USA > Missouri > Jackson County > History of Jackson County, Missouri > Part 59
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There is an old apple tree standing on the Amos place that is of more than ordinary historic interest. It is said to be the largest apple tree in the United States, and is over 100 years old, and is known to have borne fruit since 1837.
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Oliver Thompson, a progressive farmer, of Van Buren township, and the owner of a valuable farm of 80 acres, is a well known breeder of Jer- sey cattle and draft horses, and for a number of years has been engaged in the dairying business. He was born in Van Buren township, Jan. 13, 1879, and is the son of William and Elizabeth (Simmons) Thompson. They were the parents of 16 children, ten of whom are now living, as follows: Mrs. Virginia Bynum; Thomas H., Odessa, Mo .; William A., lives on the old home place in Van Buren township; Alice, married C. B. Kennedy, Van Buren township; Minnie F., married John Cummings, is now a widow, and resides in Oklahoma; Charles L., lives in Henry County ; Oliver, the subject of this sketch; Oscar, a twin brother of Oliver, lives in Wyoming; Maud, married Cliff Tyson, Monroe County, Mo., and George D., Barton County, Mo.
William Thompson was born in Carroll County, Va., June 21, 1837, and died in Jackson County, Sept. 1, 1919. He came to Missouri at an early day and followed farming and stock raising all his life, and at the time of his death he owned 255 acres of land in Van Buren township. During his active career he raised a great many high-grade draft horses, and some of the largest horses that ever left Jackson County were raised by him. During the Civil War he served in the Confederate Army. He was at the Battle of Lone Jack with Gen. Joe Shelby's command, and dur- ing that engagement looked after the horses. He was a member of the Baptist church. Elizabeth Simmons Thompson, mother of Oliver Thomp- son, was born in Jackson County, July 5, 1841. She was a daughter of Thomas S. and Ann (Mackelhaney) Simmons, natives of Midway, Ky.
Oliver Thompson was reared on his father's farm in Van Buren township, and educated in the district schools. He operated rented land for a number of years, and in 1911 purchased his present place of 80 acres, where he has continued general farming and stock raising, and has met with success.
Mr. Thompson was married in May, 1906, to Miss May L. Lightfoot, who was born in Pendleton County, Ky., Oct. 26, 1880. She is a daughter of John and Mary Louisa (Colvin) Lightfoot. To Mr. and Mrs. Thompson have been born six children, as follows: Mary Elizabeth, John W., Paul L., Oliver, Jr., James E. and Georgia Francis.
Mr. Thompson is a Democrat and belongs to the Baptist church. He holds membership in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Mod- ern Woodmen of America. He is one of Jackson County's representa- tive citizens, and has met with well merited success.
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James H. Wilson, now deceased, was for many years engaged in the distilling business at Lone Jack, Mo. He was an expert distiller, and in 1874 came from Kentucky to Jackson County and took charge of the Shawhan Distillery, at Lone Jack.
Mr. Wilson was a native of Kentucky, born at Shawhand, Bourbon County, April 28, 1838. He was married in 1873 to Miss Malissa Leonard, who was also a native of Kentucky, born near Paris, Bourbon County, April 13, 1854. She now resides at Lone Jack. To James H. Wilson and wife were born five children: Maud E., was born in Lone Jack, Mo., and for 13 years was employed as a clerk in a general store, and in 1907 she engaged in the general mercantile business at Lone Jack, where she has also been postmistress since 1905. She has built up a very satisfactory mercantile business in that vicinity, and by her efficiency and courteous manner, she has given general satisfaction, as well as good mail service to the patrons of the Lone Jack postoffice.
Of the other three children of the Wilson family, Wade H. resides at Lone Jack; Earl, resides in Chicago, and is in the employ of the Pullman Company as a barber. Bessie, is the wife of M. C. McKay, Kansas City, Mo., and Julia, married C. H. Brotherson, and lives at Hardin, Mont.
Miss Maud Wilson is a member of the Royal Neighbors. She has an extensive acquaintance, and many friends in Lone Jack and vicinity.
Frank Neininger is the owner of 120 acres of valuable land in Van Buren township, which he is now operating. Although Mr. Neininger has been engaged in agricultural pursuits but a short time, he has been iden- tified with Jackson County, as a resident of Kansas City, for a number of years.
Frank Neininger is a native of Ohio. He was born at Bridgeport. March 20, 1867. His parents were Lawrence and Agnes (Blessing) Nein- inger, and Frank was one of seven children born to them, five of whom are now living. Lawrence and Agnes Blessing Neininger were both na- tives of Germany, and shortly after their marriage in their native land they came to America, and settled in what is now West Virginia. Later they moved to Ohio, where the father worked at the vocation of station- ery engineer, and spent the remainder of his life in Ohio, where he and his wife died.
Frank Neininger received his education in the public schools in Ohio, and after leaving school served an apprenticeship at the glass blower's trade in the LaBelle Glass Factory. And for 25 years he worked as a journeyman glass blower ,in various parts of the United States and Can-
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ada. He worked at his trade in the East Bottoms of Kansas City in 1902, and later engaged in the hotel and liquor business in the East Bottoms, and successfully conducted that business until July, 1919, when he moved to his present place in Van Buren township.
July 3, 1889, Frank Neininger was united in marriage with Miss Etta Ball, a native of Lone Jack, Mo. She is a daughter of Joseph S. and Ellen (Hink) Ball. Joseph S. Ball was a member of the very early pioneer families of Jackson County. He was a native of Illinois, and was brought to Jackson County by his parents when he was about one year old, in 1844. They settled at Lone Jack. He was a son of William and Sarah (Jackson) Ball, who were the parents of 12 children, of whom Jo- seph S. was the third in order of birth. He was reared to manhood and edu- cated in the vicinity of Lone Jack, and was engaged in farming during his lifetime. He died Sept. 10, 1917, at the age of 74 years. His wife was a native of Missouri, born in Vernon County, Aug. 1, 1858, and now resides at Lone Jack. Joseph S. and Ellen (Hink) Ball were the parents of one child, Etta, who is now the wife of Frank Neininger, the subject of this sketch. Mr. and Mrs. Neininger have no children.
Mr. Neininger is a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles and is a Democrat.
Eli Mershon, Civil War veteran, retired resident of Buckner, Mo., was born in Carroll County, Ind., Nov. 5, 1839. When this fine, old gentle- man was 80 years old, and his children were gathered at his home in Buckner to celebrate the eightieth anniversary of his birth, a touch of romance was added to the event by Mr. Mershon flying in a modern air- plane. The event brings reminiscences covering over 80 years of develop- ment in transportation which Mr. Mershon has witnessed. He has ridden in every known conveyance during his life time, the ox-wagon of pioneer days, succeeded by the wagon drawn by horses; the next change being the horse and carriage, then the automobile, and he has lived to witness one of his dreams come true-that of flying through the air at a speed of nearly one mile per minute.
Jared Brush Mershon, born Jan. 28, 1837, died March 7, 1864, father of Eli Mershon, was a native of Erie County, Pa. He was a son of John Mershon, who settled in the wildnerness on the shores of Lake Erie soon after the Revolution. He was a son of Aaron Mershon, who was a soldier in the Revolution, and gave his life to the cause of American independ- ence at the Battle of Long Island.
The Mershons are descended from the Huguenots, and the ancestor
1
ELI MERSHON.
MRS. MARY ELIZABETH MERSHON.
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of the family fled to America in 1685 to escape religious persecution in France. The religious feeling which pervaded his descendants is exem- plified by the action of the widow of the Revolutionary soldier when a band of British soldiers burned her home on Long Island. She with her seven children were left without a roof over their heads in the dead of winter. Instead of weeping and wailing, as any other woman would have done in like circumstances, she calmly walked to the nearby woods, brushed the snow from a fallen log, sat down and sang a religious hymn.
Jared Brush Mershon, father of Eli Mershon, was married in Indiana to Rebecca Forbes, who was a daughter of William Forbes, who served in the War of 1812, as a volunteer soldier in a force raised to prevent the Indians from the North and Canada from effecting a union with the forces of Chief Tecumseh.
Jared Brush Mershon was a son of John Mershon, who was born Aug. 22, 1773, and died in 1857. He married Bathsheba Brush, of Pitts- burg, Pa., who was born Sept. 17, 1774, and died June 6, 1817. They were married on Nov. 16, 1799.
John Mershon was a son of Aaron Mershon, who was born near Princeton, N. J., in 1740, and died Aug. 27, 1776, on Long Island. His wife was Mary Gapin.
Aaron Mershon was a son of Peter Mershon, wife Jane, who died in June, 1747.
Peter Mershon was a son of Henry Mershon, born in Normandy, France, in 1662, and died in America, Sept. 20, 1738. He immigrated to America in 1685.
Aaron Mershon served in Capt. Benjamin Vancleve's Company, in the New Jersey Militia, under Brigadier-General Nathaniel Green, in Greene's division of the Continental army. He enlisted on June 14, 1776, and was killed at the Battle of Long Island, June 14, 1776.
Jared Brush Mershon moved from Pennsylvania to Indiana, and there married Rebecca Forbes, born 1814, died May 12, 1887, a daughter of William J. Forbes, who had settled in Fountain County, Ind. In early manhood Jared Brush Mershon had become a Methodist preacher, and he became a circuit rider in the then sparsely settled country of Indiana. Rev. Mershon's circuit embraced three congressional districts, formerly the Pottawatomie Indian Reservation. It required three months for him to make the rounds of his circuit, and he was wont to hold meetings in the woods and the cabins of the settlers. Rev. Mershon rode horseback to round up his charges, and during his career he organized many Methodist
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churches. He remained in the ministry until his death, in 1864. He reared a family of eight children, only two of whom are living: Eli, of this review, and Quinn, living in Wyoming.
Eli Mershon was educated in the public schools and private acad- emies at Sugar Grove and Thorntown, Ind. He responded to the call of President Lincoln for volunteers in 1861, and enlisted for three months in the Tenth Indiana regiment, 36 hours after the President had called for troops. He had been teaching school, and abandoned the book and rod for the army rifle. Forty-eight hours after the first call he was in Camp Morton in training. Twice the quota called for responded, and half of the willing embryo soldiers were sent home. The rough element who made up the command which he had joined not being to his liking, and the hard- ships he had to undergo being too severe for a not over strong constitu- tion, Mr. Mershon went home at the expiration of his first enlistment, and remained there for 11 months. He then re-enlisted with the Fourth Indiana cavalry, and served with this regiment until his health failed, in 1863, and he received his honorable discharge. He saw active service in Kentucky and Tennessee, and fought at the Battle of Rich Mountain. During his last service in the advance from Triune, Tenn., which was be- gun on June 23, 1863, the fighting was constant, while the Federal Army were pursuing General Bragg's forces. Prior to this he had been on de- tached army duty in northern Kentucky, and was stationed at Mump- fordville, with infantry scouts, and in guarding the Green River bridge.
Mr. Mershon returned home in 1863, married, and went to Illinois, where he taught school during the winter. He then spent two years (1864-1865) on the Neosho River, near the site of Emporia, Kan., and came to Jackson County in November, 1865. Here he met his wife's people, and settled in Fort Osage township. He first lived on a farm purchased by his mother-in-law, and later made his first purchase of 160 acres on the Lexington road. Mrs. Mershon inherited 240 acres from her mother's estate. Mr. Mershon improved the land, and when it came time for his retirement, in 1897, he gave each of his two sons 100 acres of land, with which to begin operations on their own account. Both have succeeded and are large land owners and extensive cattle raisers.
Dec. 19, 1863, Mr. Mershon was married to Mary Elizabeth Thomas, who was born July 6, 1844, in Montgomery County, Ind., a daughter of Philip B. and Delilah J. Thomas, the former of whom died in Indiana, after he had made preparations to locate in Missouri. The widow and son, George A. Thomas, came west, and settled in Jackson County, in
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1865. Five children were born to Eli and Mary Elizabeth Mershon, as follow: Maude, wife of Thomas J. Hedrick, Buckner, Mo., a sketch of whom is given in this volume; Zoe, wife of Chase Henthorne, Buckner, Mo .; Thomas Ward, a prosperous farmer in Fort Osage township; Mrs. Jennie R. Hilt, a widow, living in Buckner, is a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution; Emory, a successful farmer and stockman.
Mr. Mershon is a Republican, who votes independently. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Well read, an interesting conversationalist, despite his age, taking a keen interest in every day affairs, Eli Mershon is one of the most interesting and lovable pioneer citizens of Jackson County.
Noel E. Jackson, now living retired at Independence, is one of the veteran pioneer Shorthorn breeders of Jackson County, and during his active career was prominently identified with the agricultural interest of this section of Missouri. He is now the owner of 160 acres of productive farm land in Jackson County, which one of his sons is operating, and he also owns 120 acres in St. Clair County.
Noel E. Jackson is a native of North Carolina. He was born in Wake County, Feb. 27, 1855, and reared in Davidson County of that State to the age of 13 years, when he came to Missouri with his parents, and since that time Jackson County has been his home. He is a son of Rev. James B. and Helen (Knight) Jackson, both natives of North Carolina. Rev. James B. Jackson was a minister of the Baptist denomination for 60 years of his life. He was a college graduate, educated at Wake Forest, N. C. He came to Jackson County in 1868, and settled in Van Buren township, where he was engaged in farming, although he continued to preach the gospel. He retired several years before his death, and resided at Independence, Mo. He died in 1904, at the age of 82 years. His wife died in 1905, at the age of 72 years. They are the parents of six children, of whom Noel E., the subject of this sketch, was the second in order of birth. 1
Noel E. Jackson was 13 years of age when his parents settled in Van Buren township. Here he attended the schools of the neighborhood and assisted with the duties on the home farm. He became familiar with the details of farm life and stock raising early in life, and in the course of time began his independent career as a farmer and stockman. He be- came a breeder of Shorthorn cattle long before this department of animal husbandry had attained anything like its present recognition, and for 35 years he was one of the leading breeders in Jackson County, and during
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the course of that time he always found a ready market for his cattle. He has shipped stock for breeding purposes all over the West. He was not only a successful breeder, but successful in his general farming opera- tions. He was also interested in other fields of enterprise, and was one of the organizers of the Citizens Bank of Lees Summit, and is still a stock- holder in that substantial institution.
Mr. Jackson was united in marriage Oct. 17, 1875, with Miss Fannie Duncan, a native of Kentucky, born in August, 1855, and died in Jackson County, in 1909. To Mr. and Mrs. Jackson were born two sons, James D., residing near Cockrel, Van Buren township, and Ernest, who is operating the home place. He was born July 6, 1879, and was educated in the public schools and William Jewell College. He was married Oct. 12, 1909, and has one son, Julian Henry, who bears the distinction of being the youngest Shorthorn breeder on the books of the Shorthorn Breeders' Association.
Noel E. Jackson is a member of the Baptist church, and is a Demo- crat. He is one of the substantial citizens of Jackson County, and during his career, which has been a successful one, he has done as much, or more, to raise the standard of livestock as any other man in this county. He is well known in Jackson County and highly regarded.
June 5, 1916, he was married the second time to Mrs. Mary L. Par- ker, a native of Jackson County, Mo. No children have been born to. this union.
John E. Round, a progressive farmer and stockman, of Van Buren township, is a well known and successful breeder of Spotted Poland China hogs. Although a native of Illinois, he has spent over a half century of his life in Jackson County. Mr. Round was born in Starke County, Ill., Nov. 25, 1856. He is a son of Wilson D. and Mary Jane (Reed) Round, who were the parents of eight children, five of whom are living, John E. being the eldest of the family.
Wilson D. Round was born in Indiana, Aug. 10, 1833. He resided in Illinois when the Civil War broke out and enlisted in the Union army. Most of his time in the service was spent in guarding prisoners at the military prison at Chicago. He came to Jackson County in 1868 or 1869 and settled on a farm in Van Buren township and lived in this county for a number of years and now resides at Oak Grove, Mo. His wife was a native of Ohio and is now 81 years of age.
John E. Round was reared and educated in Jackson County and has always been engaged in farming and stock raising. In 1880 he purchased the farm which he now owns in Van Buren township. It is a well im-
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proved place of 117 acres and one of the valuable farms of that section of Jackson County.
Mr. Round was married March 11, 1882, to Miss Mary E. Cave, a native of Jackson County, born in Van Buren township, March 3, 1861. She is a daughter of William and Nancy (Spainhour) Cave, both natives of North Carolina and very early settlers in Jackson County.
To John E. and Mary E. (Cave) Round have been born five children as follows: Pearl, married Roy Thomas and is deceased ; Iva, married Lee Ragsdale, Van Buren township; Ethel, married John Marshall near Olathe, Kan .; Elvin, who is engaged in the mercantile business at Lone Jack, Mo., and Roy, deceased.
Mr. Round is a Democrat and takes a commendable interest in political affairs as well as other matters of public concern. He has served as constable of Van Buren township for three terms and has been road over- .seer. He is a member of the Christian church and holds membership in the Modern Woodman of America.
Edward P. Mulligan, a successful farmer and stockman of Prairie township and vice-president of the Farmers Bank of Lees Summit, is the owner of 135 acres of valuable land on the Jefferson highway, about two and one-half miles south of Lees Summit.
Mr. Mulligan was born in Belleville, Ill., Aug. 25, 1872. He is the son of Thomas J. and Mary A. Carroll Mulligan, who are the parents of nine children, five of whom grew to maturity, as follows: Agnes, Cass County, Mo .; Edward P., the subject of this sketch; James A., Prairie township; Ulmar J., Kansas City, and R. Gerald, Cass County.
Thomas J. Mulligan was a native of Illinois, born in Monroe County, May 16, 1835. He came to Missouri in 1881 and settled on a farm in Prairie township and became the owner of 220 acres of land. He was a highly respected citizen and became well to do. He was a member of the Catholic church and the establishment of St. Mary's church at Lees Sum- mit was largely due to his efforts and generosity. He died March 16, 1887.
Thomas J. Mulligan was a son of Patrick and Agnes (Tomlinon) Mulligan, the former a native of Ireland and the latter of England, and early settlers of Monroe County, Ill.
Mary A. Carroll Mulligan, mother of Edward P. was born in Madison County, Ill., Nov. 25, 1839, and died in Kansas City, in 1911. She was a daughter of Patrick and Mary (Gilmore) Carroll, both natives of Ireland.
Edward P. Mulligan was about nine years of age when the family
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settled in Jackson County. He attended the district schools and also the Lees Summit High School. He then took a course in Spaulding's Com- mercial College in Kansas City, where he graduated in 1895.
Mr. Mulligan has been a practical farmer and stockman since early life, and when he was 15 years of age took charge of the home farm for his mother and remained on the place until he was 30 years of age. He purchased his present farm in Prairie township in 1914. He has made extensive improvements and his is one of the valuable farms of that sec- tion. The farm residence is modern throughout and the other farm buildings on the place are in keeping with the residence.
Mr. Mulligan was united in marriage April 24, 1903 with Miss Luella Ervin, who was born in Prairie township, Jackson County. She is a daughter of J. H. and Isabelle (Flannery) Ervin, who were early settlers in Jackson County. . To Mr. and Mrs. Mulligan have been born two chil- dren, Gerald Edward, a student at St. Benedict's College, Atchison, Kan. and Mary Isabelle, at home with her parents.
Mr. Mulligan is a Democrat and a member of the Catholic church.
Clifford C. Hook, a well known and progressive citizen of Prairie town- ship is the owner of a splendid farm of 360 acres where he is engaged in the dairy business and he is also an extensive breeder of Holstein cattle. Mr. Hook is a native of Jackson County, born at Greenwood, March 23, 1865. He is a son of John and Luctria (Huston) Hook and is one of three children born to them as follows: Charles, Prairie township; Clifford C., the subject of this sketch, and William B., Denver, Col.
John Hook was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, in Oct., 1839. He learned the carpenter trade in early life and when the Civil War broke out he enlisted in the Union army. After the close of the war, 1865, he came to Missouri and first settled at Greenwood. A short time later he moved over the line into Cass County and purchased 80 acres of land for which he paid $8.00 per acre. He improved this place and remained on it about six years, when he returned to Jackson County and bought 240 acres in Prairie township. Here he built a small house and made other improve- ments and later erected a more commodious residence which was destroyed by fire. He was engaged in farming and stock raising here for a number of years and met with success. About 25 years ago he retired and he and his wife now reside at Long Beach, Cal. She is also a native of Cincin- nati, Ohio and was born in 1841.
Clifford C. Hook was educated in the district school and the State Normal School at Warrensburg. He was engaged in farming on the
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home place which he rented from his father until 1902. He then went to Chicago, where he was engaged in the jewelry business from 1902 until 1904, when he returned to Jackson County and operated the home farm for six years. He then went to Chicago and was engaged in the wholesale grocery business for a number of years, when he again returned to Jack- son County and bought the home place in Prairie township. He has made extensive improvements. The residence is modern in every particular and the other buildings and improvements about the place are of a sub- stantial character.
Mr. Hook was married Dec. 2, 1891, to Miss Alice Ware, a native of Jackson County and a daughter of A. M. and Jane (Clark) Ware, natives of Ohio. To Mr. and Mrs. Hook have been born three children, as fol- lows: Auther, resides at home with his parents; Ralph, married Ruby Swanson, a native of Jackson County and they reside on the hofne place and Gertrude, residing at home with her parents.
Mr. Hook is one of Jackson County's substantial citizens and his pro- gressive methods might well be followed by others with profit.
Jonathan Peelle, an enterprising and well to do farmer and stockman of Prairie township and the owner of 330 acres of land has been identified with various interests in Jackson County for nearly 40 years. He was born in Clinton County, Ohio, May 29, 1853 and is the son of Reuben and Emily (Wilson) Peelle, both natives of Ohio, who spent their lives in that state. The father was a farmer.
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