History of Jackson County, Missouri, Part 77

Author: Hickman, W. Z
Publication date: 1920
Publisher: Topeka : Historical Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 976


USA > Missouri > Jackson County > History of Jackson County, Missouri > Part 77


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77


Mrs. Koehler is an ardent worker in public affairs, especially in the work of the parent-teacher association, her greatest efforts being in be- half of home economics, she having served as chairman of that depart- ment of service in the council of the parent-teacher association of Inde- pendence, since the organization of that body in 1912, and is still in that office. One of the many things that she has done in that office was to manage for three consecutive years a movable school of home economics, put on through the Missouri University extension course, wherein up- wards of 400 of the best homekeepers of Independence availed themselves of the opportunity of a five-day course in scientific home keeping.


The Koehler family residence is located at 105 North Crysler street. Mr. Koehler is a member of the Woodmen of the World, is past dictator of the Loyal Order of Moose, and is foreman of the American Yeomen. Mr. Koehler is the original inventor of the Mystic Wonder Clock, which runs without visible signs of power. For many years he has been asso- ciated with labor interests, and has made hundreds of addresses in the interests of labor. He has always been a progressive and aggressive thinker whose ideas are original because of the fact that he is self-educated, and has always been a student. Mr. Koehler has built up a splendid library of


821


HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY


over 3,000 volumes, and is a lover of good books. His mind is stored with information, and he is a ready conversationalist, one of those rare personages who can do his work and talk entertainingly upon a variety of subjects. His retentive memory and the ability to readily comprehend and dissect the gist of what he reads have made him a well informed man.


Thomas L. Milton, residing on Walnut street, Independence, member of one of the old Jackson County families, a railroad man and farmer, was born in what is now Kansas City, Oct. 6, 1866. He is a son of the late Benjamin Milton, an account of whom is given in connection with the sketch of R. F. Milton in this volume.


When Thomas L. Milton was six years old, his father, who had fallen heir to the old Milton home place in Virginia, sold his holdings in Jackson County and returned to the old home in the Virginia mountain country. His boyhood days were spent there, the longing to return to Missouri always present in his mind, however. When he became old enough he determined to follow his older brothers to Missouri. Accordingly, when 16 years old, his mother gave him money enough to pay for his railroad ticket to Kansas City where his brother, J. L. Milton was working as car man in the yards. When he arrived in the city he had but 30 cents in his pocket and did not know where to find his brother. He tried to stay in the railroad station all night but was "shooed" away by a policeman and forced to spend 25 cents for a bed which was not to his. liking. The next morning he spent his remaining five cents for some cookies on which he breakfasted. He then found his brother with the assistance of a kindly station employe. His brother gave him some money and directed him how to get to his uncle's home near Buckner where he wanted to find work, the noise of the city not then appealing to him. As he was wait- ing for the train for Buckner he was accosted kindly by Wm. Johnson of the Buckner neighborhood, who volunteered to look after him and see that he found his uncle. He soon arrived at Buckner, stopped at the hotel over night and the next day went to his uncle's home. Not long after- ward he began work for the Missouri Pacific railroad as car man and held this place until 1888. He then went to Albuquerque, N. M. with his brother George Milton, and was employed on the Santa Fe railroad for two years. In 1890, he went to San Bernardino, Calif., and was employed on the Cali- fornia Southern railroad until 1896. The great railroad strike of 1894 having taken place, he returned to Jackson County and bought 80 acres of land upon which he resided until 1898. He again went to railroading and went to Raton, N. M. and worked for the Santa Fe one year. In


822


HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY


1899 he went to Colorado Springs and for a period of 17 years he was a conductor on the Colorado Midland. The government ownership period having begun in 1916, the Colorado Midland, not being a paying concern, was abandoned. Since his return to Jackson County, Mr. Milton has been residing on a ten acre tract on Walnut street and is temporarily switching in the yards at Kansas City. He is, by nature and inclination a farmer and expects to spend his remaining years engaged in farming pursuits. Mr. Milton is owner of 160 acres of land in Barton County, Mo., 80 acres in New Mexico, city property and ten acres of land at Lakeworth, Fla.


Mr. Milton was married Jan. 6, 1900 to Marguerite Doolin, daughter of Daniel and Kate (Reddington) Doolin, the former of whom was a native of New York and the latter a native of Ireland. Mr. Doolin has been a resident of Kansas for years and is a large land owner. He is aged 87 years and resides at Williamburg, Kan. He has reared a family of eight children: John Doolin, residing on the home place in Kansas; William, L. Doolin, died May 25, 1909; Winifred, at home with her parents; Mrs. Maria Conroy, Minnesota ; Mrs. Marguerite Milton, of this review; Daniel, Libbie Kate and Alice, at home.


The children born to Thomas L. and Marguerite Milton are as follow : Katharine, aged 18 years; Thomas, 14 years old; Ernest, aged 10 years; William, 7 years of age, and Marguerite, 5 years old.


Mr. Milton is a Democrat. Mrs. Milton is a member of the Catholic Church. He is affiliated with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Knights of Pythias, the Order of Railway Conductors and the Brotherhood of Railway Trainmen.


George W. Mayhan .- Born on a ranch in the vast plains of Texas, George W. Mayhan lived the earlier years of his life amid real frontier scenes and environment. For years he was on the very outposts of civili- zation, and enjoyed the wild, free life of the unsettled plains, as a cattle- man and plainsman. He was born in Sherman County, Texas, June 20, 1854, and is a son of Augustus and Mary (Maxwell) Mayhan, who were pioneers in Texas.


Augustus Mayhan was a son of Moses Mayhan, of Scotch-Irish descent, descended from the old American pioneer stock of North Carolina, and who was one of the first settlers in the unpeopled wastes of northern Texas, going to that wild country as early as 1820. He was a cattle raiser, who owned large herds of cattle, which ranged at will over the vast, un- fenced prairies of bygone days. Augustus Mayhan served four years in the Civil War, as a volunteer in a north Texas regiment, contracted


823


HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY


measles during his service, an affliction settled on his bronchial tubes, and he died in 1870.


George W. Mayhan came to Jackson County in 1878, and settled on his present place. The lure of the great plains of his native country again drew him southwestward, however, and from 1881 to 1888 he was engaged in the cattle business in New Mexico. Herding and driving cattle was his early occupation, and he first went to New Mexico from Texas, before coming to Jackson County. On his second trip to the Southwest he jour- neyed by way of Lees Summit, Olathe, Kan., and Burlingame, Kan., over the Santa Fe trail, to Santa Fe, N. M., with four horses, a wagon and buggy. He was accompanied by his brother Augustus. For seven years they handled cattle and drove large herds to northern points, as far as the vicinity of Julesburg, Colo., one great herd bringing $11.00 a head in Nebraska. During one winter they held 30,000 cattle on the border, and on Christmas day of that winter, waded the Rio Grande, cut down a bee tree, and rifled the tree of a large store of honey. Indians were numer- ous during his earlier years of his cattle herding experience, but he never suffered inconveniences from them. N. R. Mayhan tells a funny story of an experience he had when driving cattle from north Texas. Meeting a company of mounted negro soldiers on the Pecos River, while on the way to Fort Clark, one of the soldiers said to him: "Indians will scalp you, befo' you get there, boy." That night the Indians stampeded the horses of the command, and they were forced to walk. Indians were continu- ously doing things of this character, and would frequently help them- selves to beef cattle, but a few would not be missed from the great herds.


Mr. Mayhan met a Missouri girl in New Mexico, whom he married in January, 1878. She was Miss Roanne Daniel, born in Jackson County in 1860, a daughter of Leonard Daniel, who died in Kansas in 1861, whither he had gone to espouse the cause of the freeholders. Eleven living chil- dren have blessed this union, forming one of the largest individual families ever reared in Jackson County. They are: Fred, a rancher in Colorado; Ida, living in Montana; Zebulon, a ranchman in Custer County, Mont .; Ernest, a rancher in Montana; Leonard, aged 33 years, enlisted as a volun- teer in the National Army, and served throughout the World War as a lieutenant of the American Expeditionary Forces, having been three times wounded while fighting on the Western Front in France; Morgan, lives near Denver, Colo .; Mrs. Leonore Claussen, lives at Mount Washington, Mo .; Mrs. Lura Green, lives at Lone Tree, Mo., mother of two children;


824


HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY


Mrs. Nellie Hagan, at home with her parents, has two children, Ralph, at home, Grace, aged 14 years, at home.


Mr. Mayhan is the owner of 215 acres, 160 acres of which is comprised in his home place. A feature of the Mayhan farm is the fine orchard of 15 acres, which is from 20 to 25 years old, and bears excellent crops. Mr. Mayhan picks and handles the crop on his own account. He is an inde- pendent voter, a member of the Christian church, and is affiliated with the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Blue Springs.


Andrew Jackson Grubb, farmer and stockman, proprietor of a fine farm of 301.5 acres, located just south of Oak Grove, in Sniabar township, has resided on his land since 1867 when his father settled in Jackson County. Besides his home farm, Mr. Grubb is owner of a good farm of 230 acres situated one and a half miles north of Oak Grove, another farm of 71 acres two and a half miles north of town, and 50 foot frontage of town property in Oak Grove. The home place is well improved with a large residence of seven rooms and a barn, 60 x 36 feet. This farm is one of the most productive in Jackson County; all of the Grubb farms are fertile tracts of land. Mr. Grubb rents out the greater part of his land but carefully looks after all of the property.


Andrew Jackson Grubb was born in Fayette County, Ohio, Sept. 15, 1855, the son of John and Mary (Ralston) Grubb, both of whom were natives of the Buckeye state. The Grubb family came to Jackson County in about 1867. John Grubb purchased a small farm upon which he made his home during the remainder of his life. He died in 1900, aged 80 years. Mrs. Mary Grubb died in 1890. They were parents of nine chil- dren as follow: Mrs. Jane McCartney, living in Iowa; Mrs. Ann McCart- ney, deceased; Henry and Margaret, living on an adjoining farm; Samuel, deceased; Robert lives in Iowa; George is deceased; and John Andrew Jackson, subject of this review.


Robert, Samuel and Andrew J. Grubb worked together after they came to Jackson County and accumulated a farm which they cultivated jointly until Robert Grubb's removal to Iowa. Samuel and Andrew J., then purchased Robert's interests in the land and the two brothers then tilled their land in partnership until Samuel's death. Samuel Grubb willed his share of their farm which at that time consisted of about 300 acres to his brother Andrew J. Samuel Grubb died in 1903. Since that time A. J. Grubb has continued to add to his possessions until he is now one of the large land owners of the county.


A. J. Grubb was married June 24, 1903 to Miss Dora Porter. Mr. and


825


HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY


Mrs. Grubb have one son, Victor, born Aug. 15, 1904, a student in the Oak Grove High School. Mrs. Mary (Porter) Grubb was born in Jackson County, in 1869. She is a daughter of Hugh and Mary (Gibson) Porter. Her father, Hugh Porter was born in Rutherford County, Tenn., Jan. 27, 1826, and died in Jackson County, March 6, 1915. He came from Tennes- see to Jackson County about 1838 and was later married to Mary Gibson, a daughter of Silas Gibson, one of the early pioneers of Jackson County, who became a large land owner and was prominent in the early day affairs of Jackson County. She was born Jan. 20, 1835 and died May 27, 1912. To Hugh and Mary Porter were born children as follow: Mrs. J. B. Brizen- dine, Oklahoma City, Okla .; Mrs. Mark Gore, Kansas City, Mo .; Mrs. Belle Goodloe, residing near Woods Chapel; Mrs. Dora Grubb, of this review ; Mrs. T. J. Wiegant, Blue Springs; Silas, Sniabar township; Lee, Kansas City, Mo .; Samuel, Sniabar township; Clay, living on a farm south of Blue Springs.


Hugh Porter was a soldier in the Confederate army during the Civil War. He first served in the state militia under Captain Smith and then enlisted in the Confederate army. He served in the battle fought for control of Independence and during this engagement had three horses shot from under him. He received his discharge from the service some time later on account of ill health.


Mr. Grubb is a Democrat. He and Mrs. Grubb are members of the Methodist Church, South.


Arthur N. Adams, attorney-at-law, with offices at 1327 Bank of Com- merce building, Kansas City, Mo., is, in many respects, a "chip off the old block." His father was the late Hon. J. M. Adams, who in his day was the most popular citizen of eastern Jackson County.


Mr. Adams was born Jan. 15, 1872, near Pink Hill, Mo., and when two years old, was taken to the Adams home place in Fort Osage town- ship by his parents. He was there reared to young manhood, attended the local schools and entered the State University at Columbia, from which institution he was graduated in 1897, with the degree of Bachelor of Laws. He was admitted to the bar that year and began the practice of his profession in 1897. During nearly 23 years of practice in the counties of Missouri, Mr. Adams has achieved a reputation as a keen, re- sourceful, conscientious and painstaking lawyer who gives himself heart and soul to the interests of his clients. He has won many notable cases during his career and has been counsel in many important litigations.


Mr. Adams defended J. Lamartine Hudspeth from the charge of mur-


826


HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY


der. He defended the title to the old Hudspeth farm and won the case. Malinda P. Wood deeded the land to certain parties and some of the other heirs tried to break the deed. Mr. Adams carried the case to the State Supreme Court and was awarded a favorable decision in the interests of the grantees, the court sustaining the provisions of the deed. He has had many cases in the Supreme Court.


In the case of the Belfast Investment Company vs. Curry et al., as to whether the statute of limitations began to run against the right of dower, regardless of the possession of the property, was a very important one which Mr. Adams handled, and his contention was sustained by the Supreme Court. For the past 15 years he has represented the Missouri State Dental Board as counsel and has carried many cases to the Supreme Court in the interest of the board. He has handled successfully, several important partition cases to the entire satisfaction of the interested parties. He represented the Kansas City Title and Trust Company in the trials of many of their cases in litigation.


Mr. Adams was married July 24, 1901 to Miss Marie L. Eaton, of Kan- sas City, a daughter of John and Sarah E. (Wilfley) Eaton. Mr. and Mrs. Adams have two children: Eaton Adams, born Sept. 26, 1902; and Arthur N., Jr., born July 3, 1904.


Mr. Adams is a member of the City and State Bar Associations and the Kansas City Club. He is prominent among the legal fraternity of the city and state and is recognized as one of the leaders of the Kansas City bar. He is active in the affairs of the Modern Woodmen of America and has served as national representative of this order, attending three National Conventions and serving as chairman of the Missouri delegation on two occasions. He is affiliated with the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons and the Royal Neighbors.


William F. Owen .- The Owen farm in Sniabar and Fort Osage town- ships, is an attractive piece of property of 160 acres, the greater part of which is rich, bottom land. The residence sets on a sloping hillside, the site commanding a view of the entire farm. Every improvement on the place has been placed there by Wm. F. Owen, the proprietor, since he pur- chased the farm in 1892 from the Alma Owen estate. A pretty residence surrounded by shade trees is the family home; good barns and two large concrete silos are necessary adjuncts to the farming operations. Mr. Owen raises Shorthorn cattle and does general farming. He was born Jan. 3, 1862 in McLain County, Ill.


His father, Alma Owen, was born in Tazewell County, Ill., Aug. 5, 1833,


827


HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY


and died at his home in Sniabar township, Jackson County, in March, 1907. He was a son of Edward Owen, a native of Vermont, of Welsh extraction. Edward Owen married a Miss Sowers of Scotch-Irish descent and he was a pioneer in Illinois. In 1836 the parents of Alma Owen moved to Caldwell County, Mo. and remained there for two years, then returned to McLean County, Ill. where they resided for three years and soon went to Marshall County, that state. When Alma Owen became of age he went to McLean County and learned engineering and milling and followed this trade for several years. Nov. 28, 1858, he was married to Sabethna Barnhouse, who was born in Darke County, Ohio, Oct. 13, 1840 and died March 16, 1919. She was a native of Pennsylvania. Mrs. Owen had two brothers, Jacob and Nelson Barnhouse, who fought with the Union forces in the Civil War. Alma Owen had four brothers who served with Illinois regiments in the same conflict, viz: Lee, Nethi, Beroni and Frazier.


Alma Owen came to Jackson County in November, 1866. He first purchased 120 acres of land and improved the tract in later years with one of the then finest homes in the county. The farm which he purchased was the old Ragland property which had been allowed to revert to almost a wilderness during the Civil War period. At the time of purchase there were only 20 acres of the land suitable for cultivation. He accumulated several hundred acres of land but met with reverses in his later days through being too willing to give his name as security for debts of some of his friends. Forced to liquidate the debts of those whom he had be- friended he lost all of his large estate, excepting the home place of 160 acres. Six children were born to Alma and Sabethna Owen as follows: Charles H., Alberta, Canada ; Edward J., a farmer in Fort Osage township; William H., of this review; Mrs. Ida Baxter, living at Woods Chapel; Ira, living on the old home place; Mrs. Celestia Patterson, Idaho; Frank, died in Idaho.


William H. Owen received his education in the Owen district school and has always been a hard working, industrious tiller of the soil. He purchased his present place which was formerly the old Roberts farm in 1892 and has made a success of his work and is rated as one of the most substantial and enterprising agriculturists and stockmen of the county.


Mr. Owen was married in 1887 to Miss Lizzie Flynn, daughter of Patrick and Margaret Flynn, deceased, of Jackson County. Mr. and Mrs. Owen have one son, Duward L., living on the home place. He was born in August, 1888 and is married to Emma Hagan who has borne him four


.


828


HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY


children, namely: Lee, aged nine years; Louise, six years old; and twins, Frances and Fay, aged two years.


Mr. Owen is independent in his political beliefs. He served for six years as director of the Owen school district. He is a member of the Brotherhood of American Yeoman and is popular and well liked in his home neighborhood being esteemed as a broad minded and excellent citizen.


Thomas Jefferson Hedrick, member of the Missouri State Board of Agriculture, well known and successful livestock and grain dealer, Buck- ner, Mo., is a native of Tennessee. He was born Jan. 4, 1861, and is a son of James and Elizabeth (Ray) Hedrick, who came to Jackson County in 1896, and settled on a farm, where they spent the remainder of their days. James Hedrick died in 1903, at the age of 69 years. Elizabeth, his wife, died in 1898. James Hedrick served in the Union Army during the Civil War, with a Tennessee regiment. His children are as follows: Wil- liam and James, deceased; John, Atherton, Mo .; Thomas Jefferson, of this review; Robert, died in Oklahoma; a daughter died in infancy; Eliza, de- ceased.


T. J. Hedrick, of this review, came to Jackson County in the spring of 1878, and for the next four years worked as a farm hand at monthly wages. He then rented a tract of land, and later purchased a farm. While engaged in farming he became interested in the buying and selling of live- stock, and thus found his niche in the commercial and agricultural life of Jackson County. He has made a pronounced success as a livestock dealer. Mr. Hedrick removed to Buckner in 1898, and has made this city the cen- tral point for the conduct of his large business. His business was estab- lished in 1889. The Hedrick Grain Elevator at Buckner has a capacity of 10,000 bushels of grain, and the carload shipments from the elevators have been as high as 100 cars in past years.


Mr. Hedrick was married in 1883 to Miss Maude Mershon, a daughter of Amos Mershon. Of five children born to this marriage four are living: Rex V., cashier of the Farmers Bank of Buckner; Guy C., engaged in the livestock business in Kansas City, Mo .; Mrs. Rue Chatburn, Buckner, Mo .; Amy, wife of W. M. Larey, of the Farmers Bank of Buckner.


Mr. Hedrick is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and is affiliated with the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, the Eastern Star, and fraternal insurance orders. He is prominent in the affairs of the Re- publican party, and is one of the leaders of his party in Missouri. He has


829


1


HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY


filled various local offices, and has always taken a keen and influential interest in civic matters. At the present time, Mr. Hedrick is a member of the Republican State Central Committee. In 1909 he was appointed by Governor Herbert Hadley a member of the State Board of Agriculture, and has been reappointed by succeeding governors, receiving his last ap- pointment by Governor Frederick D. Gardner, in the fall of 1918.


Herbert A. Major, of the firm of Major and Humphrey, men's furnish- ing store and barber shop, south side of the square, Independence, Mo., is a native of Jackson County, and is a member of one of the pioneer families of Jackson County. He was born on a farm near Pink Hill, in Sniabar township, Aug. 15, 1873.


His parents were Samuel F. and Rachel (Kabrick) Major, the former of whom was born in 1837 in St. Charles County, and died at Blue Springs, Mo., in 1893. During earlier life, Samuel F. Major followed farming pur- suits. Rachel (Kabrick) Major was born in Virginia and accompanied her parents to Jackson County when she was a child. The Kabricks settled near Oak Grove. Elsewhere in this volume will be found a full account of the Kabrick family. When Order No. 11 was issued during the Civil War the Kabrick family left Jackson County and went to St. Charles. County, with ox teams, crossing the Missouri River at Lexington. The children of the Major family are: Edgar, Kansas City, Mo .; Clarence, Denver, Colo .; Ollie, wife of W. W. Ford, Kansas City, Mo .; Herbert A., of this sketch; Pearl, wife of Wallace Pryor, Kansas City, Mo .; Arthur, Dawson City, Alaska; Frank, Kansas City. It is a remarkable fact that the five Major brothers are barbers, and all have been successful.


Herbert A. Major attended the Blue Springs public schools, learned the trade of barber in his youth, and has followed his trade for the past 30 years. He was first employed in Independence by Henry Bostian, in 1893. His first venture on his own account was in 1898. Later, in 1901, E. R. Humphrey, an experienced drygoods man, was taken into partnerships, and a men's furnishing store was established in the same business room with the barber shop. Major and Humphrey carry a fine stock of goods, and are well established at 115 West Lexington street.


Mr. Major was married in October, 1896, to May Gillespie, a daughter of Robert A. and Amanda M. Gillespie, of Independence, Mo. Mr. and Mrs. Major have a son, Herbert, Jr., aged three years.


Mr. Major is a member of McDonald Lodge, No. 324, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, the Knights of Pythias, and has been affiliated with the


830


HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY 1


Modern Woodmen of America for the past 25 years. The Major residence is located at 919 North Liberty street.


A. W. Searcy, a member of an old Missouri pioneer family, was born on a farm in Clay County, Mo., Aug. 15, 1863. His parents were A. W., Sr., and Mary A. (Moore) Searcy, both of whom were natives of Madison Coun- ty, Ky.


In the year 1838, A. W. Searcy, Sr., accompanied his father and the family to Missouri. His father, R. H. Searcy, settled between Kansas City and Liberty, entering government land, near Winwood Lake. R. H. Searcy not only entered land but each of his sons took up a homestead and devel- oped it. A. W. Searcy, Sr., returned to Kentucky, was there married, and upon his coming back to Clay County, he too, settled upon government land. He developed a fine farm, which was his home for many years, and be- came prominent in the civic affairs of Clay County, serving as sheriff of the county before the Civil War. His duties as a county official also re- quired that he collect the taxes from the land owners. This necessitated his traveling all over the county and as frequently happened in those days, when few people had any ready money, he would take livestock in payment for the taxes. He would take the cattle, hogs, horses or whatever the farmer paid him, to the market, sell the stock, and if any balance was. left over after taking out the county's share, he would return the money to the farmer. On the other hand if the stock fell short in value of the amount due in taxes, he would call upon the farmer to make up the difference. He filled the office of sheriff and collector for several years, and was widely known in Clay County.


A. W. Searcy, Sr., moved to Jackson County after his term as sheriff expired, and settled upon a farm which is now a part of Kansas City. Fif- teenth street now runs through an 80 which he owned. He sold this 80 and purchased 40 acres east of Independence in 1881. He was accidentally killed on this place by a horse, and his remains were interred in Salem church cemetery. His widow survived him many years, and died in her ninety- third year. The Searcy children are: R. H. Searcy, Kansas City, Mo .; F. M. Searcy, Independence, Mo .; Josephine Searcy, Raytown, Mo .; Mrs. Mary Anderson, Olathe, Kan .; Cassie and Charline Searcy, Independence, Mo .; A. W. Searcy, Jr., subject of this sketch ; Mrs. Sallie Gibson, deceased.


A. W. Searcy, Jr., of this review, followed farming pursuits until 1900. He then came to Independence and was engaged in the coal business for


831


HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY


nine years prior to taking his present position with the W. W. Peacock Grocery, 202 North Liberty street.


Mr. Searcy was married in 1900 to Miss Etta E. Turner, of Independ- ence. The Searcy family residence is located at 419 North Liberty street.


Mr. Searcy is a member of the Woodmen of the World. He is one of the heaviest stockholders of the Jackson County Fair Association and is treasurer of this association, having been a member since its inception in 1906.


Mr. Searcy served for two years as a member of the City Council, and filled the post of deputy county assessor for one year under Assessor Crit Whaley.


During the pioneer days, when A. W. Searcy, Sr., resided in Clay County, wild game was plentiful and the table was usually kept supplied with fresh meat through the prowess of some member of the family as a hunter. On one occasion, the elder Searcy shouldered his rifle and started to follow a deer route which the deer used in passing to and from the river. While in hiding near the path waiting for a deer to pass he noticed some ravens who were making considerable noise. He decided to investigate and found two bucks lying dead, their antlers caught in the top of a fallen tree. It was upon their carcasses that the ravens had been feeding. The antlers were of unusual size and Mr. Searcy took them home, where for many years they were highly prized trophies.


Christian Ott was elected mayor of Independence in 1913, and still holds the office, having been elected to four consecutive terms, a record which had never been equalled by any of his predecessors. He has been the choice of the people because he has always given very efficient service, and there are several reasons why-the principle ones being sound business judgment, freedom of the city government from petty politics, and an in- dividual pride on his part in making Independence the best governed city anywhere.


Mayor Ott was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Christian Ott, Sr., who were pioneers in Independence and Jackson County, settling here in 1848. It was in honor of the elder Ott that the Ott school is so named. To this couple were born seven children, four sons and three daughters. Of the sons, one is a physician of Philadelphia, one is a merchant, another is a bank president, and the other is the subject of this article. All are suc- cessful in their respective lines. It has been said that their father's last


832


HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY


words were, "I have tried to bring up my children so that they would make good men and women. I think I have done so."


After leaving the parental roof, Christian Ott, Jr., was employed as clerk in a drug store, working there for five years. This store was owned. and operated by Dr. J. T. Brown, a substantial citizen of Independence. The most attractive feature of the business according to a recent inter- view with the mayor, was the proprietor's daughter, Miss Maud Brown, who is the present Mrs. Ott.


Not intending to become a druggist, Mr. Ott entered the employ of the Anderson-Chiles Banking Company, and was later connected with the Mc- Coy Banking Company. He was city treasurer of Independence, and also served as a member of the City Council. His principal occupation, however, was always the buying and selling of real estate, and it has been in this business that he has made most of his money. It has been said of him by business men of Independence that in the matter of a real estate transac- tion he never makes a mistake, once his mind is made up on a proposition.


Since taking up the duties of mayor he has received attractive offers from big corporations to serve them in an advisory capacity and also in administrative positions. So far he has declined all offers and continues to be mayor of Independence.


3713





Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.