USA > Missouri > Jackson County > History of Jackson County, Missouri > Part 73
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Robert Franklin Milton received his education in the schools of Mis- souri and Virginia. He returned from Virginia in 1885, after his mar- riage, and here began his successful career. He continued to send for the different members of the Milton family until all had returned to Jackson County. Mr. Milton owes his success to hard work, economy, good finan- cial management, and the rise in land values in this county. During his entire career he has been an extensive feeder of cattle and hogs, and also raises horses and mules.
Mr. Milton was married in 1885 to Miss Elizabeth L. Myers, who was born Aug. 2, 1858, in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, a daughter of Joshua and Margaret (Myers) Myers. The children born to this union are: James Claude, Bessie Evelina, Grace Virginia, George Franklin, Dorothy Geneva. James Claude Milton was born Feb. 17, 1885, near Oak Grove, and is a farmer, living nearby. He married Frances Murphy, the daughter of Leslie Murphy, deceased, and has one child, Lucille Elizabeth.
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Bessie Evelina, born near Wellington, Lafayette County, is the wife of Prof. Forrest Allen, former physical director at the State Normal School, Warrensburg, Mo., and is now physical director of Kansas University, at Lawrence, Kan. She is well educated, is a graduate of the Warrensburg Normal, and taught school prior to her marriage. She has five children, Mary Elizabeth, Forrest Clare, Jr., Milton Perry, Jane, and Robert Earl Forrest. Grace Virginia was born Feb. 14, 1891, and died Oct. 10, 1895. Ethel Frances Milton was born April 23, 1894, and is a graduate of Dillen- beck College, the Warrensburg Normal, and the State University at Co- lumbia. She is a talented elocutionist, and has been in the employ of the government at Washington for several months. George Franklin Milton was born Nov. 2, 1896, is a farm owner. He married Beatrice Muckey, in 1913, and has two children, Dorcas Viola, aged four years, and Georgia Beatrice, two months old. Dorothy Geneva was born May 16, 1900, and died Sept. 2, 1900.
Mr. Milton is a Democrat, who has taken a more or less active part in the affairs of his party. For three years he has served as deputy coun- ty assessor, and is well known throughout Jackson County, and served 13 years as road overseer. He and Mrs. Milton are members of the Metho- dist Episcopal Church South, and Mr. Milton is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias lodge. 6
D. H. Crick .- The D. H. Crick Lumber Company, located on West Elm street, was organized in 1915 by D. H. Crick, the present proprietor. This concern carries a full line of lumber and builders materials and enjoys a splendid patronage from Independence people and the people of the contiguous territory.
D. H. Crick was born at Plano, Ill., Oct. 1, 1875 and is a son of James and Letitia (Evans) Crick, both of whom are deceased. James Crick was a native of Southampton, England and immigrated to America when 35 years of age, settling at Plano, Ill., where his death occurred in 1893. Mrs. Letitia Crick died in Independence in 1910. When a young man, James Crick served as a private in the British army and was a sharp-
.. shooter. The children of James and Letitia Crick are as follow: James, a carpenter in the employ of the Independence Foundry ; Willia, proprietor of the Independence Foundry; Anna, wife of Henry Stahlee, postmaster of Plano, Ill .; John and Thomas with the Independence Foundry, the lat- ter of whom is superintendent; Ella, wife of T. C. Hatty, Independence; and D. H., subject of this sketch.
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After coming to Independence in 1896, D. H. Crick was associated with his brothers in the foundry business until 1907. In that year he went to Harrisonville, Mo. and operated the Eagle Manufacturing Com- pany until 1915. Disposing of his Harrisonville interests he returned to Independence and established his lumber business.
Mr. Crick was married in 1898 to Bernice Austin, a daughter of U. A. and Eliza Austin, the former of whom is living retired in Independence and the latter is deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Crick have three daughters: Helen, her father's office assistant; Margaret, at home; Essabelle, born in Harrisonville, Mo., also at home.
Mr. Crick is a member of the Yeoman Lodge. He takes a commend- able interest in civic affairs and is now serving his second term as a mem- ber of the Independence city council.
Bert Peterson, manager of the Independence Storehouse Co., was born at Harlan, Iowa, June 7, 1875. He is a son of Peter and Phoebe Angelina Peterson, both of whom are deceased, the former dying at Stewartsville in 1913 and the latter in Independence. They were parents of nine chil- dren. When he was a child, Mr. Peterson's parents removed from Iowa to Jackson County and he was reared and educated in this county. For 15 years he was engaged in the coal and feed business in this city under the name of Peterson Coal Company. He then traded his business for land in Kansas, 320 acres which he owns there, being near Garnett in the Kansas oil belt. After disposing of his own business he operated the coal and feed business owned by E. Downey until June, 1917. He then became manager of the Independence Storehouse Company, a company which is one of the large concerns of Independence with headquarters at the corner of Elm and Lexington streets. This concern has three build- ings, and a stock of groceries is kept at the main building, together with coal, feed and building material. Another building is located at the corner of Lexington street and River boulevard and the third building is situated at the corner of Noland and Alton street. This company carries material and stock to the value of $100,000 and does an extensive business. The Main building of the storehouse company was originally the Inde- pendence. planing mill, the storehouse being owned by the Reorganized Church of Latter Day Saints. It is a three story structure and with other buildings occupies a half block.
Mr. Peterson was married in 1898 to Margaret M. Friend of Stewarts- ville, Mo., a daughter of Jacob and Margaret Friend who reside in east
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Independence. Mr. and Mrs. Peterson have two children: Kenneth and Earl Chessel. The Peterson family residence is located at 1424 West Short street. Besides his home, Mr. Peterson owns three cottages on South College street and another residence property on West Walnut street.
David Sample, now deceased, was for many years actively identified with Jackson County, and was well known and prominent throughout this section of the State. He was born near Sulphur Springs, Morgan County, Ill., April 3, 1843, and departed this life Aug. 21, 1918. He was the son of William A. and Harriet (Moore) Sample, and was the eldest of six children born to them, as follows: David, the subject of this sketch; Mar- tha, married Isaac Wood, Jacksonville, Ill .; Phoebe, married William Bag- by, and is now deceased; Samuel, lives in Dallas, Texas; Granderson, Greenwood, Mo .; and George, deceased.
William A. Sample, father of David Sample, was born in Morgan County, Ill., Feb. 18, 1822, and died at Greenwood, Mo., Oct. 19, 1908. His wife Harriet (Moore) Sample, was born in Kentucky, Oct. 15, 1822, and died in Bates County, Sept. 21, 1875. William A. Sample came to Jack- son County in 1867, and was engaged in farming and stock raising and also bought and sold stock in this county. He also lived in Texas for a time.
David Sample came to Jackson County in 1868, and first located on a farm a mile east of Greenwood; later he bought a farm of 160 acres, two miles east of Greenwood. This was heavily timbered land, and he cleared away the timber and improved the place, bringing it under a high state of cultivation, and at the time of his death it was one of the well im- proved and valuable farms of that locality. Like his father before him, David Sample was also extensively engaged in buying and selling live- stock. In early life he was engaged in freighting in the West, with head- quarters at Brownville, Neb., and in the capacity of freighter he made several trips across the plains. He was a Democrat, and took an active interest in local politics ; he served as deputy assessor of Prairie township for four years. He was one of the organizers of the Lees Summit fair, and for 10 years served in the capacity of the marshal of the day when the Lees Summit fair was held. He was a consistent member of the Bap- tist church. During the last 10 years of his life he lived in Greenwood, and was engaged in the insurance business and was also a notary public. He followed these lines more to keep busy and have something to do than
DAVID SAMPLE.
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for any other reasons. He was a man of great physical energy, and was never satisfied unless he was doing something.
Feb. 26, 1869, David Sample was united in marriage with Mary J. Boyer, a native of Morgan County, Ill., born Feb. 5, 1851. She is a daugh- ter of Thompson and Sophrona (Luttrel) Boyer, who were also natives of Morgan County, Ill., where they spent their lives. To David Sample and wife were born three children, as follows: Clara B., deceased; Cora J., married J. H. Bowin, a sketch of whom appears in this volume; Maud E., married John W. Harris, and resides in Greenwood, Mo. Since the death of her husband, Mrs. Sample makes her home with her daughter, Mrs. J. H. Bowin. David Sample will long be remembered in Jackson County as a citizen of real worth and high character.
John Ganz .- On Sept. 26, 1903, John Ganz, successful orchardist, living just east of Independence, came from Kansas City, where he had spent 16 years in the employ of the Kansas City street railways, bought 171/2 acres of land, without any improvements, whatever. The first thing which he and Mrs. Ganz did was to build a home. However, they had to have some sort of shelter, so they pitched a tent while their first home, which is now used as a barn, was in process of erection. For the next 12 years this worthy couple lived in the "barn." They then built a handsome brick cottage, in 1915. During the course of 16 years, Mr. and Mrs. Ganz have created one of the most valuable properties in Jackson County-a country home so attractive and so "homey" looking that it elicits words of praise from passersby on the rock road. Mr. Ganz had very definite ideas about the things he wanted to do. While he made the land yield produce to provide for his family, he set out a fine orchard, which is now bringing in "golden" returns each year, and the bare land has increased in value as the years passed and the trees came into bearing, until it is probable that $1,000 an acre would not purchase the Ganz orchards. Two acres of the place are in fruit trees. Mr. Ganz's specialty is the Stark Delicious, which matures in October, and sells for $3.00 per bushel. While his apple trees were growing, Mr. Ganz gathered several crops of peaches which he had planted between the apple trees. From two trees of Yellow Transparents he sold 30 bushels at $2.50 per bushel. The annual output of the orchard is about 1,000 bushels of apples. Other small fruits are grown in season on the Ganz farm.
John Ganz was born in Burlington, Iowa, in 1855. His parents were August F. and Anna Ganz, natives of Germany-hard working, thrifty
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people, whose example instilled into their son a liking for honest toil and a desire to get ahead in the world. Mr. Ganz was married in Burlington, Iowa, April 4, 1886, to Miss Olivia Schwaller, who was also born in Bur- lington, Iowa, in 1864. She was a daughter of Joseph and Anna Schwal- ler, the former of whom was of Swiss origin and the latter a daughter of German parents. After one year's work in Burlington, as helper in a blacksmith shop, Mr. Ganz came to Kansas City, where he was employed as teamster for one year. He then began working on the old cable line, and for four years was employed on the turntable used in those days for turning the street cars. For a year he served as gripman and conductor, and was then employed as night foreman in the car barns for eight years. During these years of hard work, Mr. and Mrs. Ganz had been economical to the point of penury. They decided it was high time they got a perma- nent home-such a home as would suffice for their declining years, and eventually return for their efforts something more than a mere living. They purchased the land near Independence for $2,625, built the barn, and began developing the property. The new home erected a few years ago cost them $4,000, and everything about the Ganz place is in spick and span condition. Mr. and Mrs. Ganz have one son, Carl William Ganz, born in 1887.
John T. Crenshaw, retired farmer, of Blue Springs, has the distinc- tion of having lived 74 years of his life in Jackson County, and has, there- fore, grown old with the county. He was born in 1845, near Lone Jack, and is a son of Edward and Jane (Bynum) Crenshaw, both of whom were natives of Missouri, and both died in 1852. Left an orphan, when seven years of age, John T. Crenshaw was reared in the home of Silas Stovall, near Lone Jack, and made his home with the Stovalls until Mr. Stovall's death. When he was 12 years of age, he began to work out as a farm hand, and received the munificent wage of 20 cents per day. Mr. Cren- shaw bought his first land in 1874, a small farm of 69 acres, in partner- ship with another person. Eight months later he sold this land, and then began buying his farm of 160 acres. The Crenshaw land is river bottom, located in Blue and Sniabar townships, and is rated as some of the most productive land in Missouri, producing from 75 to 80 bushels of corn to the acre. In 1918, Mr. Crenshaw turned over the active management of the farm to his sons and located in Blue Springs.
Mr. Crenshaw was married in 1874 to Miss Sallie Fisher, a daughter of George and Mary (Crow) Fisher, early settlers of Jackson County. The children born to this marriage are: Carl Nicholas, living on the home
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farm, father of five children, Glenna, Carl, Jr., Chester, Clifford and Mary Frances; Mary Ellen, wife of Dr. Rowe, a surgeon in the United States Navy, has one child, Violet Rowe; Fannie, deceased wife of Fred Botts; Wallace B., lives on the farm.
Mr. Crenshaw is a Democrat, and a member of the Presbyterian church.
Joseph J. Owens, of Independence, Mo., is a native of Virginia, born in Loudoun County, Dec. 26, 1843. He came to Missouri and settled in Kansas City in 1866. He entered the drygoods business with Tootle, Hanan and Leach. Later, he moved to Texas and engaged in the whole- sale grocery business. In 1873 he returned to Missouri. In 1882 he be- came one of the incorporators of the Robert Keith Furniture and Carpet Company, of Kansas City. In 1884 he removed to Independence, retiring from the mercantile business, and engaging in the real estate business, buying and selling real estate on his own account.
Mr. Owens married Miss Josie Landis, daughter of John and Lucinda Landis, of Independence. The living children of this marriage are: Dr. J. L. Owens, of Kansas City, Misses Agnes and Emma Owens. The home address of the Owens family is 404 North Spring street, Independence, Missouri.
David C. Stayton, breeder of Hereford cattle, proprietor of 187 acres of land on the rock road, three miles northwest of Blue Springs, Mo., was born on the Stayton homestead, two and a half miles east of Independ- ence (now the Holke farm). He is a son of Arthur Stayton, concerning whom full information is given in the biographical sketch of Mrs. Sallie L. (Stayton) White, elsewhere in this volume.
David C. Stayton was educated in the public and high school of In- dependence, Mo., and has followed farming and stock raising during his active life, with the exception of two years in Kansas City, where he operated a grocery business, in partnership with a cousin. He moved from the old homestead to his present place in 1898, and for the past three years he has been specializing in the breeding of registered Hereford cattle. Mr. Stayton has a fine herd of 40 head at the present time, among which are some fine cattle, valued at over $1,000 each. Mr. Stayton sup- plies the local demand for pure-bred Hereford and sells at prices ranging from $400 to $500 per head.
D. C. Stayton was married in 1889 to Miss Edna McVey, who died Oct. 29, 1910, leaving three children: Hugh Clayton, a farmer, at home;
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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY
Nina Grace, lives with her aunt, Mrs. Rose Borland, at Grain Valley, Mo .; Lester B., employed on the Corn farm, near Grain Valley.
Mr. Stayton's second marriage occurred in 1914, with Mrs. Martha (Mitchell) Kelly, a widow, and daughter of Reverend Mitchell, a minister of the Methodist church. By her first marriage Mrs. Stayton has one child, Ruby, wife of Robert Lyle, Kansas City, Mo.
Mr. Stayton is a Democrat, and is a member of the Baptist church.
Judge A. P. Fonda, justice of the peace, president of the Jackson County Boy Scouts of America, was born in Kansas City, Mo., in 1878. He is a son of A. P., Sr., and Laura D. (Wier) Fonda, the latter of whom was a daughter of Colonel Wier, who had charge of the erection of the Federal Prison at Leavenworth, Kan.
A. P. Fonda, Sr., was born at Cohoes, N. Y., in 1846, and died in 1893. He came to Jackson County in 1872, and operated the first wholesale grocery concern established in Kansas City. He was a son of Abraham Fonda, who assisted in laying out the town site of Kansas City, Mo. For many years prior to the incorporation of Kansas City, the village which later grew into the present great city, was called Fonda's Landing, and the name Fonda might have been given to the incorporated town had there not been so many jealousies among the early founders. Abraham Fonda died at Albany, N. Y., His father was a pioneer in New York State, and was given 600 acres of land near New Amsterdam by the King of England. He served as an officer in the Revolutionary War. Colonel Fonda, of Mississippi, a brother of A. P. Fonda, Sr., served with the Con- federate forces during the Civil War. Captain John Fonda, another brother, and uncle of A. P. Fonda, of this review, served with the Union forces during the Civil War. It is a curious coincidence that A. P. Fonda, Sr., while serving with the Union forces in the Battle of Stone River, was captured by his brother, Colonel Fonda, and made a prisoner by the Con- federates.
A. P. Fonda, subject of this review, attended the Marmaduke Mili- tary School, at Sweet Springs, Mo., and was a student when the Spanish- American War began. He tried to enlist for service with the American Army, but was refused on account of defective feet. He then went to Cuba as a representative of the Jacob Dold Packing Company. When the World War first began, Mr. Fonda was experimenting with explosives of his own invention, one of which he had perfected. He tried to enlist the interest of the Federal authorities in his inventions, but was turned down. However, his invention was later accepted by the British Army
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authorities, and a sample of the explosive was sent to the Canadians and used by the Canadian forces on the Vimy Ridge charge. It is a Benzol- Phenol composition, and is very destructive to flesh and green foliage of all kinds when used. Later, Mr. Fonda developed Fondaol, a remedy and healing compound for the alleviation of burns and gun wounds of all kinds. Mr. Fonda has testimonials from officers of the medical corps of the U. S. Army, certifying to the wonderful curative effects of Fondaol.
In 1916, Mr. Fonda joined the National Security League, and during the progress of the war acted in various capacities. He was chairman of the Labor Board of Jackson County, and drew up the "work or fight" ordinance which was enacted into law in cities throughout the United States. When the Third Liberty Loan Drive was on in Kansas City, Mo., Mr. Fonda sold over $3,000 worth of bonds in one block in Little Italy. He was appointed chairman of the Rating Committee of the Red Cross (outside of Kansas City) in Jackson County, and served as Food Admin- istrator of the county. As chairman of the Victory Loan Committee for Blue township, he raised $410,000, with an actual expense of $80.50, as shown by the expense vouchers.
While acting as Food Administrator he confiscated sugar held by hoarders, and the confiscated sugar was sent to army camps and the Red Cross. While the World War was on, the Boy Scout movement received an added impetus, and Mr. Fonda attended the Scoutmaster School, or- ganized in Kansas City, Mo. The first meeting held by the Boy Scouts on Scoutcraft was held at Mr. Fonda's place on the Lexington road, and every month during the war there was one or more encampments of the Boy Scouts on his place.
At a meeting held on Mr. Fonda's farm, the late Congressman William P. Borland addressed the Boy Scouts, and told them of the wonderful work he had seen done by them, and stated that it was "the third line of defense," next after the army and navy, and was the foundation of the recruiting element of both defensive arms of the government. He stated that not a single Boy Scout who had enlisted in the service from Jackson County and crossed the seas returned home as a private soldier- all had been promoted.
There are at the present time about 250 registered Boy Scouts in Jackson County, outside of Kansas City, divided into 21 troops. Mr. Fonda is president of the council.
Mr. Fonda served as justice of the peace at Sugar Creek when there were 14 saloons and eight gambling dens in operation. He acted as con- stable and marshal at the same time in several instances, and had some
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interesting experiences during his efforts to maintain law and order. Before he left Sugar Creek he succeeded in cleaning up the lawless ele- ment, and made Sugar Creek a law abiding community. For the past eight years he has served as justice of the peace in Independence, and has the reputation of being one of the firmest, yet the fairest, of the judges in the county.
Mr. Fonda owns the old Wayne City landing place, and for the past three years 14 acres of this tract has been used as an outing and drill place by the Boy Scouts. Only recently, and in order to assist in alleviat- ing the acute fuel shortage, due to the strike of the coal miners, Mr. Fonda has donated the timber on this tract to the city for wood, which was cut by the Boy Scouts and volunteer labor.
Mr. Fonda was married in 1909 to Cora P. Homan, of Carroll County, Mo., a daughter of William and Anna Homan, who reside in Carroll County. Mr. and Mrs. Fonda have two children: Nadine Fonda, and a foster son, named Paul, aged 11 years.
Mr. Fonda is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, the Blue Lodge, Palestine Commandery, the Mystic Shrine, Ararat Temple, and is a Mason of the Thirty-second degree. He is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. The Fonda residence is located on a tract of twenty acres on the Lexington road, the tract being a part of the old Cox farm, where the first distillery ever operated in Jackson County was located. The rock which forms the foundation of the new court house was quarried on this land.
Chiswell D. Hudnall, late well known resident of Sniabar township, was a native of Bedford County, Va. He was born in 1852, and departed this life in December, 1906, after years of successful endeavor as an agri- culturist. He came to Missouri in 1869, and joined his brother, Robert Hudnall. He grew to maturity in Jackson County, and was married to Sarah F. Livesay, Nov. 18, 1886.
Sarah F. Livesay Hudnall is a member of one of the oldest of the pioneer families of this section of Missouri. She was born in this county, April 30, 1864, and is a daughter of William Livesay. William Livesay was one of the best known of the pioneer residents of this county. Wil- liam Livesay was born in Virginia, Oct. 1, 1824, and in 1834 accompanied his parents to Lafayette County, Mo. Here he was reared and educated, and in 1846 went to Mexico, returning in the spring of 1847. In 1849 he . took a trip to California, spent about two years in the gold mines, and
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upon his return went again to Mexico, remaining from 1852 to 1853. He then came to Jackson County, and became owner of 247 acres of good land. The town of Levasy was situated upon part of his land, and is named in his honor. He died Sept. 17, 1897. In 1855 he was married to Miss Nancy Ward, born in Lafayette County, Mo., in 1833, and who de- parted this life in July, 1878. She was a daughter of David Ward, an- „other pioneer, who assisted in platting the town of Independence. Eight daughters and three sons were born to William and Nancy Livesay, as fol- lows: Anna May, resides in Jackson County ; William S.,. died in .1878, at the age of 21 years; John Ward, Barton County, Mo .; Mary E., deceased ; Sabina Fitch, Oklahoma ; Mrs. Sarah Hudnall, of this review; Mrs. Rebecca H. Gibson, Independence, Mo .; Mrs. Marguerite Belle Morrison, Blue Springs, Mo .; Mrs. Lyda L. Searcy, Oklahoma; Fountain, living in Okla- homa ; Mrs. Pearl E. Rogers, Independence.
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