Biographical Sketch of Thomas J. Halsey, Holden, Johnson County, MO >From "History of Johnson County, Missouri," by Ewing Cockrell, Historical Publishing Company, Topeka, Cleveland, 1918. ********************************************************************** Thomas Jefferson Halsey, secretary and treasurer of the Holden Milling and Elevator Company, Holden, Missouri, is a native of New Jersey and a scion of an old and distinguished American family of English origin. He is a direct descendant of Thomas Halsey, who took ship from England at the time the great revolution was brewing which placed Oliver Cromwell as Lord Protector of the commonwelath in power. John Hampden and Oliver Cromwell took passage on the same ship, which carried Thomas Halsey to the new world, but they were prevented from leaving England by order of the king. Thomas Halsey descended from one of the oldest of the Brok- lind families in England, the lineage ofwhich traces as far back as 1189 and the family numbers in its various generations men who were famous in English history. The history of this long line of honorable ancestors, in this country and England, sprung from a far beginning, covers seven hundred twenty-nine years. Deeds on record at Lynn, Mass- achusetts, furnish the first record of Thomas Halsey in America, which was during the year 1637. He possessed at that time 100 acres of land at Lynn. He, with others, migrated from Lynn and founded the town of Southampton on Long Island, which was the first English colony within what are the present limits of New York. The name ThomasHalsey is affixed to the agreement between the settlers and the Indians who sold them the land upon which they made their settlement. The wife of Thomas Halsey was the first victim to fall at the hands of a hostile tribe of Indians who later raided this colony, in 1649. The Halseys of Long Island had many representatives in the French and Indian Wars and later, in the struggle between the colonies and the mother country. When the news of the skirmish at Lexington reached Long Island, Jesse Halsey crossed over to New London and joined the patriot army. Immediately after the battle of Bunker Hill he enlisted and served throughout the war and retired with the rank of colonel. Capt. Luther Halsey was one of the founders of the Society of Cincinnati and was instrumental in establishing Union College at Schenectady. Capt. Jeremiah Halsey dis- tinguished himself by bravery in the capture of Ticonderoga and contri- buted more of his time and money than many other patriots in Connect- icut. He was later commissioned commander-in-chief of the northern department and as captain of the armed sloop "Enterprise" on the Great Lakes with the first naval commander of the United States. Halsey street in Brooklyn was named in honor of this great hero. Capt. Elias Halsey was killed at Croton Heights, Fort Griswold, Sept. 6, 1781. Matthew Halsey fought in the battle of Long Island and afterward took out letters of marque and led an expedition to New London against some Hessian troops. Capt. Silas P. Halsey was killed in an attempt to blow up the British blockading frigate, "Ramilles," this being, it is said, the first time the torpedo was used in warefare. In the war with Mexico the Halseys again came to the front. In the War of the Rebellion there were many of the Halseys of Long Island and also members of the family from other states on the muster rolls of the Union army. The Halsey family has spread over the country and by intermarriage are allied with many of the old colonial families of this and other states. The Halsey coat of arms was granted to William Halsey and his brothers in 1633. In a letter dated Gaddesden, Hartfordshire, England, March 23, 1885, add- ressed to Jacob L. Halsey, vice president of the Manhattan Life Insur- ance Company of New York, Thomas Frederick Halsey acknowledges the clear and undoubted right of the descendants of Thomas Halsey born at Great Gaddesden to wear the Halsey arms. Thomas Jefferson Halsey, subject of this review, was born in Dover, New Jersey, May 4, 1863, a son of Thomas Jefferson and Sarah E. (Burt) Halsey, both of whom were natives of New Jersey. Thomas Jefferson Halsey, father of the subject of this review, migrated to Missouri with his family in 1878 and locat- ed on a farm two miles south of Holden in Johnson county. Prior to this he had served in the Union army as major in the Eleventh New Jersey Infantry. Major Halsey was taken prisoner by the Confederates and confined in Libby prison, where he was forced to remain and suffer for nine long months. He was severely wounded in the battle of Chan- cellorsville. For a number of years, he cultivated his farm south of Holden and eventually moved to Holden and engaged in the mercantile business, a venture which proved successful from a business standpoint. He died at Holden, January 20, 1893. Mrs. Halsey departed this life March 29, 1905. They were parents of nine children, five of whom are now living, as follows: Frank, superintendent in the Calumet and Heckla Copper Mines at Calumet, Michigan; E. E., an attorney of Clark- ston, Washington, who has served three terms as a member of the state Legislature of his adopted state and introduced the present effective Washington bone dry law; Fred, a merchant, Holden, Missouri; Mrs. Mamie Shoemaker, Daleville, Indiana; and Thomas Jefferson, subject of this reveiw. The last named was reared to young manhood in Hackettstown, New Jersey, and attended the public schools of his native city. After coming to Missouri with his parents he studied in the private academy at Holden, attended Holden College and the Warrensburg State Normal School, a student here under Doctor Osbron's administration. After taking a course in the Normal School he pursued a course of study in the Missouri State University. Thus, equipped with a good education as a sound basis upon which to build his subsequent interesting and succ- essful career, he began active pursuits in the mercantile business in Holden. He was thus engaged for a period of twenty-five years, finally disposing of his business in 1906. He then bought an interest in the Holden Milling company and was connected with this concern until 1910 when he disposed of his milling interests and moved to Glendale, a sub- urb of Los Angeles where he was engaged in business pursuits for one year. He returned to Holden and bought an interest in the milling com- pany, which he is now managing as secretary and treasurer, resuming his old position. Mr. Halsey was married January 14, 1891 to Miss Clara Wiley of St. Joseph, Missouri and to this union have been born four children, the following three living: Edwin C., who is employed in the mill at Holden; Herbert A., a junior in the Holden High School; Clara Elizabeth, a student in Holden grade school. Mrs. Halsey is a graduate of Holden College and taught school for a number of years, having been a teacher in the St. Joseph public schools. For forty years, Mr. Hal- sey has been a member of the Presbyterian Church and is a consistent religious worshipper and worker. His early plans were to enter the ministry and his education was planned with that object in view and had his eyesight not become weakened by constant study and reading he would have completed his education at Princeton University. Mrs. Hal- sey is a member of the Presbyterian church and is much interested in church and religious work. Mr. Halsey is affiliated with Modern Wood- men of America. He has always been a Republican in politics and is one of the leaders of his party in Missouri. When Hadley was governor of Missouri, Mr. Halsey was a member of the State Executive Committee, and was also a member of the State Committee at large. He served as mayor of Holden, during the period when the municipal lighting plant was in- stalled, having been elected to the office in April, 1895, serving two years. The lighting plant, which he advocated and which was placed in operation during his term of office, has proven to be an unqualified success. Mr. Halsey has always taken an interest in educational matters and filled the office of member of the school board for three years. Ever keenly alive to the growth and development of his home city, he has filled the post of president of the Local Commercial Club and has served as chairman of the local Lyceum Bureau. In fact, when the citizens of Holden wish something accomplished for the good of the city, this versatile and accomplished citizen is usually to be found in the forefront of all progressive movements intended to better social, civic and commercial conditions. Being a public speaker of considerable ability and power, he has given his services during political campaigns. He was a candidate for the Legislature at one time. When Herbert Had- ley made the race for governor, Mr. Halsey was prevailed upon to become his party's candidate for state auditor but declined. Mr. Halsey has delivered many addresses on public occasions and his audiences are al- ways charmed and entertained by his style and erudition. ==================================================================== 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: <> Penny Harrell ====================================================================