USA > Missouri > Jackson County > History of Jackson County, Missouri > Part 68
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Upon the first division of the Brown estate, Ben U. Brown received 38 acres. When another division was made he was given 19 acres. He has sold part of his land, and the remainder is worth anywhere from $400 to $1,000 an acre, because of its proximity to Kansas City.
Mr. Brown was married Dec. 16, 1885, to Miss Laura E. Fetter, who was born in Ohio, a daughter of Emanuel Fetter, an early settler of Jack- son County. Two children were born of this marriage: Elmer and Ethel Maude, both of whom are at home. Elmer Brown was born Sept. 18, 1887. He was inducted into the National Army July 22, 1918, and was in training at Camp Funston as a private in the Tenth division of the army. He received his honorable discharge from the service Jan. 29, 1919.
Mr. Brown is a Democrat, and a Baptist. His memory of the old days of his boyhood is keen and he loves to reminisce of the Civil War days, and the days after the war, when the entire country was reverted to a wilderness state. The Brown family went to Nebraska when Order No. 11 was issued, and upon their return the farm had grown up in brush, and wild animals abounded. The hogs which had been left behind to seek subsistence as they might, had grown to great size and were very wild, with long, vicious looking tusks, and were dangerous. It was the cus- tom of the farmers to shoot them on sight, as they even attacked children and grown people. A cousin, Jesse Cole, came one day to help Ben Brown kill the wild hogs on his place. Mr. Cole shot one especially vicious animal, but did not kill him. The hog chased Mr. Cole, who was forced to flee for his life, and climb the nearest tree.
The men of the neighborhood had to hide out whenever the Bush- whackers or Kansas Redlegs from across the border were in the vicinity during the early days of the war. The men of the Brown neighborhood had an almost inaccessible hiding place called the Tennessee Gulch, where they took their horses and hid for days at a time without ever being
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found. This was a wild place, grown over with tangled underbrush and trees, and was the finest kind of a hiding place. While in hiding, the women would bring them food, and keep them posted as to the movements of invaders. When the family went to Nebraska the father loaded the children and what was left of his possessions in his only wagon, and drove away to safety.
William A. Thompson, an extensive farmer and stockman, and a progressive citizen of Van Buren township, is a native son of Jackson County, and a member of a pioneer family of Missouri. He is a son of William and Elizabeth (Simmons) Thompson, a more extensive sketch of whom appears, together of a detailed history of the Thompson family, in connection with the sketch of Oliver Thompson, which appears in this volume.
William A. Thompson received his education in the public schools, and was reared on a farm and thus acquired his knowledge of the art of farming and stock raising at first hand and by actual experience, and has followed farming and stock raising all his life. He is now the owner of a valuable farm of 363 acres, which is a part of the old Thompson home place.
Feb. 29, 1892, William A. Thompson was united in marriage with Miss May Thompson, a native of Kentucky. She was born Aug. 28, 1866, in Rockcastle County, Ky., a daughter of George and Elizabeth (Cloyd) Thompson, both natives of Kentucky. George Thompson went from Ken- tucky to Illinois with his family, and in 1882 came to Missouri and set- tled in Cass County, where he was engaged in farming.
To William A. Thompson and wife were born twin sons, as follows: Robert and Ralph, born May 16, 1898, and both residing at home with their father. The mother died May 28, 1903.
Mr. Thompson is a member of the Christian church, and the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows. He is a substantial citizen and highly regarded in the community where he has always lived.
James R. Webb .- For 53 years James R. Webb, a native of Blue town- ship, has resided on his farm of 108 acres. He first worked on this farm for the former owner in 1867, and in the following year he purchased the land for $25 an acre. He placed all of the existing improvements on the place, and has been offered $200 an acre for the farm. A large orchard of 25 acres brings in a considerable revenue each year. Fourteen acres of this orchard are in cherries and peaches, plums, etc. Mr. Webb has fruit ripening in his orchards during the entire season. First comes his cherry
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crop, then plums ripen, then peaches, and the last harvest takes care of the apple crop. During last season he sold nine bushels of green gage plums at $1.50 per bushel; 23 bushels of red plums brought $1.25 per bushel; ten bushels of Damons brought $2.00 per bushel. Mr. Webb's planting is usually done in the fall of the year, because he has found that the sap comes early and the young trees get a better start in the ground if allowed to remain in the ground all winter. He always lays aside the top soil and places a layer of it around the roots of the young trees, so as to properly nourish the roots.
Mr. Webb was born in 1847, on the Rogers place, one-fourth mile west. He is a son of Allen and Peggy (Shelby) Webb, the latter of whom was a relative of Gen. Joe Shelby, of Civil War fame. Both of Mr. Webb's parents were natives of Tennessee. Allen Webb came to Jackson County with his parents, Joseph and Margaret Webb, in 1824. A brother of Allen Webb fought at the memorable Battle of The Alamo, and lost his life by the side of Davy Crockett, James Bowie and the other heroes who gave up their lives for the freedom of Texas on that occasion. The fam- ily of Joseph Webb was as follow: Asa, Allen, Joseph, Peggy, William and Nancy Rogers, all of whom are deceased.
Allen Webb was reared in Missouri, and was enrolled for service in the so-called Mormon War. He fought in the Seminole and other Indian wars, and also fought in the Civil War. In the spring of 1865 he was taken prisoner by the Federals, and taken to Warrensburg, where he was shot by the enraged Federals in retaliation for the assassination of Abra- ham Lincoln. He was one of the oldest soldiers in the Confederate Army, at the time of his death being 65 years of age. He was a thorough sol- dier, skilled in military tactics, and was eligible to pension from the gov- ernment on account of having served in four Indian wars. Mrs. Peggy Webb died in 1879, at the age of 60 years. Allen and Peggy Webb were the parents of the following children: John, was a forty-niner, died at the home of his brother, J. R. Webb; Harris, deceased, was a captain under General Shelby, served for four years in the Civil War, was taken pris- oner, exchanged at Vicksburg, and was never heard of afterwards ; George, was killed at Salem Church; Mrs. Margaret Perry, deceased; James R., of this review; Mrs. Louisa Liggett, Springfield, Mo .; Mrs. Lizzie Searcy, Independence ; Frank, died in Nebraska; Mollie, died at the age of 14; and Nannie, lives in Ohio.
James R. Webb enlisted in the Confederate Army, under Colonel Ervin, and Major Vivion, and served for two years. He took part
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in Price's raid through Missouri, and was in the continuous fighting which took place during this raid. He fought daily all the way from Jefferson City to Westport, and during the subsequent retreat of Price's army to Newtonia, Ark. He surrendered at Shreveport, La. Mr. Webb was the youngest soldier of his regiment. He was among the first Confederates to follow the Union soldiers out of Independence, when the city was taken. At the battle of Rock Creek, a veritable slaughter occurred, over 2,000 militiamen from Kansas meeting death. He was detailed with a band of 2,000 to fight this battle, and only four Kansans escaped with their lives. These four Webb's command chased for a distance of five miles to the Union ranks, and were nearly ambushed themselves in their eagerness to capture or kill the four fleeing infantry men. Ten thousand Federal troops then chased the command over a road which was blocked with guns, dead bodies and fallen horses.
In 1869, James R. Webb was married to Josephine Adams, a daugh- ter of Nelson Adams. She died in 1914, at the age of 56 years. He was again married Dec. 13, 1917, to Miss Fannie A. Liepsner, of New York City.
Mr. Webb is a stanch Democrat, a good citizen, and an interesting old timer, who has a vivid recollection of the old and troublous times in Jackson County.
William A. Forsythe, a prominent breeder and the owner and pro- prietor of Hedgewood Farm, one of the finest stock farms in Jackson County, which is located in Prairie township, has won a well merited repu- tation as one of the leading breeders and importers of Shorthorn cattle in the Southwest. The reputation of the Forsythe's herd of pure bred Shorthorns is by no means confined to Jackson County, nor Missouri. His stock has been successfully exhibited with flattering results at the State fairs of Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma, and for nearly 30 years he has been a successful breeder. His straight Scotch herd now numbers about 60 head. In 1919 he imported 10 head and in 1918 four head, all from the leading herds of Scotland.
Regular purebred sales are held at Hedgewood Farm and the stock always has a ready sale at satisfactory prices. Perhaps the most suc- cessful sale of purebred Shorthorn cattle in the history of western Mis- souri was held by William A. Forsythe and sons on their place near Greenwood, Dec. 12, 1919. Despite the fact that the weather was cold and disagreeable, buyers were there and results would indicate that they came to buy. There were 62 head of Shorthorns sold at this sale. The
Will forsythe
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average price paid per head was $1,214 and the total proceeds of the sale was $75,300. The highest price paid for one animal was $4,750, which was paid for "Lady Supreme", winner of first prize for cows at the Amer- ican Royal Stock Show at Kansas City. Park Salter, of Wichita, Kan., was the buyer of this superior animal. The Forsythes are entitled to much credit for not only making a great business success of breeding, but vast improvement of the standard of live stock in this country is being rapidly advanced by such progressive breeders as the Forsythes.
William A. Forsythe was born in Mercer County, Ky., May 2, 1861, and is a son of Robert B. and Mary Elizabeth (Irvine) Forsythe, who were the parents of two children: Betty L. married Lee Hilligoss and is now a widow residing at Pleasant Hill, Mo. and William A., the subject of this sketch. Both parents were also natives of Mercer County, Ky. The father was born May 21, 1824, and died in Jackson County, Nov. 18, 1894. His wife was born Jan. 21, 1836 and died April 27, 1898 in Jackson County. The Forsythe family came to Jackson County in 1880 and here the father engaged in farming and stock raising and both he and his wife spent the remainder of their lives here.
William A. Forsythe was reared and educated in Mercer County, Ky. and was about 18 years of age, when he came to Jackson County with his parents. He managed the home place for a time and later bought land and is now the owner of 680 acres, which is known as Hedgewood Farm and is one of the valuable places of Jackson County.
June 6, 1883, Mr. Forsythe was united in marriage with Miss Mattie McKittrick, a daughter of James McKittrick, whose wife bore the maiden name of Miss McMurray. They were natives of Ohio and early settlers in Jackson County. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. For- sythe, as follows: Edwin J., Worland, Wy .; Katherine, at home; John A., commercial head of Forsythe and Sons, with genera loces at Pleasant Hill; and Eugene, who is assisting his father in the operation of Hedgewood Farm.
Mr. Forsythe is not only a student of the live stock industry from the successful breeder's standpoint but he is a close observer and clear thinker along general lines. He is a strong advocate of soil conservation, a sub- ject which is arresting the attention of the most highly enlightened and progressive agriculturist of today. He believes that to maintain the fertility of the soil that more stock should be kept on the farm; that more of the product of the soil should be fed on the place and that by this method instead of the soil becoming more and more impoverished from
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year to year that the reverse will be true and soil fertility will be in- creased. The wisdom of this theory is obvious and should serve as a warning to the present day farmer.
Mr. Forsythe is a Democrat and a member of the Presbyterian church and is a member of the time-honored Masonic lodge. He is a pro- gressive citizen, a man of original ideas, who has a wide acquaintance over the country and who stands high in the estimation of his fellow men.
Jerry Johnson, a well known farmer and breeder, of Van Buren township, is a native of this State. He was born in Morgan County, Mo., Jan. 1, 1861, a son of Jerry and Mary T. (Hannon) Johnson. The father died here at the age of 24 years, in 1860, a few months before the sub- was a native of Indiana, and when a young man came to Missouri, and ject of this sketch was born. Mary T. Hammon was a native of Missouri, born in Morgan County. After the death of her first husband she mar- ried Charles Litsinger, a native of Ohio, and a pioneer school teacher of Jackson County. He taught the first school in Crackerneck district, Blue township. Two children were born to Charles Litsinger and Mary Han- non Johnson Litsinger, as follows: Mrs. Fannie V. Jobe, Sherman, Texas, and Grace Lee, married J. S. Carlyle, a prominent educator of McKen- ney, Texas. The mother died in 1869, at the age of 78 years.
Jerry Johnson was educated in the public schools of Blue township, Jackson County, and also attended the public schools in Indiana and Hick- ory County, Mo. He began life as a farmer in Jackson County, and has been continually engaged in farming and stock raising to the present time, with the exception of the period from 1897 to 1903, when he was the head janitor of the court house at Independence. He was the first person to ring the bell on the new court house. This was when the United States declared war against Spain, in 1898. Mr. Johnson bears the distinction of having been one of the first passengers to ride over the Missouri Pacific railroad from Pleasant Hill to Independence, this was in 1865, and he was about four years of age at that time. The Johnson family is an old American family. Mr. Johnson has in his possession a knife which was carried through the War of 1812 by Jerry Johnson, a great-uncle of his.
June 19, 1889, Jerry Johnson was married to Miss Mary E. Ritter, a native of Jackson County and a daughter of pioneer parents. She was born in Prairie township Dec. 17, 1866, and is a daughter of H. T. and Mary M. (Taylor) Ritter, the former a native of Virginia and the latter of Boone County, Mo. They were the parents of ten children of whom
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Mrs. Johnson is the eighth in order of birth. The Ritter family was among the very early settlers in Jackson County. They came here about 1833. H. T. Ritter was a farmer and stock raiser and spent his entire life here except during the Civil War while Order No. 11 was in force, when he went to Texas, but returned to Jackson County in 1866. He served in the Confederate army for a short time under General Upton Hayes and was at the battle of Rock Creek, near Westport.
To Jerry Johnson and wife have been born three children as follows: Telfer, deceased; Jennie Belle, married W. L. Merrit and they reside in Van Buren township; Henry Chrisman, a motorman for the Kansas City Street Railway Company and at present employed on the Independence and Kansas City line.
Mr. Johnson is a Democrat and a member of the Baptist church. He has been a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows for the past 40 years and also belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America. He has seen Jackson County grow up and for considerably more than half a cen- tury he has been a part of its progress and development.
Ed F. Bracht .- The Ever Eat Restaurant at 206 West Lexington street, Independence, Mo. is one of the most popular eating places in the city for several reasons, chiefly because Mr. Bracht, the proprietor, is one of the best cooks in the country who prepares appetizing meals which are appreciated by hundreds of patrons. The service in the Ever Eat cafe is first class and the charges for meals and short orders are well within the means of the average person. Mr. Bracht does not believe in profiteer- ing, but he has always made it a rule to give each and every patron the full worth of his money.
Ed F. Bracht, proprietor of the Ever Eat restaurant or cafe, was born near Freedom, Mo., Oct. 23, 1880. He is a son of William and Louise (Gaynor) Bracht, both of whom were reared to the life of the farm. William Bracht was born in 1844, immigrated to America from his native country in about 1862, followed farming during his life and died in 1902. His wife, Louise, was a daughter of Frank Gaynor, of Gasconade County, who served in the Civil War with the Union forces. Louise Bracht was born in Missouri in 1855 and departed this life in 1903. The Bracht family moved to Lawrence County, Mo., in 1893 and there followed farming. There were five sons and three daughters born to William and Louise Bracht, as follows: Amanda, wife of Frank Kiso, Slater, Mo .; Caroline, wife of Gus Detmer, Sedalia, Mo .; Talita, whose husband is a physician in Kansas City, Mo .; Frank, an extensive farmer in Lawrence County,
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Mo .; August, Nevada, Mo., was killed by lightning; Henry, a sheep rancher in North Dakota; Louis, a farmer in Lawrence County, Mo .; and Ed F., of this review.
Ed F. Bracht remained at home and assisted his father on the farm until he attained his majority. He then engaged in business at Hawarden, Iowa, for three years. In 1904 he became a cook and soon afterwards came to Independence where he was in the employ of Piser Brothers who conducted the largest restaurant in the city for a number of years. From 1916 to 1919 he was employed at Sheffield, Mo. On Dec. 13, 1918, he pur- chased a restaurant on the east side of the square in Independence and in August, 1919, he bought the building in which his cafe is now located and has been doing a prosperous and ever increasing business. In fact, the trade is so heavy at times in the Ever Eat Cafe that it takes Mr. Bracht and his assistants to care for it properly.
Mr. Bracht was married in 1912 to Hannah Stratton of Independence, a daughter of Henry and Catherine Stratton, residing on South Main street. Mr. and Mrs. Stratton have the following children: Mrs. Anna Bauer, Hermann, Mo .; Edward, at home; Mrs. Hannah Bracht, of this review; Mrs. Pauline Street, Independence; Mrs. Julia Streibel, Inde- pendence; Ella, Wilma and Estelle, at home with their parents.
To Ed F. and Hannah Bracht have been born two children: Edward, born March 13, 1914; and Aline, born July 12, 1917. Mr. Bracht is an independent Republican. The family church is the Evangelical. He ranks with the truly successful business men of Independence whose suc- cess has been due to hard work and good management.
A. O. Shoup, proprietor of Shoup's Grocery, 814 North Liberty street, Independence, Mo., was born in Carroll County, Mo., and is a son of George and Sylvia Shoup, the former of whom is deceased, and the latter resides at Stockton, Texas.
George Shoup, the father, was born in Putnam County, Ohio, March 10, 1849, and died March 2, 1916, from injuries received in a motor truck accident. In 1863 he accompanied his parents to Indiana, where he at- tained young manhood, and was married to Sylvia Hasler. Soon after his marriage he moved westward to Carroll County, Mo. Mr. Shoup was the inventor of the Little Giant Well Driller, a machine which was used in the drilling of over 1,500 wells in Ray County, Mo. The children of the Shoup family are: Archie O., of this sketch; Mrs. Dollie Ketzler, Texas; Mrs. Minnie West, San Angelo, Texas; Mrs. Charles Schultz, Fort Stock- ton, Texas.
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Archie O. Shoup learned the baker's trade when a young man, and followed his trade in this city for a number of years, following which he carried the mail on Rural Route No. 6 for nine years. He is now employed as assistant engineer at the power house at Sugar Creek. His wife, Mrs. Susie Shoup, manages the store, which they purchased Feb. 1, 1918.
Mr. Shoup was married Feb. 22, 1900, to Miss Susie Angell, a daugh- ter of William W. and Jeanette (Hamilton) Shoup, who reside at 922 North Main street, Independence. William W. Angell followed contracting in this city for 35 years, and is now retired.
Harry Angell, his son, follows the business of contractor and plas- terer. Mr. Angell plastered the court house, Masonic hall, the Bryant school, and many other important buildings in the city. He is now aged 67 years. Mrs. Angell is 65 years old. Hezekiah Hamilton, grandfather of Mrs. A. O. Shoup, came to Randolph County, Mo., when a child, was reared there, and became a large land owner, the town of Clark being located on what was formerly the Hamilton farm. Mr. Hamilton attained the age of 85 years, and died in 1914. Mrs. Elsie Hasler, grandmother of Mrs. Shoup, resides at Grain Valley, and although past 95 years of age, she does her own house work. She is an expert bread baker. Mrs. Has- ler is a native of Pennsylvania, and came from Indiana to Carroll County, residing there until about 15 years ago, when she moved to Grain Valley.
A. O. and Susie Shoup have two children, Jinnette and Sylvia Belle Shoup.
Archibald Anderson Stayton, now residing on his farm in Prairie township, is a worthy representative of one of Jackson County's prominent pioneer families, and is of the third generation of the Staytons who have been identified with the history of Jackson County.
Archibald Anderson Stayton was born in Blue township, Jackson County, July 9, 1860. He is a son of Thomas and Jane (Medows) Stayton, and was one of the following children born to them: John I., deceased; Thomas A., lives in Idaho; Mrs. Susan R. Graycraft, lives in Cass County ; Sally, married John Elsey, and is deceased; Archibald A., the subject of this sketch ; James A., deceased, and Ruth, deceased. The mother of these children died about 1870, and the father was married again, to Mrs. Ma- tilda (Corn) Helms, a widow, and to this union the following children were born: Col. Edward M., a civil engineer, who served in the World War, and saw service in France, and a biographical sketch of whom ap- pears in this volume; Charles C., lives in Montana, and Betty is deceased.
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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY
Thomas Stayton was born in Tennessee about 1827. His parents moved from Tennessee to Kentucky, and from there to Missouri. He was a son of John Stayton, who upon coming to this county, settled upon the Lexington highway. Later he bought land on the Blue Springs road, where he erected a large brick house, after the style of the early day planter's home, and here reared a family of ten children, and he and his wife spent the remainder of their lives there. Thomas Stayton followed farming throughout his life, and was the owner of 240 acres of land east of Independence, where he died in 1878, at the age of 58 years.
Archibald Anderson Stayton remained on the home farm until he was about 18 years of age, when he and his brother, Thomas, engaged in farming in partnership, which they continued until 1882, when they dis- solved partnership and divided their interests, and Archibald A. became the sole owner of the land which has since been his home, and where he has successfully carried on farming and stock raising.
May 12, 1886, Mr. Stayton was united in marriage with Miss Nannie B. Winborn, a native of Kentucky. To Mr. and Mrs. Stayton have been born two children, as follows: Golden E., married C. Steele, Scammon, Kan .; and Sally, married L. M. Munsen, and they also reside at Scammon.
Mr. Stayton is a Democrat, and a member of the Knights of Pythias. He has seen Jackson develop from almost a primitive state to become one of the populous sections of the country. He recalls the time when Indians from the nearby reservations frequently prowled around the vicinity of the Stayton home, and has a distinct recollection of one occa- sion when he was at home caring for his youngest sister, who was a babe in the cradle, when Indians came, and asked for "roosters and onions." Young Stayton was very much frightened at the sight of the so-called noble red men, and this incident made a lasting impression on his mind.
William A. Smith, of Greenwood, Mo., has long been recognized as a prominent factor in both the agricultural and financial interest of this section of the state. His career from the beginning has been marked by success. For many years he was extensively engaged in farming and stock raising and is now the owner of 770 acres of land which constitutes one of the valuable farms of Jackson County. It is located in Prairie township and is now being operated by Jesse L. Smith, son of William A. For many years Mr. Smith was an extensive breeder of Aberdeen Angus cattle but closed out his herd in 1917. Several years ago he became inter- ested in the banking business and was one of the charter members of the Farmers Bank of Lees Summit and also the Bank of Greenwood. He
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