Clay County, Missouri - Biographical sketches (3 of 4 so headed), 1885 (part 2 of 2)

Jiimes, a fiiriner of Kentucky, and the subject of this sketch. Mr. Netherton attended the common schools until he was about 16 yeai-s of age and then began to learn, the saddle and harness-maker's trade. In 1856 he came to Missouri and first located at Parkville, then in Platte City, and in 1858 at Plattsburg. He reniainded at the latter place until 1861, when he went into the Confederate Army under Col. John T. Hughes, becoming a member of Co. K, Hughes' regiment and Gen. Platte's division. He was in the engagements at Carthage, Wilson's Creek, Dry ^Yood and Lexington, and in the early l)art of 18(52 went to Clinton, where he engaged in farming near that place, but times became so critical there that he came to Haynesville, in Clinton county, where he worked at his trade until 1864. He then went to Indiana, and was married there in March, 1865, to Miss Eliza HoUingsworth, a daughter of Elias Hollingsworth, a farmer of Marion county, Ind. In 1867 Mr. Netherton removed to Centreville, Mo., now Kearney, and has made this his home ever since. He has a good trade ill the saddle and harness business, and keeps an excellent assortment of goods on hand. Mrs. Netherton\is a lady of great energy and excellent business qualifications, but no less refined, and of agreeable, winning manners. While her husband attends to his saddle and hartiessmaking business she, with commendal)le industry', keeps a neat hotel at Kearney, which has a good patronage and is doing well. It is the only hotel in the place. But although without competition she keeps it with as much determination to excel as if there were any number of competing houses in the place.

Dr. Norfleet is a young physician who has been to more than ordinary labor and expense in the acquisition of his professional education, having started out with the determination to qualify himself thoroughly for his calling. He was principally reared in Lafayette county, this State, and at the age of 20 began the study of medicine under Dr. J. B. Wood, of Waverly. Subsequently he took regular courses at the St. Louis Medical College, and graduated with marked credit in the class of '81. He afterwards practiced medicine in Lafayette county until early in 1882, when lie located at Kearney. Here he has ever since resided and practiced his profession, except most of the year 1883, when absent attending medical lectures, either at New York or Philadelphia. He attended medical college at both of those cities for the purpose, as stated al)ove, of acquainting himself with the most adviuiced learning in his profession in the Eastern States. Returning thence to Kearney, he resumed his practice here, and has already succeeded in taking a leading position among the most prominent physicians of the count}'. Hois highly esteemed at Kearney, personally as well as professionally. On the 18th of January, 1858, Dr. Norilcet was born in Miller county, Mo. He was the eighth in a family often children of Larkin and Frances (Gaw) Norfleet, who came to

Missouri from Kentucky in about 1854, and located in Miller county. In 18G5 they removed to Johnson county, and four years later to Lafaj'ette county, where they now reside. Dr. Xoi-fleet is a_well known and much esteemed minister of the M. E. Church South.

Capt. William H. Pence

Among the old and highly respected citizens of Clay county whose lives form the woof and warp of the history of the county, is the subject of the present sketch. Capt. Pence, now a man in his sixtieth year, has been a resident of the county almost continuously from childhood. His parents, Adam and Annie (Snell) Pence, came to this county from Kentucky as early as 1825. They located three miles west of Liljerty, where the father entered land and improved a farm. He subsequent!}' returned to Kentucky with his family and remained a short time, after which he l)ought land near Kearney and settled here permanently. He became a successful farmer and a large land-owner, and is still living at the advanced age of 81. His good wife, 80 years of age, is also living. Seven of their famil}' of eleven children are now themselves the heads of families, and all but two, Josiah and Doniphan, residents of this State. The latter reside in Kentucky, and Doniphan has been sheriff of Nelson county for ai)out seven years. In an early day, the father followed the distilling business for somej^ears, but farming was his permanent occupation. Capt. Pence was born in Scott county, Ky., in 1825. Reared, however, in Clay county. Mo., he entered the army, under Doniphan, for the Mexican War, and participated in the exiiedition to Santa Fe, El Paso, Chihuahua, and on down to Monterev, where a junction was formed with Gens. Taylor and Wood. After the war, Capt. Pence came home b\' New Orleans with the other Missouri volunteers. lu 1849 he went to California, and was successfully engaged in trading for several years, l)ut met with a reverse that more than offset all the profits of the business. He was a regular trader, engaged principally in supplying different mining districts wnth goods from Sacramento or San Francisco by pack-mule transportation, something after the fashion of the merchants in the Land of the Pyramids, only they use camels to transport their goods, and call their trains "caravans." On one of these expeditions to a mining district in the northern part of California, Capt. Pence had a train of about 20 i)ack mules, loaded with goods, and when away up in the mountains a heavy snow storm came on, the snow finally becoming so dee[t that travel was impossible. Being thus snow-bound, the snow continued to fall until it became al)ont fifteen feet deep. There was no hope of it passing off before starvation would overtake the train. Still Capt. P. and his assistants resolutely fought against fate until their packmules were all either starved or frozen to death. Seeing a like fate staring them in the face, themselves, they improvised each a set of snow shoes, and, abandoning everything, made their wav on foot to the nearest settle- ment, after indescribable suffering from cold and liunger. Capt. Pence's loss was about $7,000. After that he was, of course, compelled to quit the busiui^ss as a trader, but still having a little means left he engaged in a small way in stock trading in the Sacramento Valley, where he owned a ranch and some stock. But in 1852 he sold out in California and returned to Clay county. Here, the following year, he was married to Miss Dinitia Estes, a daughter of Henry and Lucinda (Cronin) Estes, who came here from Virginia in about 1820. Mr. Estes was one of the party who laid off the town of Liberty! Capt. Pence, after his marriage, resided on a farm in Platte county that he owned for about a year, and then returned to Clay county, where he has ever since made his home. He has a good farm of 300 acres, all well improved, and raises considerable stock, including some thoroughln-ed short horn cattle. He also deals in stock to some extent. In 1861 Capt. Pence entered the Southern army under Gen. Price, becoming captain of Co. C, of Col. Thompson's regiment, where he served a term of about six months. Subsequently he returned home, and for a time was a member of a company of paw-paw militia, organized in the county, to prevent the Kansas jayhawkers from robbing and plundering the people. In 1871 Capt. Pence had the misfortune to lose his first wife. To his present wife he was married in 1880. She was a Miss America Smith, a daughter of Hon. J. M. Smith, an attorney of Buchanan county, but who was murdered by the Home Guard on his return home from St. Joseph in 1864. Capt. Pence has held the oiEce of road overseer for the past 29 j'ears, and is a Mason of long and honorable standing. He has been treasurer of the lodge at Kearney for the past eight years. Eight of his family of children are living, and one deceased, the latter having been Lucinda, the wife of Edward Miller. The Captain and wife are members of the Christian Chui'ch.

The fifth in a family of ten children, Mr. Pipes was born in Mercer county, Kentucky, February 19, 1828. His father was Nathaniel Pipes, and his mother's maiden name, Margaret Harmon. Both his grandf.ithers, John Pipes and John Harmon, were soldiers in the Revolutionary War under Washington. The Pipes were of English descent and settled in North Carolina. The Harmons were of German extraction and settled in Pennsylvania. Mr. Pipes was reared in Mercer county, Kentucky, and continued to reside there after he grew up until LS55, when he came to Missouri to locate a land claim. In the meantime he had taught school in Kentucky for several years, and afterwards also followed merchandising at Mitchellsburg, l)cing also postmaster at that place. After locating and securing some valuable lands in Missouri and Kansas, he returned to Kentucky and engaged in dealing in hogs and corn quite extensively, in which he had good success. In 1856 he was married to Miss Rachel Brand, a dauirhtcr of James A. <and Cathei'ine (Blink) Brand, formerly of Maryland. On lioth sides his wife was pr()l)ahly of German descent. After his nKirriage Mr. Pipes removed to Marion county, Kentucky, where he l<ought a farm, which he conducted witli success, and also carried on the stock business, dealing principally in cattle, hogs and mules. He remaiTied there until 1882, and then sold out and went to Texas, locating in Denton county. But not l>eitig satisfied with the country, he soon afterwards returned to Missouri and bought the farm where he now resides, in Clay county. He has a good farm and deals in cattle and hogs, and mules and horses. Mr. and Mrs. Pipes have seven children : Alouzo L., Laura K., wife of James W. England, James N. (Nat), Obie S., Mary L., Lizzie M. and Iniogene. Two others died in infancy. Botli parents are members of the Christian Churcii,and Mr. P. is a member of the A. F. and A. M.

Abner J. Porter

Mr. Porter commenced life for himself as a brick-mason while yet a youth, and after learning tiiat trade worked at it a number of vears. Finally, however, after the Civil War he turned his attention to farming and has been principally engaged in farming and stock-raising ever since. He is a native of Virginia, born in Orange county in 1827. He was the second in a family of ten children of Samuel S. and Marj' A. (Becker) Porter, both of old Virginia families. They came to Missouri in 1843 when Abner J. was about sixteen years of age. They settled in Clay county, and here the father became a prosperous farmer. He owned at one time aljout 600 acres of land. Mr. Porter, Sr., died in 1875, at the age of 80 years. His wife died in 1864, at the age of 61. Both were meml)ers of the Baptist Church. Seven of their family of children are still living. Al)ner J. Porter began learning the brick trade in 1848, and worked at it until he enlisted in the State Guard in 1861. In the meantime, in 1849, he was married to Miss Susan Dykes, a daughter of John and Susan Dykes, formerly of Kentucky, and who came to Clay county in 1827. Of this union were born nine children: George, John W., Benjamin D., Abner J., Emerson, Shearly S., Mary S., wife of L. B. Keas, and Alice and Nettie, the last two deceased. The mother of these died in 187.3. She was a member of the Christian Church. To his present wife Mr. Porter was married in 1880. She was a Miss Sarah J. Lafore, daughter of William Lafore. She is also a member of the Christian Church, as is likewise Mr. Portfer himself. Mr. Porter owns about 550 acres of land in two places. His home place contains 395 acres and is well improved. Mr. Porter is a prominent farmer and stock-raiser, and is one of the highly respected citizens of the northern part of the county.

Lewis O. Riley

(Farmer and Fine Stock Raiser, Post-office, Kearney). Mr. Riley's father, Alfred M. Rilc}', who died in this county about three years ago, was one of the old and well respected citizens of the

(bounty. He came here from Kentucky in 1830, and was a farmer by occupation. He also taught school for many years, and took a warm interest in the cause of education and in church matters. He was an elder in the Mt. Gilead Church for about 40 years. Elder Riley was twice married. His first wife, who was a Miss Lucy J. Tapp (the mother of the subject of this sketch), died in 1849, leaving eight children, five of whom ai"e living. His second wife was a Miss Ann Morris. Of this union four children of the six are living. Lewis O. Riley, the subject of the present sketch, was born on the farm near - Kearney in 1839. In 1861 he entered the Southern army under Gen. Price, and was in the infantrj' service for al)out six months. About this time he was married to Miss Isaljelle Smith, a daughter of George and Mary (Harris) Smith, of Clay county. After his marriage Mr. Riley settled down to farming on a tract of 200 acres of land given him by his father. He has ever since been actively engaged in the duties connected with his farm. For a number of years he has made something of a specialty of stock, particularly fine short horn cattle, of which he has a handsome herd. Mr. R.'s farm now contains 326 acres, and is one of the most comfortable homesteads to be found in this part of the country. Mr. Riley is a member of the Clay County Short Horn Association, and is in every sense an enterprising, go-ahead agriculturist. Mr. and Mrs. Riley have seven ciiildren : Mar}', Annie, Gertrude, Arthur, George A., William S. and Charles A. They have lost four, including Horace, who died, at the age of twenty years, last spring. The others, Lucy, Lizzie and Lewis, died in childhood.

J. D. Saunders

Mr. Saunders came out to Missouri in 1882 from Virginia, where he had been engaged in the furniture and undertaking business, and settled in Kearney. A 3'oung man of limited education but of business qualifications, he was employed by Mr. James T. Riley, of Liberty, this county, to manage and carry on his branch store in that line in the town of Kearney. He carries a full line of furniture and all kinds of undertaker's goods required at this market. j\Ir. Saunders has a good run of custom, especially in the furniture line. In the undertaker's line his trade is all that could be expected, considering the health and longevity of the peo[)le in and around Kearney. He was born in Franklin county, Va., Ai)ril 19, 18.52, and was the eldest of nine children of John Q. and Nancy S. (Webster) Saunders, his father of an old Virginia family but his mother of Pennsylvania descent. The family came to Missouri in 1880 and settled in Callaway county, near Mexico, where the}' now reside. The father eritered the Southern army in 1862 and served throughout the war without receiving a wound, notwithstanding he participated in the battles of Gettysburg, Vicksburg, Seven Pines, Petersburg and others. Mr. Saunders, the subject of this sketch, was educated in the common schools, and at

Greenville and Tusculum College, East TeinicssGe, in the latter of which he spent two years. He commenced life for himself at the carpenter's trade, which he followed until 1867, or for a period of about ten years. He then engaged in the furniture and undertaking Ijusiness, which he followed until 1882 at Rocky Mount, Va. Thence he came to Missouri, as stated above. In 1878 Mr. Saunders, Jr., was married to Miss Ellen Hurt, a daughter of Joel L. and Sallie Hurt, of Bedford county, Va. Mrs. Sauuders' father died in 1878. Her mother is still living, a resident of that county. Mr. and Mrs. Saunders have two children, William D. and Lawrence Cleveland. Mrs. S. is a member of the M. E. Church.

William Seymour

Mr. Seymour is of English-Scotch parentage, and was born in Jefferson county, N. Y., July 8, 1842. His father, Calvin Seymour, a native of England, was a wealthy farmer and prominent citizen of Jefferson county. The mother was a Miss Almyra McKnight before her marriage, originally from Scotland. Each came to the United States at an early age, and after they grew up were married in New York. The father "died in 1859, at the age of 70 years ; the mother in 1860, at the age of 60 years. Both were members of the Presbyterian Church. The father was also a jjrominent ofBcer in the Masonic Order. He was a member of the Old Line Whig party, and a great admirer of that prince of statesmen, "Harry of the West." William Seymour was reared in Jefferson county and concluded his education at Watertown Academy, where he spent four years, graduating in the class of '59. He then commenced an apprenticeship at the tinner's trade, in which he continued until the war broke out. Early in 1861 he enlisted in Co. A, Ninety-fourth New York infantry, and was at once ordered South. He served throughout the war. He took part in the first battle of Bull Run, where he was wounded. In 1863 he was transferred to the Twentieth New York cavalry, and at the close of the war was orderly sergeant of his comp:iny. Mr. Seymour took part in a number of the principal battles of the war, including the second battle at Manassas, the battle at Cedar Creek, and the one at Alda. He was also present at the surrender of Lee at Appomattox. After the close of the war he returned to New York, and in 1873 came West as far as Frankfort, Ky., where he worked at his trade. Afterwards he went to Dayton, Ohio, where he had charge of a tinware and stove house, and in 1877 he went to Ft. Smith, Ark., where he was also engaged in the tinware and stove business. Three years afterwards he came to Missouri, locating at Smithville, and in 1884 he came to Kearney, where he engaged in his present business with Mr. Bradley. Their business has already been described in Mr. Bradley's sketch, which appears on a preceding page. In 1873 iSIr. Seymour was married to Miss Fannie Partridge, a daughter of Charles Partridge, formerly of England. Mr. and Mrs. S. have five children :

Mr. Soper was the eighth in a famiiv of thirteen children of Benjamin and Nancy (Tapp) Soper, the father a native of Maryland, but the mother born and reared in Kentucky. They were married in Kentnck}' and came to Missouri in 1830, settling in Clay county, where the father followed farming and carpentering, liaving been brought up to the first occupation and being a natural mechanic. He lived a worthy and respected life in this county and died in 1877, at the age of 81. He had served as justice of the peace for about tweutj^-five years and had always taken a warm interest in public scliools, being for many 3'ears an active and useful member of the district school board. 'Squire Soper was of German descent, though the family had long been settled in this country. His wife died in 1879, at the age of 78. Both were members of the Primitive Baptist Ciiurch. Their children were Almedia, Louisiana, Martha E., Ann M., Almilda, John L., Fannie E., James \V., P. Tapp, Emeline, Nannie N., Benjamin F. and Alfred B. Five of the al)ove are deceased, Almedia, Ann M., John L., James W. and Nannie N. John L. was murdered by an assassin from ambush at the age of 50 j^ears. He was out in his barnyard feeding stock at nightfall and was shot down in cold lilood. The mystery of his murder was never unraveled, although the greatest efforts were made to ferret out the crime, both by the unfortunate man's relatives and the public authorities. This, at least, has proved one exception to the often-quoted couplet of Dryden : -

Tiie difficulty that rendered investigation little less than hopeless was that Mr. Soi)er was not known to have a personal eneni}'. Some years l)efore he had been quite dissipated, but had fully reformed and long prior to the time of his death had worthily established the reputation of being one of the most stead}^ quiet and exemphuy citizens of the community. He was a man of marked intelligence and great energy and was rapidly coming to the front as one of the representative men of the eouuty. The mystery of his murder will probably never be made clear to those who knew him in life, and to whom his sad and untimely taking-olf was a great bereavement, until the light of the Judgment Day, which is to reveal all things, shall come ; then the fate of the murderer will be sadder and far more pitiable in proportion, as the tortures of tiie lost exceed the ills of this life, than that which overlook Mr. Soper on the fatal night of his death. P. Tapp Soper, the subject of this sketch, was born in this county, July 11, 1835. He was reared on his father's farm, and afterwards continued farming as his regular occupation, enirajjinsj also in raisins; and handling stock.

Mr. Soper is now coiiifortahh' situated on a good farm of over 100 acres. In Deceniher, 18()1, he enlisted in the Southern service at Lexington, Mo., becoming a member of an infantry regiment in the Missouri State Guard. Six months hiter, after the expiration of his term of State Guard service, he enlisted in the regular Confederate army and continued in the army until the close of the war, being paroled at Shreve[)ort, La., June IG, 1805. After his first six months' term he was under Gen. Shell)\', and during his entire service participated in no less than forty-two euiragements, and had two horses killed under him, but never himself received a wound. In how many instances, alas ! was the reverse of his experience true. How often it was the case that one horse bore different riders, even on one field of battle, Mhere the brave rcinsmen, one after another, fell, whilst the gallant war-horse which bore them passed through the battle unhai-med ! After the war Mr. Soper returned home and resumed farming. In 186(i he was married to Miss Georgic Cook, a daughter of James and Lucy Cook, formerly of Kentucky. Her father died in 1841, and her mother afterwards became tlie wife of Col. Moses Hul)bard, who also is now deceased. The mother made her home with Mrs. Soper until her death, which occurred in 1878. Mr. and Mi\s. S. have seven children, James M., Mary L., Nannie S., Fannie M., Alexander C, Dollie and Lida M. Thej' have lost four in infanc}'. Both parents are members of the Christian Church.

John V. Stroeter

Mr. Stroeter is one of those thrifty, intelligent German-American citizens, almost invariably law-abiding and useful to the community where they live, who came over to this country when young men, without means and for the purpose of establishing themselves comfortably in life by honest industry and attending strictly to their own business. This is his record here exactly. He was born in Prussia in 1835, and was one of a large family of chihireu. After receiving a partial education in his native countrjs he came to the United States in his seventeenth year and made his home in Wisconsin. There, for several years, he worked on a farm during the cropping seasons as a laborer at six dollars a mouth, with board, washing and mending included, and during the winters he worked for his board, nights and mornings and of Saturdays, and attended school during the balance of each week. His parents, Emanuel and Maria (Kajstner) Stroeter, came over in 1854 with their family, and soon afterwards he went to live svith them. But in 18(50 he started out for himself as a farmer, and five years later he removed to Madison county, 111. Meantime, in 1860, he was married to Miss Elizal)eth Mueller, a daughter of Conrad and Anna Mueller from Hesse-Darmstadt. Mr. Stroeter continued to reside in Illinois until 1S82, when he came to Clay county and bought the farm where he now resides, one of the handsomest farms in this part of the county. It contains 214 acres and is well impi'oved, including a fine brick residence, one of the best barns in the county and other betterments to correspond. Mr. and Mrs. Stroeter have seven children: Edward, Araelie (wife of George Mueller), Ida, Henry, George, Emma and William. Mr. and Mrs. S. are members of the Evangelical Church.

October 1, 1825, was the date of Mr. Teaney's advent into this life, and the place of his birth was in Montgomery county, Va. His parents wore Samuel Teaney and Johannah (Dobbins) Teaney, who were both born and reared in the Old Dominion, and were married there in 1821. The father was a wagon maker l)y trade, and by descent of German stock. In 1837 they sUirted to Missouri, but stopped two years on the way in Tennessee and six years in Kentucky, finally locating in Henry county, this State, in 1843. There the father died the following September, and the mother in the fall of the next year. The father had been a soldier in the Mexican war. They left a family of eight children, six of whom are living. T. G. Teaney started out for himself before reaching his majorit}' and came to Platte county, where he worked as a farm hand for aliout two 3'ears. He was then married in 1847 to Miss Nancy, a daughter of Samuel and Phojbe Ann Wiley, formerly of Madison county, Kentucky. After his marriage Mr. Teaney located on a farm in Buchanan county, where he continued six years. He then removed to the vicinity of Weston, in Platte county. For fourteen years Mr. Teaney resided near Weston. From there he came to Clay county in 18(i7. Mr. Teaney has a good farm in this county of 130 acres. His first wife died here in 1873. She had borne him ten children, all of whom are living, namely : Samuel T., Jason O., Phoebe A., wife of Abraham Shaver; Annette, wife of Marshall Baker, John A., Margaret, James M., Mary F., Charles D. and AVilliam H. In 1879 Mr^Teaney was married to his pi'esent wife, whose maiden name was Elizal)eth Cave, a daughter of Urial and Susan Cave. She had been married to D. T. Duncan, who died in 1873. Both her parents are also deceased. She had five children by her first marriage : Lizzie, wife of Dr. W. L. Porterfield ; Sarah, wife of Charles I\liddaugh ; Rose, wife of Madison Eaton, Susie and Urial, the latter of whom died three years ago, in his twenty-seventh 3'ear. Mr. and Mrs. Teane}' are members of the Baptist Church. Mr. T. served in the Mexican War.

Thomas Wagy

Mr. Wagy became a citizen of Clay county. Mo., in 1869, when he removed here from Adams county. 111., which had been bis home for many years. He has since lived in this county and has become thoroughly identified with its interests, ever lending his aid and influence ill promoting its prosperity and advancement. A warm friend of the pulilic school system, he has ably and staunchly advocated and supported such measures as would tend to the betterment and promulgation of school facilities in this State, and especially in the community in which he lives. His parents were Henry W. Wagy, a farmer by occupation and Virginian by birth, and Eleanor (Stone) Wagy, originally of Oliio. They were married in the latter State, and in 1830, leaving there, settled in Adams county, 111., which continued to be their home during life. The father died June 4, 1.S79, and his widow January 13, 1881. There were eiglit cliildren iiitiie parental family, of whom Thomas was the third. He was born in Licking county, Ohio, Feliriuiry 22, 1830, and was very young when taken to Adams county. 111., where he spent his 3'outh and early manhood, receiving such education as could be obtained from the limited common schools. Farming occupied his time and attention (and in which he was very successful) until his marriage October 24, 1850, in Pike county. 111., when Miss Martha Decker became his wife. Siie was a daughter of Moses and Midinda Decker, nee Boren, of Pike county, where she herself was born, reared and educated. The fruits of this union were six children : Jasi)er, Ellen, wife of John G. Hassel, a farmer in this county; Mary, wife of E. J. Shouldis ; Park, married Miss Minnie Rol)inson and is proprietor of a livery and feed stable at Lawson, Eay county. Mo. ; Nevada and Albert Jasper, those unmarried l)eing still at home with their parents. His present homestead contains 200 acres of improved land, upon which is a neat residence, besides other substantial buildings, and here he is actively engaged in agricultural pursuits. He is a member of the A. F. and A. M. Mrs. Wagy is a member of the M. E. Church.

Pleasant Wilhoit

Mr. Wilhoit began merchandising in April, 1882, at Holt, and has continued in that line of business ever since. The present firm have been quite successful at merchandising, considering the time in which they have been engaged in it, and their house now takes rank among the leading establishments in their line at Kcarne^'. Their customers include many of the best and most substantial citizens of the vicinity, and their trade is almost altogether for cash. They have quite a large custom, and are doing an excellent business. All the members of the firm are gentlemen of recognized standing for business integrity and enterprise, and they have the entire confidence of the public. Prior to engaging in merchandising Mr. Wilhoit taught school for a number of years and then followed farming. He was educated at Plattsburg and in Greenville, at which places, together, he attended school after taking the usual common-school course, for about three years. He followed teaching continuously for about eight years, except for one year, during which he was in the Southern array. In 18()4 he was under Capt. Cundiff, of Shanks' brigade, and served until the close of the war. In 1869 Mr. Wilhoit located on a farm -in Clay county, which he owned, and was afterwards engaged in farming for about thirteen years, or until he began merchandising. Mr. Wilhoit was born in this county, November 6, 1835, and was a son of Andrew Wilhoit, referred to in a sketch of David Wilhoit, which follows this. Pleasant Wilhoit was reared on the farm and was brought up to active industry in farm-work, learning fully all the details of agricultural life. He attended the neighborhood schools, and at the age of 20 began his high school course. In 1873 he was married to Miss M. E. Snody, an adopted daughter of Uncle Dick Clark, her fathei having died when she was infancy. " Uncle " Dick Clark was an uncle of her mother's. Mr. and Mrs. Wilhoit have three children : Luther Elmer, Walton Hugh and Minnie Emma. Two are deceased: Leila and Maude S. Both parents are members of the M. E. Church, Mr. W. having been a member ever since he was 16 years of age ; he now holds the ofSce of deacon in the church. He is also a member of the Masonic Order.

David L. Wilhoit

Back during the latter part of the last century, three brothers by the name of Wilhoit came to this country from Germany and settled in North Carolina. From those, it is believed, all in this country of that name have sprung. Mr. Wilhoit's grandfather, James Wilhoit, married and removed to Tennessee, where he reared a large family of children. Of his children, Andrew Wilhoit, the father of Mr. W., was born in the latter State in 1812. He grew up and removed to Missouri, where he met and was married to Miss Jane Gentry. They settled in Clay county, and here the father, a farmer by occupation, died in about 1859. Mrs. Wilhoit survived until 1877. Both were members of the M. E. Church, and the father was a class leader and deacon in the church. They had a family of 13 children, including the subject of the present sketch. David L. Wilhoit was born in Clay county in 1841, and was reared to a farm life. In early manhood he engaged in farminsj for himself, and in a few years in raising stock. Mr. Wilhoit continued on the farm until 1883, when he and his brother, Preston, formed a partnership, and established a general store at Holt. Their venture i)roved a success, and they are doing a good business. Mr. W. still owns his farm, which he has rented out. In 1864 he was married to Miss Eliza Yates, daughter of William Yates, of Clay county. They have two children, Cordelia B. and Ocie.

William Wright

Mr. Wright is a native of Ireland, and came to this country when a young man about 19 years of age, in 1863. He was born in the county Antrim, in May, 1844, and was an only child of AVilliani and Elizabeth (Hill) Wright. The father is still living, and a resident of that county. Young Wriglit's youth, up to the age of 14, was principally spent at school. He was then employed to attend fine stock, and as a gardener in his native county, being soon afterwards made foreman on the place. Working in these employments for some five years, he learned them thoroughly, and became a skillful and well qualified handler of fine stock, becoming also an e.xcellent judge of stock. After coming to the United States he continued work as a fine stock man, obtaining employment in New Jersey. Five years later he came as far West as Kentucky, where he worked at the same business, and in 1883 he removed to Missouri, and bought the Emersou Green place, in Chiy county, a fine farm of 200 acres. Here he is engaged in general farming and in raising and handling stock. lu 1869 Mr. Wright was married to Miss Jane Gilbci-th, daughter of Joseph and Mary Gilberth, who came from Ireland in 1869. Mrs. Wright was born in the county Derry, Ireland, in March, 1846. Mr. and Mrs. Wright have six children : Mary E., William H., Joseph, John, Henry and Edward. He and wife are members of the Presbyterian Church.

Arthur Yates

Mr Yates, although hardly vet more than entered upon the middle of life, has already established himself as one of the leading agriculturists and stock men of the northern part of the county. His farm contains 180 acres, which is well improved and well stocked, and besides this he has four other farms, altogether aggregating over 860 acres. His farms are all well fenced and otherwise substantially improved, and are run principally in grass for stock purposes, tdthough he also raises enough grain and other produce for general farm uses. Now, only in his forty-third year, he started out for himself when a young man without any means, and has accumulated all he possesses by his own industry, energy and good management. Mr. Yates is also an extensive dealer in stock and buys and ships to the wholesale markets on a large scale. In this he has been very successful, and is reputed one of the best stock men in his part of the county. Mr. Yates was born on his father's farm in Kearney township, April 16, 1842, and was the sixth in a family of eight children of William L. and Elizabeth (Gow) Yates, from Mason county, Ky. They came here in 1831, and the father died September 24, 1869, at the age of sixty-six years. Mrs. Yates died in 1844. Both were members of the Baptist Church. Mr. Yates, Sr., was subsequently married twice, his second wife surviving her marriage only a short time, and leaving one daughter, Nannie. His third wife is still living. She was a Miss Rebecca Watkins. Mr. Yates, Jr., the subject of this sketch, was reared on the farm and on the 27th of November, 1862, was married to Miss Agnes Shackelford, daughter of James and Mary Schackelford, formerly of Kentucky. Her father is deceased, but her mother is still living. Mr. Yates and wife have six children: Shelby, William, Arthur, Roy, Mabel and Jesse. Two others are deceased : Archie and Ruby. Mr. and Mrs. Y. are members of the Christian Church.