Clay County MO Archives News.....The Old Men of Clay County August 19, 1870 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/mo/mofiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Ronald J. Reid rreid21@cox.net July 26, 2007, 6:34 pm Liberty Weekly Tribune August 19, 1870 Liberty Weekly Tribune; Date: 1870 Aug 19, THE OLD MEN OF CLAY COUNTY. We request every citizen in Clay county, over sixty years of age, to send us his name, age, place and date of birth, disfranchised or not, and any prominent circumstances connected with his life. A number of persons have complied so far. We trust the parties to whom our request was made will comply as soon as practicable. The notices will be useful in the future as matters of reference, &c. We will continue the publication of notices until completed. JUDGE JAMES T.V. THOMPSON. I was born in Lincoln County, North Carolina, on the 27th day July, 1793. – My father was not old enough to serve in the Revolutionary War. Several of my uncles were soldiers in the Continental army. My father emigrated with his family to Logan county, Kentucky, in 1798. After he cam to Kentucky, my father served under Gen. Jackson against the Indians. I emigrated from Kentucky to Clay co., Mo., in 1826, and have resided here ever since. At that time, the population of the town of Liberty could not have exceeded seventy-five person, and the County was very sparsely settled. Within one year after my arrival here I knew every man in Clay county. In 1828, I was elected one of the justices of the Clay County Court, and remained on the bench for five years thereafter. My associates on the County bench during that period that I now remember were AndrewMellvaine, Elisha Cameron and James Duncan. In 1833, I was elected to the State Senate and served therein continuously until 1842. In 1858, I was again elected to the State Senate and served until the latter part of the year 1861. – The last time I sat in the Senate was in November, 1861, when the General Assembly was convened at Neosho, Newton county, by Gov. Claiborne F. Jackson. I was a delegate to every Democratic State Convention held in Missouri from 1828 to 1861. I was also a member of every County convention held by the Democrats in Clay county during the same period. I was likewise a delegate to every Democratic Congressional convention held in the district of which Clay county was a part during the same period – particularly the famous “Gallatin Convention” in 1852 when Birch and King were rivals. I was a Democratic presidential elector a number of times – particularly in 1844 1848 and 1860. I approved of the “Jackson Resolutions” passed in 1849. I opposed Col. Benton from about the year 1848 until his death. Among my associates in the State Senate, I remember, with particular affection, David Barton, Miles Vernon, N.W. Watkins, Col. Bogy, Col. Rozier, Col. Marmaduke, Benjamin Rives, A.B. Chambers, Benjamin J. Brown, and James Chiles. I may add that I recollect Col. Marmaduke with especial veneration and kindness. I presume that it is needless for me to say that I am and always have been an old- fashioned, state’-rights, Jackson, Democrat. During my residence in Clay County I have been connected with every public enterprise in the county of any moment – the founding of William Jewell College and various schools, the building of our railroad (K.C.&C.R.R.) the organization and development of the Clay Co. Agricultural and Mechanical Association, &c. In 1849, I donated to the Trustees of William Jewell College the grounds whereon the College edifice is erected. I think that I have done my duty in the way of assisting in the development of the resources of clay county – in adding to its material wealth – in making openings for its industrious and active young men – and in increasing the happiness of its people. JAMES T.V. THOMPSON REV. WILLIAM RICE. I was born in Jessamine county, KY., in the year 1790, March 31st. I removed to Clay co., MO., in the fall of 1834, where I have resided ever since. I have been a minister of the gospel fifty-four years – given little attention to politics. Disfranchised. W. RICE. JAMES W. WALLER. I was born in Somerset county, Maryland, January 29th, 1800 – raised in Kentucky – moved to Clay county, Mo., 1855. I was always a Democrat. Disfranchised. JAMES W. WALLER. ISAAC WOOD. I was born in Mercer county, Ky., Nov.7, 1806, emigrated to Missouri in the fall of 1834; my father was a Virginian, born in Albermarle county, and was a soldier under Gen. Wayne, and emigrated to Ky. when quite a youth. I served as County Justice for many years. ISAAC WOOD. ELDER HENRY HILL. I was born in the City of Philadelphia, Penn., on the 2nd day of January, 1805. My father, John Hill, jr., was born and raised in the State of Delaware. My grand-father, John Hill, sr., was a soldier in the Continental Army in 1776 and subsequently during the Revolutionary War. My father moved to Kentucky in 1811, and finally became a resident of Woodford county in that State, where in 1823, I became a member of the Regular Baptist Church. I was baptized by the venerable pioneer from Virginai, Elder John Taylor. In 1825 the Church of Clear Creek licentiated me to preach the Gospel, and in 1826, I moved to Clay county, Mo., where I continue to reside. In 1827, I was ordained to the Christian ministry by the well-known elders, William Thorp and John Edwards. Have been a member of Fishing River association ever since and the modertor of that body for over thirty years. I have united in matrimony between three and four hundred persons in Clay county, Mo., besides others in the counties of Clinton, Platte, Jackson and Lafayette, and have been at the organization of nearly all of the churches in upper Missouri. I delivered the first sermon ever preached in the Platte purchase (funeral of John Rupe’s child,) baptized the first converts and organized the first church in the Platte purchase) three miles north west of Weston about 38 or 40 years ago. Elders Jno Edwards, Wm. Thorp and myself constituted the first church in Liberty, Mo. Elder Edwards and myself were chosen joint pastors of said church. Elders Wolverton and Burris have been associate ministers, but all of them have moved to other counties or, are dead. I am still the regular pastor of said church. I have voted aobut 14 times in 44 years – have always been an old line Whig – and am not disfranchised. I have an undying hostility to any amalgamation of Church and State. HENRY HILL. ZACHARIAH THORP. I was born in Madison county, Ky., Jan. 22, 1809. Moved Howard county, Missouri, in 1818, and to Clay county 1824. Served in the Black Hawk War of 1832, under Col Shubael Allen; and in 1833 served as a United States Mounted Ranger. Been a member of old Baptist church since ’54, and been a Democrat all my life. Disfranchised. Z. THORP. BENJ. SOPER. I was born in Montgomery county, Maryland, April 7th, 1796 – emigrated to Kentucky in 1800 – joined the Baptist Church in 1817, of which I have lived a respectable member ever since. – Moved to Clay county, Mo., in 1830, served as Justice of the Peace in this county 24 years. BENJ. SOPER. GRIFFIN BRYANT. I was born in Woodford county, Ky., 25th day of Dec., 1808; moved to Clay county in 1834, and lived here ever since. Disfranchised. GRIFFIN BRYANT. GEO. B. OWEN. I was born in Powhattan county Virginia, May 29, 1802. Emigrated to Kentucky in 1822, and remained 12 years. Returned to Virginia in’34 and, in ’35, emigrated to Saline co., MO., raised a crop, and next year, moved to Ray co., and bought land. Sold out there in’47 and went to Weston, Platte co. Came to Clay, near Smithville, in ’56, where I at present reside. Was afflicted in ’47, and have not been able to do any work since. Was an Old Line Whig, and voted the whig ticket as long as there was a whig party. Disfranchised, and without a cause. GEO B. OWEN. WILLIAM PIRTLE. I was born in Guilford county North Carolina, on the 6th day of October 1790. Settled in Clay county, Missouri, in 1824, and have lived here ever since. – I have always been a Democrat, and am denied a vote. WILLIAM PIRTLE. BARTLEY ESTES. I was born in Fayette county, Kentucky, on the 31st day of March, 1795. My father was a native of Spottsylvania county, Virginia, and settled in Kentucky at a very early day. My father and my two paternal uncles were soldiers in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War. One of my uncles was wounded in seven different parts of his body in one battle. I had two brothers in the war of 1812, and both were in the battle of the River Raisin and there taken prisoners. They escaped the tomahawks of the Indians. – One was subsequently in the battle of the Thames. I came to Clay county, Missouri, about 40 years ago; and have lived here ever since. I have been a free-Mason more than 40 years. I have always been a whig and am disfranchised. Don’t know why I am disfranchised. BARTLEY ESTES. MARTIN FISHER. I was born in Fauquier county, Virginia in the year 1793. I served against the British in the war of 1812, and was at the capture of Fort George, and battles of Chippewa and Williamsburg. – I came to Missouri in 1815, and finally settled in Clay county forty-seven years ago, and have lived here ever since. I have always been a Democrat. Am disfranchised. MARTIN FISHER. 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