Webb, who is married and has two children, Virginia Frances and Elberta; Lowell Webb died, leaving one child, R. C. Webb; Mrs. Lizzie Bowers has two children, Belle Marie and Corinne, who lives with her great grandmother.
Mrs. Dora Hutchinson left two children, Silas Priest Hutchinson lives in California and has two children, Sidney and an infant; Elsie, aged 17, who is a teacher in the public schools; Mrs. Mettie Duff is deceased, left one son, Arnold J., a veteran of the World War who served in France.
Porter Johnson has two children, Rex, aged 21 and Almeda Elizabeth.
Mrs. Myrtie Wyett has two children: Elmer Y., aged 19 and Eva May. Elmer Johnson died when a young man. Mrs. Johnson has nine grandchildren and five great grandchildren.
The late Larkin Johnson was a stanch Democrat. He was a member of the Baptist church and was religiously inclined, a regular church at- tendant who lived according to his creed, and left behind him an honored name and reputation for sobriety and good citizenship which will always be cherished.
William H. George .- The business success achieved by William H. George, leading merchant of Oak Grove, Mo., during the short space of 20 years has been truly remarkable inasmuch as it is often said that there are few business opportunities for an individual in these days of large capital and corporate control of mercantile business and industries. Dur- ing the time which has elapsed since Mr. George first came to Oak Grove, in 1900, he has built up one of the largest mercantile concerns in eastern Jackson County, built and has operated an electric light and ice manu- facturing plant, erected a handsome brick business block, built a fine resi- dence and has accumulated farm land. Mr. George was born at Wellington, Mo., Jan. 27, 1864, and is a son of I. H. and Sarah F. (Leech) George, natives of Virginia, who moved to Missouri in 1847, first located at
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Palmyra and then moved to Wellington, in 1859. I. H. George was a cabinet maker and made coffins for the soldiers during the Civil War and also manufactured furniture. In 1868, he removed to Pleasant Prairie and settled on a farm where he resided until 1901, when he located at Oak Grove. He died there in 1915, at the age of 88 years. Mrs. George died in 1917, over 87 years of age. Mr. and Mrs. George were the parents of two sons and four daughters: the first born died in infancy ; William H., of this sketch; Mrs. Anne E. Martin, living on a farm in Lafayette County ; Mrs. Susie R. Dolan, Joplin, Mo .; Mrs. Ada Campbell, deceased ; Mrs. Mollie Owen, deceased.
For four months of each year until he attained the age of 17 years, William H. George attended the district school. He followed farming from boyhood until 17 years old and then followed the carpenter's trade. For 11 years, he worked at his trade in Lafayette County and in 1890, he located in Oregon, Mo. He followed his trade for a time, then operated a livery barn and engaged in the mercantile business with a limited cap- ital. He first sold goods on commission and conducted a business there until 1900 when he came to Oak Grove with a cash capital of $300 dollars. His Oregon business venture had not been very successful, inasmuch as he had sold goods to customers on time and accumulated a lot of bad ac- counts. His start in business in Oak Grove was not auspicious, owing to his limited capital. He built a small shack for a store room, and bought sparingly, using his shelving and store fixtures which he had brought from Oregon. After he had built the barn-like store room, he had no money with which to buy goods, but he managed to get a small stock. As fast as he sold goods, he would order more, and attended to business closely, making every dollar work in the business, figuring closely, working day and night, a saving to the utmost, he built up an extensive business. During all this time, Mr. George had never taken a vacation until October, 1919, when he made a trip to Denver, primarily for his wife's health. For the past four years he has been operating an electric light plant, and, worked day and night, only going home to his meals.
Mr. George established his business in Oak Grove in 1900. In 1904. he erected the large brick building which houses the George Department Store, supplanting a cheaply constructed box building. This building is 50 x 100 feet, with an 18 foot ceiling and a deck overhead, all around the room. Mr. George carries a general stock of groceries, dry goods and light hardware.
In 1901, he purchased his home in Oak Grove ; in 1907, he built an addi-
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tion, which houses a restaurant business; in 1908, he built another addi- tion and installed a bakery equipment, thus supplying the town with a bakery. In 1910, he built a new residence, a modern building constructed of stone. In 1912, he erected the Odd Fellows Building of two stories into which the local Odd Fellows lodge moved in 1913. In 1914, he estab- lished the electric light plant, wired the city, and furnished the city and townspeople with the comfort of electric lights. In 1915, he installed a modern ice plant in connection with the electric light plant. In 1919, the capital of the electric and ice plants were increased; another engine and generator installed to supply the increased demand for current and light. Mr. George has also a farm which he oversees and he has done some trad- ing in farm lands, owning at the present time, two farms of 72 acres and 90 acres.
Mr. George was married in September, 1890, to Miss Lottie Dorton, of Oregon, Mo., a daughter of John M. Dorton. Four children have blessed this marriage: Leslie Irvin, Harold Frank, John Dorton and Opal. Les- lie Irvin George was born Sept. 13, 1894 and is now in charge of the light plant. He served in the U. S. navy for two and a half years. For six months he was stationed at Pensacola, Fla., and then at the Experiment Aviation Station at Washington, D. C. He enlisted in April of 1917. Harold Frank George, who is assisting in the operation of the light and ice plant, was born Sept. 15, 1898. John Dorton George was born in 1901 and also worked at the light plant. Mrs. Opal Parrent, aged 23 years, resides in Oak Grove.
Mr. George is a Democrat and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South.
Lewis Cass Gordon .- The late L. C. Gordon, of Oak Grove, Mo., was one of the best known of the native born citizens of Jackson County, who was a very successful agriculturist. Mr. Gordon was born in Jackson County, in 1851, and died at his home in this county Jan. 8, 1908, after a long and successful career. He was a son of Dr. William Gordon and Zilpha Ann (Philpot) Gordon, both natives of Virginia. Dr. William Gordon was one of the pioneer physicians of Jackson County who min- istered to the sick and ailing in the old days when the doctor carried his stock of medicines in his saddle bags and had to ride miles over rough trails and indifferent roads.
When two years of age, the parents of Lewis Cass Gordon took him with them to Holt County, Mo. and he was reared near Forest City. He lived in Holt County until 1873 and then came to Jackson County and was
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here married. Mr. and Mrs. Gordon lived for one year in Holt County after their marriage and in 1874 came to Jackson County to make their future home. They resided on a small farm for awhile and then bought a place south of Oak Grove. Mr. Gordon built up a splendid farm of 217 acres and removed to a home in Oak Grove in 1895.
Mr. Gordon was married in 1873 to Miss Lucy Philpot, who was born Sept. 27, 1853, on a farm north of Oak Grove. She is a daughter of Samuel and Amelia (Brown) Philpot, both natives of Tennessee and early settlers in Jackson County, the former of whom died in 1861. Samuel Philpot was one of the great number of hardy and adventurous men who braved the hardships of the long trip across the plains to the gold fields of California in the fifties. He made two trips across the plains one of which was made in 1856. He was well and favorably known among the pioneers of this county.
Six children were born to Lewis Cass and Lucy Gordon, as follows: Samuel, deceased; Mrs. Carrie Welch, at home with her mother; Nina Gordon, a milliner, Oak Grove, Mo .; Dora, married De Loss Triplett, Oak Grove, Mo .; Beulah, at home with her mother; Zula, a bookkeeper in Kan- sas City.
Mr. Gordon was a stanch Democrat, prominent in the councils of his party, and generally took an active interest in political matters; at one time he was a candidate for county judge. He loved politics and mingled freely with his fellow men. He was intelligent, well read, kept posted on the events of the day and was highy respected and liked by all who knew him. Mrs. Gordon is a member of the Baptist church. He was a Free Mason. Both Mrs. Carrie Welch and Mrs. Dora Triplett are mem- bers of the Eastern Star Lodge.
R. E. Livesay, of the grocery firm of R. E. Livesay and Son, estab- lished in Oak Grove, Mo., in 1905, is a native Missourian and a member of an old and well known pioneer family of this section of the state. He was born in Lafayette County, Mo., in 1867, and is a son of George Wash- ington and Elizabeth (Renick) Livesay, the former a native of Virginia and the latter of Missouri.
George W. Livesay was born in 1830 and was a son of Fountain Livesay who came to Missouri in 1833, entered government land and de- veloped a farm. He was married here to Elizabeth Renick, a daughter of William H. Renick, a pioneer of this county who came from Kentucky. A brother of George W. Livesay, named William Livesay, was a well known plainsman and prominent in the pioneer life and development of Jackson
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County. He crossed the plains as a freighter in company with W. Z. Hickman, author of this history of Jackson County. The town of Levasy was named in his honor. George W. Livesay died in 1884. His wife, Elizabeth, was born in 1833 and died in 1889. They were parents of the following children: J. R. Livesay, New Mexico; W. F. Livesay, Kansas City; J. S. Livesay, near Independence, Mo .; Mrs. Sallie Bedford, Inde- pendence; R. E. Livesay, of this review; and Mrs. Mary Hulse, deceased.
R. E. Livesay attended the public schools of his native county and followed farming pursuits in Lafayette County until his removal to Oak Grove in 1905, at which time he established the successful retail grocery business which is now conducted by himself and his son, R. P. Livesay. He still owns his farm of 120 acres, over the line in Lafayette County.
Mr. Livesay was married in 1889 to Miss Carrie Hulse, a daughter of George W. and Ellen (Steele) Hulse. To this union, the following chil- dren have been born: R. P. Livesay, a deputy in the county collector's office ; Mrs. Anna Robinson, Oak Grove, Mo .; Eva Livesay, a student in the State University at Columbia, Mo .; Ruth, a student in the Oak Grove High School; Mary Frances and Jean are the two youngest children.
Mr. Livesay is a Democrat. He is a member of the Presbyterian church and is affiliated with the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons and the Modern Woodmen of America.
Dr. Abner Walter Mann, Oak Grove, Mo., is one of the best known and successful physicians of eastern Jackson County, who has found time outside of his professional duties to be of decided use to his fellow men in other capacities. Dr. Mann was born in or near Lovettsville, Loudoun County, Va., Jan. 10, 1852. His parents were George W. and Leanna (Conard) Mann. His father, George W. Mann, was born in 1822 and died in 1858. He came to Missouri in the spring of 1856, located his family here two years later and his death occurred here in 1858. After the father's death, Mrs. Mann and her family returned to Virginia where she remained for ten years, and in 1868 came to Jackson County. Mrs. Mann bought a home at Pink Hill, northwest of Oak Grove, and resided there until her death, in September, 1890 at the age of 64 years. Four sons and two daughters were born to George W. and Leanna Mann, as follows: Mary L., deceased wife of Charles E. St. Clair, Blue Springs, Mo .; John W. C., deceased; Joseph William, on a farm in the Pink Hill neighborhood; Dr. A. W. Mann, of this review; Ida Alberta, died in Virginia; Franklin .L., died at Oak Grove, Mo., at the age of 46 years, Oct. 12, 1902.
When 17 years of age, A. W. Mann became a member of the Meth-
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odist Episcopal Church South at Pink Hill, and during the years that have passed, he has lived a true Christian life. He worked hard on his mother's farm, during the spring and summer months and attended the district school during the winters. From 1874 to 1877, he studied at the State Normal School at Warrensburg, Mo., and taught school in the mean- time, practically working his way through college. He began the study of medicine in 1881 and graduated from Washington University at St. Louis in 1883. Dr. Mann practiced for three years at Greentown, Mo. and on March 6, 1886, he located at Oak Grove. He has never ceased to keep abreast of the great developments made in the practice of the science of medicine and in 1892 pursued a post graduate course at the New York Polyclinic.
May 24, 1898, Dr. Mann was united in marriage with Miss Anne Payne. One child has blessed this marriage: Leanna Baxter Mann, born April 12, 1899, a graduate of Howard Payne College at Fayette, Mo., and at present teacher of English in the Versailles, Mo., High School.
Dr. Mann is a member of the Missouri Medical Association, and dur- ing the World War he was a member of the Volunteer Medical Reserve Corps of Jackson County. In 1901 he was elected superintendent of the Sunday School of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, and is still serv- ing in that capacity. He was elected to the office of mayor of Oak Grove in 1913, and filled the office for one year. Dr. Mann is chairman of the board of trustees of his church, is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and is one of the sterling and useful citizens of Jackson County who enjoys the respect and warm esteem of the people of his home city and neighborhood.
Elmer J. Daniels, editor of the Buckner Record, was born at Harlem Springs, Ohio, Oct. 28, 1872. He is a son of John and Elizabeth (McCoy) Daniels, natives of Salineville, Ohio. They left Ohio in 1876, and came to DeKalb County, Mo., locating on a farm within three miles of Mays- ville. They came to Jackson County in 1896 and settled in Independence. During the Civil War, John Daniels served in the Union army with an Ohio regiment.
Elmer J. Daniels was educated in the district schools at Maysville, and also attended school at Cameron Junction. He worked in a print shop when he was a boy and thoroughly learned the printer's trade. His first work in a print shop was at Cameron Junction. When he came to Independence he took charge of the printing plant of the Peoples Union Mercantile Company, a co-operative store which eventually closed its
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doors. He then bought the plant from Judge James V. Compton on time, agreeing to pay $500 at the rate of $15 per month, and started the Buck- ner Record. In two years time, he had paid for the plant and was well on the road to success. In 1902, he established the Daily Record at Inde- pendence and in 1907, he established the Record in Buckner. Mr. Daniels entered a print shop at the age of 15 years and during all these years, he has never taken a vacation. His plant at Buckner is easily worth $1,800, and the subscription list will exceed 800 subscribers. In connec- tion or in addition to his printing business, Mr. Daniels is conducting a flourishing real estate and land business.
Mr. Daniels was married in 1900 to Ada Taylor of Independence, a daughter of Frank and Cora (Redman) Taylor, the former of whom was at one time the sheriff of Rush County, Kan. Mrs. Daniels was born in Rush County, Kan. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Daniels, as follows: Xantha Lee and Daniel Dudley, the former aged 17 years, and the latter 10.
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