Clay County, Missouri - Biographical sketches (1 of 4 so headed), 1885 (part 3 of 3)

Kentucky, where be was married, February 15, 1870, to Miss Margaret Sherley, a daughter of Elijah Sherley, of Jessamine county. Directly after his marriage Mr. Messick came to Missouri and located at Liberty, where he bought an interest in a hardware store already established. Five years later he bought the entire business and conducted it with unbroken and excellent success until February of last yenv, when he closed out to good advantage. He is now completing a large brick building in which to engage in the manufacture of carriages, and to carry on blacksmithing, repairing, etc. He also has a number of valuable properties at Liberty, and already is in comfortable circumstances. He is a mau of thorough-going energy, a good business manager, and doubtless will continue his heretofore successful career. Mr. Messick has been married twice. His first wife died in February of the year following their marriage. In August, 1873, he returned to Kentucky and was married to Miss Nannie S. Speares, a daughter of Lee Speares, deceased, late of Fayette county, that State. By his last marriage there are four children : John, Jr., Charles, George and Miranda. Mr. Messick's mother was a Miss Jennie Hawkins, of Kentucky, but originally of Virginia. She died in 1848. His father is now married to his third wife and resides in Indiana.

Thomas F. Messick

Mr. Messick has been a citizen of Chiy county and resident of Liberty for only about ten years, but such has been his enterprise and success as a business man, that for some years he has held a worthy place among the leading and useful citizens of Liberty in business and general affairs. He began life for himself when a youth as clerk in a mercantile house, and afterwards continued in that em[)loymeut for a period of about nine years, learning all the details of the business thoroughly. Not only that. But those habits of constant and close attention to business were formed and that knowledge of the fact was obtained that for one to succeed he must economize in every possible direction, which, together with good judgment, strict integrity and untiring industry, enabled him subsequently, when he came to engage in business on his own account, to make success an assured fact and to achieve it much sooner than would otherwise have been possible. Mr. Messick was partly reared in Indiana and came to Liberty in 1874. By this time, although he was a young man only about tweuty-fi.ve years of age, he had succeeded in accumulating some means, which, on coming here, he invested in a hardware store. He, therefore, became a partner with his brother, John Messick, and the firm of Messick & Bro. continued successfully in the iuirdware business until last spring, when Thomas F., the subject of this sketch, sold his interest in the store. They carried a very full line of shelf and heavy hardware and also a large stock of farm machinery, wagons, etc., and did a good business. Aside from this, Mr. Messick was most of the time dealing in real estate, Ijoth town i)roperty and farms. At

Liberty, he built some seven or eight residence properties, several of them very handsome places, and four of them he still owns. His homestead property at this place is one of the neatest and handsomest at Liberty, a picture of good taste, convenience and comfort. He also owns two good farms in the vicinity. In handling real estate, exchano'ing, bu3'ing, selling, etc., he has had even better success than in merchandising. Mr. Messick is now giving his entire time and attention to real estate. December 22, 1870, he was married to Miss Lennie Harrison, a daughter of M. C. Harrison, deceased, of Mont- , gomery county, Luliana. Mr. and Mrs. M. have four children, Harry, Emma, Mattie and Thomas. He and wife are members of the Christian Church, and Mr. M. is a prominent member of the Masonic order. He is also identified with the temperance cause and is an ardent believer in the doctrine of prohibition. He thinks that if it is right to sell whisky, sell it like hardware, dry goods, etc., are sold ; take awa}' all restrictions. If wrong, stop it. Mr. Messick has been a member of the town council at Liberty. He was born in Jessamine county, Kentucky, September 22, 1849. His parents, John and Margaret Messick, removed to Indiana when he was about thirteen years of age, settling in Montgomery county, where he was reared. He was by his father's second marriage and was the only child of that union. After his mother's death his father was again married. By each of his father's first and last marriages there was a numerous family of children.

Egbert Hugh Miller

Robert Hugh Miller was born in Richmond, Va., November 27, 182(i. His parents were John E. and Mary A. (Rogers) Miller. His father's family was of Scotch extraction. About the year 1832, his parents immigrated to Barren county, Ky., and, after residing there nearly six years, removed to Missouri and settled in Monroe county. Soon after he was sent to Columl)ia, Mo., to learn the printing business, and there entered tiie office of the CoJumhia Patriot, published by F. A. Hamilton, W. T. B. Sanford, Thomas Miller and James S. Rollins, all of whom ;u-e now dead except the latter. Before the expiration of his apprenticeship, the Patriot ceased to exist, and entering the office of the Missouri Statesman, also published in Columbia, he remained there some months.

In April, 1846, in connection with the late John B. Williams, of the Fulton Tfler/rap/i,he established the Liberty Trihunp,\n Liberty, Clay county. Mo., whither he immediately removed and there he has ever since made his home. The connection l)etween himself and Mr. Williams in the publication of the Tribune was terminated within a year after the first issue, and he became and has since remained the .«ole proprietor of that papei-. The Tribune, in its history, has had no suspension, and but one failure of issue, which occurred in September, 1861.

He w:is married June 28, 1848, to Miss Eniia F. Peters, daughter of the hite John R. Peters, of Clay count}', Mo. She died December 3, 1867, leaving four children. May 3, 1871, Mr. Miller married Miss Lulu Wilson, daughter of the late Hon. John Wilson, of Platte county. Mo.

His educational advantages were such as could be obtained in his youth in the common schools of the country, and this he supplemented by research and observation. From his earliest acquaintance with politics to the dissolution of the Whig party, he was an enthusiastic member of it. Since then he has l)een a member of the Democratic party and earnestl}' co-operates in the advocacy of its principles. He was reared and educated under the intluences of the Old School Presbyterian Church, and though not a communicant of any church, he retains a great respect and reverence for that grand and venerable body of Christians.

He has ever been an earnest advocate of all public enterprises inaugurated in Clay county - its railroads, schools, colleges, agricultural society, etc. - indeed, of all measures and conceptions whose purpose and tendency were to increase the wealth and social and moral well being of the people among whom he has so long lived.

Mr. Miller's characteristics are untiring industry, great tenacity of purpose, close adherence to approveil forms, customs and usages, conscientious attachment to truth and right, and steady, unflinching devotion to friends.

John J. Moore

Mr. Moore was born in Orange county, N. C, March 2, 1882. His father. Col. James Moore, was one of the prominent citizens of that county, and was colonel of militia and the founder of Mooresville, of which he was for many years postmaster. The mother, who was a Miss Margaret Robertson, was a lady of marked intelligence and of one of the best families in that part of the country. John J. Moore grew up in Orange county and remained at home until 184(3, when he came to Missouri and made his home in Clay county. Here he shortly enlisted for the Mexican War under Col. Doniphan, and was out until the close of the war. He then returned to Clay county and followed farming for a few years, at the expiration of which time he engaged in the livery business at Liberty. For several years preceding 1861 he served as deputy sheriff of the county, and then enlisted in the Confederate service under Gen. Price. The tirst two years of the war he served east of the Mississippi, and the rest of the time in the Trans-Mississippi department. He was a member of the Foi'ty-third Missouri infantry, and was with his regiment in all the engagements in which it took part. Returning after the war, he resumed the livery business and continued it with success up to 1872, when he was elected county collector. Two years later he was re-elected, and he was again re-elected in 1876, serving until March, 1879. Since the close of his last term Mr. Moore has been residing on the farm, which he owns, near Liberty, containing about 200 acres. In the summer of 1852 he was married to Miss Eliza, a daughter of John Lee, formerly of North Carolina. His wife was reaied in the same neighborhood as himself, but just across the line in Caswell county. They have two children: William E., in the dry goods business at Liberty, and Ruth, the wife of John W. Norton, Esq., an attorney at Kansas City, a son of Judge Norton of the Supreme Court. Mrs. Moore is a member of the M. E. Church South, and Mr. Moore is a member of the I. O. O. F.

Elisha A. Moore

During the war Mr. Moore was in the Union service, and did his full share of duty toward preserving the Uuiou, which both Southerners and the loyal people of the North are now glad, or profess to be, is an established fact. He was born in Andrew county. Mo., April 8, 1845, but was partly reared in Chiy county, this State, where his parents, William and Lucinda Moore, removed when Elisha A. was in infancy. His father was a native of South Carolina, and was a carpenter by trade. He came to Missouri when a young man. Mr. Jloore's mother was a daughter of Judge Elisha Cameron, of Clay county. In 1850 the father, William Moore, went on a trip to California, and died there about a year afterwards. When Elisha A. was about eight years of age his mother came back to Clay county, and here he grew to manhood. lu June, 1863, he enlisted in Co. B, Sixth Missouri cavalry. State militia, under Col. E. C. Catherwood. He served until the close of the war, and was honorably mustered out at St. Louis in 1865. He then came back to Clay county, but soon afterwards engaged in freighting across the plains, and followed that for several years, becoming wagonmaster of a train. Returjiing in 1868, he now made Clay county his home for a>)out a 3'ear. In June, 1869, he was married to Miss Mary C. Williams, of Jackson count}', a daughter of Samuel S. Williams, formerly of Fleming county, Ky., but now deceased. After his marriage Mr. Moore followed farming in Jacksou county for, about six years, and bought a farm there. But selling out at the expiration of that time he came back to this county and settled on his present place, which he had previously bought. He has a good place of 135 acres, well improved, including a fine orchard of 300 bearing trees. Mr. Moore is president of the district school board, and has been a school director nearh' ever since he came back to the county. Mrs. Moore is a member ot'the M. E. Church. They have four children: Mary Ellen, Arthur W., Walter H., and Charles C.

James W. Mosby

ject of the present sketch, however, conies of a Kentucky branch of the family. He was a son of Wade Mosby, a native of Woodford county, Kentucky. The father removed to Chiy county, Missouri, as early as 1824. He was a farmer by occupation and died here in 1857. The mother, who was a Miss Rebecca Shouse before her marriage, died in 1865. James W. Mosby was born October 1, 1836, and was reared in this county. He was brought up a farmer, and in 1860 was married to Miss Sue Riley, a daughter of Alfred M. Riley, an eai-ly settler of Clay county. The result of this union has been one child, Charles, who is now a j'outh, twenty-four years of age. Mr. and Mrs. M.'are members of the Christian Church. Mr. Mosby has a good farm of 320 acres, a half mile from Robinson's Station, on the H. & St. Jo. Railroad, and is comfortal)ly situated. He breeds and deals in short horn cattle and feeds cattle and hogs for the wholesale market; in fact, he is quite a stock dealer, and is satisfactorily successful. He has always taken quite an interest in schools and does much to keep up a high standard of efficiency in the schools of his vicinity.

Charles Mosby

Mr. Mosby is a son of James W'. Mosby and was born on his father's homestead in this county in October, 1861. He was reared on a farm and in 1881, at the age of twenty, or, rather in his twenty-first year, he was married to Miss Jennie Grooms, a daughter of Capt. John S. Grooms, an old and prominent citizen of this county. Mr. and Mrs. M. have two children, James F. and John G. Mr. Mosby was reared a fiirmer and stock-raiser and has continued in the calling to which he was brought up. He has a handsome farm of 300 acres, situated two miles and a half north of Liberty, which is substantially and comfortably improved. He makes a specialty of raising fine Polland-Angus cattle and has a handsome herd of that breed of stock. On several of his stock he has been awarded premiums at different fairs. At the head of his herd he has a fine bull, Byron, imported from Seotlan(^. Mr. Mosby also fattens a number of Ijeef cattle and quite a number of hogs each winter for the wholesale markets. He is a farmer of enterprise and a man of good education. He was educated at William Jewell College, and afterwards took a course at Jacksonville Business College. Mr. M. is one of the prominent young farmers of the county. He has excellent youngstock for sale at all times.

Mr. Newlee was born in Claitiorne county, Teim., at Cumberland Gap, December 22, 1853. His father, C. A. Newlee, was from Virginia, and made his home in Tennessee when a young man. Hewas there married to Miss Mary C. Huff, and in 1857 they removed to Missouri and located at Liberty. He was a merchant tailor by trade and followed that here for a number of j-ears. AYilliam H. was reared at Libertj'^ and educated at William Jewell College. At the age of nineteen he commenced learning the drug business under Mr. Huo'hes at this place and continued under him for six j^ears. In 1878 he became a member of the firm of Bradley & Newlee, dealers iu druo^s, and five years later he bought out Air. Bradley and has ever since continued the business alone. He carries a complete stock of drugs, medicines and all other goods of kindred lines and his trade is steadil}' growing. March 16, 1880, Mr. Newlee was married to Miss Clara Miller, a daughter of David S. Miller, deceased, one of theearh' settlers of this county. Mrs. Newlee was educated at the Clay Seminary. They have two children : Arthur Martin, and Charles Embree. Mrs. Newlee is a member of the Presbyterian Church.

Lance W. Newman

Mr. Newman is a young law3^er who is steadih^ and surely making his way to the front in his profession, and as a prominent and useful citizen. A man of thorough collegiate education, a close student of and well versed in the law, he at the same time has, to a more than ordinary degree, the natural attributes essential to a successful career at the bar and in public life. Favored with a strong, vigorous constitution, full of life and spirit, he is also a man of studious habits, and closely and diligently applies himself to whatever he has in hand. Gifted with an active, well balanced mind, and of sober, mature judgment on all questions coming under his consideration, smooth and graceful in his address, a pleasing and forcible speaker, a man of a high sense of honor, unquestioneil integrity and singular fairness and liberality, of a mind just and liberal, and generous of heart and character, he is very naturally highly esteemed l)y all who know him, and of much personal popularit}'. Air. Newman, like the representatives of most of the early families in this section of the State, descends from old Virginia ancestry. His fiither, Peyton Newman, was a native of the Old Dominion, but was reared in Kentucky, whither his parents removed when he was a mere bo}'. He grew up ill Boyd county, that State, but when a young man came to Missouri and located in Platte county, near the present town of Edgertou, where he bought land and improved a farm. That was as early as 1838, and he was one of the pioneer settlers of that county. There, a few years afterwards, he was married to Miss Susan, a daughter of Lance Woodward, an early settler of that county from Kentuck}', but originally from Stafford county, Va. He (Mr. Woodward) is still living on his farm in Platte county, and is now in his eighty-ninth year. His daughter, Mrs. Newman, was principally reared iu Madison count}', Ky., where she resided before coming to Missouri. Mr. Newman, Sr., is a successful farmer and stock-raiser of Platte county. Lance W. Newman, the subject of this sketch, was reared on his father's farm in Platte county, and in early youth attended the common schools of the vicinity. Afterward he matriculated at William Jewell College, and continuetl a student here until he was honorably graduated in the class of 1880. After his graduation young Newman was appointed clerk of the probate court of Clay county, and while discliai'ging the duties of that position he studied law under the tutorage of Maj. Samuel Hardwicke, whose sketch appears elsewhere. Two vears later, after a thorough course of preparatory study, he was admitted to the bar, in 1882. About this time he was appointed justice of the peace, and he held this position until he resigned it to accept his present ofSce, that of prosecuting attorney, to which he was elected in the fall of 1884. Meantime, in 1883, he had been elected city attorney of Liberty, and he discharged the duties of that office for one term. In the fall of 1884, as indicated above, he was a candidate for prosecuting attorney. He made the race in a free-for-all contest, and had two opponents, Messrs. James VV. Fraher and James L. Sheetz, both highly pf)pnlarand thoroughly capable young lawyers. The race was warmly but honorabl}^ and good-naturedly contested. Mr. Newman was successful by 103 plurality. Mr. N. entered upon his duties as prosecuting attorney in January, 1885. He will, unquestional)ly, make an able and successful, but, we believe, a just and not illiberal public prosecutor, one who will show good judgment and heart enough not to make his office an engine of inhumanity and injustice. Seeing to it that the laws are faithfully enforced, when their enforcement is necessary or can be made to accomplish any substantial good, he will doubtless, nevertheless, show mere}' that is due and proper :

Mr. Newman is not a married man ; but if the whisperings of the wind can be relied upon, he is already suppliant at the feet of the fair mistress of the heart, for mercy unto himself; and doubtless he who can win the suffrages of his fellow-citizens can win the heart and hand of one more tender and sympathetic than even the most sensitive of the sterner sex.

Darwin J. Nutter

Mr. Nutter was reared in this county, and received a more than average general education as he grew up. He had the benefit of two years' course at the Georgetown Collcg(>, of Kentucky. At the outbreak of the war, or rather in the fall of 18(51, he enlisted in the Confederate service, under Gen. Stein, and was out about eight months. While encamped in Arkansas the malaria of its swamps fastened upon him and thoroughly shattered his health. On that account he received an honorable discharge Thence returning home, where he remained a short time, he went W^est to Coloi^ido, both to eradicate the malaria from his system and to avoid the militia, who were as little to be endured as the malaria. Mr. Nutter was out there nearly four j'ears engaged in the stock business, but returned in 1865, and resumed forming in this county, to which he had been brought up. He has followed that occupation ever since and has made it a satisfactory success. He has a good farm of nearly 400 acres, five miles west of Liberty, and has his place well improved and well stocked. He moved into town several years ago for the purpose of educating his children, but still carries on his farm himself. He is now town counselor and on every hand is accounted one of the worthy, substantial citizens of' the place. September 1!), 1873, he was married to Miss Lucy Corbin, a daughter of the late Dr. Corbin, of Nicholas countv, Ky., who died there in 1853, just as he was preparing to remove to this State with his family. Mr. and Mrs. N. have four children : Theophilus, Warda, Gertie and Allie. Mr. Nutter, himself, was born in this county, November 5, 1841. He was a son of James and Elizabeth M. ( Adkins) Nutter, both from Kentucky, his father from Scott county. Thev came here in about 1838, and the father, a successful farmer, died in 1846.

James D. Oldham

Mr. Oldham, now in his seventy-fourth _vear, has been a resident of Clay county for many years, and is well known as one of the worthy and respected citizens of the county. By a lifetime of honest industry he has situated himself comfortably in life and has ample provision for old age. He has a good farm of 200 acres well stocked and fairly improved and his home is provided with every necessary sober comfort to be desired. He was born in Shelby county, Ky., January 2^, 1811, and was reared in his native county. His fatlier, James T. Oldham, came from Virginia, when a youth, with his parents and grew up in Scott county. At about the age of twenty 3'ears, he located in Shelljy county, where he was married to Miss Maggie R. Davis, in 1808. She was born and reared in Scott county, and her father's family was said to be the first family that settled iu that county. Mr. Oldliam, senior, died in 1824 in middle age. His wife survived until 1876. There were seven children in the family, all of whom lived to reach mature years. James D. Oldham, the subject of this sketch, after he grew up, was married in Scott county, Kentucky, November 14, 1836, to Miss Annie Neil!, daughter of Rodman and Mary Ncill. Thirteen years afterwards Mr. O. removed to Lawrence county, Lidiana, with his family, where he resided for iwent}' years. He then came to Clay county, and has made his home liere ever since. Farming and raising stock have been his regular pursuit, and in this he has been fairly successful. In 1877 Mr. Oldham had the misfortune to lose his good wife. Slie had borne him fifteen children, ten of whom are living: William, Baxter, John, Mary, August, Callie, Nevin, Nathaniel, Lee O. and Henry. James, Rodham, George, Nathan and Wari-en are deceased. Mrs. O. was an earnest member of the Prcsl)yteriau Cliiiicli, and Mr. Oldham has himself long been a member of that denomhiation, and takes a commendable interest in the welfare of the church and the cause of religion.

Cyeus Park

Mr. Park was born in Madison county, Ky., September 7, 1838, and was reared in his native county. His education was completed at the high school, sustained by private subscription and located on his father's farm. Young Park took a thorough course in the English branches, mathematics, and also obtained a good knowledge of Latin. He remained on the family homestead with his father engaged in farming and handling stock for some eight or ten years after he reached his majority. But on January 2, 1868, he was married to Miss Mary E. Cobb, a daughter of Jesse Cobb, of Estill county, Ky., and the same year he removed to Missouri. Mrs. Park was born November 4, 1843, and was educated in Lincoln county, Ky., and at Madison Female Institute, Richmond, Ky. Mr. and Mrs. Park are both members of the Christian Church. On coming to Missouri, Mr. Park located in Clay county and followed farming, being also all the time engaged in trading in stock. He now owns a neat homestead just inside the town limits of Liberty, and near the college building. He boughf this place in 1880, in order to be near the college, so as to educate his children. Mr. and Mrs. Park have had two children, Jessie E. and Marcus Tavlor ; the latter died Jtmuary 11, 1884, in his fourteenth year. He was a singularly bright and promising boy and greatl}' loved by all who knew him. The following notice of his death is taken from the Liljerty Tribune.

In Memory Of Marcus Taylor Park

Aged 13 years, 4 months and 15 days. Thus early hi life has passed away one who bid fair to live out the allotted time of man. But alas! "the grim monster Death " claims as his victims the young and tender boy as well as the feeble old man. So on the morning of January Uth, 1884, while the stars were paling their beautiful light before the great king of day, Taylor's spirit tooks its flight to the golden shores that lie beyond the dark valley of death. His voice no more to be heard on earth, will join the heavenly choir to sing the chorus of the song so sweetly sung to his memory - " God's children gathering home."

But Oh! how hard it was to give him up. Although for twenty long and weary weeks lie was the victim of disease and suffering, yet he never murmured or complained, always submissive to the wishes of fond and loving parents, who so faithfully aud tenderly watched over him to the last.

During his sickness he would often say: " Pa I'm so anxious to get well. I want to live to be a good and useful man." And liavint; known him from the day of his birth, I feel confident in saying that had his young life been spared, he would have been a noble Christian man - God's grandest work.

But such could not be ; for while deeply enshrined in the hearts of parents, friends, teachers and schoolmates, God in his faultless wisdom thought best to take his pure spirit to a better world, while kind friends laid to rest his little body beneath the beautiful flowers that decorated his casket, there to wait till the resurrection morn, when Taylor, in apura and spotless robe, will welcome his loved ones to the " Sweet by-andby." - A Friend.

Mr. Raymond was about 14 years of age when his parents removed to this county from NichoUis county, Ky. His father, Hon. John M. Raymond, was a pi-ominent citizen of that county, and had served in the Leo'islature of the State. Mr. R.'s mother was a Miss Sarah Griffith, from Harrison county, Ky. Her father had also served in ' the Legislature several terms, and was a member of the Senate when he died, and the family was one of the prominent influential families of the county. On coming to Clay county Mr. Raj'mond, Sr., settled about eight miles from Liberty, where he was successfully ennfaf^ed in farming and stock raising until his death, which occurred in 1863. R. L. Raymond, the subject of this sketch, was born in Nicholas county, Ky., October 27, 1842. He was reared on a farm (after the age of 14) near Liberty, Mo. After arriving at his majority he followed clerking in a store for awhile and then formed a partnership with Judge Gordon and H. A. Bland, in connection with whom he sold goods for about five years. Subsequently he sold his interest in the mercantile business and resumed forming and raising stock, to which he had been brought up. For years Air. Raymond has made a specialty of fine stock. His farm contains about 300 acres of choice land, and is well improved. The class of stock in which he is principally interested is fine short horn cattle, and he has a large herd of these, some 90, one of the largest and finest in the county. Besides, Mr. Raymond is interested with John Garth and James C. Leary in a ranch in New Mexico, where they own jointly about 1,000 head of cattle. Mr. R. is at present secretary of the Clay County Fine Stock Association. In 1881 he removed to Liberty, where he now resides. Mr. R. has a handsome residence property at this place, and is otherwise comfortably and pleasantly situated. December 1, 1868, he was married to INIiss Mattie R. Wilson, a daughter of Thomas J. Wilson, deceased, late of Kansas City, but a native of Maryland, and one of the earliest settlers in Kansas City. Mr. and Mis. Raymond have three children : Katie, Irene and Mattie R. He and wife are members of the Christian Church.

Capt. Allen G. Reed

Capt. Reed, like perhaps a majorit}' of the old residents of Clay county, is a Kentuckian i)y nativity. He was born Mav 26, 1812, in Clark county. Capt. Reed was a son of Capt. Joseph Reed, and a grandson of Samuel Reed, of South Carolina, who serveii under Washington throughout the War for Independence. Sanniel Reed's wife was a sister of Col. Hampton, father of G«n. Wade Hampton, of colonial and revolutionary times, and who served with distinction in the War of 1812; he was for years a distinguished member of Congress, holding, iilso, other ofEcial positions of distinction, and being at one time tiie owner ot" over 3,000 shives, besides being one of the largest plantation proprietors in the South. Gen. Wade Hampton, now of the United States Senate, and Capt. Reed are therefore second cousins, being the grandsons of brother and sister. Capt. Reed's father commanded a company in the War of 1812. His parents had emigrated to Kentucky in an early day from South Carolina. In 1810 Capt. Joseph Reed was married in Clark county, Ky., to Miss Catherine F. Griggsby. Over 20 years afterwards he removed with his family to Missouri, and settled in Clay county, buying land near Liberty, where he improved a farm and resided until his death. He died here in 1844. The mother died in 1850. Capt. Allen G. Reed, the subject of this sketch, was reared in Clark county, Ky., and at the age of 21, in 1833, preceded his father's family to Missouri. He came direct to Clay county, the family following during the next year. After farming for about a year in this county, he engaged as a clerk in a store at Lilierty and two years later bought an interest in the store. In 1838 he bought a farm some six miles northwest of Lil)erty, retiring from the mercantile i)usiness, and followed farming for about eight years. He then engaged in partnership with Maj. John Dough- 3rty, of Clay, in freighting west to Santa Fe and other points, and continued in the freighting business until 1846, becoming very successful and one of tiie largest freighters west. At one time he was running as many as 140 teams. Besides this he was engaged in merchandising during the last two years of his freighting experience. After quitting the West he bought out his partner's interest in the store at Liberty, and carried on the store at that place until 1858. Although actively engaged in merchandising at Liberty during this time, he had considerable outside business, and during a part of the time was again largely interested in freighting. In 1858 Cajit. Reed failed in business, his liabilities being" $10,000 and his assets $40,000. Thus he paid every dollar of indeljtedness and subsequently went to Denver, Col., where he engaged in the stock business. He built the first brick house erected at Denver. While extensively engaged in the stock business, he was also largely engaged in railway contracting, furnishing ties to the Union Pacific Railroad, having his headquarters in that business at Laramie City, W. T. At one time he had as high as 400 men in his employ as railway contractor. But while his business was quite profitable, he was called upon to boar a misfortune which moi'e than offset all the mere material success this life can afford. His eldest son Robert Reed was his paymaster, and after drawing the money at the express ofiice at Laramie City to pay the hands with, he was murdered in cold blood in the streets of the place and in open daylight by several desperate characters for the purpose of robbery. It is a trite saying that one's misfortunes never come singly. So it proved with Capt. Reed. About the same time, having over3, 500 head of sheep in a moiuitain ravine, a sudden heavy rain came on, or water-spout l)roke al)ove the head of the ravine, and the water was thus suddenly raised to the depth of from five to twelve feet, and his entire flock of sheep living a resident o( this county. Tho father came here with his parents when a youth and afterwards married and made this his home Tn IS^Oh" r ' p',' ^'""T"', married to Miss Bivens.'

In 1859 he went to Pike's Peak, lived in Colorado ten years, and then returned to Liberty, Mo., where he still lives. James-p. Eeed <vrew up in this county and has lived in this county all his life, except six years spen m Colorado and one year in Texas': When a ;oun/nJan he engaged in stock t^rading and farming. In 1878 he waJappoiZ - veTf Ir; ss'r "- Ti-'-rlake, under whom he served 'fl,r four yeais. In 1882 he was elected siieriff, and in 1884 was re-elected without opposition. While .leputy sherili" he was city marshal ft r two years March 20, 1883, he was married to Miss Fannie Wymore u daughter of W. luxm H'. Wymore, formerly of Kentucky. M^- Ree IS a graduate of the Clay Seminary, and is'^alady of reth.emei t.' She

Capt. James T. Riley

' cn^?^;-^,''''''' ''''"' ^''' ='^^^'^«^ °''"'*^*^'' =i"tl one not without substantial success, was born and reared in this county, and at the aoe ot seventeen began clerking in a country store near Mt." Gilead Church After a year spent there he became clerk for Denny & Clark of Lib erty, and continued with them for four years. The next live years he clerked or Miller, McCarty & Co., at Liberty, the le'dinr lousiness

SXr'n".;: " T °"^- ^="-''^ '" ''''''' -^l-ted in the under CI tT'Vh""!"^' ' ;"""''''' "*' ^>t- McCarty's company undei Col. John T Hughes. Capt. Riley was in nearly all the engagements fought m this State in the early part of the war. At t e batle ot Carthage he received a flesh wound, which, however, was no serious. He was also slightly wounded at the battle of Oak HiH After that engagement, early in 1862, being then in Texas, he became

ShS 't. -'''''^'- '^- S«"-rnc's company, under Col. J W bheight. This regiment was shortly ordered to Galveston an.l later along was consobdated with Col. Cook's regiment of heavy art I e ry u which Capt. Riley served until the close'of the war. For mer o^ nous conduct and gallantry he arose from the ranks as a private to the commission of captain in command of Co. A. At the' retiki </of Galveston he was again wounde.l. At the close of the war he fVmnd himself without a dollar. However, he went to work in TeV. " d ma short time gathered up some little means with which he louth (Ijai-tly on time) a drove of cattle at the low prices thin rev i ^^ were swept away and drowned. This took the last doUar he had bnt he was out ot debt. Out there where sheep were rated at a high value at that time that reverse, of itself, was the loss of a respectable fortune. After this Capt. Reed returned home to Clay count}' and once more turned his attention to farming near Liberty on a handsome place of 250 acres. On the farm he has a valuable mineral spring, said by competent chemists to show as good medicinal qualities as the water of any springs in the State. It has not been developed and advertised, however, and is therefore not used as a resort, as" doubtless it otherwise would be. Capt. Reed is a man of wonderful energy and fine business qualifications, one of that class of men whom even " bad luck " can't keep down. Mrs. Reed had some nionej' left her from her father's estate, which her husband invested very wisely and to advantage in cattle. Upon their return from Colorado she was enabled to pay a second time for the farm here mentioned. Capt. Reed very modestly disclaims an}' credit arising from his supposed excellent financial condition, attributing it to his wife. Capt Reed has been married three times. His first wife, nee Miss Luciuda Adkins, was a sister to D. J. Adkins, whose sketch appears elsewhere. She left two children at her death : Irene, now the wife of A. T. Litchfield, and Robert who was murdered at Laramie City, W. T. In 1868 hr ' was married to Miss Polly Neill, who survived her marriage only a few weeks. His present wife was a Miss Missouri A. A. Bivens, daughter of Tenman Bivens. They have three children : James F., sheriff of Clay county, whose sketch appears l)elow ; Katie, the wife of William H. Saeger, cashier of the Citizens' National Bank, at Kansas City, and Emma. Mrs. Reed and three daughters are members of the Presbyterian Church.

James F. Reed

Mr. Reed, the popular sheriff of this county, was liorn and reared here, and the confidence which the pcoj)le have in him is therefore intelligently placed, for they have known him from l)oyhood and have had every o[)portunity to judge of his character and qualifications. It is easy enough for one of good address to go into a community of strangers and by proper effort to make a highly favorable impression, thus securing the esteem and confidence of those who know little about him. But it is not so with the ono who has been born and reai'ed in the community where he puts himself up for the sufl'rages of the people. If there is any kiuk in his character they know it and will rejjudiate him, for however big a rascal a voter may be himself he will turn up his nose and refuse to vote for a dishonest man with as much virtuous indignation as if he were the impersonation of puiity and essence of all the excellencies of character. Mr. Reed was born at Liberty, April 11, 1852, and was a son of Allen G. and Missouri A. Reed, the fatiier formerly of Kentucky, bnt the mother born ami I'eared in this county. She was her husband's second wife, and is still living, a resident of this county. Tlie fiither came here with his parents when a youth, and afterwards married and made this his home. His first wife died, and lie was siibsequeutly married to Miss Bivens. In 1859 ho went to Pike's Peak, lived in Colorado ten years, an<l then returned to Libert}', Mo., where he still lives. James F. Reeil grew up iu this county, and has lived in this county all his life, except six years spent in Colorado and one year in Texas. When a young man he engaged iu stock trading and farming. In 1878 he was appointed deputy sheriff under Mr. Tiinherlake, under whom he served for four years. In 1882 he was elected sheriff, and in 1884 was re-elected without opposition. While deputy sheriff he was city marshal for two years. March 20, 1883, he was married to Miss Fannie Wymore, a daughter of William H'. Wymore, formerly of Kentucky. Mrs. Reed is a graduate of the Clay Seminary, and is a lady of refinement. She is a member of the Christian Church. Mr. Reed is a member of the Odd Fellows' Order.

Capt. Riley, who has had a very active career and one not without substantial success, was born and reared in this county, and at the age of seventeen began clei'king in a country store near Mt. Gilead Church. After a year spent there he became clerk for Denny & Clark, of Liberty, and continued with them for four years. The next five years he clerked for Miller, McCarty & Co., at Liberty, the leading i)usiness house of the county. In 1800 he quit clerking to engage in the sheep trade, and bought a large drove of sheep, which he took to Texas for sale. After his return he resumed clerking and was engaged in that occupation when the war broke out. Early in 18(51 he enlisted iu the Southern service, becoming a member of Capt. McCarty's company under Col. John T. Hughes. Capt. Riley was in nearly all the engagements fought in this State in the early part of the war. At the battle of Carthage he received a flesh wound, which, however, was not serious. He was also slightly wounded at the battle of Oak Hill. After that engagement, early in 1862, being then iu Texas, he became a memlier of Capt. J. W. Sedberrie's company, under Col. J. W. Sheight. This regiment was shortly ordered to Galveston and later along was consolidated with Col. Cook's regiment of heavy artillery, in which Capt. Riley served until the close of the war. For meritorious conduct and gallantry he arose from the ranks as a private to the commission of captain in command of Co. A. At the retaking of Galveston he was again wounded. At the close of the war he found himself without a dollar. However, he went to work in Texas and in a short time gathered up some little means with which he bought (partly on time) a drove of cattle at the low prices than prevailing. These he took to Memphis, Tenn., where he sold them, with a good profit left after the purchase money and all expenses were paid. After this Capt. Riley returned to Clay county, but went back to Texas

Ill u short tune, Sfoiiig, however, by way of St. Louis and New Orleans, and taking on his trip, in partnership with Maj. M. Dearing, a large quantity of supplies from St. Louis to the Crescent City, as a business enterprise. This also proved a profitable investment. In Texas, Rilev and Dearing l)ought a drove of 400 head of cattle and brought them to Barton county, where they sold them at a good protit. Cajjf. Kiley then returned to Libert}' and became a partner in the lirni of D. D. Miller & Co., in general merchandise. Five years later the firm became Stone & Eiley. In. 1878, Capt. Riley sold his interest' in the above named firm and then engaged in the furniture business, which he has since continued. He has the leading furniture establishment of the county. In the spring of 1884 he established a branch furniture store at Kearney, which is doing a good business. December 1, 186JI, Mr. Riley was married to Miss Mollie Stone, daughter of George Stone and sister of R. J. Stone, his former partner in business. Mrs. R. is a lady of education and culture, a graduate of Clay Seminary. The Captain and Mrs. R. have four children : Kate, Louise, Nannie and Mary Ross. Both parents are members of the Christian Churcli. He has served as city treasurer, and in 1880 was elected public administrator of Clay county, which office he filled for four years, and was re-elected in 1884. Capt. Riley was born in this county May 22, 1836, and was a son of H. M. and Caltha (Cotton) Riley, who came here from Fayette county, Ky., in 1727. They located near Ciilead Church, where they resided a number of years and then removed to Liberty. Tlie father died here in 1860.

James S. Robb

Tlie ftunily of which Mr. Robb is a representative settled in this country originallv in PennysU'ania. Mr. R.'s grandfather, William RobI), who early removed to Kentucky, was a brother of Judge Robert Rolib, who was adjutant-general in the \^'ar of 1812, and for many years district judge in Kentucky. Two other brothers, David and Joshua, located in Ohio. David made the race for Congress at a time when his district included nearly all of Eastern Ohio ; he was defeated by his opponent by oulv four majority, after which Gen. Jackson, who was then President, a])pointed him Indian Agent. A son of Judge Robert Robb, Josei)h Robb, iield the office of judge and clerk of Lewis countj^ Ky., for 44 years. Mr. R.'s grandfather settled in Lewis county, Ky., and there William W. Robb, James S.'s father, was l)orn and reared. He married a Miss Margaret M. Piper, and of this union James S. was born April 2, 1846, in Mason county, Ky., in which county his father settled. The father and mother are both living, and make their home with their children. There were two sons and a daughter in the family besides the subject of this sketch. The daughter is now the wife of Jasper Johnson, and resides in Illinois. James S. Robl) was reared in Kentucky, and at the age of 18 began as a clerk and book-keeper in a wholesale store at Ma3'sville.

After about two years he engaged in fanning and continued tiiat until 1871, when he came to Pleasant Hill, Mo. He resided therefor about two years, liut was not in any active l)usiness on account of ili-liealth. In 1873 he removed to Greene county, 11!., and engaged in buying and shipping stock, which he followed for some tive years with excellent success. August 29, 1879, he was married to Miss Annie B. Hodge, a daughter of Dr. John Hodge, deceased, late a prominent physician of Greene county, 111. In 1879 Mr. Robb removed to Clay county. Mo., and three years ago bought the farm where he now resides. He has a good place of 280 acres, a mile south of Liberty, one of the choice farms of the county. He has a small herd, six head, of fine Jersey cattle, and a large flock of fine Cotswold sheep. Mr. and Mrs. R. have four (children : Mary, Ella, Margie and Mabel. The Robb family was originally from Scotland, and have been Presbyterians from time immemorial.

Rev. Dr. Rothwell is a prominent representative of the old and respected family of Rothwclls, of Callaway county, this State, but originally ofVirginia. Asomewhat extended notice of the Rothwell family is given in the History of Callaway County, recently published. It is also referred to in the histories of Randolph county, wher» Hon. Gideon F. Rothwell resides, and of Audrain county, of which Dr. Thomas P. Rothwell is a resident. From the United States Biographical Dictionary (Missouri volume), we reproduce the following sketch of Rev. Dr. Rothwell's life : -

William R. Rothwell was born in Garrard county, Ky., September 2, 1831. His parents, John Rothwell, M. D., and China Renfro, daughter of Dr. William Renfro, of Garrard county, Ky., were of Virginian birth and English descent. They had six children, three sons and three daughters.

In 1831, soon after the birth of the sul)ject of this sketch, they emigrated to Callaway county, Missouri. William, from early childhood, was studious and gave great promise of becoming an eminent scholar. He attended the common schools in the county in which his father resided, and with the help of two short terms at academies, was prepared in 1851 to enter the Missouri University, from which he graduated with the degree of A. M., July 4, 1854, taking the first honor in a class of ten.

At the time of his graduation he had decided upon the medical profession, but his plans were changed by his being, in the same year, elected principal of Elm Ridge Academy, Howard county, Mo., where he received a verv encouraging salarv, and, being stimulated by success, he remained for two and one-half years, when he was elected the first president of the Baptist Female College, at Columbia, Mo., (now known as Stephens College). After one year of service there he was elected to succeed Rev. William Thompson, LL. D., as presi-

In 18G0 he was ordained to the ministry, having been converted in 1853 under the preaching of Eev. Tyre C. Harris, Columbia, Mo., and was successively pastor of the Baptist churches at Huntsville and Keytesville, Mo.

During the 3'ears 1871-72 he was corresponding secretary of the Baptist General Association of Missouri, in which position he acquitted himself with marked ability. His letters and communicationswhile corresponding secretary are noted as being among the most graceful and forcible that have emanated in the interest of that body.

In 1872 Mr. Rothwell was unanimousl}' elected professor of theology and moral philosophy in William Jewell College, which position he still holds (1885). He was also the acting president of the college from 1873 to 1883.

In 1874 his Alma Mater, the University of Missouri, in honorable recognition of his distinction as a man of letters, conferred upon him the dignity of Divinitalis Doctor. Every moment of Dr. Rothwell's time since his graduation has been one of intellectual activity and usefulness.

In 1855 he married Louisa Hughes, daughter of Allen Hughes, of Howard county. Mo. In 1860 Mrs. Rothwell died, leaving one son, John Hughes Rothwell, now 26 3'ears old, and a resident ph3'sician of Libert}', AIo., who gives rare promise of excellence in his profession, i)eing a full graduate of William Jewell College and of Bellevue Hospital \Iedical College, New York.

In 1863 Dr. Rothwell married Miss Fannie A. Pitts, daughter of Rev. Y. R. Pitts, near Glasgow, Mo., and to them has been born a son, Younger Pitts Rothwell, now a member of the senior class in the college with which his father is connected.

Perhaps in few lionies in the State could be found a more complete library than in Dr. Rothwell's. He has spared neither time nor expense in adding to it the standard works on theology and moral philosophy, besides valuable encyclopedias. His taste for literature and his desire for improvement has drawn about him friends of high social standing. He is in perfect sympathy with the Baptist workers throughout the State, and they enjoy the hospitalities of Dr. and Mrs. Rothwell's i)eautiful home.

Dr. Rothwell has a very commanding appearance, being six feet high and ver^' erect. He is in the prime of life and mental vigor, is mild mannered, possesses easy dignity, and is very modest and unassuming. His sense of duty impels him to the front whenever principle or honor calls. He is a " ripe scholar," of elegant culture, and a man of liberal and e.vpansivc views. Perhaps no man in the State stands higher in the love and confidence of his denomination of Christians than he.

Horatio F. Simrall

The subject of this sketch was born in Shelby county, Ky., May 3, 1845. His parents were James Simrall and Cynthia Fritzlen Simrall, his father l)eing of Virginia parentage and Scotch ancestry. Senator Siiiirall's niotlier, of German and Scotch ancestry, is yet living, a resident of Shelby county, Ky. ; his father died in May, 1863. Mr. Simrall was educated at Shelby College, Ky., from which he graduated in the class of 18(56, having taken the classical course. He was one of the te.achers in that institution for the last ten months of his course. On leaving college he followed teaching and farming during the winter and summer respectively for about two j'ears, at the same time devoting his leisure hours to the study of law. Following this he entered the Law Department of the University of Louisville, from which he graduated in 1868. One year after leaving the University he moved to Liberty, Clay county, Mo., and engaged in the practice of his profession, in partnership with Col. Henry L. Routt, which continued with mutual profit and satisfaction for about two years, when the firm dissolved. Mr. Simrall then entered into copartnership with James M. Sandusky, a young lawyer just admitted to the bar, which copartnershii) yet continues, and the firm enjoys a wide reputation and lucrative practice. Mr. Simrall brought to his profession a thoroughljr trained mind; the haliits of study, which characterized him at school and college, have never forsaken him. He is well versed in the legal profession and thoroughly' familiar with all the leading decisions. Senator Simrall is a man of good personnel, generous in his impulses, liberal in his vie.ws, and courteous in manners. He is a fluent talker, and whether on the hustings or at the bar never speaks without striking at the heart of the subject. In politics he is a Democrat - thoroughly versed in the tenets of his party - and has several times held positions of public trust. He was prosecuting attorney of Clay county in the years 1875 and 1876 and 1883 and 1884. At the fall election in 1884 he was elected State Senator for the third district, composed of the counties of Clay, Platte and Clinton, having received the unanimous nomination of his i)arty convention. In December, 1874, he was married to Miss Mattie J. Denny, a daughter of John A. Denny, Esq., one of the early settlers ol" Clay county. Mrs. Simrall is a gi'aduate of Lil)erty Female Seminary. They have three children : Denny, Horatio F., and an infant son not yet named. Mr. and Mrs. Simrall are of the Presbyterian faith, and are both members of the local congregation at Lil)erty.

John J. Stogdale

In the pioneer days of that couuty his father, William Stoordale, located there from Virginia, being then a young man only about 18 years of age. He became an energetic farmer of that county, and was married to Miss Susan Gashwiler, a daughter of - Gashwiler, another early settler, and originally from Pennsylvania. She, however, was born while her parents were residents of Kentucky. In 1850 Mr. Stogdale, his brother-in-law, J. W. Gashwiler, afterwards Gen. Gashwiler, and a number of others, went to California. There Mr. Stogdale, Sr., died some eight months afterward, in the fall of - 1850. Gen. Gashwiler remained permanently in California, and became one of the prominent and wealthy men of the State. He was very successful in mining, and became one of the millionaires of the Pacific coast. Indeed, it is a matter of record that a single check of his was honored for $1,000,000. John J. Stogdale, the subject of this sketch, was reared in Randolph county and given an advanced collegiate education. However, in 1862, at the age of 18, he went to St. Louis, where he was employed as salesman in the house of Collins & Son, in which position he continued for some two years. He then resigned his position and entered William Jewell College, following a course there of five years, at the end of which he graduated with marked distinction, being among the first in his class. At the annual meeting of the Alumni Association he delivered the address as one of the prominent post-graduates of the institution. After his graduation Mr. Stogdale engaged in the grocery business at Liberty, commencing in the first place on a small capital. This, however, was increased from time to time tmtil 1872, when he sold out, having one of the leading grocery stores of the county. It was then that Mr. Stogdale established his clothing house, which he has ever since carried on with such marked f^uccess. He has an annual trade in the cloth line alone of over $40,000. He has also l)een in the produce trade for some time, especially the lines of apples and potatoes. In 1883 he shipped over 10,000 barrels of apples, and his shipments this A'ear will exceed over 50 oar loads. He has a large fruit eva|)orator for drying apples, at which he has employed about 20 hands. His present works require 120 bushels of apples to keep them running at full capacity. However, he is increasing the capacity of his works, and will shortly require 240 bushels daily. This is one of the successful industries of the place, and has been made such by his enterprise and business al)ility. Mr. Stogdale has always taken a marked interest in the cause of education, and has served in the office of school director for some three years, in order to assist in maintaining good sciiools atLil)erty. In 1882 he was elected county treasurer, and such is his high standing and popularity that he received more votes in the county than were cast for both his competitors combined. In September, 1874, he was married to Miss Belle Miller, a daughter of R. H. Miller, editor of the Liberty Tribune. Mrs. S. was educated at the Liberty Female College. They have two children : Rol)ert W. and Emma S. Mr. S. is a business man of energy and enterprise, and one of the representative citizens of the county. He is a man of pleasant, agreeable

Rockwell J. Stone

Mr. Stone began mercantile life as a clerk. He served two years in that capacity in the store of M. c§; D. D. Miller, at Liberty. Subsequently he went to Montana, but returned in the fall of 1866. The following spring Mr. Stone engaged in the dry goods business at this place, opening a stock in the building which he but recently moved out of, and where he sold goods for 14 years, continuously. Last fall he erected a business house on the south side of the square, which he moved into after its completion and now occupies. This is one of the neatest and best business rooms at Liberty, and is specially arranged for handling dry goods. Mr. Stone has built up a good business, and now has an annual trade of about $30,000. He also carries a line of boots and shoes and lines of other goods usually found in a dry goods store. February 3, 1874, Mr. Stone was married to Miss Julia L. AVithers, daughter of Abijah Withers, one of the pioneers of this county. Mrs. Stone is a graduate of Hughes' Female Seminary. They have five children : George, Edwin, Miller, Lee, and an infant son, Dudley Steele Stone. Mrs. S. is a member of the Christian Church. Mr. Stone is one of the well respected and influential citizens of Liberty, and has served two terms as mayor.

Clinton Tillery

That success in life and advancement in public affairs are not limited to those whose early advantages have been the best and whose opportunities would therefore seem to be the most favorable, is daily illustrated by the lives of the men who have come to the front as representative citizens of their respective communities. Beyond all (piestion personal worth is the controlling influence that shapes every man's future character, energy, ability and the qualities that win success in life. Unless one have these he may have had all the early advantages to be desired and in his career may be favored with abundant means and the help of infiuential friends, but still he can not compete with another who has the characteristics mentioned, however unfavorable the hitter's early advantages may have been.

Li presenting a sketch of the subject whose names stands at the head of the preceding paragraph, we have the example of a man who has risen to enviable prominence in the community where he was reared, almost solely by his own exertions and personal worth. He was born in Clinton county, June 19, 1849, and was left an orphan by the death of his father when quite young. His father, Joel D. Tillery, who came to this State from Kentucky vvhen a young man, in 1842, was married to Miss Letitia Gilliam, formerly of Alexandria,

Va. They made their home in Clinton county, this State, where they resided until early in 1851, when the father joined the general movement to California in quest of gold. He never lived to return, but died on the Pacific coast.

The mother, after her husband started to California, came to Liberty. Clinton was two years old when his father left for California. Reared in Liberty, his youth was spent at school and at work in a woolen factory, principally. By attending the common and high schools he succeeded in getting a good common English education, . which was supplemented Viy instruction at William Jewell College for one term.

Li 1867 he obtained a situation as clerk in a grocery store, and he continued clerking for al)out four years. During this time, by economy he was enabled to accumulate a nucleus of means with which to begin in business for himself, which he accordingly did, opening a grocery store at this place. He conducted his grocer3njusiness with success for about five years, when he sold out to advantage and assumed the duties of county treasurer, to which he was elected. Meanwhile, however, in 1874, he was elected maj^or of Liberty, he being at the time only 25 years of age, and the youngest mayor who ever held the office. Elected treasurer in 1876, as stated above, he subsequently held the office for three terms, by consecutive reelections, and was then elected county collector in 1882 and still holds that position.

Mr. Tillery has l)ought a handsome farm adjoining Liberty and is engaging quite cvtensively in breeding, raising and dealing in fine thoroughbred short horn cattle. It is his purpose to retire from his office at the close of his present term and devote his entire time and attention to his farming and stock interests. He is a man of energy and progressive ideas, and will doubtless soon take a prominent position among the leading agriculturists of the county.

October 9, 1874, Mr. Tillery was married to Miss Flora H., a daughter of Judge William H. Lane of this county'. The}' have five children: Augustus, Trigg T., Jennie, Harry and Mary. He and wife are members of the Christian Church, and he is a prominent member of the L O. O. F.

James R. Timberlake

Mr. Timberlake, one of the most efficient sheritl's this county ever had and a man who lias done much for the promotion of law and order in this community, and now serving as Deputy United States Marshall, is a native Missourian, born in Platte county, March 22, 1846. His father, John Timberlake, a Kentuckian by birth, born in 1809, was married in that State to Patsy Noland, some time after which, in 1830, he came to Missouri, locating in the Platte Purchase, in what is now Platte county, where he bought land and im[)roved a farm. He reniained here until 18(i4, when, owing to the unsettled condition of affairs here on account of war troui)les, he went to Illinois for a short time. Returning soon after to Platte county, he made it his home until purchasing a place in Clay county, upon which he resided from 1866 to 1880. At that date he took up his location in Jackson conutjs near Independence, where he at present is situated. His first wife died in Platte county. The life of James R. has been a very active one. He remained at the home farm until 1864, and when his fatlier went to Illinois the son entered the Confederate army iu 1864, in Col. Slayback's cavalry regiment. He became second lieutenant of Co. B, Shelby's brigade, and as such participated in a number of engagements. After the close of the war he accompanied Shelby and Price to Mexico (leaving Texas in April, 1865), and continued in that country until December, 1865, traveling entirely through the heart of Old jMexico to California, which was reached the same month. He remained in that State until the following summer and then returned to his home in Missouri, though choosing his I'esidence in Ciav countv. For two or three years after this he was peacefully occupied in the pursuits of farming and stockraising. In the meantime, in 1872, he made a trip to Texas and brought back a herd of cattle wiiich he disposed of to good advantage in Kansas. In 1876 Mr. Timl^erlake was appointed constable of Lil)erty township and served for two 3'cars, and so well were the duties of that position discharged that, in 1878, when it became uecessar}' to select someone to fill the oflice of sherifi' of the county, no more suitable man could have been chosen for that position. He was elected and at the expiration of his term of service was honored with a re-election. His services while discharging his official duties were marked with a fearlessness and conscientiousness which characterized him a typical sheriff, and in profoi-ming his work he met with the hearty approbation of all officers of the court and the people generally. After his retirement from office, Mr. Timl)erlake went to New Mexico and in company with iiis brother bought two ranches, upon which they have since )>een actively and successfully engaged in the stock l)usiuess. In 1883 he was appointed De^juty U. S. Marshal for the Western District of Missouri, a position which he still holds. He is now interested in a livery stable and has one of the largest establishments of this kind in Missouri - a stable which would be a credit to any city of larger size. November 25, 1874, Mr. T. was married at Liberty to Miss Katie, daughther of Grafton Thomason, deceased, one of the pioneers of Clay county. She was born at Liberty, l)ut received her education in Platte. Mr. Timberlake is a meml)er of Liberty Lodge No. 43, I. O. O. F. His wife is connected with the Christian Church.

Jacob A. Trumbo

the papers as to the disposition made of the treasure of the Confederate Government after the evacuation of Richmond. He was one of Mr. Davis' guard. He was also for a time on the bodj'-guard of Gen. Breckinridge. As a matter of fact he was one of the guard that secreted the gold of the treasury after the collapse of the Confederate Government, but never knew what became of this golden treasure. The notes from which this sketch is written barely refer to the facts here stated, so that no other particulars can be given. But he is most probably in possession of most valuable information in regard to this - jioint on which historians widely differ. Mr. Trumljo, in the early part of his services in the Confederate armjs was under Gen. John S. Williams, the veteran commander who fought with such distinction at Cerre Gordo, in the Mexican War, that he was ever afterwards called Cerre Gordo Williams, as Scipio was called Scipio Africanus, for his distinguished exploits in Africa during the Punic Wars. Mr. Trumbo came to Missouri in 1877, and has been a resident of this county ever since, engaged in farming. He has a good place of 250 acres in the vicinity of Liberty. His farm, unfortunately, was in the course taken by the memorable cyclone of the 13th of May, 1883. Although he and family escaped without the loss of life, or the killing of any stock, his buildings were literally scattered to the four winds of the earth. Fragments of his barns and other buildings were carried a mile or a mile and a half away. Since then he has rebuilt and repaired what could be repaired, and now has his farm in good condition again. He was born in Bath county, Ky., October 24, 1845, and was reared in that county. His parents were Adam A. and Hannah Trumbo, both of early and respected Kentucky families. Mr. Trumbo was married December 23d, 1869, in Bath county Ky., to Miss Mary E. Bradshaw. She survived until March 23, 1883, leaving him four children at her death: Adam A., Sallie A., James F. and Maggie L. To his present wife Mr. Trumbo was married August 11, 1884. She was a Miss Fannie Jacobs, a daughter of Henr}' Jacobs, of Franklin county, Ky. Mrs. Trumbo, his present wife, is a member of the Christian Church. His first wife was a member of the M. E. Church.

William W. Willmott

The Willmott famil}' is an old and prominent one, both in this country and in England. Representatives of different branches of the family have risen to positions of distinction in both countries. X^'^^''^ are different orthographies of the name, according to whether the I and l or both are double or single in the spelling. John Eardley Wilmot was chief justice of the Court of Common Pleas of England during the first half of the present century; and his son of the same name attained to great eminence as a chancery lawyer. They were from Derby, England, where the original stock of the family was located. Judge David Wilmot, of Pennsylvania, a United States Senator from that State, was a distinguished representative of the family in this country. He was the author of tlie famous Wihiiot " Proviso," that was an exciting subject of discussion throughout the whole country during the shivery agitation. Branches of the family in this country settled both in Pennsylvania and Virginia. Col. Robert Willniott, the grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was a gallant officer under Washington in the War for Independence. He subsequently removed to Kentucky and became a prominent citizen of that State. He was a leading member of the tirst constitutional convention of Kentucky, and served with marked ability for a number of years in the State Legislature. His son, John F. Willmott, the father of the sul)ject of this sketch, became a wealthy planter of Bourbon county, Ky. He married a Miss Harriet Skillman, formerly of Virginia, and reared a large famil}' of children. Amongthese William W., the subject of this sketch, was the thii'd child, and was born October 14, 1829. He was reared on his fatiier's farm in that county, and in young manhood, March 2, 1858, was married to Miss Mary J. Breckinridge, a daughter of Perry Breckinridge, who was a cousin to one of the most brilliant men this country ever produced, Hon. John C. Breckinridge. Mr. Willmott, the subject of this sketch, removed to ^Missouri in 1872 and engaged in the manufacturing business at St. Louis. Three years later he removed to Baton Rouge, La., where he engaged in cotton planting. After an experince there of four years he came to Plattsburg, Mo., in the winter of 1879, and the following spring located at Liberty, where he l)ought a lumber yard already estal)lished at this place, which, in partnership with his son, W. Canby Willmott, he has ever since conducted. They have a large stock of lumber and other building materials, and are doing an excellent business. Mr. Willmott and wife are members of the Christian Church, as is also their son, W. Canby, the only child they ever reared.

George W. Wymore

Mr. Wymore's parents, Samuel and Eliza (Downing) Wymore, came to Liberty from Fayette county, Ky., in 1843. George W. was then a lad about 14 years of age, having been born January 14, 1829. His father was for many years in the meat market business at Liberty, and dealing in cattle, hogs, etc., to some extent. George W. was brought up to this business, and became a thorough judge of stock. When ho reached his majority he, too, engaged in the meat market business, which he followed for several years. He then established a livery stalile, afterwards known as the Thompson House stables, which he built and stocked. He was in the livery business for about 20 years, and during all this time made a specialty in dealing in horses and mules, in which he had good success. Mr. Wymore is accounted one of the best judges of this class of stock in the county. He takes a special pride in handling horses and mules, and can get up a saddle or harness animal in better shape and in less time than perhaps any other man in the county. Mr. Wymore also has a neat farm two and a half miles south of Liberty, a place of over 200 acres. December (j, 1848, be was married to Miss Sarah Francis, a daughter of Walker J. Turner, formerly from Kentucky. They have 11 children: John H., Lila, wife of John Donaldson ; Cliarles W., Andrew P., Mamie, wife of Adrean Arnold : Walter, now in New Mexico; Oscar, Bettie, Thomas McC, " Colonel Doniphan," and Matlie P. Mrs. Wymore is a meml)er of the Christian Church.

John H. Wymore

Mr. Wymore is a son of George W. Wymore, whose sketch pi'ecedes this, and is engaged in the same business in which his father was engaged for a number of years, and that his grandfather began at Liberty over 40 years ago - the meat market business. Mr. Wymore, Jr., the subject of this sketch, is a very energetic young man, and understands his business thoroughly. He commenced for himself several years ago, and has been quite successful. Probably no young man in the county is a better judge of beef cattle and other fatted stock than he. He makes his own purchases and does his own butchering, or has it done under his immediate direction, so that he is not only enai)led to carry on his business with a thorough understanding of its details, but to judge correctly of the character and quality ot his meat sold at his market. Knowing that a good name in business is of more value than even capital itself, he is very careful to preserve the reputation of his market and sufl'ers no meat to go out under a false recommendation. This is one of the main secrets of his success. November 13, 1851, he was born at Liberty. His education was received at the common schools, the Liberty High School and William Jewell College. October 10, 1876, he was married to Miss Ida M. Pratt, a daughter of M. E. Pratt, formerly of Kentucky. They have four children : George, Frank, Garthum and Mabel.

Martin Wymore

A historical outline has already been given elsewhere in this volume in a biographical sketch of one of the other I'eprcsentatives of this family. One of tiie pioneer families of Clay county, its meml)ers have alwtiys occupied an enviable position here among the respected and worthy citizens of tiie county. Nor is the subject of the present sketch an exception to this rule. A man of energy and unquestioned personal worth, he is esteemed by all as one of the I'epresentativc business men of Liljcrt}'. Mr. Wymore is a son of Samuel S. W3'- more already referred to. He was born at Lexington, in Fayette count}', Ky., December 22, 1838. His father being engaged in pork packing and i)iitchering, in connection with farming and stock raising, young Wymore was lirought up to these occupations. In 1858 he engaged in the butcher business, and kept a meat market at Liberty

Oil his own account, and afterwards continued the business for over 20 3'ears. Mr. Wyniore was quite successful and accumulated a substantial nucleus of means. In 1879 he retired from the meat market business and butchering and established a grocery store at Liberty. His success in this has also been satisfactory. He has one of the leading houses in this lino in this county, and does an annual business of about $35,000. In the spring of 1860 he was married to Miss Isabella, daughter of James Bratton (deceased), late of this county. Mrs. Wymore was educated at the high school of Missouri City. They have 10 children, six of whom are living: Gertrude, Jennie, Maggie, Bennie, Ernest and Annie. Martin and James died in infancy ; Lela and Mary both died the present year (1884), Lela in August and Mary in September, the former at the age of 18, and the younger at the age of 15. Mr. and Mrs. Wymore are members of the Christian Church.

Peter Young

Mr. Young is one of the substantial citizens in a property point of view as well as otherwise, of Clay county, and is unqualifiedly a selfmade man. Every dollar he is worth he has made by his own hard work, frugality and good business sense. He was born in Belgium, though of French parentage, October 30, 1838. His father, John Young and mother, whose maiden name was Catharine Kolar, were i>oth natives of the Gaulic Land of Vines, but went to Belgium early in life, where they were married. From the latter country they emigrated to the United States in 1849, and settled in Wisconsin, where they made their permanent home. The father died there (Ozouka county) in 1871. Peter grew up in that county and went thence to southwestern Illinois, opposite St. Louis, where he made his hoiue for some 25 years. There he was largely engaged in vegetable farming and hauled thousands of loads of produce into the Mound City. Commencing for himself when a boy as a day laborer, he finally accumulated a comfortable property. In Deceml)er, 1882, he removed to Claj' count}' and bought the farm where he now resides, an excellent place of 200 acres, a mile and a half from Liberty. He also had 50 acres in another tract near by, and a farm in Jefferson county of 160 acres. January 27, 1866, he was married in Madison county, 111., to Miss Annie, a daughter of Christian Smith, of Montgomery county, that State, but formerly of Darmstadt, Germany. They have eisrht children : Lizzie, John, Peter, Annie, Mar, Dora, William and Clara.