Cass County, Missouri - Biographical sketches, 1917 (part 14 of 15)

Dr. Casper S. Dodd received his early education in the public schools of Cass County, and then attended the State Normal School at Warrensburg, Missouri. After graduating from that institution he entered the Missouri State University at Columbia, Missouri. He pursued his studies there for two years, when he entered the University Medical College of Kansas City, Missouri, where he was graduated in 1901, with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. Later he took a post-graduate course at the Cook County Medical College, at Chicago, Illinois.

After receiving his degree, Dr. Dodd practiced his profession for a time in Johnson County, Missouri. In 1907 he located at Dayton, Mis¬ souri, where he has built up a satisfactory practice in that thriving town and vicinity.

Dr. Dodd was married February 15, 1905, to Miss Amy Wagner, daughter of Henry W. and Lucy (Rogers) Wagner, of Dayton township, and three children have been born to this union, as follows : Henry Mor¬ gan, Rose Elizabeth, and Lucy Margaret.

Dr. Dodd is a very capable physician and has an excellent practice. He is progressive, public spirited and ranks as one of Cass County's rep¬ resentative members of the great medical profession.

Richard G. Payne, a native son of Cass County, was born in what is now Index township, April 27, 1845. He is a son of E. S. and Harriet (Boatright) Payne. The father is a native of Kentucky and the mother of Virginia. Mr. Payne's father, well known as "Squire Payne", was born in Kentucky in 1809. He came to Boone County, Missouri, in 1837, and to Cass County in the spring of 1839. He located where afterwards stood the town of Index, and he laid out the town site in 1856-57. Rich¬ ard G. was with the surveying party and recalls that there were about seven and one-half acres in the town site. The town at one time had two stores, a blacksmith shop, and three churches. The old timers used to attend the church services and came with ox teams and on mules for miles around. Index never had a saloon, owing to the sentiment of the pioneers who, although they generally kept liquor in their houses for medicinal purposes, opposed its use even in the early days as a beverage.

E. S. Payne died in 1875 and his wife departed this life in 1877. They were the parents of seven children, as follows: Mary Catherine, married George Vinson, and they are both now deceased; William H., deceased; Jane Elizabeth Holcombe, Mrs. Sythe Armstrong, Garden City, Missouri; Richard G., the subject of this sketch; Sallie P., married Dr. York, and resides in St. Petersburg, Florida; and Jacob, living in Los Angeles, Cali¬ fornia.

Richard G. Payne is a representative of that sturdy type of plainsman that is fast passing into history. Born and reared amongst the crudities and hardships of pioneer life, he grew to manhood amidst the bloody tur¬ moil of the Civil War, and seeking fame, fortune and adventure in an over¬ land journey to the Pacific Coast, when the prairie schooner was the only means of transportation and the Indian was the traveller's deadly enemy, he made the trip.

He received his education in an old log school house with a puncheon floor, and split logs for seats. The Civil War ended his education insofar as schooling was concerned, but he has always been a student of men and affairs. During that war he served six months in Colonel Cockerell's reg¬ iment, and participated in the battles of Lonejack, Missouri, and Prairie Grove, Arkansas.

The Paynes went to Boone county in 1863 on account of Order No. 11, and in 1864 Richard G. crossed the plains to California. The party he was with went by way of Omaha and North Platte, Nebraska. Indians were bad then, but their wagon train was not molested, although they had some narrow escapes. A train of one hundred wagons travelling one day ahead of them, was attacked and a number of its horses were taken.

Mr. Payne was gone from Missouri about six years, part of which time he spent in Utah, Wyoming, and Idaho. He returned to Cass County in 1870, and was married to Mary Arnold, then of Benton County. She was a native of Summit County, Ohio, and came to Benton County with her parents in 1866. She is the daughter of Jeremiah and Harriet (Sick¬ ly) Arnold, both of whom are now deceased.

Mrs. Payne had seven brothers and sisters, six of whom are now living: Samuel Arnold, Sedalia, Missouri; Ella, deceased; Augustus, Sedalia, Missouri; Jerry, Kansas City, Missouri; Mrs. Nannie O'Bannon, Holden, Missouri; Minta, Warsaw, Missouri; and Charles, Sedalia.

To Mr. and Mrs. Payne have been born seven children, as follows: Mrs. Media Guinn, Warrensburg, Missouri; Mrs. Alta Winslow, Canadian, Texas; Mrs. Taney Cuddy, Kansas City, Missouri; Dick, Garden City, Missouri ; Mrs. Mildred Boggers, Garden City, Missouri ; Mrs. Mary Goode, Garden City; and John, living on the home place.

Every tree, house and building on the prairies surrounding Index has been placed there during Mr. Payne's lifetime. He has set out five different orchards himself. The first trading points of the Paynes in the early days, were Lexington and Independence. They travelled back and forth with ox teams, carrying bacon to trade. Mr. Payne is truly one of the pioneers of Cass County who has contributed his share to making "Old Cass" one of Missouri's greatest political subdivisions.

S. J. Hartzler, a prosperous farmer and stockman of Camp Branch township, is a native of Indiana. He was born in LaGrange County, April 23, 1868, and is a son of Benjamin and Nancy (Nopsinger) Hartz¬ ler, both natives of Wayne County, Ohio. The father was born in 1835, and in early life removed to Indiana. In 1881 he migrated from that state with his family to Missouri, settling near East Lynne, Cass County. Here he rented a farm two and one-half miles north of town, and later bought a farm four miles south of Pleasant Hill, where he was success¬ fully engaged in farming and stock raising until his death, in 1903. His remains are buried in Clearfork Cemetery, and his widow now resides at East Lynne. They were the parents of the following children: Simon P., East Lynne; Lizzie Hartzler, East Lynne; Levi F., died September 11, 1913, and his remains are buried in the Oakland Cemetery, Harrisonville; Christian V., deceased, and his remains are buried in the Clear¬ fork Cemetery; Samuel J., the subject of this sketch; Noah D., Harrisonville, Missouri; William H., Pleasant Hill; Mrs. Mattie Myers, Milton, Kansas; Harvey B., Peculiar, Missouri; and Carrie, died in Indiana at the age of two years.

Samuel J. Hartzler received his education in the public schools of Cass County, and began life for himself at the age of twenty-one. He clerked in a store at Harrisonville for one year, and for seven years he was in a general store at East Lynne, and clerked in a store at Pe¬ culiar for about three years. In 1907 he bought his present farm in Camp Branch township. He owns a valuable farm of one hundred twenty acres, three miles west and one mile north of Garden City, which was formerly the Norman Shepp farm. Mr. Hartzler has improved his place considerably within the last ten years. He has remodeled his residence, and in 1913 built a large barn, and the following year erected a silo, and now has one of the well-improved places of Camp Branch township. His soil is rich and productive and under a very good state of cultivation. He is a successful stockman and gives special attention to raising pureblood Poland China hogs.

Mr. Hartzler was married March 1, 1893, to Miss Aldula Lummis, a daughter of William and Sarah (Powell) Lummis, of Polk township. The Lummis family came to Cass County from Illinois in 1877, and first settled in Grand River township, south of Harrisonville. Later they bought a place in Polk township, where the father died in 1901, and is buried in Staley Mound Cemetery. The mother now lives at East Lynne. Mrs. Hartzler is the fourth in order of birth of six children born to her parents, the others being as follow's: Mrs. Anna Leatherman, Pleasant Hill, Missouri; Mrs. Rosa Belle McMichael, deceased; Joseph P. Lummis, Harrisonville; William R. Lummis, Akron, Colorado; Mrs. Maude Sloan, Waldo, Kansas.

To Mr. and Mrs. Hartzler have been born the following children: Mrs. Mabel Cowger, Peculiar, Missouri; Mrs. Gladys Maude Starks, Gar¬ den City; Clarence Samuel, Lena Nancy, and Velma Bemeta, all of whom reside at home.

Mr. Hartzler takes a keen interest in the local affairs in his towm and county, and the Hartzler family is well knowm and rank among the substantial representative people of Cass County.

D. M. Gregg, of Peculiar township, near Harrisonville, is not only a leading Cass County breeder of pure blood Shorthorn cattle and Poland China hogs, but ranks as one of the prominent breeders of the west. Mr. Gregg is a capable business man and knows the breeding business. The story of his progress is best told in the "Farmer and Stockman'" under date of November 16, 1916, wTiich gives a very good idea of the scope, extent, and marvelous development of Mr. Gregg's breeding business: his father owned land south of Joplin, as well as elsewhere in the state, Mr. Gregg never lived on the farm until after he had finished high school and college courses. Then, because of his natural love for the farm, he moved onto his father's ranch near Joplin and began raising registered Poland China hogs. Here he also raised grade cattle and fed steers for the market. He was very successful in the hog raising business and in the course of a number of years accumulated some money.

In 1909 he traded some mining property for a 520-acre farm in Cass County - the farm on which he now lives - and to which he added one hundred sixty acres more in 1914, so that his holdings now amount to six hundred eighty acres in all. Mr. Gregg built a strictly modem home on the farm and moved his family there. Having already estab¬ lished a reputation as a breeder of first-class Poland Chinas, he continued in the hog raising business, raised corn, wheat, oats and clover, and a good many grade cattle. Always having been a believer in clover, a large acreage of this was grown from year to year with a view of getting the farm in a high state of cultivation and in this he has succeeded remark¬ ably well. The hog business grew and was reasonably profitable. After Mr. Gregg realized that he fully understood how to produce as well as sell registered hogs and saw how much more profitable they were than common stock, he began to figure on substituting registered cattle for his grade cattle, reasoning that if pure bred hogs were more profitable than common hogs, pure bred cattle must also be more profitable than grade cattle. If that were the case, then why not expend his efforts along the lines of greatest profit?

Shorthorns were his favorite cattle, but how was he to get a start? He understood Poland China pedigree perfectly and know the value of the different blood lines of that breed, but of Shorthorn pedigree he knew little or nothing. He could tell a good animal from a poor one; in fact, he always had been a good judge of animal form, but in a business where blood lines - pedigree - mean so much he was afraid to risk his own judg¬ ment on the start. After giving the matter of buying foundation stock a good deal of consideration a plan gradually unfolded itself, that of seeing a large number of Shorthorn herds and of visiting with the older breeders for the double purpose of getting clearly in mind what type of cattle he wanted and to learn as much as possible about handling a pure bred herd from those who were in position to give information from experience. Nor was this all. Mr. Gregg, considering himself a competent judge to pick the kind of cattle he thought he wanted, per¬ suaded a friend of his, who is a well-posted man on Shorthorn pedigrees as well as a good judge of individual Shorthorn cattle, to accompany him on his tour of investigation. Thus many herds were visited and critically examined and notes taken of the sale stock in each, but not an animal was purchased until after a certain number of farms had been visited and a sort of inventory had been taken of the good cattle in a great many herds. In other words, over fifteen hundred head of registered Short¬ horns were carefully examined before a single individual was bought.

This trip ended early in 1914 after twenty head of first class pure Scotch and Scotch topped two-year-old bred heifers were bought. This purchase was made just before cattle values had begun to advance and consequently the heifers were bought right. The kind of heifers pur¬ chased at that time are today bringing from one hundred to two hundred dollars more per head than Mr. Gregg paid for them two years ago. The bull at the head of Mr. Gregg's herd is Gregg's Villager by Imp. Villager and out of Imp. Belle of Ordeans. He is a massive, well-proportioned animal weighing two thousand pounds in thin flesh. Several times Mr. Gregg has refused over two thousand dollars for him, but his actual value to Mr. Gregg is considered a great deal more.

At present two hundred sixty acres of the six hundred eighty Gregg farm are devoted to corn, oats and wheat, while the remainder of the land is in blue grass pasture and clover, the latter crop, as mentioned before, having played a prominent part in the upbuilding of the farm and getting it in good shape for pasture.

As mentioned before, Mr. Gregg built a modern home on this farm in 1910. It is not only strictly modern but also beautiful both inside and out. It is equipped with running soft and hard, hot and cold water on both floors, has two complete bathrooms, hardwood floors downstairs and hardwood finish throughout. It is lighted with electricity and has all the conveniences that can be obtained with this modern form of light and power, such as an electric washing machine, electric irons, etc. Water is pumped with a small gasoline engine for use in the house, barns and stockyards from a near-by spring into a large storage tank, from whence it is forced through the house by an air pressure system. A large cistern supplies soft water in abundance for the house use. In short, the Gregg farm home, equipped, furnished, and surrounded as it is with magnifi¬ cent trees, beautiful shrubbery, flowers and lawns, is as comfortable as any city home and much more beautiful because of its location.

John C. Poor, a progressive farmer and stockman of Index township, while not an old settler of Cass County, is entitled to classification among the leading farmers and stockmen who are doing things today and shap¬ ing the industrial conditions of this county. Mr. Poor is a native of Illinois, born in Sangamon County, September 3, 1866. He is a son of William and Elizabeth (Smith) Poor, the former a native of Tennessee and the latter of Sangamon County, Illinois.

John C. Poor was one of a family of six children born to his par¬ ents, as follows: James M., deceased; Mrs. Mary Kirtright, Quincy, Illi¬ nois; Jennie, deceased; Annie, deceased; Thomas M., Springfield, Illinois; and John C., the subject of this sketch. Mr. Poor was reared in Springfield, Illinois, and educated in the public schools and the Springfield Busi¬ ness College, graduating from that institution in the Class of 1888. He began life for himself at the age of twenty-one, following farming in his native state for a number of years.

In 1906 Mr. Poor came to Missouri and bought a farm in Shelby County, where he was engaged in farming for three years, when he re¬ turned to Illinois. He remained there until 1912, when he came to Cass County and purchased the D. L. Lusk farm, in Index township. This place consists of three hundred forty-six acres, and is one of the valuable stock farms of Cass County. The place is well watered with never-fail¬ ing natural spring water, which makes it of inestimable value as a stock farm. Mr. Poor raises both cattle and hogs extensively and usually has on hand from fifty to one hundred head of cattle and about one hundred hogs. The stock business is particularly to Mr. Poor's liking, which no doubt, in accordance with the scheme of the eternal fitness of things, has been the main element of his success, coupled with industry and integrity.

Mr. Poor was united in marriage at Chatham, Illinois, in 1891, with Miss May Bridges, daughter of James and Mary (Drennan) Bridges. Her father died in 1903 at Chatham, Illinois, and her mother now resides at that place. The Drennan family were pioneer settlers of Illinois, and Mrs. Poor's father moved on the place when he was three years old with his parents, near Chatham, Illinois, where he spent the balance of his life, a period of sixty-eight years.

To Mr. and Mrs. Poor have been born four children, as follows: Mrs. Olive F. Leadbetter, Garden City, Missouri; J. Frank, Estella G., and Margaret L., residing at home with her parents.

Mr. Poor has taken more or less interest in politics and local affairs since boyhood, and while a resident of Sangamon County, Illinois, served six terms as assessor, and since locating in Cass County has taken a keen interest in the welfare and development in the county which he has chosen as his home.

David M. Schrock, a prominent farmer and stockman of Camp Branch township, was born in Wayne County, Ohio, March 21, 1870. He is a son of John and Elizabeth (Moser) Schrock. The father was a native of Pennsylvania, born in September, 1825, a son of Michael Schrock. He died in 1901. The Schrock family came from Pennsylvania to Ohio and settled in Wayne County, in 1828. Elizabeth (Moser) Schrock, mother of David M., was bora near Millhausen, France, in 1835. She now re¬ sides in Stark County, Ohio. John and Elizabeth (Moser) Schrock were the parents of the following children: Mrs. Lydia Cash, Shelbyville, Illi¬ nois; Mrs. Nancy Holderman, Bristol, Virginia; Samuel, Shelbyville, Illi¬ nois; Menno, McEwen, Tennessee; David M., the subject of this sketch; and Jonathan, Sterling, Ohio.

David M. Schrock was reared in Wayne County, Ohio, and educated in the public schools. He remained at home with his parents until he was twenty-one years of age, and in 1891 came to Cass County. He worked by the month for Levi Zook for one season and the following year worked for I. M. Yoder. After renting land for two years he bought a farm from Hiram Eshleman, in Dayton township, for which he paid twenty dollars per acre. Later he bought one hundred twenty acres of land from the Colonel Campbell estate for twenty-two dollars and fifty cents per acre. He sold this place in 1904 and purchased his present home, upon which he moved the following spring. He now owns two hundred acres of some of Cass County's best land. It is conveniently located on the main road from Garden City to East Lynn. Mr. Schrock's farm is well improved with a good farm residence, which was remodeled in 1915. The residence is equipped with lighting plant and a private water system and hot water heating system, altogether is one of the at¬ tractive farm residences of Cass County. The farm buildings and other improvements are thoroughly in keeping with Twentieth Century agri¬ cultural methods, which evinces the thrift and industry of Mr. Schrock. In addition to being an extensive farmer, Mr. Schrock is widely known as a successful stock raiser. He raises cattle and high-grade Poland China hogs and Percheron horses.

Mary Ann (Mosholder) Diener. To Mr. and Mrs. Schrock have been born the following children: Alice, Clara, Ada, Earl, Mary, Lawrence, and Florence (twins), and Albert, all of whom reside at home with their parents.

Mr. Schrock came to Cass County with very little capital and began life in a new country with very little means, and by his industry has be¬ come one of the substantial and well to do citizens of a great county.

A. C. Moore, owner and proprietor of the "Moore Stock Farm", lo¬ cated in Cold water township, about three and one-half miles northeast of Drexel, is one of the progressive stockmen of Cass County. Mr. Moore was born in Harrison County, Ohio, in 1864, and is a son of James S. and Catherine (Forney) Moore, natives of Ohio. They were the parents of the following children: Mrs. Deborah Houston, Mt. Sterling, Illinois; Mrs. Alice Brown, Brown County, Illinois; Richard S., Brown County, Illinois; A. C., the subject of this sketch; Eliza Moore, Brown County, Illinois; and Mrs. Ary Behymer, Lamar, Missouri.

When A. C. Moore was two years old his parents removed to Illinois, settling in Brown County, where he was reared and educated. Here his father died in 1889, and the mother in 1912. Their remains are buried at White Oak, Illinois. After his father's death, A. C. assisted his mother on the home farm and thus began his career as a farmer and stocKman in early life. He has always been a close student of the best improved method of farming, and especially stock raising, which accounts for his success in that field of endeavor. In 1906 Mr. Moore came to Cass County, Missouri, and purchased his present place in Coldwater town¬ ship, where he has since been profitably engaged in the stock business. He specializes in Whitefaced cattle, and has forty head at the present writing. He is also a successful hog raiser, and during the year of 1916, sold over four thousand dollars worth of hogs. He also raises a great many horses and mules, and has been very successful in that department of stock raising.

a stock farm as the name implies. Since purchasing this place Mr. Moore has directed his energy toward making his place a modern stock farm in every particular. The buildings on the place have been planned with special reference to conveniently and profitably handling stock, and the other bam is 24 x 48, with a 12 x 40 foot shed, also a silo 16 x 30, and an implement barn 24 x 36, com crib 10 x 40, and numerous other farm buildings. The Moore residence is a modern seven room structure and one of the fine residences of Coldwater township. The buildings are on a slight elevation of ground, which is the highest spot on the Moore farm and overlooks the country for miles around.

Mr. Moore was married in 1888, to Miss Mary E. Carter, a daughter of William H. and Lucinda J. (Johnson) Carter, of Illinois. Her parents are both deceased, having spent their lives in that state. To Mr. and Mrs. Moore have been born the following children: James William, employed by the Swift Packing Company, Kansas City, Missouri ; Martin L., Drexel, Missouri; Harry E., who just completed a four years enlistment in the United States Navy, having served as a gunner, now resides in Kansas City, Missouri ; Lee Roy, Letha B., and Everett, residing at home with their parents.

Arthur Conger, the pioneer abstractor of Cass County, has been engaged in the abstract and loan business at Harrisonville for nearly forty years. He is a native of Indiana, born in Manchester, Dearborn County, June 13, 1854, and is a son of Samuel W. and Mabel G. Conger, both natives of New Jersey.

Arthur Conger was educated in the common schools of his native state and Moores Hill College, Indiana. Before he attained his majority he started out in the world for himself. He came to Missouri, arriving at Harrisonville March 13, 1874. For a time he was employed in the office of the recorder of deeds under W. G. McCulloh, who was then recorder of deeds of Cass County. After serving a time in that capacity Mr. Conger engaged in the abstract business, opening an office in Harri¬ sonville in 1879 and since that time has thus been engaged.

seven children, as follows: Mrs. Bertha M. Sourdry, who now resides near Independence, Missouri; Frank S. and Arthur Conger, Jr., who are associated with their father in the abstract business at Harrisonville, Missouri; Miss Blanche Conger, who resides at home; Clyde Conger, Ft. Worth, Texas; Dr. Dail W. Conger, Mounds, Oklahoma, and Percy Conger, who died in infancy. The mother of these children died Decem¬ ber 20, 1897, and on April 4, 1901, Mr. Conger was united in marriage with Miss Fannie A. Higgins, of Harrisonville, Missouri.

Mr. Conger is a Mason and has passed the grades in that order as follows: He was made a master Mason March 27, 1885, in Cass Lodge, No. 147, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons; exalted to the most sublime degree of the Royal Arch in Signet Chapter of Royal Arch Masons, June 1, 1885 ; made a Knight Templar in Bayard Commandry, No. 27, Knights Templar, October 1, 1885. He is also a member of Ararat Temple, at Kansas City. Mr. Conger is not a mere nominal Mason, but he preached, practiced and taught Masonry with his whole soul and with all his thoughts He has ever been a most active Mason and has taken part in all matters tending to advance the cause of Masonry. He was Master of Cass Lodge, No. 147, for two years, High Priest of Signet Chapter, No. 68, for two years, Eminent Commander of Bayard Commandry, No. 26, for three years and he was District Deputy Grand Master of Missouri for four years. Mr. Conger is also a member of the Knights of Pythias, being a charter member of Gelwicks Lodge, No. 149, Harrisonville, Missouri.

While Mr. Conger has never allied himself with any particular church organization he gives his support to the Methodist Episcopal Church at Harrisonville, which is the choice of his family. Whenever aid has been desired for any church activity, or for charitable purposes, Mr. Conger has been sought out as one who always renders assistance. The present high standing of this community in uplift activities is due to the founda¬ tions laid by Mr. Conger and those who cooperated with him for the last third of a century.

Jot M. Wilson, the pioneer real estate and insurance man of Harri¬ sonville, is a native of Ohio. He was born in Licking County, near Newark, in 1854, and is a son of John L. and Evaline Wilson, the former a native of Newark, Ohio, and the latter of near Hartford, Ohio. Jot M. Wilson is the oldest of a family of three children born to his parents as follows:

Miles P., died at Forsyth, Missouri, about 1907 ; Mary, married John A. Peffefer, Chillicothe, Missouri, and Jot M., the subject of this sketch. The Wilson family came to Missouri in 1864 and settled on a farm three miles north of Chillicothe, where Mr. Wilson was one of the largest sheep owners in the country. The family later moved to Chillicothe, where Mrs. Wilson died in 1875. Her husband survived her thirty years.

Jot M. Wilson was ten years old when he came to Missouri with his parents. He attended the public schools of Chillicothe, afterwards com¬ pleting school at J. A. Peasley Commercial College, Columbus, Ohio. He went to Gold Hill, Colorado, where he was employed as bookkeeper for the Gold Hill Mining Company for two years. He then returned to his Mis¬ souri home on account of the death of his mother, and after spending about one year with his father, he engaged in the drug business in Chilli¬ cothe in partnership with a Mr. Kern under the firm name of Kern & Wilson. He remained there about two and one-half years, when he closed out his interest in the drug business and went to Greenwood County, Kansas, where he was engaged in the live stock business about two and one-half years. He then went to Seward County, Kansas, and was there at the organization of that county and was appointed the first county clerk of Seward County by Governor Morton, and opened the first set of books for that county. Mr. Wilson was in Seward County during the stormy days of the county seat fight, which was one of the hottest waged over the location of any county seat in Kansas.

After closing up his connection with Seward County, Mr. Wilson went to Cowley County, Kansas, where he was engaged in the milling business about a year and one-half. He then sold his mill and came to Harrisonville in 1888 and engaged in the real estate and insurance busi¬ ness and has been located here in that line of business ever since. He has been in this business longer than any other man in Harrisonville, and not only that, but he has handled more property than any other real estate man in Cass County and is just as active today as he was the first day that he came to Harrisonville.

Mr. Wilson married Miss Ollie D. Cope, a daughter of Rev. S. Cope, a prominent minister of the Methodist Church, South. To Mr. and Mrs. Wilson have been bom the following children: Buell C., in the live stock commission business with Greer & Company, Kansas City, Missouri; Zora, married Fred J. Pearson, salesman for the Loose-Wiles Company, at Hutchinson, Kansas; Ethel M., married Bert Parsons, Ft. Scott,

Mr. Wilson is a democrat and has always supported the policies and principles of that party. He belongs to the Woodmen of the World and the Wilson family are all members of the Methodist Church, South, and Mrs. Wilson is active in the work of that denomination. Mr. Wilson is, without a doubt, the best posted man on land values in Cass County, as there is scarcely a piece of city, town or farm property in the entire county with which he is not thoroughly familiar.

James Noel Maxwell, county surveyor of Cass County, was born in Union township, Cass County, where the town of Cleveland is now located, January 1, 1872. He is a son of Thomas T. and Mary (Noel) Maxwell, natives of Missouri. The father was born in Boone County and was a descendant of Virginia ancestors. Mary Noel's parents came from Tennessee and were early settlers in Missouri. Thomas T. Maxwell served in the Confederate army during the Civil War under General Price and participated in the battle of Lone jack and various other engagements in Missouri and Arkansas. He and his wife located in Cass County in 1871, where he was engaged in farming until 1891, when he was elected to the office of County Clerk and at the expiration of his term of office he was reelected, serving eight years. He died in California where he had gone for the benefit of his health in 1910 and his wife died in 1892. They were the parents of eight children as follows: Joseph, died at the age of six; Margaret, died at the age of eighteen; James N., the subject of this sketch; Lillie, married Albert Beckel, Cleveland, Missouri; Mary, mar¬ ried Charles R. Hall, Harrisonville ; Ollie, married Ira Berkey, Cleve¬ land, Missouri; Thomas T., Jr., Cleveland, Missouri, married Nellie Wilson; and Grover Cleveland, married Mary McAnally, Cleveland, Missouri.

James N. Maxwell was educated in the Harrisonville High School and at Quincy, Illinois, and in early life followed farming. Later he was engaged in the livestock commission business at Kansas City for four years. In 1898 he went to western Kansas where he was on a cattle ranch two years. He then returned to Cass County and was engaged in the mercantile business and farming at Cleveland. In 1907 he went to Liberal, Kansas, and was engaged in the lumber business for four years, when he returned to Cass County and in 1912 was elected County Sur- veyor and is now serving in that capacity. Mr. Maxwell is a capable and painstaking public official and in his official capacity has given general satisfaction.

August 24, 1904, Mr. Maxwell was united in marriage with Miss Sina Walker of Pleasant Hill, Missouri. She is a daughter of James Walker, an early settler in Cass County, now residing at Pleasant Hill. One child has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Maxwell, James Walker, born October 30, 1906, at Cleveland.

Mr. Maxwell is a member of the Woodmen of the World and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is a democrat and has been identified with that party since boyhood and has taken an active part in political matters. He has served as township assessor of Union town¬ ship. He and his wife are members of the Christian Church.

C. J. Anderson, a prominent farmer and stockman of Grand River township, was born near Garnett, Kansas, March 12, 1858. He is a son of Cornelius R. and Charlotte (Preston) Anderson. Cornelius R. Ander¬ son was a native of Ohio, born in Pickaway County, and when a child his parents removed to Michigan and settled near Decatur, where they spent the remainder of their lives. Cornelius R. came to Missouri in 1844 and settled in Grand River township, Cass County. He was a pioneer school teacher of that section and followed teaching for a number of years and later engaged in farming and stock raising and owned seven hundred and twenty acres of land. He was a Union sympathizer and when the Civil War broke out he removed to Anderson County, Kansas, and located near Garnett. He engaged in farming and stock raising there and pros¬ pered. He died December 16, 1906, lacking sixteen days of being eightyeight years old. His widow, who is now in her eighty-seventh year, lives with her youngest son on the old homestead near Garnett, Kansas.

Cornelius R. and Charlotte (Preston) Anderson were the parents of the following children: George L., Grand River township; John J., died October 6, 1909; W. W., Garnett, Kansas; C. J., the subject of this sketch; Anna Catherine, deceased; A. J., Grand River township; Jennie, deceased; Charles R., Anderson County, Kansas; and Thos. C., resides on the old homestead in Anderson County, Kansas.

C. J. Anderson was reared to manhood in Anderson County, Kansas, and received his education in the public schools of that county. In 1891 he came to Cass County, locating in Grand River township, where he owns a farm of three hundred and twenty acres. He carries on general fanning and stock raising and is probably one of the most extensive breeders of horses and mules in Cass County. He makes a speciality of German coach horses, of which he raises a great many and has been particularly successful in that line of endeavor.

Mr. Anderson was married October 27, 1880, to Miss Anna Feuerborn, a native of LaSalle County, Illinois. She is a daughter of Christo¬ pher and Elizabeth (Brummel) Feuerborn, natives of Westphalia, Ger¬ many. They were very early settlers in Anderson County, Kansas, locat¬ ing there in 1860, when Kansas was yet a territory. They returned to Illinois after a time and later moved to Nevada and the father died at Star City, that state, and the mother returned to Anderson County, Kansas, where she died.

To Mr. and Mrs. Anderson have been born the following children: Elizabeth, married Hunter Quinn, Freeman, Missouri; Edwin Jackson, Dolan township; Charles R., Freeman, Missouri; Elmer, at home with his parents, and Opal Marie, a student in the Freeman High School.

Mr. Anderson is a member of the Masonic Lodge at Freeman, Mis¬ souri, and he and his wife are members of the Baptist Church. He is a Democrat and one of Cass County's most progressive citizens.

W. A. Holloway, a prominent farmer and stockman of Mt. Pleasant township, is a descendant of an early pioneer family of Missouri and Cass County. He is a son of Isaac J. and America A. Holloway. A sketch of Isaac J. Holloway appears in this volume. W. A. Holloway was born in Cass County in 1854, his father having homesteaded one hundred sixty acres here in 1844. The Holloway home was a log house until after the war.

In 1861 the Holloway family were gathering corn one day and the report came that Jemison's army was coming. The father ran to the house and gathered up a few things and threw them into the wagon and put W. A. on a horse and the family made a hasty retreat to Pleasant Hill. Jemison's army did come and the soldiers fed all the corn that the Holloway family had, to their horses, and took everything that was loose about the place. The Holloways remained away from their farm until the close of the war as it was in the midst of the conflict on the border and to remain would have been absolutely unsafe for both life and property. When they returned to their place, their horses were

In 1874 Mr. Holloway worked for E. H. Walton, an uncle, for sixteen dollars a month. That was grasshopper year and crops were practically a complete failure. In September of that year Mr. Holloway and E. H. Walton went to Texas, where they were engaged in the dairy business, remaining in that state until 1874, wrhen Mr. Holloway reumed to Missouri and bought his grandfather's old homestead in Jackson County. He kept this place until 1889, when he sold it and bought two hundred and two acres, known as the Dawley place. In 1904 Mr. Holloway moved to Belton with his family, where he now resides. He carries on farming and stock raising on a large scale and does an extensive dairy business. He keeps about twenty cows and the income from his milk alone is about five dollars per day. He rents his father's place, which he has operated for the past twenty years and is one of the large com producers of Cass County.

In 1878 Mr. Hollow'ay w*as married to Maggie A. Ambrose, a daughter of J. H. and Mary (Dawdey) Ambrose. Mrs. Holloway is one of the following children born to her parents: J. D. Ambrose, Crossocanna, Texas; Mrs. Sarah H. McSpadden, Springfield, Missouri; W. S. Ambrose, McAlester, Oklahoma; Mrs. Winnie A. Hollow'ay, Alva, Oklahoma; Mrs. Nannie M. Hess, McAlester, Oklahoma; and Maggie A., wife of W. A. Holloway of this sketch. To Mr. and Mrs. Hollowly have been bom the following children: Mrs. Mary Berry, Belton, Missouri; Genevieve Dot; W. A., Jr. Thomas Hollowly Berry is the only grandchild in the Hollo¬ way family and is four years old.

Mr. Holloway is a staunch democrat and takes a keen interest in local and political affairs. He has been trustee of Mt. Pleasant township for ten years and has been a member of the Belton school board ever since he has lived there, and is at present chairman of the board. He is of the genial type of man and has many friends.

J. L. March, of Belton, Missouri, is a native of Kentucky and a Mis¬ souri pioneer who saw much of the pioneer life of the early days. He was bom in Jasamine County, Kentucky, in 1836, a son of George and Mary (Gregg) March, natives of Kentucky, both of whom were descendants of Kentucky pioneers. George March, the father of J. L., migrated from Kentucky to Illinois when the latter was two years old and in 1844 the family came to Missouri, settling in St. Louis County. Here he bought a farm and lived there until 1855, when he sold out and moved to Boonville, Cooper County, where he died the same year. The family then moved to Jackson County.

J. L. March remained at home until 1858, when he went west. This was an early day in the West, which was wild and woolly, almost in its primitive state. Mr. March drove an ox team to old Santa Fe, New Mexico, returning home in the fall, and remained at home until 1862. The Civil War broke out in the meantime and Mr. March then went to Colorado. In 1868, Mr. March returned to Missouri and settled in Pettis County where he was engaged in farming until 1895, when he came to Cass County. He owns a valuable farm which is situated a mile and onehalf south of Belton. He rents his place although he is active and gives his place close personal attention. He has lived in the town of Belton since 1908.

Mr. March was married to Miss Mary Dobbins in 1872, a native of Missouri, who died in 1880. To that union were born three children, as follows: James, Marshall, Kansas; Mrs. Susan Blair, Belton, Missouri; William, resides in California. Mr. Marsh married for his second wife Sarah Cregger and to this union was born one child, Frances, who resides with her father at Belton. She is a gifted musician and of a literary turn of mind.

In 1909 Mr. March bought one acre of land in Belton, where he erected a cozy cottage where he and his daughter, Frances, reside. He is one of the substantial men of Cass County who has made good.

Fred G. Majors, the capable manager of the George D. Hope Lumber Company at Belton, Missouri, is a native of this state. He was born near Holden, Missouri, in 1884, and is a son of James W. and Eliza J. Majors. The father's family came from Tennessee and the mother's people from Iowa and both were of English descent. The father was a farmer and died in 1904, and the mother now resides near Adrian, Mis¬ souri. They were the parents of two children: Mrs. Della Spencer, Pleasant Hill, Missouri; and Fred G., the subject of this sketch.

Fred G. Majors attended the public schools at Lees Summit where he was graduated from the high school and later took a course at the Warrensburg Normal School. In 1903 he taught school near Lone jack and afterwards finished an unexpired term near Harrisonville, where he

In 1904 Mr. Majors entered the employ of J. C. Jones & Sons, who conducted a lumber yard at Lees Summit, and was in the employ of that firm for two years and there is where he received his initial training in the lumber business. He then entered the employ of the Sanders- . Turner Lumber Company at Lees Summit and then wras engaged in the lumber business at Drexel, Missouri, for three years. In 1913 he became manager for the George D. Hope Lumber Company at Belton and has held that position to the present time.

Mr. Majors is a progressive business man and unusually well posted in the lumber business which of itself covers a broad field of industrial activity, and acts as a barometer to the country's prosperity. When he engaged in the lumber business, or first became identified with it, ordi¬ nary lumber was five dollars a thousand feet, cheaper than it it today. All forms of lumber have advanced about twenty-five per cent; paints, seventy-five per cent and hardware, fifty per cent.

Mr. Majors was married in 1910 to Miss Laura Belser, a daughter of Charles F. and Hannah J. Belser of Lees Summit and natives of Ohio. Mrs. Majors is one of a family of three children born to her parents, and the others are: Mrs. Grace Myers, Lees Summit, and Roy Belser, also of Lees Summit. To Mr. and Mrs. Majors has been born one child, Frederick Belser Majors.

Since coming to Belton, Mr. Majors has invested some in Belton property and while he has lived here only a few years he has an extensive acquaintance and many friends. His straightforward business methods have won the confidence of the public and he has proven himself to be thoroughly capable of holding the responsible position which has been entrusted to him.

Harvey Cunningham, the leading druggist of Belton, is one of the enterprising and progressive business men of Cass County. He was born in Warren County, Illinois, in I860, a son of James and Martha (Eilenberger) Cunningham. The mother was a native of Pennsylvania and a daughter of Jacob Eilenberger. The Cunningham family is also of old Pennsylvania stock and of Scotch Irish origin. They removed to Ohio at an early day and James Cunningham, Harvey's father, served an ap¬ prenticeship at the blacksmith trade in that state. After serving his apprenticeship and when he was twenty-one years old, he came West. He often related that when he came through Chicago it was a mere trading post, situated on a marshy and uninviting locality. He first went to Monmouth, Illinois, and shortly afterwards to St. Paul but later returned to Monmouth, where he worked at his trade for a number of years. He was prominent in local affairs there and held local public office. He was a republican and voted for JolTn C. Fremont, the first presidential candi¬ date of that party. He was a man who believed in a high moral standard and a square deal. His father owned slaves at one time, but he became convinced that slavery was wrong, whereupon he freed his slaves and after that paid them wages for their labor. James Cunningham died in 1910 and his wife died in 1908. They were the parents of the following children: Mrs. Anna Clark, Monmouth, Illinois; Mrs. Ellen McMillen, Roseville, Illinois; Mrs. Lizzie Smith, Denver, Colorado; Madison, Mon¬ mouth, Illinois; and Harvey, the subject of this sketch.

Harvey Cunningham was educated in the public schools of Mon¬ mouth, Illinois, and Monmouth College. He then went to Ohio, where he was engaged in farming about three years; when he returned to Illinois, following the same vocation for a period of five years. In 1888, he came to Missouri, locating at Chillicothe, where he conducted a steam laundry for a time, and later removed to Nevada, where he also had a steam laundry for five years. In 1900, he came to Belton, Missouri, and pur¬ chased the drug store from M. K. Barber, a pioneer druggist of that place. He carries a complete line of drugs, stock foods, wall paper, paints and druggists' sundries and has a very complete and well stocked store. In 1914, Mr. Cunningham built a handsome brick building which is occupied on the first floor by his store and the second floor is arranged into office suites.

In 1882, Mr. Cunningham was united in marriage with Miss Lillian E. Timberman of Ohio, a daughter of Martin V. Timberman. Mrs. Cun¬ ningham has two brothers and one sister, as follows: Mrs. Rena Lybrook, Eaton, Ohio; Will Timberman, Hamilton, Ohio; and Oliver Tim¬ berman, Cincinnati, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Cunningham have two children: Mrs. Rena C. Huber, Belton, Missouri; and Elmer, who also resides at Belton.

J. H. Callaway, of Peculiar, is one of the progressive young men of Cass County, and a native son of this county. He was bom in 1886 and is a son of T. M. and Kate Callaway, natives of Tennessee. They were the parents of two children who are now living, A. G., Peculiar, Missouri, and J. H., the subject of this sketch. When the Callaway family came to Cass County they bought a farm of one hundred and twenty acres three miles south of Peculiar where the father engaged in farming and stock raising. He has met with a reasonable degree of success and now resides in Union township.

J. H. Callaway was reared and educated in Peculiar township and in 1906 engaged in farming on his own account on his father's place in West Peculiar township. Five years later he bought a farm and has since been engaged in farming, and also works at painting and paper hanging. Since attaining his majority Mr. Callaway has taken an active part in politics and is now serving as township collector.

In 1907 Mr. Callaway was married to Miss Clara, daughter of Peter and Sophia Theden. The Theden family came from Iowa to this state in 1898, and consisted of the parents and four children besides Mrs. Calla¬ way, as follows: Mrs. Ella Ewers, Peculiar; Mrs. Rosa Callaway, Pe¬ culiar; Mrs. Hattie Knight, Peculiar; and Hugo, Peculiar. To Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Callaway has been born one child, James Vernon.

Homer A. Graves, of Union township, is one of Cass County's most successful stockmen. Mr. Graves is a native son of this county and was bom in 1876. His parents were D. C. and Cynthia (Marshall) Graves, the former a native of Virginia and the latter of Kentucky. In 1864, D. C. Graves, the father, settled in Cass County and bought eighty acres of land. He engaged in farming and raising cattle, mules and hogs, and became an extensive cattle feeder. He prospered in his undertakings and at the time of his death, in 1902, he owned six hundred and forty acres of land. He was a progressive citizen, and took a keen interest in local politics and served as township committeeman for many years. He was well and favorably known and was an active member of the Baptist Church, being a deacon for a number of years. His widow now resides at Liberty, Missouri. They were the parents of the following children: Homer A., the subject of this sketch; Charles W., Hucksley, Canada; and Mrs. Mira S. Hinton of Liberty, Missouri.

Valley and William Jewell College, Liberty, Missouri, and was graduated from the latter institution in the Class of 1899. He then engaged in farming and stock raising in Union township, Cass County, and is one of the successful Hereford and Jersey breeders of Cass County. He now has on hand about one hundred head of Herefords and Jerseys. His place is well equipped for the stock business with ample barns, sheds and silos. He is a strong advocate of the silo. His place is well improved and he has a valuable orchard of peach and apple trees.

Mr. Graves was married in December, 1902, to Miss Margaret Nickell, a daughter of Holly P. and Ella B. Nickell, natives of Kentucky. The Nickell family came to Missouri in 1878, and settled in Bates County. The father died in 1910, and the mother now resides at Lees Summit. They were the parents of the following children: Margaret, the wife of Homer A. Graves; W. Hampton, Walla Walla, Washington; Mrs. Vir¬ ginia S. McPherson, Lees Summit, Missouri; Robert S., Casper, Wyom¬ ing; and Leon I., Lees Summit. Mr. and Mrs. Graves have five children as follows: David Allen, Holly Nickell, Margaret Ella, Charles W., and Mrs. Myra Hinton.

Mr. Graves is not only a successful man in his own personal affairs, but takes a commendable interest in local matters of public interest. He has served as assessor of Union township for two years and been justice of the peace for six years. He has always been found worthy of every trust imposed on him. He belongs to that genial type of men who makes friends and retains them.

J. S. Craycraft, a substantial Cass County pioneer and prosperous farmer and stockman of Union township, is a native of Greenup County, Kentucky. He was bom in 1846 and is a son of James Madison and Thursey Craycraft. The father was born in Kentucky and in 1867 came to Cass County. He was a farmer and devoted his life to that industry. He died in 1873. His wife bore the maiden name of Thursey Stuart, a daughter of Charles and Mary Stuart, natives of Kentucky.

J. S. Craycraft was one of a family of five children as follows : James Hugh, Sedalia, Missouri; J. S., the subject of this sketch; Mrs. Louisa E. Gammon, Harwood, Missouri; Mrs. Susan Reeves, Grandview, Mis¬ souri; and Robert L., Belton, Missouri.

his own account. Later he bought one hundred acres of land east of Lees Summit, and after two years sold this and bought a one-fourth interest in a hundred and sixty acre farm. Four years afterwards he bought one hundred twelve acres in West Peculiar township, and lived there six years. In the meantime, he traded his one-fourth interest in the one hundred sixty acres for a farm of one hundred ninety seven acres in West Peculiar township. He now owns two hundred thirty-six acres of well improved land which is very valuable. He is extensively interested in stock raising. At first he raised Poland China hogs, but in later years has raised Duroc Jerseys. He raises Jersey and Shorthorn cattle and also deals in cattle quite extensively. He has met with considerable financial success in buying and feeding young calves. About sixty acres of his land are under blue grass.

Mr. Craycraft was married in 1883 to Miss Susan R. Stayton, a daughter of Thomas and Kaziah Stayton. Her grandfather, John Stayton, came from Tennessee to Missouri in 1829. Mrs. Craycraft was bora near Independence, Missouri, and saw much of the wild life of border days, when life and property were insecure in that section of the state. She remembers of moving from near Independence, Jackson County, to Clay County, when Order No. 11 was issued, and she says her father saw fourteen houses burning at one time during the days of the Civil War. When the family returned to Jackson County she says that she walked seventeen miles on that trip. Mrs. Craycraft has two brothers living, Thomas A., Post Falls, Idaho; and Archibald A., Lees Summit, Missouri. To Mr. and Mrs. Craycraft have been bora five children: Smith I., Grandview, Missouri ; Howard E., Justin I., Ethel A., and Sandford N., all of Cleveland, Missouri.

Mr. Craycraft deserves to be classed among the early pioneers of this section. He has had many experiences and noted many changes during the half century that he has lived in Cass County and vicinity. He remembers when Kansas City was a mere boat landing with a little village nearby, and he recalls the days when Pleasant Hill was an im¬ portant outfitting point for wagon trains going west, as well as a dis¬ tributing point for the surrounding country. He has seen as many as one hundred wagons loaded and equipped there in a single night. He recalls the time when the vast stretch of country between Pleasant Hill and where Peculiar now stands was one broad expanse of prairie, and there were only four settlers between those points. He has seen prairie chickens and other native game in abundance all over the prairie. Mrs. Craycraft recalls having seen deer in this section as late as 1882. Mr. and Mrs. Craycraft are truly entitled to be reckoned among Cass County pioneers.

F. P. Hennon, a progressive farmer and stockman of Union township, is a native of Indiana. He was bora in 1850 and is a son of James and Matilda (Farlow) Hennon. James Hennon was a son of Abe Hennon, a Pennsylvanian, who was a carriage maker, and spent his life in that line of work in Pennsylvania. There are a great many members of the Hennon family in Pennsylvania. F. P. Hennon attended a family reunion in that state some years ago, and there were three hundred and fifty members of the family present on that occasion, and Mr. Hennon has in his possession a photograph of that assemblage of the family. Mr. Hennon's mother, Matilda Farlow, was a daughter of Isaac Farlow of Indiana. When F. P. Hennon was two years old the family removed from Indiana to Iowa, where the father was engaged in farming until the time of his death. The mother is also deceased. Mr. Hennon has one brother, James Hennon, who resides at Green City, Missouri.

Mr. Hennon grew to manhood in Iowa and was educated in the public schools in that state and in early life engaged in farming and stock rais¬ ing and acquired three hundred twenty-seven acres of land there. He came to Cass County where he has since been engaged in farming and stock raising. He owns three hundred ninety acres of well improved and valuable land in Union township. Mr. Hennon has many original ideas concerning practical farming and soil conservation. He is scientific in his views and practical in their application. He says that the farmer in this section must increase the productivity of his land by fertilizing and tiling or he will perish. He claims that the productive power of the land can be doubled by these methods, and that the first step in that direction is to keep the land under grass more of the time. He says that many people have a mistaken idea as to the effect of tiling when they think that this method does not render the land more producive in dry as well as in west weather. He is a strong advocate of tiling. Mr. Hennon specializes in Duroc Jersey hogs and also raises cattle and horses quite extensively.

Jacobs, Hazesville, Iowa; Fred, Hazesville, Iowa; and Malvin H., Cleve¬ land, Missouri. The wife and mother of these children died, and Mr. Hennon was married to Miss Lydia Scott, daughter of Jesse and Theba Scott, the former a native of Indiana and the latter of Pennsyl¬ vania. Mrs. Hennon is one of six children bom to her parents, the others being as follows: Mrs. Jane Comber, Otho, Missouri; Mrs. Olive Knorpp, Selkirk, Kansas; Eli Scott, Santa Rosa, California; Margaret Cheney, Millersburg, Iowa; and John Scott, Sagerney, Iowa. To Mr. and Mrs. Hennon have been bom two children: Mrs. Cappy Kennon, Joplin, Mis¬ souri, and Mrs. Nellie Hawkins, Cleveland, Missouri. The Hennon family is prominent in the community and Mr. Hennon is a leader in his line.

J. G. Ziegler, of West Dolan township, was born in 1862, in the state of New York, son of George and Catherine Ziegler. George Ziegler was the son of Jacob Ziegler, who was bom in Germany. Jacob Ziegler emigrated from the fatherland in early manhood and located in the state of New York. George and Catherine Ziegler were the parents of four children, namely: Edward P., West Line, Missouri; J. G., subject of this review; Mrs. Clara Smith, Freeman, Missouri; and Nellie J., West Line, Missouri. George Ziegler brought his family from New York to Missouri in 1866 and settled in Cass County in Dolan township, where he purchased one hundred twenty acres of land. He was a prominent stockman in his days and an industrious, enterprising farmer. He made a specialty of white face cattle for several years. When George Ziegler came to Cass County there were few signs of human habitation. The land was practically all unbroken prairie and wild turkeys, deer and prairie chickens were in abundance. George and Catherine Ziegler were beloved members of the Mennonite Church, whose tireless efforts in behalf of right living and whose noble, pure lives have been a constant source of inspiration to the many wTio knew and respected them. Both are now deceased. Mr. Ziegler was called away in 1904. Their loss has ever been felt in this community. They will long be remembered in Cass County as good and useful citizens and mourned by the needy wTho re¬ member Mr. and Mrs. Ziegler as warm and generous friends.

When J. G. Ziegler came to Cass County with his parents in 1866 he was a child of four years. Schools were scarce in those pioneer days, but when he could be spared from work at home he attended the little country school in his home district. Mr. Ziegler spent his boyhood in this county and in this township. The normal lad had keen eyes, a retentive memory and impressionable mind. J. G. Zeigler was a normal lad and he recalls two men who exerted a great influence upon him in the days of his youth, Scott McRoberts, an early day school teacher, and Rev. Sage, a pioneer preacher. Pleasant Hill was the trading point for the Zieglers. They also occasionally traded at a small village called Jonesville, the business district of which consisted of a combined postofflce and store. When he was just a youth he began working out by the day. Wages were not then all that could be desired and young Ziegler received, after a long day of hard labor, the munificent sum of fifty cents. In later manhood he made more money speculating in stock, buying calves and pigs and selling them at a small profit.

In 1886 J. C. Ziegler and Sophia Eggenberger, daughter of Christo¬ pher and Esther Eggenberger, were united in the holy bonds of matri¬ mony and this union has been blessed with two children, who are living: Mrs. Elsie Wattanbarger, West Line, Missouri; and Ranard, Freeman, Missouri.

Mr. Ziegler has been a resident of Cass County for more than fifty years and well remembers those early days of countless inconveniences and hardships. He has passed through that trying period which is neces¬ sarily attendant to the settlement and development of a new country. There were no improvements in Cass County when he came. Money was not plentiful, markets were few, and the pioneer settlers had little to sell. Those were days of the open range, the halcyon days of the cattle¬ men. Mr. Ziegler is a typical descendant of those sturdy pioneers who with much self-sacrifice, courage and industry laid the foundations of Cass County upon the wide, unbroken prairie. And they knew not how well they built.

P. F. Maloney, one of Cass County's most highly esteemed and sub¬ stantial citizens, is of old Scotch-Irish descent. He was born in Cass County in 1859, son of R. and Rebecca (Franse) Maloney. His parents immigrated to Missouri from Virginia in 1858 and located in Cass County where Mr. Maloney entered a farm from the government. R. Maloney increased his holdings from time to time until he was owner of two hun¬ dred twenty acres of land at the time of his death in 1899. R. and Rebecca (Franse) Maloney were the parents of five children, four of whom are now living, namely: P. F., subject of this review; J. D., Free- man, Missouri; H. A., Freeman, Missouri; and Mrs. Fannie Jones, Meridian, Idaho. Rebecca (Franse) Maloney departed this life in 1909. Mrs. Maloney was a member of the Methodist Church and died as she had lived, a strong believer in its principles and teachings. She was an ideal mother, patient, gentle, and loving, and did her utmost to instill in the hearts of her children the love of good. That her motherhood has been crowned with success is evidenced by the fact that her children are all good and useful citizens, prominent and influential in their respective communities. Mr. Maloney was a warm-hearted man of firm purposes, strong in his beliefs of right and wrong, and fair and honorable in all business dealings. His race is known the world over for certain noble traits of character and R. Maloney was a worthy representative, possess¬ ing kind, genial manners and a gracious sense of humor which won for him countless friends. Mr. and Mrs. Maloney lived honorable and up¬ right lives and have left a name of which their descendants may well be proud.

In 1885 P. F. Maloney and Amanda M. Vanmeter, daughter of William and Margaret Vanmeter of Dolan township, were united in marriage. William and Margaret Vanmeter came with their family from Kentucky to Missouri in 1870 and located in Cass County upon a farm in Dolan township. The three surviving children born to William and Margaret Vanmeter are: John, Freeman, Missouri; William Henry, Freeman, Missouri; and Mrs. P. F. Maloney, wife of the subject of this review. Mrs. Vanmeter did not live long in the new western home, her death occurring in 1874. Tn 1899 William Vanmeter joined his wife in death. To P. F. and Margaret (Vanmeter) Maloney have been born two sons: Henry L., and Ernest R., who live at home with their parents.

P. F. Maloney has lived in Cass County all his life and well remem¬ bers the condition of the country more than a half century ago. He was reared amid the primitive conditions of pioneer life and had few educa¬ tional advantages in the new western home. His parents, being in limited circumstances, were struggling to make a home in the new coun¬ try and their children necessarily and willingly shared in their labors, hardships and privations. When not occupied with manual labor upon his father's farm P. F. Maloney attended the district school which was taught by Jim Lyon. With his parents, he often attended the little country church to hear Rev. Shaler expound the doctrines of Christianity.

The churches in those old days were plain within and without and fre¬ quently not well heated, even in the coldest weather. The country was a wide, unfenced, thinly settled prairie and the few settlers lived chiefly along streams where there were timber. Because of the undeveloped condition of the country agriculture yielded but a meager return for a great amount of hard labor. Game of all kinds abounded and hunting and fishing were important occupations. When supplies were needed they were obtained from Pleasant Hill, twenty-eight miles away, whither they went for them on horseback. The best room and kitchen were the principal rooms in the house and the most noticeable thing in the kitchen was the large, open fireplace. By the fireside the family would sometimes sit during the long winter evenings, the mother with her knitting, spin¬ ning, or quilting and the father with his pipe. Occasionally when the fire blazed, nut-cracking and story-telling helped to plasantly pass the long evening hours.

Life was not always monotonous and a dull grind of toil. The young people were not without simple amusements, such as house-raisings, dancing, corn husking parties, and social gatherings for spinning, quiltin, and apple paring, and upon these occasions there was much genuine fun. People from miles around came to the gatherings.

P. F. Maloney has been a citizen of the county since his birth and has emphatically grown up with the country. Though he has always been modest and unassuming, he has done much in molding the general character of his community and in putting forward enterprises, which have tended to develop what was at the time of his birth open prairie and change it to one of the garden spots of the State of Missouri.

G. A. Rose, the widely known stockman of Union township, was born in 1872 in Buchanan County, Iowa, son of James M. and Matilda (Modford) Rose. James M. Rose was born in 1842 in Ohio, son of Ezekial Rose, a pioneer. Matilda (Modford) Rose was born in Richmond, Vir¬ ginia. James M. Rose served for four years during the Civil War and his services as surgeon were in great demand for a long time after the war. While he was on duty as a messenger, two horses were shot from under him and he was severely wounded. After the Civil War had ended James M. Rose brought his family to Missouri. He purchased one hun¬ dred sixty acres of land near Lees Summit, one hundred sixty acres near Louisburg, Kansas, and one hundred sixty acres near Paola, Kansas. He was an early day freighter from Lees Summit to Paola. He did not pass a dozen houses upon his trip. Mr. Rose was want to remain over night with William Downing. It was dark one evening when he came to the Downing home and he accidentally drove over a small, young apple tree. This tree Mrs. Downing had carefully nursed and it was the pride of her heart. The team of twelve oxen and the weight of the wagon, which held one hundred twenty bushels of wheat, almost finished the tiny sapling. The next morning light revealed the extent of his unconscious crime to Mrs. Downing. She was wildly indignant and James M. Rose was sent breakfastless upon his way. Many times when Mr. Rose had meat in his wagon he would be followed by a pack of wolves, fifty or more of the hungry beasts howling in his tracks.

Immediately after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Rose moved to Iowa. It was during their residence in Iowa that their first child, G. A., subject of this review, was born. The Rose home was in the midst of a pine grove and in the winter the snow would drift until it covered their home, a house of two stories. G. A. Rose came into the world at the time a fearful snow storm w^as in progress, and he first saw the light of day under twenty feet of snow. For three days the family was snow-bound and the father was unable to even dig his way to the barn to care for the stock. In 1878 James M. Rose sold his home in Iowa and returned to Missouri, where he purchased one hundred ninety acres of land four miles west of Belton where he engaged in farming and stock raising. The hardships and privations of pioneer life were more than the delicate mother could endure and in the same year, 1878, she departed this life, leaving the three little children who have grown to maturity and are now living, namely: G. A., subject of this review; Mr. Cora Hendrickson, Bucyrus, Kansas; and Mrs. Minnie Noyes, Cleveland, Missouri. In 1879 James M. Rose and Angie Baker, daughter of Washington Baker, were united in marriage. In 1884 he purchased one hundred seventy acres of land near Cleveland, Missouri, and it was upon that farm his last days were spent. * In 1899 his soul went out to the Soul who gave it.

G. A. Rose came to Missouri with his parents when he was six years of age. He remembers that they came across the prairie from Lees Summit to their home. There were no roads then. Belton was their nearest trading point and consisted of two stores. "Uncle Jerry" Robert- son was Belton's leading merchant in those days. G. A. Rose attended school at Mt. Pleasant where his first teacher was Ellen Stafford. He always attended church with his father and he recalls among the pioneer preachers Rev. Dean, the first minister he ever heard in Cass County.

In 1892 when G. A. Rose was twenty years of age he married Sarah Butts, daughter of Levi Butts of Cleveland, Missouri. This union has been blessed with five children, namely: Mrs. Lizzie Wheeler, Hill City, Kansas; James G., Cleveland, Missouri; Earnest J., Cleveland, Missouri; Earl J., Cleveland, Missouri; and Kenneth, Cleveland, Missouri. After his marriage in 1892 Mr. Rose began farming on the home place and for the past twenty-five years has been dealing extensively in live stock. He is a well known breeder of registered Duroc Jersey hogs, specializing in the Red Princess strain. During the last year he sold hogs of this breed amounting to one thousand dollars. Besides his hogs Mr. Rose keeps ten head of dairy cows, of the Jersey breed. He also owns a Belgian stallion.

The Rose farm comprises one hundred twenty acres of land, eight of which have been in the Butts family for seventy-three years. It is one of the best watered places in the township, having two good wells and a natural spring. Forty acres of the farm are in blue grass and ten acres will be in sweet clover this year. Mr. Rose has recently remodeled his residence and now has one of the beautiful homes of Cass County. He is a devout and consistent member of the Baptist Church and has taught in the Sunday school for twelve years. For many years he has been the leader of the song service, and his work has always been greatly appreciated. Mr. and Mrs. Rose have long been considered among the county's most useful citizens.

0. H. Stevens was born in Marshall County, Illinois, in 1843, son of William P. and Acenith (Tyler) Stevens. William P. Stevens was a boatman, operating a flatboat in Indiana and Illinois in the early days. He was born in Virginia. In early manhood he immigrated to Indiana, and in 1843 to Illinois. In 1866 William P. Stevens brought his family to Cass County, Missouri, and here he and his wife spent their last years. Mr. Stevens himself built the house, which was to be their west¬ ern home, a small box structure, and hauled the lumber for it from Pleasant Hill, a distance of twenty-five miles. Pleasant Hill was their nearest trading point. When the Stevens family came to Missouri the country was practically open prairie, although there were a few rail fences. Both parents are now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Stevens gave their lives to the upbuilding of Cass County and will long be honored and remembered among the county's most useful citizens, as well as for their many noble traits of character.

In 1873 0. H. Stevens purchased from his brother forty acres of land, upon which he erected a frame residence. Mr. Stevens hauled the lumber for his home from Pleasant Hill. The following year he brought his bride to the new home.

0. H. Stevens and Lizzie B. Hocker, daughter of Benjamin D. and Julia A. Hocker, were united in marriage in 1874. The Hocker family came to Missouri in 1868. To Mr. and Mrs. Stevens have been born eight children, seven of whom are now living, namely: Cloyd B., Ivor Parker, Walter C., Mrs. May Smith, Leroy, Mrs. Grace Hodges, and Mrs. Bessie Barnard.

Mr. Stevens has been a resident of the county for fifty-one years and has done his full share in aiding in its almost miraculous develop¬ ment. He is a man of kindly disposition and genial manners, honest, in¬ dustrious and public spirited. Mr. and Mrs. Stevens are interested in everything which tends to the betterment of conditions and to the gen¬ eral good, and willingly give their support to all worthy causes. They are numbered among the county's most valuable citizens.

J. L. L. Stephens was bom in Boone County, Kentucky, in 1836. He is the son of Hiram and Harriet Stephens. Benjamin Stevens, Sr., grandfather of Hiram Stephens, was born in North Carolina. Benjamin Stephens, Jr., son of Benjamin Stephens, Sr., was born in Orange County, Virginia, in 1778. Benjamin Stephens, Jr., and Agnes Nelson were united in marriage in 1799 and to this union was born Hiram, father of the sub¬ ject of this review. Benjamin Stephens, Jr., died in Cass County, Mis¬ souri, in 1855. Hiram and Harriet Stephens were the parents of six children: J. L. L., subject of this review; Mrs. Mary A. Griffith, Jose¬ phine, Mrs. Stephus; Mrs. Louisiana Fudge; Benjamin F. ; and Hetha Ann. In 1843 Hiram and Harriet Stephens brought their family to Cass County, Missouri. Hiram Stephens entered and bought land until he was owner of several hundred acres. For many years he was county assessor and for his services received thirty dollars. As justice of the peace Hiram Stephens performed many marriage ceremonies and received as fees anything from a "coon" skin to a pet fawn. He was widely known and universally esteemed and he and Mrs. Stephens were mourned by a host of friends. He departed this life in 1875, and one year later Mrs. Ste¬ phens, a noble-hearted, pure-minded woman, who had ever been a de¬ voted wife and mother, joined her husband.

J. L. L. Stephens was a lad seven years of age when he came to Cass County with his parents, in 1843, and vividly recalls the condition of the country at that time. In his boyhood days this county was very sparsely settled. Wild game abounded and he often hunted deer, wild turkeys and prairie chickens. He borrowed a gun from Judge Glenn's father with which to kill his first prairie chickens and killed three the first shot. He has killed deer and wolves but a few yards from his home and wild turkeys in his own yard. Mr. Stephens has seen as many as thirty-two deer in a single herd in Cass County. There were many wild hogs in the forests. The first home which J. L. L. Stephens' father owned was a log house, which he himself built. It had but one door and no windows, except a hole cut in the wall by the side of the stick chim¬ ney. They obtained flour in Independence and relied upon wild game to furnish meat. Mr. Stephens has fought many prairie fires and it was after many disastrous, personal experiences that he learned how to burn fire guards.

In 1870 J. L. L. Stephens and Mary E. Scott, daughter of William R. and Lucy Scott, of Boone County, Kentucky, were united in marriage. To this union have been born two children: Mrs. lone Mosby and James H.

In due course of time, Mr. Stephens began to prosper and was owner of one of the best farms in the county. In 1903 he sold his farm and purchased a home in Everett, where he and his noble wife are quietly spending their declining years surrounded by a host of friends. J. L. L. Stephens, in addition to being an honored and beloved pioneer of Cass County, is a writer. An interesting reminiscence of his early experiences appears elsewhere in this volume.

Frank F. Taylor, a prominent farmer and stockman of Grand River township, belongs to a prominent pioneer family of Cass County. He is a son of S. V. and Sarah (Murphy) Taylor. S. D. Taylor was born in Maryland and reared to manhood in Virginia. When the Civil War broke out he cast his lot with the lost cause and at the outset of the war organized a company, but owing to some misunderstanding or dis- agreement, his company never entered the service as a separate organi¬ zation. However, Mr. Taylor enlisted in the Confederate service and served in Stonewall Jackson's Brigade about two years, when he entered Rossiter's Cavalry. During the course of his military career, S. D. Tay¬ lor participated in many important engagements, including the battle of Bull Run, Gettysburg, Cold Harbor, the seven days' fight in the Wild¬ erness, and a number other battles of lesser importance, and numerous skirmishes. He was severely wounded at the battle of Gettysburg by a musket ball striking him on the left shoulder, passing through his throat and out through his right cheek, breaking his jaw bone. On one occa¬ sion his horse was shot from under him. At one time he was taken pris¬ oner by the Federals, but shortly afterwards exchanged.

At the close of the war S. D. Taylor returned to his Virginia home and in 1868 came to Missouri and located in Cass County. Here he en¬ gaged in farming and stock raising and became very well-to-do. He was a progressive and public spirited citizen and wielded an influence for the betterment and upbuilding of the community. He was highly educated and a man of unusual ability, and at all times stood ready to devote his time and talent to any cause in which he believed. He was twice married, his first wife being Sallie Pankake, and to that union were born the fol¬ lowing children; John, was a physician and is now deceased; Isaac D. Harrisonville, Missouri; Charles, present address unknown; Russell, Harrisonville, Missouri; Susie, married Leroy Creegher, and now resides at Lenexa, Kansas. The mother of these children died in 1861, and Mr. Taylor married Miss Sarah Murphy, and to this union were born the following children: Frank F., the subject of this sketch; Harry, Free¬ man, Missouri; and one child, who is deceased. S. D. Taylor, the father, died September 1, 1911.

Frank F. Taylor was reared to manhood in Cass County and re¬ ceived his education in the public schools. He has always made farm¬ ing and stock raising his principal occupation and is one of Cass County's successful agriculturists. He now operates about three hundred acres of land and is extensively interested in stock raising.

In 1894 Frank F. Taylor was united in marriage with Miss Mary L. Endicott, a daughter of S. A. Endicott, a sketch of whom appears in this volume. To Mr. and Mrs. Taylor have been bom two daughters: Sarah Beulah, married Charles Anderson, and Ida May, married Earl Roberts. The Taylor family are well known in Cass County, and highly respected.

Walter R. Brown, a native son of Cass County, is a descendant of a prominent pioneer family of this section. He was born near Harrisonville, Missouri, in 1853, and is a son of Robert A. and Mary J. (Gillenwaters) Brown, both natives of Tennessee. Robert A. Brown was a son of General John Brown, who served as a Colonel in the Creek Indian War, and was later made brigadier-general of the Tennessee militia.

Robert A. Brown and his wife came to Cass County, Missouri, in 1842. He bought government lands and at the time of his death owned several hundred acres. He was a large slave owner and when the Civil War broke out he had about fifty slaves. In addition to his farming operations he built a grist mill, which he owned and operated for a number of years, as he also did a sawmill. During the latter part of his life Robert A. Brown was extensively engaged in handling stock, and he was also interested in the real estate business at Harrisonville.

To Robert A. Brown and wife were born seven children, the follow¬ ing of whom are now living: Robert A., Jr., Harrisonville, Missouri; Elizabeth, married H. Clay Daniel, Columbia, Tennessee; S. E., Harrison¬ ville, Missouri, and Walter R., the subject of this sketch. The father died in 1888, at the age of eighty-two years, and the mother passed away the following year.

Walter R. Brown was educated in the public schools of Cass County and the Missouri University at Columbia, and immediately upon leaving college turned his attention to farming and stock raising and has met with uniform success in his undertakings. He is known as one of the leading stock breeders of Cass County. For a number of years he was interested in Shorthorn cattle and later became an extensive breeder of horses. He bred and raised German coach and Kentucky saddle horses, and at one time owned "Nut Greger", the famous trotting stal¬ lion. Mr. Brown's farm consists of one hundred eighty acres of some of Cass County's best land. His place is located a short distance north of Harrisonville, on the Kansas City pike, and is one of the attractive places of Cass County.

Mr. Brown was united in marriage in 1882 with Miss Maggie Lisle, the only child of Judge J. D. Lisle, who was judge of the probate court of Cass County for eight years. To Mr. and Mrs. Brown have been born three children, as follows: Mrs. Glessie V. Cockell, Platt City, Mis¬ souri; Joseph L., Gainesville, Texas; and Margaret R., Harrisonville, Mis¬

Mrs. Walter R. Brown has won a reputation as being one of the leading and successful chicken raisers of Cass County. She raises thoroughbred Single Comb Rhode Island Red chickens on a large scale. Her fame in the poultry industry has become state-wide and at the an¬ nual Kansas City Poultry Show, held in Convention Hall, January 15-20, 1917, Mrs. Brown had a number of her fine chickens on exhibition and captured several premiums. Mrs. Brown not only invariably carries off the blue ribbons at the various poultry shows, but is making a financial success of the thoroughbred poultry industry. She sells eggs for hatch¬ ing purposes in several states of the Union, from which she realizes handsome profits.

E. M. Houston, of Archie, Missouri, is a native of Cass County, and belongs to a pioneer family of this section. He was born in 1871, and is a son of William T. and Susan C. Houston. William T. Houston was a native of Kentucky and a son of Isaac Houston, who migrated from Ken¬ tucky to Illinois in 1830. In 1867 William T. Houston came to Cass County, Missouri, and located near Eight Mile. He bought two hundred acres of land and hauled the lumber from Pleasant Hill, a distance of twenty miles, with which to build his house. He used oxen for a num¬ ber of years after coming here and hauled the above mentioned lumber and also broke prairie with oxen. He was of the progressive type and was a successful farmer and stock raiser and dealt extensively in stock. While he succeeded in later life, when he first settled in Cass County, he found no royal road to wealth before him. He met with the various ups and downs of pioneer life, but succeeded in overcoming dif¬ ficulties. He passed through the lean, dry years of the early days, and like the other settlers, met with considerable loss from grasshoppers and other causes of crop failures. After a successful career, he died in 1907, his wife having passed away in 1866. They were the parents of five boys, four of whom are living, as follows: Ed G., Twin Falls, Idaho; C. C., Elgin, Kansas; E. M., the subject of this sketch; and Frank S., Phoenix, Arizona.

E. M. Houston was reared on his father's farm and in early life engaged in farming for himself. He raised cattle and soon became quite an extensive feeder, and was successfully engaged in that line of enter- prise until 1905. He then engaged in the livery business at Archie, which occupied his attention for two years, when he engaged in shipping hay, until 1909. He then entered the real estate business, and in 1912 acquired an interest in an undertaking business and is now devoting him¬ self principally to that business, although he still carries on his real estate business and has successfully managed many important real estate transactions.

Mr. Houston was married in 1893 to Miss Effie McDonnell, and to this union four children have been born, as follows: Merl Keefer, Okla¬ homa; Maxine, Ardis, and Constance, who reside at home.

Mr. Houston is one of the progressive and public spirited citizens of Cass County. He owns a fine farm of three hundred and twenty acres of land in western Kansas. He is secretary of the Cass County High¬ way Commissioners, and is a strong advocate of better roads, and has always been an ardent supporter of good schools.

E. W. Longwell, the present well-known postmaster of Archie, has spent forty-seven years of his life in Cass County. He was born in Delaware County, Ohio, in 1853, a son of James and Sarah Jane (Potter) Longwell. James Longwell was a son of Ezekiel Longwell, who was a Kentuckian, who, at an early day removed to Ohio, where he followed farming. The Longwells are of French descent. Sarah Jane Potter, mother of E. W. Longwell, was a daughter of Gilbert Potter, a native of Pennsylvania. James Longwell came to Missouri in 1870, locating near Everett, Cass County, where he purchased five hundred acres of land. He was a successful farmer throughout his career. He was a man of retiring disposition and of the type who make many friends. He died in 1912. His wife preceded him in death a number of years. She died in 1868. They were the parents of three children, two of whom are now living, as follows: E. W., the subject of this sketch; and Elmer E., Osawatomie, Kansas.

E. W. Longwell was educated in the public schools of Cass County, and also took a commercial course in the Kansas City Business College. In 1873 he began teaching school, his first school being near Everett, and the one which he, when a boy, had attended. He was engaged in teaching during the winter months for ten years, and followed farming in the summer seasons, working on the home place with his father. In 1876 he purchased one hundred acres of land and later inherited part of his father's estate, and was successfully engaged in farming and stock raising for a number of years. In 1901 he moved to Harrisonville to give his children the advantages of better schooling. In 1903 he went to Archie and engaged in the general mercantile business, which he con¬ ducted until 1908, when he disposed of his stock of goods and practically retired from the commercial field of enterprise. In 1915 he was ap¬ pointed postmaster at Archie and since that time has faithfully and efficiently discharged the duties of that office. He is an obliging public official, and has handled this important branch of the public service in a way that has met with the general approval of the many patrons of the Archie office.

Mr. Longwell was married in 1874 to Miss Mary E. Hamilton, a daughter of Robert and Jemima Hamilton, of Virginia, who removed to Ohio in 1868. To Mr. and Mrs. Longwell have been born four chil¬ dren, as follows: Charles A., Kansas City, Missouri; Mrs. Carrie E. George, Topeka, Kansas; Edith M., at home; and E. Cliffton, Amorett, Missouri.

When the Longwell family settled in Cass County this section of the country was sparsely settled and very few improvements of a sub¬ stantial nature had been made. Wild game, including deer and prairie chickens were plentiful. When a boy Mr. Longwell has shot prairie chickens on the roof of his father's house. Pleasant Hill was the near¬ est railroad station and most of the supplies were hauled from that point. When Mr. Longwell came to Cass County he came by rail as far as Pleasant Hill, and from there to Harrisonville by stage. When the Longwells settled here the nearest improved farm south of their place was six miles' distant. His first school teacher was Miss Nettie Schumaker. Mr. Longwell remembers among the early preachers, Rev. P. H. Evans and Rev. J. K. Lacy. Mr. Longwell recalls many of the trials and troubles of the pioneers, as well as their pastimes and amusements. He has seen a number of prairie fires, which were one of the greatest menaces known to the early pioneers. In the spring of 1875 his brother, who was plowing, found the dry prairie grass too thick to turn under easily, so he set fire to a small patch which he was plowing and thus started a great prairie fire which swept the country for miles around.

Mr. Longwell has always taken a keen interest in local politics and has served as collector and justice of the peace of Everett township. He is a member of the Baptist church, and has been a deacon since 1879. At the present time he is clerk of the Baptist church at Archie.

E. L. Schuyler, the present postmaster of Austin, is a native of Cass County, whose parents settled here over fifty years ago. He is a son of E. W. and Carrie C. (McDonnell) Schuyler, both descendants of Ca¬ nadian ancestry. They came to Cass County in 1866, settling on a farm two miles northeast of Austin, where the father bought eighty acres of land. He followed farming for a time, but later worked at the paint¬ ers' trade, and spent the remainder of his life in that vicinity. He died in 1905, and the mother makes her home with E. L., the subject of this sketch. She is past eighty years old and is active both physically and mentally for one of her advanced years.

E. L. Schuyler received a public school education, and has prac¬ tically made his own way in the world since he was ten years old. When a boy he worked for twenty-five cents per day, and at an early age began to speculate in a small way with his meager earnings. He remembers his first investment - a hog, which he sold at a profit. When he was about fifteen years old he went to work in Anthony's store at Austin, and remained there for seven years. He then went to Oklahoma, where he remained for some months, and upon his return he entered the em¬ ploy of the Missouri Pacific Railroad Company as a painter, with head¬ quarters at Osawatomie, Kansas, and remained in the employ of that company for six years. He then returned to Austin and was engaged in the mercantile business for four years. In 1914 he entered the em¬ ploy of Moon Brothers, general merchants at that place, where he has since been employed. He was appointed postmaster of Austin in 1914, and conducts that office in connection with his duties in the store.

Mr. Schuyler was married in 1901 to Miss Alma A. Whitman, a daughter of G. F. and Nora Whitman, early settlers of Cass County. To Mr. and Mrs. Schuyler have been born two children, Walter F., and Howard A., both residing at home with their parents.

Mr. Schuyler remembers when much of the country in the vicinity of Austin was open prairie, and he herded cattle on this fenceless plain in the early day. His first teacher was E. B. Ursey, and he remembers Rev. Deane as being one of the first preachers to conduct services in that vicinity.

Mr. Schuyler is a Democrat and has always taken an active interest in political affairs. He has served as township assessor two terms, and was the first Democrat to be elected in Austin township for a period of eighteen years. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and for a number of years has been superintendent of the Sunday School. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and one of the progressive citizens of Austin township.

W. G. Ward, a Cass County pioneer, who is now a successful farmer and stockman of Everett township, is a native of Indiana. He was bom in 1849, and is a son of Matthew and Sarah (Blue) Ward. Matthew Ward was a son of Isaac Ward, a Pennsylvanian, and Sarah Blue was a native of Indiana and a daughter of Daniel Blue, a pioneer of that state, who settled in the wilderness of Indiana at a very early day.

W. G. Ward came to Missouri with his parents when he was about four years old, in 1853. The family first settled in Holt County, and in 1869 came to Cass County, where the father was successfully en¬ gaged in farming and stock raising. He and his wife are both deceased. They were the parents of one son, W. G., the subject of this sketch.