Jackson County, Missouri - Biographical sketches, 1920 (part 6 of 15)

Edgar Goodloe attended the ward school of Kansas City, Central High School, and the Kansas City Business College. He established his daily in 1917. He was married on June 5, 1910, to Miss Clara Inlow, of Blue Springs, a daughter of William and Martha Inlow. The children born of this union are:_ Martha Belle, born Aug. 5, 1913; Mary, born Nov. 29, 1914; Vera, born Dec. 31, 1915; Edgar, born April 23, 1919.

Mr. Goodloe is a stanch Democrat. The Presbyterian church is the place of family worship. He is affiliated with the Ancient Free and Ac¬ cepted Masons of Blue Springs, and is a live, progressive and enterprising citizen.

Theodore Pressly. - Situated at the forks of the two main roads, 10 miles southeast of Independence, is one of the most attractive farm homes in Jackson County, owned by Theodore Pressly. The Pressly farm con¬ sists of 118 acres of valuable farm land. The place is devoted to general farm, stock raising and dairying. Mr. Pressly owns a herd of 23 head of cows, five of which are pure-bred Jerseys.

Theodore Pressly was born in Boone county, Indiana, June 7, 1871. He is a son of J. T. and Julia A. (Wiley) Pressly, natives of Indiana. J. T. Pressly was a Union veteran of the Civil War. He resided in Indiana until 1875, and then made the trip to Nebraska, where he homesteaded land in Kearney County, taking up a soldier's claim of 160 acres of farm land, and also filing on a tree claim of 160 acres. He erected a sod house which was the first home of the family on the plains of Nebraska. This was later supplanted by a frame house. In 1884, he sold his land in Nebraska and removed to Howell County, Missouri. He resided in Howell County from November, 1884, to March, 1896, when he moved to Kansas City. He was twice married. His first marriage was with Julia Ann Wiley, who bore him the following children : William Boy, of Corsicana, Texas; Edwin K., Dalis, Texas; Theodore, of this review; Albert, St. Clair County, Missouri; Ora, living on a farm north of Blue Springs; Wiley G., Mt. Washington, Mo. ; Mrs. Lora Alice Leonard, living in Colorado ; John T., Jr., lives in Arizona. The mother of these children died on Jan. 19, 1892. Sometime later John T. Pressly married Margaret Boyd, who bore him four children: James A., Mary, Leona and Emmett.

The first school which Theodore Pressly attended was a little sod house on the Nebraska plains. He later attended school in Howell County, Missouri. In 1892 he began making his own way in the world, and has achieved one of the distinct successes in Jackson County. In 1903 he purchased his present farm. Practically every improvement has been placed upon the Pressly place by the present owner, and Mr. Pressly is still building with an eye to the future, and he is imbued with a desire to produce one of the finest places in Jackson County.

Sept. 22, 1897, Theodore Pressly and Emma Mary Ricketts were united in marriage. Mrs. Emma M. Pressly was born in Wilson County, Kansas, and is a daughter of Jeremiah Clay and Nancy Ricketts, the latter of whom makes her home with Mr. and Mrs. Pressly. Three children have been bom of this marriage: Pearl, John Lee and Hadley.

Frank P. Chiles. - The most extensive live stock producer and feeder in Jackson County is, without doubt, Frank P. Chiles of Fort Osage town¬ ship. Mr. Chiles has been a stockman since early manhood and has achieved a success in his business which is remarkable. To successfully produce and feed live tock for the markets in large numbers requires a knowledge of stock above the average, business acumen and ability of a high order, and daring to proceed on a large scale. Mr. Chiles has these qualifications and has made good. His home farm, consisting of 750 acres near Buckner on the Lexington road, is equipped for the purpose of handling large numbers of cattle and hogs and is adapted to the produc¬ tion of corn, being mostly bottom land of high fertility. Three concrete silos store forage for the winter feeding and a large residence sets on the hill side. In addition to this farm Mr. Chiles owns 1,000 to 1,200 acres in Bates County, one and a half miles east of Drexel. During his career he has fed more hogs and cattle than any other man of his age in Jackson County. Mr. Chiles' operations call for the feeding and marketing of from 1,000 to 1,200 head of hogs and from 300 to 800 head of cattle annually. He keeps from five to six men in his employ the year around.

Frank P. Chiles was born in Jackson County, July 6, 1870, and is a son of the late Henry C. Chiles, one of the best known citizens of the past decade in Jackson County and who was a son of Joel Franklin Chiles, one of the first pioneer settlers of this county. A biography of Henry C. Chiles appears in this volume as does that of Joel Franklin Chiles, the first of the family to locate in this county in pioneer days.

Mr. Chiles was educated in the public schools and attended Wood¬ land College when it was in charge of Prof. George Bryan. He began his career as a stockman under his father when but a young man and has

Mr. Chiies was married in 1897 to Miss Beall Hudspeth, of Jackson County, a daughter of Joel Rufus Hudspeth, a sketch of whom appears in this volume. The children born to this union are: Richard, Sarah, Frank P., Jr., Henry Clay and Annabel.

Richard Chiles, the soldier of the family, was born in June, 1899. He graduated from the Buckner High School and is a student at the Mis¬ souri State University. In June, 1917, he enlisted, the day after his graduation from high school, in the tank corps of the National army and was among the first to be sent to France where he participated in the hardest fighting on the Western front, taking part in the Battle of the Argonne Forest and was awarded the Croix de Guerre for bravery in bat¬ tle. He was discharged from the service on May 1, 1919 and is now study¬ ing at the State University.

Mr. Chiles is a Democrat but has little time for political matters. He is a member of the Christian church and is well and favorably known throughout .Jackson County as a successful and enterprising citizen.

William B. Howard. - The accomplishments of the late William B. Howard, of Lees Summit, will long be in evidence. Builder of a large estate, founder of a prosperous town, liberal in his donations to public and religious enterprises, Mr. Howard was a man worth while to his adopted county. William B. Howard was born March 10, 1821, in Jeffer¬ son County, Kentucky, and died at his home at Lees Summit, July 13, 1896. He was a son of John Howard, of Maryland, who was of English descent. His paternal great-grandfather was the nearest heir to the Duke of Norfolk, England, but forfeited all rights to the dukedom by immigrat¬ ing to America. John Howard moved to Kentucky in 1800, with the van¬ guard of the hardy pioneers who paved the way for the development of what was then known as the "Dark and Bloody Ground." He manded Annie G. Bullitt, of Jefferson County, Kentucky. She was a daughter of Col. Alexander Bullitt, of Virginia, who was a Kentucky pioneer, and who served as president of the first constitutional convention of his State. Mr. Howard settled within nine miles of the present city of Louisville. His children were: William B., of this reviey; Helen M., deceased; Mrs. Anna C. Courtney, of Louisville, Ky.

young man and purchased 220 acres of land in 1842. Feb. 8, 1844, he was married to Maria D. Strother, of Bardstown, Ky., a daughter of John D. Strother. April 1, 1844, Mr. Howard located on a farm in Blue town¬ ship, cleared the land of timber, and erected a home. In 1850 he moved to a point within five miles of Lees Summit, and purchased a tract of 833 acres, consisting of prairie and timber land. Four hundred acres of this land was fenced and improved, with a log cabin. In 1854 he erected a large residence, which is still standing, and increased his acreage. During the Civil War he was harassed by bushwhackers, and was arrested in October, 1862, by order of Colonel Pennock, Federal officer in command at Independence, and he was placed in jail. After one month's durance he was released on $25,000 bond and permitted to go to Kentucky. His wife at this time was in poor health, and she died in Kentucky, Feb. 16, 1865, leaving the following children : William Bullitt, born May 10, 1846, died in 1851; and Anna Strother, born Feb. 18, 1848, married George F. Lee, and resides in Louisville, Ky. Upon his return to Jackson County, Mr. Howard found his farm run down, grown up with brush and shrubs, and found that the house had been partly burned. However, throughout the war, when other places had been burned to the ground, the Howard home had had protection. He persuaded some neighbors to move into his home, and proceeded to again place his farm in cultivation, and soon rehabitated the estate.

Mr. Howard became owner of a large estate of 2,300 acres. In Octo¬ ber, 1865, he laid out the town of Lees Summit, intending to give it the name of Strother, but the engineer in charge named the new town, as it is now called. Lees Summit has grown to be one of the important and thriv¬ ing towns on the line of the Missouri Pacific Railway, and is an important livestock center and shipping point. Mr. Howard gave to the city, Howard Park, consisting of 20 acres, and bt*ilt thereon a half-mile racing track, 60 feet in width, and also a quarter mile track, 40 feet wide. He also donated lots to the churches of the city, which he founded. He was one of the founders of and a director of the Bank of Lees Summit. Nov. 20, 1884, he removed to Lees Summit and from that time until his death, he was thoroughly identified with the life of his town.

Sept. 19, 1867, Mr. Howard was married to Mary C. Jones, who bore him children as follow: Maria E., born July 6, 1868, wife of John R. Ransom, police commissioner of Kansas City, and mother of three chil¬ dren, Kathryn, John and Elizabeth Ransom; Robert M. Howard, born Sept. 17, 1870, living on the old homestead, married Irene Taggart, who died Sept. 1, 1919, leaving one son, William Howard; Mrs. Mary Bullitt Browning, Lees Summit, born Aug. 5, 1873, mother of two sons, Howard and Phelps; Thomas C. Howard, a sketch of whom appears in this vol¬ ume; Florence C., born June 7, 1879, wife of 0. H. Dove, Kansas City, and she has one son by a former marriage, Oeorge Peake ; William B. Howard, born May 26, 1887, married Ella Collins, and resides at Lees Summit.

The mother of the foregoing children was born in Howard County, Missouri, in 1843, and departed this life in 1910. She was a daughter of William C. and Elizabeth (Jones) Jones, natives of Virginia and Ten¬ nessee, respectively, who came to Missouri in 1840. During the Civil War, William C. Jones went to Idaho, and died at Fort Laramie in 1863. Prior to her marriage, Mrs. Mary C. Howard taught school. She was a woman of fine education.

Mr. How'ard was active in the Democratic party, but never sought political preferment, the only office which he ever held being that of treasurer of the school board for a number of years. In filling this office, he was enabled to further the cause of education in his home com¬ munity. He was steward of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, for 50 years, and taught the bible class for a number of years. He was widely known for his liberality and progressiveness, and is remembered by those who knew him as a kind and just man - successful in business. As a stockman, Mr. Howard was one of the builders and developers of Jackson County.

Thomas C. Howard, farmer and stockman, and owner of 360 acres of land in Prairie and Blue townships, on the Woods Chapel highway, within nine miles of Independence, was bora Nov. 19, 1875, on the Howard home¬ stead. He was reared and educated in Jackson County, and attended the public schools of Lees Summit. Mr. Howard has always followed farming and stock raising, and is now operating a dairy in connection with his farm.

Thomas C. Howard was married Oct. 9, 1901, to Miss Nellie Hockenberry, a daughter of Joseph and Mary Hockenberry, of Jackson County. Two children have been born to this marriage: Elizabeth, aged 17 years, a graduate of the Lees Summit High School, and now a student in the Christian College at Columbia, Mo. ; and Thomas, Jr., aged nine years.

Mr. Howard is a Democrat, and is a member of the Christian church. He is affiliated with the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Lees Summit.

William T. Helm, farmer and orchardist, located four miles east of Independence, in Blue township, has one of the finest orchards and pret¬ tiest farmsteads in this section of Missouri. The Helm farm consists of 67 acres, 23 acres of which are devoted to orchards. The Helm orchard is 17 years old, and produces Johnathans, Grimes Golden, York Imperial, Black Twig and Mammoth apples, which command a ready sale at good prices. The output of these orchards will range from 2,500 to 4,000 bushels annually, and is sold to local dealers, and consumers of Independence and Kansas City.

William T. Helm was born Aug. 17, 1860, in eastern Jackson County, and is a son of James Thomas Helm, a native of Jackson County, who lost his life in August, 1862, at the Battle of Lone Jack, while serving with the Confederate forces during the Civil War. He was a son of Hiram Helm, a native of Kentucky, and early pioneer of Jackson County. At James T. Helm's death two children were left fatherless: William T., of this review, and George Helm, born April 19, 1862, who died Oct. 3, 1914.

James Thomas Helm was a son of Hiram Helm, a native of Kentucky, who was one of the pioneer settlers of Jackson County. In early man¬ hood J. T. Helm married Matilda Corn, who was born in this county, a daughter of John Corn, in 1841, and departed this life Jan. 13, 1914. She was married the second time to Thomas Stayton. Three children were horn to this marriage : Col. Ed. M. Stayton, Christopher Stayton, and one child who died in infancy.

W. T. Helm resided with his mother and grandfather after his father's death for 11 years. She then married Thomas Stayton, with whom he lived four years. He then operated his grandfather's farm for two years. When Thomas Stayton died, W. T. Helm located on the Stayton home place, with his mother, in 1877. He purchased a farm, east of his present farm, in 1882. He sold his first place at the time of the great land boom, and in 1886, he purchased his present home place, upon which he has placed all of the existing improvements.

Mr. Helm was married in 1882, to Dora Hedges, who was born in Jackson County, a daughter of the late John A. Hedges and Serilda Hedges, the latter of whom is still living, at the age of 83 years, at Adams Station.

The children bom to W. T. Helm and wife are: Homer, Bruce, Nina and James. Homer is farming in Jackson County, is married, and has two children, Vilma and Gladys. Bruce is farming on the home place, and is his father's mainstay. Nina is the wife of George Liddell, living on Spring

Mr. Helm is a Democrat, a member of the Presbyterian church, and is fraternally affiliated with the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, Lodge No. 76, of Independence.

Ambrose C. Milton, farmer and stockman, and member of one of the most prominent of the old families of Jackson County, was born near Lees Summit, July 22, 1872. He is a son of the late Benjamin Milton, a sketch of whom appears in this volume of Jackson County history in connection with that of R. F. Milton, brother of the subject of this review.

When four years of age Mr. Milton removed to Virginia with his par¬ ents, and remained in that State until 1884, when he returned to Jackson County, and engaged in farming. Coming of a family of hustler and energetic men who have, without an exception, made good in their native county, he has been a successful farmer. Mr. Milton is cultivating 110 acres of land, owned by J. H. Milton, his brother, and is owner of a tract of 15 acres adjoining.

In connection with his farming operations, Mr. Milton has done con¬ siderable construction work throughout Jackson County, in the employ of the county. He was married in 1911 to Miss Jessie Drummond, a native of Missouri, and a daughter of D. J. Drummond. Three children have blessed this marriage: Leroy Ambrose, Helen Virginia and James Fi'anklin.

Mr. Milton is a Democrat and takes a good citizen's interest in civic and political matters. He is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias, the Fraternal Order of Eagles and the Modem Woodmen of America.

John L. Hilburn, a prosperous and enterprising farmer and stockman, of Blue township, and owner of 110 acres of well improved land, upon which he has resided since 1901, is a native of Boone County, Mis¬ souri. He was born in 1855, and is a son of Elias and Sarah (Zumwalt) Hilburn, who were of Irish and German ancestry, respectively. Elias Hilburn was born and reared in Missouri, and died when his son, John L., was but a child.

Reared in Boone County, John L. Hilburn naturally followed the vo¬ cation of his forefathers, and became a tiller of the soil. He came to Jackson County in 1899, and during the first few years of his residence in this county, he rented a farm near Independence. He then came to his present place, and has placed practically all of the existing improve¬ ments on the faiTO. His residence and farm buildings are built upon the solid rock on the ridge overlooking the valley of the Little Blue, and the natural beauty of the location lends itself to the attractiveness of the home surroundings. Mr. Hilbuim has spent over $5,000, improving his residence and buildings on ^'Rock Hill," the name of his place. In the spring of 1916 he erected a pretty, modem residence, valued at $5,000, with all improvements and conveniences to make life comfortable. Here he and Mrs. Hilburn are living, while his son lives in the old home.

Mr. Hilburn was married in 1890 to Miss Pearl Short, who was born in Jackson County, but was reared in Indiana. Three children have blessed this marriage: Roscoe J., Lloyd Rufus and John David.

Roscoe J. Hilburn was born on Thursday, Nov. 30, 1893, was married on March 8, 1916, to Miss Hazel Seevers, and has two children, Roscoe, Jr. ,and Virginia Arvilla.

Mr. Hilburn is a Democrat. The family church is the Baptist. Mr. Hilburn is a member of the Knights of Pythias, Lodge No. 3, Inde¬ pendence.

Edward Conboy, Jr., farmer and stockman, Blue township, is a native son of Jackson County. His father was one of the best known of the old settlers of this county, and one of the most successful in his day. The elder Conboy began his career in Jackson County as a worker on the railroad, serving as construction foreman on the Missouri Pacific railroad for a number of years. Edward Conboy, Jr., was born Jan. 15, 1874, on the farm adjoining the home place, and is a son of the late Edward Conboy.

Edward Conboy, the elder, was born in Ireland, in 1832, and died in April, 1916, at his home in Jackson County. He was married in Ireland, to Johanna Howard, who was born in 1854, and died in February, 1912. The Conboys emigrated from their native land in 1868, came to America, and for the first three years resided in New York State. In 1872, Mr. Conboy came west and located at Little Blue, where he was employed on the Missouri Pacific Railroad as foreman of the construction and repair crew. He was industrious, economical and ambitious. Being a true son of the soil, it was his ambition to become a land owner, and he very soon invested his savings in a farm. A small farm did not content him, how¬ ever, and he increased his acreage to a total of 400 acres, which is now owned by his heirs, and operated by his sons, Edward and John Conboy.

Politically, the late Edward Conboy was a Democrat, as are his sons. He and his family were all members of the Catholic church. He was liberal in his support of his church, public-spirited, progressive, took ad¬ vantage of the opportunities which presented themselves to him, and made good in the land of his adoption. His sons, Edward, Jr., and John, are worthy sons of a good father.

Ceorge B. Milton, farmer and stockman, and owner of 80 acres of good farm land, in section 19, township 19, range 49, Blue township, was born in Weston, Mo., his parents having removed from Jackson County to Buchanan County because of Order No, 11 during the Civil War. Mr. Milton was bom Aug. 18, 1864, and is a son of the late Benjamin Milton, a sketch of whom appears in this volume in connection with that of R. F. Milton. In 1876 the family went to Virginia, where George B. Milton re¬ mained until 1882, Upon his return, he first entered the employ of Wil¬ liam Leary, at Buckner, Mo., for three months. He then engaged in railroading, and was in the employ of the Missouri Pacific Railroad Com¬ pany until 1886. In that year he went to San Diego, Calif., and for two months was employed on a bee ranch. He again engaged in railroading, and was employed on the California Southern Railroad, with headquar¬ ters at National City, Calif. He was transferred to San Bernardino and thence to Barstow, where he was advanced to the post of hostler in the roundhouse, and for two years worked under Charles Daniels. His next promotion was to the post of switching engineer, a post which he held until the railroad worker's strike of 1894, In that year he returned to Jackson County, and farmed for one year. In 1895 he went to Leadville, Colo., and for the next six years he engaged in railroading. After his marriage, in 1901, he came back to Missouri, and after three months em¬ ployment on the Great Western Railroad, he engaged in farming. Mr. Milton purchased his farm in 1903.

Aug. 21, 1901, at Leadville, Colo., Mr. Milton was married to Miss Ada McAllister, who was bom at Port Jervis, N. Y., Sept. 25, 1867. Mr. and Mrs. Milton then took a honeymoon trip to Buffalo and eastern points. She is a daughter of John and Mary Elizabeth (Beck) McAllister, the lat¬ ter a native of New York. John McAllister was born in Glasgow, Scot¬ land. In 1870 he located at Suffolk, Va., where he operated a sawmill and a large farm for the next six years. In 1876 the family returned to Port Jervis, N. Y., and after the mother's death, the future Mrs. Milton went to Leadville, Colo. All of the children of the family were married except a younger brother, Charles, who being in poor health, went to Leadville, secured a position, and then sent for his sister to keep house for him. Later, after the Miltons had come to Jackson County, Charles McAllister came to Kansas City and was employed in a Kansas City freight office until his death from typhoid fever in 1905. He died at Mrs. Milton's home. The McAllister children were: George, who died at Port Jervis, N. Y. ; Mary Branch, deceased; Archibald, Denver, Colo.; Augustus, New¬ ark, N. J. ; John, the eldest of the family, died of typhoid fever; Howard McAllister became an engineer at the age of 19 years, and is now living at Port Jervis, N. Y., and a son. Dr. Lester McAllister, served with the National Army in France; Carolina, was the second child bom in this family. John McAllister was born Sept. 26, 1822. Mary E. Beck Mc¬ Allister was bom Sept. 30, 1827.

The children bom to George B. and Ada Milton are as follow: Char¬ lotte, bom in Leadville, Colo., May 20, 1902, is a senior in Independence High School; Howard, born Sept. 26, 1906, is in the seventh grade of Pleasant Grove school; Robert Franklin, born May 6, 1909, is in the fourth grade.

Mr. Milton is a Democrat, and is a member of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and the Knights of Pythias. Mrs. Milton is a member of the Baptist church.

George W. White. The late George W. White of the Blue Springs neighborhood, was a citizen of true worth, industrious, honest, and enter¬ prising. He was born in Virginia, Jan. 28, 1860 and died July 11, 1893, while still a young man. He was a son of Benton and Martha (Scott) White the former of whom was wounded in battle during the Civil War in 1862 while serving with the Confederate forces. He died soon after receiving his wounds. The widow and five children four sons and a daughter came to Missouri in 1871 and made a settlement in Jackson County. These children are as follows: John White, a farmer, near Blue Springs, Louis, of Blue Springs, Mo.; George W^., of this review; Mary White died at the age of 18 years; William was accidentally killed wnen 24 years old, by a falling tree, while cutting timber. Mrs. Martha White, mother of the foregoing children died on May 20, 1889.

Feb. 27, 1883, George W. White was united in marriage with Miss Sallie L. Stayton, a member of an old pioneer family. After their mar¬ riage Mr. and Mrs. White settled on the old Stayton home place. This farm served as their home for four years, when they then sold it and on

Rev. James G. Dalton. Arthur Stayton

Feb. 14, 1887, bought the present White home place near Blue Springs. The original home place consisted of 78 acres, to which in 1909, Mrs. White added 76 acres, making a total of 154 acres.

Since her husband's death Mrs. White has ably managed her farm, reared her family and even added to her possessions. Few women, con¬ fronted with the task of going ahead with the conduct of a farm, children to rear, and business details to look after, have done better than Mrs. White. The children born to George W. and Sallie White are as follows : Henry Clay and Hugh George ; and Grover S., deceased. Henry Clay White was born Nov. 17, 1884 and resides on the other White farm. He is in the employ of Jackson County. He married Beulah Lowe and has one child, Ruth Duvall. Hugh George White was bom July 1, 1890 and is operating a service truck for Jackson County. He served six months in the National army and was in training at Camp McArthur, Texas.

Mrs. Sallie L. (Stayton) White was bom July 22, 1867, on the old Stayton home place. She is a daughter of Arthur (bom Aug. 15, 1823, died Dec. 31, 1874) and Harriet Ann (Rule) Stayton. Arthur Stayton was first married to Delilah Wells, who died Sept. 20, 1846. He was a son of John Stayton, a native, of Tennessee, who first went to Kentucky in 1828 and the following year came to Jackson County, Mo., thus becoming one of the first pioneers of this county. He was accompanied by his wife and ten children: Christopher; Rachel, later Mrs. Noland; Kate; Thomas; Arthur; Drusilla, who became Mrs. Saunders; Moses; Andrew; Samuel; and Martha, who became Mrs. Stout. John Stayton settled on the Kiger road and entered 700 acres of government land. He brought but two slaves with him. He built a small brick house of two rooms where he made his home during the remainder of his days. John A. Stayton and his family lived amid the most primitive conditions, but prospered as the years passed and members of this fine old family occupy prominent places in the civic and industrial life of Jackson County at this day. John Stayton and his wife Susan were of the sturdy pioneer type who left their imprint upon the early life of the county and left descendants who are honored members of society.

Drusilla, deceased; and Mrs. Eliza Montgomery of Blue Springs, Mo. In 1855, he was married to Harriet N. Rule, who was born in Ray County, Mo., in 1836 and died Jan. 18, 1916. She was a daughter of Rev. Thomas Rule, a primitive Baptist minister of Kentucky, who came from Ray County, to Jackson in 1836 and was prominently identified with the affairs of this county in the early pioneer days. Tradition says that he assisted in laying off the town plat of Kansas City with a grapevine which served in lieu of a surveyor's chain. The children born to Arthur and Harriet Stayton were as follows; Clarissa, died at the age of 18 years; Thomas resides near Lees Summit ; Arthur died at the age of 18 years ; Mrs. Susan Martha Johnson, a widow near Blue Springs; Mrs. Sallie Lee White, of this review ; Christopher Landes, near Blue Springs ; David Clayton, a farmer living west of Blue Springs.

After his marriage, Arthur Stayton made his home in a log cabin on 40 acres of the old Stayton homestead. His first home was a brick house of two rooms which he built in 1862, to which he added a large addition in 1870. When Order No. 11 was issued during the war between the states he took his slaves and went to Texas where he left them. Mrs. Stayton bought a team of oxen and went with Landes Stayton to Audrain County, meeting her husband at Lexington when he w'as on his way to Texas. Aithur Stayton increased his holdings to 240 acres and prospered duiing the long years of his life. He was a Democrat and was liberal in his donations to the cause of religion.

The White home place is one of the pretty and attractive faimisteads in Jackson County. Mrs. White is deserving of much praise and credit for the able manner in which she has managed her affairs during the past

The W^hite home place near Blue Springs is historic ground because of the fact that it was an old time camping ground of travelers and early set¬ tlers who were coming into the country. The original Blue Springs from which the town took its name are located on the place.

Mrs. White has an interesting relic in the way of a genuine old time walnut chest, hand made, in a remarkable state of preservation, brought by her grandparents from Tennessee and made in 1830. This chest formerly had a false bottom in a small drawer or box in one end which served as a hiding place for valuables and money. It was carried away by her parents when Order No. 11 was issued and brought back.

Kev. James Grigsby Dalton, late pastor of the Little Blue and Pleasant Prairie Cumberland Presbyterian churches, was born in Greenbrier County, Va., June 7, 1824 and died at his country home in Sniabar town¬ ship, April 9, 1910. When he was 15 years old he came with his parents, Richard and Mary (Renick) Dalton to Missouri. His father was a native of Albemarle County, Va., and the mother of Rockingham County. They made the journey to Missouri by wagon taking two months on the road, arriving at Lexington. Richard Dalton walked the entire distance from Virginia to Missouri, The father purchased 200 acres of unimproved land in Johnson County. He developed his farai and died in 1842 at the age of 72 years. At his death he left a family of five sons and three daugh¬ ters. His wife died in 1857.

J. G. Dalton remained at home until he had attained his majority and then began teaching school. In 1847 he became a member of the Cumber¬ land Presbyterian church and began to preach, delivering his first sermon in Shiloh church in Johnson County, on the first Sunday in May, 1848. He united with the Presbytery Oct. 1, 1847 and was licensed to preach in the same month. He was ordained April 1, 1852 by the Lexington Presby¬ tery near Dover, Lafayette County. He spent five years in the circuit w'ork in Johnson, Henry, St. Clair and Lafayette Counties, with 28 appoint¬ ments. The territory being thinly settled, he preached almost entirely in private homes and occasionally in a school house or court house. Dur¬ ing the summer, from July to October, he was engaged in camp meeting work and at each meeting had from 25 to 100 conversions. At a meeting held in Johnson County, after an exhortation by Uncle Jake Crow, over 100 penitents came forward. Uncle Jake established the Little Blue or the Lobb church, three miles north of Blue Springs. In 1842 a great re¬ ligious revival took place resulting in the establishment of a number of churches. In 1854 Mr, Dalton took charge of the Cumberland Presby¬ terian church, the Little Blue or the "Lobb" church, as it is now known. The same year the congregation erected a frame house of worship. After the Civil War he served as pastor of the Pleasant Prairie church, fonnerly the Bone Hill church. He was the regular pastor of the Little Blue church for over 50 years, of Pleasant Prairie church for 40 years and for 15 years was pastor of the Chapel Hill church. He organized the Cumberland Presbyterian church at Blue Springs and had charge of it for two years.

Rev. Mr. Dalton was marrried Nov. 30, 1865 to Miss Lucy Jane Crump of Jackson County, born Nov. 10, 1842, a daughter of Samuel and Paulina (Cox) Crump, the former a native of Boyle County, Ky. and the latter of

Estill County. They came to Jackson County from Kentuck3^ See sketch of John T, Crump. Mrs. Dalton was a school pupil of Mr. Dalton's. The children of Rev. James G. and Lucy J. Dalton, are: Samuel G., born June 12, 1867, on the home place on which Mr. Dalton located in 1871 ; Mary Elizabeth, formerly a teacher at home ; and Paulina Agnes, wife of Luther W. Tyer, and mother of one child, Dalton Tyer, who lives on the adjoin¬ ing farm. Miss Mary Dalton was educated in Odessa College and taught in the public schools for 24 years. Samuel Crump, father of Mrs. Dalton, was a justice of the peace, and operated a mill on Sni creek, for some years prior to his death.

Reverend Dalton accomplished a vast amount of good during his many years of preaching. He was thoroughly imbued with the desire to faithfully perform the work of the Lord and had few thoughts outside of his work as a minister. During his leisure time he cultivated his faiTn of 40 acres and was universally respected and loved throughout the countryside by all people regardless of denomination. When the merger of the Cumberland Presbyterian churches took place with the United Presbyterian church, Mr. Dalton remained with his church for which he had toiled for over 62 years. His wife joined the church after her mar¬ riage with Mr. Dalton and she, too, has ever remained true to the Cum¬ berland Presbyterians. While a man of the Lord and devoted to the Savior's work, he had strong sense of humor which enabled him to over¬ come many difficulties during his long and arduous career.

Reverend Dalton married more couples, in all probability, than any other pioneer preacher in Jackson County. In many instances through¬ out the county there are families which boast that he performed the mar¬ riage ceremony of two or three generations of the same family.

Morgan V. Dillingham. - The Dillinghams are among the oldest and most prominent of the pioneer families of Jackson County. For over 80 years this family has been well known in this section of Missouri, and the descendants of the first Dillingham to settle in this county have occupied leading places in the community. Morgan V. Dillingham, successful breeder and large land owner of Blue Springs, is one of the best known men in this section of the Middle West. For over 40 years he has been a breeder of jacks, and his fine farm, near Blue Springs, is widely known as the Dillingham Jack Farm. He has bred and sold a pure strain of jacks and has sold the product of his farm to buyers in all parts of the United States. Of late years it has been practically unnecessary for him to advertise the fact that he is a breeder, on account of the wide range of his prestige. Buyers come to the farm from all parts of the United States or write to him for a shipment. The Dillingham herd of jacks and jennets numbers from 25 to 30 head, generally. The herd leader was purchased of J. Finley,, of Higginsville, for $2,000, and was bred in eastern Ken¬ tucky by Dr. Shields.

Morgan Veachel Dillingham was born Sept. 18, 1843, on a farm near Blue Springs, Mo. He is a son of Joshua and Susan J. '(Walker) Dill¬ ingham, the former a native of Kentucky.

Joshua Dillingham, the father, was born on March 29, 1816, and died Dec. 16, 1875. He was reared to young manhood in Kentucky, and in about 1835 he came to Missouri, and was here married, Aug. 25, 1842, to Susan J. Walker, who was born Sept. 18, 1826, and departed this life June 26, 1911. She was a daughter of Morgan Walker, one of the first pioneers of Jackson County, who assisted in the building of the first court house of Jackson County, which was built of logs in 1827. He became a large land owner, obtaining possession of 2,200 acres, and was one of the leading citizens of the pioneer country in his day. Joshua Dillingham first located in Lafayette County, prior to coming to Jackson County. He accumulated a considerable tract of land adjoining Blue Springs, and here reared his family.

Morgan V. Dillingham was reared in Jackson County, and received such education as was afforded by the primitive schools of his youth. He became engaged in mercantile pursuits, and for 22 years he was in part¬ nership with Thomas W. Records at Blue Springs. This store is still conducted by Mr. Dillingham's son. He has accumulated a splendid farm of 180 acres, adjoining Blue Springs on the south and east, and is vicepresident of the Bank of Blue Springs. As far back as 1879, he became interested in breeding jacks, and has achieved considerable success in this important branch of animal husbandry. While engaged in merchandis¬ ing, he carried on his farming operations. Mr. Dillingham has one of the handsomest stone residences in Jackson County, in Blue Springs.

Mr. Dillingham was married in 1869 to Miss Malvina Eliza Mock, who has borne him children as follows: Georgia M., David M., Nellie May, Jessie Gertrude, Virginia Leala, Edgar and Edna, twins, and Frank Marie. Georgia M. Dillingham was born Nov. 1, 1869, married Charles Cable, and died Jan. 14, 1901. David M. was bora June 7, 1872, married Mary Estella Spicer, June 23, 1898, and is a member of the Blue Springs Mercan¬ tile Company. Nellie May was bora June 5, 1874, and was married in July, 1893, to William P. Records, resides at Lawton, Okla. Edgar and

The mother of the foregoing children was born Feb. 13, 1850, in Jackson County, Missouri, and was a daughter of Dr. David and Sarah E. (Ellington) Mock, the former a native of North Carolina, and the latter of Ohio. Dr. David Mock was a physician, who came from Ohio to Mis¬ souri in the late forties. He first lived in Lafayette and Platte counties. With his wife he essayed to cross the plains en route to the gold fields of California, during the years of the great migration to the Pacific coast. He reached Denver, but the hardships of the journey proved too much for his wife's frail health, and they returned to Missouri. After the close of the Civil War, he was among the first men to locate in Jackson County, where he practiced his profession for many years.

Mr. Dillingham is a stanch Democrat of the old school. He is a mem¬ ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, and is highly esteemed and one of the respected citizens of Jackson County.

John T. Ware, well known citizen of Blue Springs, Mo., is a native son of Jackson County. Mr. Ware was born on a farm near Independ¬ ence, April 8, 1869, and the half century of his life has been spent within the confines of his native county. He is the son of John and Belle (Daniel) Ware, the former a native of Kentucky, and the latter of Rich¬ mond, Va. John Ware, his father, was born May 22, 1822, and died Aug. 11, 1901. Mrs. Belle Ware was born Dec. 22, 1826, and departed this life April 14, 1893. John Ware came to Jackson County before the Civil War^ and followed farming continuously in this county until compelled by Order No. 11 to leave the country. He thereupon went to Kentucky and re¬ mained until the war closed. After which he returned to Jackson County and settled on a farm near Independence, where he resided until he moved to a place south of Blue Springs.

Ten children were born to John and Belle Ware, as follow: Fannie, deceased; John, deceased; Robert, Independence, Mo.; Christopher, de¬ ceased; William M., Webster County, Missouri; Mrs. Annie Cook, Rock Island, Texas; Mrs. Sue Cummins, Grain Valley, Mo.; Mrs. Annie Daniel, Blue Springs, Mo.; John T., of this review; Frank, employed in the Sugar Creek Oil Refinery, Kansas City, Mo.

John T. Ware has always followed farming, and is now managiig the Prewitt farm of 309 acres, southeast of Blue Springs. He was mar¬ ried Sept. 16, 1896, to Miss Mary Elizabeth Prewitt, who has borne him two children; Georgia Frances, born July 18, 1900, a student in Missouri Valley College; Forrest Anselm, born Oct. 10, 1902. The mother of the foregoing children was born in Jackson County, March 12, 1876, and is the only child of the late George W. and Fannie (Lobb) Prewitt.

George W. Prewitt was born near the town of Blue Springs, Mo., Dec. 16, 1836, and departed this life July 26, 1917. He was a son of Benjamin Wesley Prewitt, a native of Kentucky, and son of Joseph Pre¬ witt. Benjamin W. Prewitt came to Missouri in 1833, and was engaged in mercantile pursuits at Liberty, Clay County, for three years prior to his removal to Jackson County. He was married in 1835 to Mary Ann Fisher, youngest daughter of Adam Fisher, who settled on a farm four miles east of Independence, where he resided until his death, in 1860. After his marriage Benjamin Prewitt settled on a farm four miles east of Independence, where he entered land and became the owner of 600 acres. He lived there until the stirring days of 1849, when he started to the gold fields of California. Like thousands of others who tried to make the long trail across the deserts and mountains of the West, he succumbed to illness, and died on the way. He left two sons, George and Fisher Pre¬ witt. His widow later married R. S. Duke, of Jackson County. During the Civil War, they removed to Clay County, where she died in 1876. Mr. Duke spent his last days in California.

George W. Prewitt was reared in the home of his uncle, George Fisher, until 1855. He then returned to the old homestead and engaged in farming until 1861. Upon the outbreak of the Civil War, he entered the State service and fought at the Battle of Lexington, under Colonel Raines. His company disbanded at Osceola in the following winter. He remained on his farm until April, 1863, when he went to Colorado, and re¬ mained there until November, 1865. During the two years in the West he spent the time in Colorado and New Mexico, engaged in the cattle business, his associate being Solomon Young, of Jackson County, who had a contract to supply the United States Government with cattle for the various forts in the West. Mr. Prewitt lived in Clay County, Mis¬ souri, from November, 1865, to the spring of 1866, when he returned to Jackson County. He at once began the work of reclaiming his farm. The farm which George Prewitt improved, just southeast of Blue Springs, is one of the model farms of the State of Missouri, well improved with a splendid residence, outbuildings, and is highly productive.

1878, leaving- a daughter, Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Ware, of this review. Mrs. Ware studied at Woodlawn College, Independence, and kept house for her father until his death.

George Prewitt was a man universally respected by all who knew him, and he was one of the sturdy and upright citizens of Jackson County. During the later years of his life he embraced the Christian faith, accord¬ ing to the tenets of the Presbyterian church. He was a Democrat and took considerable interest in the affairs of his party. He was a member of Blue Springs Lodge, No. 163, Knights of Pythias.

Mr. and Mrs. John T. Ware are highly regarded in their home com¬ munity, and have a host of friends in Jackson County. They are mem¬ bers of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Ware is a Democrat, and is affil¬ iated with the Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias. Their handsome home in Blue Springs is noted for its hospitality.

John W. Moore. - Nearly 70 years ago, John W. Moore, pioneer farmer of Blue township, first saw the light of day in Jackson County. His recol¬ lections of early life in Jackson County are keen and vivid. His schooling was obtained in one of the old time subscription schools where the tuition was five cents per day per pupil and the teacher earned about one dollar a day for his services. Mr. Moore recalls that the teaching of the common branches was thoroughly done in those days by the teachers and that when a boy received a trouncing for not getting his lessons or misbehaving his father gave him another one at home. He had to walk four miles to school and he recalls that there were no public schools in Jackson County until 1868. Geography, mathematics, reading, writing and grammar were the only branches taught and these were thoroughly taught. The teacher would give the pupils their lessons for the next day at the close of the day's session and woe betide the unfortunate who failed to come to class letter perfect on the following day. If the lesson was not learned at night a "whaling" was the outcome on the following day. During his boyhood days, hunting was fine; Jackson County was a hunter's paradise. During the Civil War when firearms were prohibited and it was dangerous for a citizen to be caught with a gun unless he were a soldier, game multiplied. After peace came, the woods, rivers and ponds abounded in wild geese, ducks, brants, prairie chickens, grouse, foxes, wolves and coons.

Mr. Moore saw the first street car on the streets of Kansas City. It was hauled by mules and was run on the old Westport line. Kansas City was but a village during his boyhood days and he has seen the wonderful transformation which has taken place in this section of Missouri. He saw the great overland freighting outfits which passed over the old Santa Fe trail to the then unknown southwest and has witnessed many marvelj ous things during the course of his long life. However, Mr. Moore is not wont to lament at the passing of the so-called "good old times." He is of the opinion that the advantages of today are far greater than formerly and life is more worth living. He recalls the time when the present loca¬ tion of the great stock yards was a dense wilderness and he watched with interest the development of the packing industry upon the coming of the railroads in 1868 and by 1870 there were 20 roads in the bottoms.

Mr. Moore is owner of a splendid farm of 144.5 acres situated on the rock road four miles southeast of Independence upon which he has resided since February, 1872 and upon which he has placed all of the improve¬ ments. He was born July 8, 1850, on a farm four miles northeast of Independence and is a son of John and Isabella (Gardner) Moore, natives of Virginia and Kentucky, respectively. John Moore was born in July, 1810 and died Oct. 9, 1865. Mrs. Isabella Moore was born near Louisville, Ky., in August, 1809 and died in August, 1887. They were parents of the following children: Elisha, who served in the Confederate army under General Price, is deceased ; Elizabeth, deceased wife of Calvin Lowe ; Richard, killed in a runaway at the age of 35 years ; George W. Moore resid¬ ing with the Gibsons in Jackson County; Sarah died at the age of 16 years ; John W. Moore, of this review.

John Moore, the elder, was a son of Elisha Moore a Kentucky pioneer. He came to Jackson County in 1830 and purchased land of the Collins northeast of Independence. He erected a double log cabin in which he made his home for many years and became owner of 223 acres of land, 120 acres of which was located near Grain Valley. Mr. Moore was owner of 14 slaves who were set free on Emancipation Day, Aug. 4, 1865.

When Mr. Moore purchased his present farm in 1872 he traded an 80 acre tract and gave $40 in addition. This land is now easily worth $300 an acre. During his entire life he has worked hard and been economical and striven to manage his business in the best manner. Mr. Moore was married on Oct. 5, 1872 to Miss Sarah Cook who was born in 1850 and died Jan. 15, 1890. She was a daughter of Enoch and Nancy Cook, pioneer residents of Jackson County. To this mamage were born children as fol¬ lows: Walter, Independence, Mo.; John B. father of three children, lives in Kansas City, Kan.; Howard, at home with his father; Homer lives in Independence ; Mrs. Ida B. Aid, mother of three children, at home ; Shelby lives in Independence; Everett resides in Kansas City, Kan.; Wallace lives in Oak Grove and has four children.

Mr. Moore is a Democrat and he has served four years as school director of his district. The Moore family have always worshipped ac¬ cording to the teachings of the Christian faith. Mr. Moore himself has generally followed the "Golden Rule" as his creed during his long life. He is well informed, keen and mentally alert and physicially active, notwith¬ standing his age and he takes a decided interest in present day events. Always a reader, he is above the ordinary in understanding and intelligence.

John L. George, proprietor of 76 acres of rich bottom and hill land fronting on the rock road east of Independence, is one of Jackson Coun¬ ty's industrious and enterprising citizens. The George place presents an attractive and pleasing appearance from the highway. The large lawn, fronted by a stone fence, adds much to the stable appearance of the well built residence, and the general showing made by the farmstead. Mr. George was born in Clay County, Missouri, July 3, 1874. He is a son of William and Sallie (Clark) George, both natives of Kentucky.

William George, his father, was a son of Wash George, a native of Wales. As early as 1858 the George family settled on the Spring Branch road in Jackson County, later removing to Clay County, where the family resided until 1882. In that year they removed to Bates County, Missouri, where the parents still reside. The eider George is past 70 years of age, and the mother is past 69. They are now living retired in Rich Mill, Mo. It is a matter of local history that an uncle of John L. George, named James Clark, operated the Blue Mills ferry in ante bellum days.

John L. George came to Jackson County in 1904, and was employed in a retail business in Independence for four years prior to locating on the farm. He was married Sept. 2, 1906, to Miss Mary Allen, a daughter of James and Mattie ( Saunders) Allen. Mrs. George was bom in Jackson County, Missouri, Dec. 8, 1885, and was reared in this county. Her father, James Allen, was born in Saline County, Missouri, Oct. 23, 1857, and was the son of James Allen, a native of Kentucky, and a pioneer set¬ tler of Saline County. The wife of James Allen, the elder, was a Miss Staples, a member of an old and prominent family of Saline County. Mattie (Saunders) Allen, mother of Mrs. George, died in 1887. She was a daughter of Samuel Saunders, a pioneer of Jackson County, who entered a large tract of land in this county. His land extended from the Latimer place to the Glendale road, and he was quite prominently identified with the early development of Jackson County. Samuel Saunders gave to his daughter, Mrs. Mattie Allen, the farm now owned by Mr. and Mrs. George. The Allens came to Jackson County in 1881, and Mr. Allen made his home on this farm until 1908, when he removed to Kansas City. In 1892 James Allen and Miss Josie Kennedy were united in marriage. Four children have been born to this marriage: Anna, Joseph, James and John. Mrs. John L. George had one sister, Mrs. Katherine Cook, who died three years after her marriage, Jan. 31, 1910.

Mr. George is not only a successful farmer, but he is a skilled artisan. He finds time to do many useful things and to exercise his skill in fash¬ ioning articles of furniture with which to adorn the George home. When winter storms prevent work on the farm, he will be found in his work shop making some articles of furniture which, in its completeness and finish as fashioned from the native lumber, will equal in stability and ap¬ pearance the best which the shops afford.

Mr. George is a Democrat. Mrs. George is a member of the Metho¬ dist Episcopal Church South. Both are intelligent, well read, progi'essive and enterprising, and are numbered among the best of Jackson County's citizens.

Admiral N. Boswick, farmer and stockman, owner of a fine farm of 84 acres in Sniabar township, has been cultivating his farm since 1882, with the exception of four years spent in the service of Jackson County as deputy sheriff. He was bom in Washington County, Ohio, March 16, 1854, and is a son of Admiral N. Bostwick.

The Bostwicks are among the old American families, the paternal great-grandfather of the subject of this review having fought under General Washington in the American Revolution. The progenitor of Ad¬ miral N. Bostwick came from England and settled in New England in the colonial times. His father was bora in 1800, and died in 1876. His mother, Mary Jane Moon Bostwick, was born near Parkersburg, W. Va., in 1817, and departed this life in 1905. The Bostwicks came to Missouri in 1858, and first settled near Kahoka, Sweet Home township, Clark County. The children born to this couple were as follow: Henry S., de¬ ceased, was a soldier in the Union Army, enlisted when 16 years of age, fought at Vicksburg, and was with Sherman in his March to the Sea, as a member of the 21st Missouri Infantry ; John L., a veteran of the Union Army, resides in Oklahoma, ran away from home to join the army, and enlisted when 14 years old; Robert J., lives in Boone County, Iowa; Ad¬ miral N., of this review; Mrs. Ann Kronen, deceased; Mrs. Susan Lucas, lives in Clark County, Missouri; Lydia, deceased.

than a local prominence, and is well and favorably known throughout the county. He was married Oct. 5, 1879, to Miss Lucy A. Johnson, who was born in Jackson County in 1861, and is a daughter of the late David Johnson, one of the early pioneers of this county, who became owner of 900 acres of land in Missouri, owning besides 640 acres in Texas. David Johnson died in 1863. His wife was Frances (Cook) Johnson, who died in 1884. David Johnson was the father of 16 children: William, de¬ ceased; Larkin, deceased, a sketch of whom appears in this volume; Carroll, west of Oakland Church, .Johnson County, Missouri; Harvey, Grain Valley, Mo.; Lee, Oak Grove, Mo,; Thomas and Mary, twins, deceased; Luther 0., a wealthy farmer and orchardist of Sniabar township; Ban¬ ner, Kansas City, Mo. ; Sarah, deceased ; Mrs. Augusta Hinkston, Inde¬ pendence.

The children born to A. N. and Lucy A. Bostwick are: Herbert L., policeman, Kansas City, Mo. ; Claude L,, engaged in business on East Maple street. Independence; Robert Ward, died at the age of four years and two died in infancy.

Mr, Bostwick is a Republican and is one of the leaders of his party in Jackson County. He served as deputy sheriff under sheriff Baldwin, from 1905 to 1909 and during that time made his home in Independence. He is also a member of the County Election Board.

Mr, Bostwick is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and is affiliated with the Odd Fellows Lodge of Buckner. He is well informed, progressive and is one of the substantial and well respected citizens of his home county.

Judge J. H. Cummings, police judge, of Tenipe, Ariz., was born and reared to manhood in Jackson County, a member of one of the old pio¬ neer families of this county, and has never, although his home is in a faraway State, lost his love for Jackson County and his old friends and neighbors. Each year he looks forward to his annual visit to his old home county, and spends several weeks hobnobbing and visiting with his old time friends in the county. J. H. Cummings was bom Sept. 8, 1845, on a farm within four miles of Blue Springs. He is a son of John N. and Eleanor (Barnett) Cummings, the former a native of Kentucky, and the latter of Boone County, Missouri. John N. Cummings was born in Simp¬ son County, Kentucky, in 1806, and died in 1871. He came to Jackson County in 1828, and was one of the first pioneer settlers of this county. He settled first on the Blue River, and lived there for four years, filing on his homestead in 1832, improved his land and there reared his family of nine children. The children are as follow: J. H. Cummings, of this review; John Gilpin, drowned in the Missouri River; Whitford Townsend, died in 1917; William Thornton, lives at Raton, N. M, ; Keziah Ann, died at the age of 18 years ; Joseph. Cox, deceased. Eleanor Barnett Cummings, mother of the foregoing children, died in 1883. By a first marriage with William Pallette, she was the mother of two children: James and Mary Jane Pallette, both of whom are deceased. John N. Cummings was also twice married, his first wife having been Eliza Wood, who bore him two children: George W. and Serilda Cummings.

J. H. Cummings, of this review, made his home on a farm after his marriage in 1867, followed farming and also carried on contracting and building operations throughout the county. The old Cummings farm, which Judge Cummings owned, and where he made his home, is now owned by J. S. Campbell. In the yard of this home is an immense Cotton¬ wood tree, planted by Judge Cummings many years ago. This tree has grown to large proportions. The trunk itself is 11 feet in circumference, and the spread of branches by actual measurement will exceed 90 feet from one side of the tree to the other. In 1877 Mr. Cummings made his first trip to Arizona, where his wife died. In 1880 he returned to Blue Springs, and remained in Jackson County until 1896, when he again went to Arizona, and has since made his home at Tempo. He followed build¬ ing and contracting until his retirement, in 1916. In that year he was elected justice of the peace and police judge of Tempo, a position which he is now filling with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of the people of the city, ' '' * -<*/

Judge Cummings has been twice maiTied. His first marriage oc¬ curred Oct. 18, 1867, with Miss Mattie E. St. Clair, a native of Jackson County, who died in July, 1878, leaving three children: David Capelle, deceased; George B., a farmer in Jackson County; and William, deceased. His second marriage took place in 1882, with Eliza Casey, who was born in Kentucky, and who was reared in Jackson County. Seven children were born to this marriage: William, Bizbee, Ariz. ; Mrs. Mary E. Thomsbury, Tucson, Ariz. ; Mrs. Sallie E. Goorich, a wddow, in the employ of the Federal employment office; Mrs. Maude B. Ritter, died in 1916; Lucy M., a teacher in the grammar school at Phoenix, Ariz., for the past years; Hugh C., Tempe, Ariz.; June, a clerk in the Tempe postoffice.

Mr. Cummings is a stanch Democrat. He is a member of the Presby¬ terian church, and is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias.

Moses T. Rowe.- - In recording the biographies of Jackson County men whose works stand out prominently on the pages of history, the his¬ torian can rightly lay stress upon the deeds and accomplishments of the late Moses T. Rowe, of Sniabar township. In several things Mr. Rowe was a pioneer in this county. He planted and cared for one of the first com¬ mercial orchards in the county, and was the pioneer bee man of the east¬ ern part of the county. He was an active and influential citizen in many ways. Mr. Rowe was born near Washington C. H., Fayette County, Ohio, June 3, 1841, and departed this life May 13, 1914. Ho was a son of Jesse Rowe, of Ohio, who married a Miss Morris. She was descended from the Revolutionary family of Morrises, of whom Robert Morris, who financed the Colonies in the struggle for independence, at a most critical time, w^as a member.

- Jesse Rowe, father of Moses T. Rowe, came to Missouri at the close of the Civil War, and purchased a section of land, which was eventually divided among his children. He had a family of 11 children, nearly all of whom came to Jackson County, and settled in the vicinity of the old Rowe homestead, northwest of Grain Valley. Four sons of Jesse Rowe served in Ohio regiments during the Civil War.

Moses T. and William E. Rowe, his brother, enlisted as members of a military band in Company C, 73rd Ohio regiment, in 1861. When his time expired, in 1863, he re-enlisted and served until the close of the war. His command served in the second battle of Bull Run, the great Battle of Gettysburg, the Battle of Lookout Mountain, and was with Sherman on his March to the Sea. From Raleigh, N. C., they went to Washington, and participated in the Grand Review. At Washington his band won the prize for playing before the President's residence.

In 1868 Mr. Rowe came to Missouri, and settled upon his farm of 170 acres, which he developed and improved with one of the best resi¬ dences in the county. He set out a pear and apple orchard, and was fond of caring for fruits. The Rowe pear orchard consists of seven acres. He established the first apiary in his neighborhood, and was known as the "Bee Man" of eastern Jackson County. He earned quite an income by selling stained honey for eight and one-third and comb honey at 12V^ cents a pound.

Mr. Rowe was married March 3, 1873, to Miss Caroline Woodruff, who was born Jan. 21, 1839, at Dimmock, Susquehanna County, Pennsyl¬ vania, and was educated in the Wyoming Seminary of Pennsylvania, grad¬ uating in 1861. In 1868 she went to Nebraska, where she remained one year, then went to Kansas, engaged in teaching in both states prior to coming to Independence, Mo., where she was employed as teacher in the Ott High School. She is a daughter of Lewis Harlow and Alameda (Hutchinson) Woodruff, both of whom were members of old New Eng¬ land families. Lewis Woodruff was a merchant and a prominent busi¬ ness man. Mrs. Rowe is a cousin of former Governor Woodruff of Con¬ necticut.

George Clarence Rowe was born in July, 1877. He graduated from Manual Training High School in Kansas City, in 1898, and soon after¬ ward enlisted in the United States Army for service in the Spanish Amer¬ ican War, and served in Cuba. Mr. Rowe is an electrical engineer, and is now located in Havana, Cuba. He married Anna Uller, and has two chil¬ dren, Carlos and Herman.

Moses Trueman was born in December, 1878, and was graduated from Manual Training High School in 1899, after which he studied at Missouri University, and was connected with the Sweeney Electrical Com¬ pany, of Kansas City. He married Elizabeth Stevenson, of Liberty, Mo., and has three children, Cuba Elizabeth, Frank Trueman, Jr., and Jewel May. He is now in the automobile business at Hot Springs, Ark. He spent a number of years in Cuba.

Mrs. Dora (Rowe) Pratt graduated from the Manual Training High School in 1900, and studied in the East, where she graduated from the Emerson College of Oratory at Boston, Mass. For some years she was a teacher of elocution and oratory, serving as dean of the department of oratory at Highland Park Seminary. She was married in Jackson County in 1913 to William J. Pratt, a former business man of Mackinac, Mich. Mr. Pratt is now in charge of the Rowe farm, and is making a success. He purchased and placed in use one of the first farm tractors in his neighborhood. Prior to locating in Jackson County, Mr. Pratt was a merchant on Mackinac Island for 15 years.

Mrs. Rowe has always been prominent in educational work, and still takes a keen interest in every day affairs, despite her age. Her home is the social gathering place of the neighborhood, and the people of the countryside respect and admire her for her many excellent qualities. The late Mr. Rowe was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and was active and influential in all civic matters which were intended to advance the interests of his home community. He was kind and neigh- borly, and was always ready to lend a helping hand to assist a friend or neighbor. He always greeted a caller with, "What can I do for you?" and not thinking of what the other might do for him. He will always be kindly remembered as a gentleman of the old school, a good citizen, one of the builders of Jackson County, and a man worth while.

For a number of years Mr. and Mrs. Rowe conducted "Singing School" in their neighborhood, in the days when "Singing School^" were popular in the country. Both were accomplished vocal music teachers. Many people of middle age in Jackson County recall the popularity of the Singing Schools taught by Mr. and Mrs. Rowe. Each taught prior to their marriage, and afterwards united their schools.

Andrew Jackson Powell who died at his country home on the Spring Blanch road in Blue township April 1, 1909, was a man of industry and enterprise who stood high in the communityy where he had resided over 44 years and built up a splendid farm. He was born July 3, 1836 in Fianklin County, Ohio, a son of Jacob Powell, a native of Pennsylvania. During the Civil War he served in the Home Guards of his native state and resided m Franklin County until 1865 when he removed to Jackson County, Mo. Mr. Powell invested his capital in land which had been al¬ lowed to grow up in brush during the Civil War and was run down as to improvements, fencing, etc. He had practically to improve his farm from a wilderness. Mr. and Mrs. Powell's first home was a small frame house which was built upon 200 acres of land which Mr. Powell and his father purchased in common. Through the years that have passed the Powell homestead has been improved and is now one of the pretty places along the road. The farm embraces 107 acres of valuable farm land, 15 acres of which is devoted to orchards which were planted by Mr. Powell.

Feb. 12, 1861, Andrew J. Powell was united in marriage with Miss Phoebe L. Johnson, who was born Feb. 11, 1839, in Delaware, Ohio, and is a daughter of Zachariah and Minerva (Hill) Powell, natives of PennsyB vania, the latter of whom was partly reared in Canada and New Jersey. Zachariah Powell was a shoemaker and merchant who plied his trade in a day when shoes were made by hand. Mrs. Powell was reared to woman¬ hood m Delaware. Five children were born to this marriage, four of whom are living: Clement Johnson, lives just across the road, married Mary Latimer and has four children, Wilson, Russell L., Vanetta and Mary Virginia; Charles Wilson lives in Los Angeles, Cal., married Josephine Nirginia Lyons; Cora Belle is the wife of Joseph M. Barber, wholesale cruggist of Kansas City, Mo.; Samuel C., lives in Beaumont, Texas, mar-

The Methodist Episcopal Church, South is the house of worship of the Powell family. Mr. Powell, during his whole life, was a prohibitionist.

Luther J. Slaughter. - The past 25 years have demonstrated the fact that Jackson County is adapted to fruit growing - especially the growing of apples and pears. The orchard owned and operated by L. J. Slaughter of Sniabar township is one of the finest in this section of Missouri and consists of 90 acres, 40 acres of which were planted 24 years ago, and 50 acres of which is now 14 years old. The apple crop this year (1919) will exceed ten thousand bushels. Mr. Slaughter has sold this immense crop on the trees for $7,500. This is ample evidence that Jackson County land is not too valuable to devote to orchards. The average price received from the crop per acre will exceed $850. Mr. Slaughter is owner of 166 acres of land and carries on general farming in addition to caring for his large orchard.

Luther Josiah Slaughter was born April 21, 1870, in a log cabin on the farm which he now owns. He is a son of John Slaughter, who was bom in Jackson County in 1830 and died in 1875. John Slaughter was a son of Josiah Slaughter, a Virginian, who was among the first of the pioneers to clear a farm from the wilderness of Jackson County in the days of long ago.

John Slaughter was reared to young manhood on the place which his father had entered and settled. When a young man he was filled with the spirit of adventure and crossed the great plains to the Pacific coast, where he remained for several years and engaged in cattle raising. After the close of the Civil War, he returned to Jackson County and purchased his farm from his father. He married Mary Jane Bowman, a member of a Jackson County pioneer family, who was born in 1840, and died in 1907. The children bora to this union are: Luther J., of this review, the only living child of his parents ; James and Agnes, deceased.

Luther J. Slaughter was educated in Round Grove School and Odessa College. He set out every tree in his fine orchard and has cared for it through the years in which the trees attained maturity and commenced bearing fruit. He still keeps up the routine of spraying and looking after the trees so that the maximum crop will be produced each year. He was married in 1894 to Miss Sallie Anderson Kirby, who was bora in Jackson County, a daughter of William R. and Susan (Capelle) Kirby, both de¬ ceased. The late Mrs. Kirby was a sister of John 0. Capelle, former county treasurer, a sketch of whom appears in this volume. The chil¬ dren born to Luther J, and Sallie A. Slaughter as as follow: Nellie G., Alma Marie and Hazel Grace.

Nellie G. Slaughter attended Round Grove School, Blue Springs public school, graduated from the Independence High School, studied in the Lex¬ ington Young Ladies Seminary, and is a graduate of the State University, at Columbia, Mo. - i

The Democratic party has always had the support of Mr. Slaughter. He was reared in the faith of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, but attends the Methodist Episcopal Church of which Mrs. Slaughter is a member. Mr. Slaughter is one of the wide-awake, progressive and enter¬ prising citizens of the present advanced era and has done much to assist in bringing Jackson County to the front as a great agricultural and fruit growing center. ^

Wriiam E. Luttrell, president and manager of the Blue Springs Lum¬ ber and Milling Company, established in 1917, is a native of Jackson County. The Blue Springs Lumber and Milling Company is the suc¬ cessor of one of the old established business concerns of Blue Springs, and was founded by the late Judge S. L. Luttrell. The concern was incorporated in 1917, with W. E. Luttrell, president j W. I. Thomason, treasurer, and Guy Quinn, secretary. The mills have a capacity of 50 barrels of flour per day, the output being sold under the widely known name of "Model Flour". The lumber yards are among the most complete and best stocked in Jackson County, furnishing lumber, builders supplies of all kinds, and coal. i

W. E. Luttrell was born Jan. 22, 1870, on a farm, one and a half miles south of Blue Springs. He is a son of Willis Luttrell, who was born in 1822 and died March 2, 1893. His parents, Willis and Sarah Luttrell, were natives of Virginia and settled south of Independence, Mo., in the early thirties. Willis Luttrell was reared to young manhood in Jackson County and was married to Martha Jesse, who was born in Virginia in 1827 and died in March, 1895. She was a daughter of John and Polly (Gost) Jesse, natives of Germany. Willis Luttrell engaged in farming and improved a splendid farm of 160 acres near Blue Springs, becoming owner, also, of two other tracts. He reared the following children: Samuel L., former .judge of the county court, deceased; John G., deceased; Charles W., de-

Willis Luttrell served in the Mexican War under Colonel Doniphan and during his earlier life was a freighter and plainsman who made sev¬ eral trips across the plains. He was one of the best known of the pioneer citizens of Jackson County, and was universally respected and highly regarded by all who knew him.

W. E. Luttrell followed farming until 1900, when he engaged in the lumber business. He is owner of two, 80-acre farms, one of which is located one and a half miles south of Blue Springs and the other, two miles southwest of the town. He was married in 1899 to Annie E. Jennings, of Jackson County, a daughter of W. B. and Sina Jennings. Two children have been born to this union: Ruth and Marie, now in high school.

Mr. Luttrell is a Democrat. He is a member of the Baptist church and is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias and the Modern Woodmen of America.

Almae C. Hall, cashier of the Bank of Blue Springs and one of the capable and rising young business men of Jackson County, was born in Miami County, Kan., Jan. 8, 1890. He is a son of W. L. Hall, editor and publisher of the Sniabar Voice, of Blue Springs. A sketch of W. L. Hall appears in this volume.

Mr. Hah attended the public schools of Franklin County, Kan. and accompanied his parents to Jackson County, Mo,, in 1891, the family settling on a farm three miles east of Independence. In 1893 they re¬ turned to Franklin County, Kan. and, from 1894 to 1907, W. L. Hall, the father, was engaged in fanning in that county. After completing the common school course in the Ottawa, Kan. public schools, Almae C. Hall attended the Ottawa University, pursuing a business course. After com¬ pleting the course, he entered the employ of a wholesale grocery company with whom he remained for one year and one week. He came to Jackson County in 1906 and was in the employ of D. C. Herrington in the office of the Voice for two and a half years. He and his father then purchased the Voice and he remained with the paper until July 1, 1914, at which time he was appointed postmaster of Blue Springs. He held this posi¬ tion for four and a half years and resigned January 1, 1919 to accept the position of cashier of the Bank of Blue Springs. Mr. Hall is filling the position with decided ability and is popular with the patrons of the bank and the citizens of Blue Springs and vicinity.

Mr. Hail is a Democrat of the stanch and true variety. He is prom¬ inent in lodge circles and has passed through the chairs of the Odd Fel¬ lows twice. He is also a member of the Yeomen.

Nicholas Cunningham Hodges, orchardist, living on the Spring Branch road in Sniabar township, was born April 10, 1849, in Sarah Coun¬ ty, N. C. He is a son of William C. and Mary E. (Gentry) Hodges, both of whom were natives of North Carolina, and descended from old South¬ ern stock. They came to Jackson County in 1859, and settled near Lone Jack. William C. Hodges enlisted with the Confederate forces and served under Gen. Jo Shelby and General Price, participated in the Battle of Lone Jack, as his initial engagement, and met death in battle in 1865. Three children were left fatherless: William, bom in 1859, in Jackson County; Susan Matilda, is deceased; and N. C., subject of this review.

N. C. Hodges was reared to young manhood in Jackson County, and was forced to make his own way in the world. When he and his estimable wife were united in marriage, in 1876, they rented land until 1878, and then began with one acre of ground, upon which they erected a log cabin. This one room log cabin still forms part of the pretty residence of the Hodges, and is one of the attractive features of the home. As the years passed they accumulated more land, and now the home place consists of 60 acres, the Hodges holdings embracing 87 acres in all. Twenty acres of the land is in fruit, which brings the family a comfortable income each year. As age has come upon him, Mr. Hodges has relinquished the active work of the farms to his sturdy sons, but he operates a fruit and cider stand on the lawn of the home during the summer and autumn months. Passing travelers and tourists patronize this liberally, and many dollars flow into the Hodges coffers in this manner.

In 1876 N. C. Hodges was married to Mollie E. Roselle, who was bom near Fayette, Howard County, Missouri, in 1860. This marriage has been blessed with the following children: Nicholas Napoleon, married Ella Reed, died in June, 1918; Mary Elizabeth, married Ernest Gardner, lives on a farm three miles east of the Hodges home; Joel B., a farmer, married Aline Tucker, and has one child, Dorothy, aged five years; Claude Gen¬ try, living on the Nelson farm at Grain Valley, married Mary Lotsford, and has one child, Jocely. Claude G. Hodges served in the United States Navy during the World War. He enlisted in August, 1917, was trained at the Great Lakes Naval Training Station, saw active duty at Panama,

The mother of these children was brought to Jackson County by her parents in 1863, and was reared here. Her father was Elijah H. Roselle, a native of Kentucky. Her mother was Mary E. Allphin, born and reared in Kentucky, where she was married. The Roselles came to Howard County in 1858. During the Civil War Mr, Roselle was made prisoner by the Federals, and taken to St. Louis. Upon his release he took his family to Kentucky, where the wife and mother died.

Three children w^ere born to Elijah and Mary E. Roselle: James W., died in 1907; Mrs. Minnie McCullough, Buckner, Mo.; and Mrs. N. C. Hodges, of this review. The family returned to Jackson County in 1863, where the father lived until his removal to Barton County, where he died in 1913. He was three times married. His second wife was Sallie Ann Pinkerd, who bore him three children: Albert B. and Luther, who died in California, and Mrs. Ollie Westbrook, living near Lamar, Barton Coun¬ ty, Missouri. His third wife was Miss Lizzie Kabrick, of Jackson County, who died in 1915.

Mr. Hodges has the distinction of having been one of the youngest soldiers to enlist and serve in the Confederate Army. He enlisted when but 16 years of age, and served under Gen. Dave Pool. He was so small in stature that it was necessary for him to lead his horse to a tree stump before he could mount the animal. His martial experience came to an end, however, at Lexington, where he surrendered in 1865. He is a stanch Democrat, and one of the sturdy, dependable citizens of this county.

Judge Thomas M. Vermillion. - For over 42 years, Thomas M. Ver¬ million has served as justice of the peace at Oak Grove, Mo. and in all probability, he holds the record for continuous service in office in the state of Missouri. Judge Vermillion was born in Lebanon, Va., April 14, 1847, and is a son of Isaac and Martha A. (Boyd) Vermillion, who spent all of their lives in Virginia.

T. M. Vermillion enlisted in October, 1863, in the 16th Virginia Cavalry and served with his command until the close of the Civil War, with the Confederate army. His command participated in many great battles and campaigns throughout the war. He was educated in Lebanon and Abingdon Academies of his native state and began teaching school at an early age. After his marriage in 1866, he taught school in his native state and after coming to Jackson County Oct. 15, 1868, he resumed teach¬ ing and had charge of district schools in the neighborhood of Oak Grove in 1885, teaching in one school for ten years. He followed farming during the summer seasons. In 1885 he was appointed postmaster under Presi¬ dent Cleveland and served for four years. When Cleveland was re-elected in 1892 he was reappointed and served for another term as postmaster of Oak Grove.

Mr. Vermillion was first elected justice of the peace in 1877 and has been reelected to the office continuously. He received his first appoint¬ ment as notary under Gov. Marmaduke in 1877. In addition to his duties as justice and notary during this time he has carried on a successful in¬ surance business and has come to be one of the landmarks of Oak Grove. It is computed that Squire Vermillion has married more couples than any other one official in Jackson County.

Squire Vermillion was married in August, 1866, to Mary A. Aston, who was born March 15, 1850 in Virginia and was a school mate of the subject of this review. She was bom and reared in Lebanon and is a daughter of Samuel W. and Louisa (Alderson) Aston. Eight children have been born to this marriage: Samuel A., Higginsville, Mo., for over 30 years agent of the Chicago and Alton Railroad Company at that place ; Jacob F., a railroad man at Rusk, Texas; Lutie M. was the wife of Rev. Keys, a Methodist minister, died at the age of 26 years ; Hal M. engaged in the wholesale butter business, Dallas, Texas ; Robert C., a railroad man, now at home with his parents ; Mrs. Dollie C. Shotwell, Odessa, Mo. ; Ben¬ nett C., a railroad man, Kansas City, Mo. and Mrs. Rector B. (Fowler) died at the age of 26 years.

Mr. Vermillion is a Democrat and a member of the Christian church and his wife is a Methodist. He is probably the oldest Mason, in point of years of membership, in eastern Jackson County, having been a mem¬ ber of the order for over 40 years.

Di. Z. k?niith, who for the past 31 years has practiced his profession in Blue Springs and vicinity, and who has achieved one of the notable business successes in Jackson County, is a member of one of the oldest pioneer families of this section of Missouri. He was born Dec. 22, 1866, in Howard County, Mo., where his parents had removed in consequence of Order No. 11. issued by Gen. Ewing during the Civil War.

Thomas or Tom Smith, father of Dr. Z. Smith, was born in Kentucky in 1818, and came to Jackson County, Mo., in 1839. Here he married Fannie Crump, born in 1824, a daughter of Daniel Crump, who came to Jackson County from Kentucky in 1836, and was a son of David Crump. Tom Smith located on a farm in Cass County, Mo., on the county line of Cass and

Jackson counties and resided there until his removal to Howard County. After his return to his farm, two miles south of Lone Jack, he resided there until his death in 1906. The wife and mother died in 1912, at the ag-e of 88 years. Four sons and seven daughters were born to Tom and Fannie Smith as follow: Mrs. Lou Sebre Dixon, deceased; James, de¬ ceased; William, Lone Jack, Mo.; Mrs. Pauline Yankee, Lone Jack, Mo.; Mrs. Bettie Allen, near Blue Springs; Samuel, deceased; Mrs. Nannie Yankee, deceased; Lillie, Lone Jack; Georgia, wife of James Compton, deceased; Dr. Z. Smith, of this review; and Lucy, wife of Frank Compton, Independence.

Dr. Z. Smith was reared on his father's farm, attended the district school and studied in the State Normal College at Warrensburg, Mo. He then entered Washington University, St. Louis, and was graduated from this institution with the degree of Doctor of Medicine, in 1888. He im¬ mediately began the practice of his profession at Blue Springs and has been engaged in this city and vicinity for the past 31 years. For 16 years. Dr. Smith conducted a drug store in connection with his practice.

Dr. Smith was married in 1892 to Miss Leonora Robertson, of Blue Springs. Two children have blessed this marriage: Frances J., who was educated in the Blue Springs High School, and the Polytechnic of Kansas City and recently appointed postmistress of Blue Springs, as a result of being the winner in a competitive examination to fill a vacancy; Georgia graduated from the Blue Springs High School in 1919, is at home. The mother of these children is a daughter of George Robertson, who was a son of 'Jack' Robertson, one of the tallest men in Jackson County and who was a brother-in-law of Morgan Walker, one of the noted pioneers of Jackson County.

Dr. Smith is a Democrat and is a member of the Cumberland Presby¬ terian Church. He is owner of considerable farm land in Jackson CountJ^ owning the George Robertson farm of 170 acres, the old Smith home place of 320 acres, near Lone Jack, 160 acres south of Buckner, 80 acres of the Jack Crow place and 12 acres adjoining the town of Blue Springs, besides town and business property.

From 1895 to 1896, inclusive, Dr. Smith held the position of head physician of the county hospital and made a record as a conscientious and capable physician in charge of that institution which has never been surpassed. During his term the am.ount of drugs used by the inmates of the hospital was less than at any time in its history. When Dr. Smith took charge of the hospital, over 100 drug or narcotic addicts were in- mates. Heretofore, there had not been any serious attempt to restrict the consumption of drugs and very little effort was made to effect perma¬ nent cures of the drug victims. Dr. Smith set to work to win the good will of the unfortunates and in 30 days time, he succeeded and effected cures in practically all of the cases under his care.

William Scarborough, farmer and stockman and owner of 135 acres of excellent farm land in Sniabar township, has worked his way to his present position by hard work and self denial. He was born in Kentucky, near Richmond, Nov, 8, 1857, and is a son of William Henry and Nancy Ellen '(Stocker) Scarborough, both natives of Kentucky. William H. Scarborough was a son of Jonathan Scarborough, a native of Virginia and an early pioneer in Kentucky. William H. was born in 1837 and now re¬ sides at Frankfort, Ky. His wife, Nancy Ellen, is deceased. They were the parents of four children: John Milford, lives in Kentucky; Laura Minden, deceased; Mrs. Rose Elliot Mulberry, Kentucky; and William, of this review.

William Scarborough came to Jackson County from his native state in 1881 and has resided in this county for the past 38 years with the excep¬ tion of one year in Texas. He was accompanied by his wife and four children when he arrived in this county and his first employment was on the railroad at $1.50 per day. He then moved west of Independence and worked for one year at monthly wages on the farm of Captain Hickman. His next employment was on a farm at Selsa, Mo., for one year. He then began farming on his his own account and bought his first land, the Thompson farm, in 1904. For a man who landed in Jackson County with a family of five and possessed of but $25.00 and his household goods, Mr. Scarborough has done remarkably well.

Mr. Scarborough's first marriage was in 1875 with Miss Sarah Bryan of Kentucky, who died in 1890, leaving nine children: John Henry, San Francisco, Cal.; William Harrison, a farmer; George, a farmer; Mrs. Mary Ann Williams, on a farm near Blue Springs; Margaret Ellen, wife of Cowley McGuire, near Blue Springs; Leslie, Independence; Earl, a rail¬ way engineer. Slater, Mo.; Mrs. Laura Huber, Kansas City, Mo.; Homer. San Francisco. All of these children are married. Mr. Scarborough has 15 grandchildren. His second marriage was in 1895 with Mrs. Amanda Chapman, widow of Creed Chapman who is mother of four children by her first marriage: Mrs. Virgie Thompson, deceased; Wallace, a farmer. Blue Springs; William, Independence; Mrs. Lela Helm, living on a farm in Jackson County. Two children were born to the second marriage of Mi*.

William Scarborough And Wife

Scarborough, as follows : Orville and Howard. Orville Scarborough served in the National army during the World War. He trained at Camp McArthur and Camp Merritt, N. J. and was on board ship enroute to Fi-ance when the armistice was signed. Howard had his arm shot off accidentally when 11 years of age and died four days later.

Mrs. Amanda (Chapman) Scarborough was born in April, 1860, on the old Thompson home place in Jackson County. She is a daughter of Wil¬ liam and Lucinda (Webb) Thompson, natives of Tennessee and Alabama, respectively. They came to Missouri in 1846 and resided in Independence for the first year before taking up their residence on a farm. The Thomp¬ sons drove to Jackson County with the ox-teams, the trip from the South requiring ten weeks. In 1847 they removed to the Walker farm. In 1852, Mr. Thompson purchased 80 acres and added to his possessions until he owned 135 acres which is now owned by Mr. Scarborough. William Thompson died in 1887. Mrs. Thompson died in February, 1913. They were the parents of five children. During the Civil War Mr. Thompson had many narrow escapes from death. Three times during the war he was stood up to be shot, but each time escaped. The Thompson home was burned to the ground and the live stock stolen and driven away. When the family left the county en route to Illinois in compliance with Order No. 11 all of the live stock which they possessed was one old mare and a yoke of oxen.

Larkin J. Johnson. - Jackson County was developed by the plain farmers, men who all their active lives were tillers of the soil and sons of the pioneers who came to the county when it was a partial wilderness and cleared the ground of dense timber or broke the hard, tough prairie soil. Of this class of citizens was the late Larkin J. Johnson, the son of a Jackson County pioneer and one of a family of 16 children bom to David Johnson and wife, an account of whom is given in connection with the sketch of Luther O. Johnson of Sniabar township.

Mr. Johnson was born on a pioneer farm in Jackson County, not far from Independence, June 6, 1843 and died at his home in Blue Springs, Mo. in 1910. He was reared to the life of a farmer and was married Feb. 9, 1864 to Samira Elizabeth Dillingham, near Lexington, Lafayette County, whither the Dillingham family had gone to live when Order No. 11 was issued.

also a Jackson County pioneer, an account of whom is given in connection with the sketch of Silas V, Dillingham of the Blue Springs neighborhood. For one year after their maiTiage Larkin Johnson and his bride lived with his people in Ray County. When the war closed they returned to Jackson County and built up one of the finest 200 acre farms in Sniabar township.

Mr. and Mrs. Johnson reared a family of six children out of nine born to them, as follow^* Lucy Elizabeth, Dora Frances, Mettie E., Porter, Myrtie E. and Elmer.