HISTORY OF COUNTY CLAY MISSOURI BY W. H. WOODSON ILLUSTRATED HISTORICAL PUBLISHING COMPANY Topeka Indianapolis 1920 / 'l^ymi •v\ 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.