History of Clay County, Missouri

1920·32.5 MB·English

by  Woodson, W. H. (William H.), 1840-

HISTORY
OF
COUNTY
CLAY
MISSOURI
BY
W. H. WOODSON
ILLUSTRATED
HISTORICAL PUBLISHING COMPANY
Topeka Indianapolis
1920
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PREFACE
This history of Clay County has been compiled from three sources,
printed and oral, which were deemed authentic and reliable, and from
personal observation. No apocryphal event has been recorded, nor ques-
tionable story attempted to be preserved. Gleanings from unquestioned
truthful printed history have been freely made. The public archives in
Washington City have been in requisition, and from the writings of Mr.
Jefferson more than excerpts have been taken therefrom.
The Editor has been a resident of Clay County for more than half
a century which is more than half of the time since the County has had
an existence, and has had not only the acquaintanceship, but in many
instances the friendship of a number of the original settlers. Not a few
of these men had vivid recollections of events occurring in the County
from the very earliest days down to the time when they took delight
in giving information to the writer, who was invariably a receptive
listener. To him no entertainment was preferable than to have the priv-
ilege of listening to such men as John Wilson, "Marse" Fountain Waller,
John Bronaugh, James, Alvin and Foster Means nan-ate true incidents,
stories ofthe early days in Clay County. James Means lived continuously
on the same farm from infancy to very old age, yet he lived during that
—
time in three different counties Howard, Ray and Clay.
Had not the Editor a predisposition to observe and retain historical
facts, he certainly must have in the course of fifty years absorbed, at
least, a modicum of historical events.
Liberty, Mo., December 21, 1920. The Editor.