Annals of Platte County, Missouri - Paxton
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1888, SEPT. 879 J. SMELSER. Treasurer - E. McD. Coffey 1,329; T.J. Cole, 1,017. County Justice, East District - S. McComas, 677; H.D. Miller, 428. County Justice, West District - G. Crutchfield, 740; E.C. Smith, 503. Surveyor - G.B. Anderson 1,689; D.T. Polk, 708. Public Administrator - J.B. Evans, 1,244; J.T. McRuer, 1,135. Coroner - W.L. Stephens, 2,223. Sept. 10 - The Edgertonian no more appears. J.B. Miller and Artie Meads buy the dry goods store of W.J. Miller in Platte City. Sept. 18 - JACOB SMELSER died near Parkville. Son of John Smelser, of Green County, Tennessee Grandson of Jacob Smelser, who came from Germany Mother was Catherine Higgins, daughter of Philemon, of Green County, Mo. Born in Overton County, Tennessee, December 24, 1806. Married January 26, 1832, Martha Waddell, born October 12, 1812; Died in 1879. In the Tennessee Militia Mr. Smelser attained the rank of major. In the fall of 1837 he came, with his family, to the vicinity of Parkville, and became the central figure of a little band of Methodist pioneers that worshipped at his house. At the organization of Platte, he was appointed by the county court of Clay a justice of the peace, and continued in office until 1882, when deafness disqualified him for duty. Mr. Smelser married, second, August 24, 1863, Susan Reynolds. Sept. 26 - W.B. Wilhite having died, J.W. Cox administers. Bond, $1,500. He married, January 19, 1879, Irene Cox. Children: 1, Ben F. Wilhite; 2, Burton L. Sept. 30 - Wheat in Chicago goes up suddenly to $2, and immediately falls back. OCTOBER Oct. 1 - THOMAS JONES, the centenarian, died at his home, 4 miles east of Platte City, in his 104th year. Next to Delany Bowlin (see), Thomas Jones was the oldest person that ever died in Platte. He was born in Albermarle County, Va., December 3, 1784. His parents were John Jones and Polly Shackelford. In the War of 1812 he was a soldier in Captain Grimes' company, 4th Regiment, Virginia Infantry, serving for six months on the James River. From 1871 to the day of his death he drew a pension at the rate of $8 per month. He came to Platte in 1840.