USA > Missouri > Nodaway County > A Biographical history of Nodaway and Atchison counties, Missouri : compendium of national biography > Part 64
USA > Missouri > Atchison County > A Biographical history of Nodaway and Atchison counties, Missouri : compendium of national biography > Part 64
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In 1868 he removed from Warren coun- ty, Iowa, to Missouri, becoming a resident of Nodaway county in October of that year. Throughout his residence here he has fol- lowed agricultural pursuits and to-day is the owner of three hundred and twenty acres of valuable land, the greater part of which is under a high state of cultivation. The well tilled fields give promise of bounteous har- vests and there is also a good bearing orchard. The residence, barns and other necessary outbuildings are kept in repair and the place indicates the supervision of an owner who is diligent and energetic. In the pastures are found good grades of stock and the sale of his cattle and hogs materially in- crease his income.
On the 21st of October, 1857. Mr. Wiley was united in marriage to Miss L. J. Allen, a daughter of William Allen, a native of Harrison county, Missouri. Unto them have been born eight children: William F., born August 18, 1858, married Jessie Camren, and has now one son and two daughters; Mary M., born July 20. 1860, is the wife of T. J. Rezenor, by whom she has three sons and three daughters ; Andrew J., born April 18. 1864, married Mattie Ingalls, and they have one son, and have lost one child : Lorin- da .A., born May 21. 1866. is the wife of B. T. Wray, and has six sons and four daugh- ters: Edward J .. born November 14, 1867. married Dora Lazenby, and has two sons; Arthur A., born July 1, 1871, married Laura Null, and has two daughters; Jacob W., born June 30, 1874, is with his parents ; and Luella, born October 30. 1876, is the wife of William P. Scott. Mrs. Wiley's grandparents were William and Rachel Allen, and her great-grandfather Allen was a
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soldier who was killed by the Indians in the war of 1812.
Since casting his first presidential vote for Stephen .A. Douglas Mr. Wiley has been an earnest advocate of the Democratic prin- ciples. Ile is a bi-metalist and believes in the remonetization of silver. He has long been recognized as a leader in local political ranks and has filled the offices of road overseer and school director. His ancestors were all members of the Methodist Episcopal church and he and his family are all identified there- with, taking a very active part in its work and doing all in their power to promote its upbuilding and success. High principles of life permeate them in their relations to their fellow men, in business and social life, and the name of Wiley is synonymous with hon- est effort in Nodaway county.
PHILLIP YATES.
Phillip Yates, a veteran of the Civil war. is a prominent representative of the agricul- tural class of citizens of Lincoln township. Nodaway county, Missouri. lle comes of a family of patriotic instincts, his grand- father, George Fox, having served in the British army several years, was taken pris- oner with Burgoyne at Saratoga and held a prisoner to the close of the Revolutionary war.
longing to the church of England. They had six children, as follows: William, of Canada: John, who lives in Chicago: Phil- lip; Elizabeth: Huntsman, of Canada; James, deceased: and George, of Norwich, Oxford county, Canada.
Phillip Yates went to Portage county, Wisconsin, when it was a new and undevel- oped country, in the year 1855. and acquired three hundred and twenty acres of land. Ile became a soklier in the Union army during the Civil war. enlisting in Company E. Eight- eenth Regiment, Wisconsin Volunteer In- fantry, in 1863. He immediately went to the front and saw active service. He was under fire at Huntsville, Alabama, at Paint Rock on the Tennessee river, under Colonel Jack- son, and in many skirmishes along the Ten- nessee river. He was at Kingston and .Al- toona, Georgia, and at the latter place was taken prisoner. He was confined within the rebel prison at Andersonville and at Millen. Georgia, and on account of sickness obtained his parole and was afterward exchanged. He was sent to St. John's Hospital at Annap- olis, Maryland, where he remained for two months. Ile was granted a furlough and returned home to Portage county, and thence to St. Louis, where he remained until the close of the war. His old regiment went with General Sherman on the famous march to the sea, through Georgia and the Caro- linas to Richmond, and were present at the grand review at Washington after the close of the war. In 1866, Mr. Yates moved to Jackson county, Minnesota, where he took a homestead on the Des Moines river and lived until 1871, when he moved to Page county, lowa. He bought a farm there but later sold and purchased his present farm of one hundred and forty-six acres in Lin-
Mr. Yates was born in Staffordshire. England. December 20, 1827, and is a son of Jarvis and Sarah C. ( Fox ) Yates. His par- ents came to Canada in 1845. and located in Burford, Brock district, now Brant coun- ty, the district being named after General Brock. The father died at the age of eight- ty five years and the mother at the age of seventy. He was a farmer by occupation. Religiously, they were Episcopalians, be- coln township. Nodaway county, Missouri.
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His place is well equipped with all the neces- saries for successfully carrying on farming, and he has been more than ordinarily suc- cessful. He has two comfortable houses, good barns and outbuildings and his place is well-stocked.
Mr. Yates was united in marriage with Sarah E. Orr, who was born near Montreal, Canada, and is a daughter of Edward and Margaret (Frazer) Orr. They had seven children, three of whom are living, namely : Margaret, the wife of Allen Searcy, of l'age county, Iowa; and W. Jarvis and George Edward, who live on the home farm. Those deceased are: William James. Elizabeth. Sophia Emily, and one who died in infancy. Religiously he was reared in the church of England, but his wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He is a member of Blanchard Post, G. A. R., No. 260, and served as commander for å time. Political- ly, he is a Republican. Mr. Yates is a man of intelligence and takes a deep interest in the development and welfare of his county.
ROBERT TODD.
Robert Todd, a successful and well known farmer living in Grant township, Noda- way county, Missouri, has for many years been one of the public-spirited men of the county. He was born in Dearborn county. Indiana, April 18, 1838, a son of Nathaniel and Janett ( Mackey ) Todd, both natives of Ireland.
James Todd, our subject's paternal grandfather, was a native of Ireland, coming to America in 1829, when he settled in Dear- born county, buying a farm on which he lived the remainder of his life. He was a member of the Presbyterian church. His children were as follows : Samuel ; Nathaniel,
the father of the subject of this sketch; James: John: Robert: Thomas; Marialı; Hugh: and Ann, who died in infancy. Na- thaniel Todd grew to manhood in Ireland, where he married Janett Mackey, and came to America in 1829, settling in Dearborn county, where he bought land and began farming and raising stock. In politics he was a Democrat. His wife was a daughter of Andrew Mackey, who was also a native of Ireland, and an old settler of Dearborn conn- ty. He was a farmer by occupation. His children were : Janett, the mother of our sub- ject ; Rose, the wife of R. Sims : James, .\n- drew, William and Allen. The family were attendants of the Presbyterian church. Na- thaniel Todd and his wife were the parents of eleven children, namely : Rose A. ; Eliza- beth; Isabel, who is Mrs. McKinstry: Jane, deceased; Robert, the subject of this sketch ; Thomas: Nathaniel, of Homestead, Indiana; James and John, of Vernon county, Mis- souri ; Ellen ; and George and Frank, of In- diana. Mr. Todd was a stanch Democrat.
Robert Todd, whose name heads this sketch, was reared and educated in Indiana. He remained there until 1862, when he en- listed in Company K. Sixty-eighth Regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and was as- signed to the Army of the Cumberland, un- der the command of Colonel King, and later Colonel Espa. Mr. Todd saw some hard service, and was captured at Munfordville, Kentucky, but after three days was paroled and returned home. In December he was exchanged and joined the command at Mur- freesboro, continuing in that command until the close of the war. He was at Chattanooga when Lee surendered, after which the regi- ment went to Indianapolis, where the mem- bers were honorably discharged and re- ceived their pay. Mr. Todd then returned
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home and resumed his farming. In 1870 he moved to Missouri, where he bought one hundred and sixty acres of land, and has since added eighty acres more, all of which is in the valley, and is splendid land for farming. He has been a very successful farmer, and is one of the best business men in the county. His home is but two and one- half miles from the town of Guilford, where he is well known and is one of the progres- sive citizens of the place. He is a firm Dem- ocrat but has never cared to hold office.
Mr. Todd married Jane Beggs, who was born in Indiana, in 1844. a daughter of John and Elizabeth ( Houston) Beggs, of Ire- land. John Beggs was a farmer, who came to this country early in life. His children were: Mary, who married M. Whitford ; Elizabeth, Agnes, Margaret, Robert, Will- iam. George, Thomas and Jane. the wife of our subject. Our subject and his wife have been the parents of two children, namely : Francis N., at home : and John E. The fam ily attend the Methodist church, of which Mrs. Todd is a member.
GEORGE B. MILLION.
The family of Million of which George B. Million. of Rockport. Atchison county. Missouri, is a representative. is not a num- crous one in the United States. It is of English origin and is more largely in evi- dence in the south than in the north. The men of the family are for the most part strong and active, intelligent, patriotic and public spirited, and the name wherever it is known has come to stand for courage, bon- esty and industry. Wherever they have lived men of this name have been leaders among their fellows, advisers in matters of impor- tance and public functionaries who have had
the respect and confidence of their fellow citi- zens in an eminent degree. The subject of this sketch has lived up to the prestige of the name, and it was for that reason that he was given a place of prominence on the fusion ticket in Atchison county, in 1900, and was able to lead Democrats and Populists to victory at the polls.
George B. Million, who was elected sher- ifi of Atchison county, Missouri. November 6. 1900, was born near Quitman. Nodaway county, this state. December 2. 1864. while that part of the country was still in the throes of the Civil war, a son of John Million, who was a pioneer on the Platte purchase in Mis- souri and was one of the most prominent early settlers in Nodaway county. John Mill- ion was born in Tennessee, of a family which had been settled there for many gen- erations, and married Alice Bayless, of an- other old Tennessee family. From Greene, hus native county in Tennessee, he removed to Nodaway county, Missouri, and from Nodaway county in 1865 he removed to Atchison county and settled on a farm near Watson, which he operated successfully until his death in 1884. at the age of seventy-one years. He was a man of high character and was prominent in his community as a Demo- crat, and as a citizen and was deeply regret- ted by all who had known him. Ilis wife died in 1888. in this county, at the age of seventy years, and is remembered as a wu- man of many virtues who was a good wife and mother and charitable neighbor. They had nine sons and four daughters.
Sheriff Million was reared on his father's farm and educated in public schools near his boyhood home. He has made farming his life work and owns a good farm of one hundred and twenty acres near Rockport. Since his youth he has been interested in
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politics, viewing all national questions from a Democratic standpoint. His personal popularity was so great that both Demo- crats and fusionists acknowledged him as a leader in the local field in 1900, and he was placed in nomination for the high executive office of sheriff and triumphantly elected ; and even those who opposed him at the polls rejoice that this responsible office is so ably filled.
In 1898 Mr. Million was married to Miss Louise M. Depke, a daughter of F. Depke, of Shenandoah, Page county, lowa, a wo- man of education and many winning quali- ties, who has been to him an admirable partner in life and who has borne him one son, F. H. Million. Mr. Million, whose parents were Baptists, was reared in the Baptist faith, but has been generous in sup- port of religious worship without question as to denomination. Of conspicuous public spirit, he has always been one of the fore- most in advancing the cause of education and in advocating and assisting to the ex- tent of his ability all measures which in his good judgment have tended to the public good.
EVERETT L. MORGAN, M. D.
Among those who devote their time and energies to the practice of medicine and are meeting with excellent success in their chosen profession is Dr. Morgan, a promi- nent physician of Graham, Nodaway county. He was born near that town, October 4, 1867, and belongs to a family of Welsh origin which was founded in this country in colonial. days. Among his ancestors were some who served in both the Revo- lutionary war and the war of 1812.
John B. Morgan, the Doctor's grandfa-
ther, was born in Kentucky. September 20, 1791, and in that state married Elizabeth McDonald, who was born there August 17, 1796, their marriage being celebrated No- vember 7, 1820. In early life he followed the brick and stone mason's trade, but aft- er coming to Missouri, in 1841, entered land four miles southwest of Maryville, and turned his attention to farming. He finally sold his farm and spent his last days at Graham in retirement from active labor. There he died September 2. 1865, and his wife passed away September 5, 1866. They had eleven children, all of whom were born in Shelby county, Indiana, namely : John Mc, born September 8, 1821, died June 27, 1842; Amaziah, born July 9, 1823, was killed by lightning, April 11, 1863, leaving a wife and two children ; Adonijah, born July 9, 1825, died unmarried December 31, 1891: Mar- garet J., born January 5, 1827, and died De- cember 18, 1890, was the wife of N. Swaren- gin ; Effa, born February 11, 1829. died June 5. 1829; Lewis, born March 11, 1830, was a retired farmer of Graham, where he died No- vember 17, 1899; Catherine E., born Sep- tember 30, 1831, is the wife of William Jen- kins: James W., the father of our subject, was next in order of birth ; William W., born September 19, 1836, followed farming and died August 28, 1800: Paulina, born No- vember 5, 1838, is unmarried ; and Ruth A., born January 3, 1841, married James Deck- er and both are now deceased, her death oc- curring March 1, 1900.
Dr. James W. Morgan, the father of our subject, was born in Shelby county, Indiana, March 12, 1834, and was seven years old when the family came to Nodaway county, Missouri, where he was reared and educated. He was married August 3. 1856, to Miss Laura F. Scott, a daughter of Ebenezer and
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Hulda Scott, the former a cousin of General Winfield Scott. She was born September 30. 1835, and by her marriage became the mother of the following children: Arthur McDonald, born May 14. 1857, died on the 2d of October of the same year: Roberta Austin, born February 12. 1862, died on the 25th of the same month : and Laura F., born February 16, 1864, died on the 31st of July of that year. When a young man Dr. James W. Morgan read medicine with Drs. J. V. A. Woods and B. G. Ford, of Maryville. for his preceptors, for about four years, and then engaged in practice in Graham until driven away by the Confederates during the Civil war, when he went to Dodley's. Hle was then a member of the home guards until the provisional government of Missouri was formed, and in September, 1861. at the call of Governor Gamble for troops, he enlisted for six months. being commissioned first lieutenant of Company H. Kimble's regi- ment. In November he was detached from the company and placed in charge of the Hax House hospital, where he remained in- til discharged. In March, 1862. he enlisted in what was known as the Fourth Cavalry Regiment of Missouri State Volunteer Mili- tia. U'nited States Army, under the command of Colonel George H. Hall. At that time 10 volunteers had been called for, but through his solicitation permission was given Governor Gamble to raise ten regiments of cavalry for scouting purposes, which did duy in Missouri, Arkansas, and Indian Ter- ritory.
The Doctor was elected and commis- sioned first lieutenant of Company K. said regiment, May 14. 1862, and was on duty at St. Joseph for a time. Later he was again detached and placed in command of the pro- vost guard, with which he was connected un-
tii sent home on sick leave for an indefinite time. He reformed the command at Marsh- field, Missouri, in July, 1862, and was placed on detached duty as assistant provost mar- shal of the southwestern district of the state by Brigadier General E. B. Brown. During existing orders he was permanently divorced from his company, as such officers became staff officers of the commander general. It was his duty to organize the state militia into companies and try and dispose of Confeder- ate sympathizers by requiring them to take oath of loyalty and give bonds for the faith- ful discharge of the duties enjoined. Dr. Morgan deemed it necessary in every case when other punishment was not indicated for them to give bonds from five hundred to ten thousand dollars. llis wife and little daughter joined him there and remained with him until illness compelled him to resign. On December 15. 1862, he was ordered to report to Colonel Mills, of Springfield. Missouri, where he was placed in charge of the exchange department, preparing rolls for prisoners subject to exchange as prisoners of war, and the trial and disposition of citi- zen prisoners, who had committed only small offenses. He faithfully discharged any div required of him. He was placed in charge of a district, including southwestern Missouri, northeastern Kansas and northwestern Ar- kansas and Indian Territory to examine the vouchers and order payment to loyal ciri- zens. The Doctor participated in the last battle at Springfieldl. Jannary 8, 1803. as aid to General Brown: was active in all duties imposed upon him and was a proficient of? ficer.
The last of August, 1803. he reported to General Thomas Ewing, of Kansas City, and was again placed on detached duty as judge advocate of military commissions. In
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September he offered his resignation on a surgeon's certificate, which was accepted and in December of the same year he returned to Graham taking up his abode in the house from which he had been forced to flee two years and a half previously. He forwarded his certificate and in April, 1864, was com- missioned assistant surgeon of the Forty- third Regiment of Colored Troops, and or- dered for duty to Camp William Penn, near Philadelphia. At that time, however, his wife was suffering from quick consumption, and on the 12th of May, 1864, died, leaving two little daughters. This caused him to de- cline his commission and end his military ca- reer, the remainder of his life being devoted to the practice of his profession in Graham, where he died April 15, 1886. He was also engaged in the drug business at that place from 1873 to 1876, and was an associate editor of the Nodaway Valley Spy and the Graham Headlight. In 1868, when the Democrats talked of resisting the disfran- chising clause of the constitution, he was commissioned by Governor T. C. Fletcher as captain of Morgan's Nodaway County Guards. For many years he was a consistent and faithful member of the Methodist Epis- copal church, and in his death the commu- nity realized that it had lost one of its most valuable and useful citizens. Fraternally he was a member of the Masonic order and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He filled all the chairs in the local lodge and en- campment, and was a member of the grand dodge and grand encampment of Missouri.
Near Burlington Junction, this county, Dr. Morgan was again married, January 19, 1865, to Miss Sophia F. Bradford, who was born in Ross county, Ohio, October 17, 1845, and is still living. Her parents, James R. and Civiller F. Bradford, were
also natives of Ohio and Methodists in relig- ions belief. Her father is still a prominent man of Holt county, Missouri, where he has served as township trustee and county judge. In politics he is a Republican. His children are Sophia F., Sarah E., Julia A., J. E., James B. and Mary. Mrs. Morgan's pater- nal grandfather, Thomas Bradford, was a descendant of the old colonial governor of Massachusetts who bore that name. He was born October 9, 1793, and died December 9. 1845. He married the widow of James Russell and daughter of Artemus and Par- menter Russell. The six children born to Dr. and Mrs. Morgan are: James B .. born February 8, 1866, died October 24. 1866; Everett L., our subject, is the next in order of birth : Charles A. was born June 7, 1870; Edwin A., born February 10, 1873: Elsie F. was born May 9. 1876; and James Woods was born July 25, 1886.
Dr. Everett L. Morgan was reared in his; native town and educated in its common schools. In early life he often accompanied his father on visits to his patients, and about 1890 commenced the study of medicine un- der the direction of Dr. P. J. Barren. Later he attended medical lectures at St. Louis, and was graduated at the Central Medical College at St. Joseph, in March, 1895, since which time he has engaged in practice in Graham. He has met with marked success in his chosen profession, and has already suc- ceeded in building up a large and lucrative practice. He is also a registered druggist. Politically the Doctor is a Republican, but has never aspired to office, and socially is a member of the Masonic fraternity, the Woodmen of the World and the Modern Woodmen of America, being camp physician of the last two orders.
Dr. E. A. Morgan, like his brother Ever-
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ett L. Morgan, acquired the greater part of his education in the public schools and in 1803 began the study of dentistry under the supervision of Dr. C. S. Grant, of St. Jo- seph, Missouri. He was graduated in the Kansas City Dental College, March 31. " 1896. in the class of 1896. receiving the gold! medal for the best workmanship of the class. .After graduation he located temporarily in his home town-Graham, Missouri-but on the 23d of November of that year went to St. Joseph, Missouri, where he entered the employ of Ross Brothers, on a salary.
BENJAMIN HONAKER.
Benjamin Honaker, an old soldier who served in the Civil war and a prominent farmer of Lincoln township. Nodaway coun- ty, was a member of Company H. Fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He entered the army in April. 1861. enlisting in Colonel Goodman's regiment, at the call of Lincoln for ninety day men. His company was commanded by Captain Olmstead. and he saw active service for four months, at the end of which time he received an honorable discharge and a record for bravery in service.
On the 28th of July. 1897. in Kansas City, Missouri, Edwin A. Morgan was united in marriage to Miss Josephine E. Ed- Mr. Honaker was born in Pulaski coun- ty. West Virginia. August 28. 1830. of German descent and the son of Jacob and Jane ( Bradshaw ) Honaker. Jacob Honaker was born in Virginia, and his wife was born in West Virginia. The former was a machinist. gunsmith. blacksmith and coffin- maker and had lived to be fifty-five years old. His wife also died at that age. They had eight children, namely: James, Jesse, Ben, Sarah, Martha. William, Nancy and Jacob. Jesse. James and Ben were soldiers. the latter two dying from wounds received in battle. The parents were members of the Methodist church. They were buried in the old Price cemetery in Marion county, Ohio. wards, who was born in Adams county, Illi- mois. November 20. 1871, and was one of a family of ten children. Her mother died when the daughter was but twelve years of age. Her father, Joseph Edwards, however, long survived her and passed away January 5. 1901. at Barry, Pike county, Illinois. In August, 1897, Dr. Morgan resigned his po- sition with Ross Brothers and with his wife removed to Pawnee City. Nebraska, where he had the promise of a better position, but failing to make a satisfactory contract, they returned to Graham on the 23d of August of that year, and Dr. Morgan continued to prac- tice alone, declining an offer of a position with his previous employers, the Ross Benjamin, the subject of this sketch. when he was four years old, and there he was taught farming and finished his school- ing. In 1870 he moved to Nodaway coun- ty, Missouri, where he carried on farming. and in 1800 he bought the old Ambrose Calvin farm, which is one of the prettiest farms in the county. On this place are a large house, which was built in 1850, a fine Brothers, at an advanced salary. Hle there , went with his parents to Marion county continued to practice until March 1, 1898. when, through the aid of his grandfather, James R. Bradford, he obtained the office and location of Dr. J. G. Algire, of Maitland, Ilolt county, Missouri, two miles from Gra- ham. He removed there in the early spring and has succeeded in builling up a very sat- rfactory and rapidly increasing practice.
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