USA > Missouri > Pettis County > History of Pettis County, Missouri > Part 40
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Mr. Pemberton was united in marriage March 24, 1884, to Miss Grace B. Walters, of Coffeyville, Kansas. She is a daughter of Warren and Lydia Walters. They were pioneer settlers in the western part of Pettis County, and later removed to Coffeyville, Kansas, where they both died. Mr. and Mrs. Pemberton had one son, Oren W., who died in Prescott, Arizona, October 28, 1918. He was married to Miss Edna Berger, who survives him.
George M. Pemberton is one of Pettis County's substantial citizens, and has a wide acquaintance and many friends.
James K. Lacey .- The Lacey family is one of the oldest in Pettis County, the grandfather of James K. Lacey having settled in Missouri in 1836-over eighty-two years ago. The Laceys settled in Bowling Green township, when there were but few people living in the neighbor- hood and hardly any settlers on the prairie. Much of the land hereabouts was unimproved, and there were but few towns in the county, nor roads of any consequence, very little fencing, and people traveled in the nearest straight line across country to their destination.
James K. Lacey, proprietor of a splendid farm of 320 acres in Bowling Green township, was born February 11, 1867, within sight of his present home. He is the son of George W. Lacey, who was the son of James Lacey, pioneer.
George W. Lacey was born May 16, 1828, in Kentucky, and died in Pettis County, July 31, 1911. He was a son of James and Lydia (Stewart) Lacey, of Kentucky, both of whom were children of Virginia parents, who were Kentucky pioneers. James Lacey migrated to Pettis County in 1836, entered government land and also purchased land from the Al- corns. He died in Cooper County, where he spent his last days at the home of one of his sons. He had a family of eight children. During the Civil War, George W. Lacey served in the Missouri State Militia. He married Louisa Ann Wright who was born in Kentucky, October 28, 1835, a daughter of Felix Grundy and Ella (Wheeler) Wright who came to Pettis County in 1845. The children born to George and Louisa Ann Lacey are: Felix Wright, living on a farm south of Sedalia; Sarah, wife of W. A. Snapp, Henry County, Missouri; Mrs. Angeline Shy, living near Miles City, Montana; Mrs. Mollie Lee, Maryville, Nodaway County, Mis- souri; Mrs. Belle Warren, Sedalia, Missouri; Mrs. Sue Leftwich, near Lookout, Missouri; Mrs. Josephine Shy, Sedalia; James K., subject of this sketch; George W. Lacey, Sedalia. George W. Lacey lived all of his days in Pettis County, and became owner of 400 acres of land, owning
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JAMES K. LACEY AND FAMILY.
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land in Pettis and Benton Counties. He was a Democrat. Mrs. Louisa Ann Lacey makes her home with James K. Lacey.
James K. Lacey was educated in the common schools and Central Business College of Sedalia. When he became of age he began farming on his own account and purchased during past years practically all of the home place, and is now owner of 320 acres of well improved farm land. Mr. Lacey is engaged in general farming and stock raising and threshed 1,650 bushels of wheat from a tract of eighty-five acres in 1918. He has sown for the 1919 harvest, ninety acres to wheat. He raises Shorthorn cattle and Poland China hogs, his herd of cattle being led by a registered male Shorthorn, his drove leader also being a thoroughbred registered boar.
Mr. Lacey was married February 28, 1894, to Miss Mollie T. True, of Vernon County, Missouri, a daughter of Benjamin F. and Mary Jane (White) True, who settled in Pettis County. The children born to James K. and Mollie E. Lacey are: George W., Annabel, James K., Mary True, Lena May, Felix and Ruth. George W. Lacey, a private in the remount department of the National Army, stationed at Tacoma, Washington, was born April 18, 1895, and entered the service while living in Montana where he went in 1916. His skill with horses caused his being placed in the remount department of the service. Annabel Lacey is a graduate of the Sedalia High School, studied in the State Normal School at Warrens- burg and is now teaching near Longwood. James K., aged twenty-one years, studied in Sedalia High School and assists his father on the home farm. Mary True, Lena May and Felix are attending Sedalia High School. Ruth is aged fourteen years and attending the district school in the eighth grade. Annabel, Lena and Felix each received a four years scholarship to the Sedalia High School.
Mr. Lacey is a Democrat and keeps well informed on the issues of the day, and is a pleasant, agreeable citizen who has the best interests of his home county at heart. He and the members of his family worship at the M. E. Church South.
W. W. Blain, a prominent Pettis County attorney, with offices in the Ilgenfritz building, Sedalia, is a native of Missouri. He was born in Ray County September 26, 1874, a son of James William and Lucy (Taylor) Blain. James William Blain, was also born in Ray County, April 1, 1844. He was a son of Samuel Blain, a native of Kentucky, who was one of the early pioneer settlers of Ray County, Missouri, where he spent the latter
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part of his life, and his remains are buried in South Point Cemetery, Ray County.
James William Blain, although but seventeen years old when the Civil War broke out, enlisted in the Confederate army, and served until the close of the war. He served under General Gates and General Cockrell. He was with the Confederate army that fought Sherman on his march to the sea, and his command surrendered at Blakely, Alabama, shortly after General Lee surrendered. He went through the war without being severely wounded, although on one occasion he was struck by a piece of timber which was blown from the breastworks by an exploding shell. He now lives on his farm, near Orrick, Ray County.
Lucy (Taylor) Blain, wife of James William Blain, was born in Ray County December 23, 1844, and is also a descendant of pioneer stock of that section of Missouri. Her father, Daniel Taylor, was a Virginian, and a very early settler in Ray County. He was born in 1802, and died in Ray County in 1886, after a long, useful and upright life.
James William and Lucy (Taylor) Blain were the parents of the following children: Mrs. Sarah Rae, Orrick, Missouri; Mrs. Mattie Blain, Marshfield, Oregon; W. W. Blain, the subject of this sketch; Mrs. Lulu McKinney, deceased ; Samuel R., died in 1916; George T., Orrick, Missouri ; Mary, married Lee Carter, Orrick, Missouri, and Jessie, married Clark Gladman, North Bend, Oregon.
W. W. Blain received his early education in the public schools of Ray County and, after teaching school for a time, he attended the State Normal School at Warrensburg, Missouri. He then taught three years more, after which he attended William Jewell College, and in 1902 he entered the University of Missouri at Columbia, taking the law course. Eighteen months after entering the university he passed the bar examination and was admitted to the bar. However, he continued in the university until he completed his course, and received the degree of Bachelor of Laws. Mr. Blain was married December 19, 1918, to Jewell Murphy, of Sedalia, a daughter of Judge F. A. Murphy, of St. Clair, Missouri. Mrs. Jewell Blain is a native of St. Clair, Missouri. She was educated at Springfield, Missouri, graduated from the high school of that city, and taught school for a few years before engaging in the millinery business at Sedalia.
June 26, 1905, Mr. Blain engaged in the practice of law at Sedalia, and since that time has been actively engaged in the practice of his pro- fession and is recognized as one of the able lawyers of Pettis County. In
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1905 and 1906 he was assistant prosecuting attorney, when Mr. C. C. Kelly held the office of prosecuting attorney. In 1908 Mr. Blain was elected city attorney for Sedalia. He is a Republican, and takes an active interest in political affairs. In 1912 he was a candidate for congress in the Seventh Congressional District. In addition to his active career as a lawyer, Mr. Blain is also interested in farming in Pettis County, and owns three farms in Washington township. He is one of the progressive and public-spirited men of this county, and has an extensive acquaintance, and, by his genial and courteous manner and straightforward methods, has won many friends.
Mr. Blain is a member of the First Baptist Church of Sedalia. He is affiliated with the Sedalia Blue Lodge of Masons, No. 236; St. Omar Com- mandery, Knights Templar, of Sedalia; Central Council of Royal and Select Masters, and is a Noble of the Mystic Shrine, Ararat Temple, Kansas City; Order of Eastern Star; Woodmen of the World, Camp No. 16; the Circle Auxiliary, Lodge of Ben-Hur; Modern Woodmen of America, No. 5,570, and Knights and Ladies of Security, Queen City Council No. 564, of which he is past president.
Robert Henry Cotton, a successful farmer and stockman of Smithton, Missouri, who has recently received a splendid testimonial of the esteem in which he is held by his fellow citizens by his election to the office of Judge of the County Court, and will represent the Eastern district for the ensuing two years.
The Cotton farm is a beautiful tract of land, the surface of which is rolling and the soil very fertile. A pretty white farmhouse sets on the hillside, and is fronted by a green lawn ornamented with handsome shade trees. The farm is devoted to the raising of Hereford cattle, the Cotton herd now comprising fifteen cows and a registered white face male herd leader. Mr. Cotton raises and feeds for market from fifty to seventy-five head of pure-bred Duroc Jersey hogs each year. The heavy farm work is done with a tractor, which enables Mr. Cotton to plow the soil deep, and thus insure better crops.
Judge R. H. Cotton was born at Versailles, Kentucky, January 12, 1877, the son of William Samuel Cotton, a native of Kentucky, who died in 1881. His wife was Mary S. Stockton, a native of Covington, Kentucky, and a daughter of George Jewett Stockton, of Virginia. William S. and Mary S. Cotton were parents of four children: Augusta L., living in Sedalia ; Louie R., wife of Frost Waddell, an employe of the Missouri, Kan-
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sas & Texas Railway, Sedalia ; William Stockton, a sketch of whom appears in this volume, and Robert Henry, of this review.
The Cotton family, consisting of Mrs. Cotton and the children, moved to Sedalia in 1884, and the children were reared and educated in the city. R. H. Cotton attended the public and high schools of Sedalia, and in 1895 entered the employ of the Ely & Walker Dry Goods Company of St. Louis, and remained a valued employe of this firm for twelve years. In 1907 he returned to Pettis County and purchased a farm of 160 acres. In 1917 he added 112.5 acres. Mr. Cotton has remodeled the house, and made many substantial and attractive improvements.
January 10, 1907, Robert Henry Cotton and Pansy C. Fowler, of Smithton township, were united in marriage. Pansy C. Cotton is a daugh- ter of the late John G. and Jane L. Fowler, of Smithton township, and members of one of the oldest Missouri pioneer families, an account of whom appears in this volume in the sketch of B. B. Fowler. To Judge R. H. and Pansy C. Cotton have been born the following children: Jane Mary, born March 28, 1908; Ruth Helen, born June 12, 1911; Robert Fowler, born August 9, 1913; Betty Bob, born October 13, 1914.
In politics Mr. Cotton is a Republican, and and one of the leaders of his party in Pettis County. He was elected to the office of county judge in November of 1918, without opposition. Mrs. Cotton and the children are members of the Christian Church. Judge Cotton is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. He is a member of the advisory board of three members which managers the Farmers' Elevator at Smithton, and is commissioner of the Special Road District of Smithton township. He is a member of the County Council of Defense, and is secretary of the local council. During 1918 his activities in behalf of the Liberty Loan drives and the Red Cross and kindred drives engrossed much of Mr. Cotton's time. In every Liberty Loan drive he has taken the lead as an able and willing solicitor, and it is through his example and persistent work as a leader that Smithton has taken a leading place in the war activities in Pettis County.
Frank L. Wright, cashier of the Smithton Bank, Smithton, Missouri, was born in Ohio May 21, 1854, and is a son of Alexander M. and Susan (Edmiston) Wright, who came to Pettis County in 1866.
Alexander M. Wright was born in 1827 in Ross County, Ohio, and died in California in November, 1912. He was a son of Joseph Wright, a native of Pennslvania. Alexander M. Wright came to Pettis County, Missouri, in 1866, and located on a farm near Beaman, where he resided
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for two years. He then purchased a farm near Smithton, where he was successfully engaged in farming and stock raising until 1892, when he removed to California, and there spent the remainder of his days. Mrs. Susan (Edmiston) Wright was born in Ohio in 1830, and died in California in 1893. They were parents of three children: Mrs. Jennie R. Sawdey, living in California; Frank L., subject of this review, and Amzi C., living in California.
F. L. Wright was educated in the common schools and the Warrens- burg Normal College. He was reared on the farm, and assisted his father in tilling the soil until his school days were over. He taught school for six seasons, and then engaged in the merchandise business in Smithton. He was successfully engaged in merchandising until 1891, at which time he disposed of his business and organized the Smithton bank, of which he is cashier.
Mr. Wright was married in 1879 to Miss Mollie L. Sallaway, of Smith- ton, a daughter of Rev. A. P. Sallaway, a minister of the Methodist Epis- copal Church, who died in 1889. Mr. and Mrs. Wright have two children: Mrs. Kate V. Wakefield, Smithton, Missouri, mother of three children- Reginald, or "Rex," Zina F. and Vivian; Rex A., son of F. L. Wright, is assistant cashier of the Third National Bank of Sedalia, married Millie Cowan, and has one child, Evelyn.
Mr. Wright is a Republican, and is a member of the Methodist Epis- copal Church. Fraternally, he is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, and is a leader in business affairs of his home town.
William Montgomery, prosperous farmer of Smithton, Missouri, pro- prietor of a well-improved farm of 270 acres, adjoining the town of Smith- ton on the east, is a self-made man, who has dug every dollar which he owns out of the soil. Mr. Montgomery has owned his fine farm since 1902, and has made many improvements on the place, including a large barn, 60x60 feet, the lower story of which is built of reinforced concrete. Mr. Montgomery is a breeder of Aberdeen Angus cattle, and has a fine herd of cattle of this splendid breed to the number of forty, several of which are registered pure-breds. He also specializes in pure-bred Poland China hogs, and raises about fifty hogs annually.
Mr. Montgomery was born in North Antrim, Ireland, in 1862, of Scotch-Irish ancestry. He was the son of John and Sarah (Christy) Mont- gomery, who resided on a farm in Ireland. When a youth, William Mont- gomery conceived the idea of coming to America. For several months he worked for a wage of two pounds, or ten dollars, for a six months' period,
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and eventually saved six pounds, or thirty dollars, which paid his passage to Quebec, Canada, and left a few dollars over after he landed. Four young men-George Hunter, Hugh Beardsley, John Markey and William Mont- gomery-came to the Dominion from Ireland. George Hunter and Mr. Montgomery pooled their total cash resources, and kept the money in a leather belt. Upon arriving in the States they discovered that there were not enough funds to take them both to Geneseo, New York, where they expected to join friends and secure employment. Hunter took the money which was in the belt and left for Geneseo, with the promise that he would eventually send for his partner. William was left in New York with but ten cents in his purse, alone and without friends or acquaintances. He waited for some time to hear from his partner, and then hired to a Mr. Barnes, at Castle Garden, for $16 per month. He worked for two months and received $20 as his pay. He then went to Geneseo, and was employed on a large estate for four months. The other two boys, who were left in Montreal, went to Berea, Ohio, and obtained work in the Berea stone quarries. The great Chicago fire, occurring about this time, started a boom in the Berea quarries, and Mr. Montgomery secured work there at a wage of $2.00 per day. In the spring of the next year he left Berea and made his way to Illinois, where he worked for eight years at a wage of $20 per month. At Kankakee, Illinois, he was married, in 1880, to Mary Wiley, who was born in Ireland in 1861.
For six years after his marriage Mr. Montgomery tilled rented land in Illinois, and in 1886 he went to Butler County, Nebraska, and purchased a farm of 120 acres. He sold out in 1894 and went to Washington County, Kansas, where he bought a farm of 160 acres. He sold this tract in 1902, and came to Pettis County and purchased his present home place. Mr. Montgomery's fine farm is free from debt, and he has the satisfaction of knowing that he owes no man a dollar, and has earned every dollar that he possesses.
To William and Mary (Wiley) Montgomery have been born the fol- lowing children: Walter, a druggist at Greenleaf, Kansas; Maggie, wife of Will Jackson, Smithton; Grover, owner of a thirty-acre farm, and rural mail carrier, Smithton, Missouri; William, a dentist, Sedalia, Missouri; Clifton, assisting his father on the home place; Gordon, with the Citizens National Bank, Sedalia; Lena, a teacher in the public schools; Hazel, a student in Smithton High School ; Burt, died at the age of eight years.
Mr. Montgomery is a Democrat, but leaves political matters for the politicians, being content to cast his vote at election time. He was reared
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in the Presbyterian faith, but he and his family worship at the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America.
William B. Myers, senior member of the firm of W. B. Myers & Brother, Smithton, Missouri, has been engaged in business in Smithton since 1887. Mr. Myers began business in Smithton with but $64 cash capital, and the firm now carries a stock of over $2,000 worth of goods in groceries and confectionery. In 1892 Mr. Myers was joined by his brother, Jacob A. Myers.
During the past year the Myers Brothers have become interested in the coal mining business, and with others operating under the firm name of Cook, Barker & Myers, are mining coal in a large deposit of cannel coal, situated four miles south of Smithton, on the Cook farm. The coal is mined by a shaft sunk to a depth, at the present time, of forty-two feet, and the mine was opened in June, 1918. Two drifts are now being run from the bottom of the shaft, and the depth of the coal has not yet been ascertained, it being what is called in mining circles a large "pocket," or field deposit, of unknown width and depth. Coal is shipped to Sedalia by motor trucks, and a steam hoist is in operation at the shaft. A vein of "jack," a mineral heavy in lead and rozin deposit, and almost pure lead, is also mined with the coal. This vein, while a thin one, has yielded a total of five hundred pounds of almost pure lead at this writing, October, 1918.
W. B. Myers was born January 28, 1861, near Cottleville, St. Charles County, Missouri, a son of John B. and Mary A. Myers, who were born and reared in St. Charles County. John B. Myers was a son of Col. Henry Myers, a native of Germany, who settled in St. Charles County as early as 1839, and was a widely known citizen of that county. John B. Myers was born in 1846 and died in 1910. He was the father of six children: Charles E., Thurman, Iowa; Mrs. Mary A. Moses, St. Louis, Missouri; John D., Washington, Missouri; Jacob A., in partnership with his brother; a child died in infancy.
Reared on his father's farm in St. Charles County, W. B. Myers received such schooling as was afforded by the district schools. He fol- lowed farming until he came to Pettis County and was employed as a clerk in the store of Wright & Taylor, at Smithton. His first stock of goods which he ordered from John N. Dolby, wholesaler of Sedalia, took all of his cash, and he was compelled to ask the freight agent to wait until he had sold enough stuff to pay the freight. The agent kindly did so, and on the first day that Mr. Myers opened for business he sold enough goods to pay his freight. From the first day he began business Mr. Myers has
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prospered and, besides his store and mining interests, he owns an entire block in Smithton, and the firm owns the brick building in which the business is quartered. He is also owner of valuable city property in Doug- las, Kansas.
Mr. Myers was married in July, 1893, to Miss Rose Beasmore, of Sedalia, a daughter of R. G. Beasmore, who served as a locomotive engineer on the Missouri Pacific Railway for a number of years.
Mr. and Mrs. Myers have one son, Forest B. Myers, whom they gave to the service of his country. He was born February 4, 1895, and went in training at Camp Dodge, Iowa, May 24, 1918, and is now in France as bugler in Company H, 351st Battalion, Infantry, National Army. Jacob A. Myers, the brother, was born October 17, 1864, in St. Charles County, Missouri.
W. B. Myers is a Democrat, and has served four years as justice of the peace of Smithton township. He is a member of the Methodist Epis- copal Church. For the past fifteen years he has been clerk of the Smithton Lodge of Modern Woodmen of America, and is affiliated with the Royal Neighbors, the Woodmen of the World of Sedalia, and the Circle Auxiliary to the Woodmen of the World.
Samuel W. James, a Spanish-American War veteran, who for a number of year's was prominently identified with the National Guard of Missouri, is now a leading real estate and insurance man of Sedalia. Mr. James is a native of Pettis County and is a descendant of Colonial ances- try. The James family was founded in America, by Benjamin James who settled in Rhode Island in 1665.
Samuel W. James was born in Washington township, Pettis County, February 7, 1871, the only child born to his parents, Samuel B. and Louvina M. (Jaynes) James. The father was born in Richmond, Rhode Island, January 10, 1816, and died in Pettis County, April 29, 1884. The mother was born in Indiana, November 10, 1839, and died in Pettis County, February 25, 1907. Samuel B. James left his native State and went to Illinois in 1834, when he was eighteen years of age. He was en- gaged in farming and stock raising there until 1866 when he came to Missouri and settled in Washington township, Pettis County. During the Civil War he was a member of the Home Guards in Illinois.
Samuel W. James was educated in the public schools of Pettis County and Central Business College, Sedalia. After finishing school he ac- cepted a position as bookkeeper and cashier with the Gazette Printing
M.O
SAMUEL W. JAMES.
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Company. Later he was connected with the circulation and advertising departments. He followed newspaper work in Sedalia, for over twenty years, during which time he was connected with the Gazette, Democrat, Sentinel and Capital. In 1895 Mr. James and George H. Healey estab- lished the Free Press, a weekly newspaper published at Sedalia, for a time, but has been suspended for several years.
In 1911, Mr. James engaged in the real estate and insurance business which he has since successfully followed. His offices are located in the Ilgenfritz Building, where he carries on a general insurance and real estate business.
In April, 1898, Mr. James was united in marriage with Miss Rose E. Grosshans, of Sedalia. The following children have been born to this union: Violet A., a teacher, Sedalia; Samuel W., who is now serving in the United States Navy, having enlisted June 17, 1918, when he was eighteen years of age; Rose E., deceased; George B .; Alice E .; Vera I .; Randall T., deceased; and Benjamin J., deceased; also twin girl who died at birth.
For years Mr. James was active in the local National Guard. He became a member of the Sedalia Company, as early as 1892. When the Spanish-American War broke out he was serving as second lieutenant and volunteered with the other members of his company. He was later promoted to first lieutenant. After the Spanish-American War he or- ganized a company of National Guard in Sedalia and was elected cap- tain, serving in that capacity for six years, when in 1905 he was elected major in the second regiment N. G. M. and served in that capacity until June, 1910, when he resigned. In 1912, the Sixth Regiment, National Guard needed more companies to fill its quota and Major James organized a battalion in central Missouri, composed of companies from Sedalia, Boonville, Warrensburg and Cole Camp. In July, 1916, at the request of the State authorities, he organized the Sedalia Machine Gun Company, with a view of going to the Mexican border with this organization. How- ever, owing to the pressure of private affairs, he was compelled to refuse the captaincy of this company, which went into the service under the command of Captain W. F. Logan.
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