PARADISE CEMETERY STORY, PARADISE, CLAY COUNTY, MISSOURI Paradise was first known as "Gosneyville" The entry to Gosneyville in the north part of Platte Township was granted July 5, 1832, when the U. S. government recorded the deed to 40 acres to Mr. Pleasant Gentry. In 1843 the Methodist Church founded in the Corum School near Smithville by Reverends E. M. Marion and Amos Tutt. In later years the church was moved to Gosneyville. In December, 1867, a lot was secured from the Gosney tract, and the church was built in 1868. The trustees at the time were; Ben Taul, W. M. Murray, Charles McGee, T. J. Ellington, William Sparks, John Rollins and G. W. Douglas. In November 1881, an adjoining lot was purchased and a parsonage was built. The trustees; R. Faddis, G. Douglas and Culner Bernard, bought the parsonage site from Samuel Froman for fifty-five dollars. A Sunday School was organized in 1887 with O. L. Sparks as superintendent and Lulu Heathman as secretary. The present building was erected in 1903, and serves as the home of the Paradise Methodist Church. Early pastors include Thomas Hurst, D. M. Procter, J. T. Winstead and G. H. Wilkerson. The more recent pastors were H. E. Corbin, J. N. Boyed, C. A. Neighbors, Dick Phillips, and the present pastor, Carl Massie, who has served since 1952. In 1850 Pleasant Gentry's land was finally bought by John Gosney, who platted the ground, although these platts were never recorded. John Gosney and Jesse DeBarry, in a deed drawn by Fleming V. Dale, gave to the new town "right of ways" for streets, and Fleming Dale gave the land for the school and the Christian Church. In 1886 Rev. Byard Waller and Rev. Preston Aker held a camp meeting in an arbor east of the present Paradise store buildings. As a result, in the same year, the Gosneyville Christian Church was organized. The deed was recorded in 1868 to John Gosney, Byrd Benton and Tom Sparks. Dale Lewis and Byrd Benton sawed the logs for the church, and the benches were made by Jim Burton and others. The church was completed in 1870. Some of the charter members were; Byrd Benton and wife, John Gosney and Wife, Dr. Lawrence and wife, Frank McCracken and wife, John Benson and wife, Joe Bruce and wife, Amos Anderson and wife, Mrs. Bettie Miller, Mrs. Dee Ecton, Thomas Sparks, Samuel Moore, N. W. Litton, William H. Shannon, Rufus Patcher, Peter L. Holtzclaw, Henry Anderson, W. H. Endicott, Peter and James Youtsey, John Taul and wife, John Barnard, Joe Cavender and wife, Henry Snow, F. K. Ross, Fleming Wade, and wife, Thomsn (Thomas) McDaniel and wife, and Gus Olsen and wife. On January 5, 1905, the following building committee was appointed for a new church; John Barnard, Fleming Wade, John Benton and Gus Olson. Solicitors to raise money were; John Taul, Bessie Cavender, Jim Miller, Billy Miller, Mrs. Fannie Linn and Alice Endicott. The total cost of the building was $2033. Rev. J. B. Jeans was pastor when this building was dedicated in 1906. Rev. R. C. Preston had the longest pastorate in the first church building, and Rev. Presley Gordon in the present church. Rev. Ezra Jacks served from 1946 until 1952. During his ministry the church was rededicated. This frame building was used until 1995 when the Christian Church built their present structure. In 1895 the Baptist congregation was organized and until 1899, they utilized the buildings of the Christian and Methodist churches. In 1899, however, the Baptist Church was built and to this day is used by the local people. (In 1899, the I.O.O.F. lodge was also built.) Surely, the first business was Billie Ross' flour and saw mill, one mile west of town on the Little Platte River; and, perhaps the town began because of the proximity of the mill, for in these long-ago days, a mill was the center of rural life, and almost without exception, whenever a mill stood, soon a town would begin. The Ross Mill was in operation for many, many years, first under the direction of Billy Ross, and later (a short distance away) under the direction of A. B. Ross, son of Billie. A. B. Ross, "Uncle Cam", was a Civil War veteran and it was after his return in 1865 from the battlefields that he began his career of milling, one that he continued until after the turn of the century. In 1884, the first post office commenced service with mail delivery by wagon or horseback from Smithville. At this time Gosneyville was renamed. There are several stories as to HOW and WHY this was done. Two of these tales are: 1. The belief that a Gosneyville was previously registered with the government, thus necessitating the choice of a different name for the new post office: 2. Conway Garner is reputed to have chosen the name Paradise for the new post office because he said (and I quote), "This is as near to the real Paradise as some people will ever get". At any rate, to the U. S. Postal de artment, Gosneyville became Paradise and to this day it is so known. The real growth of Paradise began at this time. Business flourished with Jim Woods opening a general store, and Richardson Hulse and "Uncle Judge Douglas" opened up blacksmith shops. At the beginning of 1900 Andrew Johnson and Mr. Shull began a hardware store, followed by A. W. Benson's general store. Washington Douglas' & Tip Snail' general store. These were followed by two restaurants, a barber shop, among the names of the men we know were barbers--John Lizar, Jim King, Frank Howard and Harry Patrick was the last barber in Paradise. Tobe Douglas, one of three sons, went into business with his father and the sight of old "Uncle" Judge with his long grey whiskers, pumping the bellows, while the son mended plowshares, or fashioned horseshoes was a familiar one to the whole countryside. In 1916 Jake Douglas, built a Picture House and in the basement of this building, his brothers Arthur and Elmer Meeks operated a garage. Mr. E. P. Griffin eventually owned a drug store, as well as a grocery-general store, and was an influential part of the Paradise Bank. Paradise has had five school houses. The first building was a small one room made of logs and built in 1851. Miss Missouri Wood, who later married Ed Tinney was the first teacher. The second school was the Garner school, and Miss Sue Wilhoit the teacher. In 1886, a two room frame school was built on land gived (given) by Fleming Dale. A grand daughter, Miss Jean Dale taught here. Mr. E. P. Griffin was the first teacher and Mr. J. W. Oliver was one of the many teachers. In 1928 the present school house was constructed of brick. Mrs. Earl Breckenridge was one of the many teachers. It was consolidated with the Smithville school system in 1963. Many doctors are believed to have administered to the Paradise ill beginning with Dr. Jordan, Dr. Stevens, Dr. Van Hook, Dr. "hunky" Lawrence. Dr. Records, Dr. Woots, later, Dr. John and Tip Rice and last, Dr. Rupe, who brought most of the present day Paradise citizens into this world. In 1910. The Burdette Addition, which comprises most of the southern and southwestern portions of Paradise, was platted; the I.O.O.F. Annex was completed, and Paradise was a booming town. In 1926 H. H. Halferty and E. P. Griffin owned a general store. Mr. Griffin passed away in 1939 and his son-in-law, H. H. Halferty continued with the business. In 1943 Mr. Dave Lizar and son Tom started the Paradise Locker and Slaughter Plant. Submitted by - Mrs. Roy Dale, Mrs. S. S. Halferty and Mrs. Rubin Ross. The pages of "Progress-A-Rama" printed in August 1967, sponsored by The Smithville Historical Society and Friends ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Sherry Fleischer ====================================================================