History of Johnson County, Missouri, Part 43

Author: Cockrell, Ewing
Publication date: 1918
Publisher: Topeka, Kan. : Historical Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 1234

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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY

thousand dollars. The bank officials now are: A. C. Todd, president ; W. T. Baker, first vice-president; Guilford Morris, second vice-presi- dent ; J. O. Reynolds, secretary and cashier; Henly Stacy, assistant cashier ; and G. L. Hall, L. C. Abington, J. W. Shoemaker, A. C. Todd, W. F. Reynolds, J. H. Boone, S. L. Miller, W. T. Baker, Moses Nehr, F. G. Cooper, William Hinton, Guilford Morris, W. T. Des Combes, Henly Stacy, J. O. Reynolds, directors. The bank owns its building, furniture, and fixtures, which are valued at more than five thousand dollars. From the time the bank opened its doors it has had an ex- cellent business. The people have the utmost confidence in this insti- tution, due to the careful and efficient management. J. O. Reynolds, the capable, young cashier, is thoroughly wide-awake and a "booster" for all projects which will help the little city of Leeton and the sur- rounding country. The stockholders and officers of the Farmers Bank have from the start been home people.

Henly Stacy, the well-known and highly respected assistant cashier of the Farmers Bank of Leeton, Missouri, was born August 29, 1866 in Schuyler county, Missouri, the son of James and Louisa (Garrett) Stacy, the former a native of Kentucky and the latter of Missouri. They are the parents of the following children: W. L., a prominent ranchman residing at Gardner, Colorado: J. M., who died in early man- hood; Mrs. L. P. Welch, Eureka, Kansas; Henly, the subject of this review; and Martha J., the wife of Dave Brown, of Warrensburg. Louisa (Garrett) Stacy died about 1896 and her remains were interred in the cemetery in Barton county, Missouri. James Stacy now makes his home with his daughter, Mrs. Dave Brown, in Warrensburg. He is eighty-six years of age, at the time of this writing.

Henly Stacy received his education in the public schools of Schuy- ler county. Since he was twenty years of age, he has made his own way in the world. He was reared on the farm in Schuyler county and in earliest boyhood assisted his father with the work of the farm. For about two years, he was engaged in the drug business at Queen City, Missouri. From Queen City, Mr. Stacy went to a farm in Barton county and for four years was engaged again in the pursuits of agri- culture. He then left Barton county and went to Iowa, where he remained one winter. When he returned from Iowa he again located in Barton county, coming to Johnson county in 1900, when he pur- chased a farm in Post Oak township. This farm comprised four

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hundred sixty acres and was owned by Lewis Higgins, who sold it to Mr. Stacy for about twenty dollars an acre. Mr. Stacy sold this farm two years later. About thirteen years ago, he moved to Leeton, Mis- souri and purchased the Dr. Wall property. Within a short time, he disposed of that place and purchased one hundred acres adjoining the townsite of Leeton, eighteen acres of which are now within the cor- poration limits, where he now resides. Mr. Stacy also owns five hun- dred acres of land in Post Oak township. one of the best improved farms in Johnson county.

In 1891, Henly Stacy was united in marriage with Sybillia M. Deierling, the daughter of G. and Maria ( Blurton) Deierling, of Queen City, Missouri. Mr. Deierling is deceased and his widow resides in Queen City. To Henly and Sybillia M. Stacy have been born two children: Mrs. Edith L. Hansam, who has one daughter. Jane, and resides in Leeton, Missouri; and John L., who is a student in the Leeton High School and resides at home with his parents.

Leeton, Missouri is practically a farmers' town. Besides the Farmers Bank, Leeton has a lumber and an elevator company, and the Westlawn Telephone Company, which has in operation more than three hundred fifty phones. Mr. Stacy has been one of the stockholders of the Farmers Bank of Leeton for years and is now assistant cashier and one of the directors of the bank. He has held the former position since May, 1913. Henly Stacy is a director of the Leeton Lumber Company, treasurer of the Farmers Cooperative Elevator Company, a member of the Leeton School Board and of the city council. Aside from his banking and other business interests mentioned, Mr. Stacy buys and sells stock. On his farm in Post Oak township, he raises horses, cattle, mules, and hogs, and is in partnership with his nephew and his son-in-law, E. F. Hansam, in the Leeton Mercantile Company. He is also a member of the firm, Stacy & Reynolds, which firm has the agency for Fords in this locality. Fords are sold as fast as they can be shipped to Leeton. Fifty cars have already been delivered this year and the firm has twenty-two unfilled orders. It is not necessary to eulogize Henly Stacy or his capabilities. The actual facts speak for themselves.

Mr. Stacy is affiliated with the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Leeton, the Modern Woodmen of America at Leeton, and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks at Warrensburg.

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Thomas Jefferson Halsey, secretary and treasurer of the Holden Milling and Elevator Company, Holden, Missouri, is a native of New Jersey and a scion of an old and distinguished American family of English origin. He is a direct descendant of Thomas Halsey, who took ship from England at the time the great revolution was brewing which placed Oliver Cromwell as Lord Protector of the commonwealth in power. John Hampden and Oliver Cromwell took passage on the same ship which carried Thomas Halsey to the new world, but they were prevented from leaving England by order of the king. Thomas Halsey descended from one of the oldest of the Broklind families in England, the lineage of which traces as far back as 1189 and the family numbers in its various generations men who were famous in English history. The history of this long line of honorable ancestors, in this country and England, sprung from a far beginning, covers seven hundred twenty-nine years.

Deeds on record at Lynn, Massachusetts, furnish the first record of Thomas Halsey in America, which was during the year 1637. He possessed at that time one hundred acres of land at Lynn. He, with others, migrated from Lynn and founded the town of Southampton on Long Island, which was the first English colony within what are the present limits of New York. The name Thomas Halsey is affixed to the agreement between the settlers and the Indians who sold them the land upon which they made their settlement. The wife of Thomas Halsey was the first victim to fall at the hands of a hostile tribe of Indians who later raided this colony, in 1649. The Halseys of Long Island had many representatives in the French and Indian Wars and, later, in the struggle between the colonies and the mother country. When the news of the skirmish at Lexington reached Long Island, Jesse Halsey crossed over to New London and joined the patriot army. Immediately after the battle of Bunker Hill he enlisted and served throughout the war and retired with the rank of colonel. Captain Luther Halsey was one of the founders of the Society of Cincinnati and was instrumental in establishing Union College at Schenectady. Captain Jeremiah Halsey distinguished himself by bravery in the cap- ture of Ticonderoga and contributed more of his time and money than many other patriots in Connecticut. He was later commissioned com- mander-in-chief of the northern department and as captain of the armed sloop "Enterprise" on the Great Lakes was the first naval commander

THOMAS JEFFERSON HALSEY.

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of the United States. Halsey street in Brooklyn was named in honor of this great hero. Captain Elias Halsey was killed at Croton Heights, Fort Griswold, September 6, 1781. Matthew Halsey fought in the bat- tle of Long Island and afterward took out letters of marque and led an expedition to New London against some Hessian troops. Captain Silas P. Halsey was killed in an attempt to blow up the British block- ading frigate, "Ramilles," this being, it is said, the first time the tor- pedo was used in warfare. In the war with Mexico the Halseys again came to the front. In the War of the Rebellion there were many of the Halseys of Long Island and also members of the family from other states on the muster rolls of the Union army. The Halsey family has spread over the country and by intermarriage are allied with many of the old colonial families of this and other states.

The Halsey coat of arms was granted to William Halsey and his brothers in 1633. In a letter dated Gaddesden, Hartfordshire, England, March 23, 1885, addressed to Jacob L. Halsey, vice-president of the Manhattan Life Insurance Company of New York. Thomas Frederick Halsey acknowledges the clear and undoubted right of the descendants of Thomas Halsey born at Great Gaddesden to wear the Halsey arms. Thomas Jefferson Halsey, subject of this review, was born in Dover, New Jersey, May 4. 1863. a son of Thomas Jefferson and Sarah E. (Burt) Halsey, both of whom were natives of New Jersey.

Thomas Jefferson Halsey, father of the subject of this review. migrated to Missouri with his family in 1878 and located on a farm two miles south of Holden in Johnson county. Prior to this he had served in the Union army as major in the Eleventh New Jersey Infantry. Major Halsey was taken prisoner by the Confederates and confined in Libby prison, where he was forced to remain and suffer for nine long months. He was severely wounded in the battle of Chancellorsville. For a number of years, he cultivated his farm south of Holden and eventually moved to Holden and engaged in the mercantile business, a venture which proved successful from a business standpoint. He died at Holden, January 20, 1893. Mrs. Halsey departed this life March 29, 1905. They were parents of nine children, five of whom are now living. as follow: Frank, superintendent in the Calumet and Heckla Copper Mines at Calumet. Michigan; E. E., an attorney of Clarkston, Wash- ington, who has served three terms as a member of the state Legisla- ture of his adopted state and introduced the present effective Wash-

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ington bone dry law ; Fred, a merchant, Holden, Missouri; Mrs. Mamie Shoemaker, Daleville, Indiana; and Thomas Jefferson, subject of this review.

The last-named was reared to young manhood in Hackettstown, New Jersey, and attended the public schools of his native city. After coming to Missouri with his parents he studied in the private academy at Holden, attended Holden College and the Warrensburg State Normal School, a student here under Doctor Osbron's administration. After taking a course in the Normal School he pursued a course of study in the Missouri State University. Thus, equipped with a good education as a sound basis upon which to build his subsequent interesting and successful career, he began active pursuits in the mercantile business in Holden. He was thus engaged for a period of twenty-five years, finally disposing of his business in 1906. He then bought an interest in the Holden Milling Company and was connected with this concern until 1910 when he disposed of his milling interests and moved to Glendale, a suburb of Los Angeles where he was engaged in business pursuits for one year. He returned to Holden and bought an interest in the milling company, which he is now managing as secretary and treasurer, resuming his old position.

Mr. Halsey was married January 14, 1891 to Miss Clara Wiley of St. Joseph, Missouri and to this union have been born four children, the following three children living: Edwin C., who is employed in the mill at Holden; Herbert A., a junior in the Holden High School; Clara Elizabeth, a student in Holden grade school. Mrs. Halsey is a graduate of Holden College and taught school for a number of years, having been a teacher in the St. Joseph public schools.

For forty years, Mr. Halsey has been a member of the Presbyterian church and is a consistent religious worshipper and worker. His early plans were to enter the ministry and his education was planned with that object in view and had his eyesight not become weakened by con- stant study and reading he would have completed his education at Princeton University. Mrs. Halsey is a member of the Presbyterian church and is much interested in church and religious work. Mr. Halsey is affiliated with the Modern Woodmen of America. He has always been a Republican in politics and is one of the leaders of his party in Missouri. When Hadley was governor of Missouri. Mr. Halsey was a member of the State Executive Committee, and was also a member

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of the State Committee at large. He served as mayor of Holden, dur- ing the period when the municipal lighting plant was installed, having been elected to the office in April, 1895, serving two years. The light- ing plant, which he advocated and which was placed in operation during his term of office, has proven to be an unqualified success. Mr. Halsey has always taken an interest in educational matters and filled the office of member of the school board for three years. Ever keenly alive to the growth and development of his home city, he has filled the post of president of the local Commercial Club and has served as chairman of the local Lyceum Bureau. In fact, when the citizens of Holden wish something accomplished for the good of the city, this versatile and accomplished citizen is usually to be found in the forefront of all pro- gressive movements intended to better social, civic and commercial conditions.

Being a public speaker of considerable ability and power, he has given his services during political campaigns. He was a candidate for the Legislature at one time. When Herbert Hadley made the race for governor, Mr. Halsey was prevailed upon to become his party's candi- date for state auditor but declined. Mr. Halsey has delivered many addresses on public occasions and his audiences are always charmed and entertained by his style and erudition.

William F. Reynolds, an honored pioneer of Henry county, Mis- souri, was born July 28, 1854, the son of Samuel M. and Elvira (Fewel) Reynolds, natives of North Carolina. Samuel M. Reynolds was killed August 16, 1862, at the battle of Lonejack and his widow later married W. T. Wilson and they reside on the farm in Henry county, which Mr. Reynolds improved before the Civil War. A sketch of Mrs. W. T. Wilson will be found elsewhere in this volume. One brother and one sister of William F. Reynolds are now living: Samuel M., Jr., Corder. Missouri ; and Mrs. W. H. Dorman, Clinton, Missouri.

Mr. Reynolds attended school in Calhoun, Clinton, and Warrens- burg, Missouri. He was a student at the Warrensburg State Normal School early in the seventies. After leaving school he engaged in farming and stock raising in Henry county and. except for the eight years Mr. and Mrs. Reynolds resided in Warrensburg in order to educate their children there. he has ever since resided on the home place in Henry county, near Leeton.

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October 15, 1878, William F. Reynolds and Sallie B. Robinson were united in marriage in Warrensburg. Sallie B. (Robinson) Reynolds is the daughter of Jehu and Julia Ann (Oglesby) Robinson, of Warrensburg. Jehu Robinson was a pioneer of Johnson county of the early thirties. He built a house of three stories near Mont- serrat, shipping the pine lumber from Cincinnati, Ohio to Lexington, Missouri, from which place he hauled it to Warrensburg. The third story was the first Masonic hall in Johnson county. It was furnished in 1856 and is still standing. Jehu and Julia Ann Robinson were the parents of the following children: Mary Margaret : John E., deceased; Louisa H., deceased; Dr. Joseph F., Nevada, Missouri; J. T., deceased; Sallie B., the wife of the subject of this review; and James L. To Will- iam F. and Sallie B. Reynolds have been born the following children: Joseph O., who is cashier of the Farmers Bank of Leeton, a sketch of whom appears in this volume; John R., the well-known farmer and stockman residing on the home place near Leeton, Missouri; Anna Belle, at home; and M. Dearing, at home.

Although the Reynolds farm, comprising two hundred forty acres, lies one and a fourth miles across the county line in Henry county, Mr. Reynolds is claimed by Johnson county. He is one of the most ex- cellent farmers and is owner of one of the finest and best improved places in the Leeton neighborhood, a highly valued and most desirable citizen, and the pioneers of this county claim him as their own. Part of the present Reynolds place is the original Fewel farm, which was entered from the government in 1849 by William Fewel. The Tebo, a small stream, runs through the place and the farm is well watered. Mr. Reynolds is still actively engaged in farming and stock raising.

Both Mr. and Mrs. Reynolds enjoy the stories of the days long past and recall much of the life in this section of the state in the early days. Mr. Reynolds often broke prairie land with a team of oxen, when the rattlesnakes were in abundance. He remembers the day his father left home to join the Confederate service at the battle of Lonejack. William F. was a child eight years of age and he climbed on the horse, behind his father, and insisted upon being taken with him. The boy was determined not to get off "Celum" and was re- moved, protesting vigorously. A neighbor brought the horse home after the battle. The empty saddle was the first news of the father's death.

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William F. Reynolds is a third cousin of Richard Pearson Hobson. the hero of the "Merrimac," of Spanish American War fame.

James B. Greim, a retired farmer of Warrensburg, Missouri, was born April 15, 1861 in Warrensburg township. Johnson county, a mem- ber of one of the pioneer families of this section of the state. Hle is the son of Nicholas and Barbara (Brunner) Greim, who were united in marriage in Illinois in 1858. Nicholas Greim was a native of Ger- many. He emigrated from Germany to America when he was seven- teen years of age and landed in New York City in 1852, unable to speak a word of English and with only ten cents in his pocket. He went from New York to Pennsylvania and for some time was employed in work on a canal. From Pennsylvania he went to Illinois, where he was married. and he and Mrs. Greim came to Missouri from Illinois and settled in Warrensburg township. Before the railroad was built. Nicholas Greim hauled lumber to Clinton. Missouri. To Nieholas and Barbara Greim were born the following children: William: James B., the subject of this review: Mary E .: Henry G .: Maggie, deceased : Anna; John; Christopher; Fred: George: Clara: Amelia, deceased : and Sophia, who lives at home with her mother. Mr. Greim died October 31, 1906, and his remains were interred in the cemetery southeast of Warrensburg. Mrs. Greim resides one and a half miles south of War- rensburg. A sketch of Barbara (Brunner) Greim appears elsewhere in this volume.

James B. Greim attended school at the old Valley school house near his home in Warrensburg township. He also was a student at the Warrensburg State Normal School for two years, in 1875 and 1876. Mr. Greim began farming on a place southeast of Warrens- burg. a farm of two hundred eighty acres, which he improved and still owns. His son, Otto, now resides on this place and is a successful breeder of Hereford cattle. James B. Greim was engaged in the pur- suits of agriculture twenty-four years on this farm, until 1909, when Mr. and Mrs. Greim moved to Warrensburg, where they now reside at 113 Ming street and he is now engaged in general carpenter work and contracting.

January 14, 1886. James B. Greim was united in marriage with Rose Gunser, the daughter of Fred and Margaret ( Mack) Gunser, of Warrensburg. Fred Gunser was a native of Germany. He came to Johnson county before the Civil War. Mr. Gunser enlisted in the Civil

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War in the Union service. He was a wagon maker by trade and con- ducted a wagon shop at Westport Landing before Kansas City was even a town. He also owned a wagon shop in Warrensburg, which place of business was located on the site of Mose Cohn's store on North Holden street. He worked in the wagon shop in the old town of Warrensburg, long before the war. Mrs. Gunser died September 19, 1883. Fred Gunser survived his wife thirty-three years, his death occurring January 26, 1916. He was laid to rest in the Warrensburg cemetery. To James B. and Rose (Gunser) Greim have been born two sons: Otto F., who is a graduate of the Warrensburg High School and Gem City Business College at Quincy, Illinois and is now engaged in farming and stock raising on the home place and is one of Johnson county's most progressive and highly regarded, young citizens; and Willard N., who is a graduate of the Warrensburg High School in the

class of 1910, a graduate of the Warrensburg State Normal School in the class of 1912, a postgraduate of the Normal School in 1913, and a graduate of the Young Men's Christian Association School of Physical Culture, Springfield, Massachusetts, and was employed for the year 1917 and 1918 in the schools of Cleveland, Ohio, but resigned to enter the officers' training camp at Ft. Sheridan, Illinois, was com- missioned a captain and is now serving in the national army. While in college Willard N. Greim took an active part in all forms of athletics, being a member of the varsity football, basketball, and track teams, making the "All-Missouri" football team in 1912. He was a member of the literary and debating society and president of his class. For two years Willard Greim was principal of the Lathrop High School, Lathrop, Missouri, from 1913 until 1915 and for the past two years he had been an instructor in the Indian Orchard Sunday School. Mr. and Mrs. Greim have reared and educated two of the finest young men in the state, of whom Johnson county is proud. The Greim family are well known in Johnson county and prominent in the community.

Barbara (Brunner) Greim, widow of Nicholas Greim, is one of Johnson county's pioneer women. She was born in Germany Decem- ber 27, 1837. When she was fifteen years of age she emigrated from Germany with relatives and came to America. They located in Illi- nois and there Mrs. Greim remained about four years.

March 18, 1858, Nicholas Greim and Barbara Brunner were united in marriage near Springfield, Illinois in Sangamon county. In the

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spring of 1859, they came to Missouri and settled in Warrensburg township, locating first on a farm northeast of Warrensburg and later moving to a farm southeast of the old town. In 1901 they purchased thirty acres of land located one-half mile south of Warrensburg. Martin H. Williams built the house on this place and here Mrs. Greim now resides. During the Civil War, Mr. and Mrs. Greim lost practically all they had by depradations from the enemy. At one time Mr. Greim was in Lexington, Missouri securing provisions for the family when his team and wagon were confiscated. Nicholas Greim died October 31, 1906 and his remains were interred in the cemetery at the Dunkard church southeast of Warrensburg.

Nicholas and Barbara ( Brunner) Greim were the parents of thir- teen children: William H., who resides in Santa Barbara, California; James B., a retired farmer of Warrensburg, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this volume: Mrs. Mary E. Drummond, who resides in Warrensburg; Henry G., who resides in Warrensburg; Mrs. Margaret Priest, deceased; Mrs. Anna Glaspey, of Warrensburg: John K., War- rensburg: Christopher C., Warrensburg; Mrs. Clara Fitterly, War- rensburg ; George W., Warrensburg: Amelia, deceased; Fred W., Warrensburg; and Sophia E., who resides at home with her mother.

Harry T. Clark, shoe merchant of Warrensburg, Missouri, a mem- ber of the firm known as the Clark Brothers, is a native of Gasconade county, Missouri. He is the son of H. F. and Rosetta (Goff) Clark, a biographical sketch of whom will be found elsewhere in this volume. The Clark family came to Johnson county in 1864 and in 1868 settled in Warrensburg.

In the public schools of Warrensburg. Harry T. Clark received his early education. He later attended the Warrensburg State Normal School and after leaving the Normal, entered the drug business in Warrensburg. associated with E. N. and N. B. Johnson, who owned one of the best pharmacies in the city. Mr. Clark studied pharmacy and became a registered pharmacist. He was associated with the Johnsons in the drug business for three years and then entered the mercantile business, employed in the drygoods store of Christopher & Shepard for two years. Later, Mr. Clark purchased the interest of Mr. Roberts in the Roberts & Clark Shoe Store and the firm be- came known as the Clark Brothers' Shoe Store. the store being located on North Holden street in the city of Warrensburg. This firm is one

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History of Johnson County, Missouri, Part 43

Author: Cockrell, Ewing Publication date: 1918 Publisher: Topeka, Kan. : Historical Publishing Co. Number of Pages: 1234

Author: Cockrell, Ewing
Publication date: 1918
Publisher: Topeka, Kan. : Historical Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 1234