USA > Missouri > Jackson County > History of Jackson County, Missouri > Part 72
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In 1908 Mr. Bennett was a candidate for constable. He stands six feet, six inches in height, and weighs 210 pounds, and was awarded the prize at Independence fair in 1913 as being the tallest man on the grounds.
.N. H. Phelps, farmer and dairyman, deputy marshal of Jackson County, owner of a fine farm of 58 acres on the old Lees Summit road, now known as the Phelps road, in Blue township, is a native son of Jack- son County. His father was Josiah Phelps, a native of Kentucky, who came to Jackson County in pioneer days with his father.
* * Josiah Phelps, during the Civil War, returned to Kentucky, and re- mained there until the war was over. He followed farming and stock raising after the war, and became the owner of 320 acres of land. " He
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died in 1884. During his lifetime he was prominent in Jackson County, and was a leader of the Democratic party. The children of the Phelps family are as follow: E. O., Thomas, Independence, Mo .; John, lives in Oklahoma; Mrs. Rosa Smith, deceased; N. H., subject of this sketch; Marion A., Blue Springs, Mo .; Mrs. Jennie Inman, deceased; Mrs. Julia Chatman, Sniabar township. More details of the Phelps family history are given in the sketch of Thomas Phelps in this volume.
N. H. Phelps, of this review, was educated in the district schools, and has followed farming and dairying successfully for several years. For the past 12 years he has filled the post of deputy marshal of Jackson County, and is now serving under County Marshal H. C. Hoffman. His fine farm of 58 acres is situated within two miles of Independence, and is a very pretty tract, improved with a handsome residence of six rooms, erected in 1891.
Mr. Phelps was married in 1890, to Miss Emma C. Crewell, a daugh- ter of William Crewell, an old settler of Blue township, a sketch of whom appears in this volume. Mr. and Mrs. Phelps have one son, William Jo- .seph, aged 24 years, at home with his parents.
Mr. Phelps is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and the Fraternal Order of Eagles, and is deservedly popular in Jackson County.
Henry J. Binger .- The life story of Henry J. Binger, farmer and stockman, owner of 65 acres of excellent farm land on the Rock road, nine miles from Independence, and within three miles of Blue Springs, is that of a self-made man. Left an orphan in his boyhood days, he was forced to go to work for his living at a tender age. Through years of hard work and good management he has succeeded and is now one of the leading and prosperous citizens of Jackson County.
Mr. Binger was born March 10, 1870, near Milwaukee, Wis., and is a son of Joseph and Magdalena Binger, natives of Germany, who were pio- neers in the wilderness of Wisconsin. The father died not long after the birth of his son, Henry J., and the mother died in 1883, when in her fif- tieth year. Five children were left orphans, as follows: Charles, de- ceased; Henry J., of this review; Minnie and George, deceased; Andrew, whose whereabouts are unknown.
Henry J. Binger accompanied his mother to Jackson County in 1876, and when she died he was left homeless and penniless at the age of 14 years. For two months following he worked in Independence for a bare living. For the next two years he worked for a farmer at Carrollton, and managed to attend school for two terms of nine months during that
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period. He received $8.00 a month for his services, and bought his own clothes. Returning to Jackson County, he worked as farm laborer until 24 years of age, and won a reputation as a splendid worker and good farmer. After his marriage, Mr. Binger lived for three years on the Gato place, and then rented the Tom Clayton farm for seven years. His mother-in-law then induced him to take charge of her place, and he man- aged it for three years. It was then he bought his present home place of 65 acres, which is easily worth $300 per acre.
In August, 1894, Mr. Binger was married to Miss Lura DeWitt, a daughter of the late Daniel and Caroline (Lowe) DeWitt, the latter of whom is one of the oldest pioneer women of Jackson County, now being in the eighty-eighth year of her age. Three children have been born to Henry J. and Lura Binger: Herman, aged 22 years ; and Comer and Fred, deceased. Herman Binger enlisted for service in the National Army in 1918, and served for six weeks at Columbia, Mo., in the motor transport service, immediately after he became twenty-one years of age. He be- came ill with influenza, and nearly lost his life.
Mr. Binger is a Democrat. He is a member of the Presbyterian church, and is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias of Independence. He is one of the substantial and influential citizens of his neighborhood, and is known as a progressive and enterprising farmer, who has the respect and esteem of all who know him.
Col. James E. Hare, auctioneer, Independence, Mo., was born at Cam- den, Ray County, Mo., in 1881, and is a son of Thomas and Julia (Lally) Hare, both of whom are deceased.
Thomas Hare was born in Yorkshire, England, in 1829 and died in 1917. He emigrated from England to America in 1849 and settled at Lexington, Mo., where he was married in 1865 to Julia Lally who was born in Indiana in 1839. Mrs. Hare died in 1895. Thomas and Julia Hare were parents of the following children: Mrs. Sarah Ann Conners, de- ceased; Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Bowers, Lexington, Mo .; George J. Hare, de- ceased; Thomas E. Hare, Excelsior Springs, Mo .; Mrs. Kate Halleran, Lexington, Mo .; and James E. Hare, of this review.
While James E. Hare was a youth, his parents removed to Lexington, Mo. and he attended the public schools of that city. Up to the time of his entering the profession of auctioneer he was engaged in various mercan- tile pursuits. Coming to Jackson County in 1897, he settled in Inde- pendence. The first sale which Colonel Hare cried was for W. H. John- son in 1915. This sale was a success and he has since followed the pro- fession and is devoting his entire time to the crying of public sales.
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Colonel Hare was married in 1906 to Catherine M. Golden of Rich- mond, Mo., a daughter of James E. and Mary Golden, both of whom are deceased; Mr. and Mrs. Hare have five children: Marie Winifred, James E., Thomas Francis, George Michael and Harry Fagan.
J. B. Todd, postmaster of Sugar Creek, Jackson County, is a native of Texas. He was born June 16, 1881, in Whitney, Texas, and is a son of Edward and Jennie (Spaulding) Todd, both of whom were natives of Tennessee. Edward Todd went to Oklahoma in 1891, and located in Muskogee, when the present large city was but a growing village, and there were but two brick buildings in the place. He embarked in business in that city, and continued in mercantile pursuits until his retirement, in 1909. His wife died in 1917, and he lives in Muskogee.
J. B. Todd accompanied his parents to Oklahoma in 1891, and was there reared to young manhood. He was educated at the National Nor- mal University, Lebanon, Ohio, pursuing the scientific course in this well known school from 1899 to 1902. He then returned to Muskogee, and in 1904 he was married to Miss Lochie Ballard, of Sherman, Texas. She is a daughter of the Rev. C. L. Ballard, a minister of the Methodist Epis- copal church. Mr. and Mrs. Todd have three children: Ballard, Dorothy and Edward. Mrs. Todd died in July, 1913, and her remains were in- terred at Wagner, Okla.
In August, 1914, J. B. Todd came to Jackson County, and opened a drug store at Sugar Creek. He was appointed postmaster in 1915, suc- ceeding L. W. Ballinger, and Feb. 16, 1917, the Sugar Creek office was placed in the third class. Mr. Todd was appointed by President Wilson for a four-year term.
The first postmaster appointed at Sugar Creek was Ed. Harding, who received his appointment in 1903. L. W. Ballinger succeeded him in 1906, and Ballinger was succeeded by Mr. Todd in 1915. While this office. has no rural routes or free delivery, it is the most unique in the United States, because of the fact that Sugar Creek is not an incorporated town. The office receipts will exceed $2,400 yearly, this large business being due to the patronage of the Standard Oil Company, and many of its 2,000 employes.
Mr. Todd is a courteous and obliging official, who takes a keen inter- est in the duties of his office and administers its affairs in a capable man- ner with the aid of his assistant, Miss Vivian Wilson, who has been in the office for the past three years. The first mail messenger from the Santa Fe railroad depot to the Sugar Creek postoffice was J. H. Thatch, who
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carried the mail from March, 1906, to January, 1909, and never missed a mail, resigning in January, 1919, on account of his advanced age, he be- ing then 75 years old. .
Mr. Todd is a member of Wagner Lodge, No. 98, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, and the Chapter at the same city. He is affiliated also with the Woodmen of the World.
Burr Curtis Loar, 1216 West Lexington street, who for the past seven years has been conducting a thriving moving and storage business, employing from one to six men, using two moving vans, and maintaining two storage houses, one at the corner of Cottage and Washington, and the other on Washington Park boulevard, was born in Elk County, Kan., Aug. 30, 1874. He is a son of Wilson Shannon and Lucinda J. (White) Loar.
Wilson Shannon Loar was a veteran of the Civil War, enlisting in Kansas City, and serving with the Union armies. He freighted from Kan- sas City to Fort Scott for a number of years prior to the building of the railroad to Fort Scott. He died at the age of 74 years, and is buried in Woodlawn cemetery. Mrs. Lucinda J. Loar resides at 412 West Sea ave- nue. The children born to Wilson Shannon and Lucinda J. Loar are: Mrs. Millie Street, deceased; Mrs. Nora Reitzel, Waterville, Kan .; Mrs. Rosa Nesbitt, Independence, Mo .; B. C. Loar, of this review; Delbert, 700 South Cottage street, Independence; Grace, at home with her mother; Mrs. Stella Loveland, St. Clair Park, Blue township; Mrs. Lulu Scott, Minneapolis, Kan.
B. C. Loar was educated in the public schools of Kansas and Mount Ayre, Iowa, and Independence, Mo. For seven years he was chief clerk of the Missouri and Kansas Telephone Company, after which he engaged in the business of buying, building up and selling grocery stores in Kan- sas City and Independence.
Mr. Loar established his transfer and storage business in July, 1913, and has made a success of the undertaking. He has two moving vans, employs from one to six men, and has storage houses at Cottage street and Washington Park boulevard, and at 1230 West Rubey street.
Mr. Loar was married May 28, 1898, to Miss Cora Crawford, of John- son County, Mo., who has borne him children as follow: Hazel Margaret Loar, a graduate of Independence High School, studied at Spaulding's Commercial College, Kansas City, and is now employed as stenographer ' for Hickman-Warren Manufacturing Company, at Centropolis, Mo.
Mrs. Cora (Crawford) Loar was a daughter of Hampton and Mar- garet (Foss) Crawford, who died when she was but an infant, and she
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was reared by her foster parents, H. J. and Mary J. Lingo, of Post Oak, Johnson County, Mo. H. J. Lingo was born in Illinois, and moved to Johnson County, Mo., in 1882. He purchased a farm in that county, and owned 200 acres at the time of his death in his ninetieth year. Mary (Foss) Lingo, his wife, was born near New Albany, Ind., in 1846. She was a daughter of Lorenzo and Martha J. Foss, the former of whom came to America when 26 years old, and settled in Indiana. Mrs. Mary J. Lingo resides with Mr. and Mrs. Loar. Mrs. Cora Loar was educated in the Warrensburg State Normal School.
Mr. Loar is financial secretary of the Security Benefit Association, Independence, Local No. 418.
William M. Norris, a well known farmer and stockman, who is oper- ating 320 acres of land in Prairie township, where he is carrying on general farming, and also breeding Polled Hereford cattle, is a native of Missouri. He was born at Fredericksburg, Ray County, May 21, 1857, and is a son of Middleton and Susan (Adams) Norris, who were the parents of four children, of whom William M. is the second in order of birth. The father died when William M. was 11 years old, and the mother afterwards mar- ried John Sharp, and one child was born to that union. The mother is now deceased.
William M. Norris was reared in Ray County to the age of 10 years, when he came to Jackson County with his parents, in 1867. He re- mained at home until the death of his mother, in 1881, and since that time has been doing for himself. He has operated rented land success- fully, and for the past 13 years has been on the same farm, which is the property of Mary E. Long, of Kansas City, Mo. Since 1913, he has been breeding Polled Hereford cattle, and has met with considerably more than ordinary success in this department of animal husbandry.
Mr. Norris has been married three times. His first wife was Mary Horan. No children were born to that union. His second marriage was to Amanda Strange, and two children were born to that union: Arville, Kansas City. Mo., and Harley, deceased. On Jan. 23, 1890, Mr. Norris was married to Alice Neidig, a native of Michigan, and a daughter of Jesse and Sarah Ann (Myer) Neidig, the former a native of Ohio, and the latter of Maryland. The Neidig family came to Jackson County in 1894, and the parents are both now deceased. To William M. and Alice (Neidig) Norris have been born three children: William Russell, Prairie township; Ruth E., an English teacher in high school, and Harry M., who resides at home with his parents.
WILLIAM M. NORRIS.
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Mr. Norris has been a witness to much progress and development within the period of his recollection in this section of Missouri. When he was a boy growing up, he endured much hardship and many inconve- niences, common to the early days. He was born in a log cabin, and after the death of his father, assisted his widowed mother to maintain the fam- ily in a meager way. When a mere boy he drove oxen and plowed and hauled logs with them. He was probably 10 years old before he ever saw a wagon of any kind. Such was the scarcity of conveniences among the pioneers of the section where he lived 50 years ago.
Mr. Norris is a member of the Baptist church, and is a Democrat. He has always taken an interest in local affairs.
John L. Cook, proprietor of the Maple Avenue Market, is one of the most successful business men of Independence. "Cook's" or the Maple Avenue Market was started in 1915 at 300 Maple avenue. Besides this establishment, Mr. Cook is the owner of another market at 112 East Lex- ington street, which he opened in 1901. Mr. Cook began his business experience in Independence in 1899, when he became associated with Martin and Company, on the west side of the square. He was with Smart and Company on South Main street, this being his first venture on his own account.
The Maple Avenue Market occupies a frontage of 50 feet, with a depth of 100 feet, and a basement extending under half of the store space. His East Lexington store, which also handles meats and groceries, occu- pies two rooms 30 x 100 feet. Mr. Cook does a large wholesale business in meats and groceries, in addition to his retail business. He has a contract with Jackson County to furnish supplies for five county institutions, and employs a total of 15 salespeople in his stores.
John L. Cook was born on a farm near Blue Springs, in 1879, and is a son of Marion and Isabelle (Holloway) Cook, both of whom are now liv- ing on the Blue Springs road, on the farm owned by the subject of this sketch, which consists of 76 acres. Mr. Cook learned the butcher's trade at Hume, Mo., with his father. His knowledge of the grocery and meat business has been gained through experience, and the extensive concern under his ownership and management is the result of close application to business, fair treatment of the public, and unfailing courtesy to his hun- dreds of patrons at all times.
John L. Cook was married in 1901 to Miss Louise Zeller, of Rovanna, Neb., a daughter of Mathis Zeller, who resides in Nebraska. The future Cook family residence is in process of erection at 214 Farmer street, and
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will be a modern structure of eight rooms, built of rock and stucco, at a cost of $8,000.
Mr. Cook is a member of the Baptist church. He is affiliated with the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, and is a Shriner and a Thirty- : second degree Mason. He is also a member of the Knights of Pythias, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Fraternal Order of Eagles, and the Loyal Order of Moose. He has served as councilman from the Fourth ward for two years.
Clarence O. Leeka, city attorney of Independence, Mo., was born in Fremont County, Iowa. He is the third son of William and Rachel (Sew- ard) Leeka. A great grandson of Christian Leeka and Elizabeth Armen- trout Leeka, of Rockingham County, Va., and a grandson on the maternal side of Byron Pidney Seward, a relative of William H. Seward, the states- man, and Emma Carter Seward.
After completing his collegiate courses of study at Lincoln, Neb., he studied law at Harvard Law School and Boston University, and thereafter settled in Custer County, Okla, and practiced law for seven years. He came to Independence, Mo., in 1910. He has been city attorney of that city for six years.
June 27, 1904, he was married to Ruth M. Sheehy, of Boston, Mass., a daughter of Rev. F. M. and Orilla Sheehy. To this union three chil- dren have been born: William Francis, Seward Clough, and Rilla.
Claud Bowling, farmer and stockman, livestock buyer and shipper, Fort Osage township, road overseer of District No. 8 for the past 20 years, is a native of Jackson County. He was born Sept. 9, 1869, on a farm in Fort Osage township, and is a son of James and Julia A. (Pinkerd) Bowl- ing, the former of whom was a native of Kentucky.
James Bowling attained the great age of 93 years, and died in 1913, his remains being interred in the Lobb cemetery. He was a veteran of the Mexican War, and came to Jackson County from Kentucky during the sixties, first settled near Blue Springs, and later moved to a farm near Buckner, where he resided for 40 years, then moving to a home in Inde- pendence, where his death occurred. At the time of his death he was probably the oldest living resident of the county. His widow still resides in Independence. His children are: Claud and James. James Bowling died in 1919, at the age of 47 years. He was in the employ of the Metro- politan Railway Company for 19 years.
Claud Bowling attended Oakland School, and has followed farming during his entire life. The Bowling farm consists of 147.5 acres, and is
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located three and one-half miles southwest of Buckner. This farm is well improved, and is devoted to the raising of hogs and cattle.
Mr. Bowling was married in November, 1893, to Maud Johnson, a daughter of Carroll and Sallie (Owens) Johnson, both of whom were natives of Jackson County, and resided near Pink Hill.
Six children have been born to Claud and Sallie Bowling, as follow: Robert, married Marie Corn, and lives in Independence; Ruby, wife of Ray Harris, Buckner, Mo .; Mrs. Gladys, wife of Ray Jones, Independence ; Helen, Claudine Glen Miles, at home with their parents.
Mr. Bowling is a Democrat, and takes an active part in political mat- ters in Jackson County. He is affiliated with the Modern Woodmen of America of Independence, and the Woodmen of the World, of Buckner. In addition to his farming activities, Mr. Bowling is an extensive buyer and shipper of livestock. For the past 20 years he has filled the post of road overseer of his district, and so faithfully and well has he discharged the duties of the office that the people have full confidence in him, and he has the esteem of all who know him.
Fred Fleischman, retired merchant tailor, 1206 North Liberty street, is one of the best known and popular former business men of Independ- ence. He was born in East Prussia, Germany, March 26, 1855, and is a son of Frederick Fleischman. He was reared to young manhood in his native land, and served for four years in the Prussian Army prior to immi- grating to America, in 1879. He first followed the tailoring trade at Chi- cago, Ill., for one year, and then went to Fond du Lac, Wis., and was lo- cated there, and at Oshkosh, Wis., until he made up his mind to see the country. Accordingly he set out to cross the United States, and worked at his trade of journeyman tailor in Oakland and San Francisco and San Diego, Calif., and various other cities of Oregon and Washington, on the Pacific coast, and also stayed in Montana cities for a time. After years of wandering over the West, he settled in Independence, Oct. 1, 1885. He established himself in business and for 30 years he prospered in the city of his adoption. The Fleischman tailoring establishment was located on the north side of the square, and for years was patronized by the best people of the city and county. After his wife's death, in 1913, Mr. Fleisch- man retired from active business. Besides city property, he is the owner of 200 acres of timber land in McCurtin County, Okla. He purchased the site of his present home in 1894, and erected a seven-room residence thereon.
Mr. Fleischman was married in 1886 to Margaret Ames, of Fond du
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Lac, Wis. She departed this life in 1913, and her remains were interred in the Mt. Washington cemetery. The children born of this union are: Arthur H., Fred E., Theodore and Garnett W. Arthur H. operates the motor bus from Independence to Sugar Creek. Fred E. Fleischman served as city mail carrier for six years prior to enlisting in the United States Army. He first trained at the Medical Department of the State Univer- sity, at Columbia, and was in the service from June, 1918, to July, 1919. When the armistice was signed he was operating an ambulance carrying wounded and sick soldiers from arriving steamers to the hospitals in New York City, as a member of the Medical Corps. He is now operating an automobile on North Main street, and has the privilege of returning to the city mail service within five years from his discharge from the army. Theodore Fleischman, now employed in the Independence postoffice, en- listed in the aviation department of the United States Army in March, 1918, was first sent to Texas, and then to Dorr Field, Fla., where he was in training when the war closed. Garnet W. Fleischman is in the employ. of the Standard Oil Company, at Sugar Creek.
Mr. Fleischman is a member of the Evangelical church. During the many years of his successful business career in his home city, he made and retained a world of good friends, who were his valued and steadfast patrons. His record as an honest, conscientious tailor is a splendid one, and he is one of the fine old citizens of Independence, who can look back upon his active career with few regrets and with many pleasant reminis- cences.
Robert Franklin Milton .-- "Sunnyside Farm," consisting of 420 acres, owned and operated by R. F. Milton, better known as "Frank" Milton, situated on the Lees Summit road, in Blue township, is one of the show places of Jackson County. On this large farm are five sets of farm im- provements. The home place is improved with a handsome residence, set in a grove of trees, and fronted by a stone fence, or wall, of attractive design. In April of 1888, when Mr. Milton returned to Jackson County from Virginia, he purchased 100 acres, going in debt for the purchase price, borrowing $4,000. At this time there were no roads of any conse- quence in his vicinity, the roads being little more than "hog trails." The improvements on the land were negligible, the old Lutrell cabin still stand- ing on the farm. Mr. Milton paid an average of $50 an acre for his land, which is now worth from $400 to $500 an acre. He has paid from $40 to $200 an acre. He was born Nov. 18, 1859, on a farm near Wellington,
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Lafayette County, Mo., and is a son of Benjamin F. and Eva Frances (Crawford) Milton, natives of Virginia, who came to Missouri in 1854.
Benjamin Milton first settled in Lafayette County, and about 1859 he moved to Independence and followed his trade of carpenter. He was born Nov. 7, 1833, and died Jan. 12, 1911. In 1877 he removed to Virginia, where he remained until 1892, and then returned to Jackson County, where he spent his last years, at the home of his son, R. F. Milton. He was the father of nine children: Marietta Virginia, born July 4, 1857, is the wife of George E. Cummings, Maywood, Mo .; Robert Franklin, of this review; James Henry, born Nov. 17, 1860, is a division superintendent on the Rock Island railroad; George B., born Aug. 18, 1864, is a farmer, liv- ing nearby ; Thomas Lockbridge, born Oct. 6, 1866, is a railroad man, liv- ing at Independence; Sadie May, born Feb. 6, 1869, is the wife of Edward Hodgins, of Kansas City, Kan .; Ambrose Cross, born July 20, 1871, has a farm adjoining that of his brother; Harry Everett, born April 23, 1875, is a railroad man, living at Independence; Mrs. Margaret Cordelia Hew- litt, born Aug. 3, 1878, is a widow, living at Liberal, Kan., was born in the Shenandoah Valley, Va. The mother of the foregoing children was born Sept. 17, 1833, and died in 1913. When the remains of both parents of R. F. Milton were laid away for the long sleep the six stalwart sons of the family served as pallbearers. They reared a splendid family of nine children, all of whom are living, doing well, and are respected citizens of their respective communities.
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