USA > Missouri > Nodaway County > A Biographical history of Nodaway and Atchison counties, Missouri : compendium of national biography > Part 73
USA > Missouri > Atchison County > A Biographical history of Nodaway and Atchison counties, Missouri : compendium of national biography > Part 73
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U'nto Mr. and Mrs. Hurst have been born twelve children, as follows : Bertha, now the wife of W. Cavner: William, who died at the age of two years; Oscar, who is working the homestead farm: Clarence, an agriculture- isten two hundred and eighty acres in Lin- coin township; Irena, the wife of G. Peck; Pearl. Zilpha, Carl. Nina, Myrtle, Blanche and Benjamin. The younger members of the family are all at home and are stduents in school. In his political affiliations Mr. Hurst is a Republican and keeps well in- formed on the issues of the day, but has never been an aspirant for office. His has been a busy, active and useful carcer, and to hi- diligence and perseverance he owes his success. His Inisiness methods have been straightforward and honorable, and he has ever shown himself worthy of the high re- gard of those with whom he has had any deahugs.
TARKIO COLLEGE
Tarkio College is located in Tarkio, a town of two thousand mlabitants, on the Tarkin Valley branch of the Kansas City.
St. Joseph & Council Bluffs Railroad, and in the center of Atchison, the northwestern county of Missouri. A private institution was organized in Tarkio under the name of the Tarkio Valley College and Normal In- stitute, on August 30, 1883. This became farkio College by a charter obtained on Oc- tober 8, 1884. The trustees of the new col- lege were chosen by the synod of Kansas and by the presbytery of College Springs of the United Presbyterian church, with the exception of three local trustees provided for by the laws of Missouri and elected by the board itself. Its first president was Rev. Samuel C. Marshall, D. D. Hle re- mained in office until June, 1887, and died at his residence in Tarkio, August 31. 1888. Ilis successor in the presidency was Rev. J. A. Thompson, the present incumbent.
In September. 1886, the synod of lowa was substituted for the presbytery of Col- lege Springs in the administration of the college. The synod of Nebraska agreed to share its management in September, 1887, and the synod of Kansas, having established an institution within its own bounds. withdrew from control of Tarkin College in October. 1889. The management of the college is vested in a board of directors. thirteen in number, of whom four are elected ly the synod of Nebraska, six by the synod of lowa, and the remaining three by the board itself. These sgoods include the congregations of the United Presbyterian church located in lowa. Nebraska and Col- orado, and some of those located in Mis- somri.
The college was organized by men who knew the value of a Christian education. It was and is their purpose to make the school effective for all the purposes of education, intellectual, physical, spiritual, and to ad-
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TARKIO COLLEGE.
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vance the interests of the individual, keep- | the benefit of man's intellectual or spiritual ing in mind the best interests of society and above all the glory of God. nature. He began his career as a teacher in a small. one-room log school-house near | Dickson, Tennessee, before entering college. JOSEPH A. THOMPSON. After his graduation he became the principal of a little school at Spring Hill, Indiana, and in September, 1883, he matriculated in Allegheny Seminary, at Allegheny, Pennsyl- vania, for the purpose of pursuing a course in theology. After two years thus passed he spent a summer in teaching at Stanton, Pennsylvania, and subsequently went to Princeton, New Jersey, where he pursued the third year of the theological course in Princeton Seminary, receiving his diploma from that institution in 1886.
No adequate memorial of Joseph Addi- son Thompson can be written, for the work with which he is connected is one which is immeasurable, having to do with the intel- lectual progress and character development of the individual. Of such a work as his it is difficult to gain a clear and correct con- ception and it is with a feeling of hesitancy that the biographer enters upon the prepara- tion of his history: yet as the head of Tar- kio College Professor Thompson occupies a prominent position in the state of his adop- tion. He is widely recognized as an edu- cator of superior merit, as a man of scholarly attainments, broad humanitarian principles and high moral worth. He was born near Ross Grove, in Dekalb county, Illinois, on February 8, 1860, and is the third son of the Rev. Samuel Findley and Ellen ( Given ) Thompson, the former of Scotch descent. The father is a minister of the United Pres- byterian church and has devoted his entire life to the holy calling. His wife, a native of the Emerald Isle, passed away on the 15th of February, 1891.
Professor Thompson was licensed to preach by the United Presbytery of New York soon after his graduation and was called to the pastorate of the United Pres- byterian congregation at Chetopa, Kansas. in the fall of that year. On the 7th of April, 1887, he was ordained to the ministry by the presbytery of Garnett, at Ottawa, Kansas, and a few days later was installed as the pastor of the church at Chetopa. In June of the same year he was elected to the pres- idency of Tarkio College, in Tarkio, Mis- souri, and has since remained at the head of that institution. Ile had been married on the 28th of December. 1886, to Miss Lillian Esther Logan, who had been his as- sistant in the Spring Hill school. But her married life was of short duration, for Mrs. Thompson passed away in Tarkio, on the 2dl of February, 1888. On the 14th of July, 1891. Professor Thompson was again mar- ried. his second union being with Lillie Olivia Woodling, of Beach City, Ohio.
During the boyhood of their son Joseph he resided with his family near Savanna. Illinois, also in Rock Island, that state. and in Dickson. Tennessee. He obtained much of his preliminary education in the latter state, but subsequently entered the sopho- 1 1 more class in Monmouth College, at Mon- mouth, Illinois, in January. 1880, and grad. vated, with the first honors of his class, in , Three daughters have been born of the sec- 1882. Throughout his entire life he has , ond marriage : Mary Lyon, Margaret Logan been connected with educational work for and Elizabeth Ellen.
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In June, 1891, the honorary title of Doc- tor of Divinity was conferred upon Professor Thompson by Westminster College at New Wilmington, Pennsylvania. In April, 1900, he was given leave of absence by the execu- tive committee of Tarkio College, that he might accept of an offer made him by the alumni of the college to take a trip through Egypt. Italy, Switzerland, France, Great Britain and Ireland. Ile spent several months in traveling through those countries. visiting the many scenes of historic and modern interest and storing his mind with much valuable information concerning those lands and their people. Since returning to his college duties in August, 1900, he has delivered a number of lectures and addresses based upon his observations made upon that trip.
Ile gives to his work most careful thought and attention and is quick to recog- nize an idea that will prove of practical ben- efit and use in his educational work. It this point it would be almost tautological to enter into any series of statements to show that the Professor is a man of broad intelligence and genuine public spirit. for these have been shadowed forth between the lines of this review. Strong in his indi- viduality, he never lacks the courage of his convictions, but there are as dominating ele- ments in his individuality a lively human sympathy and an abiding charity, which, as taken in connection with the sterling integ- rity and honor of his character, have natur- ally gained to him the respect and confidence of men.
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BEN F. LITTS.
Ben F. Litts, a representative of one of the early families of northwestern Missouri and a leading farmer and stock raiser, is
now county treasurer-elect of Nodaway county. Ile was born July 21. 1857. in Litts- ville, Missouri, the town having been named in honor of his father in 1852. Ilis parents, the Rev. George W. and Sarah (Davis) Litts, were both natives of Wythe county, Virginia, and in 1850 came to Nodaway county. The mother died in 1892. but the father is still living in this country and for thirty-five years he has devoted his life to proclaiming the gospel as a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. South. He has had marked influence for good in this portion of Missouri, and his life, as well as his precepts, have been an inspiration to many who have known him.
Mr. Litts, whose name introduces this record, was reared upon a farm in Noda- way county, pursuing his education in the public schools and in Smith's Commercial College, at Savanna, Missouri, in which in- stitution he was graduated in 1879. After completing his literary course he turned his attention to farming and stock-raising and has since followed these pursuits with good success. He now owns a valuable farm of one hundred and eighty acres, and the rich, alluvial soll yields to him excellent crops, while in his pastures are found good grades of stock. He sells considerable stock and thus materially adds to his income.
On the 8th of November, 1870, was cele- brated the marriage of Mr. Litts and Miss Lizzie Best, a daughter of the Rev. John II. Best, a minister of the Baptist church. To them have been bern six children, five of whom are still living, namely : Frank L., Bessie, Effie, Walter R. and Paul D. The youngest, George W., died July 28, 1805. Socially Mr. Litts is connected with the Free Masons, Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias and the Modern Woodmen of Amer-
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ica, and is a member of the Fraternal Aid Society. In politics he has been a lifelong Democrat and has always taken an active interest in the growth and success of his party, doing all in his power to promote its welfare. For four years he was the assessor of White Cloud township, for six years has been a justice of the peace, and he has been a member of the township board. In 1900 he was made the nominee of his party for the office of county treasurer, and at the Novem- ber election received a majority of one hun- dred and thirty-one votes over W. Ed Gray. one of the most prominent and popular Re- publicans of the county. He will enter upon the discharge of his duties as keeper of the exchequer April 1, 1901, and those who are familiar with his business ability and his up- right character have no fear but that his ser- vices will prove highly satisfactory to all concerned. His entire life having been passed in this county, he is widely known, and his creditable record has gained him a large circle of friends.
VIRGIL B. HARRIS.
Virgil B. Harris, a prominent and re- liable farmer of Atchison county, Missouri, was born in Howard county, this state, near Fayette, on the 30th of December, 1856, his parents being Thomas B. and Margaret (Thompson) Harris. The paternal grand- father, William Harris, was born in Vir- ginia, in May, 1792, but removed from the Old Dominion to Kentucky, where he was married. in 1817. to Miss Margaret Down- ing, a native of that state. In 1820 they went to Howard county, Missouri, where the father became a prominent farmer, owner of slaves and a representative citizen of his neighborhood. In his family were the fol-
lowing named: Mrs. Eliza Atterbery, Thomas B., Rachel Jackson, Hardin. Cer- elda, Ezekiel. Claybourne. Margaret and Mrs. Polly Thompson. The father died in May, 1876, at the age of eighty-four years, and the mother passed away in 1872, both dying on the anniversary of their birth.
Nero Thompson, the maternal grandta- ther of our subject, was a native of South Carolina, and on attaining his majority came to Missouri, where he afterward married Miss Elizabeth Williams. She was born in North Carolina, but in an early day accom- panied her parents to Missouri. After their marriage Mr. Thompson entered land near Fayette, Missouri, and successfully carried on farming until his death, which occurred in 1867. Ile owned a number of slaves, whose labors were utilized in improving and cultivating his farm. He was loved by all who knew him. His devotion to his family was most marked. He counted no personal sacrifice too great that would enhance the happiness and promote the welfare of his wife and children, and it seemed that he could take no pleasure in anything if it was not also enjoyed by them. He was a lifelong Democrat, but never aspired to public office. His sympathy was with the south at the time of the Civil war, but when hostilities were inaugurated he was too old to enter the ser- vice. Ile did all in his power, however, to aid the southern cause, permitting his boys to go to the front to battle for what he be- lieved to be right. His wife was a consist- ent and valued member of the old-school Baptist church, and her religion was not something to be donned on Sunday but formed a part of her every-day life, Chris- tian principles permeating her actions and her treatment of all with whom she came in contact. Her death occurred about 1865-
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Thompson were born seven children, -Mrs. Mary Jones, William, Mrs. Margaret Harris, Uriah, Milton, John and Willoughby. Most of the children fol- lowed the example of the mother in her Christian life.
The Harris and Thompson families were united through the marriage of Thomas B. Harris and Margaret Thompson. The for- mer was born May 2, 1818, near Gettysburg, in Grayson county, Kentucky, and when only two years of age was taken by his parents to Howard county, Missouri, where he was reared. At the age of twenty-six he married Margaret Thompson, who was born Decem- ber 12, 1828. The wedding was celebrated on the 16th of January, 1845. and soon after- ward they took up their abode upon a farm near Fayette, Missouri, where they con- tinned to reside until the death of the wife and mother. November 13. 1888. She was an caruest Christian woman, holling mem- bership in the Presbyterian church. Mr. Harris also belongs to the same church, and for many years has been a faithful follower of its teachings. He served for two years in the Confederate army during the Civil war and in his political affiliations has always been a Democrat, but would never accept public office. Long one of the extensive and prosperous farmers of Howard county, he in numbered among its substantial and worthy citizens. In his family were four- teen children, ten of whom were married and had families of their own, namely: Mrs. Elizabeth Brown, William T., Mrs. Olivia Cross, Millard P. Jerome W., Virgil B. Mrs. Artemisha Staiger, Mrs. Martha Sports, Mrs. Belle Jacobs and Mrs. Price Markland.
Virgil Harris was reared and educated in Howard county, Missouri, and afterward re-
moved to Platte county, where he was mar- ried in 1885. He had managed the home- stead farm for his father until he was twen- ty-nine years of age, but at the time of his marriage he took up his abode upon a farm in lloward county, where he resided for eight years. On the expiration of that pe- riod he came to Atchison county, in 1892. and purchased the farm upon which he yet resides. Ile has erected a commodious res- idence and has made many substantial im- provements, including the planting of or- chard and shade trees. His property will now compare favorably with any farm in the township. lle is living a contented and happy life upon his place, his time being oc- cupied with the care, supervision and im- provement of his land.
A marriage ceremony performed in 1885 united the destinies of Mr. Harris and Miss Mary F. Lott, a daughter of Fountain Pitt and Elizabeth ( Newman) Lott. Her father was born in Kentucky and was a son of Will- iam Lott. one of the pioneer settlers of the state. He married Elizabeth Newman, in. Platte county, Missouri, and resided there for sixteen years, engaged in farming. In 1877 he came to Atchison county and pur- chased one of the best tracts of land in this portion of the state, but sold the property to his son. W. R. Lott, in 1882. . Ilis political opinions have always been in accord with those of the Democratic party, but he has lived to a good old age and has never desired political preferment. Both he and his wife were valued members of the Missionary Bap- tist church. During the Civil war his syna- pathies were with the south and he did all in his power to promote its cause. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Lott were born the following Robert, Mrs. Ellen Petty, George W., Mrs. V. B. Harris and Willard B. Three bright
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boys grace the union of our subject and his wife, namely: Thomas L., born June 21. 1889; Virgil G., born August 21, 1895 ; and Vodrae B., born June 12, 1898. Mr. and Mrs. Harris and their eldest son are con- nected with the Missionary Baptist church and socially he is a valued member of the Modern Woodmen Camp. The family is one of the most esteemed of the neighborhood and in this volume well deserves mention among the representative people of Atchison county.
GEORGE M. INGERSON.
This enterprising agriculturist of Noda- way county is the owner of a fine farm of two hundred and ninety-two acres, pleasant- ly located six miles north of Maryville and two miles south of Pickering, and in its management he has displayed good business ability as well as an excellent knowledge of every department of farm work.
Mr. Ingerson was born in Jefferson coun- ty, New York, February 22, 1842, a son of Thomas and Tacey ( Ballou) Ingerson, also natives of that state. His paternal grand- father, Jonathan Ingerson, a farmer by oc- cupation and a soldier of the war of 1812, was born in Massachusetts of English ances- try, and died in New York state. He was a devout member of the Methodist church, and a supporter of the Democratic party. His children were Jesse, Caroline, James, Elizabeth, Thomas, Andrew, Hannah, Abi- gail and Jane. Our subject's maternal grandfather, Eli Ballou, was also a native of Massachusetts and an agriculturist, who spent his last days in New York. His brother, Hosea Ballou, was a celebrated Universalist minister of Boston, Massachusetts, and a inan of national fame. Eli Ballou's children
were Eli V., Christian, Phebe, Hannali and Tacey. Our subject is the oldest in a family of six children, the others being Adeline. who died unmarried: Charles, a resident of Oakland. California ; Edgar, Alice and Pur- cival, all of Ohio. The parents were mem- bers of the Methodist church and most esti- mable people.
The first sixteen years of his life George M. Ingerson spent upon the home farm in New York and attended the common schools of the neighborhood. The Civil war having broken out, he enlisted October 1, 1861, in the First New York Light Artillery, which was assigned to the Third Division, Fifth Corps, Army of the Potomac. Colonel J. D. Bailey, the first commander of the regi- ment, was killed at the battle of Seven Pines, and was succeeded by Colonel C. S. Wain- wright. In January, 1864, Mr. Ingerson was discharged, but on the Ist of the following February he re-enlisted in the same com- pany and regiment and remained in the ser- vice until hostilities ceased, being finally dis- charged in June, 1865, as quartermaster ser- geant. During the second battle of Bull Run he was captured, but three days later was paroled and sent to the parole camp at An- napolis, where he was exchanged at the end of four months. He was always found at his post of duty, valiantly defending the old flag and the cause it represented, and partici- pated in many skirmishes and seventeen hot- ly contested battles, but fortunately was never wounded. He was in the front line of battle when Lee surrendered, and took part in the grand review at Washington, D. C. He was mustered out at Elmira, New York, and now receives a small pension.
After three months spent at his home in New York. Mr. Ingerson went to the piner- ies of northern Minnesota, where he was en-
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gaged in lumbering three years, and then made a prospecting tour through Missouri, Kansas, New Mexico and Colorado. Stop- ping at Denver, he worked at carpentering and mining for a time, and later engaged in the livery business at Georgetown. After his marriage, in 1878, he followed mining for two years, and then came to Nodaway county. Missouri, and purchased his present farm, which at that time was but poorly improved. Ile has since erected a good two- story residence and two large barns and other outbuildings, has set out an orchard and made other improvements which add greatly to the value and attractive appear- ance of the place, it being one of the most desirable farms of its size in the county. Ile handles considerable stock, a part of which lic sells in the local markets and the remain- der he ships.
In 1878 Mr. Ingerson was united in mar- riage with Miss Clara Scrafford, who was born in Maine. September 23. 1849. a daugh- ter of . 1. 11. and Saphronia Bartlett, also na- tives of that state. The father, who was a millwright by trade, moved from Maine to Wisconsin, and later to Kansas and Colo- rado, where he following mining. Subse- quently he went to California and is now living a retired life in San Diego. He is known as Colonel Bartlett, having served with that rank in the militia during carly days. Ilis wife, who was a member of the Methodist church, died in California. Their children were Charles, Erastus, Henry and C'lara. Mr. and Mrs. Ingerson have five children, namely: Adeline, now the wife of E. Bainum; Ethel, Alice, Purcival and Anice, all at home. Mrs. Ingerson is a member of the Methodist church. Socially our subject affiliates with the Grand Army Post at Pick- ering, and politically is identified with the
Republican party. As a citizen he has ever been found ready to discharge any duty de- volving upon him, and his loyalty is above question, being manifested in times of peace as well as in times of war.
HENRY W. BOWER.
Probably every state in the Union has furnished representatives to Missouri, and among those who came from Indiana was numbered Ilenry W. Bower, who at an early day in the development of Atchison county took up his residence here and became an im- portant factor in its development and prog- ress. Ile was born in Jay county, Indiana, March 11, 1848, his parents being George and Hannah ( Whitman ) Bower. They were both natives of Ohio but were married in the lloosier state. The paternal grandpar- ents of our subject were Henry and Cath- erine Bower, the former a native of Penn- sylvania and the latter of Delaware. They resided for some time in Ohio and after rearing their family there removed to Iowa, where they remained eight years. On the ex- piration of that period they returned to Ohio, where they spent their last days. They were members of the Lutheran church and the grandfather of our subject was of German lineage. Their children were George, Wil- son, Henry, Wesley, Nicholas, David, Cath- erine and Isabel.
George Bower, the father of our usbject, was reared to manhood in the state of his birth, and when a young man went to In- diana, where he followed the carpenter's trade, pursuing that occupation until 1850, when, attracted by the discovery of gold in California, he made the journey overland across the hot and sandy plains and through mountain passes to the Pacific coast, where
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lie engaged in mining for six years. IIe then returned by way of the water route to join his family in Indiana and with them removed to Iowa, where he continued for two years. Subsequently he became a resi. dent of Illinois, taking up his abode in Han- cock county, where he purchased a farm and spent his remaining days, dying at the old homestead. During the latter part of his life he gave liis attention to agricultural pursuits. He was a plain, honest, hard- working man, entirely free from ostentation, pretending nothing beyond what he really was, and commanding the respect of those with whom he was associated by reason of his genuine worth. In politics he was orig- inally a Whig and on the dissolution of that party he joined the ranks of the new Repub- lican party. His first wife passed away about ten years before his death. She was a faith- ful and devoted member of the Christian church, the daughter of James Whitman, an Ohio farmer, who became one of the early settlers and prominent citizens of Indiana, in which state he died. He had seven chiil- dren : Sarah; Hanna, the mother of our sub- ject ; Barbara, Elizabeth, Harriet, James, and William. Mr. Bower had four children : Mary, the wife of O. Graham, of Nebraska ; Henry W .; Angeline, the wife of D. Whit- stone; and Hattie, the wife of G. Bushie.
Henry W. Bower was reared in the usual manner of farmer lads whose time is devoted to the work of the fields and to the acquire- inent of an education in the public schools. He accompanied his parents on their re- moval to Iowa and to Illinois and remained under the parental roof until he had at- tained his majority. He afterward worked as a farin hand and later rented a farm for two seasons, carrying on agricultural pur- suits on his own account. In 1878 he
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