by Marcia Napier, Grain Valley Historical Society
 

From 1911 through 1920, Grain Valley, like the rest of the nation was enjoying the Progressive Era. In the decade that gave us Charlie Chaplin, Woodrow Wilson, Henry Ford, and the decorated World War I soldier Alvin York, we also experienced reform, war and spectacular technology. In places like Kansas City amusement parks, penny arcades, dance halls, and movie theaters flourished.

While 1910 marked the founding of the Boy Scout Association, 1911 was the year of NYC’s Shirtwaist Factory Fire, killing 500 workers but resulting in the establishment of building fire and safety codes. On April 14, 1912, the RMS Titanic struck an iceberg and sank the next day, killing over 1,500 passengers and crew. (And later making Leonardo DiCaprio famous!)

The first crossword puzzle was published in 1913, and on a slightly larger scale, the Panama Canal was completed in 1914. Alexander Graham Bell made his first transcontinental telephone call in 1915. While World War I was raging in Europe by 1916, John D. Rockefeller became America’s first billionaire. On April 16, 1917, Congress declared war on Germany and officially joined its allies Britain, France, and Russia, fighting in World War I, a war that ended with The Treaty of Versailles, signed June 28, 1919.

During this same decade Grain Valley also experienced progress and change. Kansas City wasn’t the only place to see a movie. The Royal Playhouse was built at the corner of Broadway (now Main St.) and Walnut and silent movies were shown on Saturday night. The playhouse was also used for stage plays with local actors. On Thursday night, it was a skating rink and on other nights it was the “community center” for meetings, box socials, and many other events.

The population more than doubled, from 133 in 1910 to 354 in 1920. Stores “downtown” included at least two restaurants, a chili parlor, a haberdashery, a millinery shop, a drug store, an auto dealership, a garage and gasoline station, a butcher shop, three general stores, and a barber shop, and the bank.

And it was in 1910 or 1911 that William Rockhill Nelson began to purchase land in Grain Valley.  In 1913, Nelson registered Sni-A-Bar Farms with the State of Missouri. 

By the time of his death in 1915, he had purchased 200 head of grade cows at the Kansas City Stock Yards to begin the 10-year study titled the Upgrading of Beef Cattle. Over the next thirty years, Sni-A-Bar achieved what could arguably be called the most famous Registered Shorthorn Show Herd in the United States. At the time, the research conducted at Sni-A-Bar by the United States Department of Agriculture, as well as several universities, was unparalleled. 

​

by Marcia Napier, Grain Valley Historical Society


​On January 1, 1900, Grain Valley entered the twentieth century as an unincorporated village. (Grain Valley News, June 24, 2021) As noted in last week's article, R. D. Mize Road was built through the center of town in 1900-1901 at the expense of the State of Missouri. On August 31,1903, the town was reincorporated.

According to a 1904 map, as R. D. Mize Road came through downtown Grain Valley, the road was known as Broadway. Later it was renamed Main Street.

According to the 1910 U. S. Census, the population of Grain Valley was 133. This doesn’t seem to account for the houses that has been added, however, I have not been able to verify the “city limits". I believe some of the houses on the map must not have been annexed into the town until a later date.

The Sni-A-Bar Voice was a weekly journal devoted strictly to the interest of Eastern Jackson County. David Clinton Herrington, son of Merrick & Sarah (Holland) Herrington of Grain Valley, was the editor and manager from 1902 until at least 1911. According to Volume XI dated January 5, 1911, the publisher was Blue Springs Law and Publishing Co. Alma C Hall was the editor and William L. Hall was the assistant editor. The paper lasted until about 1923.

The first two-year high school was built on Capelle Street next to the elementary school. Four students comprised the first graduating class in 1909.

We do know that in the first decade of the twentieth century there were several businesses both south and north of the Chicago and Alton Railroad. In addition to the Grain Valley Depot and the original Cannon General Store, a lumber yard and feed store had been added. 

Warren Webb Hardware, Circa 1902
 
On the north side of the tracks there was Warren & Webb Hardware, a hotel, a boarding house, the U. S. Post Office, a tonsorial, at least two more general/grocery stores, and the Bank of Grain Valley, built in 1905.
From 1900 to 1910, the United States was experiencing the Edwardian era; the expansion of its territory, and the invention of new technologies. The automobile was on the way! By 1909, William Rockhill Nelson, owner and publisher of The Kansas City Star had begun to look for land to purchase in Eastern Jackson County…maybe Grain Valley! Was Grain Valley about to prosper along with the rest of the country.  After all, 1910 to 1920, also known as the Ten’s, was the “Progressive Era” in American History.
 
Next week, read about Grain Valley in the Roaring 20’s
​

by Phil Hanson, President and CEO, Truman Heartland Community Foundation

It's Competitive Grants Season at Truman Heartland Community Foundation. This is the time of year that reminds us of the power of endowed funds created by charitable people who want to make a positive impact on their community.

This year, we will have approximately $300,000 available for grants for Community Grants and $140,000 for the Jelley Children's Education grants, approximately $440,000 in total.

There are 23 endowments that provide funds for our competitive grants process, and most were created through generous gifts that community members made through their estate to create endowed funds to support charitable organizations.

At Truman Heartland, we specialize in helping fundholders shape an endowment that serves their particular interest.

Some of these endowed funds are focused on a particular type of charity that the donor seeks to support. We refer to these as a field of interest funds and, for instance, have the Marge Pollard Hospice Fund, which supports hospice care.

Others are focused on a particular geographic area, like the J.D. Browning Endowment that supports organizations in Lee’s Summit.

Other endowments can be utilized more broadly and are not focused on a particular interest of the donor. A good example is the Willa Fancher and Martha Taggart Endowment, created in November 2020 with an estate gift of $2.8 Million.  This endowed fund, in just 4 years, has made grants of $502,000 to charities in our community while the balance of the fund due to investment returns has grown to $3.3 Million.  It’s a great example of how an endowed fund works.

The board of Truman Heartland Community Foundation is charged with managing these endowed funds and ensuring we are using them as the donor instructed so that the spirit of their giving is honored, even as organizations evolve or change throughout the years. By working with a Community Foundation donors can be confident that grants from their endowment will be supporting the organizations making an impact in our community today as well as 20 years from now. It’s our privilege to work with many charitable individuals in our community to create and serve their legacy.

​Urge Your Nonprofit Neighbors to Apply for our Grants
We have two grant application processes: The Jelley Family Foundation Endowment for Children’s Education, with $140,000 available, applications due March 10.  The Community Grants, with $300,000 available, and applications due March 24. If you know of Nonprofits serving the Eastern Jackson County and Cass County area, please encourage them to apply by going to https://www.thcf.org/grant-seekers for more information.
 

by Marcia Napier, Grain Valley Historical Society
 
With several cold days to stay inside and do research, I am sorry to say, I found nothing. Well, practically nothing about Grain Valley in the 1890s. The several histories I found about the town went from the establishment of a few businesses, the school, and churches in the mid to late 1880s to the early 1900s, skipping the 1890s entirely. 

Even my Ancestry search of residents living in town in 1880 revealed no major events in the 1890s. All I found were a few births; Martha and Dennis Costigan had a couple of children and the McQuerrys added six children to their family in the 1890s. George Ellis Storms was born in 1892. His father was a druggist, a profession his son pursued in the 1920s and 30s. Charlie Johnson, one of the town barbers, was born in 1896.

On December 13. 1892, J. N. Sanders, my great-grandfather, and David C. Herrington, my great, great uncle, received a patent for their cane mill (Grain Valley News, October 15, 2020) used in the manufacture of sorghum.

Other events (and births) surely occurred in Grain Valley in the 1890s, but they were not documented. It is interesting to note that the population in 1890 was 193. Unfortunately that census was lost in a fire (last week’s article), and there is no census for 1900 as Grain Valley was unincorporated.
 
“Sometime later the incorporation papers were revoked. The town was disincorporated (today we would say unincorporated) so that the R. D. Mize Rock Road could be put through Grain Valley at state expense. If the town had been incorporated the state would not have furnished expenses for the road. The road was built in 1900-1901. August 31, 1903 the town was reincorporated and again began to prosper.”   (Grain valley News, June 24, 2021). By 1910, the population had shrunk to only 133.
 
We can only assume that the folks living in what is today Grain Valley were families of businessmen and farmers enjoying life in the Gay 90s. So what was happening in the United States in the 1890s?
 
Here are some highlights:
1890 – President Harrison established Yosemite National Park, October 1, 1890
1891 – The first St. Patrick’s Day Parade was held in New York City, Carnegie Hall opened, and James  Naismith introduced basketball in Springfield, Massachusetts on December 21, 1891.
1892 – The first immigrants arrived at Ellis Island
1893 – George Westinghouse brought electricity to America and Thomas Edison, inventor of the light  bulb, advocated use of direct-current electricity. The U. S. suffered it’s first financial depression.
1894 – Congress declared the 1st Monday in September as Labor Day to appease workers after the pullman strike was settled. 
1895 – Volleyball was invented
1896 – The first modern Olympics were held in Athens, Greece
1897 – The first Boston Marathon was held
1898 – The peace treaty ending the Spanish American War was signed in Paris
1899 – On February 14, 1899, the U. S. Congress approved the use of voting machines in federal            elections. Known for beginning the use of Clydesdales in their logo, August Anheuser Bush, Jr.,   
grandson of the founder of Anheuser-Busch brewery was born. Also born in 1899 was Al
Capone, January 17, and Fred Astaire, May 10.    
 
And so, we have the Gay 90’s in Grain Valley, in Missouri, and across the nation! Grain Valley was re-incorporated in 1903. Maybe information for the next decade will be more easily found!

by Marcia Napier, Grain Valley Historical Society​
 

By 1880, the young village of Grain Valley was well established. With the train came a depot, a general store and, in 1879 the U. S. Post Office was established. During the 1880's more people “moved to town.” While some came from the small farms surrounding our town, many more came from eastern states and were just passing through, allowing for the fact that several of the early streets and roads around town were named for families that had departed by the turn of the century. The same can be said about the business owners and service providers.

During the 1880s the families living here did establish a school and churches. In 1883 the Christian Church was established. Their first building was replaced by a large brick Church on the southwest corner of Main and Walnut Streets. When the building burned in the mid-1970's, the congregation relocated on Jefferson Drive, north of I-70, where it continued to serve our community serve until the early 2000s. It closed and was replaced by a non-denominational congregation. 

On July 11,1884, the Village of Grain Valley was incorporated. The same year, the First Baptist Church was established. In their early years, the Baptist Church shared space with the Christian Church. In 1889, a Church was built at the current location.  The Methodist Episcopal church was established in 1889. Their old church on Capelle is now the oldest building in Grain Valley.

​Although the Capelle School was on the northern edge of town, near the end of the decade the residents of Grain Valley saw the need to build a school “in town.” The first school for grades 1-8 was constructed at the corner of Walnut and Capelle Streets. On land just north of the Methodist and across the street from the Baptist, they probably felt it was a safe space for their children to be educated!

Students, Faculty, and Board of Education
Early Grain Valley School
 
By the end of the decade, the town had grown. They now had two hotels –although one may have been a boarding house. They also had another general store (grocery), a druggist, and doctors. They had a barber shop, a shoe repair and shop owners. And for their livestock; a livery staple, a  blacksmith and a wagon maker. Finally, they had a carpenter and a painter. What more could you need, or want?

By the end of the decade, one source reported the population as 193 men, women and children. However, I can find no documentation for this figure. On January 10, 1921, a fire in the Commerce Department building, Washington, DC, resulted in the destruction of most of the 1890 census. Over 99% of the 1890 U.S. census was burned; of the 62,979,766 people enumerated in the census, the records of only 6,160 survived the fire.

Later that month, the still-damp and singed remains of the original 1890 general population schedules were moved to a warehouse for temporary storage. The director of the Census at the time, Sam Rogers, recommended that the existing 1890 documents were unsalvageable and ought to be destroyed. They were finally destroyed in 1932.

I currently have no way of knowing who was included in the 193 individuals counted. I also don’t have what land area was used for the count. I do know that the population in 1910 was only 133. Did the population shrink? Did the town size change? Where is the 1900 Census?

If the weather cooperates I will try and find some answers before next week! Meanwhile, stay warm and keep cleaning out those drawers and closets; attics and basements. I look forward to your donations to the Grain Valley Historical Society SOON.
​

by Marcia Napier, Grain Valley Historical Society
 
For the next few weeks this column will look at Grain Valley by the decades. But let us first consider 1878 & 1879 and review what we already know about our town.
 
Before the end of the 1870s the railroad built the first depot just east of Main Street. And across Main Street and just south of the tracks, J. H. Cannon had built a general store. (Grain Valley News, January 18, 2025)

The 1880, United States Census list 80 individuals living in the “village of Grain Valley.”

They occupied 13 homes; dwelling number 147 through 159, although I didn’t find the number 156 on the census.  

In 1881, Grain Valley published a directory which included three doctors; Dr. Keener, Dr. Daniels and Dr. Starnes, but the 1880 census listed druggist as the occupation of George Keener and James Daniels. Dr. J. W. Starnes was not on the census. It would make you wonder exactly what credentials were required to be a “Doctor?”  

Of the 80 residents, 8 lived in the Hawkenberry Boarding House and 9 lived in the Keener Boarding House. The Keener home must have been quite large to accommodate George, his wife, their 8 children and 9 boarders, nearly ¼ of the entire population. Was it located near the railroad? The occupations of the boarders were listed as cook, telegraph operator, and 7 were railroad workers. The 8 boarders at the Hawkenberry’s included Dr. Daniels, Mr. Paden, the school teacher, his wife and daughter, and 5 men listed as bridge builders. Don’t you wonder which bridge they might have built? Was the bridge over the railroad or was it over Sni-A-Bar Creek? I’m sure we’ll never know.

That only leaves about 40 people that rounded out the population in 1880. They were the Spindles (he was a blacksmith), the Graves (he was a dry goods merchant) the Wrights (he was a carpenter), the Grahams (he was a day laborer), the Keshlears (he was a liveryman), the Bohns (he was a retired merchant), and the Reyburns (he was a carpenter). Of course, the Cannon General Store was just across the railroad tracks, but the Cannons didn’t live “in town.” 

Next week we’ll take a look at the directory and find out about Grain Valley in the 1880s.
​

by Marcia Napier, Grain Valley Historical Society
 
​
Even before the original town was established, residents of the area had begun to emerge as leaders. Their voices were heard as they voted to annex the Graves and Ashcroft Addition into the town in 1887. The earliest date found at the Recorder of Deeds office was when lot 4 was sold to James T. Weatherford on December 10, 1887. The lots in this addition had previous owners, however, the lots were not an “official” part of the town.

​GRAVES & ASHCRAFT’S ADDITION 1 & 2
 
Because I have previously written about these additions, I will share with you a portion of the manuscript of Patricia Davis Parr from a presentation she made to the Historical Society 25 years ago. The portion in italics are my words, usually correcting a name or date.
 
“Grain Valley as I remember in the 1930s and 40s …starting at Walnut Street
 
Grain Valley Christian Church was a beautiful brick building with leaded stained-glass windows. Built in 1910, it burned in the early 1970s. Next was the house lived in by the Savage Family. Another small house…I really do not remember it but my collaborator does. (I wish I knew who her collaborator was.)

Lot 5 The Sni-A-Bar Bank building was operated by J. M. Hall. It was a concrete building with two floors and giant pillars in front This bank closed in the early 30s due to the depression. (It actually closed in 1926 due to very poor management and unsecured loans.) In the thirties it was used as a feed store and a pool hall. (In the 1950s and early 60s it housed a barber shop, sometimes a beauty shop and an apartment on the upper level.) Lot 6 was a café with many renters, one was Ollie Elliott, then a millinery shop run by Mrs. Owsley. 

RYAN’S LOCKER PLANT, LOT 7
 
Charles and Ida Ryan ran the locker plant and also a grocery store on Lot 8. Inside on the north side was dry goods and on the south side was groceries and a large display case with penny candy and a rolling ladder to get to high shelves. This building was two stories, and housed upstairs was a theater.

The Royal Neighbors held meeting upstairs, as did the Modern Woodman of the World. The W.P.A. sewing room was at this location for a time. John P. O’Connell was the town barber when the first building at this location burned in 1920. He rebuilt the two-story and rented it to Charles Ryan who soon purchased the building. The alley was located on the south side of the building.

Lot 9 housed a grocery operated by W. M. Frost and his wife Sophia. (Interesting; two grocery stores across the alley from one another!) Later it was operated by J. W. Minter. The next building was used for many purposes. It housed the W. P. A. sewing room in the late 1930s and after that the Grain Valley Post Office was located along with C. E. Kirby’s repair shop for his gasoline trucks.  Before this was his location Joseph Bartlett had his first café there. Lot 11 was the Drug Store operated by Ed Storms and later by his son Ellis Storms.

The building next to Storm’s Drug Store was the two-story Bank of Grain Valley. It was the only bank in eastern Jackson County not forced to close during the depression. It was operated by W. D. Warren until 1960. The upstairs was rented to The Masons and The Eastern Star. Also, the first floor rear had an office for Dr. Johnson and Dr. Dwyer. There was also a grocery store operated first (1934) by Clyde Fristoe and later by William (Bill) Tucker.
 
And that, my friends, is the west Side of Main Street. The remaining lots in the Graves and Ashcraft Addition were the homes along the north side of front street to Capelle, the east side of Capelle, and the south side of Walnut going east back to Main; or two square blocks -- homes, businesses and two churches, the Christian and First Baptist. Of the two, only First Baptist of Grain Valley remains. In recent years, Valley Community Church has moved into the old Mid-Continent Public Library building and parking lot. (Lots 13-17).
 
If Ryan’s Locker Plant looks familiar, it should.  That is now Crosetti’s Pharmacy.

by Phil Hanson, Truman Heartland Community Foundation 

 
It may feel like winter, but at Truman Heartland Community Foundation, we are in the peak scholarship season. Applications are open until February 14, 2025 for the scholarships managed by the foundation. In 2024, our scholarship funds distributed $828,000 in awards to 334 students.
 
If you know of a student who will be graduating in May, please help us spread the word about this opportunity. We also have scholarships that are for those already in college. Once a student completes the general application on our website (www.thcf.org), they receive a list of the scholarships that they are eligible to apply for and information on additional information required - like an essay, for example.
 
It's our privilege to work with many generous individuals who have a passion for education and have established a scholarship fund at the Community Foundation. We are very fortunate to have a team of 37 board members and advisory board members who will be reviewing the more than 2,200 applications that we expect to receive this year. Our thanks to all these volunteers who will be led this year by our board member Dr. Beth Savidge.
 
We are also pleased this year that the Department of Education’s FAFSA process is running smoothly after a very rocky year last year. We know that many applicants got frustrated with this process last year and we hear it’s a much better experience this time around.
 
While it may be cold outside it warms the hearts of everyone involved in this process to help students achieve their educational dreams. 

 
When it comes to heart health, many foods get an undeserved bad reputation. Many people hesitate to enjoy certain ingredients, fearing they might raise cholesterol or harm their cardiovascular health. However, many of these "feared" foods are safe and packed with the prime nutrients needed to keep your ticker working in tip-top shape. From eggs to nuts, and even the suspected soy, let’s break down the fear and bring back the benefits.

1. Eggs: No surprise eggs top the ‘foods-that-fear-list.’ There have been many misconceptions about their high cholesterol content, leading people to believe they are detrimental to heart health. Rest assured, recent studies have largely debunked this idea and explained that the cholesterol in eggs has minimal impact on blood cholesterol. The American Heart Association indicates that individuals can include up to a whole egg daily in a heart-healthy diet.
2. Nuts: Nuts often intimidate people because of their high fat and calorie content, leading to concerns about weight gain. However, the fats in nuts are predominantly unsaturated fats, which can help lower LDL (bad) cholesterol and fight inflammation. Nuts are also packed with nutrients like fiber and omega-3 fatty acids, promoting cardiovascular health. To incorporate nuts into a heart-healthy diet, enjoy a handful as a snack, sprinkle chopped walnuts or almonds over salads. Another choice would be to use PB2 Performance Protein and add it to smoothies or oatmeal. This complete plant protein line is packed with almonds or peanuts as the first ingredient and contains no added sugar for a nutty protein boost we all need.
3. Dark Chocolate: This treat is often feared because it’s associated with indulgence and sugar, leading many to believe it’s unhealthy or detrimental to heart health. However, dark chocolate, specifically varieties with 70% cocoa or higher, can be a great option when chosen wisely. It’s rich in flavonoids, or antioxidants that help reduce inflammation and improve blood flow, all supporting cardiovascular health. Consider trying Mid-Day Squares - a chocolatey snack with minimal sugar, to satisfy cravings. One square keeps you full and energized between meals, making it an ideal snack for busy schedules.
4. Soy Products: Many people worry that the compounds in soy, called isoflavones, mimic estrogen and could disrupt hormonal balance or harm health. However, extensive research shows that soy consumption is safe and offers numerous benefits, particularly for heart health. Soy is a rich plant-based protein and fiber source that can help lower LDL (bad) cholesterol and improve overall cardiovascular function. To include soy in a heart-healthy diet, consider adding tofu to stir-fry, snacking on steamed edamame, or blending Silk Unsweetened soy milk into smoothies for a dairy-free milk alternative with eight grams of plant protein.
5. Fruit: Despite their superfood status, fruits are oftentimes avoided due to misconceptions about spikes in blood sugar levels or overall sugar content. However, fruits are packed with winning nutrients needed for heart health. Blueberries, for example, are filled with fiber, vitamin C, and powerful antioxidants called anthocyanins, which help reduce inflammation and improve blood vessel function. To include blueberries in a heart-healthy diet, enjoy them fresh or frozen as a snack, add them to yogurt, or frankly, they’re primed for a starring role in salads for a burst of natural sweetness.

 
Banana Split Overnight Oats
Serves 2
 
All you need:
2/3 cup Hy-Vee quick oats
1 tbsp. chia seeds
1 cup Silk Soy Milk
1 tbsp. Hy-Vee pure maple syrup
1 medium banana
Blueberries and strawberries
1 Mid-Day Square, chopped
 
All you do:

1. Combine 1/3 cup oats, 1/2 tablespoon chia seeds, 1/2 cup soy milk, 1/2 tablespoon maple syrup, and half a banana sliced into each mason jar. Stir well.
2. Cover with lid and place in refrigerator overnight.
3. Remove jar from fridge and top with blueberries and sliced strawberries. Sprinkle a chopped Mid-Day Square on top.

 
Adapted from: https://www.hy-vee.com/discover/recipes/banana-split-overnight-oats
 
The information is not intended as medical advice. Please consult a medical professional for individual advice. This content was made possible with the support of our sponsors: PB2 Performance Protein, Mid-Day Squares, Silk and U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council.
​

1904 Map, Original Town. 4 acres, more or less.
Photo credit: Grain Valley Historical Society
 

by Marcia Napier, Grain Valley Historical Society

The City of Grain Valley is currently 6.17 Square miles. My quick calculation revealed that it is approximately 3,948.8 acres or 987 times larger than the original town in 1878. According to city records the population of Grain Valley in 1880 was 80 people. In 2020, the official population was 15,627 or about 196 times larger than 140 years earlier. That kind of puts things in prospective!

The Original town was platted to include 38 lots of varying sizes and stretched North to South from Walnut Street to Harris Street and East to West from Cypress Street to Broadway (now Main Street).
​
According to early records from the County Recorder of Deeds at the Jackson County Courthouse in Independence, the early lots were sold to W. B. Bishop, G. C. Browne, R. D. Wood, L M. Harris, J. A, Spindle, J. O. George, Dr. Keener, J. Keshlear, Mell Hulse, M. Bokin, Elisha Moore, Jacob F. Gregg, E. F. Williams, D. M. Majors, H. H. Dean, and the Chicago & Alton Railroad.

The railroad property included Lot 35 plus the “right of way” and the land where the original depot was built. That depot burned in 1920, and the new depot was built further west in the Graves ad Ashcraft Addition. This group included shop owners, a doctor and a few homeowners. (Visit the Historical Society to learn more about Grain Valley’s first citizens.)

Over the years these lots housed a livery stable, a couple of gasoline stations, a small hotel, a lumber yard, a farm supply and feed store, a hardware store, a millinery shop, a tonsorial (barber and bath), a plastics manufacturing company, grocery stores, a marina, restaurants, an ice house, a slaughter house, the depot, and two homes of very prominent residents: the Williams Family and Mr. & Mrs. Loring.   

These lots are currently occupied by two beauty shops, the muffler shop, the car wash, the tattoo parlor, a pet shop, J & M Auto Repair shop, EMIG Racing, and soon to open, a restaurant on Lot 26. I’ve read that the U. S. Post Office was housed in one of the businesses and by 1915, another business housed the telephone office. Of course, the telegraph office was at the depot.

From the beginning, the town had a mayor and council members who came together to vote and voice their opinions. In 1881, they voted to annex the Graves and Ashcroft Addition and the first City Directory was printed. (Grain Valley News, May 23, 2022). Next week I will write about the “west side” of Main Street.
​

From the Illustrated Atlas of
Jackson County Missouri, 1877
 
by Marcia Napier, Grain Valley Historical Society

When doing research for my weekly article in Grain Valley News, it is always good to feel the information is accurate. Fortunately, this map is as accurate as we can get. It was printed just one year before Grain Valley became a town, so we know precisely who owned the land in and around our town when it was established on September 5, 1878.

Downtown Grain Valley is about as close as we can be to the center of Section 35.* In the May 19, 2022 issue of this paper, I wrote about James Lucas, the individual that gave 4 acres (more or less) of land to the city of Grain Valley. The information below was copied from the document found at the Recorder of Deeds office at the Jackson County Courthouse in Independence.
 
Know all men by those present that I James F. Lucas of the County of Logan in the State of Illinois do by those present set apart four acres of land located in the County of Jackson and the State of Missouri described as follows, that is to say, commencing fifty-eight feet south of northwest corner of the east quarter of the southwest quarter of Section (35) thirty-five, Township (49) forty-nine, Range 30, hence seven hundred and fifteen feet, hence east four hundred and forty feet, hence south to the railroad hence following the railroad due West one hundred and twenty feet hence south to the southern limits of the town hence West to the place of beginning making in all four acres more or less all of said tract of land situated on the Kansas City-St. Louis and (  ? )  railroad. For the ( ?  ) and purpose and profit of the town of Grain Valley.  The aforesaid town being laid off by Joseph Peters given under my hand and seal this fifty day of September A.D. 1878.  James H Cannon.
 
As I stated at the time, my research revealed that Lucas was a land speculator from Illinois and he never actually lived in Grain Valley. Once the town was established, his surrounding land would have been more valuable. James H. Cannon was the Notary Public who signed the deal. Remember, he had already built a mercantile next to the railroad! It would appear that nearly 150 years ago men were already looking for a great “financial” deal.

A few prominent patrons were listed in the atlas with addresses in Pink Hill or Stony Point. Remember it was 1877; there was no Grain Valley, yet! Those names were T. C. & D R. Broaddus, Jacob Gregg, and A. B. Hiell; all of Stony Point. And from Pink Hill the atlas listed M.L. Hall, B. F. Mitchell and Merrick Herrington (my great-great grandfather).
 
If you look closely, there are many names on the map in Sections 25 through 27 and 34 through 36 that I have written about in previous issues of Grain Valley News. They helped to establish our town which was incorporated on July 11, 1884. Hopefully, you will recognize some of them: Levi Potts, Britton Capelle, Elisha Moore, John Christison, and W. T. Gilliland to name a few. The men I have mentioned still have descendants in the area.  
 
 * A section if land is 640 acres or 1 square mile.
 
You can visit the Grain Valley Historical any Wednesday from 10:00am - 3:00pm and learn more about the families that participated in the democratic process that shaped our town.                                                                                       

by Marcia Napier, Grain Valley Historical Society
 
Twenty-one years after the United States Congress made Missouri the 24th state (August 10, 1821), Jacob Franklin Gregg was born on March 22, 1844. Some accounts tell us he was the first baby born in the tiny village of Stony Point. Known as Frank, he was one of ten children born to Jacob and Nancy Gregg, who came to Jackson County in 1825.

They purchased land at Stony Point in 1843. Jacob Gregg held several positions in Jackson County, including sheriff, postmaster, and in 1850 he was elected to the Missouri State House of Representatives. Gregg and his neighbors and fellow landowners, Alexander Mc Alexander, Henry Haines, William Baugh, Jesse Barnard, and Robert Parker, to name a few, saw fit to build a school, a church, and establish a general store and post office, all before the Civil War. Democracy in action!

Pink Hill was placed on the map by the United States Post Office in 1854 and Charles St Clair carried the first mail overland from Matthews Landing (near Levasy).  In the same year the first school was built. George Love and Asbury Neer platted a town of 40 lots on 10 acres where present day Pink Hill and Kirby roads intersect northeast of Grain Valley. The first homesteaders in the area were Samuel Young in 1843 and Jacob Keshlear and William Holland in 1845 and Robert Graham (my maternal great, great, great grandfather) in 1849.

Many of the families in both communities came from Kentucky or Tennessee, so on August 25, 1863, when General Thomas Ewing issued Order No. 11, both villages were abandoned by the residents with loyalties to the Confederate States of America. After the War Between the States some returned and others moved to the area.  Both villages continued to thrive for a few years.  School boards were established, mayors were elected, laws were written, the villages each had a sheriff. In 1871, the Pink Hill Methodist Church was established. In 1873, James H. Cannon arrived in Jackson County.  He was a farmer and teacher at Stony Point. Later he established a mercantile there, and in 1876 he became the postmaster.
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Both villages hoped for the railroad to come through their community, but when the Chicago and Alton Railroad was completed in 1878, the tracks were laid in a more or less straight line from Oak Grove to Blue Springs. Both towns were bypassed. Mr. Cannon moved his mercantile to the railroad and Grain Valley was established!

by Tara Sallee MS, RD, LD

 
Shedding weight is tough, even with all the stars aligned—but add in a friend’s tip or internet advice, and it’s a whole new challenge. Obesity is a growing concern in today’s world, linked to serious health risks like high blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes. For many, the desire to lower these risks is a strong incentive to work toward a healthier weight. Still, unfortunately, this pursuit is often overshadowed by widespread weight loss myths that can mislead and hinder progress.
 
Below, we debunk some of the most common weight loss myths and share tips to help you improve your well-being while fostering a healthy relationship with food.

1. XYZ diet works: Fad diets work for many people, but not for long. These diets are rarely sustainable for the long haul, plus many have food rules that cost you the joy of eating. Consider asking yourself, “Can you do this diet long term?” – as in forever. If the answer is no, move on. The tried-and-true way of losing weight and keeping it off is not a diet. It’s a form of healthy habits: eating a balanced diet, exercising regularly, and adequate sleep.
2. Exercise outweighs eating habits: You cannot outrun a bad diet. Yes, movement is crucial. However, it's time to reconsider if you’re solely counting on the gym to shed the weight. Exercise helps create a calorie deficit, but many fall into the trap of 'rewarding' their efforts with extra calories, undoing their hard work. A helpful guideline to remember is the 80/20 rule: 80% nutrition and 20% movement.
3. Cut carbs to lose: Whoever vilified this food group needs to be held accountable. Carbohydrates are important. They’re the main energy source for both the brain and the body. The key isn’t cutting them out entirely but understanding portion sizes. Too much of a good thing for any food item can backfire. Therefore, it’s good to remember that while high-protein diets are often hailed as the best for weight loss due to their role in keeping you full and supporting muscle, they work best when paired with smart, portion-controlled carbs. The winning equation is to build your meal with ¼ of the plate carbs, 1/4 protein and half with fruits and veggies.
4. Greatly reducing calories will get you your results: First, your body requires a certain number of calories to maintain basic body functions. Eating well below our daily requirement can hinder weight loss by slowing metabolism, and making it harder to reach your long-term goals. Not to mention, restricting calories can lead to an inadequate intake of essential nutrients, impacting overall health and energy levels. A moderate calorie deficit is essential to lose weight, however, that’s where a registered dietitian can provide an appropriate calorie level for your individual needs and goals.
5. Eating at night can make you gain: If you’re hoping for praise and approval for the 'no eating after 7 p.m.' rule, you might be looking in the wrong place. It’s not the timing that causes weight gain; it’s the choices and the portions of these that can set you back. Take a moment to check in with yourself: is your nighttime snacking driven by genuine hunger or simply out of habit? If it’s the latter, you may need to shut down the kitchen and crawl into bed.

 
If you're looking for personalized advice on nutrition trends or wondering how to kick-start your health and wellness journey in 2025, our team of Hy-Vee registered dietitians is here to help. Contact our Discovery Call Center at [email protected] or call (515) 695-3121 to schedule your complimentary Discovery Session today.
 
Strawberry Banana Performance Inspired Smoothie Bowl
Serves 2
 
All you need:
1 banana, peeled and frozen
1 scoop Vanilla bean Performance Inspired Performance Whey Protein
1 (5.3 oz.) Too Good Zero Sugar Madagascar Vanilla yogurt
1/2 cup sliced strawberries
2 tbsp. Hy-Vee sliced almonds
1 tsp. chia or hemp seeds
Additional toppings, as desired
 
All you do:

1. Blend a banana, whey protein powder and yogurt until smooth. Pour into two bowls.
2. Top with sliced strawberries, almonds, and chia seeds. Add additional toppings as desired.

 
Source: https://www.hy-vee.com/discover/recipes/strawberry-banana-performance-inspired-smoothie-bowl
 
The information is not intended as medical advice. Please consult a medical professional for individual advice. This content was made possible with the paid support of our sponsors: Too Good Zero Sugar Yogurt, Performance Inspired, and Fairlife Core Power.

by Marcia Napier, Grain Valley Historical Society
 
As the Historical Society prepares for the Smithsonian Museum on Main Street, this column will reflect how Democracy: Voices & Votes has affected Grain Valley. The column is not meant to be a history lesson; it would take someone far more intelligent than me to write that column.  Rather, over the next several months I hope to focus on how our town came to be and some stories about how the citizens of our town have helped shape our history.  So, let's start at the beginning, not the beginning of our country, but the beginning of our state.

A petition to Congress from Missouri requesting statehood was presented by the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Henry Clay on January 8, 1818. The first U.S. Land Sale in Missouri was recorded at the St. Louis District Land Office on July 13, 1818. While Missouri had a population large enough for statehood, the voices of both the US Senate and the House of Representatives debated for over two years before voting to admit Missouri on August 10, 1821.

It was all part of the Missouri Compromise admitting Missouri as a slave state and Maine as a non-slave state so as not to upset the balance between slave and free states in the nation. Many statesmen agreed that the compromise both delayed the Civil War and sowed its seeds.

On December 15, 1826, the Missouri State Legislature authorized the "County of Jackson," named after the seventh president of the United States of America, Andrew Jackson. Land west of Buckner Tarsney was part of Osage Indian land from Treaty of 1808 and land east of Buckner Tarsney was part of Lafayette County Jackson County was purchased from the Osage Indians and carved into 9 townships.

Here are some historical facts.
1834  Sni-A-Bar Township was organized
1842  Robert St. Clair brought his wife and 6 children to a 1000-acre farm in the area which became Pink Hill in the late 1840s.  Their 12 -room home was destroyed during the Civil War.  
1844 Jacob Franklin Gregg was born at Stony Point on March 3, 1844 
1845  Benjamin and Lucinda Warren homesteaded near Tarsney Lake.
1847  William Robert Kirby went west to pan for gold.  He returned and married Susan Capelle.
1850  The Post Office opened at Stony Point and Jacob Gregg (father of Jacob Franklin Gregg) was  appointed the first postmaster.
1854  The first school house was built at Pink Hill.
July 25, 1854  A post office was established at Pink Hill.  Charles St. Clair carried the mail from Independence.
1858  Pleasant Valley Church (Baptist or Methodist) was built at Stony Point.
1860 The census establishes Jacob Gregg as living with wife Nancy and their 10 children in Stony Point.
1863 August 25, 1863: Order #11 issued by Gen. Ewing…. much of Pink Hill was burned by the Kansas   Red Hogs.
1873  James H Cannon arrived in Jackson County.  He was a farmer and teacher at Stony Point.  Later he established a mercantile there and in 1876 he became the postmaster.