USA > Missouri > Nodaway County > A Biographical history of Nodaway and Atchison counties, Missouri : compendium of national biography > Part 59
USA > Missouri > Atchison County > A Biographical history of Nodaway and Atchison counties, Missouri : compendium of national biography > Part 59
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81
William Donnell married Miss Marth Lanier. Their children are: Mrs. Jess Benbow, of Wytheville, Virginia : John ( Donnell; Junius S. Donnell, of the firm Donnell Brothers, and cashier of the Es change bank at Fairfax, Missouri: Mr Kobah Kerner, of Winston, North Card lina; William, and the Misses Cora an Lanier Donnell, of Oak Ridge, North Ca olina.
John C. Donnell was in school until 1 Was seventeen years of age. Ilis first e: perience in business was as a clerk for W.
JOHN C. DONNELL
THE NEW YORK PIS IC LIBRARY
An
For
461
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
Moore, of Greensboro, North Carolina, with whom he remained three years. He left the "Tar Heel" state then and cast his lot with the Missourians. He stopped first in St. Joseph, where he was connected first with J. W. Bailey & Company and later with the. State Savings Bank. He located at Quit- man in 1882, establishing himself there as a general merchant. He remained there seven years, and then removed to Cameron, Missouri, where he conducted a general store for three years. In 1891 he located in Mary- ville, Nodaway county, Missouri, and opened a store as a member of the firm of Don- nell, Fraser & Company. In 1897 that firm was succeeded by the present one, which has become one of the leading and popular grocery houses in Maryville. Mr. Donnell is an exceedingly capable business man. His strength lies both in his personal worth and in his business accomplishments. Wherever he has been established and has become known to the public. he has made a record for an unimpeachable character and unbe- trayed confidence. He is one of the direc- tors of the Hanamo Telephone Company, of Maryville, and owns a good farm near the city. He is an Odd Fellow and a Modern Woodman.
In 1882, Mr. Donnell married Miss Barbara Waggoner, Forrest C. Donnell, born in ISS4, is their only child. He is an alumnus of the Maryville high school and was graduated in June, 1900, while yet in knee pants, and is now a student at the State University. In March, 1900, Mr. Donnell was nominated by the Democrats of Mary- ville for mayor, and was elected mayor in April of that year, being the first Democrat elected to the office of mayor in Maryville for eighteen years; and during his adminis- tration the first brick street paving in the
city of Maryville was laid. He is not much given to political aspirations, having been before the public for an office only once be- fore, when he was elected a trustee of Green township.
DON A. COLVIN.
It is the busy man who leads the forward movement of progress, and whose activities stimulate trade, feed the flames of commerce, drive the shafts of industry, give impetus to the strides of agriculture, promote the schemes of finance and lend encouragement and hope to the struggles of men. It is the man of business who creates and maintains public confidence and starts and perpetuates the spirit of development which in reality is the real greatness of a community. He is the axis around which everything else seems to rotate, the magnet producing a common center toward which all things within its sphere seem to trend. He is the acme of strength and influence and nothing thrives and prospers without his moral and material encouragement. Such are the men who make history, furnish object lessons and in- spiration to the youth, and of such it is the province of this volume to speak.
Among the men who have participated conspicuously in the affairs of Atchison county and vicinity. fought its battles, been its public servant and profited by the friendly co-operation of its citizenship, and whose life work it is our pleasure briefly to present, is Don A. Colvin, the cashier of the Citizens' Bank of Atchison county. Mr. Colvin is no stranger to northwestern Missouri. He came to it more than forty years ago and at a time when the hearts of men were filled with fear and forebodings for the fate that seemed in store for our country. He came
28
462
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
1) this new country in search of a better opportunity for the sale of his labor, for that was his capital, and with the hope. no doubt, that the day would come when he would merit the distinction of an honorable and honored citizen of this community. Ile was young then, for he was only nineteen. Ilis school days were just over and his ex- perience in dealing with men was very slight. He was educated in Wisconsin, but he was born in Chautauqua county. Ner York. in February. 1840. His parents. Wel- come and Elmira (Munn) Colvin, were farming people and were natives of Monroe county. New York. In 1847 they emi- grated to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and in 1853 removed to Brookfield. that state. Their surviving children are: Thaddeus W., of Clinton Junction, Wisconsin; Don 1 .: Mrs. T. J. Gilmore, of St. Louis: Mrs. J. C. Phillips, of Omro, Wisconsin: and Mrs. Kate L. Barter, of Kansas City. Mis- somri.
In his early business career D. A. Col- vin found employment at Hemme's Land- ing. Holt county, Missouri, where he served as a salesman in a mercantile establishment until 1861. The excitement of the time and the sectional differences culminated in the outbreak of the Civil war in that year, and everywhere men were taking a stand for or against the flag. Mr. Colvin loved the U'nion and determined to give his energy for it- preservation. Hle enlisted in the Missouri state militia at once, and when his six months' term of service had expired he aided in recruiting Company C. of the Fifth Mis- somri Volunteer. Being commissioned first lieutenant of his company, he went to the front and was on the field of action for eighteen months, his regiment being then mustered out. He was then selected as one
of the recruiting officers of a company for the Twelfth Regiment of Missouri, and suc- ceeded in filling the quota, but about this time his father died and Mr. Colvin found it necessary to resign, his position and pro- vide for the support of the family at Rock- port. In the hope of securing a greater re- ward for his labors he crossed the plains in 1864 and engaged in various enterprises in the mountains of Montana. He soon estab- lished public confidence and in the summer of the following year was elected the first county recorder at Helena. In 1867 he en- Saged to furnish hay and wood for Fort Smith, on the Big Horn river. under con- tract to the government, and in the succeed- ing year returned to Atchison county, where in the autumn he was elected county sheriff and collector .. filling the position for four years in the most competent manner. Upon his return to private life he engaged in the Every business at Rockport. and also con- ducted a hack line between Rockport and Phelps City, conducting both lines of busi- ness until 1882. In November. 1880. he had been elected county collector for four years, and has also served as collector of Rockport. as alderman and as a member of the school board for some years.
In 1884 Mr. Colvin became identified with the banking business. In that year the Citizens' Bank of Atchison was founded. succeeding the banking house of Durfee, Smith & Colvin. It was capitalized at twen- ty thousand dollars and the following named were elected its officers: A. B. Durfee. president : W. A. Rupe, vice president : and D. A. Colvin, cashier. It is one of the strong financial agencies of the county and its promoters are men in whom an unlimited Jaiblic confidence abides. Mr. Colvin's ident- ification with the public enterprises of the
.
463
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
town and community is well known. He was one of the promoters of the railroad, built not in the hope of great profit but as a convenience for the town and county, and of the fair association, of which he is a director.
-
Mr. Colvin's political position has never been a subject of doubt. He was christened a Republican with a gun on his shoulder and he has never felt justified in turning his back upon the traditions and teachings of his party. His pride in the achievements of the administration of President Mckinley in the re-establishment of confidence, in the revival of trade, in the extension of terri- torial limits in the interests of humanity and for purposes of commercial expansion is marked, and his belief in our ultimate na- tional destiny is unbounded.
On the 22d of February, 1872, Mr. Col- vin was united in marriage to Miss Ella Bennett, a daughter of Thomas F. and Diana ( Howard ) Bennett. She was born in Livingston county, New York, in March, 1848, and during her residence in Maryville has won a very large circle of friends, al- most coextensive with the circle of her ac- quaintance. Fraternally Mr. Colvin is con- nected with the Knights of Pythias and with the Grand Army post at Maryville. As a citizen, his standing is indeed high and unchallenged. He represents that care- ful, prudent and progressive class of men whose presence is so essential to a commu- nity in the safe and judicious guiding of its affairs, and whose personal worth is a guar- antee for the integrity of the transactions of his daily life.
SOLOMON SHELL.
Solomon Shell, who served for two years as judge of Nodaway county and was for- merly a prominent resident of Green town-
ship, now resides in Effingham, Kansas. He was born in Lincoln county, North Carolina, February 11, 1815, and was a son of Charles F. and Elizabeth H. Shell. His father, who was a native of Pennsylvania, was born No- vember 24, 1774, and with his parents re- moved to North Carolina. His wife was a native of that state, born June 2, 1787. Their marriage was celebrated in 1800 and they began their domestic life in Lincoln county, whence they removed to Bartholo- mew county, Indiana, in 1827. Subsequently the family removed to Platte county, Mis- souri, locating near Weston, in May, 1846. There the father died, October 9, 1851, while his wife passed away on the 13th of Feb- ruary, 1867.
The Judge spent the greater part of his boyhood days in Bartholomew county, In- diana, and to the public schools of this lo- cality was indebted for the educational priv- ileges afforded him. After attaining to man's estate he chose for his companion on life's journey Miss Sarah J. Lemmon, their marriage being celebrated September 27. 1837. The lady is a native of Clark county, Indiana, born August 17, 1820. She is a daughter of James and Mary (McConnell) Lemmon, the former born in Franklin coun- ty. Kentucky, February 14, 1793, and the latter on the 14th of September, 1826. Her mother was born in Woodford county, Ken- tucky, February 12, 1797, and departed this lite June 11, 1833. They were married June 15, 1819, and took up their abode in Clark county, Indiana, where the father died, the mother afterward becoming the wife of Sam- uel Patterson.
The Judge and Mrs. Shell began their domestic life at Columbus, Bartholomew county, Indiana, and in the fall of 1841 re- moved to Platte county, Missouri, locating near Weston. There the subject of this re-
464
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
view purchased a claim of eighty acres and began farming, having but one horse and an old shovel plow for five years. In 1856 he sold that farm and removed to a farm eight miles northwest of Maryville, in Nodaway county, continuing its cultivation for some time. During the Civil war. however, his farm work did not make such heavy de- mands upon his time that he could not loyal- ly aid the Union cause. He did much for his country in her hour of peril, and in the days of peace he has ever been as true and loyal to the government as when the national suprem- acy was in danger. In 1866 he was elected judge of Nodaway county and filled that po- sition for two years, discharging his duties in a most commendable manner. The Judge and his wife are both members of the Chris- tian Church, and their well spent lives ex- emplify their belief. They are now resi- dents of Effingham, but enjoy the warm re- gard of many friends in Nodaway county, where they so long made their home. Their children are ten in number, namely: James F., William B., Charles F., Solomon Henry, Martha E., Thomas B., George B., Mary J .. John M. L. and Sarah C.
FLOYD B. COLWELL.
Floyd B. Colwell is a prominent and pop- ular stockman of Colfax township, Atchison county, whither he came in 1878, since which time he has resided continuously in this por- tion of the state. He was born in Stark coun- ty, Illinois, June 11, 1860. The Colwells are of Scotch lineage and the first American family of the name was established on the Atlantic coast at an early period in the devel- opment of America. The paternal grandia- ther of our subject was Henry Colwell, who died in Stark county, Illinois, at the ripe old
age of eighty-five years. He was twice mar- ried and had eighteen children. One son Miles Colwell. a well known citizen of Atch- ison county, was accidentally killed at Tar- kio. He had served his country as a sol- dier in the Civil war and was a member of the Grand Army of the Republic.
George Colwell, the father of our sub- ject, was born in Ohio and was reared in the Buckeye state, whence he removed to Illi- nois, locating upon a farm in Stark county. He married Miss Sarah Barr, who was born in Pennsylvania, a daughter of John Barr. At an early period in the development of northwestern Missouri George Colwell and his wife came to Atchison county and located on a tract of three luindred and twenty acres of rich land, in 1878. With characteristic energy he began its development and in the course of time transformed the wild prairie into richly cultivated fields which yielded to him excellent harvests. Ile made his home upon that farm from 1878 until 1893, when he moved to Tarkio, AAtchison county, where he died in 1896, when he was sixty years of age; but his wife passed away in 1895, when fifty-one years of age. In their family were eleven children, namely: Floyd B., Elmer. Perry, Mrs. Alice Graham, Mrs. Emma An- drews, Mrs. Minnie Andrews, Frank, Bert, Fred. Clyde and Nellie.
Mr. Colwell, whose name introduces this record, was a resident of Illinois during the first eighteen years of his life. He attended the public schools near his home and assist- ed in the cultivation of the farm. In 1878 he accompanied his parents on their removal to Missouri and he has since been a resident of Atchison county. At the age of twenty- two he chose as a companion and helpmate on life's journey Miss Sarah E. Logan, a wo- man of intelligence and good family, who
465
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
was reared and educated in this county and is a daughter of the Rev. W. P. Logan. Their marriage has been blessed with seven chil- dren, namely : George W., Earl E., Charles L., Maud V., Bernice C., Gladys F. and Clarence F.
The family have a very pleasant home situated on a fine farm of three hundred and twenty acres, which is owned and worked by Mr. Colwell. The residence is a large and substantial structure and the barns and out- buildings furnish ample shelter for the grain and stock. There is also a good bearing or- chard. Well kept fences divide the place into fields of convenient size and the pastures of good grass afford feeding grounds for the stock in the summer months while the mead- ows of clover and timothy furnish the food supply in the winter season for horses and cattle. His land is very fertile and yields from fifty to seventy-five bushels of corn to the acre. The place is one of the beautiful country homes of northwestern Missouri. and well may Mr. Colwell be proud of the fact that he owns one of the finest farms in Atchison county. It is neat and thrifty in appearance and a glance will indicate to the passer-by the careful supervision of the owner. In all his business transactions he is honorable and straightforward, and his et- forts have brought to him prosperity. In manner he is cordial and genial, and these qualities, combined with strength of char- acter, make him a popular resident of Atchi- son county.
GOTTLIEB KUENSTER.
The Teutonic has been an important ele- ment in promoting the material welfare of the new world. Mr. Kuenster belongs to that division of the world's population and was
born in Wolken, Germany, in 1837. His fa- ther, Heinrich Kuenster, was a highly re- spected citizen of Coblentz, and in the family are the following named: Hubert, who is now living in Waterloo, Illinois: Jacob, a resident of Cassville, Wisconsin : and Mrs. Paul Meuer, Fritz P. and Mrs. Carl Blaidt. who are residents of Chicago.
No event of special importance occurred to vary the usual routine of Mr. Kuenster's life during his boyhood and youth. He was especially fond of reading and improved his opportunities in that direction. keeping in constant touch with current events in both the old and new world. He became deeply interested in American affairs and evolved a strong preference for this republic. deter- mining to make it his home when he should reach the age of responsibility. . His love of liberty led to his dislike of monarchical rule and to a hatred of the institutions which flourish in the German empire. Just before it became time for him to enter the military service of his country, in accordance with the laws of his land, he left his native Rhine province and in 1855 became a resident of the United States. Ile renounced his alle- giance to the fatherland and took the oath as an American citizen, and from that time to the present he has been most true and loyal tc his adopted land.
The first money which he earned he ob- tained by working in Waterloo, Illinois, and later he was employed in Quincy, that state. Subsequently he made his way northward to Cassville, Wisconsin, where he secured a situation as a farm hand, readily adopting the American methods of agriculture. Just before the outbreak of the Civil war he came to Missouri, and in Jackson county was em- ployed as foreman on a plantation, having charge of the negro labor. He had the abil-
466
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
ity to control the slaves, of whom he was at the same time considerate, there being nothing of the overbearing task-master in him. Being thus well qualified he was able to command a good position and would prob- ably have ultimately become a leading plan- ter in the vicinity of Kansas City had not the course of events somewhat shaped for him his life.
When Fort Sumter was fired upon and the supremacy of the stars and stripes was disputed. Mr. Kuenster denounced the south and made hasty preparations to depart. He learned the news of the firing upon Fort Sumter in the morning while in the field. and, without thinking of the consequence. he said, in the presence of the negroes, "There will be war and you slaves will all be free." Noting at once that he had made an irreparable blunder, that at noon the negroes would repeat his words and that he would be dealt with as a traitor, he hurried to the house and announced his intention of going south to aid in the capture of Washington. Ile hired a man to take him, ostensibly to Kan- sas City, whom he induced to drive him across the country to Lexington. It was well that he departed thus hastily, for even then he was followed and before he succeeded in getting a boat out of Lexington a posse came into the town in search of the man who had created discord among the darkies en the plantation. Mr. Kuenster proceeded to St. Louis, where he learned that a regi- ment was being raised in Belleville, and pro- ceeded thither. He joined the Twenty-sec- ond Illinois Infantry for three months' ser- vice, and on the expiration of that term he re enlisted in the Twenty fourth Illinois, in what was known as the old Hecker Regi- ment. being commande I by a Veteran of that
name of the war of 1848 in Germany. Mr. Kuenster was mustered in as a member of Company E, at Alton, and his regiment formed a part of the First Brigade. First Division of the Fourteenth Army Corps. He participated in many of the hotly con- tested engagements which led to the preser- vation of the Union. After the battle of Chickamauga his command started on the Atlanta campaign, taking part in all the fighting down to Kenesaw mountain, at which place Mr. Kuenster was struck by a missile as he advanced toward the mountain. His first thought was that he had lost a leg. but it proved to be one of those rare cases of a "spent ball and a bruised limb." Ever found at his post of duty, he loyally defended the starry banner of the Union, until his term had expired and then, with an honorable military record, was mustered out, in 1804.
Mr. Kuenster had then been away from the fatherland ten years and he determined to return to the place of his boyhood, with the double purpose of visiting his people and securing a wife. His sister designated sev- eral young ladies of the neighborhood whom she thought he might like and among the number was Elizabeth Hallour, a daughter of the state treasurer of the district. Mr. Kuenster called upon the young lady and the acquaintance ripened into love, so that ar- rangements for the wedding were perfected : but before their union was made formal a circumstance occurred which temporarily cast a gloom over two households, but won for Mr. Kuenster a reputation for bravery that made him lionized for a time. While on a visit to his fiance an oficer was seen approaching the house. The family won- dered what his mission could be, and know- ing that the German officers are prone to pry into the affairs of strangers and eager
467
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
to win praise from their superiors and bribes from their victims by reporting their acts and causing their arrest, it was surmised that the officer on this occasion might at- tempt the arrest of Mr. Kuenster. Such proved to be the case and he was urged to escape. He protested, saying that he had done nothing for which he could be arrested, but at length he complied with the appeals of the women and left the house. He started across the meadow to make his way to a meeting place agreed upon,-the pic- ture gallery; but while attempting to cross a brook the ice broke through and when he reached the bank he was there met by the officer, who said: "I want you, and I have a notion to put the shackles on you." Mr. Kuenster was permitted to unroll and in- spect the papers authorizing his arrest, and thus learned that the charge to be made against him was that of leaving the country without first having served in the army. He was taken before one officer and another of higher station until the post commander and the provincial governor was reached. With his passport guaranteeing him immunity from arrest and protection of the flag for which he had just been fighting, and with the conviction that he was right and that his arrest was wrong, he resolved to assert his feelings, to resent any insult and to defy his pursuers. To the highest officer, who said that he would be placed in the army as a punishment for his offence, he replied : "I will not serve in your army. I renounced allegiance to your government ten years ago, have taken the oath to support the flag of the United States and for more than three years have been fighting her battles, and I will not violate that oath! I am personally acquainted with Carl Schurz, with General Grant and with Secretary Seward, and they
will see to it that I do not serve in your army!" This brave speech and the apparent fearlessness of the man won the respect of the post commander and actually frightened him into releasing the prisoner, so that it was possible for his wedding ceremony to be celebrated in a few days.
Mr. Kuenster at once returned to AAmer- ica with his bride and settled on the farm near Glenhaven, Wisconsin, which he had previously purchased with money he had saved from his earnings and with a small legacy which he received from his father. Here he devoted his attention to the culti- vation of the soil until 1868. He then dis- posed of his farm and came at once to Mary- ville, but before entering into business he nok his wife and two children on a visit to the fatherland. Other children have since been added to the household, and the mem- bers of the family are now Joseph. of Por- tersville, California; Mattie, the wife of John McCloy, of Maryville, Missouri; Fred T., a druggist of Kansas City; Amelia, of North Platte, Nebraska: Nettie. Chloe, .An- gust and Benjamin Harrison.
Upon his return from the old country Mr. Kuenster engaged in the grocery busi- ness in Maryville, for twelve years conduct- ing his store. \ few years after his retire- ment from that enterprise he dealt in oil, doing an independent business, and on the expiration of that period accepted a tempt- ing offer from the Standard Oil Company and has since been their agent at this place. He has some property interests in the city, including the building on North Main street and his residence at No. 407 South Main street.
In the affairs of this city Mr. Kuenster has always taken a deep and abiding interest, his loyal spirit being manifest in his active
468
BIOGR.1PHICAL HISTORY.
co-operation with all movements for the pub- lie good. In the early '70s he was a member of the board of registration and was also city tax collector about the same time, proving a most competent officer and making a closer collection than had been before accom- plished. In 1871 he was the chairman of the Liberal Republican committee, but is now in line with the national platform of the party.
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.