USA > Missouri > Jackson County > History of Jackson County, Missouri > Part 58
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ter of Samuel J. and Margaret (Cramer) Harger, natives of Ohio. They lived in Jackson County for a short time, when they moved to Bates County. To Mr. and Mrs. Willsey has been born one son, John W., who resides at home with his parents.
Mr. Willsey is a Democrat, and a member of the Christian church. He holds membership in the Masonic lodge and the Modern Woodmen of America. He has seen many changes since he came to Jackson County as a boy, 45 years ago. He has a distinct recollection of many of the early day happenings in and about Kansas City, and recalls having ridden on the old mule street car. In fact, he has almost seen Kansas City and Jackson County grow up.
Peter Stephens Alexander, now living retired at Lees Summit, and the owner of 400 acres of land, is one of Jackson County's successful men of affairs, and has been identified with the agriculture interest of this county for over half a century. For many years he was a successful cattle and hog feeder, and also handled mules and sheep. He made a specialty of pure-bred Shropshires and always found a ready sale in Kan- sas and Missouri for his fine strain of sheep.
Peter S. Alexander is a native of Missouri, and is a descendant of the very early pioneer families of this State. He was born in Moniteau town- ship, Cooper County, Feb. 21, 1839, and is the son of Alfred Anderson and Alpha Ann (Stephens) Alexander, who were the parents of 11 chil- dren, of whom Peter S. is the only survivor.
Alfred Anderson Alexander was born in Woodford County, Ky., in 1800, and came with his parents to Missouri in 1806. He was reared in Cole County, and later moved to Cooper County, where he followed farm- ing throughout his life. He died in 1876. He was a son of James and Betsy (Ashcraft) Alexander, natives of Kentucky. Alpha Ann Stephens, mother of Peter S. Alexander, was born in Palestine township, Cooper County, in 1804, and died in about 1877.
Peter S. Alexander was reared on a farm in Cooper County, and edu- cated in the schools of the times. In 1866 he came to Jackson County and purchased 400 acres of land and later added more acreage to his holdings. He paid $22.50 per acre for his first purchase. However, when he came here he could have bought an 80 at $8.00 per acre. Since coming to Jack- son County he has followed farming and stock raising and has met with well merited success. During the Civil War Mr. Alexander served in the Confederate Army for a short time, but was captured by the Federals
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and held as a prisoner at Sedalia with his father for three or four weeks, which practically ended his military career.
Nov. 27, 1862, Mr. Alexander was united in marriage with Miss Sal- lie Chinn, a native of Cooper County, born June 2, 1844. She is a daugh- ter of Henry and Sallie (Jones) Chinn, the former a native of Virginia, and the latter of Cooper County, Mo. To Mr. and Mrs. Alexander have been born six children, as follows: Virginia, married Charles F. Porter, Salt Lake City, Utah; Thomas J., Bronson, Mo .; Alpha, married M. Trun- dle, Lees Summit; Laura L., married William Shawhan, Pleasant Hill; Frasier, Lone Jack, and Georgia, married John French, and now lives in Mexico City, Mexico.
Mr. Alexander is a Democrat and a member of the Christian church, and held membership in the Masonic lodge at Lone Jack, Mo.
Harvey H. Gentry, a well known farmer and dairyman of Van Buren township, who has also won a wide reputation as a successful stock breeder, was born in Stanford, Ky., July 3, 1859. He is the son of Valen- tine W. and Susan A. (Engleman) Gentry, who were the parents of seven children.
Valentine W. Gentry was born in Kentucky, and spent his life in his native State, where he died in 1884. He was a son of Richard and Nancy (Guthrie) Gentry, natives of Virginia. Richard Gentry was a Revolutionary soldier, and served under Washington. He was at the Battle of Yorktown and witnessed the surrender of the British troops by Lord Cornwallis. He was the father of 20 children.
In 1884, Harvey H. Gentry came to Jackson County and entered the employ of W. S. Woods, at Kansas City, Mo. He resided in Kansas City for 18 years. He then purchased 27 acres of land at Englewood, and five years later bought 140 acres northeast of Independence. He was engaged in farming and stock raising on this place until 1918, when he purchased his present place of 153 acres in Van Buren township, which was known as the George Shawhan place. This is one of the historic places in Jack- son County, and for many years was the home of Shawhan distillery. There are five springs on the place, from eight to ten feet deep, which afford an excellent quality of water, which no doubt is the reason that this place was selected as a desirable site for a distillery. Mr. Gentry, in addition to his general farming and dairying business, is devoting a great deal of attention to breeding pure-bred livestock, which includes Holstein cattle and Duroc Jersey hogs. Possessing the traditional traits of a true
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Kentuckian, Mr. Gentry is a great lover of fine horses, being partial to saddle horses.
Mr. Gentry was married in 1888 to Miss Nettie Bloom, who was born and reared at Mt. Vernon, Ohio. To Mr. and Mrs. Gentry have been born the following children: Harvey, Susanna Catherine and Andrew E., all of whom are residing at home with their parents. Two children died in infancy.
Mr. Gentry is a Democrat and is a member of the Christian church.
Samuel J. Moore, a successful and well known farmer and stockman, of Van Buren township, is a native of North Carolina. He was born in Sayre County, April 22, 1862. He is a son of John and Sallie (Howard) Moore, and is one of 11 children born to them, three of whom are now living. The father died in North Carolina, and in 1867, the mother came to Missouri from that State with her family and settled in Johnson Coun- ty. Here she reared her family under adverse circumstances, and with small means. However, by a constant struggle, good management and a determination to win, she kept her family together during those trying times, and finally had the satisfaction of living to see all of her surviving children prosperous and doing well in the world of affairs. She died about 1900, at the age of 76. She was a devout member of the Methodist Church South.
Samuel J. Moore, from early boyhood, assisted his mother on the home place, and later worked in a tobacco factory at Lone Jack for six years. In 1888, he engaged in the mercantile business at Fulkerson, John- son County, and was also postmaster at that place for 11 years. He then traded his mercantile business for the farm which he now owns, in Van Buren township. He has made many improvements on this place, and it is one of the valuable farms of the county. His farming operations are conducted according to modern methods, with modern machinery. In 1914, he moved to Warrensburg, and remained there while his daughter, Ruth, was a student in the State Normal School; in 1917, he returned to his farm, where he has since resided.
Mr. Moore was united in marriage on Jan. 22, 1884, in Adams County, Il ¿. , with Miss Christina Peacock, a native of Illinois, and to this union five children have been born, Ruth, the only one living, is a graduate from the Warrensburg School of Music, where she specialized, and is now resid- ing at home with her parents.
Mr. Moore is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and the Central Protective Association. He has been a member of this as-
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sociation for 25 years, and has served as its secretary and treasurer. He is a Democrat and a member of the Methodist Church South. He is a progressive and well informed citizen, and has met with success in his undertaking.
Frasier McVein Alexander, son of Peter Stephens Alexander, is the owner of the historic old Noah Hunt farm in Van Buren township, near Lone Jack. Mr. Alexander is the owner of 244 acres of land and is exten- sively engaged in the dairy business. He was born Feb. 25, 1880, south- west of Lone Jack, in Van Buren township. He was educated in the Wentworth Military School, at Lexington, Mo., and upon leaving school he engaged in the stock business, and for the past 20 years has been in that business. He has bought and sold mules extensively.
Dec. 10, 1913, Frasier M. Alexander was married to Mary Bell Boggs, a native of Prairie township, Jackson County, born Feb. 10, 1884. She is a daughter of John F. and Mary (Carlew) Boggs, natives of Jackson County. John F. Boggs is a son of John O. and Bethany (Shepherd; Boggs, natives of Kentucky, who came to Missouri at a very early day and settled in Jackson County. Mrs. Alexander's mother died at Lone Jack, and her father now resides at Pleasant Hill. To Mr. and Mrs. Alexander have been born two children, Thelma and Jack.
Zachariah W. Yankee, the owner of a valuable farm of 240 acres, is one of the progressive farmers and stockmen of Van Buren township, and for the last four years has been a successful breeder of Hereford cattle and Hampshire hogs. Mr. Yankee is a native of Jackson County, and a descendant of one of the pioneer families of this section of the State. He was born in Van Buren township, Oct. 19, 1857, and is the son of David and Orlena (Beeler) Yankee, and is the third in order of birth of a family of ten children born to them.
David Yankee was a native of Kentucky, born in 1827. He was the son of Sam and Amelia Yankee, who were also natives of Kentucky, and among the very early settlers of this county. They came here with their family in 1830, and spent the remainder of their lives in Jackson County. David Yankee died in 1872, and his widow now resides with her daugh- ters in Van Buren township, and is 88 years old. She was born in Ten- nessee, and was brought to Jackson County by her parents when she was two years old, in 1833.
Zachariah W. Yankee spent his boyhood days on the home farm, and attended the district school. He has followed farming and stock raising all his life, and in 1899 bought his present place. He has made improve-
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ments, and has one of the valuable farms of Jackson County. Four years ago he began breeding pure-bred Hereford cattle and Hampshire hogs, . and has met with success in this department of animal husbandry.
Dec. 12, 1889, Mr. Yankee was united in marriage with Miss Annie Ragsdale, a native. of Jackson County, born April 12, 1866. She is a daughter of Dr. Edward Ragsdale. To Mr. and Mrs. Yankee has been born three children, as follows: Vernie E., Archie E., and Lula E., all of whom reside at home with their parents. Mr. Yankee is a Democrat, and takes a commendable interest in public affairs.
James H. Douglas .- The late James H. Douglas was one of the early pioneers in this county, and one of the original forty-niners. Pio- neer, gold seeker, soldier in the Civil War, and lastly, a home builder in time of peace, which followed the Civil War, he builded well and wisely, and his name will always be an honored and respected one in the annals of this county.
James H. Douglas was born near Richmond, Ky., June 5, 1829, and died March 11, 1911, at his home in Jackson County. He was a son of Thomas Douglas, who came to Jackson County from Kentucky in $1835, and settled in Fort Osage township. He had a family of 14 children, of whom James H. was the seventh child in order of birth. J. H. Douglas made the trip to the gold fields of California in 1850, and remained for three years in the mining camps of the Pacific coast, returning in 1853. He served three years in the Confederate Army during the Civil War, under Generals Shelby and Marmaduke. He was captured near West Plains, Mo., after a battle which occurred in Howell County, Mo., but was later exchanged, in July, 1863, having been held a prisoner from January until July. He took part in the Battle of Kenesaw Mountain, under Gen. Joseph E. Johnston, in June, 1864, and was wounded in the right eye. He received an honorable discharge from the service on account of his dis- ability, and returned home. In 1865 he began farming, and became the owner of 247 acres of land in Fort Osage township, which he improved.
Mr. Douglas was married Sept. 4, 1859, to Miss Henrietta Dickson, a daughter of Ebenezer Dickson, a pioneer of Jackson County. Mrs. Doug- las died Sept. 13, 1879, leaving children as follow: Mary, wife of Charles Marsh, Missoula, Mont .; Thomas went to California in 1888, and for sev- eral years has not been heard from; Hattie, wife of H. Truitt, of Inde- pendence; Myra, died in 1914; Ebenezer was last heard from in British Columbia, in 1899; Myrtle, wife of C. M. Winfrey, Fort Osage township;
JAMES H. DOUGLAS.
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James Oliver, born Feb. 28, 1877, resides with his brother on the old home place of the family, and is chief cook and housekeeper, and a good one.
The Douglas home is kept looking as neat as can be, and the two brothers, Walter and James Oliver, enjoy their comforts and live well sat- isfied with their bachelor existence. They are owners of the Douglas farm of 285 acres, land which was entered from the government by their grandfather over 80 years ago. They are progressive and enterprising citizens, and Walter Douglas is a director of the Farmers Bank of Buckner.
James H. Douglas was a member of the Church of Christ, and was a Free Mason. He was one of the best known men of Fort Osage town- ship, and was well and highly respected for his many excellent qualities.
John Blackwell, who is prominently identified with the agricultural interest of Jackson County, and the owner of a well improved farm in Van Buren township, is a native of North Carolina. He was born in Yad- kin County, April 9, 1876, and is the son of James F. and Nannie (Keir- sey) Blackwell, and was the only child born to his parents. James F. Blackwell was born in North Carolina, March 31, 1846, and now resides at Odessa, Mo. Nannie Keirsey Blackwell was also a native of North Caro- lina, and came to Jackson County with her parents, who were early settlers here, and entered land from the government. Mrs. Blackwell died in 1901, at the age of 53 years, and Mr. Blackwell afterwards married Mrs. Mary Daniels Whitsitt.
John Blackwell was reared to manhood at Odessa, Mo., and received his education in the public schools there. He began life as a clerk in a drygoods and a furnishing goods store at Odessa, and was thus engaged for 12 years. He settled in Odessa with his parents, who came from Northa Carolina when he was about eight years old, and he has spent his life in Missouri since that time, with the exception of three years spent in Texas. For a time he operated rented land in Lafayette County, rent- ing from his father. In 1915, he purchased his present place in Van Buren township, and has since made extensive improvements. He owns 120 acres of land, and in addition to his general farming and stock rais- ing he has recently engaged in breeding Shorthorn cattle and Chester White hogs.
Mr. Blackwell was married June 21, 1916, to Miss Ada Hunt, of Lone Jack. She is the youngest daughter of Noah Hunt, one of the very early pioneers of eastern Jackson County.
Noah Hunt was born in North Carolina Feb. 20, 1831, and died in Jackson County in 1909. He was one of 13 children born to his parents,
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and the sixth in order of birth. He came to Missouri from North Caro- lina with his parents, in 1842, when he was about 11 years old. The fam- ily first settled at Warrensburg, and about a year later the father pur- chased land in Jackson County, near Sni Mills, and moved there with his family.
Noah Hunt remained on his father's farm, and attended the subscrip- tion school, until 1849, when his father built a horse-power grist mill on Sni Creek. This was the origin of Sni Mills. Noah Hunt took charge of this mill. In 1856 corn burrs were installed in this tread mill, and in 1859 the horse-power was replaced by a steam power. In 1861 the mill was burned by soldiers. Noah Hunt also operated a wool carding machine near Lone Jack, which he continued to operate until about the close of the Civil War. In 1888 he installed a four-roller mill system in his mill, and at that time he was operating under the name of "Noah Hunt and Son, Roller Mill." In 1896 the Noah Hunt machinery was moved to Pleas- ant Hill, where his sons continued to operate.
Noah Hunt was twice married. Aug. 28, 1851, he was married to Miss Mary E. Cave, of near Lone Jack. Twelve children were born to this union, seven of whom are living. The wife and mother died March 7, 1879. Sept. 13, 1880, Noah Hunt was married to Mrs. Mary E. Travis, widow of Dr. J. R. Travis.
Mr. and Mrs. Blackwell have no chilldren. Mr. Blackwell is a Demo- crat, and is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias Lodge at Odessa, Mo.
Luther Rowland, of Van Buren township, has won a wide reputation in this section of Missouri as a successful breeder of jacks and jennies, a business in which he has been engaged for a number of years. Mr. Row- land was born in Van Buren township, Jackson County, about two miles east of Lone Jack, May 7, 1866. He is a son of Buford M. and Nancy (Yankee) Rowland, who were the parents of 13 children, 11 of whom grew to maturity. Luther was the ninth in order of birth, and they were all born in Jackson County, excepting L. L., who was born in Carroll County, where the family lived when Order No. 11 was in effect, during the Civil War.
Buford Rowland was born in Bourbon County, Ky., and came to Mis- souri, locating near Lone Jack, at a very early day. He died here at the advanced age of 83 years, and his widow now lives at Lone Jack, and is in her 89th year.
Luther Rowland spent his boyhood days on the home farm near Lone Jack, and attended the district school. He has been engaged in farming
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and stock raising for himself since he was 21 years old. He has always been interested in mules, and for the past 25 years has given special at- tention to breeding jacks and jennies. He has sold jacks and jennies over a broad scope of territory, including Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma, and has received some very fancy prices for his stock. He recently sold a five-year-old jack for $950.
Mr. Rowland was married March 31, 1896, to Miss Della Graham, a native of Jackson County, born in Van Buren township. She is a daugh- ter of Ambrose and Sarah (Stultz) Graham, both natives of Missouri. Mr. Graham was an extensive breeder of jacks and jennies, and it was he who gave Mr. Rowland his first start in that industry. Mr. and Mrs. Rowland have no children.
Mr. Rowland is a Democrat and a member of the Presbyterian church. He holds membership in the Modern Woodmen of America, and is one of the progressive citizens of Jackson County.
Hugh McClure Shepherd, who for many years was actively engaged in farming and stock raising in Van Buren township, and is the owner of 320 acres of land, has been a resident of Jackson County practically since the Civil War. He was born in Paint township, Madison County, Ohio, Aug. 1, 1836, and is a son of John B. and Keziah (McClure) Shepherd.
John Shepherd was a native of Virginia, born near Harper's Ferry, in October, 1800, and died in London, Ohio, Jan. 15, 1853. He was a farmer, and spent his entire life in Ohio, and at the time of his death was the owner of 350 acres of land. His grandfather was a paymaster in the British army. Keziah McClure, the mother of Hugh M. Shepherd, was born in Philadelphia, Pa., in October, 1805, and died in Ohio about 1886. She was a daughter of Hugh McClure, who was of Scotch descent. He was a government surveyor in Ohio.
Hugh M. Shepherd received his early education in an old log schoor house, typical of the times, in Madison County, Ohio. During the Civil War he served as captain of the State Militia in Ohio, and after the war he came to Missouri and settled in Jackson County, about six miles east of Lees Summit. He has owned two or three different farms in this county, owning at one time 500 acres of land. In 1883 he bought his pres- ent farm of 320 acres, upon which he has made extensive improvements, and since that time has made his home here, and has successfully carried on farming and stock raising.
Mr. Shepherd was married Oct. 23, 1865, to Miss Nancy (Fenni- more) Beers, a native of Indiana, born in October, 1844, and died June 15,
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1899. She was a daughter of James and Hanna E. (Littleton) Beers. James Beers was a native of Ohio, and was engaged in the mercantile busi- ness practically all his life. His wife was a native of Virginia. Mrs. Shepherd was a talented woman and highly educated. She was a grad- uate of the Woman's College at Xenia, Ohio. She was a member of the Presbyterian Church, and lived a consistent Christian life, and made the world better for having lived in it. To Hugh M. Shepherd and wife were born five children, as follows: Hallie, who died at five years of age; Stella, married Alonzo Warren, 1836 East Seventy-ninth street, Kansas City, Mo .; James F., employed in the Trust Company Bank, at Independ- ence; Hugh, a graduate of the Harvard Law School, and now a practicing attorney at Detroit, Mich., and Albert, who died in 1915; his widow now resides at Waverly, Kan.
Mr. Shepherd is a Democrat. During his entire life he has been a great reader and is especially a constant student of history, having read most of the standard works on history several times. He not only reads history, but studies it.
Nicholas Amos, a substantial farmer and stockman, of Van Buren township, is one of the few pioneers of Jackson County who is still active- ly engaged in the very-day business affairs of life. Mr. Amos is a native of Kentucky. He was born in Bourbon County, Oct. 14, 1838, and is a son of Abraham and Julia (Matheny) Amos, who were the parents of three children, two of whom are now living, the subject of this sketch and Mrs. Sarah Kennedy, who also resides in Van Buren township.
Abraham Amos was born in Bourbon County, Ky., and came to Jack- son County with his family, in 1855. And at that time purchased the farm where Nicholas now resides. The first house built in Van Buren township was erected upon this place. It was a log cabin. When the Amos family came to Missouri they came from Louisville, Ky., to St. Louis, by boat, and from there by boat up the Missouri River as far as Roachport. The name of the boat on which they made the trip from St. Louis up the Missouri was the "David Tatum." From Roachport they drove to Jackson County with teams. Abraham Amos was a slave holder and when the Civil War broke out and when Order No. 11 was issued, he was forced to leave Jackson County until after the war. Julia Matheny Amos, mother of Nicholas Amos, was born in Bourbon County, Ky., in 1810, and died in 1888. Abraham Amos also died in 1888, at the age of 78 years.
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Nicholas Amos came to Jackson County with his parents in 1855. He was then about 17 years of age, and since that time he has made his home here, excepting for a period of 14 years, when he was engaged in the mercantile business at Pleasant Hill, and during the Civil War. When the war broke out he enlisted in Colonel Irvin's company, First regiment, Mis- souri infantry. He took part in a number of important engagements, in- cluding Cowskin, Wilson Creek, and the Battle of Lexington, and during his military career he was taken prisoner twice. After the war he re- turned to his farm, and has lived there ever since, excepting the time above mentioned when he was in Pleasant Hill. He is the owner of 210 acres of land, and has made a success of farming and stock raising.
Dec. 13, 1877, Mr. Amos was married to Miss Mary P. Davis, a native of Henry County, Mo. She is a daughter of John and Sarah (Kersey) Davis, and is the second in order of birth of four children born to them. She has a brother, Dury Davis, who now resides in Van Buren township. John Davis was born in Virginia, Sept. 5, 1815, and died in Jackson Coun- ty, in September, 1866. Upon coming to Missouri he first settled in Henry County. When gold was discovered in California, in 1849, he crossed the plains to the Pacific coast, but shortly afterwards returned to Missouri. His wife was born March 25, 1827, and died Oct. 9, 1906.
To Nicholas Amos and wife have been born two children: Granville, who married Katie Keys, and one daughter has been born to them, Gran- ville, who is now attending school at Pleasant Hill. Bessie, who married Harold Gerard, of Manhattan, Kan., and they have two daughters, Helen and June.
During the 65 years that Mr. Amos has lived in Missouri he has wit- nessed many events and much progress. He passed through the Kansas Border War. He saw the great rush of immigrants across the country, and recalls one instance where a party with over 100 wagons were camped near a spring on his place. He is reckoned among the old time settlers, and says that he recalls but one man that was here when he came, and he is now residing at Pleasant Hill. In the early days he got much recreation out of hunting; he has shot many prairie chickens and wild turkey and killed the first wild deer that he ever saw; his father killed the last deer that was killed on Big Creek, in Cass County.
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