USA > Missouri > Jackson County > History of Jackson County, Missouri > Part 60
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77
Jonathan Peelle was reared on a farm in Ohio and educated in the public schools of that state. In 1881, he came to Missouri and settled on a farm of 380 acres, known as "High Grove Farm", Prairie township. He remained there until 1900, when he sold out and purchased his present farm which is a valuable and well improved place.
Mr. Peelle has been interested in other fields of industry outside the realm of agriculture. He was engaged in the cider and vinegar business at Lees Summit for 12 years during which time he served as mayor of Lees Summit two terms. He lived in Kansas City, Mo., from 1905 to 1910.
June 22, 1879, Jonathan R. Peelle was united in marriage at Wilm- ington, Ohio, with Miss Mary Elizabeth Bailey. She is a native of Guern- sey County, Ohio, and is a daughter of Jesse and Mary Jane (Talbott) Bailey, natives of Ohio. They came to Jackson County in 1866 and set- tled near Lees Summit where the father became owner of 320 acres of land. He died in 1905. To Mr. and Mrs. Peelle have been born five chil-
656
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY
dren: Elvin B., an electrician, married Fannie Marcham, of St. Joseph, Mo. and now resides on the home place; Harold M. married Frances Crow, of Topeka, Kan., and has four children, Jonathan W., Harold M., Jr., Alvin F. and Elmer E .; Frank H., married Evelyn Swearingen of Kansas City, and has two children; Elizabeth L. and Margaret E .; Ralph T., an elec- trician, resides in Omaha, Neb. and is unmarried, and Robert J., an elec- trician in the employ of the Union Pacific Railroad Company at Omaha, Neb., is unmarried.
Mr. Peelle is inclined to be independent in political matters and is a representative of a high type of American citizens. He is a Mason and a member of the Shrine.
John T. House .- Without doubt the oldest living native born pioneer of Brooking township, and one of the oldest in Jackson County, is John T. House, who has lived in the same neighborhood during his entire life, which has already exceeded four score years. Pioneer, veteran of the Civil War, owner of a fine farm of 147 acres, father of a fine family of sons and daughters, "Uncle Johnny," as he is affectionately known to his many friends, is an honored and well known figure in Jackson County. He was born Jan. 25, 1838, within sight and sound of his present home. He is a son of Eli and Irene (West) House, the latter a native of Indiana. Eli House was born in Kentucky, and was reared in Indiana. In 1827 he came west to Clay County, Mo., and lived there for nine years. In 1836 he came to Jackson County, and was here married to Irene West. He purchased land and improved his farm, and was prospering until the Civil War broke out. Eli House was killed during the Civil War by some of Jennison's men, because of his so-called Southern sympathies. He was the father of eight children, only three of whom are living: John T., the subject of this review; Mrs. Lucy Wilson, living two miles south; Mrs. Anna Burk, Joplin, Mo.
Soon after the outbreak of the Civil War, Mr. House enlisted in the cavalry organized in Jackson County, and fought at the Battle of Rock Creek. His commander was Dr. Smith. He served with the State guards at first, but later went into the regular Confederate service. He refused to go with Raines to Louisiana, and came back and joined Colonel Hayes' regiment. In the fall of 1863 he joined Quantrell's band-being induced to do so by the fact that Jennison's men had killed his father, burned the House home, and run off the livestock, leaving the family destitute. He stayed with Quantrell until the trouble came up with Todd, who was killed. He then volunteered and took part in the raid through north Mis-
£
JOHN T. HOUSE AND FAMILY.
657
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY
souri, being on the road for two weeks. His horse playing out, they wanted him to go to Bone Hill, but he could not do so. It was the plan of Quantrell's men to disband after committing a depredation, and then meet at a certain rendezvous. After this raid, Quantrell made his hiding place in Chariton County. The men of the company wanted House to go after Quantrell. He refused to do so, and had a falling out with his com- rades. He then joined Gen. Joe Shelby's command, and was with Shelby's men until their surrender at Shreveport, La.
July 1, 1865, he arrived home sick with rheumatism and neuralgia contracted in the South. When he recovered he hired out with a trans- port to take a quartz mill to a mining camp in Colorado. He remained in the mining region for two years, and then returned home to settle down to the peaceful pursuit of agriculture. Mr. House proceeded to develop his farm, built a home, which was later superceded by a commodious farm residence, and has risen to become a substantial and well respected citi- zen of the county.
Mr. House was married in 1886 to Miss Alice Moberly, who was born in Indiana, a daughter of William Moberly. Four children were born to this marriage, as follow: James Luther, John Elmer, and Homer R., who are operating the House farm; and Iva May, wife of Orlando Twiehaus, living one mile and a half northwest, who has one child, Evelyn. John Elmer married Lena Stricke, and has one child, Beulah. Homer R. mar- ried Hulday Alman. Luther House served in the National Army and was in training at Fort Dodge, Iowa, in 1918. He served on the western front in France until the armistice was declared.
Mr. House has been a life long Democrat. He is a member of the Baptist church, and is one of the fine, old pioneer characters of Jackson County. As Mr. House says of himself, "I am only a little over 80 years old." We agree with him and predict many more years for this aged and respected gentleman.
Lewis Bennett, a prominent farmer and stock breeder of Prairie town- ship, has been identified with the interests of Jackson County for 55 years and has contributed his part to the great growth and development of this section of the country during the last half century. Mr. Bennett is a native of Ohio, born at Zanesville, Nov. 7, 1848. He is a son of Uriah P. and Nancy (Harper) Bennett, and was the youngest of a family of four children born to them and the only one living.
The parents of Lewis Bennett were both natives of Virginia and are descendants of early settlers of Virginia in colonial times. Uriah P. Ben-
658
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY
nett was born in Virginia, May 19, 1814 and when a child two years of age he was brought to Muskingum County, Ohio, in 1816. He grew to manhood in Ohio and in 1840 married Nancy Harper at Charlottsville, Va. She was born at Charlottsville, Sept. 27, 1814 and died Dec. 23, 1886. In 1860, Uriah P. Bennett and his family came to St. Louis, where they re- sided during the Civil War. At the close of the war, in 1865, they came to Jackson County and bought a farm two miles north of Independence. Sixteen years later they moved to Lees Summit. Uriah P. Bennett died in Kansas City, Mo., June 19, 1894. He was a progressive man and a good citizen and after coming to Jackson County contributed his part towards the readjustment of the county which followed the devastation of war. He was an ardent advocate of the cause of education and was one of the organizers of the first public schools of Independence and was a member of the board. When he came to Jackson County he was one of the first passengers on the regular passenger train which made the trip from St. Louis to Independence.
Lewis Bennett came to Jackson County with his parents in 1865 and after coming here was associated with his father in fruit growing, an industry in which the father was an expert and to which he gave much attention. The Bennetts introduced cultivated raspberries in Jackson County and when they hauled the first load of these berries into Kansas City the people did not know what they were. They sold the product of their fruit in Kansas City and also shipped to Denver, Col. For their shipment of peaches to Denver they received 24 cents a bushel. Lewis Bennett owned land in the vicinity of Independence and later bought land near Lees Summit, where he engaged in breeding pure-bred Shorthorn cattle and sheep. His stock was frequently exhibited at state fairs and other stock exhibitions, winning many premiums. In 1901 he moved to his present place in Prairie township where he owns 160 acres of land and upon which he has made extensive improvements. He is still engaged in breeding Shorthorn cattle and has won a wide reputation as a success- ful breeder. His sons are engaged in breeding Poland China hogs and are meeting with success in that industry.
Oct. 20, 1874, Lewis Bennett was united in marriage with Miss Kate A. Powell, a native of Columbus, Ohio. She is a daughter of Jacob and Eliza H. (Brown) Powell, the former a native of Virginia and the latter of Pennsylvania. The Powell family came to Jackson County in 1865 and settled east of Independence. Mrs. Bennett was one of a family of 11 children born to her parents and was the tenth in order of birth. To Mr.
659
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY
and Mrs. Bennett have been born four children as follows: Nannie B., deceased; Harper, Kansas City, Mo .; J. Park, field manager for the Cap- per Publications in Missouri; Lewis G., a breeder of Poland China hogs, resides at home with his parents. He is an expert buyer of hogs for the Armour Packing Company and is now head buyer for that concern.
Mr. Bennett is a Republican and a member of the Presbyterian church. He is a member of the Woodmen of the World. He has a long and honorable record in Jackson County to his credit and is representative of the highest type of our citizenship.
Joe S. Noel, a progressive young business man of Lees Summit, who engaged in the wholesale and retail grain business and also an extensive dealer in hay, flour and feed, is a native son of Jackson County and a descendant of one of the earliest pioneer families of this section of the state. He was born at Lone Jack, Nov. 28, 1894 and is a son of George H. and Minnie (Shaw) Noel. They were the parents of two children of whom Joe S. is the elder. The younger son, George W., resides with his mother at 2638 Benton Boulevard, Kansas City.
George H. Noel was prominently identified with Jackson County dur- ing his lifetime. He was a member of the State Legislature during the session of 1896-1898 and was influential in that body. Among the many measures of which he was the author was the Jackson County Good Road Law. The enactment of this law put him on record as one of the pioneer good roads advocate and law makers of this country. This bill was so framed that the revenue from the dramshop licenses was applied to the building of good roads.
George H. Noel was born near Lone Jack in 1853. He was a son of James and Rachel (Powell) Noel, both natives of Missouri and among the early settlers of Jackson County. George H. Noel was a graduate of William Jewell College. In early life he was engaged in farming and stock raising but for 15 years prior to his death he was engaged in the real estate business. He died in Kansas City in 1917 and his widow now re- sides in that city. He was well to do at the time of his death, owning 160 acres of land in Prairie township, also property at Lees Summit and in Kansas City. He was a prominent Democrat and a member of the Bap- tist church.
Joe S. Noel was reared on a farm in Jackson County and received his education in the public schools. In 1911 he entered the State Normal Schcol at Warrensburg and was graduated from that institution in the class of 1913. He then entered the Missouri Inspection Department and
660
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY
became weigh master, then grain sampler, and was later promoted to grain inspector. July 4, 1919, he engaged in the grain, hay and feed busi- ness at Lees Summit where he also operates a mill. He has done an extensive business from the start and during the first three months he handled 55 car loads of wheat and ten car loads of feed.
Oct. 12, 1916, Joe S. Noel was united in marriage with Miss Bernice Kenton, a native of Harden, Mo., and a daughter of William P. Kenton. One child has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Noel, Mary Kenton Noel.
Mr. Noel is a Democrat and a member of the Methodist church.
Fayette H. Botts, a leading farmer and stockman of Washington town- ship and the owner of 113 acres of valuable land, is a native of Kentucky. He was born at Owensville, Ky., Oct. 10, 1855, and is the only child born to Archibald and Margaret A. (Markham) Botts. The father died in Kentucky when Fayette H. was an infant. The mother had been pre- viously married in Kentucky to James Stone and to that union five or six children had been born. After the death of her second husband, Archi- bald Botts, the mother came to Missouri and settled in Jackson County in 1856, before Fayette H. was a year old. She brought her family of five children and 21 slaves and here she and her older sons engaged in farm- ing. Their place was located about four miles east of Kansas City. Dur- ing the war and when Order No. 11 was issued the mother removed to Columbia, Mo. with her family where she remained until the close of hostilities.
Fayette H. Botts returned to Jackson County with the family after the war and 1869 they settled on the place where he now resides. He has always been engaged in farming and stock raising and in addition to his general farming has made a success of breeding Shorthorn cattle. He has made extensive improvements on his place, which is one of the valuable farms of Jackson County. In addition to carrying on general farming and stock raising, Mr. Botts was not unmindful of other business enterprises and opportunities. He is a stockholder in the Farmers Bank of Grand- view, Mo. and is vice-president of that institution.
Oct. 5, 1887, Fayette H. Botts was united in marriage with Miss Ola M. Marshall, a native of Boone County, Ky. She is a daughter of John Thomas and Hannah Mary (Ambrose) Marshall, both natives of Ken- tucky, who settled in Jackson County, Mo. in 1878. John Thomas Mar- shall is now deceased and his widow resides with Mr. and Mrs. Botts. To Mr. and Mrs. Botts have been born three children as follows: Fayette
661
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY
Arthur, Henry Walker and James Samuel, all of whom are residing at home with their parents.
Mr. Botts is a Democrat and holds membership in the Modern Wood- men of America. He and his family are members of the Baptist church and are well known and rank high in Jackson County.
William O. Snider, a well known and successful general insurance man and real estate dealer, of Lees Summit is a native of Jackson County and a descendant of pioneer settlers of this section. He was born Dec. 24, 1865 on a farm which is now included within the present city limits of Kansas City, Mo. and was located in the vicinity of the intersection of 18th and Prospect streets. Mr. Snider is a son of William W. and Emily J. (Kreeger) Snider and is one of five children born to them as follows: . David C., Lees Summit; Eugene, Belton; Amanda, married Z. Cooper, Jr., Lees Summit; William O., the subject of this sketch, and Frank R. of Lees Summit.
William W. Snider was born in North Carolina in 1825. He came to Missouri with his family, he having been married in his native state and settled in Jackson County prior to the Civil War. He first located on a farm which is now a part of the well known Long farm. During the Civil War when Order No. 11 was issued, he moved to Kansas City where he remained for three years until the close of the war. He then returned to his farm in Prairie township where he owned 160 acres of land. He was a successful farmer and stock raiser and became well to do. He was a Democrat and a representative citizen. He died in 1897. His widow, who was also a native of North Carolina, born in 1833, now resides with her son, David C., at Lees Summit.
William O. Snider was born on the home farm and attended the public school in that vicinity. He learned the details of farming and stock rais- ing in early life and when he was 21 years of age he engaged in farming for himself in Prairie township. He followed farming until 1904, during which time he owned several different farms in Jackson County. In 1904, he moved to Lees Summit and engaged in the real estate and general in- surance business to which he has since devoted himself. He has built up an extensive business which extends over a large scope of territory and has handled many important real estate deals, during the past 16 years that he has been in the business.
Mr. Snider was united in marriage April 15, 1888 with Miss Rose B. Norvell, a native of Jackson County. She is a daughter of Benjamin F. and Mary Ann (Risk) Norvell, natives of Indiana and early settlers in
662
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY
Jackson County. The mother is deceased and the father makes his home with his children.
To William O. Snider and wife have been born six children as follows: Mrs. Lena A. Jones has one daughter, Mildred, and resides at Lees Sum- mit; Burmace, resides at home with her parents; Hubert H. is auditor and teller in the Missouri Savings Bank, Kansas City, Mo .; Ruth O .; Nellie M. and William F., residing at home with their parents.
Mr. Snider is a Democrat and takes a commendable interest in public affairs and especially public schools. He was a member of the school board of the Rockford district in 1901 and was one of the organizers of the first consolidated district schools in the state. He with five others erected the building. For the past nine years Mr. Snider has been a mem- ber of the Lees Summit school board and has served as president of the. board for three years. He has also served on the city counsel for two years.
Mr. Snider is a member of the Christian church and other members of the family belong to the Methodist church.
Jerry A. Wood, now living retired at Lees Summit, is a native of Jackson County and the descendant of one of the oldest pioneer families in this section of the state. He was born in Blue township Sept. 2, 1845, and was the only child born to James R. and Jane (Chrisman) Wood. After the death of Jerry A. Wood's mother, his father married Nancy Chrisman, a cousin of his first wife. Further details of the history of the Wood family appear in connection with the sketch of J. D. Wood in this volume.
Jerry A. Wood was reared on the home farm surrounded by the prim- itive conditions of pioneer days and was living the life of the average young man of his time when the Civil War broke out. When 16 years of age, in 1861, he left school and enlisted in the Confederate army at the first call to arms. He became a member of Company A, Tenth Mis- souri Cavalry under General Marmaduke. He participated in a number of engagements in Missouri, Arkansas and Louisiana and was at the engagement of Lexington, Mo. After the close of the war, in 1867, he returned to the home place and proceeded to rebuild and repair the in- provements which had been destroyed during the war. He followed farm- ing on the home place for a number of years. He then bought a farm near Lees Summit which he sold in 1910.
Mr. Wood was first married to Permelia Totten and to this union two children were born: Elizabeth, married James Mueller, Los Angeles, Cal.
663
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY
and Anna, married Elmer Bull, Kansas City, Mo. The mother of these children died about 1894. Mr. Wood's second wife bore the maiden name of Eliza Ann Dark. No children were born to this union. Some years after the death of his second wife Mr. Wood was married in February, 1910, to Mrs. Sarah E. (Whitehouse) Harrill, a widow. She was born in Kentucky and came to Missouri with her parents and settled near Ray- town when she was a child.
Mr. Wood is a Democrat and for a number of years held the office of the justice of peace in Prairie township. He is a member of the Bap- tist church and has lived an honorable and upright life.
Compton J. Tucker, general manager of the Longview Farm, is identified with an institution not only well known in Jackson County but which is celebrated throughout the West. The Longview Stock Farm is recognized in the agricultural world as representing what might properly be said to be the last word in farming and nearly every department of animal husbandry. This farm contains 1,636 acres which were acquired by purchase from 15 different land owners by Mr. R. A. Long in 1912 and Mr. Tucker has had the general management of the place since that time and the constructive development of this place has been under his immediate supervision to the present time.
There are 65 buildings on Longview Farm, including a church, school- house, club house, four greenhouses and there are over 29 miles of fence, built without nails or bolts. There are 175 employees and 12 tenant buildings for the accommodation of the various employees. There are over 900 head of livestock and Longview Farm is celebrated the country over for its standard bred Kentucky saddle horses, harness horses and pure bred Jersey cattle and Duroc Jersey hogs.
The milk supply from Longview Farm is noted for its excellency of quality and the sanitary methods with which it is handled. All milk from this dairy is certified by the Jackson County Medical Milk Commission and the major portion of it, which consists of about 1,000 quarts per day, is fed to Kansas City babies.
Every animal in the Jersey herd is registered; every cow is in the register of merit or on test, and any cow that fails to make the require- ments is disposed of immediately.
The milk sales from this farm amount to about $55,000.00 annually and the livestock sales amount to about $200,000.00. The sale of flowers alone amount to $25,000.00.
Compton J. Tucker is a native of Tennessee. He was born at Nash-
664
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY
ville March 31, 1881, and is a son of J. B. and Thomas Ann (Compton) Tucker and is one of two children born to them, the other one being Marion, now the wife of H. M. Jones of Nashville, Tenn.
J. B. Tucker and his wife were natives of Tennessee. They came to Jackson County, Mo., in 1885 and the father first rented a farm of 2,260 acres near Kansas City, which now composes a part of Swope Park. He also lived on the Wornall Farm for a time. He bought and sold live- stock as well as carrying on general farming and stock raising and was also an extensive and successful stock feeder. He was a progressive citizen and a good business man. He was a Democrat and took a com- mendable interest in public affairs. He and his wife are both deceased.
Compton J. Tucker received his education in the public schools of Kansas City which included a high school course and he also attended the Webb Preparatory School of Bellbuckle, Tenn. and the Vanderbilt Uni- versity at Nashville, Tenn. After completing his schooling he entered the employ of the American Can Company of Kansas City, Mo. and was a traveling salesman for three years. He then went with the Long-Bell Lumber Co. and was in the employ of that concern until he accepted his present position in 1912 and since that time has been general manager of the Longview Farm.
Sept. 19, 1903, Compton J. Tucker was united in marriage with Miss Ethel Leeke of Oxford, Pa. To Mr. and Mrs. Tucker have been born two children, Compton H., who is 11 years old and Mary Elizabeth, nine. Mr. and Mrs. Tucker are members of the Christian church.
Newton J. Sechrest .- Only a few of the old settlers remain in Brook- ing township. Passing years have taken their toll of the real old pioneer families of this part of Jackson County, and the old estates have been broken up, due to the encroachment of the suburban section of Kansas City. Newton J. Sechrest, residing on the Sechrest rock road, in the southwestern part of the township, is one of the few old timers left in the neighborhood. The Sechrest farm of 297 acres is one of the best im- proved, upon which Mr. Sechrest has lived practically all of his nearly three score and ten years. He was born Nov. 11, 1850, in Grant County, Ky., and was a son of Charles and Katie Sechrest, both of whom were natives of Kentucky.
Charles Sechrest came to Missouri in 1856, and settled on the farm which Mr. Sechrest of this review now owns. He built a home and de- veloped the farm, dying here in 1864, at the age of 62 years. His death was caused by becoming overheated on a hot August day, and he died a
O
NEWTON J. SECHREST AND FAMILY.
665
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY
week later. Mrs. Sechrest died in 1897, at the age of 81 years. To Charles and Katie Sechrest were born 14 children, 12 of whom were reared to maturity, as follow: Theophilus, a veteran of the Civil War, deceased; Jacob, Charles William, Martha Ann, Theodore and Louisa, deceased ; Joshua, a veteran of the Civil War, lives in California; Thomas, deceased, veteran of the Civil War; John, residing on the old Shanks farm; Janie, deceased; Newton J., of this review; Edward, a farmer, southwest of Topeka, Kan.
Newton J. Sechrest attended the district school in his boyhood days, and grew up on his father's farm. When Order No. 11 was issued the family took refuge at the Government Post at Hickman's Mill. In the meantime the family had suffered from the depredations of the Kansas Redlegs, who stole the livestock, including eight head of mules and other family belongings. His mother stood at the gate bravely trying to save some of the livestock, but the leader of the band threatened to burn the house if she refused to let them have the mules. Mr. Sechrest began his career with a small farm of 26 acres, in 1867. This tract, with a timber tract of seven acres, was his share of his father's estate. He, with this small nucleus to begin with, has in the course of years, acquired one of the most valuable country estates in Jackson County, consisting of 297 acres. The imposing Sechrest farm residence was erected in 1904.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.