A Biographical history of Nodaway and Atchison counties, Missouri : compendium of national biography, Part 39

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 39
USA > Missouri > Atchison County > A Biographical history of Nodaway and Atchison counties, Missouri : compendium of national biography > Part 39

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

In 1857 Mr. Carr married Miss M. J. Guthrie, a native of Illinois and a daughter of Michael Guthrie, who was a pioneer of this county and one of its prominent farm- ers. Her parents were both members of the Christian church. Their children were Will- iam. Samuel, Mary J., Mrs. Melissa Tibbett. Maria, Mrs. Nancy Russell. Mrs. Emma Lamme and Perry. To Mr. and Mrs. Carr were born five children, namely : Lewis R .. now a resident of the state of Washington : Emma R., the wife of John Whitmack ; and Albert. Fred and Charles C .. all farmers of this county. The wife and mother died in May. 1873, and in March, 1874. Mr. Carr married Mrs. Lucy Colburn, whose son. Herbert O. Colburn, made his home with our subject until his death, at the age of six- teen years. The two children born of the second union both died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Carr were married in New York, of which state her parents. M. W. and Cath- erine ( Wiles ) Smith, were lifelong resi- dents. Iler father was quite a prominent farmer and miller, and was called upon to fill some county offices. Her mother was a member of the Methodist church. In their family were seven children, of whom Mrs. Elizabeth Holbrook, a resident of New York state, and Mrs. Carr are the only survivors. The others were Orson and Anson, both ruhr ad engmeer ; Nathan : George, a school teacher: and Charles, a farmer, who was taken prisoner in the late war and died in the service. Mrs. Carr's first husband. William 11. Colburn, was born in New York and in early life followed school teaching. During the Civil war he entered the service : the captain of Company R. Forty second Ilmois Volunteer Infantry, and served five years, enduring all the hard-lups and priva- 1.01% of such a life. After his return home

he was married, in 1866, and settled on his farm in Michigan, where he died in 1870. Religiously Mrs. Carr is a consistent mem- ber of the Methodist church.

Descended from sturdy New England stock. Mr. Carr is endowed with that en- terprise and perseverance proverbial in the Yankee. During his early residence in lowa he worked at anything which he coukl find to do, and his labors always gave the utmost satisfaction. Seeing such fine grazing land all about him, he was anxious to embark in the cattle business. The only opportunity he found for raising ready money was at the laborious task of wheeling dirt for the construction of a milldam, at which he worked for some time. He at length man- aged to save one hundred dollars, which he invested in thirty-three calves, and thus se- cured a start in the stock business. To pro- vide himself with hay for winter use, he would mow at night, after having used a scythe all day, working for others at sixty- two and a half cents per acre. When the first tax on his two hundred acres was due he found that he had no money. It was al- most impossible to raise the money, as there was no cash market for his corn and wheat. He took a load to Maryville, where he could have exchanged it for goods, but this time he needed the ready money and started to return home with his load. Meeting a man who needed the grain for bread. he sold him the corn for twelve and a half cents per bushel, and the wheat for twenty-five. His load brought him only a few cents over what was required to pay his taxes.

A man of keen discrimination and sound judgment, he has prospered in all his un- dertakings, and has accumulated a hand- some property. He has ever made a special- ty of stock raising. and upon his place has

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some fine imported horses, Kentucky jacks and shorthorn cattle. In politics Mr. Carr is independent. reserving his right to vote for the man whom he believes best qualified to fill the office, regardless of party lines.

SHELDON B. FARGO.

There are some lives of peculiar interest. .a record of which might be made voluminous and yet be good reading, entertaining and instructive, from the first line to the last. The biography of those who have, during any part of their lives, had adventurous ca- reers in new countries and among savage 01 lawless people is valuable in literature, not alone because narratives of adventure are always interesting but also because they shed light on important periods in our his- tory which is scarcely obtainable from any other source. There is so much of adventur- ous and historic interest in the life of the gentleman named above that it seems a pity to be obliged to condense an account of it within the limits of a mere biographical sketch.

Sheldon B. Fargo, attorney at law and pension attorney, Quitman, Nodaway coun- ty, one of the well-known residents of north- west Missouri, was born in Ashtabula coun- ty, Ohio, May 13, 1825. His father was Thomas Fargo, a son of Ezekiel Fargo, who was born at Sandersfield, Massachusetts, in 1791, and became a soldier in the war of 1812. The family is of Scotch-Irish an- cestry and its founder in America came from the Isle of Man. The mother of our subject, Mabel ( Bidwell) Fargo, a native of Con- necticut, was a daughter of Stephen Bid- well, who died at the age of one hundred and three years at Litchfield, Connecticut.

Thomas and Mabel Fargo were the par-

ents of nine children, four sons and five daughters. Four are living, viz .: Susan Phillips, of Illinois; Ralph G., a soldier in the Civil war, serving in an Illinois infantry regiment ; Milo W., of Oklahoma: and Sheldon B. The others, who are dead. were Emeline S., Eggleston, Harriet N., Matilda, Jerome D. and Jane E. Their father died in 1842, in Peoria county, Illinois, aged fifty-one years; the mother in Stark county, Illinois, at the age of nearly eighty-seven years. She came of a long-lived family. some members of which had lived nearly one hundred years. She was a member of the l'resbyterian church; her husband was in religion a Universalist, and in politics a Whig. He learned and long followed the trade of carpenter and joiner, though late in life he engaged in farming.

Sheldon B. Fargo remained in Ashta- bula county, Ohio, until, in 1835, at the age of ten, he moved to Peoria county, Illinois, twelve years before there was a railroad built in that state. In 1850, during the gold excitement, he joined the great number who were pushing their way, against many diffi- culties and obstacles, to the western coast. With a four-horse team he spent one hun- dred and twelve and one-half days by the way, finally settling at Corvallis, Oregon, where he lived for eight years. He took part in the Indian war, enlisting July, 1853, and receiving an honorable discharge Sep- tember 10, following, at Jacksonville, Ore- gon. He was orderly sergeant in the volun- teer company of Captain J. K. Lamerick.

Later he was elected sheriff of Benton county, Oregon, and served as its sheriff while Oregon was a territory, and as the first one after Oregon became a state. There were no constables and his work was onerous and sometimes exciting and dangerous.

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

During his residence in Washington he served as deputy United States marshal on the revenue cutter "Shubrick," plying on Puget Sound. His official duty was to ar- rest smugglers who might try to bring goods illegally from foreign ports into the United States. Ile was admitted to the bar in 1861 at Walla Walla, Washington, where he practiced law until 1868. meanwhile act- ing as prosecuting attorney of the first ju- dicial district, when he came east to Stark county, Illinois, where, in 1870, he was ap- pointed attorney for the village of Wyom- ing, which office be held for two years. In 1881 he came to Quitman, Missouri, where he is the only lawyer and where he ably fills the office of pension attorney.

Mr. Fargo was married January 30, 1878. in Wyoming, Illinois, to Miss Belle Carrico, a daughter of John Carrico, of that place. Her mother was Elizabeth Carrico, also a native of Illinois, They have one son, Iudl. P. Fargo, now in his twenty-fifth year. who is a resident of the town of Quitman. Politically Mr. Fargo is a Republican and as a citizen he is public spirited and influen- tial. As a lawyer he has, in the course of hi- professional career, been called upon to handle some cases of importance and he has won a reputation for ability and success. Is a United States pension attorney he has discharged the duties of his office in such a manner as to win the approbation of all con- corned, safeguarding the interests of the pensioners.

WILLIAM 11. IHNDMAN.

William 11. Hindman, a successful farm- es and stock raiser of Atchison county, Mis- smrt, has been closely identified with the growth and development of this county. He

is a member of an old pioneer family, and was born in llolt county, Missouri, Sep- tember 10, 1849, a son of John and Nancy J. ( Stephenson ) Hindman.

William Hindman, the grandfather of our subject, was a native of Kentucky, who moved to Missouri at an early day, settling in Clay county, where he became a well- known farmer. His children were Thomas, Marion, William, and John M., the father of our subject. John Hindman was reared to manhood in Clay county, Missouri, and later entered the Mexican war, where he saw active service and many hardships. He re- ceived from the United States government a land warrant, which was laid out in Holt county. This he greatly improved and afterward sold, moving to Atchison conn- ty, where he carried on farming for several years, and at the time of his death left con- siderable property. He was born in Octo- ber, 1825, and his death occurred June 18. 1858. He married Nancy J. Stephenson, who was born February 17, 1832. in Parke county, Indiana. She was a daughter of William and Margaret Frontman Stephen- son. Margaret Frontman was a daughter of Peter Fromman, who was of German de- scent. The Stephenson family were the first white settlers in Holt county. Missouri, where they assisted in the growth and de- velopment of the place. William Stephen- son, our subject's maternal grandfather. was born in Culpeper county, Virginia, in March, 1789. His father was a native of Ireland and his mother was born in France. He was married in Virginia, in 1813, to Mar- garet Frontman, and then moved to Bond county, Illinois, where several of his chil- dren were born. He then moved to Parke county, Indiana, where he remained until June, 1840, when he took up his final resi-

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dence in Holt county, Missouri, where two of his sons resided. Ile died in 1842, and his wife lived for several years after- ward. Their children were as follows: Mrs. Theresa Baldwin: Blank S .: Peter: Mrs. George Baxter: William; John F .: Alex- andria : Margaret, the wife of J. Hindman ; Nancy J., the mother of our subject ; James: Michael S .: Elna; Mrs. Rebecca Collins ; Mrs. Sarah Hutton : and Mrs. Rachel Pice.

John M. and Nancy ( Stephenson ) Hind- man were the parents of four children : William H., the subject of this sketch; An- geline, the wife of H. Hurst; Sarah, the wife of L. Mooney : and Robert, of Arkan- sas. January 18, 1859, Mrs. Hindman mar- ried John Sly, of Pickaway county, Ohio. He was born February 22, 1828, a son of Henry and Ann ( MeCollister ) Sly. Henry Sly was a native of Virginia, and his wife was a native of Maryland. John Sly en- gaged in shipping cattle in his native state. and in 1857 located in Clark township. AAtch- ison county, Missouri, where he purchased a large tract of land, on which he built a large brick house and several fine out-buildings. He served several years as county judge and, was well known in the community. Mr. and Mrs. Sly were the parents of four children : H. O., a prominent farmer ; Lillian, the wife of H. F. Staples; Senoma, the wife of George Hunter : and Mary, the wife of H. E. !

Wyatt. Mr. Sly was a Democrat in pol- itics. His wife died December 25. 1882. He is still living.

William Hindman, the subject of this personal biography, was nine years old at the time of his father's death. He remained with his mother until he had reached man- hood, and at the age of twenty-five married and began a career for himself. In 1874 he bought a farm, on which he remained

until 1882, when he went to Nebraska and engaged in ranching. At the end of two and one-half years he returned to Atchison county, where he bought a farm of three hundred and seventy-five acres, and has since added to it until he is now one of the large land owners of the county, being the possess- or of seven hundred and twenty acres, all of which is in a high state of cultivation. The land when first bought was worth thirty- five dollars per acre, but the price has ad- vanced considerably since that time. Mr. Hindman owns several head of valuable stock, buying only the best to be obtained. His farm is one of the finest in the state. and he is considered one of the most solid business men in the county. He takes a strong interest in politics, being a member of the Democratic party, but has never aspired to political preferment.

Mr. Hindman married Bettie Graves. November 1, 1874. She was a daughter of W. E. and Edna (Saunders) Graves, both natives of Kentucky. Samuel Graves, the father of William, was a native of Virginia, but early in life settled in Kentucky, where he was a well-to-do farmer. His children were : E. H., deceased : J. P., deceased ; and W. E., the father of Mrs. Hindman. W. E. Graves grew to manhood in Kentucky, when he located in Buchanan county, Mis- souri, and began farming. He then bought another farm, on which the town of Milton now stands, and this he improved and farmed in general. It was there he passed from this life, April 22. 1879. He was the owner of a number of slaves, and though he was prac- tically a Union man during the war his sympathies were with the south. He was the captain of the Paw Paw militia and saw some active service during the war. He was the postmaster at Irish Grove, and held

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the office of justice of the peace for a num- ber of years. Religiously he was a member of the Methodist church, in which he was an active worker. Mr. Graves married Edna Saunders, a daughter of Jack Saunders, who was a prominent and widely known resident of Kentucky and later of Buchanan county, Missouri. When Nodaway county was set- tled he came here to live and became one of the most successful farmers in this section of the state. He was also a large slave owner. For many years he was a promi- nent merchant of Maryville, where he built the first business house. Hle then went to St. Joseph, Missouri, where he erected the Saunders House. His children were as fol- lows : James, of Maryville : Robert, of Okla- homa : Edna, the mother of Mrs. Hindman ; Mishau, of St. Joseph : Betta, the wife of Mr. Jester, of Salem county, Missouri. W. E. and Edna ( Saunders) Graves had thirteen chil- dren. These five are living, nameis : J. W .. a prominent farmer of this county; Robert. of Milton, Missouri; R. S., of St. Joseph; W. E., of Craig, this state; and Elizabeth, the wife of our subject.

Mr. Hindman and his wife have been blessed with the following children : Robert J ... born .August 13, 1875; Edward L., born January 4. 1877, died September 14, 1887; Charles P .. born October 11. 1878, died February 11. 1879; Pearl E., born June 28. 1881, ched April 144. 1885 : William R., born March 21, 1881: Richard, born March 13. 1886; Grover D., born March 3, 1888; and Lillian G., born August 16, 1891. Mr. Ilindman is a member of the Masonic fra- ternity. 1. O. O. F., and Knights of Pythias ; and his wife is a member of the Rathbone Sisters and Eastern Star. Mr. Hindman has always been an active worker in the Cumberland Presbyterian church, of which

he has been an elder and a teacher in the Sunday-school. The family are highly re- spected in the community, where they have a host of warm friends.

CHRISTIAN R. ROLF.

For many years Mr. Rolf has occupied a leading position among the earnest men of AAtchison county, where he has attained prominence in political circles as well as in business life. He was born in the province of Hanover, Germany, February 26. 1854. and was reared to honest toil, while in the common schools of the community he ac- quired his education. Ilis parents, B. R. and Agnes ( Bensman) Rolf, were both natives of Hanover, and there they were married and reared their family. The father died in 1895. but the mother is still living, at the age of sixty-six. Ile devoted his entire life to the work of the farm, lived quietly and unos- tentatiously and commanded the respect and confidence of his fellow men. In his family were the following named : Christian Rudolf. of this review; A. W., now of Atchison county ; and Henry Rolf, of Fremont county. lowa. The mother and daughter are still living in Germany, and the mother is a mem- ber of the Lutheran Church, as was her hus- band.

Mr. Rolf of this review remained at home until nineteen years of age and then took passage at Bremen for New York, reaching that harbor after thirteen days. He at once made his way to Wisconsin, where he was employed as a farm hand for four years. and in 1877 he came to Missouri, locating in Atchison county, where he again worked as a farm hand for a year. He then pur- chased eighty acres of land, at ten dollars an acre. Not a furrow had been turned or an

C. R. ROLF.

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PUBLI" RAYY

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improvement of any kind made on the place. but with characteristic energy he began its development, erected a small house, fenced a portion of his place and began farming. As the years have passed he has extended the boundaries of his place until he now has two hundred and ninety acres, all in one tract. This constitutes a fine homestead, the land being valued at sixty dollars per acre. All of it is under a high state of cultivation and there are good meadows and pasture lands. offering excellent grazing facilities for the stock. He has erected a model two-story frame residence and large barns and out- buildings which, together with orchards and groves of ornamental trees, render his home one of the most attractive and desirable coun- try seats in Atchison county. He carries on general farming and has also raised and handled considerable stock. On his arrival ir. America he had only a few dollars. Since that time he has received a small amount from home, but the greater part of his posses- sions have been acquired through earnest. lionest labor, and to-day he is the possessor of much valuable property in addition to his farm possessions. He is also one of the stockholders of the Farmers' Bank at West. boro and is recognized as a man of excellent financial ability, of keen discernment, un- flagging energy and persistent purpose.

In 1878 occurred the marriage of Mr. Rolf and Miss Lena Kahle, who was born in Hanover, Germany, March 1, 1856, and in 1872 crossed the Atlantic to America, re- moving from Wisconsin to Missouri, where she was married. Her parents, who were farming people, both died in Germany. They were members of the Lutheran church and in that faith reared their family of seven children, namely : Mrs. Mary Redeker, Mrs. Anna Hostman, Mrs. Dora Hasemyer, Mrs. 19

Lena Rolf, Henry, Adam and Elizabeth. The last three are still residents of the old coun- try, but the others are living in America. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Rolf has been blessed with seven children, namely: Ru- dolph L., Mary, Ella, August, Henry, Clara and Grant Washington. In his political views Mr. Rolf is a Republican and has filled many offices of honor and trust. For one term he has served as county judge, dis- charging his duty with strict fairness and impartiality. He and his family are consis- tent and worthy members of the Lutheran church. Throughout the county he is widely known as a successful business man, with more than ordinary financial ability. His advice is sought by many friends and his judgment is largely received as correct. His hope of bettering his financial condition in America has been more than realized, and he has not only gained financial success but has also secured a good home and many warm friends. From the little German home across the sea he made his way to the new world and entered upon a career which seems most marvelous ; yet it is not the outcome of pro- pitious circumstances, but the honest reward of labor, good management, ambition and energy, without which no man can win prosperity.

ALFRED B. CRANE.

It is a noteworthy fact that the young man is coming to the front in these years of the changing centuries. Not that the young inen are purposely crowding the old men out, for they have no disposition to do that : and the old man is everywhere active in public affairs ; but the work which all good Amer- ican citizens find to do is taken in hand now

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by men at an earlier age than it was a gen- eration or two back. One of the most pro- gressive young men of Green township. Nod- away county, Missouri, is Mfred B. Crane, whose postoffice address is Burlington June- tion.

Mr. Crane was born near Roseville, War- ren county, Ilinois, January 27, 1862, a son of S. B. and Caroline ( Mills) Crane. Ilis father was a prominent farmer, stockman and citizen and his mother was a woman of many virtues and graces. The worthy couple were of Eastern birth and came early in their mar- ried life to their prairie home, where they reared eleven children, six of them sons. Alfred B. was brought up to the life work of the farm and sent to school as opportunity was presented. He soon developed into an exceptionally good farm hand and evinced & great liking for and practical interest in cattle, as well as a noteworthy capacity for caring for and managing farm stock of all kinds. This inclination had much to do with shaping his subsequent career and contrib- uted not a little to its success.

Mr. Crane came to Nodaway county Mis- souri, in 1883, accompanied by his brother. 1. Il. Crane, who has prospered and become well known in the fine stock trade. Hle farmed successfully until 1891 on rented land. then purchased one hundred and sixty acres to which he later added two hundred acres, and now owns three hundred and sixty acres in Green township, known as the Crane farm, which constitutes a first-class agricultural and stock-raising plant, with a gundi residence, barns and outbuilding's. convenient wells, and clover meadows and blue grass pasture unsurpassed anywhere for stock raising purposes. He feeds cattle and hogs and has been increasingly prosper- puis, because he has brought to his enterprise

not only industry, but also a special knowl- edge of its details and good business ability.

Mr. Crane was married in 1886 to Miss Marina King, a daughter of Thomas King. Left an orphan early in life, Miss King was reared in the family of J. W. Smith, of Green township. Thomas King. originally from Indiana, served in a Missouri regiment in the Civil war. His wife was Catherine Peters, who died in 1869. He passed away in 1870. Their children, eight in number. were named thus, in order of birth : Sylves- ter, who became a United States soldier ; Lavina: E. M .. who also became a soldier in the United States army: Charles, Thomas, Robert, Julia and Malvina. Mr. and Mrs. Crane have five children, namely : William S., Mills E .. Alfred K., Anna Ruth and Clara. Mrs. Crane is a member of the United Brethren church, devoted to its tenets and helpful to all its interests. Mr. Crane is a Democrat, politically, active in party work and influential in party councils. He is one of the leaders among the young men of the township: of the highest character, trusted. enterprising and progressive and success- ful. llis disposition is friendly and sympa- thetic to a marked degree and his manner is frank, hearty and jovial.

WASHINGTON HOSHOR.

Prominent among the successful agricul- turists of Nodaway county is numbered the gentleman whose name introduces this sketch. In his special field of industry he has met with remarkable success, and by the energy and zeal he has manifested he has won the confidence and esteem of the pub- lic. Ile was born in Fairfield county. Ohio, December 22, 1819, and is a son of George and Barbara Hoshor, who were born, reared

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and married in Virginia, and at a very early day emigrated to Ohio, where the father en- tered a section of land and improved a farm. Hle also owned and operated a sawmill, grist- mill and distillery, and prospered in all his undertakings. He was a man of far more than ordinary intelligence and business abil- ity and a capable financier, and succeeded in accumulating a large estate, owning twelve hundred acres of land at the time of his death. Upright and honorable in all his transactions, he commanded the confidence and respect of those with whom he came in contact either in business or social life. He was the captain of a company in the war of 1812, and was a Presbyterian in religious belief, while his wife, who was of German descent, held membership in the Lutheran church. He died at the age of sixty-six years, and she passed away at the age of eigh- ty-four. Their children were George, Will- iam, Allen, James, Jefferson, Perry, John, Washington, Betsey, Lydia and Barbara. Of this family only our subject is now living. John was a pioneer of Andrew county, Mis- souri, where he improved a farm, and died after many years' residence there.

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A Biographical history of Nodaway and Atchison counties, Missouri : compendium of national biography, Part 39

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