History of Johnson County, Missouri, Part 76

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

USA > Missouri > Johnson County > History of Johnson County, Missouri > Part 76

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).

858

HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY

dollars. The year following the burning of the old home the building of the new was undertaken and Johnson county now has as handsome and comfortable home for the dependents as is to be found in the state of Missouri. Mr. Boyles made many helpful and valuable suggestions to the board concerning the home and grounds, many of which were adopted and thus the chapel is one of the principal features of the home.

Mr. Boyles also introduced several innovations while serving as county clerk, improvements relative to the systematizing of the work which have proven by the test of time to be of inestimable value to the county. Two of these are the County Ward Book and the County Bridge Book. The former shows the name and date of discharge of each ward of the county sent to reformatories or prisons and the latter gives the number and specifications of each bridge built in the county. The framework of the different bridges also bears the same number of the bridge as given in the County Bridge Book, of which bridge the framework is a part.

Charles A. Boyles was for two years associated with George O. Hart as manager of the general store. In the fall of 1909, Mr. Boyles opened a Five and Ten Cents store on the site of the Miller Jewelry store and three years later moved to the present location, and went into partnership with Charles D. Middleton and Harry Jennings. One year later he bought out Harry Jennings and the ensuing year, 1911, bought out Charles Middleton and has since that time conducted the store alone. He began business in 1909 with a capital of fifteen hun- dred dollars and now carries a stock valued at ten thousand dollars. The store building, which is located at 309 and 311 North Holden street, has a frontage of fifty feet and a depth of one hundred two feet. Both the first and second floors are occupied and the stock is neatly and conveniently arranged. Five clerks are employed by Mr. Boyles and he and his wife also assist with the sales. Extra help is secured for the Saturday trade. A ladies' rest room has been provided by Mr. Boyles for the comfort of his women patrons. He has spared no labor or expense in making his store thoroughly up-to-date.

December 28, 1880, Charles A. Boyles and Isley O. McElvain, the daughter of Samnel and Melinda (Bosthwick) McElvain, were united in marriage. Mrs. Boyles' parents came to Johnson county. Missouri from Kentucky. Both father and mother are now deceased and their remains are interred in Oak Grove cemetery. To Charles A. and Isley

859

HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY

O. (McElvain) Boyles has been born a daughter, Lilias May, who is the wife of Dr. Thomas W. Ross, of St. Louis, Missouri and they reside in University City, a suburb of St. Louis. By a former marriage with Dovie Kerren, Mr. Boyles has a son, Emmet C., who resides in Chi- cago, Illinois.

Since he was twelve years of age, Charles A. Boyles has been a member of the Presbyterian church and lie has been active in church work practically all his life. He was appointed field secretary of the Ministerial Sustentation Association of the Presbyterian Church of the United States of America, but the work, though pleasant, kept Mr. Boyles away from home so much that after one year he resigned his position. He was elected commissioner to the General Assembly of the Presbyterian church, which met in Denver, Colorado in 1909, and both he and Mrs. Boyles attended. For twenty years he was perma- nent secretary and member of the executive committee of the Sabbath School Assembly of the Synod of Missouri, the meetings of which were held annually at Pertle Springs where the best talent in the United States was brought. Mr: Boyles is also a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons with whom he affiliated at Jamestown in 1871. He has been Worshipful Master for the past five years. Charles A. Boyles is one of Johnson county's most prominent and progressive citizens. He has always been deeply interested in all movements which have for their object the improvement and moral uplift of the com- munity. For several years, he conducted a free employment bureau at his store, and in many ways he has contributed much towards help- ing his fellowman.

U. A. McBride, the present postmaster of Warrensburg, is one of the widely known newspaper men of Missouri who for a number of years has been prominently identified with public affairs. He was born in 1869 in Henry county, Missouri, a son of William H. and Mattie J. (Randall) McBride, natives of Kentucky. William McBride was a son of James McBride, one of the honored pioneers of Henry county, who owned valuable property interests in Montrose and Butler at the time of his death, which occurred in Kansas, when he was eighty-nine years of age. William H. McBride came from Kentucky to Missouri in 1865 and located in Cooper county near Boonville, later moving to a farm northwest of Montrose in Henry county. He was widely known in this county and in Cass county. For many years he was engaged in the con-

S60

HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY

tracting business at Clinton and Butler and built the first brick business house erected in Sedalia, the John Houx Hardware Store in Sedalia, and the "Bazoo" Building on High street in Sedalia. The latter struc- ture was erected just after the Civil War. Mattie J. ( Randall) McBride was a daughter of Dr. Randall, a pioneer physician of Louisville, Ken- tucky. To William H. and Mattie (Randall) McBride were born six children : James Owen, who was a druggist at Siloam Springs, Arkan- sas, where he died at the age of thirty-nine years. burial being made at Warrensburg, Missouri; Susie, the wife of William J. Hutchinson, editor of the "Mt. Washintgon News," Mt. Washington, Missouri: Mary E., the wife of Richard Stream, of Kansas City, Missouri: U. A., the subject of this review; Thomas F., who was a'pharmacist at Marshall, Missouri, where his death occurred and interment was made ; and George Vest, the assistant fire chief and captain of Station Number 7 at Kansas City, Missouri. The father's death occurred at Pleasant Hill in 1907 and his last resting place is in the cemetery at Pleasant Hill. The widowed mother resides with her daughter, Mrs. William J. Hutchin- son, at Mt. Washington, Missouri.

In the public schools of Clinton and Butler, Missouri, U. A. McBride received his education. Early in life, he became interested in the news- paper business and he made his entry in the world of newspaper men at Adrian, Missouri, when he assumed charge of the "Journal" there. He later purchased this paper, made it a paying proposition, and sold it, to establish the "Pleasant Hill Gazette," which is now the "Pleasant Hill Times." In December, 1893, Mr. McBride disposed of his owner- ship of this paper and came to Warrensburg, where he purchased the "Journal-Democrat." This paper was afterward consolidated with the "Star." In connection with the "Journal-Democrat," Mr. McBride ran the "Daily Democrat." While in control of the "Journal-Democrat," he issued the call for the state organization of democratic editors to meet at Pertle Springs. The meeting was attended by all the leading newspaper men of Missouri, among whom were Charles H. Jones, of the "St. Louis Post-Dispatch" and Charles W. Knapp, of the "St. Louis Republic," and A. Lesver, editor of the "Kansas City Times." This organization is still maintained and has been and is of great benefit to the newspaper men of the state. At this particular meeting. the follow- ing officers were elected: H. Martin Williams, of Hermann, Missouri, president ; Charlie Walters, of Rich Hill, Missouri, vice-president : U.

HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY

A. McBride, of Warrensburg, Missouri, recording secretary ; and John Black McDonald, of Warrensburg. Missouri. corresponding secretary. U. A. McBride controlled the "Journal-Democrat" until 1895. when he sold the paper and erected a printing plant. known as the McBride Printing Plant, which he put in successful operation. He started the "Daily Tribune" during the excited campaign for free silver in 1896. This paper was later moved to Clinton, Missouri and established there as the "Clinton Tribune." The paper was a marked success and was sold by U. A. McBride to his partners, when he returned to Warrens- burg to enter the job printing and book publishing business and later to associate with C. D. Middleton in publishing the "Johnson County Star." He afterward sold his interest in this paper to the Middletons. When Mr. Crossley purchased the "Johnson County Star," he offered the management of the paper to Mr. McBride, which position he accepted. In 1912. U. A. McBride was elected secretary of the Demo- cratic State Central Committee and as his political work took his entire time. he retired from newspaper work. Mr. McBride was secretary of the Johnson County Democratic Central Committee prior to his elec- tion to the same position with the state committee. He was filling the state position at the time of his appointment as postmaster of War- rensburg in 1914, which position he now occupies at the time of this writing, in 1917. U. A. McBride was offered the appointment to the office of deputy insurance commissioner, under Governor Major's administration, which honor he declined to accept, but instead accepted the position of chief statistician of the State Board of Health. which he resigned at the time of his appointment as postmaster of Warrens- burg. During Governor Major's administration, Mr. McBride was the official reporter of the House of Representatives and State Senate. The Warrensburg postoffice has shown a gradual increase in business for many years. In 1916, the sales of stamps alone amounted to twenty thousand dollars. The postoffice building was erected in 1912, at a cost of sixty-five thousand dollars. The office employs nine rural car- riers, four city carriers, five clerks, including the assistant postmaster, one parcel post man, and two substitute carriers.

February 19, 1890, U. A. McBride was united in marriage with Isa Sarah Dewar, daughter of Thomas and Mattie Dewar. Thomas Dewar was a well-known miller at Pleasant Hill. Missouri. His death occurred when his daughter, Isa Sarah. was a little child, two years of

862

HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY

age. The mother died in Warrensburg in 1913 and the remains of both parents were interred in the cemetery at Pleasant Hill. To U. A. and Isa Sarah (Dewar) McBride was born one child, a daughter, Mildred M., who died at the age of fourteen years. Mr. and Mrs. McBride reside in one of Warrensburg's most attractive homes, a beautiful bungalow, built in 1914 at 424 South Holden street.

One of the biggest things ever done for Warrensburg was done by U. A. McBride, when he secured the meeting of the big Silver Convention at Pertle Springs in 1896. This meeting was of national interest and the management of the convention crowd, which was accomplished in an excellent and masterly manner, was no small task for a city the size of Warrensburg. Special arrangements were made to take the mammoth crowd to the pavilion one and a half miles south of the city and cots were shipped into Warrensburg by the carload from Kansas City. The convention attracted newspaper men from every part of the United States and even to-day frequent mention is made by the press of the "Pertle Springs Convention." Bland, the idol of the silver men, was defeated for presidential nomination at the Chi- cago convention on the fifth ballot, when William Jennings Bryan received the necessary two-thirds majority. U. A. McBride was a mem- ber of the convention held in Chicago.

Mr. McBride is president of the Warrensburg Commercial Club, holding the position since March, 1917, at which time he was visited by a committee of representative business men who prevailed upon him to accept the presidency of the club.

Jacob Pickel, the man who opened the first sandstone quarry in Johnson county, Missouri, who is now deceased, was one of Johnson county's best known citizens and one of Missouri's most prominent stone contractors. He was born in 1831 in Cottonheim, Prussia and at the age of twenty years emigrated from his native land and came to America, where he located in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1851. Jacob Pickel had learned the trade of stone cutting in the old country and he followed his trade in America in addition to the work of contracting.

In 1870, Jacob Pickel, associated with his two brothers, Peter and Anton, opened the first sandstone quarry in Johnson county about two miles north of Warrensburg. This quarry was placed in operation at an expenditure of much hard labor, time, and expense. A switch was put in, so that the stone could be loaded at the quarry. The three brothers installed a steam channeling machine at the quarry, the machine

863

HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY

alone costing six thousand dollars. The lifting was also done by machin- ery, run by steam. The first large contract was for more than two hundred fifty thousand dollars worth of stone to be used in the con- struction of the Chamber of Commerce building in St. Louis, Missouri, a building which covers an entire block at Third and Cliestnut streets in that city. In the office of Ben Pickel in Warrensburg can be seen the drawing made of this building while in the process of construction. All the stone was cut at the quarry and shipped to St. Louis in perfect condition to be placed. Jacob Pickel furnished the stone for the con- struction of the Kansas City Court House, the Southern Hotel, the Barr building, and many other buildings in Kansas City, Missouri, besides the stone used in many of the buildings in the city of Warrens- burg. As many as fifteen hundred cars of stone would be shipped annually, a train load being daily shipped. The quarry, at the present time, comprises two hundred eighty acres of land, but the original purchase was about forty acres. Jacob Pickel died in Warrensburg in 1903. He was an industrious, intelligent, capable citizen, one who did much for the business interests of Johnson county and he was uni- versally held in the highest esteem and respect.

Jacob Pickel was united in marriage with Catherine Smith and to them were born five children: Frank, of Warrensburg, Missouri; George, who resides at Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, a priest in the Jesuit College at that place; Lizzie, who is a nun, being with the sisters at Hebron, Nebraska; Ben, the manager of his father's stone quarry near Warrensburg; and Clara, who lives at home with her widowed mother and brother, Ben, in their quarry home.

The youngest son of Jacob Pickel, Ben Pickel, has taken an active interest in his father's trade and he is engaged in the business of stone contracting. Ben Pickel attended the public schools of St. Louis, Mis- souri. About 1896, he began working for himself, engaged in the busi- ness of contracting. His first large contract was for stone to be used in the construction of the two buildings erected for the Warrensburg State Normal School. The Administration building, which is nearing completion, at the time of this writing in 1917, required fifty thousand cubic feet of stone. The Pickel quarry can be operated to a depth of fifty feet and then the water begins to come into it. Forty men are employed at one time by Ben Pickel in the quarry, but when the sawing was done by hand, his father used to employ as many as three hundred men at one time. Ben Pickel furnished the stone for the erection

864

HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY

of a government postoffice in Arkansas last year, 1916. There is no better stone to be found in this country than that furnished by the Pickel quarry. Ben Pickel is one of Johnson county's most highly respected and progressive, young citizens.

John M. Thrailkill, "The One Price Clothier," of Warrensburg, Missouri, was born in 1856 in Holt county, Missouri. He is the oldest of four children born to his parents, George W. and Elizabeth H. (Rob- inson ) Thrailkill. the former, a native of Saline county, Msisouri and the latter, of Kentucky. They were parents of the following children : John M., the subject of this review: Edward, who died in December, 1915; Emma, the widow of James E. Rothford, of Greenfield, Missouri: and Joseph who died in March. 1904. George W. Thrailkill was a son of James Thrailkill, a native of North Carolina, who came to Missouri when it was yet a territory. His death occurred in Saline county. His son, George W., was reared in Saline county and in later years resided in Holt county: Johnson county, Kansas; and Jackson county, Mis- souri. He spent his life engaged in the pursuits of agriculture and his death occurred in 1897 at Kansas City, Missouri. In 1904, he was joined in death by his wife, whose death also occurred at Kansas City.

In the public schools of Clay county, Missouri, John M. Thrailkill received his education. When only a lad of fifteen years of age, he began life for himself, his mercantile career beginning in December, 1878, when he accepted a position with the business establishment of Bullene Emery & Moore. He was later employed by the different firms, Burn- ham Hanna & Munger and Ely Walker & Company. For ten years, he was on the road as traveling salesman for these business firms. In September, 1889, Mr. Thrailkill resigned his position as traveling sales- man and purchased one-half interest in the mercantile establishment of J. J. Abell & Brother, buying the brother's interest. This store was located at Nevada, Missouri. John M. Thrailkill was in business there two years and then went on the road again in the employ of Ely Walker & Company, for which firm he was salesman for one and a half years. January 1, 1894 he opened a clothing store at Lamar, which he success- fully conducted for several years. He sold the store at Lamar in 1900 and left there in November of that year. February 23, 1901. John M. Thrailkill opened his present clothing store in Warrensburg. Missouri. his place of business being located at 109 and 111 North Holden street. He handles an excellent and complete line of men's and boys' wearing

865

HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY

apparel and his store has a splendid reputation in this city, being con- sidered one of the very best and most reliable. Mr. Thrailkill devotes his exclusive personal attention to his business in which he takes a keen interest. He himself works in the store and he employs three assistants and extra clerks for the Saturday trade, which is always exceedingly heavy.

February 6. 1901, John M. Thrailkill and Florence E. Coleman were united in marriage. To them were born two children, both daugh- ters : Marium Elizabeth, who was born in September. 1904; and Beatrice Oleta, who was born January 21, 1910. The mother died Jan- uary 1, 1914. Mr. Thrailkill remarried on March 16. 1916. Mr. and Mrs. Thrailkill reside in Warrensburg at 117 Broad street. By his first marriage in Lamar, Missouri, Mr. Thrailkill has a son, George W., who was born August 24, 1895 in Lamar. He was educated in the city schools of Warrensburg. September 1. 1916 he enlisted in Company D. Second Missouri Infantry and served on the Mexican border under the command of General Funston. George W. Thrailkill will join his com- pany at Westplains, Missouri for service in the present world war, prob- ably going to France. Young Thrailkill is one of Warrensburg's most popular and esteemed young men.

In the Commercial Club of Warrensburg, John M. Thrailkill has been an active worker. For three years he was president of the organ- ization. Mr. Thrailkill was chiefly instrumental in having the work of paving done on Market street, which was the nucleus of the splendid system of paved streets, for which this city is widely known throughout the state. He has always been active in church work and for many years prior to coming to Warrensburg was a member of the Baptist church, of which he has been deacon for the past sixteen years. Mr. Thrailkill is affiliated with the Warrensburg chapter and commandery of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons and also with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows in Warrensburg. Politically, he is a Democrat. Mr. Thrailkill has countless friends in Johnson county. Possessing a pleasing personality, kindly manners, and an established reputation for strictly honorable dealings, he ranks very high among his business associates.

John S. Graham, well-known proprietor of "Brier Valley Farm," is one of the leading and most respected of the successful stockmen

(28)

866

HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY

of Centerview township. He was born on the farm in Centerview township, which he now owns and which is known as "Brier Valley Farm," located one and a half miles southwest of Centerview, the date of his birth being June 6, 1864. He is the youngest of twelve children born to his parents, John G. and Nancy E. (Hobson) Graham, who were united in marriage in 1838 in Hazel Hill township and moved imme- diately to the farm in Centerview township, which Mr. Graham entered from the government. All their children were born at the Graham homestead in Centerview township. The children of John G. and Nancy E. (Hobson) Graham were, as follow: Mary, deceased; Joseph C., deceased; Robert B., deceased; James H., deceased; William L., deceased; Helen A., deceased; Susan, who is the wife of John M. Bar- nett, of Odessa, Missouri; Mrs. Catherine Huggins, who resides at Morgan, Utah; Virginia, deceased; Alice, who is the wife of N. P. Houx, of Centerview, Missouri; one child died in infancy; and John S .. the subject of this review.

John G. Graham, the father of the subject of this review, was a son of Robert and Catherine (Crockett) Graham, both of whom were natives of Virginia, and in that state the son, John G., was born. The Graham family moved from Virginia to Missouri about 1830 and settled in Hazel Hill township, where Robert Graham entered land from the government. Catherine (Crockett) Graham was a cousin of the famous "Davy" Crockett. The death of Robert Graham occurred in Hazel Hill township and his wife died within a few years afterward in Centerview township. Their son, John G., was reared to maturity in Hazel Hill township and about 1837 entered the tract of land in Centerview town- ship, where he spent the remainder of his life, his death occurring in 1878, at the age of sixty-eight years. He was at that time the owner of nearly eight hundred acres of land in Johnson county. Mrs. Graham survived her husband several years, when her death occurred in 1908, at the age of eighty-six years.

John S. Graham was educated in the public schools of Centerview township. He always resided with his parents, or they with him, as long as they lived. He recalls that in the early days his father used to dress hogs for the market and haul the meat to Lexington, where it was sold for two and a half dollars per hundred weight. All the clothing was made in their pioneer home, and as a lad he often watched the preparation of wool for carding and spinning and weaving. which

867

HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY

were all done by his mother. Mr. Graham owns the homestead, where he and all his brothers and sisters were born, reared, and married and where both his father and mother died. "Brier Valley Farm" comprises two hundred sixty-seven acres of land and Mr. Graham is engaged in raising cattle and hogs. He is also extensively engaged in feeding stock, annually shipping four carloads of stock. All the improvements upon the place, John S. Graham has himself placed there, including a residence of six rooms, a barn, 60 x 66 feet, used for cattle and hay, a barn 40 x 46 feet, and a hoghouse, 30 x 20 feet, which has the unusual feature of having the south side of the building of glass. A large windmill pumps the water to the stockbarns from a drilled well, four hundred feet in depth.

March 11, 1897, John S. Graham was united in marriage with Cora Day, daughter of Joseph and Jane (Buxton) Day, of Post Oak town- ship. Joseph M. Day is one of the noble and honored pioneers of Johnson county, coming to this section of Missouri among the very first settlers of the early thirties. Mr. and Mrs. Day settled on a farin in Post Oak township, where their daughter, Cora (Day) Graham was born and reared. Mrs. Graham's parents are both living, at the time of this writing in 1917, at Edmond, Oklahoma, both at the advanced age of eighty-two years. Cora (Day) Graham comes from a family noted for great longevity, one grandmother, Eve Stone, living to the age of one hundred one years. She died in Post Oak township and was laid to rest in the cemetery at old Shiloh, a cemetery established in the thirties. To John S. and Cora Graham have been born two daughters: Helen, who is a graduate of the Warrensburg High School and now a student in the Warrensburg State Normal School; and Katherine, who is a student in the Warrensburg High School. Mr and Mrs. Graham reside in Warrensburg at 119 West South street.

Harvey Russell, proprietor of the "Willowdale Stock Farm" and one of Johnson county's most noble pioneers, is, at the age of eighty- three years, as active and alert physically and mentally as men twenty- five years his junior. He was born October 22, 1834 in Montgomery county, Kentucky, son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Penn) Russell, the former, a native of Loudoun county, Virginia, and the latter, a native of Kentucky, a distant relative of the renowned William Penn, the founder of Pennsylvania. In 1856, the Russell family moved from Ken- tucky to Missouri, where they settled near Pleasant Hill. Joseph

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.

History of Johnson County, Missouri, Part 76

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