A Biographical history of Nodaway and Atchison counties, Missouri : compendium of national biography, Part 44

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 44
USA > Missouri > Atchison County > A Biographical history of Nodaway and Atchison counties, Missouri : compendium of national biography > Part 44

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

William Workman, one of the old resi- dents of Nodaway township, and one of the prominent, enterprising and successful farmers and stock men of Nodaway county, Missouri, was born in Monroe county, In- diana, March 5, 1836, a son of John Work- man, a well known pioneer and influential citizen, a sketch of whose career is presented in these pages. Young Workman grew up on his father's farm in Indiana, and though his opportunities for "book learn- ing" were somewhat limited he was thor- oughly taught the lessons that industry will make the world easy for a man, and that under any and all circumstances "hon- esty is the best policy." "Be faithful in all things" was an injunction which he memor- ized thoroughly and has tried to obey all through life thus far. He was taught, too, to farm and clear land; he naturally learned to hunt and in all the skill and craft of the pioneer farmer he was well versed long before he attained his ma- jority.

In 1856, at the age of twenty-one, Mr. Workman married Miss Margaret Weaver, a young woman of good family connections who has proven herself such a good wife ship and county. 21

Nodaway and located on one hundred and sixty acres, which he improved into a good farm. He has since increased his holdings until at this time he owns one thousand two hundred and fifty acres of good land. embracing plow land, blue-grass pasture land, meadow land, clover land and wood land. llis blue-grass land rivals any in Kentucky and his clover land any in Ohio or Illinois. He has adequate buildings and farm implements, a splendid supply of water and every facility for carrying on his extensive agricultural and stock-raising op- erations successfully and along the most modern lines. He feeds three to four hun- dred cattle and three hundred and fifty to five hundred head of hogs every year. In November, 1900, he removed to Maryville and is commencing a semi-retired life, rent- ing a part of his interests and looking after the remaining.

Mrs. Workman was a daughter of Joshua and Christina Weaver, who had children named as follows: Vere G., Jon- athan, Daniel ( dead), Rebecca (dead ). Fuiba (dead ), William, Samuel, Mar- garet and Shadrach. Her father was a farmer and the family were Baptists. Mr. Weaver died in Indiana, his wife in Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Workman have one daughter. Elizabeth, who married John Thornhill and lives at Maryville, Nodaway county, and who has children named Nellie, Olio and William Workman Thornhill.

Mr. Workman is an enterprising and public-spirited man, a representative Demo- crat and a useful and progressive citizen, prominent in all public affairs of his town-

350

BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

L. F. HAMMOND.

This practical and enterprising agricult- turist of Monroe township owns and culti- vates four hundred and eighty acres of land on section 7, constituting one of the most valuable and highly improved farms of the I cality. Ilis possessions have been acquired through his own efforts, and as the result of his persevering endeavor he has won a place among the substantial citizens of Nodaway county.

Mr. Hammond was born in Perry coun- ty. Ohio, June 22. 1844. and is a son of William and Mary ( Hatcher ) Hammond, the former a native of Maryland and the latter of Ohio, where their marriage was celebrated. The paternal grandfather. George Hammond, who was of Irish and English descent and a farmer by occupa- tion. died in Maryland. He served as a private in the Revolutionary war, while his brother William held a captain's commis- sion. His children were Reason. Nicholas. George, Frederick, William. Alcinda and Mary E. The parents of these children were Methodists in religious belief. Jesse Hatch- er. our subject's maternal grandfather, was a pioneer of Muskingum county, Ohio, where he entered land and improved a farm, mak- ing it his home throughout the remainder of his life. He was of English and Irish descent and a member of the Methodist church. His children were Jonathan. Isaac, George, Jesse Malinda, Maria. Mary and Harriet.

William Hammond, the father of our subject, was reared and married in Ohio, where he continued to make his home until after the birth of all his children. He en- gaged in farming there until 1871, when he came to this county and purchased land. 11c slied while visiting a daughter in Iowa in

1873. at the age of sixty-three years. 1Ic was a plain, unassuming farmer, who took an active interest in advancing educational affairs and was an earnest member of the Methodist church. As a soldier he aided in the defense of his country during the war of 1812. Hlis widow still survives him. at the age of eighty-two years, and makes her home with her children. In their family were two sons and three daughters, namely : Malinda, the wife of T. Reinhart ; L. F .. our subject : Jesse, a resident of lowa: Maria, the wife of James Wilson: and Laura, the wife of George Skinner.

1 .. F. Hammond is indebted to the public schools of his native state for his educational advantages. On attaining his majority he left home and went to Illinois, where he was employed as a farm hand one year, and there he was married, in 1866, to Miss Mar- garet .A. James, who also was born in Perry county, Ohio, December 25, 1848. Her parents, Joseph and Margaret ( Hamilton ) James, were natives of Pennsylvania and Maryland, respectively, and were married in the latter state. About 1828 they re- moved to Ohio and were numbered among the pioneers of Perry county. In his younger years the father followed the car- penter's trade, later engaged in farming, and for many years was a local minister of the Methodist church. In 1861 he moved to MeDonough county, Illinois, where he pur- chased land and followed farming until com- ing to this county in 1870. Here he also bought a farm. His wife died in 1882, and in March, 1885, he married again. The fol- lowing year he moved to Reynokls county, Nebraska, where he practically lived retired. though he occasionally preached, until his death in 1895. Ile was the chaplain of an Ohio regiment of militia ; was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and

351

BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

of the A. F. & A. M., and was an influential and ardent supporter first of the Whig and later of the Republican party. Upright and honorable in all things, he commanded the respect and confidence of those with whom he came in contact, and made friends wher- ever he went. All his children were by his first wife and were as follows: Elnora, wife of D. Wright ; Edward, who as orderly ser- geant was killed in the battle of Kenesaw Mountain during the Civil war; Priscilla, the wife of William Naylor : Asbury, a car- penter of St. Joseph, Missouri; Samantha, the wife of Henry Huffman; Franklin, a resident of Kansas; and Margaret, the wife of our subject. Mr. and Mrs. Hammond have five children, namely : Charles, born -February 21, 1869, is a resident of Iowa City, Iowa; William, born April 15, 1871, is a farmer of this county; Harry, born De- cember 27, 1874, is at home; Lillian, born April 29. 1877, is the wife of G. Burris; and Emma, born July 24, 1887, is at home.

After his marriage Mr. Hammond en- gaged in farming on rented land in Illinois for five years, and in 1871 came by team to Nodaway county, Missouri. The following year he purchased a quarter-section of wild land on section 7, Monroe township, built a house, and commenced to improve and cul- tivate his property. He has added to his original purchase until he now owns four Imindred and eighty acres, all fenced and well improved. Upon the place are two large houses, barns and other outbuildings. an orchard of four thousand apple trees, and a fine grove of maple and walnut trees set .out by Mr. Hammond. He has aided his sons in starting out in life for themselves. For seven years he ran an elevator and bought and sold grain in Skidmore, and as an enterprising, progressive business man he

lias met with marked success in all his under- takings, becoming one of the most substan- tial citizens of his community, as well as one of its leading and popular men. Fra- ternally he is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and religiously both lie and his wife are active members of the Skidmore Methodist church, in which he has served as a steward and as a member of the board of trustees.

JOHN D. DOPF.

The press is the modern bureau of in- formation, the preserver of the history of current events and one of the great agencies of progress. It is a prominent and most useful factor in the education of youth, has furnished the opportunity for the develop- inent of some of the brightest minds of the age. and its potency in the upbuilding of states and nations is recognized by all. The newspaper is the advance agent of a new civilization and its files are replete with a record of the events which constitute thie chapters in the history of that civilization. As a friend in the household the newspaper occupies a place second only to the book of Holy Writ, and its editor and publisher merit the everlasting gratitude of mankind. It has come to be looked upon as a fixture in mod- ern warfare on error and injustice, a great public necessity, and its support is a matter of as much seriousness and import as the payment of taxes.

As a part of this great engine of civiliza- tion and as one of the public enterprises of Rockport, stands the Atchison County Jour- nal, which was established at a time when there were grave foreboding's as to the out- come of the war for the preservation of the Union, and it was then an experiment with

352

BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

its founder until -tich time as the temper of the pe ple had time to respond to its senti- ments and views of public questions. In forthwest Missouri it was the advance guard of Republicanism, and its seniority and present prominence justify its claim as the "official mouthpiece of the party." Mr. Dopf, in connection with P. A. Thompson, A. B. Durfee. Charles V. Snow. Bennett Pike and F. M. Thompson, founded the Journal, and Mr. Dopf has ever since been a valuable and honored citizen of AAtchison county. Since September. 1863. he has been promi- nently identified with its affairs, and the wisdom of his counsel and the fearlessness of his pen have wielded an influence for good throughout a third of a century.

John D. Dopf was born in Grant coun- ty, Wisconsin, July 18, 1839, and is a son of Frederick and Jane ( Mahood ) Dopf. the former of whom was born in Baden Baden, Germany, and was by occupation a miner, and the latter of whom was born in Wythe Since locating in Rockport Mr. Dopf has been connected with enterprises other than his newspaper, which have had an important bearing on the development of the city. Es- tablishing himself in the real-estate business, he aided in the preparation of a set of ab- stracts of title for the county, and was an influential factor in bringing into the county a desirable class of settlers. From 1864 to 1870 he served as county surveyor, filling the office in a most efficient manner. Ile was one of the organizers of the first bank in Rockport, the firm at first being Durfee, Mc- Killop & Dopf, which was later merged into the Bank of Atchison County. For many years Mr. Dopi was a member of the militia of the state, and was commissioned lieu- tenant by Governor Fletcher. He is a chapter Mason and a member of Adoniram county. Virginia. John D. Dopf was the second of a family of five children, and be- came an orphan at seven years of age. His carly educational advantages were limited and he was apprenticed carly in life to a Macksmith at Lancaster, Wisconsin. But he later abandoned this trade and apprenticed himself to a printer in the same town. When he was eighteen years of age. his apprentice- ship having been completed, and he having a desire for a better education than his early years had afforded, he spent a year in the Lancaster institute, at the end of which time he went on the road as a printer, travelling through the states of Wisconsin, Jowa and Ilinas. At length he located at Mount Morris, Ilmois, where he published the In- dependent Watchman, a weekly newspaper. for a period of six months. This was in Council, and assisted in St. Joseph at the

1860. and in the autumn of the same year he established himself at Polo, Illinois, where he published for a time The Rock River Press, and later The Polo .Ad- vertiser.

At the outbreak of the Rebellion he en- listed in the Chicago Zonaves and was with the first troops to leave the city for the seat of war. At the expiration of his first three months' enlistment he joined the Eleventh Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, in which he was soon so seriously disabled as to neces- sitate his discharge from the army. In the spring of 1862 he went to St. Louis, Mis- souri, and during the same year was placed in charge of the state printing office at Jef- ferson City, Missouri, leaving this position in the summer of 1863. Returning to St. Louis he worked for a few months on the St. Louis Democrat, severing his connec- tion with this paper about the time of his departure for Rockport.

353

BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

organization of the grand lodge of the Union League in 1864.

Mr. Dopf was married, January 11. 1865, in Mount Morris, Illinois, to Miss Mary A., a daughter of Rodney Burnette. The surviving children of this marriage are as follows: John R., born in December, 1870, educated in the Rockport schools, and now is foreman of the Journal office, and was married in 1893 to Mamie Stone; and besides him there are Bob and Bismarck. Mr. Dopf attends nearly all of the state and congressional conventions of his party, and in1 1888 attended the Republican national convention as alternate at large. Taken all in all, Mr. Dopf is one of the most useful and honored citizens of Rockport, and is highly esteemed by all that know him.

JAMES M. STEPHENSON.

In the pioneer epoch of this section of Missouri James M. Stephenson came to Nodaway county, and has been an important factor in its substantial development and improvement. He has seen the wild lands transformed into fine farms, and in the work of progress has always borne his part. being particularly active as a representative of the agricultural interests of the community.

Mr. Stephenson was born in Madison county, Kentucky, May 8, 1842, a son of Edward and Polly A. (Lee) Stephenson, also natives of Kentucky. His paternal grandfather. James Stephenson, was a native of Virginia and an early settler of Ken- tucky, where he spent the remainder of his life as a farmer and slave-owner. His chil- dren were Nancy, Lucinda, Betsey, Patsy. Sally, Edward, Richard, Andrew, Gris- som and David. In 1850, with his wife

and eight children, Edward Stephenson came to Nodaway county, Missouri, and bought a claim of three hundred and twenty acres, a small cabin constituting its entire improvements. To the development and cul- tivation of that place he devoted the re- mainder of his life. dying there April 6, 1874, at the age of fifty-four years. When he located here Maryville contained but three small cabins, the first court house and jail were built of logs, game was very plenti- ful, and Indians were still to be seen. The family endured all the hardships and priva- tions incident to pioneer life : they had to go a long distance to mill, and their only means of conveyance was an ox team. Politically the first husband was a strong Democrat. After his death his widow married George Elsworth, now deceased : but she is still liv- ing, at the age of seventy-four years. All her children were by the first marriage and were as follows: lloward, who died in Kansas; James M., our subject : Rose Ann, the wife of J. Allen; Mary J., the wife of F. Cook: William, who died in this conn- ty; Elizabeth. the wife of John Allen: Ed- ward, a resident of Colorado: Celia. the wife of James Jamison ; and Stephen D., a resident of Indian Territory.

The subject of this sketch was only eight years old when brought by his parents to this county, and in its common schools he acquired his education. He aided in the work of the home farm until he was mar- ried. in 1870, to Miss Irene Shelton, who was born in Lee county, Virginia, May 28, 1846, a daughter of Haman and Obedience ( Williams ) Shelton, also natives of the Old Dominion. On leaving Virginia her family moved to Tennessee, and from there went to Illinois, in 1850. In 1865 they came to this county, where her father purchased a

354

BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

poorly improved farm, and to its further development and cultivation devoted his en- ergies for many years, but spent his last days in ease and retirement from active labor at Maryville, where he died in 1886, his wife in 1884. In religious belief they were Meth- odists. Their children were Sarah S., the wife of R. Bishop; Johnson, a resident of Stanberry, Missouri; William and Robert, loth of Maryville; Irene, the wife of our subject : Joseph, deceased; and Eliza. the wife of William Laswell.

Mr. and Mrs. Stephenson have seven children. namely: Amanda, born Novem- ber 22, 1871, married Mansfield Oberlen- der: Frona, horn May 7. 1873. is at home: Robert, born September 29. 1875. is a drug- gist of Maryville: James, born December 29. 1877. is a resident of St. Joseph : Dora. born December 13. 1879. is at home : Fred. born December 17, 1881, is engaged in farm- ing on the homestead : and Elijah, born Feb- ruary 26, 1885. is at home. They are rear- ing a grandchild, Myrl F. Oberlender, who was born June 9, 1895, and is the joy and pride of the household.

After his marriage Mr. Stephenson lo- cated on his father's farm, which he suc- cessfully operated until 1876, when he pur- chased his present farm, one and a half miles cast of Maryville. He has since made many improvements upon the place, including the erection of a commodious residence. le and his wife and three children are active members of the Christian church and the family is one of considerable prominence in the community where they reside. Polit- ically he is identified with the Democrat party For six months he served as a mem- ber of the state militia during the Ch Twar. but physically was unable to enter the reg- ular service.

GEORGE P. BAINUM.

The subject of this review, a well known farmer and stock-raiser, is one of Noda- way county's native sons and a representa- tive of two of her most honored families, whose identification with her history dates. from an early period in the development of the county. They have borne an important part in its upbuilding and progress, and from the wild land have developed fine farms. The paternal grandfather, John Bainum, a native of Delaware. came to this. county at a very early day and here spent the remainder of his life. He was quite prominent and influential and commanded the respect and confidence of all with whom he came in contact. For many years he served as justice of the peace, and both he and his wife were active members of the Methodist church. Their children were James S., the father of our subject : Mrs. Sarah Ray; John F., a resident of Oklaho- ma: Mrs. Margaret Mathews; and Thomis I) .. deceased.

James S. Bainum was born and reared in Ohio, and came with his parents to Mis- souri, where he soon afterward married Hannah Moreland, also a native of Ohio. and a daughter of Patton Moreland, a farm- er and great horse man, who did much to- ward improving the grade of horses in this section. In 1875 he moved to Kansas, where he conducted a hotel until his death. In re- ligions belief he, too, was a Methodist. It his family were s'x children, namely: Mrs. Nancy Shanklin: Hannah, the mother of our subject : Mrs. Rachel Criger: Mrs. Charity .A. West : James ; and Jane, a resi- dent of Kansas. After his marriage James S. Barnum settled on a farm and continued to operation until the Civil war broke out.

355

BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

when he joined the Union army. enlisting as first lieutenant, and was assigned to the western department. His command was captured near Little Rock, Arkansas, and while a prisoner he was killed, and was laid to rest in a soldier's grave in that state. He owned a good farm near Pickering, where his wife reared their family, keeping her children together until they were grown. He was a well educated man and successfully engaged in school teaching in this county for a time. In politics he was a strong Repub- lican, but never an aspirant for office. His widow afterward married Robert Garten, of Indiana, who was also a soldier of the Civil war and while in the service contracted scurvy, which shortened his life. Mrs. Gar- ten is still living and continues to reside on the old homestead. She is a consistent men- her of the Methodist church and a most estimable lady. By her first marriage she had two sons : Elias H., a resident of Mary- ville; and George P., our subject ; and by the second union had four children: James S .; William S .; Mrs. Carrie Himebangh ; and Arthur M., at home.

George P. Bainum was born in this coun- ty December 24. 1861, and was reared and educated in much the usual manner of farm- er boys. He lived with his mother and step- father until sixteen years of age, when he started out in life for himself by working as a farm hand. In 1880 he married and lo- cated upon his present farm of one hundred and sixty acres, to the improvement and cul- tivation of which he has since devoted his energies, with most gratifying results. He has steadily prospered in his farming op- erations and now has another place, of one hundred and seventy-seven acres, of rich and arable land. The success that he has achieved is due entirely to his own industry,

enterprise and good management. He is a stanch supporter of the Republican party and its principles, and has most efficiently served as a member of the township board and as a school director. Both he and his wife hold membership in the Methodist church.

In 1880 Mr. Bainum led to the marriage altar Miss Ella L. Hanna, who was born in this county November 1, 1860, and they have become the parents of five children: Will- iam H., who is now attending school in Maryville; Roy, who died at the age of thirteen years ; Ernest ; Inez and Ralph, who died November 2, 1900.

Henry Hanna, Mrs. Bainum's father, was born in county Down, Ireland, in 1818, and in 1822 was brought to America by his parents, landing at Quebec. The family lo- cated in Canada, where he spent his boy- hood, and when about seventeen years of age moved with his parents to Center coun- ty, Pennsylvania, where he learned the wagonmaker's trade. In 1844 he married Margaret Goldman and moved to Carlton, the same state, where he was employed at his trade. His wife die:1 in 1848, leaving three small children : Marietta, who became the wife of Leander Pistole: Margaret and Mary R. Subsequently Mr. Hanna went to Lawrence county, Ohio, and in June, 1851. wedded Mary J. T. Neal, who was born in Gallia county, that state, April 22, 1832. In the spring of 1854 they came to Nodaway county, Missouri, where Mr. Hanna secured land and improved a fine farm, becoming one of the substantial as well as prominent men of community. During the Civil war he was a strong Union man, was always enterprising and public-spirited, and took an active inter- est in advancing schools and educational in- stitutions. In politics he was independent. and in religious belief both he and his wife

356

BIOGR.IPHICAL HISTORY.

were Methodists. He accumulated a valu- able estate, consisting of five hundred and forty acres of fine bottom land, well im- proved with good and substantial buiklings. lle died in 1886, but his wife still survives him and continues to live on the old home- stead. The children born to them were Charles O .. J. H. and William B .. all farm- ers : Ella L., the wife of our subject : James F. and George N., both farmers: E. M., who i- living in the west: Mrs. Amanda Mc- Clurg, who died in 1891 : Effa, at home ; and Albert S.

DANIEL BROWN, 1

· Daniel Brown, who is passing the clos- ing years of a useful and well spent life in retirement from active labor at his pleasant hi me in Skidmore, was for many years prominently identified with the agricultural interests of this county and met with well deserved success. Hle was born in Rock Castle county, Kentucky, June 10, 1833. and is a son of Stephen and Barbara ( Miller ) Brown, the former also a native of that state, the latter of North Carolina. Stephen Brown was the second in order of birth in a family of ten children, the others being John, Jotham, Wilson, Jane, Jonas. William, Polly, Nancy and Betsey. The parents of our subject were married in Kentucky, and to them were born the fol- kwing children: Mrs. Louisa Debord ; John M., a resident of Kentucky: Daniel. wir subject : James 1 ... of Kentucky: Mrs. Arminia Thompson, whose second hus- band was a Mr. MeMullen: Jonas, of Ken- tucks, who served three years in the Con- federate army during the Civil war: Will- jam T., a farmer of this county : Henry W. and Mason M. both of Kentucky; and

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

A Biographical history of Nodaway and Atchison counties, Missouri : compendium of national biography, Part 44

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