USA > Missouri > Jackson County > History of Jackson County, Missouri > Part 67
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Frank Cole served six months in the National Army, and was in training at Camp Jackson, S. C.
Mr. Cole is a Democrat and is a member of the Christian church. For the past 25 years he has been affiliated with the Masonic lodge at Ray- town, Mo.
John W. Lenox, owner of 250 acres of fertile land in Fort Osage town- ship, part of which is bottom land, a breeder of Hereford cattle since 1896, was born in Lafayette County, Mo., in 1871. He is a son of Charles and Elizabeth (Lettz) Lenox.
Charles Lenox was born in Ohio, in 1831, and died in Jackson County, Mo., in December, 1898. He came to Missouri in 1858, and was employed on a farm in Jefferson County when the Civil War broke out. Union
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soldiers had mobilized and were camped in the neighborhood of the farm where he was working. The farmer and his family together with their slaves, had left the neighborhood, and he alone remained to care for the livestock and look after the place. He became lonesome and decided that he had better take part in the struggle. Learning that there was a com- pany of Ohio soldiers in a nearby camp he made his way to Union head- quarters and enlisted as a private in Company I of a regiment of Ohio infantry, Sept. 24, 1861. He served with his command until Nov. 18, 1864, and was discharged at Camp Denison, Ohio. He again enlisted as a veteran and served until the close of the war. He participated in the Battle of Shiloh, and was wounded in the thigh by a minie ball. He fought at Corinth, Miss., Island No. 10, and the battles around Vicksburg, the siege and capture of that city. Mr. Lenox saw much hard service during the war. He remained in Ohio and was married there. In 1868 he came to Jackson County, in company with John Lentz and family. He spent his first night in this county in an old house on the McQuerry place in Fort Osage township. In the spring of the following year he located on a farm near Napoleon, in Lafayette County, and remained there until 1890, with the exceptions of three years spent on a farm near Atherton. In 1890 he settled on the place now owned by the subject of this sketch. This farm has been improved by John W. Lenox, who has placed every building on it, broke a part of the blue grass sod for the first time, built the silos and has built up the place until it is one of the best in Jackson County. Mrs. Lenox resides with her daughter, Mrs. Hertzog, east of Blue Springs, Mo. There were five children born to Charles and Elizabeth Lenox, three of whom are living, as follow: John W., of this review; Thomas C., deceased; Mrs. Annie Hertzog, one mile east of Blue Springs.
Mr. Lenox's father and grandfather purchased 246 acres, a part of which J. W. Lenox owns, and to which he has added other acreage. Since 1896 he has been engaged in the breeding of pure-bred Hereford cattle, in which he has been engaged to the present time.
J. W. Lenox was married in 1897 to Miss Ida Hudspeth, who was born in Jackson County, in 1870, and is a daughter of the late George W. Hudspeth. For a history of George W. Hudspeth, the reader is referred to the sketches of J. E. Hudspeth and J. W. Powell, in this volume. Mr. and Mrs. Lenox have two children: Ruth Lenox, a student in William Woods College, Fulton, Mo .; Blanche, attending the public schools.
George W. Hudspeth, for a number of years, was a plainsman and a miner in the West. He rode a mule from Missouri to Santa Fe, N. M.,
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and went to California in 1849. Upon his return from the silver mines he brought with him enough pure silver with which he had made, in St. Louis, a set of solid silver tablespoons, which are the valued and highly prized property of Mrs. Lenox.
Mr. Lenox is a Democrat, a member of the Baptist church, and is affiliated with the Modern Woodmen of America. He is an intelligent, well-posted and progressive citizen.
Joel E. Hudspeth. It is probable that no finer nor a more extensive view of the surrounding country can be obtained than from the hill upon which the farm residence of Joel E. Hudspeth, of Fort Osage township, is located. The Hudspeth farm overlooks the Valley of the Blue-the Jackson County landscape in all of its rural beauty. The Hudspeth resi- dence is a large, well built, modern house. The farm consists of 280 acres, upon which Mr. Hudspeth has placed all of the improvements. Mr. Hudspeth was born one and a half miles northeast of his present home. Jan. 13, 1873, and is a son of pioneer parents.
George W. Hudspeth, father of Joel E., was born in Simpson County, Ky., Jan. 27, 1820, and died at his home in Jackson County, in 1905. He was a son of Major Hudspeth, whose father fought in the War of the Revolution, and settled in Jackson County in 1827. George W. Hudspeth attained young manhood in Jackson County, and saw service with Col- onel Doniphan's regiment during the Mexican War. When a young man he was adventurous, and traveled extensively over the then unknown western country. He made two trips to Mexico, and several journeys to California, working in the mines of both places. He was one of the first. to make the trip to the new gold fields of California, making a second trip in 1854. Mr. Hudspeth generally prospected in the gold and silver country on his own account, and won a comfortable fortune. He served as a freighter on one or two western trips, returning from California after his first trip by way of the Isthmus of Panama. On his second trip to the Pacific coast, he made his return trip by the overland. After spending several years as a plainsman and miner he settled down to farming and stock raising, in Fort Osage township, on his estate of over 500 acres of land. When Order No. 11 was issued he moved to Ray County, and re- mained there until the close of the Civil War. He served as school direc- tor of his district for over 20 years, and always took a commendable interest in school and civic affairs. He was a Free Mason.
George W. Hudspeth was married in March, 1857, to Elizabeth Jes- sie, who was born in Russell County, Va., May 6, 1830, and died in Feb-
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ruary, 1899. The children born to George W. and Elizabeth Hudspeth were: Mrs. Tabitha Paralee Vancleve, who died in Jackson County ; Ella, wife of J. W. Powell, Fort Osage township; Lela, wife of Dr. Ravenscraft, Buckner, Mo .; Mrs. Ida, wife of J. W. Lenox, Fort Osage township; Joel E., of this sketch; Silas B., Maywood, Mo.
J. E. Hudspeth attended the Peacedale School, which was then lo- cated on the site of the Powell home. Afterwards he studied at the State Normal School at Warrensburg, Mo. Mr. Hudspeth has always been a farmer and stock raiser. The farm which he owns was formerly a part of his father's estate, and acquired by him through purchase of the inter- ests of the other heirs. He was married in 1896 to Miss Hannah Jones, a native of Jackson County. Mr. and Mrs. Hudspeth have one child, Lela Catherine, a student in William Woods College, Fulton, Mo.
Mr. Hudspeth is a Democrat. Mrs. Hudspeth is a member of the Baptist church. He is affiliated with the Masons, of Independence, and the Brotherhood of American Yeomen.
Andrew Lowe, late well known resident and extensive farmer of Snia- bar township, was born in Virginia, in 1830, and died at his home in Jack- son County in 1905. He was a son of John A. Lowe, a Jackson County pioneer, who came here from Virginia and settled in Jackson County, in 1844. Andrew Lowe was reared in Jackson County, and upon the out- break of the Civil War he enlisted in the Confederate Army, under Gen- eral Price, and served throughout the conflict. He fought at the battles of Lexington, Westport and Little Blue, and took part in the retreat of General Price's army to the South, subsequently surrendering at Shreve- port, La. He rode horseback from Texas to his home in Jackson County.
Andrew Lowe was one of the old time freighter and plainsman, serv- ing as wagon boss for Aquilla Lobb on the Santa Fe trail. He made several trips across the plains. After the war he settled down to the peaceful pursuit of agriculture, and accumulated a considerable estate, owning over 500 acres, much of which is rich bottom land, which pro- duces splendid crops. The old Lowe residence, situated on this farm, and which served as Mr. Lowe's home for many years, was built of hewn logs, in 1839, by Crump, and is one of the oldest pioneer homes in the county, still in a good state of preservation. Mr. Lowe settled on this place after his marriage. His wife died in 1881. She was Mary Dilling- ham prior to her marriage, and was a cousin of Morgan V. Dillingham, of Blue Springs. Andrew and Mary Lowe were the parents of four chil-
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dren, as follow: Henry, died when young; Iva, deceased; Harley, on the home place, owner of part of the home place; and Isaac N.
I. N. Lowe, proprietor of 263 acres of valuable land, all of which is bottom land, excepting 80 acres of hillside, was born in 1878, on the Lowe home place, and has lived all of his life at the place of his birth. He feeds over 50 head of hogs annually, and each year raises good crops upon his land.
Both Andrew and Mary Lowe lie buried in the Lobb cemetery. The late Andrew Lowe was a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian church at Lobb church, and was one of the builders of this church. For many years he was an elder of this church, and was noted for his piety, hon- esty and personal integrity.
Robert W. Adams, an enterprising and successful farmer and stock- man, of Van Buren township, is the owner of a well improved farm of 80 acres. Mr. Adams was born in Mercer County, Ky., June 25, 1866, and is the son of James A. and Emma F. (Clark) Adams. They were the par- ents of ten children, eight of whom are living, as follows: Frank Clark, lives in Kansas; Robert W., the subject of this sketch; James T., a trav- eling salesman in the employ of the Missouri Seed Company, resides at Greenwood, Mo .; Adam R., lives near Lees Summit; Joseph G., lives in Prairie township; Dr. Lewis, a practicing physician and surgeon at Fre- donia, Kan .; Tillie C., a teacher in the public schools of Kansas City, Mo .; and Bettie L., Kansas City, Mo.
James A. Adams was born in Mercer County, Ky., July 25, 1833, and died in Jackson County, Feb. 22, 1882. He came to Jackson County with his family in 1877, and was here engaged in farming until the time of his death. He died a comparatively young man, being less than 50 years of age. He was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Emma J. Clark Adams, mother of Robert W. Adams, was born in Boyle County, Ky., May 14, 1838, and now resides in Kansas City, Mo.
Robert W. Adams was about 11 years of age when he came to Jack- son County with his parents, and since that time Jackson County has been his home. He began life for himself at an early age, and worked as a farm hand for 17 years. And most of that time was in the employ of Mrs. Emily Gammon. In 1908, he purchased a farm in Prairie township, and since that time has bought and sold a number of farms in Jackson County. He purchased his present place in Van Buren township in 1918, from his brother, A. R. Adams. He owns 80 acres, where he is success- fully carrying on farming and stock raising.
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August 20, 1913, Mr. Adams was united in marriage with Miss Ma- rion Franklin, a native of California, who came to Missouri at two years of age. She is a daughter of Captain James and Letitia (Martin) Frank- lin, the former a native of Missouri, and the latter of North Carolina. Captain Franklin served in the Confederate Army during the Civil War, and was a captain in Gen. Joe Shelby'> command. Among the many en- gagements in which he participated was the Battle of Lone Jack. To Mr. and Mrs. Adams has been born one child, James Robert, who resides at home with his parents.
Mr. Adams is a Democrat, and a member of the Presbyterian church.
Spencer Talley, a farmer and stock man of Prairie township, is a descendant of very prominent early pioneer families of Jackson County and has been identified with the interests of Jackson County all his life. He was born on the farm where he now resides in Prairie township, Jan. 19, 1852, a son of David C. and Mary Ann (Fristoe) Talley. David C. Talley was born in Kentucky, Aug. 5, 1811. He came to Missouri and set- tled in Jackson County about 1832. He first located at Independence, where he was engaged in the general mercantile business for three or four years, when he bought the farm in Prairie township, where Spencer L., the subject of this sketch, now resides. Here he spent the remainder of his life engaged in farming. He died May 19, 1869. His wife, Mary Ann (Fristoe) Talley, was born Sept. 10, 1820 and died Dec. 23, 1884. She was a daughter of Judge Richard Fristoe, a Jackson County pioneer, who was prominent in the early day affairs of this county. He was one of the first settlers of Independence and helped clear away the timber where the city of Independence now stands. He built the first store in Independence and was postmaster there. He was prominent in politics and represented Jackson County in the State Legislature several terms. He was a native of Kentucky. Further mention of the Talley family history appears in connection with the sketch of William W. Talley in this volume.
Spencer L. Talley was reared in Jackson County on the farm where he now resides and received his education in the public schools. He has owned the old homestead since 1878. His farm consists of 60 acres of well improved land and he has successfully carried on farming and stock raising these many years, with the exception of about two years when he served as steward of the Jackson County Home.
Mr. Talley was united in marriage Sept. 15, 1885 with Miss Susan Wade, a native of Richardson County, Neb. She was born July 28, 1865, a daughter of Uriel Wade, a native of Kentucky. He was an early set-
DAVID C. TALLEY AND WIFE.
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tler in Nebraska and homesteaded land there. Later he moved to Okla- home, where he died.
To Spencer L. Talley and wife have been born the following children: Wade who resides on the home farm; May, married Sherman Sheldon and lives in Cass County; Mary, Kansas City, Mo .; and Carl, who resided at home.
Mr. Talley is a Democrat and a member of the Christian church. He is one of Jackson County's progressive and substantial citizens.
Michael Casey .- When Michael, or "Mike," Casey, prosperous farmer of Blue township, was born, he stood a chance a few hours later, of being carried away by a band of Bushwhackers, who had made a raid upon the Casey cabin, on the morning following his birth, Sept. 30, 1864. As Cornelius Casey, his father, was shaving and dressing, preparatory to making a trip to Independence, presumably to acquaint his friends of the fact that a son had been born to him, and probably to celebrate a little after his own fashion, a gang of Redlegs came to the door of the Casey home, and demanded food and whatever they desired to carry away. The little, new-born babe, was lying on the bed wrapped up in a blanket. One of the marauders grabbed up the blanket, baby and all, and started off with it. Mr. Casey shouted to him, "Hey, hold on there, there's a baby in that blanket." The Redleg thereupon unceremoniously dumped the baby out on the bed and made off with the blanket. The men also took Mr. Casey's clean shirt, which was hanging over a chair, and stripped the home of every valuable in sight.
Cornelius Casey, father of Mike Casey, was born in Ireland, in 1824, and died Jan. 12, 1888. He emigrated from Ireland when a young man, and first located in New York, and later came to Missouri. He was ac- companied to America by his wife and son, another son being born to them in New York City after their arrival. He was employed on the grading of the Missouri Pacific railroad in Jackson County, and continued in the employ of the railroad company after the road was completed to Inde- pendence and Kansas City. He was an associate of the late Edward Con- boy, of Jackson County. Cornelius Casey was industrious and enterpris- ing, and after some years of railroad work he succeeded in becoming a farm owner. The Casey home was situated one and a half miles west of Mike Casey's present home, and six miles south of Independence, almost on the line of the Missouri Pacific railway. Elizabeth (Corcoran) Casey, wife of Cornelius Casey, was born in Ireland in 1829, and died in April, 1881. Their children were as follow: Thomas, deceased; Cornelius, de-
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ceased ; James, Denver, Colo .; Daniel, living in Iowa; Michael, the subject of this sketch; John, lives on the adjoining farm across the road, in Brooking township.
When he attained his majority, Michael Casey began his own career .. He received $60 for his first year's employment on his father's farm. The second year he was given a piece of corn ground, and received the value of the crop for his services, and for three years worked for his father for $16 per month. His father died the following winter, and Mike then purchased the estate from the other heirs, paying for the property in 10 years' time. He built a house on the place, and resided on it for 12 years. In 1909, he sold out and purchased his present splendid farm, which con- sists of 150 acres in Blue township-land which is very fertile and consists of bottom land, excepting 12 acres of upland, where the house and farm buildings are located. Mr. Casey has placed all of the improvements on his farm. He purchased this farm from the Greeleys, a part of it having been entered by Mrs. Stalcup's father, Ivan Hall.
The Casey farm was overgrown with brush, and in a general run- down condition when Mr. Casey purchased it. The farm house was an old one, and situated in the valley. It was built by Ivan Hall, about a hundred years ago. The work of ridding the land of brush and redeeming the farm was tremendous, but he has been well repaid for his efforts.
For the past 20 years Mr. Casey has been a breeder of pure-bred Poland China hogs, and has achieved a State-wide reputation for the qual- ity of the breed produced on the Casey farm. He produces over $1,000 worth of hogs each year, practically all of his hogs being sold at private sale to discerning buyers.
Mr. Casey was married in 1890 to Mary Maloney, who was born in Wyandotte, Kan., in March, 1865, the only daughter of Frank and Annie (McCabe) Maloney, both of whom were born in Ireland, immigrated to Jackson County, and died here. The children born to this union are: Mrs. Rosa Mallen, Texas; Emmett, James, Agnes, Thomas, twins, Jo- seph and Annie. Mrs. Rosa Mallen has three children, Rosella and Mary and Margaret, twins. Rosa Casey was a graduate from the State Normal School at Warrensburg, and taught school five years in Jackson County, and was widely known and a popular teacher.
Emmett Casey was born Jan. 1, 1896. He was inducted into the Na- tional Army July 22, 1918, and was trained at Camp Funston, becoming a private in Company B, Sixty-ninth regiment, Tenth division, and was dis- charged from the 'service as a first class private, Jan. 25, 1919. When
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Emmett was six months old he weighed 25 pounds, and won a prize for being the fattest baby exhibited at a festival held in Independence July 4, 1896. W. Z. Hickman, editor of this history, was master of ceremonies, which were conducted in Hawker's pasture. He awarded the gold ring to the fattest baby, and then held up the boy for all to see. It is recalled that Emmett laughed and crowed and everybody in the great crowd laughed with him.
Mr. Casey is a Democrat. He and his family are members of the In- dependence Catholic church. He is one of the best and most enterprising citizens of Jackson County, and has many warm friends in the county.
Lloyd Martin, former postmaster of Buckner, Mo., for 17 years, has been a resident of Jackson County nearly 50 years, and is one of the real old settlers of this county. Mr. Martin is a native of Ohio, having been born in Perry County, near the town of McLuney, five miles east of New Lexington, Oct. 9, 1851. His father, Jacob Martin, was born and reared in Perry County, and was a son of Abram Martin, a native of Pennsyl- vania, whose father was also a native of Pennsylvania. The Martins are of old American stock. The mother of Lloyd Martin was Charity Hitch- cock, prior to her marriage, and she was born in Fairfield County, Ohio. During the Civil War Jacob Martin served four years with the Fifth Ohio Cavalry, and was in active and constant service during the entire period of his enlistment. He suffered severely from rheumatism contracted on one of the expeditions. His detachment was surrounded by the enemy, and they had to fight their way out of the trap and race for their lives, and to avoid capture. Mr. Martin lost his stirrups during the excitement, and he was forced to ride a distance of 40 miles without the support of the stirrups. The mishap and the rigors of the ride practically crippled him for life, and he was always, thereafter, a sufferer from rheumatism. After the war he removed to Jackson County, with his family, arriving at Independence, Oct. 26, 1868.
Mr. Martin was a carpenter and millwright, and erected many mills. He erected the first flouring and grist mill at Sibley after the war, to re- place the one which was burned during the Civil War.
Mr. Martin settled on a farm one mile northeast of Buckner, in Fort Osage township, which he developed and made his home until 1885, when he retired to a residence in Buckner. He was born in 1824, and died July 22, 1900. Charity, his wife, was born in 1824, and died Nov. 12, 1886. Their children were as follow: Lloyd Hitchcock Martin, subject of this sketch; Areil C., wife of Noah Vest, died in 1918; Mary Jane, wife of
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Phillip Miller, died in 1901; Laura E., wife of William Lillard, lives in California.
Lloyd Martin purchased his first farm in 1878, and resided thereon until 1898, when he located in Buckner. The Martin farm is a valuable tract of 80 acres, situated north of Buckner.
Mr. Martin was married in February, 1880, to Miss Alice Ucker, who was born March 15, 1860, in Pickaway County, Ohio, a daughter of John and Nancy (Barr) Ucker, natives of Ohio. Mr. Ucker came to Jack- son County from Ohio in the fall of 1868, and was engaged in farming until his retirement to a home in Buckner. John Ucker was born July 4, 1835. His first wife, Nancy Barr Ucker, was born in 1840, and died in August, 1879. Their children are as follow: Mrs. Alice Martin, of this review; Anna, wife of Jacob Kellstadt, died in Ohio, in December, 1918; Lizzie Helen, wife of John C. Ahrens. Her first husband was George Kellstadt, by whom she has one child, Clara Margaret; Mary Jane Hostet- ler, living northeast of Buckner.
Seven children were born to Lloyd H. and Alice Martin, as follow: John, died at the age of 21 years; Nannie, died when 18 months old; Melvin and Willie, died in infancy; Jacob ester; Ethel and Anna Helen. Jacob Lester resides in Los Angeles, Calif. He married Ruth Lowry, in August, 1919. Ethel is the wife of J. R. Steele, Kansas City; Anna Helen is the wife of Robert Redding, Humboldt, Kan., and has one child, Stella Pauline.
Mr. Martin is a Republican, and has always been interested in the affairs of his party. He was appointed postmaster of Buckner in 1897, and served in this office until 1914, and during that time he achieved a reputation for a painstaking, faithful and efficient public official. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and is affiliated with the Mod- ern Woodmen of America.
Benjamin U. Brown, Brooking township, residing on his very valu- able farm of 34 acres, devoted to fruit raising and dairying, is a native of Jackson County, having been born on a part of the old Brown home- stead, most of which is now within the limits of Kansas City. He was born July 14, 1861, and is a son of Benjamin Brown, a native of Virginia, who settled in Jackson County in 1842. He was reared in Virginia, and there married Sidney Blevins. With his wife and one child he came to this county, and settled in the west part of Brooking township, where he first bought a small 40-acre tract. He cleared this farm of timber and improved it, and as the years passed he accumulated a total of 600 acres.
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This land in past years as the city was growing more and more toward the eastward has been divided into small tracts, and sold at advanced prices. Whereas there was but one or two houses on the Brown land some years ago, there are now over 26 homes, situated in what is called the Swope Park Addition to Kansas City. Eight children were born to Ben- jamin and Sidney (Blevins) Brown, as follow: Mrs. Melvina Cates, Stras- burg, Mo .; Isaac, deceased; Mrs. Louisa Calhoun, living on the adjoining farm; Mrs. Mary Cates, deceased; James, who met death in a runaway ; Harriet, deceased ; William, died at Eureka Springs, Mo .; Benjamin U., of this sketch.
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