Cass County, Missouri - Biographical sketches, 1917 (part 1 of 15)

Biographical sketches

Judge Noah M. Givan. - In the death of Noah M. Givan, which occurred October 3, 1907, not only Cass County, but the state and nation lost a citizen of real worth who left his impress on many features of human affairs, both of a public and private nature. He was a man of broad acquaintance throughout the state and his friends and admirers were legion, among whom were many of the notable men of the West. He was a self-made man, and in early youth developed the strong traits of character and high ideals which characterized his entire career.

Noah M. Givan was born in Dearborn County, Indiana, December 1, 1840, a son of George Givan and Sabrina J. Hall. His father, George Givan, was a native of Maryland, born in Worcester County, December 1, 1816, and his grandfather, Joshua Givan, born July 2, 1788, and great grandfather were all natives of the same county in Maryland and descend¬ ants from Irish ancesters.

Noah M. Givan received a particularly careful education. He attended Franklin College for several terms and later matriculated at the Indiana State University, Bloomington, Indiana, where he was graduated July 3, 1862. He worked his way through college by teaching at inter¬ vals. Following his graduation from the university, he accepted the principalship of the graded schools at Lawrenceburg, Indiana, and held that position during the school year of 1862-1863. During the years 1864 and 1866 he was editor of the Lawrenceburg "Register". For three years he was school examiner for Dearborn County, and for two years served as deputy county treasurer, of that county.

In 1866, Judge Givan came to Missouri and located at Harrisonville. The following year he was editor of the Cass County "Herald", the first democratic newspaper published in Cass County after the Civil war. He then engaged in the practice of law at Harrisonville, continuing until 1877, and during that period formed several partnerships. He was first asso¬ ciated with E. P. West, under the firm name of West and Givan. Later Captain D. K. Hall entered the firm and the partnership became West, Hall and Givan; later Mr. West retired leaving the firm Hall and Givan. In 1877 Mr. Givan was elected judge of the Seventh Judicial District, and filled that office for nine years, a short term of three years and a long one of six. He was an able and conscientious judge, and while on the bench made an unusual record, in that very few of his decisions were reversed by the higher courts. About the time that he retired from the bench in 1886 he formed a partnership with a prominent St. Louis lawyer, Colonel Jay L. Torrey, and after spending about two years in St. Louis he returned to Harrisonville in 1900, and formed a partnership with Judge Allen Glenn, which continued until the time of Judge Givan's death. Shortly after this partnership was formed Judge Givan was elected Supreme Reporter of the Knights of Honor, an office outranked only by the presiding officer of that order, Supreme Dictator. He served in that capacity until his death. For a year or two after his election to that office he spent much of his time in Harrisonville, but the pressure of the business of his office and its numerous duties, made it necessary for his to spend the greater part of his time at St. Louis, the national head¬ quarters of the order, and he was residing temporarily in St. Louis in that connection at the time of his death.

Judge Givan was very prominent in the Masonic world, having taken al! the degrees in every one of its branches, both York and Scottish rites. He was grand master for two terms, and for many years, chairman of the laws committee of the grand lodge. He was president of the Masonic Home in St. Louis, and had held that office since its organization, but the one event which brought him the widest acquaintance in the fraternal world generally, was his position as president of the movement which erected the great temple of fraternity at the Worlds Fair in St. Louis. It was largely through his personality that this great enterprise was car¬ ried through without any friction and made the great success which it was. His Masonic career was the most notable in the state. He was made a Mason in Manchester Lodge No. 4 at Manchester, Indiana, when but a few days past the age of twrenty-one. In coming to Harrisonville, he arrived in time to become one of the charter members of Cass Lodge No. 147. Prior to 1883 he had filled the presiding offices in the blue lodge, chapter, council and commandery.

Notwithstanding Judge Gi van's crowded career as a lawyer, jurist, coupled with his manifold duties in the fraternal world, his tireless energy and unlimited ability led him in to the industrial and financial field of enterprise. He was one of the organizers of the Citizens National Bank of Harrisonville, serving as its president from its organization until his death. He was also one of the promoters and organizers of the Austin Inland Telephone Company.

No laudable enterprise ever made a demand upon him to which he did not respond with all the intensity of his vigorous capability. In 1900 he was appointed on the board of Curators of the Missouri State University, for a term of six years. After about five years service he resigned and was selected by the board as the attorney to look after the collections of the collateral inheritance tax.

Judge Givan was one of the most prominent Baptists in the State. He was elected moderator of the Blue River Baptist Association in 1892 and was chosen for the same office each succeeding year until his death. He was also president of the Blue River Missouri Board, a member of the State Missouri Board, vice president of the Central Baptist Publishing Company, and for many years a director in the Interdenominational Chil¬ dren's Home Finding Society of Missouri. For thirty years he was super¬ intendent of the local Baptist Sunday School.

On August 7, 1862, Judge Noah M. Givan was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth C. Jackson, a native of Dearborn County, Indiana. She is a daughter of John and Mabel (Garrigues) Jackson, the former a native of Orange County, New York, and the latter of New Jersey. They were early settlers in Dearborn County, Indiana. To Judge and Mrs. Givan were born four children, one of whom is living, Mabel, now the wife of Charles E. Allen, president of the Citizens National Bank of Harrison¬ ville, a sketch of whom appears in this volume. Mrs. Givan resides in her beautiful home on East Pearl Street and like her late husband is held in the highest esteem by all who know her, and it has been well said that Judge Givan was particularly blessed in having a wife and companion whose high culture, devotion and sympathy were a great aid and inspira¬ tion to him in his strenuous life.

No biographer can do justice to such a character as was Judge Givan. He was a man of large sympathies, easily touched by the misfortunes and sufferings of others. He could rejoice with those who were happy and weep with those who wept. His broad charity and friendship knew no creed nor party lines. His dominant trait of character was love - love for his family, for his church and for his fellow man, and this dominant trait, he manifested in no uncertain manner by the use he made of his time, talent and purse.

DeWitt Clinton Harnett, a prominent attorney of Cass County who has practiced his profession for thirty-four years in Harrisonville, is a native of Indiana. He was born in Johnson County, near Nineveh, June 9, 1850, and is the son of Ambrose D. and Saphrona (Riggs) Barnett. Ambrose D. Barnett was a native of Nicholas County, Kentucky, and re¬ moved to Indiana, with his parents in 1823, when he was fourteen years of age. He was the youngest of a large family and was a son of John Perry Barnett. John Perry Barnett was the youngest of a family of seventeen brothers, sixteen of whom served in the Revolutionary war, he having served in the capacity of fifer. He was born in 1762, and died in Indiana in 1829, about six years after having settled in that state, and during the latter part of his life drew a pension for his service in the Revolutionary war.

Ambrose D. Barnett, father of D. C. Barnett, was a versatile man, and followed various occupations with a reasonable degree of success during his career. He was a carpenter and cabinet maker and also prac¬ ticed law for a time, although he always owned a farm and devoted his later years to that vocation. During the Civil war he served as first lieutenant of a company of the Loyal Legion. He spent his life in Indiana and died May 20, 1885.

Saphrona Riggs, mother of D. C. Barnett, was a native of Livingston county, New York, and was born near Danville, and removed to Indiana with her parents in 1823, when she was six years old. They came down the Ohio river on a raft and landed at Lawrenceburg, Indiana, and struck out from that point and made a home in the wilderness. She was a daughter of Ransom and Sarah (Tremain) Riggs, the former a native of Connecticut and the latter of Massachusetts, and descendants of old New England stock, Mr. Barnett of this review being the tenth generation, in the direct line of descent from the founder of the Riggs family in America. His great great grandfather, Jeremiah Riggs, served in the Revolutionary War with the New England troops, and thus Mr. Barnett comes from Revolutionary stock on both the maternal and the paternal sides. The mother died November 15, 1911, aged ninety-five years.

D. C. Barnett was one of a family of nine children, five daughters and four sons, born to his parents, all of whom are living except one sister, and with the exception of D. C. reside in Indiana. The father was twice married, and to his first marriage were born four children. D. C. Barnett was reared in Johnson and Hamilton counties, Indiana, and re¬ ceived his preliminary and preparatory education in the public schools of Nineveh, Franklin College, Franklin, Indiana, and Butler College, Irv¬ ington, Indiana, Dr. Wiley being one of his instructors at the latter in¬ stitution. In 1871 he matriculated at the Indiana State University at Bloomington, where he was graduated in the class of 1875 with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. He then taught school for a time in the grade schools of Nineveh and was afterwards principal of the Knightstown and Franklin schools.

In 1883 Mr. Barnett came to Missouri and for a few months was at Kansas City, and on June 19th of lhat year settled in Harrisonville and engaged in the practice of law, having been admitted to the bar in In- - diana in 1878. Mr. Barnett has been successfully engaged in the practice of his profession since coming to Harrisonville. He is an able lawyer, both from the standpoint of his knowledge of the science of law, and in its appli¬ cation and as a trial lawyer. He has served four .terms as prosecuting attorney of Cass county and in that capacity, as representative of the state he stood for law enforcement without fear or favor. He has also served as city attorney of Harrisonville for two terms. Outside of his professional work, Mr. Barnett has perhaps taken a deeper interest in the public schools than in any other sphere of public concern. He has been identified with the administration of the public schools of Harrison¬ ville, practically since coming here. He taught in the public schools here one term and has also been instructor in the Normal courses here. For thirty years he has been secretary of the Harrisonville school board and for a great many years he has been a member of that body.

Mr. Barnett was united in marriage November 4, 1886, with Miss Ida Burney, a daughter of James A. Burney, a Cass county pioneer. To Mr. and Mrs. Barnett have been born five children as follows: Dudley Burney, member of the firm of Barnett and Plank, furniture dealers and undertakers, Harrisonville; Charles Clinton, who organized the Bank of West Line, Missouri, and died at the age of twenty-one years while cashier of that institution ; Mary E., married Ray Denham, Harrisonville ; Henry Leonard, died in 1899 at the age of four years ; and Margret Eliza¬ beth, a student in the Harrisonville high school.

Mr. Barnett is a Democrat and has ever been active in furthering the policies and principles of his party, and has served as secretary of the democratic central committee for a number of years. He is a mem¬ ber of the Knights of Pythias and at present is the Chancellor Commander of the local lodge. He is a member of the Christian church and Mrs. Barnett belongs to the Presbyterian church.

I>eslie M. Crouch, one of the able members of the Cass county Bar, who is successfully engaged in the practice of his profession at Harrisonville, is a native of Kentucky. He was born near Warsaw, Gallatin Coun¬ ty, December 28, 1872. His parents were Henry and Mary A. (Conelly) Crouch, the former a native of eastern Tennessee and the latter of Gal¬ latin county, Kentucky. The Crouch family is of English descent. Elijah Crouch, grandfather of Leslie M., was one of a family of eight brothers, whose father was a native of England. Seven of these brothers, one of whom was Elijah, settled in east Tennessee and Virginia, and one other brother located in Pennsylvania or New York, where he spent his life. In 1830 Elijah Crouch removed to Kentucky and spent the remainder of his life in that state. Henry Crouch, Leslie M/s father, was married in Gallatin county, Kentucky, where he spent his life as a farmer and stockman. However, when a young man he went to the Pacific coast in 1854 and spent eleven years in California and Oregon, returning to Kentucky in 1865. He died February 2, 1902, aged seventy-three years. His wife, Mary A. Conelly, was a daughter of Milton Conelly and came from an old Kentucky family of Scotch-Irish descent. Henry and Mary A. (Conelly) Crouch were the parents of three children, as follows: Mrs. Hattie C. Brown, Kansas City, Missouri; Leslie M., the subject of this sketch; and Stanley, Earlinger, Kentucky.

Leslie M. Crouch was reared in Gallatin county, Kentucky. He at¬ tended the public schools at Warsaw, Kentucky, and the Carrollton High School, graduating from that institution in the class of 1891. He then entered the Washington-Lee University, Lexington, Virginia, and was graduated in the class of 1894 with the degree of Bachelor of Law, and was admitted to the bar of Virginia the same ye&r. He then came to Cass county, and in January, 1895, was admitted to the bar in this state. For a time he was engaged in the practice at Pleasant Hill. In the fall of 1895 he removed to Belton, where he practiced law until elected Probate Judge in 1902, when he removed to Harrisonville. At the expiration of his first term he was re-elected in 1906, serving until 1910. Judge Crouch was then associated with C. W. Hight in the practice of law for about two years. In 1912 he engaged in the practice alone, and since that time he has confined himself to his law practice. Judge Crouch is a close student of the intricate problems of the law and possesses a well balanced legal mind.

On November 19, 1896, Judge Crouch was united in marriage with Miss Zada L. Pearson, a daughter of W. D. Pearson, one of the pioneer settlers of Harrisonville. Two children have been born to this union: Pearson, who was born March 31, 1898, and died March 3, 1902 ; and Leslie M., Jr., who was born August 23, 1902.

Judge Crouch is a democrat and a member of the Baptist church. His fraternal relations are with the Masonic lodge and the Modern Wood¬ men of America.

J. S. Brierly, a well known and successful lawyer of Harrisonville is a native of Missouri. He was born in Cooper County, January 9, 1860, and is a son of Henry A. and Lucretia (Bridges) Brierly, the former a native of Ireland and the latter of Morgan County, Missouri. Her par¬ ents were Kentuckians and very early settlers in Missouri. Henry A. Brierly was a railroad contractor about the time of the Civil War and was politics and at one time served in the State legislature from Morgan County. He came to Cass County in 1865 and located in Polk township where he followed farming and stock raising the remainder of his life. He was a successful business man and acquired about seven hundred acres of land in this county. He died in 1892, and his wife departed this life in 1912. They were the parents of six children as follows: J. S., the subject of this sketch; John B., a physician and surgeon at Gunn City, for a number of years died in 1914; Lucy L., married T. N. Haynes, Har¬ risonville; Henry, a physician and surgeon, engaged in the practice of his profession at Peculiar ; Edward, a farmer and stockman of Jackson County ; and Mary, married John Shawhan, a farmer and stockman in Jackson County.

When his parents removed to Cass County in 1865, J. S. Brierly was left with his grandparents in Morgan County, which was his home until 1870, when he joined his parents here. He received his education in the public schools, the State Normal School at Warrensburg, and the Missouri University at Columbia, and was graduated from the university in the class of 1886 with a degree of Bachelor of Laws. Mr. Brierly then came to Harrisonville and served as deputy clerk in the office of the circuit court about a year when he began the practice of law in Harrisonville, and since that time has devoted himself to his professional work. He has a large practice in Cass and surrounding counties, his practice extending to both the State and Federal courts. Mr. Brierly is a profound student of the law and a successful trial lawyer, whose resource seems to be inexhaustible in presenting his case.

Mr. Brierly was elected prosecuting attorney of Cass County in 1906 and re-elected to that office in 1908, and during the course of his career in that office won the reputation of being one of the most fearless and forceful prosecuting attorneys that Cass County ever had. When he took office Cass County had saloons, and Mr. Brierly prosecuted violators of the liquor law and gamblers, right and left. The first session of the grand jury which he conducted as prosecuting attorney, returned over a hundred indictments against saloon keepers, poolroom proprietors and gamblers, and netted Cass County over two thousand dollars in fines, above expenses of prosecution. A notable fact in connection with Mr. Brierly's adminis¬ tration of office of prosecuting attorney is that during his two terms in that office not a single indictment which he ever drew was quashed by the court. In view of the great number of criminal cases which he prosecuted this record is unusual and it is probable that it has been rarely, if ever equaled in the State. When he was a candidate for re-election, notwith¬ standing the fact that the liquor element fought him, he polled a larger vote than W. J. Bryan at that election in Cass County. When his second term of office expired a petition was presented to him signed by one thou¬ sand democrats of Cass County, requesting him to become a candidate for a third term, but he declined to make the race, having had enough of the life of a prosecutor to fully satisfy him, probably for all time. Dur¬ ing his first year in office he had one hundred and sixty convictions which still stands as a record breaker in this county. Mr. Brierly has served one term as city attorney for Harrisonville.

Mr. Brierly was married in 1891 to Miss Jessie Lowery, a native of Carlinville, Macoupin County, Illinois, who came to Cass County with her parents when a child. She is a daughter of Samuel and Isabella Lowery. The father is now deceased and the mother resides in Harrisonville. Mr. and Mrs. Brierly have no children.

Dr. Jacob S. Triplett, a prominent physician and surgeon of Harrisonville, has practiced his profession in Cass County for a quarter of a cen¬ tury. He was born at Union, Loudoun County, Virginia, December 2, 1865, and is a son of Thomas Mason and Vianna Reed (Silcott) Triplett, both natives of Farquier County, Virginia, and descendants of old Vir¬ ginia stock. He was a son of William and a Miss Silcott, and William Triplett was a son of Thomas Triplett. The father was a slave manager and a planter prior to the Civil War and his home was located in the Shenandoah Valley. He met with considerable property loss when Gen¬ eral Sheridan devastated that section.

In 1868, when Dr. Triplett was about three years old, the family removed to Missouri, settling in Pettis County, where the father was engaged in farming and stock raising and became well-to-do. The par¬ ents spent the remainder of their days in Pettis County. They were the parents of the following children: H. F., superintendent of schools at Beaumont, Texas, who at one time was city superintendent of the Harrisonville school and also served as superintendent of schools of Cass County and is now well known as the author of a text book on Civil government; John T., a farmer, Pettis County, Missouri; William A., farmer, Pettis County, and a member of the board of county judges, having been elected to that office in 1916; Dr. J. S., the subject of this sketch; Thomas Mason, Tulsa, Oklahoma ; Howard L., agent for the Missouri Pacific Railroad Com¬ pany at Woodston, Kansas, and Mrs. J. F. Charles, Washington, Indiana.

Dr. Triplett was reared on his father's farm in Blackwater township, Pettis County, and attended the Higgins district school. In the spring of 1884 he entered the State Normal School at Warrensburg, and was graduated from that institution in the spring of 1887. However, his course in the Normal School had been interrupted two or three times as he had taught a couple of terms of school in the meantime. After graduating he taught a term of school at Woodland District, Johnson County.

In the fall of 1888, Dr. Triplett entered the Medical Department of the University of Michigan and was graduated from that institution June 25, 1891, with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. After practicing in the vicinity of his old home in Pettis County about a year, he located at Har¬ rison ville in July, 1892, and has been successfully engaged in the practice there to the present time. He has never ceased to be a student of the (20) science of his great profession and has won the reputation for being one of the most capable and painstaking physicians and surgeons of Cass County, and in recent years has given special attention to surgery. In the spring of 1901, he took a post-graduate course at the Chicago Poly¬ clinic and took another course at that institution in the fall of 1902.

Dr. Triplett served as health officer of Cass County from 1904 to 1907 and was city physician of Harrisonville from 1902 to 1909. He was a charter member of the Cass County Medical Society and served as the secretary of that society from its organization November 6, 1902, until December, 1906. In 1905 he was a delegate from Cass County to the State Association. In 1908 he attended a meeting of the American Med¬ ical Association of Chicago and at that time took a course in Surgical Clinics in that city. Ilis office is located on the south side of the square, over Levi Smith's market. Prior to that he was located over Voile's bakery until July 29, 1909.

Dr. Triplett was united in marriage in 1899 to Miss Perle Bridges, a native of Cass County, born near East Lynne, a daughter of John C. Bridges, an early settler of Camp Branch township, now residing at El Dorado Springs. Dr. and Mrs. Triplett are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.

Andrew A. Whitsitt, one of the leading lawyers of Cass County, who on January 1, 1917, completed a term of six years as judge of the Seven¬ teenth Judicial District, is a native of Kentucky. Judge Whitsitt was born near Mount Sterling and is a son of W. D. and Ardena (Black) Whitsitt, both also natives of Kentucky and of Scotch origin.

Judge Whitsitt's parents came to Cass County in 1861 and settled near Harrisonville where the father engaged in farming. The father was a democrat and took an active interest in politics. He served as post¬ master of Pleasant Hill during President Cleveland's two administra¬ tions. Both he and his wife are now deceased and their remains are buried in the Pleasant Hill cemetery.

When a boy, Judge Whitsitt attended the district school in Cass County, the first one being the George Moore School House, which was named after Carrie Nation's father. Later Mr. Whitsitt attended a preparatory school at Russellville, Indiana, and also attended school at College Mound, Missouri. He then entered Depauw University at Greencastle, Indiana, where he was graduated with a degree of Bachelor of Science and received his diploma.

After completing his educational career, Judge Whitsitt read law and after being admitted to the bar began the practice of his profession at Harrisonville. He immediately built up a large practice and has always ranked as one of the able representatives of his profession in this section of the state. He served two terms as prosecuting attorney of Cass County and in 1911 was elected Judge of the Seventeenth Judicial District and during his experience of six years on the bench he has won a reputation as a judge who not only knew the law but was fair and fearless in its administration. At the close of his judicial term, Judge Whitsitt resumed the practice of law in Harrisonville.

On February 4, 1888, Judge Whitsitt was united in marriage with Miss Mary Tatum of Glasgow, Missouri, and to this union two children have been born: Odelle and Andrew B., students at Westminster Col¬ lege, Fulton, Missouri.

C. A. Burke, superintendent of schools of Cass County, ranks among the foremost educators of the state. He has had years of experience in educational work and has held many responsible positions, and in what¬ ever capacity he has served, the natural deduction would be that he was too big for the job as each position which he has held has carried with it a greater responsibility than the preceding one.

Mr. Burke was born at Center View, Johnson County, Missouri, Janu¬ ary 13, 1873, and is a son of Edward J. and Zantippe (Whitsett) Burke, both natives of Johnson County. Edward J. Burke is a son of William Burke, a native of Virginia, who was a pioneer settler of Cooper County, Missouri. He afterwards went to Saline County and later to Johnson County, where he died in 1895, at the age of eighty-four. He came to Missouri in 1832. Edward J. Burke now resides at Warrensburg, John¬ son County.

The WTiitsett family came from Kentucky and were also early set¬ tlers. Zantippe Whitsett's father was a pioneer Presbyterian preacher of Johnson County.

C. A. Burke is one of a family of four children born to his parents. The others are as follows: Lula, married Virgil Cox, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; George G., a farmer in Johnson County, Missouri, and Mrs. Etta Jacox, deceased. Mr. Burke was reared in Johnson County and edu- cateii in the public schools and the State Normal School at Warrensburg, Missouri. He began teaching in Johnson County, when he was eighteen years old, and after teaching two terms at the Ilepsidam school, he taught one year at Ovid, Missouri, and then three years at Center View. He then became principal of the Warrensburg grade school and held that posi¬ tion six years, when he became principal of the high school in that city and after holding that position one year, he became superintendent of the city schools of Butler, Missouri. After remaining there six years, he was appointed superintendent of the Harrisonville city schools and after hav¬ ing served in that capacity for three years and four months, he was appointed superintendent of schools of Cass County January 1, 1915, to fill out an unexpired term. On the following April he was elected to that office and his present term will expire in 1919.

Mr. Burke is a hard worker and keeps in close touch with the public school system of the county. He is an advanced educator and believes in substantial progress but is not a faddist and the schools of Cass County are making splendid progress under his administration. On August 2, 1898, Mr. Burke was united in marriage with Miss Mola Larrimer of Cen¬ ter View, Johnson County, Missouri, and two children have been born to this union, Frances A. and Charles, both students in the Harrisonville public schools.

Mr. Burke is a member of the Masonic lodge, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and a number of insurance fraternal orders. He and his wife are members of the Christian church and he is a democrat. He is a member of the State Teachers' Association and generally attends the meet¬ ings of that organization and takes an active interest in its work.

Bud Cox, recorder of Cass County, who by his courteous and oblig¬ ing manner is not only keeping his old friends but winning new ones every day, is a native of Kentucky. He was born near Cain Valley, Taylor County, Kentucky, January 30, 1871, and is a son of Archie and Lucy F. (Yates) Cox, both natives of Boyle County, Kentucky, and were born near Danville. The father was born December 21, 1828. His parents were Virginians, who settled in Kentucky at a very early date.

Archie Cox was reared to manhood in his native state and in 1884 came to Missouri and first settled in Carroll County and five years later came to Cass County, and settled on a farm near East Lynne, where he spent the remainder of his life. He made farming the chief occupation of his life, with the exception of four years during the Civil War when he served in the Confederate army under Gen. John Morgan. He was a hard working man, a good citizen and met with a reasonable degree of success. He died in Cass County, November 10, 1903, and his wife, who is now past eighty-four years of age, survives him and is exceptionally strong and healthy for one of her years. They were the parents of seven children, four of whom are living as follows: F. R., lives near Hardiman, Texas; J. H., Carroll County, Missouri; E. M., East Lynne, Missouri; and Bud, the subject of this sketch.

Bud Cox received a good education in the public schools of Kentucky and Missouri and began life as a farmer, and was successfully engaged in that vocation until he was elected county recorder in November, 1914. He is a democrat and since he has been a voter he has been active in the welfare of his party, and been identified with the democratic organization of Cass County. While on the farm he served as trustee of Camp Branch township, and has been a member of the Democratic County Central Com¬ mittee for four years.

Mr. Cox was married November 26, 1893, to Miss Clara V. Stair, a native of Cass County. She is a daughter of Jacob Stair, a native of Wisconsin, who was an early settler in this county. To Mr. and Mrs. Cox have been born three children as follows: Eula Frances; Earl and Mary Margaret, all students in the Harrisonville schools.

Mr. Cox is a member of the Masonic Lodge, Nonpareil No. 372, East Lynne, Missouri, and he and his family belong to the Christian church. He is a conscientious and capable public official and his practice as a pub¬ lic officer is an exemplification of the theory that public office is a public trust.

Lee Spicer. - In this age of municipal unrest when towns and cities are clamoring for a more efficient and economical administration of local government, it is refreshing and encouraging to find a town that seem¬ ingly has solved this great problem. Harrisonville has demonstrated that the remedy for a clean, honest and efficient city government is not to be found in homeopathic doses of municipal pills prescribed by doctors of political economy in the shape of this or that form of government, but rather in the character, force and ability of the man placed at the head of the city's affairs. Lee Spicer, whose name introduces this sketch, has been mayor of Harrisonville for eight years and during that time it has been one of the best governed cities in the country.

Mr. Spicer was born near Linkville, Platte County, Missouri. August 8, 1868, and is a son of Hiram A. and Sarah A. (Smith) Spicer. Hiram A. Spicer was born in Bourbon County, Kentucky, and his father was a native of Culpeper County, Virginia, who came to Missouri about 1832 and settled in Platte County. He was a farmer and spent his life in that county.

Lee Spicer is one of a family of five children as follows: Lee, the subject of this sketch; William, resides on the old homestead in Clay County; George, lives near Littleton, Colorado; Annie and Bess, reside on the old homestead in Clay County with their mother.

Mr. Spicer was educated in the public schools of Platte and Clay Counties and Butler Academy. In 1889 he entered the employ of the R. J. Hurley Lumber Company at Archie, Missouri, and one year later was transferred to Rich Hill and shortly after that to Amoret and in September, 1890, was made manager for that Company at Archie, Mis¬ souri. He served there in that capacity for fourteen years and on Febru¬ ary 1, 1904, was transferred to Kansas City, Missouri, as auditor for the company. He served in that capacity until October 1, 1904, when he came to Harrisonville as manager for that Company here and is still serv¬ ing in that capacity.

On October 7, 1891, Mr. Spicer was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth L. Hornberger of Butler, Missouri, a native of this state born at Sweet Springs. To Mr. and Mrs. Spicer have been born the following children: Angie, a teacher in the Kansas City public schools; Hurley Lee, with his father in the lumber business; Frances Marion; Harold Curtis and Elizabeth.

and is now serving his fourth consecutive term. When he became mayor, the city was ten thousand dollars in debt. Notwithstanding the fact that the city was voted dry six months before he took office, and thus a large source of revenue cut off, he succeeded in paying off the city's indebted¬ ness within five years without increasing taxes. During his incumbency in office the lighting system has been improved and a white-way installed which necessitated a slight raise in taxes, to meet this extra expenditure of six thousand dollars. When Mr. Spicer became mayor there was no system of keeping the city accounts in practice and he immediately proceeded to systematize the city's bookkeeping, and since his first administration began he has published a financial statement of the city's condition monthly, something that had never been practiced in Harrisonville before. These statements are numbered consecutively and the one at this writing, September, 1916, is number ninety.

Mr. Spicer is a democrat and since boyhood has been active in political affairs. He is chairman of the Cass County Democratic Central Commit¬ tee and has held that position for four years, and has been a member of the County Committee since he was a voter. He is a member of the Masonic Lodge and master of the Harrisonville Lodge No. 47 A. F. and A. M. He also holds membership in the Independent Order of Odd Fel¬ lows, Knights of Pythias and Modern Woodmen. He and his wife are members of the Christian church and he is secretary of the building com¬ mittee of the new church. He is one of the most progressive business men of Cass County.

Ludwig Oswald Kunze, a pioneer business man of Harrisonville, and Civil War veteran, died January 16, 1914. He was active in his business affairs until within a few years of his death. Mr. Kunze was born in Neustettin, Prussia, Germany, August 12, 1833, he was christened and reared in the Lutheran church. His father held an office in the capacity of tax collector under King Fredrick William IV. His parents both died when he was young, before he had reached his teens, leaving him in the care of a guardian. He had four brothers and two sisters. He was apprenticed to a watchmaker and learned the trade at Koslin. At the age of fifteen he went to Berlin where he accepted a responsible position with one of the leading firms of that city. Among his duties he was given charge of the time pieces in the King's palace, in the Cathedral and government building of Berlin. It was his thorough dislike for a mon- nrchial form of government, and his keen desire to live under a republican government that prompted his immigration to the United States. He came to this country in 1855 and resided in New York City for six months when he went to St. Ix>uis and remained there a little over a year when he went to Dubuque, Iowa. In December, 1857, he came to Ilarrisonville and here embarked in the watchmaking business and began to establish the jewelry business, which during the years that followed became a synonym for honesty, reliability and fair dealing.

In 1861, right at the breaking out of the Civil War, Mr. Kunze enlisted, soul and body with the "Lost Cause''. Walking from Harrison¬ ville to Springfield, Missouri, there he was mustered into Company B Sixth Missouri Regiment of the Confederate Army. June 2, 1862, he entered Company F, then in command of the late Captain J. M. Weidemyer of Clinton, Missouri, and in command of Colonel Francis M. Cock¬ rell. Among his comrades were George January of Freeman, E. H. Reed of Eight Mile, and Richard White of Harrisonville and also Fielding E. Bybee and Joseph Briscoe, both of whom are now deceased. Mr. Kunze was honorably discharged from the service by the United States as a prisoners of war June 1, 1865. Some years prior to his death the Daugh¬ ters of the Confederacy bestowed upon him the Southern Cross of Honor. A letter from Captain Weidemyer accompanied the cross, commending him as a fine soldier in every way worthy to wear the cross of honor.

After the war Mr. Kunze returned to Harrisonville and resumed his business which meant that he had to begin anew for all that he had, had been destroyed. When he first commenced business here it was in a small room on the corner where the Kunze building now stands, and dur¬ ing all these years the business has been conducted at the same place.

Mr. Kunze was married in 1869 to Miss Alice Price, only daughter of Silas and Mary Ellen Price, who were natives of Virginia, coming to Missouri in 1845. The father died years ago and the mother is now living near Harrisonville. The following children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Kunze: Mrs. Opal Burch, Harrisonville; Leota and Ludwig Oswald, Jr., a sketch of whom appears in this volume.

As a man and a citizen, Mr. Kunze applied to his life and his business the philosophy of never "crying over spilled milk". He was broad, liberal and generous. He was careful and considerate, weighing carefully and well the steps he was about to take and never thereafter worrying about what had been done. He left Germany because he did not like the form of government and came to the United States to become an American and an American he was, an ideal one. He was a good citizen, and a patriot in all that words define.

Ludwig Oswald Kunze, the "Trustworthy Jeweler" of Harrisonville, is a native of Cass County. He is a son of Ludwig Oswald Kunze, a sketch of whom appears in this volume, and was born in Harrisonville, August 13, 1881. The Kunze jewelry business bears the distinction of being the oldest business house in Cass County. It has been conducted under the same name and located at the same place since December 12, 1857, with the exception of the time that its founder, the senior Kunze, was in the army during the Civil War.

In addition to the jewelry business Mr. Kunze carries electrical sup¬ plies, musical instruments and queensware, and thus, as a mercantile institution the Kunze store is second to none in importance in Cass County. The straightforward method and honest representation has been followed in this store for two generations - sixty years - and to the people of Cass County the name Kunze has become synonymous with superiority.

L. 0. Kunze grew to manhood in Harrisonville and was educated in the public schools, graduating from the Harrisonville High School in the class of 1900. He was practically brought up in the jewelry business, learning the watchmaking trade in his father's store and at the death of his father, January 16, 1914, he continued with the business.

Mr. Kunze was united in marriage October 14, 1914, with Miss Perle Famuliner, a daughter of George W. Famuliner, a sketch of whom appears in this volume. To Mr. and Mrs. Kunze has been born one child, Georgia Rebecca.

C. F. Mayer, the capable and accommodating clerk of the Circuit Court of Cass County, is a native of Missouri. He was born in Jackson County, December 3, 1887, and is a son of Charles L. and Laura (Bolin) Mayer.

At the age of two years, C. F. Mayer was left an orphan and was reared from that age to manhood by Mr. and Mrs. John H. Phillips of Cass County, who insofar as rearing, educating and parental solicitude are concerned, have always been the best of parents to him.

Mr. Mayer was reared on a farm and attended the public schools and the Hnrrisonville High School, graduating from that institution in the cla s of 1901. fie then took a two years course in the Warrensburg Normay School, after which he was engaged in teaching for three years. In January, 1911, he was appointed deputy county clerk under County Clerk George P. Kimberlin. He held that position for four years and in Novem¬ ber, 1914, was elected clerk of the Circuit Court, taking office January 1, 1916.

Mr. Mayer is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Lodge Xo. 197, Harrison ville, and he and his wife are members of the Baptist church. He is a democrat and has supported the policies and principles of that party since casting his first vote. Mr. Mayer is an efficient and courteous public official and his frank and honest methods have justly won the confidence of the public.

Dr. W. M. Slaughter, a prominent osteopath of Harrisonville, is a native of Missouri. He was born at Hickman Mills, Jackson County, November 17, 1887, and is a son of O. V. and Elizabeth (Harvon) Slaughter, the former a native of Missouri and the latter of Indiana. 0. V. Slaughter was born at Hickman Mills and his parents were pioneers of Jackson County. He is an extensive stock man and owns one of the finest farms in Jackson County. He is also president of the Farmers Bank of Grand View, Missouri.

Dr. Slaughter is one of a family of eight children, all of whom are living as follows: Capt. Homer H., a graduate of the United States Mili¬ tary Academy at West Point and now professor of mathematics in that institution; Dr. W. M., the subject of this sketch; John M., a graduate of the University of Missouri, resides at home; Seth, a student at Drake University; Miner, a mechanical engineering student in the University of Missouri; Ruth, a student at Drake University; Stephen, a student in Ruskin High School and Eunice, a student in the grade schools at home.

Dr. Slaughter was educated in the public schools of Jackson County and Ruskin High School. He then took a course in the Los Angeles Uni¬ versity, Los Angeles, California, and then entered the Central College of Osteopathy, where he was graduated in the class of 1909. He then took a postgraduate course at the Los Angeles College of Osteopathy and also took a course in surgery. In 1912 he located at Harrisonville, Mis¬ souri, where he has built up a large practice, and has met with unusual success in his professional work. He is a member of the Missouri State Osteopathic Association and also the National Osteopathic Association. He is a democrat and a member of the Christian church. Dr. Slaughter ranks high in his profession and his genial and courteous manner has won many friends in Harrisonville and vicinity.

Elbert C. Austin, local manager for the Gwathmey Manufacturing Company at Harrisonville, Missouri, is one of the progressive and enter¬ prising young men of this locality, and especially well qualified for the technical mechanical work in which he is engaged. The Gwathmey Manu¬ facturing Company has a well equipped plant in Harrisonville, located between the Missouri Pacific and the Missouri, Kansas and Texas railway depots, on Independence Street. They are manufacturers of irrigating and high duty pumps and also special iron and brass castings. They began business in Harrisonville in 1908 and since that time have been uniformly running at about full capacity. They employ eighteen men, mostly skilled mechanics, molders and machinists. Their plant is a brick structure 150 x 40 feet and well equipped with all kinds of modern machinery adapted for their purposes. They have another plant located at Webb City, Missouri, which is the company headquarters. The plant at Harrisonville is being enlarged, so that they will employ thirty or forty men.

Elbert C. Austin was born in Shenandoah, Iowa, March 28, 1883, and is a son of U. A. and Eliza (Cameron) Austin, natives of Michigan. The mother is now deceased and the father resides at Independence, Missouri. They were the parents of seven children as follows: Lena, married W. H. Bartholomew, Independence, Missouri ; Bernice, married D. H. Crick, Independence, Missouri; Gertrude, married C. W. Clowe, Independence, Missouri; C. B. Austin, Gold Leaf, Oregon, where he is engaged in the mercantile business; Elbert C., the subject of this sketch; Frederick L., an employe of the Gwathmey Manufacturing Company, Harrisonville; and Arthur H., Marshalltown, Iowa.

When nineteen years of age Elbert C. Austin began an apprentice¬ ship at the molders' trade in the Crick Foundry at Independence, Mis¬ souri, and after completing his apprenticeship, he continued as an employe in that foundry until 1908, when he came to Harrisonville as assistant foreman in the Eagle Scale Company's factory here. When that com¬ pany was consolidated with the American Scale Company, they built a plant at Pleasant Hill and Mr. Austin was employed there for six months. He then came to Harrison ville as local manager for the Gwathmey Manu¬ facturing Company and has served in that capacity to the present time. He is a skilled mechanic and is gifted with the ability to manage and get results. He apparently has the cooperation of his employes and the con¬ fidence of both his employer and employes.

Mr. Austin was married June 1, 1912, to Miss Essie B. Aikin of Har¬ risonville, and they have one child, Elbert C., Jr. Mr. Austin is inde¬ pendent in his political views, believing in the necessity of honest and capable men in public office instead of promises of political parties. He is a member of the Latter-Day Saints church.

C. B. Newlee, the veteran merchant tailor of Harrison ville, has been in business in this city continuously under the same firm name longer than any other individual or firm in Harrisonville. Mr. Newlee is a native of Missouri and was born at Liberty, Clay County, May 27, 1850. He is a son of James and Ann Maria (Soper) Newlee. The father was born and reared in the Shenandoah Valley, Virginia, and came to Missouri, settling in Clay county when a young man. He was a brick mason and for several years was engaged in contracting and building at Liberty, and many of the buildings now standing in that town were erected by him. He also manufactured the brick which he used. His wife, Ann Maria Soper, was born in Kentucky and came to Missouri with her parents who located in Clay County when she was a child and the old Soper homestead is still intact in that county and the house is in a good state of preserva¬ tion. James Newlee and his wife are both deceased. Four of their chil¬ dren are now living, as follows: William, was in Old Mexico, when last heard from ; Nannie, widow of W. B. Carson, resides in Chicago, Illinois ; C. B., the subject of this sketch; and John, Los Angeles, California.

C. B. Newlee was reared and educated at Liberty, Missouri, and when a boy served an apprenticeship in a woolen factory there. After he learned the woolen maker's trade, he learned the tailor's trade and served a three and a half years' apprenticeship at that. He then managed a tailor shop for his uncle, C. A. Newlee, for a time at Liberty when he bought the business, which he conducted for a time, when he came to Harrisonville and engaged in the tailoring business here and since that time has continuously conducted a tailor shop. The first suit of clothes that he made after coming to Harrisonville was a wedding suit for Obe Harris and among his customers today, are many whose trade he has had ever since he established himself in business here, and among that number is the editor of this work.

Mr. Newlee was married to Miss Julia Turner of Clay County, Mis¬ souri, who died, leaving the following children: Walter Lee, Seattle, Washington; Tapp T., Jonesboro, Arkansas; Mabel, Harrisonville; Ruby, married T. H. Brous, El Dorado Springs, Missouri; and Lula, married A1 Pennelton, Cleveland, Missouri. Mr. Newlee's second wife bore the maiden name of Fannie Teegarden, a native of Clay County, Missouri.

Mr. Newlee is a charter member of Lodge No. 149, Knights of Pythias, and his political affiliations have always been with the democratic party. He is a member of the Baptist Church and is one of the substantial citizens of Cass County.

Capt. Daniel Kerns Hall, soldier, lawyer and capitalist, now deceased, was for a number of years a dominant factor in the affairs of Cass County. Captain Hall was born in Dearborn County, Indiana, September 5, 1833, and was a son of Daniel and Sabra (Knox) Hall, both of whom were natives of Maine. The mother died when Captain Hall was a child and he was reared by an older sister.

Captain Hall received his education in the public schools of Indiana and Franklin College, and when a young man read law in the office of Judge Porter at Monmouth, Illinois, and during the time that he was reading law, he also taught school to defray his expenses and was admitted the bar at Taylorville, Illinois. Shortly after that the Civil War broke out and he enlisted in Company G, Forty-first Illinois Infantry and was commissioned first lieutenant of his company. Captain Long who com¬ manded the company was killed in action and Lieutenant Hall was pro¬ moted to succeed him. He was with his regiment in many hard fought engagements and was with Sherman on his memorable march. After his term of enlistment of three years had expired he re-enlisted as a veteran volunteer and served until the close of the war. He was severely wounded while leading his company at the battle of Jackson, Mississippi, and after being wounded was taken prisoner. He was so severely injured that he was incapacitated for further active field service, and after being exchanged served with the army in other capacities than the active command of his company on the field, being in the commissary department.

At the dose of the war, Captain Hall returned to Monmouth, Illinois, where he was engaged in the practice of law, but a short time, and in 1866 came to Cass County and located at Pleasant Hill and engaged in the active practice of his profession and later came to Harrisonville. He invested extensively in land at an early day in this county and vicinity and in later years his own private business had developed to such an extent that it required most of his attention, and he was compelled to give up a large part of his law practice. At the time of his death, February 18, 1905, he was one of the largest land owners in Cass County. He was a Knights Ti mplar Mason and in politics was a democrat. He was a member of the Baptist church and for a great many years taught a Sunday school class. Captain Hall was a big-hearted, broad-minded, liberal man who was almost as free from prejudice as is possible for man to be. When he was in the army he was a soldier, and a good one ; when the war was over he was a citizen and forgot the animosities of strife. No matter under what flag Captain Hall's friend and neighbor had fought, he was still his friend and neighbor.

On March 17, 1867, Captain Hall and Miss Lucy Jane Hawley were united in marriage in Ripley County, Indiana. She was a daughter of E. S. and Eliza Porter (Stevenson) Hawley and a native of Ripley County, Indiana. Her father was a native of Connecticut and her mother of Ken¬ tucky. They spent their lives in Ripley County, Indiana. To Captain and Mrs. Hall were born the following children: Iza H., married A. R. Elder, Harrisonville; Charles Ripley, Harrisonville; Sabrah H. married Frank Runnenburger of Harrisonville and is now deceased ; May H., mar¬ ried R. R. Deacon, Harrisonville and Delmar K., Jr., Harrisonville.

Mrs. Hall is an estimable woman and resides in her comfortable home at Harrisonville; like her late husband she is a member of the Baptist church.

Isaac Van Camp, a successful farmer and stockman of Grand River township, is a Cass County pioneer. He was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1855 and is a son of John T. and Elizabeth (Reed) Van Camp, both natives of New Jersey but reared in Ohio, coming to that state with their respective parents when children. John T. Van Camp followed freighting and teaming in Ohio until 1866 when he removed to Rock Island County, Illinois. When he went to Rock Island County he and his family drove through, covering the entire distance with teams and wagons. They remained, in Illinois until 1868 when they came to Missouri and settled on a farm in Cass County, two miles east of Harrisonville. They made the trip from Illinois to Missouri by boat, coming down the Mississippi river as far as St. Louis and up the Missouri from that point. After locating in Cass County the father followed farming and stock raising and met with a reasonable degree of success for those times and conditions. He died December 13, 1889, and his wife died February 8, 1910, and their remains are buried in East Cemetery. They were the parents of the fol¬ lowing children: Isaac, the subject of this sketch; John, Marion, deceased ; Miner, farmer, Grand River township ; twins who died in infancy and Don, farmer and stockman, Grand River township.

Isaac Van Camp was about thirteen years old when he came to Cass County with his parents. He remained on the home farm with his father and attended the district school. The school which he attended was held in an old log school house which later became his property when he pur¬ chased the land upon which it stood, and it is a source of great satisfac¬ tion to Mr. Van Camp to own the old log school house. His teacher was Miss Carrie Stephens, now Mrs. Price who resides in Harrisonville. Mr. Van Camp has made farming and stock raising his life's occupation and has met with uniform success and is one of the well-to-do men of Cass County. His home farm consists of one hundred and forty-seven acres of well improved land with good buildings and is one of the well kept places of Grand River township.

Mr. Van Camp was married July 25, 1883, to Miss Mary Olive Whited, who was born in Indianapolis, Indiana. She is a daughter of John A. and Nancy Jane (Brady) Whited, natives of Indiana. They came to Missouri in 1868 and settled in Cass County near Harrisonville and spent the remainder of their lives in this county. The father died September 18, 1895, and the mother passed away January 17, 1886. To Mr. and Mrs. Van Camp have been born ten children, as follows : Susie, married Herb¬ ert Liggett, Harrisonville; John Franklin, deceased; Samuel Marion, Rosallie, Washington; Robert Verner, resides with his parents; Effie E., married Ray Perkins, Harrisonville; Jessie May, deceased; Nellie, married Leslie Easter, Rosallie, Washington; Ernest Isaac, deceased; Eloise, and Ralph.

Mr. Van Camp is a democrat and keeps well posted on political and current events. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen of the World, and he and Mrs. Van Camp belong to the Baptist church. Mr. Van Camp is a substantial citizen and has been well known to the editor of this work for many years and the Van Camp family are representatives of Cass County's best people.

Nathan E. Harrelson, now deceased, was a prominent pioneer busi¬ ness man of Cass County. He was born in Caswell County, North Caro¬ lina. January 10, 1807, and was a son of Jeremiah Harrelson. The greater part of his youth was spent in Kentucky. He came to Missouri with his father in 1831, and settled in Lafayette County and thence to Jackson County. After one year he returned to Lafayette County, improved some land which he had bought and then sold it to Rev. Finis Ewing. Coming again to Jackson County, he settled near Independence, purchased a farm on Round Grove Creek, raised one crop and soon engaged in the mercan¬ tile business at Pleasant Hill with W. W. Wright, in 1835. They were the first dry goods merchants in that place. While so engaged Mr. Harrelson assisted in organizing Cass County (then Van Buren County) and was at the first election. Previous to this, however, in 1834 he was employed by John Slayton, of Jackson County, to peddle with an ox team over these vast prairies, exchanging goods for stock and all kinds of furs and barter.

After continuing in business at Pleasant Hill for one year, Mr. Harrel¬ son disposed of his interest to his partner and purchased lands in Heart's Grove, Jackson County, improved a farm and traded it in a short time to the McCoy Brothers, of Independence for merchandise. He subse¬ quently bought the Younger Ferry and lands on the Missouri River in Jackson County, now the site of Randolph, and started a store. He remained there until 1845, organizing the town, selling town lots and did a large business. In 1845 he came to Cass County (then Van Buren) and settled near where Belton now stands and bought a large tract of land, made good improvements, built a residence and other buildings.

In 1849 Mr. Harrelson made the trip to the Pacific coast, "the land of gold", and remained there until the spring of 1851, when he returned with his anticipation fully realized. While in that country he was engaged in supplying the miners with merchandise and met with financial success. Upon his return home in 1852-3, he bought a saw- and flouring-mill in Kan¬ sas City in partnership with T. H. West. In a year or so he sold his inter¬ est to Mr. West, and in 1854 engaged in the freighting business to New Mexico for the government. Disposing of this business in 1855 to Messrs. Bartleson & Sons, he began dealing in and raising mules and stock and

Nathan E. Harrelson

During the Civil war Mr. Harrelson was a positive Union man, but lost his buildings and other property, then valued at $45,000. In the spring of 1863 he went to Colorado with a large herd of cattle and located the noted Cocheco Springs, where he had a large stock ranch and obtained Governor Evans' certificate for the same. After getting his stock well fixed, he again engaged in the freighting business for the government with his son, William, continuing it until 1866, but soon after he returned to Cass County and spent the remainder of his life here. He dealt exten¬ sively in mules and acquired several thousand acres of land in Missouri and Kansas.

Mr. Harrelson married Miss Maleta West September 1, 1831. She was the daughter of James West of Simpson County, Kentucky. They had five children, James W., deceased; William H. resides in California, and John B., of Belton, Missouri. They lost two daughters, Martha died in infancy and Amanda M. married James Allen, Esq., and died leaving two sons, William and Walter. Mrs. Harrelson died September 28, 1880, lamented by all who knew her.

Mr. Harrelson was a Democrat and an active member of the Baptist Church. He was one of Cass County's most successful men of affairs - and while he accumulated a fortune for his time, he was not a self-cen¬ tered money-maker. He was a broad gauged man who was deeply inter¬ ested in the welfare of his fellowmen and the community, and he perhaps did as much for the early development of Cass County as any one man who ever lived within its borders.

Mrs. James W. Harrelson is a Cass County pioneer and a native of Virginia. She bore the maiden name of Shelton, being a daughter of Henry W. and Sarah (Wilson) Shelton, also natives of Virginia and descendants from Colonial ancestry, of English descent. On the paternal side, Mrs. Harrelson is related to Patrick Henry. She was married to J. W. Harrelson in 1872. He was a son of Nathan E. Harrelson, a Cass County pioneer, who was the first dry goods merchant at Pleasant Hill, Missouri. He became a very well-to-do man for those days and in the course of his business career acquired extensive land holdings. A sketch of him appears in this volume.

Harrelson and his wife settled on a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Cass County. In addition to his farming and stock raising, in which he was considered very successful, he dealt extensively in mules and became one of the large land owners of Cass County.

Mr. Harrelson's business career brought him into contact with a great many people and he had a broad acquaintance and possessed the absolute confidence of his fellow man with whom he came into contact and had business relations. However, he was a man who made but few very intimate friends, although he had a great deal of confidence in his fellow men. He loved his home and made it a point to leave all business worries outside of the home life. He was indulgent to his family and never seemed happier than when with them. A few years prior to his death he removed to Belton in order that his children might have the advantages of a better school. He died in 1904.

To J. W. Harrelson and wife were born the following children: Dr. Nathan 0., Kansas City, Missouri; Mrs. Maleta Scott, Columbia, Missouri; Frank S., Belton, and Sarah, Mrs. Anna Green, Helen, Lena and Martha B., all residing at Belton. Mrs. Harrelson and two of her daughters reside near Belton. She is giving much thought to church work and is accom¬ plishing a great deal of good in the way of charity. She has charge of the Orphan's Home funds. The Harrelson family is prominent in the com¬ munity and one of the representative pioneer families of Cass County.

G. W. Sweitzer, a successful farmer and stockman of Grand River township, is one of the large land owners of Cass County. Mr. Sweitzer was born in Huntsville, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, January 13, 1855. He is a son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Ritesbacher) Sweitzer, the former a native of Germany and the latter of Alsace-Lorraine. The father came to this country when a boy and spent his life in Luzerne County, Pennsyl¬ vania. He served in a Pennsylvania regiment during the Civil War but never applied for a pension. He died at Plymouth, Pennsylvania, Decem¬ ber 15, 1886, and his widow now resides at that place. They were the parents of five children as follows: Julia, married Louis K. Derbey, Wilkesbarre, Pennsylvania; G. W., the subject of this sketch; Matilda, deceased; Elizabeth, married H. L. Whitman, Plymouth, Pennsylvania, and Theodore, Plymouth, Pennsylvania.

G. W. Sweitzer attended the public schools of Luzerne County and later entered the Wyoming Seminary at Kingston, Pennsylvania, where he was graduated in the class of 1877. The following year he came to

Missouri and spent about a year in this state and in Kansas. He then returned to Plymouth, Pennsylvania, and was engaged in the furniture business until 1885. He then came to Cass County, locating near Harrisonville where he has since been successfully engaged in farming and stock raising. His home place adjoins the city of Harrisonville on the south and he now owns over eight hundred acres of fine productive land all of which is well improved and very valuable property. He makes a specialty of Angus cattle and has met with uniform success in raising that breed. He says they are sure winners, and he ought to know, for he has had twenty-five years of profitable experience with that breed of cattle.

Mr. Sweitzer was married in 1885 to Miss Fannie R. Knight, who was born at Waverly, Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, and resided at Ply¬ mouth at the time of her marriage. She is a daughter of George B. and Lydia (McAlpine) Knight. The mother died January 7, 1867, and the father is now a traveling salesman in Pennsylvania, and despite the fact that he is past eighty-three years old he covers his territory regularly and is as active and energetic as most men of half his age. He is a Civil War veteran and served in a Pennsylvania cavalry regiment as first lieu¬ tenant during the Civil War. He now resides at West Pittston, Pennsyl¬ vania. Mrs. Sweitzer was one of a family of three children born to her parents. The other two are Burtis, who has been in Alaska since 1898 and Lulu M., Newton, Kansas.

To Mr. and Mrs. Sweitzer have been born four children as follows: Elizabeth, married Dr. Arthur L. Parks, Rome, Bradford County, Penn¬ sylvania ; Theodore, farmer, Peculiar township, Cass County ; Helen, graduate of the Harrisonville High School, class of 1911, and Joseph, a member of the class of 1918, Harrisonville High School.

Mr. Sweitzer is a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Modern Woodmen of America and is a democrat. Mrs. Sweitzer is prominent in club work and is a member of Friends in Council and president of the Har¬ risonville Library Association. The Sweitzer family are prominent in the community and have an extensive acquaintance and many friends.

J. J. Bratten, a Civil War veteran and early settler in Cass County, now living retired at Harrisonville, is a native of Indiana. He was born in Ripley County, May 2, 1845, and is a son of William and Martha (Rounds) Bratten, both natives of Maryland. They were very early set¬ tlers in Indiana, locating in that state when it was practically a wilderness.

They settled in Ripley County, where the father followed farming during the latter part of his life. He was a wheelwright in early life and made a great many spinning wheels, looms, etcetera, used by the early settlers. He enlisted for service in the Mexican War, but the company to which he belonged was never sent to the front. J. J. Bratten and George W. Oaklandon, Indiana, are the only surviving members of a family of seven children born to their parents.

Mr. Bratten grew to manhood in Ripley County, Indiana, and when he was a little past eighteen years old, he enlisted in the Seventh Indiana Cavalry and served with his regiment in Kentucky, Tennessee, and Louisi¬ ana, and as was the usual case in the cavalry service during the Civil War, he participated in a great many skirmishes as well as many important engagements. His command fought the Confederate forces under Gen¬ eral Forest on a number of occasions and were also in the Missouri cam¬ paigns against General Price, which took them into Arkansas. After the surrender of General Lee, Mr. Bratten served in Texas with his regi¬ ment until February 18, 1866, when he was mustered out of service at Austin, Texas. From there they marched to Galveston and went by boat to Cairo, Illinois, and by rail to Indianapolis, where Mr. Bratten was dis¬ charged. While he had some narrow escapes, during his period of mili¬ tary service, he was never wounded nor taken prisoner.

December 27, 1868, Mr. Bratten was united in marriage with Miss Dolie Gookins, a native of Ripley County, Indiana, bom near Delaware. She is a daughter of Orrin T. and Ann (Drane) Gookins. The father was a native of New York, and the mother was born in Ireland and came to this country with her parents wiien she was five years old. The Gookins family were early settlers in Indiana, where the mother died when Mrs. Bratten was five years old. Later the father married again, and in the eighties came to Missouri and after living at Warrensburg for a time, removed to Kansas City, where he and his wife died.

To Mr. and Mrs. Bratten have been born the following children: Erma, married J. A. Reeder, Salt Lake City; Clifford, resides on the home farm in Raymore township; Clarence, Salt Lake City; and Lilly, Daisy, Nellie and Lloyd, the last four mentioned being deceased.

Mr. Bratten came to Missouri with his family and located in Raymore township, where he followed general farming and stock raising and met with reasonable success, becoming one of the well-to-do men of Raymore township. He owns two hundred and forty acres of well improved land there, which is one of the best farms in Cass County. In September, 1903, he came to Harrisonville and since that time has been retired.

When Mr. and Mrs. Bratten came to Missouri they drove through from Indiana and were four weeks and five days on the road. Mr. Bratten is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic and frequently attends state and national reunions. He is a member of the Masonic lodge and has been a life long republican. He is one of Cass County's substantial citizens who has made good.

Both Mr. and Mrs. Bratten have been members of the Baptist church for many years and have been active in the work of the church. Mr. Bratten has been a deacon for several years and Mrs. Bratten taught Sun¬ day school at Coleman for ten years and she has had the satisfaction of living to see all her children members of the church. She was active in the Baptist Missionary Society and the Ladies Aid Society and was presi¬ dent of the Ladies Aid Society for several years while living at Coleman.

C. A. Brous, a prominent insurance man and real estate dealer of Harrisonville and also justice of the peace, is a native of Ohio. He was born in Brown County, January 11, 1851, and is a son of Louis W. and Catherine (Caley) Brous, both natives of Ohio. Louis W. Brous was a descendant of Virginia stock. His father, Frederick Brous, came from Virginia and settled in the vicinity of Hillsboro, Ohio, about 1790, and the house which he built on the old Brous homestead, near Hillsboro, Ohio, is still standing and in a good state of preservation, and the property is still owned by one of his descendants, Charles Heistein, a cousin of C. A. Brous. Catherine Caley was a daughter of George Caley, who came from Hagerstown, Maryland, and settled in Brown County, Ohio, at a very early date. He was a soldier in the War of 1812.

Louis W. Brous came to Missouri with his family in 1871, and located on Eight Mile Creek in Cass County, about seven miles southeast of Har¬ risonville. When he came here the family consisted of nineteen children and grand-children. The father was a farmer and spent the balance of his life in Cass County after coming here. He died in 1876 and his wife departed this life in 1898, at the age of seventy-three. They were the parents of fifteen children, two of whom died in Ohio, and the others are as follows: George F., lives in Barton County, Missouri; Ella, now the wife of Jacob Sanders, Hillsboro, Ohio; John W., died in Cass County in 1872; C. A., the subject of this sketch; Lutitia, deceased, was the wife of J. W. Rees, Winchester, Ohio ; B. F., Fresno, California ; James R., Womble,

Arkansas; Charles E.. Salmon City, Idaho; S. L., merchant, Ilarrisonville; Emma, married W. W. Duncan and lives near Ilarrisonville, Missouri; Thomas H., El Dorado Springs, Missouri; Elizabeth A., married C. Arner, Lame, Kansas; and Stella D., deceased.

C. A. Brous received his education in the public schools of Ohio and came to Cass County, Missouri, with his parents in 1871. He remained at home and cared for his mother on the home place until he was thirty. He then engaged in farming for himself until 1882, when he came to Harrisonville and was engaged in clerking about ten years. He served as deputy sheriff for twelve years and in the meantime was justice of the peace for six years. On March 1, 1910, when the new County Home was completed north of Ilarrisonville, he became superintendent of that insti¬ tution and served in that capacity until March 1, 1916, when he resigned and engaged in the fire insurance, real estate and collection business in Ilarrisonville and was elected justice of the peace in the spring of 1917.

Mr. Brous was married August 23, 1882, to Miss Ida M. Elder of Cass County, Missouri, and a native of Bedford County, Pennsylvania. To this union have been born three children: Bessie B., Iza M. and Hattie W. The youngest daughter is a student in the Harrisonville High School and the other two girls are graduates of that institution.

Capt. Amos S. Bradley, a Civil War veteran and prominent pioneer of Cass County, now deceased, was a native of Indiana and a descendant of old southern stock. Captain Bradley was born in Morgan County, Indi¬ ana, June 19, 1838, and was a son of William J. and Maggie (Prewitt) Bradley, both natives of Kentucky, the former of North Carolina parent¬ age. William J. Bradley and his wife spent most of their lives in Indiana and western Illinois.

Capt. Amos S. Bradley was reared in Indiana and in the early fifties went to Kansas and took up a farm of government land in one of the east¬ ern border counties of that state, which was then a territory. However, he came to Missouri prior to the war and settled in Cass County near Everett where he taught school, being one of the pioneer school teachers of that vicinity. He also followed farming in connection with teaching and owned about eighty acres of land in that locality.

the Civil War broke out he organized a company in 1861 which became officially known as Company I, Eleventh Missouri Infantry, which was attached to General Parsons brigade and General Sterling Price's division. Captain Bradley was a fearless and capable officer and distinguished him¬ self on many occasions for his bravery. He commanded his company in many important engagements and numerous skirmishes. He was at the battles of Pea Ridge, Elkhorn, Lonejack and was severely wounded at the battle of Helena, Arkansas.

At the close of the Civil War, Captain Bradley returned to Cass County and located in Grand River township on what is now known as the Bradley Brothers farm, and devoted the balance of his life to the peaceful pursuits of farming and stock raising, meeting with uniform success in his undertakings and at the time of his death, November 21, 1884, was considered very well to do for that time. In the early days he followed land surveying to quite an extent and later served a term as county sur¬ veyor of Cass County. He was a lifelong democrat and took a keen inter¬ est in political affairs. He was a member of the Masonic lodge and the Ancient Order of United Workmen.

Captain Bradley was married in Texas, September 13, 1865, to Miss Mary P. McKinney, a native of Cass County, born in Grand River town¬ ship just a short distance north of the present Bradley Brothers' home. She was a daughter of Nathan H. and Mary B. (Masterson) McKinney, natives of Danville, Kentucky, who were early settlers in Missouri. They came to Johnson County in 1836 and in 1838 came to Cass County, settling in the immediate vicinity of where the Bradley brothers now live. When the McKinney family settled here this section of the country was con¬ sidered well on the border of civilization. Indians were plentiful and many of them in an uncivilized state but the McKinney family never had any trouble with Indians as Mr. McKinney thoroughly understood the char¬ acter of the so called "Noble Red Man" and knew how to get along with him. Nathan H. McKinney made two trips to California and one trip to Santa Fe, New Mexico. He went to the Pacific coast during the gold excitement in 1849 returning by way of the Isthmus of Panama and made another trip later and returned by the overland route, bringing with him a number of cattle and considerable freight. He died in 1858, aged fortynine years and his wife died in 1900 at the age of eighty-six. They were the parents of eight children, the following of whom grew to maturity and are all now deceased : Americas, married Dr. G. H. Hansbrough ; a pioneer of this section who came from Kentucky; William H. ; Jane M., married

James M. Bills; Mary P., married Captain Bradley; Chloe C. was never married and Nathan H. married Lina B. Wells, who now resides at Vaca¬ ville, California, and he is deceased.

Captain Amos S. Bradley and wife were the parents of the following children: Mary, married Hezekiah Thomas, Pleasant Hill, and is now deceased; Amos S., of the firm of Bradley Bros.; Nathan M., of the firm of Bradley Bros.; William J., Winnamucca, Nevada; and Guilford H., Los Angeles, California. The firm of Bradley Bros., composed of Amos S. and Nathan M. Bradley, ranks among the leading farmers and stock raisers of Cass County. They carry on general farming on an extensive scale and have a splendid farm of five hundred acres, located four miles west of Harrison ville in Grand River towmship. They are very successful breed¬ ers of registered Shorthorn cattle. They are both democrats and Nathan M. is a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Central Protective Association. They are both unmarried. They are progressive young men and prominent in Cass County.

Runnenburger Brothers and Company, furniture dealers, undertakers and dealers in musical instruments, is one of the oldest mercantile estab¬ lishments in Harrisonville and has been conducted under the Runnenburger name for over half a century. This business was founded in 1866 by Francis Xavier Runnenburger, father of the present owners and pro¬ prietors, Frank E. and Turner A. Runnenburger.

Francis Xavier Runnenburger was a native of Germany, born in Neiweid, Germany, October 26, 1825. He came to America about 1855, and worked at his trade, which wras cabinet making, in Davenport, Iowa, for a time. He then came to Kansas City, where he was engaged in con¬ tracting for a few? years, and in 1859 came to Cass County, settling in Harrisonville. When the Civil War broke out and later when Order No. 11 was issued, he operated a grist mill in Harrisonville. In 1866 he engaged in the furniture and undertaking business in Harrisonville, his store being located on the south side of the square. Later he moved to North Indepen¬ dence street, where the present spacious business block was built, which is occupied by the Runnenburger business. They occupy a frontage of one hundred and forty-five feet and carry a complete line of furniture and ing children were born: George, died in childhood; Turner A., Frank E., and one died in infancy; and Gertrude, who married Luther Twyman, a former treasurer of Cass County, now residing in Carthage, Missouri.

Mr. Runnenburger was a democrat and during the Civil War his sympathies were with the South. He was a member of the Masonic lodge, and also held membership in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows: He was a successful business man and the demands of his business were always given his undivided attention, during the course of his career. He died February 17, 1890, and his widow now resides in Harrisonville.

Frank E. Runnenburger, son of Francis X. Runnenburger, was born in Harrisonville, July 11, 1870. He was reared in Harrisonville, and has practically spent his life in the furniture and undertaking business. Since his father's death in 1890, he and his brother Turner A. have conducted the business, and they are both of the modern progressive type of business men.

Frank E. Runnenburger was married October 1, 1894, to Miss Lilly Curry. She died March 6, 1895, and on June 24, 1901, Mr. Ruddenburger was united in marriage with Miss Sabra Hall, daughter of Captain D. K. Hall, a sketch of whom appears in this volume. Mrs. Runnenburger died March 14, 1913, leaving four children as follows: Ernest, Miriam, Emily and Eleanor, twins.

Mr. Runnenburger is a democrat and served as coroner of Cass County for twenty years. He is a Knights Templar Mason and a member of the Mystic Shrine. He also belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fel¬ lows, the Modern Woodmen of America, and holds membership in the Methodist Episcopal church, south.

Isora Sanford Palmer. - On November 21, 1835, Isora Sanford was born in Clark County, Kentucky. On February 5, 1852, she was married to Dr. Henry D. Palmer. This young couple came west, settling first at Westport, Jackson County, Missouri. About 1854 they removed to Cass County, lived part of the time in Harrisonville, most of the time on the doctor's farm, situate about three miles south of town, in Section 17-44-31. At the breaking out of the War of the Rebellion, Dr. Palmer and family moved, first to Kansas City, then to Clay County.

For forty years and more Mrs. Palmer's home was in Clay County. We clip from a notice of her death, which is so strikingly beautiful of not only her life work, but of so many pioneer wives, we beg to appro¬ priate it here: "She was a woman of delightful disposition, strong traits of character, and most genial and cheerful nature. Deeply devoted to her home, passionately interested in the welfare of her family, no wife or mother ever left a mure precious and loving memory. Her deep sense of grateful appreciation for every little act of kindness shown, or word of sympathy spoken, was a veritable benediction to all who knew her. While her heart had known its sorrows, and life, in the passing of the years, had brought disappointments, her sunny smile and cheerful greeting was truly a delight to her many friends." How true this is of so many pioneer wives. They were willing that all the glory and ap¬ plause should be given to their husbands, but they insisted upon sharing every hardship and privation with their husbands. We reflect; how many of these pioneer mothers, when their life's work is ended and they realized they had reached the "bar", proud of the helpmates they had been, their "ship of life touched the other shore - a haven of rest."

John Edwin Ryland, a modern progressive farmer and stockman of Grand River township, is a native son of Missouri and is a descendant of prominent pioneer families of Missouri on both his maternal and paternal sides. Mr. Ryland was born at Fayette, Missouri, in 1887, and is a son of I. P. and Elizabeth (Knickerbocker) Ryland, both natives of Missouri.

I. P. Ryland is now a prominent attorney in Kansas City, Missouri. He is a son of John E. Ryland, who at one time was a clerk of the Circuit Court of Cass County. John E. was a son of Judge John F. Ryland who, at an early day, was Circuit Judge of Cass County. He was a Virginian and came to Missouri from his native state in 1819 and located at Lexing¬ ton. The Rylands were early settlers in Virginia and a great many mem¬ bers of that family now live in that state.

Elizabeth Knickerbocker, mother of John Edwin Ryland, the subject of this sketch, is a daughter of Doctor and Elizabeth (Majors) Knicker¬ bocker. Dr. Knickerbocker was a surgeon in the Union army and was killed during the Civil War. His wife, Elizabeth Majors, was a daughter of Samuel C. Majors, a very early pioneer of Missouri. He laid out the town of Fayette, Missouri.

John Edwin Ryland is one of a family of four children born to his parents as follows: John Edwin, the subject of this sketch; Louise, mar¬ ried Harold S. Nicoll, Kansas City, Missouri; Jeannette, resides with her parents in Kansas City, Missouri; and Robert, a member of the law class of 1917 in the University of Virginia.

John Edwin Ryland was reared in Kansas City, Missouri, and attended the public schools and later attended the Wentworth Military Academy at Lexington, Missouri, and then took the agricultural course in the Uni¬ versity of Missouri at Columbia. In 1910, he bought one hundred and sixty acres of land, one-half mile east of Harrisonville and since that time has been successfully engaged in general farming and stock raising. He makes a specialty of Holstein cattle and Duroc Jersey hogs. He raises corn and grass more particularly than any other crop.

Mr. Ryland was united in marriage November 16, 1911, with Miss Sophia Hall, a native of Green Bay, Wisconsin. She is a daughter of Charles and Elizabeth (Lindsey) Hall, the former a native of London, England, and the latter of Wisconsin. The father, however, was reared in Wisconsin, his parents settling in that state when he was about two years old. Mr. and Mrs. Ryland have one child, John Edwin III.

Mr. Ryland is a democrat and belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church and Mrs. Ryland is a member of the Episcopal church. They are well known and prominent in the community.

Robert W. Adams, president of the Allen Banking Company, of Harrisonville, has been brought up in the banking business and is prob¬ ably one of the best posted men in the intricate problems of finance in this section of the state. Mr. Adams is a native of Cass County. He was born at Pleasant Hill, December 10, 1870, and is a son of Duston and Florence (Wilson) Adams, both natives of Cuba, Allegheny County, New York. The father came to Missouri shortly after the Civil War and engaged in the mercantile business at Pleasant Hill, and shortly after¬ wards became interested in banking and was connected with the Bank of Pleasant Hill, which was later bought out by the Citizens' Bank ,of Pleasant Hill. From Pleasant Hill he went to Macon, Missouri, and was engaged in the banking business there for four years, and in 1889, removed to Kansas City, Missouri, and is now a retired capitalist of that city.

R. W. Adams received his education in the public schools of Pleasant Hill and St. James Military Academy, Macon, Missouri, and at the age of seventeen he began his banking career as a bookkeeper in the Bank of Macon, Macon, Missouri. A few years later, when the bank of Kings¬ ville, at Kingsville, Missouri, was organized, he became its cashier and served in that capacity about five years. In 1894 he came to Harrison¬ ville, and organized the Cass County Bank and served as it cashier until

September, HHH). At that time the Allen Banking Company bought the Cass County Bank and Mr. Adams became cashier of the Allen Banking Company until December, IS 13, when he became president, and since that time he has capably filled that position.

Mr. Adams was married in 1901 to Nettie L. Beatty, of Ilarrisonvil'e. lie is a York Hite Mason and a member of the Mystic Shrine and the Legion of Honor, and he belongs to the Episcopal Church.

Although primarily a banker, Mr. Adams is interested in other com¬ mercial institutions, and is president of the Cass County Telephone Com¬ pany. He is public spirited and progressive, although at the same time possessing a safe degree of conservatism which is the safety valve of successful banking.

William P. F ranse, now deceased, was a Cass County pioneer who came to Missouri with his parents when he was a child. He was born in Lee County, Virginia, in 1837, a son of John and Maryann (Duff) Franse, both natives of Virginia, the former of German and the latter of English descent. The Franse family came to Missouri in 1837 when William P. was about six months old, and located in Jackson County. In 1839 they came to Cass County and settled in Grand River township, six miles south¬ west of Harrisonville. Their first home was a pioneer log cabin. They were among the very first settlers in this section and the father, John Franse, was prominently identified with the early development of Cass County. He served as justice of the peace for a number of years and was known as "Squire Franse". He and his wife spent the remainder of their lives where they first settled in Grand River township.

William P. Franse grew to manhood in Cass County and received his education in the pioneer public schools. When the Civil War broke out he enlisted in Capt. Amos S. Bradley's company, which was officially known as Company I, Eleventh Missouri Infantry, and served in the Confederate Army under General Price and Kirby Smith until the close of the war. He was a good soldier and won distinction on many a hard-fought battle field. At the close of the war he returned to his farm in Grand River township and spent the remainder of his life en¬ gaged principally in farming and stock raising and met with uniform success. He was a progressive man and a good citizen and was one of the well-to-do farmers and stockmen of Cass County. He was engaged in freighting for a time and in that capacity made two trips across the plains. He was a staunch democrat, although he never aspired to hold political office. He died April 17, 1913.

Mr. Franse was united in marriage April 19, 1874, to Miss Nancy Catherine Crosswhite. She was born in Campbell County, Tennessee, in Powell's Valley, and is a daughter of William L. and Elizabeth (Shown) Crosswhite, natives of Johnson County, Tennessee, the former of Eng¬ lish descent, and the latter of English and Scotch-Irish extraction. The Crosswhite family were early settlers' in Missouri, coming to this state in 1854, when Mrs. Franse was six years old. They drove through from Tennessee to Gentry County, Missouri, with ox teams and were fifty-two days enroute. There were twenty-one families who came at the same time, which formed quite a colony. In 1868, the Crosswhite family came to Cass County, where they resided about ten years, when they removed to Linn County, Kansas, settling near Parker. The father served in the Union Army, under General Sherman. The parents died at their home in Linn County.

To William P. Franse and wife were born the following children: Albert Sidney, traveling man, Kansas City, Missouri; Capitola, married Arthur Yohe, resides in Grand River township; John William, Tallaqua, Oklahoma; Harry G., A jo, Arizona; and Vernon Rufus, resides on the home farm with his mother.

By a former marriage, to Mary Salina Grimshaw, of Marion County, Missouri, there was born one child to Mr. Franse, Roberd Edmond Lee, who was in New Orleans, Louisiana, the last heard from. Mr. Franse's first wife died in 1873.

The Franse family are members of the Baptist Church, as was also Mr. Franse. They are one of the representative pioneer families of Cass County.

Robert Lansden Foster was born May 25, 1834, in Wilson County, Tennessee, and died at Harrisonville, Missouri, March 11, 1917. His life spanned the most interesting history of this country. He came of hardy pioneer stock. In early manhood he moved to Illinois with his parents. After a short stay there he removed to Missouri, settling near Chilhowee, in Johnson County.

In 1857 Mr. Foster married Mary Elizabeth Holloway, a daughter of a pioneer settler of Cass County, where he entered into mercantile business. From this date he was practically a resident of this county, although at times temporarily at other places for good reasons. From the date of this settlement among us he became closely identified with the history of the county. His first store was located where Will Clem- ments* hardware store now is. In a short period of time he formed a partnership with Frank Tucker in the drug business. This enterprise lasted but a short time, as the war being on, he lost everything. After the loss of this store property and the death of his partner, he removed to Illinois.

At the close of the war, Mr. Foster returned to Harrisonville, where he opened a grocery store. This he continued, part of the time by him¬ self, and part of the time in partnership with his father-in-law, Thomas Holloway. The store was located on the east side of the square, where the William G. Parsons store now is. In 1901 he retired from business, his son succeeding him. He remained a resident of Harrisonville to the day of his death.