A Biographical history of Nodaway and Atchison counties, Missouri : compendium of national biography, Part 28

Author:
Publication date: 1901
Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 726

USA > Missouri > Nodaway County > A Biographical history of Nodaway and Atchison counties, Missouri : compendium of national biography > Part 28
USA > Missouri > Atchison County > A Biographical history of Nodaway and Atchison counties, Missouri : compendium of national biography > Part 28

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sine property. In 18os he and a son erect- ed a large brick block in Skidmore, and un- der the state law opened a private bank with a capital of five thousand dollars, but after- ward he purchased his son's interest and pursued a general banking business alone. Ile occupied one store room in the building created by him, and his son conducted a drug store in the other, while the hall above was used as an opera house. After 1898 Mr. Cook made his home in town, and began erecting a commodious residence there with all modern improvements.

Politically he was always affiliated with the Democratic party, and gave his support to every enterprise which he believed calcu- lated to advance the moral, social and ma- torial welfare of his adopted county. He died September 19, 1900, and is buried at Skidmore.

JONATHAN WOHLFORD.

Jonathan Wohlford, a prominent and representative farmer of Nodaway county and one of the old settlers of that county, 1. one of the best farmers in that section of the state. A som of George and Lydia (Damnglenbaugh) Wohlford, he was born in Center county, Pennsylvania, November 6. 1834.

Pinhp Wohlford, the grandfather of our subject, was a pencer of Kentucky, coming from Germany. From Kentucky he moved to Center county, Pennsylvania, where he Of duotel a mill and a farm. He was very we ard inorably known in the county, there he served as justice of the peace for m/mn years He died on the old homestead, blot the tellewing children : Jacob: John; I'llp, Jr .: George, father of our subject; Henry, David, Susana, Mary and Cather-

ine. George Wohlford was reared and edu- cated in Pennsylvania, where he assisted his father in farming and running the mill. Besides being a millwright, he was also a weaver by trade. In 1847 he settled in Stephenson county, Illinois, where he bought two hundred acres of land and gave his at- tention to farming. AAt his death, in 1809. he left a good estate. Ilis wife died at the age of seventy-one. Their children were: Jonathan, the subject of this sketch: Susan- na, the wife of D. J. Bear; Aaron, of Ill- nois : George, killed in the Civil war; Sarah, the wife of P. Bear; Emanuel, of Minne- sota; and Christian, of Illinois, The par- ents attended the Lutheran church.

Jonathan Wohlford, whose name heads this brief biography, was educated in the German and English schools of his native county. In 1856 he decided to "go west and grow up with the country," so accord- ingly set out for Kansas. Being a Republi- can, he was invited by slave-state voters to move on, which he did, tracing his way back to Missouri, where he remained in St. Jo- seph a short time. He then went farther north in the state, and, in Andrew county, worked out at fifty cents per day. After the winter was over, Mr. Wohlford went to Jowa, but remained only until fall, returning to Missouri, where he bought a claim of eighty acres in Nodaway county. He returned to Andrew county in 1858, and married, after which he got together a pioneer cabin and settled on his own land in Nodaway county. Being a thorough and conscien- tions worker, it was not long until affairs began to shape themselves according to his plans, and his land was under a good state of cultivation. He has been very successful and is now the owner of four hundred and fifty acres of beautifully cultivated land.

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He has also handled and raised stock, in addition to the tilling of the soil.

Mr. Wohlford married Sarah E. Jobe, April 6, 1858. She was born in Sangamon county, Illinois, a daughter of Ira B. Jobe, who was a native of Clay county, Missouri. Mr. Jobe was reared in Illinois, and in 1857 moved to Missouri, settling in Andrew coun- ty, where lie carried on general farming. He sold liis farm there in 1865 and moved to Nodaway county, where he continued to live to the time of his death, which occurred in July, 1898. Ilis wife, who is in her eighty-fifth year, is still living, with her daughter. They were the parents of eight children, namely : William; Sarah, the wife of our subject : Caroline, who married D. Wilson; A. W .; Caleb, served in the Federal army : Thomas, of Kansas ; Melissa, the wife of M. Baker; and Lucy, who married S. Matthews. Mrs. Jobe is a member of the Baptist churchı.

Mr. and Mrs. Wohlford have been blessed with six children : Samuel, a farmer ; Mary, the wife of J. Perkins ; William D., a farmer; George, who also is a farmer; Lenora, who married M. Ankrum; and Ira E., who is farming on the old homestead. Mr. Wohlford is a firm believer in the Re- publican party, always taking an active in- terest in politics. He has been assessor, and has filled minor offices. He was a school director for a number of years. His wife is a member of the Latter Day Saints' church.

JAMES AA. YARNELL.

AAmong the agriculturists of Nodaway county who have attained success from a financial point of view is the gentleman whose name introduces this sketch. He has

accumulated a handsome competence and is now able to lay aside all business cares and enjoy a well earned rest. He was an ener- getic and progressive farmer and stock raiser and a complete master of the calling which he followed.

Mr. Yarnell was born in Vermilion coun- ty, Illinois, May 28, 1841. a son of Thomas and Dorcas T. ( Hildreth) Yarnell. On the paternal side lie is of English descent. The first of the family to cross the Atlantic came to America with one of William Penn's colonies and settled in Pennsylvania. He was a member of the Society of Friends. Later members of the family drifted to Kentucky. Our subject's father was born and reared in Cynthiana, that state, and was the older of two children of the family. His sister, Mrs. Rebecca Matkin, died in Illinois, at the age of eighty-eight years. He was first married in his native state and then moved to Grand Prairie, Vermilion county, Illinois, where he improved a farm and where his first wife died, leaving three children : Joseph : Elizabeth, who died un- married; and Samuel, a retired farmer of Ravenwood, Nodaway county, Missouri. For his second wife Mr. Yarnell married Dorcas T. Hildreth, a native of Paris, Ken- tucky, in which state her father died, after which her mother took her family to Illi- nois, where with the aid of grown sons she improved a farm. Her children were Alvin K., John, Harvey, Mrs. Angeline Howe, William, Mrs. Mary McDowell, Mrs. Dorcas T. Yarnell and Hiram. With the exception of Mrs. Yarnell, who was a Methodist, the family held membership in the Presbyterian church. The father of our subject died near Danville, Illinois, in 1842, and in 1853 the mother sold the farm and moved to Noda- way county, Missouri, the population of

BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

ulnich at that time was mostly Indians, and De entry was all wild and unimproved. She entered a large tract of land, on which Se und her family made their home until niter the children were married, when she - the property and moved to Maryville, res big there until called from this life August 25, 1880, at the age of seventy-seven let's. She was a good financier and pos- sel more than ordinary business ability. Ne . mother she was devoted to her family wol leprived herself for their benefit. Her c ren were Thomas, who died unmarried ; Mary E .. the wife of G. Stingley: James 1 .. Our subject ; and Leona, the wife of P.

James A. Yarnell was only twelve years On when he came to this county, and re- 1. uned with his mother until the Civil war broke out, being educated in the country -chools near the home farm. In September, 18tt, he enlisted in Colonel Kimble's regi ment for six months' service in central Mis- so, and was honorably discharged ir Med. 1802. Later he re-enlisted in Com- 1010 6, Fourth Missouri Cavalry, which was magne to the western army, and was in www ... hard fought engagements with the And radas and Price's men, but was fortu Bater never wounded or taken prisoner. Mesas mustered out at Warrensburg. Mi- Von, and discharged and paid off at St.

Jeturning to his home in this county M. S. rnell was married, in November, 005, to Miss Samantha Scott, a native of con n county, Missouri, and a daughter mi Mer Scott, who was born in Ohio and farmer by occupation. She is the n order of birth in a family of four ( Ben. the others being Sarah .A., the wife of Yollan Simmons : Kon Gs, a stock man ;

and John W., professor of a Colorado school. To Mr. and Mrs. Yarnell were born the following children : Frisby .A., a resident of Colorado; Dorcas L. ; Mary .A .; Donella. who died young ; James A., a resident of San Francisco, California; Florence R., who has engaged in teaching school and is now attending college in Salt Lake City; Belva C .: AAlfred, of San Francisco; Eugene II. and Byrdie. The wife and mother is now with some of her children in San Francisco. After his marriage Mr. Yarnell located upon his farm, and to its cultivation and improvement he devoted his energies for some years. Ile raised considerable stock and also bought and sold cattle and hogs which business he found profitable. Suc- cess has attended his well directed efforts, and he has accumulated a handsome prop- erty. At one time he owned seven hundred acres of rich and arable land. In 1887 he left the farm and moved to Maryville, where he engaged in merchandising one year, but is now living a retired life, looking after his interests only. Though reared a Democrat, lic east his first presidential vote for Abra- ham Lincoln, and has remained a stanch supporter of the Republican party. He is a consistent member of the Presbyterian church, and is highly respected and esteemed ly the entire community in which he lives.

CORNELIUS HULL.

The subject of this sketch, now a re- tired farmer and highly respected citizen of Maryville, Missouri, was born in Dela- ware county, Ohio, November 7, 1826, and was reared on a farm, being educated in the common and subscription schools of the neighborhood. His parents, Samuel and Cherissa ( Wilcox) Hull, were also natives

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of Ohio, while his paternal grandfather, Ezekiel Hull, was born in Virginia, and as early as 1805 moved to Ross county, Ohio, where he spent his remaining days. His children were Platt, David D., Ezekiel, Cornelius, Nathaniel, Daniel, Luff, Samuel, James, Martha and Mary. In early life the father of our subject served as captain, major and later as colonel in the Ohio militia, and on the Whig ticket was elected to several civil offices in his township. He followed farming in his native state until 1870, when he came to Maryville, Missouri, and lived a retired life until his death, dy- ing there January 12, 1892, at the ripe old age of eighty-eight years. His wife had died previously. She was a daughter of Hira Wilcox, a native of Connecticut and a farmer by occupation, who died in Ohio. He was a soldier of the war of 1812, and his father, Jehial Wilcox, was the captain of a company in the Revolutionary war. The former had five children, namely : Herman; Elmore ; Cherissa, the mother of our subject ; Sylva A., the wife of M. R. Paine; and Clarissa, the wife of D. S. Drake. The par- ents of these children were members of the Freewill Baptist church, while the Hull fam- ily were members of the Missionary Baptist church. Our subject is the oldest of a fam- ily of thirteen children, the others being Hira; Clarissa, the wife of E. M. Conklin; Herman W .; Lydia A., the wife of J. Miller ; Mary, the wife of J. W. Iloff ; Martha, the wife of W. Ferguson: William; Samuel; |

died in that state in 1845. His children were Editha, Cyrus, David, John, Jane A., Eliza, Clarissa, Ruth and James. Mrs. IIull, wlio was a consistent and faithful member of the Missionary Baptist church, died Oc- tober 30, 1877, leaving children named Ann E., John. Herman, S. W., Frank, Flora J., Clara, David and Abe. Only the last named was born in Missouri, the others in Ohio. Mrs. Hlull's grandmother was the first white woman of northern Ohio. In 1878 our subject was again married. his second union being with Mrs. Mattie A. Martin, a daughter of J. P. Harris, of Mis- souri. The only child born to thein died young, and the wife died January 5, 1882. She, too, was a member of the Missionary Baptist church. In 1882 Mr. Hull married Mrs. Emaline Wells, and on the 11th of March, 1890, hie married his present wife, Mrs. Caroline Wareham, a native of Frank- lin county, Indiana, of which state her fa- ther, J. P. Williams, was an honored pio- neer. Her mother was a sister of Governor Rae, of Indiana, and her brother was a noted chancellor and circuit judge of Wapel- lo, lowa, who became very prominent and wealthy and died in Ottumwa, same state. Mrs. Hull was first married in Indiana and then moved to Iowa, where she lost by death three husbands, our subject being her fourth, as well as she his fourth wife.

Mr. Hull engaged in farming in Ohio until the Civil war broke out, when he en- listed, in 1861, for three years as a mem- George ; Joseph; Harriet J., the wife of M. ; ber of Company D, Twentieth Olio Vol- Carpenter ; and Daniel.

Cornelius Hull remained under the pa- rental roof until he was married, in 1847, to Miss Jane A. Wyatt, a native of Ohio and a daughter of Samuel D. Wyatt, a : honorably discharged, in August, 1862. In farmer and Freewill Baptist preacher, who '

unteer Infantry, which was assigned to the western army. He participated in the bat- t'es of Fort Donelson and Shiloh, and be- ing injured in the latter engagement he was 1864 he re-enlisted, in the one-hundred-day

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service, and was commissioned first lieuten- ant of Company C. One Hundred and Forty- fifth Ohio National Guards. Ile participat- ed in a mimber of battles and skirmishes during his first service, but later did prin- cipaly guard duty. After being discharged he returned to his family in Ohio. In No- ember, 1805. he came to Nodaway county, Missouri, and purchased a farm of one him- dred acres in Union township, to the im- provement and cultivation of which he de- voted his energies until 1882. when he bought five acres of land adjoining Mary- ville, which is now within the corporation limits and which has since been his home. During his active business life he suc- cessfully engaged in general farming and stock raising, but is now living retired, en- joving a well earned rest. Politically he is a Republican, and religiously both he and Is estimable wife are earnest members of the Missionary Baptist church. He belong's " a family noted for its morality and in- tegrity, and he has in no way injured the reputation established by his ancestors, his upright, honorable life commanding the re- spect and confidence of all with whom he has come in contact either in business or social life.

JOHN S. BILBY.

The portions of the west devoted to tas raising have many so called "cattle 1.rose" and "cattle kings." For the most part they come and go, rising to promi- Beje quickly and subsiding to obscurity En Merly, "as the result," Mr. Bilby says. Ton of more generally by a vicious financial we godd standard form of currency forced om the unsuspecting and confiding coun-

tryman." The successful stock man and land owner whose name is mentioned above makes no claim to great distinction in his business, but it is a fact that he has achieved high rank and permanently established himself in it by methods at once enterprising and con- servative, which would have made a man vi his ability successful in any other field of endeavor.

John S. Bilby, the largest capitalist and most extensive land owner in Nodaway county, Missouri, was born in Washington township. Morris county, New Jersey, Jan- uary 19. 1832, a son of John Bilby, a grand- son of Jonathan Bilby and a great-great- grandson, in the maternal line, of one of those patriot officers who fought in the strug- gle for American independence under Gen- eral Washington. Indeed, the family of Bilbys, in New Jersey, has an unbroken record for patriotism and good business ability, and in all periods of the history of that state down to the present time Bilbys have been among her most useful and prom- inent citizens. Jonathan Bilby was born at Bordentown, New Jersey, and married a daughter of Colonel Daniel Sweazey, of Revolutionary fame, a member of another family long conspicuous in New Jersey af- fairs. John Bilby, his son and the father of John S. Bilby, married Delilah Sliker, a daughter of John Sliker, of Hunterdon county, New Jersey, and of German de- scent : she bore him eight sons and seven daughters. Mrs. Bilby died in November, 1900, at the advanced age of ninety-two years. Her husband died at the age of fifty- six. Ile was a man of fine abilities, a good business man and prominent farmer, a Democrat and a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.

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John S. Bilby was reared on his father's farm in New Jersey and was taught to do all kinds of farm work and learned the trade of carpenter and millwright. He was given as good an education as was to be had in the public schools of the time and place. Incidentally, having a natural liking for business, he engaged in various transactions which afforded him a helpful business ex- perience. He was married, at twenty-three, to a daughter of Moses and Margaret ( Mes- singer ) Appleget, a member of an old and worthy New Jersey family. In 1855 he came west and located in Fulton county, Illinois, near Canton, where he found work at his trade. In 1860 he removed to McDonough county, same state, and engaged in stock- raising near Bushnell, where he acquired one thousand acres of land, by successful cultivation and good business management, and remained until 1875. when he founded his present home in Nodaway county. He was discerning enough to see that, with its productive soil and blue-grass pastures, this was naturally a good stock country, and he invested and labored with that idea in view, and results have demonstrated the wisdom of his opinion. His first land purchase was moderate, but he has made many since and now owns twenty-two thousand acres in Nodaway, Atchison and Holt counties, in- cluding blue-grass pastures that rival those of Kentucky, timothy and clover land that surpasses the Illinois meadows, and corn- fields that yield vast crops. He has, also, fifteen thousand acres in Staunton county, Nebraska, and large tracts in other states and territories. On these large possessions lie feeds from two to ten thousand head of cattle each year and about an equal num- ber of hogs. Throughout all the great stock-raising territory of the west, Mr. Bilby

is regarded as one of the very best judges of cattle and cattle values, and in his man- agement of landed and stock-raising inter- ests he is probably without a peer.

Mr. Bilby's sons have been brought up to the cattle business and under his able di- rection have naturally become experts in judging stock. J. E. Bilby, the eldest, was born in Illinois, November 9, 1864, and was educated in the public schools near his home and at college in Iowa. He married Miss Josephine Albright, who was born, reared and educated in Nodaway county, and they have four children, named Stocker, Will- iam, Nellie and Murray. He is a Denio- crat and a member of the Masonic order. Russell I., Mr. Bilby's second son, was born in Illinois, and was educated in that state and at College Springs, Iowa. His wife was Miss Maggie Miller, a daughter of Alex- ander Miller, of Atchison county, Missouri. They have four children: Margaret, John S., Jr., Ralph and Farrell. N. V., Mr. Bilby's youngest son, was born in Illinois and educated there and in Nodaway county, Missouri. He married Miss Bird McMackin and has two children-Mary and an infant son. Mr. Bilby has one daughter, Frances E., now the wife of R. R. Smith, of Seattle. In 1887, in the death of his wife, Mr. Bilby was stricken by the one great sorrow of his life. Mrs. Bilby had proven herself a lov- ing and helpful wife and a wise and gentle mother, and her loss to her family was one which can never be repaired.

Mr. Bilby was concerned in the estab- lishment of the Farmers' and Merchants Bank at Quitman. Nodaway county, which was founded in 1885. William A. Johnston was the cashier until 1887, and was suc- ceeded by J. E. Bilby. In 1890 N. V. Bilby became the cashier and continued as such

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J. S. Bilby & Son. The Bilby bank is one of the solid financial institutions of north- west Missouri and has had no small part in the development of agricultural, mer- cantile and manufacturing interests in and about Quitman. Il. C. Bailey is the pres- ent cahier. The Bank Block, in which the institution is located, is a modern two-story building, one of the attractive architectural features of the town.

Partially retired from the active man- agement of some of his varied and import- an interests. Mr. Bilby yet keeps all his affairs closely in mind and firmly in hand. Though now sixty-eight years old. he ap- pears much younger, is active and hearty, rides a horse with case and preserves a wonderful capacity for business. Politically. he is a Democrat, influential in party com- cils, but has never had any political am- bition, and the last thing that he wouldl care to be is a practical politician.

MRS. MARY J. GRAILA.M.

Thes well known and how red resident of Marysale. Missouri, for whom the city was Bathed, is the viden of Colonel Amos Gira- Ươm, che Để to je st prominent citizens in carly des. She was born in Washington county, Kentucky. September 3. 1821, a daughter of Jon ort Nancy House, who jent there are no in that state. Both Cte a the ne ves i the Baptist church, .. the ter Farmer by occupation. Tetlen meg Mathews, who died in Tale Da med Rộ: Imgy, the

until iNOS, when the bank was sold to Dr. In Kentucky, January o. 1842. was cele- Ruiu- 11. Smith, and later it was bought by brated the marriage of Colonel Graham and Miss Mary J. House. The Colonel was also born in that state. March 14. 1816, and was a son of Isaac Graham, a prominent farmer, whose children were Amos. Thomas, Jacob. Archibald, Mathew, Mrs. Jane Keling and Rebecca. The last named became a resident of Missouri. The Graham family were also Baptists in religious belief.

In 1842, soon after his marriage. Colonel Graham brought his bride to Missouri and first located at Savannah, Andrew county. where he taught school for a time and later held a position in the county clerk's office. In 1845 he came to Nodaway county and entered a large quantity of land. Ile im- proved a fine farm adjoining the county seat. which was established after he located there and which was named in honor of his wife, she being the first white woman to reside there. They saw the village established on the wild prairie and grow to a flourishing city of seven thousand inhabitants. For a number of years they know every one in the county, so sparsely was it settled during their early residence here.

Colonel Graham carried on farming but gave the most of his attention to public bu-i- ness, for he was honored with a number of important official positions. He took an active and prominent part in political affair- and was one of the leading Democrats of the county. At different times he filled a'l the county offices, was clerk and recorder for over sixteen years, and in 1800 Was elected to the state legislature on the Breck- enridge ticket by a large majority, although the Douglas ticket carried the county. Ile was a member of the assembly during the Strony session of 1800 01, but after his re turn home teck no active part in politics.

THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY

COL. AMOS GRAHAM

MARY J. GRAHAM.

CHARLES GRAHAM

NEWY OWE LIC CATRE

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his sympathies being with the south, while Littlefield, who was born in Hancock conun- the county was on the side of the Union. On its organization he was appointed clerk of the courts and ex-officio recorder and was the first post master of Maryville. Being a well educated and a highly intellectual man. he was well fitted for any position he was called upon to fill, and discharged his official duties with credit to himself and to , the satisfaction of his constituents. Fra- ternally he was a member of the Masonic order. He was familiarly known as Colonel Graham, as he held that rank in the old state militia. As a man he was kind-hearted and charitable, always having a kind word for every one, and he was highly esteemed and respected by all who knew him. He died September 14, 1865, at the age of forty- nine years, and in his death the community realized that it had lost one of its most valuable and useful citizens, a man of un- questioned honor and integrity.

Mrs. Graham still survives her husband. and is surrounded by a large circle of friends and acquaintances who have for her the high- est regard. Their only child, Charles C. Graham, was born June 5, 1843, and was reared and educated in this state. At the opening of the Civil war, when Missouri was greatly agitated over the question of secession, he took sides with the Confederacy and entered the service. Later he returned home but was obliged to leave the state and so went to Illinois. On again returning home he entered the Union army and was stationed at Fort Garland for a time, but in 1865, at the time of his father's last illness and death, he secured his release and joined his parents.

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A Biographical history of Nodaway and Atchison counties, Missouri : compendium of national biography, Part 28

Author: Publication date: 1901 Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 726

Author:
Publication date: 1901
Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 726