USA > Missouri > Jackson County > History of Jackson County, Missouri > Part 50
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The children born to Henry and Louisa Stephens are: Emma, Charles, William Henry, Grace Helena, George H., Louisa, Jr., John H. and Carrie. Emma is the wife of Merton Smith, living south of Lake City and is mother of four children; Louisa Eglantine, Henry Stephens, Merton Leon and Merkle C. Henry Charles married Julia Baird and has two children: H. Charles, Jr., and Alice Louise. He resides at White- water, Kan.
William Henry lives on a farm near Whitewater, Kan. He married Anna Frude and has three children: William H., Jr., Hadley Woodrow and Edith Marie. Grace Helena, George H., Louisa, Jr., and John H. are at home with their mother. Carrie died in infancy.
Mr. Stephens was an independent Democrat. During the last five years of his life he was a member of the Kansas City Board of Trade.
Elwin S. Pemberton, of Fort Osage township, is rearing one of the largest families in Jackson County. It is evident that rearing his 11 children has not proven a handicap to Mr. Pemberton's success as an agriculturist and stock raiser, inasmuch as he has met with prosperity in his career. He is the owner of a fine farm of 165 acres, which is im- proved with a good brick residence, erected by his father, Thomas C. Pemberton, in 1889, and a splendid bank barn, with concrete basement, and weatherboarded with native walnut.
Elwin S. Pemberton was born Dec. 28, 1869, on what is now known
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as the Eckles farm. Two years after his birth his parents moved to the Pemberton homestead, south of Sibley, which Thomas C. Pemberton de- veloped into one of the finest farms in the county, while also plying his trade of bricklayer and mason. Thomas C. Pemberton, father of E. S. Pemberton, was a native of Kentucky, who came to Jackson County in 1850. A sketch of Thomas C. Pemberton appears in this volume.
E. S. Pemberton received his education in the district school at Sib- ley. When 25 years of age he settled upon a small farm west of his present place. He sold his first tract in 1906 and bought his present farm from the estate of Aunt Amanda Hamilton. He paid $52 an acre for his land, which is now easily worth $200 an acre.
Mr. Pemberton was married in 1895 to Miss Emma Triplett, a daugh- ter of Eli Triplett, an account of whose life is given in connection with the sketch of Daniel F. Triplett, of Fort Osage township. To this marriage 13 children have been born, as follow: Esther, Lola, deceased, Gladys, An- nie, Arlie, Clay, Herbert, Stanley, deceased, Thomas, William, deceased, Ralph, Emma Belle, Kinslow. All of the ten living children are at home, and a happier family does not exist in Jackson County.
While Mr. Pemberton is a Democrat, he has no time to bother with political matters. He is strictly a home and family man, whose sole thought is for the education and training of his children and their future.
John L. Hiffner, farmer and stockman, proprietor of 126 acres of valuable farm land, within one and a half miles of Blue Springs, in Snia- bar township, was born Dec. 24, 1888 on the place which he now owns. He is a son of the late John L. Hiffner, a Missouri pioneer.
John L. Hiffner, the elder, was born in Jessamine County, near Louis- ville, Ky., March 9, 1830 and died at his home in Jackson County, Sept. 29, 1915. When a boy he chopped wood for 25 cents a cord, earning in all $35 a year. This money he dutifully turned over to his mother. He was a good worker, so good, that his energy excited the admiration of his uncle for whom he worked. His uncle offered to bet his best team and wagon that John Hiffner could do more work in a day than any other workman in the neighborhood. A match was arranged. Young John ate a light breakfast and told his aunt, "I am going to lead the field today." And he did lead the field. He broke 426 pounds of hemp, a tremendous day's work, leading his nearest strong competitor by 12 pounds. Mr. Hiffner came to Missouri in 1851 and engaged in buying mules for a Rando'ph County stockman. He made several trips to Louisiana and brought back as many as 175 mules on his trips. He was adventurous
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JOHN L. HIFFNER, SR., AND WIFE.
JOHN L. HIFFNER AND FAMILY.
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and made trips to the great West, mining gold in the Rocky Mountains and British America. He resided for eight years in Richmond, Mo. and served as sheriff of the county. Upon his return from the west he settled on a farm near Atherton, Mo. He next settled on the place now owned by Sater Necessary northeast of Independence. In 1888 he purchased the Hiffner home place near Blue Springs and improved a splendid farm prop- erty.
During the Civil War, Mr. Hiffner served under Gen. Joe Shelby, fighting throughout the war in General Price's various campaigns. He was always a lover of horses and was a noted horseman. He opened the first gold mine in the Silver Plume region of Colorado, and built the first brick house erected in the city of Denver.
Mr. Hiffner, Sr., was married in 1876 to Margaret Giffin, who was born in Ross County, Ohio, Oct. 24, 1856, on a farm located near the town of Bainbridge. She is a daughter of Tilbury and Nancy (Rhodes) Giffin, both of whom were born and reared in Ohio. In the fall of 1870, the Giffin family came to Jackson County, and located on a farm near Adam's Station, where Mr. Giffin operated a farm for Peter Adams until 1875. He then lived on a farm near Atherton for five years. In 1880 he located on a farm one and a half miles west of Atherton, where he lived until 1885. He then purchased a farm near Atherton. Tilbury Giffin was born in 1824, and died in 1884. Mrs. Giffin was born in 1836, and died in 1906. Their children are as follows: Emma, deceased; James, Miami, Okla .; Margaret Hiffner ; Mrs. Mattie Griggsby, Parker, Kan .; Mrs. Kittie Shine- gar, St. Joseph, Mo .; Claude, near Atherton; Mrs. Fanny Paxton, Ather- ton, Mo.
The children born to John L. and Margaret (Giffin) Hiffner are as follows: Mrs. Effie Chancellor, born June 25, 1878, married H. G. Green, Independence; Cordelia Green, born April 11, 1880, died in infancy ; Lola Lee, born June 9, 1882, married Frank Carbrough, and resides in Idaho ; Nancy G., born Feb. 13, 1886, married E. J. Tatum, Independence ; John L., Jr., of this review; Mary Ruth, born Dec. 20, 1894, married H. C. Park, and lives in Illinois. Mrs. Margaret Hiffner resides with her son on the home place.
John L. Hiffner, the elder, was a well read man, and took a keen inter- est in every day affairs. He was a Democrat, who was influential in the affairs of his party. He was a member of the Masons and the Knights of Pythias. He was progressive in thought and deed and was never known
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to hark back to the old times as having been the best. He always asserted that the present times were the best for all concerned.
John L. Hiffner, the younger, was educated in the Blue Springs public schools, and has spent all of his life upon the Hiffner farm. He came into possession of the farm through inheritance, and purchase of the interests of the heirs, and is considered to be one of the best farmers in his neigh- borhood.
He was married March 18, 1912, to Miss Mayme Quinn, a daughter of John W. Quinn, merchant of Blue Springs, Mo. Mr. and Mrs. Hiffner have one child, Marjorie, born Sept. 19, 1917. Mr. Hiffner is a Democrat. He is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias of Blue Springs, and is a Shriner and Thirty-second degree Mason.
Frank B. Hock, one of the younger and progressive farmers and stockraisers of Fort Osage township, owner of 80 acres of well improved land on the Lexington road just west of Buckner, was born in Buckner, Dec. 17, 1887.
Joseph H. Hock, his father, was born in Kentucky, May 11, 1849 and died at his home in Jackson County, Dec. 4, 1914. He left his home in Kentucky and came to Jackson County in 1869. His father, Joseph H. Hock came sometime later and spent his last days in this county. Joseph H. Hock was married here to Miss Martha Ann Minter, who was born in Platte County, Mo., July 31, 1849 and died Nov. 8, 1916. They were united in marriage Oct. 20, 1872, and reared children as follows: George H. died in infancy ; William C., an attorney in Kansas City ; Robert Lee, Kansas City; Annie E., died at the age of four years; Earl Joshua died at the age of 18 years; Frank B., of this review.
Joseph H. Hock followed farming during his entire active life. In 1891 he located on the Perrin Farm in Fort Osage township. In 1899 he purchased the farm where his son, Frank B., now lives, and made im- provements which have since been remodeled by his son, who has mod- ernized the residence. Joseph H. Hock and wife were members of the Baptist church. Martha Ann (Minter) Hock was a daughter of John and Anne R. (Cooper) Minter, of Virginia.
Frank B. Hock was educated in the Buckner High School, and cared for his father and mother during their last years. He was married Sept. 19, 1917, to Miss Luella W. Jones, a daughter of Joseph E. Jones, a sketch of whom appears in this volume.
In addition to his farm of 80 acres, Mr. Hock is renting considerable land. During the present year, 1919, he harvested 70 acres of corn, which
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gave a good yield, and he plans to plant 100 acres in 1920. He has sown 70 acres of wheat for the harvest of 1920. For some years he has been a breeder of pure-bred Duroc-Jersey hogs, and raises and feeds 100 head yearly. Mr. Hock, although a Democrat, is inclined to be independent, and casts his vote accordingly. Mrs. Hock is a member of the Buckner Baptist Church. He is prominent in Masonic circles, and is a past master of the Masons, Lodge No. 501, of Buckner, serving as worshipful master of this lodge in 1913.
Thomas W. Webb, one of the best known farmers of Fort Osage town- ship, is a member of one of the old pioneer families of Jackson County. He was born July 27, 1862 in Jackson County and is a son of Hewitt Preston Webb, who was born and reared in West Virginia.
Hewitt Preston Webb was born in 1838 and died Jan. 30, 1899. He was a son of Asa Webb, one of the first pioneers of Jackson County who entered land in the county and came here in 1844. H. P. Webb was reared to manhood in this county and served for four years in the Confederate army during the Civil War. At that time he owned a farm at Lone Jack. For a time during the war he was a member of Quantrell's band. At the battle of Lexington he was one of the men who advised General Price that the position of the Federal troops could not be taken by storming the heights around the city which were fortified and defended with cannon. He, with others, advised the general to execute a flanking movement, inas- much as a direct assult upon the city would result in disaster. Quantrell was the leader of the dissatisfied element, and, because General Price re- fused to follow the advice given him by Mr. Webb and others Quantrell and his followers withdrew from Price's command. History records the fact that they were right and the Battle of Lexington was lost to the Con- federates. Mr. Webb was not a regular follower of Quantrell, however, as he followed in due time the regularly waged warfare of the Confederate army. Before the war he sold his farm of 40 acres at Lone Jack and located in Fort Osage township. Raiders from across the border burned his home and run off all of his live stock. After the war he bought 40 acres in Fort Osage township of Silas Hudspeth and then bought 40 acres more from the Skinner heirs. He rented 440 acres in 1866 on the Huds- peth place and four years later moved to his home place. This farm was his home until his death.
Hewitt Preston was married at Lone Jack, Mo., in 1852, to Mary Perry, who was born March 17, 1835, in Brown County, Ill., a daughter of John and Permelia (Bridges) Perry, who removed to Jackson County in
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1838 and settled near Lone Jack. The children born to this marriage are: Permelia Elizabeth, wife of Lon Landers, living on the Webb home place; Mary Ann, wife of Frank Hurst, Mount Washington, mother of seven children ; Thomas Winfrey of this review, has five children; William Pres- ton, Louisville, Kan., has four children; John Coleman, deceased; Zapora Ella, wife of William Lease, Kansas City, has six children; Robert Lee, Holton, Kan., has three children; Benjamin, Franklin, Kan., has four chil- dren; Lulu Dell Slotz, deceased; Mattie Belle, wife of Jeff Duncan, Inde- pendence, has seven children; Mrs. Ida, May Johnson, Wamego, Kan .; Henry Clay Webb, lives near the county farm. Mrs. Webb has 38 grand- children and has 25 great grandchildren and has the distinction of being one of the oldest pioneer women of Jackson County.
Thomas W. Webb was reared in the log house erected by his father in Fort Osage township. After his marriage he erected his present home on the Lexington road. He first purchased 40 acres from the home place and has made subsequent additions to his acreage until he owns 160 acres.
Mr. Webb was married in September, 1883, to Miss Barbara Leap, who was born in Indiana, a daughter of Perry Leap. Six children have been born to this union, as follows: Grover Cleveland Webb, Kansas City, Kan .; Martha. Lethe, wife of Guy Frazier, Galveston, Texas; Oliver Preston, on the home place; Claude Thomas, deceased, his remains buried in Salem churchyard; Charles Franklin, at home; and Mattie Belle, aged two years.
The Democratic party has always had the support of Mr. Webb, who is one of the best known citizens of his neighborhood. He is a member of the Woodmen Lodge.
Thomas H. Lentz .- The oldest established registered pure bred herd of Herefords in Jackson County is owned by Thomas H. Lentz of Fort Osage township. The Lentz herd of Herefords was established in April, 1884, by Noah Lentz, father of Thomas H. Lentz. The herd usually num- bers 30 head, every one of which is a purebred. Mr. Lentz sells his stock at private sale to buyers coming to purchase stock from all parts of the United States. The Lentz farm consists of 200 acres upon which the elder Lentz settled after coming to Jackson County.
Noah Lentz was born in Rockingham County, Va., in April, 1841 and died March 5, 1916 in his 75th year. He was a son of John W. Lentz, a native of Germany who was brought to America by his parents who set- tled in Virginia, where he was reared. Upon attaining his majority he
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removed to Ohio where he resided until 1866 when he came to Jackson County, and spent the remainder of his days.
Noah Lentz, although a Union sympathizer was drafted into the Con- federate army in Virginia and was in the army of General Lee. He de- serted and was held prisoner after his capture. His desertion being caused by a desire to visit his mother and his brother who were sick. Overstay- ing his leave of absence, he was placed in the guard house and while being held a prisoner he overheard some of the Confederate officers talking of plans and learned that the war would end in a few weeks if the Union army would do certain things. He made his escape, divulged his informa- tion to the Federal commanders and the war was ended in four weeks.
When Noah Lentz landed at Napoleon, Lafayette County, Mo., he had just $7.00 and a sick wife to care for. He was without suitable clothing and was forced to go barefooted in the dead of winter. He got a job of cutting cord wood at $7.00 per month. By hard work, good management, close application to business and self denial he was enabled in the course of time to purchase 200 acres of land. When he established his Hereford herd in 1884 he was in debt $8,000, but he had faith in the demand for a better breed of cattle on the Missouri farms than the stockmen had been raising. His faith was justified, for the Lentz herd has brought pros- perity to him and his descendants. He was one of the largest hog pro- ducers in the county. He became the owner of 1,856 acres.
Noah Lentz was three times married. Mrs. Lou (Kirby) Lentz, wife of the late Noah Lentz, was born May 8, 1856 in Tennessee and died March 29, 1916. She was a daughter of James Kirby, who came to Jackson County at the close of the Civil War .. The children born to this marriage were James Oliver died in infancy ; Myrtle Anna wife of William Baldus, Independence; Thomas H. Lentz of this review. His second wife was Eliza Lewis, who bore him three children: James, deceased; John W., Colorado; and Joseph Harmon who lives near Salem church in Blue town- ship. The first wife of Noah Lentz was Katie Webb who died 18 months after their marriage. Thomas H. Lentz was educated in Woodland College, and Baker University, Baldwin, Kan., where he graduated in 1914 with the degrees of A. B. and A. M. and where he also completed a business course. For eight months after leaving college he was employed as traveling sales- man. He then returned to the farm. The herd of Herefords having been divided among the children, each child receiving six head, Thomas H. Lentz purchased the entire remaining cattle from his father and some of
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those given to the other children. Like his father, he attributes his ma- terial success to the prestige of the Lentz Herefords.
Mr. Lentz was married June 5, 1912 to Miss Myrtle Hersh, of Kan- sas City. She was born in Iowa, a daughter of Edwin H. and Mary E. Hersh, the former living at Blue Springs, and the latter having died in March, 1919. To this marriage has been born one child, Thomas R. Lentz, born June 19, 1916.
Mr. Lentz is independent in his political views. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and holds a membership in the American Hereford Breeders' Association.
Thomas D. Winfrey, of Fort Osage township, who owns a valuable farm of 160 acres in this township, located on the old Santa Fe trail high- way. Mr. Winfrey first bought 120 acres in 1893 ; he next bought 40 acres in 1914. Every rod of fence, every tree and shrub on the place, the fine residence, every barn and outbuilding, has been erected by the owner. When Mr. Winfrey came to Jackson County from southern Missouri, his total possessions amounted to about $1,600, including his household furni- ture, livestock, and farming implements. He purchased his first 120 acres for $5,000, and went in debt to the amount of $2,900, in 1896. His last purchase of land cost him $170 an acre. The Winfrey land is very productive and the soil fertility has been carefully conserved. Seventy acres of wheat harvested in 1919 produced 1,575 bushels. Of late years Mr. Winfrey has relaxed from active farm work, and rents out his land.
Thomas D. Winfred was born in Dallas County, Missouri, Jan. 20, 1850. He is a son of Elisha and Margaret (Brown) Winfrey, further men- tion of whom is made in this volume. Thomas D. Winfrey was partly reared in Dallas County, and accompanied the family to Laclede County upon their removal there. He desired above all things to take an active part in the conflict between the North and the South, but stern measures on the part of his parents prevented him from doing as he wished. After his marriage, in 1876, he resided on a farm in Laclede County until his subsequent removal to Jackson County.
Feb. 18, 1876, Mr. Winfred was married to Miss Elizabeth Tennyson, who was born in Laclede County, Sept. 23, 1854, a daughter of Joseph and Elvira (Cooper) Stokes, both natives of Crawford County, Missouri. The children born to this union are: Charles Marion, a farmer and owner of 400 acres of land in Fort Osage township; William Everett, a farmer living east of Six Mile Church; Lulu, at home; J. Frank, a farmer living near Lake City; Lenora, a teacher in the Kalispel, Mont., High School,
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was educated in the State Normal School at Warrensburg, and the State University at Columbia, and has taken post-graduate courses at the Uni- versity of Michigan and the Chicago University.
Mr. Winfrey is a Democrat. He is a member of the Six Mile Baptist Church, and liberally contributed toward the building of this church. He is one of the best and most substantial citizens of Jackson County.
Mary J. Switzer .- During the years in which she was employed in the office of Walter L. Yost, at the stockyards of Kansas City, Mary J. Switzer dreamed of the time when she would own her own farm, raise fine livestock and cultivate land as it should be cultivated. She studied the science of raising fine livestock and of intensive scientific agriculture for years before her opportunity came to purchase a place in which she could indulge her lifetime ambition. "Early Dawn Farm," a beautiful country place south of Independence, in Brooking township, on the Lees Summit rock road, is the result. This farm consists of 130 acres, and is a delight to the eye. This place was an old rundown farm, which had been allowed to grow up in brush and weeds, and the soil was depleted of its natural fertility. Since 1916, Miss Switzer has transformed the place. She erected a handsome, modern home, built a barn, cleared the land, and has raised excellent crops each year. In 1915 she purchased the nucleus of the "Early Dawn" herd of pure-bred Herefords from the James Curtis herd, and from the Gudgell and Simpson dispersal sale. She took along Uncle George Shand, who for many years had been in charge of the Gudgell and Simpson herd of Herefords, and knows more about the breed- ing of Hereford than any other breeder in Missouri. For over 11 years he was with Gudgell and Simpson, and he now has charge of the "Early Dawn" herd of splendid animals.
During the time she was employed in office work Miss Switzer owned two other farms, which she improved and sold. She has had considerable success in raising wheat, going at this phase of agriculture in the same thorough manner in which she has always done things. She threshed 26 acres of wheat in 1918 which yielded 35 bushels to the acre. Prac- tically all of this yield was sold as seed wheat. Miss Switzer's methods of preparing the ground for seeding are somewhat different from the ordi- nary methods employed on Jackson County farms, and involved the plow- ing of the ground during the dry season of July and August, so that when the rains came in the late summer, before seeding time, the soil was softened and full of moisture, which remained in the ground while the wheat was sprouting and maturing.
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Mary Jane Switzer was born in Kendall County, Illinois, and is a daughter of George Herbert and Mary Ella (Congdon) Switzer, the latter of whom was a daughter of Nicholas Congdon, a native of Rhode Island. George H. Switzer was a son of John Wesley Switzer, who was born in New Jersey, and was reared in Canada, a son of a Swiss and French mother. George H. Switzer located in Kansas in 1899, and now makes his home in that State. Mrs. Mary Ellen Switzer died when Mary Jane was but a child.
Miss Switzer received a good education and taught school prior to locating in Kansas City, where for twelve years she was employed at the stockyards as Mr. Yost's private secretary.
Henry Vassilii Palaeologus Kabrick .- Besides being a pioneer of Jack- son County, Mr. Kabrick is one of the remaining Confederate veterans who fought for the cause which they deemed right. H. V. P. Kabrick of Sniabar township, was born at Morrisonville, Va., Nov. 15, 1841. He is a son of George and Jane (Morrison) Kabrick, the former of whom died in 1866 at the age of 70 years. Mrs. Kabrick died in 1897 at the advanced age of 88 years. The Kabricks came to Jackson County from Virginia in 1855. When Order No. 11 was issued the family went to St. Charles County and remained there until the close of the war.
Coming to this county with his parents in April, 1855, H. V. P. Kabrick grew to manhood on his father's farm. Aug. 14, 1862, he enlisted in Hayes Regiment, Second Missouri Cavalry, and served until the close of the Civil War with the Confederate army. He fought at the battles of Lone Jack and Newtonia under Gen. Joe Shelby and participated in the battles of Lexington, Boonville, Little Blue and after the battle of West- port he took part in the retreat of General Price's army to the South. His last battle was at Newtonia, Mo. After the surrender of Price's army at Shreveport, La., he returned home.
In December, 1870, Mr. Kabrick made his first investment in a farm one and a half miles northwest of Oak Grove. He built up his place and prospered and is now the owner of a splendid place of 155 acres which has grown more and more valuable during later years. In addition to his home place he is owner of 32 acres of land on Sni creek and has eight acres of timber land. For a number of years Mr. Kabrick followed the trade of carpenter while building up his farm.
Nov. 15, 1870, Mr. Kabrick was married to Mrs. Frances F. (George) Moore, widow of Ezra Moore who was killed July 11, 1862 at Sorenson, Mo. between Lone Jack and Pleasant Hill during the Civil War. The only
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