USA > Missouri > Jackson County > History of Jackson County, Missouri > Part 69
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holds stock in several banks throughout Missouri, Kansas, New Mexico and Arkansas.
William A. Smith was born in Macoupin County, Ill., Sept. 1, 1857, and is the son of Jesse A. and Selah B. (Roach) Smith. Eight children were born to them, as follows: L. P., deceased; Carrie, now the widow of W. A. Wilson, residing at Belton, Texas; William A., the subject of this sketch; C. H., deceased; G. W., Denison, Texas; B. F., Marionville, Mo .; Annie, died in infancy, and Myrtle, married W. I. Kipp, Fort Scott, Kan. Jesse A. Smith was born in Kentucky in 1834 and from his native state went to Illinois and in 1869 came to Missouri with his family and located at Greenwood, Jackson County. Here he engaged in farming and stock raising and was later engaged in buying and shipping livestock; he died in 1904 at the age of 70 years. His wife was a native of Tennessee and died in Jackson County, Dec. 25, 1885, at the age of 54 years.
William A. Smith was about 12 years old when he came to Jackson County with his parents in 1869; he received his education in the public schools in Illinois and also attended school at Greenwood, Mo. after com- ing to this state. He was married before he was 20 years of age and began his independent career as a farmer and stockman and was suc- cessful from the start. He early recognized that feeding cattle for the market was one of the most profitable phases of farming and the stock business and for over 40 years he was engaged in that business and ac- cumulated a fortune. He always worked hard and gave his business strict attention-never depending upon so called fate or lucky accidents. In 1910 he erected a large modern brick residence in Greenwood which is one of the fine homes of Jackson County.
Oct. 2, 1876, William A. Smith was united in marriage with Jennie A. Maddox, a native of Kentucky and a daughter of Larkin and Eveline (Belcher) Maddox, early settlers in Jackson County and both now de- ceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Smith have been born one son, Jesse L., who is now operating his father's farm. He was educated in the public schools and Wentworth Military School. He married June Gerard, a daughter of Dr. Gerard of Pleasant Hill, Mo., and they have three daughters.
William A. Smith is a Democrat. He is a member of the Baptist church and a trustee in the local congregation of that denomination.
Notwithstanding that Mr. Smith has been a hard worker and lived a strenuous business life he has been able to separate his work from his play and recreation, and is a great devotee to a certain class of outdoor sports. He is fond of hunting and fishing and when ever there is a fox
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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY
hunt of any particular interest in any part of the state he is generally numbered among those present. This is a trait which he inherited from his father who was also a great lover of the chase, and the sound of the pack was sweet music to him. Jesse L. Smith, like his father and grand- father, is also fond of hunting and fishing.
William A. Smith has had a successful career of which any man may be justly proud. He is progressive and public spirited and one of Jackson County's highly esteemed citizens.
William W. Talley, a progressive farmer and stockman of Prairie township, who owns and operates 100 acres of productive land, is a native son of this county, and a descendant of Jackson County pioneers. The Talley family came from Kentucky to Jackson County, settling here as early as 1832. This was an early day in the settlement of this county and since that time the Talley family has been identified with the great growth and development of Jackson County.
William W. Talley was born in Prairie township on the farm where he now resides, Jan. 6, 1858. He is a son of David and Mary (Fristoe) Talley, natives of Kentucky. Further details of the history of the Talley family appear in connection with the sketch of Spencer L. Talley in this volume.
To David and Mary (Fristoe) Talley were born 10 children as follow: Mrs. John Fristoe is now deceased; Richard, deceased; Thomas, deceased ; Ruse, married William Garnhart, now deceased; Charles H., resides at Hickman Mills; Polly married C. Neal and lives in Jackson County ; Spencer L., a sketch of whom appears in this volume; Sally, married Mart Fristoe and resides at Grain Valley; William W., the subject of this sketch; and Katie, deceased.
William W. Talley was reared and educated in Jackson County. He spent his early life on the home farm and has always made farming and stock raising his chief occupation and has met with success.
In February, 1880, William W. Talley was united in marriage with Miss Mollie Evans, a native of Kentucky. She is a daughter of Bart Evans and her mother bore the maiden name of Frances Tucker. They were early settlers in Jackson County and came here from Kentucky. To Mr. and Mrs. Talley have been born four children as follow: Claudine, married Percy Robinson, Pleasant Hill; Frank, Raytown; Waller, Lees Summit, and Artie, married Fred Garder, Prairie Home township.
Mr. Talley is a Democrat. He takes an active interest in local affairs and is the present road overseer of his district. He is a member of the Christian church.
WILLIAM TALLEY.
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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY
William Lee Ragsdale, a leading farmer and stockman of Van Buren township is a native of Missouri and a member of one of the pioneer fam- ilies of this state. He was born near Columbus, Johnson County, Feb. 9, 1864, a son of Dr. Edward and Elizabeth (Easley) Ragsdale, and was one of five children born to them, as follows: Lulu, married M. C. Wither- spoon and is now deceased; William Lee, the subject of this sketch; Anna E., married Z. W. Yankee, Lone Jack, Mo .; Dr. Edward W., a physician and surgeon, La Junta, Col., and Dr. Thomas J., a physician and surgeon at Lees Summit, Mo.
Dr. Edward Ragsdale was born in Bedford County, Tenn., July 30, 1837, and died July 25, 1916. He was a son of Edward Ragsdale, who was a native of Tennessee and spent the latter part of his life in Holt County, Mo. He was an extensive cattle man.
Dr. Edward Ragsdale worked hard to obtain his education, working for 25 cents per day at farm labor, and finally borrowed money from a Mr. Ridings to pay his way through college. After obtaining a good preliminary education he attended the Polk Medical School of St. Louis and afterwards attended medical college in Philadelphia, Pa., where he was graduated with the degree of the Doctor of Medicine. This was prior to the Civil War and he located at Lone Jack before the Civil War came on and practiced his profession there during the war. He was one of the widely known pioneer physicians of this section of Missouri. He was a profound student of this profession and successful, and had a wide repu- tation as a skilled physician. He retired from practice in 1912 and moved to Lees Summit, where he died July 25, 1916. His wife died in 1918. She was a native of Jackson County, born in 1835.
William Lee Ragsdale was reared at Lone Jack and educated in the public schools there, when he was about 18 years old his father moved to the farm where William L. now resides, which consists of 300 acres. Mr. Ragsdale has made farming and stock raising his life's work and is one of the successful and practical farmers and stockmen of Jackson County.
April 14, 1912, William Lee Ragsdale was united in marriage with Miss Iva Round, a native of Jackson County and a daughter of John E. and Mollie (Cave) Round early settlers of Jackson County. To Mr. and Mrs. Ragsdale have been born two children, Lee E. and Thomas E.
Mr. Ragsdale has been a life long Democrat and is one of Jackson County's enterprising and public spirited citizens.
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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY
John T. Bynum .- Every community owes much to the pioneers who laid the foundation and made possible a better place for future generations to live and Jackson County is no exception to the rule. The Bynum family are justly entitled to the credit to being numbered amongst Jackson County's very early permanent pioneer settlers; they have been identified with Jackson County since 1836.
John T. Bynum, whose name introduces this sketch, was born in Van Buren township on the farm which he now owns and where he resides, Nov. 3, 1859. He is a son of John and Charlotte (Cave) Bynum, and is the youngest of six children born to them and the only one now living.
John Bynum, father of John T. Bynum, was a native of Tennessee and came to Jackson County in 1836 with his parents. He engaged in farming and spent the remainder of his life in the vicinity of Lone Jack and was one of the worthy pioneers of this county. He was known throughout eastern Jackson County among his many friends and acquaint- ances as "Uncle Jack". He was a public spirited Christian gentleman of the old school. He was an ardent church worker and was one of the organizers of the Christian church of Lone Jack. He became the owner of 200 acres of land the ownership of which fell to John T. at his father's death, June 20, 1897 in his seventy-sixth year His wife who was a native of North Carolina, died Oct. 6, 1905 at the age of 89 years.
John T. Bynum was reared on the farm where he now resides and attended the district school in Van Buren township. He has followed farming and stock raising and has been successful in his undertakings. He recalls many incidents of the days when the pioneer methods of agri- culture were in practice; when oxen were the principal motor power on the farm, and he has driven oxen many times in the early days.
Mr. Bynum was married March 25, 1888, to Miss Clarice Clements, a native of Kentucky, born Aug. 1, 1868, and died May 16, 1899. To John T. and Clarice Bynum were born five children as follows: Brittie, mar- ried R. Adams of Van Buren township and has one child, Delma; Benja- min, deceased; Lawrence C. resides on the home place; Margaret, mar- ried M. A. Bennett, resides on the home place and has two children, Clarice and John C .; and Eula M. married John Wilkerson, Johnson County, Mo.
Mr. Bynum was married the second time, Aug. 27, 1913 to Mrs. Lila Phelps Burns, a native of Illinois. No children have been born to this union.
Mr. Bynum is a Democrat and has always taken a good citizens interest in political matter. In 1913 he was appointed road overseer and
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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY
is now serving his fifth term in that capacity. His appointment to this position is a very appropriate one as he is a strong advocate of good roads and knows how to build them.
James B. Colton, a leading farmer and stockman of Washington town- ship, has been identified with the agricultural interests of Jackson County since early manhood. Mr. Colton was born in Crawford County, Pa., Nov. 27, 1863, and is a son of James B. and Mary (Eckert) Colton, and is the youngest of a family of seven children born to them. James B. Colton was born in Pennsylvania and his wife was a native of New York state. They came to Jackson County with their family in 1878 and located at Hickman's Mill and here spent the remainder of their lives. The father was a carpenter and worked at his trade practically all his life.
James B. Colton spent his early boyhood in his native state and was educated in the public schools of Erie, Pa. He was about 15 years of age when he came to Jackson County with his parents and began life in this county farming rented land. Later he bought a farm and now owns 160 acres of valuable and well improved land where he is successfully carrying on general farming and stock raising.
Mr. Colton was united in marriage May 19, 1890, with Miss Cora A. Miller, a native of Bedford, Ind. She is a daughter of Simpson and Mary A. (Mathews) Miller who settled in Jackson County in 1884. The father is now deceased and the mother resides with Mr. and Mrs. Colton. To James B. Colton and wife have been born three children as follows: Paul, at home with his parents; George, a farmer and stockman in Washington township and Nellie, a teacher in the public schools in Martin City, Mo.
Mr. Colton is a Republican and he and Mrs. Colton are members of the Christian church. He is a progressive and enterprising citizen and takes a commendable interest in public affairs.
Calvin S. Shore, a well known citizen of Van Buren township and owner of 160 acres of land is a native of Missouri. He was born in Lafayette County, Feb. 24, 1856, and is the son of Samuel R. and Zerrelda (Parent) Shore, who were the parents of 14 children, five of whom are living.
Samuel R. Shore was born in North Carolina, April 1, 1820, and came to Missouri when he was 15 years old. He died in Jackson County in 1911. His wife was also a native of North Carolina and they were mar- ried Oct. 21, 1840. She was born Nov. 11, 1820 and died June 6, 1896.
Calvin S. Shore was educated in the public schools of Lafayette County, attending the high school at Chapel Hill. Since early boyhood
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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY
he has been actively engaged in the cattle business and has had a wide experience in that line. When a boy he and his brother Stephen went to the southern part of Missouri where they were engaged in the cattle busi- ness together. In early life he owned a farm in western Kansas and herded cattle in that state and on the plains of Colorado. Before coming to Jackson County he owned land in Lafayette and Cass counties, Mo. He came to Jackson County in 1896 and purchased his present farm of 160 acres and since coming here has made many improvements on the place. For a number of years he was also interested in raising Percheron horses and took particular pride in this department of animal husbandry. His sons are now carrying on the farming operations and his son Roy is con- ducting the dairy business and also raises a great many standard bred brown leghorn chickens.
Mr. Shore was married Jan. 28, 1880, to Miss Illabelle Wood, a native of Knox County, Ohio, born Dec. 27, 1858. She is a daughter of John and Julia A. (Sims) Wood, natives of Virginia and Ohio, respectively. They came to Missouri and settled in Lafayette County in 1877 and later moved to Pleasant Hill where they both died. To Mr. and Mrs. Calvin S. Shore have been born nine children as follows: Harvey; Carol; May, a teacher; Frank; Roy ; Les ; Charles ; Mark and William E. All the children are re- siding at home with their parents excepting Frank, who resides at Flor- ence, Colo. and William E., who died in infancy.
Mr. and Mrs. Shore and family are members of the Baptist church and he is a Democrat.
Edward M. Stayton was born on the old Thomas Stayton farm two miles southeast of Independence, Sept. 4, 1874. He spent the early part of his life here, obtaining his early education in the nearby district school and in the high school at Independence. In 1892 he entered the Missouri State University where he took a special course in Civil Engineering and also took an active part in the military department of the University. He had enlisted in Company F, Third Missouri Infantry, Feb. 9, 1891, and had received quite a little preliminary training in the company. On entering the University he was given an opportunity to show his ability in handling a squad of recruits.
In a short while he was promoted to first sergeant and in the middle of the year became sergeant major of the battalion. In the fall of 1894 he was made first lieutenant of Company A, and in the absence of the captain of that company was its commander. In Decem- ber a vacancy among the captains occurred and he was promoted to the grade of captain in recognition of the ability he had shown.
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COL. E. M. STAYTON
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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY
The first important engineering work he did was on the construction of the Kansas City Southern Railway, beginning in January, 1895. He began this work as a rod man and was very soon promoted to instrument man and later resident engineer. Following this he was engaged in the construction of a branch of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway in Oklahoma; a part of the Kansas City, Mexico & Orient Railway in Okla- home and Texas and the St. Louis & San Francisco Railway in Oklahoma.
In December, 1904, he went to Spanish Honduras where he located and built some industrial railroads for the handling of the products of several banana plantations and some heavy mahogany timber.
In 1907 he was employed by the Harriman syndicate to make surveys for some proposed railways in Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas, and later on investigations for betterments of the Central Georgia Railway in Alabama, Georgia and Florida. He spent a great deal of time in investigating the possibilities of a system of interurban railways out of Kansas City, par- ticipating in the final location and the construction of the existing inter- urbans from Kansas City to St. Joseph and to Excelsior Springs in 1911.
From 1911 to 1916 he was engaged in general consultation work, specializing in highways and railways. In 1916 by appointment of Gov- ernor Major he became Highway Engineer of Jackson County, which posi- tion he was able to hold but a few months, being called into military service for duty on the Mexican border.
In 1907 he contributed his services as commandant of cadets for Inde- pendence High School, which position he filled for two years. On June 15, 1910, he became Captain of Company F, Third Missouri Infantry and was transferred to the Missouri Artillery Battalion with his company Nov. 24, 1914 and was made major of artillery March 7, 1915.
On June 19, 1916, he was called into the Federal service and took his battalion to the Mexican border, where he remained on duty at Loredo until Dec. 24, when his battalion was returned to its home station. On July 20, 1917 he was transferred from the artillery to the Missouri Engineer's Corps and organized a battalion of engineers which he took into the Federal service on Aug. 5, 1917 for service in the World War.
The battalion went to Camp Doniphan for training, where it became a part of the 110th Engineers. This regiment arrived in France with the 35th Division, May 10, 1918, and went immediately to the front. The regiment participated in the Amiens occupation with the British, later the Vosages occupation with the French, the St. Mihiel offensive, the
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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY
Argonne offensive, the Verdun occupation and after the armistice, the building of the camp at Brest.
On arriving at St. Mihiel he was placed in command of his regiment and commanded it through the heavy service that was demanded of it during the remainder of its stay in France. While the division was en- gaged in the Argonne offensive, it became necessary for the engineers to take over the entire division front, owing to the serious losses the infantry had sustained. The line to be occupied was selected and its occupation superintended by Major Stayton, who was complimented for the prompt and skillful manner in which the position on Schadron Hill was occupied under the heavy shell fire. At the conclusion of the regiment's partici- pation in the Argonne offensive, he was promoted to the grade of Lieu- tenant Colonel and continued on duty with his regiment and when the regiment was relieved from duty in France it was his privilege to bring the regiment back home to the magnificent welcome that was given them.
On July 26, 1898, Col. Stayton was married to Miss Estella Compton, who was raised on the farm adjoining his birth place and who had been his childhood playmate. One child, a son, George Edward Stayton, re- sulted from this union.
Col. Stayton became an Assoc. M. Am. Soc. C. E., Feb. 4, 1903, and was transferred to full membership in 1907. He also has memberships and is active in the affairs of several other professional societies.
He has always taken an active interest in the civil and business affairs of his home town. He participated in the organization of the Home De- posit Trust Company and has been one of its directors and vice-presidents since its organization. He is also very active in Masonic circles and is a member of the various Masonic bodies, including the Scottish Rite bodies and the Shrine of Kansas City. He held the various offices in Independ- ence Lodge No. 76, and was its master.
On his return from France with his regiment he was discharged from service at Camp Funston and a few days after his return to his home was asked by the County Court of Clay County to take the position of Con- sulting Engineer for their system of 200 miles of paved road. He ac- cepted this position and resumed the general practice of his profession with headquarters at Liberty.
When in December, 1919, the coal situation became serious on ac- count of strikes, the State institutions being practically without coal and very little being available for domestic purposes and none at all for indus- trial purposes, the Governor of Missouri took over the coal mines of the
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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY
State for operation. Col. Stayton was immediately selected to go to Bar- ton County as the superintendent of operations for the mines located in that part of the State. In a few hours after his arrival he had all of the mining property under military guard and had begun the distribution of the skilled labor necessary to begin the operation of the mines, and in 30 hours after his arrival, coal was being loaded. The strike ended in just a week after the governor's proclamation, but in that time the mines had been put in operation by the use of volunteer labor and had almost reached the point of normal production. Colonel Stayton was highly complimented by the governor and all concerned for the energetic and business like man- ner in which he took hold of a most difficult situation and produced re- sults without any delay whatever. Adjutant General Harvey C. Clark in a letter conveying his own and the governor's appreciation for Colonel Stayton's work in this emergency, used these words :
"It is a great satisfaction to the governor to know that an officer of your exceptional ability and who has distinguished himself so remark- ably in France was ready to answer the call of the State regardless of the personal sacrifice entailed. A state which numbers such soldiers among its citizens is most fortunate."
Charles W. Brownfield, a prominent farmer and stockman, and the owner of 80 acres of valuable land in Prairie township, is a native of Ohio. He was born in Adams County, Ohio, June 13, 1867, and is a son of Wil- liam and Sarah (Wade) Brownfield. William Brownfield was born near Manchester, Adams County, Ohio, and came to Jackson County with his family in 1871. Here he engaged in farming and stock raising, and was one of the early successful breeders of Shorthorn cattle in this county. He died on his home farm here in 1891, at the age of 72 years. His wife was a native of Virginia. She died in 1893, in her 65th year. They were the parents of the following children: Samuel, deceased; Joseph, who was a soldier in the Civil War, deceased; Randolph, deceased; William, re- sides in Kansas City, Kan .; Albert, Stockton, Cedar County, Mo .; Anna, married John Muse, and is now a widow, residing at Greenwood, Mo .; Lizzie, married James Belcher, Prairie township; Mrs. Emma Walker, Kansas City, Kan .; Oliver, Independence; Charles W., the subject of this sketch ; and Oda, resides at Greenwood, Mo.
Charles W. Brownfield was about four years of age when his parents settled in Jackson County in 1871. He was reared on the farm and re- ceived his education in the public schools of Jackson County. His early training was along the line of farming and stock raising, and he has de-
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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY
voted himself to this line of work and has been successful. He bought his present farm in Prairie township in 1908 and at that time paid $100 an acre for the same which was then considered a high price for farm land. He has made extensive improvements upon the place and has re- cently refused an offer of $400 per acre, which goes to show that Mr. Brownfield made a wise investment and is the owner of one of Jackson County's valuable farms.
July 23, 1890, Charles Brownfield was united in marriage with Miss Eliza Beal, a native of Virginia. To Mr. and Mrs. Brownfield have been born ten children: Wade resides at home with his parents; Earl, Lone Jack, Mo .; Mrs. Jessie Jennings, Greenwood, Mo .; Hazel, a teacher in the public schools of Prairie township; and Charles, Allen, Delane, Mildred, Frances and Beal, all residing at home with their parents.
Mr. Brownfield is a Republican and a member of the Christian church and holds membership in the Modern Woodmen of America.
Thomas J. Boten, a progressive farmer and stockman of Prairie town- ship is a native of Jackson County. He was born in Prairie township Nov. 14, 1883. His parents were Thomas and Emily (Lawrence) Boten, both natives of Missouri. Thomas Boten was born in Missouri. His parents both died when he was a child and he was reared in Platte County. Dur- ing the Civil War he was employed as a freighter by the government. He followed farming and stock raising in Jackson County during his entire career he owned a farm of 120 acres southwest of Lees Summit and 145 acres northeast of Lees Summit. He was an industrious man and a good citizen and was quite successful in his undertakings, he died on his home farm in Jackson County in 1897, aged about 62 years. Emily (Lawrence) Boten, mother of Thomas J. Boten was born in Platte County, Mo. She died in 1912 at the age of 65 years.
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